Alice Read online

  “It’s of no concern for a wee gal like you.”

  “Pa, I am not a wee gal. Why do you sometimes say those funny words?”

  “Your father’s parents came from Scotland. It was the way they spoke when he was growing up.”

  “Yeah,” Sam said. “Inverness is where they came from in Scotland.”

  “Did you always live here?” Emily asked, glancing from one parent to the other.

  Pa hesitated for a moment. “No.”

  “Where did you come from?” Emily shot back.

  “Larriet,” he finally said.

  “Ma, too?”

  “Yes. Now come along and finish your supper. You have homework to do then it’s off to bed.”

  “Oh, Pa. Do I have to?”

  “Yes, you do.”

  Alice helped her mother clear the table and wash the dishes. “We’ll need to have a talk one day, Alice.”

  “We’ve already had that talk.” It had not been much of a talk; just about her woman’s time coming every month and about after having relations with a man, if you stopped, it meant you were expecting a baby. She had learned a few more details from Maggie Anderson, whose older sister was quite open about it all as she had once worked in the Lucky Strike saloon in Golden Square.

  “Not about that.”

  “Then what, Ma?”

  “Don’t badger me.”

  “Has it got to do with Daniel?”

  Ma hesitated for a moment. “Yes, it does.”

  Alice wrung her hands. “Why can’t you just tell me?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  That night in the bedroom she shared with Emily, Alice stewed over this Daniel and Ma’s secret. She would have liked a room of her own, but at least the whole family was not crammed into one room like some people she knew.

  Pa had built two quite spacious bedrooms in the loft. He had also added a small parlor as he called it, and a large main bedroom. He was a good carpenter; a skill he had inherited from his father. Sam was hopeless with things like that. He could barely hammer a nail into wood.

  Pa had hewn this place out of the wilderness with his bare hands. As a child, sitting on his knee, his talks used to keep her enthralled. The creek still yielded a few specks of gold, although, not enough to make them rich. She did have a small jar of gold dust, which would be worth a few dollars. As children, she and Sam used to pan for gold on their school holidays.

  “Are you going to wear your blue dress to the church dance?” Emily asked.

  “Emily McGregor, you should be asleep.”

  “I’m not. Are you?”

  “I don’t know. I might not even bother going.”

  “You have to go. You just have to.”

  “Dancing doesn’t interest me.”

  “Oh, please. I want you to be there. Promise me you’ll come. I’ll miss you if you aren’t there.”

  “I don’t know why you should need me when you’ve got Sophie.” Alice stopped brushing her hair.

  “It’s not the same as having a big sister there.”

  “Oh, all right, better than staying here on my own, I suppose.” She placed her brush on the nightstand.

  “You will wear your blue dress? It looks so pretty on you.”

  “It’s the only decent one I own, so yes, I will wear it.”

  “That’s good. You will be the prettiest girl there. Well, after me and Sophie.”

  Alice laughed. “If you don’t go to sleep, I won’t go to the dance.”

  Silence reigned within seconds and Alice smiled to herself in the darkness. She would get to the bottom of the mystery of Daniel – in the lion’s den. She stifled a giggle.

  Chapter Three

  Next morning after an early breakfast, Alice, her father, and Sam headed off with a hundred head of cattle. Their destination, Golden Square, where a private buyer was waiting for them. With the dry conditions, Pa was happy to relieve the pressure on his pastures.

  They would take it easy as it was not all that far. Pa had learned from Max about a buyer who was looking for a hundred or so head of cattle, but only prime beef. Devlin had apparently put in a good word for them also, and with him being the Marshal, it carried a lot of weight. At the moment, their stock was in good condition as they had been supplementing their grazing with extra feed.

  Uncle Max often got to hear of things before anyone else did. Maybe it was because he had once been a sheriff and knew so many people. This time, it was Devlin who had set up the deal for them. All they had to do was deliver the cattle to Golden Square and collect their money.

