Tài liệu Heart Of Gold doc

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Opal had reluctantly agreed to continue on to visit her pa. Gracious of her, considering she
hadn’t been back for a visit since Charlie’d signed on with the Circle B, and her pa’d paid for the
train ticket from Omaha, Nebraska, out here to Sheridan.
They were an hour outside of Sheridan and Miss High-and-Mighty didn’t seem too
comfortable in the saddle, even though Misty, the appaloosa mare he’d put her on, was about as
placid as they came. Charlie knew the boss’s daughter had been raised on the Circle B, but
apparently she hadn’t practiced her riding skills since she’d gone to live with her aunt.
She rode behind the loose bunch of horses he and two hands drove toward the Circle B.
Someone should tell her that’s where the most dust flew, but he’d let one of the other two boys
do it if they were so inclined.
“Boss, we got trouble,” Erick said, riding alongside. The hand had been with Frank’s outfit
nearly as long as Charlie and had more horse sense than anybody, so Charlie immediately gave
his attention to the other man.
“What is it?”
“I was taking a look back to make sure our guest,” the hand grinned and winked at Charlie,
“was doin’ all right and noticed some dust kickin’ up.”
Charlie shrugged, trying to loosen his neck a bit. Seemed like he’d had more stress today
after meeting Opal Bright than all of last calving season. “We aren’t far from Sheridan yet.
Could be other travelers moving this way.”
“These fellas seem to be riding our trail specifically.”
Charlie’s unease heightened. “How long?”
“‘Bout an hour. As long as we been on the trail.”
Charlie immediately thought of Opal’s loud announcement about gold back in town and the
rough men it had attracted. What if some of them hadn’t believed Charlie’s denial and were
following with nefarious intentions?
Charlie quickly filled Erick in on what had taken place in town.
“You’re joshin’.”
Charlie shook his head. “Wish I was.”
Erick’s mouth set in a hard line. “You’d better go tell Lee. Make sure his rifle’s loaded in
case your hunch is right.”
Charlie did, shaking his head at the younger man who was more excited than concerned
about the possibility of someone following them.
Figuring he’d better tell Miss Priss, Charlie rode back to where she’d fallen even further
behind. As he neared, he realized she was talking to the horse. Arguing with it.
“If you’ll just cooperate, I’ll make sure you get some nice carrots or tomatoes or-or
whatever your favorite treat is if you’ll just move.”
“Having problems, Miss Opal?”
She startled and turned those unusual gray eyes on him. “This horse simply refuses to
listen,” she whispered furiously as if the horse could hear her.
Aware of the riders possibly coming on behind them, Charlie took a quick look at Misty’s
gait. He couldn’t help grinning as he drew up alongside Opal, who continued muttering at the
animal. “Misty can’t understand English, ya know. She’s much more attuned to what you’re
saying with your posterior and your legs.”
He watched Opal flush and start to get good and riled. He winked. Before she could start
spouting off, he grabbed the reins just under Misty’s chin and halted the horse.
“She ain’t misbehaving on purpose. Looks like she might’ve thrown a shoe.”
Opal’s eyes narrowed, maybe with suspicion, but she let him assist her off the horse.
A quick check of the mare’s hind leg revealed he’d guessed right.
What surprised him was the yowling that commenced from the hatbox tied behind Misty’s
saddle.
“What—”
Opal moved between him and the hatbox before he could even reach for it.
“It’s my cat. I couldn’t leave her behind in Omaha-my aunt Jennie can’t abide her. She
won’t be any trouble, usually she sleeps in my bedroom most of the day—”
Charlie found himself facing a foe he hadn’t expected: a pleading Opal with those silver
eyes asking him not to deny her.
He shrugged. “Doesn’t seem to bother Misty. We need to get going. The horse should be all
right to make it home without a passenger. We’ll ride double. Let’s go.”
Opal’s nose wrinkled as if she found the idea distasteful. “Isn’t there another horse I could
utilize? There must be twenty in the herd.”
