Since a fire would rouse suspicions, she made a show of unfastening Bill’s harness then leading him to the nearby creek to get a drink in the icy water by the light of a lantern she carried.
Aware she was not alone, she slowly turned around and looked into the barrel of the gun Joe Decker pointed at her head. His two friends stood behind him, holding the reins of their horses.
“Well, well. If it ain’t the fancy magician lady. Thought you could get away from us, didn’t you.”
“I’d certainly hoped to.” Alex jeered at him and led Bill back to her wagon. She ignored the guns pointed at her as she hung the lantern on the wagon, backed the horse into the traces, and refastened his harness.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Decker poked her in the shoulder with his gun. “Ain’t you got sense enough to know when you’re being robbed?”
“Yes, I do. However, I believe you men will find I’m not so easy to rob this time around.”
Decker and the other two men laughed. “Lady, you’re out in the woods alone with the search party miles away. Who do you think is gonna come to your rescue?”
She glared at Decker. “No one. I’ll rescue myself. Haven’t you three taken enough from me? You left me utterly penniless in Seattle.”
“We would have left you dead if we could’ve caught you, after we enjoyed taking our pleasure with a purty gal like you.” One of the other men spoke, making them all laugh uproariously.
“Did you or did you not beat my father to death?” She looked from Decker to the other two.
“Well, if the sad old man traveling with you was your father, then I guess that answer is yes.” Decker pocked her arm with the gun, tormenting her.
“Killing him wasn’t enough. You ransacked our wagon and stole all our money. You even cleaned out Papa’s pockets, didn’t you?”
“Sure did. That money kept us living high on the hog all winter.” Decker spewed a stream of tobacco at Alex, landing just short of her boot. The dark liquid stained the pristine snow just as Alex imagined darkness seeped into the hearts of the three men.
“Too bad you got away from us in Portland. It would have been easy pickings and we wouldn’t have had to rob a few stages or hold up that bank in The Dalles.”
“How did you know I was here in Hardman?” Alex kept her gaze on Decker but watched the other two out of the corner of her eye. They inched up behind her. She had mere moments to take action before they laid their hands on her.
“Didn’t know you were here at all. Me, Mooney, and Widmer wanted a warm place to stay for a few weeks, so I come home to my old woman. She might have to meet with an unfortunate accident if she can’t keep her yappin’ mouth shut. That boy of mine is trouble enough, but he done run off, so it might prove to be a merry Christmas after all if you just turn over that cash you lifted off the banker.” Decker shoved the gun barrel into her chest.
“What makes you think I stole the banker’s cash?”
“Cause he went yowlin’ through town right after you left tellin’ anyone who’d listen that you tricked him and made off with his money. A thousand dollars is too much to let a stupid woman have. Now hand it over. Once you’ve given us the money, we’ll have a little fun then you can say hello to your papa.”
She took a step back into the wagon and triggered a hidden latch that released the trap door in the bed of the wagon. The sheriff rolled out and came up with two revolvers pointed in the faces of Widmer and Mooney while Alex pointed her pocket revolver at Decker.
“As much as I’d like to see my papa again, today is not the day.” She released the safety on her gun. “Drop your weapon or I’ll fill your ugly face so full of holes, the devil himself won’t recognize you.”
Decker took a step back but kept his gun aimed at her. “I ain’t worried about some sweet-smelling woman as pretty as you being able to do me no harm. You and that old man over there ain’t got us worried a bit.”
“Then maybe our friends will.” Alex glanced behind Decker to where Arlan, Luke, Blake, and the deputies sat on their horses with guns trained on the outlaws.
“You played us for fools!” Decker started to pull the trigger, but Alex shot his hand, forcing him to drop the gun and cry out in pain. Widmer and Mooney dropped their weapons and fell to their knees in the snow.
