She’d seen how politicians were scrutinized. Even the slightest transgressions were leveraged for maximum damage. She risked Will’s run for the Senate by simply being in his house, accepting his hospitality. What if word reached the voters that he’d entertained a suspected murderess? Russ’s political career, too, would be over before it even began.
The walls closed in around her, and her lungs constricted. Her stomach protested, and she feared she’d have another mortifying episode like the one the day of the shoot-out.
Tomasina caught the attention of the table once more. “I met the other two brides at the teahouse on Friday. Millie Lewis and Minnie Dowie. They seem quite nice. They’re cousins, but they could be twins. They’re both petite, and they wear their brown hair alike—in braids wrapped around their heads. They’ve already generated quite a bit of attention, as I understand. They’re nice enough, don’t get me wrong, but there’s a little too much giggling between the two of them for my taste.”
“They seem very close,” Anna said. “I hope they’re able to live near each other after they marry.”
“They asked about you, Anna,” Tomasina continued. “They were quite worried when you missed the train departure. Millie nearly swooned when I told her that you’d been set upon by outlaws. That girl will never miss a train, I can assure you of that. She was so terrified during the telling, she’d never have survived the actual event.”
Anna flushed. “I haven’t seen them since I’ve arrived in town. I should apologize for making everyone worry.”
“I wouldn’t feel too bad. If I had to listen to those two giggle all day, I’d have jumped the tracks,” Tomasina declared.
Anna fought a smile. “They were very enthusiastic about being brides. I hope everything turns out well for them.”
“We’ll be hearing church bells ringing before long, don’t worry.” Tomasina turned toward her husband. “I heard Pete Sacket had flowers delivered to a certain Minnie Dowie at the boardinghouse.” She turned toward Anna. “Pete is a sign maker.”
“Pete’s a good man,” Russ said. “He made the sign for my office. Steady hand and a sharp eye for detail, that fellow. I hope Minnie returns his affection.”
“If not,” Tomasina said, “he can always try for Millie.”
“I must say I’m a little jealous,” Russ joked. “I can’t believe old Pete is going to find a girl before me.”
“It’s probably because you’re so ugly.” Will chuckled.
“Will Canfield!” Tomasina admonished. “You apologize this instant.”
“It’s all right.” Russ grinned.
“Ah, c’mon.” Will rested his hand on his chest in a placating gesture. “You grew up traveling with a bunch of drovers on cattle drives, Tomasina. You know how men talk to each other.”
“I know. But we’re having a nice dinner party. I expect better behavior from the two of you.”
Russ needn’t worry, Anna thought. He’d be married in no time. She was shocked he hadn’t been inundated with flirtations already. She wanted him to be happy. He deserved everything he desired: a home and children. He deserved everything she couldn’t have.
“Excuse me,” she said, rising from her seat and tossing her napkin beside the plate. “I just need a little fresh air.”
She wanted nothing more than to dart out the front door and never stop running, but she was trapped until she could earn enough money for a train ticket. Then she’d find someplace where no one knew her. Someplace where she could start fresh. It was better this way.
She could bear the disdain of strangers far easier than the pity of friends.
* * *
Instantly alert, Russ half stood. “I hope everything is all right.”
Tomasina reached across the table and took his hand. “Give her a moment.”
“Are you certain? She wasn’t feeling well when she arrived. What if she’s ill again?”
Will and Tomasina exchanged a glance.
“I always listen to my wife,” Will said. “It’s difficult adjusting. Cowboy Creek is quite a change from Philadelphia.” He straightened the fork next to his plate. “She can’t have been widowed for very long.”
“Three months, I think. I’m not certain.”
“Grief is different for everyone,” Tomasina spoke gently. “When my pa died, I was ornerier than a bumblebee in a late spring snow. It took me a long time to figure out that I wasn’t mad at Pa for dying, I was sad that he was gone. I cried at the oddest times. I wanted to pick a fight with everyone, even the people I loved. It was easier, somehow, being angry. Other people’s emotions work differently.”
Will cleared his throat. “You know her better than any of us. Is there anything we can do for her? Anything to make the adjustment easier?”
“I don’t think she’s angry.” Russ scrubbed a hand down his face. “She must miss her husband something fierce, but I’ve never even heard her mention his name. It’s almost as though she’s frozen. She’s not happy, she’s not sad. She wants a job, but that’s about all I know. I’ve tried to put her off because I don’t think she should be working. Especially not now. If she’s still weak, she could have a relapse.”
“If she wants to work,” Tomasina said, “then let her work.”
Russ leaned back and crossed his arms. “I thought you’d agree with me. There’s no reason for her to suffer. I can move her into The Lariat, and she can stay for as long as she needs. My share in the hotel grants certain privileges.”
“Life is different for women,” Tomasina said. “We don’t have as many choices as men. The poor thing is probably terrified, wondering where her next meal is coming from and where she’s going to sleep.”
“But she has us.” Russ yanked on his lapels. “It’s not as though we’re going to let her starve or go homeless.”
