Wanted: Carpenter

by Marianne Spitzer

  “Bathtub? I didn’t think about that. You can’t share the one in the main house,” Katie giggled. “That would cause a commotion.”

  “I’m sure it would which is why we need it. I also ordered a small stove for heating water along with the larger heater for the bedroom. The parlor fireplace should heat that room adequately. Even though we won’t have a kitchen, we’ll have water for the tub, and I can’t see carrying hot water from the kitchen in the main house to our bathing room.”

  Katie snuggled up next to him. “You thought of everything.”

  “I tried, but you know it won’t be long before Silverpines has electricity and telephones all over town. It’s nearly the turn of the century, and I think we’ll see many new marvelous things,” Benjamin said believing each word.

  “And we’ll discover all those things together along with our family. I’m pleased and excited. Our lives are going to be perfect or as close to perfect as we can make them. I look forward to all the tomorrows coming,” Katie said looking up at Benjamin.

  He drew her close and kissed her. “I promise to make your life as wonderful as I can.”

  ~ * ~

  Early the following morning, Ivy answered the door and looked up at the man standing there. She nodded her head and then slammed the door on him.

  “Katie,” she yelled loud enough to wake the entire house. “There’s a man at the door that says he’s here to marry you.”

  Katie laughed. “Why didn’t you ask Benjamin in?”

  “It’s not Benjamin. I don’t know who it is, but he has scary eyes,” Ivy replied before running off to her room.

  Feeling a bit of trepidation, Katie peeked out the front curtains and saw a man she didn’t recognize standing on the porch. She watched as he raised his hand to knock again.

  Miss Ethel walked into the parlor carrying her rifle and said, “I heard what Ivy said. Answer the door Katie, but don’t fill the doorway. If this man means trouble, I want him to see I have my rifle. We’ve dealt with enough con men since the disasters.”

  Katie nodded and opened the door.

  “Good morning,” the stranger said. “Are you Katie Deidmann?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Wonderful, I’m Eli Warren. I’m your groom from the Grooms’ Gazette. Get your things, we can head for the preacher’s right now.” The man smiled, and Katie could tell Ivy was right. The man had cold eyes, and Katie felt a shudder run down her spine.

  Miss Ethel, rifle still in hand, stepped in front of Katie. “You are mistaken, young man. Katie is spoken for. Now, I suggest you leave.”

  Eli pulled the copy of the Grooms’ Gazette from his pocket and insisted Katie sent for him.

  Miss Ethel’s eyes squinted into slits when she addressed the man. “Katie accepted no proposals from anyone from the Grooms’ Gazette. If you don’t leave, I will shoot you.”

  “You’ll be sorry,” Eli yelled as he backed off the porch. “I’ll take you to court and sue you. I’m going to find the town sheriff, and have you arrested. You can’t cheat a man this way.”

  Katie paled as Miss Ethel closed the door. “Will I be arrested for placing that ad?”

  “No, dear. You said you sent polite responses to the three men that answered the ad explaining you were no longer seeking a husband. An advertisement in the paper doesn’t mean any promises were made. I’m sure Marshal Sewell will explain that to the man, and he’ll leave town.

  Katie wasn’t so sure.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The door to the marshal’s office flew open, and a young man pushed his way into the office and strode straight to the marshal’s desk. With icy blue eyes fiercer than any criminal the marshal had encountered before, the man’s hand’s shook as he tried to catch his breath.

  “Are you the marshal,” the young man spluttered.

  “I’m Marshal Alexzander Sewell. What can I do for you? Please have a seat. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  “My name is Eli Warren, and I want you to arrest Katie Deidmann,” Eli demanded.

  “Katie? What did she do?” Marshal Sewell questioned wondering about the young man’s state of mind.

  Eli dropped his copy of the Grooms’ Gazette onto the marshal’s desk and said, “She placed an ad for a husband. I came here to marry her, and she refused me. There must be some law that she violated when she lured me here under false pretenses.”

  Marshal Sewell thought for a moment and asked, “Exactly how did she lure you here?”

