A Love to Last Forever

by Tracie Peterson

  She made her way to the front of the store but found no one there. How odd. She started to turn and in an instant the hairs on the back of her neck seemed to crawl. Without warning, someone grabbed her from the side and clamped their hand over her mouth.

  “Keep quiet, and you won’t get hurt,” the man growled.

  Lacy tried to fight his hold and realized he was too strong. She tried to kick him, but her legs only managed to tangle in her skirt.

  “Hold still, you little wildcat.” He dragged her into the back room and started to take his hand from her mouth. “Where’s the money?”

  Lacy started to scream, and he tightened his hold. “I said be quiet. I don’t particularly care for beating up women, but I will if need be.”

  He dragged her to Hank’s desk chair and threw her against it. This time Lacy didn’t attempt to call for help. Instead, she dared to look at the man. He’d covered the lower part of his face with a red bandana and wore his hat down low over his eyes.

  “Now, where’s the money?”

  Lacy knew that once he started looking around the room, he’d spy the open door of the safe. Still, in the dim light she hoped he wouldn’t see it.

  “It’s up front,” she lied. “I’ll get it.” She started to get to her feet, but the stranger pushed her back down.

  “Tell me where. I can get it myself.”

  “Under the front counter in a cashbox. We don’t have a cash register.” She fought to keep calm. If the man went up front for the box, she could easily slip out the back and run for help.

  “You stay here,” he said, moving toward the front of the store. “And keep quiet or I’ll gag you.”

  Lacy nodded, watching and waiting for her chance. Once the man had cleared the threshold, she made a dash for the back door. Her heart raced, beating so hard she could hear it like a drum in her ears. She slid the lock back and had just opened the door when she came face-to-face with another masked man.

  “And where do you suppose you’re going?” He grabbed her by the hair and pushed her back into the office.

  Just then the first man returned. “I don’t see—” He stopped short as he took in the situation. “Tried to escape, eh?”

  “She was just heading out the back.”

  The first man nodded and motioned to the chair. “Tie her up and gag her.”

  Lacy tried to pull away from the man, but he held her fast. The first man began to search the office and spied the safe. He sauntered over to it as if they were long-lost friends.

  “Here’s what we need.” He took up the cashbox and rifled through the other contents of the safe. Finally satisfied, he turned back to Lacy. “You could have saved us all a lot of time and trouble if you’d just pointed this out to begin with.”

  “You won’t get away with this,” Lacy said, struggling as the man tied her to the chair.

  The man laughed. “You know, folks have been telling me that since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, and they ain’t been right yet.” He motioned to the man. “Now gag her so she can’t yell for help, and let’s get. We’ve been here too long already.”

  With Lacy tied up, the man had very little trouble silencing her. The smelly rag nearly caused her to vomit, but Lacy fought against the urge and watched as the men hurried from the back room. She tried to mark their height against the back door and paid attention to the detail of their clothes. At least this way, she’d have some kind of information to give the sheriff.

  She felt foolish just sitting there, but Hank’s oversized wooden chair was too heavy and awkward to maneuver in any direction. Lacy pulled against her bonds, but it seemed the material only tightened against her wrists.

  Anger egged her on. She’d been robbed in broad daylight.

  It wouldn’t be dark for hours. Surely someone would have seen something. But when minutes and then what was surely hours passed without anyone coming to check on her, Lacy knew no one had seen a thing.

  She was just beginning to despair when she heard the front doorbell ring. She fought against the gag, trying to call out, but could only manage muffled moans.

  “Lacy?”

  It was Hank. Lacy kicked at the desk, hoping the sound would carry better than her struggles to speak. It worked.

  “Lacy, what’s wrong?” Hank called as he came into the office. In the muted light he couldn’t see her until he struck a match.

  “Lacy! What in the world happened?”

  “What is it, Hank?” Dave Shepard called from the front room.

  Lacy wanted to crawl into a hole and pull the dirt in behind her. The last thing she needed was Dave telling her she should have been home quilting instead of working at the store.

