Under a Falling Star (23 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

T
h
om arrived promptly at five to relieve Albert. After a brief rundown of the events of the night before, and as a grouchy-looking B
abcock watched from his side of the street, Albert made his way toward his new girl-colored home on foot, looking forward to seeing Nate. As soon as he arrived, Win could get going to the livery, where he’d drop Nate after he and his son had some breakfast. As far as he could figure, Susanna’s appearance last night had tipped the scale for the horsemen, if they’d indeed been skulking under the bridge for nefarious reasons. Three people were more difficult to silence than two.

He crossed over Shady Creek, descended the steep embankment on the other side, and peered into the murky area underneath. There were tracks, all right. Two horses, just like Susanna had thought.

The splashing water echoed beneath the ten-foot-wide passage. A fat bullfrog leaped off a flat rock and quickly swam away. Last night, after he’d handed Susanna off to a wide-eyed, and a bit shaken, Tabitha Canterbury, he’d gone straight to the bridge. His anger at Babcock had pushed him forward, and he’d rushed in like a fool. Somehow, they’d come and gone without being noticed. It was a mystery.

“See anything?”

Albert glanced over his shoulder and grunted when he saw Babcock. Charlie must have shown up to relieve him soon after he’d departed. If Albert had any doubts the man had his sights set on Susanna, they’d been wiped away last night. Right now, feeling testy, all Albert wanted was to get home to Nate, after which he needed to hustle back to the office and wait for the bank representatives to show up. The sooner that money was out of Logan Meadows the better!

Without giving Babcock an answer, Albert continued along the side of the creek, doing his best to stay out of the water as he searched for clues. The air was damp, and an occasional spray of water reached his face. There was plenty of room over his head for a horse, but a rider would have to lean over, or dismount. Not a desirable position to be in if your animal was spooked.

He could hear Babcock cutting the distance behind. Placing his boots carefully, he didn’t see the moss until he ended up knee-deep with one leg in the ice-cold creek. He cursed, and yanked his boot out. “Go home, Babcock. I can handle this.”

“I’m done taking orders from you, Preston. I’ve had hours to ponder this whole mess. I knew Susanna long before you did. Why don’t you back off and give her a chance at happiness? She could never have that here with you now.”

Albert swung around. “Susanna is no concern of yours. You’ll be gone just as soon as the money is on its way, so don’t make things more complicated than they already are.”

The two men were a good match in size. The color of Babcock’s face deepened. Either one of them slipped or maybe Dalton threw a punch, Albert wasn’t sure, but in half of a heartbeat he’d taken a fist to his chin, and they were going at it in the middle of the creek. They fell together into the frigid water and a rock slammed into Albert’s side, the pain infuriating him all the more. He threw his balled fist at Babcock’s wet face, hitting his mark before his hand slipped off and struck the rocks. Damn that hurt!

“Sheriff!” a scratchy voice shrieked from the far opening under the bridge.

The high-pitched word echoed loudly, making Albert pull up.

“What in tarnation is goin’ on down here? You boys quit yer fightin’ this instant or I may have ta give ya both a lickin’ with a willow switch. I ain’t too old ta do it, neither!”

Cold, angry, and with an aching fist, face, and side, Albert dragged himself up off the rocky creek bank after making sure Babcock wasn’t going to try a fast one and catch him unaware.

Violet Hollyhock edged her way toward them, a basket of tubers swinging on her arm. She tottered as she came, and Albert hoped she was steady enough not to end up in the stream. The hem of her blue-and-white calico skirt was soaked up a good three inches, and the shawl around her scrawny shoulders was askew.

“Ain’tcha a little old ta be settlin’ matters with yer fists?” she asked, her skepticism ringing loud and clear. “I came lookin’ for tubers, and found myself at a mad-dog fight instead. Thought I was seein’ things.”

Babcock slicked back the dripping-wet hair hanging in his eyes. Albert wondered what his own looked like.

“Now what’s this all about, Sheriff Preston? I can’t imagine ya have a good excuse for actin’ like schoolboys. You should be ashamed of yerself, bein’ the sheriff and all.” Her annoyed gaze raked him over good before sliding over to Babcock. “Sheriff?”

“Nothing I care to go into, Violet.”

One thin, barely there eyebrow arched up. “It couldn’t have anythin’ ta do with Susanna, could it,
boys
?”

“Everything to do with her, Mrs. Hollyhock,” Babcock said. He inched forward, but stopped when Albert threw him a glare.

Something cold and wet slid between Albert’s shoulder blades. With a sickening shiver, he jerked his elbows back, reached over his head with both hands, took hold of the fabric, and ripped his shirt off in one swoop. A coral-colored salamander plopped into the water and swam away. Albert glanced down at his drenched weapons in disgust.

