Stone Dreaming Woman (20 page)

Chapter Eleven

It had become Shane’s habit to go to North Village early so he had a reason to stop by Richard Weston’s house on the way back. The gentle late June morning, so quickly warming after the ending of fickle Canadian spring, was soft with the promise of summer. When he arrived at Richard’s ranch, he put Midnight in the barn, hopped over the three steps up to the porch, and knocked on the door, which Jenny opened immediately.

“Well, you look like the cat that swallowed the canary. Come in!”

“Hello, Jenny. Mavis.” He waved at Toby, who was sitting at the table, obviously in the midst of a reading lesson. Toby smiled and waved back, then made a tactful retreat to the barn. “I do have good news, Jenny. I spoke to the North Village Council again last night. You can vaccinate everybody, and they agreed to move the well—in fact, the digging is supposed to start today. I know it took a while. There were some holdouts that needed convincing.”

“Oh, how wonderful! You’re a real miracle worker!” She wanted to hug him but, mindful of Mavis, restrained herself.

“And I have something more.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“In all that mountain of paperwork I had to take care of while Paul was on holiday, there’s an invitation to a formal ball. It seems Adrian Beaufort is giving a reception for the Governor. It’s Saturday after next. Would you like to go with me?” The invitation came at her like a high fly to left field.

“I don’t know…”

“Please? I have to go. His big shindigs are obligatory for us. There’s no easy way for me to get out of it. So please, become a New York debutante for me for an evening and go as my guest?”

“A formal ball? The only gown I brought with me is a winter one.”

Mavis cocked an eyebrow at her. “Winter gown? Phooey. Nobody in River Bend will know the difference. Go and have a grand time.”

Jenny knew the advantage of giving in gracefully. “Very well. I’d love to go with you.”

He broke into a wide smile that could have lit the room. “Thank you so much. Now I won’t have to spend a long, boring evening being gracious to all the widows and wallflowers in River Bend. Instead I’ll have the privilege of being gallant to you.” He paused long enough for her to smile back at him. “As I said, it’s Saturday after next. I’ll come for you early in the morning, weather permitting. It’s about a three-hour ride to Bob and Marie Shepherd’s home. It’ll be much more interesting than taking the train. We’ll stay there overnight and come back Sunday, with your permission, and of course, Richard’s.”

The next week and a half passed with all the stately speed of a homesick snail. Jenny had never immersed herself in anticipation of a social occasion before, but now, even despite her medical practice, she found herself counting the days. And when Saturday eventually did arrive, it was hard for her to believe it came no faster or slower than any other Saturday since the beginning of time.

True to his word, Shane rode up to the house just in time to share breakfast. In spite of herself, Jenny was so excited she could scarcely eat. Everything she needed had been packed in her saddlebags, ripped out, packed, repacked, and packed again. Finally they were ready to leave.

“Have a lovely time,” Richard said, accepting Jenny’s farewell kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

“Thank you. I know we’ll enjoy ourselves.”

“Take care of my girl, Shane.”

“Don’t worry about Jenny. She’s in the capable hands of the law,” he replied, smiling wryly.

Richard waved as they set off down the lane.

“How much do you remember about your train ride in?” Shane asked after they had turned off the main road.

“Just trees and snow. Constable Bernard and I were talking, and since our conversation was in French, I had to pay attention.”

He chuckled. “Laurence is somewhat provincial, isn’t he? He still insists on speaking French with me. Well, the trail along the right of way isn’t much. The way we’re going is quicker, and it’ll be steep until we pick up the railroad tracks.”

“Were Laurence’s people voyageurs too?”

“No. Huguenots. It seems France is good at running people out, doesn’t it?”

“No worse than England, although my family didn’t have to emigrate. The Westons came to the Carolinas on a royal land grant in the late 1600s. My Brisbane ancestor, though, was a British officer who came during the Revolution. He was wounded too badly to serve any longer or to make it home on his own, so he stayed. The family tradition says he lost a leg. Eventually he recovered, went to work as a clerk at an import house, and married the boss’s daughter. Supposedly they lived happily ever after—at least they had eleven surviving children, and they did become very rich.”

