Hannah Grace (28 page)

`And here I am taking more of your time."

"Nonsense. Maggie Rose is coming in later this week to organize things. She does that every so often. She's my systematic one. Practical yet passionately driven. What a combination, huh?"

`Ah." Gabe hadn't come to talk about the beautiful Kane sisters, but Jacob's remark made him curious. "I suppose each of your daughters has her own special quality."

Jacob chuckled and settled back in his chair, stroking his beard as he thought. "Besides systematic, Maggie is kind to a fault-always looking for something or someone to dedicate her time and attention to. She's prudent, wise beyond her years, and genuinely thoughtful. Of course, that's not to say she doesn't have that Kane streak."

Gabe lifted questioning brows.

"All the Kane women have it, you know, including my dear mother, and it's known as tenacity. Actually, `shameless spunk' might be a better descriptor."

Gabe couldn't hold back a sudden peal of laughter. "I think I know what you mean,"

"I'm certain you do. Hannah Grace displays it perfectly."

Gabe felt warm behind the collar at the mere mention of her name, and the realization struck him that a week ago he wouldn't have had the same reaction. It was that blasted kiss!

He wondered if Jacob might be fishing, so he aimed for casualness. "Just out of curiosity, what would you say about your other girls?" He pulled his ankle up and rested it on his knee.

Jacob's gray eyes glittered with merriment. "Ha! They're all different as peanuts and peas, but listen, my boy, you've hit upon a subject for which I never tire talking. Are you sure you want to get me started, or would you rather clue me in as to the real purpose for your visit?"

Gabe wove his fingers together and clasped his hands behind his head, sinking back against the chair's worn leather. "I'll clue you in a little later. Go ahead and tell me about those daughters of yours."

Jacob took up a pencil and started tapping out something like a message in Morse code on his desktop. He glanced across the room, pondering. "Well, there's Abbie Ann, of course. What can I possibly say about her that you haven't already figured out?" Laughter erupted between them.

"She is rather an open book," Gabe said.

"That and much more. She's spunky, yes, but the mind in that little brunette head of hers is always turnip; don't be fooled. Of my three girls, she just might be the most determined, enterprising, and straightforward one. She's definitely the most melodramatic, I'll give you that."

Gabe grinned, but before he could say a word in response, Jacob started in on Hannah. "Now, Hannah's a girl with spark and initiative. Someday she'll take over the Whatnot, you wait and see. And I'll hand it over with confidence. She's capable and smart, that girl. Tender and compassionate, too. Look at how she dotes on that boy of yours."

Interesting he would refer to Jesse as his. "Sensible, too," the man added.

And prettier than a flower, Gabe might have put in.

Jacob tugged at his beard and flexed his shoulders against the back of his chair. "But I hope she exercises more than her sensible nature with regard to Ralston Van Huff's marriage proposal."

It took some effort to keep his voice steady. "How do you mean, sir?"

"Well." Jacob grunted. "Ralston's a fine young man and a faithful church attendee. I'm sure you've noted him sitting at the end of our family pew every Sunday." For no good reason, Gabe gritted his teeth against the image. Simply put, that kiss had ruined his image of Hannah with Ralston Van Huff-or with anyone else, for that matter! "And if one were to look at their relationship from a purely practical, sensible standpoint, then, yes, they probably complement each other." No! "But I want her to think beyond sensibility, of course, and to make this marriage proposal a matter of utmost prayer." He tilted his head in thought and cleared his throat. "Which I'm sure she will do."

The seconds ticked loudly from Jacob's desk clock. "Well." He looked Gabe square in the eye and blew out a loud breath. "I'm certain you didn't come here to listen to me spout about Hannah. I mean, you appear to be decent friends, the two of you-when you're not bickering, that is." This he said tongue in cheek, eyes twinkling. "But whether or not she marries the doctor probably doesn't much matter to you." He paused for effect-certainly long enough for Gabe to reply. `Am I right?"

