Cutty (Prairie Grooms Book 8) (11 page)

“Indians?” Cutty squeaked, even though he knew most of the Indians in these parts were friendly. He still had his misgivings.

“What’s this about a lassie?” Patrick asked.

“Cain’t be sure, they rode by so fast,” Willie said, “but I thought I saw one.”

“How’s a person to tell?” Patrick probed. “All the Indians wear their hair long.”

“How many Injuns ya know with long
red
hair?” Willie asked.

Patrick gaped at him. “Red hair?”

“Looked red to me,” Willie said. “Ain’t got all my teef, but I still got both eyes.”

Cutty stood and listened with interest. Newton was out hunting with a band of Indians? He thought he and Ryder had gone hunting, maybe see the Indians in passing, but ….

“Stranger things have happened around here,” Harrison commented.

“That’s for sure,” Patrick agreed. “But the Indians, they don’t let their women hunt any more’n we do.”

“If it indeed was a woman,” Harrison pointed out. “Right, Willie?”

“I know what I saw!” Willie insisted. “Lightnin’ strike me if’n I didn’t!”

“What would a redheaded woman be doin’ with a bunch of Injuns in the first place?” Cutty asked.

“Maybe she was kidnapped as a child and raised by them?” Harrison suggested. “I’ve heard of such.”

“Aye, but ye don’t hear about them hunting with the braves,” Patrick repeated. “It’s just not done.”

“Quite right,” Harrison agreed. “The only thing to do is ask the Joneses and Mr. Whitman when they return.”

“Aye,” Patrick agreed, then looked at Cutty. “What’ll ye have?”

“Coffee. And some lunch if Mrs. Dunnigan made anything.”

“She whipped up some stew earlier. Don’t ye usually eat at the hotel?”

“Can’t a man change it up?” Cutty barked.

Patrick held up both hands. “No need to get upset. Have a seat and I’ll bring ye yer meal.”

Cutty watched him disappear into the kitchen, then turned to Harrison. “Did Imogene ride into town with ya?”

“She did. She’s visiting with Grandma Waller. Would you like me to tell her you’re here? I was going to head that way.”

“I’d be much obliged.”

Harrison winked at Willie, then looked at Cutty. “So, what are your intentions concerning my cousin?”

“Intentions?” Cutty huffed. “Ya mean am I gonna marry her?”

Harrison laughed. “Of course that’s what I mean. But you’ll do right by her, won’t you?”

“’Course I will! What makes ya think I won’t?”

“To be honest, I’m surprised the two of you aren’t married already. Everyone in town knows how fond you are of each other. But my brother and I do have concerns.”

Cutty gulped. “Well, ‘course ya would. I ain’t got a dime to my name.”

“But you’ll remedy that, won’t you?” Harrison asked.

“I plan to,” Cutty said as a new realization hit. It was bad enough he had the whole I’m-really-Thackary-Holmes dilemma, but Harrison did have a valid point. Even if he worked for Ryder and took up residence in his old house, could he support Imogene? Would they have enough to eat? A roof over their heads was one thing, food on the table in a consistent manner another. He assumed he could handle things, but could he really? What if Ryder fell on hard times and wasn’t able to pay him?

Of course, if the Cookes ran him out of town, he wouldn’t have to worry about it any way …

“Cutty?” Harrison said. “How do you plan on taking care of you and Imogene?”

Cutty shook himself. “Oh, that, yeah … I’ll be workin’ for Ryder.”

Harrison studied him a moment. “That sounds reasonable enough. Ryder has some great plans for a horse-breeding business. I know he’ll need the help, and the two of you get along well enough … well, then I think it’s safe to say you have our blessings.”

Cutty eyed him. “All three of ya?”

“We keep Duncan apprised of things, so yes. I know he’ll be very happy to see Imogene wed.”

“I’ll take those blessin’s,” Cutty told him, then silently added,
I can use all the blessings I can get.

