Rebecca stuck her hand out to Mabel. “I’m so glad to be here—”
“Mrs. Michaels,” Mabel said, ignoring Rebecca’s outstretched hand, “we have a lot of work to do today. With Jenny gone these past few days, things have been piling up. If you’re through chitchatting, come with me.”
“Yes, Mrs….” Rebecca realized she didn’t know Mabel’s last name, and somehow she was sure the woman wouldn’t want her to call her by her first name.
“Ms. Preston.” Mabel pivoted and marched toward a desk in the far corner.
Rebecca threw Gabriel a helpless glance, then followed Mabel, all the while eyeing her new desk, which faced a wall with old brown paneling. A pile of folders threatened to topple. Papers scattered across the battered desktop mocked any sense of order.
The older woman waved her hand toward the papers. “I don’t like to talk ill of anyone who isn’t here, but as you can see, Jenny didn’t work much these past few months, ever since she started dating her new husband. I won’t tolerate that from you.”
Dating or not working? Rebecca wanted to ask, but diplomatically kept her mouth shut. “How long did Jenny work here?”
“Not long, and frankly, even if she hadn’t left for Oklahoma City, she wouldn’t have been here much longer.” Mabel gestured toward the pile of folders. “These cases haven’t been filed in a month. This wouldn’t have happened if Gabriel hadn’t made me take a vacation. I don’t tolerate slackers on the job. It’s just you and me keeping this place running. And a police department must have order and efficiency to work properly.”
Rebecca wondered what the woman did tolerate, but kept her mouth shut. She needed this job, and even though Gabriel was the police chief she suspected Mabel ran things around the station. “I’ll do my best.”
“You better, or…”
The unfinished sentence hung in the air between Rebecca and Mabel. Rebecca swallowed past the sudden constriction in her throat.
“Now.” Mabel placed her hand on top of one stack of folders. “The first thing you need to do is log these into the computer under complaints, then file them over there.” She pointed across the large room to a bank of file cabinets. “When you’re through with that job, I’ll explain what else you need to do.”
After Mabel gave her the password to get into the computer files, she strode away. Rebecca released a slow breath while she scanned the messy desk, so out of place in the orderly station. She heard a cough behind her and looked to see Mabel waiting for her to get busy. Rebecca scrambled into the hardback chair and switched on the computer, hoping she knew the software program. She didn’t want to ask Mabel for help. She only had so much bravery for one day. Thankfully the computer was similar to the one she’d had in Dallas.
As she checked the hard drive, trying to find a place to log in cases, she couldn’t help feeling like a fish out of water. She looked up from the computer and stared at the brown paneled wall in front of her. It must have been part of the station since the sixties. Noticing at least a dozen nail holes in the paneling, she thought about bringing some pictures to hang and maybe some flowers from home to brighten her work area.
“Mrs. Michaels, is there a problem?”
Wincing, Rebecca clicked on an icon and found what she was looking for. “No, Ms. Preston. I’ve got everything under control.”
Two hours later Rebecca regretted saying she had anything under control. She frowned at the offending computer screen, wondering what Mabel would do if she threw it at the brown paneled wall.
“It can’t be that bad.” Gabriel leaned against the desk, gripping its edge, while he stared at her.
The minute Rebecca saw his face crinkled in a grin, a sparkle in his eyes, the past few hours’ troubles vanished. She relaxed in her chair.
“What’s wrong? You’ve been staring at that computer for the past hour as though you’re gonna do bodily harm to it. I have to remind you, ma’am, we’re in a police station, and that kind of behavior is frowned upon.”
“Did anyone bother to check how competent Jenny was with the computer?” she asked with a laugh. “Nothing’s where it should be. I’ve spent the past hour moving files from one folder to another. I haven’t had a chance to log in any of these yet.” Rebecca trailed her hand up the foot-high stack taunting her. “And to make matters worse, Ms. Preston has been coming over here every fifteen minutes and watching what I do over my shoulder. I can feel her breathing down my neck. I’m sure I have scorch marks on my flesh.”
