At the general store, Anna Mae read the proclamation from President Grover Cleveland declaring a designated Thursday, the twenty-fourth of November, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by all the people of the land. She listened to Carolyn as she rushed about the store gathering up their supplies. Anna Mae’s gaze moved to the back of the room where the men gathered, talking about the president’s latest proclamation.
The Moores had placed several of the newspaper clippings about their store for their customers to read.
Carolyn’s voice drew her attention once more. “We can’t believe it. Can you imagine how many people will be buying more staples and food supplies here? I placed another order yesterday. I just hope it gets here before the twenty-fourth.”
In her excitement, Carolyn didn’t really want or need an answer, Anna Mae knew. Her gaze moved to Rose and Ruby, who sat on the floor, playing with a couple other children. The four of them rolled and played with wooden blocks. They would stack them up and knock them down with squeals of laughter.
Anna Mae walked over to the fabric and fingered the softness of the material. Her thoughts were more on Christmas than this new holiday called Thanksgiving. She already planned to make the girls Christmas dresses for the Sunday service and rag dolls with matching dresses. But for Josiah it had to be something special. The quilt on his bed was very worn. Perhaps she could make a new one. Something simple that wouldn’t take a lot of time to do. She’d have to hand piece it. Her thoughts raced as she touched each fabric in turn.
A royal blue caught her attention, reminding her of the beauty in Josiah’s eyes. She picked up the bolt and carried it to the counter. Then she returned to the fabric table once more. By the time Anna Mae finished her shopping, she had bolts of blue, yellow, white with blue swirls, pink and lavender resting on Carolyn’s counter. She’d also picked up a package of needles, plus a few spools of white and black thread.
“You have been busy,” Josiah said, coming up behind her.
How did he do that? The man walked more quietly than anyone she knew. She’d have to remember that around Christmastime. It might be hard to conceal his gifts from him.
He ran his hand over the blue fabric. “That’s pretty. Are you going to make a dress out of it?”
She hadn’t thought of making a dress for herself, but now she would. Anna Mae nodded. “I think so.”
“It will look beautiful on you,” Carolyn said, pulling the bolt to the side. “How many yards do you want?”
Anna Mae turned to Josiah. “I’m about done here. Would you mind putting those things in the wagon?” She pointed to the box of dry goods Carolyn had gathered for them.
A puzzled look crossed his face but he nodded. “I’ll be happy to.” He hefted the box and turned to the door.
She quickly turned to Carolyn and gave her the yardage she needed. “Be sure and put the fabric and sewing notions on my bill, Carolyn. It’s a Christmas gift for Josiah and the girls.”
Carolyn wrote up the bill and said, “Aw, that’s why you sent him out of the store. Good thinking.” After dropping the money in a drawer, she turned to cut the cloth.
Anna Mae walked over to where Rose and Ruby still played. “Tell your friends goodbye, girls. It’s time to go.” She waited to see if they would be obedient or throw a fit at having to leave.
Both little girls stood. “Bye-bye.”
She took their hands and led them back to the counter. “Pick out a candy stick, girls. Thank you for obeying when I asked you to. Such good girls I have.”
“They aren’t puppies,” Josiah said, coming to stand beside her once more. “You don’t have to buy them a treat for behaving.” Even though his voice sounded firm, when she looked up at him an unmistakable twinkle filled his eyes.
“No, I don’t. But I want to.” She picked up Ruby so she could look at the candy jars on the counter.
Josiah did the same with Rose.
As soon as the girls each had candy in their chubby hands, Josiah paid the bill. “We need to stop off at the feed store before heading home. Is there any place else you want to go first?”
“I wouldn’t mind stopping in at the bakery and having a treat.”
“Sounds good to me.” Josiah set Rose up on the seat, took Ruby in turn and then helped Anna Mae up. He pulled himself onto the seat and grinned across at her. “Do you think Emily Jane might have some more of that chocolate cake for sale?”
Anna Mae chuckled. “I hope so. I really need to learn how she makes hers.”
