Gideon frowned as if pulling the recollection from the back of his brain. “Yeah, I think I was sixteen or seventeen at the time. My dad was running the mercantile, and I helped out in here. Cain had run up a bill.” Gideon rubbed his forehead as though the motion might free up the long-buried memory. He yanked his head up. “I remember now. Cain had charged a lot of stuff, and every time he came in, he told my father he was expecting a bank draft any day. His bill was almost forty dollars, as I recall. He asked Miss Pearl to marry him, and then he left town without ever paying his bill. If you look through the old record books, you’ll find it. It was at least six or seven years ago.”
Hubert’s hands hung motionless at his sides. “He asked Pearl to marry him?” He stared at the string lying on the floor. “Why didn’t he marry her?” He pulled his gaze up to meet Gideon’s wry, sympathetic smile.
“She turned him down.”
As he left, Gideon called back over his shoulder that he’d be back after a while to pick up his own supplies as well as Cain’s, but Hubert barely heard him. Was Cain the reason Pearl broke their engagement? Hubert couldn’t remember seeing Cain in town until today, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t been corresponding with Pearl. She could have known Cain was coming back to town.
Hubert shook his head. For that scenario to have any validity, Pearl would have to be deceptive, and the very word didn’t even fit her pinkie finger. Nevertheless, her former suitor was residing under her roof again. An unfamiliar tightness growled in his chest when he wondered if Pearl’s head had been turned. An acid taste filled his mouth.
Gideon’s recollection of Cain running up an unpaid bill set Hubert’s detective instincts in motion. The man had paid for the merchandise he purchased today, but if he had a history of not paying his bills, it was possible he might try to swindle Pearl out of the rent money. Despite the broken engagement, Hubert couldn’t stand by and watch anyone take advantage of Pearl. He’d have to devise a way to find out if he’d paid Pearl for his room. Easier said than done since she wouldn’t talk to him. Perhaps Tessa could ask some discreet questions.
By the time he finished wrapping Cain’s purchases, Hubert’s resentment of the man nearly strangled him. Every part of him wanted to confront Cain and run him out of town. But prior experience taught him to remain calm, even friendly, around the man, if he wanted to discover Cain’s intentions. And if those intentions harmed Pearl in any way, Hubert meant to see the man stopped.
He hung the BACK IN TEN MINUTES sign on the front door and locked it behind him on his way out. He strode down the street to the building that served as both the telegraph office and the stage depot.
The gray-headed telegrapher greeted him. “Howdy, Hubert. Nice day, ain’t it?”
Truthfully, Hubert hadn’t noticed what kind of day it was. His heart was crushed and now this interloper had returned to Willow Creek to—he wasn’t certain yet what Cain’s purpose was, but he intended to find out.
“Sam, I need to send a telegram.” He took the pencil and paper Sam handed him and began to write.
TO ZACK PETERSON, PINKERTON NATIONAL DETECTIVE AGENCY, CHICAGO. NEED INFORMATION. Stop. PRIOR RECORD AND ARREST WARRANTS FOR SILAS CAIN. Stop. ANY INFORMATION HELPFUL. Stop. LETTER TO FOLLOW. Stop. HUBERT BEHR.
Hubert pushed the paper across the desk along with a few coins to pay for the telegram, adding an extra silver dollar. “Confidential, Sam.”
Sam showed a gap-toothed smile. “You betcha.”
Chapter 9
Pearl studied the back of Hubert’s head from her vantage point four rows back. She’d tried to focus her attention on Pastor Witherspoon’s sermon, but the distraction of having Hubert in front of her was too great. Perhaps next Sunday she should sit on the front row.
Everett sat beside his father, his back as straight as a board. Pearl battled feelings of resentment toward the young man. If it weren’t for Everett… No, she’d not think that way. Everett’s presence brought joy to Hubert. Wasn’t that the whole point of her stepping aside, so she wouldn’t hinder the strengthening bond between them? Once more she prayed that God would remove the seeds of animosity from her heart. She’d had a choice. She could have kept Hubert selfishly to herself and watched his heart break when Everett severed relations with him. But she loved Hubert too much to come between him and his son, or to ask him to choose between them.
