Meaning to thank Will for his generous offer to Simon, and since she was currently between jobs with no place to be that day, she watched for him until he returned. When he crossed the lobby, she froze. Suddenly nervous, she stood from the banquette and called his name.
He turned, his expression unreadable.
There were no guests in the lobby, and the front desk was empty. There was an awkwardness between them that hadn’t been there the night before.
She rung her hands together. “Uh... Ava is doing well this morning.”
“She’s a tough little scamp,” Will said. “How are you? No ill effects from your sleepless night?”
“Nah. It’s the same as having a late watch on the trail. I’ll catch up on my sleep tonight.” She ducked her head. “Simon said you talked with him this morning. He told me about becoming a lawyer.”
“That’s all your doing. I didn’t give you the proper credit when I spoke to the boy. I’ll correct the oversight the next time I see him.”
“No. Don’t tell him.” She flashed an impish smile. “I don’t think he’d like feeling beholden to me.”
“I’m beholden to you and grateful for it. I’m ashamed I didn’t approach him sooner.”
“Then you’re not mad at me for being too honest?”
He barked out a laugh. “Never apologize for plain speaking.”
“You don’t mind my honesty?”
“This town needs more people like you. I’ll tell you something I learned in the army: the higher a man moves up the ranks, the less likely folks are to tell him the truth. The same holds true in civilian life. I don’t want to be surrounded by people who tell me what I want to hear, I want people who tell me what I need to hear.”
Her chest expanded. Praise had been rare in the Stone family and given only grudgingly.
The clock in the lobby chimed, and Will’s gaze turned toward the sound. “I have a meeting this afternoon. How goes the job hunt?”
“Still looking.”
“You’re wasted in menial tasks, Miss Stone.”
She arched a brow. “Do you have a better idea?”
“No. But I’m thinking.”
“If you think of something, let me know.”
Their goodbye was as awkward as their greeting. Will continued on to his meeting, and Tomasina remained motionless. The staff bustled around her. Everyone had someplace to be. Everyone had something to do. Everyone but her.
At loose ends, she wandered outside. She rounded the corner and caught sight of the picturesque church in the distance. Gazing up at the impressive structure, she couldn’t help but admire how the shiny bell in the tower caught and reflected the afternoon sunlight. She walked down Second Street and approached the white frame church building with its soaring steeple and fresh paint. Reverend Taggart, Hannah’s father, knelt beside the front stairs, a trowel in hand. When he spotted Tomasina, he waved her over.
“Miss Stone. How are you this fine morning?”
She’d met the reverend on two previous occasions. He was a kindly man with neatly trimmed brown hair and a stature that, though not rotund, tended toward paunch. He sported a narrow mustache and a smile that creased the corner of his eyes. His affection for his daughter was obvious. Tomasina had caught him gazing at her a time or two, his expression troubled.
Having been raised by her pa, she understood his apprehension. He clearly wanted the best for Hannah, but his attitude around her was uncertain. He treated his daughter with kid gloves, gingerly asking her questions, then retreating, as though he feared the answers. The two of them shared an obvious affection, but there was distance between them she didn’t understand.
The reverend wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “I thought I’d plant some roses. The missus always liked roses. Hannah never took to gardening like her mother.”
“I was never much for gardening myself.”
A pang of longing surprised her. Before, when Pippa had mentioned a garden, the idea had felt suffocating. Seeing the reverend with circles of dirt marring the knees of his trousers and soil beneath his fingernails, she had a sudden desire to sink her hands into the dark earth.
“Have you seen the inside of the church?” he asked.
“I haven’t.”
Her pa had been a God-fearing man, and he’d carried a worn Bible on all their travels. He hadn’t been much for crowds, though, and he’d never been comfortable attending church.
The reverend led the way. He held the door for her, and she stepped inside. The interior of the church smelled of new wood and plaster. Twelve stained glass windows lined the east and west walls, six on each side. The morning light streamed through and reflected colorful rainbows on the polished wood pews and floor.
