by Chloe Carley
But Scout turned her head away and Thomas sighed, stepping up onto the veranda of the sheriff’s office and looking out over the dusty street.
Something’s not right about all this and Aline’s the one mixed up in it all now, he thought, wondering what the next few days in Lakestone would bring. And how long it would be before there was trouble at Lampeter Ranch.
Chapter Eleven
Aline watched as Thomas drove the trap back up the track toward Lakestone. He’d been so good to her, but it seemed odd how reluctant he’d been to leave her behind. She was pondering it, just as Harrison stepped forward and placed his hand upon her shoulder, startling her and causing her to jump.
“Mrs. Hale, come along inside. You’ll be pleased to know that Clarence and Hector have got their own beds in the bunkhouse over yonder. You’ll not see much of them and I myself need to be getting away this afternoon, so you’ll have the place to yourself while you settle in,” Harrison said, leading her back toward the ranch house.
“That’s very kind of you, but…” she began.
“Don’t you worry about what the sheriff said. You’ll get no trouble from outlaws out here; Clarence and Hector have got a shotgun apiece and they’ll be keeping a good eye on things. All you need to worry about is making yourself feel at home,” Harrison replied, smiling, his tongue tracing its way across his teeth.
Aline followed him into the ranch house, which she was surprised to find was well furnished and comfortable. Sammy let out a meow and she put his basket down on the floor, kneeling to open up the flaps.
“Poor cat, I nearly forgot about you, Sammy. Here you go, now don’t go running off,” she said, as the cat ran out into the parlor.
“I’m sure he’ll be quite happy,” Harrison said, leaning down and holding out his hand for the cat to come sniff at.
But Sammy ran in the opposite direction, through a door into the bedroom beyond.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Knox. I don’t know what’s gotten into him,” Aline said, but Mr. Knox just shook his head and smiled.
“Animals are funny things. All right then, Mrs. Hale, I shall leave you to settle in and wish you a good day,” he said and, tipping his hat to her, he stepped back out onto the veranda, leaving Aline to survey her new home.
What a charming little house, she thought, looking around at the well-appointed parlor.
She’d rather expected a more basic set up, but the parlor was nicely furnished. It was still a far cry from her former home in Massachusetts but there was a comfortable chair by the stove, a well-scrubbed table and benches, cooking implements, and a range. It was all just as it should be and she smiled to herself as she opened cupboards and investigated the bedrooms.
“We’ll be quite happy here, Sammy,” she said out loud, as the cat emerged from one of the bedrooms.
There were two rooms at the back of the house, leading off the parlor, and a ladder leading to the roof space above. It was clear that one of the bedrooms belonged to Mr. Knox and so she took the other for herself, setting down her bags and sitting on the bed for a moment to reflect.
I can just picture my mother and father here, she thought, leaning down to stroke Sammy, who was purring around her legs.
She felt a real sense of rightness about Lampeter Ranch and any worries about the outlaws had clean disappeared from her mind. Mr. Knox couldn’t have been kinder and she had no concerns about residing at the ranch alone while he was away.
It was that thought which jolted her back to her senses and reminded her that she was here thanks to grace and favor. She’d a job to do and the role of housekeeper wouldn’t just see to itself. But where to start? Aline had never so much as dusted a vase, let alone acted as housekeeper in a strange house. The thought of it all was quite daunting.
“Now, how did Sarah go about things?” she said out loud, thinking back to her loyal maid in Massachusetts.
The answer, of course, was that Sarah had been so used to it that the chores of the house had appeared effortless. But Aline was at something of a loss. She searched in several of the cupboards before retrieving a large feather duster with something of an air of satisfaction.
“Here we are, Sammy. I’ll dust the house, that seems a good start,” she said, holding up the duster as though it were some totem or prize she now wielded.
Aline really had little idea of what she was doing and, if anything, she merely moved dust from one surface to another. But the process was strangely satisfying and, as she went about her work, she began to hum to herself, a tune she remembered from her childhood.
Soon, she was entirely absorbed in her work. She went from room to room and dusted just about anything she could find, even Sammy, who sneezed violently in a cloud of dust which rose up from the mantelpiece and sent him running into the back bedrooms for cover.
“Silly cat, it’s just a little dust,” Aline said, laughing, as she too began to sneeze.
When the fullness of domestic duty had been accomplished, at least in Aline’s opinion, she found herself feeling rather hungry. It seemed an age since she and Thomas had enjoyed breakfast together at Lita Morrell’s and she began to hunt through the pantry for something to eat.
Though I don’t remember the last time I cooked anything, she thought to herself, looking at the tins of corned beef and packets of dried beans stacked up below the range.
In the pantry, there was a side of bacon and several packets of crackers, the salted kind she recognized from back home in Massachusetts.
“That’s what we’ll have, Sammy. Bacon and crackers,” she said, rather missing the hospitality of Lita Morrell’s.
