"I treated your uncle during his illness, a good man." "Thank you for your care of him," Catherine replied sincerely. "I understand the mine is producing well," Dr. Wells continued. "Congratulations. Few women would have the courage to take on such an enterprise." "I had excellent help," Catherine acknowledged, glancing at Kieran.
"Perhaps you'd honor me with the next dance," the doctor asked. Catherine looked to Kieran, who nodded slightly. "Of course, doctor." As they moved onto the dance floor, Catherine noticed Kathleen engaging her brother in animated conversation, their heads bent close together. "Your arrival has caused quite a stir in our little community," Dr. Wells remarked as they began to dance.
He was confident but lacked Kieran's natural grace. "I imagine it's not often a woman arrives to claim a silver mine," Catherine replied. "It's not just that," the doctor said. "It's your effect on certain parties. Kieran Daniels hasn't shown interest in a woman since Mary Sullivan died, yet he's barely left your side since you arrived." Catherine felt her cheeks warm.
"Mr. Daniels has been kind enough to help me navigate my new circumstances. We're friends, doctor." Wells smiled knowingly. "If you say so, Miss Blackwood, but I've known Kieran for years, and I've never seen him look at a friend the way he looks at you. Catherine didn't know how to respond to that, so she changed the subject, asking about the doctor's practice in Prosperity.
By the time the dance ended, they were discussing the need for better medical supplies in frontier towns. Kieran reclaimed her for the next dance, a lively reel that left little breath for conversation, but plenty of opportunity for shared smiles and laughter. As the evening progressed, Catherine found herself relaxing completely for the first time in months. The weight of her worries temporarily lifted by music and pleasant company. It was nearly midnight when they finally left the church, walking slowly back to the boarding house under a canopy of stars.
"Thank you for a lovely evening," Catherine said. "I haven't enjoyed myself so much in a very long time." "I'm glad," Kieran replied. "You deserve some joy after all you've been through." They reached the boarding house steps, but neither seemed eager to end the evening. Catherine turned to face him, suddenly shy despite the ease they'd developed over the past weeks. "Will you be coming up to the mine tomorrow?" she asked.
"If you'd like," Kieran said. "I thought you might want to attend church services first." "I'd like that," Catherine nodded. "And perhaps you could join me for Sunday dinner at the cabin afterward. It won't be fancy, but I make a decent stew." "I'd be honored," Kieran accepted. He hesitated, then reached out to take her hand, his calloused fingers warm against her skin.
"Catherine," he said softly, "I want you to know that my interest in you and your mine are separate things. I would have wanted to know you even if you'd arrived with nothing but the clothes on your back. The sincerity in his voice touched her deeply. "I believe you," she whispered. "And I'm grateful for your friendship, Kieran, more than I can say." He lifted her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles, the gesture both old-fashioned and deeply affecting.