Anna replied, “Libby has a baby sister. She cried a lot when they first got her, too. Now she crawls around on the floor.”
Regan explained. “Libby is Anna’s best friend.”
“Ah.”
Regan said, “My husband has been looking forward to your arrival but unfortunately, there’s a measles epidemic up at Rock Springs. Hopefully, now that the weather has broken, he’ll be home soon. Odell said Spring rescued you from the storm. Good thing she found you.”
Spring cracked, “As long as we have Odell, we’ll never need a newspaper.” The old trapper had ties to nearly everyone in the Territory, and if there was news to be told, he could be counted on to spread the word. “I’m going to take him into Paradise so he can rent a room from Dovie.”
“Okay,” Regan replied. “Welcome to Paradise, Mr. McCray. As soon as my husband returns, I’ll let him know you’ve arrived.”
“I’d appreciate that. I’ll let you get back to your day. Was nice meeting you.”
“Same here.”
Spring placed a kiss on the cheeks of Regan, Anna, and Colton Fontaine, then led McCray back out into the sunshine.
“Sorry for having to take up more of your time, Spring.”
“I’m fine. Just mount up.” She couldn’t recall a man quite so apologetic, and she wondered who he really was beneath the gentlemanly facade. Could he simply be who he’d shown himself to be so far? A well-raised, nice man?
They resumed their ride and at one point he asked, “What are the politics like in Paradise? Might need it for background for the story.”
“Things are more progressive now that there’s a new mayor. His name is Randolph Nelson. That was his beef we had for supper last night.”
“Ah. He’s Republican?”
“Yes. Head of the local party. The old mayor, Arnold Cale, was Republican, too, but he and his cronies were voted out mainly for refusing to pay for a schoolteacher.”
“Why would anyone be against that?”
“Just cheap and not being very educated themselves.”
“Is your brother active in the political arena?”
“No. Colt’s more focused on his doctoring.”
“I see. Is it true women vote out here?”
“Yes. Since sixty-nine.”
“Some folks back East are against women voting.”
“Just the men, right?”
His amusement showed. “Mostly, yes.”
“The Territory hoped giving us the vote would draw women from back East and help grow the population.”
“Has it worked?”
“A bit, but women aren’t arriving in the droves hoped for.”
“Do you vote?”
“Of course.”
“Colored people aren’t challenged?”