She felt her cheeks grow hot. “I believe you’re having fun at my expense, Reverend Weston.”
“I told you. It’s Wade. And I’m not making fun of you. More than half the men in this town would give a great deal to have Miss Jade Jewel indebted to them.”
“I think you have me confused with my sister Ruby.”
“If you believe that, you underestimate yourself, Miss Jewel.”
She didn’t allow herself even a moment to bask in the glow of his praise. After all, he was merely being kind. It was his job to say such things to people, in order to keep them coming to his service. Besides, sooner or later he would show his true colors and take sides with the townspeople against her.
“I’ll say good day. I’m sure you’ll provide us with plenty of food for thought, Reverend Weston.” She emphasized his title before pulling her hand free and brushing past him.
“I’ll try my best, Miss Jewel.”
Wade spent another half hour greeting the farmers and ranchers and their families who took advantage of Sunday-morning services to stock up on supplies and visit with their neighbors. While he made small talk, or listened to their litany of problems, he found himself glancing across the room to where a slim young figure in a silk gown the color of Texas bluebells sat beside her sisters.
A number of people nudged each other, whispering and pointing at the four fascinating Jewel sisters. But it was Jade who caused the greatest interest. Each day, as the Golden Dragon took shape, the rumors spread.
Whenever their eyes met, Wade felt a growing admiration for the woman who was the object of so much speculation. Whatever she was feeling, she kept her spine straight, her gaze level.
By the time he started his sermon, he had found his inspiration. And by the time his sermon ended, even Lavinia Thurlong and Gladys Witherspoon agreed that the preacher had never displayed more zeal.
The topic of his sermon had been the danger of idle gossip.
“Does anyone wish to share something with the congregation?” Wade asked at the end of the service.
When no one stood, he stared pointedly at Jade. Feeling the heat of his gaze, she refused to look at him. Instead, she kept her eyes lowered and studied her hands, folded primly in her lap.
She’d had plenty of time to mull over her intention. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Wade was right. If she foolishly announced to the entire town that a mystery man had saved her from a gang, she would then have to describe in detail what had happened. And the thought of making public her encounter was most unappealing. It had been difficult enough just telling the marshal. Besides, throughout the entire sermon she had felt the hostile stares from the congregation. There was no way she wanted to draw any more attention to herself.
“Well, then.” Wade gave them the benediction of his smile. “I hope you will all leave with a lighter burden than when you entered.”
He walked to the door and opened it, then stepped out on the porch, shaking hands with the people as they took their leave. When the Jewel sisters stepped outside, he had a smile and a kind word for each of them.
Jade steeled herself as she was forced to offer her hand. “That was a lovely sermon.” She absorbed the jolt as she looked into his eyes.
“I’m glad you liked it.” His big hand engulfed hers. There was a hint of laughter in his voice. “I did it for your benefit. After all, you’re going to need all the cooperation your neighbors have to give, once the Golden Dragon is completed.” Before she could respond he added, “I thought you were going to ask about your mystery man. What happened, Miss Jewel? Lose your nerve?”
“I…thought about it and decided you were right. It would be foolish to make a spectacle of myself. I’m sure he had a good reason for not wanting to reveal himself.”
“I think you did the right thing. Still,” he added with a growing smile, “it would have been interesting to see how many men would admit to being your guardian angel.”
She pulled her hand away and took a step back. Once again he was laughing at her. She found his sense of humor wearing thin. “Good day, Reverend Weston.”
“Good day, Miss Jewel,” he muttered as he turned to Rufus Durfee and his family.
With Sunday services concluded, most of the ranchers and their families enjoyed a brief respite from their rigorous chores. The children played tag around the trees, while the men loaded their wagons with supplies. The women spread quilts on the grass and gossiped with neighbors while laying out the food they’d brought from home.
“Come on.” Diamond looped her arm through Pearl’s, and motioned for Jade and Ruby to follow. “Let’s get to Millie Potter’s before all the food is gone.”
Millie Potter’s boardinghouse always enjoyed a rush of business on Sunday. Besides her regulars, like Marshal Quent Regan and Dr. Cosmo Prentice and the other bachelors, there were those ranch families prosperous enough to indulge their taste for Millie’s fine cooking.
Potter’s Boardinghouse sat at the end of the dusty road the townspeople referred to as Main Street. The house reflected the woman who owned it. Neat as a pin, with the floors and windows sparkling, it boasted a formal parlor and a dining room big enough to hold a dozen or more comfortably. The dishes might have been mismatched, and a few of them cracked, but the food more than made up for it.
From the kitchen wafted the wonderful fragrance of freshly baked bread, and the spicy perfume of apples and cinnamon.
The door was opened by thirteen-year-old Birdie Bidwell, a neighbor of Millie’s who helped out with the chores to supplement her family’s meager income.
“Hello, Birdie,” the sisters called as they stepped inside.
“Good morning, Miss Diamond, Miss Pearl, Miss Ruby, Miss Jade.”
“Birdie,” Jade said with a warm smile, “Pearl tells me you’re her best pupil.”
“Not for much longer,” the girl said. “Pa thinks it’s a waste of time for a girl my age.” She held out her hands. “I’ll take your shawls.”
When Ruby reached for hers, Diamond shot her a withering look. At once the buxom beauty smiled and said, “I think it’s a bit chilly. I’ll just keep my shawl, if you don’t mind, Birdie.”
If the girl was puzzled, she kept her thoughts to herself. The summer sun was already high in the sky and threatening to turn the day into a sizzler. But if one of the Jewel ladies wanted to keep her shawl on, it certainly wasn’t her place to ask questions.
As she hung the other shawls, her hands lingered on Jade’s.
“What is this made of, Miss Jade?”
“Silk.”
“It sure is soft,” the girl said, running her callused palms over it. “It must cost a fortune.”
“I suppose so.” Jade gave the girl a gentle smile. “Maybe when you’re older, you can buy a silk shawl.”
As she walked away, Birdie shook her head. Silk was all right for a fine lady like Miss Jade. But the most she would ever hope for was a new gown of simple homespun. Birdie had never worn a new gown. All her clothes were made over from her mother’s castoffs.
She gave one last glance at the fine Jewel ladies, then hurried off to finish her chores.
“Morning, Millie,” Diamond called out as she entered the dining room. “Can you accommodate us today?”
“Good morning.” Millie tucked up a stray strand of flaming hair before lifting the coffeepot. “Take a seat. You know there’s always room for my best customers.”
Her