by Janet Dean
Toting his finds, he walked to the long counter. Behind it, shelves reached from the wooden floor to the stamped-tin ceiling. J. B. Stetson hats lined a section of one shelf. A brown Stetson caught his eye. An exact replica of the hat Pa had given Nate on his twelfth birthday. “When you do a man’s work, you need a man’s gear,” Pa had said, placing the hat on Nate’s head. Though his father’s praise had been overstated, Nate had worn the hat with pride and tried to live up to his words.
A lanky, tall man, his large hands folded over the apron covering his middle, stepped over and flashed a smile. “I’m Clarence Stuffle, proprietor of this here establishment. You must be new in town.”
“Name’s Nate Sergeant. My sister and I just moved into Morris Mood’s house.”
“Ah, that makes you the bounty hunter planning to fix up the livery.” He thrust out a hand and they shook. “Pleased to make your acquaintance. Morris can use the help. Like an old clock, he’s harder to wind and keep a’tickin’.”
“I’m glad for the work.”
“So what brings a bounty hunter to Gnaw Bone?”
Nate had no intention of sharing his reasons. But, word would get out. “Gnaw Bone seemed like a nice little town for my widowed sister to make a new life for herself.”
“Carly Richards is doing the same. I reckon you’d know about that, having killed her husband.”
Nate straightened, holding the proprietor’s gaze.
Stuffle raised a palm. “Not that I’m not holding it against you, leastwise as long as you keep that revolver holstered. Most folks didn’t cotton to Max.”
“I’m not a threat to anyone on the right side of the law.” When had Nate spoken a bigger lie?
“In that case, welcome.” Stuffle motioned to the items Nate had laid on the counter. “Our blacksmith made the rods. A wooden rod, even a strong cord would do, but womenfolk like things fancy.” He glanced at the paper in Nate’s hand. “Anything else you need?”
Nate handed over the list. Apparently, Stuffle hadn’t gotten wind of the controversy over the shop’s ownership. Once the judge arrived, the entire town would know. If the judge ruled in his sister’s favor, as Nate expected, would Anna be an outcast? As if his occupation didn’t already bring enough censure.
Nate’s jaw tightened. He might have the skill to track and bring outlaws to justice, but he had no way to protect his sister from mistreatment. If folks gave Anna a chance, they’d like her. How could they not? She always thought of others, put them first. Still, to ensure her happiness, he would come back to Gnaw Bone as much as he could while pursuing Stogsdill.
Obviously not a man to hurry, the proprietor shuffled back and forth from the shelves to the counter, piling up the items on Anna’s list. Finally he rang up each on the brass cash register and told Nate the tally.
If Stogsdill’s rumored girlfriend lived in the area, he might’ve been in this store. “I’m guessing you don’t have many newcomers in town,” Nate said, doling out the money.
“Not many.” Stuffle shut the cash drawer, then handed Nate his change. “Reason you’re big news.”
Nate wouldn’t show the proprietor Stogsdill’s wanted poster or give the outlaw’s name. If he recognized the man, word might get out and scare Stogsdill off. Nate’s best chance was to locate the rumored girlfriend.
As Stuffle boxed the purchases, Nate leaned in. “I’ve heard an outlaw I’m pursuing has a girlfriend in these parts.”
Stuffle frowned. “Some woman from here is entertaining a criminal? What’s her name?”
“Don’t know. Can’t describe her, either.”
“Reckon finding a nameless, faceless woman is harder than locating a copper penny in a pigsty. My wife works Fridays and Saturdays. She would remember a new face in town, especially a woman. Most likely know all about her before she got out of the store.” He grinned, revealing a gap between his front teeth. “My Myra’s got a nose for news.”
“I’ll be back to speak to your wife.”
“Oh, better yet, talk to Mrs. Richards. Ladies like to ogle lace and feathers while their men do business at the bank.” He chuckled. “Or in the saloon.”
“Thanks for your help and the advice.” Nate gathered the box and strode toward the livery and the small house out back.
