“Honestly, Grant, I feel like I should pay you for your help. You spend as much time cleaning Tony’s studio and Ilsa’s store as I do these days.” Lacy ran a dust rag over a spotless shelf. A smile wreathed her face when Grant wrapped his arms around her and stole a kiss.
“I don’t mind assisting you in the least because it means I get to spend more time with you.”
Lacy sighed and ran her fingers through his thick hair. “I like spending time with you, too.”
Mindful of how much he wanted to carry her upstairs, unpin her hair, and lavish kisses upon her delicious lips, Grant took her hand and led her to the back door.
“Come on. The evening is still young and there’s plenty of light for a stroll. I ate too much tortellini for dinner and need to walk it off.” Grant opened the back door and grinned. “You wouldn’t want to be the reason I turn into an over-fed banker with a potbelly that keeps him from reaching his desk, would you?”
Grant inflated his stomach and slouched, causing Lacy to giggle.
“For goodness sakes, you can’t blame that on me.” Playfully, she poked his stomach before setting the cleaning supplies back in a box beneath the large worktable. She pinned on her hat, slipped on her gloves, and breezed out the door. Grant locked it then settled Lacy’s hand in the crook of his arm. He escorted her around to the front of the store and down the sidewalk.
“Where would you like to walk?” Grant asked as they waited for a wagon to pass so they could cross the street.
“May we go to the park? Ilsa mentioned the new plantings the city added a few weeks ago have spruced up the landscape quite nicely.” Lacy watched her step as she maneuvered around a puddle in the street. It rained the previous afternoon and the low spots in the pavement still held the rainwater.
“To the park it is.” Grant adjusted his longer stride to Lacy’s shorter legs. He’d never given it much thought, but she wasn’t short like Ilsa or tall like Aundy. To him, she seemed just right.
In his opinion, she was nearly as perfect as a girl could be.
They sauntered through the park, admiring the spring flowers and discussing upcoming events in town.
On the way back to her apartment, they walked past several stores, admiring the window displays. The mercantile had a bicycle on display and Lacy stopped to study it.
“Have you ever ridden a bicycle?” she asked Grant as she took in the sleek lines of the “Standard Triumph” Gent’s Roadster.
Grant grimaced. “Once, a few years ago. It was during a visit with Eleanor and Mathias. My brother-in-law purchased a bicycle to join a new club that had started among his associates. He’d ridden it a few times and invited me to take it for a spin. Mathias failed to mention how much speed it would gain if I started it at the top of the hill. Needless to say, it was the fastest ride I’ve ever experienced. I think I may have run over a dog, skimmed a cat’s tail, and terrorized a group of women out for a stroll with their toddlers before the wretched machine dumped me into a thorny hedge.”
Laughter burst out of Lacy at Grant’s description, even when he frowned at her.
“I don’t see how my misfortune invokes such humor. Not at all, Miss Williams.”
Forcibly, she curtailed her amusement. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hill. Were you terribly injured?”
“Mathias would tell you the bicycle received more damage than me, but I could barely walk for a week. I’ve not been inclined to give one a second chance to kill me.”
“Certainly not.” Lacy tried to hold back another round of giggles. She even turned to look across the street, away from the endearing pout on Grant’s face. Teasingly, he poked her side and laughter spilled out of her again, bringing a grin to his face.
“How dare you laugh at my misery and pain, Princess?”
“I dare because I keep picturing your face, speeding down the hill with no way to stop the bicycle. Oh, I wish I could have seen it.”
“I’m glad you didn’t. You would have seen me limping home like a whipped pup, dragging the bent bicycle behind me.” Grant took her elbow as they crossed the street and stepped back onto the sidewalk.
“Do you think they’ll ever start a bicycle club here in town? I’ve heard they’re quite popular throughout the country. Many doctors claim riding bicycles are good for people’s health.” Lacy made note of the gathering darkness as they walked back to her apartment. They’d been gone longer than she realized. Grateful for the street lamps that illuminated their way, she turned her gaze to Grant’s and noticed the light glowing in his eyes.
