Dixie Moon

by Shirleen Davies

  “She can stay in my room. I’ll stay at the saloon until a room opens up.”

  “Absolutely not. I’m certain there’ll be another solution.” Suzanne turned her attention back to the potatoes in the sink, not hearing the front door of the restaurant open and close.

  “Suzanne, are you back here?”

  Lena flinched at the sound of Gabe’s smooth, deep voice. She hadn’t seen him since the night they’d taken their walk, but she’d thought of little else. Gripping her hands in her lap, she resisted the urge to put a finger to her lips, a normal reaction whenever she thought of him.

  “In the kitchen, Gabe.”

  “I have a favor to…” His voice trailed off as he stepped into the kitchen to see Lena at the table.

  “Hello, Gabe.”

  He stared at her a moment too long, causing Suzanne to glance over her shoulder at them. The look on their faces didn’t surprise her.

  “Hello, Lena.” His voice sounded unsteady, his eyes uncertain as they narrowed at her. “I thought you’d be at the saloon by now.” He fingered the brim of his hat, rotating it in his hands.

  “What favor did you want to ask me?” Suzanne dried her hands on her apron.

  Tearing his gaze away from Lena, he shifted, not wanting to state his request in front of her. “Uh…I can come back later.”

  “You’re not interrupting us. Just tell me what you need.”

  “A pie,” he blurted out. “I wondered if you might have an extra one I could buy.” He cleared his throat, hoping Suzanne wouldn’t ask why he needed a whole pie.

  “I have an extra apple pie. Will that do?”

  He nodded, reaching into his pocket for money and setting it on the table next to Lena.

  “Who’s the lucky person?” Suzanne handed the pie to him, tilting her head to one side.

  He shot a quick look at Lena. “It’s for Dolly. A thank you for helping me.”

  The air left Lena’s lungs, although she kept her face blank. Of course he’d want to thank her. Dolly had spent considerable time at his home, helping him with who knew what. The knowledge bothered her so much more than she wanted to admit.

  “Well, that’s nice of you. I hope she likes it.” Suzanne untied her apron and tossed it next to the sink. “I need to grab a few items for supper. I’ll be right back.” She stepped through the back door, letting the wind push it closed.

  Lena stood, taking her empty cup to the sink. “It was good to see you again, Sheriff. I hope Dolly likes the pie.” She walked past him and toward the front door.

  “Lena?”

  “Yes?”

  He closed the distance between them, stopping a few inches away. “I enjoyed the other night. If you’ll allow me, I’d like to take you to supper. Soon.”

  Her eyes widened, surprised he’d asked. She needed to decline, not encourage him or allow her own feelings to blossom any further.

  “It’s not a good idea, Gabe. You already thanked me for helping you. There’s no need for more.”

  “This would have nothing to do with thanking you.” He gripped the pie in both hands, thinking of placing it on the table, then thought better of it. If he did, it would be too easy to reach out and touch her. “You’re a beautiful, smart woman who I want to get to know better. Unless you have no interest…” His voice faded away as his eyes searched hers. He knew their kisses affected her as much as they did him. She’d gripped him tight, responding to his touch in a way no other woman ever had. Gabe needed to know if there could be more.

  “It’s not that.”

  “Then what is it? Is it because I’m a lawman, I fought for the North, what?”

  She let out a long, audible breath, flinching from his unwavering gaze. “It’s none of those. It’s just…”

  “I can’t believe how much the wind has picked up.” Suzanne let the door slam behind her, dropping the vegetables she’d gathered into the sink.

  Gabe’s attention had swung to Suzanne when she entered. When he turned back, Lena was gone.

  “You didn’t need to do this, Gabe.” Dolly’s face split into a wide smile as she accepted the pie.

  “I should have gotten it for you sooner.” He glanced around, noting one other customer sitting alone at a table in the corner, paying no attention to them.

  She stretched up on her toes to place a kiss on his cheek. “You know, there’s another way you can thank me,” she whispered before taking a step back.

