Chapter 3
The morning after their wedding ceremony, Belle slipped out of bed before Seth awoke. She wanted to dress without him seeing her bruised body. Normally, the bruises didn’t last this long, but Amos had seriously hurt her the last time. She was surprised she didn’t have any broken bones. And, of course, he never hit her in the face. He didn’t want anyone to know what he was doing. Besides, he couldn’t appear in public with her if her face had been as black and blue as her ribcage or buttocks.
She was sitting on the side of the bed, brushing her hair, when Seth awoke.
“You’re up early, Mrs. Kirby. Are you always an early riser?”
“Yes, but for some reason, I couldn’t sleep very well. Amos never held me in bed.”
“So you told me last night.”
Seth’s voice took on an edge to it and he sounded like he wanted to meet Amos in a dark alley where he’d show him a real man.
She laughed; the sound bitter to her ears. “So I did.”
“If he wasn’t already dead, I’d have done it for you.”
She looked down at her hands, a warm feeling in her chest. “Thank you.” She turned her gaze toward him. “No one has ever wanted to protect me before. Amos was a big man. Too big for most men to interfere with. His father treated his mother the same way. I guess that’s where he learned it was okay to beat me whenever he wanted to.”
“Size doesn’t matter. There are ways to take down even the biggest man. Let’s get some breakfast and then go to the mercantile for supplies. I want to get plenty of canned fruit and whatever else you need to bake desserts. I have a bit of a sweet tooth.” He grinned and rubbed his hands together.
Belle shook her head and laughed. “Okay, but it’ll be expensive.”
“I don’t care how much we have to spend. I have enough for your supplies.”
Belle lifted a brow. “I’ve heard you’re rich, Seth. Are you?”
He grinned widely. “I am today. I have money in my pocket and the prettiest girl in town is my wife. I’m definitely richer than when I came into town yesterday. We need to head back as soon as possible before claim jumpers decide to take over my claims.”
They packed their duffels and left them, along with his backpack, in the room while they went for breakfast.
When they returned to the room, they put on their coats, warm wool stocking hats, scarves and gloves. Then they picked up the luggage, went by the front desk, and returned the key.
Kitty, who appeared to be reading a book, smiled as they stopped in front of her. “Did you enjoy your room? Any complaints?”
“None at all,” said Seth.
Belle saw him hand Kitty the key and then some gold coin for the cost of the room. Again, she was amazed he would spend money on her, on being with her. She knew he would have had to pay for the room anyway, but Amos would have tried to bargain with Kitty instead of paying for the room. Whereas Seth paid the fee with no complaints.
“I do,” said Belle with a smile. “Why didn’t I have that kind of room? It was luxurious.”
Kitty laughed and shook her finger at Belle. “The help doesn’t get those rooms. They get what’s left over, hence your tiny room at the top of the hotel.”
Belle laughed. “I was just kidding. My room was great. It had a bed and though it didn’t have enough blankets, I was safe and I thank you for that. If I can, I’ll try to bring you some baked goods next time we come to town.”
“I...and my customers...will love it. You two have a safe trip.”
“We will. Thanks for everything.” Seth placed a hand on the back of Belle’s waist and guided her out the door.
Outside, Belle stopped on the boardwalk. “Which mercantile are we going to?”
“We’re going to Joe Jacobson’s. I have supplies to pick up and I want to get whatever you need for baking. Sadie left a lot of things. She was good at baking, too. Maybe some of what she left you can use.”
“I’ll have to check it out. Are you planning on carrying everything? Do you have a horse or something?”
They walked up the boardwalk, around the groups of men milling around, some asking for handouts, others talking and laughing.
“Yes, I have two horses, actually. Sadie and Barnaby left me with their animals. I only brought one. Didn’t know I’d need two.”
Tinny music came out of the saloons, and occasionally the sound of a woman singing floated over the din of male voices.
Seth took Belle’s hand and worked his way around and through the throngs of men. Soon, they reached Jacobson’s Mercantile.
A bell above the door sounded as they entered.
Seth closed the door behind them and then, in the relative quiet of the store, he released Belle’s hand. “What do you need to do your baking?”
“How often do you want baked goods and what do you want? Also, what kind of oven do you have?” Belle sniffed the air and smelled the distinct odor of pickles. She hadn’t had a pickle in years. Amos had hated them and so never bought her one.
