Read Online HT02 - Sing: A Novel of Colorado by Lisa T. Bergren - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lisa T. Bergren
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to Daniel. “Please tell me you have a career of interest.”
Daniel swallowed and tried to smile. It was a lopsided, awkward thing to behold, but oddly endearing. “I am simply a man sent to procure a shipment for my employer from London and see it safely to his new hotel in Leadville, Colorado.”
Moira sat up a bit taller, in spite of herself. “Are you a hotelier, then? Or a barkeep?”
“Both, at times. For now, I suppose I am an importer if I expect to sit at this table for much longer,” he said, looking around to the others.
The others smiled and raised their glasses in salute. “Are you at liberty to discuss what it is you are importing?” the captain asked. “Rarely have I seen crates that large loaded upon my ship.”
“It is a large, quite beautiful bar of pure mahogany,” Daniel returned. “My employer paid a handsome price for it and had it built exactly to his specifications. The bar itself runs twenty feet in length, and there is fine carving beneath the top. The mirror that sits behind it runs the same length, and the woodcarvers outdid themselves in showcasing it with a fine border.” He shook his head in wonder. “I work for a clever man; many will enter the hotel solely to see such a beautiful piece in the wilds of Colorado.”
The men asked him about Leadville, about the mines that had been exhausted years ago, but how people continued to arrive, intent on claiming their own bit of mountain paradise or digging for a bit of still-undiscovered silver. Daniel answered every one of them, but his replies were short and to the point, as if he was hiding something, longing to return to the shadows.
“So how long have you been a hotelier-barkeep-importer?” Moira casually asked.
“Quite some time,” he said, his tone clipped, brooking no further query.
Why the secrecy? Moira wondered.
“Do you have a family, back in Leadville, Daniel?” the captain asked, coming to his rescue.
Moira studied the man, and didn’t miss the shadow that crossed his face. “No,” he said simply.
“I’ve heard there are twenty men to every woman in those regions,” Gavin said. He leaned forward and looked at Daniel, curiosity live in his bright blue eyes. He truly was amazingly handsome, elegant.
“Sounds right,” Daniel allowed, jerking Moira’s attention back across the table. “Saying goes that any woman who comes our way has ten marriage offers before she steps off a stagecoach. And singers … why they’re as popular as a cold well on the hottest day of summer.” He did not look at her, but folded his napkin and said quietly, “That reminds me … would you kindly grace us with a song after supper, Moira?”
All eyes were suddenly upon her again, and she saw the glint of pleasure in Daniel’s eyes as his finally met hers. He’d found the way to shift the topic of conversation at last. So he was more clever than he appeared. She felt a smile on her lips. “I’d be honored,” she said demurely.
Later after supper, they all assembled in the large parlor, where they spent most of their days. In the corner was a small upright piano, and happily, one of the bankers proved to be a decent accompanist. Moira sang a lovely tune, one of her favorites, but as she looked into the eyes of every person present, she noted with some dismay that the man with sad brown eyes was not present.
No matter, she thought, dismissing him. She focused on Gavin, with his keen blue eyes, who smiled constantly and engaged everyone he met with ease. This was the man she needed to think about. Not some other who clearly didn’t care a whit for her—or even getting to know her.
Nic stared up into the starlit sky, wondering what William was up to in port. As a more junior crewman, William had been given less time ashore than some of the others, but he shoved off in the last rowboat at sunset, giving Nic a flick of his finger to the brim of his hat in farewell. “I’ll bring you back a spot of rum,” he said
Daniel swallowed and tried to smile. It was a lopsided, awkward thing to behold, but oddly endearing. “I am simply a man sent to procure a shipment for my employer from London and see it safely to his new hotel in Leadville, Colorado.”
Moira sat up a bit taller, in spite of herself. “Are you a hotelier, then? Or a barkeep?”
“Both, at times. For now, I suppose I am an importer if I expect to sit at this table for much longer,” he said, looking around to the others.
The others smiled and raised their glasses in salute. “Are you at liberty to discuss what it is you are importing?” the captain asked. “Rarely have I seen crates that large loaded upon my ship.”
“It is a large, quite beautiful bar of pure mahogany,” Daniel returned. “My employer paid a handsome price for it and had it built exactly to his specifications. The bar itself runs twenty feet in length, and there is fine carving beneath the top. The mirror that sits behind it runs the same length, and the woodcarvers outdid themselves in showcasing it with a fine border.” He shook his head in wonder. “I work for a clever man; many will enter the hotel solely to see such a beautiful piece in the wilds of Colorado.”
The men asked him about Leadville, about the mines that had been exhausted years ago, but how people continued to arrive, intent on claiming their own bit of mountain paradise or digging for a bit of still-undiscovered silver. Daniel answered every one of them, but his replies were short and to the point, as if he was hiding something, longing to return to the shadows.
“So how long have you been a hotelier-barkeep-importer?” Moira casually asked.
“Quite some time,” he said, his tone clipped, brooking no further query.
Why the secrecy? Moira wondered.
“Do you have a family, back in Leadville, Daniel?” the captain asked, coming to his rescue.
Moira studied the man, and didn’t miss the shadow that crossed his face. “No,” he said simply.
“I’ve heard there are twenty men to every woman in those regions,” Gavin said. He leaned forward and looked at Daniel, curiosity live in his bright blue eyes. He truly was amazingly handsome, elegant.
“Sounds right,” Daniel allowed, jerking Moira’s attention back across the table. “Saying goes that any woman who comes our way has ten marriage offers before she steps off a stagecoach. And singers … why they’re as popular as a cold well on the hottest day of summer.” He did not look at her, but folded his napkin and said quietly, “That reminds me … would you kindly grace us with a song after supper, Moira?”
All eyes were suddenly upon her again, and she saw the glint of pleasure in Daniel’s eyes as his finally met hers. He’d found the way to shift the topic of conversation at last. So he was more clever than he appeared. She felt a smile on her lips. “I’d be honored,” she said demurely.
Later after supper, they all assembled in the large parlor, where they spent most of their days. In the corner was a small upright piano, and happily, one of the bankers proved to be a decent accompanist. Moira sang a lovely tune, one of her favorites, but as she looked into the eyes of every person present, she noted with some dismay that the man with sad brown eyes was not present.
No matter, she thought, dismissing him. She focused on Gavin, with his keen blue eyes, who smiled constantly and engaged everyone he met with ease. This was the man she needed to think about. Not some other who clearly didn’t care a whit for her—or even getting to know her.
Nic stared up into the starlit sky, wondering what William was up to in port. As a more junior crewman, William had been given less time ashore than some of the others, but he shoved off in the last rowboat at sunset, giving Nic a flick of his finger to the brim of his hat in farewell. “I’ll bring you back a spot of rum,” he said
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