The Jewel of His Heart Page 3

  Sleep would not come as she went over the funeral again and again. After the last shovelful of dirt had fallen upon the pine box, Marion had escorted Juliana out of the little cemetery back to the waiting carriage. The wind rattled the carriage awning and blew slanted sheets of cold rain against them.

  Juliana felt that the tears coursing down her cheeks were the size of raindrops. It had been a sad and pitiful little ceremony paid for by a stranger, with few in attendance. She made a mental note to discover the benefactor the first chance she had.

  She twisted the wet handkerchief in her fingers nervously. What would happen to her now? She had no family and didn’t know how to reach her father, even if he was indeed alive. The Stocktons had told her she could stay with them indefinitely. But Juliana knew this arrangement couldn’t last forever. Being too proud to take charity for long, she would earn her own way. The cabin was little more than a shack, but she could continue doing the miners’ wash. Then she would have to decide what to do.

  Juliana turned on her side, pulling the pillow to her face to muffle her sobs.

  Thank God for people like Marion and her family.

  Morning’s first light awakened Juliana, and she scrambled out of bed and poured water from the pitcher into the bowl on the nightstand to wash her face. Hastily she combed and pinned her hair into a tight chignon, then donned her brown gingham dress and white apron. She didn’t want to appear to be lazy or to be taking advantage of her friend’s hospitality.

  She needn’t have worried. A light rapping at the door sounded, and Juliana called out, “Come in.” A young servant girl entered with a tray laden with a silver coffeepot, toast, and a pot of jam. She deposited the tray on the nightstand. Right behind her was Marion, sleepy-eyed and still in her robe and slippers. The maid curtsied and left.

  “My goodness! You’re up and about early,” Marion said. “I wanted to bring you something in case you didn’t feel like coming downstairs, but it appears you’re way ahead of me.”

  “I’m used to it. Besides, I couldn’t sleep.”

  “I’m sorry. I truly am. Maybe tonight will be better.”

  “I plan on going back to the cabin and pack up what little I have for now, since I promised Mama I wouldn’t stay there. Then I’ll try to continue with the miners’ wash.” Juliana looked down at her rough and dry hands with disdain.

  Marion shook her head. “I’ll help you pack up. I’ll get some salve for your hands too.”

  “No, I really would rather do it myself, Marion. Honestly.”

  “All right then. Have it your way. But you needn’t take in any more miners’ wash. My father said you’re welcome to stay right here until you know what you want to do. He meant that.”

  “I can’t thank your father enough. But I must pay for my room and board somehow.”

  “But not now. We’ll think of something suitable for you to do when we put our heads together. Try not to concern yourself with that right now. You’ve just buried your mother. You need some time.” Marion poured hot coffee into a teacup and handed it to her friend.

  “I’ll try.” Juliana watched Marion lift the lid off the silver dome, then smear jam across the thick toast. She handed it to Juliana, who wasn’t sure she could swallow anything.

  “Go ahead. Try to eat or you’ll faint from sheer hunger. I noticed you didn’t eat a thing the last couple of days.”

  The rumbling in Juliana’s stomach surprised her, and though her throat felt constricted, she took a small bite.

  Marion clasped her hands. “Wonderful. Now I’ll leave you alone. I must get dressed myself. Let me know when you’re ready to come downstairs. I’ll get Louie to drive you to the cabin for your things.” She patted Juliana’s arm.

  Before she could pull her hand away, Juliana stopped her. “Thank you so much for being such a wonderful friend to me. If there’s ever anything, anything at all I can do for you, just ask.”

  Marion’s eyes filled with tears, and Juliana was touched. “Bless your heart. I can understand your grief.” She held Juliana’s hands in her own. “I’d better get dressed. Go ahead and try to eat a little, okay?”

  “I will. I promise.”

  The sign in the window of the town’s local newspaper, The Lewistown Gazette, read, “Help Wanted, Inquire Within.” Juliana stopped suddenly. She looked up and down the street, trying to decide if she should go in and ask about the job.

