The bell above the door rang out, pulling her from her musings as Abby walked in, the wind propelling her forward as she pushed the door closed behind her.
“Morning Kitty, Lily Jo.” Abby said as she removed her scarf and unbuttoned her jacket, hanging it over the back of the chair. “It’s brisk out there this morning.” Abby took her seat across from Kitty. “You been here long?” she asked.
“Long enough to watch your little friend there run up and down the back stairs about five times.” Kitty nodded her head in Lily Jo’s direction.
“Umm…” Abby said as watched Lily Jo approach.
“Morning Abby, what can I get you?” She asked, sounding as if all the cheer in the world had been sucked right out of her.
“I think the better question, Lily Jo,” Abby reached out and took her hand, “is what’s wrong? What can we do to help?” asked Abby.
“My pa.” Lily Jo sniffled and wiped her eyes. “He’s taken a turn for the worse. The fever won’t stay down, and he moans out as if he’s in a terrible pain. I don’t know what else to do for him. He’s not making much sense.”
“Have you gone for Hattie or Dr. Childs yet this morning?” asked Abby.
“I was trying to keep him comfortable while waiting for Hattie to come in for her tea. She usually does once or twice a day,” she said, shuffling her feet and looking toward the stairs.
“Lily Jo, I think you need a bit of fresh air. Step away from this for a moment. Why don’t you put your coat on, then run and fetch Hattie? Kitty and I will mind the café and tend to your pa,” said Abby.
“A-are you sure that’s alright?” asked Lily Jo as she wiped her eyes with the edge of her apron.
“Go, we’ll be fine here,” Abby said, ushering Lily Jo out the door and turning back to Kitty. “That poor girl, she just turned seventeen and she’s been running this place on her own since the quakes. Her pa was injured and hasn’t recovered. Lately, he’s been slipping in and out of consciousness. I’ll go check on him and be right back. I’m not sure there is much I can do at this point.”
Kitty smiled. “Papa was right, you were meant to be a pastor’s wife.”
Lily Jo returned to the café with Hattie, flipping the closed sign as they entered.
“Morning Abby, Kitty,” said Hattie. “How about you assist me upstairs with Mr. Thompson?” she suggested, and the three of them followed Lily Jo up the stairs.
Buck Thompson lay in a large four poster bed in the bedroom at the top of the stairs. The room was dimly lit with the curtains pulled. The smell of sickness and death loomed. The sight immediately conjured memories of Papa’s last days. Kitty and Abby stood back and looked on mournfully.
“Pa,” Lily Jo whispered. “Pa, Miss Hattie is here to see you.” Tears flowed down her rosy cheeks as she stepped back to allow Hattie to work. Abby stepped forward, taking Lily Jo’s hand in hers. Kitty stood silently, watching the scene before her with an all too familiar feeling.
Buck Thompson made no response. Even from where Kitty was standing she could tell his breathing was shallow and his time limited. Hattie listened to his heart and lungs and checked his pulse before turning to Lily Jo.
Kitty stepped forward then, taking Lily Jo’s other hand in hers. No young lady should ever have to go through this alone, she thought, remembering her own papa’s passing.
“Lily Jo,” Hattie said softly. “Your pa’s body is tired of fighting the infection. He’s too weak. His heart can barely keep up, and he’s slipped into a coma. I’m so sorry. I wish there was something more I could do for him. He’s fought hard for you, Lily Jo; his body is just giving out on him.”
Lily Jo nodded.
“I’ll go for Pastor James. Abby will stay with you.” Kitty said as she squeezed Lily Jo’s hand and departed the room.
Abby helped guide Lily Jo into a nearby chair. “Here sweetheart, perhaps you should sit.” Lily Jo said nothing, only stared at her pa as each tear that fell chased another one down her sweet face. “Abby, maybe you should pray while we wait on your husband,” suggested Hattie.