“Yer boy woulda liked that soft lizard,” Mrs. Hollyhock said, watching it float away. She adjusted the spectacles on the bridge of her nose, and then gave them both the evil eye.

“Now, I’m only gonna say this once, so listen up.” She shifted her bony finger back and forth between them. “Don’t be makin’ Susanna’s life any more difficult than you both already have. She’s puttin’ on a good face, but jist barely. You,” she said, drilling Albert with her no-nonsense gaze, “have a lot to explain, and make up fer. I’m not judgin’ ya, mind you. But I’d walk lightly if I was you where Susanna’s heart is concerned.”

Babcock had the nerve to smirk until the old woman turned her heated gaze his way.

“I’m getting ta you, Mr. Babcock, so you may as well wipe that look off yer face. If you don’t have honorable intentions in mind for Susanna, and are just havin’ some fun to pass the time before ya pull out, I won’t like that one little bit. That girl’s been through a heap of hurt and she don’t need any more.”

Babcock put up his hands as if Mrs. Hollyhock had a gun pointed in his direction. “I swear, Mrs. Hollyhock, I’d never do anything to hurt her. I only have honorable intentions where Suzie is concerned.”

Instantly, Albert saw red. “Her name is Susanna!”

“Enough! Now get home and get changed before you both catch your death.”

Violet had begun to shiver and her face was as white as a sheet. He’d never forgive himself if the old woman got sick on his account. As much as he hated to leave Babcock standing, Albert turned and made for the way he’d come in.

CHAPTER FORTY

I
t felt good to be back at the restaurant, Susanna thought as she pulled a loaf of bread out of the oven with a thick dishtowel, being careful not to burn her hands. She set the crusty, fresh-baked bread on the counter next to the other three she’d made that morning. She arranged the hot pans in a row. Going up on tiptoe, she pushed the window open an inch, letting in the morning breeze to cool them in time for the first customer.

She glanced at the clock. Five minutes until seven. Almost time to unlock the front door, pull up the shades, and turn the sign. The more familiar footing was welcome. She would run the place alone until eight when Hannah arrived. Taking a long wooden spoon, she stirred a large batch of fried potatoes that she’d been browning with onions and garlic, and slid the skillet from the heat onto the side of the stove.

Last night, from Tabitha’s upstairs window, she’d watched Albert tromp over to the bridge, gun drawn. He’d glanced beneath the bridge, but nothing happened. Then he crossed to the other side, and did the same. Had the riders somehow slipped out without being seen, or had she been totally mistaken about the whole event, making so much trouble out of nothing? Did Albert think she’d made the entire thing up as an excuse to come see him?

Heat flushed her cheeks and her heart fluttered wildly in her chest as she relived the kiss.
Men crave what’s on the other side of the pasture. Once they have you, it won’t be long before they’re gone, they’re gone, they’re gone . . .
Her mother’s voice burst her bubble of contentment and filled her with uncertainty.

The front door rattled as someone wrestled with the cranky lock. Soon Hannah appeared in the kitchen, looking bright and chipper for the day.

“Well, aren’t you the early one,” Susanna said, shelving her qualms over last night’s adventure. “I wasn’t expecting you until eight.”

Hannah laughed. She was nicely put together in a soft blue skirt and white blouse with a tall choker neckline. “After our late night, I was worried you wouldn’t wake up on time. So, I decided to come in myself, just in case.”

Susanna cocked one brow. “Have I ever been late?”

Hannah ducked her head. “No. But there’s always a first.” She gave Susanna a hug, then leaned back, examining her face. “You look rested. I’m glad. I guess our talk really helped.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” Susanna said, handing Hannah her apron. She should be dead on her feet, and she wasn’t. She still couldn’t believe Albert had finally,
finally
kissed her, after all this time. And what a kiss! Just thinking about it made her tummy kindle up into a warm mass of honey and an all-consuming tingle that had her wondering what several kisses could do.

Albert wasn’t giving up. That’s what he’d said last night. As much as she wanted to let his words send her skipping through the room, she had to be practical, remember how he’d left his first wife so quickly. He’d told her he hadn’t known about the child, but did that really make a difference? Would he leave her, too?

“You look like the fox that got the last egg. What happened after I left? I can’t imagine you went straight to sleep.”

Susanna hadn’t noticed that after her last comment Hannah had stopped what she was doing and stood, hands on hips, staring at her. “Do I?”

“Yes, you do. You look different. Tell me right now. It certainly wasn’t me telling you about my happy marriage. No, that wouldn’t do
this
—” She waved her hand around, indicating Susanna as a whole. “No, there is something else going on. Out with it.”

So much had transpired last night that Susanna didn’t know where to start. Her initial reaction was to keep it to herself, as she’d been in the habit of doing for most of her life—and especially since coming to Logan Meadows. But, hadn’t it been nice to share her feelings? She shouldn’t be so secretive.

