Chapter One

Pearson Grove, Texas 1884

 

Sheriff Virgil Witt handed over the mail he’d picked up from the rail depot. Since he came this way on his daily rounds, he delivered the mail to the Mercantile, which served as the local post office.

Scott Ferguson, Mercantile owner, poured him a cup of coffee. His wife, Moriah, passed him a plate of snacks.

Virgil munched one of the sweet rolls she’d made for him and Scott to have with their coffee. “Service here is a hundred percent better since you came, Moriah. This roll is really tasty.”

Her usual smile widened. “I’m pleased you like them. Scott enjoys having a mid-morning snack with his coffee.”

Scott asked, “You still avoiding Alexandra Novak?”

He swallowed a bite of the roll. “Have to. No point striking up friendship there.”

“You can always use more friends. Doesn’t mean you have to propose.”

Incredulous, Virgil paused with his cup halfway to his mouth. “You’re a fine one to say that, seeing what happened to you from being her friend.” He swallowed a gulp of coffee.

Scott shook his head. “Can’t put my finger on it, but since their house fire, she’s been a lot different. Nicer. You know she apologized to Moriah and me.”

Moriah topped off his coffee. “She sure did, Virgil, and I’m certain she was sincere. You should at least be pleasant to her instead of avoiding her.”

He polished off the roll and washed it down with the rest of his brew. “Don’t think so. You have mail to go out?”

Scott handed him a mailbag. “You’re a stubborn cuss.”

He grinned. “So I’ve heard. Thanks for the refreshments.”

He left before they could discuss Alexandra Novak further. He wasn’t about to reveal that blond haunted his dreams. In fact, he couldn’t get her out of his head day or night.

Her father was the wealthiest man in town and she was used to the best of everything. That’s what had come between her and Scott and ended their engagement last year. Personally, he believed Scott was much better off with Moriah—and so did Scott.

But, Virgil pined for Alexandra. No way would she settle for a lowly sheriff. What would be the point of getting closer to her and making himself even more miserable?

No, he had a job he liked, a house he enjoyed, and people appeared to respect him. He’d settle for the love and loyalty of his dog for companionship. Sad to say, a dog and a good book were all he could visualize in his future.

***

Alexandra Novak sat in the parlor of her friend, Deborah Taber, sipping tea and chatting

Deborah’s younger brother Jeff wandered into the room. “Hey, Alexandra, what’s Ron been up to lately? Haven’t seen him around in a coon’s age.”

Shock prevented her quick reply but she carefully schooled her features to give nothing away. “Have you been to the Lodge recently?”

Jeff snatched a couple of cookies from those Deborah had set out for tea. “I go most every night. Have to keep abreast of what’s going on in town in case there’s news for the Gazette. I wondered if recovering from the fire had made Ron and your father homebodies.”

She gestured with her teacup but didn’t meet his gaze. “Quite frankly, I can’t keep up with them. There’s been so much demanding their attention since that awful fire. Thank heavens we’re finally living in our restored home.”

Her head spun with questions. Where did her brother and father go several nights a week when they claimed they were going to the Lodge? Why were they lying? What reason could they have?

“Everything back in shape at your house? Looks larger.” Jeff sat with his legs stretched out and crossed at the ankle.

“Papa had several rooms added onto the house while it was being restored. We’re very happy with the results.” She didn’t understand why he thought they needed more rooms, but the additions had turned out well. Mama was happy to have a more a luxurious home, undoubtedly the finest in Pearson Grove.

Deborah made a shooing motion toward Jeff. “I don’t remember inviting you to intrude on Alexandra and me. Stop nosing for news.”

He stood and grabbed a couple more cookies. “Okay, I’ll leave you two to gossip about people and discuss fashions.” He rolled his eyes and left.

Deborah laughed. “He never stops being a newspaperman. Lately he writes as much of the news as either Papa or Mama.”

Alexandra set her cup on the tray. “You’re lucky he’s interested in carrying on the business. Your father has worked hard to build the Gazette’s reputation.”

Her friend sighed. “I know that’s true. I feel guilty I don’t want to follow in their business. Truthfully, I’m not the least bit interested in being a journalist.”

“What do you want to pursue?”

Her friend shook her head. “If only I knew then perhaps my family wouldn’t think me disloyal. I know I’d like to travel.”

Alexandra stood and hugged her friend. “No one could be disappointed in you. You’re so kind and friendly.”

She had to get away and think about what she’d learned. Where did Papa and Ron go if they didn’t go to the Lodge? Why would they lie about it?

By the time she reached her room, Alexandra knew what she had to do. After supper, she pleaded a headache and said she was going to bed early. Using blankets, she created a person-like lump in the bed in case her mother peeked into her room.

