Wyoming Lawman (12 page)

P
earl tapped on Carrie's door, waited for her cousin to answer and stepped into the stuffy bedroom. Propped on pillows, Carrie looked as pale as the bed sheets. Pearl sat on the edge of the mattress. “Church starts in an hour,” she said gently. “You need to get dressed.”

Carrie sniffed. “I can't.”

“Tea will help.”

“
Nothing
will help.” She blew her nose into a hankie. “I didn't sleep a wink. There's no way I can manage a Sunday school class.”

Carrie and Amy shared responsibility for teaching the girls. “They need you, cousin.”

“I know.” She sighed. “Would you fill in for me?”

Pearl loved the idea, but she couldn't let Carrie wallow in self-pity. “You'll feel better if you go to church.”

Carrie dabbed at her eyes. “I can't do it. Not today.”

Pearl understood the desire to hide. She'd walked around with a pregnant belly and no husband. People, especially children, could be cruel. If Carrie lost her composure at church, people would gossip. She couldn't hide forever, but she didn't have to face her problems today. Tomorrow would be soon enough.

Pearl absently smoothed a wrinkle out of the sheet. “Do you remember when we first met? You told me not to cry because I'd get puffy?” Carrie nodded.

“You're more than puffy,” Pearl said gently. “You're as sodden as Toby gets.”

Her cousin sniffed. “I'm a mess.”

“Don't worry. I'll help Amy.”

“Thank you!” She gripped Pearl's hand. “I don't know what I'd do without you.”

“You'd be fine.”

“I'd be miserable,” she insisted. Biting her lip, she gave Pearl a look full of love. “I don't know what I'd do without you, cousin. I can talk to you about anything.”

Pearl felt the same way…almost. She'd never tell Carrie about the ribbons, but she wanted her cousin to know she'd had a private conversation with Matt. “We need to talk about last night.” Carrie groaned.

“I know it's hard,” Pearl said. “But someday you'll laugh about it.”

“Maybe, but will Matt?”

“I think so.” Pearl thought of the ribbons. Would he forget touching her hair? She wouldn't, but she had to try.

Carrie set a wadded hankie on the nightstand. “I tried so hard, but he ignored me all evening. He kept looking across the table at—at—”

Pearl's heart stopped.

“At Dan!”

Blood stained Pearl's cheeks, but she had no reason to be ashamed. She couldn't stop her wayward feelings, but she'd behaved honorably.

Carrie sighed. “Maybe he was worried about something.”

“Maybe.”

“I just don't know,” Carrie said with a moan. “I thought Matt and I had a lot in common, but last night he seemed like a stranger.”

Pearl refused to hide her unexpected meeting with Matt. “I talked to him afterward. We were in the kitchen.”

“What did he say?”

Pearl wanted to protect her cousin, but she couldn't distort the truth. “I don't think he realized how you felt until last night.”

“Really?”

“I'm sure of it.” Pearl described the conversation without mentioning the ribbons or the cake. Some things were private. Others had to be said with the hope of sparing her cousin more hurt. “He likes you, Carrie. But he doesn't seem…interested.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “I feel like a complete fool.”

“You're not.”

“Yes, I am.” She stared at the ceiling. “I still care for him.”

“I'm sorry. I know it hurts.”

Carrie's faced stiffened into a mask. She bit her lips, but the pain showed in her eyes. “I need…a moment. Would you leave me alone for a bit?”

“Of course.”

Pearl headed for the door. As she turned the knob, Carrie called out to her. “Wait! I didn't ask about you.”

“That's all right.”

“But I want to know.” Carrie put on a brave smile. “Who did you like best? Grant or Dan?”

The truth froze on Pearl's tongue. She liked Matt. “I'm not interested in courting. You know that.”

Carrie hugged her knees. “
I
like Dan. After Matt ran out, he made everyone feel at ease. Even me.”

“He's nice.”

A smile touched Carrie's eyes. “I think he likes you.”

“That's funny,” Pearl answered. “
I
think he likes
you.
”

“Me?”

Pearl saw a chance to boost Carrie's spirits. “He had his eyes on you all night. Didn't you notice?”

