Under a Falling Star

by Caroline Fyffe

  A movement in the shadows ahead made him stop abruptly. He edged nearer to the wall of the mercantile. Someone was behind the Bright Nugget or maybe even closer. In the darkness it was difficult to tell. The hum of low voices reached him, but he couldn’t make out the words. Drawing his weapon, he proceeded, placing his boots carefully. The dry ground would amplify any sound. Staying close to the buildings, Albert slowly made his way forward.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Pacing back and forth across the darkened office, Susanna didn’t like the direction her mind had wandered. Until today, Albert had been a married man. A married man! That was his wife on the train coming here, not a sister, or aunt, or guardian. No, he’d never kissed her, or whispered love words into her ear, but she’d felt his attraction, and let him see hers. Why was the woman on that train? They hadn’t gotten to that question before he’d left to walk the street.

  Anger mixed with a deep, abiding hurt threatened to engulf her. What should she do now? Was he just like the men who’d used her mother? That couldn’t be. She didn’t like to think it of him.

  He’s a widower now, free and clear. Did that change her feelings at all? The immensity of the lie of omission he’d perpetrated loomed between them. No wonder he hadn’t been in a hurry to marry her. What a fool she’d been.

  Feeling lower than the day she’d boarded the stage for the unknown, she glanced at the clock behind Albert’s desk. Twenty minutes had elapsed. How long did it take to walk down to the hotel and back? Surely not this long. Most likely he and Thom had gotten to talking, and he’d lost track of the time. When he was sheriffing, time could stand still.

  Exhaustion pulled at every fiber of her being. Her eyelids felt as heavy as horseshoes, and her muscles ached. All she wanted to do was don her well-worn nightgown and crawl into bed and sleep for a week. Then she would forget about Albert and the mess that had descended. The only thought that brought a smidgeon of relief was the boy. Nate was the spitting image of his father.

  Agitation moved her to the window. The street was dark, but across the way, lamps were lit in the upstairs windows of the haberdashery and the bakery. Deciding her exhaustion couldn’t be put off another second, she went to Albert’s desk. She pushed a few papers aside until she found a blank sheet. Sitting, she picked up a pencil.

  Albert,

  I’m sorry, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open a minute longer and had to go home. At this point, I have to say I don’t believe I’ll be able to get over this. I think it’s better and easier for everyone concerned if we call this goodbye.

  Once her words started to flow, it was difficult to stop. Was this what she really wanted? There would be no going back.

  Please respect my feelings. It will be hard enough living in the same town without going over ground we have already covered. But please know, I will always be your friend, and want what is best for you. If you ever need help with Nate, you can count on me.

  Her hand hovered over the spot where she would usually sign, “With deep affection.”

  Making a decision, she just signed her name, knowing Albert would notice the absence of her usual affectionate closing and be hurt. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she didn’t know what else to do. He’d injured her beyond repair and she just couldn’t go back to things as they used to be.

  She stood, went to the window, and again took in the darkened street. The distance home was very short. There was not wind, or storm, or anything to be frightened of. Tabitha Canterbury’s new bookstore, to the right of the sheriff’s office, was closed, but Tabitha would be upstairs where she lived.

  Her decision made, Susanna squared her shoulders and opened the door. She slipped out of the building and had already pulled the door closed when a man came out of the alley and blocked her way. Her heart bounced around painfully in her chest as she pulled up short.

  “Whoa, there.”

  In the murky darkness, she recognized Dalton’s voice immediately.

  He stepped back, giving her plenty of room. He glanced over her shoulder. “What’re you doing in a dark sheriff’s office?” Several seconds of silence passed. “Or shouldn’t I ask?”

  She straightened. “I’m alone,” she answered quickly. “Albert was here a little while ago, but had to go out. What are you doing back here? I thought you were dead on your feet and were going to get some much-needed sleep?”

  He stepped forward and dropped his voice. “I’m worried about the money. There’s something in the air, and I don’t like it.”

