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One afternoon while she was in the kitchen frying chicken before the diners arrived, Sylvie entered accompanied by a man Eddy didn’t know.
“Eddy, this is Sheriff Blaine Howard. Blaine, my cook, Eddy Carmichael.”
He was a tall man with white-blond hair and gray eyes. His star was pinned to his chest. “Pleased to meet you, MissEddy.”
“Same here,” she replied, all the while wondering why he’d come.
Eyeing the platter filled with the fragrant, golden chicken pieces, he said, “Just stopped by to let you know the sheriff up in Reno has apprehended the man you knew as Father Nash.”
Eddy went still. “That’s wonderful news.”
“Yes, it is.” His eyes were riveted on the chicken she was removing from the oil. “His real name is Ned Weathers and he’s wanted from Nevada to St.Louis and back for everything from assault and theft to embezzlement. He made the mistake of stealing from the sister of one of the Reno bankers, and the sheriff caught him before he could leave town.”
Because of the laws, Eddy doubted she’d be asked to testify, but it didn’t matter as long as Weathers was charged and sent to jail.
The sheriff added, “Sorry we weren’t able to grab him after your run-in with him at Lady Ruby’s. I think he hotfooted it out of town.”
Because he made it sound as if he were unaware of Rhine’s threats, she didn’t bring it up. “I appreciate that, but it’s okay. He’s been caught.” She wondered about the boy though. “When I met Weathers initially, he had a little boy with him he called Benjy. Did the Reno sheriff say anything about him?”
“Yes, they found him at a campsite Weathers was using. The boy said Weathers is his father. The sheriff is trying to verify that.”
Eddy was glad the boy had been found safe, but what kind of a man takes a child along while committing crimes? Saddened by that, she hoped some kind of arrangements were made to ensure the boy had a more secure life going forward. Seeing Howard still eyeing the platter of chicken, she asked, “Sheriff, would you care for a couple of pieces of chicken as my way of saying thanks for bringing me such good news?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
She took down a plate and placed two hot pieces on it.
He sat. He ate. He smiled. “Been hearing a lot about how good you can cook. Be nice if I could get this on a regular basis, but—“
Eddy understood. Times being what they were, the Whites didn’t patronize Sylvia’s, but she had an idea. “Suppose we wrap it up and have someone bring it to you? We’d have to charge you a bit extra of course.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sylvie beaming.
“You’d do that?” he asked.
“Of course. Would that be a problem, Sylvie?”
“Not at all. Just say the word and we’ll send it over and no one will be the wiser.”
He finished his chicken. “Can I pay you for say three more pieces?”
A smiling Sylvie said, “You bet.”
When he left, Sylvie said, “Eddy Carmichael, I think you just tapped us into a gold mine.”
And Sylvie was right. Over the next few days, some of the White businessmen in town began approaching Sylvie about placing orders. She happily obliged and hired Maria’s youngest son Martin to make the deliveries.
Rhine was on a business trip to Silver City, and Eddy hadn’t seen him since the Carters’ anniversary party. Just thinking about their fiery moments together made her sigh at the memory of his shamelessness and her own. His tutoring her in what it meant to be desired had her craving more and she missed him. She was in the kitchen peeling potatoes when she heard, “Good afternoon, MissCarmichael.” And there he stood, handsome as the day was long and wearing a smile that matched hers.
“Miss me?”
“No,” she tossed back sassily. “I haven’t thought about you in once in the three days, five hours, and twenty-seven minutes you’ve been away.”
“Too bad because I’ve spent every minute thinking about how you’d look on my lap with your skirt raised and your buttons opened.”
Her eyes widened and she hastily looked around to make sure they weren’t being overheard. “You are so scandalous.”
“Not nearly as much as I’ll be the next time I get you alone.”
Heat filled her and she had to admit she couldn’t wait.
