The Trouble with Patience (16 page)

“I'm sure that's not going to happen. Joe's had his eye on you since he came to town. It's been hard for him to let go of his memories and find a new life. I think that's the reason he drinks—to drown his sorrows.”

Hannah sighed heavily. “I know about them memories myself. It's very hard to turn away from all that and see where God might lead.”

Something in her voice he hadn't heard before surprised him—a longing, a loneliness. Pretty much the way he'd been himself for a long time now, he had to admit. Hannah was always the cheerful one, but today was different. Maybe she was afraid to get too close to Joe because he might disappoint her.

“I hear ya,” Jed assured her. “It's better to feel something than to feel nothing at all, Hannah. But I've never heard you talk this way before.” Jedediah realized he truly cared what happened to the older lady.

She reached across the counter and pinched his cheek. “Don't mind me—I'm just an old woman that gets sentimental once in a while.”

“You let me know if Joe doesn't treat you right. He really has a good heart, so I don't think that's likely.”

After a few more pleasantries, Jedediah went on his way.
The sun was very hot today, and the dusty noonday streets were not as busy as usual. Folks either sought a cool shade tree or stayed indoors. He stopped by the livery to pay for his horse's board, then back to work. In one way he was grateful for the hot weather—it seemed to keep trouble down to a bare minimum. On the other hand, though, it didn't give him a lot to do. Might be a good day to clean his rifles . . . and maybe ponder some more about Patience.

Patience sat at the desk, making notes and planning for what needed to be done. In a matter of just days, she had lost three boarders but gained two new ones. If she booked another one, she'd have to ask Emily to share her room, and she hated to do that. Emily had made her room homey with her personal things. But it'd certainly be preferable to having her mother in her room.
Heaven
forbid
.
That
woman
could
drive
me
clean
out
of
my
mind
.

Patience felt guilty for such thoughts. But her mother continued to be too intrusive, overbearing in her own “genteel” way. She had lists of items she wanted Patience to change at Creekside—like the menu, because it didn't suit her constitution, or the arrangement of the furniture throughout the house, because it
felt
better. She wanted to change the meal times, and on and on. Patience was too busy to get into discussions that she knew would turn into arguments. She'd simply return everything to how she and Emily wanted it after her mother left. For now, Patience would let her mother believe she was doing something productive.

She paused, tapping her pencil against the paper, and thought back to church in Virginia City last Sunday. It had proved to be the highlight of the week for both Patience and her mother, who had enjoyed her visitor status and being the center of attention. They'd stayed afterward for the church's Fourth of July picnic. It was a wonderful afternoon of potato-sack races, a three-piece band made up of church members, speeches, and fireworks. Jedediah had even showed up. He spent most of the time talking with his cronies, but he had shared apple cider with them during the fireworks.
Perhaps he feels like he'
s imposing with Mother here.
Her mother had liked Cody on the spot and was captured by his disarming charm. But then so was Millie.

Patience pulled her thoughts back to the work at hand—menus and groceries for the next few days. Then she must balance her ledger. She was hoping to save for a used piano, but from the looks of things, that would be many months from now. However, her business was thriving, considering how difficult it had been to manage financially when she had first arrived. She was sure the improvements, though costly, had helped to secure additional boarders.

It'd been a while since she'd made any boxed lunches for Jedediah, but maybe that was a sign all was peaceful—though the rustlers still hadn't been captured.

Patience's quiet was suddenly broken by the frantic cry of her mother. “Patty!” Her mother burst into her room. “My diamond brooch—the one your father gave me for our wedding anniversary—is missing. Someone here has taken it, I'm sure! I've looked everywhere!”

Patience pushed back her chair. “Oh my goodness, Mother? What—?”

“I'm telling you, it's missing!” Charity was wringing her hands. “It's quite a valuable piece, you know. Do you think Emily took it?”

“Mother! Please lower your voice!” she hissed. “How in the world would you come to suspect Emily?” She pulled her mother by the sleeve away from the door and closed it, thankful that no one else was around, particularly Emily.

“Because you and Emily are the only ones that have access to the rooms,” she snapped. “Who else could possibly get into my room?”

“Don't be ridiculous! Emily isn't like that . . . she would
never
stoop to steal. Believe me, I know that for sure.”

“Well, I'm going for the marshal. He's the one who can legally check all the rooms.” She marched over to the door and reached for the knob.

“Don't do that, Mother,” Patience admonished. “We can look around and ask if anyone has seen it. Perhaps the clasp is broken, and it fell off your dress.”

“You go right ahead and do that. I'm going to get
official
help.” She opened the parlor door, and Patience could hear her heels sharp against the wooden floor as she stalked back to the stairs and her own room. Very soon Charity was heading down the stairs and out the front door.

Patience waited a moment, then went up to her mother's room and carefully looked around. She felt sure no one had stolen it. It must be here somewhere. She knelt and looked underneath the bed, felt around under the nightstand.

Emily walked by the open door with fresh laundry. “What are you doing on your knees?” She put the basket down at the door and came in.

Patience rose, banging her head on the corner of the
nightstand. “Ouch! Oh, for heaven's sake!” She rubbed the spot as she stood. “My mother insists someone has taken her diamond brooch!”

“What?” Emily's eyes widened with alarm.

“Yes, I'm afraid so. I've been searching her room but haven't found it. Worse yet, instead of waiting to see if we can discover where it is, she's gone after Jed to search everyone's room and personal belongings.”

“Mmm . . . I can understand her being upset. Was it valuable?”

“Yes, and special to her. My father gave it to her the year before he died—on their anniversary. Emily, please, we've got to find it.”

“Let's go look on the porch and garden area, then the kitchen and dining room and parlor. Maybe we can locate it before she returns with Jed . . . unless someone indeed has taken it.”

