up at Rock Springs. Hopefully, now that the weather has broken, he’ll be home soon. Odell said Spring rescued you from the storm. Good thing she found you.”
Spring cracked, “As long as we have Odell, we’ll never need a newspaper.” The old trapper had ties to nearly everyone in the Territory, and if there was news to be told, he could be counted on to spread the word. “I’m going to take him into Paradise so he can rent a room from Dovie.”
“Okay,” Regan replied. “Welcome to Paradise, Mr. McCray. As soon as my husband returns, I’ll let him know you’ve arrived.”
“I’d appreciate that. I’ll let you get back to your day. Was nice meeting you.”
“Same here.”
Spring placed a kiss on the cheeks of Regan, Anna, and Colton Fontaine, then led McCray back out into the sunshine.
“Sorry for having to take up more of your time, Spring.”
“I’m fine. Just mount up.” She couldn’t recall a man quite so apologetic, and she wondered who he really was beneath the gentlemanly facade. Could he simply be who he’d shown himself to be so far? A well-raised, nice man?
They resumed their ride and at one point he asked, “What are the politics like in Paradise? Might need it for background for the story.”
“Things are more progressive now that there’s a new mayor. His name is Randolph Nelson. That was his beef we had for supper last night.”
“Ah. He’s Republican?”
“Yes. Head of the local party. The old mayor, Arnold Cale, was Republican, too, but he and his cronies were voted out mainly for refusing to pay for a schoolteacher.”
“Why would anyone be against that?”
“Just cheap and not being very educated themselves.”
“Is your brother active in the political arena?”
“No. Colt’s more focused on his doctoring.”
“I see. Is it true women vote out here?”
“Yes. Since sixty-nine.”
“Some folks back East are against women voting.”
“Just the men, right?”
His amusement showed. “Mostly, yes.”
“The Territory hoped giving us the vote would draw women from back East and help grow the population.”
“Has it worked?”
“A bit, but women aren’t arriving in the droves hoped for.”
“Do you vote?”
“Of course.”
“Colored people aren’t challenged?”
“Not yet, but I’m guessing it’s on the way. Last year Regan was on a stagecoach outlaws tried to rob, but she wasn’t allowed to testify against them at the trial because of her race. How is it back East?”
“Getting worse by the day, seemingly.”
“Another reason to stay out West.”
“Might not be a bad idea. Just seeing all these trees and imagining what they look like in warm weather, and what I could build with the wood, makes me want to stay and find out. I’ve met some interesting people here, too.”
“Yes, Odell is interesting.”
He laughed. “I meant a certain woman who wears buckskins and a buffalo coat. She’s somewhat prickly but that seems to be part of her charm.”
Spring turned to him. “I thought you were talking about me until you added that charm part.”
“I find you very charming.”
She stopped her horse and searched the sky.
“What are you doing?”
“Looking for the lightning that’s coming to strike you dead for lying.”
“You don’t think you’re charming?”
“Charming is used to describe dainty women wearing pretty dresses who drink tea from little china cups.”
“Not to me,” he said quietly. “Charming can be strength, intelligence—an unconventional way of looking at life.”
She found herself entranced again but fighting free because she had no business being attracted to a nosy newspaper man. She said, “Let’s go so you can get settled in town, and I can ride home.”
“Lead the way.”
Chapter Four
Garrett’s first thought upon arriving in Paradise was how small it was. As he rode beside Spring down the main street, he took in the businesses and shops: Miller’s Grocer, the medical office of Dr. Lee, the sheriff’s office, and Beck’s Undertaking. A few men on the walks in front of the grocer’s called hello to Spring, and asked, “That the newspaper fella?”
“It is.”
“Heard he was being chased by a bear when you found him.”
Garrett’s jaw dropped. A bear?
She smiled. “There was no bear.”
Someone yelled, “He going to let other people be in his newspaper story?”
“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him.”
Garrett was amazed that they already knew about him. He supposed small-town folks had nothing better to do than share gossip—true or not.
“Is there a telegraph office?” he asked Spring. “I want to let my family know I arrived safely.”
“Yes. Odell runs it. It’s across the street from the boardinghouse.”
Garrett still wasn’t sure how he felt about being tested by the old man, but having passed