“Why?” He asked, shifting her in his arms so he could shake hands with some of his friends.
“Cause, Miss Alex promised to do her magics. I love magics. Don’t you love magics, Uncle Arlan?”
Arlan pretended to consider the question before responding. “You know, Erin, I think I do love magics.”
Entertained by the conversation taking place between Arlan and Erin, Alex felt a tug on her hand and glanced down at Anna. “What is it, sweetheart?”
“Can you show my mama how you make a coin disappear?” Anna pointed to where Mrs. Jenkins stood next to a few of the other farm women outside the church.
“I’m not sure that’s…” Alex didn’t get a chance to finish as Anna began tugging on her hand again. Quickly shaking hands with Abby and Chauncy, she gave them an apologetic glance and followed Anna’s leading over to her mother’s group.
“Mama, Miss Alex will show you the trick.” Anna leaned against her mother, beaming at her teacher.
Alex started to suggest it would be best to do it another time, but the interested twinkle in Mrs. Jenkins’ eyes brought out a smile in her own.
A quick tug on the strings of her reticule opened the bag and she took out a penny. Hastily removing her gloves, she shoved them into her pocket then played the coin over and under her hands. With a flick of her wrist, she showed the coin disappeared.
She bent down and gave a light tug on Anna’s chin, making the coin reappear in her hand.
Spontaneously, the women clapped, excited to witness one of her sleight of hand illusions.
“That’s wonderful. Thank you for showing us,” Mrs. Jenkins said, reaching out and clasping Alex’s hand. “My Anna said you’ve planned a wonderful Christmas Carnival for the community. If I can help with anything, please let me know.”
Grateful for the woman’s offer, Alex asked if she could help with some of the children’s games. Not wanting to be left out of the fun, the other women in the group volunteered their services and Alex soon had commitments for assistance that made her feel much more organized for the upcoming event.
As she spoke with the women, Arlan’s unique, heady scent reached her nose at the same time his warmth settled around her from behind. She turned to smile at him. “Shall we go?”
“Yes, ma’am. Luke and Filly have gone ahead. I told Chauncy and Abby we’d take Erin with us while they close up the church.” Arlan tipped his hat politely to the women around Alex before taking her elbow in his hand.
Erin chattered all the way through town to Granger House. She squirmed to be let down on the front walk and embraced Bart as he ran to greet her. The dog liberally licked her face before Alex snatched her up and carried her inside.
She knelt down and helped the child remove her coat, scarf and mittens. Erin waited impatiently while Alex removed her gloves and stuffed them into her coat pocket then unpinned her hat. Strong hands helped her out of her coat and she offered Arlan an appreciative glance over her shoulder.
Erin grabbed her hand and tugged her down the hall in the direction of the kitchen while Arlan joined Luke and Blake in the parlor.
“Alex! I’m so glad you could join us today.” Filly smiled at her from where she stirred a pan of gravy at the stove while Ginny placed hot biscuits into a bowl and covered them with a cloth to keep them warm.
“Thank you for the invitation.” Alex and Erin walked over to where Maura slept in her cradle. She picked up the little girl so she could see the baby. When Erin started to reach out for the infant, Alex swung her away and tickled her tummy before setting her down on her feet.
Erin ran over to Filly and wrapped her arms around the woman’s legs.
“Hello, sweetheart.” Filly bent down and kissed the child’s button nose. “Can you run to the parlor and tell Uncle Luke he needs to give you a ride?”
“Yep! I can do it, Aunt Filly. I’s a big girl, now.”
“Yes you are.” All three women laughed as Erin raced out of the room. Alex had watched many times as the little girl climbed on Luke’s knee and he bounced her wildly while holding onto her tiny hands, pretending she rode a wild bronc. Childish glees of laughter soon floated to the kitchen down the hall.
Filly winked at Alex. “As much as I love having her underfoot, I just got Maura to go down for a nap and don’t want Erin to wake her up.”