  She had already returned her cabin key to the owner, and unless she wanted to be beholden to the Stocktons for free room and board, she knew she really had no other choice than to take a chance on the job. When she’d stopped by to thank the doctor for his care of her mother, Dr. Barnum had let it slip that the sheepherder had been responsible for taking care of her mother’s funeral expenses. That meant one more person that she owed money to.

  Her shoulders sagged. This job would be a sign from God, her mother would say. After all, she had been praying that something would come her way soon. Taking a deep breath, she pulled her shoulders back and adjusted her bonnet, then opened the door. The tinkling sound of a bell above the door alerted the shop’s owner that someone had come in.

  “May I help you?” A tall, rawboned man rose from his desk, pushing his spectacles up onto his thin nose. His shirt sleeves were rolled back, an apron was tied around his skinny frame, and his fingers were ink stained.

  Juliana swallowed hard. Her mouth felt as dry as a summer day. “Uh, I . . . saw the sign in your window that you need help, and I am in need of a job.”

  “Well, I hardly expected a young girl for the job. Can you read and write?”

  “Yes. I can do both, if that is what the job requires.” Juliana held her breath, waiting for his response. He appeared to be in his late thirties and had kind blue eyes underneath his bushy eyebrows.

  “Have a seat, young lady. I’m Albert Spencer. And you are . . . ?”

  “Juliana Brady.” Taking a seat near his desk, she sat straight and proper, remembering her mother’s instructions on how to behave like a lady.

  “What I’m looking for is someone to help with the newspaper. Your duties will be general chores such as organizing and filing my paperwork, ordering ink and supplies, and tidying the office. Can you do that?”

  Juliana’s heart hammered in her chest. “I think I could.”

  “What experience do you have?”

  “To be honest, none at all, but I’m a quick learner, and I would work hard. Mr. Spencer, I’m in desperate need of a job.”

  In the distance, she heard the sound of voices coming from the street and the clip-clop of horses. This all seemed so unreal to her. Just a few days ago she would have been helping her mother with chores and peeling potatoes or perhaps chatting while they had an afternoon cup of coffee. And now here she was talking to a perfect stranger about a job, feeling totally insecure.

  “To be quite frank with you, Miss Brady, I wasn’t looking for a female. Tell me why I should give you a chance.” He shuffled his papers into a pile on his desk without taking his eyes off her.

  “Let’s see . . . I’ve met a lot of the people here. I’ve been taking in miners’ wash for a while, and I’ve gotten to know a lot of people and hear a lot of stories. At the moment, I live right down the street at the Stockton Hotel and could be here quickly. I believe Mr. Stockton and his daughter, Marion, could vouch for me.” Please, Lord, let him say yes.

  “Well . . .” Juliana saw a spark of interest in Mr. Spencer’s face at the mention of the Stocktons. They were highly respected in the community. He reached for a thick book from the bookshelf behind him, opened it, and placed it on the desk before her. “Let me hear you read. Start here.” He pointed to a passage of a poem.

  Juliana started reading:

  I heard a thousand blended notes

  While in a grove I sate reclined,

  In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts

  Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

  Wonderful! Juliana had read this passage to h
er mother many times on cold winter nights. Wordsworth was a favorite poet. She continued:

  To her fair works did Nature link

  The human soul that through me ran;

  And much it grieved my heart to think

  What man has made of man.

  “Perfect! Perfect indeed. I’m impressed with your reading skills, Miss Brady.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Spencer.” His praise sent her heart soaring with hope.

  “However, I’d like to have you write a couple of brief paragraphs of life in Lewistown after you proof this article that I wrote earlier,” he said, leaning forward to hand her a handwritten paper. “Make yourself comfortable at the desk over there.” He gestured near the front window. “There’s pen and ink and paper there. Just take your time.”

  Juliana nodded, then stood on shaky legs, walked woodenly to the desk, and took a seat. It didn’t take long to read over Mr. Spencer’s article, and she found only one misplaced word. She marked it, then laid the article aside and pulled out a fresh piece of paper. What should she write about?

