CHAPTER 2

C HAPTE R 2

The next morning, Ava yawned and stretched fully out in the soft double bed in the guest room. It was the first decent sleep she'd had in ages, and it helped to make the whole world look brighter and hopeful. The sun perched well above the horizon, and Ava knew she'd overslept—likely missed breakfast altogether—but Gracie had assured Ava she did not need to operate on the household's time schedule. Slate came and went while working at the livery. Blanche attended summer tutoring classes with the local teacher to help her catch up as a result of her lack of education while her parents were still alive. On top of that was Gracie's miserable mood—to which she readily admitted—as she endured morning sickness that had continued long after the first trimester of her pregnancy. As a result, Ava was advised not to rush down to the kitchen to join in the madness—at least not on the first morning of her arrival.

If that was typical home life, it did not sound appealing at all. Still, they were such a happy family. She'd met Slate the night before, and she hadn't felt the least bit intimidated by his burly stature. Ava enjoyed his country ease. Slate did not fit the mold of a three-piece suit type of man, but jolly and content. Mostly, she noticed the love for his family he expressed with his every word and action. It was a joy to watch. Blanche, the adopted daughter, appeared to be well adjusted in her new situation. She had lost her mother and little brother as a result of eating poisoned meat. Her picky eating habits were the main reasons for her survival. Motherhood had been thrust upon Gracie rather abruptly as a new bride, but she must've picked up the knack, for Blanche adored her.

Of course, Ava would only indulge in laziness this one morning, it being her first in town. After that, she would pull her weight around the Yagger house until she got her bearings and found out where she fit into her new life. Mornings had never been a strong time of day after having worked most of the night, but her inner timetable was adjusting. Besides, it felt good to see the early sun in the sky outside her window. A light breeze from the open window blew the curtains, and she breathed in the fresh air.

She kicked her legs over the side of the bed and slipped on her housecoat. The view outside the window offered a grassy field that ended at a line of trees in the distance. The location of the house was just outside of town, which provided a certain degree of peace and quiet. It was a new sensation for the Dodge City girl, who had lived with noise and constant pressure far too long. Although, twenty-four years was not a lot when considering one's lifetime, Ava felt as if she'd been dodging emotional bullets for an eternity. All that changed when the banker handed her the "freedom cash," a gift that Ava vowed not to mess up. The thought of starting over played music in her ears, but the melody was often silenced when self-doubt and fear crept in to steal her joy.

Ava squared her shoulders. She had come to the right place, for Gracie would understand her plight. If her cousin could make a respectable life for herself, so could she.

Noise from the kitchen put her into action. She found a jug of warm water outside her door and washed in record time. She chose to adorn practical attire, as she had no idea what the day might hold. A knock sounded, and she opened the door to find young Blanche standing there with a tray.

"Mama had to go to town. She said for me to deliver breakfast to your room. If you want company, I have the time to sit with you."

"Do you not have a tutoring class?" Ava asked.

"Yes, ma'am. The teacher is helping lots of students this summer. In the morning, she prepares the older students for college. I am slotted into her schedule for one o'clock."

"Well, then, I would love to have your company. As you can see, I am already dressed, and we can go sit in the kitchen instead of staying cooped up in my room if you'd like."

Blanche peeked around Ava and smiled. "I see you got yourself all settled in. You keep your bedroom tidier than I do."

"I haven't been here long enough to mess it up. Give me time," Ava said, laughing. "I'd rather not start with muffin crumbs all over the floor."

"Mama has that morning glory recipe down pat. It's Papa's favorite."

"I shall have to take some lessons from her before I launch out on my own, as I have not had much experience in the kitchen."

"It's a cinch. I can help you, if you'd like."

"That is very generous of you, but I don't want to infringe on the schedule already set in place."

"Aw, I've got lots of time for company," Blanche said, moving down the hall toward the kitchen. Ava closed the door to her room and followed.

The girl chattered nonstop. "We've never had anyone come from far off to stay at our house. I like to forget where I come from and imagine Blazer is the entire earth."

"That is good news. I will follow suit and forget where I came from, for I doubt there is no place as peaceful as this corner of South Dakota."

"It's not always peaceful," she said, placing the tray on the table and plunking into the chair across from it. "When fellows hit it big at the mines, and it gets too crowded over in Central City, they ride all the way to Blazer and set up a howling enough to make the wolves hide in their dens. Papa says they drink and carouse until they've spent all their hard-earned nuggets, and then they head back to their claims like sad puppies with their tails between their legs."

"It does seem foolish. I would think prospectors come with dreams to fulfill, hoping for the future their riches will bring to pass."

"Makes sense when you and me say it, but most get the yellow fever and lose sight of why they came. And some only scrape together enough to survive. Takes a patient kind of person to enjoy searching for that elusive yellow treasure." Blanche seemed very wise with regard to the gold rush.

