Whispers on the Wind (A Prairie Hearts Novel Book 5) (10 page)

“You going ta see yer pa?”

He nodded, folded the missive, and put it back where it belonged. “Just as soon as I get a few things arranged. I can’t do anything until I speak with Daisy.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

T
abitha was a flurry of nerves. She’d spent all day yesterday preparing Storybook Lodge for tonight’s event, baking, and making sure the dress she intended to wear was perfectly ironed. She’d read and reread aloud chapters one and two of
Great Expectations
, going so far as to practice how she held the volume in her hands, how Pip would sound, at what part of the story she’d pause or add inflection, who she’d look at, and whose gaze she might avoid.

Mr. Wade?
Will he be interested in a public reading?

Surely not. The wagon-train guide turned saloon owner had been the talk of the town since last week. Half the townsfolk backed Kendall, thinking the newcomer was stealing a man’s property right out from under his nose, while the other half understood that he was collecting on a debt owed him, but still gave him a wide berth because of his gun. The rumors of his background had some people scared. He’d yet to return for the book he’d said he was interested in acquiring, which disappointed her more than she wanted to admit.

Stop thinking about him.

She needed to forget about Mr. Wade altogether and concentrate on a performance that would bring everyone to their feet. This was her big chance. She had to make the night entertaining enough for the partakers to return next week for chapters three and four
.
And the week after that as well.
And maybe even buy a book! Or two, or three . . .

Susanna Preston stepped into the shop with a tray of cookies in her hands. Her friend’s shiny black hair was pulled back in a messy bun as if she’d fashioned it in haste. A clean, pressed apron was folded over one arm. She must be on her way to the restaurant.

“Bless you!” Tabitha cried, rushing forward. “These will help immensely. I wish I knew how many people to expect. I certainly don’t want to run out of goodies and set the old men to grumbling on my very first night.” She lifted the tray to her nose. “These smell delicious. Pumpkin?”

Susanna smiled and nodded. “Yes, Nate helped me bake them. That child is such a delight. I can’t imagine my life without him.”

“Or Albert?”

“Or Albert.” A shy twinkle danced around in Susanna’s eyes. “
Especially
Albert. I’ve married the most thoughtful man. He spends hours a day thinking of ways to make me happy. I had no idea married life would be like this.”

Still a newlywed of only a couple of months, Susanna was living on cloud nine. Anyone with two eyes in their head could see her match with the sheriff was one of true love. Albert had been rambling around town with a smile on his face ever since they’d tied the knot. Heard tell he even went softer on the petty offenders now, which Tabitha found difficult to believe. He was a lawman through and through and wouldn’t let outside influence cloud his judgment.

“I’m sure you keep him just as happy, Susanna. The three of you make a darling family.” Tabitha walked the cookies over to a shelf she’d cleared to hold the treats for tonight; she set them next to a cake Brenna had dropped by and a pie made by Hannah. Along with the three dozen walnut cookies she’d baked at five o’clock this morning, she felt sure she had plenty of refreshments to serve at intermission. “Thank you so much for making these. I can now rest easy.”

“You shouldn’t be nervous. We’re all your friends.” With her hands now free, Susanna picked up a cookbook, turned it over, and looked at the back. “By the way, Mr. Wade came in for supper again last night.” She glanced up at Tabitha and smiled. “I’d guess he’s about the same age as your aunt, wouldn’t you? I like him. I think he’s interesting.”

Tabitha straightened. Mr. Wade and Aunt Roberta? That thought had never entered her mind. “I suppose he is,” she answered, not wanting her friend to know she found him not only interesting, but fascinating. “I still can’t believe he’s half owner of the Bright Nugget and has taken Albert’s old apartment. Living next door, he walks by my front window at least several times a day.”
But hasn’t stopped in.
“You’ve heard the rumors about his past.”

“And that’s exactly what they are.”

She shrugged. “I feel kind of duped that he came into town under a different pretense than he let on. He never said anything about the Bright Nugget.”