Abby knelt on the floor, taking Mr. Thompson’s hand in hers and turned to take Lily Jo’s as well. “Heavenly Father, we come to you in this hour of need. We ask for a smooth passage for Mr. Thompson and healing for Lily Jo. Your Word tells us that you are close to the broken hearted and save those who are crushed in spirit. Hearts are breaking here today, Lord, and we need you in this very hour. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
“Thank you,” Lily Jo whispered, though it was barely heard above the sound of the bell downstairs alerting them to Kitty’s return with Pastor James.
Kitty entered the room and went directly to Lily Jo’s side. Pastor James followed with Mr. Kisling trailing him. Abby had teased Kitty, saying she could marry a pastor too, but Mr. Kisling was in love with Lily Jo, and she with him. Though neither had made a move toward courtship. Kitty assumed it wouldn’t be long before they came to an agreement. If it hadn’t been evident before, it was crystal clear now as he approached her.
Lily Jo never took her eyes off her pa as they sat there with her, praying and offering what little support they could. Mr. Thompson’s breath became irregular and Lily Jo rushed to his side. “It’s okay, Papa,” she said, smoothing his brow. “I’ll be alright. You can go now. Say hello to Mum for me. I love you.” She laid her head upon his chest.
With Lily Jo’s blessing, Mr. Thompson took one last deep breath and then departed from this earth.
Milo had delivered Douglas Bloomberg to the penitentiary and spent the last few weeks feeling as if he were lost wandering among the wilderness. Bloomberg had been the driving force behind his career as a bounty hunter. Now that Bloomberg was accounted for, Milo didn’t know if he had it in him to chase the bad guys across the country anymore. He was tired.
The offer to serve as deputy in Silverpines lingered in the back of his mind. It held promise. He wouldn’t mind planting his roots and being a part of a community, but there lay the problem. He would be responsible for the safety of the town, the same town Kitty now called home. What if he failed? There was only one way to find out.
He drained his coffee, paid his tab, and walked out of the Salem diner. A train whistle blew in the distance as if calling him home, confirming Milo’s decision. He approached the depot and purchased a ticket back to Silverpines. Back to Kitty.
Chapter Eleven
Kitty smiled as she leaned back in the chair, propping her boots up on the desk. This was the life. Marshal Sewell had begrudgingly given into her and Betsy’s demands and hired her to be his deputy. She still didn’t have a home to call her own, but she was no longer staying at the inn. When Lily Jo’s pa passed on, Kitty had offered to stay with her.
The arrangement worked out well for the both of them. Kitty was able to make sure Lily Jo was eating and taking care of herself, as well as help out around the café when she wasn’t on duty. She had a purpose again. Someone to look after and people to protect, though, she worried about Lily Jo. The loss of her pa had destroyed the vibrant, cheerful young woman.
Just like Kitty, Lily Jo needed a purpose again, and Kitty had an idea…
The door to the jail opened and Kitty looked up into the dark mysterious eyes that had been haunting her dreams for months. What was he doing here and where had he been?
“Can I help you?” she said.
The man looked around the small jail as if he couldn’t possibly be in the right place, and Kitty fought to hold back that laughter threatening to spring forth. Not everyone knew of her new position, especially strangers that stalk young women. It was high time she knew his name and he had some explaining to do.
“Yes, this is the jail. No, Marshal Sewell isn’t in right now. Is there something I can help you with mister?”
“I, umm, I need to speak to the Marshal. He offered me a deputy position here a few weeks ago,” he said.
“Well, Mr. Whatever Your Name Is, that position has been filled.”
�
��By who?” he asked.
“By me,” she answered smugly. “Now, is there something else I can help you with?”
“Uh, no Ma’am, I guess not. Good day.” He quickly turned and walked back out the door.
Kitty stood and stomped over to the window, planting her fists firmly into her sides. The nerve of that man, not giving her his name. A name she so badly wanted to know. Well, she wasn’t having any of it; she was a deputy and that meant she had authority, and besides, it was plain rude not give a lady your name. It was time to make the rounds anyway, and she wanted to know who this stranger was, where he was staying and what he was doing in her town. Maybe he’d be at the inn and Ella Grace could get the man’s name for her, otherwise she was going to have to make up something other than Mr. Dashing. She really couldn’t call him that to his face.
