Wyoming Lawman

by Victoria Bylin

  “But you turned your back,” Jasper said, leading her. “When I came through the door, you were looking away.”

  “Just for an instant.”

  He glared at her. “I saw the redhead put something in her pocket.”

  “This should be easy to solve.” Matt struck a relaxed pose. “You’re Jenna, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Would you mind showing me what’s in your pockets?”

  The girl looked to her friend. The brunette gave an imperceptible nod, as if to give the girl permission to speak. She looked at Matt, then indicated the shelf behind her. “I set the mirror here.”

  Pearl immediately saw the white cloisonné on the second highest shelf, out of sight but not unreasonably so. Matt picked it up and showed it to Jasper. “Is this the missing mirror?”

  He grumbled. “Yes.”

  Matt put it back in its place. “Looks to me like no harm’s been done.”

  Jasper’s face flushed red. “That woman meant to steal it. If I hadn’t come back, the mirror would be gone.”

  “I doubt it,” Matt answered. “I think these ladies came here to make you mad. It’s payback for chasing Katy out of your store.”

  And maybe for the fire, Pearl thought. Did the women suspect Jasper? It seemed possible.

  Jasper glared at Matt, then at the women who were smirking. Pearl wished they’d stop mocking Jasper. No way would he tolerate such disrespect. If they pushed him, she felt certain the Golden Order would cause trouble.

  Matt picked up his hat. “I have a suggestion for you, Mr. Kling. Call it even and send the women on their way.”

  Pearl had never spoken up to Jasper, but she had to speak now. “Mr. Kling?”

  “What is it?” he snapped.

  “What these women did was wrong.” She shot them a look meant to scold, then focused back on Jasper. “Even so, the Bible tells us to forgive. If you leave them alone, they’ll leave you alone.” She looked at the women again. “Isn’t that right, ladies? If Mr. Kling forgets today’s incident, you will, too.”

  The women traded a look, then the brunette spoke to Pearl. “I suppose we—”

  Jasper cut her off. “There will be no compromise. Right is right, and wrong is wrong.” When he turned to Pearl, a chill shivered down her spine. “Thank you, Miss Oliver, for your opinion. We’ll speak when this incident is over.”

  Pearl had no doubt she’d just lost her job. How would she provide for Toby and her father? She didn’t know, but she had an even bigger fear. Would Jasper suspect her father’s true motive for joining the G.O.?

  Matt spoke in a too-reasonable tone. “I’ll talk to the women, Jasper.”

  “Don’t bother.”

  “It’s my job and I’ll do it.” Matt looked straight at him. “No one’s going to get away with anything while I’m wearing this badge. You can count on it.”

  If she hadn’t known Matt’s true motives, his tone might have passed for sincere. Instead she heard a threat. He suspected Jasper of wrongdoing, and he’d let the man know. He’d made an enemy today and so had she. Even worse, their enemy had the power to call her father’s bluff. Trembling, she prayed for God to help them all.

  Matt struck a casual pose. “You know how it is, Jasper. Women like these are trouble.”

  The shopkeeper’s face flushed red.

  Matt smirked. “Some men just can’t keep their hands to themselves. A few have been known to head out to the hog ranch. Seems to me that’s pretty low. They don’t think anyone sees, or that anyone knows. But people see. And they talk.” Matt tsked his tongue. “It’s a crying shame what some men will do.”

  Jasper looked close to choking on his own tongue. Matt turned and spoke calmly to the women. “Ladies, you’ve had your fun. I expect this nonsense to stop.” He turned to Jasper. “When a real crime is committed, I’ll handle it. Until then, this incident is over.”

  Dan indicated the door. “Ladies.”

  They gave Jasper haughty looks, then sauntered down the aisle. Matt followed without giving Pearl a second glance. She watched him leave, hoping he’d turn to her but knowing he wouldn’t. The more distant they appeared, the safer she and her father would be. She hated being alone with Jasper, but she worked for him, at least for a few more minutes. Standing tall, she faced him. “I know you’re angry, but I had to tell the truth.”

  “Yes,” he said, sounding cold. “You would.”

  “I don’t believe they intended to steal. Deputy Wiley’s right. They’re provoking you.”

