The Calm of Night (Kansas Crossroads Book 10) Page 2

  “He is handsome—I’ll give him that.” Ruth nodded once. “But I wouldn’t trust him, not for a minute.”

  “He might have changed,” Sarah interjected as she sat on the edge of her bed to take off her shoes. “His relationship with Stephen has improved, and who knows—perhaps he’s become a better man in other ways too.”

  “I’m not sure you really believe that,” Grace said from across the room. “You sound skeptical.”

  “I will probably always be skeptical of anyone in the Howard family—except for Stephen,” Sarah said. “But let’s not dwell on them and all their idiosyncrasies. I’m getting married tomorrow—let’s focus on that.”

  “Exactly.” Nancy Ann pulled her nightgown out from beneath her pillow and turned down her own covers. “We have so much to do to get ready—let’s get a good night’s sleep, and make tomorrow wonderful.”

  Everyone climbed in and burrowed under their covers. Nancy Ann closed her eyes, eager to drift off, but when the wind started to howl outside, she found it hard to sleep at all.

  Chapter Three

  Timothy couldn’t believe how hard the snow was falling. He’d never seen anything like it back home in South Carolina. He stepped to the door of the bank and looked outside, the snowflakes drifting from the sky like the doilies his grandmother crocheted, light and lacy. He had to agree with Dr. Pettigrew on one point—it was beautiful. He also couldn’t see across the street. That was worrisome.

  “As manager of this bank, there are times when I must make a judgment call for the welfare of our customers and employees, and I’m making such a judgment call right now,” Mr. Greening said as he joined Timothy in the doorway. “We’re shutting down for today. Son, I recommend you head on over to the general store and pick up whatever you might need to tide you over for a few days. You’re still living in that tiny little place behind the livery?”

  “That’s right, sir.”

  Mr. Greening nodded. “Get yourself some food, maybe an extra blanket or two, and plan to hunker down. Better sure than sorry, as the saying goes.”

  “Thank you, sir. I hope you’ll do the same.”

  “The missus always keeps the larder full. It’s one of her peculiar quirks that I love so much.” Mr. Greening pulled his keyring from his pocket. “The safe is already secure, so I’ll lock up the teller cage and we can go.”

  Timothy waited patiently while Mr. Greening performed all the safety checks they went through at the close of the day, including checking every lock three times and trying to rattle the handle on the safe. Then they trudged off through the snow, Timothy deciding that a visit to the general store was certainly a good idea.

  He wasn’t expecting to see nearly every shelf bare when he walked in.

  “Afternoon, Mr. Appleby,” he called out as he wandered down the center of the store. “It looks like you’ve been robbed.”

  “It does, rather,” Mr. Appleby replied. “Everyone’s so worried about this storm, they’ve all but cleaned me out. What can I do for you?”

  Timothy turned in a circle, trying to see what might be left. “Do you have any suggestions?”

  “Well, I have some apples over here in the corner, and some tea, and I have several cards of buttons.”

  “I’ll take the apples and the tea, but I wouldn’t know what to do with the buttons.” Timothy chuckled. “How are you on blankets?”

  “I do have a few of those.” Mr. Appleby led the way to the back of the store and pulled out some handmade quilts. “My wife and daughters put these together. They’re quite warm.”

  “I’ll take the blue one.” Timothy gestured with a nod.

  “Are you sure you don’t want the pink?”

  “Quite sure.”

  Mr. Appleby chuckled as he put the more feminine of the two blankets back under the counter. “All right, would you like to pay cash or to put this on your tab?”

  Timothy didn’t have a lot of money, but he knew what the right choice would be. “Cash. I imagine far too many people today have run up their tabs.”

  “All too true.” Mr. Appleby sounded cheerful enough, but there was a hint of worry on his face. “I know they’re good for it, but it does make the ledger squeak a bit.”

  “I’m sure it does.” Timothy placed his money on the counter, thanked the store owner, and carried his purchases home, squinting as he tried to see what was up ahead. Back in his tiny house, he saw enough provisions for a few days—he should be all right.

