Arlan held back the chuckle threatening to erupt from his mouth and observed Alex limp across the floor. He took the box of candy from his coat pocket and slid it across the table, hoping it might entice her to sit and calm down.
Exasperated, she poured two cups of tea and took a seat, eyeing the chocolates. “What are those for?”
Arlan removed the outer wrapper covering the box and nudged the candy toward her again, taking a seat across from her. “I’m celebrating.”
“Celebrating? What are you celebrating?” Alex looked over the selections and chose a piece of candy. The bite she took filled her mouth with the rich, decadent taste of smooth chocolate.
“You’re looking at the new and only partner of the Hardman Bank.”
The words he spoke sank in, sliding past her anger and frustration. “Partner? Luke made you a partner?”
At his nod, she rose from her seat and rushed to hug him around his neck. “Oh, Arlan, that’s wonderful news. Congratulations. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you.” Arlan grasped her around her waist and swung her around until she ended up sitting on his lap, held close in his arms. “I’m quite honored Luke thinks enough of me to offer the partnership.”
Incredulous, she stared at him. “Do you not realize how much Luke depends on you, values you? It’s easy to see he counts you as a friend. Now you’re an equal instead of just an employee.”
Pleased by her words, he smiled. “He still has a controlling interest, but Luke said he might someday decide to sell the whole thing to me.”
“And that would make you deliriously happy, wouldn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t say deliriously, but it would make me quite pleased.” Arlan’s smile held a cocky gleam. “If you want me to be delirious with joy, you better give me a proper smooch.”
As she leaned into Arlan’s kiss, her eyes drifted shut. Brilliant sparkles of colored light burst to life behind her eyelids, filling her with energy and longing at the passion they shared. Although he hadn’t said the words, Arlan loved her, cared for her, wanted her.
Since it was best not to become any more attached to the man who claimed her heart, she pulled back and returned to her chair.
Arlan looked disappointed when she picked up her tea and took a sip.
“Did the sheriff pay a visit?”
Alex nodded her head.
“And…? What did he say? How’s Fred? Did the sheriff tell his parents he’s at Doc’s place? Who, exactly, are you planning to beat senseless?” Arlan pelted her with questions
Ignoring his inquiries, Alex set down her cup and picked up a second piece of candy. After taking a bite, she closed her eyes and savored the treat before opening them and fixing her gaze on Arlan.
“The sheriff agreed to keep Fred’s whereabouts quiet until the boy is healed enough to move. The prospect of Mrs. Decker hovering in his office once she realized Fred was there assured Doc’s silence.” The expression on Alex’s face made Arlan chuckle while she grinned. “Can you imagine? Anyway, Doc said Fred has a bruised kidney, two broken ribs, and is lucky he didn’t end up with a punctured lung. His eyes are both blackened and his lip is so swollen he can barely open it enough to take a drink. He claims his father beat him when he arrived home Saturday afternoon. The sheriff questioned Mrs. Decker about it, but all she would say is that her husband and son had a disagreement.”
“Sounds like it was more than just a disagreement.” Arlan held no regard for a man who would senselessly beat anyone, especially his own child.
“The sheriff hasn’t been able to locate Mr. Decker. He wasn’t at the house when he stopped earlier, but Mrs. Decker is supposed to let him know when he shows up.”
“I’ve only seen Joe Decker a handful of times, but from what I’ve heard, he spends a lot of time at the Red Lantern when he is in town.” Arlan had heard more than that about the man but the rest of the details weren’t fit for a woman’s ears. “Now, about this man you were waiting to pummel… you need to tell me what’s going on.”
Alex sighed and dropped her gaze to the table, tracing a finger on the cloth with her finger. “I was on my way to see you, to tell you what the sheriff said, when I looked down the street and saw a man I hoped to never lay eyes on again.”
“What man, Alex? Who is he?”
“He’s the man who killed my father.”
Arlan sat back, digesting Alex’s comment. “Killed your father? I thought he died in Seattle last year.”