Gabriel’s grin widened. “Mabel’s just trying to make sure another Jenny doesn’t happen.” He bent forward, invading her personal space. “You see, Jenny is the mayor’s daughter, and we sort of had to hire her. But I don’t think Mabel has forgiven me for that yet. Everything will work out.”
His clean pine scent washed over her, and Rebecca imagined a spring day spent hiking in the woods. “Easy for you to say. I don’t see her dogging your every step. I’m even afraid to take a bathroom break. By the way, where is it?”
“Come on.” He grasped her hand and pulled her to her feet. “You haven’t had a tour of the station yet, and every new employee deserves at least that.”
With his touch, again Rebecca visualized walking in a pine forest, the sun streaming through the trees, bathing her face in radiance much as his smile did. Everything will work out. In that moment she believed those words.
CHAPTER FIVE
“This is the jail where we harbor hardened criminals,” Gabriel said, touching the small of Rebecca’s back as he guided her toward a door. A tingling awareness of his nearness flooded her senses. Her throat tightened, and her pulse sped.
Rebecca noticed all the cells were empty. “Often?”
“On the weekend it picks up. A few people who can’t hold their liquor. Occasionally there’s a fight. If we’re lucky that’s all. I’m proud to say there hasn’t been a serious crime in Oakview in a year.”
“How many police officers do you have?”
“Twelve besides myself. Today you should meet some of them. When you get settled in, Mabel will show you how to dispatch messages to the patrolmen out on the beat.” He led her into the main room and pointed toward his office. “That’s mine, but you already know that.”
Rebecca’s gaze fixed on Mabel’s desk, which stood guard outside Gabriel’s office. “Who gave her the nickname Dragon Lady?”
Gabriel chuckled. “A man who wanted to see me, and she kept telling him that I was busy.”
“Did he get to see you?”
“No. He had to come back later. Mabel has her pluses.”
“You didn’t want to see him?”
“He was a salesman, and he had a hard time understanding the word no. Mabel helped the poor guy with its meaning.”
Gabriel gestured toward another door. “That leads to the rest rooms and the courthouse. Now you’ve been on the grand tour such as it is. Any questions?”
“When’s lunch?”
“Don’t let Mabel hear you ask that question on your first day.”
Rebecca ignored the twinkle in his eye and said, “I have to let Granny know when I’m going to be home for lunch. She’ll need to keep Josh up so I can do his physical therapy with him after I eat.”
“Mabel goes to lunch at noon, so you can go before or after her, whichever works best for you.”
“I’ll try one today, and see if that works best for Granny and Josh.”
“Just let Mabel know—”
A commotion at the front door caused Gabriel to turn. He sighed and strode toward an officer, a small, elderly woman and a young man with a beet-red face who appeared as though he would have a stroke at any moment.
“Ben, what can I do for you?” Gabriel asked, eyeing the cuffs on Bess Anderson. “I think, Officer Morris, we can remove those. I doubt Bess is a flight risk.”
“She’s a menace to society.” Rebecca recognized the man speaking as Ben Cross, the owner of a clothing store. “She took a bottle of perfume this time
.” Anger was in the young man’s face as well as his voice. He stepped forward until he stood only a foot from Gabriel. “I demand that something be done this time. You promised you would take care of her.”
Gabriel plowed his hand through his hair and drew in several deep breaths. “Now, calm down, Ben. Why don’t you come into my office and we’ll talk about this?”
“No!” Ben stiffened, his hands balled at his sides. “I want satisfaction this time.”
A picture of the young man dueling at dawn popped into Rebecca’s mind, and she clamped her lips together. When she couldn’t contain her grin any longer, she covered her mouth with her hand.
“Mabel fixes a great cup of coffee. Come on into my office and have a cup while we talk this over.”
“No! I can’t have this—” Ben floundered for a word to describe Bess “—woman in my store. If people hear I let her get away with this, I’ll be robbed blind.”
Gabriel rubbed the back of his neck. “Then by all means fill out a report on Bess Anderson. I wouldn’t want anyone taking advantage of you.”
