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She gave him a studying glance. “Your employer really doesn’t care that I’m a woman?”
“Nope. He just said don’t wear anything that will get in the way of your work or distract the miners.”
Rena couldn’t help the snort that rolled out of her. She motioned to her wrinkled shirt and trousers. “I think I can meet those criteria without any trouble at all.”
Theo shook his head and tugged on her braid. “You’re a lovely woman, Rena, whether you realize it or not. Your limp, your scars, and your attire don’t detract from that fact. One of these days, you’re going to have to face the truth.”
She held up a hand to stop him, and he snapped his mouth shut, then strode over to his bed and pulled a box and small trunk from beneath it.
“Laura sent your birthday gift. She’d hoped to get up to Amarillo to tell you goodbye in person, but it didn’t work out, so she mailed this to you instead. I also picked up something for you the last time I was in Baker City. If my calculations aren’t too far off, you should have been close to Denver when you celebrated your birthday.”
Rena nodded and accepted the box from Theo, taking a seat at the table and placing it in front of her. “I was almost to Denver then. I guess I should look at the expense of the train tickets as a birthday present to myself.”
“I’m glad you spent that money, Rena. Laura and I were both worried half to death about your traveling alone like that. I’ll get a note off to her tomorrow to let her know you’ve arrived unharmed.”
“I’ll send her a note as well. If I don’t need to report to work until Monday, that gives me a few days to rest and catch up on laundry.” She untied the ribbon and folded back the paper on a box that held sketching pencils, drawing paper, and a small set of paints.
“I remembered how you used to love to draw, Rena. I hoped some of the beauty of our area might inspire you to draw or paint again.”
Touched by her cousin’s thoughtfulness and gift, Rena blinked away the tears stinging her eyes and trailed her fingers over the paint set. It had been a long time since she’d drawn anything, but she would like to start again. “That’s so kind of you, Theo. Thank you. The first picture I draw belongs to you.”
“I look forward to seeing it.” He set the small trunk in front of her after she slid his gift to the side. “I have no idea what Laura sent, but she made it clear in her letter she wanted me to make sure you received this as soon as you got here.”
“I wonder what it could be?” Rena excitedly lifted the lid on the trunk to reveal a box wrapped in paper and tied with a yellow ribbon. An envelope with her name written across it rested on top of it.
Rena opened the envelope, and a brass key on a thin silver chain fell into her hand. She clasped it while she skimmed through a letter from Laura. Words like “romance” and “hope” and “love a chance” jumped out at her, leaving her annoyed. Laura knew there was no place for love or romance in her life, so the fact that she was trying to push the possibilities toward Rena from all the way in Texas made her more than a little irritated.
With great effort, she tamped down her anger, removed the ribbon and paper, and stared at a beautiful mahogany case. Theo set the trunk aside as Rena lifted out the case.
A mother-of-pearl inlay in the center of the lid made it seem more like a work of art, especially with shiny brass hinges and locks. She inserted the key in the lock, listened to the click as it turned, and pushed the lid open. The green velvet lining looked rich in the lamplight glowing around her.
A low, long whistle beside her reminded her that Theo was as curious as she about the contents of the box.
Reverently, Rena took a .32 caliber nickel-plated pistol from the case.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Theo said, bending closer to get a better look at it. “That’s a double-action, five-shot revolver. And look at the handle. That looks like real mother-of-pearl, just like on the case.”
“It does,” Rena agreed, lightly rubbing her fingers over the cool surface of the pale pink handle. It was a gun that looked like it had been made for a fine lady.
“Is it as light as it looks?” Theo questioned as Rena continued studying the weapon.
“Here,” she said, setting it on his palm.
Theo lifted his hand up and down a few times. “That can’t even weigh a pound. You’ll have to test it out and see how it fires.”
“It’s too pretty to shoot,” Rena said, taking it from Theo and setting it back in the case. She tucked Laura’s letter inside, then closed the lid.
“You should at least shoot it once, just to see what it can do.” Theo gave her another hug. “I’m really glad you’re here, Rena. I’ve got a bed set up for you in the loft. I thought it would give you more privacy up there than down here, but if the ladder is too much for you, we can switch.”
“The loft is perfect.” Rena kissed his cheek. “Thank you for letting me stay with you, Theo. I’ll do my best not to be a burden to you.”
“You’d never be a burden, so get that idiotic notion right out of your head.” He stepped back and scowled at her. “You’re like another sister to me, Renatta, and you’d best remember that. Now, I’ve got to be at the mine bright and early in the morning, so I’ll try to leave without waking you up. Help yourself to any food you can find. Rest up tomorrow, or do whatever you like. I should be back around half past five.”
“I’ll have dinner ready when you get here.” She hugged him once more, then turned to carry her things up to the loft. Theo beat her to it and hauled her saddlebags, traveling bag, and birthday gifts up the ladder.
“Do you really like the paints and pencils?” he asked as she started up the ladder.
She stopped with her foot poised above a rung and smiled at him. “I love them, Theo. It’s a perfect gift. Thank you. If you want to write Laura a letter, I could take it into town tomorrow and mail it. I thought I’d ride into Holiday and get a few supplies.”