Another happy squeal drifted to them from the parlor. “I don’t think she’s suffering, by any means.” Alex picked up bowls of food and carried them into the dining room where the table glowed with candlelight and sparkling crystal. She took a moment to admire the fine china, running her finger across the delicate pattern on a plate. When her father decided they’d leave New York, he sold almost all of her mother’s things, including her china and most of the linens. He allowed Alex to bring one trunk of keepsakes and she hoped someday to be able to use them in her own home.
Before arriving in Hardman, she’d given up on that dream. Something about the town, and especially about Arlan, made her think it might not be so far-fetched to imagine once again having a place to call home.
She returned to the kitchen as Abby and Chauncy opened the back door and walked inside, stomping snow from their feet.
“Something smells delicious,” Chauncy said as he helped Abby off with her coat and removed his own, leaving them on pegs by the door. “Almost good enough to eat.”
Filly laughed and waved a spoon at the pastor. “You’d say that if I boiled an old shoe.”
Chauncy slapped a hand to his chest and took a staggering step back. “You wound me, Filly. I’m just expressing my gratitude for the opportunity to indulge in another fine meal at Granger House.”
Abby grinned and patted Chauncy’s flat stomach. “Indulge being the key word. You eat more than three men should when we come to Luke and Filly’s house.”
“I can’t help it if I have to fill up on good food when it’s available.”
“Oh, is that so? You better be prepared for an interesting dinner tonight, then.” Playfully, Abby swatted his arm as he rushed by her to the doorway. He turned and winked before going to join the men in the parlor. They heard Erin’s voice rise with excitement as she told her father about going for a ride with Uncle Luke.
Abby took a moment to check on Maura before helping carry the food to the table.
“Are things hectic at the store?” Ginny addressed her question to Abby as the women glanced around the table to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything.
“They have been busy. I don’t know what I would have done if you and Blake hadn’t agreed to take over the children’s program at church again this year. Between last minute dress orders and responsibilities at church, I’m not certain if I’m coming or going these days.”
Alex smiled at Abby. “You have such a lovely shop.” She’d gone inside the woman’s dress shop a few times, just to browse, even though she couldn’t justify spending any of her hard-earned money on a new gown.
A deep teal green silk gown Abby displayed in the window caught her eye. She could envision wearing the dress and attending the Christmas service on Arlan’s arm, but it was just a dream. The last time she’d gone inside to admire it, Abby convinced her to try it on. As her fingers caressed the expensive fabric, she stared in the mirror, amazed how both the color and style suited her. Regretfully, she left the store without it and lectured herself on staying away from temptation.
Now, as she glanced across the hall from the dining room to the parlor, she caught Arlan’s eye and wryly noted temptation came in a variety of forms.
The men rose and entered the room. Alex swallowed back a contented sigh when Arlan held her chair and took a seat beside her. Conversation flowed with the ease of good friends around the table as they ate.
After the meal, they gathered in the parlor for the afternoon. Luke fixed his icy blue gaze on Alex and grinned. “Miss Alex, if I ask nicely, would you do a little magic for us? If you don’t agree now, you know I’ll resort to begging, pleading,
and perhaps even bribery.”
Alex laughed and gave him an indulgent smile. “I’d be happy to.” She took a moment to think of a trick Luke hadn’t seen and finally recalled one. “May I please have a piece of pasteboard or paper and a pair of scissors?”
Luke jumped up from his seat next to Filly and rushed out of the room. He soon returned with a handful of pasteboard cards and a pair of scissors, handing them to Alex before resuming his seat.
Alex stood and passed the card around the room before holding it up in front of her. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to entertain you this afternoon.” Her voice took on the theatrical tone she used when performing for a crowd. “My next mystifying work of magical intrigue will be to miraculously transport myself through this simple card.”
Several occupants of the room gave her skeptical glances. She turned her head and winked at Arlan, making heat pour through him
He loved watching her perform. By carefully studying her movements, he’d begun to figure out a few of her tricks and illusions. Since he hadn’t seen her do anything with a pasteboard card and scissors before, he leaned forward to make sure he didn’t miss anything.
