Prudence

by Caroline Clemmons

  ***

  Riley opened the door to admit Adam. “You here socially or you need medical attention?”

  Adam plopped onto a chair. “Gone crazy and need my head examined.”

  Riley nodded and took a seat. “Ah, you accepted Lydia’s invitation to the theater and my mother’s invitation to dinner beforehand. Don’t count yourself alone. I accepted the invite to the theater, too, and have been squirming ever since.”

  Adam removed his hat and balanced it on his knee. “At least you’ll be there and I won’t be the only man with two women.”

  “Three—Lydia, Mother, and Prudence. We’re being manipulated, but Mother deserves a night out. In addition to trying to run my life, she occasionally helps as my receptionist, she cleans, and she cooks for me.”

  “Excellent cooking, too.” Adam looked up. “You courting Prudence?”

  “No.” Riley hadn’t meant to snap at the sheriff. “She’s a beautiful and intelligent woman, but I’m not having her rammed down my throat. Mother won’t give up and has even consulted her. I don’t approve of the way Prudence makes her living so there’s no way we can reconcile our differences.”

  “My situation isn’t any better. Danged if I’m accepting an ultimatum from Lydia. Marry her or she’s leaving town for some rich man back in Virginia.” His eyes widened. “Uh oh, that’s a secret, so don’t let it get out until she announces her intentions.”

  Riley slapped his knee. “If that doesn’t beat all. What a shock. Why would she leave her friends here, her fancy house, and her ranch? Seems to me she has everything a woman could want.”

  “Exactly what I think but she says she also wants me. You know I can’t marry her. One of her dresses costs more than I make in a month. We just don’t fit. Don’t see why she wants to change things anyway. What’s wrong with us just being friends?”

  “I see two things wrong with that. One, for some reason only she knows, she loves you. Two, you love her. Why not marry her?”

  Anger flushed Adam’s face. “Dadburnit, I just told you.”

  “Naw, you yammered on about money. That has nothing to do with your loving her and marrying her. She doesn’t care how much you make or if you make anything. In fact, she might be the one who needs her head examined because all she wants is you. Seems simple enough.”

  Adam frowned and snapped, “Well, it’s not.”

  “Why? What other reason can you offer?”

  “For one thing, William was like a father to me. That makes Lydia like my stepmother. Can you see how weird the situation is?”

  “Aw, horse feathers. Adam, you act like you’re blood relatives but that’s ridiculous. You’re older than she is and she’s a widow. No logical reason in the world you can’t wed.”

  Adam stood and used his hat to point at Riley. “Listen here, you have no place to talk. Why aren’t you courting Prudence? You two would make a good team.”

  He clamped his hat onto his head as if he intended it to remain there permanently then turned and opened the door. “I have rounds to make.”

  Riley followed him to the door and called, “Enjoyed our friendly chat. Stop by anytime.”

  Riley returned to his desk and sat mulling over his and Adam’s predicaments. Why did relationships have to be so complicated? Seemed unfair to have longed for a wife so long and then have an unsuitable woman dangled in front of him.

  He liked Prudence personally. Not only was she beautiful, she was intelligent and spirited. He’d seen firsthand how competently she worked with patients. Even his mother had consulted her and came away satisfied. He wished he knew what Prudence had prescribed for his mother but Mother was keeping that to herself.

  What he disliked about Prudence was her so-called profession. Who knew how many people she had actually harmed with her concoctions? He knew too well how much damage that sort of snake oil could cause.

  At the same time, he recalled how gentle she was when talking to both his patients and how efficiently she worked. She’d never deliberately hurt anyone, but she didn’t have the background and training to keep from doing so. He had to convince her to stick to midwifery and stop the herbal side of her business for her good as well as for anyone who consulted her.

  He was grateful when the door opened and Mr. Horrowitz entered.

  ***

  Sunday morning, Prudence and Lydia and Mrs. Murphy walked toward church.

  Prudence had a spring in her step. “I feel like a queen in this new dress.”

  Mrs. Murphy glanced her way. “And don’t you look lovely in blue? Guilt is plaguing me for letting both of you down by attending church instead staying home and cooking your dinner.”