“I was too busy watching Matt. And Matt was watching…” Carrie's eyes turned into saucers. “Matt wasn't watching Dan! He was watching
you.
”

“Oh, Carrie.” Pearl could barely breathe. “He's yours. I know that. I'd never— It wouldn't be right. I'd—”

Carrie leaped out of bed and ran to Pearl. For a terrible moment, Pearl thought her cousin would slap her face. She hadn't meant to get in the way of Matt's affections. Truly, she hadn't. “Carrie, I—”

“Oh, Pearl.” Just like the day they'd met, Carrie wrapped her arms around Pearl's waist and hugged her. Emotions swamped them both. Upset. Anger. Jealousy…and love. Their feelings collided and mixed until Carrie stepped back.

“Listen to me, Pearl.”

“I'm so sorry. I—”

“This isn't your fault.”

“But—”

“It's not your fault,”
Carrie repeated. “I know what you did for me. You didn't want to have the party, but you put up with it for me. When you asked Matt to lunch, you did it for me.”

Pearl bit her lip. “That's true.”

“Every time you've had the chance, you've pointed him in my direction.” Carrie's face clouded with disappoint
ment. “If Matt doesn't have feelings for me, I'd be a fool to want him for a husband.”

“But you care for him.”

“I do.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I care enough to want him to be happy.”

“Oh, Carrie.”

“I want you to be happy, too. Now go.” She sounded unsteady. “This hurts too much right now. I need to be alone.”

“But—”

“Please.” The word broke into pieces.

Pearl knew how it felt to fall apart. Aching for Carrie, she left the room and closed the door. As soon as she stepped into the hall, pressure built in her throat and chest. She'd expected Carrie to berate her. Instead she'd offered compassion. If Carrie gave her blessing, Pearl could wear Matt's ribbons.

What if…

The thought stopped her cold. She had no business thinking of Matt as more than a friend. Even if Carrie's feelings for him changed, or if she stepped back, Pearl still lived with a profound fear of intimacy.

Shaking inside, she hurried to her room. She had to finish getting ready for church, so she sat at the vanity and looked at herself in the mirror. She'd already put her hair in a braid and wrapped it tight. Today it pulled at her scalp and gave her a headache. Feeling confused, she touched the braid. For the first time in a year, she wanted to be pretty. She didn't dare touch Matt's ribbons, but she had others.

Pleased and nervous, she opened the drawer and selected a strand of yellow satin. Instead of putting it in her hair, she looped it around the crown of her hat, tied a fancy bow and pinned the hat in place. It felt good to feel pretty and even better to feel brave. Satisfied, she changed Toby into
a blue baby gown, then carried him downstairs where her father was waiting with the baby carriage.

Tobias smiled at her. “You look lovely, princess.”

“Thank you.” Today she felt like a princess. “Where's Carrie?”

“She's not well.”

“I see.” Tobias didn't need an explanation. He'd witnessed the cream puff fiasco. “I hope she feels better soon.”

“Me, too.”

She put Toby in the carriage, and they left the house. As she expected, her father set a fast pace. Tobias refused to
ever
be late to church. Pearl was secretly pleased. His face had a healthy glow and he wasn't out of breath. She would never understand the symptoms that made her worry about his health. They came and went like changes in the weather.

Enjoying the moment, she smiled at him. “I'm excited about teaching.”

“I would be, too.”

Her father loved being a minister and had led Colfax Avenue Church for many years. He'd given it up to accompany her to Cheyenne. “You miss it, don't you?”

“I do, but I'm slowing down.”

“Not today, you're not!” Pearl laughed as they raced past a bungalow. They were practically running.

Tobias got a faraway look in his eyes. “I used to charge into church like a man on fire. Now I'm sitting on my laurels. I'm useless.”

“Papa! Don't say that.”

“It's true, Pearl. What am I good for these days?”

Looking up at him, she spoke in a scolding tone. “For one thing, you're the world's best grandpa. Toby and I need you.”

“If you say so.”

“I do.”

