While he drank, she removed his shoes and set the towel-wrapped bricks against his cold feet.
“You’re going to be just fine, Fred. I’ll run into town and tell your mother you’re here.”
A frightened look filled his face and Fred gripped her arm with surprising strength. “No. Don’t tell. My pa can’t know.”
Alex stared at him as realization dawned on her. “Your father did this to you, didn’t he?”
A slight nod confirmed her words.
Fred was certainly not her favorite student. He wasn’t even a boy she particularly liked, but no one deserved to be treated so cruelly.
“It’s okay, Fred. I won’t tell your parents, but you need to see the doctor. Are you hurt anywhere besides your face?”
At his nod, she got to her feet and went to her bedroom, taking two blankets off her bed and grabbing her pillow. She returned to the main room and shoved her kitchen table and chairs to the side, making a pallet for the boy in front of the stove.
“You should be able to stay warm here while I go find the doctor.”
“No. Don’t want to see anyone.” Fred started to get up but lacked the strength to rise again.
Alex fisted her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Unless you plan to crawl back to the mine on your hands and knees, you’ll stay here until I return. Is that clear, young man?”
Almost imperceptibly, he nodded his head.
“Good.” She took the empty mug from his hands and set it on the table, then helped him settle on the blankets in front of the stove. After stoking it, she pulled her coat and gloves on again then gave him a warning glance. “You better be right there when I get back or you don’t even want to know what I’ll do to you.”
With a hope and a hasty prayer he’d still be there when she returned, she ran down the side street nearest the school and quietly tapped on the doctor’s back door. When it opened, she slipped inside and gave the man the briefest of details. After asking him to pay a discreet visit to her home, she cautiously went back outside and made her way to Arlan’s house.
She should have gone to Granger House, since Luke was president of the school board, but she needed the reassurance and comfort she found only with Arlan before she did anything else.
Mindful of the early hour, she stayed in the shadows and knocked softly on his back door. When he failed to answer, she knocked again, glancing around to make sure no one watched her.
Assured she’d gone unnoticed, she knocked a third time with more force and started to turn away when Arlan opened the door. Foamy lather from his shaving soap covered one cheek and he held a razor in his hand while his shirt hung open, revealing a well-formed chest beneath the thin white fabric of his undershirt.
“Alex! What in the world are you doing?” He stepped aside so she could enter his kitchen. He noticed the distraught look on her face and the anger in her eyes. “What happened?”
“It’s Fred. He…”
Arlan plunked the razor down on the table and started for the door, forgetting he didn’t even have on his boots. Alex grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop before wrapping her arms around him and burying her head against his chest.
Her voice sounded troubled when she finally spoke. “Would you mind holding me for just a moment?”
“Not at all.” Curious what Fred had done to upset Alex and send her traipsing about in the pre-dawn hours in her pants and boots, he held his tongue. Rather than riddle her with the questions pounding through his mind, he savored the unexpected gift of holding her close.
After dipping his head and kissing her forehead, he realized he smeared shaving soap across her creamy skin. He grabbed a dishtowel off the nearby table and wiped it away, causing her to lift her head and give him a smile.
“I’m sorry, Arlan. I just needed to see you before I face the rest of the day.”
“Why don’t I make you a cup of tea and you can tell me what’s wrong.” He pulled out a chair at the table and motioned for her to take a seat.
She shook her head and inched back toward the door. “No, I need to hurry back home, but thank you.”
“Wait! You can’t leave without telling me what Fred’s done now. Did he hurt you? If he so much as…”
Alex placed a fingertip on Arlan’s mouth, silencing him.
“He didn’t hurt me, but he’s injured. If you promise not to over-react like a knuckle-dragging cavedweller, I’ll tell you what happened while you finish shaving. You can’t go around all day with half a face full of whiskers.”
Disconcerted by Alex’s intense gaze, he looked into the mirror on the kitchen wall and finished his shave. He listened to her story of awaking with an unsettled feeling and following her instincts out to the mine.
