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at?”
    â€œMr. Bane.”
    â€œYou’re mooning over your new boss?”
    Vashti frowned at her. “No, I most certainly am not.”
    â€œWhat are you doing, then?”
    â€œTrying to figure out how to make him let me drive the stage.”
    â€œYou might as well forget about that. He’s told you more than once he won’t let you.”
    A lanky young man stepped into the aisle beside them. “Morning, Miss Vashti. Or should I say, ‘afternoon’?” Johnny Conway cracked a broad smile at her.
    â€œI expect it is past noon,” Vashti said absently.
    â€œYou’re one of the stagecoach drivers, aren’t you?” Goldie asked, gazing up at Johnny with her overlarge blue eyes.
    â€œYes, ma’am. Have we met before?”
    â€œMaybe.” Goldie fluttered her lashes. Vashti had scolded her for continuing to flirt with men since they gave up being saloon girls, but the habit seemed ingrained in Goldie. “Ever been to the Spur &
    Saddle?”
    â€œWell, sure. You’re the gal who plays the pianner.” Johnny’s smile slipped. “I ain’t been there since they changed over—well, you know.” “That’s all right,” Goldie said.
    â€œYou still work there?” Johnny asked.
    â€œNo, I work in the Paragon Emporium now, but I still board at the Spur & Saddle, same as Vashti.”
    â€œOh.” Johnny looked from her to Vashti and arched his eyebrows as though he expected something.
    â€œHer name is Goldie Keller.” Men were always fascinated by Goldie’s china-doll looks. Vashti didn’t mind, so long as they didn’t get fresh with her friend. But Goldie had been around saloons long enough that she knew how to keep most fellows in line.
    â€œI haven’t seen you in church before,” Goldie said, smiling up at him.
    â€œWell, I don’t usually stay over Sunday in Fergus. Most weeks I’m over to Murphy.”
    They had reached the door. Vashti turned her back on Johnny and Goldie and shook the pastor’s hand.
    â€œGood day, Miss Edwards.” Pastor Benton always greeted the girls cheerfully, but it was his wife who soothed Vashti’s heart. Though Vashti smiled at the preacher, she turned eagerly to Apphia.
    â€œHello, Mrs. Benton.”
    â€œVashti, so good to see you again. You must come visit me this week, if you have a chance.”
    â€œI’d like that, thank you.”
    â€œWhy don’t you come Tuesday afternoon, if that won’t interfere with your work? I understand you have two jobs now.”
    â€œI’m putting in a few hours at the Wells Fargo. But I could come over around two thirty.”
    â€œWonderful. I’ll have the teakettle on.”
    Vashti stepped out into the sunlight, feeling warm to her toes. Mrs. Benton genuinely cared about the ladies in this town, whether they were rich or poor, refined or crude. Vashti had seen her reach out to women many would consider among the least desirable residents of Fergus. She’d befriended the girls from both saloons back when there were two in town. At the time, Vashti had been jealous of the attention Apphia paid the girls from the Nugget. But now she understood. That was Apphia’s nature: to love them all impartially. Even so, whenever she spent time with the pastor’s wife, Vashti felt almost as if she were Apphia’s only friend and certainly the one she loved best.
    She went down the front steps. Griffin Bane had disappeared, probably going back to the livery or the smithy. She waited while Goldie greeted the Bentons. Johnny Conway didn’t leave her friend’sside. He shook the pastor’s hand, too, and spoke to Apphia. He came down the steps with Goldie.
    â€œSay, Miss Vashti, why are you so keen on learning to drive?”
    Vashti bristled. “I already know how to drive.”
    He laughed, and it stung a little. “All right, then. Why do you want so badly