“Susanna? You’re being cruel. Tell me right now.”

Just as Susanna opened her mouth, the bells above the door jingled out that someone had come into the restaurant. Hannah groaned. “Hold that thought,” she said, lifting the coffeepot from the stove and pushing through the door.

Susanna hardly had time to stick a new loaf into the oven to bake when Hannah dashed back in. “What’s left to do? Three tables came in at once, and I just have this feeling it’s going to be busy.”

“Anyone I know?”

“Funny you should ask.” She gave Susanna a playful smile. “Albert and Nate at one table. Across the room, Dalton at another. And a third man I don’t know. As I was pouring their coffee, they both asked if you were here, and if you might be able to step out and have a word.”

Flustered, Susanna slipped into the cold room and returned with a bowlful of eggs. Could she face Albert today after kissing him last night?

Hannah grasped the container of eggs and wrestled it from her arms. “Go on and say good morning. I’ll start a batch of scramblers. But only be a minute, mind you, we have things to do.”

All Susanna could think about was Albert’s lips on hers, and his large hand pressed to her waist.
Scandalous!

“Yes, all right. I’ll just say hello, then come right back.” She felt a little foolish asking, but turned to Hannah all the same. “How do I look?”

“Beautiful.”

Taking courage, she pushed through the door. She hadn’t gone but a couple of steps toward Albert’s usual table when she stopped short. A dark bruise marred the lower half of his jaw, and his face was scraped in a couple of places. She glanced across the room to Dalton’s table. He smiled but held his coffee mug conspicuously close to his face. As hard as he tried, it didn’t cover his black eye.

They’d been fighting!

Nate sat up straighter when he saw her. His shiny-clean face looked rested since she’d seen him last night at Nana’s, and his hair was combed. As she approached his table, his eyes jerked toward his pa several times, indicating she should look at Albert. The boy was probably happy it was his pa in trouble for fighting and not him.

“Good morning,” she said tenderly to Nate, cupping his face for one brief moment before turning her attention on Albert. She couldn’t hold his brown-eyed gaze for long, and felt herself blush. “Looks like you found some trouble last night after all,” she said drawing the attention off herself. “What happened?”

“It wasn’t last night, ma’am. It was this morning on his way home from town. He—”

“Nate, I’ll tell Miss Robinson what happened, if you don’t mind. Just give me a chance.”

“Sorry, Pa. Don’t forget to tell her you was in the creek when you got to fighting. And how a salamander went down your back.” He squished up his face and curled his fingers at her as if they were his claws, all the while snapping his teeth repeatedly.

It was impossible not to laugh. He really was a darling. Albert didn’t quite think so at that moment. It was evident he’d hoped to keep most of those details between them.

“Fighting in the creek? I’m surprised you told Nate all that.” She glanced over her shoulder to see Dalton watching. “With Dalton?”

Albert nodded. “Nate and I aren’t going to have any secrets between us. We thought things would go better that way.” Father and son exchanged a look. “I can’t expect the truth from him unless I give it myself.”

That jerked Susanna back to their problem that she’d forgotten about for all of three blessed minutes. Resolve pushed away her longing. “That’s a good plan. Nothing like starting off on the right foot. How’re you staying awake? You haven’t had any sleep.”

“Thoughts of you.”

She pursed her lips in disbelief, but knew the words were true for her. “I only have one second to say hello and I have to get back to work.” She took a moment to really look at Albert, his bruised chin and longing eyes. “Would you like your usual?”

“Yes, and Nate’ll have the same.”

She nodded, turned, and approached Dalton, who jerked his face
away when he realized she was headed over. He gazed into his mug.

“Really, Dalton. I can’t believe the two of you.”

“I wasn’t intending to fight. Somehow it just got started. Anyway, I’ve learned my lesson.” He pointed to his black eye. “I haven’t had a shiner since I was thirteen. I’m pretty embarrassed. Especially with the bankers coming to town.”

“You’re rambling.”

“Susanna,” Hannah called through the closed swinging door. “These eggs are ready.”

“I’ll be right there, Hannah,” Susanna called back as she shook her head. “Men.” Before she could walk off, Dalton caught her wrist. “I know fighting is immature, Suzie, but I’d do it again to get your attention. At least now you know I’m serious. Don’t write me off just because you and Albert are making up. Consider what your life could be like if we went back home to Breckenridge. You have friends there, and I have family. I’m serious. I want to marry you.”

A chair scraped loudly behind her. Albert was on his feet. His clenched jaw and angry eyes were a good indicator he was about to march over any moment. She held out her hand to stay his advance. “I’ll keep that in mind, Dalton. I will. Right now I have to get back to work.”

She greeted the third customer, who looked plenty entertained, and took his order. Things today were just heating up.