“Three men robbed our wagon and beat him so badly he died a few minutes after I found him.”
“Oh, Alexandra.” Arlan rose from the table and went to Alex. He picked her up as if she weighed no more than a child and sat down in her chair, cradling her to his chest. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. So sorry. Are you sure it’s the same man?”
“Yes. Positive.” Tears stung the backs of Alex’s eyes but she willed them away. Absorbing the comfort Arlan offered, she wrapped her hands around his arm and pressed herself against his chest. “I’ll never forget what he or his friends look like because they tried to kill me, too.”
“Alex…” Arlan didn’t know what to say, frightened for her wellbeing and infuriated anyone would hurt her.
“Papa and I liked to spend the winter in a bigger city because we could do shows daily on a street corner in different parts of town. We rented a little apartment and it almost seemed like we had a normal life instead of living out of our wagon, traveling from one place to another. We’d been in Seattle a few weeks when we noticed three men began appearing at our shows with some frequency. They were rough-looking men, not the type who usually attend more than one or two performances.”
Alex took a deep breath, gathering her composure along with her memories. “Sometimes Papa would ask for requests and they would always ask for him to make a pot of gold disappear. It wasn’t real gold, but thin metal pieces that looked like the real thing. Gramps found the coins somewhere and we had a whole trunk of them. The trick started with Papa doing some sleight of hand with a single gold coin that was real. He’d do five gold coins, all real, before making the fake pot of gold appear then disappear.”
“Let me guess, the men thought the gold was real.”
Her ragged sigh ripped into Arlan’s heart. “Yes. After one of the shows, Papa asked me to run to the store to pick up a few supplies while he packed up after a show. He planned to drop me off at our apartment then take the wagon and Bill to the livery. The mercantile was only two blocks down the street. I bought what we needed and hurried back to the wagon to find Papa beaten and bloody, lying in the street. He could barely speak, but managed to say, ‘Those three.’ He whispered he loved me and then he died.”
Arlan hugged her closer, fighting down his own emotion as Alex continued the story.
“I glanced up and saw three men across the street, dumping out the pot of fake gold, cursing as they realized it wasn’t real. One of them yelled, ‘get the girl,’ and they started chasing me. I ran until I found a police officer and took him back to the wagon. The men had ransacked it, stealing every bit of money they could find. Papa and I were saving to buy a place of our own in the country. We’d almost saved enough and had the coins hidden in the wagon. They took it all. Those men even…” Her voice broke, but she took a deep breath and continued. “They even emptied Papa’s pockets.”
Unable to imagine the anguish Alex endured, the pain of watching her father die so needlessly, Arlan kissed her temple and gently rocked back and forth as he held her.
“The officer tried to find the men. I gave him a description and they created wanted posters, but nothing came of it. Some exceedingly kind people from the church we’d been attending made it possible to give Papa a proper burial. I spent the winter trying to earn enough money to move on. I made my way to Portland in August, planning to spend the fall and winter there, but I became aware of a group of men hanging around the back of the crowd at a few of my shows. That’s when I realized it was the three men wh
o killed my father and left me penniless.”
“What did you do?” Arlan wanted to find all three men and beat them like they had her father.
“I went to the local authorities and told them what happened in Seattle. I even had the wanted posters, but they told me until the men violated a law, they couldn’t help me. Concerned for my safety, I decided to leave Portland. On my way out of town, I stopped to purchase supplies and noticed the men following me. I managed to lose them and just keep heading further east, taking back roads and staying out of sight.”
“And you think one of the men in the saloon is the man that killed your father?”
“I don’t think it, I know it. He’s one of the men that killed Papa. If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you the wanted posters. I still have them in my wagon.”
“I believe you, Alex, wholeheartedly, but we should get those posters and take them to the sheriff. He’ll listen to what you have to say and act accordingly. If you’ve seen one of those men, odds are high the other two are nearby.”