The thought did cross Patience's mind. “I sincerely hope not.”

Patience and Emily were scouring the downstairs of the boardinghouse when Charity returned, Jed in tow. “I've filed a report,” she announced, “but the marshal wants to take a look around and search the boarders' rooms.” She pointed him to the parlor.

Behind Charity's back, Jedediah smiled wryly at Patience. He noticed she looked both serious and frustrated, which puzzled him. Did the cameo have a special meaning to her too? He kept his voice low as he said, “I hope you don't mind,
Patience. Your mother insisted that I come and do a thorough search. Is that all right with you?”

“By all means. The sooner we find that brooch, the better.” Her lips were compressed into a fine line. “We looked through the kitchen, the porch and garden, and the parlor and dining room, and of course, my mother's room. Here are all the keys to the rooms.”

Jed turned to Charity, who was standing at the parlor window. “Ma'am, why don't you have a rest, while I have a look around?”

“Good idea,” Patience said. “Mother, I'll fix you a cup of tea.”

The front door opened and a couple of boarders came in, noticed the gathering, and asked what was going on. Emily briefly told them the situation and that Jedediah was there to look in everyone's room.

“Don't matter none to me. I've got nothin' to hide,” a middle-aged miner said, and the other gentleman agreed with a nod of his head.

Patience nodded toward the kitchen. “I'm going to go fix us all some tea, if you'd care to wait in the parlor until the marshal has completed his search.”

Jedediah liked the way Patience took over, efficiently directing her guests and her mother. The last thing he needed was to have a group following him around as he did his search. Emily followed Patience into the kitchen, and he excused himself and went directly upstairs.

He methodically scoured each room, amazed at how neat some folks' rooms were and how disorderly were others. It felt odd to be in Patience's room—he knew it had to be hers because one of the dresses he'd seen her wear was neatly hang
ing on the wardrobe door. He saw a notebook open on the bed and her bedroom slippers on the floor below. He looked at the carefully written page.
Must be
the devotionals she's talked about.
He was tempted to pick it up, but that would be snooping. He glanced at her dresser and imagined Patience sitting there, brushing out her long hair in the evenings. He suddenly was overcome with an unusual feeling . . . foreboding? He hurried out, locking the door behind him.

In the parlor, Jedediah noted a few more boarders had returned and were standing about quietly talking, tea or coffee cups in hand. Patience rose as soon as she saw him. “Well? Did you find it?” she asked.

“No, sorry to say, I did not. Unless Mrs. Cavanaugh has any more specific evidence, or has seen something suspicious, then I must consider all the boarders as possible suspects.” He looked around at their anxious faces. To his way of thinking, none of them looked like a guilty thief, but then who usually did?

There were murmurs and grumbles heard around the room. Jed raised his hand, signaling quiet. “I'm sorry, folks, to inconvenience you—but I must have a list of names of everyone who is boarding here, as a very expensive diamond brooch belonging to Charity Cavanaugh is missing. Patience, might I have a piece of paper so we can have each one jot his or her name down?”

“Yes, of course. I have some right here.” She took paper and pen from a drawer.

“Why don't we just let everyone sign their name, and you can fill in those that aren't here right now. I assume you have the names listed in your register?” Patience nodded at him. “That would be a big help. I want to speak with each of you
briefly,” he added as he looked around the room. “After that you're free to go on about your business.”

In less than half an hour, Jedediah had talked individually with everyone present. He asked Charity to describe the cameo.

“It's a mother-of-pearl brooch on black onyx encrusted with forty diamonds—the years of our marriage.” She sniffled into her hanky and shook her head.

He gave her a pat on the shoulder. “There, there. Okay, folks, you all heard the description. Keep an eye out for it, in case it got misplaced or fell off Mrs. Cavanaugh's dress.”

Everyone filed out of the room and went their separate ways, including Charity, while Emily began cleaning up the cups.

“Patience, may I have a word with you?” Jedediah asked quietly.

Her brow furrowed. “Certainly. Let's step outside. Emily, I won't be long. Please check the beans that are simmering.”

“Yes, I will,” Emily agreed.

Jedediah closed the door and they walked to the end of the porch.

“I want to ask you something, Patience.” Jedediah pulled out a bright-blue neckerchief from his pocket. “Who does this belong to?”

Patience looked at it. “Oh, Cody must've left that behind. He always wore neckerchiefs like that.”

“Do you mind if I keep it for now?”

Patience's face showed her puzzlement. “No, but why? Where did you find it?”

“On top of a high shelf in one of the rooms.”

“Jed . . .” Patience moved closer, and Jed could smell a light
fragrance of rose water. He wanted to pull her into his arms but this was not the time or place. “Do you believe someone staying here took my mother's brooch? At first she was accusing Emily, and I told her that was nonsense.”

“Maybe. It's hard to know for sure. How would anyone other than you or Emily get into that room? I think it's more likely that your mother mislaid it.”

Patience nodded, the sun shining on her brown curls. “That's true, but it's also possible she might've thought she had it securely pinned, and it fell off. Sorry this took so much of your time.”

“No trouble at all. It's my job. Let me know if something turns up.”

“I will, and I'll run the list over to you when it's complete.” Patience moved to go inside. “Would you like to come for supper?”

Jedediah shuffled from one foot to the other. “Thank you, but not tonight. I don't fancy being under scrutiny by your mother and all the rest. And trying to figure out how to answer all their questions without actually answering them.”

She looked disappointed, he thought. She simply said, “I understand.”

He couldn't help but be encouraged.
She seems regretful that I couldn't accept the invitation
, he thought. He tipped his hat. “Good evening, Patience. We'll talk further soon,” he added as he stepped off the porch.