Under a Falling Star

by Caroline Fyffe

  Albert pumped again, rinsed, and wrung out the cloth. “Your turn.” He held it out.

  Reluctantly, Nate came forward.

  “I think we’ll go to Nana’s Place,” Albert said, deliberately distracting him as he handed him the cloth. “The Silky Hen is always so busy.” And full of my friends. A nice, uncomplicated supper sounded more appealing to Albert than he liked to admit. Just him and Nate.

  Nate rubbed around quickly under the brim of his hat and handed the cloth back.

  “Thank you,” Albert said, thinking that little bit had only made matters worse. There would be time for improvement later. He went into his bedroom and retrieved his gun, and strapped it on. Nate was already out the door and waiting on the porch.

  “Here we are,” Albert said, pulling the wagon to a halt alongside the tiny restaurant. If one wanted a bit of privacy, this was the place to come. There was a shop or two around, but most of the businesses were over on Main Street. Albert came here when he had some thinking to do. Or wanted to be alone.

  Nate climbed down off his side before Albert’s feet hit the dirt. The eager child raced to the door and was about to open it himself when Albert came up behind him and grasped the bent iron pull. They stepped into the dim interior of the almost empty eatery. Albert removed his hat. When Nate didn’t, he did it for him. “We always take off our hat when we’re inside, son.”

  Nate smiled, his eyes already following Mrs. Manning, a woman in her late fifties who was waitress and owner. “Yes, Pa.”

  Albert walked to a booth along the wall. “You sure are polite, Nate. I like that.”

  “Yes, Pa.”

  Nate scooted in on his knees, then took up a menu lying on the tabletop. There were three things scribbled in unintelligible writing.

  “Can you read?” Albert asked, hanging his hat on the end post of the booth and doing the same with Nate’s. He had no idea at what age children began their letters. Floria could have started him.

  “No, Pa.”

  “Okay, I’ll read the menu for both of us.” Albert took the paper and turned it around. As he was reading, he heard the door open and close. “You can choose from vegetable beef soup, chicken in cream sauce with green beans . . .”

  Albert glanced up when a woman softly laughed. “Or beef chunks with . . .”

  He blinked. Susanna had entered with Julia, the young passenger with the broken arm. They hadn’t seen him and Nate, and took a booth on the opposite side of the room. He swallowed down the surge of emotion that had strangled the words from his throat.

  “With what, Pa? I sure am hungry.”

  Albert jerked his attention back to Nate, who was watching him with eager eyes.

  “With potatoes and gravy,” he said in a voice he didn’t recognize. The door opened again and Dalton walked in and joined Susanna’s table. From the way he scooted in beside her, it was evident the two women were expecting him.

  Albert pinned his gaze on his boy, willing himself not to watch the goings on across the room. “What sounds good to you?”

  Mrs. Manning walked up to the table before Nate had a chance to answer. “Sheriff Preston, it’s good to see you.” She glanced at Nate and winked. “Why he’s the spittin’ image of you. Sure is a cute little thing.” No need to explain, everyone had heard about the son he didn’t know he had.

  Albert tried to find the peace he’d felt a few minutes before, when they’d completed things at the house, and then again in the buckboard on the way to the restaurant. It was a joy to sit across from his son and carry on a conversation. A blessed joy—and he’d not forget it anytime soon. It wasn’t right to let his hurt feelings over Susanna show to Nate. The boy hadn’t had a father for all these years, and Albert planned to make that up to him starting right now. Between him and Win, they could give him a good life.

  Albert forced a smile onto his face. “Thank you, Mrs. Manning. I agree wholeheartedly. It’s been pure pleasure getting to know my son.”

  Nate’s face shined so bright Albert almost chuckled.

  “Well, I can certainly understand why. What can I get you two to eat?”

  He looked at Nate, and gave a go-ahead nod.

  The child sat up straight. “I’ll have the meat with potatoes and gravy.” He rubbed his belly as if he’d already eaten and enjoyed the supper.

