Page 137 of Conveniently Wed
But no reticule.
“Sorry, miss.” He wiped his brow, then looked around at the jumble. “Hate we couldn’t find it.”
Leah forced a smile through her gritted teeth. “Thank you. I’ll send someone for those two trunks shortly.”
She spun around to study the army of men still working hard to un-pack and re-pack the ship. She wasn’t sure who to ask next, but shehadto find that bag.Lord, let it be misplaced and not actually stolen.
Just then, Leah spotted Captain La Barge across the shipyard speaking with two men who wore leather clothing. Squaring her shoulders, she marched toward the group.
The captain had his back to her approach, but his two companions saw her. They stopped speaking and gawked as she strode up. Both wore long leather cloaks and leather pants, and the smaller man wore a fur cap over his long, loose hair. The effect made him look positively wild.
The captain turned and offered a slight bow. “Miss Townsend, I trust you’ve enjoyed your trip. Have you found lodgings yet? I can arrange for an escort to one of the local hotels, if you’d like.”
Leah took a breath to steady herself. “Captain La Barge, may I please have a word with you?”
Without skipping a beat, the captain turned to his associates. “Gentleman, if you’ll excuse me for now, I’ll meet you down at Mill’s Cafe for dinner.”
“Course.” The taller man nodded, then elbowed his partner and they strode away.
The captain turned to Leah. “Now, what can I help you with?”
“I’m missing my reticule from my room. I believe your porter may have taken it when he removed my trunks.”
Neither frustration nor anger darkened his eyes. Instead, his brows knit together in deep concern as he stroked his beard. He studied Leah for a moment, his eyes not revealing the direction of his thoughts. “I’m assuming you’ve checked the area where your trunks were placed?”
She threw a quick glance toward the trunks then quirked a brow at the captain. “Yes, we examined the area around the luggage.”
A sadness flowed into his eyes to join the concern there. Finally, he sighed. “Miss Townsend, of course I will check with all of my staff, but I’m afraid you’ve been robbed. That particular porter was new to my ship. He only signed on to work while he traveled to Montana. He collected his pay before we docked and left immediately after the trunks were removed. I don’t expect to see him again.”
The icy fingers around her stomach reached up to squeeze her lungs, as well. “So my money is gone? You’re not going to find him and make him give it back?” She wanted to stamp her foot, but that was out of the question for a lady.
He sighed again. “I’m very sorry about this. He’s likely long gone, but the best thing for you would be to see the sheriff about it. He can handle the search and make an arrest if he finds the scoundrel. The sheriff’s office is right down this street, about a block on the left.”
Leah’s heart sank.Lord, please help me not to cry.“That’s the best thing I can do?” Her voice sounded weak, but she felt like her bones had been jerked from her legs, leaving only a mass of skin and jelly.
He nodded, the skin around his eyes pinched. “While you speak with him, I’ll take a look around the ship and talk with my men. If I find anything, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
Her shoulders slumped, and Leah turned to trudge down the street. For once, she didn’t care that she’d lost her all-important poise.
7
The jail was a single-story wood building, rustic by St. Louis or Richmond standards, but not unlike the structures surrounding it. Leah almost knocked on the door, but finally decided to step in. This was a place of business, after all.
She paused inside the threshold for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. The odor of unwashed bodies and alcohol assaulted her nose. The room held two desks tucked into either back corner, with a man sitting behind each. A door in the wall between them must lead to the jail.
“Can I help you, miss?” The voice came from the man on the right, so Leah moved his direction. His features were compact, with bushy black brows and a mustache that didn’t leave much room between them for eyes and nose.
“Yes, sir. I’d like to report a robbery, please. Are you the sheriff?”
“Sheriff John Healy.” This deeper voice came from the man on the opposite side of the room as he rose and came to join his partner. He was a tall man with close-cropped hair, rounded features, and a long chin whiskers.
Just then, a muffled groan came from the direction of the back door. Both men ignored it, so Leah attempted to do the same.
She shifted to address them both. “I’ve come to report a robbery. My reticule was stolen from my cabin on the ship when we landed. Captain La Barge feels it may have been the porter who unloaded my trunks. It seems he’s been released from duty, however, and no one knows where to find him.”
The sheriff stroked the hair on his chin. “Was there any money in this reticule?”
Leah swallowed, her mouth sticky. “Yes, sir. All of my funds were in that bag.”
