Banking on Temperance (5 page)

But he had reached out, and she was drawn to him almost as if he were a magnet. Lord have mercy. No man should be so handsome that she melted into a little puddle just by his smile. She was definitely going to have to watch her step around him. And not just on the stairs.

Grateful to see the restaurant Basil mentioned, she stopped her horse and dismounted, putting an end to her wayward thoughts. She needed to focus on the task at hand — finding employment for herself and her brother so they could move out in the spring on the wagon trains. No more idle musings about a handsome skirt-chaser. She had more important things to think about. She tucked all thoughts of Basil Fitzpatrick into a corner of her mind, and straightened her skirt and her hair before she headed into the restaurant to meet the owner.

Shortly afterwards, she left the restaurant to run home and tell her mother the news that she’d not only increased her workload with Mr. Fitzpatrick at the bank, but she now had a job as a waitress at the public house, beginning the following evening. As her horse trotted down the road, she considered trying out some of the carnival moves she’d seen once at the circus. A daredevil lady had stood on the back of her horse as it galloped around a ring. She rode backwards, and then on the horse’s side, hanging on to the saddle as she flipped her body from one side of the horse to the other.

Temperance glanced at the head of her mount and decided behavior such as what she was envisioning would send this barely-tamed horse into a panic. So, she kept her wits about her and with her good news on the tip of her tongue, she hurried home in the looming dusk to share her accomplishments.

Martha was standing outside the soddy, crying quietly, when Temperance pulled up. Frightened, she slid off her horse and ran to her mother, putting her arms around her. “What’s happened?”

“It’s your da, honey.”

Temperance glanced quickly at the soddy. “Is he dead?”

Martha laughed a little through her tears. “That has been my fear, too, for months now. But no, he’s taken a turn for the better, and is actually sitting up and said he had a craving for soup today.”

“So why the tears? You frightened me to death. You should be happy.”

“I am. This is a happy cry, but regardless, I didn’t want your da to see my tears. I was despairing of him ever getting better. He doesn’t need to see how worried I’ve been.”

“You don’t think he knows? This is Da we’re talking about. He picks up on every mood of yours. Surely he knows how hard his illness has been on the whole family. Let me take care of the horse while you wipe your tears. I’ve some good news to share with you both.” She hugged her mother again before turning her attention to the horse.

Maybe all was not lost. Her father was improving. There were a few stories where people actually recovered from consumption. Perhaps her father’s strong connection to the Lord would hold him in good stead one more time.

The scorching days of summer melted into fall, and Basil found himself in a comfortable routine as the leaves began to turn to beautiful gold and orange colors. The bank was doing well, his sisters Ginger and Heather both seemed happy with their new spouses, and Ginger was glowing as she awaited the birth of her first child. Heather and David made a quick stop in town before heading to the military post on the border of Missouri and Kansas. But it was not just his family around him that brought him comfort. It was the Jones family who occupied more and more of his thoughts. And his dreams.

Temperance continued to work at the bank three times a week and cleaned his quarters above the bank once a week. He had never seen such a hard, diligent worker. If only he could get his teller, Herbert Walker, to move as quickly. Maybe there was something to be said for women in the workplace, as Ginger so loudly advocated. He’d have to think about it with a more open mind.

But he admired more than Temperance’s work ethic. She was funny and feisty, once she got over her initial shyness with him. The way she stared him straight in the eye and challenged him to find any fault with her work or to debate the rights of women made him admire her. It was a new experience for him. He had never admired a woman’s spirit before. Yes, he had delighted in, lusted after even, women in the past. But only for their appearance, or their talents with acting or song. Never for their minds.

He found himself inventing work to do so he could stay in the bank while she cleaned. Her life was a hard one, so what harm could come from trying to coax a smile from her each time they were in contact with one another? He especially appreciated the afternoons when she didn’t have to rush off to the restaurant and put in another work shift waiting tables.

