Quinn's Promise

by Agnes Alexander

  “What’s the matter, baby?”

  “Nothing.” He walked to the liquor cabinet and poured another drink.

  “I can tell something’s bothering you, Ashe.” She moved closer to him. “Why don’t you let me help you forget your troubles?”

  He moved to the sofa and sat down. His voice was flat when he said, “There’s been another hold-up.”

  “Oh, honey, why don’t you forgot about those old hold-ups and relax?” She dropped beside him and linked her arm through his. “I know I’m more interesting than those robbers.”

  “Lola, those robbers are the only reason I’m in Tornado. Once I catch them, I’ll be gone.”

  “Now, Ashe, I don’t believe that.” She slipped her hand inside his shirt and tangled her fingers in the hair there. “I think you’ll have a very good reason to stay here for a long time.”

  He took hold of her hand and pulled it away from him. “No. There’s nothing to keep me here.”

  “Not even little ole me?” She tried to reach for him again.

  “Not even you.”

  She puckered her lips. “Then I hope you never catch those old robbers. That way we can settle down here together.”

  Ashe stood and started for the door. “There’s no way in hell I’ll be settling down here or anywhere else.”

  She caught him. “How can you say that after what we mean to each other?”

  Ashe shook his head. “Coming here tonight was a mistake.”

  “No, it wasn’t, Ashe. Please, have another drink and calm down. The night’s young.”

  He put his hat on and opened the door. “Maybe another time.”

  “But…” She stopped her sentence and stared at the closed door.

  What was his problem tonight? He hadn’t even kissed her or anything. That wasn’t like him. Lola knew she was going to have to step up her pursuit of the handsome sheriff. She’d made up her mind he was going to marry her and make her respectable. She had no intention of letting his foul mood change her mind.

  Chapter 6

  After eating Mrs. Potter’s big breakfast, the Stockton sisters headed toward the main street of town. Since Ashe had said to come to his office at noon, they had time to kill. Now they were in Tornado, not only did they want to look the town over, they wanted to get out of the house and away from Winnie’s endless chatter. Since their arrival she only talked about the stage holdup and her niece. A niece who owed her and she intended to collect, she kept saying.

  When they reached the main street, they paused to discuss where to go first.

  “I’m going into the mercantile and see what kind of material they carry,” Marlene said. “If I can find something we can afford I’ll make each of us a dress. I’d like to show off my sewing talent, and I want us to wear something new, not our old faded clothes.”

  “That’s a good idea.” Quinn dug into her drawstring purse and handed Marlene some money. “See if you can buy three pieces of material for this. After coming this far, I think we deserve new dresses.”

  “I’d love a new dress to show off. Surely there are enough women here to want a new dress now and then.” Deborah’s eyes shone.

  “Thank you, Quinn. Do you want to come with me and pick something out?”

  “I trust your judgment.”

  “I trust you, too, Marlene. I’m going with Quinn.”

  The two sisters went on down the street as Marlene entered Benson’s Mercantile.

  Several doors beyond the mercantile they noticed an empty store beside Mrs. Forester’s Hat Shop.

  “Wonder what was in here?” Deborah looked at Quinn.

  “I’m not sure, but the hat shop looks nice.”

  Deborah moved beside her and looked in the window. “They sure have some fancy things. Do you want to go in?”

  “You go. I think I’ll wait out here and admire the blue hat on display. Isn’t it pretty?”

  “It’d look good on you, Quinn.”

  Quinn chuckled. “As if I could afford it.”

  “I’ll be back shortly.” Deborah disappeared through the door.

  Quinn turned her head to the side and admired the hat. She could almost see herself walking down the street with it perched on her thick red hair.

  A deep voice startled her. “That would look perfect with your eyes.”

  She whirled around to face Ashe Montgomery. “Good morning, Sheriff.” She couldn’t explain the sudden fast beating of her heart.

  “Ma’am.” He tipped his hat. “Are you going to buy that fluffy little thing?”

  “I’m sure it’s beyond my budget.”

