The Marshal's Promise

“Oh, Rebecca, you’re back!” She grabbed Rebecca’s hand and pulled her into the sitting room. “How did the job hunting go? Did anyone hire you? Did you try the druggist? What did he say?”

Rebecca laughed. “If you will stop asking so many questions, I’ll tell you.” She noticed that Hannah Young sat at the table sipping from a small china cup. “Hello.”

The schoolteacher answered in a very soft voice. “Hello.” Her blue eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Well, tell us,” Eliza demanded. “Rebecca has been looking for employment,” she informed Hannah, as if she’d not told her of Rebecca’s earlier visit, and then she filled another teacup.

Rebecca eased onto the soft cushion of the kitchen chair. “Thank you.” She took the tea that Eliza held out to her.

“Did you?”

“Did I what?” Rebecca teased, setting the cup down.

Exasperated, Eliza huffed, “Get a job?”

“I did.”

Eliza squealed and then demanded, “Really? Where?” She put the sugar bowl in front of Rebecca.

Hannah set her cup down and folded her hands in her lap. She didn’t say anything, but simply waited.

Rebecca spooned two teaspoons of sugar into her hot tea. She glanced at Hannah and they shared a grin. At a snail’s pace she stirred her tea.

Eliza burst. “Oh! Come on, tell us.”

At the same time, the little bell over the door jingled the arrival of a new customer.

Eliza groaned. She leaned forward on the table and whispered, “Don’t say a word until I get back.” Her brown eyes drilled into Rebecca. “Especially you.” She shook her finger in Rebecca’s direction.

“I promise, I won’t say a word about the job until you get back.” Rebecca took a sip of her tea.

Hannah stifled a giggle but not before Eliza pinned her with her brown gaze.

“I promise,” Hannah said, still grinning.

Satisfied they wouldn’t discuss Rebecca’s new job without her, Eliza left the room in a swirl of skirts. They heard her call out a greeting to the lady who’d entered.

Rebecca leaned toward Hannah and asked in a soft voice, “Is she always like that?”

Another giggle escaped Hannah before she answered, “Always.”

They sipped their tea in comfortable silence. Rebecca’s thoughts were on the trip she planned to make to the Millers’ store. She intended on stocking the marshal’s kitchen with a big coffeepot, lanterns, crockery, pots and pans, iron skillets, a Dutch oven, cooking utensils, knives and dishes. Then there were the food staples she’d need, like coffee beans, spices, baking powder, oatmeal, flour, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, fruit and vegetables, honey and molasses, crackers, cheese, syrup and dried beans. Her mind swirled with what she’d buy and cook in the cozy kitchen.

“She didn’t tell you, did she?” Eliza asked as she hurried back into the room.

At Hannah’s negative shake of the head, Eliza pressed on. “That was Mrs. McClain and Isabel. Her daughter is getting married in Aztec next week and we had to do a final fitting.” Eliza laughed. “I think that’s the fastest final fitting I’ve ever done.” She refilled her teacup. “Now, Rebecca, where will you be working?”

Rebecca could only imagine the look on Mrs. McClain’s face as Eliza rushed her daughter through the fitting. She set her cup down and answered, “I’ll be keeping house, cooking meals and doing the marshal’s laundry.”

Eliza’s jaw dropped. Her brown eyes resembled those of a hoot owl. When her friend had nothing to say, Rebecca looked to Hannah.

The schoolteacher’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright.

“What is wrong?” Rebecca asked, looking from one of them to the other.

Hannah recovered first. “Nothing is wrong, Rebecca. It’s just that we didn’t know the marshal had decided to stay here in Cottonwoods Springs.”

That seemed like a reasonable excuse for the women’s shocked reactions to her news, but Rebecca sensed there was more. “And?”

Rebecca waited. She expected that at any moment Eliza would find her tongue.

Eliza took a big gulp of tea. Hannah followed suit.

The hatmaker shook her head. “Oh, I dread to think what the older ladies will have to say about this. They will chop you up and have you for breakfast, Rebecca. You’re going to have to tell the marshal you can’t do it.”

Rebecca looked from one woman to the other. Hannah was nodding her agreement with Eliza. “No, I accepted the position and I don’t care what a bunch of old ladies have to say about it.”

