“You’re a lady, too.”
The blonde grinned and set down the load of lumber she was carrying beside the frame of the stage. She pulled off her gloves and gave them a shake, slapping them against her thigh.
“What is your name?” she asked, eyes lowered purposefully on her gloves.
“Mary. Mary Sophia James.”
“That’s a beautiful name.” The woman raised her eyes to Mary’s. “The kind made for beautiful ladies.”
Mary blushed. Her heartbeat quickened in her chest at the words, and if she was not mistaken there was a gleam of something familiar in the woman’s warm brown eyes that beckoned her forward. She knew that look, the furtive, quiet, but telling look of a womannoticing her.
How she had dreamed of finding that look in the one she wed.
The woman tucked her gloves into the pocket of the trousers she wore. “My name is Alex. Alex Pierce.”
Mary’s brow furrowed. “Alex?”
“Short for Alexandria. My mother had an unhealthy love for all things Egyptian, you know, as all upper-crust women of her age and predilection were want to do.”
Mary laughed and nodded, remembering her own mother’s craze over the beautiful Egyptian items many of their peers had shown off in their homes. Her father had forbidden it, firmly deciding the lot of it was theft, much to her mother’s dismay.
Mary had always thought her father right, but now that she was looking upon Alex, she was glad that the craze had led to one thing of beauty. Alexandria suited the woman in front of her so perfectly she could think of no other name so beautiful. She looked away quickly and smiled, willing the adoration she felt welling up in her to abate.
“Your name is lovely. I am happy to make your acquaintance.”
Alex gave her another smile and inclined her head. “And I am happy to make yours Mary.”
“Call me, Minnie.” The request fell from her lips faster than she could process it and she blinked in shock at herself, though Alex paid no mind to it and nodded.
“Minnie, then. Are you new to town? I’ve not seen you around I’m afraid.”
“Yes, I am. I only arrived a few weeks back.”
“Are you alone?”
Mary shook her head. “No, I am here with my mother. We are looking at settling in the area.”
“Curious place to think of settling. Two ladies on their own in a place like Gold Sky.”
“How do you mean?” Mary asked as she tucked her hands behind her. There was a knowing tone in Alex’s voice that caught her attention and she leaned forward waiting for the woman to continue speaking.
“People come to Gold Sky to escape their past. To get away from whatever bad is holding them down in the normal world.”
Mary’s mouth dropped open at Alex’s no-nonsense words and clear reading of her situation. But how did the woman know she was running, or rather being dragged by her mother, from her troubles?
“You sound as if you know from experience,” Mary observed, and Alex raised a shoulder in a shrug.
“I do. I’m no different than any seeking refuge from their past. Gold Sky is my escape, same as most here.”
“Same as me?” Mary asked. She held her breath waiting for Alex to respond. The blonde tucked her hair behind her ear and ambled forward with a curt nod.
“Of course, same as you. We are all in search of a safe place to land, and Gold Sky is that for me. Must be something mighty big for you and your mama to come alone. Perhaps someone?” Alex rocked back on her heels, that same knowing tone in her voice but this time it had Mary rushing to answer.
“Not my Papa. He’s long gone, he passed,” she said.
Alex’s eyes widened slightly. “I’m sorry for your loss. A loss like that can force a move...is that what prompted your search for a new home?”
“In a way,” Mary hedged. She clasped her hands and dropped her eyes much preferring the sight of her shoes to the earnest look in Alex’s eyes. If she looked too long, she might say a good deal more than she should to a stranger. That would not be a good idea. No matter how beautiful they were.