Tomasina gazed in awe. “This is beautiful.”
“The town council did a fine job with the design.”
She sank onto one of the pews and ran her hand along the polished wood. “You must be real proud of this church.”
“I am.” He took a seat in the row ahead of hers, rested his arm on the back of the pew, then spoke over his shoulder. “Thank you for being a friend to Hannah. She speaks highly of you.”
“She’s been a good friend to me, too.”
“She didn’t warm to the other ladies as quickly as I’d hoped. The first few weeks here, she barely left her room at the boardinghouse. Since she’s been staying at the hotel, she’s more social. Did my heart good to see her at the dance last night.”
“Hannah is wonderful with Ava.” Tomasina gushed with the compliments. “I don’t know what Mr. Canfield would have done without her help.”
“How is the wee one this morning? I heard she had a rough time last evening”
“She’s fine.” Word of Ava’s illness had sure spread quickly. “No worse for wear. I wish the rest of us could say the same. We didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Yes. I was sorry Hannah couldn’t enjoy the rest of the dance. She told me that after she left, the two of you were up all night pacing the floors with the baby.”
Tomasina blanched. Hannah had stayed the night with her pa. At least that’s what she’d said when she and Hannah had arrived back at their room at the same time this morning.
Snatching her hat from where she’d rested it on the pew, Tomasina slid into the aisle. “It was nice seeing your church, Reverend Taggart. It’s a real beauty.”
“I hope to see you here next Sunday. All are welcome in the house of the Lord.”
“I’ll take you up on that offer.”
Fearful she’d give something away, Tomasina stumbled outside, blinking against the blinding sunlight.
If Hannah hadn’t been with her father, where had she been all night? And who had she been with? Tomasina replaced her hat. She had a real bad feeling she knew the answer to both those questions.
Chapter Seventeen
Will paced the platform of the train depot, anxious for the arrival of the Union Pacific representative.
Simon stood beside him, his hands clasped behind his back. “Don’t worry, boss. Everything is in order.”
“Any word from the jail?” Will asked.
“Zeb is still laid up. He ain’t talking. The doc thinks the fever may have done something to his brain. Something permanent.”
“Gus and Old Horace think he’s faking.”
Simon shook his head. “I trust the doc over Gus and Old Horace.
“Either way, tell anyone and everyone who will listen that Zeb is in no shape to travel. The Murdochs won’t come for him if he’s a hindrance.”
Will wasn’t sure whom to believe. He trusted the doc, but the Murdochs were a wily bunch. As long as Zeb was in the jail cell, the town was in peril. He’d speak with the doc about transferring the prisoner to a larger t
own. Cowboy Creek didn’t have the resources for jailing a fugitive beyond a week or two.
The steam whistle blew, scattering the chickens pecking along the tracks. Moments later the train chugged to a halt. Passengers disembarked, emerging through the steam vapors.
A tall gentleman stepped onto the platform. He was young, not yet thirty, with slicked-back blond hair. His mustache and goatee were neatly trimmed. Though he’d been riding the rails all morning, his dove-gray suit was impeccable. There wasn’t a whisker of stubble on his cheeks or a single hair out of place. The man’s gaze scanned the crowd before landing on Will.
He cut a direct path across the platform with singular purpose. His presence was such that people scooted out of his way.
The man paused in front of Will and Simon. “Will Canfield, I assume?”
“You must be Gideon Kendricks.”
“I am. Good to meet you, sir.”
Will clasped the man’s hand in greeting. “How did you know who I was?”
“You have the bearing of a man accustomed to giving orders.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said with a wry grin.
“As it was intended.”
The man was a politician in the making.
“Have you had a noon meal yet?” Will asked.
“Not yet.”
“Then let me invite you to the Cowboy Café. Nels Patterson makes the best chicken salad this side of the Mississippi. He also serves an excellent steak, if you’d prefer.”