Gabe tried to keep a light tone in his voice, but he still stammered seriously, "I-would have to say-it's of great concern to me, sir."

Jacob's eyes lit up like a pair of firecrackers. "Is that so? Well, all right, then. Perhaps you should jump into the game."

Gabe couldn't help the laugh that rolled out of him. "Yes, sir."

"Now then, what was it you came to tell me, young man?"

Hannah dismissed Abbie from her post at twelve-thirty. "I thought you'd never get here," Abbie whined. "Katrina's expecting me for lunch. Look at the time. I'm going to have to ride like the wind. I hope that of nag I reserved from the livery is up to the task,"

"I'm sorry, sister dear, but I was helping Grandmother with the wash, which included your soiled sheets and towels, not to mention your dainty little unmentionables,"

"Well, goodie for you. I've done yours plenty of times. I'll have you know that I've slaved at this store all morning long, when it wasn't even my day to work, so you should be greeting me with a thankful tone, not a snappish one. And what about your headache? You couldn't have worked too hard at the wash with your head pounding as it was this morning."

The look on Abbie's face, clever and calculating, had Hannah fighting for self-control. After all, what would folks say if she clawed her baby sister's eyes out? "It improved as the morning went on, thank you," she said, pushing past her sister and proceeding to the cash register to count the morning's receipts.

"I'm sure it did, particularly once you knew Jesse had arrived safe and sound without your having to face the sheriff."

"Oh, please. Where is he, by the way?"

"I'm sure he's dreaming about kissing you when he should be out looking for criminals,"

Hannah pursed her lips and mentally counted to ten. "I meant Jesse. Where is he?"

"Where do you think? Out back with that dirty little mongrel with the same name,"

"Dusty, you mean."

"Precisely."

Hannah focused her eyes on her task, even as Abbie drilled holes straight through her. Suddenly a giggle spilled out from across the room.

"What is so funny?"

"Oh, Hannah banana, you are the berries. Look at those rosy cheeks of yours. Admit it. You like the sheriff."

"Stop it,"

Abbie giggled the harder. "Don't worry, darling sis, your secret's safe with me."

`And Maggie, I daresay. I'm sure you told her all about the kissing incident,"

"Well, of course. We couldn't leave her out, now, could we?"

Hannah prayed her cheeks might return to their normal shade.

"What about me?" Maggie called from the top of the stairs.

"Nothing," both girls replied in unison.

"Be off with you!" Hannah ordered through clenched teeth, putting on her sternest face.

Abbie tossed back her head of charcoal hair and smiled, throwing open the door, then holding it so old Mrs. Gurley could pass. "Tootles, sweet sister," she called over the woman's flowery hat.

Upstairs, Maggie started singing the popular song by Harry MacDonough, "I Can't Tell Why I Love You, but I Do," Naturally, she sang every other note off-key.

Mrs. Gurley pointed her gaze toward the stairs and said, "Someone really ought to tell that girl she can't sing."

Hannah nodded in agreement.

Later, Hannah was helping Fanny Von Oettingen find the perfect pair of salt and pepper shakers with matching cream and sugar bowl for a couple whose wedding she planned to attend in Mill Point, a little town just across the river, when a young man she'd never seen before sauntered through the door. Fanny appeared more interested in studying the selection of ceramic ware than in the stranger's entrance. However, some sort of warning bell sounded in Hannah's head, though she couldn't say why-his tawdry appearance, perhaps, or the fact that Gabe had warned her to be on alert. He caught Hannah's eye the minute he entered and gave her a cold-eyed, humorless slant of a smile. A shiver climbed her spine.

"I think I like this set with the yellow flowers, dear," Fanny remarked, holding the creamer out at arm's length and turning it at an angle. "It's much daintier, don't you think?"

"Yes, that's my favorite," She only half glanced at the pretty little pitcher, while following the new customer out of the corner of her eye. "Shall I wrap it for you, Mrs. Von Oettingen?"

