“Yes, I should be quite comfortable,” Jack answered, looking around the room. “Is there a place I can put these to have them cleaned?”
Willa raised her eyebrows. Surely he didn’t expect her to wash his dirty laundry. “There’s a laundry across the street. You can take them there once you’ve eaten. In the meantime, just lay them in a chair next to you.”
Jack nodded taking a seat next to the chair where he’d dropped his soiled clothing.
“So what brings you to Blessings Valley?” Willa asked taking the plate of eggs, bacon, and biscuits and gravy from the tray, and placing them in front of Jack.
“I’m here to investigate the mining accident for one of the families,” Jack answered digging into the food as if he hadn’t eaten for a month. “I don’t plan on being here very long though. Once I inspect the mine and talk to a few of the miners, I’ll be on my way.”
“You think you’ll find out what caused it after all these months?” Willa asked doubtful there was any evidence left to investigate. The mine had reopened less than a month after the explosion, any evidence of foul play was long gone. “I thought it had been determined to be gas that caused the explosion.”
“The family I’m working for isn’t satisfied with that explanation.” Jack shoveled another fork full of food into his mouth followed by a swig of coffee. “And they would like their son’s belongings returned to them. Provided, of course, that I can find them.”
“Slow down. I don’t what you chocking to death at my table,” Willa exclaimed, fighting the urge to remove the plates from in front of him. Instead, she tried to remember if any of the deceased had been single. She came up empty-handed in her memory of even one. So chances were one of the widows was going to feel the pain all over again, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
“Sorry if I’ve forgotten my manners. It has been some time since I had a good home cooked meal.” Jack said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Do you provide meals all day?”
“Thank you and no, I don’t. Breakfast is at eight and dinner at seven,” Willa answered. She was starting to like this young man. There was something about him that made her believe he was a good, God-fearing man. A man that would be good for Vera. Now if he’d only be around long enough for her to make sure they spent some time together.
“On occasion, I may prepare lunch, but not very often. Otherwise, I’d suggest Miller’s Café. The restaurant at the Grand may be a bit more than you’d want to spend. The food at both are equally as good,” she said. “The decision is up to you.”
“Good to know, thank you for the advice,” Jack said, folding his napkin onto his plate.
“Jack, I know how investigations go,” Willa said, standing to gather the dishes. “Are you at liberty to say which family you are working for?”
“I don’t see any harm,” Jack answered, collecting his clothes to be laundered. “Baldwin.”
“Thomas Baldwin?” Willa asked, surprised Vera hadn’t said anything. Did she even know?
“Yes, Thomas Baldwin,” Jack confirmed as he walked toward the door. “Since he didn’t have family here, I suspect it will be a quick and easy investigation.”
Stunned, Willa watched Jack walk out the door. As he crossed the street toward Nana’s Laundry, she knew who he reminded her of.
Vera’s late husband Thomas.
Wally strolled across the main street of Blessings Valley assessing the town. A dry goods store. One bank. A saloon. A hotel that looked too rich for even him to stay in it.
There was a newspaper office he’d noticed on his way back from the livery earlier this morning. It was top of his list of where to start asking questions after he deposited his dirty clothes at the laundry.
With any luck, he’d be able to get a small picture of the life his brother led after leaving the family behind. Two years felt like just yesterday, yet it felt like forever since Wally had watched his mother cry as Thomas ride away and never looked back.
Shaking the image away, he stepped through the open door of the laundry. It was as hot and humid inside as it was outside. When the young lady at the counter turned around his heart flipped upside down. She was beautiful. Dark brown hair. Green eyes flecked with gold. The smile on her face that made him think he’d gone to Heaven, didn’t match the sadness in her eyes.
“Can I help you?” she asked, placing an empty basket on the counter.
“Um, yea, I have a few things that need to be washed,” Wally stammered nearly dropping his bundle on the floor.
“You can put them in here,” she said pushing the basket toward him. “You’re not from Blessings Valley, are you?”
“No, I’m here on…” Wally began then deciding the fewer people knew why he was in town the more forthcoming they may be with information. “I’m just passing through.”
“I saw you this morning riding up to Willa’s,” she said, writing out a ticket as she inspected his clothes.
“You are quite observant,” Wally said, offering his hand to her. “I’m Jack Daniels, but everyone just calls me, Jack. Or whiskey,” he laughed.
“I can’t understand why,” she said sarcastically, her gaze assessing him closely. “These aren’t heavily soiled, I’ll do my best to see if we can get your things back to you tonight. I must pick up a few things from the boardinghouse before going home. If they are done, I’ll bring them with me. You can pay for everything then. Do you want them pressed as well?”
“Thank you,” Wally nodded wishing he would be staying around long enough to find out more about her. She may have some valuable information about his brother. “Have a good day.”
