Juliette rushed up and tried to push her aside, but Grace refused to let her. “If you’ll be patient, I’ll be through in a minute.”
“Well, hurry. My family and I are going to join Lance.”
Lance stood and picked up his hat. “Sorry, folks. I’ve had an emergency. I have to be leaving, but feel free to take my table.”
“Oh, Lance, can’t your little ole emergency wait until we enjoy a nice supper together?” Juliette pushed Grace again and moved between her and Lance.
“Sorry, Juliette. I have to go.” He nodded to Mr. and Mrs. Cramer and started to move away.
“Are you sure you have to go, son?” Hal asked. “Like Juliette said, I’m sure whatever it is can wait until you finish eating.”
Juliette grabbed his arm. “Listen to Daddy. He knows best.”
He jerked his arm away. “Sorry, folks. Not this time.”
“Juliette, the young man has a job to do. Please don’t try to detain him.” Marjorie Cramer looked embarrassed.
Grace smiled at her then headed to the kitchen. Until she opened the door and slipped inside, she didn’t realize Lance had followed her.
Effie glanced at him. “Well, look ’a comin’ here. Is they somethin’ wrong with your food, Sheriff?”
“Not a thing, Miss Effie. In fact it looks wonderful. It’s the company who came into the dining room that had something wrong with it.”
Effie frowned and Henrietta turned from her spot where she was slicing the pies for desserts. “Must have been that ardent admirer of yours, Lance.”
He wondered how Henrietta knew about Juliette, but he didn’t ask. “You got it, Henrietta. I just couldn’t sit there and enjoy the wonderful meal Effie and you prepared with that silly woman sitting there in front of me chattering the nonsense she is so good at.”
Grace set the tray of food on the kitchen table. “He wants his food put in a basket so he can take it home with him.”
Henrietta put down the knife she was using to slice the pies. “Why don’t I go wait on the tables and you fix up his basket, Grace?”
“Thank you, Henrietta. That will keep me from dropping hot coffee on somebody’s pretty pink dress.”
Lance chuckled. “You might want to, but there’s no way in the world you would pour hot coffee on Miss Cramer, Grace. You’re too professional for that.”
“Don’t kid yourself. If she’d pushed me one more time, I might have thrown your whole supper on her.”
He laughed again. “It would almost be worth losing my supper to see that.”
“Well, I’d have made you another supper.” Effie grinned at him.
“You’re a good woman, Miss Effie.”
“Why, thank you, Sheriff.” She motioned toward the kitchen table. “I know you’re hungry. Why don’t you set yourself down there and eat your supper? Ain’t nobody gonna bother you in here and you can eat all you want. Then we’ll make you a basket to take home for later.”
“I’m afraid I’ll be in your way in here.” He glanced at Grace.
“This is Effie’s kitchen, if she invites you, I’m sure she wants you here.”
Henrietta sighed as she came back into the kitchen. “Here’s the Cramers’ order, Effie. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer want the special, but not Juliette. She wants sautéed fresh vegetables over rice. I told her we didn’t have that on our menu tonight. She finally said she’d have a soft scrambled egg, with ham and a slice of toast.”
Grace moved to the cabinet and took down the plates for the food. “I’ll help you fill these, Effie.”
“Thank you, Grace,” Effie said then she turned to Henrietta. “What’s the matter with that Cramer gal? Going away to school sure changed her. Why don’t she eat like everybody else in this town? Maybe she should go back to St. Louis.”
Lance chuckled. “Sure would make my life easier if she’d do that.”
“Just ignore her, Lance. It’s often the best advice.” Henrietta patted his shoulder then turned toward the pantry. “I told her I’d check and see if we had any ham. Do you know without me looking, Effie?”
“I guess I can find a slice of ham, but if’n I didn’t think she’d throw a fit, I’d just give her the special, too.”
“If you don’t mind doing the ham, let’s avoid a fit if we can.”
Effie nodded. “I told the sheriff he could eat his supper here in the kitchen if’n it’s all right with you.”
