by Kit Morgan
“Well, I’ll certainly inform him that his books were out of place. Maybe he hasn’t had time to put things where they should be because he didn’t have an employee.”
He smiled at her, unable to help himself. He felt good when he was around her, less burdened. “Maybe.” He tipped his hat and headed for the door. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Jace turned to Katie at the door and smiled again. Oh, this was dangerous. But at the moment he didn’t care. For the first time in a very long time, he was enjoying a woman’s company.
Katie sipped her iced tea and did her best not to think about Jace. But the lingering looks he’d given her when he left had her heart hammering and spine tingling. Each time she recalled it, her reaction was the same. It was as unnerving as having someone take a shot at her.
Her musings were interrupted when the bell over the door rang and a pretty young redhead walked in. She stopped and blinked at Katie a few times before glancing around. “Where’s the professor?”
“Napping,” Katie said with a smile. “I’m helping him man the shop.”
“Oh, that’s nice. I thought it reopened earlier than normal.” She glanced around again. “You’re new in town?”
“Yes, very.” Katie sighed. “Can I help you find something?”
The woman smiled weakly. “I think I’ll just browse, if you don’t mind.”
Katie nodded. There was something sad about the woman, her blue eyes full of despair. “Are you sure?”
The woman looked at her, eyes misting. “I shouldn’t have come. I think I’ll go home.”
Katie took a guess. “Priscilla?”
The woman turned. “How do you know my name?!”
She left the counter. “I’m Katie Haverdash. I’m staying with the Vanders.”
“Oh, that’s how.” She settled in a chair near a shelf of books, one of several places to sit in the shop. “I suppose Sophie told you everything?”
“Only that someone tried to do away with you both. I can’t imagine how horrible that must have been.” Well, she couldn’t have before yesterday …
Priscilla stared at her sadly. “That’s not the half of it.”
Katie didn’t say anything, just offered a sympathetic look.
Priscilla sighed. “I’m tired, I should go.”
“I understand you haven’t been out much. Have … you heard what happened yesterday?”
“Yesterday?” She thought a moment. “No.”
Katie looked for another chair. “Excuse me a moment. Don’t go anywhere.” She hurried to one she’d seen earlier, brought it to where Priscilla was, sat and took Priscilla’s hand. “I know a little of what you’ve been through and I sense there’s more. Sophie told me you haven’t been out, so I’m glad you are. But …”
“It was a mistake. I’m not ready.” Priscilla started to rise.
“Wait – I have something to tell you. Your parents must know by now, but I guess they haven’t told you.”
“What?”
“Someone shot at me and Sophie Vander yesterday.”
Priscilla dropped into her chair. “What?”
Katie nodded. “Sheriff Diamond is trying to find out who did it.”
The woman started to fan herself with her hand. “This is horrible. Not again …” She sat up straight. “Did Mr. Cord or one of the others escape?”
“No – they’re still being held in Salem, awaiting trial.”
She sighed in relief. “But who in Heaven’s name would try to shoot Sophie?”
Katie took a deep breath. “I’m pretty sure they were shooting at me. I can’t begin to guess why.”
Priscilla fanned herself harder. “Water …”
“Oh dear.” She stood and headed to the back room where the Professor took his naps, hoping to find that pitcher.
But the door opened as she reached it. “Miss Haverdash,” the professor said in surprise. “Is something the matter?”
“I needed to get some water.” She pointed at the room behind him. When he stepped aside, she rushed in, poured a glass and hurried back to Priscilla. “Here.”
The professor joined them. “Miss Holbrook – nice to see you out and about again.” He studied her a moment. “Er, is something the matter?”
Priscilla drained the glass and handed it back. “A little shock, that’s all.” She looked at Katie. “Who are you and what are you doing in this town?”
Katie sighed wearily. “Let me sit down again and I’ll tell you …”
Chapter Twelve
By the time Katie finished filling Priscilla in on what had happened since her arrival, the woman had drained two more glasses of water. Professor Hamilton was bringing a fourth when Jace returned to walk Katie home. “Miss Holbrook, it’s good to see you. I’m sure by now you’ve heard what’s happened?”
“In great detail.” She looked at Katie.
Katie glanced at Jace. “I told her everything.”
He nodded, then turned back to Priscilla. “You should have nothing to worry about. Still, one can’t be too careful. You’ll let your parents know?”
“I’m sure they already do, but decided not to tell me. They think I’m … fragile.”
Jace nodded again. He looked as if he agreed with Priscilla’s parents. Priscilla was only a few years older than Katie, but seemed far more careworn. Her eyes were usually downcast, her expressions disjointed, as if her recent ordeal had left her broken. Trauma could do that to a person.
Beryl had told Katie some of the things her parents had gone through before they were finally brought together and able to marry. They’d been separated for a time and suffered greatly from it, had been changed because of it. But those changes ended up being for the better. Beryl’s parents were incredible people, taking off on excursions all over the world. Katie thought they were very exciting individuals.
Priscilla stood, breaking her from her thoughts. “Are you up to walking home?” Katie asked.
“Yes, I’ll be fine.”
“We could walk with you,” Jace offered.
