Onward From Oklahoma _ C by Donovan Lynn

Author:Donovan, Lynn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven



Solomon sat quiet while Miriam began her tale.

“As a child of missionaries,” she began. “I’ve spent the last ten years of my life living among wild Indians.”

She went on to explain the uprising and near fatal attack upon her and her sister. How she’d been found by a hired bounty hunter, but still was left behind to fend for herself with nothing more than the newspaper advert Solomon had paid for. Hidden in an occupied pine coffin and stowed away on the livestock rail wagon, it was a miracle she made it here as sound as she was. He could only imagine a less strong-willed lady losing her mind after all this one had been through.

She had truly been through the mangler and lived to tell about it. He felt a sense of awe with her. He’d seen men in the war between the states that had not fared so well. Then this morning when she sculpted that rosebud out of an iron rod, his mind was reeling at the craftsmanship she displayed. What could she accomplish with silver or gold from the new mine?

They ordered a stack of flapjacks and salt pork and had cleaned their plates except for smears of molasses. Together they drank a pot of coffee. He enjoyed listening to her speak. She was educated and smart, he could tell by her ability to paint a picture with her words. For a moment, he thought he could smell the stench of the coffin, and then the manure of the livestock car. He remembered well how bad she smelled when he first met her in the jail cell. But this was different. This was as if he experienced what she experienced just by listening to the way she told the story.

He wished they were back at his forge where prying eyes would not see him lean over and kiss her. He put his hand over hers instead and she looked up in surprise. Their eyes locked in a gaze he didn’t want to break.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Nothing. I—”

“There you are!” Miss Peterson rushed through the front door of the diner. “I’ve looked all over for you.”

Solomon jerked his hand back to his lap. Miss Forgeron sat up straighter and cleared her throat. “Did you have breakfast plans with her this morning?”

“No.” He considered his answer. Had he told her he would take her to breakfast? Yesterday, he took her to dinner. That was all he remembered. Never on the walk to her place had they discussed today at all. “I’m certain of it. She must have assumed.”

“Well?” Miss Peterson stood next to him, as if she were waiting for him to leap up and… do what? Go with her, invite her to sit with him and Miss Forgeron? What did she expect really?

“Miss Peterson, I’m sorry, but there has been a slight change in plans. I wasn’t planning on calling on you until later.”

Her eyes widened. She swung her gaze to Miss Forgeron, looking her up and down as if she was a runt to be discarded.

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