In the Shadow: Day 2

Word Count: 12,001

Summary of Events:

Rowynna went to her father's livery to groom some horses; while she was there a man about the age of her oldest brother brought two horses to board. Parker and a superior officer went to the doctor to find out what he'd learned about the bones before reading the statements Constable Gillespie had compiled. Rowynna was dispatched to purchase some eggs by her mother and encountered a young woman who introduced herself as Vella Osborne, and proceeded to follow Rowynna on her errand, as Vella seemed intent to talk . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

“Oh, well you and I are practically the same age then,” Vella said. “Are you betrothed to be married?”

“No,” Rowynna replied.

“Why not?” Vella asked, sounding fairly scandalised at the idea.

“I haven’t found a suitable man here,” Rowynna replied.

“My dear this place is crawling with men,” Vella said. “And you haven’t found a suitable one yet? Are you sure you know everyone in the town?”

“Most of the men are miners,” Rowynna said.

“And you fear that they might catch a disease in the mines and die, widowing you?” Vella asked.

“Yes,” Rowynna replied.

“Most of them are young enough to learn a new trade you know,” Vella said, not allowing Rowynna the opportunity to add the more important reason why she didn’t want to marry a miner. “And I promise you men will do anything for a woman. Surely I can help you find a suitable man.”

“I’m not in a rush,” Rowynna said.

“Oh but surely you don’t want to become a spinster,” Vella said.

“I don’t think it should take me that long to find a husband,” Rowynna said.

“Time moves quicker than you think,” Vella replied.

“I know,” Rowynna said, checking both ways before making her way across the street and on slightly southwestward.

“We’ll work together to find you a man,” Vella said. “Don’t worry.”

“I’m not,” Rowynna said quietly.

“What is your ideal man?” Vella asked.

“I’m not altogether sure,” Rowynna replied somewhat haltingly; she had a pretty good idea, but she wasn’t going to go sharing it with someone that she’d just met.

“Good, that leaves the field wide open,” Vella said. “Do you think we’d have time once you’ve bought the eggs to go look at suitable candidates?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Rowynna replied. “My mother will need me.”

“Oh, well you’ll have to let me know when you’re available and we’ll go looking,” Vella said.

“I do appreciate your offer, but I’m really not in any haste to get married,” Rowynna said. “I have more important things to be concerned with.”

“There can’t be anything more important than getting married for a young woman of our ages,” Vella said. “Surely whatever else you might be thinking of could be put off.”

Rowynna wasn’t quite so sure that Lorena would be inclined to put off having her baby until after Rowynna had found a husband, much less Della postponing her wedding — two events that were going to be taking place rather close together for themselves — but she decided to also keep those events to herself.

“You know,” Vella declared. “I’m surprised you don’t have men crawling all over you.”

Rowynna flushed with mortification. “And why should I?”

“You seem like a type that they’d like,” Vella replied. “I’m sure once we get it known that you’re available suitable men will come along.”

Considering the rowdiness of the miners — especially the unmarried ones — Rowynna certainly didn’t want her eligibility to be publicised, lest she receive myriads of unwanted advances that would leave Papa with no time to run his livery because he was too busy fending off all the unwholesome men who sought her hand in marriage.