“Sounds good to me,” Roald said, rubbing his hands together. “Will Miss Grace be joining us?”
“I believe both Grace and Elizabeth will once they’ve served the other guests. Violet will manage after that.”
Ben stood a little taller and adjusted his cravat.
Jude led them to the dining room, where Elizabeth, Grace and Violet were serving their patrons. The room was full with single men, all of them vying for a little attention from the ladies. Jude had reserved a table in the corner, near the windows, away from the kitchen.
“Have a seat,” he told Ben and Roald. “I’ll see if they need some help.” He was walking toward Elizabeth when Hugh Jones entered the dining room.
Hugh glanced around the lobby and laid his eyes on Jude. “I’m here for Grace.”
Grace must have noticed his arrival, too, because she left the table she was serving and walked over to Hugh. “Welcome back.”
Hugh’s self-satisfied smile landed on Grace. “Hello, sweetheart.”
Elizabeth paused in her work, her concerned gaze flickering between Jude and Hugh.
Hugh leaned closer to Grace. “Would you like to dine with me this evening?”
Grace didn’t hesitate. “I’d love to.”
“Grace.” Elizabeth maneuvered around the tables separating them and stood next to her sister. “We’ve already agreed to have supper with Mr. Allen and his guests.”
“I didn’t agree to anything.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks filled with color. “Grace.”
“There’s a table right over here.” Grace led Hugh to a table with two empty seats. “I’ll get a couple plates of food for us.”
Elizabeth stood in stunned silence.
“Why don’t you go sit with Ben and Roald?” Jude asked her. “I’ll see if Martha and Violet need more help.”
“We’re almost finished serving,” Elizabeth said quietly, looking down at her hands.
“Good.” He looked around the room. “Where is Rose?”
“She’s in the kitchen with Martha.”
“Do you think she’d like to join us for supper?”
Elizabeth looked up at Jude. “Do you think Ben and Mr. Hall would mind?”
Jude shook his head. “Not at all.” He nodded toward their table. “Go have a seat.”
Elizabeth walked toward Ben and Roald, and Ben pulled out a chair for her.
Thankfully they were gentlemen and wouldn’t make a scene about Grace.
Jude strode over to the kitchen door and pushed through, needing to talk some sense into Clarence’s second daughter. If her father had known who Grace would be cavorting with, he would never have invited her to Little Falls.
“Grace.” Her name came out much rougher than he intended.
She jumped and spun around from the worktable, where she’d been filling two plates with roasted chicken and mashed potatoes.
“Do you realize what kind of a man Hugh Jones is?”
Grace turned back to the food. “He’s charming, fun to be with and he doesn’t care what others think of him.”
“Apparently not. He’s responsible for break-ins, gambling and—” He couldn’t tell her he was a frequent visitor at Dew’s place.
Grace continued to fill the plates, but didn’t say anything in response to Jude’s accusations.
Martha worked at the stove, but he knew she was keeping an ear on their conversation.
Violet stacked four plates onto her right arm and lifted another with her left hand. She exited the kitchen without a glance behind her.
Jude had forgotten about Rose. She sat on the floor in the corner of the kitchen with some of Martha’s pots and pans. She looked as though she had been pretending to make supper—but her large brown eyes were now focused on Jude and Grace. Concern lined her face and Jude felt responsible. He shouldn’t have talked so freely about Hugh in front of the child.
He squatted before her and smiled. “Rose, would you like to join Elizabeth and me for supper?”
“She’s fine to eat in here with me,” Martha said. “I was just about to dish her up a plate.”
“Where would you like to eat?” Jude asked her.
Rose looked from Grace to Martha to Jude. “With Lizzie.”
“That’s a good choice.” Martha winked at Rose. “I’ll make up some plates.”
Grace took the two she had filled and walked out of the kitchen.
Rose’s gaze followed Grace, her usual smile nowhere to be found.
Jude tried to coax a smiled out of her, but it didn’t work. She stood to watch Martha.
“And what’s the matter with you, lamb?” Martha asked Rose. “Don’t you like chicken and mashed potatoes?”
Rose nodded, her eyes solemn.
“Then maybe you don’t want to dine with Mr. Jude, is that it?”
Jude stood and the child looked at him, but she didn’t respond.
“Then it’s Grace you’re worried about.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t need to worry about Grace,” Jude said.
“Is Mr. Hugh bad?”
“He’s hurting, is all.” Martha placed a piece of chicken on each plate. “He doesn’t know how to deal with his pain, so it turns to anger sometimes.”
“Will he get angry at Grace?”
Jude hoped he wouldn’t.
“Mr. Jude and Mr. Pascal will keep her safe.” Martha scooped potatoes onto the plates. “Won’t you, Jude?”
Rose turned her trusting eyes to Jude. “Will you keep Grace safe?”
Jude had rescued many women and he’d done a great deal to keep them safe—but he’d never felt more obligated than he did now. The weight of the request, from such a small child, was heavier than any other. “I will do all I can to keep her safe.” He couldn’t resist. He reached out and tweaked her nose. “I’ll keep you safe, too.”