Rather than listen to the words he spoke in answer to her question, she focused on his lips. The bottom one was slightly fuller than the top with the tiniest little scar right down the center of it. She’d wondered how he got it and fought down an unreasonable desire to kiss it.
She shifted her attention from his alluring mouth upward. The smattering of freckles on his nose always made her grin. The light brown spots seemed such a contrast to Grant’s banker persona. His freckles served as a reminder that there was a mischievous, boyish side to the astute businessman.
A few lingering crinkles around his eyes let everyone know he liked to laugh and smiled often.
Then there were his expressive, hazel eyes, rimmed with dark lashes. Lacy thought if she stared into them long enough, she could see all the way down into Grant’s heart, catch a glimpse of his soul.
Lazily lingering in the welcome warmth of his gaze, she realized he waited for her to respond to a question.
“I’m sorry, Grant. I let my mind wander.” She squeezed his hand and unlocked the back door of Ilsa’s shop.
He followed her inside. “Where was it wandering? I might like this answer.”
She flicked on the lights and gave him a pert glance over her shoulder. “I don’t think I should tell you. You’re conceited enough without my contributing to your downfall.”
“Downfall, is it? Why I ought to…” Grant pulled her against him, attempting to tickle her sides. Although he had little success through the constraints of her corset, she did laugh at his efforts.
Swiftly turning in his arms, she stood on tiptoe and pulled his head toward hers. “You ought to give me a kiss,” she said in a sultry voice. The sound made Grant’s gut clench while his heart pounded in double-time.
“A kiss,” Grant muttered before pressing his lips to hers. He held her close against him as his mouth plundered hers. When he finally raised his head, he took a step back and willed his run-away pulse and thoughts to still.
“You probably should go.” Lacy took his hand in hers and led him to the back door on wobbly legs. There were times when Grant kissed her that she thought she might explode from the heady sensations coursing through her. She didn’t possess the ability to describe how vibrantly alive he made her feel.
“I suppose I should.” Grant opened the back door and stepped outside. “See you tomorrow?”
“Absolutely.” Lacy kissed her finger and touched it to Grant’s chin, drawing out another smile. “Good night, Grant.”
“Good night, Lacy.”
She shut the door and locked it, turned off the lights, and meandered her way upstairs to her apartment. Too excited to think about sleeping, she flicked on the lights in the sitting room and picked up a book Aundy had let her borrow. She opened it to where she’d left off and attempted to read, but her mind wandered to Grant.
A loud thumping sound at the back door drew her out of musings and down the stairs. Wondering if Grant had left something behind, she laughed as she opened the door. “Did you forget…”
No one stood outside, but something fell against her legs. Lacy glanced down at a woman with a dark sack over her head and her hands bound by a length of rope in front of her.
Hurriedly pulling the woman inside the door, she slammed it shut and locked it then ran over to the telephone.
Although it was past office hours, she hoped Millie would respond to the phone ringing from her apartment above the office.
She gave the telephone a sharp crank and pressed the button. When no one answered, she cranked it again and waited. The third time, Millie picked up.
“Unless this is an emergency, the telephone office is closed.”
“Oh, Millie, thank goodness! It’s Lacy. Please call the sheriff’s office and ask someone to come to Ilsa’s shop right away.”
“Are you okay?” Millie’s concern filled her voice.
“I’m fine, but please hurry!”
Lacy hung up the phone, flicked on the lights, and returned to the prone woman. Carefully removing the sack from her head, she gasped as she looked into Bertie’s bruised and bloody face.
Slowly sinking to the floor, she gently lifted the girl’s head and placed it on her lap. Holding her hand against Bertie’s neck, she prayed she still lived. A pulse beat against her fingers and Lacy sighed in relief.
“Oh, Bertie! What in the world happened to you?” Lacy rolled her eyes upward to keep her tears at bay. She brushed the hair away from Bertie’s forehead and softly hummed a song her mother used to sing to her.
Three raps pounded on the back door and made her jump. Kade’s voice called out, offering reassurance. “Lacy, it’s Kade. Can you open the door?”
