Angel In The Saloon (Brides of Glory Gulch) (15 page)

“Forgive me for my hesitation, but when I saw you,
your beauty distracted me. You look lovely tonight, Amelia.”

“Thank you. I wondered if you would help me wrap a
present for my Aunt.”

“Sure. I can help you wrap it. It’ll take no time at
all.” His long strides took him to the dressing table, and in moments the tiny
box was enshrouded in flowered paper and ribbons.

“Thank you again. Would you do me one more favor,
please? I would like that package to be the last one she opens. Could you see
to that for me? I certainly would appreciate it.”

“Your wish is my command, fair lady.” Jeremiah tucked
the tiny parcel into his jacket pocket. “Shall we go?” Amelia offered him her arm
and the two headed downstairs to join the party that was already under way.

›
›
›

Paul was about to drink a glass of punch when his eyes
were drawn to the stairway where the two were descending. His hand froze in
front of him as he admiringly beheld how Amelia looked.

“Isn’t she a peach?” Corrin said as she came up behind
him, having noticed Paul watching her niece. She remembered that adoring look.

“She’s exquisite!”

›
›
›

The party was a festive affair, people dancing,
laughing, talking, and eating to their heart’s content. Amelia couldn’t
remember this much gayety at the parties she attended back in Georgia. Of
course she hadn’t attended one in nearly two years due to her mother’s illness.
Perhaps she shouldn’t be here now. It was too soon, but there wasn’t time to
think about it. People clamored to bid her hello and make sure she had some
punch or something to eat.

She hardly had a moment to herself, for as soon as one
dance ended either Jeremiah or another admirer would swoop her back onto the
dance floor.

Jeremiah kept a close watch on her, making sure Amelia
was never left standing alone for even a second. She hadn’t brought her cane
and he’d told her he didn’t want her to become disoriented.

Then the moment she knew he dreaded, but expected,
came when Paul Strupel approached them. “Amelia, I believe you promised me a
dance.” Then in the true style of a gentleman he looked at Jeremiah and said,
“With your permission, of course.” 

Jeremiah too acted like a gentleman, instead of the
raw lumberman she knew him to be. “Of course, be my guest.”

Paul took Amelia’s hand, tucked it under his arm and
led her off to dance. He held her closely and she loved the feel of his strong
arms around her, her lips still tingling from his kiss.

“You look positively stunning tonight, Amelia.”

“Thank you. I was hoping you’d notice.” She gave him
one of her special smiles.

›
›
›

Jeremiah was watching the two when Beau came up behind
him. “She sure is something. But it don’t make no sense---you being with a city
woman.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, you and me---we’re mountain men. We don’t got
no business taking up with no city women. We’re simple folk and live in small
cabins up in the mountains. And you, well, you’re gone for weeks at a time out
there at the logging camp. Why, no frail, little, city woman would be able to
make it through one winter up at your place. Especially one that’s blind.”

Jeremiah stared at Beau, not sure he liked what the
man was saying.

“Why, come winter a woman in the mountains . . . well
she’s got to be strong and hearty. I reckon she’s got to be able to chop wood
and stoke up a good, hot fire and all. Now, Miss Jackson there, she ain’t able
to do none of that. Why, she can’t even cook or do the washing or ironing or
cleaning.  You remember my Anna, don’t you?”

Jeremiah nodded.

“Well, she was strong and sturdy---made for the rugged
life. The only thing that ever got her down was the typhoid that same year your
ma and pa died. I haven’t found myself another woman yet that compares with my
Anna. Yessiree. You and me need to get ourselves mountain women.” Beau stopped
to point at Paul and Amelia on the dance floor.

“Now take those two. Well, now I was saying to myself
that’s a fine couple there. See how he holds her so nice and tender like? And
if you watch him long enough you’ll see the way he looks at her and touches her
so sweet like. He’s right taken with her, I reckon. And I’m thinking she’s
taken with him too.”

Jeremiah gulped as he looked closely at the two on the
dance floor. His heart pounded from the words the old timer spoke, and he didn’t
like it one bit.

“Now a fella like Strupel, well he already got a
charwoman---old Widow Scranton there ---to do his cleaning and mending and
washing and all. So when he takes himself a wife he ain’t gotta be thinking
about getting himself a hearty woman. And he works right nearby his place so he
can just be looking after the wood chopping and all because he goes home every
night. He can just marry for love.”

“Now I’m not saying fellas like us can’t marry for
love too, but we gotta be more careful with our hearts. We just gotta make sure
we’re falling for the right kind of woman.”

Jeremiah stared at his companion in disbelief at the
astute wisdom with which this backward mountain man had just presented his
observations. He looked away from him. He knew all too well that the life of
the mountaineer was not an easy one. It called for fortitude, strength of
character, and raw determination to master the fundamental lessons of living in
the backwoods. Up there you either dominate the mountain or the mountain
dominates you.

His thoughts stabbed at him. Beau was right; Amelia
didn’t belong there. She would never be able to live his kind of rugged life,
and for him to pretend otherwise would be an injustice to her. She’s a woman of
gentility, her blindness adding to her delicate nature.

Jeremiah was a mountain man through and through and couldn’t
change his ways if he wanted to. It would be unfair to allow an intimate
relationship to form---knowing that nothing could ever come of it. Anything
other than a mutual friendship would be a disservice to Amelia. He knew that
now.

Swallowing hard, he put one hand on Beau’s shoulder
and looked him in the eyes. “I hate to admit it, my friend. But you’re right.”

“Well, I hope I didn’t go off and be too hard on you. Sometimes
we can’t see our own situations as clearly as an outsider can.”

