Nissa (The Widows of Wildcat Ridge Book 3) Read online

  Dallin had watched her gaze shift towards Jamie and Molly. Guessing at the reason for her reluctance, he coaxed with a smile. “Mrs. Stillwell, the invitation includes your children. I wouldn’t leave them out, not when young Jamie and I need to discuss the details of the boat I will be making for him.”

  Nissa fought back tears of gratitude. How wonderful to eat something different cooked by hands other than hers. In addition, she knew she and her family would get enough to eat tonight. They would not leave the café hungry like what happened occasionally at home. “If you’re sure, Mr. Walsh, I’ll accept. I must warn you, eating in a restaurant will be a new experience for the children. I hope they won’t be so excited they create a scene.”

  Nissa voiced an honest concern. The children knew Garnet Chandler, who owned the Crystal Café on the other side of the hotel from the laundry shed. A few times after they moved to their present home, they had been invited in through the back door of her kitchen and played with Garnet’s niece and nephew. However, they had never been in the front dining area where they would be expected to use their best table manners.

  There was something about the kind way Dallin smiled that caused Nissa’s heart to flip. “There will be two of us, Mrs. Stillwell. Even though I’m more experienced at herding cattle and corralling horses, hopefully, between us both, we can manage them.”

  Nissa laughed at the mental picture. Molly’s tendency to become shy and clingy in strange situations could be a concern. However, when it came to Jamie, she and Dallin Walsh between them might end up doing quite a bit of herding and corralling to teach her boy to behave properly in a public eatery.

  Nissa hurried through her laundry, feeling thankful that no other customers had come that day requesting a rush job on their clothes. She allowed plenty of time to prepare her children for their supper out.

  Jamie’s enthusiasm over being invited to eat at the Crystal Café with Mr. Walsh waned at Nissa’s requirement that he take a bath and wear clean clothes. Told he must stay clean until Dallin Walsh called for them frustrated Jamie even more.

  Fortunately, Molly did not mind cleaning up and putting on her prettiest dress. Since Nissa clothed Molly in what she wore to the Sunday services Priscilla Gamble had been leading, Nissa hoped that night Molly could avoid spilling food that would permanently stain the fabric. As much as Molly could use more play clothes, Nissa had other things she needed to spend her limited resources on than fabric for a new best dress.

  As for Nissa, she took great pains with her grooming. She piled her hair on top of her head and used every hairpin she owned to secure it in place. Since she had left most of her newer clothing behind as part of her husband’s estate, she topped her auburn curls with an outdated natural straw hat she owned from before the family moved to Wildcat Ridge. She also wore her robin’s egg blue Sunday dress in the style of the late 1870s with its high neckline, inset white yoke, and modest bustle. She told herself she did not hope to impress Dallin Walsh; she merely wished to appear presentable in public.

  Nissa kept in the back of her mind the other reason she wished to look her best for Dallin Walsh. She hoped to persuade him to agree with the request she intended to make this evening regarding her family’s future.

  Chapter Thirteen

  N

  issa straightened Jamie’s collar once again and combed his hair in place for the umpteenth time. Finally, she heard a knock on the door. She smiled as she opened it to find Dallin Walsh standing on the other side. He wore a clean set of clothes Nissa recognized from having washed and pressed them. She realized he had visited the bathhouse. Nissa knew, with no other employees working in the hotel, Diantha did not offer bathing services at that time, but she referred customers to the bathhouse several doors down operated by Mr. Cromer, an older man and one of the few in Wildcat Ridge that had not been killed in the mining disaster.

  Embarrassed because of her cramped living conditions, Nissa did not invite Dallin in. Instead, she called her children to her. “Jamie, Molly, Mr. Walsh is here. Please come say hello to him.”

  The children stepped outside and dutifully greeted Dallin. Molly clung to Nissa’s skirt while Nissa locked her door behind her. Jamie reached his hand into Dallin’s. Nissa turned back in time to watch Dallin tighten his fingers around Jamie’s much-smaller hand and pull the boy next to him, a gesture she found heart-warming and gratifying.

