Renegade

by Anna Schmidt

  Cody wandered into the small room off the main lobby. Books filled the shelves along one wall, two small tables near the windows were set for games of chess or checkers, and a desk stocked with hotel stationery, pen, and ink waited for any guest wanting to write a letter or record an entry in a travel journal. A settee and two upholstered chairs completed the furnishings. Cody sat at one of the gaming tables. He wanted a view of the street. He wanted to see where Victor went after the livery. Would he return to the hotel, or was the man leaving town?

  “My apologies for keeping you waiting,” Aidan said as he pulled out the chair opposite Cody. It always took Cody back a bit to realize that, in spite of his prissy, formal attire, Aidan Campbell was solidly built. His formal clothing was filled out by a well-muscled upper body. Cody wondered if others misjudged the man’s physical power as well.

  Cody took out his notebook, turning to the notes he’d made during his meeting with Ty Drake. “La Casita was able to keep news of the robbery fairly contained,” he said. “Fred Harvey’s son came down to check things out and threw his weight around with Sheriff Drake and the city fathers.”

  Aidan nodded. “I can imagine. Mr. Harvey is most protective of the reputation of his holdings, and his son has learned his ways. They’ve made enough of a success of things that he can indeed influence others.”

  “Have you sent word to the Harveys that there might be trouble coming here at the Palace?”

  Aidan glanced out the window. “I’d rather keep that between us for the time being.” He nodded toward Cody’s notebook. “Anything substantial we could use?”

  “Not really. Drake thinks it was at least partly an inside job.”

  “One of the employees?” It was evident from his shock that Aidan could not imagine such betrayal from anyone on his staff.

  “There was a waitress. She got hooked up with Victor Johnson, apparently told the other girls he had proposed. He left town, but she was so sure he’d come back for her that she quit her job, spent all her money on things for the wedding. Once she realized he’d abandoned her, she left town.”

  “And went where?”

  Cody shook his head. “Nobody seems to know. She’s got no family—she was raised in an orphanage back in St. Louis.”

  “Did you ask Mr. Johnson about her?”

  “Not yet. Until I can figure out how Jake was tied to all this, I’d rather lie low.”

  Aidan bristled. “Jake Collier was one of the finest, most honest men it has ever been my privilege to know. If you are thinking that there is a plan in motion that involves the assistance of someone on staff to make it work, I can assure you that Jake is—was—not that person.”

  “I agree. But the night he was attacked, he was scared, Aidan. Somebody had threatened him. Or maybe threatened to harm someone he cared about.”

  “Lily?”

  “Look, Aidan, I don’t want to think either Jake or Lily is somehow connected with this business, but they are the only two people in Juniper who I can say with certainty knew Johnson and have had dealings with him.”

  Aidan’s eyes widened as he repeated, “Lily? Our Lily is acquainted with this man?”

  Cody had gone too far. He’d forgotten Aidan was Lily’s boss and her previous association with Johnson could get her fired if Aidan knew the extent of it. “He’s been sniffing around her, coming to the counter since she’s been filling in for the new girl. He makes her nervous.”

  The explanation appeared to satisfy Aidan. “He does have a way of flirting, even with one or two of our female guests. Perhaps I should have a word with him.”

  “Just keep an eye out. Might make things worse for Lily if he thinks she’s complained to you.”

  Aidan nodded. “You’re right, of course. Nancy should be back to her duties in a couple of days, if not sooner. Once Lily’s back to her regular shift in the dining room, that should solve the matter. Mr. Johnson does not dine with us in the evenings.”

  “Yeah, I noticed that as well. Wonder why that is.” Cody hadn’t given Victor’s eating habits much thought, but now it occurred to him that taking meals in the rundown cantina at the far end of town instead of the hotel might have something to do with the second, still-unidentified man Lily had seen with Jake that night. He made a mental note to look into that. “In the meantime, you’ll need extra security for any cash or valuables the hotel may be holding.”