  “They shouldn’t do that.” He clipped each word. “Neither should you. I trust you’ve learned a lesson today.”

  “Sir?”

  “You’re naive, Pearl.” His spectacles magnified his eyes. “I’m not ending your employment, but I am disappointed in you.”

  She wanted to quit, but she had to protect her father. If she antagonized Jasper, she might cast doubt on his loyalty to the G.O. As disgusting as it tasted, she had to eat crow. “Thank you, sir.”

  He looked down his pointy nose. “Women of that ilk are the doorway to a man’s sin.”

  In front of her eyes, Jasper’s countenance changed from mild to murderous. His mouth tightened into a sneer, deepening the corners into black lines. Perspiration gave a shine to his pasty skin, and his small eyes narrowed into black beads. In the most primitive of ways, he reminded her of Franklin Dean. If it weren’t for the risk to her father, she’d have walked out of his shop and never returned.

  Love for her father made her strong. She didn’t dare speak, but she would not be cowed. She wouldn’t.

  Jasper gave her a suspicious look. “Do you understand me, Pearl?”

  She stared hard but only for an instant. She couldn’t win this battle with impertinence, so she lowered her voice. “Yes, sir.”

  “Let’s get back to work.”

  She stepped to the counter and opened the ledger. Jasper went to the storeroom, fetched a black derby and put it in the window. Pearl knew what it meant. So would her father. So would Matt. The Golden Order would meet and make plans. Soon they’d make a move. Silently she prayed her father and Matt would stop the violence before it reached someone she loved.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Once upon a time, a little girl named Sarah brought home a fancy invitation to a tea party. Like all the other little girls, she wanted a pretty new dress to wear. Unlike the other little girls, she didn’t have a mama who could make one for her. She had only a daddy. He loved her very much, but he couldn’t spin straw into gold or even fix her hair very well. The little girl needed a mama and she needed one now.

  “Deputy Wiley?”

  Startled out of the daydream, Matt saw Mrs. Gardner, the owner of the dress shop where he’d brought Sarah to be measured. “Yes?”

  The woman smiled. “Take a look at your little girl.” With a sweep of her hand, Mrs. Gardner indicated Sarah.

  Instead of her usual pinafore, she was wearing a cloud of pink ruffles. She looked almost grown up. A lump the size of Texas pushed into Matt’s throat, and he wondered if he’d ever swallow it down.

  The dress hunt had started when Sarah brought home an invitation for Carrie’s annual tea party for her class. Sarah had heard the girls talking about going with their mothers. He couldn’t meet that need, but he could buy his daughter something pretty. The tea party served another purpose. After yesterday’s trouble at Jasper’s store, the black derby had gone up. When he picked up Sarah from the party, Matt could talk to Tobias unnoticed.

  Sarah curtsied for him. “Do I look pretty?”

  “You’re beautiful, darlin’.” He winked at her. “You look like a real princess.”

  When she grinned, he thought about her baby teeth starting to come loose. Someday he’d be in this shop buying a wedding gown. Dazed, he turned to the clerk. “How did this happen? I thought she was just getting measured.”

  “I made this dress for the Andrews girl. Her mother changed her mind.” Mrs. Gardne
r smiled at Sarah. “It’s a perfect fit.”

  “Can I have it, Daddy?”

  “You sure can.” He didn’t ask the price. He’d have paid a month’s salary for the smile on his little girl’s face.

  As she ran to hug him, the door opened and in walked another princess. He hadn’t spoken to Pearl since the trouble at Jasper’s store and he wanted to know how she’d been. He stood a little taller. “Hello, Pearl.”

  “Hello, Matt.”

  Sarah did a twirl. “Do you like my new dress?”

  “It’s beautiful!”

  Pearl oohed and aahed for a solid minute, making the womanly sounds Sarah missed so much. Looking at her with his daughter, with their matching hair and smiles, Matt had to admit to another failure, one that didn’t trouble him as much as it should have. In spite of keeping his distance, he’d fallen for a blond-haired preacher’s daughter. He’d do anything for this woman…even go to church.

  The thought shook him to the core. He didn’t belong in church, not when he had no love for God and even less respect for Him. Whatever feelings he had for Pearl, he had to deny until he could sleep at night. When that would be, Matt didn’t know. Everything depended on Tobias and the Golden Order.

