Grace's Dream

by Agnes Alexander

  Chapter 4

  Grace appeared with breakfast for the prisoners earlier than usual the next morning. “Hope you don’t mind I’m here so early.”

  “Of course not. I’m sure the men will be glad to get it at any time.” Lance took the basket from her. “Why is Teddy not helping you this morning? Is he sick? The doctor said he was feeling poorly yesterday.”

  “He still isn’t feeling very well. Frank said he was afraid he might be coming down with what Sophie has, and he didn’t want him outside. In fact, he made him go back to bed.”

  Lance shook his head. “I hope he isn’t getting as sick as his sister.”

  “So do I, but we’ll have to wait and see. I’m helping Effie get food ready for the family, but Frank still has the dining room closed.”

  “Thanks for bringing the food to the prisoners. I’ll bring the dishes back whenever they’ve eaten.”

  “That won’t be necessary, Lance. I’ll come get them. I’d stay and help you feed the men, but Henrietta is beside herself, and I promised I’d help so Frank could get some rest. They were both up all night.”

  “Poor folks. I hope they come through all this without….” His voice trailed off.

  Grace gave him a hard look. “What’s going on, Lance? Do you know what’s wrong with Sophie?”

  “The Olsens haven’t told you?”

  “No, but I can tell it’s something serious.”

  He hesitated, then said, “Sophie has the measles and according to Doc, it’s a dreaded disease. He also said Sophie has a severe case.”

  When he said nothing further, she asked, “He did say Sophie would be all right, didn’t he?”

  Lance took a deep breath. “He didn’t know, Grace. He said Henrietta is doing all that could be done for her. We can only hope and pray and then wait and see.”

  “Oh, Lance.” Grace grabbed the back of one of the chairs in front of his desk.

  He reached for her and guided her around to sit. There was a frightened look on his face. “You’re not feeling badly, are you Grace?”

  “I’m fine. I guess that news hit me hard. I’m awfully close to the Olsens. They’re like family to me. You know they took me in after my mother and father died in a house fire when I was thirteen years old and didn’t have anywhere to go.”

  “I know and I’m sure you’re family to them, too.”

  She nodded and stood. “I better get back. They may need me.”

  “Are you sure you’re all right? I can walk you back if you want me to.”

  “Thank you, Lance, but I’ll be fine.”

  He did walk her to the door and watched as she hurried down the street toward the hotel. He was surprised that her limp made him feel all strange inside. Shaking his head, he waited until he saw her go out of sight. He then turned to fill the plates for his prisoners. When those were ready, he carried them into the cell room.

  “I was expecting that pretty little waitress to bring me the food today. Hasn’t she asked about me?” the cocky cowboy asked.

  Lance ignored him and said, “You have twenty minutes to eat then I’m coming back for the empty dishes.” He turned back into the office area and sat to eat his own breakfast since Grace had brought plenty.

  When he finished, he returned to the cells and collected the dishes. He noticed they had eaten everything.

  “Tell that pretty little gal that I’m coming to court her as soon as I’m out of here. She’s the kind who needs a better man than you.”

  “I think it’s time you shut up about the waitress, Shawn Parnell. She’s a lady, and you have no right to talk to or about her.”

  Shawn laughed. “Listen to that. The lawman’s jealous.”

  Again Lance ignored him and carried the dirty dishes back to his office and placed them in the basket on his desk. He figured Grace would come back for them at any time, and he didn’t want her to go into the cell area to retrieve them. He almost laughed at himself for such an idea. What business of his was it to keep Grace away from Shawn Parnell? But he’d decided to keep her away when Parnell first asked if the pretty little waitress was coming to visit him this morning. Maybe it was because she was Nelda’s friend and he’d known her since she was a kid. Trouble was, she wasn’t a kid any longer. She had grown into a beautiful young woman who would probably be married to some lucky guy in town within a few years. Shaking his head to get rid of such thoughts, he picked up the basket, and decided he’d take the dishes back to the hotel. He used the excuse that it was to save Grace from having to make the walk back to the jail to get them.

