Much Ado About Miners Read online

  “The sheriff let you loose?” Phineas asked. Their boots clomped on the boardwalk and they passed in front of a building that housed the undertaker on one half and the local newspaper on the other.

  “Yep, not long after you came by. I felt a bit on the puny side so went straight to the War Eagle and slept.”

  “I’d say your first day was a little rocky.”

  “Had a bath and a beer, got run over by four robbers, was shot in the head by a lady banker, got thrown in the hoosegow for robbing a bank, and had a meeting with the sheriff who mentioned that my kind isn’t welcome around here. A grand time. You?”

  “After I took care of business, I lubricated the hitch in my giddyup, and met up with a kind Celestial lady who invited me to have congress with her. I daresay I had a better day than you did.”

  “Sounds like it.” Kade couldn’t get Iris Gardner out of his mind, and wished he’d seen more than a glance of her. “Looks like you trimmed those scraggly white whiskers.”

  “Needed a little shaping is all, and I like to think of them as silver.” Phineas pushed up his floppy brimmed hat. “Speaking of silver, let’s stop by the Silver Slipper and have a drink. I’m buying.”

  They pushed through the batwing doors and found a clean spot at the bar. The barkeep set them up with a bottle and two shined glasses. Phineas flipped a coin on the counter and poured. “You headed out to your folks’ house?”

  “Yep.”

  “You sure you wanna ride with that head wound of yours? You might oughtta stay in town another day.”

  “I’d never hear the end of it. Bram would’ve ridden straight through without stopping in town.”

  “Bram?”

  “Older brother—the one who is the upstanding citizen and always gets everything right. He’s a lawman up in Willamette Valley.”

  “Hmm.” Phineas studied his drink. “If he’s so upstanding, then why are you helping out your folks instead of him?” He downed the rest in one gulp.

  “I’m sure he has his reasons.”

  “You never told me you had any brothers.”

  “Three, and a sister, too.”

  “Are you staying with them or in town? I’m bunking at the Idaho Hotel and they still have rooms.”

  Kade tossed him a few coins. “Rent me a room for two weeks and see if someone will fetch my stuff from the War Eagle. Let me know how much more I owe you.”

  “I’ll take it out of company funds.” Phineas pounded the cork back into the bottle. “Knock that whiskey back and I’ll show you where the livery is.”

  On the way out, Kade heard the butcher hollering and saw a scraggly yellow cat dart across the street with a stolen morsel, only to be stepped on by a passing horse. The cat let out an ear-piercing yowl.

  “Looks like that cat’s done in.” He hurried to the still beast and squatted to get a better look at the miserable-looking tom cat. The old boy had one ear missing, battle scars all over his head, and his tail was bent at a right angle.

  “Is he still alive?” Phineas lowered himself on one knee.

  Kade felt the racing heartbeat on the cat’s side. “Yep.”

  “What’re you gonna do?”

  “Take him to the doc. His office is across from the bank.”

  “That’s a people doctor, not a veterinarian.”

  “Get me a board and we’ll scoot him onto it. Might do more harm than good if I pick him up.”

  They managed to get the cat to the doctor’s office and he still hadn’t regained consciousness, for which Kade was thankful. By the looks of the beast, he was a warrior. Maybe that spirit would pull him through to fight another day. Not that Kade even liked cats, but a man was no man who would let a helpless animal suffer.

  They went into the doctor’s office, Kade taking note of the sign, “John M. Mabry. M.D.”

  Doc took one glance at the cat. “No animals in the office.”

  “He needs looked at.”

  “I don’t take animals in my office. Not clean.”

  “Then look at him out front,” Kade said. He gave the board with the cat on it to Phineas and took Doc Mabry’s arm. “Fix him up and I’ll find someone to take care of him.”

  “Head wound, same as yours. Same treatment—rest.” Doc fussed over bandaging the cat’s head. “Lucky for him, his head’s as hard as yours.”

  Half an hour later in his hotel room, Kade had one spittin’-mad feline on his hands. Doc had told him to keep the thing quiet, but that wasn’t in the cards. “Hold on there, cat. We’ll get you to my ma—she’ll feed you cream and give you a soft bed.”