Priscilla smiled nervously. “Thank you.”
He nodded before facing Katie. “My book?”
“Oh, yes – let me get it.” She went to the counter, retrieved his book and rejoined them. “Thank you, Professor. Today was fun.”
“Good. I had the best rest this afternoon I can remember.”
She smiled. “I’m glad.”
“Let’s go.” Jace went out the door first, looked around, then motioned Katie and Priscilla to join him. Priscilla was quiet as they strolled to the end of Main Street and headed for the edge of town. The feed store and the Holbrooks’ home must be that way. Katie walked beside her, unsure if she should strike up another conversation.
She was about to comment on the weather when a man in a horse and buggy approached. It was the first time she’d seen Priscilla look happy. “Afternoon, Jace. Anything?” the man asked.
“Afraid not, Doc.” He motioned to the women. “May I introduce Katie Haverdash.”
“Ah, yes.” The doctor smiled. “Your mail-order bride. Sort of.”
Jace nodded. So the full truth was finally getting out. “And Miss Holbrook has ventured out.”
Doc smiled at her. “Glad to see you enjoying the afternoon, Miss Holbrook.”
“Hello, Dr. Stone,” she said, looking morose again.
“Miss Haverdash,” Jace said, “Dr. Ephraim Stone. He hails from Clear Creek in the eastern part of the state. The town wasn’t big enough for another doctor, so he brought his practice here after a stint in Portland.”
“How do you do?” The doctor tipped his hat.
“Very well, thank you.” Katie glanced at Priscilla, who was staring at the ground, and looped an arm through hers. “Priscilla’s feeling tired. We should get her home.”
The doctor’s forehead creased. “Oh? Miss Holbrook, why haven’t you come to see me?”
She looked up. �
��Why? I’m a bother and I know it.”
Jace and Doc both stiffened. Katie caught the action and wondered what was wrong.
“Not if it’s for a legitimate reason,” Doc said. “Why don’t you come to my office right now?” He glanced at the sheriff and back. “Jace, do you mind?”
“Not at all. C’mon, Miss Holbrook, I’ll help you into Doc’s buggy.”
She looked at the doctor in fright. “No, it’s nothing. I’m just tired.”
“It could be different things,” Doc said. “Please, I insist.”
Priscilla looked at the ground again. “Really, I …”
“Come, Priscilla, let me help you.” Jace took her elbow and steered her toward the buggy.
She grumbled, but let him help her onto the seat.
“Why don’t you come too, Sheriff?” Doc asked. “I’m sure you have things to tell me.”
Jace sighed. “Right.”
Katie caught the frustration in his voice and wondered what she was missing. “Should I continue home?”
“No, come with me,” Jace insisted. “There’s room in the buggy for all of us.”
Katie looked at Priscilla, who nodded. “All right.” She let him help her up as Priscilla and Doc Stone scooted over. It was a tight fit, but better than walking back through town in the heat. Once they were situated, Doc slapped the reins and his horse took off at a trot.
“I’ll catch up,” Jace said as they pulled away.
“See that you do,” the doc called over his shoulder.
Priscilla took Katie’s hand. “Thank you for coming.”
Katie saw the helplessness on the woman’s face, which only heightened her curiosity. What was going on? Maybe she’d find out once they reached the doctor’s office. From what she’d seen so far, it was as if Priscilla didn’t want to be alone with Doc Stone for a minute. But why not?
They reached his office, in a small yellow house on the edge of town. Doc helped the women out of the buggy and led them inside. “Do you work and live here?” Katie asked Doc.
Doc Stone led them into an office area. “I live upstairs.” He motioned Priscilla toward a door. “Miss Holbrook?”
“I want Miss Haverdash to join me.”
He cleared his throat, then nodded. “As you wish.”
Priscilla smiled at Katie. “Will you come?”
She glanced between the doctor and Priscilla, eyebrows raised. “Certainly.” Hmmm … was the doctor some sort of cad that she didn’t want to be alone with him? She followed them into an examination room.
Doc Stone took a seat and had the women do the same. “Now tell me what’s been going on, Miss Holbrook.”
“You know perfectly well what’s going on. I, I’m a shambles.”
The doctor took a deep breath. “You’ve been through a great shock. It’s only natural you would be suffering from some malady.”
“Nightmares?”
“Of course.”
“But how do I make them stop?”
Katie listened with interest. Poor Priscilla. Had she been to the doctor on numerous occasions already?
“Miss Holbrook,” Doc Stone said with a sigh. “You’re not going to heal from this overnight.”
“Sophie seems to have,” she shot back.
“Do you speak with her?”
Priscilla sighed. “No.”
“Then how would you know?”
“My mother says she’s fit as a fiddle.”
“Does your mother speak with her?”
Katie’s brow furrowed. As far as she knew, Mrs. Holbrook didn’t.
“No,” Priscilla said in a small voice and hung her head.
Poor woman, Katie thought. Who knew what was tormenting her?
Doc Stone gave Priscilla a brief examination. “Physically there’s nothing wrong with you except being tired.”
“From not sleeping,” Priscilla added. “Could … I have some laudanum?”