The pastor closed his Bible and exhorted the congregation to seek the Lord in their everyday lives, quoting from the book of Acts. “‘In Him we live, and move, and have our being.’” A few announcements followed, but Pearl paid little attention. Her mind was fixed on slipping out before Hubert could catch up to her.
As soon as the “amen” to the final prayer was spoken, Pearl stepped from her seat and hurried toward the door. Her plan fell apart, however, when Pastor Witherspoon stopped her as she shook his hand.
“Miss Pearl, I was very sorry to hear that I won’t be performing your wedding ceremony after all.” His white eyebrows puckered in dismay, and he lowered his voice. “If there is anything I can do to help you and Hubert resolve your differences, please call on me. Sometimes issues arise, and they seem much larger than they really are. Often a third party, a mediator of sorts, can help a couple to see those issues from the other’s viewpoint.”
She heard Hubert’s voice directly behind her. “You go ahead, son. I won’t be long.”
Pastor Witherspoon still held her hand, and it would be rude to jerk it away. The kindly minister smiled. “Prayerful consideration is always the best resolution to these disagreements. There’s nothing that can’t be worked out when God is in the midst.” He patted her hand before releasing it.
She forced a tight smile and hurried to put distance between herself and Hubert, but in her haste she set her foot down on the edge of the step and pitched forward. When she thrust her hand out to seize the railing, her arm was captured in a strong, steadying grasp.
“Pearl, are you all right?” Hubert’s voice, deep and husky, sounded next to her ear.
His grip on her arm and hand on her back felt like a safe sanctuary, but it was a place she couldn’t stay, safe or not. She reluctantly pulled her arm free and smoothed her skirt, but the sensation of Hubert’s touch lingered. Desiring to memorize the moment his hand came in contact with her, she slid her eyes closed for a split second.
“I’m fine, thank you.” Her mumbled reply was so soft she barely heard it herself. Dare she raise her eyes to meet his? If she looked into his face at such a cozy juxtaposition, her resolve might crumble into dust. Before she could discipline her traitorous gaze, her chin tipped upward, and Hubert’s dear image came into view.
Heat rose from her midsection to flood her face. His eyes spoke what his lips didn’t, and she could not remain in his proximity.
“Excuse me…”
“Pearl, might we speak privately?”
She halted. Other people were emerging from the church, and she had no wish to be on display or become a topic of tomorrow’s gossip. Praying for steel in her spine, she turned halfway. Hubert stepped beside her.
“Please, Pearl—”
“I’m sorry, Hubert.” She restrained her feet from running but held her pace to a ladylike walk, grateful that she didn’t hear Hubert’s footsteps following her. Watching carefully where she placed her feet, she nearly collided with a man standing at the far edge of the churchyard.
“Oh!” She jerked her gaze up and encountered Everett, watching her. His cynical expression chilled her.
“Are you quite all right, Mrs. Dunnigan?” She didn’t miss the acerbity in his tone.
“Yes, thank you.” She sent him a polite nod, and he touched the brim of his hat in return.
Never before had the desire to get home driven her with such urgency. She walked briskly along the boardwalk, trying to forget the events from the churchyard. Despite the initial desire to indelibly etch Hubert’s touch into her memory, now she thought better of it. No good would come of filling
her mind and thoughts with longings she could never realize.
She turned the corner and caught sight of Silas walking toward her. The same wariness that caused her to hesitate about renting him a room filled her again.
“Good morning, Pearl. Isn’t it a lovely day?”
“I thought you had a headache. Isn’t that why you said you couldn’t attend church?”
Silas fell into step beside her. “Ah, the cup of tea you gave me must have been a magical elixir because the headache melted away.”
Pearl cut her gaze sideways to take in his profile. “I’m glad it helped. Dinner will be ready soon.”
They came to the white picket gate that led to the boardinghouse porch, and Silas held it open for her in gallant fashion. “You know, it’s too bad you have to hurry home to so many duties. I should think you’d hire a cook and a maid to perform the chores for you.”