  The sky was blue, the sun hot, even though it was still early. She had always enjoyed going on the cattle drives. Pa rarely let her go now if it was a long trip, always insisting she needed to stay home to care for Ma and Emily.

  It had led to fierce arguments. “Why can’t I go and Sam stay behind,” she used to yell.

  Pa rarely raised his voice but having made the decision, he always stood by it. She could never remember getting him to change his mind once it was made up.

  As for Devlin Stone, she had only met him a few times over the years. He was twenty-eight-years old and he and Sophie were Aunt Kate’s sister’s children. When their parents had died in an accident, Devlin had brought his baby sister to his aunt and uncle because he had no way of looking after her. They quickly adopted the little girl as they had no children of their own.

  Devlin visited them on and off. Max used to see him occasionally as he passed through Golden Square on his way to deliver his smoked goods to the butcher in Deadwood.

  She had found Deadwood exciting on the couple of times she had visited. For some reason, her mother hated the place, and Golden Square as well. On reflection, her mother kept a lot of secrets. Pa was often evasive about their early life also.

  Sam was riding flank with her, since Pa had appointed himself point man. A steer veered away from the rest of the cattle. Kneeing her horse forward, waving her hat and yelling, she soon had it back with its companions. Solitude suited her. That’s why she liked living on the ranch, although the excitement of a big town like Deadwood would be a nice change. She had no idea why her mother should hate it so much. Pa had never complained about the place.

  Their cattle buyer was from Deadwood and was prepared to pay cash money. Uncle Max surmised that he wanted the beef to feed the mining community at Lead. All they had to do was get the herd to Golden Square.

  She never received a wage, but her father would give her a few dollars from time to time, which she saved, having little to spend it on. All the usual female frippery most young women indulged themselves in held little appeal to her. Any wonder numerous people in Trails End thought her an oddity.

  Three dresses made up her wardrobe; one to wear to church and into town, one to wear around the house if she wasn’t getting around in pants and shirt. Her special dress was the pretty blue one Emily had spoken about last night. Why the little girl was so adamant about her going to the dance and wearing it, she had no idea.

  Sam galloped up to her. “What’s wrong with you? You’re letting the cattle drift. Pa will be fit to be tied if we have to chase after them.”

  “I won’t lose any. I’m keeping a good look out.”

  “Pa has been a bit crotchety lately, and Ma has been acting all strange as well. Would you know why?” he asked.

  “No, I haven’t noticed anything much. Do you know who this Daniel is?”

  “Nope. I better get back, just make sure you keep alert.” With a wave, he galloped off.

  Come on, Alice, stop thinking all this stupid stuff or it will send you crazy in the head, she scolded herself.

  They arrived in Golden Square mid-afternoon and handed the cattle over to a pompous little man chomping on a cigar. Well, not to him exactly, as four cowboys lounged around near him. He looked more like a gambler or a saloon owner to her way of thinking. She did not particularly like the looks of any of them.

  Pa gave him a bill of sale for the c
attle and the man handed over a wad of cash. So quick and easy she could scarcely believe it.

  “I think we deserve a cup of coffee at Dulcie’s Diner. The owner has been running it for more than twenty years.”

  After leaving their horses at the livery, they strolled along the main street. As they passed the marshal’s office, Pa said. “Just a minute, I want to thank Devlin for getting us the sale. Maybe I can offer to buy him a cup of coffee. It’s the least we can do to show our appreciation.”

  Alice waited outside with Sam. A pretty young woman alighted from a buckboard almost directly opposite them and he watched her with a stunned expression on his face. She elbowed her brother in the ribs. “Stop staring, she’s probably married with three kids.”

  “Oh, shut up.”

  Alice burst out laughing. “I’m only teasing you.”

  “Well, don’t.”

  Pa called out to them. “Come in and say howdy to Devlin.”

  Sam stepped into the doorway. “Howdy.” He quickly stepped back to continue watching the young lady.

