Page 2 of Working the Lode

Yet, did he give them earrings, earrings as beautiful as the ones she now affixed to her ears? He was thoughtful enough to recall she had pointed out the turquoise stones as perhaps being of value. The stones she had seen in San Francisco apparently came from the Rio Grande area, from what little Zelnora could discern from the Spaniard who sold them. Brannagh always being on the lookout for profitable new enterprises, he was quite intrigued by the minerals that might be found in the mountains of the Far West. Besides, if they struck a mining bonanza—as they called it out west—perhaps Brannagh would be generous enough to give her a fair share, and she might for once live independently of men.

Returning to the store, Zelnora discovered it empty aside from Mercy. The lovely redhead sat on her stool, her chin in hand, gazing dreamily at the blurry, smoky window. Perhaps she had gotten into the whiskey again. Taking her own stool, Zelnora casually asked, “Who was the customer?”

Sighing deeply, Mercy said, “A fine, upstanding, upright, handsome backwoodsman.” Again she sighed deeply.

“Mercy!” She was betrothed to a man of their faith. Jerusha was coming overland with three hundred others, and no one had heard from him in months. Zelnora, Mercy and the other San Franciscans had arrived by sea from New York two years prior.

Mercy finally removed her chin from her fist and looked directly at Zelnora. “I know what you’re thinking, Zel. Jerusha. But oh, you should have seen this man!” Mercy looked heavenward as though for divine assistance. “Rugged, handsome, manly—A man must be very rugged to make it to this far outpost—the ones who survive, that is.” Looking at Zelnora again, Mercy continued, “Zel. He was not one of those reeking mountain men who smell like they sleep with animals, and wear animals, and trap animals—“

“—and wear animals on their heads,” Zelnora giggled.

“—no, Zel, he walked with an upright manly bearing, and he wore embroidered beaded leggings, and he was clean-shaven and even smelled of pine, and when he smiled at me he had fine, even, white teeth, and—“

“Where did he go?” Zelnora asked, surprising even herself.

Mercy sat up straighter. “Why, he went with Brannagh down to the Fort. They had some business to conduct.”

Zelnora smiled slyly. “Do you suppose if I went down there, I might catch a glimpse of this man? You make him sound so intriguing, I have to see him with my own eyes.”

Mercy clapped her hands together with the conspiracy of it all. “Yes, let us go!”

Zelnora was already to the front of the store, making sure her rebozo was arranged in an attractive manner. “Someone has to mind the store, Mercy!” Mercy pouted, so Zelnora said on her way out the door, “We’ll take turns, all right? You already saw him. And you’re betrothed. I’ll be right back.”