Eli dropped his copy of the Grooms’ Gazette onto the marshal’s desk and said, “She placed an ad for a husband. I came here to marry her, and she refused me. There must be some law that she violated when she lured me here under false pretenses.”
Marshal Sewell thought for a moment and asked, “Exactly how did she lure you here?”
“Why she placed the ad, and I answered it. I met every requirement in her ad. When I asked around town I was told where she lived and tried to see her. She refused to go to the church with me, and some old woman threatened to shoot me with a rifle. I want my wife,” Eli insisted.
“Please sit down. I have a few questions.”
Eli begrudgingly sat and glared at the marshal.
Sitting back in his chair, Marshal Sewell began, “Let me understand this correctly. You answered Katie’s ad in the Grooms’ Gazette, and she asked you to come to Silverpines?”
“Not exactly.”
“Please explain.”
“I answered the ad with a letter going into great detail about myself and my life. When I received her response, she apologized and said she no longer was looking for a husband. I could read between the lines and knew she was just being coy. It was her way of enticing me here to be sure she married. I am here, and now she says no. She can’t do that,” Eli explained.
Eli handed the marshal the letter he received from Katie. “Read it yourself. She’s acting timid to convince me of her true feelings.”
The marshal picked up the letter and slipped it into his pocket. “Mister Warren, I understand that you wish to marry Katie, but she explained in her letter that she no longer is searching for a husband. As a matter of fact, she is betrothed to a town resident.”
Eli flew to his feet. “She can’t. She’s mine. Do something to stop this, Marshal.”
“Katie is allowed to make up her own mind. I suggest you return home to wherever that is.”
“Central Ohio.”
Marshal Sewell nodded, “Ohio. Go back to Ohio on the next train. Maybe place your own ad or look elsewhere.”
“I haven’t broken any laws, and I’m not leaving town. You can’t force me. I reported what I believe is a crime. I want you to do your duty and arrest that woman.”
The marshal wanted to lock the young man in one of his cells until he came to his senses, but Eli was right. He hadn’t committed any crimes and unless or until he did, all the marshal could do is warn the Howard House residents that he believed they had a problem in the form of Eli Warren.
“Very well, Mister Warren, get a room at the Inn and I’ll speak to Katie,” the marshal said.
“And warn that crazy woman not to threaten people with a rifle. She should be arrested, too,” Eli exclaimed.
“Were you on their property when you spoke to Katie?”
“The porch.”
“Then Miss Ethel was in her rights. Don’t go to the house again and don’t call her an old woman. Miss Ethel will shoot you without giving it a second thought. Now, leave, I have business to do.”
The marshal watched Eli storm down the street and decided he’d pay a visit to Howard House to warn the residents of Eli’s temper.
While the marshal headed for Howard House, Eli entered the Inn and strode to the front desk. Ella Grace stood behind the desk while Michael ran a few errands. The glare in Eli’s eyes made Ella Grace shudder before she heard him speak.
“I want a quiet room and food. Are you serving meals now?”
“Yes, sir,” Ella Grace replied sliding a key across the desk and explaining the room charge and dining room hours to Eli. “Your room is on the second floor in the back. It’ll be quiet. We have a nice town here.”
“Humph,” Eli retorted. “With women doing men’s work. Does your husband approve of you working here?”
“We own the Inn, sir,” Ella Grace answered not caring for his attitude.
“Why does that not surprise me in a town of deceitful women,” Eli spat, grabbed his key, and headed up the stairs.
Ella Grace hurried away from the front desk to the kitchen door where she could see the lobby and speak to Mrs. Donlinson at the same time. The man had unnerved her, and they had dealt with enough nasty men in town to last a lifetime.
“Beware of the man in Room 210. His name is Eli Warren, and he just checked in. He seems very unkind, and his eyes are cold and unfeeling like a dead man’s eyes.” Ella Grace visibly shuddered.
“You look frightened, dear. I will tell my husband, and you tell Michael when he returns. Between all of us, we’ll keep an eye on that man. Here, sweet girl, have a cookie.” She held out a plate of molasses cookies. Cookies were the one thing Ella Grace couldn’t resist, and she took two.
“Thank you, Mrs. Donlinson. I should get back to the front desk.” Ella Grace turned and walked back to the desk munching on her cookie as Eli descended the stairs headed for the dining room.
“I hope he doesn’t cause our server any problems,” Ella Grace muttered under her breath as she watched Eli enter the dining room.
Eli was a perfect gentleman and did his best to charm the pretty young waitress. He managed to start her talking about the town and eventually learned all he needed to know about Miss Katie Deidmann and the man she was planning on marrying. Planning perhaps, but it would never happen. Eli would see to that. Katie was his. He didn’t travel all this way to be denied.
When Michael returned, Ella Grace