  Laughing, Alice darted through the doorway. “Howdy, Devlin. Don’t mind Sam, I think he might have been struck by cupid’s arrow.”

  “Howdy, Alice.” Devlin grinned. “You’ve grown a lot since we last met.”

  “Have I?” She shuffled her feet uneasily. Devlin Stone was a fine looking man with his clear grey eyes and black hair, not to mention the dimple in his chin. Why did she notice something like that?

  “Thanks for the invite, Logan, but my deputy is on an errand and I don’t like leaving the place unattended. Give my best to Max, Kate, and Sophie when you see them.”

  “Sure thing,” Pa said. “Will you be going to the church dance?”

  Alice waited with bated breath to hear his answer while at the same time wondering why she cared.

  “Yeah, I promised Sophie I’d go.” He grimaced. “She cornered me in a weak moment. Are you going, Alice?”

  “Yes. Emily coerced me into it.”

  “Those two wee gals are a sneaky pair.” Her father gave an indulgent smile.

  “Save me a dance, Alice.”

  She nearly said. “I don’t dance,” but stopped herself. What would it feel like to be held in Devlin’s strong arms? Had she gone loco from being out in the sun too long? She had kept her hat on all the time.

  “Well, we best get along and have our coffee, we’ve got a long ride home.”

  “See you both at the dance,” Devlin said.

  “Yes, goodbye.” She stepped out the door ahead of her father. Sam stood waiting, looking quite down at the mouth.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “You were right, she’s taken.”

  “Oh well, plenty of other girls around.”

  “Not here there isn’t,” he said gloomily.

  Alice laughed and linked arms with her brother. “Anyway, if she lives here it would be too far away for any sparking.”

  “Yeah, I guess so.”

  The woman who greeted them at the diner had grey hair and had to be sixty if she was a day.

  “Good afternoon. I’m Dulcie, owner of this here establishment.”

  “Howdy,” they all chorused.

  “A table for three?” Her eyebrows quirked in query.

  “No, for six,” Sam hissed in Alice’s ear.

  Pa answered. “Yes, that will be fine, Dulcie. We’ll have three coffees and….”

  “I have some nice blackberry pie.”

  “I haven’t tasted blackberries since I was a wee lad.”

  “I’ll have blackberry pie too please.” Alice decided if it was good enough for her father it was good enough for her.

  “Yeah, me three,” Sam said.

  They sat at a table near the door and the women hurried off to get their order.

  “Pa, how old do you reckon that woman is?” Alice asked.

  “She would have to be at least sixty going by the time she has owned this place.”

  “That was my guess, too.” Alice glanced around. The diner was small and homely and with the appetizing smells wafting out from a lace curtain behind the counter, her mouth watered.

  “Why does Ma hate Golden Square?” Alice asked, trying to see if she could squeeze information out of her father. She was becoming like a dog with a bone, not wanting to let go of her interest in discovering the family secrets.

  “It’s not for me to say. Your mother has good reason for her dislike and I’m sure she will tell you one day.”

  “Why can’t you tell me?”

  “It’s not my story to tell, darlin’. Maybe some things are better left unsaid.”

  Chapter Four

  Devlin sat with his arms resting on the desk, his fingers tented. Alice McGregor had sure grown into a lovely young woman. She had always been pretty as a child, now he thought about it. Not that he had ever taken much notice of her. But she certainly caught his interest now.

  Maybe he should have been spending his free time in Trails End instead of Deadwood. Of course, it had not been purely pleasure in Deadwood, it had all been part of the plan to ingratiate himself with known consorts of Eugene Bodsworth, who was wanted in two states for murder, kidnapping and bank robberies. His mission was to infiltrate the gang, find their hideout in the Black Hills, and get the evidence that would see them all convicted and punished.

  It was dangerous work that he did for a secret federal agency, and he thrived on it. Maybe a couple of years more of this kind of work would satisfy his lust for living on the edge. Not to mention his bank account would be quite healthy.