  “Good choice. I’ll have the same. Also bring an extra plate of green beans. Seems I remember my mother telling me I needed to eat plenty of those if I wanted to grow tall.” When Nate opened his mouth to object, Albert raised a brow halting the boy. He pointed at Nate. “And give him a glass of milk.” Just feeding Nate was going to be a challenge, Albert realized. No more eating on the run, or grabbing something quick. He’d have to take to cooking more suppers at home, and eating breakfast.

  “Right away, Sheriff.”

  Albert watched her walk away, but really wanted to catch a quick glimpse of Susanna’s table from the corner of his eye. He wondered how she was doing. Less than a day had passed, and yet it felt like a year since they’d spoken—and it seemed Dalton wasn’t wasting any time taking advantage of Albert’s bad situation.

  He hadn’t realized how long he’d been watching their table until he heard Nate’s high-pitched voice ring out, “Hi there, ma’am. Remember me?”

  Jerking his attention back to his son, he saw Nate sitting on his knees while waving madly at the table across the room.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  So you like the idea of watching over Maddie when she’s not at school? I’m sure that would mean fixing her meals when Nell and Charlie were out with the stock. It would include room and board. At least it’s something until you get on your feet and decide what direction you want to take.”

  “Sounds like a good opportunity,” Dalton chimed in.

  The smile on Julia’s face hadn’t dimmed since the moment Susanna had sprung the idea on her twenty minutes before. They’d gathered the few things she had with her in her travel case and promptly walked over to the restaurant where Nell was supposed to pop in when she was finished with her errands in town. Earlier, as she and Dalton had exited Dr. Thorn’s office, he’d invited her to supper. Already hoping to have plans with Julia, she’d invited him along. Susanna had learned he was good at cheering her up.

  “Yes. I’m very eager. I can do it, even with a broken arm.” She lifted the heavy cast and set it on the table. “This shouldn’t prevent me from any of the duties, unless it’s climbing a tree. I could even ride a horse if someone helped me up.” She gave an enthusiastic laugh. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you, Susanna. You’ve made it possible for me to remain in Logan Meadows, for a while, anyway. I’m so glad.”

  Susanna’s head snapped up at the sound of an excited, high-pitched voice. Looking across the restaurant, past several other startled diners, she saw Nate in a far booth, his eyes alight with discovery, and glued on her. Susanna tracked her gaze to his father, whose face, colored up with embarrassment, held a slightly different expression than his son’s. It was clear Albert had been just as surprised by Nate’s greeting as she had.

  Her sudden delight at seeing them both was quickly replaced with pain. He’s been married all this time. He had two years to tell me, and he didn’t. It was a grievous breach of her trust. One that couldn’t be swept under the rug as if nothing had happened.

  Still, even with those circumstances, she didn’t want to disappoint that darling little boy. She waggled her fingers back and felt a smile curl her lips. Dalton’s face darkened, but he tossed Albert a curt wave. Julia smiled.

  “Please excuse me a moment,” Susanna said.

  Looking none too pleased, Dalton slid out of the booth, then offered her a hand in getting out. The touch of his skin on hers was pleasant.

  “I’ll be right back.” She crossed the room to Albert’s table.

  He slid out of the booth and stood. “Susanna,” he said, his voice a bit gruff. “We’re sorry to disturb your supper.”

/>   A surge of emotion passed from his eyes to hers. “That’s all right. We just sat down.” She smiled down at Nate. “How’re you, Nate? Settling in?”

  “I’m fine, ma’am,” he said, totally oblivious to the interplay going on between her and his father. She could feel Albert’s gaze. Her stomach fluttered and she was surprised to find herself at a loss for words. After seeing him this morning, the day had dragged by, knowing she wouldn’t have another chance anytime soon to seek him out. Not like before when he used to come into the Silky Hen every day for lunch. Oh, to go back to those days would be a joy. But she couldn’t. Not now, knowing all that she knew. It was like trying to put a genie back into a bottle when he didn’t want to go. She couldn’t forget the news from yesterday.

  Buck up, dearie, her pride scolded. He did you wrong. Who knows what he was intending to do once his wife arrived on that train.