  As Sarah scampered off to change, Pearl pushed to her feet. “It’s nice to see you, Matt.”

  It was nice to see her, too. More than nice. He wanted to put his arms around her. He wanted to save her from the gopher holes and buy ribbons for her hair. He couldn’t do either of those things until he put the members of the Golden Order behind bars. Until then, they were both in danger. If he showed his feelings for Pearl, she’d be at a greater risk from Jasper.

  “How are things going?” He hoped she’d read between the lines. How’s Jasper treating you?

  “Okay, I think.”

  He heard what she didn’t say. I’m not sure what’s going on. I’m uncomfortable.

  “I haven’t seen your father lately.” Has the Golden Order met?

  “He’s fine,” she answered. “Nothing new.”

  At least nothing Tobias had shared with Pearl. Unless the old man sought him out, Matt would have to wait until Thursday for news. He didn’t like being in the dark, but he couldn’t risk drawing attention to Tobias. The G.O. could ride any day. The episode in Jasper’s store had lit the fuse. Whether the fuse was long or short, Matt didn’t know. Neither did he know where it ended.

  Sarah came out of the back room and went to Pearl. “Miss Carrie’s having a tea party. All the other girls have mommies. Will you go with me?”

  Matt’s heart hitched. Carrie had assured him she’d give Sarah extra attention, but it wasn’t the same as having a mama of her own. If Pearl accompanied her, Sarah would be thrilled. The choice would also bring them closer to being a family. Matt wasn’t ready for that closeness, but he couldn’t deny his daughter. He gave Pearl a meaningful look. “If you could, I’d be obliged.”

  “I’d like to,” she answered. “But I have to work.”

  “Could you leave early?” he asked. The less time she spent with Jasper, the better.

  As Pearl looked down at Sarah, so did Matt. In his daughter’s eyes he saw a familiar look, the one that pleaded for a mother’s love. It broke his heart. It must have broken Pearl’s, because she crouched to put herself at eye level with Sarah. “I’d love to go. I might be a little late, though. Would that be okay?”

  Sarah nodded solemnly. “But just a little late, okay?”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  Pearl straightened, then tipped the child’s chin. “I need to speak with your daddy. How about looking at the dolls?”

  “Okay.”

  Sarah went to a glass cabinet at the front of the store. Pearl followed the child with her eyes, then turned to Matt with a nervous look. He wanted to reassure her with a touch of their hands, but he couldn’t. He settled for a half smile, the one that didn’t quite hide his feelings. “Are you all right?” he said in a hush.

  “I just wanted to say, I—I miss you.”

  “I’ve missed you, too.” The words were out before he could stop them.

  As a blush stained her cheeks, she diverted her gaze to the dolls. Something had scared her and he knew what it was. What she felt for him terrified her. He understood, because he had similar doubts. Pearl probably feared the physical side of marriage. Matt was afraid he’d disappoint her with his dark moods. They were a mismatched pair, especially when he thought of church and God and the peace he didn’t feel. As much as Sarah needed a mother, he couldn’t court Pearl until he settled matters with the Almighty.

  “Deputy Wiley?” Mrs. Gardner had set Sarah’s dress, wrapped in brown paper, on the counter. “That will be $3.50.”

  He opened his billfold, paid and slung the dress over his shoulder like a sack of flour. It weighed next to nothing and he felt ridiculous. At the sight of him, Pearl chuckled and Sarah laughed with her. Surrendering to a grin, Matt hiked the dress up on his shoulder as if it weighed a hundred pounds. “Are you ready?” he said to Sarah.

  “Yes, Daddy.”

  “Good.” He looked at Pearl. “We’ll see you at the party.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  He gripped Sarah’s hand and headed for the door. He didn’t know what the future held, but he hoped Sarah would someday have a mother, and he wanted that woman to be Pearl.

  Pearl left the dress shop with the lace she’d come to purchase and hurried home. She arrived ten minutes late and met with her father’s wrath. “You’re late,” he scolded as she stepped through the door.

  “I had to stop at the dress shop.”

  “But, Pearl, we agreed. You come straight home and on time.”