  “It’s Lacy,” Hank declared, hurrying to light his lamp.

  The soft glow quickly betrayed her situation. Dave hurried to her side while Hank turned up the wick. Pulling the cloth from her mouth, Dave asked, “Who did this?”

  “I don’t know who they were. There were two men. They came near closing time.”

  “You didn’t recognize either one?” Dave questioned as he untied her hands.

  “I said I didn’t know who they were,” Lacy snapped. “They took your cashbox, Hank. I’m sorry.”

  “That’s not important, so long as you’re all right.” Hank came to her. “You are all right, aren’t you? They didn’t hurt you?”

  Lacy shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Just mad.”

  “Tell us what happened,” Hank suggested.

  Lacy recounted the story and concluded with her observations of each man’s clothes and height. Dave made notes in a little book he’d pulled from his pocket. This rather surprised Lacy, but she made no comment.

  “I didn’t hear any horses, so I’m thinking they might have hid them in the trees,” Lacy added, rubbing her sore wrists. “We could probably track them.”

  “It’s nearly dark,” Hank countered. “We can look in the morning. Let’s get you home first. Gwen was worried about you and was about to come over here herself. Now I’m glad she didn’t.”

  Lacy nodded. She didn’t like to think of her sister being in danger. “I suppose you’re right about waiting until morning. I don’t like the idea, but I know it makes sense.” She looked to Dave. “I’ll plan to leave at first light.”

  “No you won’t,” he said. “I’m the law around here, and I’ll go after them.”

  “It doesn’t mean you can’t have help,” Lacy said, putting her hands on her hips. “You know I’m good at tracking.”

  “That doesn’t matter.” Dave put his own hands on his hips and faced off with Lacy. “You aren’t going.”

  “I am.”

  “You both need to stop arguing about it,” Hank said. “It isn’t going to solve a thing. Let’s lock up and get over to the house. We can figure out what’s to be done after we have something to eat. Lacy, you must be half starved.”

  She calmed a bit and nodded. “I am hungry.” She pushed past Dave and headed out of the store. Her mind whirled with all that had happened. She’d had plenty of time to think about the robbery while waiting to be found, but now in the cool evening air, her mind flooded with thoughts. Had the men known she was there alone? Had they planned this out, or was it simply a random robbery? Were they part of the same group of men who were robbing folks on the road?

  “Well, there you all are,” Gwen said as they came into the dining room. “I thought I was going to have to come get you. Beth and I just finished the last of the supper dishes, but we saved you a plate. Would you like one, too, Dave?”

  Beth retrieved her sister’s food and brought it to the table. “Where have you been?”

  “Tied to a chair,” Lacy told her, taking a seat. She immediately began to eat without even bothering to say grace. She wasn’t exactly sure she felt grateful at the moment.

  “What?” her sisters asked in unison. They looked at Hank and Dave as if for an explanation.

  “There was a robbery,” Dave explained.

&nb
sp; “No!” Gwen’s hand went to her throat. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”

  Lacy shook her head. “No. Just my pride. There were two men, and they got the cashbox.”

  “Who were they?” Beth asked.

  “If I knew, I’d tell you,” Lacy replied. “They were masked, and I didn’t recognize their voices, but I will if I hear them again. We’re going to track them in the morning.”

  “No, we’re not,” Dave said, sitting opposite Lacy. “I’m going to track them. This is a matter for the sheriff’s department, not citizens of the county.”

  “I don’t have the highest regard for our legal system,” Lacy said, meeting his stern gaze. “As you well know, other crimes have gone unpunished. I mean to find those men and get Hank’s money back. If I’d been better prepared, they wouldn’t have gotten it in the first place.”

  “Lacy, the money isn’t as important as your safety,” Hank stated firmly. “I’d like you to leave this in Dave’s hands. Now that the sheriff has agreed to let him work in Gallatin Crossing for a time, we’ll have him right here to see to our needs.”