“But Rebecca, I thought you were a Christian.” Hannah reached across to pat her hand.

Anger boiled to the surface. “I am a Christian, Hannah. But I don’t see what that has to do with this.”

Eliza jumped to her friend’s rescue. “You are a single woman, he’s a single man. It wouldn’t be decent.”

Rebecca sat back in her chair. “It’s not like that,” she said in a soft voice.

“We know that, but the tongues will begin wagging as soon as the gossips hear this.” She pressed on before Rebecca could react. “You haven’t been here long. This is a small town with very little for the local gossips to do.”

Rebecca took a deep breath and said a silent prayer. Had she made the right decision? Was this something God approved of? She searched her heart and had peace about the decision. The concerned look on both her new friends’ faces had Rebecca reasoning with them. “Eliza, did those same women speak out against you when you bought this house and changed it into a hat shop?”

“Well, yes, but that was different.”

Before she could add more, Rebecca jumped in with a question for Hannah. “Have they ever spread rumors or said mean things about you, Hannah?”

The young schoolteacher looked down at her hands and nodded. “Yes.”

Rebecca nodded. “So they are going to talk, no matter what I do. Right?”

Eliza answered. “Yes, but living with a man without marriage, that’s not right, Rebecca. Surely even you can see that.” Again she gulped her tea.

It was Rebecca’s turn to become speechless. Who said she would be living with the marshal? Her cheeks began to heat up as she realized what her new friends thought of her. She gritted her teeth and prayed for patience and wisdom before speaking.

“Please don’t be angry,” Eliza said. “We don’t want you to go against…”

Rebecca held up her hand to stop Eliza’s tirade of words that was sure to follow. “First off, I’m not moving in with the marshal. I will be going to work and returning to the Millers’ place each evening, at least until I can afford my own place.”

Eliza opened her mouth to interrupt. But this time Hannah stopped her. “Wait, Eliza. Let her speak.”

Rebecca nodded to thank Hannah and then continued, “Second, I’m willing to forgive you both since you really don’t know me, and third, I need to go, I have shopping to do.” She stood to leave.

Hannah’s firm voice stopped her. “Please sit back down, Rebecca.”

So that was the way to handle students—firm voice and constant eye contact. Rebecca eased back onto her seat.

“Thank you. Eliza and I didn’t mean to upset you or hurt your feelings. You’re right, we don’t know you very well, but I know we both want to know and help you. Please forgive us for jumping to the wrong conclusion.”

It was the most words she’d ever heard Hannah speak. Were these ladies to become lifelong friends who would love her no matter what? Rebecca feared to believe it, and yet, deep down prayed it would be so.

“Yes, please forgive us. I’m not sure why we jumped to the wrong conclusion.” Eliza’s cheeks held pink coloring and her neck had turned red.

Humbled by their sincerity, Rebecca blushed. “Thank you both. Maybe I should have told you I will be going to his house in the mornings, fixing his breakfast, and while he is away during the day, I will be cleaning his house, doing his laundry and then cooking his dinner. Once he arrives back home in the evening, I will be returning to the Millers’. Yes, that’s how I should have told you.”

Silence filled the room.

Then Eliza came alive again. “Do you have to stay at the Millers’? Or can you live wherever you want? Because, I’d love it if you would move in with me. Where is his house? Is it close to here?”

Hannah shook her head and then picked up her tea. Did Hannah wonder how Eliza could rush from one thought to the next, like she did?

“Well?”

Rebecca laughed. “No, I don’t have to live with the Millers. Yes, I can live wherever I desire. And, yes, the marshal’s house is one street over and back from here.”

“Then you can live here with me! I have two bedrooms. Yours would be small, but you would have your own space. Come on, I’ll show you.” Eliza was out of her chair and through the door before either Rebecca or Hannah realized that she planned on leaving.

Hannah stood first. “You might as well humor her.” She followed Eliza from the room.

Rebecca took a deep breath before standing. Lord, will everyone judge my decision to work with the marshal like Hannah and Eliza just did? And, Lord, You better step in quick if I’m not meant to move in here with Eliza.