“Why would his father beat him, Arlan? It’s just terrible anyone would treat another human that way.” She plunked down on the chair she refused to sit in earlier while Arlan rushed to finish the last swipe or two with his razor.
Hurriedly toweling away the remnants of the soap, he knelt beside her and took her hands in his. “No one knows why anyone does anything, Alexandra. Considering how Fred and his mother have treated you, it’s generous of you to offer him such kindness and a safe place to stay until arrangements can be made. Run on home and I’ll tell Luke what happened.”
Alex kissed his taut cheek then rose to her feet. “Thank you, Arlan. I appreciate that I can always depend on you. You’re a good friend.”
“I’m glad you think so.” He opened the back door and looked both ways in the alley before nudging her outside. “Hurry home, before the sun comes up, and no one should be the wiser.”
The look she gave him over her shoulder held both gratitude and love as she silently jogged down the street and around the corner out of sight.
Arlan closed the door and hurried to finish dressing, exceptionally aware of how good it felt to have Alex held so close to his skin as she leaned against his nearly bare chest.
Determinedly capturing his thoughts before they veered too far in a wayward direction, he tamped on his boots, stuffed his arms in his coat sleeves and grabbed his hat as he rushed out the door.
Intent on reaching Granger House, he walked briskly through town and tapped on the back door.
Filly greeted him with a smile as she opened the door and stood back for him to enter. “Good morning, Arlan. Come in out of the cold. It’s certainly nippy out this morning, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Has Luke gone to the bank already?”
With a cheeky grin, she inclined her head toward the doorway that led to the hall. “No, he’s in the parlor trying to convince his daughter he’s her favorite person in the world.”
Arlan grinned. “I’ll go see if I can convince her otherwise.”
“You go right ahead. Have you eaten breakfast yet?” she asked as she began cracking eggs into a skillet.
“No, but I refuse to impose on your hospitality this early in the day.” Arlan stopped in the doorway. “I’ll get something at the restaurant later.”
“It’s not an imposition if I insist.” She smiled and cracked two more eggs into the pan.
Arlan hurried down the hall and stopped at the doorway to the parlor, watching his employer make silly faces at the baby and kiss her tiny hands.
“Who’s daddy’s best girl? Is it Maura? Oh, but she’s a pretty baby, isn’t she?” Luke’s singsong voice made Arlan chuckle as he stepped into the room.
Luke whipped his head up and glared at him. “Spying on me?”
“Nope. I bet if you use that tone with some of our more challenging customers, they’d be inclined to be agreeable.”
Luke grunted indignantly and stood, easily carrying Maura on one arm. “What brings you out so early this morning?”
“Alex found Fred badly beaten in the woods behind the school this morning. From what Fred said or didn’t say, she thinks his father did it.”
“Where is he? Do I need to send Doc out?” Luke asked, rushing down the hall
toward the kitchen.
Arlan put a hand on his arm to stop him. “She went to see the doctor first before she stopped to tell me. I offered to share the information with you. Fred’s at her house, but we can’t leave him there. Yet, I hate to see the boy taken home if his father did beat him.”
“Why don’t I run out there and see what needs to be done. I often stop by the school to check on things, so no one will think anything of it if I go. It might raise eyebrows if you’re seen out there this early in the day.” Luke kissed the baby’s rosy cheek and handed her to Arlan.
“Filly, darlin’, I need to run an errand. Can you wait breakfast for me?”
“Goodness, Luke, it’s all but on the table.” Filly waved her fork at a stack of pancakes and a platter of crispy bacon.
Luke jerked on his coat and settled his hat on his head. “I’ll hurry back but go ahead and eat without me.”
“Here, I’ve got an idea.” Filly quickly layered a pancake with fried eggs and strips of bacon then placed another on top, handing the improvised sandwich to Luke. “At least you can eat it while it’s hot.”