  “What? Why?” Lacy looked from Dave to her brother-in-law. “Just where is he going to stay?”

  “In the other building,” her sister replied. “We have plenty of room, and even if we fill up with stage passengers, there is still enough space for Dave.”

  “Couldn’t he stay at the Vanhouten house? I mean, he just bought it.”

  “That’s much too far away,” Hank countered. “We need him here.”

  Beth smiled. “It will feel very safe having our own sheriff’s deputy.”

  Lacy rolled her eyes. She focused on the meal, but everything tasted like sawdust. A shudder ran through her as she imagined the robber’s hands on her mouth again.

  It was bad enough to have to deal with those thoughts, but when she looked up and found Dave staring at her, she knew it was going to be even harder to contend with him.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Beth retrieved a bucket of hot mineral water and headed toward Gallatin House. Her mind raced with thoughts of Justin and Nick, as well as Adrian. She even considered Lacy’s close call and all that had happened in the community of late. It seemed her calm world had turned upside down.

  “Can we talk?” Adrian Murphy asked.

  His voice so startled Beth that she nearly dropped the pail. “I . . . well . . . I suppose.”

  “You seem to be avoiding me.”

  Beth shrugged. “I have a lot of work to do.”

  “It’s not just that. You haven’t been the same since Las-siter’s boy showed up. I figure maybe it has to do with his breaking your heart.”

  “Justin didn’t break my heart,” Beth said, shaking her head. “What in the world would give you that idea?”

  “I didn’t mean the boy,” Adrian said. “I meant his pa. I heard that you were all set to court Nick Lassiter. I figure this changes everything.”

  Beth put the pail down and gave him a stern look. “You should never presume to figure anything without a solid reason to do so.”

  “Well, it just seems the man already has a family. You surely don’t want to have to take that on, now, do you?” He grinned. “You and I could court without the inconvenience of a child.”

  “A child is an inconvenience to you?” Beth asked.

  Adrian shrugged. “Where romance is concerned, I think a child is a huge nuisance.”

  “I see.”

  “So, does that mean you’ll give me another chance?” he asked hopefully.

  Beth shook her head and picked the bucket back up. “No, Mr. Murphy. I won’t. I happen to love children and do not believe them to be any sort of problem. I very much like Nick’s son. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

  “But, Beth . . . Miss Gallatin,” he said, coming alongside her. “You have to know I care about you.”

  She stopped and looked at him sadly. “But, Mr. Murphy, I do not have the same heart for you. I’m sorry.”

  “What are you doing?” Justin asked Beth later that day. Beth straightened and smiled. She’d been washing windows all morning and figured her job was pretty evident. “Just trying to get rid of the winter dirt.” She got to her feet. “And how are you this fine day?”

  The boy shrugged. He was more comfortably dressed in a simple cotton shirt and trousers. “I saw you over here and thought maybe I’d come over.”

  “And where’s your father?”

  Justin pointed back toward the blacksmith shop. “He’s working.”

  “How do you like living here?” Beth asked. She really wanted to drill the boy about whether or not he was happy with Nick and how they were getting along, but she didn’t want to seem too forward.

  “I guess it’s all right.” The boy frowned. “I used to go fishing in Kansas.”

  “Would you like to go fishing here? We have a river full of trout. They make wonderful eating.”

  The boy’s eyes lit up. “Do you reckon we could?”

  “I tell you what,” Beth said, getting an idea. “Let’s have a picnic. We’ll invite your father to come, too. He can bring the poles and show you how we fish up here.”

  “I know how to fish,” Justin said defensively. He folded his arms across his chest and fixed her with a determined stare. “My grandpa taught me.”

  “I’m sure he did, but have you ever gone fly-fishing?” She smiled at the confused look on the boy’s face.

  “Isn’t all fishing the same?” Justin asked.

  Beth shook her head. “No, fly-fishing is completely different. For one thing, you don’t use live bait but instead have a decorated hook. It usually has feathery pieces or strips of bright material. And the poles are very different. They’re quite long and made of split cane. It makes them really lightweight and pliable.”

