Texas Lonesome (22 page)

G
irlish laughter seeped into Sidney’s shocked system as Dustin’s proximity kept muddling her thoughts. She still felt his lips on hers, pressing, claiming, even though he’d drawn back.

She swung around to find three girls standing not five feet away, arm in arm, watching them as if she and Dustin were a super-secret science experiment.

“Oh!” Sidney said in surprise, heat springing into her face.

Dustin took a respectable two steps back. She didn’t dare look at him just yet, fearful he’d see just how much his brief kiss had affected her.

“You must be the Knutson girls,” she said, struggling for something to say.

She hoped she hadn’t scandalized them too much with her and Dustin’s behavior. They were sure to tell their mother. They looked young, perhaps somewhere between thirteen and sixteen. All three were tall and slender with the same honey-colored hair that hung down their backs in ringlets. Each had light blue eyes that were uncannily similar. Their dresses of varying shades of blue were each accented by a lovely crochet lace collar and cuffs. So close in appearance, the girls almost looked like triplets.

“My name is Miss Calhoun, and this is Dustin McCutcheon,” she forced out through her lips. “I’ll bet you’re looking for your father. I believe he went into town.”

They unhooked their arms. “No. We’re not looking for Father,” the tallest and apparent oldest said. Her gaze kept slipping back to Dustin’s face. “My name is Breezy Knutson. This is my sister, Sunny Knutson, and our baby sister, Rainey Knutson. We’re pleased to make your acquaintance.” When she smiled and nodded, her golden curls bobbed up and down.

Dustin barked out a laugh. “Let me guess. The other two sisters are named Stormy and Snowflake.”

His earnest glance caused a warm and wonderful sensation inside. When had she let him under her skin?

Dustin in love with her? Could that amazing thought be true? He’d been on her mind almost constantly since the dinner in the alley. Why was fate so cruel? The only man who set her world spinning was an impossibility.

The smallest girl laughed and then snorted. She playfully batted her eyes. “No. You’re wrong, Mr. McCutcheon. Their names are Wendy and Misti. Misti is nineteen and Wendy, the old maid, is twenty-one. But don’t tell her I said so.”

“How unkind!” The second the words were out, Sidney wished she could call them back. “I didn’t mean to say that. I just wonder how . . . how your parents keep you all straight,” she said, unable to come up with an excuse for her surprised outburst. The young girl had seemed so innocent and sweet. “You look so much alike, and with the similar names, telling you apart must get confusing.”

Breezy didn’t look quite so curious anymore. Her lips puckered. “Sometimes.”

Rainey glanced over her shoulder at their house and then wrinkled her petite, upturned nose, scanning the area. She turned back. “What’re you two doing out here anyway? Alone and unchaperoned,” she whispered conspiratorially. “Mama wouldn’t be pleased if one of us was kissing in secret.”

Sidney felt Dustin straighten beside her.

“Rainey!” Breezy said sternly, once again making her curls bounce. “That is
none
of your business!” She held out a placating hand. “Please forgive my little sister, Miss Calhoun. Mama said things out here in Texas were different than in Wisconsin. People are wild and uncouth. They don’t hold to the norms of society. Nevertheless, we’re bound to hold fast to our standards of upbringing and what we’ve been taught, even if we will appear different. That was thoughtless of Rainey to point out your immoral behavior.”

Wonderful. My reputation has been ruined in one swoop of Dustin’s lips.

She cut a censoring gaze to Dustin. “We’re beside the barn,” she said tersely, feeling about a foot tall in the midst of her growing agitation. “
Not
behind it. The gesture was nothing more than a friendly little peck.”

Why she was explaining was beyond her. Except that she had come to love and respect Lily, and didn’t want to bring any shame down on her in any way.

Sidney looked from face to face. Nothing she could say now would change their minds. She was a tainted, loose woman. Probably someone their mother would make them cross the street to avoid.

She let go a breath. “Shall we go back inside with the others? Would you like to meet Lily McCutcheon?”

