Chapter Forty-Two
Heath escorted Sharon into the lobby of the Gaiety Theater and paused as she looked around the room. The royal blue velvet draping, gilt trim and lights made it look very rich. He had been there during the day though and knew how tawdry it really was.
The Gaiety would not have been Heath's choice for the evening. He had always found it too hot, and noisy for his taste. However, the food was very good, and he knew that the shows were always popular. When he had gone to get tickets, he had been told the show was almost sold out. All that was left was one of the premium tables; it was three times the price, but Heath bought the tickets without saying anything.
He could concede that it was a good place for him and Sharon to have their first outing. They were hailed by several people, and he knew that others were looking at them with interest. Heath did appreciate that Sharon was in good spirits, and happily greeting people. It was very different than when, on the few occasions, he had taken Sarah out to events.
The biggest surprise was when JR Morton, along with his wife Alice, came over to greet them. Relations had definitely improved with the family, especially since the boys had married. Heath still gave Rufus a wide berth; the way the man had treated him, Sarah, and the matter of Joshua Watson still left a bad taste in his mouth.
"Sharon hello" Alice gave her hug, which Sharon returned. "I love that color on you" she enthused. JR then said hello, before turning to Heath.
"I was hoping that next week you could come out to our place? I want to talk to you about some issues with our mines in Arizona." JR explained, and Heath remembered that JR had taken over the day-to-day operations for the Morton's mines in the territory. He and his family would spend several months at a time down there.
"What kind of mine issues?" Heath asked cautiously, very surprised he was being invited out to the ranch. JR went on to explain that he had received Rufus' approval to upgrade the safety of the mines. He was also looking at purchasing more equipment.
"I would certainly be glad to advise you, but I have to ask – does your father know you are asking me?" The last thing Heath wanted was to embark on a project and then have Rufus shut it down because of his feelings. Heath saw a knowing look in JR's eyes.
"Pa has mellowed a great deal, between helping with Noah, and then becoming a grandfather." JR said reassuringly, before adding "actually it was his idea to ask you. He had read an article you did for The Metal Journal." That was a publication that served the mining industry. Heath weighed JR's words, while being astonished that Rufus had suggested the idea.
"This is supposed to be a social evening JR." Alice put her hand on her husband's arm with a good-natured smile. She and Sharon had been talking about town happenings. "We need to let Heath and Sharon enjoy their evening." They said their goodbyes and walked away holding hands.
"We should get to our table" Heath announced, becoming aware that Sharon was regarding him cautiously. Brushing that aside he took her arm and escorted her into the theater. He saw that they were at one of the best tables, with a good view of the stage. There were flowers and candles on the table, set on a snowy white linen tablecloth.
"Mr. Barkley welcome to the Gaiety." A waiter in a formal black dinner suit bowed as the couple arrived at their table. "Compliments of the house, we have some champagne all chilled for you and the lady." He smiled admiringly at Sharon but kept his distance. The man knew his job, and how to cater to well-heeled clientele. Heath privately thought considering what I paid for the tickets, free champagne was the least they could do.
Heath held out the chair for Sharon, before sitting down himself. The waiter, who said his name was Edwin, proceeded to go through the ritual of opening the champagne. He poured the golden bubbly liquid into fine crystal glasses, before bowing and leaving the couple alone.
"Do you always get this kind of treatment?" Sharon asked with interest after they had toasted and sipped the champagne. Heath had to admire how she had taken all the extra attention in stride, as if she were used to this kind of attention. It made him wonder if she had been to more social events than he knew about.
"My last name is Barkley, I paid for the premium table, and my escort is a lovely lady." Heath observed with a wry grin, which caused Sharon to laugh quietly. He was also set to say something else when Edwin came back with the menu. It was a Prix Frie menu, and he saw Sharon studying it with interest.
"The chef here really knows what he is doing" she observed after looking at the offerings. "It is well designed to keep work on the kitchen staff to the minimum and holding to three entrees lets him concentrate on quality" Sharon explained, and Heath remembered that she undoubtedly knew a great deal about restaurant management. They made their choices, Heath going for the grilled beef, while Sharon went for the chicken wrapped in puff pastry.
"We already have champagne, but would like wine with dinner?" Heath offered, knowing at a formal dinner you would have a different wine with each course. He wanted Sharon to enjoy herself, but he was not a big drinker, especially of wine.
"Tis so nice to have the champagne" she smiled as she raised her glass. "I am happy with that, but I know that certain wines go with different foods. If you want to order something, I will try some, but otherwise I am fine with champagne." Sharon's eyes were kind, and Heath felt a contentedness he had not felt for quite a while.
"Then let us stick to champagne. I do like a glass of wine at dinner, but Nick or Victoria picks it out." Heath offered, and then thinking of their partnership spoke again. "I like a glass of bourbon before dinner, and I have learned about after dinner drinks. I roll my own cigarettes, and like a cigar while playing pool or poker." He wanted to be upfront with her about the life he led.
