Valentine's Rose (9 page)

“Mornin’ ma’am.”

“Good morning.” Susannah smiled and continued on into the store.

The other man clipped Danny on the shoulder. “You takin’ good care of your Mama, short stuff?”

“Yes sir,” he replied politely, and ducked the man’s second attempt to clap him on the back.

Rose moved up between Danny and the annoying cove. He had shifty eyes, like a
skycer
, and he wore a holstered gun on a belt.

He looked up at her and his mouth fell open. “Good golly, you’re a long drink of water.”

Rose didn’t react. She’d put up with this kind of rudeness ever since she’d reached her full height at sixteen, and it no longer bothered her. Much.

“Don’t mind Ned none,” drawled the man behind her. “He ain’t seen ladies in so long, he’s plum forgot his manners.”

The man who’d spoken wasn’t quite her height, but he blocked her view of the street with the breadth of his shoulders. He didn’t wear a gun. Not one she could see.

“Top o’ the morning to you, miss. Arch Childers, at your service.” He swept off his black hat and made an exaggerated bow. When he straightened, his blue eyes twinkled with merriment. “That’s how you greet a lady, Ned. You don’t tell her she’s a drink of water.”

Rose returned his friendly smile. This Mr. Childers had some rough edges, but he wasn’t a bad article to look at, and he seemed friendly and considerate. Susannah might be able to bring him up to her standards given a little time. The thought barely had time to form before her friend reappeared and grabbed her arm.

“Excuse us, sirs. We’re in a bit of a hurry.” Susannah didn’t give Rose a chance to introduce her to Mr. Childers before she pulled her into the store.

“That man outside...”

“I saw him. He was rude to you and he bothered Danny.”

“No, not that one...” Rose smelled smoke. Not burning wood, but... She nearly ran into a blackened haunch dangling from the beams holding up the store ceiling. Pots and pans were displayed in a similar fashion. She’d better watch her head.

“Candy!” Danny raced past his mother.

A bearded man behind the counter lifted a peppermint stick out of a jar and handed it to Danny. “Here you go, son.”

Susannah caught up and restrained Danny before he could accept the treat. “No, thank you, sir. We don’t need candy.”

Danny’s face fell. “Mama, please...I haven’t had any in so long.”

The shopkeeper’s smile turned sympathetic and he extended the candy again. “Let the boy have it. My treat.”

“That’s very kind.” Susannah turned to her son. “What do you say?”

“Thank you, sir.” Danny spoke around the candy stick he’d put into his mouth. He looked up at his mother, questioningly. “Can I look ‘round?”

“If you promise not to touch anything.”

“I p’womise.” He wandered toward the back, making loud sucking sounds.

“Stay where I can see you,” Susannah called after him.

“We can hear him,” Rose assured her.

“You ladies must’ve arrived on the bride train.” The shopkeeper came around the counter, removing his apron. He smoothed his beard and rolled down his sleeves.

Susannah acted oblivious to his preening. “The bride train?”

“That’s what we call it when the railroad brings out a load of brides. Girard got their brides in March. ‘Bout time we got ours.”

The slight widening of Susannah’s eyes told Rose she’d finally become aware of this man’s interest. She took a step back. Heavens, he wasn’t that bad looking. “Yes, well... we’re looking for readymade women’s clothing. Would you have anything?”

“Just got in a shipment. Ordered them special for you ladies.” He sent her a hopeful smile.

Poor man. She wasn’t even looking at him. She’d sailed off in the direction of the dresses. “We need a proper traveling suit that will fit my friend...and some other things.”

The “other things” would be what Susannah called
unmentionables
.

The shopkeeper halted and his head turned slowly. Rose could tell by the distress wrinkling his forehead they were wasting their time.

“Oh, I don’t need readymade, just show me the fabrics and I’ll make me own.”

Relief flooded the shopkeeper’s face. “Fabrics. Yes! The bolts of fabric are in the back. I’ll show you.”

Susannah frowned as he set out for the rear of the store. “We can make something later. Let’s buy a dress or two first.

“None of ‘em will fit,” Rose explained.

Susannah’s blank expression showed she hadn’t given it a thought.

“Oh.” She turned back to the shelf. “If we find something you like, I can help you add to the length. I’m a good seamstress.”