  Before he could leave, the door opened. He turned, thinking Grace had returned early for the dishes. Instead Nelson Parnell waddled in. The tall, lean cowboy was again on his heels.

  “I brought your damn money, now unlock that cell and let my son out.” He bellowed as he walked to the desk and tossed down a wad of bills. “There’s five hundred dollars here. I expect you’ll pocket any that’s left over.”

  “If there’s any left over, it’ll be returned to you, Parnell.” Lance set the basket down, opened the top drawer of his desk, and put the money inside. Without saying anything further, he turned, took the cell keys from the wall peg beside the entrance to the cells and headed back to release Shawn.

  Unlocking the cell, he said, “Your father’s here.”

  “It’s about time.” Shawn grabbed his hat. “I bet he told you this better not happen to his son again.”

  “He didn’t, but it wouldn’t matter. If you come back to town acting the fool, you’ll land up back in here, and if he breaks the law, so will he.”

  Shawn cut his eyes at Lance. “Go to hell, lawman.”

  Lance didn’t say anything.

  When they entered the office, Parnell looked at the huge man, “I can’t believe you left me in this dump overnight, Pa.”

  “Shut up and let’s go.”

  “I want to know why you didn’t get me out of here last night.”

  “I should’ve left you longer.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t have let me come to this hick town with you.”

  “I realize that more every day.” He gave his son a hard look. “You do know that you’re going to have to work out every dime this cost me, don’t you?”

  “Ah, Pa. I didn’t do nothing any man wanting to let off steam wouldn’t have done.”

  “Being seventeen years old don’t make you a man. If it did, you’d have had more sense than to shoot up this town just to show off. Your little escapade cost me five hundred dollars. Now get out of here and let’s go to the ranch. You and I have to come to an understanding, then I’ve got things to do.”

  “Why don’t you go on ahead and I’ll be along? There’s a pretty little gal I want to get to know better and I might as well do it while I’m in town.”

  “You’ll do no such thing. Now get out this door. I don’t have time to fool around all day.”

  The three men left the jail without another word to Lance. Of course, he didn’t care. He was glad to be rid of them. That was one reason he said nothing while they were mouthing at each other. He decided criminals such as bank robbers, rustlers or murderers were easier to deal with than a father who thought he could boss everyone around and a young rangy guy who was so full of his own importance that he had no idea of how the rest of the world saw him. Lance only hoped neither of them would come into town often. He knew there would always be trouble when they showed up. He doubted they would stay away, though. Men like them seemed to always need to be around other people.

  As he pushed the Parnells out of his mind, he wondered about the fellow called Rocky. He decided the man was either there for Nelson Parnell’s protection or he was a mute. Of course, it didn’t matter; they were headed out of town this time. He’d worry about them if and when they came back causing trouble.

  * * * *

  Grace thought she knew what Effie Vaughn’s reaction would be when Frank Olsen told her he thought she should stay home and not come back to
the hotel until the threat of measles was over. She knew she was right when Effie glared at him and said, “I’m not going anywhere, Mr. Frank. I done brought me enough clothes and moved myself into that room behind the kitchen. I feel like my place is here cooking for whoever is around here to eat it as well as them people up there in the jail. I’m not about to shirk my duty.”

  “But, Miss Effie, the doctor said Teddy could have caught the measles from Sophie, but we won’t know until he starts to break out. The more you’re around us, the greater chance you have of catching the disease.”

  “Then so be it.”

  “It’s not that we don’t appreciate all you do, but we’re concerned about you. Adults have a hard time if they get the measles, more so than a child according to the doc. I don’t want to take a chance with any more people being exposed around here.”

  “Well, sir, just look at it like this. Everybody’s gonna die sometime. We don’t know when or where, but the good Lord knows. If’n He has it in His mind for me to die with them measles, then that’s what I’ll do. In the meantime, I’m gonna keep doing my job.” She gave him a wry smile.

  “But Effie….”

