away when the ore runs dry. A railroad town. Especially out there. It’s going to be a going concern for fifty, a hundred years maybe.”
Luke studied the map and sighed as things finally fell into place.
“But, like I was saying,” Newton said. “We aren’t going that way. I don’t care what the bosses think. Not if they want me to stay on this job.”
Luke nodded. “Yes, but the killer doesn’t know that. Does he?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Rebecca finished wiping down the last table, then joined Helen in the kitchen to see if she needed any help before they closed up for the night. She wrang her hands as she looked around for something to clean.
Helen smiled at her over her shoulder. “You are skitier than a goose on Christmas eve. He’ll get here when he gets here.”
Sighing heavily, Rebecca nodded. Her friend was right. Worrying would not bring him home any earlier. It had been seven days of nothing, but heart aching fear mixed with hope and anticipation. They would be able to start their lives together when her Luke returned. ‘Please,’ she silently begged.
How many things could go wrong? The Feltons could try to free their brother. Armed bandits could attack a stage hoping to take a gold shipment. A horse could trip and fall sending its rider over a cliff. There were so many things that could kill him.
She just knew that she wouldn’t be able to settle her insides until she could hold Luke in her arms and know he was safe.
“That’s it for the night,” Helen said as she folded her washrag and hung it over the side of the washtub. “Chester should be here any minute. He’s going to walk us home?”
Rebecca smiled at her friend. “When are you two going to get married?”
Helen blushed then gently swiped at Rebecca dismissively. “Don’t be silly. At my age?”
Smiling, Rebecca shook her head. “The man is besotted with you.”
Again, Helen scoffed, “he’s in love with my peach cobbler.”
“A man doesn’t look at peach cobbler the way he looks at you. It’s a different kind of hunger.”
A deep red flushed across Helen’s cheeks as she turned away.
“I’m telling you,” Rebecca said, “he’s a good man …”
“None better,” Helen interjected.
“Then why not marry him?”
Helen paused for a moment before sighing heavily. “Because he ain’t asked.”
Rebecca smiled as she remembered how she had forced Luke into asking her to marry him. “Maybe he doesn’t know you want to be asked.”
Smiling weakly, Helen looked over at her with fear in her eyes. “I don’t know how,” she whispered. “I never learned how to get a man. And I’m too old to start now.”
“Helen,” Rebecca said as she smiled gently. “You might have to risk your heart a little. But I’m telling you. The man is looking for a sign. Something to push him into taking action.”
Her friend continued to look doubtfully but before she could answer, the front door opened and Chester Polk stepped in, dipping his hat at Rebecca before smiling broadly at Helen. “You ladies ready?”
“I’m going over to the Jail for a moment. Jake will walk me back,” Rebecca said as she shot Helen a knowing look. The last thing her friend needed was a chaperone.
Helen bit her lip as she nodded. Rebecca took off her apron and started for the door when Helen grabbed her arm so she could whisper into her ear, “Don’t wait up. I might be a bit late.”
Rebecca hugged her quickly and whispered back, “Or, don’t come home at all.”
Helen’s eyes grew big with surprise, but Rebecca could see that the thought was not a complete shock to her friend. In fact, if she would guess, it had been at the forefront of Helen’s mind for months. And it wasn’t as if the woman was a young girl. She was a woman grown and almost anything was acceptable if it led to a wedding.
The thought of marriage filled Rebecca’s mind with thoughts of her own wedding. She had worked out the details with Reverend Prescott and his wife. it wouldn’t be large. A dozen friends or so. Helen had agreed to stand next to her.
She wondered if the roses at home were in bloom. Those down by the creek should be. Maybe if she asked Luke, he would ride out there with her the day before the wedding so she could cut some. It would be nice if the church had some of the flowers she had planted as a young girl.
Besides, it would be