Chapter Five

Seth strolled out of the Millers’ store with a frown on his face. Mrs. Miller had been happy to inform him that Rebecca had moved from their residence and into Mrs. Kelly’s. She’d also given him the bill for the supplies Rebecca had had delivered to his house two hours earlier. He shook his head. Miss Ramsey had been busy, but what had he expected?

His boots kicked up dust as he walked toward his new home. That she’d be looking for the remainder of the stolen money and diamonds? He pushed the thought of stolen money and diamonds from his mind.

Would she be waiting for him when he got there? Seth’s emotions warred with his reasoning. He wanted her to be there waiting with a hot meal, and then again he didn’t want her to be there. The thought of her cooking at his stove, setting his table and smiling across it at him tugged at his heart. He reminded himself that he couldn’t get romantically involved with her. Besides, he’d killed Jesse and when she learned that she’d never forgive him.

In a quiet, firm voice, Seth spoke to himself. “I am a U.S. Marshal. I have no business thinking about her that way.” Maybe speaking the words out loud would convince his heart it was true.

He slowly climbed the steps to his house. Seth took a deep breath and opened the door. The smell of green chili stew filled his nostrils and his stomach growled its appreciation of the welcoming aroma. Expecting to find Rebecca at the stove, he squared his shoulders and entered the kitchen. Only, she wasn’t there.

Disappointment and relief washed through him. He released the air in his lungs and turned to look in the bedrooms for her. After a quick inspection, Seth realized he was alone in the small house. He followed his nose back to the kitchen.

His gaze moved around the room. She’d moved things around. A white cabinet with two drawers now sat beside the stove. A washtub sat on top of it. She’d hung a small shelf above the cabinet and several bottles containing spices set on top of that. The large cupboard now stood against the wall and held all his new dishes. The kitchen table and four chairs sat in the center of the room and in front of the cupboard. The potato bin stood beside the window on the other side of the room. Sheer curtains covered the window and the table had a crisp, clean cloth draped over the dark wood that matched the curtains. How had she done it? In just a few short hours she’d turned his kitchen into a cozy place to eat.

He picked up a bowl and walked to the stove, where a pot of stew, a skillet with a stack of homemade tortillas and a coffeepot were warming. Instinctively Seth reached to the closest drawer in the white cabinet and pulled it open. His gaze landed on a large ladle. He grabbed its handle and dipped the cupped end into the stew. The aroma of meat and green chili teased his nose.

Seth located more utensils in the cabinet and then carried his meal back to the table. He pulled out a chair and was almost seated when a knock sounded on the front door. His gaze went to the door and then back to his bowl. The desire to ignore the summons tugged at him. The knock came again. He sighed and walked to the door.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Seth, but I was wondering if I might have a few minutes of your time.”

He pulled the door open wider. “Well, sure, Reverend Griffin. Please do come in.” Seth stepped farther back into the room. It was amazing how fast the reverend had located him. “I didn’t realize you were in town.”

“Only been here a few hours.” The reverend smoothed his mustache over his top lip.

“Would you like some supper?” Seth asked, leading the way to the kitchen.

“No, thank you. I just ate over at the diner.”

Seth stopped and turned to face him. “Oh, would you rather sit in the sitting room to talk?”

“No, I don’t want to keep you from your supper. We can chat at the table.”

Seth nodded and continued on to the kitchen. He poured each of them a cup of coffee and then sat. “What brings you here?”

Reverend Griffin pulled out a chair across from him. He cleared his throat. “Why don’t you tell me about you and Miss Ramsey?” He picked up his cup and held it his hands.

“There’s nothing to tell. She needed a job and I gave her one.”

The reverend looked him straight in the eyes and demanded, “Doing what?”

He took a deep breath and folded a tortilla in half. If it were any other man, he’d tell him it was none of his business, but since James Griffin was a man of God, Seth decided it would be best just to answer. “She cooks and cleans for me.”

“That’s all?” He arched an eyebrow and studied Seth over the rim of his cup.

Savory stew and spicy flavors coated Seth’s tongue. He had to swallow before answering the minister. “No, she also agreed to do my laundry once a week. Why all the questions, Reverend?”

James set his cup down. “It’s like this, son. The ladies think it isn’t decent for a young woman to be here with you alone.”