  Gabe didn’t want to think about Dolly’s offer and had no intention of taking her up on it. “You know my feelings on that. It’s why I traveled to Big Pine.” He chuckled as she stuck out her lower lip in a pout. “You’ll have plenty of customers.”

  “I hope we can at least stay friends.”

  “There’s no reason we can’t.” He’d liked Dolly from the first night he’d seen her standing at the most prominent bar in the territorial capital. Different than the other women, her relaxed manner and more natural appearance attracted others to her. She made it easy for him to talk, not pushing and asking few questions. A few nights with her and he’d return to Splendor with an improved outlook, ready to resume his role as sheriff. “How about a drink?”

  “Sounds good.” She grabbed a couple glasses and a bottle of whiskey from Al, joining Gabe at a table near the new piano Amos had shipped to town.

  “Is the piano drawing a bigger crowd?” He sipped his drink, glancing up when another man entered and walked to the bar.

  “It would if we had someone who could play it as well as the fellow at the Dixie. I heard Nick and Lena brought him in special from Denver.” She shifted in her seat, resting an arm over the back of her chair. “Nick came over and talked to me about leaving here and working for them.”

  Gabe’s brows shot up at the news. He thought Nick had all the women he needed. “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him it would be unfair to Amos if I left so soon. He paid my stage fare, so I owe him.” She glanced over her shoulder, not wanting anyone to hear, and lowered her voice. “I may change my mind in a few months, but I’d still want to pay him back. Now, tell me about you and Lena Campanel.”

  The request surprised him. No one knew about his feelings for her, not even Noah—or he had never acted as if he knew. “I don’t know what you mean.” He tried to keep his voice even.

  “No? A few nights ago, when business slowed down, I stepped outside to get some fresh air. The Dixie seemed full and the piano music blared outside, but the street had little activity. Except for one couple who came out of the boardinghouse. They walked up the street, then slipped into the darkness several feet before the saloon. I don’t think they considered the full moon.” She glanced at Gabe, raising her eyebrow. “Should I continue?”

  “No need.” He leaned his arms on the table and stared into his glass. “No one knows. I want to keep it that way.”

  “I hope you know me better than that.”

  Gabe winced at the twinge of disappointment that crossed her face. He let out a breath and sat back. “You’re right. I do.” He narrowed his gaze at her. “What you saw is all there is, Dolly. Nothing more.”

  “Although you’d like there to be.”

  His jaw worked, but he remained silent. Any feelings he held for Lena were private and not open to public debate.

  Both turned at the sound of the doors opening.

  “I thought I might find you here, Gabe.” Cash walked up, grabbed a chair and spun it around, taking a seat and resting his arms on the back. “Hello, Dolly.”

  “Cash. Well, I believe I’ll excuse myself. It’s time for me to freshen up. I expect it will be busy tonight.”

  They watched her sashay away and climb the stairs. “You planning on picking up where you left off in Big Pine?”

  “Nope. You interested?”

  “Not me. I’m partial to one of the girls at the Dixie.” Cash signaled Al for a glass of whiskey.

  Gabe raised his eyebrows at the comment.

  “I don�
�t have the same problems with bedding a working woman in Splendor that you do.” He shrugged, swallowing some of his whiskey. “That’s not why I came looking for you. Do you remember those four miners who came to town complaining about Carlyle’s men trying to jump their claim?”

  “I do.”

  “Appears he went after a claim owned by two other miners. One of them rode in a few hours ago. Seems Carlyle and his partner may have hired a gunslinger to try to negotiate sales of gold claims. If the miners refuse, he threatens them into signing their rights over. The gunman shot and killed this man’s partner. The remaining partner signed his rights away rather than suffer the same fate.”

  “He get a good look at him?” Gabe asked.

  “Good enough, but he refuses to stay around and help us find him. He came here to let us know it’s happening.”

  “How can he be certain Carlyle and Pennington hired the man?” Gabe crossed his arms. He’d been concerned about this exact situation since the day at the land office when gunmen tried to intimidate several miners into walking away from their claim.

