by Kit Morgan
Sophie nodded. “It’s a distinct possibility.”
The old professor gasped. “After all these years?”
“The Mad Matchmaker,” the women said at once.
Katie frowned. “At this point I wish it was. At least all of those stories you told me had happy endings. I don’t see mine going that way, but one can hope.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, young lady.” The professor came out from behind the bookshop’s counter and looked her over. “You’re a beautiful young woman, refined-looking, educated unless I miss my guess.”
Katie blushed. “I did have good teachers. But Sheriff Diamond isn’t interested in marriage. I’m afraid I’ll have to figure out what to do.”
“The sheriff is a man of action, always has been,” the professor said. “His family moved here probably twenty years ago – he couldn’t have been more than six. Quiet little fellow, but with a strong sense of right and wrong. That’s probably one of the reasons he makes such a good lawman.”
“He’s not so little now,” Katie reminded him. However, that the old man knew the sheriff since he was a boy intrigued her. “Was he the child that tattled on others he saw doing wrong?”
“No,” the professor said. “He was the one trying to correct the person doing the wrong. He got in a lot of fights, as I recall. Poor Mrs. Burkeham the schoolmistress had her hands full with him. He might have been quiet, but he was busy.”
“Fletcher was in school with him, wasn’t he?” Sophie asked.
“Indeed – those two were thick as thieves. Fletcher was the brains, Jace the brawn. You’ll have to ask your husband about some of the pranks they pulled.”
Sophie’s eyes lit up. “I will.”
The professor eyed them. “But I take it this isn’t a social call?”
“Not entirely,” Sophie admitted. “You see, Miss Haverdash volunteered in her library back home for a few years and loves working with books. Due to her circumstances, she doesn’t want to return home. So we thought we’d come here and see if you needed any help in the shop.”
The old man smiled. “Do you have any experience in sales, Miss Haverdash?”
“Not really, but I do know books.”
“Hmm.” He rubbed his chin. “Having worked in a library, you would. Very nice.”
“Then you’ll hire her?”
“Not so fast, dear – I’m still thinking.” The professor glanced around his shop. “I could use some help in the afternoons. I close my shop for lunch and a few hours’ nap, but if I had another employee I could keep it open and maybe make enough sales to pay them. So it could work…”
Katie’s heart leaped in her chest. What great news! If she had a job or two, she could make enough money to live on.
“All right, you’re hired,” the professor finally announced, offering his hand. “Can you start tomorrow?”
Katie shook it. “Yes, I can – thank you! You won’t regret it!”
“Where are you staying? Since the boarding house burned down there’s only the hotel, but I haven’t heard of anyone checking in the last couple of days.”
“How would you know?” Katie asked.
Sophie smiled at her. “Really?”
Katie blushed then giggled. “Oh, yes. Small town, Mayor Vander …”
“God bless the man,” the professor said with a laugh. “If anyone knows what’s going on in this town, he does.”
“Katie is staying with us,” Sophie said. “I’m sure Grandma and Grandpa Vander won’t mind if she stays on until she has enough money to get her own place.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t.” Katie didn’t want to impose. Besides, the thought of living with the town gossip meant that the residents of Independence would know her every move, and she didn’t want to make it too easy for her father to find her. It would be just like him to send a Pinkerton to track her down.
“Nonsense, they won’t mind at all,” Sophie said.
Katie frowned. “Are there any other places to stay besides the hotel?”
“I’m afraid not,” said Professor Hamilton. “Not since the untimely demise of the boarding house.”
Katie tried to picture him wearing black and mourning with the four elderly matrons. Had they been mourning the house itself, or just the money? She wasn’t sure.
“Now that that’s settled,” Sophie said, “why don’t I show you around town?”
Katie smiled. “I’d like that.”
“Yes, take her exploring,” the professor said. “Let her see where she’s going to live. I’m sure you’ll be pleased, Miss Haverdash.”