Seth sighed. “Reverend, Miss Ramsey isn’t living here with me. She’s coming in every morning, while I’m working, to cook and clean. She wasn’t here this evening when I came home. So I don’t see what they are upset about. And, if it bothers them so much, why didn’t one of them offer to be her chaperone?”

James laughed. “You better be careful what you ask for, Marshal. I can just see Mrs. Walker and her group of friends doing just that. Now, let me get this straight. You won’t be home when she’s here?”

Seth pushed his bowl back. All his interest in food was gone. “I can’t guarantee that, Reverend. There may be times we are both here.”

James frowned. “I see.”

“But I give you my word, on those occasions Miss Ramsey will be safe with me.”

The two men studied each other. Finally the minister smiled and pushed back his chair. “Then that’s good enough for me.” He walked to the door and Seth followed.

“I’ll see you on Sunday, Reverend.” Seth stopped in the doorway.

They shook hands and then the minister left.

Seth closed the door and looked about. The sitting room had been dusted and swept. Thanks to his promises, Rebecca now worked for him and the town gossips had started to spread their poison.

* * *

Rebecca gathered her basket of applesauce-oatmeal muffins and headed out the door. She stopped on the sidewalk and enjoyed the crisp morning breeze. Mr. Watson entered the newspaper office. He waved at her before shutting the door.

The sound of skipping feet caught her attention and she turned to see Grace Miller skipping toward her. “Hi, Miss Rebecca.”

“Well, good morning, Grace. Off to school this morning?” she asked.

Grace held a lunch pail in one hand and a book in another. “Yeah, Ma makes me leave early every morning. I end up there way before the other kids. Where are you going?” She tugged at the long brown braid that had landed on her shoulder when she’d stopped skipping.

Rebecca tried to remember if Grace had left early the mornings she’d been staying at the Millers’ house. After a few moments, she gave up. “I am headed to work.” Rebecca started to walk down the sidewalk. She liked the idea that she had a job now and didn’t have to rely on someone else to take care of her.

“At the marshal’s house?”

“Yes, at the marshal’s house.”

Grace walked along beside her. “Mama says you are lucky he needed someone ’cause there isn’t no work here.”

“Because there isn’t any work here,” she automatically corrected.

Grace frowned up at her. “That is what I said.”

Rebecca laughed and continued walking. She was in too good a mood to press the matter further. Grace skipped along beside her.

“Your mother is right. I feel very blessed.” Rebecca tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. If it hadn’t been for the marshal, she’d have had to go home. The last place she wanted to go.

“Can I go with you to the marshal’s house? I don’t want to go to school yet.” Grace stopped in front of the diner and looked up the hill at the school.

The smell of bacon and eggs drifted to them as the town banker opened the diner door and walked out. “Excuse me, ladies.” He tipped his hat at them and then continued on down the sidewalk.

“Yes, as long as you’re sure your mother doesn’t mind.”

Grace smiled. “She said she doesn’t mind as long as I get to school on time.”

Rebecca frowned. Had Mrs. Miller planned on Grace going with her to Seth’s house? That’s the way it sounded, but then again, children often maneuvered things around to fit what they wanted to do. Besides, what difference would it make as long as Grace got to school on time? “Well, then, let’s go.”

They arrived and Rebecca knocked on the door. Grace shifted from foot to foot as they waited. Seth opened the door. He stood before them with wet hair and stocking feet. The brown curls coiled about his white collar and Rebecca itched to reach out and touch the damp strands.

“Good morning,” she said in a soft voice.

Grace looked up at her. The young girl tilted her head as if to study Rebecca’s face further. The expression in her eyes said she knew something was wrong but wasn’t sure what.

Rebecca cleared her throat and said a little more forcefully, “Good morning, Marshal.”

He smiled at Grace. “I see you brought a chaperone this morning.”

“I’m not a chaperone. I’m Grace Miller.” The nine-year-old stood up taller as if to remind him of who she was.

“So you are.” He tugged her braid.

Rebecca pulled her shawl closer around her shoulders. “May we come in?”

Seth opened the door farther and Grace slid around him. He looked into Rebecca’s eyes and smiled. The dimple in his left cheek winked. “Sure, come on in.”

He inhaled as she walked past. “What’s in the basket?”

“Applesauce-oatmeal muffins. My mother’s recipe.” Rebecca walked past him and headed for the kitchen. “I thought you might like them with a hot cup of coffee for breakfast.”