  Dallin’s eyes studied Nissa and an expression of appreciation appeared on his face. “You look quite fetching, Mrs. Stillwell.” He glanced down at Molly, who buried her face even deeper into Nissa’s skirt. “You, too, Miss Molly.” Dallin then turned to Jamie. “As for you, young man, I must say you clean up rather well. You look quite handsome, all dressed up to go to supper.”

  Jamie grimaced. “Yeah, Mama said we had to wash and wear our Sunday best if we’re going to eat in a public restaurant.”

  Dallin shook his head and grinned in response as he moved next to Nissa and placed his free hand at the back of her waist. They walked towards the opening between the hotel and the laundry shed. “Well, I don’t know that is always the case, but I sure am glad you worked so hard to clean up tonight. Maybe you can teach my wranglers a thing or two.”

  Curious, Jamie looked up at Dallin. “Who’s that?”

  “They’re two men who work for me at the Grassy Fork Ranch. Actually, the one named Hal is my top cowhand next to my foreman. Buck is my wrangler. He’s not that good on a round-up or working with cattle, so he usually stays with the horses and other ranch animals. Although, all my men enjoy breaking wild horses to the saddle.” He grinned and winked. “It’s okay with them if Buck mucks out the stalls in the barn, but they want in on the fun of riding a wild mustang.”

  Jamie’s eyes grew wide with excitement. “Can you teach me to ride a wild mustang?”

  Amused, Dallin shook his head. “I’m afraid I won’t have time for that while I’m here, Jamie. I don’t have any wild mustangs with me. From what I understand, the horses at the auction I’ll be looking at have already been broken.”

  Jamie slumped his shoulders in disappointment. “Oh.”

  Dallin leaned forward and turned to look at Molly now walking next to her mother. “Are you doing well tonight, Miss Molly?”

  Over the worst of her shyness, and pleased Dallin had not forgotten her, with a dazzling grin on her face, Molly looked up at Dallin and nodded.

  Dallin smiled back at Molly, and then he let his gaze wander to study Nissa’s profile. As if drawn by a magnet, Nissa turned to face Dallin. Wordlessly, they stared into each other’s eyes for several seconds as they passed the front window of the hotel lobby.

  Several steps later, the foursome reached the front door of the Crystal Café. Dallin held the door open to allow Nissa and the children to enter.

  A tall, slender man with brown hair cut short stood up at the large round table towards the back and waved them over.

  Nissa enjoyed observing the enthusiasm displayed by the young man introduced as Buck as he welcomed his boss and company over and seated them at the table. He especially greeted Jamie, who responded with excitement, and Molly, who shrank back, but offered him a shy smile.

  Puzzled, Dallin turned to Buck. “Where’s Hal? He going to be here soon?”

  Buck’s expression changed to one of disgust. “No, he said he found another place to eat tonight, but he wouldn’t say where. Makes me wonder what he’s up to being so secretive about it.”

  Jamie scrambled onto his knees and leaned towards the man Dallin had introduced as Buck. “Are you a wrangler?”

  Nissa, who sat on one side of Jamie while Dallin sat on the other side, placed her hand on her son’s arm and spoke calmly. “We don’t sit on our knees, Jamie, remember? It’s like at church; we sit with our bottoms on the chair seat.”

  “But I can see better this way.”

  “I’m sorry if you cannot see as well, but it is the polite way to sit in a public place.”

  “But I want to…
”

  Nissa glanced at Dallin apologetically. “Jamie, children don’t speak out at the table unless spoken to, remember? Let the adults talk.”

  Jamie frowned and slumped into his seat. “I thought that was only Papa’s rule, and he’s not here. I want to know if Buck’s a wrangler.”

  As much as Nissa wished to roll her eyes with impatience, she kept a pleasant smile on her face. “It is my rule, too. And please address him as Mr. Kramer, Jamie. We speak respectfully to adults.”

  “Good evening, Nissa. Children, look what I have for you.”

  Nissa looked up to see the café owner, Garnet Chandler, standing next to the table with two wooden boxes in her hands. Curious as to their purpose, she said nothing but smiled in response. “Hello, Garnet. I mean…” Nissa turned to Jamie and looked at him pointedly. “Mrs. Chandler.”