Eleven

“A girl?” Imogene said, bringing her hand to her chest. “Are you sure?”

“That’s what Willie said,” Cutty informed her. “But I’m not sure I’ll take his word for it.”

Imogene took another sip of her tea. By the time she’d finished her business with Grandma Waller, Cutty had finished his lunch. Together they’d retreated to the hotel for tea, cookies and enough privacy to let him use his own accent. They’d chosen a far corner of the restaurant, and sat facing the rest of the room to give themselves plenty of warning. “I dare say – what a shock it would be to discover there’s a girl living with a pack of savages!”

“By all reports, they aren’t savages – they live peaceably, per Willie and per Ryder and Seth. It’s not like they’re the Thuggees in India.”

“Still, it’s rather odd, don’t you think?”

“I’m too busy thinking about when to tell Newton who I really am, to be honest.”

“Oh yes, that,” she said dryly. “Nettie took the news well?”

“Far better than I expected. But perhaps she’s still in shock. I must admit I am, with how well she accepted it. Accepted me.”

“When are you going to tell Newton?”

“You know my plan. It won’t be the moment he gets back. I’ll take him out hunting myself, spend time with him. Then I’ll tell him.”

“You? Hunt?” she said, raising an eyebrow at him. “Don’t be absurd.”

“I can pull the trigger of a gun as well as any man. Remember where I lived my past life, and among whom – I bagged a few foxes in my day, and more than a few pheasant.”

She smiled. “Nothing compares to a tiger.”

“Oh please, not the tiger stories again …”

“Or perhaps a crocodile,” she teased.

“Egads. I’ve already heard that blasted crocodile tale from the Cookes!”

“A bowdlerized version – those poor dears don’t know the whole story.”

Cutty frowned. “I’m sorry for being so snappish, but … let’s save that for another time. I have to figure out how I’ll arrange things once Newton returns.”

“Work on Ryder’s house a few days, then take him onto the prairie and shoot something. There, problem solved.” Seeing him grimace, she continued. “Well? Can you come up with a better plan?”

His face fell. “No … I can’t. Yet.”

“Well, you can always ask how he spent his time with those sava – with the
natives
.”

“If Willie saw what he thinks he did. Maybe the sun was in his eyes.”

Imogene took one of his hands and held it. “Everything will turn out fine, you’ll see. In the meantime, I’ve decided to begin work on our first book.”

“
Our
first book?”

“Of course,” she drawled. “You don’t think I’m going to write this by myself, do you?”

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Dare I ask?”

“I think we should write our own version of ‘The Pirate’s Peril’.”

“You can’t do that. It would have the same title.”

“Happens all the time,” she countered.

“It does not.”

“It most certainly has.”

He eyed her skeptically. “If you’re sure. The last thing I need in my life is a lawsuit.”

“Oh, you do worry! You can read the first chapter when you and Newton return from your … expedition.”

“Expedition,” he said and sighed. “The expedition I’d really like to take is …”

She leaned toward him. “Yes?”

He looked into her eyes. “… the one where I meet you at the end of a church aisle. But I know that won’t happen unless I get this straightened out.”

“My Cutty,” she said and gave his hand a squeeze. “You’ll do it. I have faith in you.”

He swallowed hard. “Glad one of us does.”

* * *

Three days passed before Newton and the Jones brothers returned. Cutty saw Seth slip into the hotel and up the grand staircase, Newton on his heels. They were dusty and dirty, and Cutty swore he saw dried blood on Newton’s saddlebags. What on earth had those boys been up to?

Seth would no doubt get an earful from his wife Eloise. But she didn’t seem upset this morning when Cutty saw her at breakfast. He’d assumed they’d returned the day before and was giving Newton a chance to rest before he talked to him about returning to Ryder’s place to help finish the house.

Mrs. Upton interrupted his thoughts as she came out of the kitchen, a tea tray in her hands. “I’m taking this up to Seth and Eloise. Are you done with your breakfast?” She set her load on the table, took several muffins off a plate near him and put them on the tray. “Well?”

