by Linda Ford
“Would you like to come with me to find Clarence? I have an errand for him.”
She looked ready to say yes, then shook her head. “Do you mind if I stay here a few minutes? I need to think what I’m going to do.”
He didn’t like to leave her and certainly didn’t want her wandering about on her own. “On the condition you stay here until I get back.”
For a moment he thought she would argue, then she shrugged. “I’ll wait here for you.”
He trotted down the street, found Clarence helping his father at the feed store and sent him to look for the culprits. The three men who had bothered Jesse and Emily yesterday plus other men—one riding a horse with an oddly shaped horseshoe and one with silver-tipped boots. They could all be members of the same gang or two different groups of men. He hoped it was the latter and the three that had confronted him on Sunday had continued riding away from the area.
That task done, he headed back to his office. He took a little longer returning as he considered his options.
Doc had given no timetable for Emily’s recovering her memory. He hadn’t even given assurances that it would return. It was up to Jesse to discover her identity and to guard her until he did, but he couldn’t stay at her side continuously.
He reached his office. Emily sat on the wooden armchair, leaning over her knees. His throat tightened at her despair and he knelt by her side.
She looked at him.
“Emily, let me take you around town so you know where the different businesses are.”
“I suppose it won’t do me any good to sit here trying to remember who I am.”
“Nope. You need to follow the doctor’s orders.” He pulled her to her feet and led her outside and past the town square. He wanted her to relax and stop worrying, but he also wanted her to feel confident enough to move about freely.
They passed the hotel and Miss Daisy’s Eatery. “Miss Daisy does the cooking, and her sister Dorie does the serving. It’s a friendly place. Don’t hesitate to stop in.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
He didn’t push her to consider going in. She had much to think about and deal with.
“This is Marshall’s Mercantile.”
“Grandfather Marshall’s other son? I met him and his wife on Sunday but I have to admit I barely remember them.” She chuckled rather mirthlessly. “Big tall man with fading blond hair.”
He led her into the store. No other customers were present, which would make it easier for Emily to relax. “George has about anything you’ll need and if he doesn’t, he’ll order it.”
George hurried forward. “Nice to see you again, Miss Emily. Feel free to look around.”
She thanked him and headed for the yard goods to finger several pieces of fabric.
Jesse watched her. Did she wish for more clothes? No, he understood she wished for her own clothes and hoped something in the many bolts of cloth would trigger her memory.
She turned away, disappointment darkening her eyes. “You have a very nice store,” she told George as she headed for the door.
Jesse followed her outside. They continued down the street. “The assay office. Across the street is the barber and then Mr. Eugene’s office. He’s the local lawyer.” He pointed out several more businesses that they could see from the corner. “Behind the assay office is the boardinghouse.”
She studied it, a serious look on her face. “Perhaps I should move in there until—”
“That’s not necessary, and Mikey wouldn’t have the freedom to run about and make as much noise as he’d like.”
Her countenance brightened and she laughed. “He can be rather noisy at times.”
Relieved to see her more cheerful, he grinned. “Especially when he’s playing with Muffin.”
A horse and rider thundered down the street toward them. Jesse stepped out to wave him down and warn him to slow down in town. He recognized Ernest Davis, a small-time rancher from east of town. Normally a cautious man. Jesse’s nerves twitched.
Ernest reined up hard. “Sheriff, just the man I want to see.”
“What’s the problem?” He kept his voice calm, and his thoughts composed, even though he knew he was about to learn of trouble.
“The supply wagon has been robbed.”
Jesse’s heart sank. “Bo?” Had the driver been killed?
“Shot but still alive.” Ernest gave a snort of amusement. “He’s madder than a cornered badger. Took four of us to get him into a wagon.” He glanced back down the street. “They’ll be going a lot slower than I did, but they should be along shortly.”
“I’ll wait and talk to him before I ride out to the scene.” He thanked the man for all he’d done then looked at Emily for the first time since he’d intercepted the rider.
Her eyes were dark as a midnight sky, her lips set in a hard line. “It could be the same men.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I want to hear what Bo has to say. In the meantime, I need to get you home.” Despite his hope that she would feel free to move about town, he wasn’t prepared to leave her wandering around, especially with robbers in the area, and they made their way back to the house.
He paused with her at the front door. “I wish I didn’t have to rush away.”
Her smile was wide but her eyes were still dark, indicating troubled thoughts. “Thanks for taking care of me. But you needn’t worry. I’ll get myself sorted out.”
That didn’t sounded much positive as resigned. But he couldn’t stay and help her, even if he’d thought he could be of help. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He squeezed her shoulder and hurried away.
Even though Gram was there, he felt as if he had abandoned her. He stopped at the manse and asked Annie to pay Emily a visit. “She’s rather discouraged after Doc told her he could do nothing.”
“Evan has been asking to play with Mikey, so I don’t mind going to see her.”
With that he had to be satisfied for now.
A wagon stood in front of Doc’s house and Jesse hurried in. Before he opened the door, he heard Bo roaring. He went into the examining room where Doc prepared to remove a bullet from Bo’s arm.