  “Why would the fish want to eat feathers?” Justin asked.

  “They think that it’s a bug or a fly. You bounce it back and forth on the water.” She mimicked the casting motion. “It’s completely different. I’m sure your father will be happy to teach you. You run on over there and tell him I’m packing a picnic lunch and, if he wants to join us, to be ready to leave in fifteen minutes. Meet me in back of the house.”

  Justin considered this for a moment and finally nodded. “I’ll ask him, but if he doesn’t want to go, can we still have a picnic?”

  Beth laughed. “Of course we can. A fella’s gotta eat, after all. And if all else fails, I’ll show you how to fish.”

  Nick and Justin were at the back porch door with five minutes to spare. Beth handed Nick a picnic basket, then pulled on a large straw bonnet. She offered Nick a rather shy smile, feeling only a little awkward in seeing him again. Funny how the presence of one little boy could so clearly change their situation.

  Beth grabbed a blanket and started down the back steps. “I’m glad to see you are so prompt.”

  “I heard there was to be food involved,” Nick began, offering Beth his arm. “I knew if it was prepared by the Gallatin ladies, it would definitely be worth taking time away from work.”

  Beth smiled. “Justin started talking about fishing, and the thought of enjoying this day on the riverbank appealed to me. I’m glad you two could join me.”

  “I’m going to learn how to fish in the river,” Justin declared. He held up two fishing poles and a net. “Simon let me borrow his pole, but later we’re going to make me one of my own.”

  “That sounds perfect,” Beth declared.

  They found a shady spot along the edge of the river, and while Beth spread the blanket, Nick went to work teaching Justin to fish Montana-style. Beth watched as they stood in the shallow water. Nick had given Justin a pair of rubber boots that were much too big for him, but they serviced the boy well. Nick, on the other hand, had decided to forgo waders and simply wore old boots.

  Beth laughed at their antics. Nick easily caught a trout right away. Justin seemed amazed at the fight in the fish. He was more than a little excited about trying t
he sport himself. Nick calmly instructed his son, and the scene warmed Beth’s heart. Nick showed such patience for the boy, genuinely seeming to care about Justin, and this pleased Beth for reasons she couldn’t quite understand.

  They seemed a natural fit, she decided. In this environment, neither seemed nearly as tense around each other as they had been. Nick pointed to the water, then up at the trees. She wasn’t sure what was said, but the boy nodded enthusiastically. They continued to fish, now needing fewer and fewer words between them. Justin tangled the line more times than not, but after about twenty minutes, he seemed to get the hang of it, bouncing the line back and forth on the water’s surface.

  “I’m hungry,” Nick announced. “Let’s eat.”

  “I want to fish some more. Can’t I stay here?”

  “We’ll start eating without you, if that’s okay.”

  Justin nodded with a big grin. “I’m not that hungry. Go ahead.”

  Nick cast a quick glance at Beth and then back to Justin. The boy was again focused on the water and his line. Nick made his way to where Beth sat and he smiled as he noticed the food she’d spread out on the blanket.

  “I’m so hungry my stomach’s keeping company with my backbone.” He plopped down on the ground and fixed Beth with a gaze. “Thanks for thinking of this.”

  “I’m glad you could join me.”

  “I wanted to come and talk with you anyway,” he said, taking a sandwich from the plate.

  Beth turned her attention back on the boy. She could only imagine that he would be the topic of their conversation. “How are things going between you two?”

  Nick swallowed and frowned. “We’re strangers, and neither of us quite knows what to think or do with the other.”

  “That’s to be expected,” Beth replied. “This has come to you both so suddenly.”

  “But it’s not like we didn’t know about each other.”

  “Still, you only knew about the existence of each other,” Beth offered without looking at Nick. “You didn’t know anything about each other—you haven’t shared any memories or experiences.”

  “I suppose you’re right.”