He couldn’t hold back a grin as he imagined her trying to handle one of the mostly-wild
ponies.
“Sweetheart, those ponies are green-broke, which means you wouldn’t last five minutes in
the saddle on one of ‘em.”
“I’m not your sweetheart.”
Something about the way her cheeks pinked and the flash of her eyes when she started
getting riled twisted his insides. He liked it.
“What about your horse? He seems tame enough. I can ride it and you ride one of the, erm…
‘green-broke’ animals.”
He shook his head before she’d finished, although he had to admire her ingenuity. “No. No
one rides Turk but me.” Charlie fit his foot into the stirrup and stepped into the saddle, the
familiar creak of leather reminding him they needed to get moving. He reached out his hand for
Opal. “You coming?”
“I’d prefer not—”
A faint but piercing whistle brought Charlie’s head up. Erick and Lee had ridden on with the
small herd of horses; Erick waved his hat wildly above his head on a ridge up ahead.
Charlie twisted in his saddle and saw three riders approaching at a full-out gallop. Headed
straight for him and Opal.
“No choice,” he said curtly, gripping her wrist and hauling her into the saddle in front of
him, urging Turk to move at the same time.
She shrieked and clutched his shoulders, bouncing because she didn’t have a good seat, but
he couldn’t take time to settle her. He reached for his rifle instead.
“Remember those ruffians from town?” Charlie shouted.
“What?” Her breathless response made his heart thump once, hard.
“They’re following us. Coming fast.” And he’d foolishly fallen too far back from his two
cowhands. How could he have let himself get so distracted?
“What about Misty?”
Turk took a long, low leap over a fallen log and Charlie heard Opal’s teeth clatter.
Her concern for the animal they’d left behind was admirable, but he was too busy trying to
keep their hides intact to dwell on what it said about her.
“They aren’t after your horse, darlin’. They want the gold we don’t have.” Misty would be
fine until he or Erick could ride back around to collect her. Right now Charlie and Opal needed
to outdistance the desperados trailing them.
If Charlie let something happen to the boss’s daughter, Frank would never forgive him.
Opal thought Charlie must be exaggerating, trying to frighten her. Until she managed to
raise her head to see over his shoulder and caught sight of the large, dark-bearded man with a
rifle pointed at them.
“He’s got a gun,” she huffed.
“Then you’d better pray he’s not a sharpshooter!”
She couldn’t find the breath to tell him she didn’t put much stock in prayer, not anymore.
Charlie slid his own weapon back into its scabbard by his knee and slung his arm around her
waist, bending low over the horse’s neck. Shielding her, she realized, as her arms came around
his neck. From her prone position, she had to cling to him or risk falling from the horse.
She had to rely completely on him.
For someone used to doing for herself, she didn’t like the feeling of utter helplessness at all.
And then a weapon boomed and Charlie jerked in the saddle.
For one terrifying moment, Opal feared they were both going to fall from the galloping
horse. But then Charlie seemed to regain his seat and his arm tightened around her.
“Are you shot?” she gasped.
“Yep.” His reply was short, curt, but much calmer than she expected.
As she watched, a crimson stain bloomed on his shirt.
She knew enough to put pressure on the wound, eliciting a grunt from him when her palm
pressed flat against his muscular shoulder.
“Good thinkin’, sugar plum.” He still pushed the horse at a breakneck speed.
“Don’t call me that,” she snapped. “What are we going to do?”
“This.”
They crossed a ridge and Charlie wheeled the horse sharply to the right, ensconcing them
behind a stand of scrub brush. He straightened in the saddle and removed his rifle again.
Moments later, three horsemen crossed the same ridge. Charlie took a shot, the report of the
rifle ringing in Opal’s ears, its kick rocking both of them.
“Winged one of ‘em,” Charlie said.
A second gunshot erupted from somewhere else.
