with her father. He’d never see it now. She glanced at the trunks. Or any of the other lovely things he’d made certain she had in her life.
“What’s wrong?” With the dress still crushed against her, Liza stepped forward. “You look so sad.”
“I was thinking of my father, of how hard he worked for me.”
Liza’s fascination with the clothes was immediately outweighed by her sympathy. “He loved you. Often when he came in the store he’d talk about you, about what you’d written in one of your letters. I remember how he brought in this picture of you, a drawing in a little frame. He wanted everyone to see how pretty you were. He was so proud of you, Sarah.”
“I miss him.” With a shake of her head, Sarah blinked back tears. “It’s strange, all those years we were separated. Sometimes I could barely remember him. But since I’ve been here I seem to know him better, and miss him more.”
Gently Liza laid a hand on her shoulder. “My pa sure riles me sometimes, but I guess I’d about die if anything happened to him.”
“Well, at least I have this.” She looked around the small cabin. “I feel closer to him here. I like to think about him sitting at that table and writing to me.” After a long breath she managed to smile. “I’m glad I came.”
Liza held out a hand. “So am I.”
Rising, Sarah fluffed out the sleeves of the dress Liza was holding. “Now, let me be your looking glass. You’re taller and curvier than I…” With her lips pursed, she walked in a circle around Liza. “The neckline would flatter you, but I think I’d do away with some of the ruffles in the bodice. A nice pink would be your color. It would show off your hair and eyes.” “Can you imagine me wearing a dress like that?” Closing her eyes, Liza turned in slow circles. “It would have to be at a dance. I’d have my hair curled over my shoulder and wear a velvet ribbon around my throat. Will Metcalf’s eyes would fall right out.” “Who’s Will Metcalf?”
Liza opened her eyes and giggled. “Just a man.
He’s a deputy in town. He’d like to be my beau.” Mischief flashed across her face. “I might decide to let him.”
“Liza loves Will,” Johnny sang through the window. “You hush up, John Cody.” Rushing to the window, Liza leaned out. “If you don’t, I’ll tell Ma who broke Grandma’s china plate.”
“Liza loves Will,” he repeated, unconcerned, then raced off with the puppy.
“Nothing more irritating than little brothers,” she muttered. With a sigh of regret, she replaced the dress in the trunk.
Tapping a finger on her lips, Sarah came to a quick decision. She should have thought of it before, she reflected. Or perhaps it had been milling around in her mind all along. “Liza, would you like a dress like that…in pink, like that pretty muslin I saw in your store yesterday?”
“I guess I’d think I’d gone to heaven.”
“What if I made it for you?”
“Made it for me?” Wide-eyed, Liza looked at the trunk, then back at Sarah. “Could you?”
“I’m very handy with a needle.” Caught up in the idea, Sarah pushed through her trunks to find her measuring tape. “If you can get the material, I’ll make the dress. If you like it, you can tell the other women who come in your store.”
“Of course.” Obediently Liza lifted her arms so that Sarah could measure her. “I’ll tell everyone.” “Then some of those women might want new dresses, fashionable new dresses.” Looking up, she caught the gleam of understanding in Liza’s eyes. “You bet they would.”
“You get me that material and I’ll make you a dress that will have Will Metcalf standing on his head.”
Two hours later Sarah was pouring water over her vegetable garden. In the heat of the afternoon, with her back smarting from the chores and sun baking the dirt almost as fast as she could dampen it, she wondered if it was worth it. A garden out here would require little less than a miracle. And she would much prefer flowers.
You couldn’t eat flowers, she reminded herself, and poured the last of the water out. Now she would have to walk back to the stream and fill the pail again to have water for cooking and washing.
A bath, she thought as she wiped the back of her hand over her brow. What she wouldn’t give for a long bath in a real tub.
She heard the horses. It pleased her to realize that she was becoming accustomed to the sound-or lack of sound-that surrounded her new home. With her hand shading her eyes, she watched two riders come into view. It wasn’t until she recognized one as Lucius that she realized she’d been holding her breath. “Lafitte!” she called, but the dog continued to race around the yard, barking.
“Miss Conway.” Sheriff Barker tipped his hat and chuckled at the snarling pup. “Got yourself a fierce-looking guard dog there.”
“Makes a ruckus, anyhow,” Lucius said, swinging down from his horse. Lafitte sprang at him, gripping the bottom of his pant leg with sharp puppy teeth. Bending, Lucius snatched him up by the cuff of the neck. “You mind your manners, young fella.” The second he was on the ground again, Lafitte ran to hide behind Sarah’s skirts.
“Heard you had some trouble out here.” Barker nodded toward the remains of the shed. “This happen last night?”
“That’s right. If you’d like to come inside, I was just about to get some water. I’m sure you’d like some coffee after your ride.”
“I’ll fetch you some water, miss,” Lucius said, taking the pail from her. “Hey, boy.” He grinned down at the pup. “Why don’t you come along with me? I’ll keep you out of trouble.” After a moment’s hesitation, Lafitte trotted along after him.
“Are you thinking about hiring him on?”
With her lip caught between her teeth, Sarah watched Lucius stroll off. “I was considering it.” “You’d be smart to do it.” Barker took out a bandanna and wiped his neck. “Lucius has a powerful affection for the bottle, but it doesn’t seem to bother him. He’s honest. Did some soldiering a while back. He’s amiable enough, drunk or sober.”
Sarah managed a smile. “I’ll take that as a recommendation, Sheriff Barker.”
“Well, now.” The sheriff looked back at the shed.
“Why don’t you tell me what happened here?”
As clearly as she could, Sarah told him everything she knew. He listened, grunting and nodding occasionally. Everything she said jibed with the story Jake had given him. But she didn’t add, because she didn’t know, that Jake had followed the trail of two riders into the rocks, where he’d discovered the ashes of a campfire.
“Any reason you can think of why somebody’d want to do this?”
“None at all. There’s nothing here that could mean anything to anyone other than myself. Did my father have any enemies?” Barker spit tobacco juice in the dirt. “I wouldn’t think so right off. I got to tell you, Miss Conway, there ain’t much I can do. I’ll ask some questions and poke around some. Could be some drifters passed through and wanted to raise some hell. Begging your pardon.” But he didn’t think so. “I’d wondered the same myself.”
“You’ll feel safer having old Lucius around.”
She glanced over to see him coming back with the pail and the puppy. “I suppose you’re right.” But he didn’t look like her idea of a protector. It was unfortunate for her that her idea of one had taken the form of Jake Redman. “I’m sure we’ll do nicely,” she said with more confidence than she felt.
“I’ll ride out now and again and see how you’re getting on.” Barker pulled himself onto his horse. “You know, Miss Conway, Matt tried to grow something in that patch of dirt for as long as I can recollect.” He spit again. “Never had any luck.”
“Perhaps I’ll have better. Good afternoon, Sheriff.” “Good day, ma’am.” He lifted a hand to Lucius as he turned for home.
Chapter Six
Within a week Sarah had orders for six dresses. It took all her creativity and skill to fashion them, using her wardrobe and her imagination instead of patterns. She set aside three hours each day and three each evening for sewing. Each night when she climbed up to bed her eyes and fingers ached. Once or twice, when the exhaustion
