Page 15 of Brian and Cora
Constance gave a slight headshake and wry smile at Elsie’s analogy. She jiggled a heavy reticule, the strings tied to her sash. “We’ve made thirty-seven dollars and sixty-three cents!”
An impressive amount. “Well done, ladies.” Brian got in his congratulations before the other men, who quickly echoed him.
Picking up the crate, Constance tucked it beneath the counter. “We need to stop by the bank and drop off the money. After that, we can find places to watch the horse race.”
“Well, then,” Dr. Angus glanced at his watch, “we’d best be going. As soon as the race is over, I’ll need to rush back to the office and let Fergus and Alice loose. Ye coming, Hen?” He crooked an elbow to his fiancée.
Hen? Surely, he didn’t just call her a chicken.
Constance caught Brian’s mystified look and chuckled. “A Gaelic endearment. I had a similar reaction the first time I heard it. Took some getting used to.” She smiled up at Dr. Angus andslipped her hand around his arm. “I’ll take the box we left at the booth and drop it off at the shop.”
“I’ll go with you, Constance,” Elsie offered.
“There’s no need. While Angus mans the doctors’ office, I’ll go up to the apartment, take the time to brew a cup of tea, and put my feet up. If you want, I’ll check on the puppy. But I’ll join you for the fireworks. I’ll meet everyone at the gazebo.” She lifted her chin in an order for Dr. Angus to start walking.
Hank held out an elbow for Elsie.
The two couples stepped into the flow of people heading toward Main Street, where the race was to take place. Brian sauntered along in their wake. Even as they threaded through the crowd, both Hank and Elsie and Dr. Angus and Constance had their heads tilted toward each other, chatting.
I’m surrounded by courting couples. Seeing the loving smiles exchanged by each pair and hearing their teasing banter made Brian starkly aware of his own loneliness and he didn’t like the feeling.
I’ll be fine once I’m home and writing again.
CHAPTER 6
Sweetwater Springs had never held a horse race before, and the winning purse of one hundred dollars was large enough to justify the stiff ten-dollar entry fee for each of the ten competitors. The size of the purse also ratcheted up the spectators’ excitement.
The street was cordoned off with ropes tied from hitching rail to hitching rail down both sides. People had already started lining up along the makeshift course, while the deputy sheriffs ushered lingerers out of the way.
Not too far from the bank, Brian saw an empty spot behind a hitching rail that looked big enough for all of them. He pointed and gestured and chivied them all into place, with Constance and Elsie in front and the men behind. Luckily, they were tall enough to see over the ladies’ hats.
Spectators packed around them, craning to get a good view of the “racetrack.” The press of people so closely around them made Brian’s skin itch. I haven’t been this close, inches away from so many people since…. He couldn’t remember how long and didn’t want to figure out how long.
They watched as the horses and riders started moving into place behind a thick line of chalk stretching across the street to mark the starting “gate.”
Sheriff Granger zigzagged back and forth, heading toward her place where she’d supervise the finish. She eyed the people on each side and stopped at family groups to warn them to keep ahold of their children before moving on.
Betting for money was frowned upon, given that today’s funds were designated for the new church and Reverend Norton and Reverend Joshua wouldn’t approve. But Brian could see surreptitious betting taking place among some groups of men.
“I don’t know any of the horses or the men riding, but we can guess at who will win.” Brian gestured for the ladies to go first.
“Oh, yes!” Elsie clapped her hands together. “I’m rooting for the gold. He’s beau-tee-ful!”
Constance nudged her assistant’s shoulder. “No, that black one is magnificent.”
“Yer both right,” Dr. Angus chuckled. “Fine horseflesh, indeed.”
Hank pushed back his Stetson. “I’m choosing based on the rider, not the mount. Nick Sanders is said to be magic with horses, and I’ve met him. He’s a good man.”
They all looked to Dr. Angus for his choice. “Since Hank’s already chosen Nick, who, by the way, I bought my horse from, and the ladies also picked the potential winners, I’ll go with the Appaloosa.”
“Let’s see…which one is left?” Brian drew out the pause. “I’ll go with that bay.”
“Which bay?” Hank raised his eyebrows. “There are two.”
“The showy one on the end.” Brian pointed.
To precede the race, down the street came a miniature buggy bedecked with red, white, and blue bunting and pulled by two Falabellas—one gray and one black—driven by a beautiful,auburn-haired woman in a tiny blue hat. Beside her, a blonde girl waved a small American flag.