“She doesn’t know that. Not yet.” Tomasina circled the table to sit on the other side of Will, her bright green eyes filled with compassion. “Why should she trust any of us? According to Will, you were engaged to her sister five years ago. She was little more than a child when you last met. She went from her father’s house to her husband’s, and now she’s all alone. If working gives her a sense that she has some control over the outcome of her life, then let her work.” Tomasina hooked her arm through her husband’s elbow and leaned her head against his shoulder. “We’ll arrange for a job at The Lariat. We’ll assign someone to look out for her. Discreetly, of course. Someone who will ensure she doesn’t work too hard.”
Will glanced at his wife, and a smile spread across his face. “Remember when you worked for me? And you hogtied that guest? I thought poor Mrs. Foster was going to have an apoplexy.”
“Served him right.” Tomasina huffed. “He slapped my bottom.”
Russ shot upright. “Anna certainly won’t be working in a hotel if that’s the sort of thing that goes on. I won’t have her...abused by one of the guests.”
“We can’t wrap her in cotton, but we can keep track of the guests.” Will splayed his hands. “We’ll ensure that she’s looked after.”
“I don’t like it.” Russ shook his head. “I don’t like the idea of her working, especially as a maid.”
“Remember when you bought that roan horse from me?” Tomasina asked Russ, a knowing sparkle in her vivid green eyes.
“Yes.”
“And he bucked you off three times in a row?”
The sharp sting of humiliation lingered. “Twice. Twice in a row,” Russ grumbled.
“And you tore your britches on the fence rail?”
“I get it, I get it. When you fall off a horse, you have to get back on. But what does that have to do with Anna? She’s come this far on her own, she doesn’t need a lesson from us in perseverance.”
“It’s my story and quit your interrupting,” Tomasina scolded. “Think of how proud you felt wh
en you finally got that beast under control. You worked hard, and you got the reward. That’s a good feeling. Let Anna solve her own problems. Let her have that feeling.”
Every fiber in Russ’s body rebelled at the notion. He had the ways and means to support her as long as she needed the help, and his closest friends were advising against his assistance.
“Now,” Tomasina stated abruptly.
Russ started. “Now what?”
“Now you can check on her. Tell her she can have a job at The Lariat. It’s slow this week, and we’ll make certain she doesn’t have to work too hard. If she doesn’t like the job, we’ll find her something else to do.”
“You’ve just lectured me on giving Anna her independence, but you’re expediting her job search. How is that any different than what I’m proposing?” Russ demanded. “You’re helping her, aren’t you?”
“You’re trying to rob her of her independence. We’re giving her a sense of freedom.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
Will gazed adoringly at his wife. “I agree with Tomasina. Let Anna establish her independence if that’s what she’s determined to do.”
He and Will rarely disagreed on a course of action. Then again, he and Will rarely discussed personal matters. Though Russ’s instincts strained against the idea, he was outnumbered. Besides, he obviously knew nothing of women or he wouldn’t be twice-jilted himself.
“All right, all right.” He threw up his hands. “I still don’t understand, but if the both of you agree this is the best decision, then I’ll go along with it. For now.”
“Excellent,” Tomasina said easily, clearly anticipating a victory. “Tell her I had a very special chocolate cake prepared by Miss Frazier especially for this occasion.”
“With cherry filling?”
“Mrs. Foster told me Anna adored the cake, and I ordered one special for the evening. I’d hate to see it go to waste.”
“I’ll tell her.”
Russ reluctantly stood and pivoted on his heel. He crossed the vestibule and stepped onto the porch. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and Anna stood near the railing, staring into the distance. The moonlight shimmered through the clouds and cicadas called in the yard. A fierce sense of protectiveness filled him. She was achingly vulnerable, and he wanted to shelter her. Nothing more, nothing less. She was a friend from his past. A friend in need.
“I’m sorry,” she said without turning around. “I shouldn’t have run off like that. What must your friends think of me?”
“They think you’re a strong woman who’s been through a lot recently. If you don’t mind my saying, you’re pushing yourself too hard. There’s no shame in taking a rest.”
“Have you spoken with Will about getting me a job?”
“If you’re worried about incurring costs at the hotel, you can always move to the boarding house. I don’t mind carrying the cost until you’re settled. It’s the least I can do.”
“I don’t need your charity.”
“It isn’t charity.”
“I was a burden to my father after my mother died. I was supposed to be a son, you see. I was a burden to Charlotte. She wanted to be a sister, but she was forced to take over the role of mother. I was a burden in my... I was a burden to my friends after my husband died. For once in my life, I want my independence. For once in my life, I don’t want to feel as though I’m a burden to anyone.”
“You could never be a burden to me.” Russ stifled a sound of frustration. She was as stubborn as the day was long. “If you insist on working, then it’s all settled. You may start at The Lariat whenever you feel ready.”
“The day after tomorrow?” She spun around, and her expression radiated joy. “If that’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all.”
“I won’t be a bother anymore, I promise. I’m sure you’ll hardly see me after today.”
There was so much more he wanted to say, but the words escaped him. What rights did he have with Anna? Their families had tangled half a decade before. That left his friendship with her tenuous at best.