While Susannah sorted through the readymade dresses, Rose went to look at fabric. The shopkeeper showed her the table and then went back to make another attempt at getting Susannah’s attention.

Out of the side of her eye, Rose saw the two men from outside enter the store. They made their way to the back, conversing as they walked. She pretended not to notice them and turned her back. She had no interest in conversing with either man.  As they drew closer, their low conversation drifted over.

“That gambler stole my claim, and Hardt let him! They ain’t gonna get away with it.”

“You lost your land playing poker, Ned. You oughta know when to stop betting.”

“What’s this Arch? You on his side?”

“On my own side, which right now means stayin’ outta trouble. Got bigger things to worry about than fixin’ problems that wouldn’t be problems if you showed a lick o’ sense.”

“If you won’t help, then I’ll take care him myself.” The man named Ned growled his threat and stalked out of the store.

Rose put her hand to her chest where her heart beat so hard she could feel it. The “gambler” had to be Val. That
gnarler
, Jarvis, might just be barking, but how could she know? He might be dead serious about doing Val harm. After all, he wore a gun. She had to find her husband and warn him.

She whirled around.

Mr. Childers flashed a smile. “Hey there, Miss. I didn’t get your name...”

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” she shot back, passing him before he responded. He might not be encouraging that other man, but he hadn’t done anything to stop him, either, which put Arch Childers in the category of enemy, as far as she was concerned.

Susannah had several dresses spread out on a table, doing her best to ignore the hovering shopkeeper without appearing rude. Danny had found a sack of marbles and had crawled under the table to play with them.

Rose knew she had to come up with a good excuse for leaving the store without them. They didn’t need to be involved in something that could turn dangerous. She slowed her pace to casual and put on a hapless smile. “Marriage must make women forgetful. I just now remembered I told Val that I’d meet him at Mr. Hardt’s office. You don’t mind if I pop over there for a minute? I’ll be right back. If you get tired of waiting, you can meet me at the hotel.”

Susannah’s brow creased like she was debating whether to offer to go along. But she wouldn’t. After slapping him yesterday, she’d avoided Mr. Hardt like he had the itch. “Wouldn’t you like to look at these dresses first?”

Rose couldn’t waste another second. That man even now might be on his way to find Val and shoot him. “Ah, no, I’m no good at this. Just pick something you think looks nice. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“But you wanted to learn.”

Rose replied over her shoulder. “I will. Soon as I get back, I’ll put me mind to me studies.”

“It’s
my
...my studies.”

“’Course it is.” Rose gave a wave as she flew out the door.

The man who’d threatened Val was nowhere in sight.

Had he gone to the railroad office? Sounded like he’d been there and might’ve even seen Val. She lifted her skirts and ran, as her mind filled with awful premonitions. Her husband sprawled on the floor in a spreading pool of blood, his eyes staring upward, sightless. Smoke from the gun, and the killer’s cackling laugh.

Loose planks shuddered beneath her feet, jarring her knotted insides. Merciful Mary, please. Don’t let it happen. Upon reaching the office door, she yanked it open and lurched inside, quickly scanned the room, breathing hard from panic and having run the entire way.

Mr. Hardt, who’d been sitting behind his desk, jerked to his feet when she barreled inside. “What’s wrong, Mrs. Valentine? Has something happened?” He came around the desk and approached her, his frown looking more concerned than angry.

“I...it’s, sorry I am, for bustin’ in on you like this, but have you seen Val? I mean, Mr. Valentine?”

A dark look passed over Mr. Hardt’s face, almost angry, but it was gone before she could decipher it. “He was here a few minutes ago. He left, didn’t say where he was going.”

“I have to find him. That man, I can’t recall his name, Ned something...”

“Ned Jarvis?”

“That’s him. He was in the store down the street, talking to another man, who he was trying to get to help him, and when the bloke said no, he got mad and said he’d do it himself and he left...” Rose sucked in a breath and continued. “I don’t know where he’s gone.”

Her heart hadn’t stopped pumping hard, but her skin felt cold and her chest tight. She breathed faster and tried to think. “We got to find Val before that jack cove settles him.”

Like the ruthless man who’d killed her father.

Tears stung her eyes. She couldn’t cry. She had to be strong and help her husband. She swiped at her eyes and used her hands as she spoke to emphasize the urgency. “At breakfast, Val said he was goin’ out to take a look around his property. That Jarvis fellow, he might follow him and hurt him. We can’t let that happen, Mr. Hardt. Please, help me...”

