A Life Restored (22 page)

No, today she had to focus on why she moved into town.

Following breakfast, she walked down the street to Hardy’s mercantile.
 
Betty mentioned this morning that she thought Abraham Conrad was looking for some help.
 
At her encouragement, Caroline decided it was as good of a place to start as any.

A little bell rang a light sound overhead as she entered the store.
 
A man looked up from the counter and two other men in the store glanced in her direction.
 
She straightened her back and approached the counter with a smile.

“Abraham Conrad?”

“Yes,” the short middle aged man behind the counter said as he pushed his spectacles up on his nose.

“I’m Miss Caroline Larson.
 
Betty Lancaster said you might be looking for some help.”

“Ah, yes.
 
I’m looking for someone to help stock shelves, help customers, and keep the place clean.
 
Do you know how to cipher?” he asked with a smile.

“Yes.
 
I received high marks in school for ciphering.”

“Good.
 
Would you need a place to stay as well?
 
I’ve got a room available above the store.”

She thought for a minute.
 
While she could probably stay with Betty indefinitely, she would like the privacy of her own place.
 
“Yes, I would.”

“When can you start?”

“Um, today?”

Abraham chuckled.
 
“That’d be fine.
 
Step around the counter and I’ll show you how to help this gentleman.”

Caroline did as instructed and smiled at the customer.
 
She paid careful attention to how Abraham marked what the man owed in his register.
 
The second customer in the store finished moments later and she watched the process again.

Once both customers left, Abraham showed her around the mercantile and the store room in the back.
 
He showed her where the cleaning supplies were kept and had her start dusting down the shelves she could easily reach.

The bell announced that another customer entered the store.
 
She turned from the shelf she was dusting to greet him.

“Good morning—oh, Adam and Julia!”

“Caroline?
 
What are you doing here?” Adam asked.

“Working.”
 
She shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

“You certainly didn’t waste any time.”

After some brief chitchat, she helped them secure their purchases and Abraham helped her with the account.
 
She gave them both a hug before they headed out the door.

“Don’t be a stranger,” Julia said.
 
“Please come visit us at the ranch soon.”

“I will,” she answered, not really sure when or how she would next head out.

“Friends?” Abraham asked curiously once they left.

“My brother and my best friend, who are now husband and wife.”
 
She sighed.
 
Things really were turning out much differently than she expected.

Early in the afternoon, Abraham let her leave to get some lunch.
 
She headed over to Betty’s, entering through the back door.

“Oh, there you are dear.
 
Did you speak to Abraham?”

“Yes, he offered me the job and the room above the store.”

“Dear, you are more than welcome to stay here for as long as you like,” Betty said, concern wrinkling her brow.

“That is very kind of you, but I’m sure Paul would like to have his place back now.”

“If you’re certain…”

“I am.
 
Thank you so much for your hospitality.”
 
She gave Betty a hug.
 
It would be nice knowing she was nearby.

She turned and went into the private room, quickly gathering her things.
 
Carpet bag in hand, she returned to Hardy’s store.
 
Abraham led her up the stairs on the outside of the building to a nondescript door at the top.
 
He slid a lever and opened the door.

“Might be a little dusty.
 
Hasn’t been occupied yet.
 
Since I don’t take to the stairs very well, I had Mr. Hardy add a small room on the back of the store for me.
 
All the wood you’ll need for cooking or heat is stacked under the stairs.
 
I have a young lad that comes by a couple times a week to keep up our supply.”

Turning to leave the small room, he said, “Take as much time as you need to get settled, then come back down.”

She nodded and closed the door behind him.

There wasn’t much to the small room.
 
A bed sat in one corner, the stove in another, and a small table with a chair stood near the door.
 
There was a rocking chair near the corner opposite the stove.
 
A small dresser stood next to the bed.
 
Within two steps, she stood at the foot of the bed—a very small room indeed.
 
But it would be plenty of space for her.

After folding her dresses neatly in the dresser, she circled the room.
 
At the end of the day, she would borrow the duster and cleaning supplies from downstairs.
 
She would get the place cleaned in no time.

A smile stretched across her lips.
 
She was sure she would like being independent.

The bell above the door chimed.
 
Caroline tossed a greeting over her shoulder as she finished arranging a few bolts of cloth.

“Caroline?” the familiar male voice drew her full attention.

“Perry!
 
How are you?” she asked, turning to face him.
 
He reached out and squeezed her hand.

“Very good.
 
And you?
 
Are you working here now?”
 
His gaze was intense as he looked down into her eyes.

She suddenly remembered what Thomas said—that Perry was smitten with her or something like that.
 
She withdrew her hand from his and fidgeted nervously with the fabrics on the shelf.