“I’m sure I will.” For the first time since her disastrous arrival, Katie felt more than a flicker of hope. She had a job, and a new friend. She took Sophie’s hand as they left the shop. “Thank you so much.”
“Think nothing of it. Folks here helped me when I first came to town, and we both know what happened to my betrothed.”
“Yes,” Katie sighed. “You had it far worse. Still, I wonder if the sheriff didn’t just get scared.”
“Jace Diamond? From what I know, the man is very decisive – once he makes his mind up about something, that’s it. No, I’m afraid you’re the victim of either a bad joke, or the town’s Mad Matchmaker is back. And if that’s the case, you won’t be the last person this happens to.”
Katie’s eyes went wide. “I hadn’t thought of that. That would be awful!”
“You’re right. The last time it happened the brides were lucky – their grooms fell in love with them. But what if …?”
“How horrible,” Katie finished for her.
“But what can we do about it?” Sophie scratched her head.
“Are you sure no one knows who the Mad Matchmaker is?” Katie asked hopefully.
“I couldn’t say – I’m new here too. I suppose we could speak to the victims.”
“Victims … that makes it sound so awful.”
“I’m sure at the time it was, to one or both parties.” Sophie glanced down the street. “Smythe’s Funeral Parlor is just over there – we could go speak with Mrs. Smythe, ask her some questions. Maybe she’ll surprise us with her answers.”
“She won’t mind?”
“Why would she? She was once in the same predicament you are right now. Wouldn’t it be nice to speak with someone else who’s been there?”
She had a good point – it would be nice to talk to someone else who’d already walked in her shoes. “All right, let’s go.” They set off again.
When they entered the funeral parlor a few minutes later, Ellie Smythe was behind the front desk. “May I help you?”
Sophie smiled. “Hello. You’re just the person we wanted to see.”
“Sophie Vander, isn’t it?” Mrs. Smythe asked.
“That’s right, and this is Miss Katie Haverdash. She’s new in town.”
Mrs. Smythe smiled. “Oh, you’re Sheriff Diamond’s mail-order bride? I was surprised he’d ordered one.”
Katie glanced at Sophie and back. “He didn’t. Goodness, Mayor Vander is the biggest gossip in town.”
Mrs. Smythe was taken aback. “Oh. I guess I haven’t heard the whole story.”
“Well, that’s kind of why we’re here,” Sophie said. “We don’t know what happened, and …”
“Oh my goodness,” Mrs. Smythe said as her hands went to her face. “My goodness, it’s been years!”
“So we’ve heard,” Katie said. “Do you have any idea who would send for a mail-order bride in Sheriff Diamond’s name?”
“No, and I wish I did. After all these years, the Mad Matchmaker is back?”
“That’s what we’d like to find out,” Katie said. “Sophie tells me you were one of the brides.”
“Indeed I was.” Ellie glanced around the funeral parlor. “Why don’t you come upstairs and I’ll make us some coffee or tea?”
The young women smiled. “That would be wonderful,” Katie said. She couldn’t wait to hear what happened to this woman when she came to
town.
Finally back home, Jace trudged to the sheriff’s office. They’d hit a dead end. Anyone involved with the counterfeit scheme who wasn’t in jail in Salem had probably vamoosed to either San Francisco or some other port town where they could get far away quickly. It was either that or they were hiding in some flea-bitten town in the back of the beyond to lay low. Those were the typical patterns for something like this. He’d tracked down enough outlaws to know.
He grabbed the coffee pot off the stove, but the contents were cold. Oh, well – it was too hot anyway. He poured the dregs into his cup – he needed the caffeine boost – and looked around his office. He’d called this place, this town, home for much of his life. Was he ready to give it up already? Would his parents be disappointed if he told them he’d taken another job elsewhere?
With a sigh, he sat in his chair and propped his feet on the desk. An image of Katie Haverdash flashed in his mind – specifically, the shock on her face when he told her he’d never ordered a mail-order bride. His chest tightened at that look, just as when she cried in the cell. It had made him want to hit something.
