by Chloe Carley
“I’d be delighted to,” she replied. He held out his arm, which she happily took. “Now, about that dog…”
***
It felt good to be taken to lunch and Aline chatted on about the best way to convince Lita Morrell of the merits of a canine companion as Thomas escorted her towards the hotel.
It was a big, rambling building, one of the oldest in the town. At the front, paint peeling from it, was an overly grand veranda, upon which several cowboys were sat playing cards in the shade. They nodded to Thomas when he and Aline stepped up to the door.
He sure is respected around these parts, Aline thought. Thomas held open the door for her and they walked into the hotel.
It bore all the trappings of a high-class establishment, and in the old days of the frontier it had no doubt been quite something to stay at the Anaconda Hotel. But the place had seen better days, and now its gold trim and red velvet were fading, the glory days of the past now replaced with something of a worn grandeur. Still, there was a pleasant smell emanating from the restaurant and Aline was pleased to be in the company of Thomas, though she wondered what he would say when he discovered her plans.
Aline had made up her mind to stay in Lakestone, and while she was certain that such a fact would be pleasing to Thomas, the manner by which she would remain might well be less so. They were shown to a table by the window, two large aspidistra plants on either side of them. A pianist was playing, though the other tables were unoccupied, and a waiter brought them menus which showed a distinctive lack of imagination from the kitchen, despite the pleasant aromas.
“The soup, the mutton, and a baked potato,” Thomas said, closing his menu and handing it back to the waiter.
“And for you, madam?” he asked.
“The same, please, though I shall have some bread, rather than a potato,” she said and the waiter nodded.
“I’m pleased you could join me, Mrs. Hale,” Thomas said, as another waiter brought them two sodas.
“Oh, since we’ve dispensed with the formality of title, then I think we can dispense of a title I wish I didn’t own,” Aline replied.
She knew the social conventions well enough. But she had little desire to be reminded of the man who had cost her everything and left her with nothing except his name.
‘Miss’ would be a welcome change, she thought, and Thomas nodded.
“Aline it is, then,” he replied.
“Much better,” she said, smiling and taking a sip of soda.
“Did you see much of the town on your walk this morning?” he asked.
“I met Pastor Warren in the church and Miss Fisher at the school,” Aline told him with a nod. “It really is a lovely little town. You know, it’s silly, I’ve only been here a day, but somehow it feels as though I’ve known this place all my life. I feel more at home here than I ever did back in Massachusetts. It’s as though this is the place I’m meant to be.”
“So… does that mean you’re going to stay?” he asked and again, Aline nodded.
She hesitated for a moment, somewhat reluctant to reveal the precise details of how she intended to do so. There’d been something in the way that Thomas and Mr. Knox had behaved toward one another out at the ranch. Some unknown animosity between them, something deeper than the curt words which the two had exchanged.
But he’ll find out eventually, if gossip in Lakestone is anything to go by, she reminded herself, taking another sip of soda.
“I am staying, yes,” she replied, and he smiled at her.
“Well, I’m glad to hear it,” he said.
“Mr. Knox… he came by the boarding house this morning. Just while I was having breakfast. He’s made me a very generous offer. I can live out at Lampeter Ranch, farm the land just like my father wanted me to, and act as housekeeper for Mr. Knox,” Aline explained, watching for Thomas’ reaction.
He did not appear surprised at her revelation, for it was almost as though he already knew it. Instead, he sat quietly for a moment, as though choosing his words carefully.
“And you intend to accept his offer?” he finally asked, and Aline nodded.
“Like I said, Lakestone seems such a welcoming place, it’s…” Aline began, trying to fathom out Thomas’ reaction.
But just then, a booming voice came from across the dining room and caused her to startle.
“Redmond, dining in the restaurant of the Anaconda is not going to bring those outlaws to justice,” a man, whom Aline could only assume was the mayor, bellowed, striding over towards their table.
“Mayor Gould,” Thomas said, rising from his chair, “I was…”
“Not doing your job?” the mayor replied, without a second glance toward Aline.
He was a most unpleasant-looking man, almost as rotund as he was tall, with a red face and beady eyes that squinted at Thomas and made Aline feel most uncomfortable.
“Deputy Hoskins is on duty, sir. I’m allowed to take my lunch,” Thomas replied.
“And in the meanwhile, those outlaws are on the loose,” the mayor replied. “While you’re eating lunch, the good folks of Lakestone are living in fear.”
“And what, precisely, have you done about it?” Aline demanded, laying aside her napkin and fixing the mayor with a hard stare.
Her words cut him short and he turned to her with a scowl upon his ugly face.
“And who might you be, Miss …?” he said.
“Mrs. Aline Hale, and I’m pretty certain that Sheriff Redmond is doing a fine job of keeping law and order in this town. Now, if you don’t mind, we’re having lunch and I’d ask you to keep your voice down,” Aline said.
It was evident that Mayor Gould was not used to being spoken to in such a manner. But Aline’s words clearly struck a chord and he grimaced, turning without another word and marching back across the dining room to a table in the corner.