  “The payroll arrives at the end of the week,” Aidan said. “That’s also when I withdraw the money I’ve deposited in the bank and send it back to headquarters.”

  “Why don’t you pay your people out of those funds first before sending the rest on to headquarters?”

  Aidan shrugged. “That would seem sensible, but the receipts determine staffing. If business slows or gets more demanding, staffing is adjusted to react to those numbers, while payroll is based on the information headquarters received two weeks ago. It’s a way of keeping control of profits and expenses.”

  Cody tapped his pencil on the table as he tried to think of some way they might throw a wrench into a theoretical robber’s plans. “No doubt whoever is in charge of the gang that hit La Casita knows the schedule. So what if, instead of delivering the payroll here, it was stored in the safe at the bank instead? Your employees could pick up their wages there, at least until the coast is clear.”

  “Of course. That makes a good deal of sense, especially since it removes any danger of guests getting caught up in a robbery.” Aidan stood and offered Cody a handshake. “I’ll see to it at once. We may not be able to prevent the scoundrels from striking, but we can limit the amount of damage they might do.”

  Cody accepted the man’s firm handshake. At least they had come up with a plan that might keep the hotel guests—and the girls who served them—safe.

  Through the window, he saw Johnson outside the livery, holding a horse’s bridle while the blacksmith saddled it up. Cody watched until Johnson mounted and rode out of town, noting the direction he went. There was nothing that way but canyons and mountains and desert for miles. Unless he was doubling back somewhere, the only possibility Cody could think of was that Johnson was on his way to meet someone.

  Cody sprinted across the plaza to where his horse was tied to a hitching post. Since learning of the robbery in Santa Fe, he’d developed the habit of being ready at a moment’s notice in case of trouble. He loosened the reins, mounted, and took off in the opposite direction. He wasn’t about to follow Johnson directly. He knew these back trails better than anyone, and he knew how to circle up and around so he could observe Johnson’s movements without being seen. With any luck, Victor Johnson was finally about to make a mistake and expose himself for the outlaw Cody suspected him to be.

  * * *

  Every seat in the dining room was filled, and the girls hustled to get the passengers from the four o’clock train served and on their way. When the doors to the kitchen swung open on cue and the scent of sizzling steak wafted across the room, Lily turned. She half expected to see Jake with the large meat tray poised on the flat of one hand high above his head, his grin testament to how much he enjoyed this moment of being center stage. But of course, it wasn’t him carrying the tray. Tears filled Lily’s eyes as they did every time she watched George Keller set the tray on a counter and carve the meat into portions. The girls hurried to plate the meat and deliver the meals to their assigned tables.

  “Steady there,” George said in a low bass voice as he plopped thick slices of beef onto the plates Lily offered. He glanced at her, and she saw his eyes were also glistening. “Jake would want us to do this right.”

  She nodded and forced a smile as she delivered the plates to her tables. But her chest filled with loneliness. It surprised her to realize how much Jake’s friendship had meant to her. Losing him was like losing a brother. He’d been family. She thought of happier days when she, Jake, Emma, and Grace would sit t
ogether on the veranda long after the hotel guests had gone inside for the night. Jake would keep them entertained with wild tales of his adventures working for the Harvey Company. Emma and Lily suspected he exaggerated the details for Grace’s sake, teasing the naïve girl.

  Now Grace had moved on to married life and was soon to be a mother as well. Lily and Emma hadn’t seen Grace since Jake’s funeral thanks to her confinement, and they both missed her terribly. Later, as they sat together catching a bit of night air before climbing the stairs to their room, Lily reached over and took hold of Emma’s hand. “We never had our visit with Grace. Let’s go Sunday after church.”

  “What a good idea,” Emma readily agreed. “I’ll ask Aidan…”

  “No. Just us girls this time, okay?”

  Emma pursed her lips. “And how will we get there? I’ve seen you on a horse, Lily, and…well, it wasn’t exactly…”

  “We’ll rent a buggy. You can drive.” Like Grace, Emma had grown up on a farm. Surely, she was familiar with things like horses and wagons and such. “How hard can it be?”