  Garnet continued to address the children. “This box, Jamie, is for you to put on your chair so you can sit up taller. And, the other is for little Molly, here.”

  Buck jumped up from his seat and stepped behind Jamie’s chair. “Let me help you with that, youngster. I figure someone who wants to ask me a question ought to be able to see me across the table.” Buck placed his hands beneath Jamie’s underarms and lifted him up while Nissa and Dallin positioned the box on Jamie’s chair. Next, Nissa and Garnet helped Molly.

  Garnet surveyed the table with a satisfied grin. “Now, as long as you two don’t squirm around too much, you’ll be able to reach your supper all right.” She shifted her gaze to the adults. “Let me tell you what I have available, and you can tell me what you wish for supper tonight.”

  After everyone had placed their order, with Nissa selecting small meals for the children, Nissa turned to Buck. “So, Mr. Kramer, perhaps you would be so kind as to answer my son’s question. Are you a wrangler?”

  Buck laughed and directed his attention to Jamie. “I’m a wrangler and just about everything else around the ranch that requires a strong back and a weak mind. I like horses real well, but I’m no cowhand, that’s for sure. Grew up a farm boy, so Boss…uh, Mr. Walsh, here…puts me to work plowing and growing corn and whatnot for the horses and other critters we got on the ranch, plus some extra feed to see the cattle through in case we have a bad winter.”

  Once again, Jamie’s eyes grew wide with curiosity. “Do you ride wild horses?”

  “Sometimes. There’s times me and the horses bounce around so much we get tangled up and aren’t sure who’s breaking in who. Boss says my legs are too long.”

  The food quickly arrived, and everyone at the table settled down to eat. Much to Nissa’s relief, with a little coaching and strategic tucking of napkins into necklines, her children made it through the meal without spilling food on their clothes or talking with their mouths full.

  Buck all but shoveled his food into his mouth and finished first. He wiped his lips with his napkin then placed it next to his plate as he stood. “Boss…uh, Mr. Walsh…thank you for the fine meal.” He turned to Nissa. “I hope you’ll excuse me, ma’am, but I’d like to take my leave. Thought I’d go see what happened to my partner, and then head back to the livery for the night to keep an eye on our horses.”

  After a round of farewells and Buck left, Nissa turned toward Dallin only to discover him studying her face with what she hoped was an expression of appreciation. Loathe to leave behind any of the wonderful food before her, she focused her attention once more on her plate.

  Feeling the tug on her sleeve, Nissa faced to Jamie.

  Jamie leaned close and whispered. “Mama, I gotta use the necessary.”

  Nissa suppressed her disappointment at the interruption, grateful that her son had whispered instead of shouting his need loud enough for everyone in the café to hear. She set down her fork, prepared to take him.

  Dallin rose to his feet. “I’ll take him, Mrs. Stillwell. You sit and enjoy your meal.”

  “Thank you.” A smile of gratitude on her face, Nissa watched Dallin help Jamie off his booster box and lead him by the hand towards the side door which would take them to the back of the building. As she faced forward once more, one thought ran through her mind. Under the same circumstances, James never would have volunteered to go with his son. He would have looked at Nissa with an expression of command that she handle the problem.

  “Well, what do we have here? A pretty mother and her daughter?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  N

  issa cringed. She recognized the voice of Mortimer Crane. She looked at him with a glare. “Excuse me, Mr. Crane, but I do not wish to speak with you at this time. I’m here with a friend. Please leave.”

  Mortimer sauntered until he stood next to the table and surveyed the top. “Two friends, assuming your boy was with you, and I doubt they were lady friends. You are entertaining two men, Mrs. Stillwell—men you should be beguiling in my Gentlemen Only Salon. I was on my way to discover why you have not shown up yet, and to find you here…” Mortimer shook his head as he tsked. A threatening look on his face, Mortimer leaned towards Nissa. “You have no business entertaining men on your own, Mrs. Stillwell, not when you owe me money. As nice as you look tonight, it is not how I want to see you. Now, get rid of your little pests, get over to my club, and change into the dress I have waiting for you.”

  Her eyes blazing in anger, Nissa jumped to her feet. “How dare you address me this way in a public place and in front of my children! Get away from me now.”