“So you’re English, then?”

“Basically, yes. But both halves of my family have been here so long we could be anything.” She relaxed and went with Fleur’s steady gait, raising up in the stirrups and leaning forward to help the mare climb. Suddenly Shane’s hand came out in a hushing gesture and he pointed upslope to their left. A shy whitetail buck, antlers only velvet knobs, peered out from the brush. Since he was upwind, he could not decide what they were. He flinched and jumped as he tried to catch their scent. Finally Midnight stamped an impatient forehoof and tossed his head, and the buck broke upslope in huge leaps.

“He’s beautiful!” she breathed. “We see does all the time, but rarely bucks.”

“You’ll see more, come fall, when they’re in rut. And in all probability we’ll run across more before tomorrow.” He touched his heels to Midnight’s flanks, and the tall gelding resumed his implacable, steady climb. She enjoyed the green, earthy scent as sunshine penetrated to the forest floor.

“This forest is so wonderful,” she remarked at length.

“That’s one of the reasons I like my job. I get to be outside on days like this. Then, on the other hand, I have to be out on nasty days like the one when The Girls tried to run away and Midnight got tangled up in the wire.” The trail dipped momentarily into a clearing. A few minutes later the trees thinned out and they headed up what looked like a game trail.

“We’re going to take a side trip here,” he informed her. “We’re about three miles from the top now. I think you’ll like the view. You can see all the way down the Elk River.” They climbed up a rocky, sparse hillside, then broke out onto a glacier-scarred promontory. She involuntarily caught her breath. To the north and west were more forested, rolling hills. To the east, though, a green-carpeted valley spread below them, containing at its depth a river like a ribbon of molten silver that had melted its way down.

“This is called Overlook Point. See that line cabin over there? Sometimes I stay there when I ride rounds.” Her gaze followed his finger. A tiny shack was just visible through the trees. Then a piercing cry made her look up. Two eagles were riding the air currents. “They mate for life. I’ve seen that pair before, but I haven’t found their aerie yet.”

“They’re magnificent,” she whispered, unwilling to disturb the sound of the wind. “This is such a beautiful place. How did you ever discover it?”

“Oh, just exploring, a long time ago. Remember, I’ve lived around here all my life. Sometimes I stop here just to think.” She looked from Shane to the eagles again. They were circling in a thermal, seeming to defy gravity by climbing without moving their wings. Only the attitude of a few primary feathers determined their direction.

“How free they are, not stuck to the earth with petty daily pursuits like us.”

“Oh, they have their petty daily pursuits too. Somewhere they have a couple of hungry children to feed, and that’s serious business, whether you’re an eagle or a human. Maybe they don’t have to go to receptions for the Governor, but they still have their worries.”

“Is this a duty visit for you, then?”

“No, not completely. I wanted to take you to something really grand—at least grand by our standards. Besides, Angus said nobody would notice me for looking at you.”

“You don’t believe all of Angus’s blarney, do you?”

“That wasn’t blarney. You just wait. You’ll be the belle of the ball.”

“I’ve never been that in my life. I think too much, and I say what I think far too often.”

“Be prepared to say it in French, then. The Governor is Québécois. But we’d best be on our way. It’s close to noon, and you and Marie will need some primping time once we’re there.” He turned Midnight back down the trail toward the railroad right of way.

“How close are we, then?”

“We’ve come within a mile of half way. But the last part isn’t nearly as interesting. All it does is follow the railroad tracks, and for the most part it’s straight.”

“But it’s still an adventure for me. I’ve never been any closer to the woods than Central Park…” She was cut off by a gesture from Shane. He pointed to a creek bank downstream to their right, where a small brown creature was drinking.

“Mink,” he whispered. Suddenly there was a bright splash, and the mink dashed off with a struggling trout in its jaws.

“There’s supper,” Jenny whispered with a silent laugh.

“He has his table to set, too.”

“You make all these animals seem so human!”

“Well, basically we all have the same worries. It’s just that animals are so much more direct. If Midnight felt like kicking someone, he’d do it. On the other hand, if I felt like kicking someone, I’d probably just make a nasty remark.”

