already on the horizon.
“I can feel it in the air. Folks around these parts are getting jumpy, pulling out guns every time they see a shadow. They’re libel to shoot one another before Lawton and his men ever ride into town. Don’t you think we could work together to make sure none of the town folks, including that lady of yours over at the Harvey House, gets hurt?”
Austin stepped up on the wooden porch of a building. He dodged the swinging board branded “Office and Jail.” “She’s not my lady,” he mumbled, trying to push Jennie from his mind as he concentrated on the problem. Though he knew he’d never stay here long, he might take the time to help this old man. Hell, if Buck Lawton’s men hit this town, he’d put his money on Audrey and Jennie handling them before this old spider of a man. The sheriff wasn’t even wearing a gun.
But Austin didn’t like the idea of trouble visiting the women at Clifton House. Oh, they were strong, he reckoned, but he didn’t want to see any of them hurt. Maybe he’d stay awhile. “You got a place for me to bunk?”
Spider Morris walked across the porch and opened a door. “This here’s my office and the jail, but we haven’t had any need for it in years. There’s a bed in the back, or you can probably get a room over at the boardinghouse.”
“Thanks. This will do fine.” Austin resigned himself. He fought down a sudden smile. The only good thing about this assignment was he’d be seeing Jennie Munday again. Just once he’d like to see a fire that wasn’t anger in those eyes.
He glanced around the office, not missing his saddle and gear stacked on a bed in the back room. He took a second look at the sheriff. “You already knew I’d stay.”
Morris scratched his whiskers. “I knew it the minute I saw you carry that woman off the train. You’re not a man who runs from trouble.”
“And you’re sure trouble’s coming?” Austin asked.
Spider laughed. “Son, you were already courting a handful of trouble when I found you. I didn’t miss the way that waitress looked at you. Buck’s gang may try to kill you, but that little lady will steal your heart.”
“Not likely, old man.” Austin lifted his saddle from the bed. “I haven’t got one. Gave it up years ago when I pinned on this badge.”
Austin could hear Spider Morris chuckling as he walked out of the office and closed the door.
Chapter 7
J ennie worked harder than she’d ever worked in her life. By the time the evening train departed, her legs were so numb they no longer hurt. She’d assisted with serving lunch, then been assigned her own tables at dinner. When she wasn’t cleaning or setting tables, she polished the silver or dried the china. And never, ever, was a Harvey girl allowed to look tired or out of order. In one day she’d gone through three aprons. Every time the others had taken a break, she’d hurried upstairs and checked on Delta and True. Just before the gong sounded announcing the last seating of people for dinner, she’d looked in to find Audrey about to cut True’s hair and bathe him. She wished she could have stayed to see what a fine boy he’d be all clean.
As she removed the last bundle of linen from the tables, Jennie smiled. It felt good to have worked so hard. She’d watched folks tired and exhausted from the train ride come through the door and leave thirty minutes later smiling and well fed. Jennie slipped her hand into her pocket and felt the coins her customers had left. I’ll start a savings for True’s education , she thought. Someday he’ll be a great lawyer or doctor .
Mrs. Gray crossed through the room checking to ensure everything was in order. “You did a wonderful job today, Jennie.” She had a way of making everyone feel valued. Even when she’d corrected Jennie for serving from the wrong side, she’d done so only once before slipping a string around Jennie’s right wrist.
Touching the string, Jennie answered, “Thank
“I can feel it in the air. Folks around these parts are getting jumpy, pulling out guns every time they see a shadow. They’re libel to shoot one another before Lawton and his men ever ride into town. Don’t you think we could work together to make sure none of the town folks, including that lady of yours over at the Harvey House, gets hurt?”
Austin stepped up on the wooden porch of a building. He dodged the swinging board branded “Office and Jail.” “She’s not my lady,” he mumbled, trying to push Jennie from his mind as he concentrated on the problem. Though he knew he’d never stay here long, he might take the time to help this old man. Hell, if Buck Lawton’s men hit this town, he’d put his money on Audrey and Jennie handling them before this old spider of a man. The sheriff wasn’t even wearing a gun.
But Austin didn’t like the idea of trouble visiting the women at Clifton House. Oh, they were strong, he reckoned, but he didn’t want to see any of them hurt. Maybe he’d stay awhile. “You got a place for me to bunk?”
Spider Morris walked across the porch and opened a door. “This here’s my office and the jail, but we haven’t had any need for it in years. There’s a bed in the back, or you can probably get a room over at the boardinghouse.”
“Thanks. This will do fine.” Austin resigned himself. He fought down a sudden smile. The only good thing about this assignment was he’d be seeing Jennie Munday again. Just once he’d like to see a fire that wasn’t anger in those eyes.
He glanced around the office, not missing his saddle and gear stacked on a bed in the back room. He took a second look at the sheriff. “You already knew I’d stay.”
Morris scratched his whiskers. “I knew it the minute I saw you carry that woman off the train. You’re not a man who runs from trouble.”
“And you’re sure trouble’s coming?” Austin asked.
Spider laughed. “Son, you were already courting a handful of trouble when I found you. I didn’t miss the way that waitress looked at you. Buck’s gang may try to kill you, but that little lady will steal your heart.”
“Not likely, old man.” Austin lifted his saddle from the bed. “I haven’t got one. Gave it up years ago when I pinned on this badge.”
Austin could hear Spider Morris chuckling as he walked out of the office and closed the door.
Chapter 7
J ennie worked harder than she’d ever worked in her life. By the time the evening train departed, her legs were so numb they no longer hurt. She’d assisted with serving lunch, then been assigned her own tables at dinner. When she wasn’t cleaning or setting tables, she polished the silver or dried the china. And never, ever, was a Harvey girl allowed to look tired or out of order. In one day she’d gone through three aprons. Every time the others had taken a break, she’d hurried upstairs and checked on Delta and True. Just before the gong sounded announcing the last seating of people for dinner, she’d looked in to find Audrey about to cut True’s hair and bathe him. She wished she could have stayed to see what a fine boy he’d be all clean.
As she removed the last bundle of linen from the tables, Jennie smiled. It felt good to have worked so hard. She’d watched folks tired and exhausted from the train ride come through the door and leave thirty minutes later smiling and well fed. Jennie slipped her hand into her pocket and felt the coins her customers had left. I’ll start a savings for True’s education , she thought. Someday he’ll be a great lawyer or doctor .
Mrs. Gray crossed through the room checking to ensure everything was in order. “You did a wonderful job today, Jennie.” She had a way of making everyone feel valued. Even when she’d corrected Jennie for serving from the wrong side, she’d done so only once before slipping a string around Jennie’s right wrist.
Touching the string, Jennie answered, “Thank
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