“Thank you. Grace taught me the numbering system for the tables and showed me around the kitchen, but we didn’t quite make it to all the rest of this.” Naomi shook her head. “It’s a little overwhelming.”
“It can be, and when the train gets here and the bustle begins, it will seem even more overwhelming. But keep a cool head and you’ll be fine.”
Naomi took a deep breath and let it out. “All right. I think I’m ready.”
“That’s good because here comes the train. Just remember—we’re going shopping this afternoon. That will give you something to look forward to, right?”
“Right.” Naomi smiled, although nervously, and they went to join the others in the lobby.
Giselle kept a close watch on Naomi during the meal. She moved slower than the other girls, which was to be expected for her first day. But as she compared them, she noticed that Nora seemed to be moving the slowest of all. She crooked a finger to ask Georgia to step into a private corner.
“Tell me what you think of Nora,” she said.
“She’s a good worker, but she’s not as quick as, say, Nancy Ann. But Nancy Ann has been here for a while.”
“True. You don’t think Nora’s being lazy or not doing her job, do you?”
“No. She’s just not naturally as quick.”
Giselle thought about that as she delivered her next tray of food. If Nora was honestly trying, she couldn’t hold it against her if she wasn’t as speedy as the other girls, but she hoped that’s all it was and not a waitress who was purposely not giving it her best.
Two men entered the dining room and slid into chairs at the back of the room. Giselle didn’t think she’d ever seen them before, but there was something about them that made her uncomfortable, and she handed her tray to Carrie. “Table three,” she said before the girl could ask any questions. Then she grabbed Naomi’s arm and pulled her into the kitchen.
“What’s the matter?” Sarah asked, looking up with a slice of pie balanced on her knife.
“I don’t know. But you remember the men I told you about last night?” The girls had all stayed up quite late in their attic room while Giselle filled them in on Naomi’s story. She respected Mr. Brody’s desire to keep them safe by not telling them too much, but she felt the greater good lay in preparing them for what might happen. “I think two of them are in the dining room.”
“I’ll tell Mr. Brody,” Nancy Ann said, picking up her tray and heading back out.
Giselle watched through a crack in the door as Nancy Ann delivered her food and then walked over to Mr. Brody, who was always there during a meal service. He and his ever-present pistol had come in handy on several occasions before.
He gave Nancy Ann a nod, and she moved away.
Giselle kept an eye on the dining room while remaining hidden, feeling ridiculous. She was the dining room manager, and she was tucked away in the kitchen as though she was the one running from the law. And of all the times, too, when they were short-handed, and now she and Naomi had made them even more short-handed.
The remaining girls handled it, though, even Carrie and Nora who were still learning everything that needed to be done. When at last the passengers filtered out of the dining room, Giselle breathed a sigh of relief, but she didn’t reenter the room until Mr. Brody came in and reported that the two men had left.
“One of the men put a roll in his pocket,” he said. “While he could have been saving it for later, it might also mean they have a friend somewhere who couldn’t come inside to eat with them.”
“Griffin?” Naomi asked.
“Without being able to identify Griffin’s friends, we can’t say that for sure, but what are the odds of it being anyone else? I’ve sent Tom to follow those two men in hopes that they’ll lead us to Griffin, wherever he’s hiding.”
“Oh, thank you, Mr. Brody,” Giselle said. “That’s an excellent idea.”
“Well, I have been known to have those from time to time.”
***
“One good thing came out of all this,” Giselle said as she and Naomi changed out the bedding in one of the upstairs rooms. “When those men came into the dining room, we had the chance to see what they looked like. It was too dark to see them clearly before, and they had us at a disadvantage.”
“True,” Naomi replied. She smoothed down the sheets on her side and reached for a corner of the blanket. “Thank you for keeping me focused on the positive. Is this how you like the blanket tucked in?”
“Perfect. The Brodys want to be known as having the cleanest, tidiest hotel on the railway, so they ask us to focus on the details in everything we do. Fresh linens, clean floors, a supply of writing paper in each desk—our goal is to make our guests feel as though they’re in their own homes.”
Naomi nodded. “That’s a good goal.”
They exited the room, and Giselle saw Carrie and Nora finishing the room across the hall. She glanced in. “It looks nice, ladies. Nora, would you go down to the kitchen and help Sarah and Ruth churn some butter? They said we were running low. Carrie, could you get started on the ironing?”
With both girls assigned their next tasks, Giselle turned to Naomi with a smile. “And now it’s time for the two of us to go shopping. We’ll have about an hour.”
“Are you sure? It seems unfair to put them to work while we go do something fun.”
“They’ll get free time tomorrow, and they understand that you need some things. In fact, Nancy Ann asked if you had enough money and wanted to contribute.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet of her. I couldn’t possibly take her money, though.”
“I told her that Mr. Brody gave you an advance. He’s done that before, so it’s not unheard of. Now, let’s go before we’re out of time altogether.”
Giselle borrowed Mr. Brody’s spare pistol and slid it into the pocket of her dress. She knew that Tom was following the two strangers, and that gave her a measure of relief, but she still wanted the comfort of knowing she could take care of herself.