  Emma burst into laughter. “Oh, Lily, if only every woman had your confidence, we could rule the world.”

  “You’ll do it then?”

  “On one condition.”

  Lily narrowed her eyes. Emma’s “conditions” could sometimes ruin the best of plans. “And that is?”

  “We have a man accompany us at least as far as the Lombard ranch. Nick can meet us there and see us safely to their cabin.”

  “That’s ridiculous!”

  “Need I remind you that there are unsavory sorts around, Lily? Two women alone in the countryside? Not a sensible idea.”

  She had a point. “All right, but not Aidan, okay? I don’t want to watch every word that comes out of my mouth, and the way Victor has been dogging me these last few days, I could easily slip.”

  “I’ll take care of it. You talk to George about preparing a lunch for us to take. I don’t want Grace fussing over us in her condition.”

  Lily smothered a yawn. “Deal,” she agreed. “One more day at the counter and then I can finally sleep another hour in the mornings.” She stood and stretched. “Coming?”

  “Right behind you.”

  * * *

  In spite of her double shifts, Lily was in an especially good mood when she hurried through the kitchen the following morning. “George, could you put up a picnic for a few people for Sunday? Emma and I are going to see Grace after church.”

  George nodded. “Give her and Nick our best. Looking forward to seeing that baby. It’s got to be pretty soon, right?”

  “Won’t be long now.” She tied the sash of her apron, smoothed her hair, and stepped around the corner to the counter.

  Victor sat in what had become his usual place. He glanced her way, and Lily’s high spirits plummeted. She prepared his juice and served him. “Will you be having breakfast with us today, Mr. Johnson?”

  “Did you talk to your boss about me, Lily?” He was scowling at her as he drained the juice and set the glass down with more force than necessary.

  “I don’t…I didn’t…”

  “I could ruin you, you know. In more ways than one. I suggest you keep that in mind.” He picked up his hat and left without paying for the juice.

  Lily stood for a moment, speechless with shock. She’d never seen Victor so angry, and his threat frightened her. She watched him stride across the lobby, ignoring Aidan’s greeting as he pushed through the front door. Aidan glanced her way, one eyebrow cocked in a question Lily didn’t know how to answer. She smiled and went to greet another customer. As for the juice, she could either report that to Aidan or pay out of pocket. She decided the latter was the wiser choice.

  The morning dragged on. Lily went through the routine of serving and clearing, always smiling, but her mind was frozen in that moment. It was the second part of the threat that ate at her. “In more ways than one,” he’d said. What could he mean by that? Of course, if he told Aidan they were married—or even that she was not as innocent as everyone thought—Aidan would have no choice but to let her go. She was not the stuff of Harvey Girls.

  But what else?

  She didn’t tell Emma about the encounter. Instead, she focused on getting to Sunday and the visit with Grace. It had been too long since the three friends had been able to enjoy an entire afternoon together.

  During church, she tapped her foot impatiently until Miss Kaufmann rested her hand on Lily’s knee the way she might have quieted a child. Finally, everyone rose for the benediction, the organ music swelled, and the congregation broke into greetings and chatter as everyone moved up the aisle to the exit.

  Outside, Emma linked arms with Lily as they waved goodbye to Miss K and the other girls and headed across the plaza.

  “We have to get the picnic basket,” Lily reminded her friend.

  “Already done.” Emma tightened her hold on Lily’s arm as she smiled and waved to the man seated in the driver’s seat of the wagon.

  “You didn’t,” Lily blurted when Cody Daniels grinned and tipped two fingers to his hat before climbing down to wait for them.

  Emma pulled her forward, relentless. “Everyone I asked was already engaged for the afternoon. And then Cody overheard me asking Frank Tucker at the mercantile and offered. Well, what was I to say?”