"I suppose it's a gamble some are willing to take." Ava wondered if she might have risked winning or losing in the gold fields had she saved enough personal funds to make it this far. Any existence had to be better than the one she left behind. Thank goodness the donor had taken that venture off her plate of possibilities.

"Papa has a claim outside Central City, and we go there for a holiday every year. That's where I lost my first family and gained another with the Yaggers," Blanche said with an air of reminiscence. "And I have quite a stash of nuggets growing in my secret hiding place."

"Slate is your stepfather, right?" Ava half knew the story but she wanted to hear the child's version.

"He is, but don't tell him that. Papa and Mama Gracie consider us all closer than blood kin, and I like it that way. The folks that birthed me had the gold fever and it killed them. They weren't cut out to be frontiersmen. The Yaggers stepped right in that very day and took me home to live with them. They are God's people to be sure."

"I'm sorry about the loss of your family in the gold camps."

"I missed my brother for a while, but then I met Dakota, Mrs. Holiday's boy, and he fills the void right proper. I settled in to being a Yagger just like I was born to it."

"Yes, you have, little miss," Ava said with a chuckle. "Mrs. Holiday, she is Gracie's good friend, right?"

"Oh, she's an angel of a woman." Blanche said, exaggerating the compliment by stretching out the syllables. "If I can make it to her age with my wings still intact, I'll consider it an intervention from the Good Lord himself. My wild side often gets me into trouble."

Ava laughed, causing a lump of muffin to lodge in her throat, bringing on a coughing fit. Blanche immediately jumped to her feet and rushed to pound her on the back. Ava doused her mouth with a swig of coffee to gain control.

"You are a delightful child, Blanche, and I am sure your parents will manage to keep your wild side in check."

"I daresay they will," Blanche said as she plopped back into her chair, leaned forward, and rested her chin on the edge of the table. "If their scolding doesn't work, the time I spend in my room as punishment will fix the problem. Who can cause trouble staring out the window?"

Ava smiled and pushed the tray away. "This was very tasty—did you make it, or did your mother?"

"I scrambled the eggs and put on the coffee. Mama fried the bacon and baked the muffins."

"A good team effort. Do you have time to give me a tour of your town?"

"Oh, yes," she said, jumping to her feet again. "Best get your parasol. The sun is already hot, and you don't want to burn that ivory skin of yours. Did you never get outside back where you come from?"

"I did, on occasion, but most of my time was spent indoors."

"Can't imagine being cooped up inside. I live to breathe in God's fresh air." Blanche scooped up the dirty dishes and headed for the wash basin. "This won't take me long. I'll finish these up in two shakes of a lamb's tail."

Ava went to her room to retrieve her parasol. There had been a bin full of sunshades made available to the working girls in Dodge City, but she'd mostly used them to hide her shame when forced to go out in public. How refreshing it would be to actually use them for their proper purpose.

Five minutes later, Ava and Blanche headed for the town's center. The girl provided a running account of every store or shop, its owners, and the pros and cons of crossing its threshold to spend even a single penny of her money.

"You seem to have a good sense of money management. Your father must be proud."

"I suppose. He gives me most of the stuff I need, and I am a penny-pincher when it comes to spending some of my stash. I'm shopping for something real special to give the new baby when it comes, and of course, my list of Christmas and birthday presents are growing, but I like to make homemade gifts—Mama says they're her favorite."

"It's true that the best memories come from receiving something someone has crafted with their own hands," Ava said. Not that she had many of those treasures in her hope chest, but the few she'd gotten over the years always stirred pleasant reminders of the gift giver.

"Where did your mother go this morning?"

"Aw, she's on a charity mission. A family on the other side of town is struggling."

"Did she bring them some muffins?" Ava asked.

"Yes, she did. She said the Yagger family could do without the extra dozen she baked."

"Your mama knows what it's like to be in need," Ava said, "and I'm sure helping others is a rewarding experience."

"Mama doesn't do anything for reward. All the glory goes to God. In all my years, I never saw such a thankful soul as your cousin Gracie."

"She has much to be grateful for—a home, family, and friends—none of which is to be taken for granted." Ava sighed and stared off into the distance. "So do I."

"You come from a poor background, too? I'd have never known, judging by the pretty dresses you wear."

"Newly purchased to impress you," Ava said. "I suppose poverty is a family curse handed down to Gracie and me. Her mother and mine were sisters, and neither of them chose to marry into money."

"Money isn't everything. Papa pounds that into my head every chance he gets. Says coveting is sinful, and we're to be content, but some jingle in your pocket sure comes in handy when you want to buy something special." The girl stopped and placed her hands on her hips in a thoughtful stance. "I can't figure out what color to buy for the baby. Why, I could have a sister or a brother, and folks would be horror-stricken to see Slate Junior running around in a pink bonnet."