“It’s fine with me, but what if Miss Cramer has a complaint? It’d be just like her to come into the kitchen to tell us all about it.” Henrietta started making plates while Effie sliced a piece of ham.
“I guess I could tell her I took care of the emergency and came back,” Lance said. “Or if you’d rather, I’ll just take the food with me and get out of your way.”
“Please don’t think I’m trying to get rid of you, Lance. The dining room will be closing soon and when all the guests are gone, I plan for Frank and the children to come in and eat. If you don’t mind waiting a little while, then you can eat in there in comfort.”
“That sounds good.” He glanced at Grace again. “Maybe you can join me then?”
“Of course she can,” Henrietta said. “She has to eat, too.”
Grace hadn’t said much, but he could tell she was pleased to know she’d be able to eat her supper with him. She smiled at him and muttered, “I’d be honored.”
Lance didn’t want to admit, even to himself, but he was pleased to get to eat with her, too. He was also pleased that Juliette wouldn’t get to eat her meal with him. He grinned back at Grace and winked. “In the meantime, I’ll make my rounds and check all the doors. I’ll be back in about an hour.”
“Now, don’t you go and forget to come back. Grace would be disappointed.” Effie shook a wooden spoon at him.
Grace blushed and Henrietta chuckled.
“I’d be disappointed, too, Effie.” Lance winked at the cook and picked up a drumstick. He held it up as he went out the door. “Just to tide me over until I get back, and you know there’s no way I’ll forget to come back for Effie’s wonderful chicken.”
* * * *
After the delicious meal, Virgil Danforth waited behind the couple to get a room in the hotel. It didn’t surprise him they asked for the bridal suite. They’d tried to act discrete as they showed their affection for each other in little ways while they were on the stage ride, but he’d guessed they hadn’t been married long.
Sending them to a room, Frank turned to Danforth. “I’m sorry you had to wait, sir. May I ask how long you plan to stay?”
“I’ll be here at least a week. Maybe longer.”
“Would you like a room on the front looking down on the street or the back? It looks out on the backyard and the woods, but is much quieter.”
“I prefer the front if you don’t mind.”
“Don’t mind at all.” Frank turned the register toward the man then took a key from under the desk. “Room six.”
“Thank you.”
Frank whirled the register around. “You’re welcome, Mr. Danforth.”
Virgil paid Frank in advance, picked up his small carpetbag, and headed up the stairs. He was pleased when he opened the door to room six. It was well appointed, and the bed looked comfortable. He dropped his carpetbag, moved to the window and looked out. He had a view of the main street lined with several small businesses. If he leaned forward and looked to the right, he could see the jail. He nodded, knowing he’d visit there soon.
He’d seen the sheriff come into the dining room and the fellow didn’t look too hard to get along with. And the waitress looked interesting, too. Even her limp didn’t mar her beauty. Maybe it would be a pleasant distraction to get to know her while he was here. On the other hand, the beautiful woman who marched into the restaurant with the intention of eating with the sheriff was definitely interesting. She might be one it would be interesting to break, but he might not be here long enough for that.
Deciding he’d think about women later
, Virgil removed his hat. Putting it on the dresser, he then removed his clothes. He was tired after that long stage ride, and he was ready for a rest. If he slept all night, well and good. He had a week at least to do what he came to Settlers Ridge to do. No need to rush himself.
He got into bed and smiled when he pulled up the crisp clean sheet. Yes, his time here would work out the way he wanted it to, he was almost sure of that. With these thoughts, it only took a matter of minutes and he was sound asleep.
Chapter 9
Lance shook the door of Brown’s Mercantile. It was securely locked. So far, the town was locked up safely for the night and he had only a few more doors to check before he headed back to the hotel. It was then he saw Charles Fielding walking toward him in the vicinity of the livery stable. Fielding waved and Lance paused until the banker caught up with him.
“What’s on your mind, Charles?”
“It’s probably nothing, Lance, but I want to mention it to you, just in case something comes up.” Charles came up on the plank sidewalk beside the sheriff. “I’ve been out to the Circle 2.”