  “Why she placed the ad, and I answered it. I met every requirement in her ad. When I asked around town I was told where she lived and tried to see her. She refused to go to the church with me, and some old woman threatened to shoot me with a rifle. I want my wife,” Eli insisted.

  “Please sit down. I have a few questions.”

  Eli begrudgingly sat and glared at the marshal.

  Sitting back in his chair, Marshal Sewell began, “Let me understand this correctly. You answered Katie’s ad in the Grooms’ Gazette, and she asked you to come to Silverpines?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Please explain.”

  “I answered the ad with a letter going into great detail about myself and my life. When I received her response, she apologized and said she no longer was looking for a husband. I could read between the lines and knew she was just being coy. It was her way of enticing me here to be sure she married. I am here, and now she says no. She can’t do that,” Eli explained.

  Eli handed the marshal the letter he received from Katie. “Read it yourself. She’s acting timid to convince me of her true feelings.”

  The marshal picked up the letter and slipped it into his pocket. “Mister Warren, I understand that you wish to marry Katie, but she explained in her letter that she no longer is searching for a husband. As a matter of fact, she is betrothed to a town resident.”

  Eli flew to his feet. “She can’t. She’s mine. Do something to stop this, Marshal.”

  “Katie is allowed to make up her own mind. I suggest you return home to wherever that is.”

  “Central Ohio.”

  Marshal Sewell nodded, “Ohio. Go back to Ohio on the next train. Maybe place your own ad or look elsewhere.”

  “I haven’t broken any laws, and I’m not leaving town. You can’t force me. I reported what I believe is a crime. I want you to do your duty and arrest that woman.”

  The marshal wanted to lock the young man in one of his cells until he came to his senses, but Eli was right. He hadn’t committed any crimes and unless or until he did, all the marshal could do is warn the Howard House residents that he believed they had a problem in the form of Eli Warren.

  “Very well, Mister Warren, get a room at the Inn and I’ll speak to Katie,” the marshal said.

  “And warn that crazy woman not to threaten people with a rifle. She should be arrested, too,” Eli exclaimed.

  “Were you on their property when you spoke to Katie?”

  “The porch.”

  “Then Miss Ethel was in her rights. Don’t go to the house again and don’t call her an old woman. Miss Ethel will shoot you without giving it a second thought. Now, leave, I have business to do.”

  The marshal watched Eli storm down the street and decided he’d pay a visit to Howard House to warn the residents of Eli’s temper.

  While the marshal headed for Howard House, Eli entered the Inn and strode to the front desk. Ella Grace stood behind the desk while Michael ran a few errands. The glare in Eli’s eyes made Ella Grace shudder before she heard him speak.

  “I want a quiet room and food. Are you serving meals now?”

  “Yes, sir,” Ella Grace replied sliding a key across the desk and explaining the room charge and dining room hours to Eli. “Your room is on the second floor in the back. It’ll be quiet. We have a nice town here.”

  “Humph,” Eli retorted. “With women doing men’s work. Does your husband approve of you working here?”

  “We own the Inn, sir,” El
la Grace answered not caring for his attitude.

  “Why does that not surprise me in a town of deceitful women,” Eli spat, grabbed his key, and headed up the stairs.

  Ella Grace hurried away from the front desk to the kitchen door where she could see the lobby and speak to Mrs. Donlinson at the same time. The man had unnerved her, and they had dealt with enough nasty men in town to last a lifetime.

  “Beware of the man in Room 210. His name is Eli Warren, and he just checked in. He seems very unkind, and his eyes are cold and unfeeling like a dead man’s eyes.” Ella Grace visibly shuddered.

  “You look frightened, dear. I will tell my husband, and you tell Michael when he returns. Between all of us, we’ll keep an eye on that man. Here, sweet girl, have a cookie.” She held out a plate of molasses cookies. Cookies were the one thing Ella Grace couldn’t resist, and she took two.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Donlinson. I should get back to the front desk.” Ella Grace turned and walked back to the desk munching on her cookie as Eli descended the stairs headed for the dining room.

  “I hope he doesn’t cause our server any problems,” Ella Grace muttered under her breath as she watched Eli enter the dining room.