Cutty glanced at his half-eaten plate. “Almost.” He studied her. “How’d ya know he was back?”

“I saw him leave the livery stable from the kitchen windows.”

“Oh, right.” He’d forgotten there were windows in the hotel’s expansive kitchen. “Did Eloise know they were gonna get in today?”

“No, but she’s learned not to worry. That husband of hers can take care of himself, as can his brother. Now I’d best take this up to her.” She left the dining room, crossed the lobby and disappeared up the stairs.

Cutty returned to his food, but his appetite was gone. Now that Newton was back, Imogene would be pestering him to get on with it. But he needed time, time to think about when and how to tell him. And he definitely needed more time to get to know him better. He could only pray that Newton’s reaction would be as pleasant as Nettie’s had been. Somehow, he doubted it.

“Morning, Cutty,” Sheriff Hughes called as he entered the dining parlor. “What did Mrs. Upton cook up this morning?”

Cutty waved a hand over his plate. “The usual – potatoes and bacon. Oh, and she made muffins – ain’t sure what kind, but they’re good.”

“Must be – looks like you’ve had a few already,” the sheriff commented as he noted the single muffin left. “And you haven’t finished the rest of your breakfast.”

Cutty grinned – let the man think he’d stuffed himself with muffins. “Soon as Mrs. Upton gets back downstairs she’ll serve ya up.”

“What she doing upstairs?”

“Seth and Ryder are back. She took a tray up to Seth’s room.”

“That means young Mr. Whitman is back too, I wonder how the hunting was.”

“I watched ‘em come in, but I didn’t see ‘em carryin’ nothin’ ‘cept the saddlebags Newton borrowed from ya.”

“Too bad – must not have had any luck. Still, I’d like to talk to them. I’m curious to see if what Willie saw the other day is true or not.”

“Ya mean ‘bout the Injun huntin’ party?” Cutty asked.

“What else? It’s rare for them to hunt this far south. They pretty much keep to themselves.”

“So ya know ‘bout ‘em?”

“Of course I do. I’ve had run-ins with them before over the years. They’re friendly enough, but like I said, they usually don’t come this way. They avoid us as much as possible.”

“Well, maybe them boys’ll have a few tales to tell.” Perfect. It would give him something to talk about with Imogene. Maybe then she wouldn’t pester him as much regarding Newton.

“That’s what I'm hoping,” said the sheriff. “It’s been kinda quiet around here lately. I could use a good story.”

“Well, if ya ask me, ain’t nothin’ wrong with quiet,” Cutty remarked. “Personally, I like it.”

“Then you’d better enjoy it while you can,” Sheriff Hughes said with a chuckle.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re going to marry Imogene, aren’t you? Nothing disrupts a man’s peace and quiet like a wife.”

“How would ya know? Were ya ever hitched before?”

“Nope, and don’t plan to anytime soon.”

“Ya ain’t got nothing to worry about on that score. Ain’t no women in Clear Creek to marry other than Imogene. And she’s spoken for.”

“Which means
I’ll
have peace and quiet,” the sheriff said with a grin.

Cutty waved a hand at him and rolled his eyes as Mrs. Upton entered the dining room. “Breakfast will be right up, Sheriff,” she said, and headed for the kitchen.

“Much obliged,” he called after her.

Cutty watched her disappear through the kitchen door and glanced at the Sheriff. “Tarnation, I forgot
she’s
single. Why don’t ya marry her?”

“Mrs. Upton?” the sheriff asked with a raised eyebrow. “She’s a great cook, but no, I’ve been a bachelor too long.”

Cutty’s eyes ranged between the sheriff and the kitchen door. “She’d make ya a fine wife.”

“Maybe so. But being a sheriff, I might make her a fine widow.”

Cutty frowned. “I guess ya have a point there.”