Lance interrupted. “I hope you’re not going to say there’s trouble between you and Elizabeth Donahue.”
Charles smiled. “Absolutely not. Things are going fine there. I plan to ask the woman to marry me soon.”
“I think that’s great. It’s been over a year since Rafe Donahue died and everybody knows how much you think of Elizabeth.”
“I do, and believe it or not I’ve already discussed the fact I want to marry her with her daughter, Amelia. She’s supportive of us and so is her husband, Jed. I can’t wait to tell everyone in town when it happens. In the meantime, I’d appreciate you keeping it quiet until I ask the women for her hand.”
“I’m not going to say a word since it’s really none of my business.”
Charles chuckled. “How about you? I hear from Hal Cramer you may be asking his daughter to marry you any day now.”
Lance shook his head. “Hal’s having delusions. There’s no way in hell I’d ever ask Juliette Cramer to marry me. I’d rather marry Effie Vaughn.”
Charles laughed out loud. “Now that I’d like to see, but I think you’d be better off with pretty little Grace. She’s such a wonderful woman and Frank and Henrietta think of her as family, not just a waitress at the hotel.”
Not wanting to get into a discussion about his personal life, Lance said, “You know me, Charles. I like playing the field. There’re several pretty young ladies in Settlers Ridge. I don’t intend to settle down with any of them for some time yet.”
“Just thought I’d let you know what I thought about you and Grace.”
“Now that we have our love lives settled, what did you want to tell me?”
“I talked this over with Jed while I was at the ranch, and he suggested I tell you what’s going on.” When Lance said nothing, Charles went on. “Old man McCormick came in with a couple of men and signed over his ranch to one of them. I had a strange feeling about the whole thing. Especially since one of them is a gambler.”
Lance lifted an eyebrow. “Was there some reason you didn’t trust him, or are you telling me that there’s a rich gambler in town?”
“Maybe a little of both. I just thought I’d mention it.
“His name wouldn’t be Nelson Parnell, would it?”
“Yeah. Do you know him?”
“I’ve met him. Ned said he’d been in the saloon gambling several times. From what I know, he’s not a very pleasant man.” Lance chuckled. “It might be because I put his son in jail.”
“Well, there may not be a thing to it, but I wanted to let you know Jed and I had questions about the man and why a big time gambler would want to settle down in a small place like Settlers Ridge.”
“Thanks, Charles. I’ll keep my eyes open.”
The two men parted and Lance continued on his way to the hotel. He wasn’t sure why he was looking forward to getting there. Maybe it was the food, but more than likely it was because Grace looked so fetching with the smudge of flour on her cheek. A smudge he knew would have mortified her if she knew it was there.
He shook his head and reminded himself that Grace was his sister’s friend. Not someone who he should be having these thoughts about. Especially when he knew he was nothing to her except a good friend and a person who she could count on to help her when she needed it. The big brother that he’d always been to her. He’d be much better off if he thought about one of the other single women in Settlers Ridge or on one of the ranches or farms. Lily Bedford had shown an interest in him the day he went out to the Bedford ranch to check on her pa’s stolen cattle. Lily was probably around twenty-two or twenty-three and a fairly good-looking woman. Maybe he should spend some time at the Bedford ranch. It would help keep him focused on what he should be thinking at this time in his life.
Again, he shook his head. Why was he thinking these thoughts? Of course, he occasionally thought about settling down and having a family, but he was in no hurry to get married. Though he would be thirty a year from now, he felt he still had plenty of time to settle on a wife.
A chuckle slipped out as he thought he knew at least one man who was eager to get him locked down and married to his daughter. But unless he’d completely misjudged her, which he was sure he hadn’t, he’d stay a bachelor until the day he died before he hooked his life with a woman like Juliette Cramer.
As he passed Miss Purdy’s Dress Shop he frowned and his mind became alert. Though the place was dark, he was sure he saw the flash of a match then he heard a strange sound. A sound that shouldn’t be coming from inside a place of business this time of night.