  “I see.” He smiled at her. “I was heading to Mrs. Potter’s to find you.”

  “Oh? Is it about my uncle?” She twiddled her reticule to calm herself. It wasn’t like her to be this jittery with a man.

  “Do you mind stepping into the café down the street? We’ll discuss your uncle there.”

  “Of course.” She glanced at the store. “Let me tell my sister where I’m going.”

  “I’ll wait here.”

  Quinn stepped inside and in less than a minute she was back. He took her elbow and headed her to the Walk-in Café. As they stepped inside a woman said, “Hello, Ashe. What can I do for you?”

  “Bring us some coffee, Elsa.”

  She nodded and turned toward the kitchen.

  Ashe pulled out a chair at a table near the window.

  After the coffee was served, Ashe took a deep breath. “Your uncle is known as Hank around here. I hear that’s the nick-name for Henry.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard that.” She eyed him. “So you know my uncle’s in town.”

  “I haven’t talked with him yet, but yes, he’s in town. Your uncle owns the Horseshoe Saloon.”

  “Papa said he was a businessman, but he didn’t say anything about a saloon.”

  “I intend to see Hank today and let him know you’re in town and want to see him.”

  She stiffened. “I can let him know myself.”

  “The Horseshoe isn’t a place for a lady.”

  “Why not? If it’s my uncle’s place—”

  “Miss Stockton, ladies don’t go into saloons in the west.”

  She frowned at him. Why was he trying to keep her from her uncle? “Then how am I going to meet my uncle?”

  “I told you, I’ll let him know you’re in town. I’m sure he’ll want to meet you at some decent place.”

  “So I’m supposed to sit around and wait?”

  “Do you have anything else to do, Miss Stockton?” He lifted an eyebrow at her. “You said you’d come all the way from Philadelphia. What are a few more hours?”

  She dropped her head. “I guess a few more hours won’t matter.” She didn’t know why she was angry at him for making sense. She usually felt comfortable with sensible people.

  The café door opened. Deborah came in. “Do you mind if I join you?”

  “Of course not,” Ashe said. He stood and held a chair for her. “Would you like some coffee?”

  “That would be nice.”

  Ashe motioned for Elsa to serve Deborah.

  “Did you find a hat you wanted to buy?” Ashe asked cheerfully.

  “I found several, but unfortunately I can’t afford any of them.” She glanced at Quinn. “The blue hat is the most expensive one in the shop, Quinn. I would’ve bought it for you, but I knew you’d kill me if I spent that much money.”

  “You can’t have everything you like, Deborah,” Quinn muttered.

  Deborah ignored the statement and said, “I dropped in the mercantile and told Marlene where you were. She’ll be here as soon as she’s through looking at their dry goods.”

  Ashe drained his coffee and stood. “I’ll go talk with Hank. I’m sure he’ll be back in touch with you soon.”

  Quinn nodded, but Deborah said, “Please don’t let me interrupt your discussion with my sister.”

  “You didn’t. I’ve finished my business with her.” He put his hat on and
nodded to Quinn.

  “Thank you, Sheriff.”

  “No problem, Miss Stockton.” He walked away from them and out the door.

  “What did he say?”

  “I’ll tell you as soon as Marlene gets here. There’s no need to say it twice.” She reached for her coffee and sipped the strong black liquid, wishing her heart would quit pounding.

  * * * *

  Hank Stockton stared at Ashe. “What do you mean, my nieces are here?”

  “Just what I said. Quinn told me before her father died he made her promise to come to find you.”

  Hank frowned. “My brother’s dead?”

  “Quinn said he died a few weeks ago.”

  “But I don’t understand.”

  “Hank, I suggest you go talk with her. She and her sisters were on the stage that was robbed yesterday.”

  “Are they all right?”

  “Other than being frightened, I think they’re fine.”

  Hank got up from the round saloon table and went to the bar. He reached underneath and brought out a bottle of whisky. “This calls for a drink of my good stuff.” He picked up two glasses and came back to the table. “I guess since it’s afternoon, you’ll join me.”