“Looks like Erick got one of the others. They’re turning now.”
Opal watched as the three riders hustled back over the ridge and out of sight.
“Did you… the men you hit-will they die?” She could barely think the words, but forced
them through frozen lips anyway.
“Possibly. Couldn’t tell where Erick’s shot hit, but mine just nicked his arm. Of course
there’s always the chance of infection setting in.”
“They gone, Boss?” One of Charlie’s men rode near, out of breath, dark perspiration
covering his horse’s neck and chest.
“Looks like it. You want to ride back and make sure? Get Misty-she threw a shoe-on your
way? Jest ignore the squalling cat in the hatbox.”
The other man nodded, though one of his eyebrows arched. “Catch up to you at the Brown’s
place?”
Charlie glanced at the sky and Opal followed his gaze to the rapidly-darkening horizon. “It’s
still a ways to Brown’s. Might be dark before we make it.”
She was close enough to feel a fine tremor run through him; a shift of her hand on his
injured shoulder caused a groan from deep in his chest.
“Charlie was shot,” she informed the other cowboy. “We’ll join Lee with the herd and make
camp. I can take care of Charlie’s wound.”
Charlie started to protest and she shushed him with a sharp shake of her head. “I don’t need
to sleep indoors. Your wound needs tending more than I need the comfort of a roof over my
head.”
Certainly he deserved it after he’d quite possibly saved her life.
Charlie succumbed to her suggestion with surprising meekness. Within a half hour, they’d
settled into a crude camp of bedrolls surrounding a small fire with Lee taking first watch over the
horses nearby.
Perched next to a small stream, Opal wrung out the cleanest rag she’d found among the
cowboy’s saddlebags and turned back to find Charlie had shed his shirt. Instantly, heat filled her
face at the sight of his muscled back and shoulders; she only hoped the growing dark would hide
her reaction. What was it about the cowboy that attracted her so? He was nothing like her
intended, Grover. Charlie was uncouth, almost rough compared to the young banker’s son back
in Omaha.
But there was something about him that made her feel safe. Protected.
Shaking off her distracting thoughts, Opal knelt next to Charlie and began dabbing at the
wound. In the flickering light from the campfire she saw the bullet had dug a shallow furrow in
his flesh, but it seemed to have passed through without lodging there.
“It doesn’t look terribly bad,” she said softly, awareness of their intimate setting lowering
her voice. “The bleeding is slowing. It’s too bad you don’t carry a disinfectant with you, but Lee
had some sugar we can use.”
“You appropriated Lee’s sugar?” She didn’t have to look at his face to recognize the smile
in his voice. “He’ll be cranky in the morning when he tries to swallow Erick’s coffee without it.”
Opal kept her eyes on her task and tried to ignore the feel of his hot skin under her
fingertips.
“I have to admit I’m surprised you know what to do for a gunshot wound. Is there somethin’
your pa should know about what you’ve been doing back in Omaha? Or maybe the people
you’ve been sparking?”
She stiffened. “If you’re asking whether I have a beau, I do.” Not that she wanted to marry
Grover, but she’d resolved to do what she needed to do for the children. “And if you’re
insinuating he’d get himself shot, he wouldn’t.”
In the edge of her vision, Opal saw Charlie’s eyes cut to her, saw the tiny quirk of his lips.
Was he laughing at her?
“I spend some time helping at an orphanage back in Omaha. I’ve had to play doctor a few
times when some of the boys have gotten into scrapes.” Opal briefly thought of the last time,
when Johnny and Ellery had been in a fistfight. “There aren’t always medical supplies available,
unfortunately.”
He turned his head and looked her full in the face, his brown eyes raking her face. “That’s
awfully good-hearted of you.”
He couldn’t know how she related to the orphanage children, even though her father was
alive. She’d been abandoned to her aunt’s care at age six, and felt her father’s absence keenly
since then. Like many of the children, she wondered what she’d done to make her father send her
away. And not to want her back. This trip was her opportunity to find out if he had any regrets.
