by Lisa Harris
“So what does it mean?”
Corbin shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. Maybe nothing more than his attempt to be unique.”
“His trademark.” Catherine squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, wishing she could open them again and all of this would disappear. Audrey’s best dress lay out on the settee in the living room, ready for its final touches of lace. The invitations had been sent out, and the food for the reception planned.
But it wasn’t simply the fact that the wedding might have to be canceled. It was that Audrey might lose the man she loved. Something Catherine didn’t want to happen. Because it was something she understood all too well. And all she could do was to try and prove Harrison’s innocence.
“Let me talk to Harrison,” she began. “I’m sure he has a perfectly good explanation. And more than likely it’s nothing more than the fact that the man can spin a good tale, even if much of what he says is an exaggeration of the facts.”
Corbin shook his head then reached out and grasped her arm. “You can’t confront him. If he is one of the gang members, he’s not going to let you walk away once he knows you have knowledge of his secret. We’ve got to keep this quiet for now.”
Catherine raised her chin. “Then what would you have me do? Despite my father’s funeral, Audrey’s determined to go ahead and get married. And with the wedding just over two weeks away, you haven’t given me anything more than a handful of suspicious rumors, none of which are enough for me to call off the wedding.”
“This isn’t my fault, Catherine.”
She stopped, knowing he was right. “I just wish this would all disappear.”
“And I promise I’ll do everything to find out the truth. Just don’t do anything. Not yet.” He tipped his hat and took a step backward.
Catherine watched Corbin walk away before heading back to the store, wondering if he’d be able to keep his promise. And how long she could be silent.
Chapter Nine
Late morning brought with it nothing to ease Catherine’s growing sense of restlessness. She ran her fingers across the store’s polished pine counter, stopping when a square nail head bit into the edge of her thumb. She checked the rough spot on the wooden counter, which her father had planed with his own hands. She’d turned fifteen the day her parents had opened Morgan’s General Store, completely stocked with everything from barrels of pickles, molasses, and vinegar, to bushel baskets of dried legumes.
But neither the responsibility of running the general store, nor her mother’s fervent pleas, had been enough to tame her father’s heart. He’d first caught gold fever when he was nothing more than a young man of seventeen looking for adventure and his fortune. Idaho in the early 1860s had given him both—or at least the adventure.
Catherine began straightening the jars of penny candy that eight-year-old Gregory Allen had disturbed on his last visit into town. According to her mother, Isaiah Morgan had returned with more stories than gold, but by that time it was too late. Gold fever was in his blood. He managed to ignore the rumors of a stampede to Cassiar, British Columbia, in ’71 and Sitka in the same year, but a deep-seated desire kept the yearning alive. When prospectors began heading into Alaska again in the mid-seventies, the thought of another possible strike had taken him away from Revenge. And this time he never returned.
Isaiah Morgan had made it clear that he placed a higher value on his thirst for gold than his own family, something she’d long ago been forced to accept. Thankfully, keeping track of her three sisters and running the store hadn’t allowed her to dwell on the loss of her father.
She set the last candy jar in place and realized that the unwanted memories from her past weren’t the only source of her disquiet. Corbin’s unexpected visit this morning had left her restless…and guilty. Guilty because she knew there might not be anything she could do to stop her sister’s heart from getting broken.
Beads of perspiration formed at the back of her neck as she moved to the front of the store and glanced out the clear windowpanes framing the door. Dark clouds billowed in the distance against the afternoon sky’s pale blue canvas, signaling the possibility of more rain that would bring relief to both the earth and the farmers.
She studied her dusty view of the town. Except for an occasional buggy or horse and rider, the streets were empty. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one suffering from the abnormally hot weather. Her one customer all afternoon had bought half a pound of sugar. Hardly justification to keep the store open. She’d far rather be resting outside in the shade, drinking lemonade, or chatting on Emily’s front porch. Anywhere but sitting behind a stuffy counter waiting for customers to arrive.
The back door to the store flew open then slammed against the wall. Catherine jumped as Audrey burst through the entrance carrying a large, leather hatbox.
Catherine pressed her hand against her heart. “I do declare, you’ve got to learn to make a quieter entrance.”
“Sorry.” Audrey dropped the box onto the counter in front of Catherine. “I want to know what you think.”
Before Catherine could respond, Audrey pulled out a tall cadet blue velvet hat with three golden ostrich feathers peering over the left side.
Catherine’s eyes widened. Women’s fashions had become far too elaborate in her opinion. “I…I can see that you’re putting Emily’s ostrich farm to good use.”
“And…”
She attempted a smile. “I love the blue you chose. It will definitely stand out.”
Audrey frowned. “But…”
Catherine wrinkled her nose at her sister’s prodding. “It’s a bit gaudy?”
“Gaudy?” Audrey grabbed Catherine by the hand and pulled her from behind the counter. “Styles are changing, Catherine. You’ve got to stay up with them.”
Catherine protested as Audrey set the hat on her head then spun her toward the full-length beveled mirror in the corner of the store.