A smile finally warmed her face, causing her eyes to sparkle. “What about Lizzie?”
“I’ll keep Lizzie safe, as well.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jude.”
“Go on with you now.” Martha laughed. “Bring these plates to our guests before they get cold.”
“May I help?” Rose asked.
Jude handed her a plate. It looked much too large for her, but she pinched her tongue between her lips and concentrated as she walked across the kitchen.
Jude picked up the other four and pushed the swinging door open to let her pass into the dining room.
Elizabeth sat at the table with Ben and Roald. She looked beautiful with the candlelight sending shadows dancing over her face. A radiant smile tilted her lips as she devoted her attention to Ben. It was clear they enjoyed each other and the knowledge was bittersweet for Jude.
“What do we have here?” Roald asked when he caught sight of Rose.
“A little waitress in training,” Ben said with a laugh.
Rose placed the plate on the table in front of Elizabeth and grinned. “I helped.”
“I see that. Good job, Rose.” Elizabeth looked up at Jude, her smile now glowing for him.
He had promised Rose he’d protect her and her sisters, but who would protect him from his growing attraction to Elizabeth?
Chapter Seven
It had been hours since supper had ended, yet Grace was still entertaining Mr. Jones in the dining room.
Elizabeth paced in the lobby, her feet growing tired and her head pounding. If the man was any sort of gentleman, he would not monopolize Grace’s attention.
Pascal sat at his usual place behind the front counter and Jude had long since disappeared on some sort of errand. Roald and Ben had said good-night and Rose had been put to bed.
The front door opened and Jude app
eared. He looked surprised to see her in the lobby. “I thought you’d be asleep by now.”
“Grace is still in the dining room with Mr. Jones.”
Jude glanced down the hall and his jaw tightened. It was clear he did not approve, either.
“What do you know of this man?” she asked. “If he has honorable intentions toward Grace, I need to know. If he doesn’t—I need to know that, too.”
Jude took off his hat and hung it on a coat-tree near the front door. He approached Elizabeth and put his hand on the small of her back, leading her into the sitting room across from the front desk. It was a fancy parlor, with a large fireplace, a woven rug and two divans covered in dark brocade. Sheer curtains, like those in the dining room, hung on brass rods.
Elizabeth tried to be patient as she waited for Jude to speak. She had been sure they were leaving Grace’s unsavory friends behind in Rockford. She hadn’t even considered the fact that her sister would find more in Little Falls.
“Unfortunately, I do know a lot about Mr. Jones,” Jude said in a low voice. “And none of it is good. Frankly, I’m surprised he’d show his face here at all.”
It was just as she had suspected and feared. “Can you ask him to leave? I need to talk sense into Grace. Tell her to stay away from him.” Yet, would it matter? She hadn’t taken Elizabeth’s advice in Rockford.
“I will ask him to leave—but I don’t believe this is the last we’ll see of him.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly. She’d been so preoccupied with the hotel this past week, she hadn’t made any progress in finding her sister a husband. They had met more men than she could count, but she hadn’t been paying close enough attention to know if they were worth pursuing.
Ben and Mr. Hall were good men. Tonight, she would sit down and make a list of all their obvious strengths and weaknesses and then compare them to Grace’s to see if they would be compatible. She’d also go through the list of men they’d met so far and see which ones would be good candidates for Grace. She had a distinct disadvantage, since she was new to town. It would be so much easier if she had someone who knew the men already.
Maybe Jude would help—but how did she go about asking? In all truth, she hardly knew Jude, yet what little she did know suggested that she could trust him. “I have a favor to ask.”
“Of course.”
“This may seem untoward, but I would like help finding Grace a husband.” Embarrassment clouded her vision for a moment and she had to look away. What kind of woman asked a man to help her find a husband for her sister? But Grace’s future depended on her success. “I fear Grace will make a horrible mistake if left to her own devices. I need to help her, and soon.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“We need someone with the right type of personality to attract her.”
“I have a few men in mind.”
“Are they good men?”
He smiled and his eyes softened at her request. “The very best. Leave it to me. I’ll help you find someone for your sister.”
She bit her bottom lip, afraid she might cry. This was the first time since her father left that she’d felt she had an ally against the world. “Thank you.”
“Maybe you should wait to thank me until after I find someone.”
“I trust you will. And Grace will thank you, one day.” She was sad to think of Grace leaving to start a life of her own, but it was for the best. “She needs to get on with her life.”
He studied her for a moment. “What about you?” he asked softly.
She looked down and played with the cuff of her sleeve, a nervous habit she’d had since she was a child. “What about me?”
“Do you want to get on with your life, too?”
“I am getting on with my life. That’s why I’m here.”
“That’s not what I meant. Don’t you have dreams of marriage and your own family someday?”
His question made her throat feel tight and her lungs too small to take a deep breath. She hardly knew him, yet he was asking such a personal question. But it wasn’t his question that troubled her as much as the answer her heart wanted to give. Yes, she’d dreamed of having a husband and children one day...but all of that had changed when her mother died and her father left. Who would want her and Rose now? James hadn’t. She was better off staying single and working hard to one day buy Jude’s portion of the hotel. It was the only way to have control of her future.
