“I finished, but I must be going,” Lydia said to Ruth. “I’ll stop by again soon. I’ll see myself out.”
“All right, dear,” Ruth answered and waved at Lydia.
Lydia walked through the parlor, set the letter meant for Joseph on the piano, donned her warm coat, and rushed around the side of the building to pick up Holly’s carpet bag. She placed the bag in the back of her wagon and covered it with a blanket. Lydia laughed as she climbed onto the seat and headed for the mercantile. She deserved to buy herself something special for being smart enough to rid her life of Holly and in time she’d have Joseph.
Lydia hummed as she drove the wagon down the street to the mercantile. She walked inside, waved at the owner, and rushed to the women’s clothing section. She hoped she’d find something that would attract Joseph’s attention. Grumbling to herself that there was nothing new or exciting to buy, she decided on a dark blue blouse that she could pair with a skirt she already owned. A few tucks to make it tighter and some lace added in just the right places would certainly catch Joseph’s eye.
Lydia paid for her purchase and practically waltzed out of the mercantile and to her wagon. She stopped to gaze at the darkening sky knowing if it snowed again, she might have to wait a few days before releasing Holly but wasn’t worried. There was enough food and water, and while the root cellar was cold, it didn’t freeze. Holly would be all right until Lydia could return.
While Lydia gazed at the sky, Joseph watched her from the café window. His brows furrowed as he wondered what on earth she was doing staring at the sky.
He called to Charity, “I thought you said Lydia went to the ranch with Holly. Lydia is across the road staring at the sky, and I don’t see Holly anywhere.”
Charity walked out from the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron. “I saw them both leave earlier. They were talking and smiling. Maybe Holly went back to the boarding house, but she said she’d come back to work as soon as she helped Lydia.”
“Lydia’s acting strange even for Lydia. I think I’ll walk over and speak to her. Holly wouldn’t stay away from her job here unless she felt ill. It’s going to snow again, and I want to be sure Holly is all right.”
Charity nodded as Joseph grabbed his coat and headed across the road. The café was empty, and Charity took the opportunity to watch Joseph as he approached Lydia.
“Lydia,” Joseph called out. “Where’s Holly?”
Lydia spun at his voice and stammered, “Umm, she went back to the boarding house after we returned. She said she had something to do.”
Joseph shook his head, marched past Lydia, and headed for the boarding house.
Ruth opened the door to Joseph’s knock and said, “Well, hello, Joseph. What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to check on Miss Martin. She was supposed to come to work, but Lydia said she came here instead.”
Ruth held the door open wide. “Please come in out of the cold. Holly isn’t here. I haven’t seen her since she left for work this morning, but I did find this envelope addressed to you.”
Ruth pulled the letter from her apron pocket and handed it to Joseph.
Joseph tore the envelope open and read the missive. His heart shattered, but somehow, he didn’t feel that Holly wrote the words. Something felt wrong.
He looked back at Ruth, “Did Holly say anything odd to you this morning?”
Ruth shook her head. “No, she was smiling and happy as usual. I even commented to Lydia that Holly seems happier than she was when she first arrived.”
“Lydia? Lydia was here? When?” Joseph inquired.
“You missed her by no more than thirty minutes. She brought muffins, and we had tea,” Ruth explained. “Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know,” Joseph expressed honestly. “Lydia was supposed to be with Holly this afternoon. I need to ask her where Holly is. Thank you for giving me the letter.”
Ruth nodded and said a small prayer that Holly was safe. She didn’t know her way around the area, and people who lived in town could get lost after a snowfall. Ruth watched as Joseph ran back down the road to the café. Ruth knew that Joseph also worried about the lovely young woman.
Chapter Nine
Lydia knew Joseph would receive Holly’s letter and decided to go straight to the café and watch his reaction when he returned from the boarding house and spoke to Charity. If he needed consoling, she’d be ready. She was not, however, prepared for Joseph’s anger.
Joseph stormed into the café right past Lydia and straight into the kitchen. He handed the envelope to Charity. “Here read this.” Joseph’s raised voice filtered into the dining room and Lydia listened and smiled. Her plan was working.
Charity shook her head, “No, no, no, this isn’t right. Holly wouldn’t leave this way. We spoke about the fact that she’s safer here in a small town where everyone knows her. She’d never hide in a big city where she doesn’t know anyone.”
“Maybe,” Joseph answered. “She might have felt threatened, or one of the henchman that forced her to leave Chicago showed up in town, and she saw him. I’m going to find the sheriff. David will know if anyone new has been asking questions around town.”
Lydia couldn’t let him speak to the sheriff. The sheriff might search for Holly. Lydia leaped to her feet when Joseph walked into the dining room.
“I couldn’t help but overhear you. Don’t find Sheriff Knight. Holly told me she was afraid