  Just then, he heard the whistle of the train as it approached the station. At first, he didn’t think anything of it, but then he realized it was a strange time for a train. He pulled out his pocket watch—sure enough, it was either very late or very early. What was going on?

  Thoughts of Miss Morgan flitted through his mind, and he smiled. She’d certainly looked very fetching with her foot caught in the ice, her cheeks flushed with cold—or was that embarrassment? Suddenly, he was even more curious to find out why the train was running on such an odd schedule. The folks at the Brody would know, and while he was there, he could collect on that promised slice of pie.

  Smiling, he wrapped his scarf more securely around his neck and headed back out. Pie was worth braving any snowstorm. And so was a pretty smile.

  ***

  When at last he stepped into the lobby at the Brody Hotel, Timothy had to take a moment to catch his breath. The snow had accumulated to such an extent that walking was becoming more difficult. His job kept him indoors most of the time, and he feared he’d lost some of the physical robustness he’d once had—his entire youth had been spent hiking and adventuring in the hills near his home. Now he was dismayed to discover how entirely worn out he was.

  “Hello, Mr. Hancock,” Mrs. Brody greeted him from behind the desk in the lobby. “You seem a bit cold. Come in and get warm.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Brody. I think I will.” Timothy knocked some clods of snow off his boots and kicked them outside, then turned and inhaled. Something smelled incredibly delicious. “What’s baking?”

  “Sarah, our head cook, is getting married tonight—that’s her wedding cake. We have a large assortment of pies and other cakes for meals today, if I can interest you in any of them.”

  “Absolutely. I’d best start with a hot meal, though—I’m not only cold, but famished.”

  “Of course. Come through to the dining room.”

  When Timothy reached his table and sat, he looked around. Only about a third of the tables were occupied. “Not a good day for traveling, I suppose?”

  “Not at all.” Mrs. Brody gave him a pleasant smile. “Your waitress will be with you in a moment.”

  “Thanks, ma’am.”

  Timothy watched as the girls scurried back and forth. He’d only been here a handful of times—his work schedule kept him away—but even at that, he didn’t recognize some of the waitresses, and of course he was looking for one in particular. When she emerged from the kitchen, she glanced his way and smiled, giving him a nod, and after she delivered the food she was carrying, she came over to his table.

  “Hello, Mr. Hancock. I’m glad you’re here—I haven’t forgotten our arrangement.”

  “I’m certainly glad of that. Before I eat that pie, though, I’d like to buy a meal. What are you serving today?”

  “We have beans and cornbread, pot roast, or chicken and dumplings.”

  Timothy’s stomach rumbled, and he hoped Miss Morgan hadn’t noticed. “I’ll take the chicken and dumplings, please.”

  “Very good choice. I’ll be right back.” She hurried off, her skirts swishing to and fro as she walked.

  When she returned, he said, “This is an unusual time for a meal, isn’t it? By my watch, you’re either early or late, but come to think of it, I don’t remember hearing a whistle for the first train of the day.”

  “This is the first train of the day,” she replied. “The weather has slowed everything down to where we’re not even sure what to prepare for. And this wind—Tom’
s been nailing shutters closed all morning and making sure the hinges on the barn door are secure. I hope the people in town are taking the same precautions.”

  “They’re stocking up on supplies, that’s for sure. The general store is all but cleaned out. What about the hotel? Do you have what you need?”

  “Thankfully, we’d just gotten in a big shipment before the storm hit. We should be all right.”

  Timothy knew he was making small talk and he should let her get back to work, but he didn’t want her to leave. He’d be happy talking about nothing for quite some time. “I wonder . . . if you’d consider taking a walk with me some evening.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “In this weather?”

  He immediately recanted. “Um, I mean, in other weather. On another day. When it’s not this cold and snowy.”

  She laughed. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Hancock—I was teasing you. Yes, I’d be more than happy to walk out with you. Just name the date, and if need be, we’ll walk in circles around the barn.” With that, she was off again, and Timothy sat back in his chair with relief. That had certainly been awkward—there was just something about Miss Morgan that made him feel tongue-tied.