Tomorrow he’d stop in at Mrs. Richards’s seamstress shop to ask if she’d waited on a newcomer in town. Hopefully one of these ladies would have what he sought: a lead to Shifty Stogsdill’s girlfriend. That girlfriend could lead him to Stogsdill. A ruthless killer who’d taken Rachel’s life—a lovely, innocent young woman who’d never harmed anyone.
Until Nate brought Stogsdill to justice, he would never be free to settle down, never have a wife and children, never have the comfort of a normal existence. Nothing would make him happier than to end the outlaw’s reign of terror.
Nothing that is, except seeing Anna settled behind the shop counter with her name on the sign out front, knowing his sister had a future, even if Stogsdill saw that Nate lost his.
Chapter Six
Carly unwound the fabric, sending the bolt of silk thumping along the counter. This beautiful white fabric, surely as pretty as anything in Paris, would become Vivian’s wedding gown.
On the other side of the counter, her brow furrowed in concentration, dark ringlets of her hair dancing around her jaw, Anna smoothed the fabric, while Carly pinned on the pattern pieces. Pattern pieces contoured to fit the bride perfectly.
“I’ve got to get this right,” Carly said, setting aside the pincushion and reaching for the scissors. “I don’t have extra fabric if I make an error.”
Anna stretched across the table and grabbed Carly’s free hand, then bowed her head. “Lord, give Carly clarity of thought and steadiness of hand to cut this dress out perfectly. Amen.” With a gentle smile, Anna released Carly’s hand. “Sorry for taking the lead, but I’ve never worked with material this fancy.”
Carly had never prayed before cutting into fabric, but after hearing the simple request, she wondered why she hadn’t. “I appreciate God’s help. And yours.”
With Henry in school, Carly and Anna worked through the morning. Their only interruption being two customers who’d browsed through bolts of fabric, then left. By noon they’d pinned and basted the gown’s bodice together. After the fitting, Carly would run up the seams on the treadle sewing machine.
Anna was a steady worker, not much for chitchat; a blessing when handling expensive fabric. Still, her quiet nature didn’t give Carly an opening to seek information. She couldn’t rest until she knew the details of how Walt had gotten hold of the deed.
Strands of a plan knitted together in her mind. While they ate the noon meal, Carly would bring up that poker game. See if there’d been witnesses and if so, ask Sheriff Truitt to question them. Perhaps they would deny Walt Hankins had won the deed.
Why, Anna’s husband could’ve stolen it. The reason Max had shot him. Carly bit back a sigh, certain Max was the culprit.
“Brides have been known to gain weight. I cut generous seam allowances in case we need to let out the dress,” Carly said, though with only weeks until the wedding that seemed unlikely.
“Where I’m from, a bride’s wedding gown is often worn as her best dress for years. Generous seam allowances make sense.”
“Not this bride. The Schwartz women rarely wear a gown twice.”
Anna’s jaw dropped. “Really? Seems wasteful, especially in a town named Gnaw Bone.”
“I can’t think of a better town to put on the dog,” Carly said, then gave a wink.
Anna giggled. “You’re so much fun to work with, Carly.”
The compliment soaked into Carly’s spirit. “Thank you.”
At noon they stopped to reheat the pot of vegetable soup Carly had made that morning, and then sat at the kitchen table.
With aromas wafting from their bowls on the rising steam, they glanced at one another and bowed heads while Carly thanked God for the food.
; Anna blew on the soup in her spoon, then ate. “Mmm, this is delicious, as good as last night’s chicken and noodles.”
“Thank you.” How could she broach the subject? “You, uh, mentioned your husband won the deed. Was he a gambler?”
“Walt? Oh no. To hear he’d joined a poker game surprised me. And surprised the others at the table.”
Carly’s spoon clattered against her bowl. “There were witnesses?”
“Two men at the wake told me about the game. They felt guilty about Walt, him not being a regular. If he hadn’t sat at the table, they figure one of them might’ve turned up dead.”
These men would declare in court that Max had anted the deed and Anna’s husband had won it fair and square. Any other possibility seemed farfetched, especially looking into Anna’s candid gaze.
Now Carly’s only hope for keeping her shop rested with the circuit judge’s interpretation of the law. Her stomach lurched. If he didn’t rule in her favor, Anna Hankins would be cooking in this kitchen and taking care of Carly’s customers.