Sunny, the middle girl who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. “Oh no. We’re not even supposed to be outside without our nanny. We wanted to explore when we heard all the activity out at the barn, and sneaked out. Since Nanny’s still napping and Mother is engrossed with accounting, no one will be the wiser to our investigation. But we better not stay out any longer.”

At that, they smiled before they turned and hurried away.

The girls still have a nanny? Sneaked out? This will be interesting.

As they stepped back inside, Sidney was surprised to find Chaim in the middle of the fray. Lily gazed out a back window, and John was handing Tucker a shovel.

“With all the crates cleared away,” he said, “we’ll level out the dirt footing and begin laying a wooden floor by tomorrow. Things will stay much cleaner if we have a floor.”

Dustin pulled her to a stop and whispered, “Sidney, I’m sorry the girls caught us kissing. I know you’re probably upset about that.”

“We weren’t kissing; you were kissing me. Once. I had nothing to do with it.” She hated to sound so peevish, but a romance with Dustin was bound to end in sorrow. Best to nip the desire in the bud first thing.

He looked at her for a long time, his lips pulling down at the corners. “Whatever you say.” His voice was hard.

She hated hurting his feelings.

“What are you doing for money?” he asked. “Has your father sent the transfer yet?”

“I’m going to the bank this morning on my way to the shop. I’m sure more than I’ll ever need will be waiting.”
I hope the money is there. How nice to have some extra again.

“I wish you would have used the money I left at the hotel. The clerk said you haven’t touched a penny. Seriously, sometimes—”

“I’ve made it this far with no help except the cost of the first telegram. I’ll be fine after today. But I do appreciate your concern,” she said quickly in a low voice. Lily was on her way over and would be there in only a moment.

“What if I told you I might have evidence my pa is innocent of all the charges your pa holds against him? Would that change your mind toward me?”

Sidney’s heart slammed against her breastbone. The feel of Dustin’s lips on hers still had her rattled.

“Do you?”

“I’m working on it. I’ve been busy out at the ranch, but tomorrow—”

“Sidney, are you ready to leave?” Lily asked, touching her arm. “We still have a little time if you’d like to stay and enjoy the sunshine outside. Maybe the Knutsons wouldn’t mind if we walked through their gardens.”

“Actually, Lily, I need to go to the bank. See if the money transfer has arrived.” She glanced over at John and Chaim in conversation. “When did Chaim arrive?”

“Just a few minutes ago. Said Winston was wondering about Dustin, and sent him into town to check on him. Seems strange to me, but who knows.” Lily looked up at Dustin and shrugged.

Sidney couldn’t miss the way Dustin straightened at the news. His pa most likely thought he was with her, which he was. She didn’t want to cause strife within the family. The sooner she and Noah got out of Rio Wells, the better for everyone concerned.

“I better be going too,” Dustin said, his mouth still set in an angry tilt. “We’ve moved all the heavy trunks. John, Noah, and Tucker should be able to handle the rest.” He touched the brim of his hat in good-bye. “Lily.”

Then he turned to her. “Sidney,” he said, his eyes softening. “We’ll finish this discussion this evening when I come back to collect your brother.”

“
I
’ll see you in a few minutes, Lily. This shouldn’t take me long,” Sidney said, holding open the door to the bank.

The squat building’s bat-and-board siding looked newly painted, and the two small windows were sparkling clean. The structure might not be much to look at in terms of a bank—at least not like the one they had back in Santa Fe—but whoever owned the establishment was trying to do a nice job. She guessed the beauty of the bank didn’t matter as long as the money inside was safe.

“Take all the time you need,” Lily replied. “We still have almost an hour before the shop opens. You know where to find me.”

Sidney stepped inside and glanced around.

“May I help you?” a young man asked from behind the counter. A straight part divided his slicked-down hair.

“Yes. I’m expecting a money wire sent to me here from my father in Santa Fe. My name is Sidney Calhoun, and his name is Jock Calhoun. Do you know if anything has arrived?”

Please, Lord, let the transfer be here.

He pursed his lips. “No. I don’t recall any wires coming in. Let me go ask Mr. Jorgensen. But don’t get your hopes up too high. I usually know everything that transpires, since I’m the only clerk besides the owner. We haven’t had a transfer of funds for weeks.” He smiled and nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

Sidney twisted her hands as she tried to hide her disappointment. “Thank you so much.”

