22

Jed scanned the rows of candy in glass jars. Not this time.

The mercantile owner finished with a customer and then drummed his palms on the counter. “What can I do for you, Big Jed?”

“I need some salt and flour. And cornmeal. Some oats.”

“All right.” He opened a sack and started scooping the salt. “Anything else?”

“And a cinnamon stick.”

“Just one?”

“Yes. For now.”

The owner placed the sack on the counter and filled another one. “How’re things down at the shop?”

“Fine. Busy. Got me a break finally to come get a few things.”

“Heard you had a little bit of a scare with a fire.”

“I did. But we got it taken care of.” Jed reached into his pocket and pulled out some loose coins. “How much I owe you?”

The clerk did his figuring while Jed contemplated whether or not to add some brown eggs to the order.

Hail Talbert pulled a crisp one-dollar bill from a smooth leather wallet. “Here you go.” He extended his hand to the clerk. “This one is on me.”

Jed placed a firm grip on Talbert’s wrist. “That’s not necessary.”

“Of course it’s not,” Talbert said.

The store owner paused from his figuring and looked up.

“But I’m hoping you’ll accept this as an apology.”

Jed released his hand and the clerk took the dollar. “For what?”

“For my previous visits with you.” He turned to walk away. “And it doesn’t look like I’ll be needing that candelabra after all.”

Jed tipped his hat without a mention that he hadn’t started on it nor had he ever intended to do so. Talbert had changed his mind. Or Miss Cantrell had rejected him. But why would she do that? Perhaps Erastus got to her first.

Jed ignored the ache in his heart and asked for a dozen brown eggs before he left the shop. He placed the supplies in the back of his wagon and headed to the barber shop.

Hawkins stood outside his boardinghouse, an apron tied around him. The smell of roast beef and baked bread wafted through the open doors. He greeted those who entered and the guests who left with their bellies full.

Jed placed a hand on Hawkins’s shoulder, and the man’s face lit up when he turned. “Big Jed, how’re you doing?” The men shook hands. “I’ve been meaning to make it down to your shop but been so busy hadn’t found the time.”

“You got something for me to work on?” Jed asked.

“No, I had a boarder about a week ago leave in the middle of the night. Think he must’ve been running from somebody. Left some clothes and a good pair of shoes behind. They look to be about the size of that apprentice of yours. Do you want ’em? Otherwise I’ll just take them to the mission.”

“If you still have them. Sure.”

Just outside the kitchen, Hawkins searched a narrow storage cabinet and then another.

Jed peeked at the cooks in front of a row of cast iron skillets that sizzled with grease and battered chicken. A Mexican boy and girl stood on a stool and snapped beans on the end of the counter. They recited the alphabet in broken English. A woman next to them sprinkled flour on the butcher block and turned dough over with her hands. She pushed the dough and kneaded in a rhythm that seemed second nature. Just like Jed’s mother. She corrected the girl and had her start again.

Jed recognized the voice.

“Here they are.” Hawkins, on his knees, handed the shoes and clothes to Jed.

Jed grabbed the clothes with one hand.

Hawkins stood and barked orders to the cooks.

They all looked up, and that’s when her eyes met Jed’s. She paused for a moment, and Jed thought he saw a sparkle erupt from behind very tired, sad eyes.

“Do you have to be so rough on them, Hawk?” Jed asked. “They all seem to be working hard.”

“That’s because I stay on ’em.” Hawkins chuckled. “You can’t go easy with people.”

“Wasn’t that Miss Cantrell, the schoolteacher?”

“Yep. She came to me last week at sunrise. Looking for laundry to take in. I got those Mexican kids’ parents doing that for me. And they haven’t quit on me yet. So I sent her away. Later that same afternoon she came back with a loaf of bread and a fresh baked apple pie. Best I ever tasted.”

“So you hired her?”

“For now. We’ll see if she can keep up with the hours until she leaves.”

Jed’s stomach dropped. “Leaves? She going back to Kansas?”

“Is that where she’s from? No, the school board might be moving her to another town before too long.” He looked down at the bundle Jed held in his arms. “If those don’t fit, just give ’em to somebody else.”

“Did she say when?”

Hawkins cocked his head to the side. “When what?”

“When she’ll be leaving?”

“No, just that she needed work until she relocated. Poor thing. She got so choked up when I told her I’d give her a try. Thought she was gonna cry right then and there. Never seen somebody so happy to work for me.” Hawkins placed a hand on Jed’s shoulder. “You come back and see me. Maybe grab supper next time.”

Jed fought the urge to stay but left with a flutter in his gut.