Rocky Mountain Dreams. Danica Favorite

laughter. Without noise. Even Joseph would admit that this month without the cacophony of his siblings’ voices had made for some lonely nights. He’d gotten through by telling himself it was temporary. But for Annabelle and her father, the silence was permanent.

       Lord, forgive me for judging.

      The biscuits collided angrily against each other, reminding him that he had a lot to beg the Lord’s forgiveness for. He’d been angry and resentful over his situation, but as he looked at what the Lassiters were going through, he realized that he had no call to complain.

      “Sir?”

      Frank turned. “I told you to call me Frank.”

      Joseph nodded slowly. “Yes. Frank. I...I was wondering if you had a spare Bible in the house.”

      Silence echoed briefly against the walls. Joseph’s heart thudded. It shouldn’t have been that difficult a question to ask a preacher.

      “Annabelle still hasn’t forgiven me for giving away Peter’s. Barely nineteen years old, and my boy had his heart set on becoming a preacher. He would have wanted me to share God’s word, but Annabelle...she was furious.”

      The older man’s voice cracked. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have burdened you. I...”

      “Forget it.” He’d already made Annabelle uncomfortable enough. “I’m sure I can find one in town tomorrow. It’s just I— Well, you reminded me of how much I’ve lost track of my faith.”

      Some of the tiredness left Frank’s face. “I’m glad. As for the Bible, I’ll let you read my own tonight. When a man’s got a yearning for God’s word, it’s best to fill it immediately so nothing else sneaks in.”

      He was about to tell Frank it wasn’t necessary, but Frank had already left the room. It humbled Joseph to see how freely the man shared all that he had. A lesson Aunt Ina would benefit to learn. Her last letter had complained of all the money she’d spent on his siblings and that she fully expected to be repaid for her sacrifice.

      If he’d tried to pay Frank back, the man would be insulted. Joseph looked around the room that had once been occupied by a beloved son and brother. No wonder Annabelle had seemed so tense earlier. He sat on the bed and ran his hands along the fine quilt covering the bed.

      Joseph didn’t know much about women’s handiwork, and had taken the blankets and quilts in their home for granted. But to Annabelle, who’d been upset over a Bible, this was probably yet another memory of her brother.

      “That was the first quilt my wife ever made.” Frank’s voice came from the doorway. “Her family was horrified that she was wasting her womanly talents on making quilts instead of embroidering fancy linens. It has some mistakes, but that’s why I love it. She wasn’t afraid of the mistakes that come with learning.”

      Frank had crossed over while speaking, then handed him a well-worn Bible. “I hope it gives you the same peace tonight.”

      The lump that Joseph had been successfully swallowing all evening wouldn’t go away this time. Everything had meaning to the Lassiters, yet they were both able to share. Frank more willingly than Annabelle, but even her, he couldn’t fault for being stingy.

      “Thank you, Frank. Your generosity means the world to me.”

      Frank gave a small nod. “I hope someday you pass on that generosity to someone else.”

      The floorboards creaked as Frank once again retreated, leaving Joseph in the cozy room bathed with soft candlelight. He glanced at the Bible, which smelled of the hope and promise of things yet to come. So far, he hadn’t found any of the answers he’d been seeking in Leadville. But Frank Lassiter had given him the hope that he’d finally come to a place where he could.

       Chapter Four

      Annabelle walked into Jessup’s Mercantile, Nugget’s hand clutched tightly in hers.

      “I ain’t allowed in here,” Nugget whispered.

      “You’re with me, so it’ll be fine. Be a good girl, and I’ll let you choose a peppermint when we’re done.”

      She gave the little girl an encouraging squeeze and a smile.

      “I don’t like peppermints. The men who visited Mama always gave ’em to me, and then I’d have to go away.”

      After a day with Nugget, none of her experiences should shock Annabelle. But each one put an anger in her heart that wasn’t going to be easily erased. How many other children endured what poor Nugget had? Despite her anger, Annabelle felt powerless to do anything.

      “I’m not going to make you go away.” She gave Nugget another squeeze. “But I will let you pick out whatever treat you’d like.”

      Nugget’s grip loosened in her hand.

      “Who is this young lady you have with you today, Annabelle?” Mrs. Jessup greeted her with a smile as Nugget shied into Annabelle’s skirts.

      “Good morning, Mrs. Jessup.” Annabelle returned the greeting. “We have a very special guest staying with us, so I’ve brought her with me to pick up a few things for Maddie. Nugget, please give Mrs. Jessup your most polite how-do-you-do.”

      Mrs. Jessup blanched. “Nugget? That isn’t the child from...” She glanced over Annabelle’s shoulder in the direction of State Street.

      Annabelle straightened her shoulders as Nugget let go of her hand and clung to the back of Annabelle’s skirt. She reached behind and gave Nugget a pat on the head. “Why, yes, she is. And she’s currently our guest, so please treat her with the respect accorded all of our important guests.”

      “But that child is filthy and full of bugs.”

      “Am not!” Nugget burst out of Annabelle’s skirts. “Mama made sure I didn’t get no bugs.”

      Annabelle put her arms around Nugget and pulled her close. “Maddie scrubbed her clean herself. Didn’t find one bug on the sweet little girl.” She did her best to keep her voice modulated and calm. Nugget was just a child, after all, and didn’t deserve Mrs. Jessup’s scorn.

      “Is that the dress I ordered from New York City for poor Susannah?”

      The horror on Mrs. Jessup’s face brought a pang to Annabelle’s heart. After all, it wasn’t Mrs. Jessup’s sister who’d died.

      “Why, yes, it is.” Annabelle gave a smile in spite of the sick feeling in her stomach. “And I’m sure she’d be pleased that it wasn’t getting eaten by moths in some closet. All Nugget needs are a few ribbons for her hair to make her the picture of sweetness.”

      Wasn’t that the very thing Maddie had said this morning? And Annabelle had politely agreed, all the while resenting having to give up Susannah’s dress. But now, in the face of such meanness, she’d parade Nugget around with Susannah’s beloved china doll to show the world that she didn’t give a whit where Nugget came from.

      “Your mother would be horrified that you’re associating with such people.”

      Her mother would have been ashamed it had taken Annabelle so long to take up Nugget’s cause.

      “What people? Nugget has done nothing wrong. She’s a good girl who hasn’t given me a bit of trouble.”

      Mrs. Jessup’s face turned as red as the bolts of flannel she kept for the miners. “She was raised in that...place!”

      “And she’s now a guest in my home.” Annabelle didn’t mean to raise her voice, but when she did, a group of women looking through the buttons stopped and looked up at her.

      “I understand that your mother is gone and I’m sure your father has no idea how to explain such delicate matters to a young lady, but let me assure you