Ilsa smiled and tipped her head toward Tony. “Safe and warm in our barn. You can leave her there all day, if you like.”
Lacy shook her head, removing her hands from Grant’s and setting her feet on the floor. “I’ve been enough trouble to all of you. I hope I haven’t damaged anything with my damp clothes.”
Ilsa stood to her full height, which was barely five-feet, and fisted her hands on her hips. “You haven’t ruined anything or been any trouble, Lacy. If you’re going to be at the telephone office all day, you might as well leave Star here. We don’t mind.” Ilsa gazed at Tony and gave him a look and an almost imperceptible nod of her head in Lacy’s direction.
He finished his last bite of muffin before brushing the crumbs from his hands. “In fact, it seems dangerous for you to ride back and forth to the reservation in this weather. We’d be happy to have you stay with us, as a guest.”
Lacy stared at Tony as if he’d lost his mind. “I couldn’t do that, Tony. It’s incredibly kind of you to offer, but I couldn’t impose on you both more than I already have.”
Tony shrugged, feigning indifference. “In that case, the apartment above Ilsa’s shop is empty right now. You’d be welcome to stay there if you like.”
Lacy dropped her gaze to her lap again. “I can’t afford to pay rent.”
Aware that Lacy wouldn’t accept anything she viewed as charity, Tony quickly scrambled for an idea to coerce her into staying. “Would you be willing to do something in trade?”
Immediately interested in his suggestion, Lacy glanced at Tony. “What do you have in mind?”
“You could clean Ilsa’s shop and my studio in trade for rent.”
The look Lacy gave Tony was dubious. “That doesn’t sound like a fair trade.”
“Okay. Just make it Ilsa’s shop.” Tony grinned broadly.
A smile tugged the corners of her mouth upward. “That isn’t what I meant and you know it.”
The idea of having her own place to stay without her father’s overbearing presence and the cramped quarters of their little cabin held a great deal of appeal. Lacy’s father would most likely disown her for coming to town to work, anyway. It shouldn’t make him any angrier if she moved into Pendleton for a while.
Tony and Ilsa tried to give her a place to stay for free, but pride wouldn’t let her accept without them getting something in return.
“I’ll take your offer, but only if you let me clean the barn, too.”
Tony shook his head. “No, Lacy. That isn’t necessary. Not at all.”
She smiled and rose to her feet. “It is if you want me to accept your offer.”
Tony glanced at Ilsa. She sighed and reached out to squeeze Lacy’s hand. “You’ve got a deal. Now, I’m sure I can find something for you to wear to work if you give me a minute.”
“I’ve got a change of clothes tied to my saddle.” Lacy started to pick up her coat.
“I’ll get it,” Grant said. He hurried to pull on his coat and rushed outside to the barn. Tony followed him, intent on hitching a horse to the sleigh so he could take Lacy to work then come back for Ilsa.
In the barn, Grant untied the leather bundle from Star’s saddle while Tony brushed down the horse he planned to hitch to the sleigh.
“Thank you.” Grant held out a hand to Tony.
“For what,” Tony shook it although he looked puzzled.
“For offering her a place to stay. I think she looked relieved at the idea.”
Tony stared at Grant for a moment. “And you say you just met her yesterday?”
Grant nodded.
“Yet, you seem unusually interested in the girl.”
“I hate to see anyone suffer. It’s obvious her riding into town every day from the reservation isn’t going to work, especially in this kind of weather.”
“True,” Tony observed, continuing to brush the horse. “It couldn’t have anything to do with the fact you seem somewhat interested in Miss Williams.”
Grant glared at Tony. “It’s not what you think.”
“I think she’s a very nice girl from a good family. You know her grandmother, Rebecca. I think you’ve met her father a few times, too. He used to come into town with Rebecca before his wife died.” Tony put away the brush and led the horse out of the stall. “He’s been different ever since she passed away.”
Grant walked with Tony to the door of the barn. “Different? How so?”
