"Because of this town, I have achieved great prosperity over the years," he said directly to Jessica. "I believe it is time I gave something back."
Jess felt the warm moisture of tears blur her vision as she smiled at the man who was her blood father. She could not have asked for any more positive proof that he was trying to change his ways for her sake. Ashton Burke valued wealth above all else. Moreover, he'd probably sustained greater losses from the fire than any other single individual. To donate such a huge sum to the less fortunate spoke volumes about his transformation.
He was still the consummate businessman, though.
"And I issue a challenge to the consolidated mine owners in the district to match my offer." Burke added in a loud voice.
"I'll match it," Devlin said at once, which made Jess tighten her arm about his waist in gratitude.
She wasn't surprised by such generosity from Devlin, but it frankly astounded her to hear at least three more voices in the crowd volunteering to match Burke's hundred-thousand-dollar offer. And she suspected that more would follow suit once a fund was actually started.
"Good," Devlin murmured in her ear. "There's no need for the town to be too grateful to Burke."
Jess gave him an amused nod, and then became distracted by the arousing way Devlin was nibbling on her earlobe. When she caught sight of the scowl on Riley's face, however, she drew back sedately, willing her heart to settle down.
Burke was speaking to the crowd again. "We shall start over. The council can float a bond issue to finance a waterworks and better fire protection. And instead of wood, we should build with brick. If we begin immediately, we can have a good start before winter sets in."
"That's all well and good," a miner said grimly, "but where are we gonna live till then? Where are our kids and wives gonna sleep? How are they gonna eat?"
Clem piped up in answer. "If it's all right with Jessie, Homer, your Mollie and kids can have my room at the boardinghouse. It won't hurt me none to camp out in a tent like in the olden days. It ain't winter by a long chalk."
"Of course it's all right with me." Jess agreed. "And if all my other boarders would be as generous as Clem, we'd have room for fifteen or so families. We could also' take two or three more at our home, if they don't mind a little crowding."
That was the signal for everyone to start talking at once, with those more fortunate townspeople volunteering to put up the homeless in their houses. Tired but satisfied, Jess leaned her head against Devlin's shoulder, reveling in his warmth.
His hand came up tenderly to brush a wisp of honey-blond hair back from her cheek. "I'm jealous, angel," he murmured. "You've arranged accommodations for everyone else in town, but you didn't once think about me."
Jess gave him a puzzled look. "You already have a place to stay in Georgetown in a hotel, don't you?"
"Not one that's adequate for my needs."
"What do you mean?"
His slow grin was positively wicked. "I suggest you give up your bed here and sleep with me in Georgetown. My room at the Hotel de Paris is large enough for the both of us. And it would be the charitable thing to do—provide more space for the needy families of Silver Plume."
A throat being cleared beside them made Jess start guiltily. She looked up to find Riley pinning Devlin with an intense stare.
"No daughter of mine," her father said; emphatically, hands on hips, "is going to any hotel with a man who isn't her husband."
Jess turned a delicate shade of pink. "Riley, he was only teasing."
"No, I wasn't." Devlin bent and pressed a kiss at her temple, staying there long enough to whisper in her ear, "If you think I'm sleeping alone after the month of celibacy you've put me through, hellcat, you'd better think again."
Clem shuffled up just then. "You two finally gonna get hitched?"
Jessica's embarrassed color wouldn't recede. "I . . . don't know. Garrett hasn't asked me to marry him."
Devlin's mouth curved in a wry grin. "I think perhaps I'd better. Riley looks like he might fetch his shotgun any minute."
"Always knew you were a smart man, son," Riley observed pleasantly, crossing his arms over his chest and looking prepared to wait all day if need be.
"Would it be too much to ask for you to accord us a moment of privacy?"
"There he goes again," Clem muttered, "talking fancy."
Flo, with a disgusted look, grabbed the ornery mule skinner by his grizzled beard. "Come on, you old coot. Don't you know when you aren't wanted?" Ignoring Clem's yelp of pain, she hustled the two older men a short distance away, leaving Devlin and Jess alone in the crowd.
Not wasting any time, he turned Jess to face him, locking his arms loosely about her waist and gazing down at her with a laughing gleam in his gray eyes. "Miss Jess, sweetheart, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife before your father takes it into his head to deprive me of some vital part of my anatomy?"