He shook his head as he leaned against a hutch containing medical supplies. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Laudanum isn’t an escape from this. You have to fight what’s chasing you, Priscilla.”
She looked up at the use of her Christian name. “But … I’m afraid of them.” Her eyes filled with tears.
The doctor sighed. “I know.”
Katie took Priscilla in her arms. “It’s all right. You’ll recover from this, you’ll see.”
“Easy for you to say – you didn’t … oh, never mind,” Priscilla pulled away and stood. “Thank you, Doc, for the chat,” she said tersely as she headed out the door. Katie rose to go after her.
“Miss Haverdash,” the doctor said.
She turned. “Yes?”
“Miss Holbrook … has been through a lot. The best thing for her at this point is to start living her life again. She needs to be out and doing things.”
“I understand. Maybe she’d like to join the volunteers who’ll be cleaning up the boarding house remains. Sophie plans to.”
“That’s debatable.” He joined her near the door. “Though it might help her face her fears.” He glanced at the adjoining room. They could see Priscilla standing near the front door, looking like she was crying. “Go to her,” he said softly.
“Yes, sir.” Katie went to Priscilla, looped her arm through hers and guided her out of the house. Not thinking, she began to walk Priscilla home. It wasn’t until they were halfway up Main Street that she remembered she hadn’t seen Jace since they reached the doctor’s house. Why hadn’t he followed them? He must have had to take care of some business, or maybe he’d come while they were speaking with the doctor and left again.
But her heart was guiding her now. The woman next to her was so broken, so despairing, as if her entire life had been ripped from her. She might not have lost her physical life in the boarding house fire, but she’d lost something.
“I was engaged,” Priscilla said as they walked.
“You were?” Oh, yes – Sophie had mentioned Priscilla was involved with one of the criminals. She didn’t remember her mentioning they were engaged, though.
“Yes, to Sebastian Cord. We met in Portland when I took care of my aunt there. She’s quite a bit older than my mother and getting on in years. Her husband died about six years ago.”
“I see. Did you court long?”
“Almost a year.” Priscilla stared straight ahead as she walked, her face expressionless, a tear running down her cheek. “He started coming through Independence on business. I remember the day I came home and met him at the train station. We were going to announce our engagement to my parents.”
Katie’s heart went out to her once more. So she had a broken heart. “Did you?”
“Yes. Papa even offered to give him a job at the feed store. Of course they didn’t know what his side job was.”
“The plates,” Katie ventured.
Priscilla nodded. “He wanted to get rich quick. He didn’t want to work. He made a lot of promises. I was a fool to believe him, but I wanted to – I was not only in love with him, but greedy. So greedy.”
“Priscilla, it’s behind you. You’re home with a family who loves you.” Katie gave her arm a squeeze. “Make a fresh start.”
She sighed. “I want to, but … I don’t know who I am anymore, Miss Haverdash. Do you have any idea how empty that makes me feel?”
Katie winced. “I’m afraid I have no idea.”
“I can’t bear to think about anything. I don’t know how I’ll react. I was a horrible person, Miss Haverdash. That’s why I wanted you to come into Doc Stone’s examination room with me – I didn’t want anyone to have anything to gossip about. They talked about me enough after the fire.”
“Did something happen between you and Doc Stone?”
“Not really, though at first I wished it had. But I don’t want to be that person anymore. I … I don’t like myself now.”
Katie put her arm around her. “Then all the more reason to make a fresh start.”
“Here in
Independence? Everyone here thinks I’m a heartless harpy.”
“Can you go back to Portland?”
“Too many people there think the same thing.”
“Oh. Well, what if you went to another city?”
“I’ve thought of it, but I haven’t a clue where.” She looked at her. “Where are you from?”
“Denver.”
“Did you like it there?”
“Very much. It’s a nice place.”
“But you became a mail-order bride?”
Katie sighed. “To escape an arranged marriage.”
“Ohhhh.” Priscilla suddenly smiled. “Maybe I need one of those.”
Katie cringed. “No, I think you need to get to know Priscilla Holbrook first.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.” She noticed they were coming up to the street the sheriff’s office was on. “We should let Jace know we’re heading to your place.”
Priscilla followed her gaze. “Is he there?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see him when we left Doc Stone’s. It wouldn’t hurt to look.”
They headed that way and, sure enough, found Jace in his office looking at a man in one of his cells. The scruffy middle-aged fellow had his face up against the bars. “Aw, c’mon, Sheriff! It was one little poker game. I was winning!”
“You tried to beat up the other players. That is not winning.”
“Yeah? Well that low-down snake Abe Shaw was cheatin’!”
“According to everyone else, you were.” Jace turned, saw the women and left the cell area. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you waiting for me at Doc’s?”
“We were done there,” Katie said.
He frowned. “You should have waited.”
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking when we left. Miss Holbrook was … upset.”
“Be that as it may, you still should have waited.” He looked at Priscilla. “Are you all right?”
“I’ll live.”
“Good. Let’s get you home.” He made sure the cell was locked. “Don’t go anywhere, Rufus.”
“Very funny, Sheriff. Har-de-har-har!”
Jace smiled and motioned the women toward the door. Katie and Priscilla followed him out.