Gideon patted the flat plane of his stomach. “I never turn down a good meal.”
“Then you’ve come to the right place. Simon, here, will see to your luggage. If there’s anything you need during your stay in Cowboy Creek, let me know. My porter and I are at your disposal.”
“Thank you.” The gentleman tipped back his head and studied the cloudless sky. “I’ve been sitting on the train for hours. A stretch of the legs will do me good. How about a tour of Cowboy Creek before we eat?”
“Excellent.” Will was impressed with the man already. He was direct without being rude, curious without being aggressive. “We’ll take Eden Street to Zimmerman’s and walk back on the opposite side. Most of the established business are along Eden Street.”
“A good investor is always on the lookout for prosperity.”
Gideon proved to be remarkably quick-witted. His questions were astute and his manners above reproach. They strolled down Eden Street past the bank, and Will made a point to skirt past the monument. While he appreciated the sentiment, he found the whole thing rather embarrassing. They passed the barber and the jail, sketching a wave to Old Horace and Gus across the street. He peered into the window of the Herald and caught sight of D.B. with his head bent over the typeset, Prudence by his side.
He didn’t linger. Those two weren’t exactly the best ambassadors for Cowboy Creek. His concern over Prudence and her mysterious, reappearing cameo returned with force. Following Zeb’s capture and the trouble with the drovers, he’d forgotten to confide his concerns with Noah and Daniel. He made a mental note to do so later.
Pausing at Aunt Mae’s boardinghouse, he caught sight of a very familiar redhead sitting with Pippa Neely on the porch. His heart stuttered in his chest. It was as though an invisible thread joined them, tethering them despite whatever physical distance separated them. She brought out a tenderness in him; a fierce urge to cherish her and to protect her. The sensation was unlike anything he’d ever experienced.
Certainly he’d felt affection for the women in his life. He considered Leah a friend. He and Dora had shared mutual interests. However nothing had prepared him for this soul-deep yearning. He felt as though his whole life had been leading him toward this moment.
A part of him balked at the attachment. The attributes about Tomasina that he admired were the same things that made a relationship between them impossible. Whereas he was bound to the town, she was a free spirit. Whereas he’d built a solid foundation, a house and a thriving business, she let her heart lead her. He was an oak tree, putting down roots, growing slow and steady. She was a tumbleweed, as wild and beautiful as the vast prairie surrounding them.
Gideon stared at him expectantly, and Will shook off his romantic musings. He’d never been a sentimental fellow, and this was no time to change. Pippa and Tomasina were deep in conversation and didn’t immediately notice the two men. Will cleared his throat, and they sprang apart.
He braced his boot on the bottom tread and rested his elbow on his bent knee. “Miss Stone, Miss Neely, allow me to introduce you to Gideon Kendricks. He’s visiting Cowboy Creek on behalf of the Union Pacific Railroad.”
Gideon climbed the shallow stairs and leaned over Tomasina’s hand. “A pleasure.”
He repeated the gesture with Pippa.
Pippa smoothed her skirts and gave a coquettish grin. “Where are you two gentleman walking this fine afternoon?”
“The Cowboy Café.” Gideon looked over his shoulder for confirmation from Will. “I’ve been trapped on a train all afternoon.”
“That’s an odd thing for a railroad man to say.” Pippa tilted her head. “I doubt your superiors at the Union Pacific would appreciate the allusion to being trapped.”
“Merely a turn of phrase.”
“A telling one.”
The air between them crackled, and Will suppressed a grin. They were both absurdly good-looking, and both well aware of their charms. Those two had met their match in each other, and sparks were bound to fly.
Without letting his composure slip, Gideon offered Pippa his wide, charming smile. “Mr. Canfield’s tour of your lovely town has worked up my appetite.”
“Dining at the Cowboy Café, you say?” Pippa stood and patted her hair, straightening the wisp of a hat balanced atop her head. “Isn’t that a coincidence? We were planning to eat there as well, weren’t we, Tomasina?”