She was too keyed up to sit. First the kiss from Dustin unleashing a torrent of desire and love bursting in her heart, and now this. Something was up with her father. If the money hadn’t arrived already, she felt almost certain nothing ever would. Why? She didn’t understand his motivation. How did he expect her to live?

A bubble of anger pushed up her throat. How mean! She was his only daughter. What was he doing?

She was ashamed when she thought of the McCutcheons and how good, kind, and generous they’d been with her and Noah since their arrival. She could have as much money as she wanted, a comfortable room in their gorgeous home, and three square meals a day, if she only said the word.

A door opened and closed. Footsteps came her way.

“Sorry, Miss Calhoun. No wire transfers since the one I mentioned three weeks ago.” He shrugged. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

She kept her disquiet contained. “No, thank you. I’ll check back in a day or two. Pa must have been delayed.”

With as much aplomb as she could muster and her head held high, she went out the door.

Should she send another telegram? One to Patrick this time. See if her second oldest brother would step in and help since Jock Jr. and her father were cut from the same cloth.

She couldn’t go on living on thirty-five cents a day. Her hotel bill was adding up. Everyone here would think her a fraud.
Think all the Calhouns a fraud.

Was there more behind her father’s silence? He wouldn’t make the trip out to Rio Wells himself?

She pushed aside the outlandish thought as Dustin’s money in the hotel’s safe tempted her. Last Friday, she’d refused the envelope. Would she actually have to stoop so low? That thought fueled her anger, and she vowed that would never happen.

In a daze, she started for the shop, knowing the telegraph office was directly across the street. That would mean seeing Stanton Drake, who’d gone out of his way to hand deliver her telegram.

She stood facing the telegraph office, clutching her reticule. She had forty cents. The last time she used the services, the cost was fifty-five cents, which Dustin had paid.

She almost laughed, thinking how much she’d changed. She realized just how rich she’d been back in Santa Fe, spending a day’s wages on a whim. Well, she wasn’t home now, and she had things to do.

Sidney pulled open the telegraph office door.

Stanton Drake looked up. He recognized her, and a smile grew across his face. He stood, hurrying around the counter to meet her halfway across the room.

“Good
morning
, Miss Calhoun. I’m delighted to see you.” He gestured outside to Lily’s shop across the street. “On your way to work?”

“Yes, I am,” she said with a forced smile.

This had been a mistake. She wished she could march back out the door

He reached out and took her elbow. “What can I help you with? Would you like to send another telegram?”

What should she do? Were the prices set, and the rules couldn’t be broken?

“Yes, actually.” She glanced away from his hopeful face. “But I only have forty cents with me now.”
Actually, I only have forty cents to my name.
“I was wondering if that would be enough.”

His smile fell. “I only work here, Miss Calhoun. If it were up to me, I’d say yes. Forty cents is the base amount, and the cost goes up by the penny from there.” His expression begged for understanding. “I could lose my—”

“Oh no. Never mind! I don’t know what I was—”

The intense smile was back. He blinked several times and stuck his hand into his pocket. “I’ll give you the difference,” he offered, holding out a handful of coins. “I’d be happy to help.”

Embarrassed over the situation, she pushed aside her swirling emotions. “That’s very kind, but I couldn’t. I think you can understand. I’ll be back when I can pay in full.”

“There’s no need to wait,” he pleaded, and pushed his money-filled hand closer. “I insist.”

“No, no. But thank you for your kindness.” The last thing she wanted was to be beholden to another man.

Father, I don’t understand you.

Feeling totally deserted by her family, she smiled brightly and turned for the door, but Stanton Drake beat her there.

“If you change your mind, Miss Calhoun, remember I’m right across the street, just waiting to do your bidding.”

Emotion welled. She’d been keeping a strong countenance for days, counting on her father doing the right thing. Dustin’s face flashed in her mind. And then the money in the hotel safe.

No, she’d not use any of that. No matter what. She’d get through this predicament one day at a time.