  “Now you might as well save your breath, Mr. Frank. I ain’t going nowhere and if you’ll kindly go on outta here, I’ll get the biscuits out of the oven to go with the stew. As soon as it’s all served up, I’ll be bringing you and your family your dinner.”

  Frank shook his head and turned toward Grace, who had been standing near the door. “She’s as stubborn as you are. You refuse to stay in your room and you run in and out carrying food to the jail and Effie won’t leave.”

  “I don’t think Effie and I are trying to be stubborn. We just want you to know that we’re here because you’re like family to us.”

  He blinked. “Thank you, Grace.”

  “No thanks are necessary.” She moved toward the worktable. “As soon as Effie gets your family fed, I’ll fix the basket to take to the jail.”

  Frank sighed. “Since I can’t convince the two of you to take better care of yourselves, I’ll get back to Henrietta and the children.”

  As soon as he was gone, Effie asked, “How’s little Teddy, Grace?”

  “The doctor wasn’t sure. He’s not got all the signs of the measles, but he said he wanted to be cautious. He doesn’t want Teddy getting sick like Sophie. He told the Olsens to watch him and to start giving him lots of liquids and try to keep him in bed. I’m glad you decided to make stew today.”

  Effie nodded then, chuckled. “Knowing that little fellow, he don’t want to go to bed and I know he don’t much like stew. I bet he’s going to be mad at me for cooking it.”

  “That’s probably true, but he’ll get over it.” Grace took bowls from the dish shelf and sat them on the table along with silverware. She watched Effie leave with a tray of food as she packed the basket to take to the jail. She was almost finished when there was a knock on the back door.

  Frowning, she walked to the door and was surprised to see Lance Gentry there. “I was just getting ready to bring the mid-day meal to your prisoners.”

  “I had to pick up a wire from Judge Anthony Hobbs at the telegraph office and I decided to come get the food instead of making you carry it to the jail.

  “I don’t mind, Lance.”

  “In that case, why don’t you come up to the jail in about thirty minutes? I’ll have the prisoners fed and we can have a cup of coffee.” He winked at her.

  Grace blushed then quickly turned and filled the basket with the supplies for the prisoners. “I put in enough for you,” she muttered as she turned back to him.

  “Did you put enough for you, too?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then add a bit to the pot, so I won’t have to skimp on what I give the prisoners.”

  “You wouldn’t do that, would you?”

  “I absolutely would. I’m looking forward to us sharing a meal at the jailhouse.”

  “But…”

  “Do you want those prisoners to go hungry?”

  “Of course not,” she said again.

  He prodded her and she did add a couple ladles of stew.

  “Thanks.” He took the basket and headed to the door. “I’ll see you in a little while.”

  * * * *

  Two days passed and several more cases of the measles had cropped up in Settlers Ridge. Everyone in town seemed to be living on the edge of their nerves. Marjorie Cramer, usually a calm and quiet woman was no exception. She stared at her daughter. “Put that bonnet down, Juliette. Your father said you’re not to go out of the house. I’m supposed to keep you here.”

  “Oh, Mama, don’t be such a fuss-budget. I’ve been shut in for over a week, and I’m sick and tired of being kept a prisoner in this house. I’m sure Daddy won’t care if I go out for a little while. I promise I won’t be gone long.”

  “You’re wrong, honey. You father will have a fit if you go out. He specifically said not to let you leave here while he was gone.”

  “I don’t understand why.”

  “Don’t you realize how dangerous these measles are, Juliette? Some people are going to die with them if they haven’t already.”

  Juliette gave her a big grin. “I’m perfectly healthy, and I’m not going to get any measles. Daddy knows I haven’t been anywhere since I got back to town. I can’t stay shut up in this house any longer. I need to get out and see people.”

  “But the measles are still raging in town and they say you only have to be in the room with someone who has them to get them yourself.”

  “If that’s so, then why hasn’t the Olsen woman got them? Daddy said she’s been by her daughter’s side all the time she’s been sick, and as far as I know Mrs. Olsen is still fine. Daddy said their boy was all right though they thought he was getting sick.”