He patted her arm, but she was still worried about him. Tobias couldn't handle rigorous work, but he needed to do more than watch his grandson. As they turned the corner, she saw the church and felt hopeful. People were milling by the stone steps and speaking excitedly. Pearl spotted Amy and her mother. As they approached, Amy waved. “Did you hear? Half of Ferguson Street burned down last night.”

Pearl shuddered. “What happened?”

Amy told them about the devastation and the suspicion of arson. When she finished, her voice turned somber. “A cleaning girl died. Her name was Katy. Sometimes she came here to worship.”

Pearl had seen Katy looking in the window at Jasper's store. He'd shooed her away, then related a story about a smudge on a hairbrush. He'd told Pearl to turn away anyone from Ferguson Street.

Mrs. Hinn tsked her tongue. “The men who set that fire have to be stopped.”

“I quite agree,” Tobias replied.

“Miss Pearl!”

She turned and saw Sarah holding her daddy's hand. Pearl waggled her fingers in greeting, then let her eyes drift to Matt. He was dressed for church in the coat she'd wiped clean. She hadn't expected to see him. Would he think of last night and touching the ribbon? It was too soon for such thoughts, but she couldn't help it.

His eyes met hers and he removed his hat. “Good morning, Pearl.”

“Good morning, Deputy.”

As he greeted Tobias and the Hinns, Sarah tugged on Pearl's dress. “Do you like my hair?”

She saw a perfect braid. “You look lovely.”

The child spotted the baby carriage and squealed. “You brought Toby!”

“That's right.”

“He's wearing blue,” she said with authority. “That means he's a boy.”

When Toby made a noise for attention, Pearl picked him up. If people wanted to judge her, so be it. She proudly showed Toby to Sarah, who thought he was even more special than Annie, her doll. Pearl didn't mean to glance at Matt, but her eyes had a will of their own. The pleasure in his gaze stole her breath. So did the lazy smile on his lips. His eyes flicked to her hat. Was he looking for a blue ribbon? She didn't know, but he frowned slightly at the yellow bow on her hat.

Oh, the fun of making a man wonder! Pearl had to suppress a smile. She couldn't remember ever feeling this way.

Mrs. Hinn broke into her thoughts. “Tell us, Deputy. Is it true those men in derby hats set that fire?”

“Yes, ma'am,” he answered. “There were witnesses.”

Tobias scowled. “Such a tragedy.”

Pearl thought about the hat Jasper sometimes put in the window. In the time she'd worked for him, he hadn't sold a single one. Considering his clientele—businessmen and railroad executives—the coincidence seemed odd. Was there a connection to the men who burned down the Silver Slipper? It seemed likely. Later she'd mention her worry to Matt.

Amy broke into her thoughts. “The whole city could have gone up in flames. One girl died, but there could have been more.”

Mrs. Hinn huffed. “Arson's no way to fight sin!”

Pearl's gaze stayed on Matt. Instead of looking at
Amy, he had his eye on her father. “What do you think, Reverend?”

Tobias stood a bit taller. “I find Ferguson Street as distasteful as any God-fearing man, but burning it to the ground won't solve the problem. As the saying goes, ‘Hate the sin, love the sinner.'”

Amy and her mother started talking at the same time. As Tobias answered them, Matt turned to Pearl. “I don't see Carrie.”

“She's ill.”

“I'm sorry to hear it.” Except he didn't sound sorry. He sounded relieved. “I'll see her at school, then.”

He held her gaze for a moment too long, a sign he wanted her to understand his intentions. Tomorrow he'd clear the air with Carrie. Before Pearl could ponder what that meant for her, the church bell rang a familiar call to worship. She put Toby in the carriage and told Amy she'd be taking Carrie's place. With Sarah in tow, they left for Sunday school class.

As they walked away, she heard Matt speaking to her father. “We have something in common, sir. Perhaps we could talk after the service?”

“Of course.”

Why would Matt want to speak with her father? Pearl had no idea, and she wouldn't ask. Once a minister, always a minister. Tobias wouldn't breathe a word of his conversation with Matt. Unless… She thought of the way Matt had looked at her today. Was the conversation about her? Did he want to court her? At the thought, she could barely breathe.

What if…
The question dangled like a ripe apple. Afraid to touch it, she walked with Amy and Sarah to teach Sunday school.