Uncertain Alliance

by Davis, Mary

  Alice came from the back, buttoning up her coat. “Burl and I can make it home on our own. You go straight to the hospital.”

  How many times did he have to tell her? “Until those boys are caught, I’m not taking any chances. Burl, will you get Fred? She can’t stay here alone tonight.” He wondered if that had been Arthur’s coat. He doubted it was her late husband’s.

  He locked the front door with its fresh new window and guided Alice and Burl around the corner and up the stairs. Tiny lumbered along behind him.

  “What about Tiny?” Burl knelt beside the huge dog with his arms wrapped around his neck.

  “It’s time for Tiny to head back to wherever he came from.” He turned Tiny loose and helped Alice into the black, hardtopped taxi. One of the horses nickered and pawed the ground. Ian waited for Burl to scramble in before climbing aboard himself and closing the door.

  Burl craned his neck to look out the rear window. “Will Tiny be all right? He looks sad.”

  “Tiny will be fine.”

  Alice patted Burl’s knee. “Turn around.”

  Burl did and looked about the interior. “I never rode in no carriage before. You must be rich.”

  He wouldn’t call himself rich, but neither was he a pauper, and he wasn’t prepared to comment on it. He would let the boy and Alice draw their own conclusions about his bank account.

  Alice jerked her head toward Burl. “That is enough. You will not talk about such things. It’s rude.”

  She turned to him. “I’m very sorry.”

  When the taxi stopped at Alice’s apartment building and Ian got out to help her down, Tiny came up and sat beside him.

  “Look! Tiny followed us.” Burl jumped down and hugged the dog. “Can we keep him, Alice? Please?”

  Ian saw her grit her teeth. “Absolutely not. We don’t have room for him, and what would we feed him?”

  “He can have half of my food. I don’t need so much.”

  “No.”

  “I almost have the window paid for. I can buy food for him.” Burl turned eyes almost as sad as Tiny’s on her.

  Ian put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Sorry, pal. I think I’ve decided to keep him after all. I’ll bring him to the store, and you can see him there.”

  Alice seemed grateful at not having to argue with Burl further over Tiny’s welfare and gifted Ian with a smile. That made it all worthwhile. But what on earth was he going to do with a mammoth-sized dog?

  He asked the driver to wait for him and walked Alice and Burl upstairs. He then went to the hospital. When he strode up to Conner’s white iron bed, the police officer standing by the bed looked up.

  “I’m glad you’re here. Mr. Jackson was just about to convey what transpired yesterday morning.”

  Conner sat on the edge of the bed dressed, waiting to be taken home. “Like I started to say, I’d just finished shaving when I heard the crash. Glass breaking. It hadn’t been that long since I’d heard that sound. I thought it couldn’t be Burl. He’d have no reason. Fred ran out to the front, barking like mad.” Conner stopped and put his hand to his bandaged head.

  Ian went to Conner’s side and helped him lie back down. “Do you want us to get the doctor?”

  Conner shook his head. “I’ll be fine. I don’t want to give them any reason to keep me here.” He took several slow, deep breaths. “More glass broke. They threw something toward Fred—a bone, I think. I told Fred no and called her to me. There were two of them. Boys. With baseball bats.”

  “Could you identify them?” The officer eyed Conner cautiously.

  “Sure.” Conner gave a quick description of the boys.

  “Then what happened?”

  “They’d smashed all the front windows. I hollered at them. One of them smashed a display counter and said, ‘Let’s get him.’ They came at me together. I remember raising my arm.” He started to lift his casted arm, but the effort seemed too much. “I reached for the one boy’s bat and got ahold of the end of it. I remember hearing a crack as the other boy’s bat connected with my arm. I figured if I could get one of their bats, I could take them. There was searing pain in my left arm. I felt a jerk; then the wind was knocked out of me. I don’t remember anything after that. Not even hitting the floor.” He closed his eyes and took several labored breaths.

  Was he all right? Maybe he shouldn’t leave today. “I’m calling for the doctor.”