The railroad agent captured her hands and sandwiched them between his larger ones. “Calm down. Take a deep breath.”

She sucked in air, per his firm direction. That did help clear her head. 

“Now tell me exactly what Mr. Jarvis said.”

“He said Val stole his land and you helped him, and he wasn’t letting either of you get away with it. He said he’d do something, and he looked like he’d do it, too. He was wearing a gun...”

“Jarvis is a blowhard,” the railroad agent said firmly. “But in this case, I’ll take his threat seriously. We’ll go talk to Lieutenant Goldman.”

The grip of fear didn’t release her heart. The coppers hadn’t lifted a finger to help when her father had been knifed. Why would this army man be any different? “What makes you think soldiers will do anything?”

“They’re here to keep the peace, and so far the lieutenant has done a good job of it.” Mr. Hardt patted the back of her hand.

The door swung open. Her heart jumped into her throat as she swiveled her head, expecting to see an evil man with a gun. Instead, it was...

“Val!”

Yanking her hand from Mr. Hardt’s grip, she raced to her husband and threw her arms around his neck, giddy with joy. “Saints be praised! I’m so glad to see you.”

He didn’t say anything, just pulled her arms from around his neck. Without looking at her, he walked over to Mr. Hardt, hauled back his arm and punched the railroad agent in the face.

––––––––

“N
o! Val! What are you doing?” Rose seized his arm before he could throw another punch.

He might not need to. The first one had caught Hardt by surprise and sent him stumbling backwards. He’d hit his desk and had to twist around, bracing his arms on the surface to keep from losing his balance and falling to the floor. Red drops spattered the papers cluttering the surface.

Disorganized, as well as being an adulterous bastard.

Val couldn’t shake off his wife to go after the rogue. She clung to him, babbling. Whatever she said couldn’t penetrate the thick, hot cloud enveloping him. He’d heard men speak of a red haze or bloodlust, but he hadn’t understood it until now.

He wanted to tear Hardt apart with his bare hands.

The agent turned to face him, feet braced, his body tense with readiness. Blood smeared his cheek and dripped from his nose. A thought niggled the back of Val’s mind, told him he should be disgusted with himself. Instead, he experienced a kind of euphoria he’d never felt before, a feeling that might’ve concerned him if he weren’t so enraged.

“What the devil is wrong with you?” Hardt ground out.

Val curled his fingers until his fists became mallets. “Finding you holding hands with my wife. That’s what’s
wrong
.”

Rose stepped in front of him. “Val...” She cupped his face in her hands; her smooth palms felt cool against his heated skin. “Look at me.
Listen.
I was out of my mind with worry. Mr. Hardt was just trying to calm me down.”

“Is that what you call it?”

“He was being kind,” she pleaded.

“And I suppose you think the serpent was being kind to Eve, too.” Val kept his gaze pinned to his opponent and wouldn’t look Rose in the eye. Reason told him this wasn’t her fault. She was naïve and unsuspecting, besides being as transparent as glass. Like that sly snake in the garden, Hardt had noted her innocence and then taken advantage of it.

Reaching up, Val grasped his wife’s hands and pulled them down, pushed her aside. “Go back to the hotel. We’ll talk later.” That was as much as he could manage without being harsh. He’d told her to stay put, and she’d defied him.

She made a sound that might’ve been a sob, but when he looked he saw no tears, only agony, twisting her features. “We didn’t do anything wrong. Mr. Hardt was going to the lieutenant to get help—before you hit him. That man, Jarvis, I heard him make threats.”

The name sent a cold chill down Val’s spine. He whirled around, taking her by her arms. “When did you see Jarvis? Did he approach you?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t even know it was Jarvis until I overheard him talking to somebody in the store. That’s why I came to this office. I thought you’d be here, and that he might come back to shoot you. I had to stop him.”

Val’s heart tripped. God forbid his wife should tangle with that miscreant. “Stop him? You stay away from him, do you hear me?”

“Your husband is right. Stay away from Jarvis.” Hardt’s voice held that annoying authoritative tone, tinged with a hint of weariness. He’d retrieved a handkerchief and held it to his bleeding nose.