He glanced over at Rosalie’s hopeful expression. By going after Garrett, it would make Rosalie happy. And he would do anything to see her smile.
“I agree with my wife,” Paden said, earning a smile from her in response. “We do have enough proof to arrest Holmes, but then Garrett and his gang will just go on to the next town. We need to pool our resources and go after Garrett together.”
“Not us. You,” the sheriff huffed, pointing between them. “My deputy and I are barely able to stay above the crime in this town, and we don’t have time to chase down any more leads. You are the famous Pinks, after all.”
Ignoring Sheriff Walton’s sarcastic tone, Paden went to say, “Thank you for your vote of confidence…”
The sheriff cut him off. “You have twenty-four hours to find Garrett or we will arrest Holmes.”
“Twenty-four hours?” he repeated back. “Garrett has been on the run for four years, and you expect us to find him in one day?”
“You are the Pinks. Find a way,” Deputy Charlie stated in a dry tone.
Rosalie shot up from her chair. “Does the time start now, or can we start the clock tomorrow?”
“By all means, we will start the clock tomorrow morning so you can rest from your earlier ordeal,” Sheriff Walton drawled.
Paden rose and followed Rosalie out the door. As they walked back to the hotel, he gave her a side glance and asked, “Do you have any intention of resting?”
“None,” came her quick reply.
“Good,” he said, “because we need to come up with an ingenious plan. And I am fresh out of them.”
She let out a light laugh. “Admitting that is the first step to receiving help.”
Pressing his lips together, Paden knew they were going to need all the help they could get to go after Bill Garrett.
Chapter 10
“What if we abducted Holmes and forced him to talk?” Paden suggested as they sat at a table in Sally’s Restaurant.
Rosalie smiled at him over the rim of her glass. “That is a brilliant idea, husband.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Brooks,” he said, smirking. “In addition, I propose we break into the bank and look for any evidence that may explain Holmes’ involvement.”
“Another brilliant idea,” she teased. “I thought you said you were fresh out of them.”
A blonde-haired girl dressed in a faded floral gown, with a white apron tied around her waist, approached their table with a bright smile on her face.
“Afternoon, folks. My name is Emeline Holmes, and I will be taking your order today,” she announced in a cheery voice.
Rosalie returned the waitress’s smile. “Are you by any chance related to Mr. Holmes, the assistant at the bank?”
“I am. He is my older brother,” she answered proudly.
“We spoke to Mr. Holmes when we opened up an account at the bank earlier,” Paden stated. “He seems like a sharp fellow.”
Emeline nodded. “Bobby is the hardest worker I know. He practically raised me when our parents died from smallpox five years ago. He has been scrimping and saving these past few years so we can eventually move into a house of our own.”
“He sounds like a good brother,” Rosalie commented.
“Oh, he is,” Emeline gushed. “I’m working here to do my part. If all goes well, we should be able to move out of the boarding house in a few months.”
Rosalie exchanged a knowing look at Paden. Bobby’s actions did not sound like someone who was involved in crime, but perhaps he was hiding his true nature from his sister?
Emeline pulled a paper and pencil out from a pocket in her apron. “On the menu today is venison stew, mutton chops, freshwater fish, and dried salmon.” She smiled. “Or, if you prefer, we could make you a turkey sandwich on our freshly baked bread.”
Paden lifted his brow expectantly at her. “What sounds good to you, darling?”
“Everything,” Rosalie replied. Directing her next comment at Emeline, she said, “I’ll take the venison stew.”
“I'll have the same,” Paden ordered.
Emeline placed the paper back into her pocket. “That sounds easy enough…” Her words trailed off as the door to the restaurant opened, and James Murray walked in. Rosalie couldn’t help but notice that Emeline’s eyes tracked his every movement as he headed toward a table near the corner of the room.
“How long have you been interested in Mr. Murray?” she asked, keeping her voice low.
Emeline’s eyes snapped back to hers. “What makes you think I am interested in him?” she questioned, her voice straining at the end.
“Call it a hunch,” she replied.
“It doesn’t matter,” Emeline sighed, glancing over her shoulder at James. “Every day he comes in for an early supper, and he hardly speaks to me. I have attempted to engage him in conversation, but he has made it clear that he has no intention of getting to know me.”
Rosalie stifled her smile since she knew that James had taken a fancy toward Emeline. “Perhaps Mr. Murray is shy?”
Emeline shook her head. “He runs the staging station, and I’ve heard him converse with people before. He is friendly and personable with them, but he is the opposite with me.”
“Would you like to make a wager, Miss Holmes?” Paden asked.
“I don’t gamble,” she replied.
Paden gave her a wry smile. “That’s good. But I am thinking of a different kind of wager.”
“Which is?”
Leaning forward in his seat, he said, “I bet I can get Mr. Murray to ask you to join him for dessert in twenty words or less.”
With a quick glance over her shoulder at James, Emeline asked, “How?”
He shrugged. “I am good at reading people.”
“What would the wager be?” she inquired cautiously.
Paden rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “After you get hitched to Mr. Murray,