  Ashe nodded.

  Hank poured two shots and pushed one over to Ashe. Picking his up, he said, “Here’s to family I didn’t know was coming to surprise me.” He drank his whisky in one swallow.

  Ashe did the same. “They seem to be nice women, Hank. I think you’ll be proud of them.”

  “Must look like hags since you didn’t say they were pretty.”

  “As a matter of fact, all three of them are prettier than anything I’ve seen in Tornado in a long time.”

  Hank’s eyebrow went up. “Maybe they could be of use to me.”

  “Don’t get that in your head, my friend. These women are real Philadelphia ladies. They’d be as out of place in your upstairs here as you or I would be on the front pew at the little church at the end of the street on Sunday.”

  Hank laughed. “That sure tells me a lot about them. I bet they’re as uptight as my mother used to be.”

  “I don’t know about that. I’d say they’re innocents. The one named Quinn wanted to come here to find you until I convinced her a saloon was no place for a lady.”

  “Doesn’t know much about the west, does she?”

  “None at all and from what I can find out, she’s the youngest of the three.”

  “She sounds like she has spunk.”

  “She does.” Ashe sat his glass down and stood. “I told her I’d let you know they were here. They’re staying at Mrs. Potter’s. I leave it to you to get in touch with them.”

  “I’ll try to see them this evening. Thanks for letting me know, Ashe. It would’ve been a shock if one of them had shown up here and me not knowing they were in town.”

  “I figured as much.”

  “One more thing before you go. A couple of guys came in last night and we played a few hands of poker.”

  “I heard about that.”

  Hank gave him a sly smile. “I figured that might be the case. They’re your brothers, aren’t they?”

  “Yes. They’re going to help me catch those robbers.”

  “Good luck.”

  Ashe looked at him for a minute. “You don’t know anything about those robberies, do you?”

  “Of course not. Why do you ask?”

  “A lot of things are said in a saloon. I thought you might have overheard something.”

  “Not so far, but a couple of men I didn’t know joined in our game last night. They wouldn’t give their names.”

  “That’s what I was told. Cal said they acted awfully suspicious.”

  “I thought so, too.”

  “If they come back…”

  “I know, Ashe. I’ll keep my ears open. So will Abe. He hears more than I do.”

  “I told my brothers they could trust you.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “And I appreciate any help you can give me.” Ashe turned toward the door. “I’ll try to get word to your nieces that you’ll be calling on them later this afternoon.”

  On the way down the street, Ashe took out his pocket watch and decided he had time to run by Mrs. Potter’s and let the Stockton women know their uncle would visit them. He’d still have time to get back for the conference he was planning with his brothers. He put his watch back and noticed he was standing in front of the Mrs. Forester’s Hat shop.

  He frowned, trying to make a decision. Finally he muttered, “Why not?”

  He pushed the door open and went inside.

  “Why, Sheriff Montgomery, how nice to see you.” Selena, the owner’s daughter, jumped from behind the counter and smiled sweetly at him.

  Mrs. Forester came through a curtained off room and said, “Selena, go to the mercantile and get me some green satin ribbon. I need it right away.”

  Selena looked disappointed, but picked up her reticule. “It was nice to see you, Sheriff.”

  “Nice to see you, too, Miss Forester.”

  Mrs. Forester walked up to Ashe. “You’ll have to excuse my daughter. She’s only fourteen and you know how youngsters are.”

  “I understand, ma’am.”

  “I think she might have a little crush on you.”

  “I’m aware of how young your daughter is. I know I’m way too old for a child like her.”

  “How old are you, Sheriff Montgomery?”

  He chuckled. “I turned twenty-nine last April.”

  Mrs. Forester looked a little disappointed. “I see. You’re much too old for my daughter.” She picked up some ribbon on the counter and twiddled it in her fingers. He couldn’t help noticing it was green. “What can I help you with, Sheriff? I’m sure you’re not interested in a hat.”