  “He can’t, but who else could it be, Gabe?”

  “You’re right. Let’s go talk to this fella again.” Gabe started to push his chair back.

  “Can’t. He’s already gone.”

  Gabe cursed at losing the one connection they had tying claim jumping, and now murder, to Carlyle.

  “Beau said you two might be in here.” Bernie Griggs stopped next to them, holding out a telegram. “This came for you.” He handed it to Gabe and waited.

  Gabe read the short message twice, a grin touching the corners of his mouth. “I want to send a reply.” He took the stub of a pencil Bernie handed him and scribbled a note on the back. “Here you are. Thanks, Bernie.”

  “Good news, I hope,” Cash said as Bernie headed back to the telegraph office.

  “You remember I mentioned my uncle passing?” Cash nodded. “The message had to do with his estate. I may not have to travel back to New York as I first thought.” Standing, he tossed money on the table. “I’m heading to the Dixie to speak with Nick, then I’ll meet you and Beau at the jail. It may be time for us to pay Carlyle and Pennington a visit.”

  ~~~~~

  Chapter Nine

  “He’s riding in now.” Thomas Pennington pushed open the door of the shack they used for their office and stepped outside. “We expected you days ago.” He rested his hands on his hips, glaring at Stillwell.

  “I had some trouble. Nothing for you or Carlyle to worry about. The matter is settled.” Stillwell slid from his horse, slapping his hat on a post to dislodge the trail dust, then followed Pennington inside. Carlyle stood, pushing aside the papers he’d been studying.

  “You’ve got two new claims if you want them.” Stillwell tossed two signed documents on the table, then stalked to the potbelly stove, filling a cup with coffee. “One doesn’t appear to be worth your time to file. The other one has promise,” he sneered, grimacing at the taste of the rank liquid.

  “Tell us about each one.” Carlyle leaned a hip against the table, crossing his arms.

  “First one is about eight miles south. One miner. I gave him the price you offered and he agreed to sell the claim. The second one is closer to your camp. Took me a few days to spot the two miners who are working it. Neither had an interest in selling.”

  “What changed their minds?” Pennington asked.

  “One of them came down with a powerful ache in his gut.” Stillwell chuckled at his little joke. “The other one decided he didn’t want to continue on his own.”

  “Might as well take them both. No telling what our men could find on the claims.” Pennington lowered himself into a chair. He didn’t like the methods men such as Stillwell used to get their way, and Carlyle wasn’t any better when he wanted something.

  “I’ll ride to Splendor with a few men in the morning. What about the four miners north of here?” Carlyle asked Stillwell.

  “I’ll find them tomorrow. There’ll be a resolution by sunset.” Stillwell walked to the door, tossing out the remainder of his coffee. “I’m going to find some grub, then sleep. I’ll be gone by the time you get up in the morning.”

  Pennington waited until he left before turning toward Carlyle. “We can’t have him killing off all the miners who won’t sell. I say we send him on his way and deal with the others ourselves.”

  Willie waved him off. “He’s the quickest way to get what we want, and he’s good at covering his tracks. The sheriff and deputies in Splendor won’t be able to tie us to him.”

  “Perhaps, but are you willing to take the risk? How many of the claims are worth killing over?”

  “Don’t know. The one north is the biggest besides ours—”

  “And the sheriff already knows we want it. He’ll be expecting us to force their hand.” Pennington stood and paced the cramped space. “If you’re determined to use Stillwell, I say we wait, file these two claims, and let the dust settle before we send him north.”

  “Do you believe a few weeks will make any difference? I say we let him go, get this over with, and concentrate on working the claims.” Even though still early in the day, Carlyle grabbed a bottle of whiskey out of a wooden crate and poured some into a cup, handed it to Pennington, then poured another for himself. “Those four miners have a claim that should’ve been ours. I see it as taking back what belongs to us.”