It felt as if they were a family as they rode down Main Street. The girls sucked on their candy, making slurping noises and giggling. Josiah sat in the driver’s seat looking like a proud papa.
“Sheriff!”
Josiah pulled the wagon to a stop. Wade Cannon, his new young deputy, came running up to them.
Concern laced Josiah’s face as he asked, “What is it, Wade?”
The deputy paused to catch his breath. Anna Mae realized he must have run all the way from the edge of town. “Mr. Caldron said to come get you. Someone butchered one of his cows. Took some of the meat and left the rest to rot.” He squinted up at Josiah. “Who’d do a fool thing like that, Sheriff?”
“I don’t know, Wade. Maybe a stranger was hungry and thought the cow had no owner. Was it outside the pasture?”
“Why, no, sir. He found it not too far from the barn. I looked about, but you know Mr. Caldron. He insisted you come look.”
Anna Mae watched as Levi Westland walked up in time to hear the last of the conversation. He shook his head. “No one local would do something like this, so that can only mean one thing.”
Josiah nodded. “Yep.” He exhaled loudly. “We’ve got visitors.”
“That could also explain the recent thefts,” Levi added, looking studious.
Josiah studied his face. “What thefts? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Well, until right this minute I didn’t think of them as anything to worry about, but Millie put two pies on the windowsill to cool and someone took them both. We thought it might be a couple of kids.” He rubbed his newly grown mustache. “But then ole Asa, you know, that new fella in town, at the boardinghouse.” At Josiah’s blank expression, he continued, “Anyway, he hung his wash on the line and two pairs of his pants went missing. Ain’t likely no one around here would want Asa’s clothes. So again, we wrote it off as kids’ pranks.”
Anna Mae took the reins Josiah handed her before he swung down from the wagon. “Anything else?”
Levi shook his head. “As far as I know, that’s it. Want some company? I assume you’re heading over to the livery.”
“Can’t say as I’d mind a helping hand.” He looked up at Anna Mae. “Annie, you take the wagon and go on over to Emily Jane’s. Stay there till I come for you.”
She looked at him, hoping he’d heed her gentle but firm warning. “You be careful, Josiah Miller.” Anna Mae knew Josiah’s job was dangerous but seeing him at work caused her heart to flutter with worry. Lord, please keep him safe, she silently prayed.
* * *
Josiah arrived at William and Emily Jane’s house tired and frustrated. He was no closer to finding out who had butchered that cow than he’d been two hours ago when he and Levi had gone to the livery.
No one saw the deed done nor had heard anything. He’d noted two sets of footprints; which meant more than one culprit. The amount of meat they’d taken most likely would have fed four or five men. These thoughts rolled around in his mind, trying to find the right category to be placed in. Evidence or just circumstance?
At Josiah’s knock, William opened the door. “Any news?” he asked, stepping back and letting him inside.
“Nope. But I do know it wasn’t a random act. Whoever killed that cow knew what he was doing.”
Emily Jane walked up behind her husband. “What do you mean?”
“They went for the choice cuts of meat and left the rest.” He looked about, expecting his family but not seeing them. “Where are Annie and the girls?”
William coughed and moved back a few steps. “I tried to get her to wait, but she said that there was no telling when you’d return and that Jersey would need to be milked and the chickens put away for the night.”
Josiah felt sucker punched. During the investigation, he’d felt a sense of power, as if he could do anything. He’d spotted the evidence clearly and decisively. He knew it was due to Annie’s warning for him to be safe. It had lifted him up, made him do a better job, because he felt someone cared for his well-being. It had been a long time since he’d felt like that.
But now the woman had undone all those good feelings. Did she even realize the worry she put on him? Why couldn’t that stubborn lady listen to him? She didn’t even know how to milk the cow. Josiah took a deep, cleansing breath. “When did she leave?”
“About an hour ago,” Emily Jane answered. She wiped flour off her apron, avoiding his eyes.
Josiah shook his head. “Well, that’s a fine how do you do.” She’d left him in town without a horse. How did she expect him to get home? Walk?