  Phineas cackled. “Looks like you finally met up with something as ornery as you, Kade. ‘But wilt thou woo this wild cat?’ Gremio wondered that in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

  “I could use a little help here.” The beast had drawn blood already.

  “You’re a foot taller than me and a blamed sight meaner. I’d say you’re the man for the job, especially since you and him have matching bandages.”

  Kade yanked a case off a pillow and stuffed the cat in the sack, bandaged head and all. The cat yowled even louder. “I’m taking him to Ma tonight. If anyone can calm him down, she can. Wanna ride with me?”

  “Naw, I’ll check on Verges and Juliet at the livery, then it’s my turn for a little extry pampering.” The grizzled old prospector had named his riding mule after Verges, a character in Much Ado About Nothing and his pack burro after Romeo’s Juliet Capulet. Phineas was a puzzlement. He could recite any Shakespeare play or sonnet, and did with annoying regularity, but he’d spent the last thirty-five years scratching the hills for gold, mostly alone. He loved the ladies, but had never married or even been in love that Kade knew of. In fact, Kade didn’t know much about him at all.

  Kade scowled. “I should’ve expected as much.”

  “You’re fast with the gun and faster with your temper, partner, but I’m just a lonely old seeker of truth. You should heed Shakespeare. ‘Journeys end in lovers meeting.’ Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 3.”

  “Shakespeare wouldn’t last ten minutes in this country.”

  Phineas chuckled and touched his floppy hat in salute. “You’re just jealous because I get all the ladies.”

  “Women and trouble are two words for the same thing.”

  “I guess you’d think that. ’Course, I’ve never had a woman mad enough to shoot me in the head.” The old man cackled at his own joke, grabbed his hat, and set out to seek his pleasure.

  Wiggledy bag of cat in hand, Kade left the hotel and bumped into a lady on the boardwalk. The cat scratched him through the bag and he cursed. “Excuse my French, ma’am.”

  She pushed the spectacles that hung on a fancy strap around her neck onto her nose and peered at him. “You are Kade McKinnon!”

  The lady had curves in all the right places and lips begging for a kiss. It was her, all right—a grown up Iris Gardner, and she’d done a fine job of turning into a woman, at least in looks. He wouldn’t mind another peek at her cleavage—it had tormented him the whole night through.

  “I am, headache and all.” Because of a pretty woman with a pistol, a lethal combination to any man.

  “I’m truly sorry I shot you, but how could I have known you weren’t one of the robbers?”

  “Maybe because I didn’t come into the bank until you’d run them all off?”

  “You took Mr. Oakley’s chickens,” she reminded him, referring to his nefarious youth that he’d prefer to forget. So she did remember him from Virginia City, and she had the same devilish glint in her blue eyes.

  “That’s because he didn’t pay me for shoeing his horses.”

  “You shot the church bell in the middle of Cora Watkin’s wedding.”

  He smiled, remembering the what-for that little prank caused. “Benny dared me to. Are you gonna shoot me again?”

  “I should, just because you scared me half to death, but no, I regret hurting you. Does Vivvie know you’re in town?”

  “Nope. I heard you talking about her at the sheriff’s office but my mind was a touch muddled.”

  “Yes, well...sorry about that.”

  “I’m headed out to the place now. Gonna help the family with the mine.” He couldn’t tell her his real business, but he hadn’t lied, either. Surely there was something he could do in a mine that didn’t involve closed-in dark places.

  “Doc won’t like it. You’re supposed to be resting, and anyway, the McKinnons are in town, or will be, shortly.” Miss Gardner eyed the bag and raised an eyebrow. “What’s in the bag, if I may ask?”

  “A cat. Thought Ma might need a mouser.”

  “Um, I’m sure she’ll be happy to get it.” Her ladylike smirk said otherwise. She took off her glasses and straightened her bonnet. “Nice chatting with you, Mr. McKinnon. I have errands to run.”

  He tipped his hat, although it was already tipped because of the bandage. “Nice meeting you again, Miss Gardner.”

  The happy little blond gal who’d had more spring to her step than a jackrabbit had grown up. He licked his lips and admired her slender waist and swaying hips as she headed down the street. Then she stumbled on an uneven board in the walk. He chuckled as she righted herself and marched on. Grown up, yes, but still the same girl.

