Chapter Three
Splendor, Montana
Several weeks later…
“Good morning, Mrs. Burns. What can I do for you today?” Horace Clausen held open the door of the bank, letting her pass.
“Hello, Mr. Clausen. I’ve a small deposit to make.”
Horace chuckled. “Believe me, there are no small deposits.”
As he moved to close the door, another man stepped inside.
“Morning, Horace.” He nodded, then tipped his hat to Alison. “Ma’am.”
Alison couldn’t stop the slight intake of breath when she took a good look at the stranger. Tall with overlong blond hair and striking green eyes, he had a coarse appearance she found extremely appealing, but also strangely unsettling.
“Good to have you back in town. Cash, have you had a chance to meet our newest business owner?”
“No, I haven’t had the pleasure.” Cash removed his hat and took a step forward.
“Mrs. Burns, allow me to introduce Cash Coulter. He’s one of Sheriff Evans’ deputies.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Coulter.”
“The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Burns. Welcome to Splendor.” A weary smile crossed his face, his eyes crinkling a little at the corners as his gaze lingered on hers. “What business do you have?”
“I bought the millinery and seamstress shop next to the bank.”
“I’m certain you’ll be quite successful as the women in Splendor were vocal in their disappointment when it closed.” He raised his brows at Horace, who nodded in understanding. The women in town allowed themselves few luxuries. For those who could afford it, the presence of a seamstress who could create hats, as well as alter clothes, made their lives much easier.
“So far, business has been beyond my expectations.” She tightened her grip on her reticule, anxious to finish the deposit and return to her store, where she felt in control and safe. Something about Cash’s presence produced strange feelings she had no desire to examine. “Well, I’ll let you continue with your day, Mr. Coulter.”
Cash tipped his hat, watching as she walked toward one of the tellers, then he turned to Horace. “I assume she’s married.”
“A widow,” Horace answered. “From what I understand, her husband died during the war. She has no other family and decided to make a fresh start.”
“Where did she come from?”
“Kentucky. A long way for a lone woman to travel.”
Cash nodded at Alison as she finished her deposit and left the bank. “Yes, it certainly is.”
Alison worked all afternoon, not even stopping to eat, as she finished the dresses for Rachel, Ginny, and Abby. Along with other orders, she already knew there’d be a profit at the end of the month. Completing the last stitch on one of the dresses, she glanced up at the sound of the bell above the entry door.
“Mrs. Burns?”
Alison moved to the front, her gaze taking in a young woman of average height with chestnut brown hair, bright green eyes, and freckles sprinkled across her nose and cheeks.
“Yes, I’m Alison Burns.” She cocked her head, noting the package in the woman’s hands.
“I’m Lydia Rinehart. I live at the Pelletier ranch and heard about you from Rachel.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she bit her bottom lip. Holding out the package, she hesitated a moment, as if deciding what to say.
“Is that something you’d like me to look at?” Alison asked, noting the discomfort on Lydia’s face.
“Yes. It’s just a simple store-bought dress.”
“I’m sure it’s lovely. May I?” Alison took the package from Lydia’s outstretched hands, setting it on a table to remove the wrapping. Holding it up, she smiled at the pretty deep green calico print. “It’s beautiful. What is it you’d like me to do?”
“The hem and sleeves are a little long, and…” Lydia didn’t finish.
“And?” Alison tilted her head.
“Nothing. If you could fix the hem and sleeves that would be wonderful.” Lydia clasped her hands in front of her. It had taken every penny she had to purchase the dress at Petermann’s General Store. She’d need to do extra chores to have enough money to pay for the changes.
“Well, I can do that easily enough. When would you like it?”
“The Pelletiers are having a party in two weeks. Do you think it would be ready by then?”
Alison studied the dress, then placed it back on the table. “I can have it for you within a week.”
“Only a week?” Lydia asked, her brows knitting together. “It may take me a few days longer to earn the money to pay you.” She worried her lower lip, then cleared her throat. “I did some sewing when I was younger, but it’s been a long time.”
Alison’s heart warmed at the hesitancy in Lydia’s voice. “I understand. It will be ready next Monday. You come and get it whenever you’re ready.” She thought a moment, then quoted an amount. “If you don’t quite have the money before the party, you can pay me when you do. All right?”
Lydia’s eyes lit up at the low price. “Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you, Mrs. Burns.” For the first time, her face broke into a smile, her eyes sparkling. “It was nice to meet you.”
The bell over the door caught both women’s attention.
“I thought I might find you in here.” Rachel closed the door behind her, taking the few steps needed to stand next to Lydia.
“You’re right. Mrs. Burns is wonderful. She’ll have the dress ready in time for the party.”
Alison blushed at the compliment, feeling a renewed sense of guilt over the amount of deceit surrounding her. These were good people who’d accepted her without hesitating. She swallowed the lump in her throat, wishing it could all be different, knowing it couldn’t.
“If you want to try them on, I have your dresses ready, Rachel.” Alison moved to a wooden rack that held her completed work. “You can change in there.” She pointed toward a curtain concealing a small dressing room.
A few minutes later, Rachel emerged wearing a stunning blue silk evening gown with a scooped bodice, capped sleeves, fitted waist, and separate peplum. Alison had decorated it with yards of white silk braid and white and blue silk ribbon.
“Oh my, Rachel. It’s absolutely beautiful, but where will you wear it?” Lydia’s brows lifted as her eyes widened.
“Dax and Luke have been invited to the Governor’s Ball in Big Pine. Alison opening her shop came at the perfect time.” Rachel skimmed her hands down the exquisite dress, looking at Alison. “What do you think?”
Alison walked around Rachel, taking in each seam and tuck. “I don’t believe I’d change anything.”