  Lydia turned a benevolent gaze on her cook and housekeeper. “Now, Moira, with only the two of us to cook for, there’s no reason why you can’t attend services with us. You have our dinner in the oven and I’m confident it will be delicious.”

  “You’re right that our meal is in the oven, but it may be done to a crisp with no one to tend to it. Still, it’s nice to go with you two on such a lovely day.”

  At church, Adam scooted onto the pew beside Lydia as he customarily did. Prudence hoped that meant their differences were on the way to being settled. She wanted so much for her friend to be happy. Even if Lydia weren’t responsible for giving her a fresh start, she was too kind and compassionate a person to be heartbroken.

  Prudence smiled at Sophie but Riley didn’t look her way. He had to be deliberately avoiding eye contact, the ornery man. After the service, she made a beeline for Sophie and forced Riley to acknowledge her as they left the sanctuary.

  Sophie hugged her. “Dear Prudence, you look even lovelier than usual.”

  “Thank you, Sophie.” She stood so Riley had to acknowledge her. “Hello, Dr. Gaston. I hope you enjoyed the sermon.”

  He nodded. “Miss Lynch. Grady always delivers a meaningful message.”

  Up ahead, Grady McIntyre said, “Thank you, Riley. Comforting to hear that opinion.”

  Riley turned toward the minister and grinned. “Didn’t know you could hear or I’d have said something less flattering.”

  Standing by her husband, Angeline held toddler Matthew with one hand. Fingers of her other hand rested on her protruding abdomen. “I don’t believe that, Riley.”

  Lydia hugged Angeline’s shoulders. “You always believe the best of everyone.”

  The pastor sent his wife a loving glance. “She does at that. And, knowing her opinion is genuine, most people live up to her estimation.”

  He offered his hand to Mrs. Murphy. “Nice to see you with Lydia for a change.”

  She beamed at him. “She insisted and I’m glad on such a perfect day. I must say your message spoke to me.”

  Prudence ushered the housekeeper down the steps. “I think we were blocking others. Besides, I’m eager to get back and see how your dinner fared without you there.”

  Mrs. Murphy tut-tutted. “Sure and you may be sorry to find we have to dine on bread and cheese.”

  Adam escorted the three of them as they ambled toward the Harrison home. Overhead, the sky was deep blue with only a few white cottony wisps drifting. In spite of the summer season, the day was cool enough to be pleasant for walking.

  They walked in and stopped in the foyer. The door to Lydia’s office was open and the room was a total mess.

  Adam stepped in front of the women. “Go back outside until I know if the house is empty. If one of you would, go get Stanton.” Gun drawn, he went into the office.

  Prudence said, “Tell me where he lives and I’ll go.”

  Lydia wrung her hands. “The gray house behind the jail a block.”

  Mrs. Murphy said, “On Lamar Street. It’s about two blocks from Main.”

  Shaken to her core, Prudence was glad to have a task rather than just standing while Adam looked inside. She walked as fast as she could without running. Finally, she picked up her skirts and ran.

  Knocking on the door, she waited on the porch. Wh
en his new wife, Rhonda, answered, Prudence blurted, “Lydia’s had a break in and the sheriff needs your husband’s help.”

  Before Rhonda could call her husband, Deputy Martin Stanton appeared. Buckling on his holster, he started jogging toward Lydia’s.

  Rhonda asked, “Are you all right? Sit down a few minutes. Clearing that large house will take them a while.”

  Prudence gasped for air and welcomed the opportunity to catch her breath. “We were at church. Fortunately, the housekeeper was with us so the house was empty.”

  “Far as I can remember, we haven’t had any break ins here. People who live in Tarnation are honest for the most part. Even considering the few shady characters, I can’t think of anyone who’d break into the Harrison place.”

  “Me either, but you’ve lived here longer so you know more people. We only saw Lydia’s office had been ransacked and Adam sent us outside and asked me to fetch your husband.” Her breathing was returning to normal.

  Rhonda twisted a corner of her apron. “I hope nothing is broken. She has some lovely furnishings.”

  “Nicest place I’ve ever seen.” Prudence stood. “Thank you for inviting me to rest a bit. I’d better get back to see what else I can learn. Do you want to come with me?”