In the beginning, she’d prayed long and fervently for her father to write and ask her to
return, but as the years went by, Opal begun to realize God wasn’t listening.
But she would never share her thoughts with Charlie. He was loyal to her father and besides,
he most likely wouldn’t understand. She finished patching his wound in silence and tied it off
with a mostly-clean bandana.
“I’m afraid you’re going to have a scar.”
“Just one of many.” Charlie pointed to a jagged white line near his mouth. “My poor ma,
God rest her soul, doctored my brother and me so many times I think she gave up on keeping our
handsome mugs intact.”
His smile drew her eyes and she traced the faint scar with her fingertip. “It’s very faint…”
Her eyes flicked up to meet Charlie’s intense gaze. Abruptly, she realized how close they
were and that she was touching his face. If she leaned a bit closer, their lips would meet…
Charlie’s chin dipped and Opal panicked, scrambling backward.
Her feet got caught in her skirt and she landed hard on her rump.
Charlie’s lips twitched. Laughing at her again? What must he think of her? “You all right?”
“Fine,” she snapped, untangling her skirt and standing to move to the opposite side of the
campfire.
Had she really thought Charlie was safe? The way her pulse raced and her heart galloped
indicated he was anything but safe.
Thankfully, he looked away and shrugged back into his shirt, giving her a moment to
compose herself.
Not long enough.
“You want to sneak off and change out of your dress?” He indicated the dark stain across the
front of her gown. “I’ll fetch your satchel for you.”
“That’s not necessary,” she said quickly. There weren’t any other dresses in her satchel, for
one thing. “I’ll be fine until we reach Father’s ranch tomorrow.”
Her dress might be fine, but would she? What was she supposed to say when she saw her
father again after all this time?
~~~~
Chapter Three
The sun was just starting its afternoon descent when they reached the Circle B. Riding into
the yard between barn and house with Opal behind him felt much different than Charlie had
thought it would.
He felt different.
Waking up on the hard, cold ground, he’d thought she would complain. But she’d simply
helped them fold the bedrolls and eaten the hardtack he’d given to her without a word.
He liked Opal. Really liked her. Liked the way she’d bossed him and the boys around. When
she’d touched his shoulder—for those moments she’d been close enough to kiss—his gut had
tightened into a hard little knot. He’d wanted to kiss her.
Yes, he liked her. Too much.
The feelings she’d resurrected in him felt too similar to what he’d experienced when he’d
courted Edith all those years ago. Made him remember those lost dreams of having a wife and
giving his nephew Carl some young cousins to play with…
But Charlie needed to keep his focus.
Frank had been making noises about Charlie taking on a partnership in the Circle B, but so
far Charlie hadn’t pushed the issue. Now the boss’s daughter had his head spinning in circles,
thinking things he shouldn’t be thinking.
One thing he knew, even if he did decide to find a wife, it wouldn’t be someone like Opal
Bright.
When she left, after she realized there was no extra cash to be had, he could go back to his
regular, solitary existence. He just needed to keep his head on straight until then. He was happy
with the way things were. Wasn’t he?
“We made it,” he said softly as they neared the house. “Your Pa’ll be happy to see you.”
Her breath puffed hot on the back of his neck. He thought she’d whispered something, but
couldn’t be sure what.
Just then, Frank stepped out on the wide plank porch spread across the back of the house, a
crutch underneath one arm.
Opal’s hands clenched on Charlie’s midsection. He pulled up the horse near the porch and
hopped off, then reached for his passenger.
Her hands trembled on his chest as her feet touched the ground.
“What happened? Opal, are you hurt?”
Frank was off the porch, reaching for his daughter, limp barely noticeable in his hurry to get
to his offspring. He must’ve noticed the rust-colored stain across the front of her dress.
Opal avoided Frank’s embrace but allowed him to take her hands.
Charlie watched the older man’s face pinch.