“Wonderful. I’ll try on the other dress.”
Half an hour later, Rachel and Lydia began their trip back to the Pelletier ranch, their wagon loaded with supplies, leaving Alison to her other jobs.
Hanging up the last of the dresses for Ginny and Abby, she heard her stomach growl, realizing she’d skipped lunch again. It seemed to be a habit with the increase in business.
She’d kept her rates low, hoping to garner more customers and compete with mail ordered clothing. Most women sewed, yet with their other chores, making a new dress never seemed a priority, especially when the only time available came after the children were asleep and they’d finished their regular mending.
“It appears you are in deep thought, Mrs. Burns.”
Alison jumped, her hand coming to her chest as she spun around to see Cash standing a few feet away.
“Mr. Coulter, you startled me.” A nervous laugh escaped as she dropped her hand and stepped toward him.
“My apologies. The bell over your door did ring, but it seems you were engrossed in your own world. I hope all is going well.” His eyes narrowed in what Alison interpreted as concern.
“Yes, all is going quite well, thank you. May I help you with something?” She didn’t often work on men’s clothing, even though she had the skills to make pants, shirts, and coats.
He cleared his throat, fingering the brim of the hat he held in front of him. “I know it may seem presumptuous, but I would be honored if you would accompany me to supper tonight.”
Her hands stilled in front of her, the invitation catching her unaware. She’d been courted before the war, never meeting a man who’d made her heart thump or blood heat. Her mother and father had been deeply in love, never hesitating to embrace each other, even in public. Alison wanted the same kind of love…uninhibited and devoted.
Looking at Cash, she noted the attractive combination of his thick hair, sun-browned skin, and broad shoulders. Then her gaze moved to his deep emerald eyes, which appeared distant and unemotional, as if he were looking through her instead of at her. She had the sudden urge to trace a finger down his face and across his full lips, learning the mysteries she felt certain he held deep inside.
“It would be my pleasure to have supper with you, Mr. Coulter. Let me get my coat and close up.”
The sun finished its descent behind the mountains as Cash escorted Alison to a restaurant on the other side of the bank. He made no move to offer his arm as she kept a distance of no less than a foot between them.
“Have you eaten in here yet?” he asked, opening the door to let her pass.
“No, I haven’t. I usually cook or go to the boardinghouse for meals.” She glanced around the interior, noting the simple decorations and clean tables. “It smells wonderful.”
“Suzanne’s boardinghouse is very good, and I eat there most of the time. It’s nice to have a place that isn’t always crowded with my friends, though.” He nodded at a woman walking toward them. “The owners used to be open for breakfast and dinner only. Now they offer supper. I come in about once a week. It spreads the business around.” His mouth tilted up at the corners as he pulled out her chair.
“Hello, Cash. You must be Mrs. Burns, the seamstress.” A woman of medium height, as broad as she was tall, stood next to their table. “I’m Betts Jones. My husband and I own this place.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Jones.”
“This is her first time in here, Betts. What’s your special tonight?”
“Pot roast, and it’s incredible, even if I’m the one who made it.” She winked at Alison.
Cash laughed as he glanced at Alison. Seeing her nod, he ordered two of the specials.
“Horace Clausen told me you’re from Kentucky. Tell me what brings you this far west.” He sipped the coffee Betts set before him, leaning forward to get a better look at her face.
Alison conveyed the same story she’d told everyone about her husband dying in battle, her mother passing not long after. It had become ingrained in her, the lies now streaming from her mouth with ease.
“I’m sorry to hear about your husband. Many good people died during the war.”
She’d glanced around the restaurant, not quite meeting his gaze. She needed to change the direction of their conversation. “Yes, they did. How long have you been here, Mr. Coulter?”
“Close to two years. I came here looking for friends I’ve known since we were boys.”
“Did you find them?”
He chuckled. “I sure did. Dax and Luke Pelletier. They’re the ones who convinced Beau and me to become Gabe’s deputies. It’s worked for us so far.” His gaze never wavered from her face, making her squirm. Although his face held various expressions, his eyes never warmed or changed the way they appeared to slice right through her.
She leaned back in her chair, placing her hands in her lap. “Will you be staying?”
“Seems likely.” Cash sat back as Betts set their plates down.
Alison ate slowly, glancing across the table at Cash. In her mind, he couldn’t be described as handsome, yet the creases in his forehead and the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled gave him character she found captivating and quite appealing. She couldn’t define what made her feel edgy, though, her body tensing the longer they sat in silence. Finishing her meal, she set her fork down, clasping her hands in her lap.
“What did you do before coming to Splendor?” she asked when he took his last bite.
“I fought for the South. When the war ended, Beau and I met up, traveling west as bounty hunters.”
A shiver went up her back. “I don’t recall ever meeting a bounty hunter. It’s not a profession most men would choose.” Wrapping her hands around a steaming cup of coffee, she took a sip, glancing over the rim to see his impassive expression.
“Perhaps not, but war changes men in ways that can’t be predicted. We had the skills, needed the money, and the number of men with bounties was high. Still is.” He shrugged. “We did what needed to be done.”
“Such as?” Her brow quirked up, leaning forward in her seat.
When he remained silent, she thought he’d decided not to answer. Then he leaned toward her, resting his arms on the table.
“That’s a story for another time.”
Alison shook her head. She’d been right about him being a man of many secrets. She knew it would take time to gain his trust. Getting to know the people in Splendor could only help her as she identified the man who killed her brother. So far, she’d kept her questions about the bank robbery and killings to herself, not wanting to draw attention to her curiosity about an event happening months before. Having supper with Cash had been a nice distraction. The time had now come to get the answers she needed to give her mother peace, and mend the ache in her own heart.