  Nate put his hands on the table and stood up on the leather seat. “We moved into that little yellow house you was talking about.”

  “Were,” Albert corrected. “And sit down.”

  Nate did as he was told, not seeming to notice the correction to his grammar.

  “There’s a pond out back that has salamanders,” the boy went on. The little one had finally opened up. Seemed he liked to talk more than his father.

  “There is? That’s wonderful.” She glanced at Albert, and then back at Nate. “Have you met the two boys that live across the street yet?”

  He shook his head, his neatly trimmed chestnut hair swishing this way and that. His little hat on the post at the end of his seat brought another lump to her throat. What a delightful gift Albert had received. About the best in the world. What would it be like to have a child of her own? “Albert, do you have someone to take care of Nate when you’re on guard duty again?”

  It was Albert’s turn for his face to brighten. He almost seemed surprised she’d addressed him. “As a matter of fact I do. I’ve arranged it so Win and I are never on guard at the same time. If he’s at work at the livery when I am, Nate can hang out there—get to know his uncle Win. There’re lots of interesting things in a big ol’ barn. It’ll be good for both of them. Tonight, Win’s stopping over to our new place—you know, check it out. Nice that it’s so close to Main Street and the back of his livery.”

  “Things are working out well for you, and I’m glad.” She was. She didn’t wish him ill. She wanted only the best for him and now his son.

  “Well, they will be just as soon as we get that million dollars on its way. I’ll sleep a lot better once it’s out of the bank, and out of town—and Babcock goes with it.”

  Her eyes widened. Did she just hear what she thought she did?

  “I couldn’t resist,” Albert said. “It’s the truth, and I’m not sorry for saying it.”

  She glanced over her shoulder, wondering if Julia was embarrassed to be left alone with Dalton for so long. “I better get back.”

  Albert nodded. “Good to see you, Susanna. Thanks for coming over to say hello.”

  “Bye, Miss Susanna. My ma is gonna get out of the train soon. I just know it.”

  Shocked, she jerked her gaze back to Albert, whose smile had ebbed away.

  “Nate,” he said in a voice so soft it could lull a baby bunny to sleep, “she’s not coming back. Remember, we talked about that earlier tonight. She’s with Oldie Judy.” He reached over and rubbed his son’s hair. “You’ll get to remembering that after a few nights in your new bed.”

  Mrs. Manning appeared with two platefuls of food. She stepped around Susanna, and set them on the table. “Here you are, Sheriff and Little Sheriff. I’ll be right back with a tall glass of milk and a bowl of green beans—for both of you.”

  Susanna couldn’t stop her smile. “Little Sherriff, huh? I like that.” Nate may have been too engrossed in his mashed potatoes to hear her, but Albert had. His bittersweet smile brought an acute sense of loss.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Dalton sulked moodily in the alley between the haberdashery and the bakery, trying to keep his thoughts on the bank across the way and not on how Susanna’s face had looked when she’d returned from Albert’s table. He kicked a clump of dirt from between his boots, wanting this long night to be over. Surely the soldiers from Fort McKinney would show up tomorrow. He hoped the bank men from Colorado would show as well.

  Squinting, he saw movement across the way. Albert was over there, but Frank, having contracted some sort of sour gut, had left an hour ago for home in search of baking soda and water. The money situation was weighing on the man. His usually pleasant face, taut with exhaustion, had looked five years older than a few days ago when they’d met. Sleeping on a small cot in his office would knock the starch out of anyone even half his age.

  The sky above was clear. The narrow expanse between the two buildings gave Dalton a view of the stars. He wiped a hand across his face, wondering if he was wasting his time with Susanna.

  A whistle-like birdcall sounded from up the street.

  Alert, Dalton searched through the darkness, his senses fully awake. It had to be close to midnight. Logan Meadows was closed up tight, and the people asleep in their beds. He wondered if Albert had heard it as well. Instructions were to stay split up, making them a difficult target if bullets started to fly.

  A match winked for several seconds at the bank, then went out.

