Page 13 of The Marshal's Bride
“What’s on your mind, Matthews?” Whitney asked. He leaned his chair once more against the wall. Sam tossed his hat down again, before perching on the corner of the desk.
“There are some fresh faces at the tables in the last few days. Strangers asking questions about widows and little girls in town.” He gave Sam a knowing look.
“How many strangers?” Whit questioned.
The knot in Sam’s gut grew tighter, and his jaw clenched.
Spades drummed his fingers on the table. “Three at the game last night. One guy looks sort of familiar. I couldn’t place him, but it will come to me. The other two I’ve never seen before.”
Whit pushed his hat back on his head. “Sounds like I might join a card game. Lord, help me if Marmee or my ma finds out.”
Sam lifted his hand. “I can do it, Whit. I’m less likely to get in hot water with Mrs. Chapman.”
“No offense, fellas, but lawmen at a card game are going to cause a lot of folks to button up or not play at all. Maybe Ranger could help since he’s in town more, but I can also just report when I know things.”
“What’s in it for you, Spades?” Sam really didn’t like this suspicious feeling he’d developed. It wasn’t normal to question everyone’s motives in a town like Flat River.
“Maybe nothing,” the gambler shrugged. “The widow they’re asking about is friends with Ranger’s wife. He’s my best friend, and he’s happy for the first time in a long time.”
“Well, I’ll be,” Whitney teased. “There is a heart in there. Anybody else playing these days that we can trust? No need to make things more difficult for you.” Whitney was in planning mode, which Sam was thankful for. They could focus on the men asking about Justine and Hope, and he could focus on keeping them safe.
“Tater came in last night. I have some fellas that will help in a pinch, but it’s going to be the three of us unless someone tells Ranger.” Spades stood and pulled out his pocket watch. “I’ve got to go. There is a game tonight and I need to clue Libby in. She can pay attention too. Whiskey makes men talk, and men like to talk to a pretty lady. Let me know how you want to handle it.”
“Thank you.” Sam extended a hand, and Spades took it without hesitation.
“If you’re going to ask her to marry you, I’d suggest leading with telling her something about how she improves your life every day. I don’t know much about women, but if you figure it out, let me know. Otherwise, I’m going to end up saying something stupid when I finally ask my girl.” With a shake of his head, Spades let himself out, leaving both lawmen staring at his back.
“I don’t think he’ll ever get married,” Whitney shook his head.
“There’s something in the water in this town. Seems we are all falling under Ingrid’s plan to get the whole town married off. I need to talk to Hiram King and see if Ranger’s back yet.” Sam settled his hat on his head, pulled out his pistol, and checked the load before sliding it back in its holster. “Let me know if you need anything. I’m going to go see what Marcy’s is serving for dinner.”
Whit patted him on the shoulder before Sam pulled the door closed behind him.
Chapter Five
It had been raining for three days and the weather matched Justine’s mood. Hope was cranky because they couldn’t go to the park, and there was only so much Justine could do to entertain her. She hadn’t seen June since the day Marmee visited, and Justine missed her friend.
She wondered what Sam was doing, which upset her even more. She had no business wondering anything about Sam. The rain showed no signs of stopping, which meant that it would be a few more days before she could take Hope out to play.
Justine would take her chances in the rain if it meant seeing another human being.
“Shall we go visit Auntie June?” she asked Hope. Hope’s response was to scream louder. Checking to make sure she didn’t need a diaper change, Justine gathered a few items and made her way down to her friend’s house. She could hear Hiram and Ranger talking in the livery, so she knew June was home alone with the children.
Knocking on the door, Justine bounced Hope on her hip until her friend answered.
“I just put the children down…,” June’s smile turned to concern as she saw Justine holding a sobbing Hope. “Oh, goodness. Here, give her to me and come inside.” She held her arms out for the crying child. “What’s going on with Hope?”
“I don’t know. She’s crying and I’m crying.”
“You go in the sitting room and let me put her down with Sadie for a nap. I just put the kettle on. I was going to take advantage of the quiet, but a chat would be nice.” June rubbed Hope’s back, and the toddler settled down. The little girl placed her head on June’s shoulder with her thumb tucked into her mouth. “Go on,” June shooed. “I’ll be right back.”
Justine watched as her friend walked with a rather calm Hope towards the back bedroom. Now that Hope wasn’t screaming, perhaps she could sort her thoughts out better. Sometimes it was frustrating to have June downstairs instead of in the next room. And with all the children, it was becoming harder and harder to have a private conversation or seek counsel unless the little darlings were sleeping.
Justine moved to the sitting room and slid into the empty chair. The apartment was identical to hers, except the floor plan was flipped. The bedrooms were below her sitting room, while June’s sitting room was below Justine’s bedroom. She savored the silence for a moment and took advantage of it to gather her thoughts. Even though she had been weepy, sadness was not the emotion she had been feeling. Now she had time to stew over what they discussed; her emotions were something else altogether.
She was angry over Marmee’s not-so-subtle recommendation that she marry Sam. To suggest they do it to protect both their reputations had ruffled her feathers. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to stay in a town which would be so quick to turn on the marshal, whose manners Justine considered impeccable.
She enjoyed his companionship when he escorted her through town. He was a lively conversationalist. They often discussed books or Hope. It was a companionship that she hadn’t had with Jacob, something that felt almost like a genuine friendship, as if there was such a thing between a man and a woman.