“I swear, you have the whole world figured out.”

He gave her a slight smile. “Not you, Jenny. Not ever. There are a lot of things about you I’ll never understand, but that’s why women are interesting.”

Their conversation drifted on like the creek they followed. The way became much easier after they intersected the railroad tracks. A wagon road ran parallel to the roadbed, and in its width they were able to ride side by side. Before she knew it, they were in River Bend. She remembered the railroad station that reminded her of a pagoda, and the long row of warehouses directly opposite. But now that she rode through the streets, she realized the city was larger than it looked from the train.

“This really is a good-sized town. I hadn’t realized that before,” she remarked.

“Almost fifteen thousand people. By train you only see the northwest corner.” It seemed the entire town was draped in red-and-white bunting, and flags flew everywhere. He let Midnight walk unguided beside Fleur while he took his holster off his crossover belt and dropped the revolver into his saddlebag. At Richard’s he automatically hung the gun, belt and all, on the coat rack by the door before he did anything else.

“I have to do this before I get to Bob’s house,” he explained. “His girls all want to hug me the minute I dismount, even though they’ve been told time and again never to touch anyone wearing a sidearm. Of course Bob indulges them, but I don’t blame him. They’re real charmers.”

“I think you probably indulge them a bit, too, don’t you?”

“Well, I tell them stories and draw pictures for them sometimes, and now and then I let them ride Midnight.”

“No wonder they’re fond of you.”

“Bob has been my boss for better than six years now, and I’m at his house every few weeks. I’ve seen the younger two, Frances and Jacqueline, grow up. Elise was already quite the little lady when I first met Bob.”

“You said she’s eleven?”

“I think so. I try to keep track, but I really can’t remember whose birthday is which.” He turned through a maze of streets into what appeared to be an older, gracious section of River Bend. They climbed a slight rise, and he indicated a white-columned brick house with a dignified porte cochère. Rose beds flanked the wide drive, with a profusion of riotously colored pansies at the foot of each bush. They stopped by the coach door and, just as Shane helped Jenny down, three little girls streamed from the house. They all laughed and chattered at once, at least one in French at any given time. Shane squatted down, while they instantly smothered him in hugs and damp kisses.

“Shane!”

“Maman! Shane is here! He has a pretty lady with him!”

“Will you tell us a story?”

“Can we ride Midnight later?”

“Draw us a picture, please?”

“Are you staying with us, then?”

“Girls! Girls! Let the poor man catch his breath!” The source of the voice was an auburn-haired woman in a brown dress. Shane rose with Jacqueline on one arm, Frances on the other, and Elise with an arm about his waist. “
Vraiment
, Shane, you spoil them so!”

“Hello, Marie. I see the girls are in grand form. How are you and Bob?” As the girls settled down, Jenny realized, to her amusement, that Marie and Bob had managed to produce a blonde, a brunette, and a redhead.

“Bob and I couldn’t be better. Then this must be your young lady.”

“Forgive me for not introducing you sooner, but I’ve been a bit occupied. Marie, may I present Doctor Jennifer Weston. Jenny, this is Mrs. Marie Shepherd.”

“How do you do, Doctor Weston. It’s such a pleasure to meet you finally! Come here, Jacqueline, before you muss Shane’s coat. He has told us so much about you. Frances, take your thumb out of your mouth. You’re no longer a baby.” Any response would have been lost in the deluge of little girls and the simultaneous deluge of words. Murmuring a polite reply, Jenny shooed Jacqueline into the house ahead of her as they followed Marie. Elise’s reward for decorous behavior was Shane’s arm about her shoulders as they went inside.

“I trust you had a pleasant journey from Elk Gap, Doctor Weston?”

“Yes, quite, thank you.”

“It is so lovely this time of year,
non
? Sunny, but neither too warm nor too cool. And you must wish to refresh yourself. I will have Juliette show you to your room.” A thin, middle-aged woman in a white apron over a black dress stepped from nowhere. “Juliette, please have Doctor Weston’s things brought in, and please show her to her room now. I know she needs to rest after such a long ride, poor child.”