“I’m fine, Father,” she said stiffly. “Charlie was hurt, not me.”
Frank’s gaze jumped to his foreman. “What? You ran into trouble? You’d better git in here
and explain.”
“You mind if I wash a little of this trail dust off first?”
“Land sakes,” Gertie, Frank’s housekeeper, called out, stepping out onto the porch. “Let the
youngsters catch their breath before you start interrogating them, you old coot. Miss Opal, I’m
sure you want to change into a clean dress.”
“I’m afraid I’ll need to borrow something to wear,” Opal said quietly, shooting an
inscrutable glance at Charlie as she passed by.
“Miss Opal, here’s your… erm… hatbox.” Erick rushed forward and pushed a yowling,
spitting box into Opal’s hands.
She snatched it and held it close to her midsection, and started murmuring to the animal
inside while joining Gertie on the porch.
“Come along, dearie. Let’s get you settled.” Gertie took charge of Opal, leading her inside.
Frank gave Charlie the same look his daughter had and ordered, “Git washed up and meet
me in the study.”
A short time later, Charlie gave his report to a frowning Frank.
The lines on Frank’s face grew deeper as Charlie described Opal’s proclamation in town and
the resulting mayhem.
“I don’t know what’s happened to my little girl. Her letters have grown increasingly
demanding—”
At that moment, Opal entered the study.
Rather, it appeared she was shoved from behind and the door snapped closed behind her.
Probably Gertie’s doing.
Her flushed cheeks and the way her lips pinched made it clear she’d heard Frank’s words.
Charlie quelled a strange urge to defend her. Somehow between meeting her at the train
yesterday and her ministrations last night, her selfishness didn’t seem as pronounced. But it
wasn’t his place to interfere. She was Frank’s daughter.
“Opal,” Frank greeted her. “Was the room to your liking? It has a good view of the
mountains, especially in the mornings.”
“It’s fine.” She glanced at Charlie as she moved to the sofa. “How is your shoulder?”
“Mighty fine, Miss.” Ached a little, but that was expected.
She settled on the sofa, smoothing the skirt of a dress she must’ve borrowed from Gertie.
The sprigged calico was much simpler than her traveling dress had been, but it suited her.
“What happened to your luggage?” Frank asked.
Opal glanced Charlie’s way again, only for a second. “Perhaps we could have some privacy
to discuss family issues?”
Charlie started for the door, but froze at Frank’s, “Hold on.”
Frank’s gaze stayed on Opal. “Charlie’s like a son to me. He runs most things around here.
He’s going to be my partner soon. I’d like him to stay.”
Charlie watched Opal’s lips thin at her father’s words, but her rail-straight back didn’t
slump. Her attitude since Charlie had met her made it obvious she still held some resentment for
being sent away to her aunt. Charlie couldn’t tell if Frank referring to him as a son made Opal
feel worse. He didn’t like thinking it did.
“I didn’t pack any more gowns because I do not plan to stay for long.”
Frank’s face blanched, but Opal went on, “To be perfectly honest, I don’t own any other fine
gowns.” She spoke coolly, as if the words meant nothing to her, but Charlie saw the clenched
hands in her lap.
“Your aunt’s last letter said she’d ordered a bunch to be made for you. What happened to
them?”
“I sold them.”
Charlie let an inadvertent whistle through his teeth. He could see Opal’s words had stunned
Frank.
“I have no need of all those fine gowns, when a few serviceable dresses will do.”
To her credit, Opal didn’t act ashamed of her actions. Her pert chin was raised and her eyes
flashed fire.
Frank’s face turned an alarming shade of red. “Might I ask what you’ve done with the
money from the gowns-and the stipend-I’ve sent?”
“It’s gone to a very good cause. Although Aunt Jennie and I don’t exactly see eye-to-eye on
it—”
“Your aunt is supposed to be guiding you and she lets you do this—”
Charlie started to interrupt, but a cry rang out and the door burst open.