Yet guilt nagged his conscience. Something wasn’t all that it seemed with Anna. She was ill. She was alone when she should have had friends and family looking out for her. She refused his help beyond providing a reference.
“I hope we’ll remain friends,” he said after a lengthy pause.
“You needn’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
He could easily walk away and never say another word. She acted as though she’d be more than happy if she never saw him again.
He didn’t like that idea. He didn’t like that idea one bit. Though he resented her independence, she wasn’t the only one of them with a stubborn streak.
Chapter Nine
Anna tightened the bow of her bonnet beneath her chin and set out for her morning walk. The two other brides who’d been traveling with her, Millie Lewis and Minnie Dowie, had been kind to her and deserved an apology.
As she stood on the porch of the boardinghouse, the sugary sweet aroma of a freshly baked confection wafted from through the screen door.
A petite woman with dark brown hair appeared on the threshold. She opened the screen door, but her attention remained focused on something in the house.
“Not again, Sadie!” She turned, and her topaz eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I thought Sadie had forgotten her key again.”
“I’m Anna Linford. I traveled part of the way on the train with Minnie and Millie.”
“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Deborah.” The woman glanced over her shoulder once more. “Deborah, uh, Frazier. Oh dear. I must apologize, I’ve got a cake in the oven, and I’m a bit distracted. Do you mind following me into the kitchen?”
“Not at all.”
Anna had never considered herself tall, but she felt like an Amazon beside Deborah. Petite and pale with perfect waves sculpting her dark hair into an elaborately braided swirl at the base of her neck, Deborah was as perfect as an oil painting. Though her royal blue dress was cut in a simple style, even Anna recognized the expense of the luxurious fabric as she followed the other woman.
Deborah’s footsteps were light, soundless and her movements elegant, as though she was floating down the corridor rather than walking. Without looking back, she scooted into the kitchen and opened the stove door. She frowned at the two pans inside, tilting her head this way and that before shutting the door once more.
“Two more minutes,” she said. “It’s quite challenging trying to judge the time on a chocolate cake. One can never discern whether or not the batter has browned.”
Anna was grateful to finally put the name to the face. “I’m already a fan of your baking skills. It’s a pleasure meeting the person who creates such wonderful confections.”
“You’re chocolate cake with cherry filling!” Deborah exclaimed. “Tomasina was very specific when she ordered the dessert for her dinner party.” A wistful look drifted over Deborah’s delicate features. “What was dinner like at the mayor’s house?”
“Smoky.” Anna smiled. “I don’t think Tomasina is as accomplished a cook as you are a baker.”
“Which is a diplomatic way of saying she set the dinner on fire.”
“Yes.” Anna laughed. “Although what was salvaged was quite delicious. I’m being embarrassingly impolite. One should never complain about one’s host.”
Deborah flapped her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry. Tomasina would be the first one to laugh about her escapades. She’s quite unique.” She lifted a glass dome revealing a plate of delicate, flaky pastries. “Will you try one of these? I need your honest opinion.”
Anna hesitated only a moment. “All right.” It would be impolite to refuse, after all.
Morning sunlight filtered through delicate lace curtains, sending patterned shadows over the cheery gingham
tablecloth. She sat at the table, and Deborah handed her a plated pastry and fork. The silver tines pressed through the crust with a crisp snap, and strawberry filling oozed from the flaky layers. Aware of Deborah’s intense scrutiny, Anna took a cautious bite.
The filling melted on her tongue, an exotic mixture of sweet and tangy followed by a surprising snap of mint. “This is delicious. What’s that unusual flavor I’m tasting?”
“I’ve been experimenting with mint and vinegar in the strawberry filling.”
“Mint and vinegar? I’d never consider marrying such flavors together. You’re quite talented and creative.”
“Only with baking.” A ghost of a melancholy smile hovered on Deborah’s lips. “I don’t have much talent for anything else.”
“You don’t need another talent when you bake this well.”
As Deborah blushed, footfalls sounded on the stairwell, and another woman appeared on the threshold. She clapped her hands. “Is the cake ready yet?”
Buxom with medium brown hair, she wore an elaborately flounced dress in a shocking hue of fuchsia.
“Not yet.” Deborah shook her head. “You have to be patient, Sadie. These things take time.”
Sadie eyed the domed dessert on the table. “As long as I’m here, I might as well have a bite of that strawberry pastry. I hate to waste a trip.” She caught sight of Anna and stuck out her hand. “I’m Sadie Shriver. I don’t believe we’ve met yet.”
“Anna Linford.”
“There’s something familiar about that name.” Sadie tapped her chin. “Have we met before?”
Anna would definitely remember meeting someone as striking as Sadie Shriver. “I don’t think so.”
“I always remember faces. I’m not as good with names...”
Deborah glanced up. “You probably read about her in the newspaper.”
Anna blanched, and her fork hit the plate with a clatter.
“Sam did a story about the outlaws on the road,” Deborah continued. “You must have been terrified.”
Reaching for her fork with trembling fingers, Anna nodded. “It was quite frightening.”
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