Ava didn't respond, caught up in her own reflections. The door to the Cranston saloon loomed ahead of her, the previous night's inebriated patrons still sleeping it off on the boardwalk, leaning against the building. They would be first in line for the eleven o'clock opening hour. The inside door was firmly shut, but Ava knew the preparations the owner had going on inside. Every institution was the same, providing the gaming, entertainment, and an endless supply of liquor.

Her heart beat rapidly as if the demon stronghold could somehow snatch her back inside and lock the doors to her freedom forever. She felt a tug on her arm, saving her from an emotional collapse right there on the main street.

"Miss Gardner, are you all right? You look as white as a sheet."

Ava inhaled deeply and turned to gaze at the child, concern written all over her features. "I'm fine. You are just like your mother, seeing brokenness and reaching out to rescue others from falling."

"Huh?" Blanche screwed up her face, dumbfounded.

"Never mind. Best if you don't know your strengths. Could serve to puff you up."

"Papa would sure squash that down real quick."

"Why don't we go into the clothing store and take a gander at their selection of baby gifts? I want to get something for the wee one, too."

"It isn't coming for a few months yet, but I always say it's better to be prepared than rush around like a hen with her head cut off after it comes."

"I agree. Let's shop, Blanche."

Blanche raced ahead and disappeared through the door. Ava was slow to follow. She felt a hand on her arm and turned to see Mr. Shilling behind her. He appeared out of breath, but he held his hat against his heart and smiled hugely as if they were long-lost friends.

"Miss Gardner—how pleasant to see you out and about on this fine morning, looking well rested from your trip."

"I did sleep well, thank you," Ava said. "My cousin's daughter and I are out on the town, doing some shopping for the new baby that will soon arrive in the Yagger home."

"A new baby," Orson said.

"Yes. It seems the dilemma we face is pink or blue."

He chuckled. "Perhaps yellow or green would suffice."

"Those are excellent suggestions. It sounds as if you've shopped for baby items before. Do you have a family?" When he avoided her eyes, she added, "Siblings, perhaps?"

"I do have a brother, but my sister is deceased. We boys may live in different states, but we try to gather during the Christmas season, although even that has proven difficult as of late."

"I am sorry to hear about your sister. I suspect the empty chair at the table makes the holiday celebrations harder to bear."

"It does." He put his hat on his head. "I should let you get back to your mission. That young girl will be wondering what happened to you." He started to turn, but then reached for her arm again. "Miss Gardner, would you do me the honor of dining with me tonight?"

She was startled by the unexpected invitation. "Tonight is not good. Gracie has invited friends for supper. A welcome-to-Blazer party in my honor."

"Splendid. Do you think you will like this town you've come to?"

"I do. It's quiet, and I could use some of that right now."

"I saw an ominous shadow cross those beautiful features of yours—are you harboring a secret?"

"If I were, I'd never tell you or it would no longer be a secret."

"That's a polite way of telling me to mind my own business," Orson said, chuckling. "I shall promise to be more discreet if you'll agree to dine with me tomorrow evening."

"You are persistent, sir."

"I know a good thing when I see it, and I am not ready to say goodbye to you just yet."

"How long will your business keep you here?"

"Indefinitely. One never knows how long it will take for the wheels of change to turn."

"Wheels of change? That is an odd way of describing your job situation," she said. It didn't take long for her to realize that the phrase fully applied to her situation as well.

"I am very conscious that work is done correctly, especially in construction. Someone's life may hang in the balance of an unskilled worker's mistake."

"It is encouraging to witness such diligence when overseeing work to its conclusion. So many self-made carpenters throw up a building in record time, and for years following its completion, it suffers continuous repairs."

"Which will not happen in my case."

Blanche popped her head through the open door of the shop and called out, "Are you coming, Miss Gardner?"

"Of course," she said, smiling apologetically to the man at her side. "Good day, Mr. Shilling."

"Until tomorrow evening—shall I call around to pick you up at six?"

"Yes, at my cousin's house. I'm not sure I can direct you there as of yet. We could meet—"

"It appears the Yaggers are a well-respected family in these parts. Getting directions should be easy."

He turned and headed down the street in the opposite direction, and she stared after him, wondering as to his interest in obtaining knowledge about the Yaggers reputation. Perhaps Slate was somehow connected to the construction job Mr. Shilling was undertaking in town. That scenario made sense if it were a side-interest for Slate, as she knew him to be employed at the livery.

Why a man of his status would single out a girl like her to dine with was beyond her reasoning. Surely, he was not so desperate as to settle for a stagecoach acquaintance. Of course, he did not know her past, and she might seem as good a choice as any of the women in Blazer. That must have been it, for if he had known her story, he likely would have run in the opposite direction.

Ava wondered if there were any men alive—besides the honorable Slate Yagger—who would not be horrified at the thought of courting a dance hall girl. Could a secret of that magnitude possibly remain silent for a lifetime? More directly, did she have the nerve to deceive a man who might become attracted to her in the future?