“I was shocked Walt won. And troubled he’d risked the money Nate sent us on the turn of a card.”
“No more shocked than I was to learn Max had anted the deed.” Once again, evidence her husband hadn’t cared a whit about her and Henry.
Anna flushed. “I’m sorry about what happened. I don’t approve of gambling.”
Walt Hankins hadn’t considered Anna’s wishes any more than Max had considered Carly’s. “It’s not your fault.” The fault laid with Max, a man without a sense of right and wrong. If he’d lived, his example might’ve led his son down that same path.
“I don’t know poker, but the other players said Walt held a royal flush, the best hand there is, like that was an accomplishment instead of merely luck.” Anna sniffed. “Not good luck, either. Winning that deed cost Walt his life.”
“That deed didn’t take your husband’s life. Max did.” She touched Anna’s arm. “I’m sorry. More than I can say.”
“Some mornings I wake and, for a moment, I forget.” Moisture welled in Anna’s eyes. “I can barely believe Walt’s gone.”
Unlike Carly, this widow grieved her dead husband. “What was he like?”
“Kind, gentle, soft-spoken. I’d call Walt a dreamer. Some might call him a failure.”
“But you didn’t?”
“His inventions and schemes weren’t workable. Often he ran ahead of God, but Walt had this quiet way of making me feel cherished.”
Max had never made Carly feel valued. Not from the first day of their marriage. “What drove Walt? A desire for wealth?”
“He had this need to give me a better life, finer things, as if I wanted a life of ease or fancy trinkets.” She shoved aside her half-eaten bowl of soup. “We had a roof over our heads, food in our bellies. We had enough. Plenty.”
Before meeting Anna, Carly had put Walt Hankins in the same category as Max. The two men were nothing alike. Still, even if his intentions had been good, Walt had failed his wife, just as Max had failed her.
Somehow that connected her to Anna. A connection Carly would fight with every particle of her being. She wouldn’t let herself care about Anna. If she did, how could she fight for her business?
Yet fight she must. She’d paid a huge price for this shop. Nine long years under Max’s thumb. Even when he’d been away from home, his presence had hovered over her. She’d never known when he’d return. Never known what mood he’d be in when he did.
“I don’t know what I’ll do if something happens to Nate,” Anna said, her hands entwined, twisting in her lap. “I don’t care about that reward money he insists on sending. I care about him.” Her voice trembled. “He’s all I have.”
Nate Sergeant could work in the livery or in countless other jobs, but chose instead to hunt lawless men. To accomplish that, he had to be equally dangerous.
“I’m sorry for complaining.” Anna wiped her damp eyes, then gave a weak smile. “I’m emotional since I lost Walt. It’s a comfort to know you understand the pain and loneliness of losing a husband.”
Anna’s gaze landed on Carly’s dress. Her eyes widened, as if just realizing Carly wasn’t wearing black. Widow’s weeds would chafe, be a sham. Carly had lived a lie her entire marriage and wouldn’t pretend to grieve.
She lurched to her feet. “I’ll make tea. Do you use sugar?”
Anna shot her a quizzical look. “Yes, please. I need to stretch my legs,” she said, then rose and hobbled to the front.
Carly couldn’t admit the loneliness and pain Anna spoke of had occurred during her marriage, not from her husband’s death. She couldn’t admit she’d married a scoundrel without faith. She couldn’t admit in the past month she’d found peace and happiness as Max’s widow.
That is, until Nate and Anna had showed up and put the ownership of her shop in jeopardy.
As Carly added tea leaves and poured hot water into her rose-sprigged teapot, she chastised herself for getting emotionally involved with Anna. In a matter of hours, her enemy had become a woman with whom she could empathize. That would never do. How could she fight for her son’s welfare and not bring Anna harm?
She would focus on what mattered—getting the bridal finery made. She’d pay Anna the wage they’d agreed upon. Hopefully, after expenses, Carly would have enough profit to offer to buy Anna out.
Carly loaded the pot and cups onto a tray, then strode into the shop. What she saw stopped her in her tracks.
