Prime Catch

by Ilona Fridl

  Sarah grasped his hand. “Instead, why don’t I cook something for us? We need to talk, and I don’t want the whole town gossiping.”

  “Good idea. I’ll see you then.” Amos headed to the office to check up on things, but he walked like a vast weight had lifted.

  Chapter 15

  Sarah readied the vinegar marinade for the fresh salmon fillet she’d purchased on the way home. She chided herself for being giddy and nervous about tonight. Though Amos assured her nothing had changed, knowing he cared made her feel unsure.

  For once, she wasn’t thinking about the case or worrying about George. His importance to her had washed away in the revelation from Amos. She had suspected Amos treated her as someone special because she was a woman, but she’d never thought he cared for her to that depth.

  After cleaning up and changing her clothes to a fresh spring dress, she added a crisp white apron and heated the gas oven for the salmon. A saucepan of asparagus went on one burner, and on another a skillet of butter, onions, and sliced potatoes sent an incense of cooking through the house. A new pot of coffee was started on a third burner.

  The bell at her front door ground out its metallic notes. A flood of happiness and fear washed over her as she hurried to it. Standing on her porch was a man in a suit, with a white shirt that had a clean starched collar. And he was shaved, except for his mustache, which was trimmed.

  “Evening, Sarah.” Amos removed his hat. “I stopped at the confectioners for some chocolates.” He handed her the box of sweets he was holding. “You look beautiful.”

  She melted and got the tingle that happened every time she thought of Amos. “Thank you for both the compliment and the candy. Let me take your hat and coat.” She set the box on the table in the parlor and hung his things on the entrance hooks.

  Amos cleared his throat and shuffled his feet. “Dinner smells good.”

  She waved him to a seat in the parlor. “It’s almost ready. Wait for me to bring it to the dining table, and then we can start.” She gathered serving dishes of food and fixed the coffee tray. “It’s ready!”

  Amos pulled out her chair, and when she was seated, he settled across from her.

  She indicated with her hand. “You can take what you want from the dishes.”

  Without a word, he carved some of the salmon fillet and put it on her plate, then took some for himself. After serving the fried onions and potatoes, and the asparagus, and taking a hunk of bread, he set to eating. “Everything tastes swell,” he said after a swig of water.

  “Thank you. Was there anything going on at the office?”

  Amos looked relieved. “Got word from Mahoney that they were able to stop any shenanigans at the cannery in Cordova, but they didn’t catch the varmint.”

  When they had finished the meal, she moved to clear the table. “Go into the parlor. I’ll pour the coffee, and we can have some chocolates.” As she moved the dishes into the kitchen, she was lost in thought. Maybe it wasn’t wise to change our relationship like this. He seems so uncomfortable with me now. He only relaxed when we talked about work. When she returned, she expressed her concerns.

  “Sarah, no. I’m glad we got this out into the open. I haven’t felt this way about a woman for a long time. Although it is dredging up memories.”

  “Do you want to tell me?”

  Amos paused. “Well, I know about your problem with George, so I guess you should know about me.” He took a breath. “The reason I left Idaho. My intended died of pneumonia two weeks before we were to be married. I had been in love with her for years, so it was quite a blow. I couldn’t stay there where everything reminded me of her.”

  Sarah grasped his hand. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  “I came up here and buried myself in law enforcement, not wanting to be hurt like that again.” He sighed. “I hadn’t counted on an upstart Indian detective gaining my undying respect and then my heart.” He traced his fingers lightly down her cheek.

  Sarah was trembling. She released his other hand and they gazed at each other.

  He grasped her shoulders and pulled her toward him. “May I kiss you?”

  Uncomfortable, but wanting that kiss, she nodded. They both hesitated with their lips inches away. Then he closed the gap, and his mouth attached firmly to hers. Her whole body was ready for that kiss, and she leaned into it. She was aware of the scratchiness of his mustache, the hardness of his body, and the masculine scent. His tongue probed her mouth and both their breaths came in rasps. Sensations she hadn’t felt for years flooded her body. She gently pushed on his chest and sat back. “Oh, my.”