Pearl stopped on the porch steps and turned to aim an incredulous stare his way. “Hire a cook and a maid? Mercy sakes, I’d have to double everyone’s rent to afford that. Besides, you said my cooking was the reason you preferred to stay here instead of the hotel.” She continued across the porch and Silas hastened to hold the door open.
“One of the reasons, Pearl.”
She chose not to explore further possibilities but rather hurried to the kitchen. Silas followed her and leaned against the worktable.
“You know, I have a very promising enterprise in the planning stages.”
Pearl tied her apron on and flicked a glance his way. Why he thought she would be interested in his business deals, she had no idea, but she wished he’d leave her kitchen.
“If things work out the way I foresee, I’ll be in a very good position.” He inspected his fingernails and buffed them on his lapel. “I could help you in a lot of ways, Pearl.”
She waggled her fingers in a gesture for him to move out of her way so she could mix the biscuit dough. “What makes you think I need help?”
He moved around the opposite side of the table and faced her. “Pearl, look at how hard you work. If you’ll allow me, I could make it so you’ll never have to work like this again.”
Pearl’s hands halted midmotion. Whatever in the world was he talking about? “Silas, I’m sure you mean well, but I don’t need any help. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get these biscuits in the oven.”
“Perhaps later, when you aren’t so…distracted, we can talk in more detail.” Silas excused himself and left the room.
Pearl continued scurrying about the kitchen, but she couldn’t help wondering what initiated Silas’s speculation. Once more, she questioned her decision to rent him a room.
Pearl sat alone on an old quilt between two cedars in a corner of the churchyard. Silas decided at the last minute to accompany Pearl to church and attend the picnic afterward, but he’d struck up a conversation with one of the local businessmen, leaving Pearl to herself. Taking advantage of her solitude and the privacy afforded by the cedar boughs, Pearl had a clear view of Hubert spreading his blanket under the cedars across the yard. She knew she shouldn’t allow her musings to include Hubert, but her thoughts often took on a will of their own, and like it or not, he remained first and foremost in her dreams—both night and day.
Had circumstances been different, she and Hubert might be married by now and sharing the shady spot. Now she wished she’d told Tessa no when her friend had urged her to come to the church picnic.
“Mind if we share this quiet spot with you, Grandma Pearl?” Tessa slipped down onto Pearl’s quilt, holding a very cranky toddler by the hand. “I think she might nap if she’s away from all the activity.”
Pearl smiled and pulled Susan into a hug. “Just the company I needed.” She laid the child in the middle of the quilt and gently rubbed her back until Susan’s eyes closed.
“I thought you looked a little lonely.” Tessa gave Pearl an understanding smile. “After all the coaxing I had to do, I’m surprised you came by yourself.”
A sigh escaped, but Pearl didn’t try to hold it in. The longing in her heart heightened when she looked across the yard at Hubert, sitting alone and picking at the food on his plate.
Tessa reached across the quilt and squeezed Pearl’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go talk to him and clear up whatever it is that has come between you. Look at the two of you. You’re both miserable.”
Pearl slipped her hand up to cover Tessa’s. “I appreciate your concern, honey, really I do. But it’s not that simple. Besides, I didn’t come by myself.”
Tessa’s eyes widened. “You didn’t? Who did you come with?”
Not wanting Tessa to get the wrong idea, Pearl flapped her hand and shook her head. “It’s not what you think. One of my boarders decided to come to church today, and when I told him there was going to be a picnic afterward, he asked if he could accompany me. That’s all.”
Tessa leaned forward. “Is it that new man, Mr. Cain?”
Now it was Pearl’s turn for surprise. “How did you know that?”
Tessa shrugged. “I suppose I heard someone talking about it.”
Pearl groaned. “Who was talking? What were they saying?”
A sheepish grimace stretched across Tessa’s face, and she lifted her shoulders. “Gideon said Mr. Cain used to live here some years ago. Then he heard a man in the post office the other day saying Mr. Cain was back in town and he was probably here to see you.” She tipped her head close to Pearl’s shoulder and lowered her voice. “Two ladies in the butcher shop yesterday said Mr. Cain proposed to you some years ago.” Tessa’s gaze shifted left and right. “Is that true? Did Mr. Cain ask you to marry him?”