  Tommy had heard this argument several times. Before he arrived, Willie worked the Devil Dancer claim with a group of men who’d followed him to Montana. Four of them split off within a few weeks, headed north several miles, and found gold. In Willie’s mind, what they found should’ve been his. Pennington disagreed, but he’d had no success changing his partner’s mind.

  Although he’d never spoken of it, Tommy noticed the way Willie had changed over the years, becoming obsessed with power, and at times, certain women. His actions had become more extreme with each passing year, turning to violence to solve disputes.

  Letting out a sigh, Tommy swallowed the whiskey, knowing there’d be no reasoning with Willie. “You just better make certain there’s no way of tracing his work back to us.”

  “Our men won’t talk. Besides, they don’t know why he’s in camp. The man is like a ghost, which is safest for everyone.” Willie tipped his cup toward Tommy, then finished off the contents. Picking up the documents Stillwell had left on the table, he held them in the air. “Within a week, we’ll have a third claim to add to these. After that, we’ll send Stillwell on his way.”

  Gabe saw no one in the Dixie, except Paul cleaning glasses behind the bar. He looked up from his work long enough to nod.

  “Is Nick around?”

  “In his office.”

  Gabe walked to the end of the bar and into a small alcove, then knocked before opening the door. “You got a minute?” he asked, noticing Nick pull off a pair of spectacles before lowering the patch he wore over his left eye.

  “Have a seat.” Nick gestured to a chair.

  “Word has it you and the Pelletiers struck a deal to buy some of their land.”

  Nick didn’t answer as he leaned forward, grabbing a bottle and two glasses from a tray at the corner of his desk. He filled one glass, glancing at Gabe, who shook his head.

  “News travels fast.” He took a sip of his drink, then sat back. “I decided the time had come to plant more permanent roots.” Nick spent a few minutes describing the land and his desire to build a house, purchase a few horses. “It’s time to enjoy some of the money I’ve made.”

  “Do your plans include sharing your new home with anyone?” Gabe had noticed the way Nick looked at Suzanne and wondered how deep his feelings went for her.

  He stared at Gabe, although his face remained impassive. “Perhaps.” Finishing his drink, he set the glass aside. “I’m guessing my land purchase isn’t what brought you in here this early, though.”

  “It’s time we talked about the hotel you want to build.” Gabe set his ha
t on the desk.

  Nick’s eyes showed his surprise for a moment. He’d heard the rumors that Gabe had taken the sheriff’s job on a temporary basis until the town could find someone permanent. A year later, he still wore the badge.

  “Sounds as if you’ve decided to stay around a while.”

  Gabe hadn’t thought of it in those terms. He’d taken his future a day at a time, trying to live each day the best he could without looking too far ahead.

  “Guess I have.”

  Nick turned his back to Gabe, opening a file cabinet behind his desk and pulling out several papers. He slid them across the desk.

  “Drawings for the hotel I plan to build in the open lot next to the newspaper office. I already own the land.” He noticed Gabe’s brows lift. “Horace Clausen told me about it a few months ago. I bought it, even though the timing wasn’t right for a hotel then. It is now.”

  Gabe studied the detailed drawings. The design had been patterned after the grand plantations of the South. Three stories with a wraparound veranda, the details would require craftsmanship few were capable of providing. He read the notes, which included the number of rooms, Splendor’s first upscale restaurant, and many of the amenities common in East Coast hotels.

  “If we start now, it will be ready to open when the snow melts in the spring.”

  “Fifty-fifty.” Gabe’s face was unreadable, although his words weren’t.

  “Lena will be a partner.”

  “Then you split your fifty with her. It’s the only way I’ll do it.” Gabe wouldn’t budge on this.

  Nick had been an equal partner in his businesses, most with Lena and some with others. He trusted each partner with his life. If he couldn’t, he’d walk.

  “It will be a substantial investment.”

  “I know.”

  Nick studied him another minute. Satisfied with what he saw, he walked around his desk, extending his hand. “Glad to have you, Gabe.”