“I gave up on that dream years ago. I’m choosing to focus on Rose and my work here.”
“Is that really what you want? When you look back at your life, will you be satisfied with your decision?”
Elizabeth lifted her chin. “I don’t see how it’s any of your concern. I hardly know you.”
He stood so close she could smell the cologne he wore. It was filled with masculine scents that made her senses swirl.
“Maybe it’s not my concern,” he said slowly. “But I somehow feel responsible for you and your sisters, since your father called you here.”
Responsible? She had been the only one responsible for so long, she wasn’t sure if she liked having someone else feel responsible for her.
“Thank you for your concern.” She moved away from him. “But all I want to do is focus on my sisters right now.” Her nerves were so tightly wound, she was afraid she might say or do something she’d regret. “I’ll go check on Grace now.”
“I’ll come with you and ask Hugh to leave.”
“Thank you.” She left the room and he followed.
They entered the dining room and found it almost empty. Only a handful of men sat at a table near the kitchen door playing a game of cards. Violet filled their coffee mugs, but as soon as Elizabeth and Jude entered, she retreated to the kitchen.
Grace sat with Mr. Jones at the same table they’d been occupying all evening. Their heads were tilted together and Grace was laughing at something Hugh must have said. He watched her with undisclosed hunger.
The look made Elizabeth’s skin crawl.
Jude didn’t pause, but went right to their table.
Hugh slowly stood and Grace’s back stiffened.
“Grace,” Elizabeth said. “It’s time to say good-night.”
“I’ll say good-night when I’m ready.”
“You’re ready now. Jude is going to close the dining room for the night.”
Hugh winked at Grace. “That’s my cue to leave, sweetheart.” He put his hat on and gave her another heated look. “I’ll be back.”
On his way out the door, he cast a hard look in Jude’s direction.
The other men left the dining room, as well, and Elizabeth offered polite smiles until all were gone.
Grace turned on her then. “I’ve never been more humiliated in my life, Elizabeth. Really. You and Jude are not my parents.”
“If you’d stop acting like a child, I wouldn’t have to parent you,” Elizabeth countered.
Grace narrowed her eyes. “I will see who I want, when I want.”
“Mr. Jones is not a good man.” Elizabeth lowered her voice and looked around the room. Jude stood nearby, watching. She sensed he would come to her defense if she needed him. The thought gave her more courage. “The man is dangerous, Grace. You’re best to forget about him now and find someone else—”
Grace didn’t wait for her to continue, but turned and left the dining room.
Elizabeth had no energy left to fight her sister. They were back where they had been in Rockford.
Jude came to her side. “What can I do to help?”
“Just find her a good husband—and tell Mr. Jones not to come back.” It was the only thing that would save Grace.
* * *
As soon as Elizabeth went upstairs, Jude strode to the lobby and grabbed his hat.
“Are you going out again, Mr. Jude?” Pascal looked up from a drawing he’d been working on.
“I am.” He went over to the counter and lowered his voice. “I’m going to Dew’s place. I need to speak to Hugh Jones before I leave for Duluth and I have a feeling he’s down there. If I don’t come back in an hour, you know where to look for me.”
Pascal nodded, used to such instructions from Jude.
Jude left the front of the hotel and stepped into the darkness of night. The streets were empty and the moon shone bright, casting shadows against the sides of buildings, creating eerie shapes and distorting objects. He wore his pistol this evening, knowing it would be foolish to go without protection. Thanks to Sheriff Pugh, the town was lawless. It was every man for himself and Jude took that responsibility seriously.
He went around to the barn and saddled Lady with the aid of a lantern. He put out the light and led Lady from the barn, wanting to be done with his task.
Dew’s place was south of town on the banks of the river, not far off the Wood’s Trail. The road ran from Pembina to St. Paul and it was the same route the stagecoach took. It was the only road leading into Little Falls from the north or the south. Jude took it now, riding past the church and graveyard, past Abram’s home and sawmill, and headed out of town.
Lady’s steady gallop brought him to Dew’s place in short order. There were six or seven horses tethered to the rails outside. Jude recognized some of them and easily identified Hugh’s mount.
The place served as both a saloon and brothel. Jude hated setting foot inside, but there was no way to avoid it if he wanted to confront Hugh.
Jude pushed open the door and entered the dingy interior. The building had been constructed so quickly and so poorly, it looked like it might fall down under a strong wind. Large cracks let in the moonshine from outside and he imagined it didn’t provide much protection during the frigid winters.
A few men glanced up when he entered, but most kept their faces lowered, no doubt afraid of who might enter and recognize them. Jude was known as one of the upstanding citizens in town, but that didn’t mean much to brothel owners. Some of their best clients were upstanding citizens. He should know. When he was barely twenty, he’d purchased the brothel where he’d lived his whole life. At the time, he’d done it because the women who worked there were the only family he had and he believed he was protecting them. But eventually, after Martha had taught him the truth, he was disgusted at the life he’d led.
Inherited Page 8
