Cassidy (Big Sky Dreams 1) (32 page)

Rylan hoped to eventually find a way to talk to her about her abrupt way of exiting a conversation, but not today. He and Jeanette said goodbye from their seats, not given time to see her to the door.

"I think you helped her," Jeanette said.

"Maybe. I don't know."

"She's a fascinating person, isn't she?"

"Yes. I think she's seen and experienced more in her fifty-eight years than any of us can imagine."

"Is she really fifty-eight?" Jeanette was surprised. Abi Pfister was

not a young woman, but neither did she look nearly sixty.

Rylan had to laugh before saying, "She said being nosy has kept

her young."

Jeanette laughed with him before asking, "Do you suppose she would want to have a Bible study with me? Do you think she trusts me enough for that?"

265"I was thinking about that very same thing. I don't know if she trusts you or not, but if you're willing, I'll ask her."

The two talked about the possibilities for a while longer. Rylan was much encouraged by Jeanette's willingness and offer.

"How about some of Becky's chocolate cake?" the hostess offered a while later.

"That sounds good," Rylan agreed. "Can we eat it while I visit with your sister?"

Jeanette smiled. "Theta and I would both enjoy that."

"Can you make me a new suit?" Trace asked as he and Cassidy began to walk toward Cassidy's from the Vick house.

"Certainly," Cassidy said.

"In time for the wedding?" Trace asked.

"I think so. Do you have an old suit?" She could not remember. "I don't think I've seen you in it."

"I got one for Brad and Meg's wedding. I don't wear it anymore because the jacket is too tight in the shoulders. I've worn the pants on Sunday for a long time, and they're starting to show their age."

"Let's go into the shop and see what I have for fabric."

Trace was all for that. They picked out exactly what he wanted; Cassidy got the measurements she needed; and then they headed to Jeanette's. Trace wanted to visit his mother, and naturally Cassidy wanted to go with him.

October was swiftly drawing to a close. The days were busy for Trace and Cassidy with wedding plans as well as plans to visit Billings and Cassidy's mother for their honeymoon.

Jeanette was busy as well. Her ad was written up and ready for

266the newspaper, and her sign, with the new store hours, was ready to go into the window at the close of the day.

The first day of changes would be Tuesday, the second of November. Things hadn't been altered all that much, but on the last Saturday of the month, both women felt a little excited about the changes and the store's future. Cassidy would have more time to work on her and Trace's wedding clothes, as well as her packing. Moving to the ranch was quite a venture. Meg and Brad didn't really have room for her furniture, but if she and Trace were going to have something to sit on in their new home someday, they needed to hold on to it.

And business had stayed active. Things had been quiet at the beginning of the week, but on Thursday and then again today, she and Jeanette had run their legs off. Cassidy would be headed to the bank for Jeanette, who wanted to head straight home because she was having company. There was an impressive amount of cash to deposit. Indeed Cassidy was just about to head out when the door opened.

"Hello, Cassie!" Edson Sinclair greeted cordially, not having changed at all.

Cassidy didn't speak but watched Neal come in behind Edson. He shut the door and locked it.

"What are you doing here, Edson?" Cassidy asked, knowing that Jeanette had come from the rear of the store.

"Ah, you're both together," Edson said by way of an answer. "Perfect. I'll tell you, Cass, you've been one busy little lady." "What do you mean?"

"Mama shared your letters with me. She was thrilled to see me and tell me you'd sold your shop and gotten engaged."

"Mama shared my letters with you because you tried to lie about having been here," Cassidy spoke plainly.

"Oh." Edson's voice was almost comical. "She wrote about that, did she?"

"Yes. Now I want you to leave."

267"That's not going to happen." Edson's voice became silky, and Cassidy's heart began to pound a little faster. She watched Neal move toward Jeanette and tried to step in, but Edson caught her arm in a surprising grip.

"Now you listen, Cassidy
Norton,"
Edson snarled, his voice low with fury. "You're going to do just what I say, or Neal is going to use that knife on Mrs. Fulbright's throat. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Cassidy said, her eyes watching Jeanette's face drain of color as Neal took hold of her. The knife was already in his hand, and Cassidy began to shake.

"Please don't hurt her," she begged softly, remembering what had happened to Abi.

"We won't have to if you'll head to the bank."

"The bank?" Cassidy was confused for a moment.

Edson gave her arm an angry shake. "Yes, the bank! You're going to withdraw the money Mrs. Fulbright paid you for the business and bring it back to me. You have fifteen minutes to do this, or Neal uses his knife."

Cassidy looked at him, her eyes huge. "Edson," she tried. "It will never work. I never take that much out. Please let Jeanette go."

"Shut up!" he barked. "You're a great little pretender, coming to this town and setting up a business in a false name. You can fool anyone with those big, blue eyes. Now you do as I say, or the old woman dies."

Cassidy could see he was completely serious. She nodded, but Edson gave her arm one more squeeze.

"Fifteen minutes, Cassie. Don't be late, and don't try anything funny."

Cassidy looked into Jeanette's face, seeing her fear but also that she was trying to be brave. Her look gave Cassidy the courage to shoot out the door. She had fifteen minutes to help her friend, praying all the while that nothing would go wrong.

268

CASSIDY MANAGED THE WALK TO THE BANK,albeit rather swiftly. She

entered the door calmly enough and made a beeline for Chandler. Unfortunately, his first remark completely rattled her.

"Cassie, where is your coat?"

"What?" she asked, not realizing she looked as upset as she felt. "Your coat? It's freezing out."

"Oh, I'm all right," she said and tried to smile. "Chandler, I need to make a withdrawal."

"Okay. How much?"

"Five hundred."