“Coming!” Gently, she lifted Bertie’s head and scooted from beneath it, resting it against the floor before scurrying to unlock the door.
Kade charged inside with a cocked gun in his hand, intently staring at Lacy. “What’s wrong? Millie sounded frantic when…” His voice faded as he noticed Bertie’s prone form.
He dropped to one knee and felt for a pulse. Much as Lacy had upon finding it beat steadily, he sighed in relief. “You work with Miss Hawkins at the telephone office, don’t you?”
Lacy nodded her head while Kade tried to surmise what had happened to Bertie without moving her. “I’m gonna go find Doc then come right back. You keep that door locked.”
Kade jumped to his feet and ran off into the darkness. Lacy hurried to lock the door before running upstairs. After gathering a few things, she returned downstairs with her arms full.
Gently, she slid a pillow beneath Bertie’s head and covered her with a blanket. She used a soft piece of toweling she’d moistened to wipe the girl’s face. Bruises marred one cheek and a cut at the corner of her mouth oozed with blood, but Lacy couldn’t see any other wounds on her friend’s face.
Afraid to do more damage than good if Bertie had internal injuries, Lacy resumed crooning to her friend. She reached out to straighten the blanket and heard something rustle. Reaching into the pocket of Bertie’s skirt, she found an envelope addressed to her.
She ripped it open, read the brief words, and dropped the paper on the floor. A shiver snaked down her spine while acute fear gripped her by the throat. She stared at the note as if it was a viper come to life.
Before the scream in her throat worked its way out of her mouth, Kade pounded on the door again.
She quickly opened it and stepped back as Doc and Kade both rushed into the room.
While the Doc gave Bertie a quick examination, Kade picked up the note on the floor.
I warned you. You should have listened to me, you stupid squaw. Are all injuns so stubborn and prideful? This ought to knock the wind right out of you. If you think this is bad, wait until you see what I’ve got planned for your banker.
Kade looked up from the paper in his hand and caught Lacy’s gaze. “I’ll catch him, Lacy. I swear I will make him pay for this and everything he’s done.”
“It’s Kent, isn’t it? This is because of what happened at the ball.” Lacy’s legs quaked beneath her. She sank down on one of Ilsa’s work stools and wrapped her arms around her middle. “It’s all my fault. I did this to Bertie.” A sudden thought for Grant’s safety sent her rushing to the door.
Kade caught her arm before she bolted outside. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To make sure Grant’s safe. What if he’s there right now? What if…” Lacy choked on the words, unable to continue.
“I’ll check on Grant just as soon as we get Bertie moved and you somewhere safe but I’m not leaving you here alone with that monster on the prowl. I knew we should have locked him up the first time we had a complaint about him.” Disgusted with himself, and what he viewed as a failure on the part of the law to protect the people of the community, Kade looked to Doc as he rose to his feet.
“Besides the abuse to her poor face, and a few cracked ribs, I’m not sure what else is wrong. Kade, if you can help get her back to my clinic, I’ll do a thorough examination. I think it best if Miss Williams comes along. We need to contact Miss Hawkins’ brother, too.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Kade said. Carefully, he lifted Bertie’s still form then motioned for Doc to escort Lacy. Mindlessly, she turned off the lights and locked the door behind her. Doc took her elbow and guided her to his office.
Once there, Kade left Lacy in the waiting room with Mrs. Reed while he ran up the hill to Grant’s home then went to find Bobby Hawkins.
A short while later, the door banged open and Grant rushed inside, sweeping Lacy into his arms. The tears she’d kept from spilling over silently rolled down her cheeks as she clung to him, crying out her fears.
“He hurt Bertie, Grant. He hurt Bertie!” Lacy said between sobs.
“I know, love. I know. I’m so sorry. Everything will be fine. Don’t you worry.” Grant kept up murmurs of reassurance as he held Lacy and rubbed her back with a comforting hand. Mrs. Reed disappeared to give them a moment of privacy.
Kade walked inside a short while later and nodded to Grant. “I’ll see you home. I’ve got someone who’ll keep watch around your place tonight.” He turned to Lacy. “I couldn’t find Bertie’s brother. Did she happen to say anything about him being out of town?”