  ***

  Tom came in the kitchen door, rubbing his hands together. “I’ve seen storms like this, but not often,” he said. “Would one of you get Mr. Brody, please? I don’t want to track snow through the lobby by walking through to his office.”

  “Of course,” Grace said as she turned and left the kitchen.

  “You look frozen solid.” Nancy Ann poured a cup of coffee for him, and he curled his hands around it.

  “Thank you.” He took a few slow sips, then drank the rest in a series of gulps. Nancy Ann watched him with amusement as she dumped hot water into the dish tub. He reminded her of a boy sometimes, a rough-and-tumble towhead who’d rather be out playing with his dog than sitting inside doing his studies. That’s why his job at the Brody was so perfect for him—he could be doing something active at any given moment, and of course, he’d met his wife here, making it an even better fit.

  Mr. Brody came into the kitchen just then. “How are things going outside, Tom?”

  “Visibility’s getting pretty bad. I set up a rope system linking the property together, so if you come out the door here and grasp the rope tied onto the railing on the left, it will lead you to the pump and then to the barn. The rope on the right will lead you to the laundry shed and then out to my cottage. It’s absolutely crucial that no one tries to do their outside chores without using these ropes. I’ve heard tale of men going out to feed their cattle, getting confused by just a few feet, wandering past their houses, and ending up frozen somewhere on the prairie.”

  “That seems just a bit far-fetched, isn’t it?” Mr. Brody chuckled.

  Tom shrugged. “I’m just saying that the ropes are there for a reason.”

  “I don’t mean to make light, Tom. I guess I just don’t know enough about prairie living.” Mr. Brody slapped Tom on the shoulder. “Are you and Harriet staying warm enough out there in your cottage?”

  “We are.”

  “If you need to take a room upstairs, I’m sure we can fit you in.” Mr. Brody turned to Nancy Ann. “Do we have a spare room?”

  “Yes, we do. We have three spares right now,” Nancy Ann replied.

  “I’ll let you know. For now, please make sure everyone is told to use the ropes, and it would also be best if you came outside in pairs. Safety in numbers and all that.”

  Mr. Brody nodded. “I’ll make sure they understand.”

  Giselle entered the kitchen and set a tray of dirty dishes on the table. “Oh, Tom. There you are. We’re nearly out of clean linens. Are we going to be able to do laundry, or does that need to wait?”

  Tom scratched his chin. “You could do it, I suppose, but it’s mighty cold out there, and your wet things would most likely freeze before you could get them hung up. Not to mention your fingers.”

  “I’ll see what we can do to manage. Thanks, Tom.”

  The handyman nodded and stepped back outside, the snow coming in gusts through the door until he closed it.

  “Let’s have a meeting as soon as this meal service is over,” Mr. Brody said. “We have some decisions to make and some rules to lay down.”

  As he left the kitchen, he nearly ran into Grace, who was coming in. “Nancy Ann, Mr. Hancock is done with his meal and says you owe him a slice of cherry pie.”

  Nancy Ann grinned. “That’s right—I do.” She wiped her hands, cut a slice, and carried it out to the dining room, where he sat waiting with a smile on his face. “Here you are.”

  “It looks delicious. Can’t you join me? I know you’re busy, but I’m sure you get breaks.”

  “I get breaks once the meal is cleaned up. I’m sorry, but that will be another half hour at least.” She wished she could just take off her apron and sit down with him—his eyes looked soft and appealing in the grayish light coming in through the windows.

  “I’ll just content myself with the promise of that walk, then.”

  She sighed as she moved on. It had been a little while since anyone had paid attention to her in a flirtatious way, and she rather liked it. Of course, then there was Mr. Howard, who had eaten quickly and gone back up to his room. He’d shown some interest, but perhaps he was friendly with all the girls he met. She shouldn’t put too much stock in a few shared smiles.