“Can I get one of those, too?” Arlan asked, smiling as she made one for him. He took the sandwich and handed her Maura before he and Luke hastened out the door.
Quickly eating his breakfast, Arlan followed Luke to the barn where he hitched his sleigh to a horse and gave Arlan a ride to the bank.
“I’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as I can.”
Arlan jumped out of the sleigh and looked at his boss. “Thanks, Luke. I appreciate it.” He inserted the key into the lock and prepared to open the bank.
It seemed like hours later when Luke finally returned, grim-faced and clearly agitated.
After hanging his hat and coat on the pegs by the door, he looked around, glad to see the bank was empty.
Discouraged, he crossed the floor to Arlan’s desk and slumped into a chair. “What a mess.”
“What happened?”
“Doc was there when I arrived. We bundled up Fred and took him to Doc’s office. He agreed to keep the boy there until we can figure out if he’s telling the truth and his father is the one who beat him. Mrs. Decker is roaming through town, frantic to find her son. I stopped to ask her if her husband was around, and all she’d say is that he wasn’t feeling well this morning.”
Arlan frowned. “I think she told Alex the same thing yesterday morning when she interrupted class to see if Fred was at the school.”
“He’s probably got a hangover. I spoke with the sheriff. He’s going to question Alex after school, just to get her statement of what transpired this morning. Although flustered, she seemed fine when we left with Fred. She started to go to the school in her trousers and I suggested she change. I don’t think she had any idea what she wore.”
“She did seem rather distracted when I saw her earlier this morning.” Arlan’s thoughts went back to how good she felt in his arms, how her enticing scent ensnared his senses. “I’m quite impressed she showed Fred such care and concern after all he and his mother have done to her.”
“Alex has a big heart, even if she tries to act like she doesn’t care. I wonder what made her decide to give up teaching in the first place. I’ve never seen one better and the children all love her. It’s going to be hard to give Miss Bevins back her job when she returns in January.” Luke gave Arlan a knowing glance. “Why don’t you just ask Alex to marry you? That would solve any number of problems.”
“That’s not even funny to joke about.” Arlan scowled at Luke and rose to his feet. “Alex made it perfectly clear she’s leaving the moment the Christmas Carnival is over. I have approximately three days, four hours, and some-odd minutes before she leaves town and my life for good.”
Luke stood and slapped him on the back with a teasing smile. “Then you better get busy courting that woman and convincing her to stay.”
“It’s not that simple.”
Luke took a seat at his own desk and smirked at Arlan. “Sure it is. You ask, she accepts, and then you live happily ever after.”
“It’s much more complicated than that and you know it.”
“Maybe you could bargain for your bride, like I did. It worked out well for me, although Filly might offer a differing opinion.” Luke grinned, knowing his wife adored him and thought the sun and moon revolved around his golden head.
Arlan couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’ll be sure to ask Filly her thoughts on the matter at the next opportunity.”
Later that afternoon, Arlan sat balancing accounts in a ledger when Luke dropped a thick envelope on his desk.
He lifted his gaze to his employer with a questioning glance. “What’s this?”
“Open it.” Luke looked as giddy as a child on Christmas morning as he took a seat in front of Arlan’s desk. While he waited for Arlan to remove a sheath of papers and read them, he drummed his fingers on his leg.
As the gist of the paperwork penetrated Arlan’s disbelieving mind, he stared at Luke. “You can’t mean this, Luke. It’s too much. It’s too…”
“No, Arlan. It’s long past time for me to do this. You’ve served me faithfully for years, here at the bank and as a good friend. You’re one of the few people in whom I can place my wholehearted trust. I’d like more than anything for you to become my partner in the bank.” Luke rose to his feet and held out his hand to Arlan.
“But, Luke, it’s such a…” Arlan struggled to find words to express his thoughts as he stood and shook Luke’s hand.