  His eyes were on fire with a beautiful warmth, and he cupped her chin. “I didn’t want to mess up our work, but I couldn’t help myself. I’m in love with you, woman.”

  She tenderly laid her hand on his smooth face. “You look so much younger and handsomer when you shave.”

  He grasped the hand and kissed her fingers. “I think I’ll call it a night before we get carried away.” He rose, taking her with him.

  She brought his coat and hat. “Tonight, I feel renewed. This will work out.”

  He embraced her, and she welcomed it. Snuggling on his shoulder, she pressed her nose to the rough fabric. It was good in his arms. “Sweet dreams, Sarah. See you tomorrow.”

  Instigating another kiss at the front door, Sarah smiled. “Same to you. Goodnight, Amos.” Lord, that kiss was as delicious as the first. She lingered on the porch long after he disappeared around the corner. Looks like Mother will get her wish after all.

  The next morning, Sarah swallowed nervously as she opened the door to the office. Sam glanced and nodded a hello. She hurried to her desk and checked her report file. A boy with a Western Union uniform came in a few minutes later.

  “Is the sheriff in?” he asked Sam. “I have a telegram from Sheriff Creag in Yakutat.”

  Sam rose and took the envelope. “I’ll take it in to him.” He flipped the boy a quarter.

  “Thank you, sir!” The boy tipped his cap and was off again.

  Sam knocked at the door of Amos’ office and disappeared inside for a moment. Amos came to the door as Sam went out. “Lakat, come in!”

  Sarah was relieved that Amos was the same as always. She ducked in. “What is it?”

  Amos waved the yellow paper. “Creag has detained George.”

  “Are we going to bring him to Juneau?”

  He paused. “Sam and I are.”

  “What? Why am I not going?”

  “Because I need someone strong to help manage him if he gets out of hand.”

  Sarah slammed her fist on Amos’ desk, causing everything to jump. “I helped you bring Bobby in, and he was shooting at us!”

  Amos glanced down as if he was caught. “Well, yes―but you weren’t ever engaged to Bobby.”

  “What has that got to do with it? We're bringing in a suspect of murder.” Her voice kept rising.

  “No, you’re not! I’m the sheriff, and I’m saying you aren’t!” He stood almost nose to nose with her.

  Her chest heaving with anger, she shook her finger in his face. “You said nothing would change in our work. You lied!”

  “Lakat, get out of my office!”

  She ripped the badge off her shirt. “Gladly. I quit!” She threw the badge at him and rushed out the door, grabbed her things off her desk, and left.

  “I knew it,” she grumbled as she headed home. “Everything just blew up in my face. He can’t let me do my work.”

  She heard footfalls behind her and her shoulder was grasped. “Sarah, stop.”

  “Let go of me or I’ll break your arm.”

  “Goddamn it, woman, listen to me!” He whipped her around to face him. “You are the most mule-headed person I know!” He shook her slightly. “All right, you can go with me to Yakutat.” He handed her badge to her. “I didn’t accept your resignation.”

  She waited a few moments for her anger to uncoil. Then she pinned the badge to her shirt. “When do we leave?” />
  “After lunch. We’ll stay in Yakutat and bring him back tomorrow.” He paused. “Go home and pack. I’ll pick you up at eleven-thirty for lunch, and then we’ll go.”

  She grinned. “Thank you for giving in.”

  “Just don’t let me regret it.” She caught a flash of amusement as he turned to the office.

  After lunch at Millie’s, they met Bill at the airfield. Amos shook his hand. “Any problem with you staying overnight?”

  “No. This is the first overnight since our daughter was born, but the wife said it was all right.” He turned to load the plane. “You can get settled.”

  It was coming up to four o’clock when the seaplane plopped down near the pier at Yakutat. The three of them walked into the town center and the only hotel, the Raven’s Nest. It was a simple clapboard building with a totem pole in the front with a raven watching grimly from its top perch. The inside was bright with its plain whitewashed walls in the afternoon sun. An elderly Tlingit man sat at the old oak reception counter with a case of cubbyholes and key hooks behind him.

