Staking Their Claim by Ava Sinclair Page A

an indeed an unusual situation,” she said. “But it sounds that if anyone was ever a need for an experienced nurse, it’s you.” She stood even straighter as she recited her credentials to an already impressed Nigel. “I served in this very occupation in Scotland, and for some very fine families. I kept one lass until she was married at twenty-one, and she went to her husband as an obedient bride, for I do not spare the rod.
    “A young lady’s health is important, too, and I will insist on bringing her here for a cleansing supervised by Dr. Martin. This town is a nest of filth,” she said, screwing her face in disapproval. “A cleansed girl is a healthy girl.”
    Nigel nodded. He was well aware of the flushings young women of the upper class were subjected to, and the notion of Jenny getting one was not at all unpleasant.
    “Our primary concern is her safety, of course,” he said.
    “Don’t you worry about that,” the nurse said. “Before my dear Seamus died—God rest his soul—he taught me how to shoot. I’m as good a marksman as any man, and can hold my own.”
    Nigel looked at the doctor, his heart brimming with gratitude. “Are you sure you can spare her? Were she in my employ, I’d be hard-pressed to let her go to anyone else.”
    “Oh, I don’t want to,” the doctor chuckled. “But I believe the safety of this young woman is more important than having two nurses when I can get by with one.”
    “It’s settled then,” the nurse said. “I’ll get my bag.”
    Nigel thanked Doc Martin and went across the street to wait for Nurse Mab on the boardinghouse porch. As he leaned back his head to rest, his thoughts straying to Jenny, he heard the sound of heavy boots and looked up to see a large figure shadowing him.
    “I suppose you and your friend think you’re pretty clever.” Dan Forbes’ graveling voice carried a meaner-than-usual edge as he stared down over his bushy beard at the Englishman.
    “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nigel said, standing up to face the man.
    Dan Forbes smirked. “Sure you don’t.” His eyes narrowed angrily under bushy brows. “I ain’t stupid. Everyone knows you and that Cody Drake have that Beaumont girl up there. I knew as soon as I saw her dressed as a man that something was up. But before I could work it all out, your friend had gone in and jumped the claim before I could.”
    “He didn’t jump it,” Nigel said. “It’s still a Beaumont claim, only we’re mining it on behalf of the woman who claimed it in her brother’s name. If your argument is with anyone, it’s with the magistrate. Take it up with him.”
    “I already have,” the larger man said. “But the law doesn’t favor the honest man. Sometimes a man has to take the law into his own hands.”
    Nigel felt a chill. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Means I hear that claim is showing color, but for the wrong people. I don’t like what you did. A foreigner and uppity cowboy setting up in my camp with a house and a woman and the claim I wanted?” He paused, pulling out a knife that he began to use to clean under his filthy nails. “It won’t stand.”
    Nigel tried to keep his calm as he stepped up to the larger man. “Threaten me and my family, and you won’t be standing long, Forbes,” he said.
    The two stared at each other, and Nigel knew what the larger man was thinking. They were in town; if he stabbed the Englishman, he’d go to jail with so many witnesses. Touching the point of the knife to the tip of his filthy hat, Forbes winked then and walked away.
    A moment later, Nigel saw Nurse Mab emerge from Doc Martin’s front door, a large carpetbag in one hand. This time when he headed home, he had not an innocent-looking woman by his side, but a large, strong woman—and an intimidating one at that. The looks that greeted him now were not longing, but respectful. He wondered how many of the camp’s miners had come across this nurse when