Nate Sergeant stood near his sister, filling the room with his presence. As he’d promised, he’d come to look after Anna’s interests, to make sure Carly wasn’t trying to convince Anna to give up the shop.
Mr. Sergeant threatened Carly’s very existence. Well, the years she’d spent living under a man’s intimidation had made her strong. She would not surrender the shop without a fight.
* * *
Nate leaned against the shop counter, legs crossed, trying to appear at ease, as if the conversation he wished to broach was of no consequence. Otherwise Carly might raise those defenses of hers and refuse to hear him out. But inside he was coiled tighter than an overwound spring.
Getting anywhere in Gnaw Bone required a lot of jawing. “I’m looking for someone you might know,” he said, his tone casual.
“Strange as it may sound to a man like you, I don’t rub shoulders with criminals.”
So much for keeping this female tinderbox calm. “That’s the last thing I’d think. I’m talking about a woman, not an outlaw.”
Carly’s stormy-sea eyes softened from forged steel to hard-packed clay. “I’m sorry. That was rude.” She took a breath. “Why do you want to find this woman? Is she a friend of yours?”
“No. An outlaw I’m pursuing supposedly has a lady friend in the area.”
“In Gnaw Bone? This is a peaceful little town.”
“Has a stranger come into the shop in the past several months?”
“Folks pass through. I can’t know everyone.” She took a sip of tea. “What does this woman look like?”
“I don’t know.”
“Show Carly that wanted poster,” Anna said.
Nate didn’t want to jeopardize his investigation, but if Stogsdill should accompany his floozy into this shop, Mrs. Richards, her son and Anna would be at risk. “Can you keep this to yourself?” he said. “If word gets out I’m looking for this rogue, his lady friend might warn him away.”
“You’ll just have to trust me. If he’s in the area, I should know what he looks like.”
Tamping down a sigh, Nate removed the wanted poster from the pocket of his vest, then unfolded and laid the crumpled paper on the table.
Carly stared at the sketch of Stogsdill’s handlebar mustache, sideburns and long lashes, in sharp contrast to his lifeless, cold eyes.
“He might look different. He could’ve shaved off the facial hair,” Nate said.
“I’ve never seen the man.”
Anna laid a hand on Carly’s arm. “I hop
e you never do. Shifty Stogsdill is a heartless killer.”
“From reports of bank robberies he’s been involved in, I don’t believe Stogsdill is here now. But, perhaps you can help me track down his female friend,” Nate said.
“I want this rogue caught, but I don’t see how I can help.”
“Do you remember a customer who looks different than most?”
“The ladies who frequent my shop are not about to be attracted to an outlaw.”
“Perhaps she doesn’t know he’s an outlaw. Perhaps—”
“Don’t pester Carly. If she knew anything, she’d tell you.” Anna rose, walking to where Nate leaned against the wall, her gait more unsteady than usual. “You’re obsessed with catching Stogsdill. Won’t have peace until you do. Well, I won’t have peace as long as you’re putting your life at risk.”
“You know why I have to bring him down.”
“Bring him down?” Anna lifted a palm to his cheek. “‘Vengeance is mine...saith the Lord.’”
“The law will avenge, not me.” He shifted on his feet. “Once I capture him, I’ll give you the reward money.”
“No amount of money could take your place!” A sob escaped her lips. “I’m sorry. I...I need a moment alone,” she said, then limped to the back.
Carly Richards leveled Nate with her gaze. “Are you so hard-hearted you don’t care Anna fears for your safety?”
Her words battered him like an uppercut to the jaw. But he couldn’t rest until he’d caught Stogsdill and knew Anna would be taken care of for life. “Of course I care. My concern for Anna is the reason I want her to have this shop.”
“Paint a pretty picture if you can. But the truth is you want Anna to own this shop so you can be on your merry way, chasing after an outlaw.”
Nate knew the cost the women in his life had paid for loving him. He owed them. If only he could change the past. Undo those moments searing his brain with the hot branding iron of guilt.
Why try to explain to a woman who’d use his sister as a way to save her shop?
Nate turned and stalked to the entrance. Yet the truth of Carly’s words couldn’t be denied. He was a bounty hunter, not a man his sister or any woman could count on. Anna was better off without him.