  Conner latched on to his arm lightning fast. “Don’t. I’ll be fine. Just take me home.”

  The officer’s face held concern. “That’s all for now. If you think of anything else, let me know. We think we know who these boys are. I’ll have you identify them when we catch them.”

  The officer turned from Conner to him. “Make sure he rests.”

  He nodded, and the officer left as a nurse came in.

  The pretty young nurse smiled brightly at Conner. “You all ready to leave us?”

  Conner mustered a halfhearted smile. “Sure am.”

  “I agree with the doctor. I think you should stay one more day. I’ll take good care of you.”

  The muscle in Conner’s jaw worked back and forth. “I’m sure you would, but I’ll rest better in my own bed. Besides, you have patients much worse off then me that need your attention.”

  The doctor came in then. “Did Nurse Sybil tell you I’d feel better if you stayed one more day?”

  Conner sat up in the bed holding his ribs. “I just want to get home to my own bed.”

  “Do you have someone there who can look after you for the next couple of days in case there are any complications?”

  Conner nodded. “My good friend Fred will be with me at all times.”

  Ian squelched the sudden desire to laugh. The dog wasn’t going to be much help if something happened, but Conner desperately wanted out of the hospital for some reason, so he wouldn’t spoil it.

  The doctor released Conner, and Ian took him out to the waiting taxi.

  Conner climbed in and sat on the seat next to Fred. Fred sidled up to him. Conner lifted Fred’s wrapped paw. “Looks like we’re a matched pair.”

  Ian told the driver where to go, and the taxi lurched into motion. “I’m taking you to my house, where I can keep an eye on you.”

  “That’s not necessary. I’ll be fine at the store.”

  “Fred won’t be much help. It’ll only be for a couple of days.”

  Conner nodded. Then glancing next to Ian, he frowned. “Am I seeing things, or is there a moose sitting next to you?”

  Ian petted Tiny’s head as the dog sat on the seat next to him with his front paws on the floor of the carriage. “This is Tiny. Burl and I went out looking for Fred yesterday, and he followed me home.”

  Conner nodded again then rested his head against the back of the carriage, looking more relaxed than he had at the hospital.

  ❧

  “Mr. Jackson, let me help you with that. You’re having another one of those headaches, aren’t you?”

  Ian watched from across the store as Alice tried to take the ledger book from Conner.

  Conner frowned. “I’m not an invalid.” He had convalesced at Ian’s house over the weekend and was itching to get back to work. He hated being idle.

  “You have a broken arm and broken ribs.”

  “Mrs. Dempsey, I am painfully aware of my shortcomings. But I’d rather get along on my own.” Conner gave her the ledger and walked to the back room.

  Alice stared over at Ian. “I was only trying to help.”

  Ian left Burl with his arithmetic problems and came over to her. “I know. It hurts a man’s pride to be incapacitated, even just a little. If he needs help, I’ll see that he gets it. I won’t let him overexert himself.” He headed to the back and found Conner. “Are you all right?”

  Conner turned on him but spoke softly. “I’ll not have her fussing over me.” He looked as much in pain as angry.

  “She’s only trying to help. I’d think you’d be grateful.”

&nb
sp; “She’s your woman, Ian,” Conner said a bit louder than he’d intended then lowered his voice again. “I’ll not be getting between the two of you.”

  “She’s not exactly my woman, though I wish it were otherwise.” It was good to know that his friend held these strong convictions.

  “Close enough. I’ll not have her start developing feelings for me—not that I think she would—but if I have to be rude to keep her away from me, I will.”

  He didn’t think it would come to that. “Is that why you were in a hurry to get out of the hospital? Were the nurses fussing over you?”

  “I just wanted to rest.” Conner raked a hand through his hair. “I’d wake up, and one of them would be standing next to my bed. Just staring. Got to where I was afraid to close my eyes at all. That was when the officer and you showed up. I never did one thing to make those nurses think I was interested in a one of them.”

  “I don’t know about the nurses, but you may have given Alice cause to think you were interested.” He had to smile.