When she wasn’t in a hurry to leave after she was done with her work, she would actually sit with him and talk, about her family and her life back in Pennsylvania. He entertained her with stories about his six sisters and two brothers, as well as his parents, and spoke about their life in New York. Her former life in Pennsylvania had been a hard one, too, but she spoke of it fondly. He discovered she had a beau back home who planned to join her in Oregon the following year.

“A lot can happen in a year’s time, especially in the West,” he’d told her. “If he wouldn’t marry you when he had the chance and he let you come west with your family, what makes you think he’ll join you later? Your Jeremiah may find someone new to love and never leave Pennsylvania. Or you may find someone new, right here in St. Louis.”

“Because he told me he loved me, and I have to believe his word,” she replied softly as she sat at the chair in front of his desk, her gaze never wavering. “And my love for him is strong, so I’ve no doubt about him.”

“And when he was making this announcement of his feelings, was he attempting to steal a kiss from you?”

Temperance’s blush was all the answer he needed.

“Men tell women they love them all the time when they’re trying to get something from them. Don’t let your head be turned by a remark made in the heat of the moment, Temperance.”

She pushed her hair back. Tendrils escaped from her bun daily, and Basil loved the way they framed her small face. Her green eyes flashed at him. “Do you tell ladies you love them all the time when you’re trying to get something from them?”

Basil grinned. “I’ve, uh, been known to utter such foolishness a time or two.”

“You think love is foolish?”

Basil suddenly became sober. “The kind of love that rears its head in the heat of the moment is foolishness. It’s merely ardor, or lust. The kind of love that you’re referring to is not foolishness at all.”

She glanced up at him from under her thick lashes. “Have you ever experienced the kind of love I’m referring to?”

Basil shifted in his chair, but met her gaze. “Once, but it was strictly one-sided. And it put me off on trying it again. I’ll stick to my kind of love for the time being.”

“Will you tell me about her? This woman who broke your heart? I’m curious about the kind of woman who wielded such power over you.”

“Who said I was broken-hearted? But, if I reveal more, will you tell me more about your beau?”

She smiled at him. “Rather than talk about him, I’ll let you meet him. I’ve written to Jeremiah and told him we’re wintering over here, and that he should join us so we can go on the wagon train together come spring.”

Basil rubbed his chest with his hand. The thought of a man coming after Temperance gave him heartburn. At least, that’s what he thought it was.

“So, tell me about this woman. The love of your life.” Temperance brought his thoughts back to their conversation.

“I was in New York last year and met a lovely French actress named Rachel. I thought I was the love of her life, but as it turned out, I was only one of her lovers that summer. She had many suitors during her stay in town.”

“So what happened to her?”

“While my family was at the Hamptons for Independence Day, Rachel took ill in New York, and died from pneumonia. It wasn’t until her funeral that I found out about her other lovers. I was devastated, not only over her loss, but also her duplicity.”

“I’m so sorry. How awful for you,” Temperance replied softly.

They sat in awkward silence for a moment. Then Basil stirred. “Well, it’s in the past now. Let’s talk about something else.”

She left the bank a few minutes later, anxious to get home before dark. Night was falling faster and faster as the calendar slid towards winter. Basil’s hand went to his chest again. He truly cared for Temperance, something he couldn’t say about most of the women he found himself in the company of. He anticipated his visits with her, when she stopped working long enough to sit and talk. And, unlike the other women he spent time with, he was reluctant for her to leave instead of counting the moments until he could escape.

She was definitely one of a kind. Not at all similar to Rachel, who had so captivated him last spring that he’d never noticed Joseph and Ginger falling in love until it was too late. No, Temperance was no Rachel. She would never consider taking more than one lover at a time. In fact, he could not see Temperance taking any lover who wasn’t her husband first. His mind drifted to thoughts of how he could teach Temperance the ways of a man and a woman, and his manhood swelled at the thought. He had a feeling she would be as ardent a lover as she was passionate about everything else in her life. She loved her family to distraction, almost. She was crazy about the Lafontaine horses. And he’d caught glimpses of her anger when a recalcitrant dust ball evaded her broom.