  Amos went to the desk. “I’d like two rooms next to each other for the night. One for us,” he indicated Bill, “and one for her.” He pointed at Sarah.

  The old man nodded. “I’ll need all of you to sign.” He turned the register book toward them. “The rooms are a dollar a night.”

  Amos took out two silver dollars and gave them to the proprietor. “We’ll be going early in the morning. Where’s a good place to eat?”

  He thrust his thumb to the left. “Kate’s Kitchen is down a block.”

  Amos tipped his hat. “Thank you.”

  The native pulled two door keys off the cubbyhole hooks. “You’ve got Rooms Two and Three, one flight up.”

  Amos flipped the key for Room Three to Sarah. “Let’s get settled, then take care of some business.”

  Sarah and Bill followed Amos up the creaky stairs. No one can sneak around this hotel, she thought with amusement. Even walking to their rooms was a symphony of creaks and squeals of the old floor.

  She opened the door to a reasonably clean room, although it was sparsely furnished and smelled like old wood. A wooden caned chair, a washstand, a chest of drawers, and a bed were the only furniture. Yellowed lace curtains cut the sunlight into geometric shapes, while dust traveled the beam’s length. Someone had tried to brighten the place up with braided rugs and framed ancient color advertisements.

  Sarah carried a washcloth and towel to the bathroom at the end of the hall to freshen up. Back in her room, she brushed her still-too-short hair to make it look fuller. A knock at the door made her jump. “Who is it?”

  “Amos. Are you ready?”

  She opened the door. “Yes.”

  “Good. Bill’s going to meet us at the restaurant. I think we should check in with Creag before we eat supper.”

  A light mist was starting to coat the dirt road as they hurried across to the sheriff’s office. Creag sat at his desk, and, out of the corner of her eye, Sarah saw George behind him, in one of the iron cells. Creag stood to greet them.

  “Glad to see you again, Darcy. You beat Mahoney. He wants him, too.”

  Amos shook his head. “If he wants him, Mahoney has to wait until we’re done with him in Juneau.”

  A voice from the cell invaded her ear. “See, Sarah, someone―”

  “Shut your mouth!” she yelled back. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say!”

  “But―”

  “Enough!” Her fingers clenched into fists.

  Amos strode to the cell. “Listen, Annok, you’re going back to Juneau to face the music. Don’t let me have to put a charge of harassment of my deputy on that list.”

  George opened his mouth for a moment, then shut it again. “All right, Sheriff.” His eyes shot daggers at Sarah.

  Amos returned to Creag. “We’ll be here in the morning after breakfast to take him.”

  Creag shook Amos’ hand. “He’ll be ready.”

  Sarah’s emotions were percolating from her stomach to her throat as they left the building. She pushed them down and set her face in stone.

  Amos glanced at her. “This is the reason I wanted Sam to come instead of you. George can play off your anger.”

  “I won’t let him get to me. I can do this.”

  Kate’s Kitchen loomed into view. They went into the cheery pine-paneled restaurant with its little tables scattered around. At one sat Bill nursing a cup of coffee. “Everything set for tomorrow?”

  Amos nodded. “Creag will have him ready. We’ll have to handcuff him inside the plane.”

  “That won’t be a problem. You can use the metal rings by the seats.”

  They enjoyed the meal of stew and biscuits, but Sarah couldn’t get rid of the tension. She had visions of gagging George for the flight, knowing he would taunt her if he could talk.

  Back at the hotel, they split to their separate rooms. Sarah bid the fellows a goodnight and, as they went into their room, she unlocked her door, then froze. A scrape came from the other side. The hairs prickled on the back of her neck as she turned the knob and then put her shoulder into it. It swung into the wall and she heard a surprised shout. Her prisoner struggled to push back.

  Amos bounded out of his room, his shirt unbuttoned and disheveled. “What the hell was that?”

  Sarah had her gun drawn. “I have a visitor.”

  Amos darted around her. “Let him go.” As Sarah eased up, Amos grabbed the arm that was flailing and pulled him out. Not giving up, the thug tried to hit Amos with a club in his other hand.

