It’s a good thing I’m a light sleeper,” Mr. Halliday said.
Everyone was gathered around the kitchen table, drinking the warm milk a sleepy Miss Ida had prepared. David and Miss Alice had been roused in their cabins by all the commotion following Lundy and Bird’s-Eye’s rapid departure.
“I still can’t believe the way Lundy and his pa high-tailed it out of here,” Ruby Mae marveled. “They took one look at that pistol and left their rifles behind!”
“I still can’t figure out why they didn’t try to break in during the day,” Christy said, shaking her head. “There are fewer people around.”
“But I’m here,” Miss Ida said, hands on her hips. She held up a frying pan. “And they know I’m well-armed!”
“One other thing I don’t understand, Mr. Halliday,” said Miss Alice. “Why didn’t you just tell us that the gold was yours?”
Mr. Halliday looked at Ruby Mae. “I suppose I didn’t want to dash anyone’s dreams. The girls had such high hopes.” He shrugged. “I’ve seen my share of good fortune. But things didn’t turn out exactly as I’d hoped.”
“Me neither.” Ruby Mae sighed. “I’m right sorry I didn’t ’fess up sooner, about figuring out who the gold belonged to. I pretty much put two and two together—that makes four, by the way!” she added, smiling at Christy. “But I wanted that gold more ’n I wanted to get it to its rightful owner. And look at what it got me. When I think how Lundy and Bird’s-Eye might have hurt you, Miz Christy, I just want to up and die. I’m truly sorry.”
“I accept your apology, Ruby Mae,” Christy said. She reached across the table and squeezed Ruby Mae’s hand.
“As do I,” said Mr. Halliday. “And I happen to know a way you can make it up to me. I want you to be sure that everybody in Cutter Gap shows up for church this Sunday.”
“I wouldn’t mind that myself,” David said with a chuckle.
“How come?” Ruby Mae asked.
“We’ve got a photograph to take, young lady. And we want to be sure we get the composition just right.”
The following Monday, Mr. Halliday emerged from the shed. He handed a photograph to Ruby Mae.
“Before you give me your opinion,” he said, “I want you to remember that it’s been awhile since I took a photo of real, live people. Mountains sit still. Babies don’t.”
Ruby Mae studied the black and white photograph. There, in front of the church, were the residents of Cutter Gap. They stood stiffly, most barefoot. Some people smiled. Most did not.
Granny O’Teale was in the front row, leaning on her cane. Little Mountie stood beside her, clutching her hand. The preacher, Miz Alice, Miz Ida, and Miz Christy were there. Doc MacNeil was scowling at the camera in that way he had, looking gruffer than he really was.
Ruby Mae’s eyes fell on three girls, clumped together at the end of a row. They were sharing a smile between them, as if they knew a secret. They looked proud and silly and happy, all at once.
If you squinted just right and didn’t think too hard, they even looked a tiny bit like princesses.
“Well,” Mr. Halliday said hopefully, “what do you think?”
“I think,” said Ruby Mae with a grateful smile, “that the composition is just about perfect.”
Early the next morning, Ruby Mae and her friends watched as Mr. Halliday packed up Clancy and prepared to leave.
“Don’t forget these sandwiches I packed,” Miz Ida said, tucking them into Mr. Halliday’s knapsack. “And there’s fried chicken, too.”
“Ida, you are too kind,” Mr. Halliday said. He kissed her hand and Miz Ida blushed.
“Where are you headed now?” Christy asked.
“Well, I’m starting toward El Pano. David tells me the road is more or less clear. And I’ve got some business to attend to there. Banking business, actually.”
For a brief moment, Ruby Mae felt a sense of loss of her gold—her gold that was really Mr. Halliday’s gold. He was going to put it in the bank, of course. Well, that was only natural. It needed safe-keeping. And it wasn’t hers to worry about, anyway. Not anymore.
“I’m opening up a fund there,” Mr. Halliday continued as he adjusted the pack on Clancy’s back.
“Oh?” Miz Christy asked.
“An education fund, actually. You might be interested in it. It’s for the children of Cutter Gap. I’m calling it the Princess Fund.”
“For all us children?” Ruby Mae cried. “For us to go to college and such?”
Mr. Halliday nodded. “I’ll be adding to it from time to time, as I can.”
“You’re a wonderful man, Mr. Halliday.” Christy gave him a hug.
“We’re most grateful,” David added.
“You know what the Bible says—‘God loveth a cheerful giver.’ It’s easier to part with money than you might imagine. There are many things worth more than gold. Friends, for example. Which reminds me.”
Out of his pocket, Mr. Halliday pulled three white handkerchiefs, each knotted at the top. He handed one to Ruby Mae, one to Bessie, and one to Clara.
“A handkerchief?” Bessie asked, brow knitted.
“There’s some gold dust in each of these,” Mr. Halliday explained. “Not a lot, but perhaps enough to keep those princess dreams alive.”
“Real live gold dust?” Bessie breathed.
“Oh, thank you!” Clara cried. “This is the bestest present I ever got!”
But Ruby Mae was silent. She stared at her handkerchief a long time. “I think,” she said quietly, “we need to have one last meetin’ of The Princess Club before you leave, Mr. Halliday.”
He looked puzzled. “All right, then. I can wait.”
Ruby Mae pulled her friends aside. A few minutes later, she went back to Mr. Halliday, carrying all three handkerchiefs. “We done had a vote,” she said. “We’re givin’ these back to you, if’n you don’t mind.”
“But . . . why?” he asked, looking a little disappointed.
“We got somethin’ else in mind for that gold,” Ruby Mae said with a sly smile. “But we need your help.”