Moving to the door he tried the knob and was surprised to find it easily turned. He drew his gun, pushed the door open, and edged inside. Waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark, a deep whisper floated to his ears.
“I told you to be careful, Kemp. We don’t want to attract any attention.”
“I don’t want to do this, Dade. I told you, I ain’t no thief.”
“Shut up or I’ll shoot you just like I said I would. Now, do what I told you to do.”
“I can’t. I ain’t used to looking around in the dark. Why can’t we light a lamp? I can’t see nary a thing in here.”
“Somebody would see the light, you idiot.”
“You’re the idiot if you think you’re gonna to find any money in here in the dark. Let’s get out of here before somebody catches us.”
“Ain’t nobody gonna catch us, Kemp. Now do you want me to shoot you?”
“No.”
“Then do what I tell you.”
Following the sound of the voices, Lance slipped up behind the two men. “Put your hands above your heads. You’re under arrest.”
“Damn you, Dade. I told you that you ought’en to try to rob the old sewing woman. I didn’t want to do it.”
“Shut up, fool.”
“Don’t make a move. I have my gun trained on you.” Lance moved to the table and struck a match. He lit the oil lamp sitting here. “Well, if it isn’t the famous drinking buddies.”
Dade looked at Lance as if he’d hit him if he thought he could get away with it.
Kemp, on the other hand, said, “Oh come on, Sheriff Lance. I ain’t hurt nobody. Dade jest wanted a little money so he could buy a bottle or two. He made me come with him.”
Lance ignored him. “Where’s Miss Purdy?”
Dade squinted his eyes, looked furious, but said nothing.
Kemp nodded toward the back that led to the apartment where Miss Purdy lived. “She’s back there.”
“All right, you two, head that way.”
In the front room of the apartment, Miss Purdy sat on the yellow and blue flowered settee. Her hands and feet were tied and there was a gag in her mouth.
“Untie her, Kemp,” Lance ordered.
Kemp hurried to the sofa. His fingers shook and he fumbled, but eventually untied the woman.
As soon as her mouth was uncovered,
she gasped, then said in one breath, “Oh, Sheriff, I’m so glad to see you. These two came in when I was closing the shop and pushed me back here and demanded my money. When I kept telling them I’d already taken the money to the bank, they didn’t believe me. They tied me up and then started searching the place. I hope they haven’t made a big mess in the shop area.”
“Did they hurt you, Miss Purdy?”
She pointed at Dade. “I think that one would have, but Kemp wouldn’t let him.”
“You’re sure you’re all right? Do you want to go see Doc Wagner?”
“No. I’m physically fine. The mean one near bout scared me to death when he pushed in the door, but now I’m just good and mad. Scum like him shouldn’t try to rob honest business people and they ought not to make poor dumb people like Kemp help them. They should get a job if they want money.”
Lance nodded. “Why don’t you come and lock the door behind me? I’ll get them behind bars then come back so you can tell me everything they said and did.”
“I’ll be happy to do that, Sheriff.”
* * * *
Three hours had passed since Lance had said he’d come back to eat his supper with her. The front of the hotel was dark and the doors were locked. The Olsen family had finished their meal and gone to their apartment. Effie had eaten, cleaned the kitchen and retired to her rooms behind the kitchen.
Grace couldn’t help smiling when she thought of Effie and her rooms behind the kitchen. It surprised them all when the cook announced that she was going to sell her house and move into those rooms permanently. She said it made sense. Here she wouldn’t be alone any longer. She’d have all of them and they seemed like family to her. Then Grace’s mind slid back to Lance.
Toying with the potatoes on her plate, Grace, the only one still up, sat at the kitchen table with a small oil lamp burning beside her. Since she’d waited to see if Lance was coming back to eat, she’d put off eating until now. She couldn’t understand why she was so disappointed that the sheriff hadn’t returned like he said he would. She had no right to feel this way, but she couldn’t help it. Someway, somehow she’d let her feelings toward this man run amuck. She knew better, but it hadn’t stopped her. Why couldn’t she let things stay the way they’d been since she was a little girl?
Grace's Dream Page 8