“Pa!”
A small figure rushed into the room and threw himself at Charlie, who’d had enough
practice to catch the towheaded boy.
“Carl. I’ve only been gone three days.” Charlie ruffled the boy’s hair, love and desperation
to do right by the boy welling inside him like it always did.
“I missed you, though!”
“I missed you, too. Say ‘hi’ to Mr. Frank’s daughter, Miss Opal.”
Charlie turned the boy bodily toward the sofa and Opal, who’d gone white.
“You’re pretty, Miss Opal. My name’s Carl.”
Opal took his nephew’s outstretched hand and said thickly, “Thank you.” She scooted off
the sofa and made toward the door. “I’m-sorry. I need to be excused.”
“I’m starved!” Carl exclaimed, oblivious to the tension in the room as only a boy could be.
“I’m goin’ to see if Gertie needs help setting the table.” He disappeared after Opal.
“You sure that’s how you wanted that to go?” Charlie asked, eyeing his mentor and friend.
Frank sank down into the chair behind his desk, rubbing his injured thigh. “I was hoping for
more of a reconciliation. Maybe, after all this time, it’s too much to ask. I don’t know my own
daughter any more.”
Charlie remembered the open way Opal had shared about the orphanage last night.
Something told him she did want more than money from her father, even if she wouldn’t admit
it.
“Maybe she’s still upset from last night.” Charlie tried to appease his boss. “She’ll probably
come around in a couple of days.”
“If she’ll stay that long.” Frank sighed. “Her aunt’s letters say Opal’s not goin’ to parties
and doin’ other things with other gals like she should be. Jennie doesn’t know where she
disappears to.”
Charlie could guess, but wasn’t sure it was his place to tell about Opal’s involvement with
the orphanage that seemed to mean so much to her.
On the other hand, he’d never seen Frank so defeated. Then the older man seemed to find his
resolve and looked back up, piercing Charlie with his gaze. “I need you to find a way to keep her
on the Circle B. Make her want to stay. No matter what it takes.”
Charlie choked on the breath he was drawing. How could he keep his distance from his
boss’s intriguing daughter and make Frank happy?
But how could he deny Frank anything when his boss had given him a chance and changed
Charlie’s life?
After supper, Charlie found Opal on the swing under the big oak tree behind the house. The
sun hovered just above the horizon, turning the sky a vibrant, deep blue with purple edges.
He approached from the side and she didn’t seem to hear his boots crunching in the grass, so
he cleared his throat.
She jumped and turned her face away, but not before he saw the silver tracks running down
her cheek.
The cheerful greeting he’d planned died on his lips. “Are you all right?”
~~~~
Chapter Four
Opal wiped her eyes, embarrassed Charlie had caught her crying. As a girl, she’d shed so
many tears over her father that she thought surely there weren’t any more. Apparently, she’d
been wrong.
“I’m fine.” She winced as the words snapped from her lips. She hadn’t meant to be cruel,
just wanted to be left alone. She’d slipped away after supper purposely, knowing her father
wouldn’t be able to make it far from the house with an injured leg. He must’ve sent Charlie to
find her.
It had been more difficult than she’d expected to sit through supper. Watching her father
interact with Charlie and the boy Carl and Gertie, but not really being a part of their camaraderie,
well, it hurt. Her father had attempted to ask her some questions about her life back in Omaha,
but it was obvious Frank didn’t know her anymore after their long separation.
Even Charlie must have sensed the awkwardness, because he had tried to draw her into
conversation, but she’d barely been able to force down a few bites of the meal before excusing
herself.
Obviously, she didn’t belong in their little ranch family.
The whole thing had made Opal feel much the same as her first meal at Aunt Jennie’s fancy
table at age six: out of place.
Her father had even called Charlie his son, piercing Opal’s heart. Obviously, her father had
forgotten all about her after he’d sent her away.
