No Place for a Lady (7 page)

The first things Crystal noticed about Steamboat were the activity, the bustle of wagons, the riders on horseback, and the muddy
streets. The hastily built frame shops were plain, their wood and
paint now bleached a dull gray from the harsh chinook winds
and blizzards. Her heart sank. Shopping here was not going to
be like shopping in Atlanta. She tried to hide her disappointment
when Kate told her that the general store stocked everything a
body could want.

When they pulled up in front of Franklin's Mercantile, Kate
climbed down from the wagon. "Luke, me and Crystal will meet
you for lunch in one hour at Flo's Cafe." She turned and called out to the owner, John Franklin, who was sweeping the porch of
the store, and with hurried steps made her way toward him.

Luke looped the reins over a hitching post and gave Buck a
treat, nuzzled his neck, then continued on down the street, apparently engaged in his own world. He left Crystal standing in the
wagon, waiting to be helped down. He hadn't even looked back.
He needed to be taught a few lessons in manners. What was his
hurry? Hurrying was so undignified anyway.

She fretted with her heavy petticoats, which were hung up in
the brake of the wagon.

"Here, let me help you with that before you topple;' a voice
called out from the store's porch.

Crystal stretched out her gloved hand to the stranger while he
unhooked her dress from the brake with great care so as not to tear
the peach-colored material. He helped her down from the wagon.

"I'm Josh McBride. You must be Kate Morgan's niece from
Georgia." He was heavyset, and his light brown eyes smiled back
at her from his clean-shaven face. His jeans were brand-new. Not
a spec of dust showed on his brown boots. His brown Stetson hat,
in the same shade of brown, had been steamed and rolled with
care. "I've heard all about you"

"You're too kind:" Crystal said, flustered by his frank, appraising look. He continued to hold her hand in his big one. She could
feel the strength of his fingers through her gloves. "I'm Crystal
Clark."

"I'm very glad to make your acquaintance:"

Kate stuck her head out of the dry goods store, and the bell
clanged loudly. "Come on in, Crystal. Oh, I see you've met Josh.
Are your parents in town?" she asked him.

"No, ma'am;' he replied. "I'm here with my sister, April. She's
browsing around in the store today. Doggoned if I know what
for" He chuckled and turned again to Crystal. "Good day, ma'am"
He touched his fingertip to the brim of his hat, clearly admiring
her.

Crystal felt two hot spots stain her cheeks, and she hurriedly
moved inside the dry goods store.

"See you at the party Friday night, Josh?" Kate asked.

"We wouldn't miss it!" he called back over his shoulder as he
started down the boardwalk.

"Josh:" Kate tapped him on the shoulder. "Can I speak with
you a minute?"

Josh paused. "Sure. What's up?"

"You go on in, honey. I'll be there in two shakes of a lamb's
tail;" Kate instructed her niece.

Franklin's Mercantile was the center of daily life for the bustling
inhabitants of Steamboat. It also served as the US Post Office and
the "place to find it all under one roof."

The practice of merchandising had served as a vital element to
the prosperity of John Franklin and his family. His success had
carved him a prominent place in the community. He was a fair
but shrewd businessman, knowing when to extend credit and
when to withhold it.

For the townsfolk, the mercantile store was more than just a
mere store. In the winter, it served as a meeting place to exchange
bits of news while many a yarn was told around the warmth of its
huge potbellied stove. In the summer, its shady porch provided a good excuse to stop and gossip or talk about the weather, which
was the normal topic of discussion. It had a unique odor of its
own, mingling leather, wood, apples, and tobacco.

Crystal gaped in amazement at the tall bolts of material stacked
precariously and at row upon row of canned foods and other sundry items. Leather harnesses, tack, and the like were on one side
of the store, and clumsily built racks near the back held molasses
and whiskey in large barrels. Another wall held tonics, herbs,
shaving cream, and soaps.

She strolled over to the shelves. Perhaps some new toilet water
for Friday night?

Two young women, heads bent together, were examining a
length of ribbon against blue calico, but when they saw Crystal looking at them, they stopped. One of them walked toward
Crystal.

"May I be of assistance?" she said. She was older than Crystal
had first thought as she drew closer. Her hair was pulled back into
a severe chignon, not one strand of hair escaping, and her black
heels rang out like pistol shots when she crossed the hardwood
floor.

"I'm Mary Franklin." When she smiled, her dark brown eyes
twinkled, as though she found everything in life amusing. She
moved with enthusiasm while straightening the fabric bolts, pausing long enough to push her spectacles back up over her long,
thin nose.

"How do you do, Mrs. Franklin? I'm Crystal Clark, Kate Morgan's niece" She shook the proffered hand. "I'm just browsing."

"My, my. All the way up from Georgia, I hear. I hope you enjoy
your visit out West. Kate and I are good friends, and she's told me all about you" She turned and motioned for the blonde to join
her. `April, meet Crystal, Kate's visiting niece:'

Crystal watched as the tall girl carried her willowy frame with
self-assurance to Mrs. Franklin's side. Her beautiful, cascading
curls hung almost to her waist and were held back off her high
cheekbones with a blue gingham ribbon. A brown felt hat hung
down her slim back. Her enormous blue eyes raked over Crystal
with an icy gaze, though her lips were smiling.

"Kinda outta your territory a bit, aren't you?" Her greeting was
uttered in a cool, detached voice.

Friendliness in the South was as common as flies on a watermelon rind, so April's rudeness took Crystal quite by surprise. She
squared her shoulders, stood as erect as her five foot two inches
would allow, and answered in her most courteous manner.

