Love Finds You in Silver City, Idaho Page 2

  “Trust me.” Nate scooped up his hat and gun belt, putting them back on before settling a hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “Now, where did you say I could find Silver City?”

  Nate knew he was close. He should have followed the road from California, but the quiet ride through the mountainous country was more to his liking. He still couldn’t believe his superiors had given him the assignment. Sending a twenty-five-year-old man was unheard of, so they told him. A task such as his normally required an experienced man. He had to fight for the job, but he’d turn himself inside-out to prove himself worthy of the deputy marshal post. With effort, he forced his mind back to Andrew’s directions.

  “Other side of the hill. You’ll go past our barn and house. Just past that you’ll find the start of Silver.” Andrew shrugged. “Or you can follow the creek.”

  Sounded like he’d missed the place by a mere mile. Yep, the town couldn’t possibly be much to speak of. But then many mining towns in the mountains rarely were. Too difficult for family men to get to, let alone stay on to forge out a profit worthy of their effort. Most women didn’t cotton to rough living and rougher neighbors.

  “Thank you, Andy.”

  Andrew nodded and hiked up his dripping trousers. “You gonna stay awhile, Nate?”

  He hoped not. “For a bit. Probably not long.”

  He finally turned to Rebekah. He’d avoided facing her long enough and still couldn’t look her in the eyes. Her neck was as far as he made it, which was when he first noticed the small scar there, what looked to be another burn. Curiosity nudged his mind for the first time, but he tamped it down. He wouldn’t be around long enough to care.

  Drawn to a glint at the base of her throat, Nate found an odd-shaped piece of flat metal. The high shine made him guess it to be pure silver. The facing nestled against her dress, keeping him from seeing what might decorate the front. When her hand went to the ornament, he again felt heat in his face. He needed to stop staring.

  She appeared to be all right, but he figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask once more. Still uncomfortable, he scratched the back of his neck and worked his way to his chin before shoving his hands into his pockets. “You, ah, you’re not hurt or anything, are you?”

  He glanced at her eyes long enough to catch the mirth in them. His anxiety must amuse her. He found that interesting, especially since she stood in a puddle from her dunking, shivering while wringing out her light brown hair and soiled apron. Odd that she didn’t hide her scars. Most ladies he knew would cover their face or at least turn away.

  The smile in her eyes finally reached her mouth. “Thanks to you, we’re both fine. Again, I appreciate your help, Mr. Kirkland.”

  Her formality didn’t sit well. “I sure wish you’d call me Nate.”

  “Well, I reckon that means you should call me—”

  Gunshots drew their attention westward. The sound of trouble ricocheted off the surrounding hills, reminding Nate of the task before him and why he’d come to Silver City in the first place.

  Chapter Three

  Rebekah’s heart could have been hit by the bullet; it lurched so hard at the gunshots. Nate had taken a step toward his horse but stopped to look at her, a question in his eyes.

  Understanding dawned. “We’re fine. Go!”

  She said a silent prayer for the town as he flew to his horse. In one smooth move, he slid onto the saddle and reined his mount around. His easy action betrayed years atop a saddle. Rebekah had spent enough time around her father’s livery to recognize a skilled horseman.

  Curiosity about the stranger started the moment he treated Andrew as a young man. Most men considered him a nuisance or ignored him altogether. Her interest bloomed as if watered by the moisture still dripping from her hem. Men often had difficulty looking her in the face, so Nate’s reaction was no surprise. But this man’s aversion bothered her. There was something in his eyes that drew her. Kindness, perhaps, with a tinge of sadness.

  Andrew yanked on her arm. “Come on, Bek. Why you just standing here? Let’s go.”

  Remembering the gunshot, Rebekah raced after her brother, ignoring her squeaking and squishing shoes, and gasped a prayer for Mr. Kirkland’s safety and that of all the other families in town.

  Nate vaguely noticed the house and barn he sped past—Rebekah and Andrew’s home. He felt bad about leaving them behind with no escort, but it couldn’t be helped. If the gunshots came from the men who’d been causing all the trouble, he could catch them and be done with this place. Besides, Rebekah told him to leave and get to town.