  Nerves pricked up Dalton’s back. It felt like something was about to happen. If outlaws were planning trouble, they might be getting edgy, feeling their opportunity slipping away. With only a quarter moon, cover would be good. Tonight would be better than tomorrow, with reinforcements scheduled to arrive.

  Mad at himself for not recommending a few more guards tonight, he quietly cursed in the darkness. He should have suggested stationing Chase Logan and Charlie Axelrose on top of a roof. He’d grown complacent when the interest in the million dollars had waned in the aftermath of the funeral. And what about Pat Tackly? He’d claimed fatigue and was mostly keeping himself holed up in the hotel room Albert had arranged for him. Was the story he’d told them the truth? Had he really been stumbling around, and following the tracks in the wrong direction? Seemed a bit farfetched, by Dalton’s way of thinking.

  Out of habit, he dropped one hand to caress the stock of his .45 Colt. His guns were ready. With his back against the cool batten and board siding, he slipped around to the front boardwalk, trying to get a better view of the street. If trouble was on its way, he didn’t want to get caught unawares.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  I thought I saw a light out here,” Hannah said, stepping around the side of Susanna’s cottage and into the tiny backyard. “What on earth are you still doing up? And outside alone in the dark?”

  Surprised, Susanna whirled around, her hand pressed tightly to her chest. She’d been engrossed in the soft sounds of the night, the brightness of the stars, and completely missed the sound of her friend’s approach. The self-absorption of her thoughts had shut out everything except her hurt over Albert, and the decisions at hand.

  “Hannah! You gave me a fright! Hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s not nice to sneak up on someone?” She gripped the shawl around her shoulders and pulled it tight. “You almost gave me a case of vapors. I was just thinking about going inside when you appeared out of nowhere.”

  “I’m sorry.” Hannah approached and gave her a gentle hug. “I forgot about your skittishness. Markus was restless tonight. The little stinker woke up around eleven-thirty from a scary dream. When I went down into the kitchen to heat some milk, I noticed a light out here and was worried. Being you’re only a few houses down, I decided to check and be sure everything was all right. I hope you don’t mind.” She ran her hand down Susanna’s arm, no words needed to know what Susanna was thinking about.

  “I don’t mind. But, if you believed something was wrong, I would have thought you’d bring along Thom—just in case. Am I right?”

  Hannah softly laughed. “I suppose.
Don’t be annoyed if I’m concerned about my dear friend who just might need a heart-to-heart talk.”

  Gratitude moved Susanna. Hannah was a special friend indeed, one she was truly blessed to have. “Of course I’m not annoyed. I am worried about Thom, though. He’ll have my hide if he wakes up and finds you gone. You know he doesn’t like you coming down here alone after dark. Even more so since everyone has been walking on eggshells this last week.”

  “Yes, with good reason,” Hannah responded. Her hair flowed freely around her shoulders, a style she seldom wore.

  “Did Markus fall back asleep?”

  “He did. Took him a while. I snuggled down next to him and we counted sheep until I heard his little snore.” The smile in Hannah’s voice was evident. “He got all the way up to one hundred and eighty-eight. His little mind is hard to calm down once it’s restless. But he’s a good boy, a blessing to be sure—and a very good counter.”

  How simple life could be, Susanna thought, envisioning Hannah and Markus together on the child’s bed, wrapped in each other’s arms. The warmth of the house and tick of the clock. Thom asleep in the room next door, believing all was fine. The way life should be.

  For a few minutes, they just gazed at the stars in companionable silence.

  “I don’t know what to do,” Susanna finally said, not taking her attention off the night sky. “Everything’s so mixed up. I feel like a pincushion with a new box of needles.”

  The thin slice of quarter moon gave off a shimmery glow. Hannah turned to face her. “I’m sure you do. It was a huge shock to all of us to learn about Albert. I can’t imagine how you must feel. I’ve heard rumors that the woman, was, well . . .”

  “His wife? Yes, yes she was, up until the day she died.”

  Hannah didn’t respond for a good half minute. “I see. Has he shared with you why he left her? Or why he never mentioned her to you? There has to be a reason he’s not saying.”