the drawer comes up short.” Maude shook her head. “We need some help for a couple of weeks, Hank.”
“I’ll ask around. Can’t pay much.”
“Hush about such things,” Maude said.
A thought raced through Casey’s mind, and she slowly turned to face the older gentleman. “Did you say for a couple of weeks?”
“Yes. Do you know of somebody?” He reached in his shirt pocket and placed his spectacles on his nose. He peered at her. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
Casey’s pulse quickened. “No, sir. I’m passing through, but I could use a job for a few weeks.”
“It would be hard work going through boxes and putting things on the shelves,” Maude said. “And most everything is dirty.”
“I’m not afraid of the work. Is there a boardinghouse in town?”
“My brother owns the only one,” Maude said. “Although since my sister-in-law died, the cooking isn’t so good.”
She wondered if what little money in her pocket would pay for a room and food.
“Maybe this gal could help out with a few things in exchange for a place to stay,” Hank said.
“You trying to work the poor girl to death? Mercy, Hank, the good Lord needs to hit you up alongside the head sometimes.”
“That’s all right,” Casey said. “I’ll do whatever is needed.”
“If you’re willing, we can get you started right away.” Hank stuck his thumbs under his suspenders. “I think the Lord is smilin’ on us today, Maude.”
Maude pressed her lips together. “Let’s hope it’s not at the expense of working this poor girl to death. What’s your name, miss?”
“Shawne. Shawne Flanagan. Thank you for helping me. I’m beholden to you.”
“We’re Hank and Maude Stevens. You’ll be working mostly in the back. Won’t be much opportunity to meet other folks,” Maude continued.
“I do fine by myself.”
Casey struck up a deal with the owner of the boardinghouse. She’d cook breakfast each morning before going to work at the mercantile and clean up the kitchen after she finished in exchange for her room. And the livery man could keep Stampede until she was ready to leave town.
For the first time in Casey’s life, she had a respectable job. A warm feeling rose up inside her. Was this what decent felt like? She hoped Maude and Hank wouldn’t ask personal questions. Casey caught her breath. The name of the town . . . Deer Creek. Odd name for a place in dry West Texas.
A week later found Casey helping Hank stock the shelves and put the items in “departments,” as Maude called them.
“Where you going once you leave town?” Hank stood and huffed. His rounded stomach seemed to get in the way of lifting the bags of flour from the storage room to the shelves behind the counter.
Casey sensed her face reddening. “St. Louis.”
“Got kin there?”
“I think so.” She knew he meant well, but the questions pounded at her conscience. Lying broke one of the Ten Commandments.
“Me and the missus been talking. Are you running from a husband?”
Casey offered a faint smile. “Something like that.”
“I knew it. Is he after you?”
She nodded and set a jug of molasses on the shelf. Hank, please stop.
“I’m sorry. You gonna be all right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Maude and I’ve been praying for you.”
A can of beans slipped from her fingers to the floor. “Thank you.” The thought of deceiving these good people made her feel dirty, the kind of filth that lye soap couldn’t scrub off.
Hank snatched up the can of beans and righted it on the shelf. “Would you like to go to church with me and Maude tomorrow?”
“I’m sorry, but I have work to do at the boardinghouse.”
“The owner needs a lesson on his Christian duty.”
“Maybe I can go next week.” Not even Jenkins would think to look for her in a church. She could see the newspaper headlines now: CASEY O’HARE STEPS INSIDE CHURCH. The roof would likely fall in.
A few days later, Casey stepped back from the shelves to admire how nice the store looked. The containers were stacked neatly, and she loved the smell of spices and coffee. In one corner were tools. Beside those were pots and pans. In another corner, ready-made clothes, boots, and shoes stood crisp and inviting. Casey tried to imagine the type of people who’d buy them. She’d be content to spend the rest of her life working for Hank and Maude. Even the cooking and cleaning at the boardinghouse weren’t too hard.
The past no longer stood foremost in her thoughts, because other decent things took over. If only she could rid