"Ever so tame for such a fine gentleman" she tossed her head and gave him an amused glance. Heath realized that she was worldlier than seven years ago; of course, she was a widow. It made him very curious about her late husband but knew a first date was not the place to bring that subject up.
Edwin came back over and took their orders, bowing with politeness. Once Edwin left another waiter came over with bread, butter, and a relish tray. Heath was all set to say something about the service, but Sharon spoke first.
"Heath, I heard the conversation with you and JR; it sounds like a great honor that they want you to help them with their mines." She observed, tilting her head. "Even I know the extent of the Morton's holdings in the territory of Arizona."
"Rufus has never cared for me, because of the circumstances of my birth" Heath left it at that, but what Sharon said next reminded him that she had always been direct.
"Tis been over seven years! And I heard what JR said. Are you sure that you are the one holding the grudge and not Rufus?" She looked at him with coolness, and Heath remembered Priscilla's comment about how Rufus respected Sharon.
"It isn't just my birth, but also when Sarah and her mother came to town, he was very cool to them. At the time I put it down Rufus being Rufus and not liking strangers." Heath took a deep breath and thought carefully about what he was going to say next. He knew that Sharon was good friends with Priscilla.
"My opinion changed when Priscilla came to town, and Rufus could not do enough for her. He saw to it that she was welcomed and feted." Heath left it at that and saw Sharon looking at him with disbelief.
"Rufus is president of the school board, and he was hiring a schoolteacher. Priscilla's grandfather was a minister, and you know how religious Rufus is – he is head of the church committee." She detailed it out, and Heath saw Sharon was very pragmatic. Further she knew how things worked in Stockton.
"I should let bygones be bygones?" Heath asked, secretly intrigued at the idea of working on the mines in Arizona.
"Hmm, well you are not married to Sarah anymore." Sharon gave him a piercing glance. "And Rufus likes me a great deal, even knowing I have no formal education." The comment made Heath ask for more information.
"At one of the meetings I arrived early, and it was just Rufus and I" she paused. "He wanted to know why I was on the library committee and what did I think a library meant to people." Sharon smiled happy with remembrance. I told him about entering service at fourteen and being in the school room with my lady. I was allowed to go to the castle library and read books."
"He wasn't bothered by your background?" Heath was surprised, even as she referred to Rufus by his first name. Rufus had always been upright, formal, and very impressed with social position. He saw though that Sharon had the same relationship with the man that Priscilla did.
"It impressed him! His late wife – who he still loves – had been a schoolteacher. I had told him that the reason I was working in Stockton, was so that Sean and Tara could have a good education." Sharon exclaimed with firmness. "Sean and Tara are why I have agreed to our business partnership." She raised her champagne glass in a toast.
"So you think I should go out to the Morton ranch? And listen to Rufus?" Heath inquired with interest.
"Why wouldn't you want to listen a business opportunity and I am sure they will feed you lunch." She replied "JR says that Rufus specifically asked for you. He probably feels ashamed of his behavior in the past, so is not approaching you directly. Can you give him the benefit of the doubt?"
"I see what you are saying." Heath pondered what she said, and appreciated her candor, and her business acumen. "I will send JR a note tomorrow and let him know I am available for lunch." He stated, nodding his head, before taking a drink of champagne.
"Did I hear that you have published an article? Priscilla has told me how you take care of the mines in the Trust in Colorado." Sharon asked with interest, and he told her about the journal and the article he had written.
"Tis noble of you to care about the miners. They work under awful conditions – at least in Ireland and Wales. I rather assume it is the same here in America." Sharon declared, and Heath asked her what she knew about mine conditions in Ireland and Wales."
They spent the next quarter of an hour talking about the issue, and Heath explained about what he was trying to achieve. He could tell that Sharon did not understand the technical details but liked how she was interested in the issue. Heath also gave her credit for being concerned about the miners.
When their food arrived, in successive courses, he and Sharon compared notes about the food. Heath was impressed at how well she handled the tableware and wondered if she had learned that at the castle in Ireland. He could still recall how after arriving at the Barkley's, Silas had explained the table service, by helping him setup for dinner.
The show turned out to be more entertaining than Heath had thought it would be. It was a variety show, with song, dance, and some magic tricks. He knew exactly how the magic tricks were done but admired how talented the song and dance numbers were. The music was uplifting and fun, and the dancers, with their costumes and choreography was well done.
At the end of the evening, Heath took Sharon home, escorting her up to the front door. He would not put it past any of the neighbors to be lurking behind the curtains of their windows. He made it a point to bow, while taking her hand to kiss it. She smiled with a mischievous grain, while giving him a quick wink, before going inside the house.
As he was driving home, he realized that it had been the most pleasant evening he had spent in quite a while. Sharon was kind, good natured, fun – and actually took an interest in his mining reform project. It was not until he arrived at the Big House that he realized that while he had to setup lunch plans with the Morton's, he had no idea as to when he was supposed to see Sharon again.