  The former saloon girl blushed. “No, but I thank you for asking. Martin will be expecting dinner when he comes home so I’d better keep the food warm.”

  “I’m sure he’ll tell you all about the break in.” Prudence strode purposefully back to Lydia’s.

  By the time she arrived, several townspeople had joined Lydia and Mrs. Murphy. Word sure traveled fast in Tarnation. They clustered in small groups while Lydia paced back and forth.

  Prudence took Lydia’s hand. “Why don’t we sit in the garden?”

  Her hostess appeared frantic. “Oh, I suppose Adam will find us there. I can’t imagine who would do such a terrible thing.”

  “Maybe a stranger snuck into town and took advantage of your house being on the edge of town.”

  Lydia’s eyes widened. “Dear heavens, Lola and Arturo Ramirez.” She tried to draw away from Prudence’s grasp.

  Prudence pulled her back. “Father Brendan is in town this weekend. I’m sure they went to mass. We can go check, but there’s no need to hurry and cause a crowd to follow.”

  Lydia looked around. “You’re right. I didn’t realize so many people were here.”

  Prudence signaled to Mrs. Murphy then the three of them ambled slowly around the main house to the casita where the Ramirez couple lived. Plants lined the walk and pots of cheerfully colored flowers brightened the porch. Lydia knocked but there was no answer.

  Lydia paused then put her ear to the door. “Listen, do you hear a knocking?”

  Prudence nodded. “See if the door is locked.”

  Lydia opened the door and gasped. Each of the couple was tied to a chair and gagged.

  “Lola, Arturo! Let me help. Dear heavens, I hope you’re not hurt.”

  Prudence and Lydia rushed to the pair. As quickly as possible, she and Lydia freed them from the ropes that bound them. The rough rope had cut into Lola Ramirez’s bare arms. Her husband’s shirt sleeves had protected him somewhat.

  Señor Ramirez angrily spoke rapidly in Spanish and Prudence thought it a good thing she didn’t speak the language. Lydia’s widened eyes indicated she understood.

  He gave a slight bow to Lydia. “Por favor, Señora. I am too angry to control my words.” He went to his wife and gently talked to her, as if he were inquiring after her well being.

  “Quite understandable.” Lydia fetched each of them a cup of water. “I’d ask you to tell me what happened, but you’d just have to repeat it when Adam arrives. All I want to know is if you’re hurt in any way.”

  Señora Ramirez rubbed at her arms and wrists. “I will soon be as good as new. Those awful men were rough. I hope they die a cruel death.”

  Her husband held Lola in his embrace. “We were about to leave for mass. Another five minutes and we would have been safely away.”

  “Sure and I’ll fetch the sheriff.” Mrs. Murphy turned around and went toward the garden gate.

  In a few seconds, Adam ran into the small house. “Heard there’d been a commotion here.” He took in Señora Ramirez’s arms. “Those are nasty rope burns. Any other injuries?”

  Her husband kept an arm around her. “No, but they were bad men. They feared we’d see them breaking into Señora Harrison’s home.” He repeated, “Father Brendan is in Tarnation today. If los malvados had been five minutes later, we would have been on our way to mass.”

  Adam turned a chair around and straddled it. “How many men were there and did you recognize them?”

  Señor Ramirez shook his head. “Two, but I’d never seen either before. I’m sure they were strangers, but they must have been watching the town for days. They knew Miss Lynch stayed here and that all three ladies were on their way to church.”

  Señora Ramirez wrinkled her nose. “Smelled as if they hadn’t had a bath in a very long time.”

  Adam looked from one to the other. “You get the impression they were used to doing this sort of thing?”

  Señor Ramirez shook his head. “No, but they brought the rope and were smart enough to never use names. Fact is, they didn’t talk much other than ordering us to sit in a chair. One of them said ‘If we get it we’ll be on our way to Denver and high times’. The other one, bigger and older, slapped him and said ‘I told you to keep your mouth shut’.”

  Adam stood and returned the chair to its place. “Anything else you can think of?”

  Each of the victims shook his or her head.

  Riley appeared out of breath and carrying his medical bag. “You sent for me, Adam?”