“The typical straw hat is a thing of the past,” Audrey insisted. “In all the big cities back East, women are flaunting masses of plumes, flowers, and feathers with pride.”
Catherine planted her hands on her hips. “Before you know it, these hats will include the very bird itself.”
“Something that’s already being done. I could show you pictures where an entire bird is mounted on wires and springs so its head and wings can move about.” Audrey clicked her tongue in excitement. “They stuff robins, bluebirds—”
“Enough.” Catherine held up her hand. At least Audrey hadn’t added an entire bird to this hat, though she had obviously spent far too much time reading copies of Harper’s Bazaar. The residents of Revenge—including herself—had managed just fine with simple straw hats and bonnets for as long as she could remember. “So simplicity has now been replaced with velvet, silk, lace, and…and stuffed birds?”
Audrey laughed. “And higher crowns. Much, much higher.”
Catherine studied her reflection. Any higher and the hat would be scraping the store’s ceiling. “I had thought my new dress was enough of a statement to get the town talking. Surely you don’t expect me to wear this as well?”
“This isn’t for you. Mrs. Middleton special ordered two of them. One for herself and one for her daughter back East, with specific directions that it have that added flare that will catch everyone’s eye.”
Catherine pulled off the hat and handed it back to her sister. “That it certainly will. What’s the occasion?”
“She’s going back East for several months to attend the birth of her first grandchild.”
“So the fame of my millinery sisters continues to spread. Next thing we know, they’ll be featuring your hats in Macy’s Department Store in New York City.” While she might not have the bold tastes of her sisters when it came to fashion, she couldn’t deny the surge of pride over their growing business. “As long, of course, as it doesn’t take you and Harrison away from Revenge.”
Audrey’s smile faded as she slid the hat back into the box and avoided
Catherine’s gaze. Catherine tried to gauge the sudden change in her sister’s behavior. Did Audrey, like Lily, yearn to escape the rural confines of Revenge?
Catherine tapped her fingers against the counter, still uncertain as to what she’d just stumbled upon. “You and Harrison aren’t thinking about moving away, are you?”
Audrey dropped the lid and snapped it shut. “Moving? No. Harrison decided he wants to stick with farming for the long haul.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I hope.” Audrey pulled two pieces of licorice from the glass jar and handed one to Catherine.
“Whatever you’re brooding over doesn’t sound like nothing.”
Audrey finally looked up at Catherine, her expression still serious. “I’ve been debating whether or not I should speak to you about something.”
“You’re not having second thoughts about getting married, are you?”
“Of course not. It’s just that…despite what happened between you and the sheriff in the past, I’ve seen the two of you talking together several times in the past couple weeks.”
Catherine bit off a piece of the licorice. “I thought you said this had something to do with Harrison?”
“It does.” Audrey dropped her hands against the counter. “I need to know if the sheriff has talked to you about him.”
Catherine’s guard stiffened. “What exactly do you mean?”
“He paid Harrison a visit this week.”
Catherine felt her temper flare. Why had Corbin failed to mention during their short talk this morning that he’d been out to the Tucker farm? She struggled to find a reasonable explanation to give Audrey. “Corbin mentioned he wanted to get to know some of the newcomers in town.”
“This wasn’t, shall we call it, a neighborly visit,” Audrey continued.
“What exactly did he say?”
“As ridiculous as it sounds, I believe he thinks Harrison is somehow involved in the rash of bank robberies that have been taking place across the state.”
Catherine’s chin dipped.
“Catherine.” Tears welled in the corners of Audrey’s eyes. “I need to know the truth. Has the sheriff spoken to you about Harrison?”
Catherine hesitated. “While it’s true that Corbin returned to Revenge to fill in for Sheriff Lansing, he’s also here to investigate the Masked Gang.”
Audrey’s face paled as she took a step back. “Then I don’t understand. We all know Harrison has nothing to do with the rash of bank robberies.”
Catherine pulled another licorice from the jar. The last thing she wanted was for Audrey to overreact. There was still a good chance that nothing would come from Corbin’s investigation of Harrison. How could it when the man was innocent? “The sheriff is just doing his job.”
“Harassing innocent people?”
“Audrey, that’s not fair.”
“What isn’t fair is that Harrison is being looked at as a suspect in a murder investigation.”
Catherine wanted to believe that all her reassurances were correct and none of this could be true. Because while Harrison’s stories might seem somewhat unbelievable at times, no one thought him to be a murderer. Catherine stared at the leather hatbox. But if that were true, then why did the doubts insist on mingling with her continued stance for his innocence? Corbin might not have solid proof, but neither was she completely able to dismiss his concerns. Not if her sister’s future happiness was at stake.
“What if Harrison isn’t who he says he is?” The words slipped out before Catherine had a chance to fully weigh them. She grasped Audrey’s hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“Catherine?” Audrey’s face paled. “Then why did you say it? Surely you don’t believe it.”
“Because…” Catherine pressed her lips together. “Because as happy as I am for you and your relationship with Harrison, the sheriff has found some discrepancies in his stories.”
“Discrepancies?” Audrey shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“They’re just small things, but when added together they become a bit more significant.”
“Like what?”