  She glanced over to the place he’d appeared from. “In the alley?”

  “Anywhere, really. But, now that I’ve had a look around, I’m ready to get back to Frank’s house. Are you going to your place? Let me walk you.”

  She was too conflicted to walk with Dalton. Writing that note had been the right thing to do, but it still hurt. “No, thank you, Dalton. I don’t mind walking alone. It’s just over the bridge.”

  “Don’t be so prickly. I’m going that way anyway, may as well go together.” He bumped her shoulder with his. “Tomorrow things will look better in the light of day.”

  She smiled for the first time in an hour. He’d picked up on her feelings and was trying to lift her spirits. He was right, things always did seem better come daybreak. Amazing, but true. She relented, and they walked together in front of the bookshop, the fresh-cut lumber still scenting the air. “I love this little shop,” she said, glancing in the window. “It adds a certain charm to Main Street that’s been lacking until now. I hope any new buildings constructed from now on will be as cute as this one.”

  Dalton glanced down at her, a smile playing around his lips. “I haven’t been inside yet, although I have noticed the nice displays in the window. The woman waves to me when I walk by.”

  Susanna laughed. “I hope Tabitha will be able to make a go of it. I don’t know what kind of demand there will be for books in a small town like Logan Meadows.” She was careful to keep her voice low.

  “Maybe she has deep pockets,” Dalton offered in all seriousness.

  They were directly in front of the store and Susanna shushed him. “Be quiet. She might have her upstairs windows open.”

  He chuckled. “What I said isn’t a bad thing. Maybe her parents left her a fortune to play with, so she built her heart’s desire, not caring if it ever turns a profit.”

  Before he could make matters worse, Susanna grasped his arm and dragged him forward several steps past any open windows, to the beginning of the bridge. “Stop talking about her,” she scolded. “She may hear you. I don’t like it when others talk about me, so I do my best to keep to my own business.”

  He pointed to himself in mock innocence.

  Susanna couldn’t stop a little laugh from escaping. It felt good to redirect her thoughts to something completely different than her troubles at hand. She went to the edge of the bridge and looked over, something she hadn’t done in a very long time. The water splashed over a little rocky ledge, then hurried on its way.

  Dalton gaped at something in the stream. “Did you see that trout? Where’s my fishing pole when I need it?” He was leaning so far over she feared he might fall in headfirst. She grasped his arm and pulled him back.

  “You made that up,” she laughed. “You didn’t see a fish. Trout don’t swim at night.”

  “What makes you think that? They don’t have a little house to go home to when the sun goes down, with a small woodstove and comfortable bed.” He turned to face her, tipping up her chin with his finger. His smile faded as he silently gazed into her eyes. Suddenly he looked rather serious. “I like it when you smile like that, Suzie. ’Bout the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

  She knew she should put a stop to his flirtations. Gazing up into his earnest eyes, she could almost forget the duplicity she felt from Albert. But instead of telling him they had no chance together, she took two steps back. His hand fell, but he gave her a smile anyway.

  Over his shoulder, she spotted Win
in the doorway of his livery, a bridle in one hand and a rag in the other. His brows were pulled down as he watched them. Feeling as if she’d been caught doing something wrong, she waved a greeting to Albert’s brother. He nodded and smiled in return.

  They turned right off the bridge and walked along until they arrived at her house. “Good night, Dalton. I hope you get the rest you need.” Frank’s house was just a little past Hannah and Thom’s on the opposite side of the street.

  “I’ll be as good as new tomorrow, so don’t worry about me. It’s you who has been going nonstop.”

  She nodded, her thoughts straying back to Albert—always Albert. Was he all right? He’d said he’d be back. She hoped she hadn’t acted hastily in not waiting for him a little longer. As much as his actions hurt her, she never wanted anything to happen to him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Albert’s head snapped up from his desk when Win barreled through the door of his office at seven o’clock the next morning. His brother’s face, uncharacteristically red, made Albert wince. Win smacked his hand on the mahogany desktop, making Albert jump.