When they walked into Applebee’s, Naomi’s eyes grew wide. “I only came in here once as a child,” she whispered to Giselle. “I had a penny and wanted to buy some candy, but there were some mean girls standing by the counter, and they accused me of stealing the money. I never came back.”
“Now’s your chance to spend your money however you want, without anyone telling you that you can’t,” Giselle replied.
Naomi pored over the fabric choices, her eyes darting from thing to thing. In the end, she chose material for three work dresses in gray, navy blue, and brown, and she also picked out enough muslin for a light summer dress in pale blue.
“That will get you started,” Giselle said. “I’m sure you’ll want another dress for church or picnics or something down the road.”
“Four dresses seems like such an extravagance to me,” Naomi replied. “I usually only have two.”
“You’ll definitely need all three of those work dresses,” Giselle replied. “Just this last week alone, I spilled chicken fat and then an entire tray of food. You’ll get all kinds of things on your clothes, and we have to look nice all the time. And as far as the blue dress—it will be lovely, and you’ll catch the eye of some nice young man and he’ll ask you to go for a buggy ride, and you’ll wish you had a few more things to choose from.”
Naomi looked down at the floor. “I don’t think I want to catch anyone’s eye.”
“You don’t right now, and that’s understandable, but someday.”
They purchased the thread and buttons they’d need, and Naomi also grabbed some hairpins so she could keep doing her hair up in a more conventional hairstyle than her braids. As they walked back to the hotel, she said, “Now that I have all the sewing supplies, what’s next?”
“Next, we help you sew them,” Giselle said. “There’s a lady in our neighborhood who lets us use her sewing machine, but unfortunately, she’s out of town right now. But the girls will help you make up your dresses.”
“I can’t ask them to do that,” Naomi protested.
“Of course not. That’s why I did, and they all said yes,” Giselle told her, giving her a grin.
***
Jesse had just rounded the corner onto Main Street when he saw Tom White peering around a building and then ducking back behind it. That was curious. Jesse crossed the street and pretended to stroll past Tom’s hiding place casually, then slid in beside him.
“What’s going on, Tom?” he whispered.
“Two men who were in the dining room this morning just went into the saloon. Giselle thinks they may be with your pal Griffin, so Mr. Brody asked me to keep an eye on them to see if they’d lead us to him.”
“Have you told the marshal?”
“Not yet. We’re not even sure they’re the right men—neither Giselle nor Naomi got a good look at them the other night.”
Jesse nodded. “Well, why don’t I hunker down here with you for a bit, and when they come out, I can identify them.”
“Thanks, Jesse.”
Standing in an alleyway between two buildings wasn’t the most comfortable thing Jesse had ever done, but he’d once spent over an hour with his gun trained on a deer until it finally moved out from behind the trees enough to give him a clear shot, so he knew how to be patient. Finally, after about forty minutes, the men exited the saloon, and Jesse saw their faces as they stepped out from under the awning and onto the street.
“That’s them,” he said. “I’ll get the marshal.”
Tom nodded. “And I’ll stick with them.”
Jesse waited until the men had turned the opposite direction, and then he slipped out onto the street and across the way. Moments later, he was relaying Tom’s findings to Colonel Gordon.
“Thank you, Mr. McVey,” the man said, coming to his feet and checking his waist for his pistol. “Henderson!”
The deputy stuck his head out from the other room. “Yes, sir?”
“You’re with us.” Then he turned back to Jesse. “And you’re hereby deputized for this situation. Are you willing to help us?”
“Of course, sir. Whatever I can do.”
“That loaded?” He nodded toward the pistol in Jesse’s holster.
“Yes, sir.”
“Then let’s go.”
When they reached the alley where Tom had been hiding, he was no longer there, but Jesse hadn’t really expected him to be anyway. He’d follow the men as they moved through town.
“So, where did they go?” Colonel Gordon asked, looking up and down the street. “Can’t arrest someone if I can’t find them.”
Just then, Jesse saw Tom’s head poke out from around the corner of the general store. “This way, sir,” he said.
When they walked into the store, they found the men at the counter purchasing rolls of bandages and a few basic foodstuffs.
“Well now, looks like you’ve got someone with an injury,” the colonel said, strolling up to them and eyeing their selections. “Hope everything’s all right, gentlemen.”
“It’s just fine, sir,” one of them replied. “Horse got caught up on a bramble bush is all.”
“That’s a shame. A downright shame.” The colonel paused. “What’s an even worse shame is that I’m going to need to hold you fellows for a while in my jail cell.”
Jesse flinched. His intention in alerting the marshal was to get help in following these men back to Griffin’s hiding place. He was the one who had threatened Giselle and Posy—neither of these two could be charged with anything. If they were arrested, not only would the chance be lost to follow them, but Griffin would go even deeper into hiding, and they might never catch him.
“What for?” the second man asked. “We ain’t done nuthin’.”
“For aiding and abetting someone who did do something. Come along with me.”
Jesse watched as the colonel and his deputy led the two men toward the jail, a rock in his gut. Tom walked up behind him and exhaled.
