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“No. She brought Rhett his breakfast and retrieved the tray. Perhaps she found it.”
“Then wouldn’t she have mentioned it?”
Isabelle frowned. “Probably, but we should check her jewelry box to be certain.”
“And if it isn’t there?”
“Maybe whoever took it will return it. Meanwhile, we can’t let our parents find out about this. Or anyone else for that matter.”
Rhett’s voice filled the hallway. “Why is that exactly?”
Gasping, Isabelle whirled to find him balancing against the doorpost of the study with curiosity wrinkling his brow. She glanced back to exchange a panicked look with her sister. Violet recovered first. With a quick glance toward the kitchen, she caught Isabelle’s arm and towed her across the hall toward Rhett so they could speak more quietly. “Because if our parents find out there’s a thief in the boardinghouse, we might as well kiss Peppin goodbye.”
Concern filled Rhett’s eyes as he turned to Isabelle for confirmation. “You’d have to leave town?”
She nodded. “After Amy’s elopement, they said if anything else goes wrong, they’re going to sell the boardinghouse and move us back to Virginia, where they’re originally from.”
“Well, we can’t have that.” He frowned. “We need to figure out who took the bracelet and find a way to get it back.”
Violet wrinkled her nose. “How are we going to do that?”
“First off, y’all had better check your ma’s jewelry box like you said. The other thing we need to do is to keep a close watch for anyone behaving oddly or guiltily. Y’all would be better judges than me on that since I don’t know the other boarders well. Let’s see how all of that works out, and we’ll go from there.”
Isabelle nodded, then blinked, unsure of how “we” suddenly included him. She wouldn’t complain, though. Having him on their side was far better than letting him tell their parents about the missing bracelet the first chance he got. She could only hope that the three of them would be able to curtail this problem before it became a situation requiring her parents’ attention. The last thing she wanted to do was, as Violet had put it, kiss the boardinghouse and Peppin goodbye.
Of its own accord, her gaze drifted to Rhett’s smile. She shook her head to keep her thoughts from straying where they didn’t need to go. He caught her gaze and his eyes seemed to darken. She swallowed hard. She’d get the bracelet back, find Rhett someone else to court and her life would go back to normal. End of story.
Chapter Four
Rhett hadn’t intended to eavesdrop on Isabelle and Violet’s conversation. It had simply been nigh on impossible not to since it had taken place only yards from the study door. Of course, once he’d realized what he was listening to, he hadn’t exactly tried not to hear it. He didn’t like the idea of the Bradley girls dealing with a possible thief by themselves, which was why he’d inserted himself into the situation. That and the fact that, prior to overhearing them, he’d been staring at the ceiling for thirty minutes after giving up on his attempts to read one of the few books he’d been able to reach. Being an invalid was duller than he’d ever imagined. He needed a project to keep his mind occupied.
Isabelle had checked her mother’s jewelry box, but the bracelet was still nowhere to be found. Knowing there was nothing else they could do to search for it at the moment, she and Violet stayed around to play a few card games with him. Eventually Mrs. Bradley brought his lunch and took her daughters with her when she left. Only a few minutes later, Isabelle returned to announce that he had a visitor. “It’s the sheriff. He’s waiting in the parlor. I thought you might be lying down and figured you’d want to sit in the chair with your leg propped up while you talked with him, like you did for our card games.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
After helping him get situated, she straightened the bed then sent him a pointed look on the way out. “I’ll go get him so y’all can talk about your business.”
He grinned, easily catching her subtle warning not to mention the thief. “My business, meaning not yours?”
“Exactly.” She smiled.
She was out the door before he had a chance to respond. Sean entered only a moment later, with a pair of freshly hewn crutches in his hand. “I come bearing gifts. Made them myself. Although, I see you’ve already got a pair.”
Rhett glanced at the set already leaning against a nearby wall. “They worked great in a pinch but they’re a bit too short for me.”
“I pegged you at about six-two and fashioned these accordingly. Want to try them out?”
“Sure thing.” He rose from the chair, where he sat with his leg propped up. Setting the new crutches in position, he moved back and forth across the room. “These are perfect, Sean. Thank you.”
“Glad I could help.” Sean waited until Rhett sat down, then took the chair opposite him. “I wanted to let you know what I’ve learned about what happened last night. It seems that a couple of teenagers weren’t satisfied with the fireworks display the town had planned, so they stockpiled enough for one of their own. They’d planned to set them off farther outside of town. However, the load fell out of the wagon right at the corner near your house. No one is sure how a spark hit one of the fuses, but it set off the whole lot.”
“I hope no one got hurt.”
“A minor burn here or there is all. It could have been a lot worse. As it is, the boys have been scared out of their wits more than anything.”
“I can imagine. It was scary enough as far away as I was. What’s going to happen to them now?”
“Setting off fireworks within the town limits is a misdemeanor, so ultimately that will be for the judge to decide. Do you think you’re going to press charges?”
Rhett grimaced. “They’re so young. I’d hate to do it.”