“It’s one of the reasons I never married,” the sheriff said. “One day I might. But forget about me – when are you getting hitched?”

The sheriff had him. Everyone knew he and Imogene would marry; it was just a question of when. Unfortunately, he couldn’t tell the sheriff that he planned to marry her after he told his son who he was – or for that matter, after the rest of the town knew, as he had to give her his name. But at least he had a ready excuse. “Ya know I need to be able to provide for her. What kind a man would I be if I couldn’t?”

“I heard Ryder offered you his old house,” the sheriff pointed out.

“Yeah, but he ain’t finished with it yet. And even if’n he was, I’d still have to put food on the table. I gotta help Ryder get
his
house built, then make sure his business is goin’ well enough so he can hire me on.
Then
I can get hitched.”

“If you got married now, I’m sure you could live at the Triple-C until Ryder got things going.”

Cutty fought against a grimace. “Ain’t gonna do that. It’d make me feel like a worse charity case than I already am in this town. Folks treat me like one enough as it is.”

Sheriff’s Hughes’s eyes widened. “Now hold on there! We take care of our own. You’re not some stranger passing through, Cutty. You’re part of this town. Don’t look at it as charity. Besides, you’ve been earning your keep helping Ryder out, chaperoning Amon and Nettie, and now with the house building.”

Cutty’s chest tightened. “Thank ya, Sheriff. I guess I sometimes need a reminder.”

“Don’t worry. There are plenty of folks around here to remind you of who you are.”

Cutty’s brow furrowed. “Who I am?”

“Sure.”

Cutty gave him a perplexed look. “I ain’t followin’ ya.”

The sheriff laughed. “You mean to tell me you don’t know who you are in the eyes of this town?”

Cutty could only stare and shake his head.

Sheriff Hughes smiled. “Cutty, you’re a hero.”

* * *

So the good people of Clear Creek thought ol’ Cutty was a hero, did they? “Ain’t they in for a big surprise,” he muttered to himself as he headed to the mercantile.

Sure, he knew folks in Clear Creek liked him, but a hero? Yes, he saved the Cooke and Sayer women from a certain death once, or was it twice? He couldn’t remember. But then, hadn’t he also tried to have them killed twice? Seemed to him it was pretty much a wash …

He shook his head and tried to think of something else. Like lemon drops or licorice whips, hot coffee and pie. Maybe food would take his mind off of things. If only he was hungry. Unfortunately, all his worries were taking the edge off his appetite.

With a sigh he trudged up the mercantile steps and went inside. “Howdy, Wilfred.”

Wilfred looked up from behind the counter. “Well, if it isn’t the groom.”

“Oh, don’t go startin’ none of that talk,” he admonished. “I ain’t gettin’ married no time soon.”

“Not yet, maybe, but you will. What can I do for you?”

Cutty grimaced. Did everyone have to keep bringing up his nuptials? “Give me some licorice whips.”

“Sure thing,” Wilfred said and turned to the jars of candy behind him. “How many?”

“Half a dozen,” Cutty said with a sigh.

“Why so glum?” Wilfred asked as he opened a jar. “A man in love is supposed to be happy.”

“Since when is my love life so popular?” Cutty growled, slapping the counter. “I cain’t hardly walk down the street without someone sayin’ congratulations or some other silly thing!”

“Well, it’s true, ain’t it?” Wilfred asked as he put his licorice in a small sack. “You and Imogene
are
going to get hitched, aren’t you?”

“Once I can take care of her proper, yeah. For Pete’s sake, I just had this conversation with Sheriff Hughes!”

“You’d best marry her quick-like,” Irene Dunnigan announced as she came through the curtain doorway that separated the front and back of the building. She joined Wilfred behind the counter. “That woman will make an honest man out of you.”

Cutty felt his gut twist at the word
honest.
“I’m sure she will. Imogene Sayer is a fine woman. But I ain’t gonna marry her until I set things straight!”