Stealing Jake - By Pam Hillman Page 0,23
widened and she jerked her gaze away, a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Was Miss MacKinnion the woman she’d seen with Jake? Her stomach threatened to reject the meager breakfast she’d eaten earlier.
Lots of women had black cloaks, didn’t they?
But few were as tall as Miss MacKinnion.
The thought did little to calm her stomach.
“Another time, then.” Mrs. Johansen and Miss MacKinnion moved away.
The organ music started, signaling the beginning of the service, and Jake put his hand on his mother’s elbow. “We’d better find a seat.”
Mrs. Russell touched Livy on the arm as she passed and whispered, “It was nice to meet you, Livy.”
“Likewise, ma’am.”
Jake escorted his mother up the aisle to a seat near the front. Two neatly dressed young girls and a towheaded boy moved over to allow room for them. The congregation stood to sing the opening hymn, and Livy’s gaze fell on Jake, head and shoulders taller than those around him.
What had Jake told his mother about her and the orphanage?
And what kind of relationship did Jake and Miss MacKinnion have?
And more importantly, why did Livy care so much about the answer to either question?
* * *
He needed some fresh air.
Three women with daughters of marriageable age had asked him over for Sunday dinner, and so had Lavinia MacKinnion’s sister. Since she hadn’t been able to snag the deputy for dinner, she’d set her sights on him.
He shuddered.
Playing the part of a devout Christian turned his stomach in more ways than one. Adjusting his diamond stickpin, he moved past the knot of men congregated at the back of the church, but McIver motioned him over.
“We’ve got to put a stop to these hooligans running around, or they’re going to steal us blind. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes, but what can we do?” He’d just as soon stay out of local problems, but as a businessman, it was expected that he’d have a strong opinion about thievery.
“Well, for starters, Sheriff Carter and Jake can start combing shantytown for these youngsters and get them off the streets.” McIver clamped his hat on his head.
The circle of men nodded. He nodded along with them because it was the thing to do. But inside, a slow anger bubbled below the surface, kept in check by sheer willpower.
Just what he needed, the sheriff and his deputy snooping around, making trouble. He’d lost half a dozen youngsters to Butch and Grady’s incompetence the last couple of weeks, and now the ungrateful strays—ones that he’d bought and paid for—were bringing attention to themselves.
And as a result, to him.
He’d do something about them, all right.
But he doubted if McIver or anybody else in this town would approve of his methods.
* * *
Jake blocked the tackle and grabbed his assailant around the waist, hoisting him over his shoulder with a primal growl. Gut-busting giggles filled the kitchen.
“That’s enough, Jake.”
He lowered Tommy to the floor, then glanced toward his mother, who was putting the finishing touches on Sunday dinner. The indulgent smile on her face belied her reprimand.
“Go wash up now, Tommy. Dinner’ll be ready in no time.”
“Aw, Ma.”
“Do what Ma says,” Jake ordered.
“And tell your sisters to come on too,” she called out as he skidded into the hallway.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“How’re things in town?” she asked, busy setting the table.
Jake hesitated. His mother knew enough about the goings-on in Chestnut that he couldn’t make light of his duties as deputy. “Not bad.”
She spared him a glance, lines of worry and grief etched on her once-youthful face. “I heard about the robbery the other night.”
“It was nothing. Just some kids trying to get a little spending money.”
“Spending money? Youngsters haul coal and pull corn in the summer for things they want. They don’t break in to the mercantile and steal things, let alone expensive knives and pocket watches.”
She sat across from him and clasped his hands in hers. “Jake, I wish you’d give up this foolish notion of being a deputy. I worry about you staying up all night, then coming out here four or five times a week and helping me with chores. I can’t imagine how you’ll manage this summer.”
“Ma, we need the money, and Sheriff Carter needs the help.”
“I’m afraid something’s going to happen.” Tears swam in her eyes. “I don’t think I could stand it if . . . if something happened to you, too. It’s as dangerous as working in the mines, maybe even more so. Your father—”
The sound of Jake’s two sisters and Tommy pounding down the stairs interrupted her.