“They meant to kill me,” Bo yelled. He saw Jesse. “You go catch them. Bring them to me. I’ll learn ’em not to mess with me.”
Jesse ignored Bo’s anger. “Can you tell me anything about them? How many were there? Did you see their faces?”
“Three men. They kept their faces covered. After they shot me and left me for dead, they rifled through my goods and scattered them all over.” He half sat. “Doc, I gotta get my supplies.”
Doc pushed him back to the table. “Lie down. You’re not going any place until I get the bullet out. Hang on now, son. I have to dig a little.”
“I’ll make arrangements for your things,” Jesse said, and he slipped away as Bo roared like an angry bull.
He arranged for a couple of men to ride east and take care of the supply wagon, then he got his horse. “Come on, Rocky. We got work to do.” It took twenty minutes to reach the wagon. He arrived before those coming with another wagon to get Bo’s things. Jesse shook his head at the senseless way the goods had been scattered about and bags of flour and oats torn open. He dismounted a few feet away and left Rocky waiting. Studying the ground for clues, he circled the area.
And what he saw turned his stomach sour. The same misshapen horseshoe. The same trio who had robbed the stage and killed the driver and his guard.
Jesse straightened and stared down the road. He needed to ride after the robbers before he lost the trail, but what if they made their way to town? Would they recognize Emily and see her as a threat?
They’d left her for dead. Had no reason to suspect she’d lived. Likely they hadn’t even looked at her, so they wouldn’t recognize her. He was worrying needlessly.
He returned to Rocky and followed the tracks of the robbers.
But all the while his gut complained, warning him that Emily could be in danger. After all
, how long would a person have to be in town before they heard about the woman who had been rescued from the stagecoach robbery?
Chapter Ten
Emily went out to the backyard where Mikey played. The boy ran to her arms and she held him tight, finding comfort in his hugs. The doctor couldn’t help her. She might never regain her memory.
Gram straightened from cutting flowers. “Where’s Jesse?”
She let Mikey resume his play then explained about the robbery. “What if it’s the same men?” Her limbs were brittle as glass at the thought.
Gram moved closer. “Is there any reason to think it might be?”
“I suppose not.” She didn’t think the three who stopped them on Sunday were the same as the ones who robbed the stagecoach but wasn’t sure why she thought that. Was it something about the way they rode or spoke? She couldn’t be certain. But there were too many bad men around and it made her nervous. “I’m overreacting.”
“What did Dr. Baker say about your memory?”
Emily relayed the information in a shaking voice. “What will become of me if I never get my memory back?”
“Someone will be looking for you. When they find you, I suppose you’ll have to make a choice as to whether or not to return to the life you don’t remember or start a new one here. And that, my dear, will depend on who is looking for you.”
“I’m almost certain I’m not married.” Except how could she be so sure when she didn’t know who she was?
The conversation ended with Annie coming around the house with Evan in tow. The two little boys began to play together.
“I’ll leave you young ladies to visit and enjoy the sunshine. I have things to take care of.” Gram went inside.
“I should help,” Emily said, but she didn’t follow.
“Like she said, let’s enjoy the sunshine.” Annie went to the bench Emily had shared with Jesse and patted the spot beside her. “Jesse told me about your visit to the doctor. I’m sorry there wasn’t better news.”
All the turmoil and uncertainty escaped in a rush of words. Finally, she slowed. “It’s so unsettling.”
“I can’t imagine. Jesse said the doctor told you not to dwell on it, so let’s talk about something else.”
Emily gave a weak grin. “I have little else to talk about, seeing as I don’t remember my past.”
Annie chuckled. “That’s okay. I can talk enough for the two of us.” She proceeded to do so, regaling Emily with stories of growing up with three older brothers, the pain of losing her mother and then the fun of watching her brothers court the women they married. “My best friend, Carly, recently married, too.”
“And so did you.” Emily laughed. “Maybe they should change the name of the town to Wedded Bliss.”
Annie chuckled and got to her feet. “It’s time for me to leave.”
“Thanks for visiting. I needed to talk.”
She grinned. “Seems you mostly listened.” She collected Evan and they departed.
Emily took Mikey and the dog inside. “Gram, I need to be busy. What can I do?”
Gram studied her a moment. “Very well, right after dinner I am going to my sewing room. There are things there you can do.”
So after they’d eaten, Gram led the way. “I don’t know if anyone told you, but I am one of the seamstresses in Bella Creek. In fact, I am the best. I have as much work as I can handle and often turn down requests.”
“And I’ve been keeping you from your work.”
“Not at all. I did some work while you were out.” She pointed out the projects she had going. “I don’t know how good you are, so I’ll start you out on easy things. Here are the buttons for this shirt. Can you sew them on?”
Emily sat and took up the task. It felt familiar. Of course, she would have sewn on buttons before. But as she cut the thread and attached them, she knew it was more than that.
She willed the memory to return but she found nothing but black emptiness.
“These are done. What else do you have I can do?”
Gram examined the buttons. “Very neat. How do you feel about hemming a skirt?”