“When his wife was alive, she encouraged him to embrace the future. Because of her, the children all attended the boarding school on the reservation, learned to speak the English language flawlessly, and exhibited exceptional manners. When she died, Joe reverted to old ways and habits. He rarely leaves the reservation, encourages everyone to turn aside from the ‘white ways’ as he calls it, and longs for a past he can’t resurrect.”
Grant absorbed the information. “It would seem, in light of that, he would not give his approval to Miss Williams working in town.”
Tony grinned. “Nope. Not at all. That’s probably the reason she rode in early this morning, hoping to sneak off before her father was any the wiser. She’s got grit and spirit, you have to hand her that.”
“To spare.” Grant chuckled and returned to the house with Lacy’s clothes.
Ilsa grabbed the bundle from him and told him to go warm up by the fire. Lacy was nowhere to be seen, but the giggling sounds of Laila, Ilsa and Tony’s toddler, floated into the room from upstairs. He assumed Lacy must be the reason for the little girl’s happy chatter.
He really had no reason to stay, but wanted to make sure Lacy arrived at the telephone office in one piece. He held her gloves close to the flames to warm them. The leather did a good job of repelling the moisture, but they felt cold and damp to his touch.
The clock on the mantle chimed. It was time for him to head to the bank if he wanted to have the snow cleared away from the door and the inside warmed before customers began to arrive.
He’d started to button his coat when a noise drew his attention to the doorway. Lacy stood before him in a beautiful brocade burgundy gown with her hair styled on top of her head. A few teasing tendrils floated around her face. He hadn’t noticed before, but shell disc earrings drew his attention to her ears and graceful neck.
“I do believe you’re right, Ilsa. I plucked an angel from the snow this morning.”
Chapter Three
Heat flickered in Lacy’s cheeks at Grant’s comment, although she kept her gaze steady and chin lifted.
Ilsa insisted on styling her hair and made her wear a gown she had on hand from a client who ordered it then didn’t like the style. The wily woman convinced Lacy she couldn’t show up for her first day of work in a wrinkled dress and it would save time to wear the one she had available.
The banker’s admiring glances weren’t lost on Lacy. His attention left her unsettled as something passed between the two of them.
“Gwant!” Laila squealed when she spied him by the door. The toddler held out her arms to him. Lacy hid her surprise at the child’s familiarity with the man as he picked her up and kissed her rosy cheek.
“Did you see the snow outside, Laila?” Grant asked, bouncing the little girl in his arms.
“Yep! I pway! Huh, Mama?” Laila turned her big blue eyes to her mother.
“We’ll see, sweetheart. I don’t want you getting chilled and it’s still terribly cold outside.”
Laila leaned close to Grant’s ear and loudly whispered. “Daddy pway wif me.”
Lacy hid her smile at the child’s comment. No doubt, Tony would take her out to play while Ilsa worked at her shop.
Ilsa disappeared and soon returned with a heavy coat, holding it out for Lacy.
“Caterina asked me to replace the buttons on this and I haven’t finished it yet. She won’t mind if you borrow it for the day.”
Reluctantly, Lacy slipped her arms into the satin-lined sleeves, relishing the luxurious feel of the fabric. For a moment, she dreamed what it would be li
ke to own such expensive clothes and live in a warm, comfortable home with an abundance of good things to eat.
Since that wasn’t her lot in life, she smiled at Ilsa, forcing her attention away from Grant.
Yesterday, when they’d met, he’d been dressed in a suit with a wool topcoat. Today, he looked more like a rancher with his canvas work pants and flannel shirt, topped by a sheepskin lined coat and cowboy hat. When he removed the hat, his short, tousled brown hair made her fingers itch to run through it. Although she didn’t know much about bankers, Grant Hill looked far too rugged for someone who spent hours every day sitting behind a desk. She wondered what he did in his spare time to develop such a firm chest and strong arms.
Vague recollections of being held against that chest made her cheeks burn, so she offered Ilsa an impulsive hug. “Thank you so much for your kindness, Ilsa.”