  Because of the trouble with Jasper, they’d decided she’d leave the shop at precisely four o’clock. Never would she be alone with him behind a locked door. Considering Jasper’s extreme punctuality, leaving on time wasn’t a problem. On the other hand, she resented being treated like a child. She set the lace on the table and removed her hat. “I’m sorry I scared you, Papa. It was only a few minutes.” She slipped out of her cloak and hung it on a peg. “I saw Matt at the dress shop. He was buying something for Sarah.”

  Tobias huffed. “He should have walked you home.”

  “He couldn’t.”

  They both knew why. Matt had to keep his distance, but she couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel to share his life. She hadn’t meant to say that she missed him, but she didn’t regret the confession. He’d taken her hand and she’d felt safe. In that moment, she’d seen love in his eyes. Could she kiss him without panicking? Could she be the loving wife she wanted to be?

  She didn’t know and was afraid to find out. Neither did she know how to go about such a discovery. She couldn’t walk up to him and suggest a kiss.

  Her father sighed. “I’ll be upstairs.”

  Pearl took the hint. If she wanted to talk about Matt, he’d be waiting. “Thanks, Papa, but I need to check Toby. Is he in his cradle?”

  “Carrie has him. They’re in the parlor.”

  Pearl walked into the front room where Carrie was swaying with Toby in her arms and humming a lullaby. Toby looked sleepy, so Pearl greeted Carrie in a hush. “Hi.”

  “Hi,” she whispered. “He’s almost asleep.”

  The women stood in companionable silence until Toby’s eyes closed. Satisfied he wouldn’t wake up, Carrie laid him in the basket and turned to Pearl. “I’m glad you’re home. I’ve got something to tell you.”

  “Good or bad?”

  “Good, I think.” She bit her lip. “Or maybe not. I’m not sure.”

  “What happened?”

  “Dan asked me to the theater.”

  Pearl spoke to Dan almost every day at Jasper’s store. He never failed to ask about Carrie, a sign he had feelings for her. The situation was complicated because of Carrie’s affection for Matt. She’d stepped aside for Pearl, but that didn’t mean her feelings had died.

  “What did you say?
” she asked carefully.

  “I said yes.” Carrie dropped down on the armchair. “But I’m confused. I thought I was in love with Matt. I didn’t think I’d ever get over it, but Dan’s been wonderful. When we talk, I know he’s listening. And when he smiles…” Carrie put her hand on her chest. “I didn’t know a man could look so shy and purposeful at the same time.”

  Pearl sat on the divan near Toby and rested her hand on his back. She felt the beat of his heart and silently thanked God for turning loss into gain. For the next several minutes, the women talked about men, babies and courtship. The more they spoke, the more sure Pearl felt that Carrie had found the right man in Dan Cobb.

  “Now it’s your turn.” Carrie’s eyes twinkled. “Has Matt come to his senses and visited you at the store?”

  “Not lately.”

  “I don’t see why not.” Carrie sounded like an irate mother hen. “I know he cares for you. I saw it when I spoke with him. He’s being thick-headed.”

  No, Pearl thought, he was protecting her. Carrie didn’t know about Jasper, her father and the Golden Order, and Pearl saw no need to tell her about the plan. Secrets were a burden, not a gift. She didn’t want Carrie to worry about guarding her words. “He has his reasons,” she finally said. “He and Jasper don’t get along.”

  “That could be it,” Carrie agreed.

  “I did see him today.” Pearl couldn’t stop her heart from fluttering. “He was buying a dress for Sarah for the tea party. She asked me if I’d go with her.”

  “I hope you said yes.”

  “Of course.” She couldn’t disappoint Sarah. “I love that little girl as if she were my own.”

  “And Matt?” Carrie said gently. “Do you love him, too?”

  Her body tensed at the prospect of admitting her feelings. If she told Carrie how she felt, she might hurt her cousin all over again.

  “It’s okay.” Carrie came to sit next to her. “He wasn’t right for me. I know that now. But I do think he’s right for you, and you’re right for him.”

  Pearl stroked Toby’s back through the blanket. “Marriage scares me.”

  “Me, too.” Carrie shivered but not with dread. “My mother said love made marriage the most special place in the world. I didn’t understand, but I do now. When I’m with Dan, I’m starting to feel like we belong together.”