Page 10 of Brian and Cora
“Big family, eh?” The woman grinned, showing a broken front tooth. One by one, she counted out the first fourteen, dropping each into the bag. She held up the final piece. “One for the road?”
He chuckled and took the candy, popping it into his mouth, chewing hard and enjoying the sugary taste.
Pulling the drawstring closed, the woman tied a bow and handed it over with a flourish. “Enjoy!”
His mouth too full of sticky candy to get words out, all he could do was tip his hat to her.
Then, he opened the pouch and placed the bag inside. The fit was tight. But the taffy squished enough to fill the whole space, and he could still close and fasten the flap. I knew this pouch would come in handy.
Still chewing, he walked on a bit, stopping at a water barrel to use the dipper to scoop up a drink, before continuing his explorations. More people crowded the aisles, making his progress slow.
Soon, Brian came to the dressmaker Constance Taylor’s booth, where she and her assistant, Elsie Bailey, waited on their customers. Female patrons pawed through stacks of fabric and ready-made clothing and cackled like chickens over a pile of feed. With no Hank in sight, he stopped ten feet away, not about to go anywhere near the patrons. He’d come back later, at their agreed-upon time, to watch the horse race.
But apparently, he hadn’t kept enough distance, for Elsie, pretty in pink instead of the working clothes he’d always seen her in before, looked up and spotted him.
“Brian, hello!” Elsie called out with a smile and bounce, not unlike Howard’s just a while ago, her big brown eyes alight and delight in her voice. She acted as if she hadn’t seen him for months, instead of last week, when he and Hank lent a hand to bring in her family’s harvest.
He couldn’t help feeling some warmth in his chest at her welcome, thinking of how Elsie possessed all the happy energy of an endearing puppy. I suppose after helping her family, I could consider us friends. He sketched her a salute and made a I-won’t-disturb-them motion in the direction of the women to indicate he wouldn’t approach. Then he quickly moved on lest he be drawn into conversation.
At the end of the row, a stocky, big-bellied man with thinning reddish-blond hair and a white-streaked beard sat on a low stool and played with a loose litter of brown-and-tan puppies. They had big, longish heads, floppy ears, and whippy tails. Beside him sat their dam. By her size, Brian judged the pups to be about half grown.
Brian hadn’t seen puppies in…he didn’t want to think how long. Growing up, he always had a dog at his heels and in his bed, to the oft expressed consternation of his mama. He’d put his memories of their warm companionship into the box along with everything else in his old life.
The man fondled the dam’s ears. “Moose dogs. Great trackers. Got some Bloodhound and Alsatian in ’em,” he said with a German accent. “Deputy Redwolf just bought two—one for him and one for the sheriff.”
Brian crouched and held out a hand.
The puppies gamboled over, making high-pitched grunts and licking his hand. One tried to climb onto his legs, forcing him to sit back on the dirt.
The man chuckled. “She’s a sassy girl, ja.”
Thus motivated, the pup scrambled into his lap, placed her two front paws on his chest, and swiped his chin with a wet doggy kiss.
Laughing, Brian gently pushed her face away from his and stroked her back with one hand while simultaneously trying to pet her four sisters and brothers with his other. Sassy Girl wagged her hindquarters so hard that he fancifully thought her tail might fly off. Why don’t I take her home?
Even as he thought the suggestion, Brian realized he’d been a fool for denying himself the companionship of a dog. He had no excuse, really, just that he’d never allowed himself to long for anything beloved from his past. Jewel will love her. “Are they good with children?”
“The best. Playful and protective. Why, Birdie here—” he stroked the dam’s head “—plays nursemaid to all my kinder when they’re babes. Sits or lies by their cradle, even pulls up their blanket if it happens to slide off.”
Brian held out a hand, palm down, knuckles out.
She stayed seated but regally dipped her head to sniff, and then gave a little nod as if she approved.
“Around four or so, each kinder gets a dog.” The man gestured toward the puppies. “So, you can see, we have more than enough. And all my neighbors also have ones from my earlier litters, too. I brought them here to find them homes.Thought to ask fifty cents.” He slanted Brian a sly look. “But the deputy gave me a dollar each. Said he was contributing to the church fund.”
“Guess I can afford a dollar,” Brian drawled, amused by the man’s salesmanship.
“They’ve been fed and watered. Brought some rope with me to make leads.”
A second pup rolled over the others to tug on Sassy Girl’s ear.
Brian was tempted to buy another one for Jewel, but he figured Torin should have a say in the matter. Besides, seemed as though there’d be more puppies where these came from. “Might have a friend interested in acquiring one for his daughter—a gentle one. He’s not here today, though.”
“Won’t be a problem. Have him come on by. Name’s Helmut Junger. Live out on the prairie.” He waved in the general direction.
“Lot of prairie out there,” Brian said in a wry tone. “Last week, I helped the Smiths and Baileys bring in their harvest. You live near them?”
“About the same distance, but I’m closer to Morgan’s Crossing. Go into the mining camp ’bout once a month for supplies and to pick up the mail. Your friend could meet me there.”