He tossed his hat on the desk, ran his hands through his hair, then clasped his hands over his flat belly. “She is pretty,” he told himself. And not just that – she’d kept control of herself as well as she could that first day. She’d settled in at the Vanders’ well enough – and he would’ve heard if she hadn’t, Horace Vander being who he was. She had a lot of hidden strength.
Mr. Markhel came to mind, speaking of strength. But his wasn’t hidden – he was a fighter, calculating, cunning, with the size and skill to strike terror into any foe. And his organization wanted Jace, an ex-Texas Ranger who came running home because of his mama. The thought galled him, but what else could he have done at the time? He’d thought she was dying.
Well, now she wasn’t. And here he was, pulled one way by the potential position with the Knights of the Prairie, pulled another by an unasked-for bride, and right back to square one with the case of the Mad Matchmaker – or a new one. If his fellow Rangers could see him, they’d laugh their boots off. How had his life come to this? He’d been a tracker, a hunter who always got his man. He was still young, with a promising career ahead of him. But now…
Not wanting to think on it further, he gulped down the cold coffee, got up, put on his hat and headed for the door. He could do with a bite. It was well into the afternoon and he and Fletcher didn’t eat anything in Salem. He left the sheriff’s office as his blood began to boil. Maybe he should get his horse and ride his frustration out. Sitting in the café stewing over things wouldn’t help his mood.
He turned and headed toward the livery stable, figuring he’d ride around town, check on things, go to some of the outer areas, maybe jump in the pond near the Templetons’ place. His head could use a good soaking. He shouldn’t be so frustrated to begin with – his predicament was simple to remedy. Send Miss Haverdash on her way, wait for Mr. Markhel to return, tell him he’d take the job. Easy.
But if it was so easy, why did he feel like he was in a tug-of-war? Had Fletcher’s words in Salem swayed him that much? Sure, he’d thought of marriage, but not seriously. When the mysterious Mr. Markhel showed up with his tempting offer, one a man like him could only dream about, it made sense that he couldn’t be married and take it. No wife, no children, no family. But it was the thought of closing those doors so permanently that disturbed him.
Jace did his best not to picture his parents’ faces if he told them he’d taken it. Family was very important to both of them, and his leaving again wouldn’t set well. But it couldn’t be helped – such a post was too good to pass up. He just wanted to get this Mad Matchmaker business – and Miss Haverdash – out of the way before he signed on.
Chapter Nine
Katie walked back to the Vanders’ with mixed emotions. Ellie’s tale was romantic, funny, a little scary, and most of all ended happily. Hers didn’t look likely to. But at least she had a job now, which was a start. Ellie told her she’d started as a maid for Mahulda Brock, before she and Julian discovered they were in love and married. Sheriff Diamond, on the other hand, just wanted to be rid of her – he’d dumped her with the Vanders and left town. She groaned at the thought and hoped Sophie didn’t notice.
She didn’t mean to be pessimistic, but it was hard not to be. She knew he’d gone to Salem with Sophie’s husband to see if they could find anything more about the counterfeiters that almost murdered Sophie and Priscilla. But using Katie as a distraction seemed far-fetched. Were they hoping he’d be so enamored with some mail-order bride that he’d forgo further investigation? The counterfeit plates were in the hands of the proper authorities, most of the culprits were in jail awaiting trial and whoever else was involved would be a fool to stick around.
Which meant … “I can’t believe I came here on the whim of some crazy matchmaker.”
Sophie stopped and turned to her. “I’m sorry if you’re upset. I was hoping Ellie’s story would make you feel better.”
“I’m sorry too. And if it’s any consolation, it did make me smile. Everything worked out … for her.”
Sophie took her hand. “And it will for you too. You might not marry Sheriff Diamond, but later on, who knows? You could meet a young gentleman here, fall in love and get married.”
That made Katie feel better. “Are there any other young gentlemen in town?”
Sophie thought about it. “Well, there’s Doc Stone, but he hasn’t so much as courted anyone since he came to town, or so I’ve heard.”