  What seemed an eternity later, Nate galloped around a corral attached to the livery and headed into the main part of town. The first street he came to looked quiet with merely a handful of people lingering on the boardwalks and alleys facing west. He urged his horse down a narrow road, only to have to rein him around several wagons lining the dirt street. Muddy was a better description. A crowd gathered in front of what appeared to be the biggest saloon on the sprawling street. He heeled his mount as close as he dared and dismounted.

  Wading through the group, excusing himself several times over, Nate finally made it to the center of the ruckus. Two men stood toe to toe, fists raised. The sheriff and an older gentleman tussled off to the side with another young man whose wild swings cut harmlessly through the air. The sheriff finally pulled his pistol and stuck the barrel in the man’s face.

  Nate moved to help since everyone else seemed more interested in watching than lending a hand. “You can stop right now.” His gruffest voice didn’t stop the punch headed his way. Nate ducked and landed his left fist on the young man’s nose. With his right hand, he pulled his pistol and aimed it at the other man. The first man ended up in the mud with a bloody nose.

  The second man raised his hands and backed away. “Hold on. I was just trying to protect my sister’s honor.” He moved next to a very young and terrified woman. Wide-eyed, she all but climbed under her brother’s arm.

  Nate glanced around, taking note of several faces in the crowd. Some looked completely innocent, while others wore hard expressions that caused suspicion. He’d try to seek them out later for further investigation.

  The sheriff had his man by the collar, the older gentleman at the ready if needed. The sheriff motioned to Nate. “Put your gun away.” When Nate obeyed, the sheriff holstered his own and reached down to grab the other man, who jerked away.

  The young man eyed him with a crooked grin. “You like swimming with your clothes on?”

  Nate ignored the comment and yanked the young man to his feet. “Sheriff, I’d be happy to help you get these two to your office.” Under orders not to reveal who he really was, Nate did his best to act like a concerned citizen and nothing more.

  The sheriff eyed him a moment, then nodded. “I’d be obliged.” He looked around before scooping up a pistol from the ground and shoving it in his gun belt. He pushed his man into motion. “What’d I tell you two about drinking too much?”

  “Aw, Sheriff, we was just trying to tell the girl she was pretty.”

  “Yeah, well, you crossed the line when you grabbed her, and you landed yourself in jail when you pulled your gun and tried to shoot her brother.”

  Nate gritted his teeth, fighting the desire to flatten the young men again. Fools. Actions like this would be the worst part of his job as a deputy marshal. Patience wasn’t a strong character trait for him lately. Maybe one day he’d get it back.

  The way the young men meandered into the cell and flopped onto the cots told Nate this wasn’t the first time they’d called the place home. If they didn’t take this time to learn their lesson, they just might see the rest of their life through bars—that is, if they managed to keep their necks off the end of a rope. The door clanged shut and the keys rattled in the lock. The boys never flinched. What a waste.

  The sheriff dropped the keys in a drawer of his battered desk. After slamming the drawer closed, he scrutinized Nate from head to toe. “Appreciate the help.” He held out
his hand. “Sheriff Caldwell.”

  Nate accepted a firm, strong handshake. “Nathaniel Kirkland.” He crossed his arms, ready to get some answers to his questions. The sooner the better—especially from the sheriff. He’d been told to keep an eye on the lawman and consider him a suspect. “I would imagine you’re always on the ready for scuffles like this. Or worse?”

  The sheriff didn’t look happy. “Meaning?”

  That didn’t come out right. Sounded like he’d questioned the sheriff’s abilities. Nate needed to smooth the ruffled feathers. “I just meant that you probably have to stay on guard since miners bring their finds into town much of the time. I imagine the less-than-honest are always looking for easy money.”

  “And what would you know about that?”

  This wasn’t going well at all. He shrugged, hoping for nonchalance. “I read the papers.”

  The same gentleman who helped the sheriff swung in off the street. “You just passing through?”

  Glad for the interruption, Nate shrugged. “Not sure. Thought I’d rest up here a bit. Maybe work for some pocket money before I move on.”