Tomasina started to say something and then yelped.
The two exchanged a speaking look.
“Uh... I could eat,” Tomasina said after a lengthy pause. “Let me tell Aunt Mae we’re leaving.”
The screen door banged behind her. She returned a moment later, a pert straw hat adorned with a cluster of daisies set at a rakish angle upon her head. Any other lady would have worn the hat low on her forehead. Not Tomasina. She created her own, unique style.
Pippa sashayed forward and held out her hand, letting Gideon assist her down the stairs. He turned almost immediately and offered Tomasina a hand, as well.
The move left Will standing beside Pippa, and he offered her his elbow. A hint of a pout skittered across her face before she mastered her emotions. She slipped her hand through the crook of his arm and glanced wistfully over his shoulder. He’d have been amused by her dismay if he wasn’t experiencing his own stab of jealousy.
“You must travel quite a lot, Mr. Kendricks,” Tomasina said. “For your work.”
“I have a home in Omaha. I spent exactly thirty-two days there last year.”
Pippa batted her eyelashes. “Surely you exaggerate.”
“I’d never lie to a lady,” he replied, his eyes twinkling.
Tomasina gazed up at the handsome blond man, and Will suppressed the urge to yank her away. If she brought out his tender side, she’d also unearthed a jealous, brutish side he hadn’t known he possessed until now.
“You must have seen a great many amazing sights,” Tomasina said breathlessly. “I envy you.”
A thread of possessiveness wound around his heart. Why hadn’t he seen the obvious right off? Gideon was the perfect sort of man for Tomasina. She adored an adventure, and his job provided a constant source of travel.
Except this Gideon fellow’s smile was far too toothy. His hair was too well kept and his suit a touch extravagant; a sure sign of vanity. Gideon�
��s exaggerated lack of interest in Pippa was suspect, as well. The man probably had a sweetheart in every town he visited. He wasn’t good enough for Tomasina. Far from it.
Pippa tugged on Will’s sleeve and flashed an overly bright smile. “Is Mr. Kendricks staying long in Cowboy Creek?”
“A week or two. Maybe more if his work requires.”
Tomasina laughed at something Gideon was saying near her ear.
“Hmm,” Pippa’s lips turned down in a pout. “Those two have certainly struck up a quick friendship.”
Will gritted his teeth. Gideon was not perfect for Tomasina. He was perfect for Pippa. Or someone else. Anyone else. Anyone but Tomasina.
A short while later Nels Patterson seated the four of them at a square table in the center of the Cowboy Café. From Will’s spot across from Tomasina, he swallowed his sour mood and admired her fresh beauty instead. She’d donned a dress today instead of her chaps. A simple green calico that brought out the luster in her luminous skin and sparked golden highlights in her red hair.
She caught his gaze and smiled shyly. Their relationship had altered the previous evening, and he was only beginning to understand the implications.
Because if Gideon Kendricks touched her sleeve one more time, he was going to lay the man flat.
* * *
Tomasina stared at Pippa, who’d obviously taken leave of her senses. Eating lunch at the Cowboy Café had not been part of their afternoon plans.
Her encounter with the reverend had been weighing on her mind, and she’d sought out Pippa’s advice. If Hannah had not stayed overnight at her father’s house, then where had she been? Since Pippa had remained at the dance, she might have a clue as to Hannah’s whereabouts the previous evening. If one of the drovers was playing fast and loose with Hannah, Tomasina vowed to find the man. She considered Hannah a friend, and no one took advantage of her friends. Especially not a fellow drover.
Seeking Pippa’s guidance on how to proceed proved to be impossible without revealing Hannah’s identity. That left Tomasina no closer to a solution than before.
The Cowboy Café was homey and welcoming with enticing aromas wafting from the kitchen. A glass-fronted display case filled with mouthwatering pies lined the back wall. Most of the tables were occupied, and friendly chatter lent a festive backdrop to their conversation.
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