Lacy nodded, suddenly recalling Bobby’s whereabouts. “She mentioned something yesterday about Bobby attending a meeting in Portland. It seems like she said he’d be gone for a few days.”
The doctor stepped into the room along with his wife. At their expectant looks, he worked up a smile. “Bertie should recover quickly from her injuries. She has multiple bruises, like she put up a good fight with her attacker. A knot on her head suggests he clunked her with something. She does have three broken ribs and I’m not yet certain about her internal injuries, but I think she most likely has a bruised kidney.”
“What about… Did Kent manage to, um…” Kade hesitated to ask the question that concerned them all.
The doctor shook his head. “No. It appears he limited his abuse to slapping her around and kicking her.”
Relieved, Kade and Grant let out a whoosh of air.
Mrs. Reed patted Lacy’s hand. “I hope you’ll come visit her tomorrow. She’ll need to see a friendly face.”
“I will, Mrs. Reed. Thank you,” Lacy smiled at the kind woman.
“I’ll bring you myself,” Grant said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “For now, let’s go home.”
After bidding the doctor and his wife a good night, Kade, Grant and Lacy stepped outside.
Grant removed his suit coat and draped it around Lacy’s shoulders then tucked her close to his side. “You’re coming home with me.”
She pulled away from Grant and stared at him as if he’d grown a second head. “I can’t go home with you, Grant. It wouldn’t be at all proper.”
“With my mother and her maid there, we’re more than sufficiently chaperoned. I’ll rest easier knowing you’re in a room down the hall with a deputy nearby. If you return to your apartment, I’ll spend all night wondering if Kent has broken in and made good on his threats. Besides, if you stay at my house, only one deputy is needed to keep watch instead of two.”
Lacy glanced at the deputy. “Oh, I didn’t mean to make more work for you or your men, Kade. Of course I’ll stay at Grant’s.” Although she tried to sound confident, her voice squeaked a little when she said Grant’s name. The idea of staying in his home, amid all the grandeur,
was somewhat unsettling. However, it was the thought of facing his mother that made her stomach hurt and head pound.
“I promise to take good care of you.” Grant offered her an encouraging smile as they walked away from the doctor’s office and fell into step with Kade. Silent, they crossed the bridge and hiked up the hill then down the street to Grant’s impressive home. Lights glowed from all the windows as they strode down the walk.
One of the deputies stepped from the shadows and shook hands with Kade and then Grant.
“Butch will keep an eye on things here tonight.” Kade smiled reassuringly at Lacy. “Don’t worry, Miss Williams. We’ll catch Kent and bring him to justice for what he’s done. You heard Doc. Miss Hawkins will be okay.”
Lacy didn’t trust herself to speak without tears burning the backs of her eyes again, so she nodded her head.
“Don’t let anything happen to these two on your watch, Butch.” Kade gave the young deputy a stern look. As he hurried down Grant’s driveway, he waved his hand in a gesture of farewell.
“I’m gonna keep watch out here for a while. When you’re ready to turn in, just dim the lights and I’ll slip in the kitchen door.” The deputy tipped his hat to Lacy then sauntered off in the direction of the barn.
Grant opened the front door and motioned Lacy inside.
Nervous, she stepped into the brightly lit foyer and glanced toward the parlor where feminine voices floated out to the entry.
“Grant? Are you back, dear? You didn’t say where you were going when you left earlier.” The rustle of silk alerted them to Imogene’s presence in the doorway to the parlor.
Her eyes narrowed and she glared at Lacy. “What on earth is she doing here?” Imogene pointed her finger at Lacy then turned a furious glare on her son.
“She’s spending the night, Mother.” While Imogene’s mouth hung open like a gulping fish, Grant looked to his mother’s maid. “Betty would you mind making Miss Williams a cup of tea, please?”
Betty nodded her head and scurried toward the kitchen, eager to escape the tense situation.
Lacy: (Sweet Historical Western Romance) (Pendleton Petticoats Book 5) Page 25