“I’d say that went well, gentlemen, and lovely lady.” The sheriff grinned at Alex as he cuffed Decker and the deputies handcuffed the other two men then tied them to their mounts and took the reins. “If you ever want to be one of my deputies, Miss Alex, I could use a cool head with a quick draw.”
Alex shook her head and set her gun on the wagon seat as her hands and legs began to tremble. “I thank you for the offer, but I do believe I’ll have to pass.”
“Let’s get this rubbish back to town and to jail.” The sheriff boosted Decker onto his horse and tied his legs to the saddle then took the horse’s reins in his hands. He glanced over his shoulder. “Arlan, I entrust you to see Miss Alex safely home.”
“You can count on me, sir.”
Luke accepted the box containing the bank’s money Alex held out to him and tipped his hat.
As the men started back to the road and town, Arlan wrapped his arms around her. She sank against him, unable to stop the tremors racing through her as the impact of the ordeal finally caught up to her.
“Arlan…” Past the ability to voice her feelings, she clung to him and let her pent up grief finally release. Salty tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped from her chin as she cried for the loss of her father, for the fear she’d endured, for the dreams she no longer dared hope come true.
Each sob that wracked through her tore into Arlan’s heart, making him ache to do something to ease her pain. Securely wrapping her in his arms, he leaned against the wagon, letting her cry.
When her sobs finally slowed and then subsided to sniffles, she buried her head against his chest, embarrassed by what she viewed as a weakness.
“Alex, look at me.” Arlan’s voice commanded obedience and she raised her gaze to meet his. “I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am that you’re safe. You never have to worry about those men trying to hurt you again.”
She nodded her head, struggling to find her voice without breaking down into sobs again.
“It’s okay to cry, Alexandra. You needed to let all that out. Luke told me just the other day there isn’t a woman alive who doesn’t cry sometimes.”
A small grin tugged at the corners of her mouth and the sadness began to lift from her eyes.
“I know you are a woman of independent means and abilities, but would you mind terribly if I rode with you back to town?” Arlan released her and she squeezed his hand.
“I’d like that very much.”
He tied Orion to the back of the wagon then made sure Bill was properly harnessed. Alex told him she’d been so afraid, she couldn’t remember if she’d finished securing all the buckles.
As he climbed up onto the seat next to Alex, he wrapped an arm around her and kissed her cheek. “You did good, Alex the Amazing.”
She grinned at him as he picked up the reins and guided Bill back toward the road. “You and Luke could have a side career in acting. I can’t believe you called him a tightwad and Mr. Moneybags.”
“I almost laughed when I said that. I think I chewed a hole through my cheek trying to keep a straight face.”
Alex smiled and kissed the dimple in his cheek. “Thank you, Arlan. Thank you for being here for me.”
“If you let me, I’d be here for you forever, Alexandra. Do you not realize how much you mean to me?”
“Arlan, I can’t stay in Hardman. Miss Bevins is returning soon and you all need to get back to normal without me here. As much as I’d like to…”
He silenced her with a kiss that chased every thought from her head except how much she liked him, admired him, wanted him, and loved him.
Oh, how she loved him.
When he raised his head from hers, h
is voice held a husky tone. “Just think about it. Think about what you could have here before you decide to leave tomorrow. I want you to stay… with me.”
Chapter Nineteen
I want you to stay… with me.
Arlan’s words played over and over in Alex’s head as she tried to settle down to sleep and echoed through her mind the next morning as she packed the last of her things.
Disheartened, she took one final glance around the small but cozy home that had been hers since she accepted the temporary teaching position. Her fingers trailed over the tabletop, along the edge of the counter, across the back of a chair.
With her mind spinning at a frenzied pace, she tried to decide the best course of action.
If she stayed in Hardman, she would have caring friends around her, a place to call home, and a man who loved her.
However, staying meant that she’d be a hindrance to Arlan and his future success. She couldn’t do it to him. She wouldn’t.
Resolved to leave Hardman and not look back, she picked up a black top hat adorned with a red ribbon and a spray of holly made of velvet leaves and red silk berries. Settling it on her head at a merry angle, she gave herself one last critical glance then opened the door and strode across the freshly fallen snow toward the boardwalk and the center of town.
A block before she reached the mercantile, she turned down a side street then made another turn that took her to the newly constructed mansion Greg and Dora Granger owned.
Garlands and red ribbons adorned the porch posts and railing while evergreen wreaths tied with plaid bows hung on the imposing front entry.
Excitement mixed with regret as she walked up the steps and lifted the brass knocker, tapping on the door.
“Hi, Alex!” Filly opened the door and pulled her inside with a friendly hug. “Today is going to be such fun, especially with all the nasty business of the past few days behind us.”
“I agree.” Alex forced away her sadness and looped her arm through Filly’s, taking in the garlands draped along the curved stair railing. A massive fir tree filled the house with a festive scent from its place in the expansive gathering room. A fire crackled merrily in the marble fireplace, filling the space with warmth and cheer.
“This house is just beyond anything I could imagine.” Alex walked around, taking in all the little details, from the intricately carved wood framing the doorways to the artfully designed hardwood floors.
“It is something.” Filly squeezed her hand and tugged her toward the kitchen where she’d started getting things ready for the potluck luncheon they would serve.
The scent of apples and spices hung in the air, mingling with the delicious aroma of roasting meat, making Alex’s stomach rumble, reminding her she skipped breakfast.
Filly handed her a fresh doughnut and a cup of coffee. “We can’t expect you to perform without a little sustenance.”
“Thank you.” Alex removed her hat and sat down at the table, visiting with Filly as she ate.
“That costume you’re wearing might be my favorite one of all.” Filly pointed to Alex’s crimson red jacquard jacket. A fishtail peplum in the back almost reached to her knees while the front cut up into points, revealing a black waistcoat embroidered with red rosebuds. The high-necked lacy white blouse she wore beneath made her ensemble eye-catching and Christmassy.
“It’s one of my favorites, too.” Alex brushed the crumbs from her doughnut into her hands and stepped over to the sink. After rinsing off her fingers and drying them, she looked around the kitchen. Twice the size of the little house behind the school, the spacious room contained every modern convenience including a new-fangled refrigerator, two stoves, two sinks, and plenty of work surfaces and cupboards.
“Does your mother-in-law love to cook?” Alex asked as she admired the kitchen.
Filly laughed, surprising her. “Dora? No. Not at all. She’ll hire a cook and a full staff for the house since most of their staff didn’t want to leave New York. Dad isn’t terribly upset that their cook isn’t coming because he often complained about her lack of talents in the kitchen. They’ll eat at our house until Dora hires a replacement.”
Alex could hardly imagine hiring someone to do her cooking, cleaning, and gardening. Admittedly, a house the size of the one she stood in required extra hands in the day-to-day operations of the household.
“You call Luke’s mother Dora, but refer to his father as Dad. Are both your parents gone?” Alex leaned against the counter and watched as Filly expertly formed a lump of fragrant dough into rolls and placed them in a pan to rise.
“My mother died when I was fourteen, giving birth. My father lives in Portland. He’s a caretaker for a church there. I call him Papa.”
Alex smiled, thinking of our own dear papa. “Do you see him very often?”
“A few times a year. He came to visit after Maura arrived and we’re planning to visit him in February.”
“Did you grow up here in Hardman?” Alex tried to recall what she’d heard about Filly’s past, but couldn’t remember much other than she and Luke wed three years earlier. “I’ve heard stories about Luke, Chauncy, and Blake being rabble-rousers at school and even a few tales about Arlan and his brother, but none about you.”
Filly dried her hands on a dishtowel and motioned for Alex to take a seat at the big table.
Concerned, Alex hoped she hadn’t brought up something better left alone.