  “As a matter of fact, ma’am, I am. I want to purchase that blue hat you have in the window.”

  “Really?” She looked shocked.

  “Yes. Could you wrap it as a gift?”

  “Of course.” Mrs. Forester scurried to the window and snatched the hat off the display. “May I ask who will be wearing this lovely creation?”

  “A special friend of mine.”

  “Do I know the fortunate lady?”

  “Probably not.” He took out his watch to let her know he was in a hurry.

  “I’ll get it wrapped right away.”

  Ten minutes later, Ashe left with the package. He decided to take it to his house before going to Mrs. Potter’s. “Don’t know when I’ll give it to her,” he muttered as he slipped it on the top shelf of his wardrobe. “Fool that I am, I hope she’ll like it and appreciate that I wanted her to have it without thinking I had an ulterior motive.”

  He didn’t even admit to himself he hoped she’d fly into his arms and beg him to make passionate love to her.

  Chapter 7

  Ina Potter told the Stocktons to use her parlor and she’d see they weren’t disturbed during their uncle’s visit. The parlor was furnished with a divan covered in a soft blue material and two pull-up chairs in a darker blue. The tables were oak and were covered with embroidered doilies. The rug was a slightly faded multi-colored oval shape and covered the pine floor. An upright piano dominated one corner.

  Marlene sat on the sofa beside Deborah. Quinn sat on one of the chairs and eyed the toe of her scuffed boot. She knew she should’ve cleaned them after she went for a walk on the dusty streets, but she’d been a little downcast when she went by Mrs. Forester’s hat shop and noticed the blue hat was missing and a black bonnet with red and gold flowers replaced it. She wanted to go inside and ask who bought it, but she figured Mrs. Forester would think she was crazy. Anyway, she’d find out when she saw some woman wearing it around town.

  “I’m nervous, Quinn.” Deborah’s voice broke into Quinn’s thoughts. “What if Uncle Henry doesn’t like us?”

  “I wish we’d stayed in Philadelphia,” Marlene said. “Sometimes it’s better to face the devil
you know than the one you’re about to meet.”

  “I remember hearing Papa say that.” Deborah looked at her sister. “In this case, it may be true.”

  “Papa wanted us to meet his brother and I promised him we'd do it.”

  “I know you promised, Quinn, but Papa hadn’t seen him since they were boys. I don’t think he should’ve asked you to make us come out here.” Deborah pursed her mouth. “I’m with Marlene. I wish we hadn’t listened to you. I wish we’d stayed in Philadelphia.”

  “You know I couldn’t break a promise to Papa.” Quinn’s voice was a little sharp. “We’re here and you might as well accept it. Forget Philadelphia. We’re never going back there.”

  Deborah shot her a hard look. “You may have promised Papa to bring us here, Quinn, but you didn’t make any promises about making us stay.”

  Quinn didn’t get a chance to answer because there a knock on the door. The door opened and Mrs. Potter said, “Mr. Hank Stockton is here to see you ladies.” She stood aside and a tall man entered.

  Quinn couldn’t help gasping when she saw the resemblance of the tall man to her father. He had the same light brown hair streaked with gray. His mustache was trimmed to a neat length and his blue eyes crinkled. He wore a black suit with white shirt and a silver brocade vest. For an instant Quinn wondered if her father had been reincarnated.

  She took a deep breath and forced a smile. “I’m Quinn. Please come in and have a seat.”

  “Thank you.” He took the other chair. Looking at the women on the sofa, he said, “And you two must be Marlene and Deborah.”

  “Yes.” Marlene stared at him.

  Deborah said, “I didn’t expect you to look so much like Papa.”

  Hank smiled at her. “We were twins after all.”

  “Really?” Quinn raised an eyebrow at him. “I don’t doubt you, but Papa didn’t tell us he had a twin. He only said he had a brother.”

  “I was considered the evil twin.”

  “Papa didn’t say you were evil,” Deborah said. “He told Quinn you kept in touch through the years.”