Jessie (2 page)

Patience Dorn—Jeb's wife

Pastor Larry English—Jeb and Patience's pastor

Brad and Trace Holden—ranch owners who live outside of town

Jeanette Fulbright—Brad and Trace's aunt

Theta Holden—Jeanette's sister and Brad and Trace's ill mother

Becky—lives with and cooks for Jeanette

1884

Nate Kaderly—Token Creek's sheriff

Rylan Jarvik—pastor of the church

Bri and Danny Jarvik—Rylan's wife and son

Cassidy and Joey Holden—Trace's wife and son

Meg, Savanna, and Cathryn Holden—Brad's wife and daughters

Heather Wales—lives with and works for Jeanette Fulbright

Hannah and Clancy Wheeler—Jessie's daughters

From Texas

Eliot McDermott—Seth's brother

Cassy—Eliot's wife

Nate and Lindy—Eliot and Cassy's children

Part One

June 1873

Chapter One

Token Creek, Montana Territory

J
ESSIE
W
HEELER CAME SLOWLY
downstairs from her apartment into the mercantile below, the familiar sights and aromas a comfort and a distraction all at the same time. She shifted a stack of heavy cotton pants on a shelf and then fronted a few cans in one aisle before heading to the front counter, behind which sat rows of mailboxes.

Jessie was alone these days. Her father had been gone for more than a year, and her mother had been dead for three. She had grown up in this store so taking over had come naturally, but running it alone, ordering supplies, and keeping the books was sometimes a burden. She could find help for the backbreaking tasks of unloading and loading in the storeroom, and she had a cousin whom she trusted to run the register and help in any way needed, but the decisions were all hers. Some days the responsibility was a weighty one.

A customer was waiting when Jessie opened the store, and that suited her fine. It did no good to think about things that weren't going to change, and she knew getting busy was the best cure.

“What can I help you with today, Mrs. Carlisle?”

“I've got quite a list, Jessie. I think we'll start with lard and beans.”

“Will do,” Jessie said congenially, doing what she did best, knowing her own store and seeing to customers' needs.

Marty Carlisle's husband, Bart, was a rancher outside of Token Creek. Marty didn't get into town very often, and when she did, the list could be significant. Today was no exception. The two worked together for the better part of an hour, putting the order together and then transferring it to Marty's wagon.

Marty paid in cash and also settled the bill for the ranch, always nice for when Jessie needed to order items that had to be paid for in advance. After seeing Marty off, Jessie took a moment to right the register and grab the broom. Someone had come past the front of her store in muddy boots, and the boardwalk out front needed attention.

She swept for a time in peace, heading back inside only when Kaleb Heydorn, the train stationmaster, delivered a small sack of mail. He explained that it had been on the late train the day before. Jessie set to sorting it. She was still in the midst of this when a stranger walked in.

“Hello,” Jessie greeted.

“Good morning,” a man said, his voice deep.

Jessie set the mail aside.

“Can I help you?”

“Actually, I was hoping I could help you.”

Jessie looked at this tall, self-assured man and waited.

“I was hoping the owner might want to hire me,” the man continued.

Jessie knew she would do no such thing but asked, “Are you new in town?”

“Just passing through,” the man said.

Jessie's brows rose. It wasn't normal for someone looking for a job to admit such a thing.

“I woke up when the train stopped here,” the stranger went on, “and found my money gone from my pocket. I have to find work because I'm broke.”

Jessie wasn't sure she believed this but asked, “Where are you headed?”

“Texas.”

“It's early on your journey to be stranded.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

The words were spoken so dryly Jessie smiled. The stranger smiled too, and Jessie had to admit that he was very good-looking.

“I'm Seth Redding, by the way,” he said as he put his hand out.

“Jessie Wheeler,” she offered, shaking the hand.

“Your family owns this store?”

Jessie nodded, not willing to admit to this stranger that she was the only Wheeler left.

“Do you think your family can use me?” Seth tried again.

“Do you have any experience in mercantile work?”

“As a matter of fact, I've done a little bit of everything. I worked at a general store in Kingdon for about two months.”

Jessie nodded and decided to lay her cards on the table.

“What guarantee do I have that you won't come in here and steal everything you can lay your hands on?”