  Conner looked him directly in the eyes, unblinking. “I have only ever been cordial and polite. I have never led her to think I was interested in her. Romantically that is.”

  Under normal circumstance that was true. “You weren’t quite yourself with the pain and the medication you were on when you were at the hospital. Alice and Burl stopped by to visit you the morning after you were injured.”

  Conner squinted his eyes in concentration. “I think I vaguely remember seeing someone that could have been Mrs. Dempsey. I thought I was seeing an angel.”

  “You proposed marriage to that angel.”

  Conner’s eyes widened. “I did no such thing. I—I couldn’t have.”

  “You did. The doctor and Burl are witnesses.”

  Conner rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. “I don’t remember doing that.”

  “She said you wouldn’t.”

  “You have to believe me when I say that I have no interest in her.” Conner looked near panic. “She’s a lovely woman—for you, but I have no interest in her aside from my friendship with you.”

  “I know, and I appreciate that. I think she’ll leave you be. I told her your pride was hurt.”

  “But what about the proposal? Should I talk to her?”

  “She didn’t believe it was an authentic proposal. She told Burl that she wouldn’t marry you.”

  Conner let out a huge sigh.

  “She also said she wouldn’t marry me or anyone else. It seems she plans to stay single the rest of her life.” Ian sighed.

  “She could change her mind. You could change her mind.”

  He wasn’t so sure about that.

  Burl ran back to them. “Mr. MacGregor, the policeman’s here. Alice says to come.”

  Both he and Conner headed to the front.

  The officer shook hands with each of them. “It’s good to see you’re doing well.”

  “Thank you.”

  “We found the two boys down by the docks. They were trying to sell the medicines they stole. They claim to have found them and don’t know where they came from. If you’re feeling up to it, I’d like to take you down to the jail and see if you recognize them as the two who attacked you.”

  “Gladly. Let me get my coat.”

  It appeared that Conner wanted out of the store right then as badly as he’d wanted out of the hospital.

  ❧

  The next day, Alice noticed that Mr. Jackson was ignoring her, even avoiding her. That wasn’t like him. He was usually polite and friendly. As Mr. MacGregor said, his body wasn’t the only thing injured by those boys. She went back to doing. . .nothing. Once she’d scrubbed all the shelves and given the whole store a good cleaning, there wasn’t much for her to do. She didn’t know the medicines, so Mr. MacGregor and Mr. Jackson helped all the customers that came. And when Mr. MacGregor wasn’t helping a customer, he was teaching Burl. She would gladly learn about the medicines, but how with everyone so busy? Everyone but her. She pushed the broom around to occupy herself.

  Mr. MacGregor was going to realize soon that her work here was completed and that he and Mr. Jackson could easily keep up. He would see that he didn’t need her anymore. She loathed the thought of searching for another job. But maybe she wouldn’t have to.

  She stood the broom in the corner and crossed the store. “Mr. Jackson?”

  He jumped and spun around.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “You didn’t. I wasn’t expecting you to be right behind me.”

  “I’ve been wanting to speak to you since you got out of the hospital.”

  He glanced down toward Mr. MacGregor and Burl. “Mrs. Dempsey, I understand that I might have said things to you when you brought Burl to the hospital.”

  “Mr. Jackson, please don’t worry about any of that.”

  “I can’t help it. I didn’t mean to”—he lowered his voice—“propose to you.”

  She whispered back, “I know.”

  “Well the thing is, if you’re thinking that there’s something between the two of us, um. . .”

  “I’m not. You were barely awake and in a lot of pain. I’m surprised you even knew anyone was standing there.”

  He seemed only mildly comforted by her words. He rubbed the back of his neck with his good hand. “If you’re hoping I’ll propose again. . .”

  “I’m not. I have no interest in marrying again. To you or anyone else.”

  The concern over the proposal slipped away, and Mr. Jackson raised his eyebrows in interest. “No one? Why not? I’m sorry, that was too personal a question.”