Milo shuffled his feet as he walked along in no particular direction. What had just happened and how was he supposed to protect Kitty if she were acting as deputy? Marshal Sewell must be out of his mind, deputizing a woman; women had no business being deputies. Especially this woman.
The marshal had told him the job was his if he wanted it. So, what had happened that made him hire Kitty? Milo shook his head as if to clear his thoughts and nearly fell over.
“Whoa there, De Luca. You been drinking?”
“Marshal?” Milo blinked away thoughts of Kitty.
“Are you alright there?” Marshal Sewell asked.
“Marshal, you know you got a woman down at the jail house claiming to be your deputy?” Milo asked.
“Ah, I see. You meet Miss O’Byrne, did ya?”
“Did you really hire her to be a deputy?”
“Here she comes. You make her mad or something?” Marshal Sewell asked cautiously, causing De Luca to turn around. Sure enough there she was, her coppery hair flying behind her, riding skirt flared out at her sides, and headed straight for him.
“Boy, if I was you, I think I’d run.” Chuckled the Marshal.
“Afternoon Marshal, thank you for detaining my prisoner. I’m taking this man into custody,” she said. “Hands behind your back Mr. No-name.”
Milo stood there, slack jawed, unsure of what was happening, while she tied up his hands. He looked to the Marshal for help, but the ol’ goat just stood there, arms across his chest, enjoying the show.
“Miss O’Byrne, you sure you can handle him?” asked Marshal Sewell. “He’s got a good foot and a half on you.”
“That means he falls down harder.” She grinned sweetly as she pulled the rope tight. “Walk on Mr. No-name, and if you try anything funny, don’t think I won’t shoot,” she threatened.
Milo took one last look at the Marshal and headed toward the jail house. This was not the welcome he’d expected. He’d only been back in town an hour. Why was this tiny slip of a woman arresting him, and what had he done to make her so angry? So much for asking her to dinner.
“Kick that door open, real nice like,” Kitty said. Milo did as he was told and ducked down as he entered the jailhouse. “Take that open cell right in front of you.” Milo walked in and she slammed the cell door closed behind him.
“Hey, what about my hands?” he asked.
“Turn around, put your hands against the bars,” she said as she pulled a knife from her waistband. Again, he did as he was told, wondering if he’d lost is mind, putting his wrists out so close to that woman.
“Now then, I’m gonna be the one asking the questions, and if you don’t tell me what I wanna know, I’m not letting you outta here until the Marshal says I gotta. Understand?”
“Yes Ma’am,” Milo answered, unsure how else to proceed with the spitfire in charge.
“Why have you been following me? You were on the train from Sweetwater, then you boarded the train to Sisters, Oregon and sat across from me the whole way. Now, you show up here, where I live. Why have you been following me?” she asked.
“Ma’am, I was only traveling the same route as you. I’m a bounty hunter,” Milo said.
“And just who were you hunting?” Kitty rolled her eyes.
“Douglas Bloomberg. Caught up to him here in Silverpines when the two of you interrupted the Pastor’s wedding. Marshal Sewell had me haul the man down to Salem to stand trial for his crimes,” Milo said.
“You weren’t following me?”
“No, Ma’am, though I admit, I am interested in where Shannon went. I believe her to be the niece of my colleague, Detective Gibson,” Milo said.
Kitty sat down and stared at him in disbelief just as the Marshal walked in.
“Did he answer all your questions deputy?”
“I got one more. What is your name?” Kitty asked
Milo grinned. “I’m kinda fond of Mr. No-name.” Milo chuckled and looked toward the Marshal who threw his hands up in exasperation.
“Better tell her, especially if you’re here for the job. Seeing as how you two would be partners.”
“What!” they said in unison, leaving the good Marshal rolling in laughter.
“Just wait until I tell Betsy this one.”
Kitty stormed into the café. “The nerve of that man. I shoulda left him in there to rot!”
“What man, dear?” asked Fannie Pearl, the town matriarch.