Alexandra dressed in a dark dress and carried a black shawl to cover her blond hair. In these clothes, she should blend into the shadows. When her father and brother left this evening, she was determined to learn their destination. Her father claimed that as President and owner of Pearson Grove Bank it was important for him to associate with businessmen in town at the Lodge. Since Ron was Vice President and would one day take over, he needed to go as well.

After creeping down the back stairs carefully so the housekeeper wouldn’t hear, Alexandra slipped out the back door and hurried around the house. Concealed behind shrubbery, she waited until the two men came out and ambled down the street. She let them get about a half block away before she stepped from her hiding place and followed them.

Where could they be headed? Surely they weren’t going to the saloon. No, they passed that and ambled toward the creek. There was nothing that way but cottages. In fact, she recalled her father owned three of them he kept as rental property.

The two men turned the corner and proceeded to a small house. Immediately, the door was opened and they went inside. Now she was thoroughly puzzled.

Alexandra counted to a hundred and then crept to a window at the home’s side and squeezed between shrubbery and the wall. Of all the nerve, there was that saloon girl, Lula Neeley, and she was wearing one of Alexandra’s old dresses. Why on earth would Ron and Papa visit her?

At the Mercantile the day Lula had bought Alexandra’s old dresses, that girl had said she didn’t work at the saloon any longer. How did she have money to survive? Alexandra leaned near the window to listen.

Her father laughed. “You’re catching on quickly, Lula.”

A wide smile graced Lula’s face. “I’m practicing every day.” She held up a few sheets of paper. “I read over everything you’ve taught me so I can remember each item.”

Ron reached over and patted her hand. “You’re doing well. Now, tell me what each fork is used for at a formal dinner.”

Lula pointed to each fork and explained its function. Then, she moved to the other side of the plate and named the other silverware.

Papa nodded. “Now the glassware.”

She touched the rim of each piece as she described its use.

Papa and Ron applauded. Lula had the nerve to stand and curtsy. What was this ridiculous charade? Alexandra was so upset she lost her footing.

She fell into the prickly shrub, which saved her from hitting the ground. Her shawl snagged on the branches and left leaves and twigs in her hair. She was glad she’d worn long sleeves. Brushing debris from her person, she reclaimed her observation post.

From inside the house, her brother asked, “How are you coming on the piano?”

That girl stood. “I practice hours each day. I’m getting better. Shall I play for you?”

Papa leaned back in his chair. “Please.”

Where did Lula get a piano? Who was giving her lessons? Alexandra neither understood nor liked anything she’d seen.

Tears gathered in her eyes. She couldn’t help thinking her father was cheating on her mother—and both men were being disloyal to her. Why were they spending time with a former saloon girl instead of with Alexandra and her mother?

Though the two men often went to their Lodge, when they didn’t Ron and Alexandra sometimes played a board game. Once in a while, the four of them played a few hands of cards. She hadn’t realized how much she missed their family time together.

Lula sat at the piano and played a Chopin sonata perfectly.

Once again, the men applauded. She moved on to a more difficult piece by Beethoven with only a little faltering. Apparently she soon gained confidence and excelled again. None of this made sense.

At least there didn’t appear to be anything… um, of a sordid nature involved. Having her brother and father cavorting intimately with the same girl would be too much to bear. Having them sneak to spend time with that girl was almost unbearable. In spite of her anger and disgust, tears fell from her eyes.

Alexandra crept until she was several houses away then hurried to the footbridge over Pearson Creek. She leaned on the railing and let out all her frustration, disappointment, and resentment. With her arms crossed on the rail and her head pillowed on them, she didn’t know how long she sobbed.

“Here, now. Nothing’s as bad as that. You mustn’t jump.” Strong arms gently pulled her away from the rail.

As if being caught here wasn’t bad enough, she recognized that voice. “I wasn’t going to jump, Sheriff Witt. Can’t a person have any privacy?”

“Miss Novak? This is not an area of town for a woman like you to be out alone in the evening. What are you doing here?”

“That’s none of your business. Besides, I thought you prided yourself that the town was safe.” How could she explain such a humiliating incident?

He turned her to face him but she wouldn’t meet his gaze.

“Alex… Miss Novak, I can’t force you to explain but as sheriff of Pearson Grove, your safety is very much my business. In general, Pearson Grove is a safe town. All it takes is one bad person to assault you. You understand why I can’t leave you here alone. I’ll walk you home.”

“I can’t go home with my face all red and blotchy. What if someone sees me on the way?” She broke out in a new wave of sobbing and rested her head on the sheriff’s chest.