“So much for that,” Jesse said. “Who knows if we’ll ever see Griffin again.”
“If he were to disappear from this area entirely, would that be such a bad thing?” Tom asked.
“No, except for two things—I’d always wonder if he’s coming back, and I’d always worry that he’s out there hurting someone else.”
“And it’s a valid worry. Men don’t change overnight.” Tom clapped him on the shoulder. “I’d best get back to the hotel.”
“Mind if I walk with you? That’s where I was headed in the first place.”
“’Course not.”
When they reached the hotel, Jesse was amused to see Giselle bending over a hot tub of water, scrubbing a tablecloth. Tendrils of her hair had escaped her bun and drifted around her face, some stuck to her forehead from the moisture in the air. She looked utterly charming even though she was disheveled.
She looked up and saw him. “Hello,” she said, wiping her forehead with the back of her arm. “What brings you by?”
“Just wanted to check on Naomi. And see you.”
She smiled, glancing down at her tablecloth and then back up. “I’m doing quite well, although laundry isn’t my favorite task.”
“Jesse!”
He turned at the sound of his sister’s voice. She ran down the porch steps and gave him a hug.
“How are you today?” he asked her. She seemed fully recovered from her exhaustion now, and there was a light in her eyes that had been missing.
“I’m doing very well. The other girls are helping me make some dresses, and I believe I’ve memorized which table is which in the dining room.” She laughed, and it made him happy to hear it.
“The marshal’s got Griffin’s two friends in custody right now,” he told her.
“But not Griffin?”
“No, he’s still in hiding.”
“I see.” Sadness crossed her face, but she chased it away with another smile. “But the other two are caught. I’ll be glad for that.”
“Good girl.” Jesse glanced around. What if Griffin was out there right now, watching them? They were still standing in the shadow of the building and he didn’t think they could be made out from a distance, but he didn’t want to take that chance. “I need to go, but I’ll see you soon, all right?”
“All right. Take care, Jesse.”
“You too.”
He walked back across the yard. “Friday at dawn,” he whispered in Giselle’s ear, and she laughed.
“I already told you—I’ll be ready.”
Chapter Thirteen
When Giselle woke up on Friday morning, it was still dark outside, but there was that sense of expectancy in the air, like the world knew it was almost time for the sun to come up and was preparing for it. She dressed quickly and bound her hair extra tight so it would stay out of her way all day, then put on her sturdier of her two pairs of shoes and grabbed a hat.
Down in the kitchen, she wrapped up two loaves of bread and set them aside, then made herself a cup of tea. She would have preferred coffee, but it would take too long, and Jesse would be there any minute.
Jesse. Her cheeks got warm when she thought of him, and her heart beat a little faster. He’d also made her very angry a couple of times, but she realized that if her feelings for him weren’t genuine, he wouldn’t have that sort of effect on her. Thankfully, everything had been resolved, and she could now look forward to their day together without anything hanging over their heads.
She stepped outside a moment later and looked down the road. She made out a lone figure on a horse, leading another horse, and she smiled. She’d recognize him anywhere—the set of his shoulders in particular.
He brought the horses up to the gate, jumped down, and greeted her with a smile. Then he helped her up onto the second horse.
“We’ll be out for a while today, so I thought we’d best take along some transportation.” He patted the neck of his horse, then mounted. “Next time, I’d like to take you canoeing.”
“You’re
so certain that today’s going to go well, you’re planning our next outing?” Giselle teased.
“I’m certain of a great many things, Miss Hardy,” he returned, and led the way.
It had been a little while since Giselle had ridden a horse, but it felt just as natural as if it had been yesterday. “I’ve got Naomi’s horse tucked away in a friend’s barn,” Jesse said over his shoulder. “It might be recognized too.”
“That’s a good idea,” she replied. Hopefully, they’d catch Griffin soon and this whole thing would be over. How ridiculous that even the horse had to be in hiding because of the actions of one angry man.
They rode until the sun had fully crested the horizon and risen midway up the sky. They brought their horses to a stop at the edge of some trees, tied the reins with enough slack that the animals could graze, and then walked into the grove. Jesse handed Giselle the same pistol she’d borrowed from him before, and he carried a hunting rifle. “This is where I got the deer I brought last week, and she was part of a larger herd. I’m hopeful they’re still around. Mrs. Brody said she’d take some smaller game too on a trial basis to see if your customers like it, but she’d really rather have another deer.”
“The venison did sell well,” Giselle agreed.
He turned and gave her a serious look, but the slight smile on his lips gave him away. “If we get a deer today, you realize there will be blood. I don’t know of a way to hunt without blood. I could perhaps sneak up on it and strangle it, or I could poison it, but poison wouldn’t make for good eating. We could try scaring it to death—”
“Stop,” she said with a chuckle. “I promise, I’ll be fine. In fact, that’s part of why I’m out here. I want to overcome this aversion.”
“And will you help me gut it? Skin it?”
“Um . . . thanks, but no thanks. We don’t want to rush me into anything, do we? Such pressure might undo all my progress.”
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