“You are most welcome.” Ilsa looped their arms together and walked Lacy to the front door. “Besides, you’re doing us a favor. Tony and I hate to have the apartment left empty and you’ll save us the trouble of finding someone to rent it. Just come to the shop when you get off work. We’ll have a key ready for you and leave your things there.”
Lacy nodded as Tony opened the door, stamping snow off his feet on the entry rug. “Ready to go?” Tony asked, glancing from Lacy to his wife. Ilsa winked as Laila launched herself at her father from her spot in Grant’s arms.
Tony took her with a smile. “Hello, sweetheart.”
“Daddy!”
Tony kissed the child’s nose then handed her to Ilsa. “You stay here with your mother while I take Lacy and Grant into town.”
“I can walk, Tony.” Grant followed Lacy and Tony out the door.
“No need to walk when you can ride.” Tony led the way to the sleigh waiting at the end of the walk. Grant offered Lacy his arm and helped her navigate through the snow drifted over the sidewalk. He’d much prefer to carry her. On the way to the Campanelli’s he’d imagined how it would feel to hold Lacy in his arms when he carried a woman he thought was a stranger. Even through their layers of outerwear, it seemed right to hold her. Now he knew why.
After handing her up into the back seat of the sleigh, Grant tucked a blanket around her lap then took a seat beside Tony on the front seat.
Lacy remained quiet on the ride to the telephone office, although the men discussed clearing the streets and the businesses that would most likely stay closed for the day.
Tony pulled the horse to a stop as close to the door of the Pendleton Telephone and Telegraph Company as he could get without running into the building.
Grant jumped down and offered her his hand as she stepped from the sleigh.
“Thank you, both, so much. I don’t know what I can do to repay either of you.”
“Just come to Ilsa’s shop when you get off work and we’ll figure it out.” Tony waved as he guided the horse and sleigh into the street and drove it around the corner.
“Have a good day, today, Miss Williams. I hope it goes well.” Grant wished he could offer Lacy an encouraging hug and perhaps a kiss to her cheek. Since that breached every rule of proper behavior his mother had instilled in him from the time he was Laila’s age, he refrained and took a step back. “If you need anything, just run over to the bank and let me know.”
“You’ve been so kind, Mr. Hill. I couldn’t possibly impose upon you for anything further.” Lacy took a step closer to the door. “Thank you for coming to my rescue this morning. I do appreciate your assistance.”
Grant smiled. “Anytime you need to be rescued, just let me know, Snow Angel.”
Lacy hid her smile and opened the door to the telephone office.
Millie glanced up from where she sat at the desk, making notes in a logbook. The office was strangely quiet.
“Oh, thank goodness, Lacy. I wasn’t sure you’d be able to make it. I live in an apartment upstairs, or I’d definitely have stayed home today. Bertie should make it. She lives on the other side of town. Her brother will most likely drop her off on his way to work. Susan lives with her folks on a farm a few miles from town so I don’t expect her to come in.” Millie stood and smiled at Lacy, motioning her behind the counter. Lacy removed her borrowed coat and hung it on a coat rack inside the door then walked over to the switchboard.
Millie glanced at her then gave her a second look. “My gracious! Is that one of Ilsa Campanelli’s creations? It’s gorgeous!”
Lacy blushed and smoothed her hand down the skirt of the expensive fabric. “Ilsa let me borrow it. My clothes got a little damp on the ride into town.”
“It must be nice to have friends like that.” Millie grinned and held out a headset to Lacy. “Just slip this on your head. If you ever need to get up from the switchboard, remember to remove it first or you’ll be tethered like a dog on a leash.”
Lacy laughed and settled the headset over her head. The poufy hairstyle Ilsa created made it a little challenging to get the headset on, but she managed.
“Have you ever used a telephone?” Millie asked as Lacy settled into a chair.
“No, I haven’t.”
“It’s not hard.” Millie spent the next twenty minutes walking Lacy through the basics. After the first minute or two of instruction, Lacy requested a piece of paper and took notes. There was no possibility she would memorize everything in one day and didn’t want to forget anything important. The notes helped her remember the information and gave her a point of reference to look back on if she had a problem.