Susanna gently closed the cookbook and set it back on the shelf. “Oh? What did he tell you when he arrived?”

Tabitha thought on that for a moment, realizing that he really hadn’t said much of anything. She’d filled in the blanks on her own. “Well, I got the distinct impression that he was just passing through. Here to buy a few supplies and then would be gone.” She felt a bit silly for having brought up the subject in the first place. “Actually, I asked him just that, and he said he was camping in the meadow, which was a totally ambiguous answer if I do say so myself.”

“I wouldn’t say that at all. I said I was camping, and I was.”

Both Tabitha and Susanna swung around at the deep voice of the man standing in the open doorway. His hat was tipped back and perspiration ringed the armpits of his cotton shirt.

“I’m not totally sure what
ambiguous
means, but I can tell you I wasn’t trying to mislead anyone! Not on purpose. Not by a long shot.”

“Mr. Wade!” Tabitha cried, her voice choked with embarrassment. “How long have you been listening to our conversation?”

“Long enough to know you think I intended to make a fool of you, of everyone here in Logan Meadows, which isn’t the truth at all.”

He stood tall, mussed, and devilishly handsome.

“I had to speak with Kendall before I said anything,” he said. “And then the sheriff. I’m sure you can understand that.”

As he proceeded into the shop, he removed his hat, exposing the sweaty hair underneath. Susanna glanced Tabitha’s way, a spark of merriment in her eyes. “I need to get to the restaurant. Nice to run into you, Mr. Wade. If I don’t see you before tonight, Tabby, break a leg.”

Tabitha glared teasingly at her friend’s abandonment. “I just may.” She laughed, deciding not to take herself so seriously. “Thank you again for helping out with the baking.”

Susanna left. They were alone. Mr. Wade’s large frame took up much of the space in her small shop. Her every little move felt like a conscious effort. Perhaps his wanting a book he could practice his reading with had all been a yarn.

Three breaths, five blinks, and one swallow later he said, “I’m working upstairs at the saloon. One of the rooms was in shambles. I should be finished later today.”

That was the reason for the cotton work shirt, his disheveled appearance, and his back and forth in front of her window. The feed store stocked building supplies.

“I’m on my way to the Feed and Seed for more nails right now.” He lifted a muscular shoulder, which brought a fluttery feeling to her lungs. He glanced around at the open space she’d created in the center of the room with Albert’s and Thom’s help. There were two rows of borrowed chairs, then three rows of long boards set atop overturned buckets. It would have to do for the time being.

“Looks good. Tonight’s your big night. You excited?”

He didn’t owe her any explanations about who he was and what his business was in Logan Meadows. He was free to do as he wished. She smiled. “More nervous than excited, I guess. Wish I hadn’t taken this on at all.” She liked the way his thoughtful eyes made her feel.
Young.
Desired.

“I’m sure you’ll knock ’em dead, Miss Canterbury.” He fingered his hat. “I best get back to work.” His gaze strayed over to the baked goods and lingered.

“Mr. Wade,” she all but blurted as he turned to leave. He slowly looked back. “Would you like a couple of cookies? Several batches are fresh from the oven.”

His eyes widened. “Will you run short?”

“Not at all.”
I hope.
Tabitha selected her largest walnut and one of Susanna’s pumpkin and placed them in his palm. “After our conversation last week I went through my books and found one I think will be of interest to you. It’s not a beginner, and yet, it’s not all that difficult either.” Tabitha hurried to her desk for the novel she’d put there to have handy on the off chance he stopped in. She returned to his side and held it out. He was just swallowing the first cookie.

“The Ad-vaaan . . .”

Tender warmth seeped into her heart as she watched him struggle. One small crumb clung to the corner of his lips until he brushed it away, and his earnest gaze dropped to the floor beside her.

“Adventures.”

He nodded. “The Adventures of Tom Sawyaer,” he read jerkily.

“Sawyer. The ‘aw’ creates a ‘so’ sound.”

In a swish of green, Daisy Smith breezed past the bookstore window.

“Can you excuse me one moment, Mr. Wade?”