Thomas smiled, trying his best not to laugh, and Aline replaced her napkin upon her lap with a humph.
“I… I don’t think anyone has ever put him in his place like that before,” Thomas whispered, glancing across at the mayor, but Aline merely smiled.
“I told you, Thomas. I’ve had enough of bullying, pathetic men. Now, where is that soup?” she asked.
***
Thomas and Aline enjoyed a cordial lunch together. She felt entirely relaxed in his company, and despite having known him for only a day, she had the sense that she could trust him implicitly. There was much she wished to know about him, but that could wait for later. It hardly seemed appropriate to begin an interrogation over a sorbet and, as Thomas ordered coffees for them, she sat back and sighed with satisfaction, grateful to him for his company.
“You know, when I was sitting in the church earlier on, I really knew that Lakestone was the place I was meant to be. It got me thinking about my father and I wondered how he felt when he bought Lampeter Ranch. Did he think the same as me?” she wondered out loud as the waiter placed a steaming cup of coffee before her.
“Your father made a good choice and I’m glad his daughter has decided to follow in his footsteps,” Thomas replied.
“Are you, now? I think Mr. Knox’s offer is a generous one, and I’m glad to have met such kind and pleasant gentlemen as you and he since my arrival. In fact, except for him over there”—and here she pointed toward Mayor Gould—“everyone has been thoroughly pleasant.”
“Don’t let your guard down with Har… Mr. Knox,” Thomas said, taking a sip of coffee.
“And what is it you have against him? I noticed it yesterday, too, there’s something between the two of you? Tension. You don’t like him, do you?” Aline said and Thomas shook his head.
“I… I just know him better than you, Aline. He’s like a snake—he can sit all nice and coiled up in the sun and bother no one, but when he wants you, wham…” Thomas replied and Aline laughed.
“Come now, Thomas. I’ve barely known him or you a day, but he’s been kind and so have you. Sometimes, you must take a person at face value and ri
ght now, his is the best offer I have,” she replied.
She’d been extremely fortunate and she knew it. To refuse Mr. Knox’s kind offer would mean taking the first train back to Massachusetts and Aline had seen enough of Lakestone to know that she didn’t wish to do that. Everyone had been so kind and welcoming and, for the first time in a long while, Aline felt as though she might finally belong somewhere.
“Well, just be careful, all right, and at the first sign of trouble you come straight to me, you hear?” he said, finishing up his coffee.
“What did I tell you, Thomas? I’ve had enough of bullying, boorish men. I’ll look after myself just fine, but Mr. Knox seems ever so pleasant, although…” She paused, thinking back to the breakfast they’d shared that morning. “I’m not sure that Sammy thinks that.”
“Oh, yeah? And is Sammy usually a good judge of character?” Thomas asked.
“He likes who he likes, but he didn’t like Mr. Knox,” she replied.
She pondered on that fact a while longer as Thomas kindly paid the bill. She’d barely any money left; enough to pay Lita Morrell for the board that night and buy a few essentials, but Aline knew she’d need to work hard if she was to make ends meet in Lakestone.
She’d convinced herself enough that her answer to Mr. Knox would be yes. It couldn’t be anything else if she wished to stay, and her lunch with Thomas had been the final push she needed to convince her to do so. He was sweet, they all were, and Aline was looking forward to getting to know Lakestone better.
“Well, I shall wish you a good afternoon, Mrs.… Aline,” Thomas said, as they stood on the veranda of the Anaconda Hotel a few moments later.
“It’s been a lovely lunch, Thomas, thank you. You’ve been very kind,” Aline replied, noticing Thomas’ blush.
“I have duties to attend to now, I didn’t need the mayor to remind me of that. But perhaps you’d allow me to take you out to Lampeter Ranch tomorrow in the horse and trap. I presume that’s when you plan to move out there?” Thomas said, as they began to walk slowly down the street and back towards the sheriff’s office.
“I’ll find Mr. Knox this afternoon. We’ll have to make a few arrangements, but yes, that’d be very kind of you, Sher… Thomas,” she replied, and with that, he bid her a good day and ambled off across the street.
She watched him for a few moments, his handsome figure disappearing through the door of the sheriff’s office.
He really is a nice man, she thought, quite different to Damon—he never took me for lunch once, and even if he had, it would’ve been me paying.
Her thoughts didn’t dwell upon her late husband for long, for no sooner had Thomas disappeared into the sheriff’s office than a voice came from across the street. Mr. Knox was standing in the doorway of the grocer’s shop and he called to her, waving something in his hand.
“Mrs. Hale, hey there, Mrs. Hale,” he said, hurrying across the street.
“Oh, Mr. Knox,” Aline said, smoothing down her dress and smiling at him.
“Have you had a chance to think about my offer, Mrs. Hale? A generous offer, isn’t it?” he said, smiling that strange smile of his, his tongue playing across his teeth.
“It is a generous offer, Mr. Knox. Very generous indeed and yes, I’ve had a chance to think it over,” she replied.
