Anyplace But Here (Oklahoma Lovers Series Book 5) (6 page)

“Are you seeing your beau tomorrow?” Helen Parker asked with a smirk on her face. She’d been teasing Emily since Hunter had started walking her home each evening. The good natured teasing didn’t bother her. Certainly not as much as all the lies she’d told everyone about herself.

“Yes. Mr. Henderson is calling tomorrow to escort me to a dinner at his family’s home.”

“What!” Several of the girls cried at the same time.

“That sounds serious, Emily.” Mellie Davis danced around her. “Are you in love?” She batted her eyelashes and patted her heart.

“Stop,” Emily said, trying hard to keep the blush from flaming her face. “It’s not serious. Mr. Henderson has two sisters and a sister-in-law he thought I might be friends with.”

“Oh yes. I’ve heard that one before,” Helen said, rolling her eyes.

“Did any of you see that handsome gentleman get off the train last night? He looked so sophisticated and I swear he actually smelled of money.”

“Dorothy, how in heaven’s name did you have time to pay attention to someone getting off the train? We were so busy last night.”

“Mr. Tinsdale had me take out the garbage again. I dropped it in the can, looked up, and there he was.”

Grateful for the conversation moving away from her, Emily took the time to compose herself. If only she were just a young lady with a beau who wanted her to meet his family. But she’d already messed up her life and there was no turning back. The more time she spent with Hunter, the more the guilt piled up. If she were as honorable a person as Hunter, she would tell him outright that she was not free. He should no longer meet her, or take her on picnics, or buy her sketching materials, or bring her to meet his family.

She fought back tears that threatened as they girls entered the restaurant.

Emily’s feet already hurt and it was only three hours into her shift. Although grateful for her job, it was tiring work and long hours. She bustled back and forth, refilling coffee cups, finding more napkins for the little boy who spilled his milk all over himself, and re-figuring a check for a couple who added dessert after she’d presented their bill.

She delivered two plates of meatloaf to an older man and woman whom she’d waited on several times before. After they assured her it looked wonderful, she glanced around her station, thinking she might be able to take a quick break. Her shoulders slumped when she noticed a new man had sat at one of her tables, his back to her. She thumbed her order pad until she came to a clean page then approached the new customer, pencil ready. “Good evening, sir. Welcome to the Harvey House.”

The man turned and looked directly into her eyes. “Why, good evening, Emily.”

Chapter 6

Hunter applied the brakes to the automobile he’d borrowed from Jesse until he rolled to a full stop in front of Emily’s boardinghouse. He checked his timepiece, two minutes to one o’clock. He jumped from the vehicle and took the steps to the porch two at a time. He lifted and dropped the door knocker, then moved back, waiting for an answer.

The door swung open. An older, thin woman, her bun so tightly anchored to her head that her eyes appeared oriental, glowered at him. “Yes?”

A bit taken aback, he said, “Good afternoon, ma’am. I am here to escort Miss Cabot to my family’s home for dinner.”

“She’s not here.” The woman slammed the door, the vibration knocking over a small flower vase set on a table next to him.

Frozen for a moment, he just stared straight ahead, then once again raised and dropped the knocker. The door opened too fast. The woman had obviously not walked away.

“Can you please tell me where Miss Cabot is?”

“No I cannot tell you because I don’t know. She’s gone. Never came home last night and when she does show up it will be to gather her things. I don’t allow my girls to stay out all night. It’s against the rules. I run a respectable place, and I won’t have my—”

“Madam!” He shouted above her tirade, fear gripping him. “Emily never came home last night?”

“Isn’t that what I just said, young man?”

“Did you notify the police?”

“No. I’m not coddling girls who don’t behave themselves. Now if you will excuse me, I have duties to attend to.”

“Wait.” He held his hand out to stop the door from closing. “Are her things still here? Did she take them with her?”

“She took nothing. I’m going to have to go through the trouble of packing up her belongings and give them to the church for the poor.”

Hunter watched slack-jawed as the woman shut the door again. There was no doubt in his mind she didn’t wait on the other side this time. From outside he could hear her rapid footfalls as she walked away.

He turned and hurried to the automobile. Sliding in behind the wheel, he cranked the motor and shifted into gear. His mind in a whirl, he attempted to get a grip on his emotions on the short ride to the Harvey House. Had Emily been attacked? Injured in some way? Surely the girls she worked with would know what had happened. When he didn’t meet her after work, all the girls walked together to the boardinghouse.

He pounded the steering wheel. He should have met her last night. Somewhere deep inside he’d been expecting something like this.

