“Actually no. I don’t really have anyone left who would miss me. My parents died and I was there alone. I have no siblings.”
Guilty punched Nick in the stomach. He now remembered Ginger saying something about Lana’s parents dying a few years back, but he had figured that she’d had someone else there. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”
“It’s fine. You know, after my parents died, I guess I just didn’t look for anyone else. I had Ginger and Henry…” A sad look crossed Lana’s face as she mentioned the last name. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’m here now and the city is a part of my past.”
Nick nodded, “I see. It must be hard though, leaving everything you know behind. I know it was for me.”
“That’s right. I suppose I forget sometimes that you and Ginger were from the city too.” Lana turned to him, “You chose to stay. I suppose you must know why I like it so much then.”
Nick nodded grimly. He wasn’t certain, but it seemed that he had just done the opposite of encouraging Lana to leave.
“I don’t mean to make things harder for anyone, I just want to be here for Ginger. I hope you can understand that,” Lana said softly as they pulled up to town.
Nick nodded and mulled her words over in his mind. Before he could say anything else, they were stopping in front of the general store. “Here we are, I’ll be back soon. We should try not to take too long. I don’t like leaving Ginger and the children alone. It would be easy for something to happen to them if they run off outside. She can’t keep up with them now.”
Lana nodded and hopped off of the wagon, waving at him before disappearing into the general store.
He stared at the door she had gone into for a moment before snapping the reins on the backs of the horses and continuing on to the feed store. There was something intriguing about Lana and he hated it that he was beginning to feel so curious about her. She was supposed to be his adversary.
“Nick! It’s good to see you. How are you holding up?” The owner of the feed store waved his hat as he spotted Nick.
Gerald was a close friend of Nick’s. The older man who owned the feed store was friends with everyone in town. In fact, Nick couldn’t think of anyone who didn’t like Gerald.
He was kind of like the advisor to the majority of the men in town. There was nothing that the old man didn’t know about. If anyone had questions about crops or a sick animal or building a new barn, Gerald was the man to go to.
He had been Eric’s best friend and had often joined Eric and Nick on the ranch for a cup of coffee and a song on the fiddle.
Thinking of the fiddle made Nick’s finger’s itch. It had been too long since he’d played. Come to think of it, he hadn’t touched it since the last time he had been with Daniel and Ginger in their little kitchen, a week before Daniel had died.
“I’m doing fine.” Nick reached out his hand and shook Gerald’s. He couldn’t help but notice that the older man’s grip had weakened a little since the last time they’d seen each other.
Nobody knew exactly how old Gerald was, but Nick had a suspicion that it was older than he would like to think.
“What about Ginger? This must be a difficult time for her.”
Nick nodded, “She’s working through it, but you’re right. It hasn’t been easy for her or for the children.”
Gerald sadly ran a hand over his face, “When my wife died… it felt like a part of me died with her. It is a pain that no one wants to feel but it happens to everyone eventually. We all have our time to go.”
Nick nodded somberly, remembering Daniel’s soft smile. His brother-in-law had been someone that he had hoped to grow old beside. He had imagined that in their old age they would still be helping each other on their ranches.
But God had other plans for Daniel. Nick knew that regardless of who had caused Daniel’s death, God hadn’t abandoned them. He could only pray that He would help him find justice for his fallen brother-in-law.
“What can I get for you today. The usual?” Gerald began to walk towards the back of the feed store and Nick followed him.
“I suppose so. The animals certainly eat a lot don’t they?”
Gerald chuckled, “They sure do. Who’s the lovely young lady who came with you to town today?”
Nick scratched the back of his neck. “Oh, her? She’s a good friend of Ginger's who has come to visit from the city.”
“She going to be staying?” Gerald gave him a mischievous look.
“No, of course not. She’s just visiting. I’m sure she’ll be going back to the city any day now.”
Gerald tusked his tongue. “Don’t be so sure. Lots of people from the city decide they enjoy life out here more than that city life. She may too.”
Nick decided to let the comment slide. He didn’t know what the future held. He only hoped that Gerald was wrong. “Here, let me help you load these up. I should be going pretty quickly. She’s probably done with her shopping at the general store by now and I don’t like to leave Ginger home alone for too long with her leg broken.”
Gerald gave him a wide grin as they placed the fourth bag of feed into the back of the wagon. “I wouldn’t count on it. Women seem to take three times longer than us when it comes to picking up the necessaries.”