  The marshal’s job here had been his stepping-stone to more dangerous assignments. His deputy was more than capable of taking the job permanently once he left. Part of his reward would be getting the job of sheriff of Trails End, which meant more to him than the money aspect.

  Wouldn’t Max love it if his nephew took over his old job? He could buy a place of his own close by and raise a family. On seeing the happiness of Logan and Jemma, not to mention Max and Kate, his long-term ambition was to have the same.

  He suddenly wondered if Alice had a beau. Why should he care what she had? Kate had never mentioned it, and she always kept him up to date with the doings of both families.

  Those bright blue eyes of Alice’s had really made an impression on him, not to mention her pink, very kissable lips. After he finished this assignment, maybe he would turn his attention to wooing Alice McGregor. That’s if he didn’t get himself killed in the meantime.

  This assignment would be his longest and most dangerous yet. Sometimes, he did regret the path he had chosen. In the beginning, the clandestine missions had appealed to him. He hated men like Eugene Bodsworth; rich, ruthless, and not caring who they hurt, or who they had to bribe to defend their evil empires.

  It was strange how things worked out. A friend who had once been a Texas Ranger was in charge of this new, well resourced, secret bureau. He had asked him to help out on special cases, knowing he could look after himself, and more importantly, could be trusted.

  In the short term, he would have to break Max and Kate’s hearts by becoming a crooked lawman. He was sworn to secrecy and could not risk telling a living soul. Dared not. It could cost him his life, not to mention those of a couple of other agents as well.

  Two days after their trip to Golden Square, her father handed Alice a letter.

  “Who would be writing to me?”

  “If you read it you might find out, darlin’. Maybe it’s from a young man,” he said.

  “Don’t torment her, Logan. But your father is right, open it and see.”

  Sliding her fingernail under the flap, Alice opened the letter and stared at the few lines written on the paper. “This has to be a prank. No sane person would write rubbish like this?”

  Sam snatched the letter out of her hand and gasped in shock as he read it.

  My Dear Alice,

  I have dreamed of holding you in my arms for so long. To feel your sweet li
ps against mine. I will worship you forever. Sam burst out laughing and made a couple of loud kissing noises.

  “Give it back.” Alice grabbed the paper out of his hand.

  “I think it’s very romantic,” her mother said.

  “It’s the ravings of a lunatic,” Alice retorted.

  “I think it sounds good.” Emily smiled. “I wonder who sent it?”

  “How should I know? It’s probably someone’s idea of a prank.” Alice meant to toss it in the stove so it would burn to a crisp but instead, shoved it in her pocked. She would scrutinize it closely later and see if she could recognize the handwriting. It had to be a prank.

  She would have thought it was Sam paying her back for tormenting him about the girl in Golden Square, but his shock had been genuine. Her ability to read him like a book had been a bone of contention between them for years. His eyes always gave him away, and somehow, she was able to pick up on it.

  “Let’s finish supper and go about our business. I’ve got bookwork needs doing.” Pa glanced around the table to let them all know the conversation was finished as far as he was concerned.

  “Help me with my homework, Alice.”

  “Oh, all right. Sam can dry the dishes.” Her triumphant smile at her brother had him scowling and muttering under his breath as he stood and picked up the dish drying rag.

  Holding hands, the girls scuttled off before their parents could intervene.

  In the sitting room, Emily produced her homework, all the while complaining about how unfair it was for the teacher to set them work to do at home.

  “I had to do it when I was your age,” Alice said. “And I didn’t have a big sister to help me.”

  “I have to make sentences out of these words,” Emily complained. “There are ten of them.”

  “I’ll help you a little. What is the first word?”

  “It’s carriage. I don’t know anything about stupid carriages.”

  “Well, think about who might ride in a carriage. For example, a king, a queen, or a prince.”

  “The handsome prince rode in a carriage,” the child said.

  “Yes, see you can do it. You just need to think about it. I used to find closing my eyes helpful so I could visualize things.”