  Eli was a perfect gentleman and did his best to charm the pretty young waitress. He managed to start her talking about the town and eventually learned all he needed to know about Miss Katie Deidmann and the man she was planning on marrying. Planning perhaps, but it would never happen. Eli would see to that. Katie was his. He didn’t travel all this way to be denied.

  When Michael returned, Ella Grace explained all she knew about the strange man that upset her. Michael insisted she go home and rest. She agreed and slipped out the side door and headed home. Just as Ella Grace neared her front gate, she saw the marshal leave Howard House. She continued to walk until she met him in the street.

  “Good afternoon, Alexzander. How is Betsy? I haven’t been around to see her in a few days.”

  “As well as can be expected. Betsy doesn’t like the idea of bed rest, but it’s important right now.”

  “I understand. Michael is always after me to rest, too. I’ll visit Betsy tomorrow and help her while away some of that bed rest. I saw you leave Howard House. Is everything all right?” Ella Grace asked feeling a bit of trepidation.

  “Katie had an unwanted suitor arrive this morning. She can fill in the details. I should get back to my office.”

  “That wouldn’t have been a man by the name of Eli Warren would it?”

  “Yes, why do you know him?” Ella Grace now had the marshal’s full attention.

  “No, but he just checked into the Inn and had several disparaging remarks to share about the women in Silverpines.”

  The marshal nodded. “Be careful around him and speak to Katie.” He tipped his hat and hurried down the street to see what he could learn about Eli Warren.

  Ella Grace continued to Howard House and opened the door. “Hello, anyone here?”

  “It’s Ella Grace,” Ivy shouted. “Come in, and we have to tell you about the man with the scary eyes.”

  “I think I met him at the Inn a little while ago,” Ella Grace told her younger sister.

  “Eli Warren?” Katie asked.

  Ella Grace nodded. “He made me shudder, and he wasn’t pleasant at all.”

  “Come into the kitchen, and I’ll tell you what happened. I could use a cup of tea while the babies sleep,” Katie said and went on to explain what happened with her unwanted suitor.

  “Alexzander told us to be watchful and not to trust the man. Eli wanted to have me arrested for breaking a promise he thinks I made. Alexzander has the letter I sent Eli apologizing for taking up his time and said that Eli had no reason to think he could come here and force me to marry him. He’s going to keep the letter in the safe in his office as proof if Eli annoys me again.”

  “Do you think he will?”

  Katie shrugged and said, “I hope not. Once Benjamin finds out he may have a word with Eli, but I’m afraid Eli is the type of man who would seek revenge if he didn’t shoot or stab Benjamin in a fight.”

  “I hope you’re wrong and this Eli person stays away from you. He made me uncomfortable when he checked into the Inn.”

  Katie patted Ella Grace’s hand. “I’ll be all right. Miss Ethel threatened to shoot Eli and you know she’s serious when it comes to protecting all of us.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Katie shivered as she stepped out the front door pulling her coat a bit tighter. The signs of autumn were all around her and the dense morning fog surrounded her. The sun struggled to break through but only added a shimmering glow to the fog.

  Katie murmured to herself, “Of all mornings to have promised to help out at the Inn, it had to be this one. It’s a good thing I can walk to the Inn in the dark. The fog seems to thicken with each step I take.”

  Carefully making her way down the brick walkway to the fence, she stopped to open the gate before stepping through. A shiver skittered down her spine, and it was more than the chilly morning air. She mentally scolded herself for feeling nervous about the fog. How many times had she reassured the younger girls of Howard House that storms and fog were all part of God’s creations?

  Katie heard a horse trotting up behind her. She wondered who would be out in the fog hurrying along on a horse. Didn’t they care if the horse stumbled? Her thoughts were interrupted when the horse raced up next to her, and she felt herself lifted off the ground by a strong arm.

  Katie screamed.

  Ivy and Rosie always the ones to watch from the front porch or windows saw the dark-clad figure lift Katie off the street and gallop away. Ivy began to cry, and Rosie ran screaming into the kitchen. “The man from the dark has Katie. We have to get her back.”