  “What in tarnation?” Albert snapped. He jerked his thumb to the side, directing Win’s attention to the back wall where Nate sat with a plateful of hotcakes and bacon they’d picked up from the Silky Hen ten minutes before.

  “Sorry,” he whispered angrily, coming close so Nate wouldn’t hear. “But I can’t help it. Are you just going to sit there and do nothing? Let Dalton Babcock steal Susanna away?” Win glowered at him with a face full of stubble that needed shaving. “Well, are you? Because if you are, you’re not the brother I thought you were.” It hadn’t taken more than a few sentences to bring his ire back up to full force.

  So, that was it. This whole mess with Susanna was spreading like wildfire. “Getting a mite personal, aren’t you, Win? What side of the bed did you get up on this morning? Surely not the right one.”

  “Go on and make it into a big fat joke. I’m not the one who’s going to be crying in my beer when Babcock up and carts her off.”

  “I’ve hurt her badly, Win. That’s not something she’ll be able to get over quickly, if ever.” He glanced down at the folded note he’d read at least twenty times when he’d found it last night after coming in from his check of the town. Whoever it was behind the saloon had skedaddled when they heard him coming.

  Win grunted. “That’s codswallop.”

  “And another thing about Susanna Robinson. Nobody carts her off against her will. That woman has a mind of her own, and no man will make it up for her. If she wants to go with Babcock, I can’t stop her.”

  “You can bloody well tell her the reasons you left your man-loving, unfaithful, lying wife behind.”

  Heat rose up into Albert’s face. He struggled not to get irritated with his brother who was only trying to do what he thought best. “How do you know I haven’t already?”

  “Because I know you! You’re too upstanding, you’re—”

  Albert straightened in his chair, letting Win know with a glower he was coming very close to subjects better left alone. “Keep your voice down! I’m not upstanding. If I were, I wouldn’t be in the trouble I’m in now. But let me be perfectly clear: Susanna should love me for me, and forgive me for me. Her decision shouldn’t have anything to do with Floria’s actions. Or my reasons for leaving her. I won’t try to gain back Susanna’s love by tarnishing the reputation of Nate’s mother—even if it is the truth. I could have spoken up sooner, but I didn’t. If Floria’s immoral ways stay between you and me—Nate will never find out.”

  Win wasn’t backing off. “You damn well—”

  “Watch your language, Uncle Win.”

  A look of wonder washed over Win’s face, and he seemed to calm down straightaway. “How’s the little fella doin’?” he asked. “I still can’t get my head around the idea that you have a son—and I have a nephew. That’s big, Albert. Really big.”

  Albert smiled at the sound of wonder in his brother’s voice. “I know, Win,” he teased. “Actually, I think he’s doing pretty good. Chase and Jessie kept him overnight for me. He fell asleep in their buggy, so they took him to their ranch. After supper, they tucked him in next to Sarah, and Chase rode all the way back to town to let me know. Then first thing this morning, Chase brought him into town on the back of his horse. Nate couldn’t have been happier. I’m grateful they did so much to make him feel at home.” But from this moment on, I’m seeing to all his needs.

  The starch left Win completely. “That’s good to hear,” he said in a contemplative tone. “Because he can always stay with me too, if need be. I’m amazed Corey never discovered Floria had a child. After all these years, it’s pretty astonishing.”

  “Well, he only went to check on her when I asked him. It wouldn’t have been too difficult to keep the secret, being they lived a distance apart. And she moved twice, putting him through his paces to find her.”

  Finished with his breakfast, Nate walked over with his cup and plate, a milk mustache under his nose. He still wore the same clothes he had on yesterday at the cemetery. Albert smiled and reached out, taking the boy’s empty plate. Nate set his cup on the desk.

  “You remember your uncle Win?” he asked. Win smiled, and took a small step toward the boy. “We were at his place yesterday to see the buffalo.”

  Nate’s expression, so much like Floria’s, caused a rush of culpability in Albert.