  An idea came to her, and she jotted down her thoughts about the town, its shops, and the surrounding area, and ended it by describing in rich detail the Stockton hotel and its artwork. Once she looked it over, she walked to Mr. Spencer’s desk and stood quietly, waiting for him to recognize that she was finished.

  Mr. Spencer set his accounting book aside and took the paperwork from her. “Please, Miss Brady, have a seat,” he said, smiling at her.

  Juliana sat with her hands folded in her lap, her heart pounding hard in her chest. She hoped she looked calm and collected. She watched Mr. Spencer briefly look at her notes on his work and then turn his attention to her article. A big smile spread across his face, and he made a sound that sounded like a laugh as he continued to read.

  He set the paper down, folded his fingers together, and rested his chin on them. He was quiet for a moment. “Miss Brady, I don’t know when I’ve read a more vivid description of our town. It’s simply delightful!”

  Juliana tried to hide her surprise. “I’m not sure what to say, other than thank you.”

  “Just say that you’ll come back in the morning at eight o’clock sharp. We’ll see how you work out, but I won’t make any long-term promises. You were not what I had in mind. Not at all. Still . . . I do believe in giving women a chance to do some things a man can do. That doesn’t always make me popular with everyone. But then, surprises are best in this particular business,” he said, smiling.

  “I appreciate your forward thinking and would be grateful to prove to you that I am worthy of doing the job. Supporting myself is more important than finding a husband at the present time.” She was so relieved he had agreed to give her a try that her shoulders relaxed, relieving the tension between her shoulder blades.

  “I pay three dollars a week, with working hours from eight to five. Saturday and Sunday you will have off. Does that sound fair?”

  Juliana couldn’t believe she’d heard right. Did he say three dollars a week? That was twice as much as her mother received from doing laundry. Trying not to appear astonished, she willed herself to keep a straight face with her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Spencer. That will suffice nicely.”

  “Good!” Mr. Spencer rose from his chair and extended his hand, and she held hers out for a firm handshake. “You’re hired.”

  He escorted her to the door. Juliana could hardly wait to skip down the street to the hotel to tell Marion. This was too good to be true. No more sticking her hands in hot suds and scrubbing miners’ uniforms. Maybe her hands would start to heal. She wished she could tell her mother, but somehow Juliana thought she knew.

  5

  A long soak in the tub made Josh feel human again. Dressed in faded Levis and a flannel shirt, he yanked his boots on, then slipped on his soft leather vest. He felt refreshed, though he hadn’t slept much during the night, because the image of the young dark-haired girl had continually floated before him. Wonder what she’ll do? He felt sudden sadness for her loss, and his reaction to it surprised him all the more. Why should he be concerned about someone he’d met only briefly? It made no sense.

  Having enjoyed a hearty breakfast, he made his way down the busy streets of Lewistown. He passed the office of the Lewistown Gazette and made a mental note to himself to buy a newspaper to take with him before he left. Being out at the camp, he missed keeping up with current events. What he was looking for was an assayer. He wanted a professional to examine the blue stones. He wasn’t sure they had much value, but according to Charlie back at the campsite, they were worth something.

  Lost in thought, Josh collided with two young ladies coming down the sidewalk, knocking their parcels out of their arms. Quickly he reached down to retrieve the packages, muttering under his breath. Straightening, he recognized the girl he’d been thinking of so much lately. He realized he was only a few inches taller than she as his eyes met hers.

  He stood awkwardly, holding the packages in his hands. “I beg your pardon.” He nodded to her and her friend. “I guess my mind was somewhere else.” Josh smiled at Juliana, whose full lips curved ever so slightly upward. When he realized he was staring, he dragged his eyes from her to smile at Marion.

  “We meet again, Mr. McBride,” Marion said. “Are you staying in town?”

  “I am indeed. At the Stockton Hotel. Nice accommodations.”

  Marion’s eyes were warm. Noticing how Marion linked an arm protectively around Juliana, Josh knew her friendship would be good for Juliana. He sensed it was her grief that held her back when he looked into her vacant eyes. He extended the small parcels to Juliana and felt a warm tingle pass through him as their hands touched for a moment.