"Oh, would you? That will save me time. I so love shopping here. You girls always make a body feel welcome, and you offer such nice prices." She leaned forward and cupped her mouth with her palm. "I much prefer the Whatnot over Dirkse's."

Dirkse's wasn't truly a competitor, as the store predominantly featured dry goods, but folks liked to think they had a choice when shopping. "Well, thank you, ma'am,"

They walked to the register together, the cold-eyed stranger wandering up and down aisles, handling merchandise along the way, raising his head every so often to glance at Hannah. She felt his frigid stares like she would a spider crawling over her skin. Mrs. Von Oettingen didn't seem wary of his presence, so Hannah told herself to stop being so paranoid. Still, the notion of being alone with him in the store didn't set well. Just ten minutes ago, Maggie had closed the library and taken Jesse for a walk down to the channel to watch the barges bring in supplies to be transported further by train. "Won't be many more days of beautiful sunshine," she'd explained. "We'd better take advantage of it, right?" Of course, Jesse wanted Dusty to tag along, so they tied a rope around the pooch's neck, buttoned their jackets to the neck, and donned their hats before setting off. As usual, November air coming off Lake Michigan had a strong nip to it.

It took a full ten minutes for Hannah to wrap the wedding gift, taking care to swathe the individual pieces in thin paper before setting them in a larger box, then wrapping the bigger box in foil paper and tying it with a strand of silk ribbon. The whole time, the stranger did nothing but scope out the entire store. While ringing up Fanny's sale, Hannah asked him if he needed anything in particular, but he shook his head and kept wandering about.

"He seems an odd sort," the woman murmured across the counter, finally noting his presence. She drew in her double chin and tilted her head to the side. Then, batting her hand in front of her nose, she hissed under her breath, "Doesn't appear he's had a bath in a month of Sundays, either,"

Hannah had to agree. The stench permeated the room, even though he stood a full thirty feet away.

With the transaction complete, Fanny thanked her and headed for the door, no doubt grateful for the chance to escape. Hannah sucked in a breath for courage and approached the young man, who, upon closer inspection, didn't look any older than she.

"Where's yer winter coats?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, we don't have any in yet. We do expect a shipment in the next week or so. You might check back." Now, why had she invited him to do that?

He gave another of his icy looks and shot her a twisted grin, revealing decayed top teeth. Inclining his head, he asked, "Can I count on you to help me?"

More warning bells. She stepped back, for not only did his body odor nearly knock her over, but his breath smelled worse than dead fish.

"Hmm?" he inquired, pushing forward the more she moved away. A frayed wool coat, baggy, worn trousers, and a shabby cap, not to mention his odor and grimy, whiskered face, revealed his shoddy lifestyle. Where did he come from? More important, when was he leaving? She started to turn, but he snagged her by the arm, gripping so tightly that a pulsing knot formed in her stomach.

"Unhand me this instant!" she yelled, surprised by the firmness of her voice, sensing the importance of remaining calm. Dear Lord, give me courage, and please lend Your protection in this hour. It was one of the few times she recalled praying with such urgency.

He snorted, unleashing another wave of rancid-smelling breath. "But we're just getting to know each other."

She struggled to wrench free of his grip. "I don't know you at all. Who are you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" he sneered.

Just then, the door opened and her father sauntered in. A sigh of thankfulness tumbled from her chest. Immediately, the stranger dropped her arm and stepped away, turning his attention to a nearby display of sewing notions. He picked up a spool of thread and a package of needles then tossed them back in their bin.

Jacob stood at the door looking at the stranger. "Everything all right here?" he asked, his eyes now moving over his daughter.

"Everything's fine, Papa," she said, pressing for composure and quickly moving to the counter, glad to break away from the man's clammy touch. She looked at her jonquil-colored sleeve and found he'd left a soiled mark there. Oh, how she wanted to rush home and have Grandmother throw her dress in the wash.