Page 85 of The Prospector's Only Prospect
The ferry landed, and Virgil said, “You walk off ahead.”
“Thank you. I’ll be fine in a moment.” She took a cleansing breath, adjusted her bonnet, and smoothed the front of her blue coat.
The ferryman gave Virgil an odd look as he drove off, the kind that had Virgil’s neck prickling with warning. Shit. Rumors would be flying from this performance, suggesting he had an urgent reason for seeking out Woodrow’s matrimonial services.
He didn’t say anything to Marigold. Thankfully, her color was better as she climbed up to the bench next to him for the last short leg of their journey.
“I’ll head straight to Dudley’s Saloon to get the voting out of the way,” he said. “With any luck, Woodrow will be there. I expect half the town will be. Once we’re hitched, we’ll see about spending your wedding money. What are you thinking you’d like to buy?”
“Bolts of wool to make the children some warm clothes for winter and something for heavier bedding.”
“Marigold,” he chided. “I’ll buy what my children need. That money is for you.” His partners had each put a twenty-dollar promissory note in an envelope, urging her to, “Get something you’ve been missing.”
She leaned toward him to ask, “Have I got sick on me? People are staring.”
He had noticed himself that they were attracting attention. The pregnancy rumor couldn’t have made it off the ferry faster than they had, could it?
“They’re probably amazed you’ve survived this long and look no worse for wear.”
The noise she made was more despair than humor. She looked to the gloved hands she was twisting in her lap. “I know those looks. I’ve become notorious for some reason.”
He hated to bring it up but, “The lost nugget? Plenty of men were there when—”
“No!” She covered her face, peeking through the web of her fingers. “Do you think so?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. At least a few of the men would have come through here on their way to somewhere else. A good story will buy you a whiskey in the saloons.” Which didn’t explain why men were halting in their tracks when they spotted them. Every single one spun and followed their same route toward Dudley’s.
Irked, Virgil hurried the mules to the saloon and drew them to a halt on the grassy verge next to it.
Not to be outdone by the tallest building in Auraria, Dudley had added a second floor onto his original wood-framed saloon. The upstairs had yet to be framed in with rooms so he could call himself a tavern, but the open space was useful for meetings, and Virgil had heard that a few traveling entertainments had performed up there, too.
Today, it was the site of the referendum on the state’s constitution. Cecil was doing a steady business below, and pockets of men stood around outside, smoking and wagging their jaws.
They all stared as Virgil helped Marigold from the cart.
“What are you gawking at?” Virgil asked crossly but didn’t wait for an answer. “Woodrow,” he called as he spotted the man. “Don’t go anywhere. Soon as I cast my votes, I’m getting hitched.”
That ought to answer the question these men weren’t asking.
Woodrow scraped his hat off his head and gave his bald patch a scratch. “To who?”
“What the hell do you mean, ‘to who’?” His intended was right here.
Suddenly, a woman broke past a wall of men and cried, “Marigold?”
…
Marigold knew that voice better than her own. Even so, she grabbed Virgil’s sleeve to steady herself, unable to believe her eyes.
“Pearl?” Could it be true?
Yes. There was her sister rushing toward her with her wide, bright smile. Her red curls poked from her bonnet to frame her angelic face. Her yellow coat over her green calico gown brought out the gold in her teary brown eyes.
“Oh, Pearl!” Marigold’s heart nearly burst from her chest. She hurried forward to snatch her close, soaking in the warm, familiar scent of lavender and sun-dried cotton and that special, familiar smell that told her she was with family.Home.
“I’ve been waiting for days.” Pearl hugged her with all her strength. “Everyone said he would come here today, but I didn’t knowyouwould. It’s so good to see you.” Her voice was choked with tears.
So was Marigold’s. Happy ones. “How did you get here? Did Hiram bring you? Are you married?” She drew back to look around, still in shock, but smiling so widely her cheeks hurt.
