Polly was probably right. Mary sighed. Part of her younger brother Daniel’s problem, she was sure, was all her fault. Why hadn’t she brought her courtship with Ben out into the open so that Daniel could have a male’s influence with their pa and Joseph gone?
Because Ben had insisted, that was why.
One more thing that had, in hindsight, rankled about their relationship. There had been so many signs that everything wasn’t on the up-and-up. But she’d ignored them.
Just as well that she hadn’t allowed Ben to influence her younger brother. The poor child would have been corrupted—maybe on his way to living a life of crime.
Something she had to be mindful of as Will approached. He’d been so kind, so compassionate and, were she to be honest, so many of the good things that had been lacking in Ben.
But even Will’s kindness would not extend to accepting the truth about her role in Ben’s misdeeds.
“Are you ladies settled for the night? It’s time for the men to head to where we’ll be sleeping, so I want to be sure you have everything you need first.” Though he spoke in the plural, Will’s eyes remained focused on her.
Mary shook her head. “I’d like to be, but I haven’t seen Emma Jane anywhere. I’m sure I won’t sleep a wink until I know she’s got a comfortable place to sleep.”
“I’ll take a look,” he said, already glancing around the barn. “I’ll even get Jasper to help. I’m sure that’ll bring a smile to her face.”
Mary wished he wouldn’t tease about Emma Jane’s fixation on Jasper. But if she took him to task, it would only fuel Polly’s belief that there was something between Mary and Will. And from the weight of Polly’s eyes on her, the other girl’s mind was already turning.
Plus, she was getting mighty tired of everyone speculating on other people’s relationships. Emma Jane was pursuing Jasper. Half of the ladies in the barn were. It didn’t make it right to make remarks. Just as it wasn’t right for everyone to be remarking on her and Ben—or her and Will, for that matter.
But as Mary glanced at the expectant gazes of Polly and Rachel, she knew it wouldn’t be that easy.
As much as she’d like to go with Will to search for the other girl, it would only serve to create further talk Mary was loath to have to explain away.
“Thank you, Will. I’m sure Emma Jane will appreciate the effort on her behalf.”
Then, without looking at him, a fact of which Mary was quite proud, she sat on the spot Polly had indicated.
“All right, girls, what would you like to know?”
Polly and Rachel giggled and glanced in the direction of Will’s retreating back. Mary forced herself to not groan. She’d almost rather face Will’s questioning than talk to these two.
“You’re truly not engaged to that other fellow?” Rachel looked intently at Mary, as if she could somehow whittle out a truth Mary had not yet revealed.
“Absolutely not. We broke things off in Ohio, then he left town in search of his fortune. Him showing up here in Leadville is the first I’ve spoken to him since. I’m sure he’s only here because of the family’s silver mine.”
At least that was a truth she could reveal. As for his character and all the reasons why she could never marry a scoundrel like Ben, well, those were things she had to keep private.
Rachel gasped. “He’s a fortune hunter, then?”
Finally Polly seemed to get the idea as she nodded sagely. “Of course. I should have known. Now that you’re wealthy, he sees himself a bride who can give him a life in style.”
Her friend sobered, and a sad look crossed her face. “I suppose...” Then she looked away.
Was Polly thinking of the man who’d used her so harshly?
Mary touched her friend’s arm. “I’m sorry if I made you think of the past. But surely you can see why marrying a man like Ben would be intolerable.”
“What other option is there?” Polly said, her voice thick and murky. “We all say we dream of honorable men, but it doesn’t seem they exist.”
“I shan’t marry.” Mary straightened and looked at both girls with utter seriousness. “If a man isn’t honorable, then I want no part of being his wife.”
She looked down at the straw around her. Her brother was an honorable man. So, too, was Frank. But, out of every man in her acquaintance, how could she only know of two?
“Easy for you to say,” Polly grumbled. “Rachel and I don’t have the benefit of owning our own stock in a mine. At some point, we’ll need to find a man to support us. I’ve been a burden on my family for too long.”
Mary understood. She’d thought that very thing until she’d met Ben. Of course, Mary had always tempered it with the thought that her family needed her to take care of them. Still did.
Polly, at least, had both parents living.
“And we’re not getting any younger,” Rachel added. “Every week, some new, pretty young thing moves into town and takes up one of the few remaining decent men in town.”
Polly nodded sagely. “You’d do well to snatch Will up.”
Mary stared at her. “Did you not forget that we saw him on State Street only this morning?”
“Men have needs.” Polly’s well-used answer tore at Mary’s heart. Such men were not husband material.
“Then you can have him. I won’t tolerate a husband who visits such places.”
But something twisted in Mary’s stomach as she thought of Polly and Will together.
“Will’s not for me,” Polly said. “He doesn’t look at me the way he looks at you.”
Rachel sighed, as if she, too, had noticed the way Will looked at her and found it hopelessly romantic.
Only there was nothing romantic about the way Will looked at her. He wasn’t after her for romance. No, he wanted to know about Ben. His eyes fixed on her not because he harbored desire
