“I guess so.”
“I thought I might check and see if she wanted some of the chicken and dumplings I’m getting ready to take up.”
“Winnie was about to go to sleep as I left.”
“Then I won’t bother her.”
There was a pause. Hank finally broke it. “I think I can smell those dumplings all the way in here.”
Ina laughed. “Are you hinting you’d like to sample them, Mr. Stockton?”
“Why, Mrs. Potter, I didn’t think you’d ever offer.”
She shook her head. “Then come in the dining room. I expect the Gunter family to come down in a few minutes. I’ll be serving soon.”
Hank followed her, but he didn’t stop in the dining room. He went into the kitchen. “Do you ever get tired of cooking these big meals for your boarders, Ina?”
“Oh, it gets a little tiring at times, but I get to rest between guests.”
“I’ve noticed there’s not much in-between time. Seems like there’s always somebody renting from you.”
“Business has been good. Mr. Woolery was here almost six months. I miss the old fellow.”
“It’s a good thing I know who he was or I’d be jealous.”
“Oh, Hank. Mr. Woolery was eighty-six years old. The dear man went easy. Sitting right out there on the porch in one of the rocking chairs.”
“That’s what I heard.” Hank pulled out a chair at the pine table and sat down. “We’re skirting around the issue, Ina.”
“I know,” she whispered.
“Have you had enough time to think?”
She took a deep breath and turned toward him. “I’m scared, Hank.”
He reached for her hand. “I don’t want you to ever be afraid of anything, Ina. I’m scared enough for both of us. In all my sorry life, I’ve never felt like I wanted to share everything with a woman. But now I want us to take care of each other for the rest of our lives.”
The sound of voices came from the dining room and Ina turned away. “I have to get supper on the table.”
“When can we talk?”
She hesitated. “Why don’t you stay for supper? We’ll talk when the Gunter’s go to their room.”
Chapter 31
Two days later Ashe went to the office. He was surprised to find Rober Crews there.
“Hello, Sheriff.” Rober stood and motioned for Ashe to sit behind the desk. “It’s good to see you back at work.”
Ashe took the chair. “Thanks. How’s it going today?”
“Pretty quiet. Cal asked me to watch things here. He said he and Beck had something to do.”
Ashe nodded. “I’ll take over here.” When he saw the disappointed look on Rober’s face, he added, “I’m not up to all the walking, so how about you going down the street and checking with the businesses. Make sure everything’s still quiet.”
“I’ll be glad to, Sheriff.” A big grin spread across Rober’s face as he grabbed his hat and hurried toward the door. “By the way, I made some fresh coffee. Help yourself.”
“Thanks, Rober.”
After the door closed, Ashe let out his breath. The short walk to the office had taken more from him than he wanted to admit. Coffee sounded good, but he decided he’d rest a little while before getting a cup. He looked through the wanted posters piled on his desk. One caught his eye. The fellow had a straggly mustache and the lines showed his face as thin. He pulled it and put it aside because it fit the description Quinn gave him of the man who bought the nightgown.
The door opened and he looked around. He hoped Quinn had seen him and was coming to check on him. It wasn’t Quinn and he couldn’t help feeling disappointment when Lola came into the office.
“Darling, I was headed to the bank when I saw you come into your office. I couldn’t wait to welcome you.” Lola bounded to him and flung her arms around his neck. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“Watch it, Lola. My wound hasn’t completely healed.” He took her arms from around his neck.
“Oh, don’t be silly. A big tough man like you can’t possibly be hurt when his girlfriend hugs him.” She hugged him again.
Again he pulled her arms away. “Damn it, Lola, get off me.”
“Well.” She put her hands on her hips. “That’s some way to talk to the woman you love.”
“You have things wrong, Mrs. Norwood. I never said I loved you.”
“Of course you love me. How could you be so wonderful when we’re together if you don’t love me?”
“What we have together has nothing to do with love, Lola.”