Folding the card, Alex made a few quick snips one direction then turned it around and made a few more. The blades of the scissors refracted the light from the fire as she rapidly cut the thick paper.
A teasing smile curved her mouth upward as she set aside the scissors. With a gentle flick of her wrist, the pasteboard unfolded into a large, thin circle that Alex held above her head and let drop to her feet then stepped out of the ring.
“Ta-da! And that, my friends, is how to transport yourself through a tiny piece of pasteboard.”
The women clapped and laughed while the men chuckled.
Arlan slapped Luke good-naturedly on the back when he gave Alex a disappointed glare. “Did you really think she’d make herself disappear?”
Luke frowned at him. “Of course not. I just expected something more dramatic.”
Alex handed Luke the scissors and a piece of pasteboard. “If you think it’s so simple, let’s see you do it.”
He grinned and handed the paper and scissors to Filly. “You’re more likely to succeed at this than me.”
The group enjoyed coffee and pie before Blake declared it time to go home and tend to his horses. Arlan offered to escort Alex home and she eagerly accepted.
As they approached the schoolhouse, dusk began to chase away the lingering light with evening shadows. Thoroughly enjoying their time together, Arlan wasn’t ready for it to end despite the encroaching darkness.
He took Alex’s hands in his and tugged her onto a rough skating area some of the older boys constructed beyond the schoolyard by hauling out buckets of water and letting it freeze. The students had a fine time sliding across it during their recess breaks and before school started in the morning.
She laughed as Arlan slid across the ice, pulling her along even though neither of them wore skates. He turned back to look at her and lost his footing, dragging them both down to the slick surface.
Swiftly regaining his feet, he lifted her up, concern replacing the carefree smile he’d worn only moments earlier. “Are you well, Alex? Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry.”
“Oh, calm down, Arlan. I’m fine.” She brushed the snow from her gloves and gave him a flirtatious grin. “That was fun. Let’s do it again.”
He chuckled and placed his hands on her waist, pushing her across the ice for several minutes. Out of breath from their laughter and efforts at sliding, they finally finished their walk to Alex’s house and went inside.
She stoked the stove and filled the kettle with water to make tea while Arlan brushed the snow off their coats outside the door.
After hanging their coats to dry, he stepped behind Alex and carefully brushed aside the tendrils of hair along the side of her neck. Knowing she expected a kiss, he instead placed a cool hand against the exposed skin and listened to her gasp.
She twirled away from him, just out of reach. “Arlan Guthry! That is a mean bit of trickery and not nice at all.”
“I can’t help it if it’s cold out there.” The boyish grin he gave her melted her heart much like the warmth of the stove melted the snow they’d tracked in on the floor.
“But you can help placing your freezing fingers on me.” She grabbed one of his hands between both of hers and rubbed it vigorously. The action not only warmed his hands, but also sent his blood zinging through his veins.
While she took his other hand and rubbed warmth into it, he stared at her, watching the way her eyelashes fanned her cheeks when she glanced down. A deep breath filled his senses with her alluring scent that always brought something extraordinarily exotic to mind even though he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly.
“Is that better?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper as she raised her gaze to his.
Arlan could no more have resisted kissing her at that moment than he could have stopped needing air to breathe.
Nice and slow, he dropped his head, registering the cool feel of her lips as their mouths connected in a blending of love and passion.
His hands wound around her waist, pulling her closer as she wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, entwining her fingers in the hair above his collar.
The whistling of the teakettle pulled them out of their amorous reverie. Arlan stepped back and straightened his tie while Alex made tea and set the steaming mugs on the table.
She studied him as they drank the hot brew, noticing Arlan had smoothed down the hair she’d mussed at the back of his head, adjusted his tie, and straightened his suit jacket.
“You need to learn to relax, Arlan.”
He leaned against the back of his chair and gave her a confused glance. “I’m perfectly relaxed.”
