Banking on Temperance (17 page)

Temperance gazed at each person in the wagon. Her mother was not yet showing with her baby, but this was probably her last social outing until they left in the spring. Justice had just turned sixteen and Temperance was surprised at how much he had grown since they arrived in St. Louis last summer. His work at the Lafontaine stables had developed his shoulder muscles and he was filling out. He was no longer a lanky boy, but well on his way to becoming a man.

Prudence was budding into a sweet young lady. She was fourteen and loved horses as much as Temperance did. Prudence and Etienne rode across the Lafontaine land daily, and were becoming very close to each other. Temperance wondered what would happen next spring, when they were separated. But, she told herself sternly, it was merely a first, innocent love kind of thing for Prudence — good to have, but soon forgotten.

Valor was twelve and always happy and ready to help in any way he could. His arms and legs were beginning to grow at such a rate his shirtsleeves were always a bit short on him, and his pants were never long enough. The littlest ones, Faith and Noble, were seven and four, respectfully, and were the light of Temperance’s life. All she had to do was look at them, and it helped her remember that she was leading them to a better life than the one they scraped out in Pennsylvania.

Since the night in the public house, Jake hung around the bank on her cleaning days and waited outside for her to finish, so they could talk for a few minutes before she left for the restaurant. They decided to meet up at the dance rather than have him come all the way out to the hunter’s cabin. Temperance breathed a sigh of relief when he agreed. Since their initial meeting, her nerves had taken over. She was aware what was at stake, and didn’t want to forfeit the chance for her family to get to Oregon. But she didn’t want to be alone with Jake for the hours it would take to get to and from the cabin, either. Not yet, anyway. What would she do if he tried to kiss her?

The memory of the few times Basil kissed her surfaced yet again, even though she tried to put them out of her mind. His touch had been tender, his kiss inviting. The morning she had awakened curled up next to him with his hand resting on her breast was one of her most delightful memories. Just thinking about his muscular body pressed up against her backside sent shivers of delight coursing through her, and a deep ache of longing curling at her core.

She trotted the memory of that October night out constantly and remembered every minute of it over and over. The memory should have faded by now, but instead it gained luster the more she hauled it out and touched it with her mind. She highly doubted Jake would affect her the same way, so it was best not to put herself in a potentially awkward position. Not until she had to.

As the wagon turned the corner and rolled onto the town’s main street, Temperance was excited to see all the other buggies and horses lined up outside the town hall. The hall itself was decorated with holly sprigs and pine boughs, interspersed with red velvet ribbons. A light dusting of snow had fallen the night before, giving the decorated hall a picturesque, quintessential look. She was familiar with most of the townspeople already, and to share this special night with them pleased her. When she spied Ginger and Joseph, she leapt down from the wagon to walk by their side.

“You brought baby Samuel!” Temperance leaned over Ginger’s arm to get a closer look at the little bundle she was holding, and to brush a kiss on the baby’s cheek. “Oh, my. He has grown so much in the past month.” Samuel had a blanket folded tightly around him and resembled a papoose with his shock of black hair sticking straight up.

“This boy wants to be fed almost every hour, so I had to bring him along. Besides, it’s a perfect time to introduce him to the town.”

Basil walked across the street and fell in on the opposite side of Ginger and Joseph. Temperance glanced at him, hoping he’d be civil to her. He’d been very distant in the past week, since the night he introduced her to Jake. He acted as if, now that she had been handed off to the man he deemed suitable, she was no longer of any interest.

“Aren’t you supposed to be with Jake Shelton, Miss Jones? Why are you with my family instead?”

She sighed and blinked away the sudden tears. His curt remark told her tonight would be no different than the past week had been. “Yes, I’m meeting him here. I wanted to see baby Samuel. After all, it’s been a month.”

Ginger’s eyes flitted to Basil. “What’s got you so riled up, Bas?”

“Nothing.” He quickly walked away.

The women glanced at one another. Then Ginger’s gaze flittered in the direction Basil took. “My brother can be an ass, but this is above and beyond what even he’s capable of. Temperance, what’s going on?”

“I shouldn’t be burdening you with my problems, Ginger. You have enough to deal with as it is.”