She stared at him. “How can you say that?”
“I can say it because it’s true.”
“Don’t be silly, Ashe. Everybody in town knows we’re going to be married.”
“Hell, Lola. Can’t you understand English? I’m not going to marry you.”
“Yes, you will. Everyone is expecting it. You can’t embarrass me. We—”
“To hell with it.” He sat down. “Go home, Lola. I don’t feel like arguing with you today.”
“Oh, Darling. I’m sorry. I should have been more understanding. You still think you’re sick.”
“I’m not sick. I was shot. I have a hole in my side the size of my fist and it’s still sore.”
She leaned down and kissed his lips as she threw her arms around his neck. “Come over to the house tonight and I’ll make you forget all about that old hole in your side.”
The door opened and Quinn gasped. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know… I’ll come back later.”
Lola whirled around and glared at Quinn. “I think that’s a good idea. Ashe and I don’t want to be disturbed.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Lola. Go on to the bank. I have business with Quinn.”
She stamped her foot. “All right, I’ll let you take care of business, but I’ll come back after I finish at the bank. Maybe you’ll be in a better mood.” Before he could stop her, she leaned down and kissed him on the mouth.
Turning, Lola came close to Quinn and spoke so Ashe wouldn’t hear, “You’re going to pay for trying to take him away from me, you bitch.”
Before Quinn could answer, Lola was out the door.
“I’m sorry you were exposed to that, Quinn. I certainly didn’t invite her here.”
When she didn’t answer he went on, “I promised I’d never lie to you and I won’t.”
She gave him a half smile. “And I believe you.”
He nodded and stood. “Then believe me when I tell you Lola came rushing in here without an invitation. I didn’t want her here, but I took advantage of the time and told her there was nothing between us.”
“And she believed you?”
“Lola believes what she wants to believe.”
Quinn shook her head. “Then, she still believes you’ll marry her.”
He frowned. “Well, I won’t. If I were going to marry anyone… I mean, I’m not going to marry anyone. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“No, thank you. I only came over because Beck asked me check on how you were feeling.”
He wrinkled his brow. “Beck came to your shop to ask you check up on me?”
She shook her head. “Actually he came to see Marlene. I think my checking on you was to get me out of the shop.”
“I don’t mind being checked on by you at any time.” He moved back behind his desk. “Please have a seat, Quinn. Standing is still a little hard for me.”
She moved to the chair in front of his desk. “Are you really feeling better, Ashe?”
“Much better. I’ll be back in the saddle in a few more days.”
“Don’t rush things. You almost died, you know.”
“With a wonderful nurse like you, it’ll take more than a little old bullet in my side to take me out of this world.” He grinned at her. “Are you sure you don’t want some coffee?”
Quinn laughed and stood. “I see you want one and you’re too polite to ask me to get it for you.”
“That’s
not it. I—”
“You can’t fool me, Ashe Montgomery.” She reached for a tin cup on the shelf beside the pot-belly stove.
“No, I don’t believe I’ll ever be able to fool you, Quinn Stockton.”
She handed him the coffee, then poured a cup for herself.
As soon as she was seated, Ashe handed her the wanted poster. “I want you to look at this and see if you recognize this man.”
Quinn took a deep breath. “Ashe, that’s the man who bought the pink nightgown from me.”
“I thought it might be.”
“It says he’s a wanted for murder.” She looked up at him and shuddered. “To think …” Her voice trailed off.
“We’ll keep a sharp eye out, Quinn. I wonder if his coming to the dress shop was something other than buying a nightgown.”
“What else could it have been?”
“I don’t know, but I have a feeling the man wanted to see if you’d recognize him.”
“Why would I do that?”
“I think he may have been one of the men who robbed the stage you were on.”
“Oh, Ashe.” Her eyes grew big. “Now that I think about it, his eyes did seem familiar.”
He reached across the desk and took her hand in his. At that moment the door opened and Lola came in.