  “Good. We could use more men like you around here.” The gentleman held out his hand. “Perry Weaver.”

  The name sounded familiar. Nate searched his mind as he shook the man’s hand. “You Rebekah and Andrew’s father?”

  Mr. Weaver frowned. “I am. How would you know that?”

  Nate motioned to his damp clothing. “I fished them out of the river earlier. Andrew is quite a character.”

  “He is that.” Mr. Weaver cocked his head. “Why were they in the river?”

  “Oh now,” he said with a smirk, “I wouldn’t want to take away the boy’s chance at telling his own story. Whatever he embellishes on, I’m sure your daughter will rein in toward the truth.”

  Mr. Weaver grinned. “Sounds like you were able to get to know them both well during your short visit.”

  “I doubt that, but I have some knowledge about how it goes between siblings.”

  Crossing his arms, Mr. Weaver leaned against the desk. The sheriff looked annoyed, but Mr. Weaver didn’t appear to care. “You say you’d like a job?”

  This was getting interesting. His trip here might work out exactly as his superiors had hoped. “Possibly.”

  “I own the livery and the dry goods store next to it. I could use some help in the livery if you’re willing. Do you have experience?”

  Nate’s heart thumped. Fortune was smiling on him, which was good since the Lord sure didn’t. “As a matter of fact, I used to help my father work the forge. We did our own shoeing and wagon repair, along with any other metal work that was needed.”

  “Well, if God isn’t full of blessings.” Mr. Weaver stood and clapped Nate on the shoulder. “Come to supper tonight. We’ll talk wages. You find a place to stay yet?”

  “Ah, well, no sir.” This was moving too fast.

  “You’re welcome to use my oldest son’s bed until you find a place.”

  Way too fast. “No, sir, I couldn’t do that.”

  “No? Then you can stay in our barn or livery. Up to you.” He turned and reached to shake the sheriff’s hand. “Time to get back to work, Paul. I’d invite you to supper too, but it appears you’ll be busy for a while.” He cocked his head toward the cell, then strode to the door and held out his hand. “After you, Nathaniel.”

  “Please call me Nate.”

  Mr. Weaver nodded. “Nate it is. Follow me and I’ll introduce you to your new workplace before you meet the rest of the family.”

  Nate trailed behind his new boss. In the span of a few short hours, he’d fished two people out of a river, broken up a fight, and agreed to a job offer. All three left him feeling like he’d been swept up in a twister and had yet to find out just where he’d land.

  Chapter Four

  Rebekah’s belly quivered as she struggled to force herself to turn around. Daddy had brought guests home for a meal many times before but never one that could steal the words from her mouth with a mere look. His eyes—the pale green shade such a sharp contrast to his dark hair—

  “Rebekah, honey.” Amusement colored Daddy’s voice. “You gonna keep those potatoes all to yourself, or do you plan on bringing them over here for all of us to enjoy?”

  Heat worse than the flames that puckered her skin flooded her neck and face. Now how was she going to be able to join them? And how could Daddy embarrass her like that? The only good thing about this whole evening was that she’d had time to clean up from her dunking before they arrived. She took a deep breath, prayed her face wasn’t as red as she figured, and headed to the table. Her mother’s sympathetic expression helped. At least someone in the house understood.

  “Well, my goodness, Daddy.” She set the bowl on the table. “If I’d known you were near to starving, I’d have rushed a little faster.”

  As she took her seat, she caught her father’s smirk and wink. The rascal. He knew exactly how his comment would affect her. But did he realize the effect his guest was having on her? More than likely, especially if her mother recognized her turmoil.

  After blessing the food, her father speared her with another teasing look. “So, Rebekah, Nate tells me you decided to learn to swim today.”

  What was Daddy trying to do to her?

  Andrew laughed and banged the table with his hand. “You shoulda seen it, Daddy. I think she scared the fish so bad, they won’t come back for months.”

  Daddy stabbed a slice of meat and passed the platter to Nate. “And what exactly were you doing in there, Andrew? Trying to catch them barehanded?”