  “A simple ‘No thank you’ would have worked nicely,” Lily grumbled. She had worked out that Cody must have said something to Aidan about Victor bothering her. Then Aidan had spoken to Victor—which made Cody the reason Victor had threatened her. She was sure of it. All the more reason to keep her distance. He meant well, no doubt, but he wasn’t aware of Victor’s threat. “I thought the idea was for someone to take us to the ranch and then go away.”

  Emma pointed to Cody’s horse tied to the rear of the wagon. “Cody knows the plan. He’ll take us to the ranch and leave us there. Nick or one of the ranch hands will see us to the cabin and then home again.”

  “I’ll ride in back,” Lily announced.

  “You’ll do no such thing. If you insist, I’ll sit between you and Cody.”

  “I insist,” Lily whispered as they reached the wagon.

  “Ladies,” Cody greeted them. “Ready to go?”

  “This is so kind of you,” Emma said as she accepted his help climbing aboard and settled herself in the middle of the seat.

  Cody turned to Lily and offered her his hand. “My pleasure,” he said, his gaze fixed on her.

  She ignored him and climbed up to the seat without help. While Cody checked his horse, Emma whispered, “I thought you’d be pleased.”

  “You thought wrong,” Lily muttered and immediately regretted her sharp tone. She wasn’t angry at Emma. “I’m sorry. It’s all right,” she assured her. “Don’t let it spoil our day.”

  Cody climbed to his seat next to Emma and took the reins. “Ready, ladies?”

  “Yes,” Emma agreed with a sideways glance at Lily.

  “Lombard Ranch, here we come,” Lily replied. After all, all she needed to do was make it to the ranch without snapping at anyone. Then Cody would leave, and the day could proceed the way she’d imagined—just Grace, Emma, and her. Like old times.

  But even before they reached the ranch, they saw a wagon headed toward them. Nick was driving, accompanied by Grace’s parents. Nick had brought Jim and Mary Rogers to New Mexico to live with him and Grace after finding Grace’s father in poor health. Their doctor had agreed the dry air and warmer temperatures might help. They’d always intended to return to their own farm once Mr. Rogers’s health improved, but this seemed pretty sudden.

  “What’s up, Nick?” Cody asked.

  “I’m taking them to the train,” Nick explained when the two wagons came abreast of each other.

  “We just received word late yesterday one of our older boys was th
rown by his horse,” Grace’s mother explained. “He’s in a bad way and…” She pressed a wadded handkerchief against her lips as if trying to stifle the tears filling her eyes.

  Lily turned her attention to Grace’s father. He had improved a good deal—she’d even seen him about in town once—but she had to wonder if the trip was wise. “Are you sure you’re well enough to travel, Mr. Rogers?”

  He smiled. “Have to be. My boy needs me—he needs us both.”

  “We should get going,” Nick said. “Train won’t wait.”

  “We’ll be back,” Mr. Rogers promised as Nick snapped the reins. “Soon as we’re sure everything’s all right back home.” He wrapped his arm around his wife and pulled her close. “We’ll be back to see that baby, right?”

  Mrs. Rogers sniffled and nodded as she leaned her head on her husband’s shoulder.

  “Don’t worry about Grace,” Lily shouted after them. “Emma and I will take good care of her.” She waved until the dust stirred up by the wagon blotted out the sight of them. “Grace must be so worried,” she murmured as she settled herself again on the seat. And then it struck her. With Nick off to take Mr. and Mrs. Rogers to the train, who would get them from the ranch to the cabin?

  As if he’d read her mind, Cody said, “Well now, I don’t see any reason to stop by the ranch, considering. Might as well head straight for the falls, don’t you think, ladies?” He winked at them.

  “You mean the cabin,” Lily corrected him primly.

  “Okay, the cabin by the falls.” He chuckled.

  The man was laughing at her, and Lily had had quite enough of him. “Just take us to the head of the trail. It’s a lovely day, and Emma and I can walk the rest of the way.”

  He had the audacity to look down at her shoes, expecting no doubt to see the fancy boots she’d worn before. She thrust her foot out at him, exposing not only her sturdy work shoes but a bit of ankle as well.