Pearl covered her eyes with her hand and shook her head in trepidation. “Yes, it’s true. Mr. Cain tried to court me, but that was seven years ago. I suppose rumors are flying all over town.”
Tessa leaned back and brushed a lock of downy hair from her sleeping child’s face. “I don’t know about all over town. I think people are just curious. Most folks know you and Hubert were engaged.”
Pearl let out a huff. “Silas Cain is one of my boarders. Nothing more.” She stretched her arms, then propped them behind her, leaning back slightly and taking in a slow, deep breath. “I can’t change what folks want to believe.”
She let her gaze wander across the yard again. Hubert was no longer sitting on the blanket by the cedars, but Everett was there with a young lady. Pearl squinted her eyes and put a hand up to shade them against the sun’s glare. Everett’s companion appeared to be Tillie O’Dell, a girl Tessa had worked with at the hotel a few of years back.
“Is that Tillie sitting with Everett?”
Tessa craned her neck. “I believe it is. Tillie is such a sweet girl.”
While Tessa continued to chatter, Pearl sent a searching sweep across the expanse of the wide yard. Hubert was nowhere in sight, but Silas was heading in her direction, apparently to claim her attention for the remainder of the afternoon. The day’s end couldn’t come soon enough as far as Pearl was concerned.
The tension in Pearl’s neck and shoulders had crept up into the back of her head, and all she wished to do was disengage herself from Silas’s company. After enduring the walk back to the boardinghouse, listening to his prattle about his successful business ventures, she finally excused herself and closed her bedroom door. She slipped into her nightgown and folded the bedcovers back. Lowering herself slowly to her knees, she leaned forward on the bed and clasped her hands. “Dear Lord, it’s been quite a day. I don’t have to tell You about this pain in my heart that won’t leave me alone. But I don’t know how to make it stop other than asking You to take it away.
“Lord, folks are talking, as folks are prone to do, but I’m not used to being the topic of conversation. It doesn’t seem like there’s anything I can do about that either, so I’ll leave the gossipers to You.
“I’m not sure what to make of Silas being here. He says he has business here, and I’m asking You to help him finish whatever his
business is so he can leave.” Pearl sighed and shook her head. “I don’t mean to tell you what to do, Lord. I’m sure You have a plan for Silas being here. You are a God of second chances and maybe that’s what You’re asking me to do where Silas is concerned. But I have no feelings for Silas. Never did. How can I do that when Hubert occupies my heart?” She felt an immediate check in her spirit. Was the Lord cautioning her about Silas’s intentions or allowing Hubert to remain steadfastly in her heart?
She ended her prayer and slipped into bed, but despite her weariness, sleep remained elusive. Questions still tarried on her mind and images of Hubert lingered in her very soul.
“I wish you hadn’t left the picnic, Father. People were asking me where you were.” The look Everett sent across the room at Hubert was bereft of any real annoyance but rather edged with concern.
Hubert gazed at the ebbing flames in the fireplace and took another sip of his favorite tea. He cared little what people thought, unless the one asking was Pearl. Despite the spread of delectable treats brought by the ladies of the congregation, every bite he’d eaten was tasteless.
“I’m afraid I wasn’t very good company today, and I didn’t wish to spoil the fellowship.” He angled a look at Everett. “Besides, I noticed you were keeping company with Miss Tillie, and I presumed you’d rather be alone.”
A slight blush crept into Everett’s cheeks. “She’s a delightful young woman, easy to talk to, and not flighty and giggly like some I’ve known. All in all, the afternoon was quite enjoyable.”
Hubert nodded. “I agree she’s a lovely girl.” He wondered if Everett knew her father was a farmer and Tillie herself worked in the hotel dining room. “She comes from a fine Christian family.”
Everett pulled his eyebrows into a thoughtful frown and set his teacup down. “I’ve noticed you often refer to a person being a Christian like it’s something special and unique. You sound very much like the minister back in Baltimore who came to visit Grandfather.”
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