“Although I didn’t see them go into the saloon, they could have already been inside the Red Lantern.” Alex gave Arlan a reticent smile. “I couldn’t quite bring myself to open the door and walk right inside.”
“I should hope not, dear lady.” Arlan grinned and kissed her cheek before setting her on her feet. “I’m going to take you to dinner at the restaurant then we’ll retrieve those wanted posters and see what the sheriff has to say.”
“You don’t need to go with me. I can handle it on my own.”
Arlan hugged her to his chest, relishing the feel of her in his arms as he breathed in her intoxicating scent. He rested his chin on top of her head. “I’m well aware of your ability to handle the situation on your own. In fact, I have no doubt that you can handle anything you set your mind to do. However, I want to help you. Just because you can handle something alone, doesn’t mean you need to.”
Alex pulled back enough to kiss his chin and smile with her heart in her eyes. “You’re a good man, Arlan Guthry. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”
“I won’t have to if you keep reminding me.” He lifted her long cloak from a hook by the door and held it for her. “I’m starving. Let’s go eat.”
“I’m starting to think your legs are as hollow as Pastor Dodd’s.” Alex giggled at the scowl on Arlan’s face.
“If Chauncy wasn’t such a good friend, I’d take that as an insult.” Arlan shrugged into his coat and settled his hat on his head. “In fact, I’ll tell him what you said.”
“No, you won’t. You know I’m only teasing. Besides, have you ever watched how much food that man can eat?”
Arlan laughed as he held open the door and escorted her outside. “Chauncy only eats that much at Filly’s table. He behaves himself the rest of the time.”
After a pleasant meal at the restaurant, Arlan and Alex hurried to the blacksmith shop where Douglas kept Alex’s wagon until she was ready to leave town.
“Douglas? Are you here?” Arlan called as they stepped inside.
“Arlan, my friend, what can I do for you?” Douglas walked out of a room he used as an office with a welcoming smile. When he noticed Alex, he doffed his hat and tipped his head. “Evening, Miss Alex.”
She smiled at him. “Good evening, Mr. McIntosh. I just needed to fetch something from my wagon.”
“Help yourself.” Douglas waved his hand toward the back of his building where the wagon sat in a corner, covered with a canvas. Alex asked him when he finished it if he’d mind keeping it covered. She mostly wanted to keep it clean, but now she realized the covering would also help keep it hidden from anyone who didn’t need to know it was there.
She lifted the canvas on the back up far enough she could unlock the door and climb inside the wagon. Quickly locating the three wanted posters, she locked the door, dropped the canvas, and returned to where Arlan spoke with Douglas.
“Get what you needed?” Arlan noticed the papers in her hand.
“What do you have there?” Douglas took the papers she held out to him. He whistled and tapped a beefy finger on the top page. “What did ol’ Decker do to get himself on a wanted poster?”
“Decker?” Arlan moved so he could see the poster Douglas held in front of him. “It is Decker. Well, that explains a lot.”
“You mean that man is Fred Decker’s father?” Alex’s anger rekindled as she thought of the bruised and broken boy she’d helped to her house in the pre-dawn hours of the morning.
“One and the same.” Arlan looked at the other two posters but didn’t recognize the men. He turned his glance to Douglas. “Do you know these other two?”
“Nope. But I’ve seen them ride through town a few times.”
“Mr. McIntosh, can you do me a favor?” Alex took the posters back and gave the blacksmith a pleading look.
“Anything for you, Miss Alex.”
“Can you please not mention to anyone that you saw these wanted posters?”
Douglas nodded his head. “I never saw a thing.”
Alex grinned and squeezed his hand. “In that case, if any of them come in here, please don’t mention me or my wagon.”
The blacksmith’s brows knit together and worry settled in the expression on his face. “Are they looking for you, Miss Alex?”
“I’m not sure, but if they are, I’d prefer they not find me.”
“I’ve never heard of Alex the Amazing.” Douglas smiled reassuringly as he walked with her and Arlan to the door. “We’ll take care of you Miss Alex. You can count on us.”