Nick shook his head and laughed. “I wouldn’t know, but I’ll take your word for it.”
“There you are. Tell your sister’s friend I said hi and welcome to our little town.”
Nick nodded, “Will do, take care, Gerald.”
Gerald rose his hand in goodbye and Nick hoped the older man wasn’t doing as badly as it seemed. He couldn’t imagine what their little town would be like without him.
Nick pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the general store and tied the horses to the hitching post. He hurried up the steps and walked through the door.
He noticed that the little bell didn’t ring to announce his arrival like it usually did. It must be broken. Usually it made a clear little ding to announce his entrance.
“So, he was well-known in town?” Nick recognized Lana’s voice. He paused behind a row of dry goods, curious to hear who she was talking about.
“He was. Can’t say that he had any enemies. Any reason that you’re asking?” The man tending the store asked. Nick recognized his voice by the lazy drawl he spoke with. Jake had always talked like that.
It had taken the townsfolk a little while to get used to it. Nick figured it was some sort of speech impediment he had been born with. The first time he’d heard it, he’d thought the man was drunk.
“No reason. I just wanted to get to know who he was better. He was my best friend’s husband, after all.”
“I see, so you’re Ginger’s friend. She didn’t mention anyone coming to visit her. Where you from?”
“Oh, I’m from Southport, Illinois. That’s where Ginger and Daniel were from too. I’m just here to help Ginger.”
“I see. Well, I hope you enjoy our town. Not much to it, it’s pretty simple and straight forward.”
Nick decided he had heard enough. He knew who Lana was talking about. Why in the world she thought it was okay to be asking about Daniel, he had no idea. If she wasn’t careful, she could put any investigating he was doing at risk.
What if she talked to the wrong person? Or worse, what if she accused someone and no one had committed a crime in the first place?
“Afternoon, Jake. I see you met Lana.” Nick walked up and leaned his elbows unto the counter.
“That I did, how ya doing Nick? How’s the family?”
If Nick was honest, he would tell Jake that he was tired of being asked. He was doing fine, and so was Ginger, and yet everyone loved to ask them that. Nick wanted people to just let them heal on their own, but instead, at every turn, someone was asking exactly how they were doing and if they were all right.
“We’re doing fine. Better every day.” He plastered a smile on his face.
“I’m sure it’s not easy losing a family member.” T
he way Jake said it almost sounded as if he were making fun of the tragedy, but Nick decided not to read into it. Maybe it was just the way he spoke that made it sound that way.
“No, it isn’t.” Deciding to change the subject, he turned to Lana who had a whole basket of parcels tucked under her arm. “Ready to go?”
Lana nodded, “Yes, I think I found most everything.”
Nick nodded curtly and reached out to take the basket, which she gave up without a fight.
“Put the total on my tab, Jake. I’ll be back to pay it soon.”
“Sure thing. Say hello to Ginger for me.”
Nick nodded and gave an absent-minded wave as they left the store. He didn’t like the tone that Jake used when he talked about Ginger, but again, maybe it was just the way he spoke.
Nick placed his free hand on Lana’s upper arm as he led her out the door. Once they were outside, he let go and set the basket in the back of the wagon. Securing it between the wagon seat and the feed.
He then climbed up beside Lana who was already situated. Nick bit his tongue to keep himself from telling her right away what was on his mind. He didn’t need everyone in town making assumptions about them or him by seeing him scolding Lana.
Once they were on the outskirts of town and Nick was fairly certain that no one could hear them any longer, he turned to her. “Why were you asking about Daniel?”
Lana shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought I might help, you know, figure out if something was strange about his accident. Didn’t you pretty much say that the other night when we talked?”
Nick shook his head, “No, I didn’t. I said it was an accident.”
Lana looked confused. “You said that something like that wasn’t normal for Daniel. You made it sound like you thought it was something more. It seems strange that Daniel who knew all about wagons and repaired his own wagons all the time would have his wagon break when they were just going to town. Don’t you think so too?”
“What seems strange?” Nick snapped. He felt a little bad as he saw the hurt look on Lana’s face. “Never mind, just don’t go poking around into Daniel’s death. For all accounts and purposes, it was an accident. And if it wasn’t, you should stay as far away from it as you can. Do you understand me?”