  “I own this town, Mrs. Stillwell, and I’ll talk to you where I want and how I want. Now, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll…”

  “You’ll what? Mrs. Stillwell, is this man bothering you?”

  Nissa’s body visibly slumped with relief at the sound of Dallin’s voice. She turned to see him standing to the side, Jamie’s hand clasped in his. Nissa motioned to a curious Jamie to come stand next to her chair. She closed her eyes with a sense of gratitude that, for once, Jamie did not question but squeezed his body between her chair and Molly’s.

  Mortimer, visage changing to one often found on a snake oil salesman, turned to face Dallin. “I’m Mortimer Crane. I was just telling Mrs. Stillwell as soon as she finishes here, she needs to hurry to my Gentlemen Only Salon where she can entertain you properly.”

  Nissa sucked in a breath and stretched to her full height. “I told you I will not now, nor ever, have anything to do with your…” Nissa glanced at her children, “your establishment, Mr. Crane. Now leave.”

  Dallin folded his arms. His eyes never left Mortimer as he spoke. “Mrs. Stillwell, please take the children into the kitchen.”

  As Nissa pulled the children towards the door to the kitchen, Jamie dragged his feet and repeatedly turned back, aware something was going to happen his mother meant for him to not witness.

  When they reached the doorway, Jamie looked up at his mother. “Why are we going in here?”

  “To visit with Mrs. Chandler and her niece and nephew. You will do what I say, Jamie.”

  Nissa sensed Garnet had been keeping an eye and ear out for what took place in her dining room, for as soon as Nissa entered, with a smile she guided the children to a table on the far side of the room. “I’m so happy you came to visit me. Come over and join Joey and Hyacinth. I have something fun for you to do.” She dumped handfuls of flour in front of Jamie and Molly. Next, she pinched off two hunks of biscuit dough from the batch she had been preparing and gave one to each child. “Watch how Hyacinth can make shapes with her dough. She’s only a year older than you are, Jamie, and Joey is a year younger. If they can do it, you can, too. When your hands feel a little sticky, cover them with more flour.”

  Nissa whispered a thank you to Garnet and rushed back into the dining room only to see Dallin, his pistol drawn and a determined look on his face, hulking over Mortimer Crane. She listened as a nervous giggle escaped Mr. Crane’s lips.

  Mr. Crane raised his hands in surrender. He responded with his syrupy voice to something Dallin had said. “We really d
on’t approve of men wearing guns in town, sir.”

  “I always wear a sidearm, because I never know when I’ll come across some varmint threat.”

  “Varmint?” Mortimer issued a weak laugh. “Surely, that is not how you view me. Come, sir, let’s be reasonable. We’re both men. We both know she’ll be able to entertain you much more lavishly at my exclusive club.”

  “Your fancy whorehouse, you mean.”

  Mortimer shook his head and tsked. “Now, now. Let’s not get vulgar about this. I am being quite reasonable here. Mrs. Stillwell owes me money, and she can help pay her debt by being where she can entertain you properly.”

  Nissa stepped closer to Dallin with an expression begging him to believe her. “It’s a lie.” She turned to Mortimer. “I owe you nothing. You have my husband’s estate, and that’s all you are legally entitled to.”

  Mortimer glowered at Nissa, his false pleasantness gone. “It’s not enough to pay me the amount in full, and you know it.” He turned to face Dallin, resuming his oily sales pitch. “As fetching as she looks now, I can have her dressed in a way to please the most discerning gentleman, such as you appear to be. Or, if there is another woman who suits your fancy better…” Mortimer winked. “I have a young, delectable girl you might want to take a look at while Mrs. Stillwell takes care of…”

  Dallin stepped forward and shoved the tip of his pistol within an inch of Mortimer’s left nostril. “That’s enough, you lecherous pond scum. Because we are in polite company, I won’t tell you what you can do with your dirty business venture. What I will tell you is to stay away from Mrs. Stillwell. If you don’t, I’ll put a bullet through you.”

  Mortimer laughed. “You do that, and even that poor excuse of a woman town marshal will have you locked up until you’re hung.”