  Nate nodded. “Sure. He has the big barn with lots of horses. By the creek with the frogs.”

  Pride swelled Albert’s chest. They’d seen the creek, but not mentioned frogs at that time. He’d have to take Nate down there soon. Hunt up some large bullfrogs. The thought brought a surge of pleasure that chased away the responsibility he was feeling over the boy and how things had turned out with his mother. Surprisingly, Nate hadn’t mentioned Floria once this morning.

  “That’s right,” Win said. “You can come over any time I’m there. Play with the barn cat.”

  Nate darted a questioning look at Albert. His angelic smile was almost Albert’s undoing. “That’s right. You’re going to be spending a lot of time there when I have work to do. You’ll pay attention and not get into the buffalo pen, though, correct?”

  “Yes, Pa.”

  Win hid his smile behind a large hand, and Albert could almost swear his brother had tears in his eyes.

  Nate looked between them while he balanced on one foot. “Want me to take the plate and cup back to the restaurant?”

  “That’s all the way at the end of the block,” Win replied. “How about if I walk down there with you?”

  “I ain’t no baby.” Nate strolled over to the front window and looked out. “I can walk down the street by myself.” He watched a couple of horsemen ride past, then looked at Win over his shoulder, no smile in sight. “But I don’t mind if you come along.”

  “That’s a good idea, Win. I have a few more reports to write. Do you mind taking Hannah’s dishes back to her?”

  With Nate still watching the street, Win leaned in closer. “Not at all, but first I have something to tell you. The reason I busted in here so angry this morning is because last night Babcock walked Susanna home in the moonlight. They stopped to lollygag on the bridge. If the way she was giggling like a schoolgirl has anything to do with it, I’d say she was enjoying herself a lot. I’m telling you, Albert, if you don’t do something quick, you’re going to lose her.” He pointed a finger in Albert’s face. “And this isn’t the first time, either. He’s been friendlying up to her for a few days.”

  “As much as it hurts me to say this, Win, you have to let it go.” He hated voicing the words, but what else could he do? She’d made her intentions perfectly clear in her note. Still, if truth be told, the thought of Babcock walking her home made his insides twist with jealousy. Could one of the shadowy figures he’d seen in the alley last night behind the saloon have been Babcock? Plotting something Albert could arrest him for? The timing was perfect. Oh,
he’d like it to be Babcock, yes sir, he would.

  Nate sauntered back from the window and stopped by Win’s side. He gazed at Albert with an unreadable expression. “I want to see my ma.” His voice was shallow, and void of emotion. When Albert didn’t answer, his eyes glassed over faster than Albert thought possible, and a moment later a tear streaked down one cheek.

  Albert pushed out his chair and reached for his son. Nate hesitated when Albert tried to pull him into a hug, gazing into his eyes. “Are you my pa?”

  Win scooped up the dirty plate and cup and backed out of the office, pulling the door closed behind him, leaving the two alone.

  “Yes,” Albert replied, a deep sadness tearing his gut. “I’m your pa, Nate. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Another tear slipped out. He dashed it angrily with the back of his small hand. “How come Mama said I didn’t have a pa? Then later, she said I did and that I was going to live with him?”

  How confusing for the boy.

  By now, Nate’s small face had crumbled with the grief he’d been trying to hold in. His sorrow had finally caught up with him. It only took a tiny tug from Albert to bring him into his arms. Nate buried his face against Albert’s neck, and his body rocked with the first quiet whimper. That was followed by several larger sobs. “Shhh, now. Everything is going to be all right.”

  “Why?” Nate persisted.

  “I don’t know the answer to that, Nate. I wish I did. There’s no telling why she told you those things. But I can promise you this: if I’d know about you before, I wouldn’t have left you behind.”

  Nate sniffed against his neck, the motion feeling like a stab in Albert’s heart.

  “Why won’t you go to the train and let my mama out?” he asked in a tiny voice. “She’s cold and hungry and scared. Then I could go home with her and leave you alone. Please go find her . . . Pa.”