Jeremiah watched Paul and Amelia as they danced. This
time he allowed himself to observe them with his heart. For the first time he
actually noticed the adoring way Paul looked at her, his tender smile, his
gentle touch. He was talking with her softly as they danced and she would reply
with a smile, causing Paul to smile even broader. Jeremiah thought she allowed
him to dance too closely with her.

Could it be that Beau was right? Were they really in
love? Should he let her go? After all, he really didn’t think he loved her. Maybe
it was just an infatuation. She sure was beautiful, though, and he genuinely
enjoyed her company, which made his decision difficult. But he had to make up
his mind. He had to push his feelings aside and think of what was best for
Amelia. This wasn’t going to be easy, but he knew it had to be done.

The music stopped and the announcement made that
Corrin would now open the many gifts people had brought.

Paul escorted Amelia back to Jeremiah and thanked him
for the honor of dancing with her. Jeremiah could see the love in Paul’s eyes
when he looked at her. Jeremiah escorted her in silence to the gift table,
continuing his laborious speculations as the guests watched Corrin open one
present and then another. Amelia reached for his shoulder to get his attention
and ask what each item was. He answered her and she would smile and nod.

Jeremiah looked at her pretty face, wishing Beau would
have waited until another time to make his remarks, or at least until after the
dance was over. The evening was ruined now. It became more difficult to enjoy
the wonderful company of this sweet, young lady with each passing moment.

As Corrin was opening the last present he slipped the
tiny package he was carrying for Amelia onto the table.

“What’s this? I didn’t see this here before.” Corrin
looked around to see if the person who had given her this teeny gift would
speak up.

“She’s opening your gift now,” He whispered to Amelia.

›
›
›

Amelia smiled and became flushed at the sudden thought
of what she was about to do. It simply hadn’t occurred to her that there would
be a hall full of people to play for. Perhaps she should feign illness and
avoid carrying out her intentions to play the piano for her Aunt.

“What? It’s empty! Is this someone’s idea of a joke?” Her
voice held the hint of a smile.

“No, Aunt Corrin.” Amelia almost couldn’t find her
voice, but then continued with resolve. “It’s from me. You see, what I want to
give you simply won’t fit into any box.” She turned to Jeremiah. “Jeremiah,
would you kindly escort Aunt Corrin and me to the piano?”

He took one lady in each arm and routed them through
the crowd who parted for the threesome to pass.

When they arrived at the piano, Amelia directed Corrin
to stand beside it, and she sat on the stool where she hesitated a moment,
hoping she wouldn’t faint. After hesitating a little too long Amelia felt a
consoling hand upon her shoulder and then the comforting voice of Paul Strupel
whispering in her ear.

“You can do this, Angel” he said, his voice calm and
soothing. “Just take a deep breath and don’t start until you’re absolutely
ready. I’ll be right here behind you, if you need me.” He then unabashedly
kissed her on the temple and took a couple stepped behind her.”

The crowd gasped and whispered at the gesture, and Amelia
felt her face flush, but it gave her the resolve she needed. She lifted her
hands to the keyboard, located middle C, and then moved her fingers to rest
over the beginning chords.

Amelia played the chords to the beautiful sonata. At
first people whispered to one another in their astonishment, but soon the
saloon became as silent as a midnight snowfall and she played confidently and
sure, never missing a note or a crescendo or a staccato. When she finished, the
crowd’s silence continued and she almost forgot they were there.

Corrin immediately went to her niece and engulfed her
in her arms. “Oh, honey. I had no idea you could play like that! It was so
beautiful. And I’m so proud of you. Thank you, sweetie.” She kissed her cheek.

Then the crowd went delirious with their applause and
cheers. They closed in on her, each wanting to personally congratulate Amelia
on her accomplishment.

›
›
›

Jeremiah stepped away from the crowd, away from Amelia.
The crowd had been scandalized when Paul kissed Amelia on her head. They looked
to Jeremiah for his reaction, but he gave no indication that he had even seen
what Paul had just done.

But he saw it. And he took it to heart, snow sure of
what he must do---no matter how difficult it was for him to let her go. Knowing
he wasn’t going to ask her out again, he wanted to just leave, get away from
there, and end it all quickly. He had to guard his heart and didn’t want to
prolong being with her. That would just make it all the more difficult.

He found Paul in the midst of the crowd and pulled him
aside, many people around them expecting a fight. “I’m not feeling well. Would
you mind taking care of Amelia the rest of the night for me?”

“Are you sure? Maybe if you go upstairs and lie down---”

“No!” Jeremiah snapped as he shook his head. “I need
to go home. I can’t stay here any longer.”

“You look fine to me. What’s wrong? Do you want to
talk about it?” Paul looked searchingly into his eyes, knowing Jeremiah all too
well.

When Jeremiah didn’t answer, Paul didn’t press him right
then. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Amelia.”

Jeremiah put his hand on his friend’s shoulder and
looked him straight in the eyes. “I know you will. You love her.” He turned and
headed out the door and back to his cabin in the woods.

›
›
›

Paul realized at that moment that Jeremiah was
commending Amelia to him. As he watched his friend sullenly walk out the door,
he didn’t know whether to show sadness at Jeremiah’s despondency or elation at
having her to himself.

He turned his gaze toward Amelia where she still stood
in the midst of a small crowd of people. He observed the way the lamplight
bounced off her hair, how velvety her young face was as she exuberated from her
apparent success. He longed to caress her shoulders and to touch her delicate neck.
His arms ached and yearned to reach out and pull her close and kiss her. To not
be able to do so would be the most dreadful thing he could think of. That must
be what Jeremiah felt right now.  He went to her and decided to say as little
as possible for the moment. This was a special night for her and he didn’t want
to ruin it.