Seth looked thoughtful for a moment and then lifted the large satchel he was holding and put it on the counter.

“This is everything I own in the world. You're welcome to look inside and then put it anywhere you like. I won't leave town without it.”

There was no missing the earnestness in his face and voice, but that didn't mean he wasn't acting. Jessie took the liberty of looking inside the satchel and thought that if he was lying, he was very good. She noticed the clothing certainly, but also two family daguerreotypes and some legal documents.

“And you're really going to let me tuck this bag away until the end of the day?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Seth said. “I'm broke, and I'll be visiting Token Creek until that changes.”

Jessie couldn't help herself. She was drawn to the man and the way he said things. He was also easy to look at, very tall with broad shoulders and wavy, dark hair. His chin looked a bit stubborn, but his gray eyes were warm and friendly.

“I don't know if I can use you more than today,” the mercantile owner tried next.

Seth shrugged. “I'll take any work you can give me.”

Jessie nodded and said, “That door back there leads to the storeroom. You'll find some crates of canned goods in front of the shelves they go on.”

“I'll get to it,” Seth said and started that way.

Jessie stared after him and knew the exact moment he stopped and looked back at her.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. He then turned and went through the store, disappearing into the storeroom.

Jessie stood for a moment and thought about the exchange. She dearly hoped she would not regret hiring him and in truth didn't think she would. Just to be sure, however, she did tuck the satchel away in a spot where he wasn't likely to find it.

“I made you some dinner,” Jessie said several hours later, finding Seth in the storeroom, working on the fifth task she'd given him.

“Thank you,” the man said in genuine appreciation, stopping his work on the large crocks that Jessie wanted cleaned and rearranged and taking the plate she offered him.

“You can use the table there, and don't feel like you have to rush.”

Seth thanked his employer again and did indeed turn for the worktable that sat near the rear of the storeroom. Fresh air and light came from the two windows behind him. He sat down in the only chair available and looked at the plate of food she'd prepared, impressed with the amount. He tucked into beef and biscuits covered in gravy and thought about his employer.

So far he'd not seen anyone else working. He didn't think she owned the store on her own but knew if she did, he would be the last to hear about it. And she was clearly no stranger to the business. There was no hesitation in her as he finished each job. She knew exactly what she wanted him to do next and took no time in telling him. She didn't check on him constantly, but he was fairly certain it would take hours of searching to find his bag.

Seth heard her just then, clearly helping a customer, and realized he liked the sound of her voice. It was deep and little bit husky and suited her. He'd not met a woman so attractive in a long time, and never one so unaware of it. She moved with grace and unconscious ease as she walked or spoke, and she didn't seem the least aware of herself. Seth did a lot of looking when she was in the room, but if Jessie noticed, she hid it very nicely.

While he was still thinking of her, she appeared.

“I don't want to rush you, but I've a big order I'm working on out here. When you're finished, you could load it for me.”

“Certainly. I'll be right there.”

Jessie thanked him without ceremony and slipped from the room. Seth, watching all the while, smiled after her. He hadn't planned to spend more time in Token Creek than he had to, but if he could spend it in the company of Jessie Wheeler, it might be worth sticking around.

“Well, Pastor English,” Jessie greeted the older man who had come in a few hours before closing, “how are you today?”

“Doing well, Jessie. How about you?”

“I'm fine.”

“Busy today?”

“About normal for a Wednesday,” Jessie said with a smile. “What can I get you?”

“Just my mail today, thank you.”

Jessie thought he looked a little tired but didn't comment. She was reaching for his mail when Seth came to the front with a question. He was gone again before Jessie could introduce the two men, but the pastor asked about him.

“New worker?”

“Today, anyway,” Jessie said before going on to explain the situation.

“Stranded, did you say?”

“Yes. He says someone took his money while he slept on the train.”

“Does he need a place to stay?”

“He probably does. He's working in the storeroom. Feel free to talk to him.”

The older man nodded and went that way. Jessie had no idea how long he was in the store because she ended up with an indecisive customer who required all her attention in the clothing aisle. The woman could not decide if the blue serge was going to hide stains better than the black, and each time Jessie tried to leave the woman to look at the fabrics on her own, she had another question. At last she decided on the blue serge, but she took so long that by the time Jessie had seen her off, Seth was standing by, waiting for more work.