She glared at both of them, then whirled toward Quinn. “This is all your fault. You’ve turned his head.” Her voice rose with each word.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The hell you don’t.” Lola started toward Quinn. “I’ll pull your red hair out by the roots.”
Ashe stepped between them. “That’s enough, Lola. It’s time for you to go home.”
Before she could answer, the door opened. Cal stepped inside. “What’s going on in here? I could hear a woman yelling through the walls.”
“Everything’s fine,” Ashe said. “Mrs. Norwood was leaving.”
“I’m not leaving until she does.”
“I’m ready to go.” Quinn put her hand on Ashe’s arm. “I’ll see you later.”
“You will not see him—” Lola started for Quinn again.
“Shut up, Lola.” Ashe grabbed her arm and pulled her aside. “Cal, will you please walk Mrs. Norwood home?”
Cal looked confused, but began to smile. “It would be my pleasure.”
Lola turned and looked at him. Her demeanor changed. “Well, at least one Montgomery man has manners. It’d be a pleasure to have you walk me home, Cal.”
Cal turned to give Ashe a look. “I’ll be back in a little while.”
“Oh, Cal, may I ask you a question?” Lola batted her eyes at him.
“Of course.”
“How would you like a home-cooked meal?”
The door closed before they could hear his answer.
“I hope Deborah doesn’t hate me for sending him.”
Quinn couldn’t help smiling. “Unless Cal takes advantage of the situation, she probably won’t.”
“Cal has too much sense for that.”
“Let’s hope so.” She started for the door. “I’m glad you’re better. Now I’ll get back to the dress shop.”
“You don’t have to go.”
She gave him a quick smile and slipped out the door.
Chapter 32
At mid-morning on Tuesday Ashe sat at his desk and Beck was in the chair in front of him. Cal poured coffee for all of them. Ashe thought it was about time he filled them in on the plan he and Hank Stockton had discussed to set a trap for the stage robbers.
Before he could start, Beck said, “It’s good to see you back at work, brother. There for a while I thought I’d have to take over this job.”
Cal sat cups in front of them and pulled up the other chair. “Yeah, and the last thing I wanted to do was be Beck’s deputy. It’s bad enough being yours.”
“You turned out to be pretty good at the job.” Ashe looked at him.
Cal chuckled. “I’m sure Beck would respect my services as much as you do, but it’ll never happen.”
“Why not?” Beck glared at him and Ashe lifted his eyebrow.
“Can I tell you guys the truth?”
“I think you should,” Beck said.
Cal took a deep breath. “I’m not going to be anybody’s deputy. As soon as this case is over, I’m asking Deborah Stockton to marry me. If she says yes, I’ll turn in my notice to the government.”
Ashe frowned. “And how do you plan to live with no job?”
“I’ve saved up some money. I’m going to find a little spread somewhere close to the folks and raise cows and kids.”
Beck stared at his youngest brother. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
“Cal, maybe you should think about this. You’re—”
“I have thought about it, Ashe. I’m in love with Deborah and she loves me.” He took a drink of his coffee. “Hell, I’m twenty-six years old. I’m tired of living on the back of a horse, chasing bad guys and fighting snakes and mountain lions. I want to settle down and enjoy the simple life before I get hardened.”
“Like me, you mean?” Ashe mumbled.
Before anyone could answer, there was a knock on the door.
Beck frowned. “Who knocks on the jail house door?”
Ashe shrugged and stood to open it. “Good morning, ma’am.”
“Good morning, Sheriff. I’m Naomi Coddler. May I come in?”
“Of course, Mrs. Coddler.” He stood aside for her to enter.
Cal and Beck both offered her their chair.
“Thank you, young man.” Naomi took the nearest chair. It happened to be Beck’s.
“Would you like some coffee, Mrs. Coddler?” Cal asked.
“Yes. Black, please.”
When Cal handed her the cup of coffee, she thanked him and looked at Ashe. “You don’t mind if I talk with your friends here?”