“Nonsense. Tell me. You’re the only reason I can think of why he’s so upset. What’s been happening?”

“You were wrong when you told me he loves me. He wants nothing to do with me. He proved that the other night when he brought Jake out to the restaurant. Basil and I discussed ways I could get my family to Oregon and he said he’d be on the lookout for a man to lead us. Then he shows up with Jake. So I assume he is the trustworthy man Basil thinks we need. And he basically handed me over to him, as if I was a sack of goods.”

Ginger’s eyes followed the retreating form of her brother. “Oh, that’s not at all what he’s done. I know my brother. I was with him as he grieved last year when the actress he was in love with died. He’s acting the same way now. He’s lamenting your loss.”

“But I haven’t gone anywhere,” Temperance replied.

“Not yet. But you’re determined to fulfill your father’s last wishes, and he’s trying to let you go. To help you honor your father’s directive by not offering you any reason to stay here.” Ginger glanced over at Temperance. “So, Jake Shelton, is it? He is handsome, I’ll give you that. Not as handsome as my Joseph,” she said, tugging on Joseph’s hand as they walked. “But still, not a bad choice.”

Temperance shook her head. “I haven’t chosen him. He simply asked me to accompany him to this dance, and I agreed. After all, Basil’s known about the dance for weeks and never once even indicated he’d be in attendance.”

“Well, of course he’d be here. Basil is obligated to put in an appearance, since he is one of the leaders of business here in town. But he usually ducks out of these social obligations and finds his way to where the paddleboats are docked for the evening so he can join in a card game or worse. Watch how long he sticks around this evening. My guess is he won’t leave until you do.”

Temperance wasn’t so sure.

• • •

Jake met up with Temperance before she made it to the front door of the hall.

“Hello there, pretty miss.” He doffed his wide-brimmed hat to her and smiled, flashing a deep dimple in his left cheek.

In spite of just being crushed by Basil’s comment, she smiled. “Good evening, Jake. I’m looking forward to this dance.”

“Not nearly as much as I am. Shall we?” He extended an arm to her and she placed her hand on it. Then he led her into the room where a crowd awaited.

A small band of musicians was positioned in one corner and were in the midst of a lively tune. Couples, young and old alike, were already in the middle of the large room, moving through the steps of the Virginia Reel. Temperance followed the dancers’ movements as they stepped back four steps and forward again. Then the couple at the end of the line stepped forward to the center, turned around, then back to their original places.

They stepped forward again and do-si-doed around each other, then galloped down the aisle created by the other dancers. Temperance had danced in a similar fashion at the barn dances in Pennsylvania, but this was a bit different. Her feet tapped in time to the music as she waited for Jake to lead her to the dance floor so she could try out these new steps.

Then she gasped as she noticed one of the dancing couples. Her mother was already dancing, and with Mr. Walters from the post office! Her mother had wanted to come to this dance, but Temperance thought it was only because she had been cooped up in the house all winter with young children. She never expected to see her mother dancing. She shook her head when Jake asked her to dance, and begged him to get her a cup of hot cider instead. She wanted to be alone when she talked to her mother.

Martha Jones left the dance floor, laughing at something Mr. Walters was telling her. Her eyes lost their glimmer when she spied Temperance.

“May I have a word with you, Ma?”

“Yes, of course. Excuse me, Mr. Walters.” The two ladies moved to a private corner.

“Why are you dancing, Ma?”

“Because we’re at a dance, aren’t we?” Martha reached out and ran her hand over Temperance’s hair. “I’m having fun. Lord knows, there’s far too little of that out here on the frontier. And it’s been a long time since I had a reason to laugh.”

“But Da’s only been gone two months, and you’re going to have his last child shortly. Shouldn’t you show respect for the dead for a year? Isn’t that proper?” Tears formed at the back of Temperance’s eyes again and she blinked them away.

“My darling girl, don’t be upset. I haven’t forgotten your Da, nor will I ever. Every time I look at one of you children, I see him. I will go into confinement soon, as I begin to show. But for right now, for these few moments, I want to have some fun. Mr. Walters is a very nice man, and lonely since his Hannah passed on a few years ago.”

“Just don’t forget, we’re going to Oregon, come spring.”