“The oven is outside and built into a large mound behind the tent. It was designed and built by Sadie’s father before his demise. For baked goods, I’d like bread or biscuits daily. Cobbler or pie, something sweet for after dinner twice a week.” He waggled his eyebrows. “No reason not to take advantage of your talents and I have enough money to pay for the supplies for you to bake to your heart’s content.”
“Your backpack isn’t big enough for fifty pounds of flour and twenty-five pounds of sugar, plus lard and baking powder. Do you have a way to secure the items to the horse? What do you already have in the way of supplies?”
“I have rope to tie the supplies to him.” Seth smiled. “Believe me, he can haul anything we don’t want or need to carry ourselves. I should have kept track of what Barnaby and Sadie left me, but I’ve been using both, depending on where I am staying. I suppose now we should bring them all together. So, what if we go ahead and get the flour and sugar that you want and go from there? We’ll know better what to buy next time.”
She stood in front of him, facing the door, one hand on her hip. “That will work. I’m sure if Sadie was baking every day that she left you with plenty of supplies, unless it was getting toward the end of the month or whatever.”
“Actually, it wasn’t. They had come back from town a few days before she left.”
She widened her eyes as her jaw dropped. “She left? He didn’t go with her?”
Seth chuckled. “Not at first. He didn’t realize what he lost when she left. I had to point it out to him. Then he went after her. It will take us most of the day to get there because it’s about twenty miles. I didn’t bring gear for making camp, so we will press on, no matter what, but we’ll have plenty of time to talk.”
“Fine. Let’s get the supplies and go. I’ve had enough of Dawson City for a lifetime. By the way,” she put her hands behind her and swayed a bit. “Um, do you think I could have a pickle?”
“That’s all you want? Darlin’ you can have as many as you’d like.”
She gazed up into his smiling face. “Really? That’s wonderful. I could kiss you.”
His eyes darkened, and he smiled. “Don’t let me stop you.”
She felt her face heat. “Not in public.”
“No one will see us. Joe hasn’t even come out of the back yet.”
Belle looked around and then stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his lips.
His arms came around her as he cradled her. She stiffened before relaxing in his arms. His hold was gentle, not tight enough that she couldn’t step back, which she finally did.
“That was nice. Thank you.”
She nodded.
“Hello. Is that you Seth Kirby?” Behind the long counter in back was Joe Jacobson, the proprietor. He was about fifty, balding and with a belly the size of which made him look pregnant. He looked up and smiled. “Well, good to see you, young man and you, too, Belle. What can I help you with today?”
“Hi, Joe,” said Seth. “Good to see you, too. We just need some supplies.”
“You’re in luck. I got my latest shipment yesterday. Just finished putting it out on the shelves. If you don’t find what you need, let me know. I’m sending my list with the boat leaving this afternoon. It’ll still take them about three months to get it to me...or longer.” Joe shrugged. “You know how that is.”
“Sure do.” He handed the man a piece of paper. “Here’s my list. Belle has things she wants too.
Belle smiled. “Hi, Mr. Jacobson. I’ll need fifty pounds of flour, twenty-five pounds of sugar, four pounds of lard and one can of baking powder.” She stopped and placed an index finger on her chin. “Do you have any butter?”
Joe smiled wide, crossed his arms over his belly, he rocked back on his heels. “I do, Mrs. Haggerty. It was almost all bought up by the restaurants before it was even unloaded. But I have my sources who pulled some out for me before it was unloaded.”
“It’s Mrs. Kirby now. Seth and I got married yesterday.” She smiled at Seth.
He took her hand and kissed the top. “While we’re here, I need a ring for my lovely wife.”
Belle shook her head. She didn’t think it was fair for Seth to be spending more money on her. Amos never had, and she’d gotten used to it. But Seth was so much different than Amos, she should stop comparing them. “That’s unnecessary. I mean it, Seth, I don’t need a ring.”
Seth kissed her left hand right on top of her ring finger. “I think it is necessary. I want everyone to know you’re my wife. It’s safer for you that way.”
She knew she wouldn’t win this argument and, if she admitted it, she’d like to have a ring. “Very well, but nothing costly. Just a slim gold band.”
Seth turned to Joe. “Why don’t you show us what you have in stock?”
“I’d be delighted.” He pulled a box from underneath the counter. “This is my entire stock. It’s not large because, to be honest, I have very little call for them.”
Seth chuckled. “No, I don’t suppose you do.”
“I think the last person to buy one was Barnaby for Sadie.”
“That was about a year ago, wasn’t it?” asked Seth.
