Page 62

SADIE

“May I present, Miss Caroline Song,”Harriet said, and Sadie almost banged her head on the table in her rush to sit up straight.

Sadie jabbed Wally in the ribs with her elbow when Amos stood. He needed to be on his best behavior if they wanted Harriet on their side. It was a thought she’d never considered, that Harriet could be helpful. Then again, she’d never considered meeting a man from the future either.

Wally’s chair scraped the wood floor as he stood. All the while, Eleanor sized up the newcomer with a shrewd eye. Sadie considered what she would’ve thought if she didn’t already know the situation.

Caroline was pretty, no doubt there, her purple hair skillfully hidden beneath a bonnet and her trim figure so naturally thin that Sadie doubted anyone would wonder if she wore a corset or not. She’d procured a simple brown dress and long-sleeved jacket somewhere. Sadie wondered if she had a wristband hidden beneath like Wally did, or any potential weapons.

The woman smiled demurely, shifting her gaze downward as though embarrassed by the attention. Sadie held back her scoff, instead watching Eleanor. If Eleanor could somehow see through Caroline’s masquerade to her true character, it would go a long way toward convincing them to leave the situation alone.

“Glad you could make it, Miss Caroline,” Amos said, grinning and gesturing to an empty seat.

“Thank you for the kind invitation, Harriet.” Caroline smiled politely and joined them.

Amos took his seat again, and Sadie had to tug on Wally’s arm to get him to do the same.

“You’re late to the party,” Sadie said, lifting a forkful of ham casserole to her mouth.

She ignored the warning squeeze beneath the table from Wally.

Caroline cleared her throat. “My apologies. I’m so new in town, I’m afraid I lost my way to this lovely home.”

Harriet beamed.

“So you two know each other?” Harriet pressed after a moment of silence. She indicated Wally and Caroline with a gesture of her fork.

Sadie noted the tense frown that flashed over Caroline’s face even as she refused to meet their gaze.

“Harriet!” Eleanor hissed beneath her napkin.

“In passing,” Wally said, staring at Caroline in a dare to contradict him.

“Forgive me, but it sure sounded like a lot more than passing the way Amos and Sadie spoke of your relationship earlier,” Harriet said before taking a sip of water.

Caroline looked up. This time, her dark eyes found Amos, posing a silent question.

“Now, Harriet,” Amos said in response. “This is hardly the place to discuss this. It’s impolite to our new friend to bring up unpleasant subjects. If I’d known you’d invited both of them, I would’ve intervened.”

“I’m sure whatever transpired in the past, we can all behave civilly now,” Eleanor added. “Sadie is a fine judge of character, and Mr. Doyle has been nothing but polite since joining us. Why, you can see the admiration in his eyes. Just look at how he dotes on our dear Sadie.”

Sadie fought the blush rushing to her cheeks as she glanced over at Wally, who was as red as a ripe cherry as well.

“Thank you, Eleanor,” Sadie said, sitting a bit straighter.

“It appears I’m going to have to clear this up publicly,” Caroline said. Five sets of eyes snapped toward her. She set her fork down hard on the table and stood. “I do not like advertising my private business, especially being new in town, but it seems I’ve had the unfortunate luck to run into Mr. Doyle already.”

Sadie shifted, ready to say to hell with it and dive over the table. But Wally’s hand gripped her knee in warning, and she stayed silent, content for at least the moment to glare daggers at the woman.

“Don’t feel bad, Sadie,” Caroline said, now speaking directly to her. “He fooled many a woman, including myself. He’s got quite the silver tongue and handsome face. But this man is a swindler.”

Harriet gasped, hand fluttering to her chest in consternation and shock. But Sadie wasn’t about to let this go unchallenged, no matter how calm Wally seemed.

She stood, nearly knocking Wally face-first into his plate, then raised a trembling finger at Caroline Song. “You are the swindler, not my Wally.”

“Now Sadie, I know you’re probably angry—” Amos dared try to patronize her.

“Angry doesn’t begin to describe it.” Sadie bit the words out through clenched teeth. “If y’all knew the whole story.”