Free CHARITY'S GOLD RUSH (A Strike It Rich in Montana novel) by Cynthia Hickey Page A

soap. I know you already do laundry well, but I’m guessing you bought your soap.”
                  “Yes.” Charity folded the blankets that formed her pallet and stacked them neatly in the corner. “I stayed too busy to learn anything else , and now there do n ’t seem to be enough hours in the day .” Please, don’t think me ungrateful .
                  Mabel patted her shoulder. “Once you learn what you need to know, and set up a schedule, you’ll have time to simply be. You wait and see. There are many evenings when Hiram and I sit under that old oak tree and speak of the day’s events. ” She laughed. “Not that a lot happens way out here, but it’s nice to just rest together. You leave it all in God’s hands. He’ll see you through.”
                  Not likely. Charity measured ingredients for buttermilk biscuits. The day before, Mabel had interspersed talk of God during their conversations, leaving Charity uncomfortable. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe in the Almighty, she just didn’t have time to spend with someone who chose to take away everyone she cared about.
                  Gabriel seemed the same as the Stoltzes, bowing his head and giving thanks for the meals and thanks for Charity’s care of the children , a lmost as if God were someone a mere human could speak with as they would a friend.
                  “You’re faraway,” Mabel said, scrambling eggs. “Missing Gabriel and the children?”
                  “Very much.” Charity set the biscuits in the stove.
                  “He told me of the arrangement between the two of you.”
                  Charity straightened so fast she hit her head on a low hanging shelf . Putting a hand to the sore spot, she turned.
                  “I gave him a good talking to.” Mabel grinned. “Now, my Hiram, if he decided to be so devious, would receive a clunk on the head with my skillet.”
                  Charity smiled. No condemnation reflected from the other woman’s eyes. “I thought to finally have a family and home of my own.”
                  “You do.”
                  “For a time.” Charity glanced at her fingers. Small flecks of blood dotted the pads. “Seems I’ve hurt myself.”
                  “You poor thing!” Mabel set the pan of eggs aside and grabbed a rag , before help ing Charity into a kitchen chair. “Sit and let me have a look.” She parted Charity hair. “Just a scratch. You’ll have a headache at the least.” She dabbed at the cut. “Do you regret wedding Gabriel?”
                  Charity shrugged. “I don’t think so. My worry is that it will be too difficult to leave when the time comes. Already Meg and Sam own my heart.”
                  “And Gabriel too, I’ll wager.”
                  Charity cringed. Mabel was closer to the truth than she knew. Gabriel was claiming a piece of Charity’s heart way faster than she liked.
                  “I see.” Mabel sat across from her. “Why does the mention of gambling trouble you so? Or is it my mention of your husband? ”
                  Charity twisted the rag in her hands. “Me Da made good money once upon a time, back in Ireland , running the stables for a wealthy Englishman . Mother and I had no idea he was gambling to add to his salary . Then, he got the idea of striking it rich in America. Ma died soon after we arrived . A little over two years ago now , Da lost everything, and Ma passed. I’ve been on me own ever since.”
                  “Then Gabriel came along and promised you something more.”
                  “It was never meant to be permanent.” Charity pushed back from the table. “Let’s finish breakfast and get to soap making, shall we?”