“She wrote that she’d found love again. Did she tell you about him?”
“Tell me? No, dear. I was there. I knew him.” She stared at her coffee cup. “His name was Woody. Actually, Woodrow. He owned the Crested Arrow Ranch just east of here.” She looked up from her cup, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “She fell hard for him, and he, apparently, fell hard for her, but she sent him away.”
“Sent him away? But why? She loved him.”
Leslie shrugged. “She did love him, but she found out he was married, and she couldn’t have that. Your mother may have been a Madam and accepted married men into the parlor house without condemnation, but she could never countenance that type of behavior for herself. There were some things she just wouldn’t do, and being with a married man was one of them.”
Coming to know Josie as she did through her letters and what she’d been told by Mrs. Gallagher, the girls, and just about everyone else she’d met, that made sense. And it made her sadthat, once again, through no fault of her own, Josie had lost out on love.
“How much do I owe you for the cape?” She reached for the cape, slipped it on and buttoned it quickly, anxious to leave, though she did find Leslie a lovely person. No, it was the emotional upheaval she was having difficulty with that made her want to flee.
“It’s already been paid for, so nothing.”
Sheridan ran her hand down the front of the warm woolen cape. In essence, it was a gift from her mother. The thought left her in awe.
“Don’t worry about Mrs. Gallagher’s coat. I’ll have my son run it back to her.”
“Thank you, Leslie. I appreciate everything you’ve told me.” Even though she wasn’t used to touching and being touched, she still reached for the woman’s hand and squeezed. “I’m glad she had you for a friend.”
“No, it was I who was grateful for her friendship.” Leslie walked her to the door and opened it. “Please come back any time. I hope we can be friends, too.”
Surprised by the woman’s kindness, though she shouldn’t have been, Sheridan nodded, “I’d like that. Thank you.”
She left the house and walked toward the town square, her thoughts swirling like leaves in the wind, so much so that she almost passed Sweet Somethings without even noticing. Luckily, the aromas coming from the storefront were enough to make her mouth water and catch her attention.
She backed up a step or two, then looked in the window. Cakes, cookies, and pies were all on display, and looked so delicious, how could one possibly choose? She spied a tall cake with chocolate icing and little pink rosebud flowers. Yes, Mrs. Gallagher would be happy with that. So would she, since she had a fondness for chocolate, though peppermints were her favorite.
Decision made, she opened the door and stepped inside, making the little bell over the door jingle.
“Well, hello!” A big, completely bald man with an impressive horseshoe mustache greeted her. He stood opposite a petite red-haired woman at the counter, where a cash register resided. His gaze swept over her before he smiled broadly. “You must be Sheridan DuBois.”
Another woman stood at the counter as well, dressed in the height fashion, her dark hair swept up in an elaborate creation. She turned quickly when the big man spoke and simply stared.
Sheridan stopped with her hand on the door handle, no longer surprised when someone, a complete stranger, recognized her. It had happened so much, she simply accepted the fact that Josie had been well known and apparently liked very much…with the notable exception of Samantha, who’d given her such a nasty look at Sullivan’s.
“Merrill Shotton.” The man moved the side of his coat away and pointed to the deputies’ badge pinned to the vest beneath. “I’m so deeply sorry for your loss. Josie was a good woman.”
Sheridan felt the loss of her mother, even more so, after reading the letters. “Thank you.”
“And this is Polly Dixon.” He gestured to the young woman behind the cash register. “She owns this place and makes the best strawberry rhubarb pies I’ve ever had. So good, they make you wanna cry.”
A blush rose to the woman’s face. “Oh, Merrill! Stop it! You’re embarrassing me.” It was clear she wasn’t embarrassed at all, though. Actually, she seemed to take great pleasure in his comments, if the color adorning her cheeks was any indication.
Merrill continued the introductions, gesturing to the other woman at the counter. “This is Katie Brooks.”
Sheridan gave her a slight nod in greeting, but Katie didn’t nod in return. She simply stared at her, dark eyes narrowing,before she pulled the box containing her purchase from the counter then walked right up to her. “So, you’re the new madam.” Her gaze swept over her, like she was judging and found Sheridan lacking. “I thought you’d be prettier.” She raised her chin then walked out the door, dismissing Sheridan without another thought.
A little stunned by the woman’s obvious contempt, Sheridan watched her sashay past the window, then disappear from view.
Polly swept out from behind the counter, wiping her hands on her apron as she did so. “Don’t pay her no never mind. Welcome to Sweet Somethings. What can I get for you?”
It took her a moment to get her bearings. “I was looking at that chocolate cake in the window. The one with the little rosebuds.”
“Ah, good choice. It has three layers with raspberry jam between the first and second layer and strawberry for the other.” She walked over to the display case in the window, moved the glass door aside, and carefully pulled the cake from the shelf. “If I’m not mistaken, this is Mrs. Gallagher’s favorite. It was your mother’s, too. I always made sure I had one ready for her every week.”
Polly came back to the counter and placed the cake in a cardboard box, then pushed it closer to Sheridan.
She reached into the drawstring purse hanging from her wrist. “How much do I owe you?”
