Rocky Mountain Dreams. Danica Favorite

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       Chapter Four

      Annabelle walked into Jessup’s Mercantile, Nugget’s hand clutched tightly in hers.

      “I ain’t allowed in here,” Nugget whispered.

      “You’re with me, so it’ll be fine. Be a good girl, and I’ll let you choose a peppermint when we’re done.”

      She gave the little girl an encouraging squeeze and a smile.

      “I don’t like peppermints. The men who visited Mama always gave ’em to me, and then I’d have to go away.”

      After a day with Nugget, none of her experiences should shock Annabelle. But each one put an anger in her heart that wasn’t going to be easily erased. How many other children endured what poor Nugget had? Despite her anger, Annabelle felt powerless to do anything.

      “I’m not going to make you go away.” She gave Nugget another squeeze. “But I will let you pick out whatever treat you’d like.”

      Nugget’s grip loosened in her hand.

      “Who is this young lady you have with you today, Annabelle?” Mrs. Jessup greeted her with a smile as Nugget shied into Annabelle’s skirts.

      “Good morning, Mrs. Jessup.” Annabelle returned the greeting. “We have a very special guest staying with us, so I’ve brought her with me to pick up a few things for Maddie. Nugget, please give Mrs. Jessup your most polite how-do-you-do.”

      Mrs. Jessup blanched. “Nugget? That isn’t the child from...” She glanced over Annabelle’s shoulder in the direction of State Street.

      Annabelle straightened her shoulders as Nugget let go of her hand and clung to the back of Annabelle’s skirt. She reached behind and gave Nugget a pat on the head. “Why, yes, she is. And she’s currently our guest, so please treat her with the respect accorded all of our important guests.”

      “But that child is filthy and full of bugs.”

      “Am not!” Nugget burst out of Annabelle’s skirts. “Mama made sure I didn’t get no bugs.”

      Annabelle put her arms around Nugget and pulled her close. “Maddie scrubbed her clean herself. Didn’t find one bug on the sweet little girl.” She did her best to keep her voice modulated and calm. Nugget was just a child, after all, and didn’t deserve Mrs. Jessup’s scorn.

      “Is that the dress I ordered from New York City for poor Susannah?”

      The horror on Mrs. Jessup’s face brought a pang to Annabelle’s heart. After all, it wasn’t Mrs. Jessup’s sister who’d died.

      “Why, yes, it is.” Annabelle gave a smile in spite of the sick feeling in her stomach. “And I’m sure she’d be pleased that it wasn’t getting eaten by moths in some closet. All Nugget needs are a few ribbons for her hair to make her the picture of sweetness.”

      Wasn’t that the very thing Maddie had said this morning? And Annabelle had politely agreed, all the while resenting having to give up Susannah’s dress. But now, in the face of such meanness, she’d parade Nugget around with Susannah’s beloved china doll to show the world that she didn’t give a whit where Nugget came from.

      “Your mother would be horrified that you’re associating with such people.”

      Her mother would have been ashamed it had taken Annabelle so long to take up Nugget’s cause.

      “What people? Nugget has done nothing wrong. She’s a good girl who hasn’t given me a bit of trouble.”

      Mrs. Jessup’s face turned as red as the bolts of flannel she kept for the miners. “She was raised in that...place!”

      “And she’s now a guest in my home.” Annabelle didn’t mean to raise her voice, but when she did, a group of women looking through the buttons stopped and looked up at her.

      “I understand that your mother is gone and I’m sure your father has no idea how to explain such delicate matters to a young lady, but let me assure you that no good can come of—”

      “What? Taking in a child who needs a home?” Annabelle gathered Nugget closer to her. “My mother and father both instructed me on such matters, and when a sinful woman was brought before Jesus, he asked those without sin to cast the first stone. I am certain that none of us can lay claim to leading such a blameless life.”

      Mrs. Jessup couldn’t have exploded any more brilliantly than the time the old cookstove’s pipe had been blocked by a nesting raccoon.

      “You...get...out...” she thundered, pointing at the door.

      Annabelle smiled sweetly. “With pleasure. I’ll be talking to my father about taking our business to Taylor’s. Come along, Nugget.”

      She grabbed Nugget’s hand and ushered her out the door. Once they arrived on the sidewalk, Annabelle tried taking a deep breath, but Maddie had laced her too tight. What a bad day to be fashionable.

      Nugget tugged at her hand. “I told you I weren’t allowed to go in there.”

      Annabelle straightened. “That’s right. You’re not allowed to go in there. You’re too good for the likes of Mrs. Jessup.”

      She scanned the street and looked toward Taylor’s Mercantile. Her boast in leaving Mrs. Jessup’s had been just that—a boast. Her father was very strict about which stores she shopped in, with all the riffraff that came to Leadville. She wasn’t supposed to go anyplace else alone.

      But even her father wouldn’t be able to fault her disobedience in light of Mrs. Jessup’s meanness.

      “Come on, Nugget. You might not like peppermints, but I could use a sweet right now.”

      She grasped Nugget’s hand and strode across the street to Taylor’s.

      * * *

      Joseph had just stepped through the back storeroom into the main store with Frank and Mr. Jessup when he heard Annabelle’s raised voice.

      “And now she’s a guest in my home!”

      Joseph stepped forward to come to Annabelle’s aid, but Frank held his arm out. “Let her fight her own battles.”

      “But that’s my sister they’re arguing about.”

      “Annabelle is doing fine. Listen to her.”

      The pride in Frank’s voice was obvious. Joseph had to admit СКАЧАТЬ