you have?"
"I have just Andrew at the moment – and you, if you join us – but I'm looking for more. I would very much like to find a new cleaning girl, particularly one who can cook."
"What happened to the old one?"
"Esther left me. She put love before duty."
"I don't follow."
"She ran off with the milkman."
Kevin laughed.
"In any case, should you meet someone who can clean and cook, then please send her to me. I'd happily waive your February rent as a finder's fee."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Maude requested a full bottle of wine when the waiter returned, along with three orders of lamb and potatoes. She liked taking charge in a man's world, particularly when she could do so with her late husband's money. Marcus would surely appreciate the irony.
When Kevin asked how Maude had become the "richest woman in town," she told him a story she had told often. She recalled how Marcus Duvalier, silver tycoon, had wooed her away from a Denver stage in 1896 with silk, emeralds, and a promise of a house that would be the envy of the up-and-coming mining community of Wallace, Idaho.
She added that her husband's sales pitch hadn't included a promise to remain faithful or to even provide her with children. Maude Parker, daughter of a Colorado wheat farmer and one-time vaudeville performer, had been a mere ornament to a man who'd had many.
As Maude replayed the phonograph record that was her life, she noticed that Kevin was a good listener. He smiled and nodded at the right times and asked questions when appropriate.
She also noticed that he said little about himself. She couldn't remember a man who had spoken less about his past than the one who wanted to teach the children of miners and merchants.
Kevin gave Maude his undivided attention for the better part of an hour, even as Andrew drifted to other places. As the evening wore on, however, he began to shift his sights to a nearby table, where a well-known businessman entertained an attractive young woman.
Maude decided to reel in his wandering eyes at seven thirty, when Andy headed off to the men's room and Kevin again glanced at the other table.
"I see I have competition," she said.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude," Kevin said. "It's just that the woman sitting at the other table looks very familiar. Do you know who she is?"
Maude smiled.
"I know everyone in this town, Mr. Johnson."
"I figured you did."
"The woman is Sarah Thompson, a teacher at the high school. She came here last summer from Indiana and has been residing with George and Bertha Marshall. They are an elderly couple who live in that magnificent house on Seventh and Garnet."
"I see. Who's the gentleman?"
"The man is Preston Pierce, the owner of the Intermountain Bank. He's a very important and powerful figure in this town, but I wouldn't call him a gentleman."
"Why is that?"
"I'll tell you why. Mr. Pierce is a lot like my deceased husband. He is greedy, thoughtless, and cruel. He is a man who treats women as property and not people. My guess is that Miss Thompson has not yet been treated to his charms."
Kevin nodded. He put a hand to his chin and lowered his eyes.
"You're thinking about her, aren't you?" Maude asked.
Kevin chuckled.
"It seems you and Andy attended the same school of thought. He can read my mind too."
"I can read men, Kevin. That's one reason Andrew and I get along. I know when he desires conversation and when he does not. I've found it to be a useful skill."
"I believe it. You certainly have me figured out. I'm sorry for drifting off."
"There's no need to apologize. You admire beautiful women, and Sarah Thompson is as beautiful as they come. She reminds me of someone I used to know."
"That sounds like an endorsement."
"It's more like an idle reflection," Maude said with a sad smile. "I hope you enjoy your time in Wallace, Mr. Johnson, but I advise you to stay away from the teacher."
"Why do you say that?"
"I say that because Preston Pierce is a nasty man, and nasty
"I have just Andrew at the moment – and you, if you join us – but I'm looking for more. I would very much like to find a new cleaning girl, particularly one who can cook."
"What happened to the old one?"
"Esther left me. She put love before duty."
"I don't follow."
"She ran off with the milkman."
Kevin laughed.
"In any case, should you meet someone who can clean and cook, then please send her to me. I'd happily waive your February rent as a finder's fee."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Maude requested a full bottle of wine when the waiter returned, along with three orders of lamb and potatoes. She liked taking charge in a man's world, particularly when she could do so with her late husband's money. Marcus would surely appreciate the irony.
When Kevin asked how Maude had become the "richest woman in town," she told him a story she had told often. She recalled how Marcus Duvalier, silver tycoon, had wooed her away from a Denver stage in 1896 with silk, emeralds, and a promise of a house that would be the envy of the up-and-coming mining community of Wallace, Idaho.
She added that her husband's sales pitch hadn't included a promise to remain faithful or to even provide her with children. Maude Parker, daughter of a Colorado wheat farmer and one-time vaudeville performer, had been a mere ornament to a man who'd had many.
As Maude replayed the phonograph record that was her life, she noticed that Kevin was a good listener. He smiled and nodded at the right times and asked questions when appropriate.
She also noticed that he said little about himself. She couldn't remember a man who had spoken less about his past than the one who wanted to teach the children of miners and merchants.
Kevin gave Maude his undivided attention for the better part of an hour, even as Andrew drifted to other places. As the evening wore on, however, he began to shift his sights to a nearby table, where a well-known businessman entertained an attractive young woman.
Maude decided to reel in his wandering eyes at seven thirty, when Andy headed off to the men's room and Kevin again glanced at the other table.
"I see I have competition," she said.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude," Kevin said. "It's just that the woman sitting at the other table looks very familiar. Do you know who she is?"
Maude smiled.
"I know everyone in this town, Mr. Johnson."
"I figured you did."
"The woman is Sarah Thompson, a teacher at the high school. She came here last summer from Indiana and has been residing with George and Bertha Marshall. They are an elderly couple who live in that magnificent house on Seventh and Garnet."
"I see. Who's the gentleman?"
"The man is Preston Pierce, the owner of the Intermountain Bank. He's a very important and powerful figure in this town, but I wouldn't call him a gentleman."
"Why is that?"
"I'll tell you why. Mr. Pierce is a lot like my deceased husband. He is greedy, thoughtless, and cruel. He is a man who treats women as property and not people. My guess is that Miss Thompson has not yet been treated to his charms."
Kevin nodded. He put a hand to his chin and lowered his eyes.
"You're thinking about her, aren't you?" Maude asked.
Kevin chuckled.
"It seems you and Andy attended the same school of thought. He can read my mind too."
"I can read men, Kevin. That's one reason Andrew and I get along. I know when he desires conversation and when he does not. I've found it to be a useful skill."
"I believe it. You certainly have me figured out. I'm sorry for drifting off."
"There's no need to apologize. You admire beautiful women, and Sarah Thompson is as beautiful as they come. She reminds me of someone I used to know."
"That sounds like an endorsement."
"It's more like an idle reflection," Maude said with a sad smile. "I hope you enjoy your time in Wallace, Mr. Johnson, but I advise you to stay away from the teacher."
"Why do you say that?"
"I say that because Preston Pierce is a nasty man, and nasty
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