Ben glared at Gabriel. “Are you making fun of me?”
“I wouldn’t do that. A crime has been committed, and you have a right to report it.”
Rebecca observed Bess standing next to the officer who had brought her in. She whispered something to the young policeman, then brushed a piece of lint off his navy blue shirt. Next she pulled out a handkerchief and began to polish the officer’s badge, all while Ben demanded justice in a loud voice.
“Where’s the paper I need to fill out?”
“Come into my office, and I’ll fill it out for you.”
“What are you going to do about her?” Ben jerked his thumb at Bess, who continued to rub the policeman’s badge.
“My staff will make sure she’s processed.”
While Ben stalked into the office, Gabriel hung back and said, “Make sure Bess is comfortable, Officer Morris. She can sit at Rebecca’s desk.” Gabriel gave Rebecca a look that spoke volumes. This was not a part of the job he enjoyed. “Rebecca, please get Bess something to drink until I can have a word with her.”
When the door to Gabriel’s office closed, Officer Morris motioned for Bess to follow him. “Ma’am, you need to have a seat over here.”
“Where will you be, young man?”
“I need to fill out a report on this incident.”
“You’re going to leave me alone?”
Rebecca moved forward. “No, I’ll keep you company. Chief Stone wanted me to get you something to drink. What would you like?”
“Tea, with honey and lemon, if you have it.” Bess sat in Rebecca’s chair, placed her black pocketbook on her lap, then straightened her white gloves and gripped her purse handle.
“Now if I can only find where to get the tea,” Rebecca mumbled and plodded to Mabel’s desk. “Excuse me. I hate to bother you, but where can I get—”
“Through that door next to the women’s rest room is a kitchen. There should be hot water and some tea bags. I don’t know about the other stuff. Most of the people around here drink coffee, black.” Mabel pulled open a drawer in the bottom of her desk and rummaged through her purse until she produced a packet of honey. “Use this.”
“No lemon slices in that purse?”
Mabel almost smiled. “Afraid not.”
“Thanks.” Rebecca made her way to the kitchen, amazed that the Dragon Lady had a heart, after all.
Five minutes later Rebecca entered the police station with a cup of tea minus a lemon slice but sweetened with honey. As she crossed the room, she heard Ben’s raised voice followed by Gabriel’s soothing one and cringed. Evidently Gabriel was having a hard time calming the man down.
“Oh, my, that young man is really angry at someone.” Bess took the cup Rebecca handed her.
“He says you took some perfume from his store,” Rebecca said, pulling up a chair next to Bess in hopes of being able to get some work done while the older woman was at her desk.
“Oh, my, why would he say that? I’d never steal a thing from anyone. Goes against my beliefs.”
Rebecca peered at the high pile of folders that still needed to be logged in, shrugged and replied, “Perhaps you didn’t realize it.”
“Not realize I stole something? Oh, my.”
The hair on the nape of Rebecca’s neck tingled. She peered at Mabel. The Dragon Lady shot her an exasperated glare. Rebecca sent her a look that silently asked Mabel what was she to do, toss Bess out of her chair? Rebecca glanced away before she received her answer.
“Maybe you forgot you had it.” Rebecca concentrated her full attention on Bess, determined to ignore the look she was receiving from Mabel. Rebecca chose to remember the packet of honey Mabel had given her. That gave Rebecca hope that just maybe she and Mabel could get along.
“I so like to shop, and the home won’t let me go to town.”
“They won’t?”
“No.” Bess sipped her tea, her pinkie finger sticking up in the air, her posture prim and proper.
“I wish we had a lemon.”
“Why, my dear?”
“Because you asked for it. All we had was honey.”
“This is fine. You should come to the home and have afternoon tea with me sometime.”
“I would love to. May I bring my grandmother?”
Bess smiled, took another sip of tea and said, “That would be nice.” Then she leaned close to Rebecca and whispered, “I don’t hear any more shouting coming from that office. Do you suppose the young man has calmed down?”
“I hope so. If anyone can calm him, it’ll be Gabriel.”