  * * *

  Iris called the meeting of the Bonnet Consortium to order amidst a fit of giggles over the new man in town, who happened to be Vivvie’s older brother and Iris’s first and only true love. Not a soul, not even Vivvie and especially not Kade, had ever known about the latter, and Iris intended to keep it that way.

  “Ladies, remember we’re suffragists. There’s no use talking about a man, especially Vivvie’s brother.” Iris sat behind the one and only desk in the sparse rented room of Mrs. Anna B
rouster’s Boarding House. Other than Vivvie, who lived with her family in Dewey, all the other ladies of the consortium rented rooms there, too. They’d each brought chairs from their own rooms, and Mrs. Brouster brought an extra for Vivvie. “Suffragists don’t need men. In two weeks, we’ll each be financially independent, able to live our lives as we wish. No man need ever tell us what to do or when.”

  Nancy Trahern, her auburn hair covered by a tiny yellow Bebé bonnet perched on the back of her head, squinted through her new spectacles that Iris had urged her to buy. Nancy was nearsighted, though—opposite of Iris. “We just thought you’d make it two-for-two.” More giggles.

  “Order, ladies!” Iris chose to ignore Nancy’s attempt at humor and cleared her throat. “We’ve received correspondence from Prospero Security Transport, represented by a Mr. Phineas Stratford. On behalf of the owner, he’s requiring us to provide five armed men for escort of our bullion wagon.”

  “Five?” Mrs. Brouster sniffed. “I thought Prospero was providing the crew.”

  “Where would we even find such men?” Marylee Cavin shrugged. “We could hire Wells Fargo like everyone else.”

  “They’re too expensive,” Iris said. “Prospero is cheaper, even if we do have to provide the crew. May I remind you we have very little money, and dare not risk a penny.” She stood and moved in front of her desk. “Mr. Ivan M. Bonnet has replied, agreeing to the new terms, but deducting the salaries of the hired guns.”

  Ivan M was an acronym for Iris, Vivvie, Anna, and Nancy. Marylee provided the middle initial. So far, no one had challenged Mr. Bonnet because they didn’t know “he” was a passel of suffragist investors. One of the mines in their portfolio was Vivvie’s family’s mine, the Ten-high Straight.

  Nancy adjusted her spectacles. “The only hired gun I know is Vivvie’s brother, and since you just shot him, he might not be amenable to our offer.” All the ladies giggled anew.

  “I have an inside track, though,” Vivvie said. “The Ten-high Straight produced the ore we’re shipping, and Kade’s here to help our family out.”

  Iris couldn’t bear the thought of hiring Kade, not because he couldn’t handle the job—he had a reputation as a competent marksman and she’d heard he was a gun for hire. He went wherever the action was, which was exactly why he’d never be husband material even if he’d shown any interest in her, which he hadn’t and wouldn’t. She didn’t want to work with him any more than she had to.

  It had been eleven long years, and every man who’d courted her had come up short when compared to Kade. She couldn’t risk rekindling an old flame, especially since only she had the flame. He’d never noticed her at all, and if he did, it was to taunt her or to escape from her and Vivvie. But she couldn’t and wouldn’t utter a word of her thoughts to anyone.

  “Yes, but even your family doesn’t know you’re an investor in the Bonnet Consortium. And if you told him or anyone else, we’d soon be discovered. It’s important that we remain anonymous until we receive funds for the first shipment. After that, well, money is power.”

  The ladies hummed their agreement. Mrs. Brouster stood. “I think we should send a message to Sheriff Adler and ask him to hire five men for us.”

  “Good idea,” Marylee agreed. “The sheriff knows who’s competent with firearms and who’s reliable. He’d be our best source, as long as he doesn’t find out who we really are.”

  Iris took out her stationery. “If you’re all in agreement, Mr. Ivan M. Bonnet will compose a letter after this meeting.”

  “Glad that’s settled.” Mrs. Brouster stood and opened the door. “Anyone interested in refreshments?”

  “Always,” Nancy said, standing. “Need some help?”

  Marylee followed the other two ladies out. “I get the first cookie.”

  Iris turned toward Vivvie. “I’m so sorry I shot your brother.”