Lana’s lips were pressed in a straight line as she nodded. Nick knew that her consent was only something that she was giving in to at the moment, but it didn’t mean much. She could decide at any moment that she wanted to continue her little investigation and there was nothing stopping her.
The silence between them began to bother him until he couldn’t take it any longer. “Look, I’m sorry for getting riled. It’s just that Daniel was really close to me. It just makes me sore. I don’t want to go digging around in something that should stay buried.”
“But if there is something to find? Don’t you want to know the truth?” Lana’s voice was full of compassion. “What if someone caused the accident? What if they are still out there? Wouldn’t you want to know?”
“I do, but I will find that truth out on my own. I don’t need any help.”
After a moment’s pause, Lana answered. “I understand.”
For the rest of the ride back to Ginger’s, they didn’t say another word to each other. Nick wondered if Lana really would keep from poking around or if she was just trying to humor him.
He hoped that the first was true. It wasn’t just his pride that he was protecting. If Daniel’s death hadn’t been an accident, whoever had done this was powerful.
Powerful people didn’t like it when others dug around in their business, and Nick was certain that hurting the rest of Daniel’s family wouldn’t be below them.
Chapter 17
Nick arrived early the next morning. His spider and his frog hadn’t scared Lana off, but he had something extra difficult planned for her today.
“Nick!” Lana sounded surprised and he could see by the look on her face that he had startled her. She was hanging up bed sheets across the line on the lawn. It seemed that more often than not when he came she was either washing or hanging laundry.
He tried to remember if Ginger had washed things that much when she had been up and about. But then again, he hadn’t come around as often when Ginger had been up and about.
“I thought I would come bright and early and show you how to gather eggs from the chickens,” Nick said with a wide smile. He knew that Lana had been dreading this chore.
When he had hinted at it, she had seemed extremely nervous. “Today? You want me to take care of that today?” Lana looked around as if searching for some physical excuse that could get her out of it.
“Are you scared of chickens, Lana? You know, chickens are an important part of all ranches.”
“No, no of course not. I can’t wait to learn how to gather eggs. It’s just… I have a lot of other things to finish today.”
Nick shook his head. “If you are serious about staying out west, you have to know that animals don’t wait for anyone and they need tending all the time. If the eggs sit too long in the nest boxes they will go bad.”
“I know, it’s fine. I’ll make time.” But Lana didn’t look at all excited about it. In fact, she looked about like Nick would imagine someone would look if they were about to be dragged off to some terrible punishment.
“Come on, I think you’ll enjoy it if you give it a chance,” he said with that familiar smirky look that he often wore when he was up to something.
“Mmhmm,” Lana muttered following him to the chicken house.
“Here, you go in there and I’ll grab the feed.” Nick opened the door to the chicken coop and nudged Lana inside. “Why don’t you check some of the egg boxes until I come back?”
Nick spotted a bit of fear mixed with determination on her face. She nodded and with a longing look toward the cabin walked tentatively through the birds, towards the little hen house at the back of the coop.
Nick smiled and hurried toward the barn. He picked up a bucket on his way and then hoisted up the lid of the feed bin.
He began scooping out the feed into the bucket. It was getting kind of low. He would have to fill it soon.
As he reached in for the last scoop, his hand caught on something. He put the scoop down and dug around until he pulled up a small bundle.
Curious, he unwrapped the bit of cloth, and what he found made his heart jolt for just a moment. In the palm of his hand was a slender metal pin. It was shiny and practically brand new, showing no sign of brokenness or any reason why it would be buried at the bottom of the feed bin. It had been wrapped in a piece of cloth and put there by who? Daniel would never put a pin for a wagon in such a place.
This only meant one thing. His brother-in-law’s death was not an accident. Even if Daniel had taken the pin off the wheel, he wouldn’t have put it there. No, whoever had put it there had been on this ranch and in a hurry to hide it. Now all doubt that it had been just an accident was gone.
Nick wondered if it had been someone Daniel knew. Could he have unknowingly let the man who would cause his death into his home?
Nick’s chest burned with fury. He wanted to go to Ginger and tell her that there was someone responsible for her husband's death. But he knew that he couldn’t. He needed to keep this information to himself for now.
He tucked the steel pin into his pocket and took the pail of chicken feed back out to the coop.
An Encounter of Courageous Hearts: A Historical Western Romance Book Page 13