“That man with the nice smile?”
“Yes,” Rebecca answered, remembering Gabriel’s smile and deciding that was the nicest thing about him. When he directed one toward her, her insides melted and her stomach fluttered.
“People shouldn’t waste their energy getting mad. It’s so much nicer if people got along with each other. Don’t you think so?”
“Yes.” Rebecca turned toward Mabel and blew out a relieved breath. The woman was busy working at her desk, her attention on the computer screen in front of her.
“We sometimes have to work extra hard to win some people over, but it’s worth it in the long run. I need to bake that young man a chocolate cake, then maybe he won’t be so angry.”
Rebecca chuckled. “Chocolate works wonders on me.”
“Then I’ll bake you one, too. How about Sunday afternoon?”
“You don’t have to bake me a cake on Sunday.”
“No, to come to tea, since you work during the week.”
“I’ll have to check with Granny, but that sounds fine to me.”
“Good. I love to have company. Since moving to the home, I haven’t had many people stop by.”
Rebecca heard the loneliness in Bess’s voice and vowed she would be at tea on Sunday afternoon if she had to bring the whole family, which might not be a bad idea.
The sound of Gabriel’s office door opening brought Rebecca to her feet. She chewed on her bottom lip and tried to relax, but in a short time she’d started to care what happened to Bess. She didn’t want to see the woman locked up like a common criminal.
Gabriel shook Ben’s hand. “I appreciate the compromise.”
“Just make sure it doesn’t happen a third time, Chief. I’m only doing this because we’re friends.”
“I understand.”
As Ben left the station, Rebecca waited next to Bess, her hand on the back of the woman’s chair. Gabriel spoke to Officer Morris. The young policeman nodded, then tore up the paper he had been writing on. Finally Gabriel traversed the room and came to a halt in front of Bess, a neutral expression on his face. Rebecca rested her hand on the woman’s shoulder.
“Ben will drop the charges if you’ll agree not to go into his store ever again.”
“But he has such pretty things.”
“Bess, I promised him you wouldn’t. In fact, I don’t th
ink you should do any shopping for a while.”
“I like to shop.”
“What if she had a companion with her when she went shopping?” Rebecca squeezed Bess’s shoulder.
Gabriel snared Rebecca with his sharp gaze. “Who?”
“Me. I could work something out with the nursing home to take Bess shopping once a week.”
Gabriel took Rebecca by the elbow and pulled her to the side. “Are you sure, with all you have going in your life?”
Rebecca tingled where his hand touched her. His scent of pine wrapped her in a cocoon of contentment. “Yes, very. Bess needs someone now. What happened to her? Where’s her family?” she asked, forcing herself to concentrate on Bess’s problem, not her reaction to Gabriel Stone.
“I don’t know. I need to take Bess to the nursing home. Come with me, and we’ll talk with Susan Wilson, the director.”
Rebecca lifted an eyebrow and glanced over Gabriel’s shoulder at Mabel. “Are you sure?”
He chuckled. “Contrary to popular opinion I still do have final say around here.” He asked Bess, “Are you ready for me to take you back to the nursing home?”
Bess finished the last of her tea and set the cup on the desk among the mess. “It looks like you could use some help here. I could stay if you needed me to.”
“Thanks for the offer, Bess, but I think we have everything under control.”
Mabel snorted and mumbled, “That’s debatable.”
“Come, ladies.” Gabriel helped Bess from the chair, then guided her toward the front door. “Mabel, we’ll be gone for about half an hour.”
“Sure, boss.”
“I do believe that was sarcasm coming from Mabel,” Rebecca said when the door closed behind them.
Gabriel’s laugh filled the spring air. “I do believe you’re right.”
Rebecca slid into the back of the squad car while Bess rode up front. On the short drive to the nursing home, Rebecca listened to Gabriel chat with the older woman with affection in his voice. He had a way with Bess that touched Rebecca. The people in his town were more than just names to Gabriel. Being the police chief was more than just a job to him. He cared about the townspeople, and they knew it.
The Power of Love Page 6