That moment had dashed the secret hopes she’d been harboring since she’d left Omaha.
Hopes that her father did want her to stay. That he’d really loved her even though he’d sent her
away…
“You don’t seem fine,” Charlie said, touching her forearm lightly and drawing her out of her
thoughts. He knelt next to her.
“You wanna talk about it?”
She shook her head. Her disappointment was too private to share. Besides, she didn’t trust
the attraction between them. And Charlie was her father’s man. He would probably go running
right back to “the boss” with news of Opal’s hurt feelings and she couldn’t bear the humiliation.
What she needed to do was get back to Omaha and get things settled there. Marry Grover so
she could keep the orphanage from closing.
She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a breath to try and compose herself.
“Charlie, you can take me back to Sheridan, can’t you?”
He stayed silent for a long time, staring at the ground. “Your pa wants you to stay. For a few
days anyway. And I’ve got stuff to do around here. You understand…”
She understood all right. He was loyal to her father. Pressing wobbly lips together, Opal
toed the swing into motion, dislodging Charlie’s hand from where it still rested on her arm.
“Thank you for checking on me. I’m all right now.”
She meant the words as a dismissal, but he only stood and moved a few paces away, hands
tucked into his trouser pockets, watching the sun go down.
“I think Carl is taken with you,” he said in an offhanded manner, not really looking at her.
She swallowed hard, remembering the moment when the boy had burst into her father’s
study. She hadn’t realized until then that Charlie might have other obligations. Like a wife and
child. He didn’t wear a ring—she’d looked during supper—but perhaps he couldn’t afford one.
“If you don’t mind my asking… what happened to your wife?”
She could only see one side of his face, but she could make out a muscle jumping in his jaw.
“I’ve never been married.”
“But—” She stifled the question begging to be asked—how did he come to have a son?—
because it wasn’t really her place to know.
He turned to face her, but with the setting sun behind him, it threw his face into shadow.
“Carl is actually my nephew,” he said, voice low. “My brother and-well, that’s not
something you need to know, I guess.” She saw his throat move as he swallowed. “Carl’s mother
died during childbirth. My brother left him behind when Carl was a little tyke and I took on the
role of his pa. That’s why he calls me by the name.”
“Does he know you’re his uncle?”
“Yes. We talk about his real pa from time to time but haven’t seen him since he left.”
“I’m sorry to hear it. It seems your nephew and I have something in common.”
She meant the abandonment of a father, but she went on quickly before Charlie could
question her about it. She didn’t want to talk about a little girl’s shattered dreams.
“And I suppose you and I have a common undertaking as well.”
“What do you mean?”
“The cause I tried to tell my father about. The orphans. One of my dear friends from Omaha
introduced me to the New Hope Orphanage and after visiting, I fell in love with the children
there.”
Tommy, a delightful toddler, had been the one to first capture her heart. With his chubby
baby cheeks and toddling footsteps that followed her wherever she went, he’d won her over to
the cause nearly instantly.
“And that’s what you’ve used your allowance money for,” Charlie said. She still couldn’t
make out his features in the growing darkness, couldn’t tell what was in his voice.
“Yes. The orphanage has been mismanaged and lost funding from some of its benefactors.
There is some threat the doors will have to be closed unless more funding can be obtained.”
“And that’s what you wanted the gold for.”
“Yes.”
But there was no gold. She needed to find a way to get back to Omaha so she could put her
other plans into action.
Even if she didn’t particularly want to marry Grover.
~~~~
Chapter Five
Four days later, Opal was no closer to getting off the Circle B. Her father had sickened the
day after her arrival and although she’d been in to sit with him a few times, they hadn’t discussed
the money she needed for her orphans. Every time she asked about returning to Omaha, her
father feigned exhaustion and said they’d talk about it later.
And Charlie had been no help.
So Opal had set about making friends with Gertie, the only woman on the spread. And
making her own plans to leave if Charlie still refused to take her back to the train station in
Sheridan.