At eight on the dot, the first call rang through and Millie made Lacy answer it. “Hello, Pendleton Central. Number please.”
From that point on, the switchboard buzzed with activity all morning. Most people called to see what businesses were open or closed, if anyone knew how much snow had fallen, and if anyone had a weather report for what was expected in the next few days.
Lacy quickly learned some people had nothing better to do than listen in on the phone calls of their neighbors. One line in particular seemed to have an unusual amount of noise on it. When she asked Millie about it, the woman laughed.
“The more noise you hear, the more people are listening in to the call. Line four and nine are the worst.” Millie pointed to the light currently blinking on line nine. “Sometimes you have to ask those listening in to hang up because it really does impact the clarity. It also unnecessarily drains the batteries.”
Bertie arrived with a jolly-faced young man she introduced as her brother, Bobby. He walked her inside and made a great show of greeting Millie then turned his attention to Lacy.
Shaken by his flirtatious manner, Lacy felt relief when the phone lines demanded her attention. The young man left with a jaunty wave and a wink.
At noon, Lacy took the biscuit and dried beef she’d brought with her and made a sandwich. Millie kept coffee percolating on a small stove, so Lacy poured a cup and drank it with her food.
Marveling at the convenience of a telephone, she wished someone in her family had one. If they did, she could easily call and let them know she’d made it into town and planned to stay until the cold, snowy weather passed. There was a phone at the agency office on the reservation. Briefly, she debated calling there and asking someone to take a message to her father, but decided against it.
If the weather didn’t stabilize in the next day or two, she’d call then or find someone headed that direction to take a message.
By the end of the day, she was exhausted and her head ached both from the headset and the effort it took to remember everything her new job required.
Millie sent out a general call letting everyone know the office was closing early for the evening due to the weather. Lacy slipped on her borrowed coat and pulled on her gloves. Bertie tugged on her coat and wrapped a scarf around her head, rushing outside when Bobby stopped out front in a sleigh.
Lacy watched as the young man helped his sister onto the seat then the two of them drove off in the gathering darkness.
“You did
great today, Lacy.” Millie patted her on the back as she stepped beside her. “I hope you’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Absolutely.” Lacy was pleased at Millie’s words of praise. “I’ll be here in the morning.”
Millie gave her a concerned glance. “You aren’t traveling back to the reservation tonight, are you?”
“No. Not in this weather. The Campanelli’s offered to let me rent the apartment above Ilsa’s store on a temporary basis.” Lacy could hardly wait to get there. She wanted to crawl into a bed and sleep for a week, but she’d make do with a good night’s rest.
“Oh, that’s right. I heard the last renter moved out awhile back.” Millie opened the door for Lacy, prepared to lock it behind her and close the office for the evening. “Have a good night.”
“The same to you.” Lacy smiled at her employer then started down the street. Intent on her thoughts of what she would do for supper, she gasped when a man stepped beside her.
Startled, she prepared to bolt when she looked up and took in Grant’s smile. “Mind if I walk with you to Ilsa’s shop?”
“I don’t mind.” Lacy averted her gaze from his expressive hazel eyes and focused on the street ahead. Some of Pendleton’s industrious citizens had shoveled all the sidewalks downtown. However, walking remained somewhat treacherous due to spots of ice.
“Did you enjoy your first day of work?” Grant asked, glancing down at the rich black locks on Lacy’s head. In the light from the stores they passed, her hair looked as dark as midnight and every bit as silky as ebony ribbons.
“I did. I never realized there was so much involved to place a phone call.” Lacy stepped around an icy spot then turned her gaze to Grant. “In truth, I never gave any thought to telephones, other than they seemed like a fascinating invention.”
Grant smiled. “They are quite handy. I’m glad we installed one at the bank. It’s been much more useful than I would have ever imagined.”
“Do you have one at your home?”
“I certainly do. I sometimes wish I didn’t. When my mother comes to visit, she listens in on the line when she thinks I won’t catch her.”
Lacy: (Sweet Historical Western Romance) (Pendleton Petticoats Book 5) Page 3
