it’s you, James MacFarland.”
“When we started the church in China, we didn’t even have a building. Only a stone slab and rubble.” James sighed, the smile still on his face. “Here we have a good roof, a good floor and two large rooms. The Lord has blessed us, indeed.”
“Two rooms?” Sarah had planned to teach in this room, but if there was another...
“Right through that door.” James nodded toward the far end of the bar.
Sarah picked up Lucy and started across the dirty floor, skirting a broken chair on the way. Olivia and Charley came behind them. When she opened the door, Charley crowding past, she nearly dropped Lucy. A man stood in the center of the room, a white felt hat and cane in one hand and a sheaf of papers in the other. He looked up when she gasped.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought this room was vacant.” Sarah stepped back, pulling Charley with her.
The man smiled as he took a step toward her. “There’s no need to go. I am to meet my client here. A Mr. MacFarland?”
Uncle James was at her side. “Mr. Montgomery.” The two men shook hands. “You’re early. I was just showing the building to my wife and niece.”
“Wilson Montgomery, at your service, Mrs. MacFarland. Miss MacFarland.” He bowed his head in Margaret’s direction and then in Sarah’s. His voice was cultured and his manners impeccable, except that his gaze lingered on Sarah a little too long before he turned back to Uncle James.
“Mr. Montgomery is from the bank. He’s handling the lease on this building.”
“Why don’t we ladies inspect this room while you and Mr. Montgomery attend to your business?” Aunt Margaret shooed Sarah and the children into the back room and closed the door behind them.
“Well, what do you think?”
Sarah looked around the room. It had its own entrance from the alley on the side of the building, and with a window next to the outer door, the room was light and airy.
“I like it.” She walked from one wall to the other, mentally placing benches and a chalkboard.
“No, no. Not the room. Mr. Montgomery.” Aunt Margaret’s words hissed in a loud whisper.
“Mr. Montgomery?” Sarah eased Lucy down to the floor. Olivia took her sister to the window to join Charley.
“Don’t you think he’s perfect? James told me about him last night. He’s from Boston.”
Aunt Margaret ended her pronouncement with a smile. Sarah grasped her aunt’s meaning.
“You don’t mean you think that he...” Sarah shook her head. “Don’t start matchmaking, Aunt Margaret. You know I’m too old to marry, and no man will appreciate a spinster being thrown at him.”
“Oh, now,” Aunt Margaret sputtered, “I would never throw you at him. He attends the church and is a very eligible bachelor. He is the manager of the First National Bank of Deadwood, and his father is the owner.”
As she ended her sales pitch, Sarah sighed. “If he is that eligible, don’t you have to ask yourself why he isn’t already married? In my experience, once a man reaches a certain age without being married, there is usually a good reason for it.”
“In your experience? My dear, you haven’t had that much experience.”
Sarah watched the children at the window. Charley had found a spider and the three of them were engrossed in its meal of an insect caught in its web. She would rather not talk about men with Aunt Margaret. Her aunt had been thirty-five when she met Uncle James, fresh from the mission field in China. Since she had married late in life, she held that there was hope for every woman. But a man, at least a good man, was a rare bird.
Nate opened the door between the two rooms and stepped in.
“It’s time for Charley and me to head back to the wheelwright’s. The axle should be done by now.”
Sarah turned to greet him. His timing couldn’t have been better. Maybe he would take Aunt Margaret’s mind off Wilson Montgomery.
“I’m so glad we met in town so you could inspect the new church and school with us.” She crossed the room, slipped one hand into the crook of his elbow and swept the other across the room with a grand gesture. “This is our academy. What do you think?”
His gaze followed the sweep of her hand. “It’s a right fine room. But you’ll need desks, won’t you? And a chalkboard? And books?”
Margaret was watching them, so she leaned a little closer. “I brought books with me, and Uncle James will build benches for the students to use.” She looked up at him. “I’m not sure what to do about the chalkboard. Do you have any ideas?” She considered batting her eyes, but she had never done that to any man, and she wasn’t about to start now.
He lifted her hand off his arm and stepped away. “I’m sure you’ll think of something, Miss MacFarland.” When he grinned, a dimple appeared in his chin. She hadn’t noticed it yesterday. Shaving certainly made a difference in a man’s looks.
Nate walked over to the window. “Charley, it’s time to go.”
He ushered the boy toward the door leading to the alley and turned to Sarah. The shadow of his smile still lingered. “We’ll come for the girls as soon as we get the wagon fixed.”
“You’ll stay for supper tonight, of course.” Aunt Margaret’s voice denied any argument.
Nate turned his hat between his hands and looked at Charley. “I appreciate it, ma’am, I surely do. But the children and I need to set up our camp.”
Sarah’s throat tightened. Once he left with the children, would she ever see him again?
Her face heated with a sudden flush. Where had that thought come from? But still, something made her want to have more time with him. And the children.
“You must eat supper with us tonight.” His eyes met hers. “And I think I know where there is a perfect spot for you to camp, right near the cabin.”
He glanced at the children, watching him. They were waiting for his decision with bated breath, just like she was.
Finally he shoved his hat on his head. “I know when I’m outnumbered.” He turned to Aunt Margaret. “I’m certainly beholden to you for your hospitality, ma’am. I don’t know how I’ll be able to repay you.”
“Pishposh.” Aunt Margaret waved her hand in the air. “You don’t need to repay anything. We’re glad to have the company.”
Sarah followed him to the door and stepped outside. Charley wandered toward the front of the building, but Nate turned to her. Sunshine had chased all the morning clouds away, and it shone brightly into the alley. She shaded her eyes with her hand as she looked up at him.
“I’m glad you decided to have supper another night with us. I would hate to give up the children’s company so soon.”
“Is it their company, or are you still going to try to
