Page 84 of The Prospector's Only Prospect
“Our pleasure,” Ira said. He and Emmett weren’t looking at her. They were sending such pointed looks at Virgil, he ought to be glowing with a snowflake pattern himself, possibly turning to melted wax and ash.
“We made this, too,” Levi said proudly. “It’s a game.”
“Oh, yes.” Marigold looked at the board of holes and pegs in a cross pattern. “I’ve played that. You jump the pegs and try to remove all of them?”
Levi nodded and pushed it toward her. “Do you want to try?”
“I will, but I need to hang my wet things and comb out my hair. I should start something for our dinner, too. Ira, Emmett, will you eat with us? I want to thank you for today. It was very…um.” Her thoughts ground to a halt, incapable of finding appropriate words. Relaxing? A special treat? “Well, you know,” she said with a perturbed wave. “You’ve been to the spring.”
“We have,” Ira said, still glaring at Virgil, who was letting Harley try his hat.
“Levi, have you checked your snares today?” Marigold asked. “Perhaps there’s something for our stew pot.”
“Not yet.”
“I’ll take you, since the horse is saddled,” Virgil offered. “We’ll check them on the way to the barn. But Marigold, wait.” Virgil held out his hand to beckon her closer.
“Oh, um…” She came to stand beside him, feeling very self-conscious as he took her hand and squeezed it.
“We’ve decided to tie the knot,” Virgil announced. “We’ll go to Denver for the vote on the twenty-fourth and see Woodrow.”
Ira and Emmett lost their tense expressions, and big smiles took over their faces.
Nettie asked worriedly, “Where are you going?”
“To Denver, sweetie.” Marigold stepped closer to smooth the girl’s hair. “To get married.”
“Really?” Levi snapped his head around. “Then you’ll be our mother? Forever?”
“Would you?” Nettie’s eyes widened with such cautious hope, she nearly broke Marigold’s heart in two.
“Yes, if you would like that?”
Nettie threw her arms around her waist so exuberantly, Marigold’s breath was squeezed out of her. Happiness flowered in her chest. She bent to gather Nettie closer while she kissed her hair.
Levi rose to hover behind his sister, offering a lopsided grin.
Marigold reached for him, giving him a hug across his shoulders.
“Me,” Harley said, trying to get out of Virgil’s arms.
“Oh, yes, I’ll be your mama, too.” She straightened to take him, so pleased by this reception, she was growing teary. She cherished the hugs from all the Gardners and wondered how she had become so lucky as to earn this bright and wonderful future.
Chapter Twenty-One
If they’d managed to retain more men, Virgil would have been a delegate for more than his partners and a handful of miners willing to winter in Quail’s Creek. As it was, he carried fourteen votes against becoming the State of Jefferson. Most were objecting because the constitution didn’t include the right for Emmett, Tom, Bing Sun, or Marigold to vote, but their stance might not be noted one way or another. The prevailing winds were against statehood because of the tax burden.
Virgil would have tapped the ferryman for the latest gossip on the subject, but he wound up supporting Marigold as she hung her head over the stern of the raft.
They’d made good time in the near-empty mule cart. Even with their late start and the need to stop for Marigold to overcome her nausea, they had arrived at the ferry before the moon rose. They could have pushed into Denver but had camped with a handful of prospectors who were heading into the mountains despite the lateness of the season. Virgil had taken the opportunity to tell them there was work in Quail’s Creek if they didn’t find their own gold.
This morning, they’d risen early and skipped breakfast in favor of buying flapjacks in Denver. They were nearly there, but here she was, retching despite her empty stomach.
“Are you sure—?” They hadn’t found time or privacy to make love again, but she’d been downright emotional when they’d said goodbye to the children.
“I’m sure. That’s why I needed my bag yesterday.” She’d been very red-faced, and he hadn’t wanted to ask what she’d retrieved before she had disappeared behind a tree for the second time in as many minutes.
He’d been thinking of taking a room for their wedding night, but it was just as well that they hurry back to camp. He trusted his partners to keep his children alive for a day or two, but it was a lot to ask when there was so much work to be done. If he and Marigold finished their business quickly, they might be home before dark.