  “I don’t know why things happen the way they do, Juliette, but I don’t want you to get sick. You’re our only child, and it would kill your father and me if something happened to you.”

  “I only plan to go by to see Lance Gentry for a little while. He was so sweet to come to the stage and welcome me back to town when I arrived, and I haven’t seen him since.” She giggled. “He’s become such a handsome man since I’ve been gone. I never thought about him while I was at school, but when I saw the way he handled that outlaw the day I arrived, I knew he could be the man for me. Besides, he’s now such a good-looking man that I’m sure all the women like him. Of course, if I decide I want him they won’t stand a chance.”

  “He’s a good sheriff to be so young.”

  “How did he get to be sheriff at his age?”

  “He was Sheriff Tom’s deputy and when Tom was killed, Lance took over. I think he was surprised when the town council offered him the job. He’s been at it for three years now.”

  “How old is he anyway?”

  “I’m not sure. Maybe twenty-eight or twenty-nine.”

  “That’s not too old for me.” She turned sideways and looked at herself in the mirror. “I hope he thinks I look pretty because, as I said, I bet he’s probably the most desired bachelor in town with women after him all the time. I think it’s time I let him know I’m available.”

  “Juliette, why in the world have you decided you want to get to know Lance Gentry in that way? You just said you haven’t seen him since the day you arrived back in town.”

  “I know that, Mama, but I remember how sweetly he smiled at me. I’m sure he’s thought about me, and he’ll be glad to see me again.”

  “He’s a nice man, honey, but he’s not the man for you. He’s only a sheriff and I know your father wants you to marry an attorney like he is.”

  “Don’t be silly, Mama.” Juliette re-tied the ribbon of her bonnet under her chin and laughed. “There are no lawyers in town, and I’m sure there’s no other man in Settlers Ridge better than Lance Gentry. Besides, I’m sure it’ll make all the single women in town jealous to see us together. Even poor crippled Grace Hunter.”
r />   “Grace is a nice person. She can’t help that tree limb fell on her foot.”

  “Maybe so, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s still a cripple. I’m sure a man like Lance wouldn’t be interested in her.”

  “There’re other single men around besides Lance Gentry, Juliette. What about Curt Allison?”

  “Who in the world is Curt Allison? I’ve never heard of him.”

  “Oh, honey. Curt Allison is Jed Wainwright’s partner. He’s good looking and he owns a large portion of the Circle 2 ranch. He doesn’t have a wife and I’m sure he needs one…”

  “I don’t know Jed Wainwright either.”

  “He’s the bounty hunter who married Amelia Donahue about a year and a half ago.”

  Juliette giggled. “When you wrote me that she’d married him to defy her father, I couldn’t believe it. Not miss prissy Amelia Donahue. Since her father was the richest man around, I’m sure she could have done better than a bounty hunter.”

  “They seem to be awfully happy. Jed Wainwright and his partner have run the ranch ever since Mr. Donahue died.”

  “Mama, I don’t want to live on a ranch even if this Curt Allison is a rich man. After being in St. Louis I don’t even like living in Settlers Ridge. If Lance and I get married, I plan for him to move with me to Santa Fe or St. Louis or maybe even New York. At least to some other big town. I’m not going to stay in a place like this for the rest of my life.”

  “That’s foolish talk, Juliette. Lance Gentry will never leave Settlers Ridge.”

  “Oh no, it’s not foolish, Mama. I’m sure when I make him love me, I can talk him into it.” She turned to leave.

  “But honey, Curt Allison has lots of money. I’m sure if you attracted him, you could have anything you want. You could travel and have…”

  “Why are you pushing this Curt Allison at me, Mama? I bet there’s something wrong with him or he’d already be married.”

  Marjorie wondered if she should tell Juliette about Curt’s limp. She decided not to. Not yet, anyway. “There’s nothing wrong with him. He hasn’t been around long, and I’m sure there are a lot of single women interested in him. I’d like for you to be the one to win his hand.”