Joe nodded. “It was, and I haven’t had another request until now. Mrs. Kirby...Belle...do you see anything you like?”
Belle looked at the rings. “I guess I should try them on and see what fits.” She reached in and picked up the thinnest band. It slid on much too easily. She shook her hand, fingers pointed down over the box and it fell right off. “Well, that’s not for me.” She tried a couple more rings, and they were all either too big or way too small. Finally, she picked up the widest band he had and pushed it onto her ring finger. The fit was perfect, snug enough to prevent it from falling off during her work, but not too tight either.
She held up her hand and admired the ring. Then she looked over at Seth. “Is this one all right? If it’s too costly, I don’t have to have one.”
Seth smiled and kissed her hand over the ring. “It’s perfect. Exactly what I would have picked. Add it onto the bill, please. And we need a pistol and holster for her. Do you have any in stock?”
“I do but they might be too heavy for Belle.”
Belle waved her left hand in dismissal. “I’ve used one before. The weight won’t bother me.”
“All right, then. Wait here, please.” He went through the curtain to the back room and returned a couple of minutes later. “I have these two in stock. You have a choice between the Colt revolver or the Smith Wesson revolver. Both have good and bad points.”
“I’ve used the Colt before.” Belle ran her fingers over the barrel of the Colt. Then she looked over at Seth. “This is the one I would prefer.”
Seth placed his hand on her shoulder. “Then that’s the one we’ll get. Add it to the bill, please, Joe.”
The shopkeeper grinned. “It will be a pleasure.”
Belle couldn’t stop admiring her ring. She finally tore her gaze away and looked at Seth. “Thank you. I’ll take good care of it. I’ve never owned anything so beautiful.”
“You deserve it.” Seth kept her hand in his.
He seemed to enjoy touching her, and he was gentle in his caresses. What will it be like to make love with him? Will he be tender or brutal, like Amos? He’d said all men had sex that way. She decided she would not put up with being beaten again. She would protect herself, even killing him if he treated her that way.
Why am I wondering about relations with Seth? I know he said we’d have a proper marriage, but am I truly ready to go through that again?
After giving Joe the rest of their order, they went to the stables and got Seth’s horse.
“Can you tell me his name?”
“He doesn’t have a name. Why don’t you name him?”
She ran her right hand over the big bay stallion’s neck. He was tall. She knew a bit about horses from being raised on a farm. Belle thought this one was at least sixteen hands high at the withers. He was a beautiful horse with a reddish-brown coat, black socks, black points on his ears, and a black mane and tail. She scratched his ears.
When she stopped, he nudged her with his head.
While she was getting to know the horse, Seth saddled him. Then they would go back to the mercantile and get their groceries, which hopefully would last at least a month.
Belle laughed. “All right, just a little more.” She went back to scratching the horse’s ears.
He lowered his head.
She cared for his ears with her right hand and ran her left hand along his neck, petting him.
Finally, she stopped. “I think his name should be Big Red because of his coloring. I know it’s not very original, but it fits him. We can call him Red. What do you think?”
“I think it’s great. I was afraid you’d name him Poseidon or Apollo or something just as silly.”
“I’m not a silly person. Some would say I have no imagination. They would be wrong. I have a very vivid imagination. I had to have in order to get through my marriage. As angry as I was that Amos abandoned me, I was also grateful because I wouldn’t have to endure the nightly beatings. Sometimes I wore a scarf around my neck for months on end because he couldn’t manage not to choke me during the act.”
Seth wrapped her in his arms.
She stiffened and then relaxed when she realized he was simply giving comfort and there was nothing sexual in his hug.
He moved back, holding her loosely but at arm’s length. “Feel better? I know I can’t take away your memories of that time in your life. I wish I could. The only thing I can do it assure you I will not treat you like that. Only an animal would do those things. Real men don’t hit women. Period. Not anytime or anywhere, or for any reason.”
“I understand. Even though that is not my experience, I believe you will never hit me.”
“That’s right and don’t you ever let anyone else hit you either.”
“I won’t. Thank you.”
He tilted his head and furrowed his brows. “For what?”
“For making me feel like I’m human.”
He smiled and brought her close for a hug. “You definitely are, Mrs. Kirby.”
They returned to the mercantile and loaded the groceries on Big Red before heading out of town toward the claims. She couldn’t help but think that now she’d be free from Ezra Fleming forever. At that thought, a sense of calm came over her. She was safe.