“Thank you, Mr. McIntosh. I appreciate it.”
Arlan shared a look with Douglas, silently agreeing to do what was necessary to protect Alex from the hoodlums on the wanted posters.
Eager to share what they knew with the sheriff, Alex and Arlan went directly to his office, only to find he’d gone home for the evening.
As they stepped back out on the boardwalk, Arlan started in the direction of the man’s home, but Alex refused to go. “I don’t want to bother the sheriff, Arlan. He’s had a long day and deserves a peaceful evening.”
“What he deserves is to know a wanted criminal is in town and may have brought his cronies along. I can almost guarantee if the other two aren’t already in town, they will be soon.” Arlan put a hand to her elbow and continued the walk to the sheriff’s home.
His wife answered the door and invited them into the parlor where the sheriff sat reading the paper and smoking his pipe. Curls of smoke encircled his head in lazy circles of slate gray before drifting to the ceiling.
“Arlan, Miss Alex, what can I do for you?” The sheriff motioned them to take a seat across from him on a settee. While his wife went to the kitchen to make a pot of tea, they showed him the wanted posters and Alex shared her story.
“This poster certainly looks like Decker. Always thought the yarn of him working for the railroad seemed a little off myself.” The sheriff studied the drawings of the other two men. “Mind if I keep these, Miss Alex?”
“No, sir. You can keep them as long as you promise to bring Decker to justice. He killed my father, beat his own child, and heaven only knows what they would have done to me in Portland if I hadn’t escaped.”
The sheriff gave her a reassuring glance as his wife entered the room with the tea. She started to sit down to visit, but the sheriff requested she make him a cup of coffee. Aware that he invented an excuse to get her out of the room, she rolled her eyes then returned to the kitchen.
The sheriff chuckled. “I hope she brings cream with that coffee. Knowing my wife as I do, it’ll be stout enough to choke a mule, just to remind me I don’t have to chase her out of the room when I’m discussing business.”
Arlan grinned and Alex smiled as the sheriff asked them if they’d be willing to help him with a plan that might catch Decker and his associates.
“If you don’t mind, sir, Blake and Luke could be of assistance with this,” Arlan suggested as the sheriff outl
ined a plan.
“I agree. Why don’t we all meet at the school after you release the students for the day tomorrow, Miss Alex? No one will think anything of some of the school board members being there and everyone knows Arlan spends a good deal of time cleaning the blackboard, trying to endear himself as the teacher’s pet.”
Alex laughed, quickly agreeing, before she and Arlan got to their feet and bid the sheriff and his wife a good night.
“Do you think the sheriff’s plan will work?” Alex asked as Arlan escorted her home.
“Certainly can’t hurt to try. We’ll keep you safe, Alex. I promise.”
“I know you will, Arlan. I trust you.”
Chapter Seventeen
“I have a surprise for all of you.” Alex smiled at her students, sincerely hoping the sheriff’s plan to draw out Decker and the other two criminals would work. If it didn’t, she’d most likely end up dead and that would put a definite damper on the holiday.
Anna Jenkins raised her hand above her head but didn’t wait for permission to speak. “What kind of surprise, Miss Alex?”
“To get everyone in town excited for the Christmas Carnival, I’m going to do a performance tonight on Main Street and again tomorrow.”
“Hooray!” the class cheered with unbridled enthusiasm. Although Alex sometimes did a simple trick to entertain them and help them learn, none of the students had seen a full performance.
Nervous because of the wanted men who would soon be hunting her and because she hadn’t performed since the last show she did in Portland months ago, she hoped she could pull it off.
After meeting with the sheriff, Arlan, Blake, and Luke the previous afternoon, plans were set into motion, but it would take everyone doing their parts to apprehend the outlaws.
“Be sure and tell your parents and everyone you know to come to the center of town tonight and tomorrow for a preview of the show I have planned at the carnival.” Alex grinned at her students. “I hope to see you all this evening. Class dismissed!”
The Christmas Calamity Page 18