  “Take a look at Señora Ramirez’s arms and wrists. Nasty rope burns must sting like a son-of-a-gun.”

  Riley sent Prudence a probing glance. Surely he knew very well she would have tended to the injuries with a salve.

  Adam gestured outside. “Ladies, I need you to accompany me to the house. There’s not much real damage, but it’s a mess and a half.”

  Lydia’s shoulders sagged even more. “Can we go through the back? I don’t want the crowd to think they can come in and prowl through the mess.”

  “I was going to suggest we go that way, Lydia. That’s how Mrs. Murphy came to find me. Last thing you need is to be subjected to gawkers, even if they mean well.” He opened the gate into her garden.

  Chapter Nine

  Inside Lydia’s home, they were greeted by disarray.

  Prudence’s chest hurt at the sight. “Oh, Lydia, your beautiful home. Who would do this and why?”

  Adam said, “There’s no answer to that yet, but Martin and I will find both answers. What I need is for you to go through the house and tell me if anything is missing.”

  Lydia shook her head. “In this mess, that’s going to be hard.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders. “I know, but you don’t have to right it all today.”

  Mrs. Murphy came to the kitchen door. “Your dinner’s on the table in the kitchen. There’s less mess there and we have to eat. Sheriff, you and your deputy are invited as well.”

  Lydia’s eyes pleaded with him. “Please stay, Adam. I can’t tell you how much this has upset me.”

  “Couldn’t have any other result, Lydia.” He nodded to the cook/housekeeper. “Thank you, Mrs. Murphy. My deputy’s already gone home since we didn’t find a culprit but I’d be pleased to join you.”

  Obviously, Mrs. Murphy had dug into cleaning with a frenzy while the sheriff talked to the gardener and his wife. Flour and other staples had been scattered. Someone had searched thoroughly for something.

  Prudence took a seat, grateful to do something normal such as eat. “The food smells delicious, Mrs. Murphy.”

  Lydia laid a hand on her housekeeper’s arm. “I’m grateful you were with us, Moira. I hate to think what would have happened if you’d been here. I know you wou
ldn’t have given in easily.”

  Mrs. Murphy shook her head. “I’d like to think I wouldn’t, but if faced by two brutes I might have. I’m not as young as I used to be or I’d have boxed their ears with my rolling pin.”

  Adam pointed his fork at her. “If you see you can’t get away, don’t anger them by fighting back. You could get yourself seriously hurt or killed.”

  Prudence toyed with her roast beef. As good a cook as Mrs. Murphy was, she couldn’t force her throat to swallow. “I hope they don’t come back. I guess we won’t know until we see if something’s missing.”

  Lydia sighed and stared at her food. “I just can’t imagine. I saw several things that were valuable if the criminals wanted something to sell. Small things they could fit in saddlebags.”

  Mrs. Murphy clapped her hands as Lydia used to do. “Here now, no more gloomy talk. This is Sunday dinner and no one has suffered more than Lola’s rope burns. Eat up or I’ll take my rolling pin to your noggins.”

  Adam grinned at her. “You don’t have to remind me. You’re the best cook in town and I’ll enjoy every bit of my dinner.”

  Prudence took a bite of potatoes. “You are that, Mrs. Murphy. I’ve never had such good food as since I’ve been here. It’s a wonder I’m not too fat to get up and down the stairs.”

  Lydia rallied to scoop a bit of meat onto her fork. “I’ve been eating your food for years and never tire of it. You’re an artist in the kitchen, Moira.”

  “Get on with you. Sure and you’ll fair be turning my head. You make me glad the wretches didn’t take both the pies I baked, though they did take one of them.”

  Adam stopped eating and stared at her. “They took a pie? Any other food missing?”

  “Near as I could tell, a round of cheese, soda crackers, and tins of peaches.”

  He appeared to mull over the selection. “Not even coffee? They didn’t take anything to be cooked. Means they’re making cold camp somewhere.” He met Lydia’s gaze. “After lunch, mind if I climb up on the roof and look over the area with a spyglass?”

  “Oh, Adam, that roof is so steep and your boots would slide. Get the Dixon boys who’re such good climbers to look for you.”