Taking a deep breath, he struggled to calm himself. Nothing would be served by him barging into the restaurant and demanding answers.

The man who had given him a jacket to wear on his first visit to the restaurant came forward. “One for dinner, sir?”

“No. Not today. Actually, I have a question for you.”

Raised eyebrows was the only response.

“I know Miss Cabot worked last evening. I just came from the boardinghouse where the young ladies live. The woman who operates the boardinghouse just informed me that Miss Cabot did not return home last evening.”

“That is most likely true, since Miss Cabot did not finish her shift last evening, either.” The man sniffed as if whatever had happened to Emily was a mere inconvenience for him.

Hunter tried very hard not to slam the man up against the wall to get more information. “Why did she not finish her shift? Was she ill? Did someone walk her home?”

“Miss Cabot walked off the floor right in the middle of our busiest night with no word to anyone. No one saw her leave, or knows where she went. When you find her, you can tell her she’s been fired.”

Telling himself punching the obnoxious man in the nose would only serve to slow him down, he slammed out of the restaurant and headed to the police station. He filed a report, but the officer on duty who took his information hinted that it had probably been some type of lovers’ quarrel and she ran out on him.

What was especially vexing was the small amount of information he had on Emily. The officer’s smirk grew as Hunter explained that Emily was from Louisiana, had no family to speak of, never spoke of friends outside of her current job, and seemed to be running from something. Even the fact that she’d left without a word to anyone and without retrieving her possessions from the boardinghouse held no sway with the officer. Hunter was sure the report made it into the garbage pail as soon as he left.

The only thing he could do at this point was wait until the restaurant closed, then talk to the waitresses who were on duty last night. One of them had to know something.

He returned to his vehicle and laid his head against the seat cushion, blowing out a frustrated puff of air.

Emily, what happened? Did your past catch up with you?

“She’s gone.”

Jesse and Tori looked up from where they sat on the sofa in the parlor, sharing the Sunday newspaper. None of the family had arrived yet for Sunday dinner.

Hunter stood, legs braced apart, panting from anger and frustration. “Emily never arrived at the boardinghouse last night after her shift at the restaurant.” He ran his fingers through his hair and started to pace. “The very unfriendly woman there was no help, and neither was her supervisor, Mr. Tinsdale. Instead of being concerned a young woman had disappeared, they only wanted to make sure I inform Emily when I find her that she’s been fired and no longer has her lodgings.”

His insides tightened with fear. Emily was in trouble, he knew it. Why hadn’t she confided in him? Whatever it was, they could have worked together to resolve. With his Ranger’s background and contacts he could have protected her from anything she’d left behind. He should have pushed her more, watched her closer.

“What about the police?”

He blew out a deep breath. “I filed a report, but from the way the officer smirked at me I’m sure he thought we had some type of a falling out and she left town.”

“But you don’t think so.”

“No,” he snapped. “And what I do think has me scared to death.”

Jesse put the newspaper aside and glanced at Tori. “Care to explain that to us, son?”

Emily opened her eyes and blinked as sunlight streamed through the small window, unsure for the moment where she was. She was lying in a narrow bed that was moving.

Moving?

She groaned as her memory returned, along with an overwhelming sense of dread. Louis had found her. Not only had he found her, but had promised to make a scene if she didn’t turn around from the table where he sat and immediately leave the restaurant through the back door where he would meet her.

Defying him would have not only resulted in an embarrassing scene, but useless since no one was likely to help when they learned he was her husband. Wives had no rights.

She shuddered as her mind drifted back to the scene the night before.

With her heart pounding so hard it had almost made her sick, she had turned and left the restaurant building. She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when Louis yanked her arm from behind and whispered to her. “I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry you will be for this.”

Her knees buckled and he all but dragged her to a waiting taxi, one of the new vehicles recently seen on Guthrie streets. He shoved her into the automobile and instructed the driver to take them to Oklahoma City.

“I have my things at the boardinghouse.” A truly foolish thing to say, but maybe if she was able to return there she could leave a note for Hunter.

“Your
things
can just stay at the boardinghouse.” Louis turned and looked out the window, his elbow resting on the hand rest, two fingers cupping his chin. He remained in that position for the two hour drive from Guthrie to Oklahoma City. The fare must have cost him a fortune.

When they reached the train platform, he instructed her to sit while he picked up the tickets he had ordered through the mail. Feeling rather conspicuous in her Harvey House uniform, she remained in the spot he’d left her, knowing trying to escape was pointless. She had no money and knew no one in Oklahoma City.