"Dollars?" Chandler questioned her, alarms going off in his mind. "Yes, and I'm in a bit of a hurry."

"Cassidy, something is wrong," Chandler said.

"That's right," Cassidy said, not sure that Edson had not followed her and might be watching from across the street.

"Where is Jeanette?" Chandler asked.

"At the shop," Cassidy didn't hear the high timber of her voice. "Please, Chandler. Please get the money."

Chandler went behind the counter, knowing something was very wrong but gathering the bills. He didn't want to send the money with her, but any amount was worth far less than her life or Jeanette's.

269"Are you sure, Cassidy?" Chandler asked when he had the money ready.

Cassidy took it and looked at him, her eyes begging. "Please just go back to work, Chandler. Nothing can go wrong."

Chandler took a seat as soon as Cassidy turned from his desk, but his eyes were on the windows. As soon as Cassidy moved out of sight, he would find Sheriff Kaderly.

Trace pulled the wagon to a stop outside Cassidy's shop the way he always did. The weather was getting cold these days, and he turned to make sure he'd remembered the blankets. Not until that moment did he see the sign in the shop window that said it was closed. Trace didn't think he was running late but then remembered that Jeanette had plans to change the days and times.

All thoughts of this went out of his head, however, when he looked up to see Cassidy walking swiftly toward him. In the back of his mind he too wondered where her coat was, but at the moment he was just glad to see her.

"Hey, Cass."

"What are you doing here?" Cassidy blurted, not having seen him until he spoke.

"What am I doing here?" Trace asked, wondering what he'd done wrong. It took a moment for him to really see Cassidy's face. "What is it, Cassidy?"

"Edson and Neal," she said in a rush. "They have Jeanette." "Inside?"

"Yes."

Trace's eyes flicked to the window and saw nothing. Without moving his body or his head, he said, "Stand right there, Cass. My rifle is in the wagon."

"Neal has a knife," she whispered, shaking almost violently. "He'll use it."

270"When I give the sign, do as they told you. I'll be coming in right behind you."

Trace moved to the wagon, fear gripping him that he was being watched, but knowing he didn't have a choice. Cassidy had stopped outside the door, but when Trace nodded to her, she tried the handle. It was locked, and it took a moment for Edson to open it. When he did, he found the barrel of a rifle coming over his sister's shoulder directly into his face.

"Easy now," Edson said, backing his way into the room.

"That's what you need to tell your friend," Trace countered.He'd already entered, pushed Cassidy behind him, and watched Neal's knife come to Jeanette's throat.

"We just want our money," Edson tried.

"Who's money?" Trace asked to stall.

"Re money Cassidy said I could have," Edson lied.

Or you'll what?" Trace had his eyes only on Neal now. "Kill my aunt? I can't let you do that. Or maybe-" Trace suddenly swung the rifle until it was nearly touching Edson's nose, not bothering to finish the sentence. "Now how about you tell Neal to drop the knife."

"You heard him," Edson said, not bothering to hide his fear. "Let her go."

"We can do this," Neal urged, saying his first words.

"No, Neal," Edson said, studying the eyes of the man with the rifle. If Jeanette Fulbright was his aunt, this was Cassidy's intended, and Edson could see that he was not afraid to use his weapon.

Trace's eyes had gone back to watching Neal, but he hadn't moved the gun. For that reason, Neal thought he could make it. He pushed Jeanette away from him, shoving the knife into her back at the same time, but also giving Trace a clear shot. Trace fired the gun. Neal and Jeanette went down at the same time. Cassidy dodged around Trace and ran for Jeanette. At the same moment Trace put a fist into Edson's jaw, knocking him out cold.

"Jeanette!" Cassidy called her name, touching her as she knelt beside

271her and staring at her bloodless face. Jeanette didn't answer. Folks began to arrive, Sheriff Kaderly and Chandler among them. Someone ran for the doctor, and for a moment there was general mayhem.

"Here, Cass." Trace was beside her, trying to find a pulse in Jeanette's neck. "She's alive," he said before removing the knife and pressing his handkerchief onto the wound.

The minutes that followed were a blur. Cassidy felt hands move her so Doc Ertz could come through. She was not even aware that Chandler had taken this on himself, not wanting her to notice Neal's body, which lay unmoving past Jeanette's.

When Jeanette was finally moved, the blood that had spread on the back of her dress was almost more than Cassidy could take, but she wanted to stay close to her. Chandler held her out of the fray, and when he saw that she was going to follow the wagon to Jeanette's house without her coat, he again stepped in.

While Chandler was helping her with her coat and gloves, she caught herself and said something that astounded the banker. He didn't think it a good idea but couldn't bring himself to argue. He helped Cassidy down the street.

Trace's mind was completely centered on his aunt and the fact that his hand was working to stop the flow of blood. He asked someone to go for Brad, and when he looked up and found Rylan nearby, he had all he could do not to weep.

"How bad is it?" Rylan asked right after the doctor had taken Trace's place and Jeanette was transferred into the house. "I don't know yet."

"Has someone gone for Brad and Meg?"

"I think so."

"Where is Cassie?"

"I don't know," Trace said again, and Rylan just stayed close, no more questions coming from him.

272 Jeanette was settled in her own bed with as little fuss as those carrying her could make. Stopping the bleeding became the next order of business. Trace hated not being needed, but he stayed out of the way as much as possible and prayed, glad to catch sight of Rylan from time to time.

Almost an hour passed before he began to look for Cassidy. Trace assumed she was in the house, but she was not upstairs. Brad and Meg had already arrived, and when he checked, Heather and Becky had not seen her. Not until Trace had gone downstairs and was almost to the front door did he see Chandler. That man stopped him.

"I thought you would want to know that Cassie went to the sheriff's office."

"Did she say why?"