“Now, wait, before you answer, I want you to see this. I’ve had it drawn up this morning. It’s a contract between us, one which I think you’ll find most favorable, and…” he began, but Aline raised her hand.
“Mr. Knox, I need no contract. For my answer is final, and I’d be delighted to come and work on the ranch under the terms we discussed this morning. The sheriff has kindly offered to drive me out there to Lampeter Ranch tomorrow morning,” Aline said, and Mr. Knox nodded enthusiastically.
“I think you’ve made a fine decision, Mrs. Hale, a fine decision indeed. Welcome to Lakestone, I’m sure you’ll be very happy here—and I shall be very happy to have you as my housekeeper. The ranch is yours and ready for you to move into tomorrow. But I’d gladly arrange for a horse and trap, there’s no need to bother the sheriff,” Mr. Knox said.
But Aline wanted to bother the sheriff. She was pleased at the thought of seeing Thomas again and despite Mr. Knox’s continued offer, she made refusal, citing the fact that Sammy needed to ride with someone he liked.
“I don’t want him bolting out onto the prairie and getting spooked,” she said, as she walked with Mr. Knox back to Lita Morrell’s boarding house.
“Well, until tomorrow, Mrs. Hale, and might I say again how very pleased I am that you’ve agreed to my offer. There’s sure to be plenty of folks who’ll be mighty pleased to have you here,” Mr. Knox said, tipping his hat to her.
“And I’m very pleased to be here, Mr. Knox. Very pleased indeed,” she replied, smiling at the knowledge that Lakestone was now to be her home—the same home that her father had chosen, a home that felt just right.
Chapter Ten
Aline passed another pleasant night at the boarding house. She didn’t see Thomas at dinner, though Lita Morrell kept her entertained with tales of wayward frontiersmen and traveling salesmen, while serving up food fit for a king. She too cautioned Aline to be wary of Mr. Knox and Aline knew she should be hesitant. After all, her experiences with men had hardly given her cause to trust them. Damon Hale had stolen all her money, despite professing to love her. And now it seemed she was to place her trust in a man she hardly knew, and had been warned of on several occasions. But Mr. Knox had been nothing but a gentleman—in fact, he’d gone above and beyond to ensure her welcome. And for what reason? Aline could see no personal gain on his part.
If it weren’t for Harrison Knox I’d be on the train back to Massachusetts right now, Aline reminded herself as she climbed the stairs to her room later on. He’s nothing like Damon, he’s different. Just like Sheriff Redmond.
Sammy was sat curled up on the bed and, as soon as she opened the door, he jumped down and came to wind himself around her legs. She picked him up, carrying him to the window, where the evening was now drawing in. He purred as she stroked his neck, watching the street, where a single solitary oil lamp burned in the window of the sheriff’s office.
“We sure have met some nice folks, Sammy,” she said out loud and the cat let out a shrill meow. “I know you don’t like them all, though.”
She put him back down on the bed and went over to the little writing table which stood in one corner of the room. In all the excitement of her arrival, she’d forgotten to write to her aunt back home. Now, she sat down to pen her a letter and explain everything that had happened since her arrival in Montana.
The letter ran to several sheets of paper and Aline was surprised at just how much she had to tell her aunt back home. She gave a lengthy description of Thomas and was surprised by just how well she was able to describe him. It was as though she’d known him far longer than she’d done, and she concluded by speculating on his relationship with Mr. Knox.
There’s more there than meets the eye. When I write next time, perhaps I’ll have more to say on the matter, she wrote and finished with an exhortation for her aunt to visit Lakestone just as soon as she was able.
I’m sure Mr. Knox wouldn’t mind visitors, she thought as she wrote her aunt’s address neatly on the envelope and got ready for bed.
She was tired after the excitement of the day, but there was now far more to look forward to than there’d been just a day before. No longer was she facing the prospect of returning empty-handed to Massachusetts but instead, she’d secured herself a job on the very ranch her father had intended for her.
As she went to sleep that night, Aline couldn’t help but think that it was the hand of fate, God’s hand, which lay upon her—a fate which had brought her father to Lakestone and allowed her to to remain there.
“And I thank the good Lord for that,” she said out loud, as she snuffed out the candle and wished Sammy a goodnight.
***
Th
e next day dawned bright and early. Aline awoke just as Sammy jumped down from the bed and ran across to the window, where he seemed especially interested in two collared doves roosting in the tree outside. Aline yawned, climbing out of bed and going to the window. It was an excellent vantage point for viewing the comings and goings of the town and Aline was amazed at the number of folk she already recognized.
There was John Hoskins on his way to the sheriff’s office and Miss Fisher on her way to the schoolhouse. The grocer was opening his shop and Mr. Harvey was ambling across towards the bank. There was a strong smell of sausages wafting up through the floorboards, and it seemed as though the whole town was waking up to start another day.
“And we have a new adventure to begin too, Sammy,” Aline said, as she dressed herself and packed her few belongings up into her bags.