“I’m sorry I didn’t think to do this years ago. I was going to give you this for Christmas, but I just couldn’t wait any longer. I had Frank Carlton draw up the papers a month ago. If you accept, all you have to do is go with me to his office so we can have the signatures notarized.” Luke smiled at the younger man as he held the papers in trembling fingers. “Consider this a gift, Arlan, for all your hard work and dedication. I’ll still hold the controlling percent, but maybe someday I’ll be willing to sell you the whole bank if I decide to take up ranching full-time instead of playing the part of gentleman rancher.”
Arlan cleared his throat so he could speak around the emotion clogging it. “Thank you seems so inadequate, Luke, but I don’t know what else to say.”
“That covers it quite nicely. Come on. Grab your coat and bring the papers. We’ll close up early and run over to Frank’s office then you can go see how Alex is faring after all the excitement today. The sheriff planned to stop by as soon as school let out for the day. He’s most likely gone by now and she might need a shoulder to cry on.”
As they secured the safe, pulled down the shades, and locked the door, Arlan considered Luke’s words. “I’ve never seen Alex cry. I’ve never even seen her close to tears.”
“There isn’t a woman alive who doesn’t cry,” Luke assured him as they walked to the attorney’s office. “Mark my words, they all cry.”
Jubilant after signing the papers that made him a partner in the bank, Arlan wanted to celebrate. He stopped at the mercantile and perused the goods, searching for something special to share with Alex. Settling on a box of chocolates, he paid for them and smiled when Aleta gave her approval on his selection.
“You chose some of the best confections in the store, Arlan. You can’t go wrong with these.”
He thanked her, slid the box into his coat pocket, and hurried on his way to the school. Halfway there he noticed Alex lurking in the alley behind the saloon.
Quietly walking around behind her, he tapped her on the shoulder. She spun around with a hand over her mouth to stifle her scream. Recognition replaced fear and she swatted him on the shoulder then grabbed his hand, pulling him deeper into the shadows of the alley.
“What are you doing?” she hissed, glancing around to make sure they’d gone unnoticed. “You’re going to get me killed, you ninny.”
“What are you talking about?” His breath stirred the curls near her ear as he leaned close, keeping his voice low. “I was on my way
to see you and bring you a surprise when I noticed you prowling around in the alley. I think I’m the one with a right to know what you’re about.”
“I’m getting ready to kill a man so you best stand back and be quiet.”
Chapter Sixteen
Certain his mouth hung open in shock, Arlan glared at Alex.
She blew out an exasperated huff and met his astonished gaze with calm detachment. “Fine. The plan doesn’t include killing him. I’m waiting for a murderous thief to get blind drunk then I’ll beat him senseless.”
Stunned by her words, Arlan noticed the burly stick Alex carried in her gloved hand. The gleam in her eye did nothing to alleviate his concerns about her current mental state.
Swiftly bending down, he tossed her over his shoulder, jerked the club out of her hand, and started toward the school.
“Arlan Guthry!” Although Alex whispered, she inflicted enough anger into her tone to sound like she screamed at the top of her lungs. “If you don’t set me down this instant, you will rue the day you first set eyes on me.”
“That will never be a possibility, dear lady.” Arlan grinned over his shoulder as Alex raised her head and glared at him.
“This is undignified, not to mention it will create quite a scandal should anyone see us. I insist you set me down.”
Arlan stopped in the shadow of a shed before walking out into the open area near the school. “If you promise to go home and tell me what all that talk about killers entails, I’ll let you down.”
“Fine.”
Gently, he set her down, but not before admiring the shapely curve of her bottom directly in his line of view.
Irritated and incensed, Alex marched home, sending snow swirling around her skirts with every step. Stamping her feet to dislodge the snow from her boots, she opened the door to her home and stepped inside. Alex removed her coat and gloves before pushing the kettle onto a hot part of the stove to make tea.
An irrational desire to strike something or someone swept over her so she kicked the leg of the table. When it felt like her cold toes chipped off inside her boots, she yelped in pain.
The Christmas Calamity Page 17