Chapter Fifteen

Richard

Richard McLauren was one of the few instructors at McLauren Academy with perfect vision, but he was Mrs. McLauren's grandson, so no one was surprised when he came to work there.

He first noticed Larkin when she was twelve. With her dark hair, and icy blue eyes, she was a beautiful child. Despite the fact that he was seven years older than her, it was overlooked that he paid special attention to her. Mrs. McLauren overlooked most anything Richard done.

He bought her books, trinkets and baubles. He sat beside her at mealtimes, and escorted her to and from classes.

Then when she turned fifteen, he began to invite her to attend concerts and lectures away from school with him. Since she was a student, and he an instructor, he made sure to keep everything very proper and well chaperoned, only occasionally kissing her hand or stealing a kiss on the cheek.

Larkin was probably the only one who didn't think Richard wanted more than just her friendship.

He fancied himself 'in love' with Larkin, but truth be told, the only person Richard had ever or would ever love was himself.

When Larkin had told him she was returning to Colorado Springs with her Papa upon her graduation, she had thought he would be happy for her. Everyone had known she had wanted to return home for awhile. Instead, he had tried his best to convince her to stay, telling her she would just be a burden to Jake. Then the morning she had left, he had shown up and wished her goodbye like a true friend. Of course, this was just because he thought she would be back within the month, not that Larkin knew that was why.

Two month had gone by with no word from her, at least not to him. He knew his grandmother, Molly Black, and even Michael Perkins, had gotten letters from her. He had decided to come and visit her, to persuade her to come back with him.

He, too, had arrived on the afternoon stage.

Chapter Sixteen

A Room For Rent

"Where can I find a room to rent, sir?" he asked Horace.

"Well, Hank, over at the saloon, he rents out rooms, sometimes," Horace answered.

"Is there anywhere else?" He answered, staying at a saloon was not his usual style.

Horace thought for a minute, then shook his head. "No, sir, not that I know of."

"The saloon it is then. Can you point the way?"

"It's just down the road a piece," Horace answered. "Ya' can't miss it."

"Thank you." He tipped his hat and left.

He did, indeed, find Hank's.

"Excuse me," he said, walking up to the bar. "Are you Hank?"

"Who wants to know?" Hank replied.

Richard took in the sight of this barkeep with his waist length hair and unshaven face with contempt. He hoped it wouldn't take long to convince Larkin to return to Denver.

"I am Richard McLauren from Denver. I was told you have rooms for rent."

"Yeah?" Hank smiled at the thought of some business. "Then I'm Hank. How long will ya' be needin' a room?"

"I am not sure how long I'll be in town just yet."

"Well, a room'll cost you a quarter a day."

"Fine." He laid a silver dollar on the counter.

"MYRA!" Hank yelled.

She came over to him. "Yeah?"

"Take Mr. McLauren, here, and put him in a room, and dawdle. Ya' got other things to do."

"Yes, Hank," she sighed. "Follow me, sir."

As he followed her, he noticed that, for a barmaid, she was quite attractive, if somewhat plain.

"Will ya' be needing anything else?" She asked, opening the door to a sparsely furnished room.

"No, that will be all, thank you."

"You're welcome. If ya' need anything, ya' just let one of the girls know, and they'll fetch it for ya'."

He sat down on the bed after she had gone. He couldn't believe he was actually staying in such a place, but it couldn't be helped.

Chapter Seventeen

An Unexpected Visitor

After he had availed himself of a day's worth of Colorado dust, he decided he was properly cleaned and groomed. He went to talk to Hank.

"Where might the barbershop be?"

"It might be that building over there with a barber's pole on it," Hank answered sarcastically. He pointed at it. "If it's a shave you're wanting, though, one of my girls could oblige ya'."

"No, thanks. I am looking for Larkin Slicker. She told me once that her father was the barber here. I thought that would be the best place to start looking."

"He is. What 're ya' wanting with Larkin?"

"Let's just say, I'm an old friend."

Hank nodded, as he watched Richard walk out. For some reason he hadn't quite placed, he didn't trust the city-boy.

"Excuse me," he said, standing in Jake's doorway.

"I'm closed," Jake said without turning around.

"I realize that," Richard began. "But,…"

"Papa," Larkin interrupted. She strode into the room with a very cross look on her face.

"Why do I have to go to dinner with you and Mrs. Dorothy?" She knew she was whining, but she didn't care. Maybe if she got on his nerves, she wouldn't have to go.

"For the last time, Larkin, because I said so!" Jake snapped, his patience worn thin on the subject. "Now, I don't want to hear no more about it. You. Are. Going!"

She opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted.

"Larkin? Is that you?" Richard asked.

She turned towards the door, lifting her head and smiling. "Richard? Richard, what are you doing here? Come in."

She went over to him, as if to hug him, but just shook his hand.

Richard was unruffled. "To see you, you silly goose." He touched the tip of her nose. Something she absolutely hated. Then he kissed her hand. "We've missed you at the school."

She took a step back. "Richard, I'd like you to meet my father, Jake Slicker. Papa, this is Richard McLauren. He teaches at the academy. He's a friend of mine."

"Hello, Mr. Slicker," Richard said, holding out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Larkin spoke of you all the time."

"Likewise." Jake shook his hand.

"Larkin, my dear, I was wondering if you would accompany me to dinner?" he asked.

"Well," she chose her words carefully. She knew Richard had a short temper when things didn't go his way. "I would love to, but I am having dinner with Papa and Mrs. Jennings. Perhaps, he could join us, Papa?" That way she wouldn't be alone with Richard and she wouldn't have to listen to Jake and Dorothy talk all night.

"If ya' want him to," he shrugged. "I don't think Dorothy'll mind."

Chapter Eighteen

Another Eventful Dinner

"So, you are from Denver, Mr. McLauren?" Dorothy asked after they were seated at Grace's.

"Yes, ma'am, and please, call me Richard. I am a teacher at the McLauren Academy. I must say, we are all anxious to have Larkin back. She is a wonderful teacher. One of the best I've ever seen in fact," he replied.

"Oh, well, we know she is a great teacher, since she has been gracious enough to take a position in our school," Dorothy answered.

Larkin smiled at their praise.

"Of course, she will be a wonderful teacher, no matter where she is, but surely, you must see what a waste of her skills it is to keep her here when she is more qualified to teach the blind. If she returns to Denver, she will have a position at one of the top institutes for the blind in the country."

"Would you two please quit talking about me as if I'm not here," Larkin snapped, irritably. "It makes me feel like a bug under a microscope."

"So sorry, my dear," Richard laughed. He kissed her hand. "Did you know that Molly and Michael stayed on as teachers?"

"Yes. They've both written to me several times."

"Yes, yes, I suppose they have. Some people hear from you regularly," he replied.

Even though his tone was light enough, Dorothy noticed he was quite teasing. She looked at Jake to see if he had noticed as well, but it seemed he hadn't. She noticed, also that he had been awfully quite the whole evening. She wondered what he thought about this young man who claimed to be Larkin's friend, but whom she didn't seem completely at ease with.

Chapter Nineteen

Dorothy's Warning and Larkin's Reaction

When Jake walked her home, Dorothy told him, "You know I'd never tell you how to raise Larkin, but Jake, I'd watch Richard carefully if I was you."

"Why? He seems nice enough."

"Well," she explained. "I'm probably wrong. I hope I am but, it seems to me that he's just a little too nice, like it was all for our benefit. Almost like Marcus was nice in front of my folks."

He considered this, glancing back to where Richard and Lark were sitting on his porch, deep in conversation.

"I'll keep that in mind." He kissed her goodnight.

"It's getting late, Lark," he said, as he stepped up on his porch. "You need to come in."

"Yes, Papa," she replied, standing to follow him. She turned to Richard. "Goodnight."

"Will I see you tomorrow?" He said, quickly moving to stand beside her.

She shrugged, "If you want to. I'm usually around somewhere."

He started to kiss her, but she turned and quickly went inside, counting her steps so she wouldn't fall.

"Goodnight, Sweetheart," he said to her retreating figure.

"How old is that boy?" Jake asked her as soon as she was inside.

She sighed she knew he was going to ask her a bunch of questions sooner or later. Personally, she was hoping for the later.

"Tell your girlfriend that I'm blind, not deaf, so don't talk about me as if I'm not there," she shot back, hoping to change the subject.

It didn't work.

"We're not talking about Dorothy, Larkin. Answer me."

"Twenty-three. Richard is twenty-three."

"Twenty-three years old?" Jake repeated.

"I think so. He maybe twenty-four by now."

"Did you know he was going to come here?"

"No."

"So, he just shows up, out of the blue and you don't think that's strange?"

"No, sir," she answered. "No for Richard. He's my friend."

"Does he know that's all he is?"

"Yes! God's Nightgown! I am not about to stand here and discuss this with you! It's my business!" She stomped off to her room and slammed the door.

"Just be careful," he sighed. "I don't want you getting hurt. That's all."