“I know. Unfortunately, their age doesn’t change what happened. People could have been seriously injured or even killed. Your house was destroyed. Several others were damaged. If you don’t bring charges, someone else probably will.”
“Yes, but those wouldn’t be as bad.”
“True. It’s up to you. Judge Hendricks is a fair man—kind, wise and has a knack for coming up with the right solution.”
“I’m sure he is, but I’m probably going to forego any legal proceedings. I had insurance on the house, so I ought to be all right without adding to whatever those kids will have to face from everyone else.”
Sean nodded. “Meanwhile, you have an army of volunteers working to clear the debris off your lot. Anything salvageable will be placed in boxes for you to look through later. Once that’s done, better prepare yourself for some visitors. I’m sure you’ll have a lot of folks dropping by to check on you.”
Though he was embarrassed at the thought of all the attention he’d be getting, Rhett couldn’t help but appreciate the way the town was rallying around him. “I appreciate everything you’ve done, what the others are doing now and all of the support I’ve gotten. Please, let everyone know that.”
“You’re our neighbor and our friend. It’s the least we could do. Actually, there’s one more thing. The town got together and... Well, here.”
Rhett took one look at the money inside the envelope Sean handed him and shook his head. “I appreciate this, but it isn’t necessary.”
Sean held up his hands when Rhett tried to hand it back. “Don’t give it back too quickly. You might not be able to work for a while. It might come in handy.”
“I’ll be fine.” Rhett frowned. “Tell you what. Why don’t we start a fund to buy a new fire wagon for the town with this money? That way the whole town would benefit.”
“You’re really going to refuse to take it?” At Rhett’s nod, Sean finally accepted the envelope. “Then I think your idea is a good one. This amount isn’t quite enough, but it’s a good start.”
“Maybe we can find some way to raise the rest of the money. We ought to do it soon, while the subject is on everyone’s minds. I’d suggest a benefit dance, but the town recently had a masquerade ball.”
“I think the church has the corner on the box socials, although it’s probably too cold for one anyway.”
“Yeah, the event would have to be inside.” His hand strayed toward his pocket, where his harmonica was safely tucked away. “We have a lot of talented singers and musicians in this area. Do you think folks would pay to see them perform?”
Sean grinned. “I do—especially if you were playing. I reckon we could draw a lot of people that way. With folks knowing what you went through, it would set their minds at ease to see that you’re all right. That’ll be particularly true once they find out you didn’t take any of their money.”
“I know I could rope Quinn into playing his banjo. Chris has his fiddle. In fact, I’m pretty sure everyone in his family plays some kind of instrument or another.”
“My wife is quite a hand at the piano,” Sean added.
“That’s a fact,” Rhett agreed, having heard Lorelei play nearly every Sunday at church. “I’d be happy to recruit talent, but managing the actual program isn’t exactly the kind of thing I’d be good at.”
Sean grimaced. “Me, neither.”
“Then who’s going to plan all of this?”
Sean leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Well, now, that’s a good question.”
“It seems like the kind of thing that needs a woman’s touch, doesn’t it? I’d hate to impose on anyone. It might be a lot of work.”
Sean nodded. “Ellie’s good at planning things. I’ll ask her. If she can’t do it, she might be able to point me in the direction of someone who can. I’ll send them your way to talk about the performers.”
“That sounds good.” Rhett moved to stand when Sean did, then smiled ruefully and settled back in his chair. “I’d see you out but...”
Sean grinned. “Don’t worry about it. Take care of yourself. Let me know if you need anything. I mean it, Rhett.”
“I will. Hey, before you go, you said the volunteers were putting anything salvageable in boxes for me. How much have they found?”
Sean winced. “What I should have said was if they find anything, they’ll put it in a box for you.”
“Meaning?”
“We haven’t found anything worth saving yet.”
Rhett sighed. That was disappointing, but pretty much what he’d expected. “I have a feeling I’m going to be starting over from scratch.”
“Perhaps. That doesn’t entirely have to be a bad thing, though. It’s a new start in a new year—a blank slate. You can make whatever you want out of it.”
“That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking.”
“Good.” Sean straightened to leave then hesitated. “Be encouraged, Rhett. God is going to bring something good out of this for you and your future. That’s who He is and how He works.”
Rhett nodded. Reading his Bible, growing up in church, watching the lives of other believers had given Rhett plenty of evidence that God had good plans for His people. Trouble was, in Rhett’s experience, God sure seemed to take His time when it came to working those plans out in his life. Rhett was tired of waiting for things to change and sick of depending on others to make it happen. If life was a blank page, then it was time for him to take the pen in his own hands and do a little writing. Whether that or even God would help still remained to be seen.
* * *
The bell on the front desk rang frequently to announce Rhett’s steady stream of visitors after the sheriff left. Isabelle didn’t mind because it gave her an excuse to watch the door. In truth, she was waiting for the boarders to return in the hopes that one of them would hand her the bracelet along with a reasonable explanation for having it. