Threads of Love

by Andrea Boeshaar

  “Perhaps. But perhaps there’s someone on the train that God intends for me to speak with—a disheartened woman who can no longer manage the rugged life out here and is heading back east again.”

  Emily shook her head. Iris had quite the imagination. “Let me know how it goes.”

  A harried-looking woman approached them. “Ladies . . . ” She smiled. “May I help you both?”

  Emily spoke up. “Are you Zelda?”

  “That’d be me.” She smiled and the fanning of wrinkles at the corners of her eyes scrunched together.

  “Jake Edgerton sent us for a table and said he’ll join us shortly.”

  “Jake’s back in town?” The woman looked old enough to be his mother, and she appeared just as pleased to hear the news. “I’ll find you my best table right away. Wait here.”

  Making her way up the center of crowded tables, the woman stopped at a table of four unkempt men, playing cards. “You’ve eaten your meals, fellas, now out with you!” She moved her head toward the doorway, and Emily stepped to the side, pulling Iris along with her. “Go on. Out!”

  The men grumbled but sauntered out of the café without incident. Then, with a wide scoop of her long, slender arms, Zelda cleared the tabletop and took the dishes to the back of the eatery. When she returned, she wiped the table clean and placed a bright yellow cloth over its top. At last she motioned for Emily and Iris to come and sit down.

  The café quieted as they made their way to the table.

  “Now, there’s what I call dessert, Zelda.”

  Emily caught the leering grin of a dirty sheep man.

  “You’d do well to watch your manners, Mr. Tate.” Zelda set her hands on her small waist and sent him a withering stare. “These ladies are Deputy Edgerton’s guests, and he’ll be arriving soon. Besides—” Zelda turned her back on the man and placed her hands on the backs of Emily and Iris’s scarred, wooden chairs. “—I’ll tell your wife.”

  The other men in the café had a good chuckle over the glib remark, and their individual conversations ensued.

  “I’ll bet you both would enjoy a tall, cool glass of my spiced Ceylon tea. It’s imported.”

  “Sounds refreshing.” Emily’s mouth did feel awfully dry.

  “I brew in the early morning and let it cool. On a day like today, it tastes real good.”

  “Thank you, Miss Zelda.” Iris smiled.

  After the woman left to fetch their tea, Iris leaned toward Emily. “We’re the only females in here.”

  “Yes, I see that.” She smelled it too. But Emily felt safe enough, and all because Jake, evidently, was held in such high regard.

  “I’m glad to be taking the train back to Fallon.”

  Emily didn’t reply.

  “Oh, now, Em, don’t be miffed with me.” A conspiratorial little smile curved her thin lips. “Maybe Jake will tell you the name of his young lady.”

  “If there is one.” Emily wondered if Iris fabricated the whole thing.

  “Oh, there is. I saw her with my own two eyes.”

  “Did you have your glasses on?”

  “Hush.” Iris gazed around the place. “What interesting men.”

  Emily held the checkered napkin to her nose, hoping to curb the stench.

  “As my parents were missionaries in our remote village, I learned to adapt to almost any situation and people.”

  “A blessing for you.” Emily’s stomach turned.

  Thankfully Zelda returned with their tea, and then Jake entered the café. He checked his saddlebags and rifle at the door and proceeded to nod greetings to some men, shaking hands with others as he made his way to their table. Reaching it, he placed a perfunctory kiss on Zelda’s cheek.

  “Jake Edgerton . . . my favorite customer.” The woman’s sunny expression bespoke of her delight.

  “I thought I was your favorite customer,” a man called from somewhere near the entrance.

  Zelda just waved a hand at him, smiling fondly at Jake. “My special today is antelope stew.”

  The announcement combined with the earthy smells made Emily want to gag.

  “We’ll all three take a bowl, Zelda. Thanks.”

  “Coffee for you?”

  Jake nodded. “And a glass of water too.”

  Zelda rushed off with their orders.

  Emily sat forward. “Jake, I’m not feeling well.”

  “What’s wrong?” He appeared genuinely concerned and placed one hand on the back of her chair.

  “It’s this place. I mean no insult and normally I can put up with almost anything.”

  “I admit it’s raw in here today.”

  Emily held the spiced tea to her lips and inhaled. It relieved the oncoming nausea.

  “Poor Emily.” Iris leaned forward. “She’s so sensitive.”

  She narrowed a simmering gaze at her friend.

  Iris regarded Jake with the sweetest of expressions. “Were you able to get me a train ticket?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He pulled it from his inside vest pocket, showed it to her, and then tucked it safely back away. Then he glanced at Emily. “Need some air?”

  She nodded.

  “Iris, behave yourself while I’m gone. If you need anything, call for Zelda.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  Jake helped Emily up and led her out of the café. Once on the boardwalk Emily gulped fresh air, still wooly from sheep, but far better than inside the eatery.

  “You okay, Em?”

  She leaned against the side of the building. “This trip to Terry reveals Montana life, Jake, but I think our plan backfired.” She held her stomach. “I’m the one who seems unsuited to the place.” So much for her bravado over the horseback ride.

  “Come on and sit down in the shade.” He led her to a bench a short ways away and sat down next to her.

  Down the road, Emily spied a dress shop. It would smell nice in there if it was anything like Aunt Agnes’s boutique. She pointed to it. “How about I wait in there?”

  “Your choice.”

  “Please make my excuses to Miss Zelda. She went out of her way to make things nice for Iris and me . . . and you too.”

  “Zelda will understand.” Jake helped Emily to her feet.

  “I apologize. I’m usually not so sensitive.” Would he think she couldn’t handle the rough life of ranchers and sheep men?

  “Don’t be. Even I could barely stand it inside. I might even opt to eat my stew out here on this bench.”

  Emily smiled. Perhaps he thought no less of her. It was only the smells that bothered her, after all.

  Taking her hand, Jake molded it around his elbow and escorted her to the dress shop. “Iris and I will stop back for you in about a half hour.”

  Emily nodded, feeling ever so grateful.

  With a tug on the brim of his hat, Jake turned and walked back to the Central Café.

  Hearty laughter wafted to Jake from inside the café, alerting him to the fact he’d left Iris unattended so he could walk Emily safely to the dress shop. He entered Zelda’s place with quick strides, but stopped short, seeing Iris standing in front of the entire group of men, telling one of her stories. Some of the roughest sheep men he knew gaped like children as they listened.

  “And then he burst out the front plate window, knocking the criminal unconscious and apprehending that nefarious man once and for all.” Iris sent him a fond smile. “I wrote a newspaper article all about it.”

  “Why, Jake . . . ” Carl Buford stared at him, looking impressed. “You’re famous in another state, even!”

  Chagrin welled inside of him. “It was nothing.” He made his way toward Iris. “Go back to whatever you were doing, men.”

  Iris sat down and smiled. Jake had to hand it to her, she was neither afraid nor repulsed by the foul smell in here, and it was a far sight worse than he even imagined it’d be during shearing season.

  “I shouldn’t have brought you and Em in here. Should have gone over to the Terry Hotel for lunch.”


  “No, this place has . . . character.” Iris’s gaze sparked. “I can’t wait to tell my students all about this day. I never saw sheep shearing en masse before.”

  Jake set aside his Stetson, shrugged out of his jacket, and then tucked his napkin inside his shirt collar.

  “I already asked a silent blessing on my food,” Iris informed him, indicating to the steaming bowls on the table.

  After an acknowledging nod, he did the same. Next he lifted his spoon and ate his stew without participating in much conversation, although he listened to snippets around him. Iris, on the other hand, chattered with Zelda awhile. A customer hailed her and Zelda returned to work. Moments later a rugged-looking fellow in a full beard, seated at the next table, relayed his life’s story—in case Iris wanted to write about him too. Turned out, J. T. Johnson worked almost every job on almost every ranch in the area. Jake made a mental note. A guy like him would see a lot of things and know a lot of other men and their whereabouts.

  “Well, that’s very interesting, Mr. Johnson.” Iris behaved as though she were at a tea party.

  “Today I’m helping out the Lazy Day Ranch with the shearing.”

  “You’re a busy man.”

  Johnson replied with a toothless smile.

  “I reckon we’d best go fetch Emily.” Jake stood. He waved to Zelda and when she came over he handed her a dollar for their meals. “Good and filling as always.” He kissed the older woman’s cheek. “See you again sometime.”

  “Thanks for stopping in.” She turned to Iris. “I’m sorry your friend wasn’t up to eating.”

  “She missed a fine lunch and good company.” Iris clasped hands with Zelda. “God bless you. Take care.”

  Jake led the way out and, once on the boardwalk, glanced at his watch. “Got an hour and a half before the train leaves.”

  “I’ll find something to occupy my time, I’m sure.”

  “Stay out of trouble.”

  “Of course. Why would you even say such a thing?”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” Jake grinned and started toward the dress shop, but came to a dead halt. There, standing just outside, was Emily, and she was conversing with Andy Anderson.

  “Look, Jake!” Iris pointed to them. “Why, Andy looks just as handsome as ever!”

  Something cold and deadly coursed through his veins.

  Iris quickened her pace and Jake kept up, but she reached Emily and Andy first.

  “Andy Anderson. Imagine running into you here in Montana.” Iris batted her lashes and smiled while her cheeks turned apple-red.

  “Hello, Iris.” Andy removed his hat momentarily and then his blue eyes jumped to Jake. A sense of unease spread over Jake. “Hey, Jake, how’re you?”

  He shook Andy’s hand in silent greeting before glancing at Emily. A heavy frown marred her brow. Something was wrong. “What are you doing in Terry? Thought you were headed to Idaho.”

  “I was until I heard that silver mining is the way to get rich. So I got off the train.”

  Jake gave a wag of his head. “Gotta go to the western part of the state for that. Should’ve stayed on the train a ways farther.”

  “So I’ve discovered.” Andy’s gaze darted around in a way that made Jake wonder if he’d gotten himself into a fix.

  “So climb back on board. What’s stopping you?”

  He chuckled and plunged his hands into his jacket’s pockets. “I just told Emily this same thing. I spent my last dollar at the hotel.” He raised his hands in a helpless gesture. “I had to sleep somewhere.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you out today, Andy.” Emily spoke with a pained expression on her face. “I didn’t think to carry along my reticule.”

  Asked her for money, did he? Jake’s respect for the man plummeted to a new low. Plenty of work around here that a man could do to earn his keep. “Andy, as you can see from the state of things here in town, there’s a lot of shearing going on, and there’s bound to be a rancher who would hire you.”

  “Oh, yeah. I suppose so.”

  So why didn’t he? Andy had grown up on a farm. He knew how to handle animals, so he’d learn quickly. Well, Jake wasn’t borrowing trouble.

  “Ready to go, Emily? We’ve got a long ride back.”

  With a single nod, she stepped to his side.

  “Iris?”

  “I’m all set.” She faced Andy again. “So nice to see you. I hope you’ll write and let me know how you’re faring out here.”

  “Write to you?”

  Her blush deepened. “So I can tell Granny and our friends in Manitowoc.”

  “Oh, sure. I’ll write.”

  Jake doubted he really would.

  “Say, um . . . ” Andy backed up and motioned for Jake to follow. “Can I have a word?”

  Jake inclined his head, and when he moved around Emily, he gave her elbow a gentle squeeze. “Be right back.”

  A goodly distance down the boardwalk Andy stopped. Jake positioned himself so he could keep an eye on the ladies.

  “What’s up, Andy?”

  “You don’t look pleased to see an old friend.”

  He wasn’t.

  “I, um, get the feeling that you’re sweet on Emily Sundberg, eh?” Andy grinned. “Good luck getting past the captain.”

  “He’s the least of my worries.”

  Andy appeared impressed. Then he chuckled. “I remember a time when I came calling for you at your grandfather’s house, back when we were kids. The old man showed me into that big ol’ music room, and I looked out the window, only to see you and Emily kissing. Whoo-whee.” Andy wagged his head, slapped his knee, and hooted. “It looked like some kiss too.”

  Jake quickly put all the pieces together and clenched his fist. Not only did Andy relay the story to the boys at Sunday school, but also he stood by and watched Emily wrangle with the guilt and shame for months on end. “Thought that was funny, did you? I’ll bet all your friends did too.”

  “Yeah, they did.” Andy kept chuckling while glancing over his shoulder from time to time.

  Jake wanted to break the man’s jaw for hurting Em. “What do you want, Andy?”

  “Can you lend me fifty dollars? Just a loan.”

  “Fifty? That’s a lot of money.”

  “I’ve got debt at the hotel, and I’ll need a train ticket.”

  “I’m going by the depot so I’ll buy a ticket and leave it there in your name. Get on the train when you’re ready. But I am not paying your debt. Work it off.”

  “But Jake . . . ” Andy rubbed the sole of his boot against the edge of the boardwalk. “See, the truth is, I got into a card game last night, and if I don’t come up with the money I lost by this evening, the fella’s gonna kill me.”

  Jake didn’t feel a shred of sympathy for him. He gave Andy a parting rap on the shoulder. “Good luck.” With that he walked to Emily and Iris, who were peering into the dress shop window, discussing the gown on display. He clasped their elbows. “Shall we go, ladies? Iris has a train to board.”

  CHAPTER 22

  EMILY STOOD NEAR the platform with the horses while Jake saw Iris safely to the station to await her train. She’d overheard his stern warning that once Iris reached Fallon, she was to walk to the post office and stay with “Aunt Susie,” as the postmistress was known to all in the area. Iris promised she would.

  Jake strode toward Emily. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather ride the train back to Fallon?”

  “I’m sure.” She grinned. “Do you think I’d ever be able to look my brothers in the eye if I didn’t?”

  Jake grinned at her retort, but it wasn’t his usual. Emily could tell that their meeting with Andy had aggravated him, and it didn’t appear that Jake loaned him the money for his badly needed operation.

  “Jake?”

  “Hmm?” He came around Rusty’s left side.

  “Is Andy going to die now?”

  “Die?”

  “Without his operation?”

  The etc
hings around his eyes smoothed as his gaze softened. “Is that what he told you?”

  “Yes, and I feel guilty for not doing my Christian duty and helping him.”

  “He lied to you, Em. He owes someone money that he lost in a card game or he owes some debt here in town. He tried both of those stories with me. Never said anything about needing a doctor’s care.”

  Emily felt stunned. “What a rotten thing to do, that scoundrel!”

  “I’d say so. Want a leg up?”

  “No, thanks. I can manage.” She mounted Rusty.

  Jake climbed astride his horse and collected Cloud’s reins. “Ready?”

  Emily nodded and followed him out of town. But instead of riding parallel with the river, they crossed it before leaving the town of Terry behind them. Emily thought of Andy and wondered why she ever imagined he’d make a suitable husband.

  Jake slowed his horse and motioned Emily beside him. “I thought I’d take you through a part of the badlands.”

  “Another lesson, Deputy?” She couldn’t hold back the teasing.

  “In a way, yeah. A lesson.”

  She saw him smile.

  “Ever see buttes before?”

  Emily shook her head, nearly unsettling the floppy-edged hat that Deidre lent her.

  “You’ll see them today and you can tell your class all about them this fall.”

  “I’m up for it.”

  “I hoped you’d say that.”

  For a number of miles they rode side by side with Cloud placidly trailing. Soon the terrain became rocky and uneven. The trail vanished. At one point they dismounted and walked their horses up an incline. Jake reached back for her hand, and Emily accepted the assistance over a particularly difficult area. When the land evened out, Emily realized they stood on a ridge. Strange reddish-brown rock formations loomed around them.

  “These are buttes. And those—” He directed her attention to a number of dead tree trunks. “—are petrified trees.”

  “Petrified?”

  “That’s right. They’re hundreds of years old and solid as rocks.”

  They tethered the horses, and Jake pulled his rifle from his saddle. Then they climbed a worn path through one of the buttes. Holding his gun over his right shoulder, he reached for Emily with his left gloved hand.