His arms came around her, patting and caressing her back. “Nothing is as bad as all that. What or who has you so upset?”

“Papa… Papa and Ron are at that girl… that Lula’s house. Why are they there? What is the attraction that she offers that Mama and I don’t? Why did they lie and say they were going to the Lodge? Oh, it’s too horrible to contemplate.” She couldn’t stop the new round of sobbing against his broad chest.

His embrace tightened and she thought he kissed her hair near her temple. Before she could process that intimacy, he continued, “Instead of worrying, why don’t you ask your father?”

“Ask him? Admit that I’ve been following him? How can I do that? He’d be hurt and angry. What would Mama think if she knew? Poor Mama.”

“Would asking him for an explanation be so bad? Could hearing any reasons possibly be worse than the way you feel now?”

She heaved a heavy sigh. “I guess not, but I don’t know if I can bring myself to confront them.”

Still holding her close, Virgil chuckled, his mouth near her ear. “I believe you can do whatever you set your mind to do. Come on,” he pulled away and handed her a handkerchief, “Dry your eyes so I can walk you home.”

Alexandra dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose. When she cried her face got all blotchy red and she imagined that’s how she looked now. She pulled the shawl further forward over her face, hoping it shielded her features from prying eyes in case they met anyone on the way home. With a deep breath, she stiffened her spine and held her head erect.

“I’m ready, Sheriff.” She took his arm as if he were leading her in most formal circumstances.

“Miss Novak, please don’t come down this way again alone at night. I come this way every evening. I’d be happy to escort you wherever you wish to go.”

“I’ve seen more than enough of this part of town and have no wish to ever come here again. But, I thank you for your offer.”

They strolled toward her house with the sheriff stopping once in a while to make sure a door was locked.

“Do you always rattle doorknobs like that?”

“That’s another part of my job. I ensure that no one forgot to lock his door and that no one broke in. Since I’ve been sheriff, the crime rate in town has gone down. I intend to keep it that way.”

“Do the businessmen know you do this?”

“They certainly do and they’re all in favor. It’s especially important if someone’s in a hurry and forgets to lock up. I don’t want any invitations issued for burglars to help themselves.”

“I only know about the bank and I know Papa and Ron always make sure everything is locked. I bet you’ve never found their door unlocked.”

“Nope, not even once. You’d be surprised at some I have found open.”

“Such as?”

“To quote you, Miss Novak, that’s none of your business.”

The nerve of him, talking to her like that. “Virgil Witt, you are the orneriest man.”

“Thank you. The sheriff’s not supposed to be a sweet pushover. People are supposed to be a little bit afraid of me.”

“Ha, like when you shoveled the snow from old Mr. Althoff’s walk last winter, that kind of fear? Oh, and when you repaired Mrs. Whittenberg’s front porch, that must have terrorized her.” If there were brighter light from the lamp post she’d be sure, but she thought he blushed.

His free hand tugged at his collar. “Well, I do community service you know. That’s part of my job too.”

“Phfft, I don’t think it is. I remember reading the requirements for the sheriff. You’re only to keep the peace and not break laws and to be fair so that everyone gets the same treatment. I suppose you do that even though you’re a lot friendlier to some than others.”

“I have friends I like to associate with when I can.”

“Like the Fergusons.”

“Yes, Scott’s been a friend since he moved here and now Moriah is a friend as well. I also know people I never want to be around unless I absolutely have to.”

“Like me.”

His steps faltered. “M-Miss Novak, why would you say such a thing?”

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed that every time you see me, you turn and go the other way. I guess partly you’re mad at me for breaking the engagement with Scott.”

“Not at all. You two should never have been engaged in the first place.”

“Why would you say that?” Before he could answer, she held up her hand. “No, wait, now that I think about it, you ran when you saw me before Scott and I stepped out together, much less were engaged. What did I ever do to make you dislike me so strongly?”

He spluttered a bit before he said, “I-I don’t dislike you, Miss Novak, so please don’t think I do. Here we are at your home’s front door. I’ll bid you goodnight.” He tipped his hat and turned to leave.

She fisted her hands on her hips. “There you go, running away again as if I were some sort of monster who frightened you.”

He turned back and faced her, a scowl on his face. “I do not run away in fear when I see anyone, Miss Novak, is that clear?”

She took a step his way. “What would you call the way you turn tail every time you see me?”

He sent her a wry grin. “Merely self preservation, ma’am.” He bowed and tipped his hat. “Goodnight.”

She knew her mouth fell open as she watched him rush away. He didn’t run, but he walked mighty fast. Self preservation? What could he mean by that?