known him all her life, yet never paid much attention to him until now. If they hadn’t been drafted into making banners, she still wouldn’t be.
Liam cleared his throat. “I should go.”
She nodded, unsure what to say – or afraid of what she might. You have such nice eyes, Liam. I never noticed how handsome you are, or that you care so much about your parents … Egads, that would be embarrassing.
“Adele,” he said softly. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
No, I’m sure I’m not, she wanted to say. What was wrong with her? Other than that for the first time since she made her “list” all those years ago, she was tempted to abandon it.
Liam placed the ladder against the sheriff’s office and studied his options.
“Whatcha doin’, son?” Sheriff Tom Turner asked as he came outside. “I see ya got a ladder.”
“Yes, sir. Adele Cooke and I are in charge of the banners for the street dance the ladies in town are putting together.”
“Ah, yeah, my wife told me ‘bout that.” Tom joined Liam and studied the building. “Hmm … not sure where ya can attach the ropes. Might have to nail ‘em.”
“My thinking exactly.”
“Need some help?”
“I won’t turn it down. Adele was supposed to help but she’s covering for her great-aunt in the mercantile. Besides, I’m not crazy about sending her up that ladder.”
“Don’t blame ya. My wife Rose is afraid of heights – ya wouldn’t catch her on one.”
“Neve’s the same way.” Liam smiled. He’d always liked Tom and his brother, Deputy Eli. The Turners were one of the original settlers of Clear Creek, along with the Whites. If he married, stayed and had children, there’d be three generations of Whites in town. He smiled at the thought.
Then he frowned. If he married someone here, he might never escape Clear Creek. Better to leave while he had the chance. Except Pa’s health …
“Got a hammer and nails?” Tom asked.
“Sure.” Liam pulled his hammer from his back pocket. “I have to get the banner high enough so folks can drive a wagon under it.”
Tom studied his office, then Mulligan’s Saloon across the street. “Shouldn’t be too hard.” Before Liam could move, the sheriff grabbed his hammer, scrambled up the ladder and onto the porch roof, went to the edge of the building and pounded a nail into the wood.
“What’s Tom doing up there?” Paddy Mulligan asked as he came out of the saloon.
“Putting up banners for the dance,” Liam called back.
Mr. Mulligan joined him. “If ye play yer cards right, lad, Tom’ll do all the work for ye.”
Liam laughed. “He doesn’t have to.”
Mr. Mulligan looked at the saloon. “Ye can go through the window at my place if ye don’t want to use the ladder.”
Liam looked at the second story of Mulligan’s. He could indeed. “Thanks, I’ll do that.”
“All done,” Tom called.
Adele came down the street. “What’s he doing up there?”
Liam shrugged. “Helping.”
She stopped, hands on her hips. “We’re supposed to be hanging them.” She looked at Mr. Mulligan and wagged her finger at him. “And don’t you be getting on a ladder.”
He held up his hands. “Not me. I’m too old for such.”
Liam held up his hand for a different reason. “Pass me the hammer, will you, Sheriff?”
“Here you go!” The man tossed it down and Liam caught it.
“Good catch,” Adele said appreciatively.
Liam’s chest swelled. It was a silly compliment, but part of him was glad she saw it. He started across the street.
“Where are you going?” she asked and followed.
He turned to see Mr. Mulligan coming too. “Out the second story window to drive in the other nails.”
She stopped. “What?”
Mr. Mulligan laughed. “It’s all right, lass. I’ll take him upstairs and he can get it done.”
“Well, all right,” she said. “I’ll, uh, move the ladder to the livery stable.”
“I’ll do it,” Tom said as he joined them. “Tacking a banner up on the front of it?”
“Yes, that was our plan.”
“You checked with Chase, of course,” Sheriff Turner said.
“Oh. Um, not yet.”
Liam stopped, came over and put his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll take care of it.”
She looked at his hand and froze.
He glanced at the sheriff and Mr. Mulligan, neither of whom were paying them any attention, then sighed and removed his hand. “I should have thought to ask folks yesterday if they wouldn’t mind us putting banners up.”
She smiled. “To think after all these years, this is the first time we’re doing something like this. How backwards Mrs. Riley and Mrs. Quinn must think we