But needs must be met, and soon she’d sliced the bacon and put it into a pan on the range, which she’d stoked up with kindling from the wood pile outside. The bacon began sizzling and she emptied out a pack of crackers onto a plate, laying it on the table and feeling rather proud of herself for her efforts.
I’m sure I’ll get the hang of all this eventually, she thought, looking around the parlor with a sense of ownership.
She glanced out of the window across the yard. The evening was drawing in now, and she could see a light burning in the bunk house. She felt reassured by the presence of Mr. Knox’s ranch hands, for she would not like the idea of being out here on the prairie all alone. The smell from the pan brought her back with a start and she hurried over to the range as the parlor began to fill with smoke.
“Oh, no,” she cried, picking up the pan, in which the bacon had burnt to a crisp. “I guess it’ll still taste all right.”
Her first forays into the culinary arts had not been entirely successful but Aline sat down that evening to a simple meal, with Sammy purring on her lap. He refused point blank to eat the bacon but a can of sardines sufficed him and, as night fell, Aline couldn’t help but feel at home in the cozy parlor of Lampeter Ranch.
She sat for a while in the chair by the range, reading by the oil lamp and gradually falling asleep. As she closed her eyes, Aline pictured her parents sat at the table playing cards, or her mother cooking at the range.
She baked the best cakes in the county, that’s what my aunt always said, Aline thought to herself, hoping that eventually, she’d be able to emulate her mother’s domestic skills.
But that could wait, for right now, Aline felt happy at Lampeter Ranch and she went to bed that night with a sense that the place was home. A home for her and Sammy, a new start and a new life.
***
Thomas did not pass a restful night at Lita Morrell’s boarding house. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep and worrying about Aline. He felt foolish for doing so, after all, she was a plucky woman with an independent spirit. But independent or not, there was no counting for what Harrison had planned, nor for what reason he wanted her mixed up in it all. The thought made Thomas restless and eventually he rose, dressing hurriedly and making his way downstairs. Lita Morrell was just preparing the dining room for breakfast and she was surprised as Thomas hurried past.
; “Sheriff? You aren’t going out before breakfast, are you?” she asked and Thomas nodded.
“I can’t sleep, I keep thinking about Mrs. Hale out at Lampeter Ranch with…” Thomas began, but Lita Morrell concluded his sentence.
“Harrison Knox? Yes, I’ve been thinking about her, too, there’s something not right about it. When have you ever known Harrison Knox do anyone a favor?” Lita Morrell asked, and Thomas nodded again.
His hostess didn’t know of the relationship between the two half-brothers. But Thomas knew that Lita knew enough of Harrison to realize he was bad news and that Aline was better off keeping well away from him.
“Something just doesn’t sit right,” he said, “I need to get going.”
“Not without a cup of coffee, Sheriff. Here, take the pot, bring it back to me later,” she said, handing him a coffee pot and an empty cup.
He smiled at her, for Lita Morrell had always taken good care of him.
Outside, Lakestone was only just waking up, but Thomas paid no one any attention, hurrying across to the sheriff’s office with the coffee pot and cup in hand. There was no sign of John Hoskins and no drunks sleeping off their excesses in the jailhouse. Thomas poured himself a cup of coffee and began to pace, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of his half-brother and Aline.
What can you do? he reasoned with himself, feeling his frustration rising. It’s her choice and you’ve no evidence against Harrison, or those other two.
His logic was entirely sound, for whether he personally worried or not, Aline had made her choice. She’d chosen to trust Harrison, for good or ill, and until such time as the situation changed, there was nothing Thomas could do about it.
He banged the coffee pot down on his desk, sending a pile of papers scattering onto the floor. The upturned one was a wanted poster for the bandits and, like it or not, Thomas knew he had a duty to do.
What if Harrison is innocent? You’re spending your whole time chasing after him, while the real outlaws are getting away with it. Come on, man, pull yourself together, he chided himself, stooping to gather up the papers on the floor.
As he did so, the door opened and John Hoskins appeared. He seemed surprised to see Thomas so early and began offering apologies for his absence.
“I was… I was just seeing to…” he began, but Thomas dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
“We’ve both been neglecting our duties a little of late, John. I’ve had Mrs. Hale on my mind and now she’s out at Lampeter Ranch, I can’t help but feel worried as to what’s going to happen to her,” Thomas admitted, laying the papers back on his desk.
“Well, I don’t see what you can do about it, Sheriff,” the deputy replied, somewhat bluntly.
I could arrest my half-brother on suspicion of just about every crime in this county, Thomas thought, but instead of speaking his mind, he just nodded.
“You’re right, John. We’ve got outlaws chasing around the district and a list of felonies as long as both our arms to investigate. Maybe Mayor Gould was right,” Thomas said.
“Now, enough of that talk, Sheriff. You do a lot of good in this town and folks appreciate that—so does Mrs. Hale by the looks of it, too. She’s sure made an impression; I heard her name mentioned three times as I walked here today,” the deputy said.