“Sounds wonderful,” he answered, following close behind.

Her mother used to say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Rebecca hadn’t thought of that in a long time. She made the coffee and listened to Grace and Seth talk about school and the spelling test that Grace was dreading.

She put the muffins on the table and got down three small plates. Next, she poured herself and Seth coffee. “Would you like a glass of milk, Grace?”

“If you have it,” the little girl answered politely.

“I do. I’ll be right back.” Rebecca went out to the well and pulled on a long rope. The evening before, she’d tied a mason jar filled with milk to one end of the rope and lowered it into the cold water below.

She returned a few minutes later to find both Grace and Seth munching on the muffins.

“These are very good.” Seth indicated the muffin in his hand and then sipped his coffee.

Rebecca smiled. “Thank you. I never think they taste as good as when Mother made them.” She poured the milk for Grace and set the glass down beside her.

“Thanks, Miss Rebecca.” She picked it up and gulped it down. “Oh, it’s so cold!”

“That’s because it just came out of the well.” Rebecca sat down and picked up one of the muffins. She bit into the sweetness and sighed. They were good, but like she’d said earlier, not as good as her mother’s. The brown sugar and oatmeal topping didn’t taste as sweet.

“May I have another one, Miss Rebecca?” Grace was already reaching toward the bowl.

“Of course you can.” Rebecca licked the sugary sweetness from her lips. She looked up to see Seth watching her. Tingling heat filled her face.

He pushed his chair back. “If you ladies will excuse me, I need to get to work.”

Rebecca followed him to the door. “Is there anything special you want me to do today?” she asked as he stepped out onto the porch.

“Just do what I’m paying you to do, and don’t expect anything more from me.” He stomped off around the house. Rebecca knew the barn was behind the house and figured he was going after his horse.

Grace came to stand beside her. “What did he mean by that?”

Rebecca shook her head. “I have no idea.” The man seemed as skittish as a mother deer with a new fawn, another good reason to stay away from him. She knew opening her heart to a man like him would only lead to heartbreak.

Chapter Six

The sound of the school bell had both Rebecca and Grace hurrying back inside. Grace to get her book and lunch pail, Rebecca to get the breakfast and the previous night’s dinner dishes washed. She’d noticed earlier that Seth had piled his dinner dishes into the new dishpan.

“See you after school, Miss Rebecca!” Grace yelled as she raced back out the front door, the sound of the slamming door a sure sign of her departure.

Rebecca grabbed the water bucket and walked out the kitchen door to the well. What had Seth meant by “don’t expect any more from me”? Did he think she’d expected him to give her this job? Surely not. He’d been the one to suggest it and had even seemed angry when he’d realized she’d been out seeking employment elsewhere. She carried the water to the stove to heat.

Then she made her way to the bedrooms. The guest room looked the same as when she’d left it the day before. Seth’s bed looked as if he’d wrestled a bear during the night. Rebecca stripped the sheets and quilts off it and then remade the bed.

Next she returned to the kitchen and poured the hot water into the dishpan. After the dishes were washed, Rebecca swept and mopped the kitchen floor. While it dried, she stepped outside and looked at the backyard. To the left someone had hung a clothesline between two boards and to the right an overgrown garden spot had been fenced off. At the back of the lot stood a big red barn.

“Lovely day, isn’t it?”

Rebecca turned toward the sound of the male voice. The speaker stood beside the corner of the house, under a large Cottonwood tree. He looked to be about her age. A hat covered his dark hair and hid his eyes. “Yes, it is.”

He pressed away from the tree and moved closer to her. “I haven’t seen you around here before.” His voice dripped of sweetness.

Unease warned her not to allow him to get too close. She took a step back.

The stranger bent down and plucked a piece of grass, he chewed the end of it. His gaze never left her.

“I’m new to Cottonwood Springs.” She walked backward toward the door. “If you will excuse me, I have work to do.”

He stood and started toward her again. “Aw, why don’t you stay outside for a bit? We could get to know each other.” A crooked-toothed grin inched across his face.

The hair on the back of Rebecca’s neck prickled. She continued walking backward. “I don’t even know your name, sir. Now if you will excuse me.” Rebecca turned and opened the door.