  Chapter Four

  The sound of another train whistle cut through the stillness of the dining room, and Timothy looked up from his last bite of pie with surprise. Miss Morgan came out of the kitchen, a bewildered look on her face. “Did I just hear a train whistle?”

  “You did,” Timothy replied. “Rather a strange time for it.”

  “I don’t think we can believe the train schedules at all today.” She stepped back into the kitchen, but left the door open, and Timothy heard her say, “Another train’s coming.”

  Within minutes, all the waitresses had descended on the dining room and had it ready for the newcomers. Timothy had moved back and now stood in the corner, feeling a bit at odds. He should probably go home, but it was certainly cozier here, and if he waited a bit, he could have his dinner as well as his lunch. It wouldn’t be a hardship at all to eat two hot meals in a row, and he could read the newspaper in the lobby in the meantime. He hadn’t read one in a few weeks, and he could use some insights into current events.

  Of course, he only told himself all this as an excuse to stick around and sneak glimpses of Miss Morgan, but if he could see her and catch up on his reading at the same time, surely that was a good way to spend his afternoon.

  He had just taken up a spot in the lobby when the door opened and the train passengers filed in. Most were shivering, and one lady looked as though she would go into confinement at any moment. The waitresses were quick to show everyone back to the dining room and get them seated, and Timothy flipped open the newspaper and prepared to read.

  Then the door opened again, and it was Mr. Hoover from the train station, accompanied by Colonel Gordon, the marshal.

  “Hello, gentlemen,” Mrs. Brody greeted them. “Can I offer you a hot meal?”

  “I’m sorry to say that I don’t have time, Mrs. Brody,” Colonel Gordon responded. “I need to see everyone staying at your establishment right now. Can you gather them in the dining room?”

  Confusion and worry flickered across Mrs. Brody’s face, but she merely nodded. “Of course. Mr. Hancock, I’m sorry to interrupt your reading, but can you join us, please?”

  He followed the others into the dining room and looked around for Miss Morgan, only to see her slip down the hall. A moment later, she returned, trailed by a young man and a family. He assumed they were guests of the hotel and she had fetched them from upstairs.

  Colonel Gordon moved to the front of the room and held up his hands for quiet. “I’m here on a matter of official business,” he said, raising his voice so everyone could hear him. “This storm has now bec
ome so severe that we are declaring a state of emergency. The railroad has shut down. Trains are being told to stop at the next possible location and remain there. This means that all passengers are to remain wherever they are stopped. All of you here in this dining room are now residents of the Brody until the railroad is up and running again.”

  “The railroad extends its deepest regrets, but there really is no other choice,” Mr. Hoover added. “In some areas, trains are only making it to the next stop because men are out there shoveling the tracks by hand. This isn’t a safe situation for anyone.”

  Timothy heard murmurs of disbelief all around the room.

  “Furthermore, and this will be uncomfortable for those of you who might live here in Topeka and have just dropped in for a meal, but it’s my duty as the marshal to close down the town. This means that no one is to venture out onto the streets. You must all stay where you are.”

  Mrs. Clasby raised her hand. “I live just a few blocks away and only came over to visit my family. Surely I could go home,” she said.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I can’t recommend it. And if I see you try, I can’t allow it. Your best option is to stay here at the hotel, and if you think about it, it’s not a bad place to wait out the storm. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go deliver the same message all around town before I’m forced to hole up somewhere as well.” Colonel Gordon touched the brim of his hat and strode back down the hall to the front door.

  “Mr. Dupree, do you believe all your passengers and train crew are accounted for?” Mr. Hoover asked.

  The tall conductor nodded. “Yes, most of the crew is here, and all the passengers. An engineer and a brakeman went home, but they don’t live far from here, so they should be all right.”

  “I’ll check that out before I turn in,” Mr. Hoover said, giving a nod before he, too, left the hotel.

  “This certainly wasn’t expected,” Miss Morgan said at Timothy’s shoulder. How she’d managed to get through the crowd to his side, he didn’t know, but he was glad she did.