Thomas smiled. Aline certainly was a striking figure. She’d stir things up in sleepy Lakestone, that was for sure. Still, he couldn’t help but be worried about her. He thought about riding out to Lampeter Ranch that morning, but what would he say? Harrison would be angry at him for interfering and dangle the secret of their brotherly relationship over him once more.
No, I need to get on with my job, he determined, nodding to the deputy and taking up his hat.
“I’m going to ride up to Lakestone Creek Ranch. That’s the last place anyone had positive sighting of the outlaws, perhaps I can pick up the trail or something,” Thomas said. “I can’t just sit here all day and wait for something to happen.”
“I’ll keep an eye on things here,” John Hoskins replied and Thomas smiled at him.
“Are you sure you won’t be distracted by thoughts of Susan Ford?” he said.
“She’s pretty, but if you can distract yourself from Mrs. Hale, then I’m sure I can put Susan out of my mind for a few hours,” the deputy replied, grinning at Thomas.
“Mrs. Hale and I are… friends. I barely know her,” Thomas replied and with that he stepped out onto the veranda.
What nonsense, Aline is a delightful woman, though… his own thoughts betrayed him.
Thomas would never have behaved in this way toward just any woman. There were plenty of women in Lakestone who would gladly have allowed the sheriff to chaperone them, but few he would’ve wished to do so for. Aline was different, he’d known that as soon as he’d laid eyes on her at Lakestone station, when she’d disembarked from the train. He wanted to know her better and, if he were truthful, his desire to return to Lampeter Ranch had as much to do with Aline as it did with his suspicious half-brother.
Later, Thomas, he told himself, rounding the corner of the sheriff’s office, where Scout was tethered patiently waiting.
“Will you let me ride you today, then? I promise I’ll not put you anywhere near that trap, those are for ponies to pull,” he said, patting the horse’s mane and untethering her from the post.
Scout whinnied at him and stomped her hoof, but he was soon on her back and trotting out of town. In no time, he was on the trail toward Lakestone Creek Ranch and he kept his wits about him, watching for any sign of bandits on the path.
But it was still early, the path was quiet and a gentle breeze blew across the prairie. The sun had risen well into the sky, but clouds were forming on the horizon and it looked to Thomas like they could expect rain later that day. He didn’t expect to find much up at Lakestone Creek Ranch, but it was better than doing nothing. Thomas hated doing nothing. But he felt confused as to what to do and where to lead the investigation next. He had no leads, only suspicions, and he knew that those suspicions were based as much upon prejudice as they were on fact.
“Harrison could be totally innocent,” he said to himself, though ‘Harrison’ and ‘innocent’ were words rarely used in conjunction.
“Stop there!” and voice came from up ahead, startling Scout and causing Thomas to pull out his pistol.
“Woah there, Robbie, it’s only me, Sheriff Redmond,” Thomas called out as the feisty Scot came running up to him, brandishing a shotgun.
“Oh… Sheriff, sorry, I… we’ve been a bit wary since…” Robbie McCain said, lowering the gun and nodding to Thomas, who climbed down off Scout’s back.
“It’s all right, I’d be the same. Have you had any trouble up here?” Thomas asked, as he led the horse towards the ranch.
“It’s been quiet. Too quiet. Neither of us have slept, though, I cannae help but worry that they’ll return,” Robbie replied.
“Lightning never strikes twice, Robbie. They got what they wanted from you. Do you know how many head of cattle you’ve lost?” Thomas asked.
“Aye, twenty, and the rest of them are spooked. We keep havin’ to round them up, Amos is exhausted and I’m close to it,” he replied.
“And if you’re not careful, you’ll shoot someone with that thing,” Thomas warned, pointing to the gun. “Then it’ll be you up before the hanging judge.”
“Are ye any closer to findin’ who did this, Sheriff?” Robbie asked and Thomas shook his head.
“Yours was the last ranch to be hit. Fortunately, we’ve had no more lives lost, but I’m determined to find who killed Jeremiah. I won’t rest until I do. That’s why I’ve come up here today—I’m certain we’ve missed something, some lead. I want Amos to show me the trail the cattle took, perhaps I’ll see something new,” Thomas said, though he remained unconvinced by his own words.
It was like looking for a needle in a haystack and, as Thomas gazed out over the gently swaying prairie grass, he wondered whether he’d ever
find justice for his friend.
As they came into the ranch yard, Amos emerged from one of the barns. He too had a shotgun slung over his shoulder, but he nodded to Thomas as he and Robbie approached, pointing to a tethering post by the barn.
“You can tie Scout up there, Sheriff,” he said, but Thomas shook his head.
“I’m not here to pass the time of day, Amos. I want you to take me out on the trail where the cattle were hustled. There’s got to be more to this than I saw at first,” Thomas said.
The two ranch hands looked at one another and shook their heads.
“You won’t find anything, Sheriff. The cattle are gone,” Amos replied.
“So, what do you want me to do? Nothing? Do you want these outlaws caught, or not?” Thomas said. “They killed your foreman. Don’t you want to see them hanged?”