The dazzling sun overhead brought out the bright pink color of Josie Carey, the sheriff's wife, in her new dress. She wore pink gloves to match, and her small-fitted hat was covered with flowers of the same color.
Imogen and Josie were having lunch together in the small cottage restaurant down a block from the saloon. The sheriff was one of the men in town that supported the foreigners who had chosen their little town to settle in.
He welcomed one and all and let it be known he wouldn’t be arresting any of them at the will of those who were prejudiced in Bryantsville. He stated openly that all people deserved the chance to live a full and happy life as a free person.
Josie shared the same views as her husband, so Imogen felt comfortable telling her how she was beginning to feel about Manny.
“I think I know who you’re talking about,” Josie said, lifting her eyes to the ceiling as if that would help her remember. “He’s in that tent across from the … the woman with the three children. Is that right?”
Imogen smiled and nodded. “Yes, that’s the one. How do you know him?”
Josie grinned. “He actually helped Andy with an arrest he had to make. Many of the men in Tent City volunteered to be on that posse, actually. You might not remember it. The only reason I do is that I was woken up when they came to get Andy. His deputies. Two of them. Anyway, they went to Tent City and asked for help, and Manny was one of them. He had a friend with him. I think those two are inseparable.”
“Tito,” Imogen confirmed with a nod.
“Yes! That’s his name! He was a lot of help, too. They helped with the translating, I think.”
“I thought Andy knew Spanish.”
“He didn’t then, but he’s learned since. I think it might have been Manny who helped him learn.”
“Well, isn’t that something. It doesn’t really surprise me, though. That sounds like something Manny would do.”
They gave their drink order to the girl who came to their table. As she walked away, Imogen looked at Josie with a soft expression. “I’ve been going to help Manny for about the past three weeks. He hurt his ankle, nearly broke it. An accident, they said, while he was doing laundry at the creek.”
Josie furrowed her brow, expressing concern. “That’s terrible. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“He’s gotten a lot better. He is a strong man.”
“Yes, that he is. Have you enjoyed going there?”
“I like helping out in Tent City,” Imogen replied, glancing out the window to her right at the people passing by on the street. “I find it very fulfilling. I like the people there and being of service to them. Making their lives a little easier. I’ve had it so easy all my life. I just want to give back to people who don’t get the things I get, the comfort and security.”
Josie nodded. “And that sounds very much like you.”
“Plus, well, there’s something else.”
Josie grinned. “I thought as much. You have had a different look about you of late. You’re … happier, I think. Prettier because of it. You have a glow about you.”
Imogen couldn’t imagine what her friend meant but took it all as a compliment. “Thank you. I think you can guess why, can’t you?”
Josie hesitated only for a moment. She lifted her eyebrows, and Imogen knew she had figured it out.
“You have found a man?” Josie was almost breathless with anticipation.
Imogen grinned and nodded.
“No!” Josie exhaled the word, slapping the table in front of Imogen. “You! Really? Who is it? Don’t tell me; it’s that fellow you’ve been helping. Manny.”
Imogen didn’t answer with words. She just let her smile tell her friend everything.
Josie began to laugh softly, throwing her head back. She looked tickled pink.
“Oh, my. Manny Ortega has found love.” She paused, biting her bottom lip. “He does feel the same way you do, doesn’t he?”
Imogen raised her eyebrows. “I think he does. But it’s not like we’ve talked about it. I mean … he does look at me like …” Imogen blushed, picturing him in her mind. His smile was always so warm and welcoming. “It’s just … the way he smiles and his accent and … oh, I don’t know.”
Josie giggled. “I remember feeling like that about my Andy. No one could tell me he wasn’t the one for me. I was in love with him right from the first day I met him.”
“You knew right away then?”
Josie nodded. “Oh yes. I knew right away.”
“Did he? Did you talk to him about it?” Imogen was curious to know how her friend had handled her first and only love, even though the situation was different. “What did your parents say? Did they like him?”
“We talked about our feelings for each other for the first time three months after our first social outing together. We went to a festival, and he told me under that sycamore in the town square. You know the one?”
Imogen nodded. She couldn’t see it from where she was, but that didn’t stop her from glancing out the window as if the tree was right outside.
“I know what you’re worried about, though.” Josie’s voice turned quiet. “It’s your father. He’s not happy with the arrangement, is he?”
“He isn’t,” Imogen dropped her voice as well.
Their drinks were delivered, and Imogen was glad for the pause in the conversation while they told Becky what they wanted to eat. Once the girl left, Josie spoke first.
“I thought that was why you asked if our parents approved. Or at least mine. And yes, they did. They were excited for me, even though Andy’s job is a dangerous one. It helped that my pa was a deputy for some time when he was a younger man. My ma convinced him to leave it behind when they got married.”
“I don’t think Pa is going to change his mind,” Imogen said. “I’ve never seen him like this before. I knew he didn’t like the idea of Tent City, but that’s when I was younger. He told me the place was filled with thieves and dangerous men. But when I started volunteering there, I knew he was wrong. I could tell right away.”
Thoughts of the friends she’d made in the encampment filled her mind and heart. She couldn’t bear the thought of her father harassing or assaulting the men and women that lived there.
“I wish I could tell you what to do about that. But your father is a complicated man. I only know because Andy has told me.”
Imogen nodded. “He’s a difficult man, all right.”
Josie was quiet for a moment, drawing a circle on the tabletop with one finger. Imogen watched her, thinking about her situation and Manny.
“When will you go see him again?” Josie asked.
“I’m going there after I leave here. I didn’t go this morning. I think Pa will say I’m spending way too much time there.”
Josie sighed. “I wish you didn’t have to adjust what you do to suit your father. You’re old enough to make your own decisions.”
“I don’t think he’s ever going to see it that way.” Imogen pulled in a deep breath, wondering if she wanted to go so far as to tell Imogen what her father had been threatening. She decided since Josie was her closest female friend and not the type of woman who would go around spreading Imogen’s business, she would tell her. “There’s something else going on with my pa,” she said.
Josie looked up from the table into her eyes.
Imogen licked her lips.
“He is trying to get me to agree to marry Dan Bryant.”
Josie stared at Imogen like she didn’t believe her. “The mayor’s brother?”
Imogen nodded.
“The liquor dealer,” Josie continued as if needing to get double confirmation.
Again, Imogen nodded, moving her eyes out the window and sighing. “Yes. Pa owes him a lot of money, and Dan is the only one in town who will sell to him in bulk.”
“I’m sorry, dear.” Josie sat back, staring at her. “I can’t condone that. You have to stop that from happening.”
“I’ve told Pa I won’t marry him. But … well, I don’t know what to do. I depend on Pa to live. And Manny lives in a tent.” She shook her head. “He has prospects and dreams and goals. All he needs is a way to make them come true. He needs money.”
Josie nodded. “If he’s given what he needs, he could make them come true. He is a hard-working man, according to Andy.”
“I’m going to help him,” Imogen said firmly. “I don’t care what Pa says. I’ll live at the hotel and sew clothes if I have to. I’m going to help Manny find his dreams. And maybe Pa will relax his views when Manny is a successful landowner.”
“We can pray that happens,” Josie replied.