“I can do that.” She spent the next hour doing so and Gram looked at the finished project.
“I couldn’t have done better myself. Let’s see if you can set the sleeves in this shirtwaist.”
“I know I can.” They spent the rest of the afternoon sewing, taking the work out to the yard so they could supervise Mikey playing.
“That’s enough for the day.” Gram folded up the dress she was making and waited for Emily to do the same.
Emily returned the garment to the sewing room and paused to look out the windows. When would Jesse return? What news would he bring?
Gram joined her. “He might not be back for supper. If he’s on their trail, he’ll stay on it until he finds them or can no longer track them.”
“Don’t you worry about him?”
“I try not to. He’s smart and careful, and when I get to fussing, I remember God can see him and is better able to take care of him than I.”
They ate supper without him returning. Emily put Mikey to bed, but he went under protest because he wanted Jesse. She stayed up an hour after Gram had bid her goodnight but finally accepted that Jesse wouldn’t be coming before she fell asleep, and she went to her bed.
She had waited only because she wanted to be sure he was safe and wondered if he’d apprehended the bad guys. Not, she insisted to herself, because she missed him or because she felt empty inside with him gone.
*
Jesse had not returned the next morning. It required a great deal of effort on Emily’s part to pretend everything was normal, and maybe she didn’t quite succeed for Gram hugged her.
“I’ve gotten used to him being gone overnight. It isn’t anything to worry about. He’ll be back when he’s finished his business.”
They went to the garden and picked peas and baby carrots then sat side by side against the house and shelled peas while Mikey played with Muffin. The morning hours dragged but it was soon time for dinner. Gram tried to engage Emily in conversation but Emily kept losing track of what Gram said.
“Do you want to help with the sewing again?” Gram asked as they did dishes.
“I’d love to.” Something about the activity seemed familiar. Perhaps it would trigger her memory. She asked to work on a bodice with tiny pin tucks. “I can do this.”
Gram looked uncertain. “It’s very detailed.”
“I’ve done it before. I don’t know where or when, but I have.”
“Very well. Do a little then show me your work.”
Emily did so.
“I’m impressed,” Gram said. “Perhaps you were a seamstress.”
Emily nodded. “I wonder. It seems so familiar.” But still no details came.
It took a couple of hours to complete the bodice. Gram declared herself pleased.
“Maybe you can help me with this.” Gram opened a closet to reveal a beautiful wedding gown. “It’s for Amelia Strong. Her family owns a ranch some distance from here. They seldom come to town, but she’d heard I was the best seamstress around and wanted me to make her gown. We chose the style together but I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to get the lace inserts perfect. My eyes don’t work well enough. Would you have a look at it?”
Leaving the dress on the padded hanger, Emily examined the lacy parts Gram indicated. She saw how Gram had caught a thread of the lace. That was all it took to keep it from lying perfectly.
“I can fix this if you like.”
“I’d be most grateful. I promised to have it done in three weeks. I’m running out of time.”
Emily checked the rest of the gown. There were more lace gores to be sewn into the skirt, sleeves yet to be set in, buttons to attach and button loops to make. After that would come the final fitting before the hem could be done. “It won’t take long to finish.” Though she hoped she would be back with family and loved ones before the three weeks
ended. She closed her eyes against the fear that she had no family and no one who cared about her.
She carefully took the dress down, spread a clean white sheet over her lap and work area, and painstakingly set about removing a few stitches, straightening the material and, with tiny, precise stitches, putting it correctly in place.
She’d worked on such a gown before. She knew it with certainty. A rush of emotions flooded her. But was it anger or sorrow she felt? Happiness or sadness?
A tear dropped to the back of her hand. She dashed it away, thankful it hadn’t fallen on the dress. Hurriedly, she pulled the sheet over the fine silk. Why was she crying?
*
Jesse stomped the dirt off his boots and strode into the house. Mikey greeted him at the door and Jesse swung him into the air and rubbed his whiskered face on the boy’s cheeks, careful not to rub hard enough to give him a burn.
The door to the sewing room stood open and he crossed toward it.
He ground to a halt at the sight before him and his heart stalled. He put Mikey on the floor and eased forward.
Emily sat, her hands entangled in a white sheet and tears flowing unchecked down her cheeks in twin silver tracks.
He took a step toward her before remembering he had two days’ worth of trail dust on him. Gram would have his hide nailed to the wall if he soiled any of her work.
“Gram,” he said softly.
She’d been so engrossed in her work that she hadn’t paid any attention to his entrance, likely thinking he would head straight for the kitchen and a cup of cold water. She jerked toward him at his call.
He tipped his head toward Emily. “Can you take away the sewing?”
“Oh, my. I didn’t realize.” She set aside her own project.
Emily didn’t give any indication she was aware of the movement.
Gram carefully laid the dress and sheet on the table. “I’ll take care of Mikey.” She hurried out of the room and closed the door.
Jesse hunkered down in front of Emily, uncertain how to proceed. If she was regaining her memory he didn’t want to do something that would interfere with that.
“Emily?” He spoke softly, afraid to startle her.