He’d returned and sat tapping his foot until the train chugged into the station. By this time she’d been covered with a fine sheen of sweat and her churning stomach threatened to relieve itself of her last meal. The numbness she’d felt since she saw Louis sitting there in the restaurant, smiling at her as if he were just another customer, had begun to wear off.

As if her situation could get any worse, thoughts of Hunter, and what he would think when she disappeared, had her gripping her stomach.

“All aboard!” the conductor had called, walking up and down the platform. Louis had grabbed her elbow none too gently and hustled her up the stairs, down an aisle, and to the sleeping car area. He’d unlocked a door, shoved her in, and left.

She hadn’t seen him since.

Her heart jumped as a key rattled in the door. The portal opened and Louis stumbled in. His eyes were bloodshot, his impeccable suit a wrinkled mess. He reeked of alcohol and tobacco. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t my devoted wife, lying right here waiting for me. Anxious for my return, I’m sure.”

He tossed a small key onto the counter and looked at her from the mirror over the tiny sink. “Have I told you how delighted I am to have found you?” When she didn’t answer, he continued, “Surely you must know how much your loving husband missed you?”

“Louis, why did you come after me? You don’t love me, in fact you probably despise me.”

He made a tsking sound. “Of course I love you, Emily, dear. I love to watch you cower and whine when I discipline you. I love to hear your voice shake when you talk to me. I love how you spy on your friends and give me information so I can keep stealing from them.” He suddenly spun and grabbed her by her chin, yanking her off the bed. “But most of all I love how you belong to me. Me. Just me.”

He released her, shoving her backward until she fell on the bed, striking the wall behind her. “Take that ridiculous uniform off.”

“I don’t have anything else to wear.”

“What a pity. You’ll just have to stay in this lovely room wrapped in a sheet then, won’t you?”

“How will I leave the train? In my underclothes?”

She jerked her head back as he raised his arm to strike her, but at the last moment he lowered his hand. “No, Emily, dear. I won’t discipline you now. I want you to walk off the train in one piece, smiling, laughing, and for all the world to see, enjoying a stroll from the train to our driver with your devoted husband at your side.

“Now remove that damn uniform before I rip it off. You can lie around in your underclothes for all I care, but I don’t want to see that piece of garbage until we must leave the train. When we get home, you will burn it.”

Emily removed the uniform and placed it on the bed. After shrugging out of his jacket, Louis removed his shirt and pants, and climbed onto the top bunk in the room.

“I’m hungry. Can I get something to eat?” She hadn’t eaten since lunch the day before, but mostly she needed something to drink, and a chance to use the privy on the train.

“Later,” he mumbled and was soon snoring.

Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory

Hunter once again stood outside the Depot as the waitresses began to leave the restaurant for the night in groups of twos and threes. Only this time he wasn’t waiting for a young lady with bright blond hair. Last night he’d caught up with one of the waitresses who told him Helen Parker was the closest thing to a friend Emily had while she’d worked at The Harvey House. Apparently, Emily had been as closed mouth about herself with her co-workers as she had been with him. The girls he’d questioned knew very little about her.

Miss Parker had been off the night before, so tonight he waited patiently, hoping to catch her as she left. Fortunately, he’d been told she was the only red haired employee, so she should be fairly easy to spot.

He was so busy running various scenarios through his mind of what had happened to Emily that the woman he was waiting for almost passed him by. “Miss Parker!” He hurried to the group of women chatting away.

His target turned and smiled slightly, recognition in her eyes. “Hello, Mr. Henderson.” She broke away from her group and walked up to him.

“You know me?”

“I spent enough time teasing Emily about you.” Her smile faded and she hugged herself, a small shudder running through her. “I wish I knew what happened to her.”

His first reaction was one of disappointment that she didn’t seem to know any more than he did, but then his Ranger experience kicked in, and he asked, “Can I walk with you a bit? I have some questions that might help find Emily.”

She shrugged. “I don’t really know very much, but I’ll be glad to talk to you. Anything to help Emily. She’s really a sweet girl.”

“Did Emily ever talk to you about her family? Or where she came from?”

“No. She mentioned her home in Louisiana, but I had my doubts about that.”

“Why?”

“Well, one time she mentioned something about walking to the beach from her house, but the town she said she came from in Louisiana isn’t anywhere near a beach.”

“Shreveport?”

Helen nodded.

The same thing she’d told him.

“The night Emily disappeared, were you working?”

“Yes. Saturday nights are our busiest so none of the girls have off.”

They turned the corner heading to the boardinghouse. Hunter tamped down his feelings of panic and hopelessness. So many times he walked this path with Emily, and now she was out there somewhere, in trouble. This girl knew no more about her than he.