  “Speaking of Kade, I wonder if he’s still in town. He hasn’t come to Dewey to visit the family yet.”

  “If he is, you can take him home in your wagon. Might be easier on him than riding. But I met him on the street an hour ago and he said he was heading out to give your mother a cat.”

  Vivvie groaned. “He hasn’t even been here a day and he’s already dragging stray animals home?”

  “Old habits die hard.” The enticing aroma of freshly baked oatmeal cookies beckoned and she followed her nose to the kitchen. “Nothing like cookies to make you happy.”

  Hazel Gardner must have smelled the cookies, too, because she’d returned from her shopping trip early. She busily served the younger ladies, swiping one here and there for herself.

  Vivvie took a saucer with two cookies and a glass of lemonade. “Thank you, Mrs. Gardner. By the way, Mama wanted—”

  The door opened and Vivvie’s mother, Mrs. Esther McKinnon said, “Mama wanted what?”

  Vivvie laughed. “For me to invite Iris and Mrs. Gardner to our house for supper and a stay-over.”

  No! Mrs. McKinnon would be furious when she found out Iris had shot her son. Even though he lived by the gun, his own mother would not be happy to have others shoot at him, especially one she’d called friend. Besides, Kade might show up.

  “That’s right,” Vivvie’s mother said, helping herself to a cookie. “What do you say, Hazel? We could take a look at the costumes to see what we still need to do. We have a week, but there’s no reason to wait until the last minute.”

  “Sounds like a fine idea, Esther,” Hazel said. “Thanks. We’ll go pack overnight bags.”

  Sounded like a terrible idea, and Iris had to talk her mother into staying. “Um, I think we should stay in town tonight. I’m not feeling well.” She had to get that letter written and to the post office by morning. She couldn’t do it three miles from Silver.

  “You’re feeling just fine.” Mama was dug in for the trip to the McKinnons’ house in Dewey, and Iris couldn’t tell her the reason she wanted to stay. Either of the reasons. The other reason was named Kade. “You always enjoy going out to the McKinnons’. And don’t worry about that little incident yesterday—we’ll get it all patched up.”

  “Little incident?” Vivvie’s mother raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me this bunch is getting into scrapes already.”

  “I’m afraid so. I’ll tell you about it on the way out.” Iris’s mother grabbed another cookie. “Iris, come upstairs with me and show me what all you want to bring. I’ll pack since you’re feeling poorly.” That last remark dripped in sarcasm.

  “But—”

  “Hurry, now. We mustn’t keep the McKinnons waiting. I’m hoping Bram will be here tomorrow. Esther told me yesterday when she dropped Vivvie off that he’s supposed to show up any day now.”

  “And Kade?”

  “She didn’t mention him. Probably because he was already in town—we saw him not long ago.”

  Or because the two mothers had been conspiring to match her with Bram should Edward Hewett fail to come through with a marriage proposal in a timely manner. Iris didn’t know for sure, but she strongly suspected as much. In that case, they’d probably maneuver Vivvie and Edward, hoping he’d take the bait for her.

  “Mother, I’m twenty-four years old. I can make my own decisions, and really, I don’t think it’s a good idea to visit the McKinnons tonight.”

  “Yes, you are twenty-four, and look where your decisions have gotten you so far. You’re an old maid in a town where there are ten willing bachelors for every unmarried lady.” She grabbed some unmentionables and packed them in a valise. “It’s time you planned for your future.”

  Iris wished she could tell her mother about the Bonnet Consortium and how she and the other four ladies were on the verge of financial independence. They were so close. But she couldn’t tell a soul. All the ladies had taken a vow of confidence, and she wouldn’t break it, not even with her mother, and not even to avoid her mother’s incessant nattering about marriage.

  “I still don’t think it’s a good idea,” Iris grumbled.

  As she packed, she dreaded meeting Kade again. He’d be at their house, and while he hadn’t seemed too angry with her, that made her emotional distress all that much worse. He’d been her first love and she’d adored him since she was a little girl. At thirteen, the year her family moved away from Virginia City, she’d fallen madly in love with him, or so she’d thought. Girlhood fancies die hard. Truth was, no man who’d ever courted her had measured up to his memory, even if he did run with a bad crowd.