  “I’ll tell the owner you’re pleased.” Marion flashed him a flirtatious smile.

  “Oh, do you know him?”

  “He’s my father.” She laughed. “We live at the hotel on the third floor.”

  Juliana shifted her packages to her other arm. “We should be going, but thanks again for what you did for my mother, Mr. McBride.”

  “I’m sorry she didn’t recover, that’s all.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her blue ones, which were framed with long, sweeping lashes. “I’d be happy to carry those back to the hotel for you, if you’d like.”

  “Thanks, but I can manage.” Her voice was polite.

  Josh tipped his hat good-bye. “Perhaps I’ll see both of you later.”

  The two watched as he went up the sidewalk. Marion was the first to break the silence. “He’s got his eye on you, Juliana.”

  “Hardly. He was just being polite.” Juliana’s eyes followed Josh until he faded into the crowd past the general store. There was something about him that held an odd attraction for her. Was it his thick, muscular physique? Though taller by only a couple of inches with longish hair, he certainly conveyed a commanding presence, and when he spoke, the rich sound of his voice intrigued her. The lingering smell of sheep had been replaced with the scent of spiced men’s soap.

  “I don’t think so. He couldn’t take his eyes off you, Juliana. We need to find out more about him.” Marion stood staring after him with a strange look on her face.

  “I’m not interested in the least.” Was she protesting too much? “Besides, I have a new job that will require most of my attention. Now let’s quit lollygagging and finish up our errands. I want to press my new gingham dress before work tomorrow.” She pulled Marion by the arm, wondering about the rugged sheepherder in the back of her mind.

  “If you insist.” Marion fell into step with her friend.

  Lewistown was burgeoning with activity, with mountain men, miners, and farmers pursuing the adventure nestled in the foothills of the jagged mountains. It was unlike the cow town of Utica near Josh’s land, which was not more than a couple of buildings, and certainly not where one could stock up on supplies.

  It was a cold day with low-hanging clouds clinging to the purple peaks. Josh wa
s used to the unsettled weather, and he knew he’d left his flock in good hands, so he wasn’t worried. He might hang around a few days before heading back to camp.

  Up ahead, in the slight wind that threatened rain, he saw a sign swinging. Lewistown Assessor. Funny, it was the only one within a hundred miles. He strode into the store and greeted the shopkeeper, who had a balding head and slight paunch. The storekeeper moved stiffly from his chair, laying aside his jeweler’s piece.

  “What can I do for you today?” he asked, peering through his wire-rimmed spectacles.

  “My name’s Josh McBride.” He smiled, extending his hand to the shopkeeper.

  “Glad to meet you. I’m Will Smith. How can I be of help?”

  Josh reached inside his vest for the small leather pouch. “I wonder if you’d have a look at these and tell me what you think.”

  The shopkeeper opened the bag, spilling its contents across the counter. He quietly examined the few stones with his eyepiece. “Some nice stones you have here.”

  “What are they?”

  He looked back up at Josh, smiling. “They’re sapphires. Not just Montana sapphires, but Yogos. Notice the color and clarity.”

  “I moved here from Colorado, so I’m not sure what Yogo means.”

  “Some say it’s Indian for ‘blue sky.’ Where did you find these?”

  “Out where I herd my sheep near Utica, where the Judith River dumps into a smaller stream.” Josh was starting to feel excited by his find. He could tell Will was definitely interested in the small blue stones.

  “Well, Jake Hoover discovered these particular sapphires last year near Yogo Creek. I recollect that he owns a Yogo mine and sent his sapphires off to New York to be examined by an assayer from Tiffany’s. Man by the name of George Kunz. He thinks they’ll become valuable because of their distinctive color and quality that’s not found in other sapphires. Once the assayers cut them, they found out the stones didn’t have the normal inclusions and flaws.” Will examined the stones again with his eyepiece. “That makes them different from the regular Montana sapphires. Their color, while brilliant in sunlight, is not diminished by artificial light.” He paused for a moment. “I’m not sure Hoover still owns the mine. He wasn’t making any money and didn’t consider it a sound investment.”