been made and nothing he said would change her mind. “Ezra is feeling up to a light breakfast.”
“That’s wonderful.” Miss Morton headed for the sickroom.
“He’d like his clothes.”
She stopped. “He wants to get up? Is that wise? Shouldn’t he be staying in bed for now?”
Ryder grinned at her. “I’ll let you tell him.”
Kent came from the far bedroom. “I gotta go.”
“I’ll take you.” Ryder joined the boy. “I’ll keep guard while the rest of you make that little journey.”
He and Kent left the house. He let Kent go first and used the time to give his surroundings a good look. No one moved on the street though he heard a few doors bang as if the occupants had made a similar journey outside. Kent finished and Ryder watched until he was safely back in the house before he entered the outhouse.
Then as he promised, he stood watch as the ladies hurried down the same path.
When everyone was safely back inside, he locked the door. He knew men had gone out last night and more would go out again this morning to search for the pair of thieves. Until they were in the hands of the law, he would keep the doors locked and stay to watch out for the occupants of the café.
The day passed slowly. Only four men came for dinner and, having learned why the place was locked, ate hurriedly and departed for home.
The doctor paid a visit to check on the preacher. Burnsie had prevailed upon his friend to stay until the danger was over.
Ezra insisted on getting up and sat at the table with them to eat soup but didn’t need any urging to return to bed.
Every time one of them had to go to the little house down the path, Ryder kept guard and wasn’t at ease until they were back safely. Even then, his nerves were taut.
It was almost dark when the posse returned to report the two robbers seemed to have vanished.
“Their tracks went into the creek and it looked like they was headed west,” Burnsie told the men gathered at the store. “We rode the creek a long ways. Finally found tracks still heading west. My guess is they’s moved on.”
It was decided by the men of the town that they would keep things locked up one more night. Then, if there was no sign of the men, they deemed it would be safe to relax.
Burnsie made the announcement. “They maybe likes to attack one man alone and unarmed. Maybe trying to rob a town ain’t to their likin’”
Most of the men agreed, but Ryder wasn’t convinced. If he were a thief, he’d be willing to wait until everyone let down their guard then maybe slip in the back door of businesses and homes. Yes, the men had followed the trail and it seemed to indicate the men had left the area, but it would be easy enough to turn around and return another way. However, he kept his concerns to himself.
He returned to the café, waited for Miss Morton to unlock the door for him, and locked it again after himself. The ladies were anxious to hear what he’d learned.
The children were in the bedroom, out of hearing. Ezra was sleeping on his bed.
He quietly repeated what Burnsie had said. How they failed to find the pair, but the trail seemed to indicate they had ridden away from town. Told them of the decision to keep things locked up one more day.
The ladies looked at each other then back to Ryder.
“What do you think?” Miss Morton asked.
Surprised that she cared for his opinion, he smiled. “I think we can’t be too careful.”
She nodded.
A ruckus arose from the children’s bedroom.
“They’re getting cranky at being confined all day.” Miss Morton sighed. “Frankly, so am I, but at least I understand the necessity for it. I can’t tell them the real reason, but I think Kent has figured it out. It’s made him edgy and impatient with his sister.”
“Why not play hide-and-seek with them again? They enjoyed that last night.”
Miss Morton nodded. “That’s a fine idea.” Her tone lacked any enthusiasm.
Ryder had watched and listened to her all day trying to cope with the confined children. “I’ll play with them.” Without giving her a chance to voice any protest, he went to the children’s room. “Who wants to play hide-and-seek with me?”
The pair erupted from the room, both yelling that they did.
The dining room was gloomy, full of shadows. The children scurried in and