“You also, Mr. Daniels,” the young lady said, the gold flecks in her eyes sparkled briefly with suspicion.
Wally walked out the door then jogged across the street and up the steps of the Blessings Valley Chronicle.
“I’ll be with you in a moment,” the man bent over the printing press called out at the jingle of the bell above the door.
“Of course,” Wally answered walking around the newspaper office. One by one he strolled pass copies of the paper on the wall. Each was a copy of that edition’s biggest headlines. From tornadoes to the hotel he’d seen.
Then there it was. The front page regarding the mining accident. And another about the findings of the investigation.
Wally’s blood ran cold as he read the short articles and looked at the picture of the closed mine opening. Not much information was given; there was nothing about an investigation after the explosion.
His brother had died in the explosion. What Wally read wasn’t enough. He wanted answers to take back home to their parents. To let them know where their estranged son is buried and what kind of a life he had led.
“That mining accident is a tragedy many of us are still reeling from,” the man’s voice came from behind Wally. “The only blessing is that more men weren’t killed.”
Turning around, Wally roped in his emotions. “What happened?”
“A gas leak, that’s what the inspector said. Not that is has helped the widows who stayed behind,” the man said shaking his head. “The crew was coming out for lunch when it happened.
Wally’s stomach churned at the thought of those wives staying behind. Didn’t they have family to care for them?
“It must have been hard for them to go back to their families without their husbands,” Wally mused approaching the man. “You said a few stayed behind? How many?”
The man looked at him suspicion darkening his eyes. “If you don’t mind me askin’, what business is it of yours?”
“I’ve been hired by one of the families to find out what happened,” Wally extended a hand in greeting. “My name is Jack Daniels.”
“Humph! Was your father a drunkard to name you after whiskey?” the man smiled slightly, grasping Wally’s extended offering. “Clint Wagner and I will tell you straight up. Blessings Valley is protective of the widows who still live here,’ Clint warned, looking Wally over a b
it closer. “Have you been in town before? You look familiar.”
“A lot of people have told me that over the years. Guess I have one of those faces,” Wally answered attempting to keep from falling down the rabbit hole of Clint Wagner’s suspicions.
“Humph, be careful what and who you ask about the mining accident or the widows,” Clint warned. “Or you may find yourself buried next to the miners.”
“I’ll heed your warning. Thank you, Clint,” Wally nodded then walked out the door. Standing on the top step, he looked up and down the street deciding where to go next.
“I’ll be heading home now, Millie,” Vera called out, placing a ticket on top of the freshly pressed clothes in a basket labeled J Daniels.
Mollie came out from the back, wiping soap suds from her red hands. “Will you drop off the basket for Mr. Daniels at Willa’s then?”
“Yes, and I’ll pick up Willa’s linens in the morning if that is all right,” Vera asked placing a hand on her lower back and stretching the stiffness out. “As well as Mr. Daniel’s payment.”
“You need to slow down, Vera,” Mollie said concern on her face. “I worry about you this early in—”
“Mollie, there is nothing to worry about with me. I am fine,” Vera protested knowing she should confirm Millie’s suspicions about her pregnancy.
So many times Vera had wanted to tell the kindly woman it was none of her concern. She was a grown woman and could take care of herself. Even if deep inside, Vera wondered if she’d be able to care for her baby. Thomas’s baby.
With no family now other than the good people of Blessings Valley. Thomas never spoke of any so she presumed he had none.
As for her own family, there were enough mouths to feed without adding two more onto her parents’ burden. Vera would survive and make a home for herself and her little one.
“Go on home then. I’ll see you in the morning,” Mollie shook her head giving up on the lecture Vera thought would be coming. Mollie was a kindly woman and Vera liked her very much. “Stop at Willa’s on the way here in the morning.”
“Thank you, Mollie,” Vera smiled relieved that she’d be going home and getting off her feet for the rest of the day.
Coming Soon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maxine Douglas first began writing in the early 1970s while in high school. She took every creative writing course offered at the time and focused her energy for many years after that on poetry. It wasn't until a dear friend's sister revealed she was about to become a published author that jumpstarted Maxine into getting the ball rolling; she finished her first manuscript in a month's time.
Maxine Douglas and her late husband moved to Oklahoma in 2010 from Wisconsin. Since then Maxine has rekindled her childhood love of westerns. She has four children, two granddaughters, and a German Shorthair Pointer named Missy. And many friends she now considers her Oklahoma family.
One of the things Maxine has learned over the years is that you can never stop dreaming and reaching for the stars. Sooner or later you touch one and it'll bring you more happiness than you can ever imagine. Maxine feels lucky, and blessed, that over the past several years she's been able to reach out and touch the stars--and she's still reaching.
Maxine loves to hear from her readers. So, come on by and say “Hello”; Maxine would love to hear from you.
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Elizabeth (Widows of Blessings Valley Book 1) Page 19