  “I wouldn’t do that, if I were you,” Sarah said as she leveled the gun.

  The man dropped the club, and Amos shoved him against the wall. “Now talk. Who are you, and what do you want?”

  “We don’t want any out-of-town lawmen messing with our people,” he barked.

  “Are you with the Revenge Ravens?”

  The man stared at Amos, but said nothing.

  Amos shook him. “All right. We’re going to go to the sheriff’s office. I’ll let Creag handle this.” He turned to Bill, who was standing in the hall. “You two keep an eye open while I take this varmint across the street.”

  Sarah holstered her gun, then looked around the room. “Nothing seems to be missing.”

  Bill stood at the door. “How did he get in?”

  She noticed the curtains billowing out. “Looks like he came in the window.” She glanced out. “This room is right over the porch. It would be easy to climb in here.” She noticed a stick in the window to hold the sash open. Closing the window, she jammed the stick into the upper section, thus preventing it from being raised. “Bill, look in your room and see if you have one of those, and do the same.”

  Bill nodded and disappeared. They waited in the hall until Amos got back. When he came up the stairs, he had the proprietor tagging along.

  Amos pointed to Sarah’s room. “He was in there, and the door was locked.”

  Sarah told him about the window.

  The man rubbed his hands. “I’m sorry this happened.” He turned to Sarah and Bill. “The sheriff’s department will keep an eye on things here tonight, so we shouldn’t have any more trouble.”

  At their thanks, the man went downstairs again.

  Amos glanced at Bill. “Go on to bed. I’ll be in later. I have to tell Sarah what I found out from Creag.”

  Bill inclined his head. “Then I’ll say goodnight.”

  Amos hustled her into her room and shut the door. He saw her face and said, “What?”

  She gave him an impish smile. “This really isn’t proper. Especially with your shirt like that.” He hadn’t redone the buttons.

  Amos actually blushed as he set to straightening his clothes. “Excuse me. Anyway, Creag told me there is a big group of Revenge Ravens in these parts and they don’t take kindly to one of their members being arrested.”

  “Did he have any suggestions for us?” She sat on the edge of the bed when he
settled in the chair.

  “He said we should leave before breakfast.”

  She thought for a moment. “That will be a long time before eating.”

  “Bill told me earlier he had some provisions on the plane for emergencies. We can tide over with that.”

  Something smacked against the outside wall and Sarah jumped to her feet. “Oh, no!”

  Amos hurried to the window. “Nothing out there that I can see.” He came back and put his arms around her. “Don’t worry, we’ll be all right.”

  His gesture melted her. “I know. Thank you for helping me.”

  “I wasn’t about to let someone skin you alive, but I don’t think he was counting on you to squash him, either.” He chuckled. “Fast thinking, Lakat. Good work,” he said softer. Their faces were inches apart.

  Sarah gazed at his gray eyes as they darkened to a steel blue. He looked back at her with a warm fire and the gentle hug grew tighter. “Amos?”

  “Sarah,” he said with a husk to his voice. He clamped his lips to hers, and she ran her hand over the rough whiskers on his face, and then somehow they were both sitting on the edge of the bed.

  Sarah’s mind raced. Oh my! We’re on a job, and our pilot is sleeping in the next room. She pulled back. “We shouldn’t do this now.”

  “This was another part of the reason I didn’t want you to come with me. I didn’t know if I could control myself. A cheap hotel isn’t a good place for a first time.”

  Sarah’s cheeks heated. He may as well know, since he’ll find out anyway. “It won’t be my first time.”

  A puzzled expression crossed his face. “But you were never married.”

  “I was promised and close to the wedding.”

  He gritted his teeth. “George?”

  She nodded. “I was so sure he was going to be my husband. The next day he ran off.”

  “That damned bastard could have gotten you with child.” He drew her back and rested his chin on her head. He kissed her hair. “I’m no better. I was thinking of taking you myself.”

  “You know, I am a fully functioning woman who can make up her own mind. If you want me, all you have to do is ask.”