Talk about foolish! The woman had a beau coming for her, and she was an employee of his. Two very good reasons to avoid any ardent thoughts. But he had noticed the swell of her bosom under her serviceable clothes, and when he had grabbed her on the stairs to prevent her from falling down them their first day alone together, it might have been his imagination, but he thought the air crackled as flesh met flesh.

• • •

“Here you go, Da. A nice, hot cup of tea will be just the thing you need to feel better.” Temperance helped her father to an upright position in the bed. As he drank his tea, she reached out to him and smoothed back a lock of his graying hair. They were alone in the soddy for a few hours, as Temperance’s mother drove the wagon loaded with the other children into town. The children, except for Noble, were all going to school, and Martha Jones decided to take them in today so she could buy some necessary items at the general store.

“I’m so sorry, daughter, that the burden of this family has fallen so hard upon your shoulders.”

“Nonsense. I’m only helping out until you’re better. Do you want your Bible?”

“No, it’s too dark in here to read comfortably. Besides, I know all the scriptures by heart, so I just lay here and recite them from my memory.” He took her hand and she could feel the heat from his fever.

“I want you to make me a promise, Temperance.”

“Of course, Da. Anything.”

“Your mother doesn’t want me to talk about this, but I must. You know there’s a very strong chance I may not recover from this awful disease.”

“Don’t say such things! Of course you’ll improve. You’re much better now than you were when we arrived in town.”

“I’ll admit, getting out of that wagon and into a place that has a roof over my head helped me, but still, I’m weak as a kitten.”

“And we have all winter for you to build up your strength. It just takes time, Da, that’s all. Don’t get discouraged.”

“I have always taught you to face life head-on, child, and I’ll not stop now. We must look at the facts as they are currently presented to us. If I die before this winter’s over, I want you to lead the family the rest of the way to Oregon.”

Tears sprung to Temperance’s eyes as she listened to her father’s words. This was her darkest fear — that her da would pass before winter’s end. She’d known for months that he was fighting the disease of consumption and not many people ever recover from it. But to hear him say it out loud was too much, even for her.

A sudden cough racked his frail body, and he bent over double from the effort. Blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth as he straightened up again. Temperance could almost taste the metallic redness as she wiped his mouth clean.

“Promise me, daughter, that you’ll see the family through. I know we’ll all be safe and blessed in Oregon.”

“But Da, without you, we can’t get on a wagon train. All the papers we studied about the wagon trains stated very clearly that they require a strong male to head each wagon, and Justice is still just a boy. Perhaps it would be best for us to stay put in St. Louis.”

“St. Louis will not be far enough away, should war break out between the North and the South. Justice and Valor need to be far away, on the western coast of this country. Jeremiah’s planning to come out in the spring. Now, instead of him meeting up with us in Oregon, he can lead you and the family from here. He’s a good lad.”

“Yes, Da, he is. I’m looking forward to him getting here so we can begin our life together. But you don’t need to worry about that. You need to concentrate on getting better.”

“Please, Temperance.” He reached out for her hand again. “I’ll rest much easier if I have your solemn vow that you’ll spearhead the family to Oregon, with or without me.”

She bowed her head. “I promise you. If necessary, I’ll be the one to find a way to get the family to Oregon, and to happiness.” She raised her head and gazed at him. “But, of course, I’m counting on you to make a swift recovery so you can once again take over as head of this family.”

A wan smile appeared on his face. “That is my desire, too, dear Temperance. Shall we pray and tell the Lord what we have planned, and get his blessing?”

Her head dipped again, and she took his hand once more. Her father had always led the family in prayer so she was comfortable with this. What made her uncomfortable was her promise to her father that she’d get the family to Oregon. Without him, she didn’t know how it would be possible. His prayer today might be to finish the journey, but her prayer was that the Lord would keep her father on this Earth long enough to shepherd the family to its destination.