“Of course,” he said with a gracious smile.

Tabitha rushed to the door. “Daisy? Oh, Daisy! Do you have a moment to spare?”

Daisy stopped and turned. The shade of her modest emerald dress brought out the beauty of her green eyes. Only seventeen, the girl’s youth and beauty always amazed Tabitha. It was difficult to believe she’d ever worked in a saloon. At twelve, she’d run away from her abusive father, and somehow, three years later, ended up here in Logan Meadows working at the saloon. Tabitha didn’t like to speculate on how that was accomplished, being young girls were a rare commodity, especially unprotected ones that were as pretty as her friend.

Daisy hurried back to where Tabitha stood in her doorway, and then they both stepped inside.

“The book you ordered for Jake’s Christmas present came in last week. Let me get it for you.” She hurried to her desk and picked up the new volume of
The Last of the Mohicans
. Returning, she set it in Daisy’s hands. “I just love this story. I’ve read it at least ten times.” She sighed, thinking about the long-haired, heroic Natty Bumppo, who could set her blood humming through her veins. She glimpsed at Hunter and caught him watching her exchange with Daisy. She smiled, thinking he, in a way, reminded her of Natty. “Would you like me to wrap it for you?”

Daisy’s smile faded. “Actually, I’ll have to wait until payday. I don’t have the funds just yet.”

“Well, I was thinking about that. You know I’m having my book reading tonight and have just finished baking several batches of cookies. I know you love to cook, and in truth I’d much rather do something else with my time. What if we traded your labor and fixings for five batches of cookies, for the next five readings?”

Daisy gasped. “That’s not enough in exchange. I need to pay you something.”

“It is. By then the weather will turn and I’ll have to stop until spring. I’d say that’s a fair trade.”

A smile replaced Daisy’s hesitation. “Only if you’re sure.”

“I am. Will I see you tonight?”

She shrugged.

Tabitha reached out and touched her arm. “I hope I do.” Because of her past, Daisy kept to herself. If she wasn’t in the restaurant, she was at home. Tabitha wasn’t sure if she worried about running into an old customer, or if she was truly frightened of men, afraid they might take advantage of her. She wished she could help the girl more. “You best get on your way.”

Daisy hugged the book to her chest. “Thank you, Tabitha. Jake’s going to love this. Might take him a year to finish, but that won’t stop him.”

Daisy departed and Tabitha went back to Mr. Wade, who was staring down at the open page. “Thank you for waiting.”

He groaned. “I don’t think this book is easy enough.”

“That’s what sounding out is for. You’ll do fine. Try it and see. Since you’re actually a new part of the community, I picked something from the lending library. If you find it too difficult, or not to your liking, bring it back. Or better yet, come in when you have some time and read a few pages in my reading chair.” She gestured to the soft chair on the side of the front window. “I can help. Just like we did with the title. That way, you won’t get discouraged and be tempted to quit. Being able to read well will open up your world to people and places you won’t expect. Trust me. You’ll be amazed.”

His clean-shaven cheeks blossomed pink, and she realized she may have been a bit heavy-handed in her sell. He’d just finished the second cookie in two bites. She dared not give him any more.

He took the book. “Thank you. I’ll do that. Don’t know when, though. My next project is to add another hitching post out front in that ten-foot gap.”

“Another hitching rail? But the street is already a mess from overcrowding on the weekend! I can’t imagine more horses out there. And the flies they will create with their . . .” She tried to tamp down her rising displeasure. “I’ve spoken with the town council on the matter. It wouldn’t be bad if Kendall would get out there and clean the street on Sunday morning, before the horse manure had a chance to bake in the sun, but he’s not willing to do that. Every time I open my windows, the reminder floats in. Really, Mr. Wade, think of the other businesses around you. The Bright Nugget isn’t the only one on Main Street.”

His charming smile only angered her more.

“I
am
thinking of you
,
Miss Canterbury. During the day, when the saloon is slow, all your bookstore shoppers can tether down at our new hitching rail. Won’t that be convenient?”