“I can see I’ll get nowhere waitin’ for my friend here to do me the honor of an introduction.” A large hand clad in a fine kid glove reached out and took hold of her fingers.
“Patrick O’Donnell, at your service.
“Tis proud I am to make your acquaintance.” His smile broadened.
“Now if you’d be so kind as to tell me your name, I’d be forever in your debt, lass.” She couldn’t help herself. His smile was as irresistible as the open appreciation written across his pleasant, if not handsome, features. She tilted her head slightly to the side as she looked up at him.
“Rachel Harris,” she replied, returning his smile.
“Sure and I should have known. A name that would make the angels in heaven rejoice.” He bowed low and kissed the back of her hand. Gavin made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat.
“Ignore the blighter,” Patrick said as he slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and drew her toward the door of the mercantile.
“Now tell me. What has brought you to our fair community, Miss Harris?”
“I’m working for the Blakes at the Lucky Strike.”
“Then you’re here for a stay?” Patrick asked, pulling open the door and ushering her through. As she moved passed him, he offered an exaggerated wink. ““Tis the luck of the Irish that made me a neighbor to Mr. Blake. Tell me, Miss Harris, what is it you do for the likes of this disagreeable mate o’ mine?”
“I’m teaching the Blake children.”
“A teacher? What a fine and noble trade. I’d wager my mother’s own jewels that you’re a fine one, too.” Gavin stepped up beside her and claimed her other arm.
“You’ll excuse us, Patrick,” he said gruffly.
“Miss Harris and I have some business to see to.” Patrick lifted an eyebrow, but the twinkle in his eyes never faltered.
“Sure and I can see he has want of you to himself,” he said to Rachel in a stage whisper, “but I know now where to find you. Good day, Miss Harris.” He nodded to Gavin.
“Good day, mate.” As the door swung closed behind him, Rachel let out
a deep breath, feeling just a little wind-blown by the brief encounter.
“If you’ve got the list, Miss Harris, we’ll get done what we came to town for.” If anything, he sounded even more surly than before. Killjoy, she thought angrily as she pulled the list of shopping items from her reticule. Yet, for some strange reason, she felt elated by his sour mood, knowing instinctively that it had something to do with the way Mr. O’Donnell had looked at her.
Chapter Fifteen
“Don’t be silly. I’m feeling as strong as an ox today. We’ve been home several weeks now and I’ve not gotten to go visiting once. I have no intention of missing Pearl Johansen’s wedding, and it’s time you met some of our friends and neighbors, Rachel.” Rachel watched helplessly as Dru pulled her best dress over her head. Three weeks of rest had done wonders for the woman, but she was far from being as strong as an ox. Perhaps as feisty as one of Countess’s kittens would be a more accurate comparison.
“Now we’d better hurry or we’ll miss the wedding. Stubs and Jess have already left.” Dru fastened the last button up the front of her autumn-plaid bodice, then glanced toward Rachel once again.
“Will you help me with my hair?” Rachel shook her head even as a smile curved the corners of her mouth.
“Gavin isn’t going to like this. I was supposed to convince you to stay home.”
“I know.” Dru grinned in return, then settled onto a stool in front of the dresser mirror.
“But it doesn’t do any of us any good to just sit around waiting for me to die.” Rachel sucked in a startled breath. Dru’s hazel eyes met Rachel’s in the reflection of the mirror.
“There’s no point in dancin’ around the truth any longer. We all know what’s coming. And my stayin’ in bed all the time isn’t going to change a thing.” She twisted to look directly at Rachel.
“I’d rather live right up to the end, Rachel. I don’t want my girls’ last memories of me to be lyin’ in bed, lookin’ old and tired and sick. Can you understand that?”
“Sure,” she whispered, her throat tight as she fought hot tears. She made a big production out of picking up the brush and selecting a ribbon from a box on the dresser while she gained control of her emotions.
“Now,” she said as she straightened, “how would you like your hair, Mrs. Blake?”
“Anything you can do to make it look halfway pretty will do.” Rachel ran the brush through the fine gray-brown hair, wishing there was something special she could do.
“I know!” she exclaimed suddenly as she dropped the brush onto the dresser.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” She rushed out of the bedroom and across the sitting room, not even pausing long enough to pull on her coat before rushing outside and toward her own cabin. She scarcely noticed the cold. She was too excited. She pushed things aside in the wardrobe, then rummaged through her trunk, tossing things out onto her bed until she found it.
“There it is.” She pulled the hair ornament from its box.
“Perfect,” she whispered. She felt surprisingly light-hearted as she hurried back to the main house. Dru was still sitting at her dressing table, wearing the same surprised expression that had appeared when Rachel rushed out of the bedroom.
“Look. Isn’t it wonderful? It goes perfectly with your dress.” Rachel held up the spray of satin tiger lilies, the orange flowers interspersed with burnt-sienna leaves of the same shiny fabric. Rich brown ostrich feathers completed the ornament. Dru held out her hands, cradling the satin and feathers as if they were fragile glassware.
“This is much too fine for me to wear, Rachel. I’m not the right sort for it. It’s meant for someone young and pretty like you. And what if I lost or damaged it? I couldn’t ever repay you.”
“What nonsense,” Rachel said as she picked up the brush once again and quickly swept Dru’s hair into a smooth twist at the back of her head.
“Anyway, I’m not lending it to you. It’s yours to keep. Then I don’t have to worry about it being lost or damaged, do I?” Dru tried to shake her head, but Rachel stopped her with a light tug on her hair.
“Besides,” Rachel continued, “I look dreadful in brown and orange. I don’t know whatever possessed me to buy such a thing. You’ll be doing me a favor to take it and wear it. Otherwise, it’s just a waste.” As she talked, she took the object from Dru’s hand and slipped the comb into the knot of hair. Smiling, she leaned down and met Dru’s gaze in the mirror.
“There. It’s perfect with your hazel eyes. See? You make it look beautiful.”
“Yes,” Gavin’s deep, male voice said from the doorway.
“You do make it look beautiful.” Rachel straightened and turned around, half expecting to find him scowling at her as usual. But he wasn’t. He wasn’t even looking at her. There was a tender smile on his mouth, a soft look in the gray of his eyes as he gazed at his wife. Rachel felt like an intruder and slowly moved back from Dru’s side. But she stopped when Gavin’s gaze shifted to her. When the tenderness didn’t alter or disappear, she felt a strange warmth rushing through her veins, ending in a tight ball in her midsection. Her mouth felt as dry as dust.
“It’s a gift from Rachel,” Dru said softly, breaking the growing silence. Gavin glanced back at his wife.
“I heard.” He crossed the bedroom in several easy strides.
“I guess this means you won’t stay home.”
“I haven’t seen my friends and neighbors since last May. This may be my last chance before… before the snow falls. Please don’t argue with me, Gavin.” A wry grin lifted one corner of his mouth.
“Since when did it ever do anyone any good to argue with you, Drucilla?” He rested his hand on her shoulder. Her fingers came up to cover his.
“Never,” Dru answered as she leaned her head back to look up at him. Once again, Rachel felt her presence was intrusive and sought to quietly leave the room. And once again, she was stopped by a pair of compelling gray eyes. A maelstrom of feelings stormed through her in