“I am aware that’s what your da thought best, and of your promise to him to continue the journey, and to keep the boys safe from this upcoming war. It’s a noble thought, but I don’t know how we can do that now. We must be realistic, and not put our family at risk. Life on a wagon train is very hard, even with a man to lead the way and sturdy oxen to pull the wagon. It would be nigh impossible to do it on our own.”

“It’s not impossible, Ma. Maybe a bit more challenging than it would have been otherwise. I’ll make certain we get there. It’s what Da wanted for us, so we must fulfill his wish.”

Her mother sighed. “Your Da had a wandering foot, honey, which is one of the things I loved about him. He always wondered what was over the next hill. I never wanted to crush his dreams, but it made for a hard life, setting up a new house every couple of years, making new friends, finding schools and playmates for all of you. I’m not so sure I’m up for doing that one more time. I enjoy it here in St. Louis.”

“But we must, Ma. It will be our final way to honor Da, to keep safe Justice and Valor, and to complete Da’s vision for our family. We are eligible for 640 acres of land in one of the most fertile valleys on God’s green earth. All we have to do is get there.”

Martha wrapped her arm around her daughter. “I do love your single-mindedness. You are so similar to your da.”

Temperance glanced across the room in an attempt to put her thoughts in order. She took a long look at Mr. Walters. He was a short, thin man with a mustache and hair turning white at his temples. His body was not hard and lean in the manner of most men in the west, but he seemed nice enough. When Mr. Walters caught her stare, he smiled at her. She waved at him and quickly glanced away. He had a kind face, true, but he would never be Da. What harm could come of him dancing with her mother? Her mother was right. There were far too few reasons to laugh and have fun on the frontier.

Martha took hold of Temperance’s hand. “Don’t we both deserve a better life than what we have?” She rested her cheek up against her daughter’s hair.

Temperance sighed as she replied. “But the only way to get to that better life is to complete our journey and get to Oregon. Let’s not lose sight of that. Tonight, we’ll just have some fun, but tomorrow, we need to get back to the business of getting our family moved west. I’ll do what I have to get us there.”

St. Louis prided itself on being known as the gateway to the west. Certainly, there were people from all walks of life who, once they got this far, decided to stay and put down roots. And the city welcomed them all, as was evident at the annual Christmas dance. The wives of professional businessmen rubbed shoulders with the dance hall girls, and, for one night a year at least, put aside their differences and enjoyed themselves. Basil gazed across the crowded room with its gaily colored adornments and laughing throngs of guests. His thoughts were just the opposite — dark and ominous.

He danced with a variety of ladies, from Desireé, the dance hall woman who knocked off Temperance’s hat that night in the bar, to Mrs. Solomon, the portly wife of the owner of the grocery store. He paid little heed to any of the women, since he kept casting his glance around the room in search of Temperance. Although he didn’t know why he was torturing himself. She obviously thought Jake was the better man to shower her attention on. And if Jake should make an improper advance, Basil had no doubt, of all the women he’d ever met, Temperance would be able to take care of herself. It had taken him the better part of one week to heal from her punch to his face. She might be small, but she packed a wallop. In more ways than one. His hand went to his chest as he caught sight of her, smiling up at something Jake said. Heartburn, again. He really must get to the doctor.

He prowled around the perimeter of the room as if he were a wolf stalking its prey, stopping to chat for a few minutes with the various clusters of men and women who were influential in the town. Basil wound his way over to Ginger and Joseph, who were proudly showing off Samuel to the townsfolk. Some of the town’s residents were prejudiced against the Lafontaine family because of their Indian heritage. Hell, he’d even tried to caution his sister against marrying Joseph, despite knowing how much they loved each other. When she’d thrown convention out the window anyway and married Joseph, she was held up to ridicule by some of the town’s most influential people.

Basil bore the brunt of the animosity since he was in town every day. He supposed it would take years, if ever, for Indians and whites to marry without being scorned by some people. By standing here, next to his sister and his best friend, and by showering his new nephew with attention, he was drawing his line in the sand. It wasn’t the noble gesture he made it out in his mind to be. He was looking for a diversion to take his mind off Temperance for a few minutes, and hoped someone would challenge him.