  It was a personal question and bold of him to ask, but she didn’t mind answering. “Marriage didn’t agree with me.”

  “Maybe it was your first husband that was disagreeable.” He glanced down the counter toward Mr. MacGregor.

  Was he suggesting something? So he’d taken her answering his other question as free rein for him to continue to be bold. She did not want to discuss Mr. MacGregor with him. She would put an end to this. “Mr. Jackson, I came over here to ask you if you would teach me about the medicines. I want to be useful now that the store is in good order.”

  “Ian would be the one to teach you about those.”

  “As you can see, Mr. MacGregor already has a pupil.”

  “He would gladly make time for you.”

  It was best if she didn’t spend too much time alone with him.

  Mr. Jackson gave her a little bow. “It’s time for the dogs to go out.”

  “It’s time for you to rest. I’ll take the dogs.” Fresh air would be good.

  When she returned with the dogs and was hanging up her coat, Mr. MacGregor met her in the back room. “Conner said you are interested in learning about the medicines.”

  She didn’t want to bring to his attention the fact that she was becoming useless. She didn’t worry about Burl here. “I thought I could be more useful if I could help customers, as well.”

  “That’s an excellent idea. We’ll start tomorrow with your lessons.”

  Her heart leapt for joy at being able to remain employed at Mr. MacGregor’s store, but at the same time, it sank into the pit of her stomach. She would be working closely with Mr. MacGregor. She would have to make sure the relationship remained professional. . .for both of them.

  ❧

  After a month of working for Mr. MacGregor, Alice was starting to feel secure in her job and in the arrangements and beginning to believe that all Mr. MacGregor had said about her being only an employee and wanting to help was true.

  Burl was flourishing under his guidance and excelling in his studies. Mr. MacGregor looked up from where he sat at the far end of the long counter instructing Burl and smiled at her. Her stomach did a little flip, and she smiled back.

  He excused himself from Burl’s side and came over. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

  Her stomach sank as if a rock had just been thrown into it.
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  “I respectfully would like to request that you call me Ian. If that suits you.”

  Surprisingly it did. She knew she shouldn’t accept this advancement in their relationship, but. . . “I can accommodate that request. You may call me Alice if you like. . .Ian.”

  His smile stretched. “Alice.”

  He made it sound like a delicacy, and goose bumps rose on her arms.

  The bell over the door stole his attention.

  The officer strode through the doorway. “I’m so mad I can spit.”

  What was it now? She followed Mr. Mac—Ian around the counter to where the officer stood.

  Mr. Jackson joined them. “What’s the problem?”

  “The fathers of the boys who broke in here have agreed to pay for all damages if the boys won’t go to jail. Both boys are being sent to a military boarding school. Their fathers are friends with the judge.”

  “So they won’t go to jail?” She couldn’t believe that. It wasn’t just.

  The officer shook his head in disgust. “Though if they so much as breathe wrong at the boarding school, they go straight to jail.”

  Ian frowned. “Where is this school? Far from here I hope.”

  “Not far enough in my opinion. It’s back East.”

  That was far enough for her.

  Thirteen

  Ian locked the door after Alice and Burl and pulled the shade down.

  Conner came up beside him. “You’re making progress. I heard her call you Ian, and you’re now to call her by her given name.”

  Ian was grateful for the small step. “But it’s a long way from her accepting a marriage proposal.”

  “So you’re sure you want to make her Mrs. Ian MacGregor?”

  He liked the sound of that and smiled. “Every day. I’d marry her tomorrow if she were agreeable. I want to get her and her family out of that tenement they’re living in.”

  “Yet you don’t want to pressure her and scare her away. How long are you willing to wait?”

  “A lifetime. There is no other woman who can fill this need inside my heart.” Ian stopped at the knock on the door. He wanted to ignore it, but if someone was in need, he didn’t want to turn him away. He rolled up the shade and looked out, then immediately opened the door. “Arthur. Finn. Come in.” He looked down the sidewalk for Alice, but she wasn’t there. Miles, holding tightly to his grandpa’s hand, came in with them.