With a hesitant sigh, Filly looked at Alex and smiled. “Not very many people know this, but since you’re such a dear friend, I’ll tell you my story. When my mother died, my father changed from the loving papa I adored into a terrible, cruel drunk. He imprisoned me on the farm for almost thirteen years, beat me, and tormented me. Luke came out to collect on a long over-due loan and my father bartered me as payment. Luke took me to Chauncy and Abby. The pastor talked Luke into marrying me and making me his cook and housekeeper so he could recover something out of the bargain. It didn’t take long for us to fall in love, and we’ve been happy ever since. After one last terrible decision, my father ended up in jail. His time imprisoned allowed him to find himself again. When he was released, Chauncy helped get him the job in Portland.”
Astonished by Filly’s story, Alex couldn’t believe the information her friend shared. “You mean you didn’t grow up in a fancy home like Luke and Ginny?”
Filly shook her head and grinned. “Not at all. My mother was Irish, the descendent of stubborn immigrants. We lived well enough when she was alive, but after my father started drinking, we never had any money or enough food to eat. I literally wore dirt-colored rags. If you don’t believe me, ask Luke.”
“But, Filly, you’re one of the finest ladies I’ve ever met. You’re such a gracious hostess, keep such a welcoming home, and are one of the loveliest people I know. I just assumed… I thought…”
A smile softened Filly’s face as she patted Alex’s hand. “Most people have no idea about my past, even people who live here in town. Luke didn’t want them to judge me for what my father had done. He wanted them to like me for me. It just took me a while to understand that. We’d only been married a short while when I decided he’d be better off without me. I felt like such an uneducated ninny around him and his friends. I tried to run away one night, convinced being married to me would damage both his reputation and his business.” Filly grinned as memories flooded over her. “He tracked me down and brought me home then made me promise to never run off again.”
For a long moment, she studied Alex. “If you give Arlan the choice and the chance, he’ll pick you over anything else in his life, just like Luke did with me.”
Filly stood and returned to preparations for lunch. The back door opened before Alex could offer a comment and the kitchen filled with Luke and his parents, Blake and Ginny with his parents, and the women who volunteered to help in the kitchen.
Alex offered the appropriate responses as she met the older Granger and Stratton couples then excused herself to set up f
or her magic show.
Now that the worry of Decker and his two partners was behind her, she could perform for fun instead of necessity.
As she walked past the front entry, a knock caught her attention and she opened the door. Tom Grove stood on the step, gawking at the grandeur of the house.
“You’re right on time, Tom. I was just about to start setting up.” She placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder and walked with him up the stairs to the second floor ballroom where the magic show would take place. Baskets of greens and holly festooned the edges of the stage.
The students begged her to make her magic show the grand finale of the carnival. Although she thought the auction should be last, she finally agreed to provide the closing entertainment.
The band would play downstairs in the large gathering room as guests arrived and during lunch. Games for both adults and children were set up in the smaller rooms and the food would be set out in the dining room on a long table Luke and Blake erected from sawhorses and smooth boards. People were encouraged to bring blankets to sit on for an indoor picnic atmosphere in the gathering room.
After lunch, they’d hold the auction then finish the afternoon with Alex’s performance.
Filled with anticipation, she looked forward to spending one last day with her students. How she would miss hearing them call her Miss Alex and watching their quick little minds work.
Determined to set aside her melancholy, she and Tom focused on setting up the stage and preparing for her performance. Finished, she admired their efforts while the boy changed into an outfit that had belonged to her father with a long black tailcoat, starched white shirt, and emerald green waistcoat.
When he walked back into the room, brushing a speck of lint from his jacket sleeve, Alex knew she’d leave the outfit with him. It fit him perfectly and the pride he took in wearing it shone from his eyes.
“You look splendid, Tom. Like a true magician’s assistant.” Alex smiled approvingly as he adjusted the colorful square of green silk tucked into the breast pocket of the tailcoat.
The Christmas Calamity Page 21