"Maybe so, but clothes can be changed to suit the occasion,
unlike temperaments and attitudes, which require much more
control." Crystal stared at April's jodhpurs and black riding boots,
hoping her meaning was obvious to the pretty girl. "Besides;' she
drawled, "I think I'm beginning to like these mountains and the
wide-open spaces."

"Crystal, what a beautiful hat," Mrs. Franklin exclaimed,
reaching out to touch the ribbons adorning Crystal's hat. "Isn't
it, April?"

"Why, yes. But more suited to garden parties in the South
than out here in the West" Her eyes rested on Crystal's bosom.
April was tall and graceful even in riding clothes, but she would
never forgive God for not endowing her with an hourglass figure.
Whenever April complained about her bosom, her mother would
say she wished hers were no bigger than a hickory nut. Alice told her daughter that having a decolletage was a nuisance. But that
did little to improve April's desire for a shapelier figure.

Crystal felt rebuffed and, as April implied, a bit overdressed.
But she tossed her head back and laughed as though April's words
didn't affect her at all. She turned to pick up a pair of pants and
said, "Mrs. Franklin, might you have these in my size? And, oh
yes, I'll need a pair of good, sturdy shoes. I'm afraid that I shall
ruin these before the day is out:" She glanced down at her own
kid slippers. They were more suited for indoors, but she didn't
need that tall beanpole with blonde hair telling her what to wear
and when.

She chuckled under her breath as April stormed off. "Is she
always so nice?" she asked Mary.

"Goodness, don't mind her! She's so spoiled by that father of
hers. I declare. She was just miffed because you're a sight for sore
eyes and unmarried, therefore her enemy. You are one of the few
brave enough to put her in her place."

Kate returned from her conversation outside with Josh. The
floorboards squeaked as she joined them. "All set, Crystal? John
has everything loaded, so we can go on over to Flo's and have a
bite to eat."

I just need to wrap these britches up. We are out of anything
small enough to fit her feet, but I'll send off an order right away"
Mary folded the pants.

"Just put it on my account, Mary," Kate said.

"I have money, Aunt Kate:' Crystal groped in her handbag.

"Nonsense;' Kate said. "A few more dollars one way or the
other won't break me."

"Well, if you insist. Thank you"

Kate looked down at Crystal. "Having you here, girl, is thanks
enough. Mary, I'll be seeing you out at the party come Friday
night."

Mary waved and then winked conspiratorially to Crystal. Crystal liked the kind older lady. Josh was just driving his wagon off
as the women emerged from the store. He grinned and looked
as though he was about to slow the wagon to a stop, but April
scowled at him and said they must be hurrying.

Flo's Cafe wasn't much to look at from the outside. But inside,
the homey atmosphere and delicious smells invited its patrons to
settle down at any one of its numerous tables covered in bright red
tablecloths. The same red-checked material adorned the gleaming windows, allowing the customers to view the activities of the
bustling cow town.

Crystal and Kate had been waiting for almost a half hour for
Luke to arrive. "Where in tarnation is he?" Kate asked to no one
in particular. "Let's go on and order our lunch, Crystal. He must
have stopped off to chew the fat with Lars, our local smithy." Kate
motioned for Flo, who lumbered over to their table.

Flo's gray hair was twisted into a knot on top of her head, and
the heat of the kitchen kept a constant flush on her round cheeks.
Her starched white apron was loosely tied around her ample waist.
She stood next to the table, arms akimbo.

"What can I serve up for ya today, Kate? We got steak and gravy
simmered in onions or vegetable stew." Flo turned to Crystal. "And
who might this young lady be?" she bellowed, causing the other
patrons to stare at Crystal.

"This here is my niece, Crystal, from Georgia:" Kate beamed,
tilting her head upward to smile at Flo.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Crystal. Now, what'll it
be today?"

Both of them decided on the vegetable stew, which was served
with slices of thick, crusty bread. Crystal drank several glasses
of water. "My throat has been dry since the day I arrived;' she
said to Kate.

"That's because the air is so dry out here. You'll get used to
it:'

Their conversation soon turned to ranching and Crystal's future.

"I'd like it if you would stay on here for good, Crystal. You are
such a bright light in my life right now. Besides, I always wanted
children" Kate looked at her with so much affection that Crystal
wasn't sure what to say.

"Thank you. I do like what I've seen so far, and I'm looking
forward to meeting new people at the party that you are being so
gracious to give for me:"

They chatted about the trail drive and community affairs.

"Aunt Kate, why will you take the cattle to Denver to sell?"

"Because we'll get a better price per head in Denver, although
a wealthy banker by the name of Henry Gebhard is in the process
of building a slaughterhouse in Steamboat as we speak. Besides,
since the railroad isn't yet opened up into Wyoming, and we live
south of Steamboat in the valley, it just makes better sense:"

I can't wait to take you to church so you can meet everyone
in the community;' Kate said. "You'll like Reverend Alden. He
preaches the Word, pure and simple, and he's not married:"

Crystal giggled and assured Kate that she wasn't looking for
anyone. They finished up the delicious stew and bread.

Flo had convinced them to have a slice of apple pie with their
coffee when Luke pulled up a chair and sat across from Crystal.
Pushing his hat back, he grabbed Flo by her thick hand and said,
"I'll have the steak and gravy, and you might as well go ahead
and bring me that pie with it. Nobody can beat your cooking,
darlin'."