  Maude did her best to calm Rosie while Miss Ethel and Miss Edie talked to Ivy. “What is Rosie screaming about, dear?”

  Wiping at her tears, Ivy stammered. “The boys at the picnic after church told us that if we were bad, the dark man would find us and take us away. They laughed and thought it was funny that they made Rosie cry.”

  “But he isn’t real, dear,” Miss Edie assured. “Why are you crying now?”

  “He is real. Rosie and I saw him. He rode on a dark horse and picked Katie up off the ground and rode off with her. Katie is gone. The dark man took her.” She began to sob again.

  Miss Ethel and Miss Edie glanced at each other. After sending Ivy to the kitchen for a cookie and some of Maude’s comfort, they spoke to each other.

  “Do you believe them?” Miss Edie said biting her lip.

  “I am not sure, but there is one sure way to let anyone know that if they hurt one of our girls they will have to deal with us,” Miss Ethel responded and stormed over to the small closet where she kept her rifle. She pulled the key from around her neck, unlocked the door, grabbed the rifle, and rushed past Edie and out onto the porch. She aimed the rifle at the sky and fired three times.

  “Why did you do that?” Edie asked as all the younger girls ran towards her and the porch.

  “Two reasons. First, it’s still early and quiet, and the sound will travel well letting anyone who took our Katie know we are coming for her. Secondly, Katie will hear the shots and know we know she is in danger. Hopefully, it will bring her some comfort knowing we will find her.”

  There was a third result Miss Ethel didn’t anticipate. Marshal Sewell and Betsy were eating breakfast when they heard the rifle shots.

  Alexzander Sewell was sure the shots came from the edge of town, and he knew that there were only houses in that direction. One house in particular. The Howard House for Orphaned Girls.

  Wiping the remains of his breakfast from his face, he stood and looked at Betsy. “I think those shots came from Howard House or close by. That old lady is after someone most likely Peter Bunyan. Maybe he transferred too much sawdust onto Cyndi Lou again. I have to go.”

  Betsy hurried after him, “Miss Ethel isn’t old, and if Peter is calling at t
his time of morning I don’t blame Miss Ethel for scaring him off.”

  The marshal glanced at his wife over his shoulder, slapped his hat on his head, and hurried out the door headed for the spinster sisters’ home certain one of them was responsible for the early morning shooting. The fog was lifting slowly, and when he was within a block of the house, he could see both ladies standing in the road pointing at various things in the dirt.

  Miss Edie lifted her head and called out, “Thank goodness, Marshal. We were just going to find you. Someone stole Katie. Ivy and Rosie saw him pull her onto a horse and you can see where her shoe prints disappear from the dirt and a horse rode away. Look, you should be good at tracking. Go find our girl.”

  Marshall Sewell raised his hands. “Slow down and tell me what happened but first I want to know if you’re responsible for the rifle shots I heard.”

  “I certainly am,” Miss Ethel confessed. “They were a warning to whoever took Katie that we know it and for Katie to know we’re going to find her. Now, go find her.”

  He squinted his eyes at the two older ladies with identical faces. At this moment he couldn’t tell them apart. Usually, Miss Edie smiled at him, but right now they wore identical scowls.

  “Look,” Miss Edie said pointing at the ground. “You can see Katie’s footsteps. It’s a good thing it rained last night. Now, see where her footsteps stop where the horse rode up, and the rider picked her up.”

  Marshal Sewell nodded.

  “Good,” Miss Edie continued. “If you look closer you’ll see after Katie’s footsteps disappear, the horse’s hoof prints are a bit deeper. That’s how we know the rider picked her up and the horse was carrying more weight.”

  Miss Edie was correct in her observations, but the marshal didn’t want the ladies to think they could do his job or they would run off to who knows where looking for Katie. He looked at the ground and then back up at Miss Edie. Hoping to dissuade her, he asked, “Where did you learn to track? Did someone give you a few dime novels to read?”

  Miss Edie blushed furiously. “My reading is not the issue here. Saving Katie is. Do something.”