Catherine preferred to shield her sister from what was happening, but keeping things from her would only make things worse in the end. “Like the fact that there is no record of Harrison staking a claim in Alaska.”
“That’s ridiculous. You know as well as I do that he staked a claim.”
“That’s what he says—”
Audrey jerked her hand away. “So you’ve decided to side with the sheriff?”
“Of course I’m not siding with him. I’ve spent my life protecting you. The bottom line is that I believe Harrison is innocent.”
“But if the sheriff believes Harrison is involved with the robberies…”
Catherine shook her head and bridged the gap between her and her sister. “He just needs time to find out the truth. Harrison is innocent, because we both know that Harrison would never hurt anyone. These men have robbed and murdered…Harrison would never do any of those things.”
“But you just said…”
“I’m sorry about what I just said.” Catherine pressed back a loose strand of hair from Audrey’s cheek. Didn’t she know how much she loved her? That she’d do anything she could to protect her? “Listen to me. We both know that if the sheriff had any real evidence that Harrison is involved, he’d be sitting in a jail cell right now. Corbin’s just doing his job.”
“I don’t know.”
“Listen to me, Audrey. Do you love Harrison?”
“Of course.”
“And he loves you. We both know that Harrison had nothing to do with the robberies, but let the sheriff do his job.”
“It’s just that I had thought…hoped…that his visit was simply routine.” Audrey began to sob. “I could understand if he were going around and asking people if they’d seen anything suspicious, but this was different.”
“Then let’s start there.” Surely action on her part was better than waiting for Corbin to come up with the truth. “I want you to tell me exactly what the sheriff wanted to know.”
Audrey leaned back against the counter. “The sheriff knew that Harrison had been in Lancaster the day of the robbery and started asking him questions about that day specifically. Then he wanted to know what Harrison did before moving here. It was the same questions, over and over.”
“He’s fishing for information because he doesn’t have anything concrete.”
“But if he ends up believing his suspicions, he’ll arrest Harrison. We’re supposed to get married in two weeks.”
“I know.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“For now, I just want you to trust me. I’m going to figure out a way to take care of this. Because any evidence the sheriff’s gathered hasn’t been enough to arrest him. We’ve got some time.”
“Harrison didn’t do this.” Audrey’s chest heaved. “He’s not a bank robber…or a murderer.”
“Breathe, Audrey.”
“If I lose Harrison…”
“Breathe, honey.” Catherine gathered her sister in her arms.
“You’ve got to help me prove he didn’t do this. Please, Catherine.”
Twenty minutes later, Audrey left and the store was quiet again. Corbin might not want her to get involved, but it was already far too late for that. Catherine sat down at the telephone and made the connection.
“Mr. Peterson? This is Catherine Morgan.”
“Catherine, it’s good to hear from you, but I’m afraid I don’t have any further information regarding your father.”
“I didn’t expect you to know anything yet. It’s…it’s something else. I need your help, Mr. Peterson.”
“Of course. You know I’ll do anything I can for you girls.”
Samuel Peterson had connections throughout the state of Ohio that rivaled any Pinkerton agent. Some things she knew never to ask about. But that wasn’t going to stop her from digging
until she found the truth. “I need you to find out everything you can about someone’s background.”
“Give me their name and I’ll see what I can do.”
“The man’s name is Harrison Tucker.”
Chapter Ten
Catherine stepped into the kitchen and started yanking out the pins that secured her hat. No doubt, Pastor London’s sermon to the congregation this morning had been yet another well-spoken address, but she hadn’t caught more than its bare essence. Instead, she’d found her mind deliberating on the problem pertaining to Harrison. Audrey had sat beside her stiff as a washing board, her mind obviously on unspiritual matters as well.
Clutching the freed pins between her fingers, she shot up a short prayer that God would forgive her for not only failing to pay better attention to the pastor’s words, but also for her inability to protect her sister. Not only did the poor girl have to mourn her father’s unexpected passing, but she was contemplating the possibility of a future without Harrison as well.
Revenge’s new sheriff seemed to be the only party unconcerned by the turn of events. Dressed in a white button-down shirt with a navy and gray checked lapel vest, he’d sat on the far side of the church singing “It Is Well with My Soul” with the rest of the congregation like he didn’t have a care in the world, while she’d tried not to blame him for the trouble he’d brought with him to Revenge. She stomped her foot against the hard floor. How that man exasperated her!
The faint smell of cigars teased her senses. Strange, considering most of the men she was acquainted with didn’t smoke. The back door opened, and Lily slipped into the kitchen behind her. Catherine reached for the last pin and made a conscious effort to rein in her befuddled thoughts. Lily didn’t need to know that their family problems now entangled matters beyond the death of their father. Especially if Harrison was proven innocent, as Catherine believed he would be. Lily already had enough to deal with.
“I thought you were headed to Emily’s for lunch.” Catherine set her hat and the pile of pins on the counter.
“Emily’s out of salt and asked if I’d bring her some.” Lily grabbed a small package from an open shelf then paused. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us? Milena’s making fried chicken and mashed potatoes for Sunday dinner this week.”
