AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She pointed to the sign in the window.
“You’ve come for the job?” He looked surprised, but slightly relieved and when she nodded, he said, “What I’m looking for is another set of hands to serve customer drinks as well as clean dishes and keep the place tidy. Think you can handle that?”
She nodded and he frowned.
“Don’t you talk?”
Worried it may influence her chances of getting the job, she shook her head nevertheless.
“Is that right?” His brows rose but he turned away. “No matter. Not much need for it here.”
She released a sigh of relief.
“Well, if you want, you got the job,” he told her, to Anna’s surprise. “Be honest with you, not many applied. Had a few girls inquire about it, but it’s a boy I’m looking for. You’ll have to receive inventory and some of it requires heavy lifting, what with all the bottles of liquor.”
Anna felt a tug of guilt at her deception but refused to acknowledge it. She had to survive and whatever the means, she would.
“You kinda small for a boy. You sure you can lift them yourself?”
She nodded and prayed he did not change his mind. Thankfully, he nodded in agreement. “All right then. The pay is fairly minimal, but you get a room upstairs and meals are free. My wife serves supper at seven every night. You late, you miss dinner.”
Again she nodded.
“The name’s Ralph Ashcroft.” He turned his head to study her. “You got a name?”
Anna nodded.
“You know how to write it?” When she nodded again, he pointed to the chalk board against the back wall. “Go ahead then.”
Anna hesitated, then stepped up and wrote very carefully. When she finished, she put the chalk down and moved away for him to read. “Wade is it? All right then, Wade, room number upstairs is three, if you want to go on up and settle in. Looks like you could do for a good cleaning.”
He eyed her dusty attire and nodded to a small staircase tucked against the far wall. “There’s some water and soap for cleaning up. If you want to bring those clothing down, the wife can give them a washing. Are you hungry?”
She was and nodded vaguely.
“Right then, wife will make you up something for that belly of yours.” He frowned when he eyed her small frame again. “Certainly looks like you could use it.”
Anna smiled her gratitude before he decided he was suddenly tired of her company and ushered her toward the staircase, “Off you go then, but mind you be ready to start work tonight at five o’clock sharp. Best you know right up front I don’t tolerate lateness.”
She nodded, then turned away smiling proudly to herself as she headed for the back stairs yet feeling slightly sheepish for using Wade’s name. However, it was the only name she knew how to write and since she realized she wouldn’t be able to get work without an identity, she felt she had no other choice. Besides, he would be only too happy as he no longer had to concern himself with Anna. Kamloops was miles away from the Circle H. She felt a slight damper in her happiness and quickly ignored it. This was for the best.
* * *
“Where the hell is Anna?” Wade growled under his breath as he searched for the second time in the livery. Most of the ranch hands had already unsaddled their horses, fed them and had them settled for the night when he finally returned from the stock exchange.
Prescott looked up from brushing his horse and frowned at Wade. “I don’t know. Perhaps she already went up to the saloon.”
Wade gave his brother a look that sincerely doubted as much then spotted Kim Whong placing some kitchen supplies in a cold box. “Kim?”
The Chinese man looked up from his task as Wade approached.
“Where did An—the boy go after you got back from the trail?”
He shrugged his shoulders in an exaggerated manner and spoke some words in Chinese that made absolutely no sense to Wade. He sighed and walked away. Hell, this was the last thing he needed. It seemed he lost her more times than not whenever they went into town. In the future, he made a mental note to keep Anna planted firmly on the ranch.
He left the livery and headed for the dance hall and saloon. Maybe Prescott was right. Maybe one of the ranch hands had brought her up there. The town was large and the building was at the far end, but Wade made good time with his long strides. The place was much bigger than the saloon in Lantern. It was buzzing with activity as he entered and he thought that if she were in there, he probably wouldn’t be able to spot her out of the crowd.
Two long bars ran down the center and a stage with dancing ladies rounded off the back of the dance hall. The top floor was visible as its railings ran the entire length of the establishment along all four walls. He gave both floors a sweep and spotted no one remarkably close to looking like Anna. A frown tugged on his brow and he felt the first trigger of apprehension.