  The entire meal passed with Andrew giving his version of the day’s misfortunes. Poor Nate didn’t get to say a word unless their father specifically asked him a question. He sat, one forearm on the table, chewing and smiling as he shoveled in the meal. He appeared to be enjoying himself, but Rebekah hoped he wasn’t eating as fast as he could because he was miserably bored and couldn’t wait to escape.

  Her mother went for the dessert while Rebekah cleared the table. The fact that Nate’s plate was all but licked clean made her feel good. He must have liked her potatoes. In the midst of the clanking of plates and clinking of silverware as she collected them, Andrew kept on talking. If only Daddy would stop Andrew, she could learn more about Nate.

  As if reading her mind, Daddy leaned his elbows on the table without touching the pie Mama placed in front of him. “So tell me, Nate, what brings you to the area?”

  Rebekah paused halfway to the counter at Daddy’s question, then rushed the remaining distance, shoved the dishes onto the counter, and hurried back to the table, not wanting to miss a word.

  Nate already had a bite of Mama’s dried apple pie in his mouth. He swallowed quickly.

  “The gold and silver.”

  Rebekah’s heart fell. Another fortune seeker. She’d hoped for something a bit more exciting, fascinating even, from the man who’d risked his life to save theirs. A down-to-earth reason would have been more admirable than his answer. Too many men had come to town with a sparkle in their eyes to match that of the treasure they sought, only to leave more broke and broken than when they arrived. She wanted better for Nate than for him to leave town with nothing to show for his efforts except calloused hands and a stiff back.

  Daddy nodded. “Understandable. We get a lot of men coming through town with that very purpose in mind. Almost as many leave for the same reason. Making a living in the mining business is difficult at best. I know firsthand. That’s why I had to start the livery. It’s not as exciting as finding gold, but the income is a bit more steady.”

  “So I’ve heard.” Nate looked thoughtful as he took another bite. “I’ve also read about trouble in the area. Fires, explosions, cave-ins—some think they’re done on purpose. Do I need to be wary?”

  Rebekah held her breath as she glanced at her mother. Her parents often discussed the new dangers that came with mining. Fights over claims and labor wages had worsened o
ver the years. Worry deepened the lines on Mama’s face every time Daddy spent a day working in the mine he owned with his partner, Reuben Buckley. Most miners hounded the sheriff about investigating the so-called accidents. So far, the sheriff wasn’t in too much of a hurry to do his job.

  After several moments of silence, Daddy picked up his fork. “It’s always a good idea to be on the alert when mining, Nate. Never forget that.” His head dipping, he took a large bite and chewed thoughtfully, his gaze carrying him far away.

  Other than the clink of forks against plates, not a sound was made as Daddy’s heavy words of warning continued to roll through the room like echoes of thunder.

  With a helpless expression, Mama held the pie plate out to Nate. He promptly waved it away, shaking his head. “I couldn’t possibly eat another bite, Mrs. Weaver, but thank you. This was by far the best meal I’ve had in a mighty long time.”

  Mama smiled her pleasure. “Do you have family nearby, Nate?”

  Anyone not watching with Rebekah’s interest wouldn’t have noticed the immediate change in Nate, the way his eyes hardened and his body tensed. She caught all of it, even the tightening lips and clenching jaw. She blinked to make sure she wasn’t mistaken, except when she opened her eyes, all was back to normal. He’d even relaxed against the back of his chair.

  “My dad and brother died in Colorado several years ago. When I was old enough to take care of myself, my mother moved back East to be closer to family. She’s remarried now.”

  Mama looked horrified. “I’m sorry about your loss.”

  Nate shook his head. “Thank you. It makes it easier knowing Mother’s happy again.”

  The lighthearted atmosphere they’d enjoyed most of the evening disappeared quicker than Andrew when he was in trouble. To Rebekah’s disappointment, the conversation grew stilted with no more details about Nate’s family slipping in to flavor the feast.

  Nate pushed his chair back and stood. “If I’m going to find a room, I’d better get going. Perry, thanks again for the invitation. Mrs. Weaver, you’re a wonderful cook. Thank you.”