“How long has he been here?”
“Betsy told me about three years. He’s good friends with the sheriff, and I think they’re roughly the same age.”
“Birds of a feather and all that?” Katie started walking again.
“There’s Chance Tindle,” Sophie went on. “He’s a newspaperman – he runs the Independence Gazette. And … let me see. I don’t know a lot of people yet – I’m almost as new as you. Darcy Templeton has brothers, but I’m not sure if they’re older or younger than her …”
“How old is Darcy?”
“Seventeen?”
Katie sighed. “Let’s talk about something else. I don’t know why I’m thinking about marriage at a time like this. I need to concentrate on survival.”
“A lot of women marry for survival.”
Katie stopped, surveying the houses lining the street. It was pretty, with mature trees offering lots of shade from the summer heat. “I do think I’ll like it here.”
“Of course you will,” Sophie agreed. “Everyone who comes to Independence loves it. Let me introduce you to more of the townspeople. You’ll meet others when we start the cleanup.”
“I forgot about that,” Katie admitted, forcing a smile. “You’re right, I could have a good life here.” She just wished it hadn’t come at such a high price. She kept thinking about what she was putting her parents through. Part of her said she should take the first train back, but she’d only be giving up a shot at a happy life so they could have Ronald Finch as a son-in-law. She shuddered and walked on.
When they reached the house there was a beautiful black horse tied to a hitching post near the front gate. “Whose is that?” Katie asked.
“I think it’s Sheriff Diamond’s, but I’m not sure.”
Katie’s heart leaped in her chest – a silly reaction. Yes, he was handsome, but nothing would happen between them, so she might as well forget it.
As they went through the gate, the front door opened and a shot rang out, followed by the ricochet. Both women yelped at the sound and dove for cover.
Sheriff Diamond and Fletcher were at their sides in a flash, pulling them to their feet. “Get inside!” the sheriff ordered. Not that he had to – Katie and Sophie ran for the front door as fast as they could.
“Stay with the women, Fletch. I’m going after whoever took that shot!”
Fletcher slammed the door closed behind them, then took Sophie into his arms. “A
re you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“Miss Haverdash?”
“I’m fine,” she trembled. “What was that?”
“Gunshot.” Fletcher let go of Sophie and waved them toward the stairs. “Go upstairs, but stay away from the windows. I’ll take a look around.”
“But Fletcher …”
“Don’t argue with me. Gran Mercy and Grandpa are both napping. Make sure they still are.”
“Where are Betsy and Cecil?” Katie asked.
“Out running errands.” He locked the front door then headed for the back of the house. “Go.”
Sophie grabbed Katie’s hand as they hurried up the stairs. “I’ll check on Gran Mercy and Grandpa.”
Katie followed her down the hall to one of the bedroom doors. They both put their ears to it, and heard snoring. “Their room faces the back of the house?” Katie asked.
“Yes. The shot came from the front so they should be safe.” Sophie rubbed her arms as if cold.
But Katie knew it was fear. She pulled Sophie into a hug. “Don’t worry – Fletcher and the sheriff will find out what happened.”
“I thought this was over,” Sophie said shakily.
Katie nodded. Apparently it wasn’t – someone must still want Sophie dead. But why? And if they wanted to be rid of Sophie, then what about Priscilla? Had someone taken a shot at her too?
As if reading her thoughts, Sophie backed out of her embrace. “Oh dear … Priscilla!”
“You can’t leave the house,” Katie warned. “It isn’t safe.”
Sophie clasped her hands in front of her. “What should we do? We have to warn her!”
“Let Sheriff Diamond handle it,” Katie advised. “There’s not much we can do.”
Fletcher appeared at the top of the stairs. “Are they all right?”
Sophie motioned Katie to join him at the other end of the hall. “Still sound asleep.”
“Thank Heaven for bad hearing,” he said.
“That or loud snoring,” Sophie replied. “I doubt they heard a thing.”