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Central City, Colorado Territory, May 1861
“I need a man.”
Sarah Hollingsworth Greer’s head shot up at the unexpected announcement of her adopted daughter’s wet nurse. “What do you mean?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.” Janie twisted her fingers together in front of her middle. “I told you I’d stay with you until Emma didn’t need me anymore, but I gotta give you notice. I’m gonna get married, and Bobby’s gonna take me and Johnny to his place.”
Sarah paced across the room. A shudder ran down her body. She’d never forget Alfred coming to her on their wedding night, drunk and mean. The edges of her lacy deep blue robe flitted back and forth with each step over the wooden floor.
She stopped next to the open window and gripped the curtains, then glanced down to the street below. So many men filled the areas along the street—old ones, young ones, miners in worn denim pants and dirty hats, businessmen in suits. She turned away from the sight, dismissing them.
Unlike Janie, that was something Sarah didn’t need to worry about. She would never need a man. Never again would she let another man have that power over her. She swallowed hard, then took a ragged breath. Just because she’d vowed never to enter into marriage again didn’t mean that she was against it. With that thought, she straightened her spine.
Sarah turned back to the young woman who had become more than an employee over the last six months taking care of the baby Sarah had to keep hidden from her grandfather. “Are you sure? Where did you meet this Bobby?”
Janie’s eyes lit up like the sky on a fine summer’s day. “When we were in Denver waiting for you to join us. He’s a miner. One day we’re gonna be rich. But ma’am, you don’t gotta worry none. I won’t be leaving right away. Bobby went back to his claim two days ago and won’t be back for another month. Says he wants to fix up his cabin for us first.” She stifled a giggle. “Actually, I think he wants to make his brothers move out so it’ll be just us. And Johnny, of course. Johnny’s so excited about having a pa again.”
The knots loosened in Sarah’s stomach. There was still time to make some new arrangements. She forced a smile to her lips. At least, she hoped it looked like a smile. “I wish you and Bobby a wonderful life.”
“I hate to leave you like this.” Tears filled Janie’s eyes. “And Emma. It seems like only yesterday she was born. And look how big she’s grown. It won’t be long until she won’t need a wet nurse.”
“I understand.” Sarah nodded.
Janie fidgeted. “Ma’am, I need to be getting back to my room. Johnny and Emma be waking soon, and you know how Emma likes to be fed as soon as she wakes up.” With her notice given, Janie eased out the door.
The click of the latch sucked the starch right out of Sarah’s spine. Her shoulders slumped. Her chin dropped to her chest. Since becoming a widow, she’d tried so hard to be strong in front of her grandfather, fighting his every effort to control her or her inheritance, but inside she knew she was broken and weak. Drawing in a shuddering breath, she repeated the vow she made the day her housekeeper had poisoned Alfred—Grandfather will not win again. I will see that my brother and Emma have full, happy lives.
Her hands trembled, but it was time to move on with the plans she had set in motion. She opened the wardrobe and checked out her new dresses. No widow’s weeds here, only dresses in lavender, blue, and green. She took out a new dress of deep blue that matched her eyes. It didn’t take her long to finish her toilet. Good thing, since her brother would be coming by in a few minutes.
Pinning up her hair, she glanced at the table that held the remains of her breakfast—tea grown cold and half-eaten poached eggs congealed around the now-limp toast points. Once again she moved to the window. Peace spread through her as she watched the people below. A few women now bustled among the men. Unlike Boston, Central City was nearer to the world she knew, the kind she grew up with in Iowa. This was where she would begin her life again.
Joy filled her as she rubbed her right thumb over her wonderfully bare left ring finger.
She set a bonnet over her hair.
A shout below drew her attention to some men across the road. A large man in dirty clothes pounded along the boardwalk, yelling for someone to stop. He rushed toward a younger, wirier man in front of the mercantile, spun him around, and raised his fist. The big man let go of the other man and took a couple steps back. They shouted words at each other, words she didn’t even try to make out, then the smaller man made some remark and walked away. The bully ripped his hat from his head and ran his large hand through his dark brown hair before smashing the hat on his head. He crossed the street toward the hotel.
Sarah shook her head and wrapped her arms around her middle as her stomach tumbled. Whether in a city as big as Boston or as small as Central City, some men think they can do whatever they want just because of their size and their fists. Thankfully, she didn’t have to worry about men controlling her life any more, not with the fortune she had inherited.
Someone knocked on the door. With her fingers moving rapidly, she tied the bonnet strings under her chin.
When she opened the door, her brother Drew stood on the other side, grinning.
“Good to see you’re ready. I like the idea of starting the day with you.” The grin slid from his face as worry took its place. “Just wish I could figure out what exactly I’m supposed to be doing here for Grandfather.”
Sarah stepped into the hallway, closed and locked the door, then put the key in the reticule that hung from her wrist.
When Drew took hold of her elbow to help her down the stairs, she pulled away. His lips tightened as he dropped his arm to his side.
The look on his face cut at her heart. He was trying so hard to help her build a new life. She hated the way she still flinched at a man’s touch. Even Drew’s, but at least she knew she could trust him. Aside from Drew and her lawyer back in Boston, who had proven his worth in helping her get her affairs in order after Alfred’s death, there wasn’t a man in the world who would have her trust again.
When Drew moved over a couple of steps, she slipped her hand over his arm and smiled at him. It didn’t bother her so much if she was the one doing the touching. They started down the stairs together.
“As far as what you should do here, we’ll just have to wait and see what mysterious instructions are awaiting you.” When they reached the first floor, Sarah faced her brother. “But since you’re halfway across the country from Boston, you do have a choice. You don’t have to work for Grandfather. I have enough money to—”
“Don’t.” Drew slashed the air with his free hand.
Sarah jerked back from his anger.
Drew tilted his head upward, closed his eyes, and let out a large sigh. His shoulders slumped. He looked down at her. “We’ve been through this before. I’ve nothing of my own.”
“I have enough for both of us.” She hid her smile at the irony of the situation. Alfred had been such a foolish man to think that his grown son, who had rejected his father’s greedy ways, would be swayed by a threat of leaving everything to her. She knew Alfred had never intended to make good on that threat, but then Alfred died, leaving her with his entire estate.
“Here in Colorado, I’ve got a chance to learn to stand on my own. Then I’ll never have to live on somebody’s charity. Not even yours.” His shoulders drooped even more. “It just takes too much out of a man.” They reached the hotel lobby, and Drew waved her toward the dining room.
She wished he’d let her help him.
Drew’s lips lifted up in a small grin. “At least, Stanley’s not here.”
Sarah almost stumbled as memories of that evil man leaped into her mind. She fought a silent, solitary battle against those horrible memories. She feared how Drew would react if he ever learned the full extent Stanley had gone to in their grandfather’s name, but she knew it would only bring harm to her brother. And that was something she would never let happen.