“No, you aren’t.” Alex stood and walked around the table to where he sat and took his hand, tugging him to his feet. She walked in a circle around him, shaking her head and clucking her tongue. “You look like a stuffy, stodgy ol’ banker.”
“Here, now, dear lady, I take that as a personal insult.” Arlan didn’t know if she was teasing or serious since her face appeared impassive and her tone gave away no hint to her true feelings.
“As well you should.” Alex stood back and tapped her chin with an index finger. “How can we make a fusty man like you appear less conventional?”
She tipped her head to the side and narrowed her gaze as she stared at him, making Arlan resist the urge to fidget under her intense perusal.
Suddenly, she reached out and yanked loose his tie then buried her hands in his hair and mussed it, making it stand up every which direction. Before he could utter a protest, she jerked up on his shirt, pulling the tails from the waistband of his pants.
She took a step back and gave him an intense once-over. “I do believe that is better.”
Shocked, amused, and entranced, Arlan fought down his desire to plunder Alex’s smiling mouth with kisses. “Miss Janowski, not only was that highly inappropriate, I no doubt appear to be some sort of ruffian run amuck.”
Alex laughed and pointed to a small mirror on the wall. “Go see for yourself.”
Arlan peeked in the mirror and couldn’t help but smile at the reflection, especially with Alex beaming at him in the background of the glass.
Despite his ruffled appearance, he did seem younger and much more carefree. He certainly wouldn’t be seen in public in such a state, but he thought the hairstyle, or lack thereof, might be one he’d keep if he’d be around Alex.
“You make me look like a homeless degenerate.”
Laughter bubbled out of her as he turned around and gazed at her. “If you’re a homeless degenerate, you’re the most handsome, best-dressed one I’ve ever seen.”
“Thank you, I think.” Arlan kissed her cheek then slipped on his coat. “However, I do believe I better go home. Thank you for the tea and the fine company.”
“Don’t forget the improved hairstyle,�
�� Alex teased as she handed him his hat. The yearning to bury her hands in his hair and feel his arms around her again nearly overcame all her good sense. Determined to keep her emotions in check, she smiled as he opened the door and stepped outside. “Have a good evening, Arlan. Thank you for walking me home.”
“Anytime, dear lady. Anytime at all.”
Arlan tipped his head to her and started down the boardwalk, whistling a holiday tune
Standing at the door, Alex watched him until he disappeared around a corner. If she thought Arlan looked appealing before, the sight of him with his hair mussed made her wish for things she knew would never, ever come true.
Chapter Fourteen
“Very good, Ralph. You worked that problem, perfectly.” Alex smiled at the boy as he handed her the piece of chalk in his hand and returned to his seat. “John, I believe it’s your turn to…”
The schoolhouse door banged open and Mrs. Decker rushed inside, wild-eyed and disheveled.
“Have you seen my baby? Have any of you seen Fred?” The woman glanced around the classroom, hoping to spy her son among the students.
Alex hurried down the center aisle to the distraught woman. “No, Mrs. Decker. Fred hasn’t been here.” Her gaze settled on the older boys seated in the last row. “Have any of you seen Fred?”
“Not since last Thursday, Miss Alex. I ran into him out in the woods when I cut through the trees on my way home.” Tom stood as he spoke then regained his seat.
“Thank you, Tom.” Alex nodded at him and placed a gentle hand on Mrs. Decker’s arm. The woman didn’t even have on a coat. The wrinkles in her dress made it appear as though she’d slept in it and her hair fell out of the pins she’d hastily shoved in to keep it on her head. Lacking a hat or pair of gloves, she didn’t appear at all formidable, but like an upset mother. “How long has Fred been missing, Mrs. Decker?”
“Since Saturday evening. His father arrived home and they got into a… well, they had a disagreement. Fred ran off, but I thought he’d return before bedtime. He stayed gone all yesterday, too.” Tears rolled down the woman’s cheeks. “I don’t know what I’d do without my Fred.”
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