“The one that followed me all the way here and now he wants my job, and he won’t even tell me his name,” Kitty huffed as she paced back and forth.
“He followed you?” Abby asked in alarm.
“He says he wasn’t following me, but I think he’s hiding something. How can I work with a secretive man that won’t even tell me his name?”
“You questioned him?” Lily Jo asked.
“Oh, I did more than that, I arrested him.”
“Oh, Kitty, you didn’t. What would Papa say?” asked Abby.
“He’d tell me my Irish is showing, but Abby you don’t understand. I would have left him in there if the Marshal hadn’t told me to play nice,” Kitty huffed.
“Well, Kitty dear, what’s he look like?” Fannie Pearl asked. “I’m sure one of us can learn his name for you.”
“Oh, nothing special really. He’s a giant of a man with black hair, dark, brooding eyes, and a smooth jawline. Always wears dark clothes, a black hat, and stupid smirk on his face.”
“Ya like him, don’t ya?” Abby teased.
“Wh-what? No!” Kitty cried in irritation.
Milo awoke the following morning, thankful for a good night’s sleep. He was grateful to sleep in the room he’d reserved at the inn, versus the tiny jail cell Kitty had thrown him in, though, he had to admit he’d let her do it.
She sure was beautiful when she was angry.
He washed his face and dressed for the day. His stomach growled in response to the smells wafting up from the dining room. With all the excitement he’d forgotten to eat yesterday.
He headed downstairs and was greeted by Ella Grace who showed him to a table.
“Coffee?” she asked.
“Yes, please.”
“Cream and sugar?”
“No, thank you. I like it black.”
She poured his coffee, took his order, and then went on to see to her other guests. Milo gazed around the room at the people he would have to get to know, seeing as he was now one of the deputies serving Silverpines. It didn’t go unnoticed that the majority of the town was made up of women, easy prey for con men and the like.
Ella Grace placed a plate of breakfast in front of him. “You enjoy that now,” she said as she walked on toward an elderly woman who had entered the dining room. “Good morning, Fannie Pearl, it’s nice to see you out.”
“Thank you, Ella Grace. I’m meeting Abby and Lily Jo for breakfast.”
“They haven’t arrived just yet, but you can take a seat wherever you like.”
“Thank you dear, those girls are never on time.” Both women rolled their eyes in agreement.
Milo watched the older woman walk toward him, assuming she was taking the empty table in front
of him. Until she sat down across from him.
“Hello there, I haven’t seen you around these parts before. You trouble?” she asked.
Milo smiled. “No, Ma’am. The Marshal offered me a deputy position.”
“That was mighty kind of him. We need a few good deputies around here. My name is Fannie Pearl, and everyone calls me Fannie Pearl. Don’t you forget that now.”
“No, Ma’am, I won’t forget. I’m Milo De Luca, it’s nice to meet you,” he said, putting down his fork to take her hand.
“Likewise. Now, if you need anything you scurry on over and see me. I live just on the other side of the schoolhouse, and I know everyone in these parts, new and old. I make a point to as it’s nice to know who your neighbors are.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Thank you.”
“My pleasure, Milo. Now, I best get a table before those girls come dragging in. It was nice visiting with you. Welcome to Silverpines,” she said as she stood and went to an empty table in the middle of the room to wait for her friends.
Milo finished his breakfast and stood to leave as Fannie Pearl’s friends arrived. He tipped his hat to her and made his way out the door. Thanking Ella Grace as he passed.
“Oh my, was that him, Fannie Pearl?” Abby asked in amazement.
“He’s so tall. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a man quite that tall,” said Lily Jo in awestruck wonder.
“Nor I,” added Ella Grace. “I don’t think we have a bed to fit his frame, but he didn’t complain none. Would you ladies like coffee or tea this morning?”
“Coffee, Ella Grace. You know the way I like it,” said Fannie Pearl.
“Tea for me,” said Abby.
“Me too,” added Lily Jo.
Ella Grace wandered off to get their drinks and Abby pounced. “Did ya get his name, Fannie Pearl?”
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