“I’m well.
 
I’ve been working here almost two weeks now.
 
Can I help you find anything?”

“May I leave this with you?” he said, extending his hand holding a piece of paper.
 
“I have a few other errands to run.”

“Certainly.”
 
She took the paper and glanced over it to make sure she could read his writing.
 
That was one lesson she learned rather quickly, though not quick enough for one of her customers with terrible handwriting.
 
Poor man ended up with something very different than the tooth powder he’d been looking for.

Perry thanked her and left the store.

Caroline started to pull items on the list from the shelves when she remembered that she still had his wife’s broach.
 
She called to Abraham to keep an eye on things while she went upstairs to retrieve it.
 
In the time since she had visited Perry’s ranch, she sewed a nice little pouch for the broach to keep it safe.
 
Tucking it inside her reticule, she hurried back down the stairs.

Just before entering the store, a figure on a horse in front of the newspaper office caught her eye.
 
Her breath left in a rush.
 
Something about the way the man sat in his saddle reminded her of the “boss” of the stagecoach robbery.
 
When she heard him speaking without seeing his face, she was certain it was him.

Quickly ducking into the store, she watched him from the front window, heart pounding fiercely within her chest.
 
If it was him and he saw her, would she be safe?

Then he turned and she shot a hand to her mouth to stifle her scream.
 
It was Robert Garrett!
 

That couldn’t be.
 
Mr. Garrett seemed like such a nice man when he visited Colter Ranch.
 
Yet, there had been something about him that reminded Julia of Reuben.
 
Though she didn’t see the resemblance, perhaps he was hiding something and Julia had sensed it.

Her fear paralyzed her and she stood watching as he approached the store.
 
Just before he entered, she ran to the counter and grabbed Perry’s list before darting into the store room.
 
Surely something he needed would be back here and she wouldn’t have to face Robert Garrett.

She listened as Abraham greeted him.
 
She hid in the store room, closing her eyes and listening to the sound of Robert’s voice.
 
It sent shivers down her spine.
 
He had to be the same man.

Slowly she sank to the floor bringing her knees up to her chest.
 
She hugged them tightly, fear refusing to leave.
 
What would she do?
 
Who could she tell?

The clink of the bell announced another customer.
 
She stood and peeked through the curtain.
 
Perry was back and she hadn’t completed his list yet.
 
He stood engaged in a conversation with Robert Garrett.

Squaring her shoulders, she swallowed her fear and join Abraham behind the counter.

“Caroline,” Perry said, turning her direction, “Have you met Robert Garrett?
 
He’s a rancher a day’s ride south of my place.”

She nodded.

“I had the pleasure,” Perry said, “of meeting Caroline when she needed to recuperate from her journey after the stage she rode in was robbed.”

She felt all the blood drain from her face when Robert Garrett’s eyes darkened as he looked her way.
 
The expression stayed on his face for only a second, but it doubled her fear that he was who she thought.

Perry continued, oblivious to the silent exchange.
 
“Have you heard anything down your way, Garrett?
 
Guess it happened not too far from your place.”

Robert cleared his throat and answered hastily, “No.
 
It was a pleasure seeing you again Quinn, but I must be on my way.”

Perry offered a farewell then turned to face Caroline.
 
He sucked in a sharp breath.
 
“Are you alright?
 
You look rather pale.”

“I’m… fine.”
 
She managed, before taking a seat on a stool they kept behind the counter.

“Caroline,” Abraham said, “why don’t you go rest for a bit.
 
I’ll see to the rest of Perry’s order.”

She nodded and stood.
 
Perry escorted her up the stairs to the door of her room.

“I hope you feel better quickly.”
 
He traced a finger along her cheek.
 
“Perhaps the next time I’m in town you will be able to join me for supper.”

Her fear trapped her words in her throat.
 
She nodded in response before opening the door.

“Goodbye, Caroline.”

“Wait!” she said, remembering his wife’s broach in her reticule.
 
She pulled it out and handed it to him.

His eyebrows wrinkled in confusion.
 
“What’s this?”

“Something very important to you.”

He untied the strings of the little pouch and pulled out the broach.
 
Instantly, his eyes reddened with unshed tears.
 
He cleared his throat several times.

“Thank you.”

He leaned forward to place a light kiss on her lips, but she turned her head to the side at the last second so his lips brushed her cheek instead.
 
Thomas was right.
 
Perry Quinn did care for her.

“Goodbye,” she said, hurrying through her door.
 
She closed it then leaned against it, the throbbing in her head draining her energy.
 
As if Perry’s obvious feelings for her weren’t bad enough, she still had to tell someone that she suspected Robert Garrett was involved with the stage robbery.
 
But first, she needed to lie down.