“Not at all. These are my deputies and my brothers, Beck and Cal. Meet Mrs. Norman Coddler, fellows.”
“I thought you must be kin. You sure do favor each other.” She grinned at them and they nodded to her. “I should’ve known who you were by the way Marlene and Deborah talk about you.”
“Oh?” Beck raised his eyebrow. “I hope it’s good.”
She laughed. “It’s not only good, young man. It’s great. You two sure have impressed those girls.”
Both Cal and Beck broke into wide grins.
Ashe didn’t say anything, but he wondered if Quinn had ever said anything about him.
“Well, Sheriff.” She smiled at him. “This might not be important, but when I mentioned it to Quinn, she thought I should come tell you about it.”
“I’m sure if Quinn thought it was important, it must be.”
“I think you’re right. Quinn’s a smart lady.” Naomi took a deep breath. “As I explained to her and Marlene, I was late for my fitting because I was having a hard time with Norman. He kept trying to get out of bed to go to work. I told him he wasn’t able to go, but he kept fighting me. Finally, I asked him why it was so important he go to work today and he said the gold was coming.”
“The gold?”
“Yes, Sheriff. That’s what he said.”
“Did he say anything else, Mrs. Coddler?”
“Not that I remember. I was trying too hard to get the medicine down his throat. When I finally got it in him, he went to sleep.” She shook her head. “Boy was I relieved. I was afraid he’d get out of bed in spite of everything I did.”
“Do you think I might come by and talk with him?”
“Wouldn’t do you any good, Sheriff. I told the cook to give him another dose if he tried to get up. Doctor Wheeler said he had to stay quiet.” She drained her coffee and stood. “I guess that’s all I had to say.”
“I appreciate you coming by with this information.”
“You’re welcome.” She nodded to his brothers and went out the door.
Beck sat back in his chair and looked at As
he. “Wonder what Coddler was trying to tell his wife.”
“Sounds to me like he knew about another shipment coming today,” Cal offered.
Ashe frowned. “But I know for a fact he was unconscious for a while. How would he know what day it is?”
The door opened and Naomi stuck her head in. “I’m sorry Sheriff, but I do remember something else Norman said. It didn’t make much sense, but he said ‘no stage this time.’ I don’t know if that means anything to you, but I thought I’d mention it.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Coddler.”
She closed the door and Ashe looked at his brothers. “I’d bet a year’s pay Norman Coddler was saying the next gold shipment’s not coming on the stage.”
“Damn,” Cal said. “Wonder how it’s going to be shipped?”
“How and when?” Beck added.
* * * *
Still seething the next day, Lola stomped through her house with a glass of wine in her hand. She was still upset because Ashe told her he wasn’t going to marry her. Of course, she didn’t believe him. She knew he only said it because Quinn was in the office.
Damn woman. Why did she have to show up in Tornado at this time? Why couldn’t she wait until Ashe put a wedding ring on my finger? I’ve got to do something about her. I wonder if… No. Not that. Look what a mess he made of my aunt. The old biddy’s going to be fine, no thanks to Slim.
And what about Ashe’s stubborn brother? All I wanted to do was keep him here long enough to make Ashe jealous. But no. He had to hurry back because there was business to take care of. I know what that business was. One of those damn Stockton women. What do they have that attracts the men? They’re certainly not as pretty as I am. Not as smart either. And Lord knows they couldn’t possibly be as good a lover as I am. They’re probably as uptight as some of the ladies at the Presbyterian Church.
Lola took a long drink of her wine.
Before she could get back into her thoughts, there was a knock at the door. “Who now?” She muttered as she sat her glass down and headed to the door.
Swinging it open, a big smile crossed her face. “Ashe! Oh darling, it’s so good to see you. I knew you couldn’t really mean it when you said—”
“I’m here on business, Lola.”
She batted her eyes at him. “If you want to call it business—”
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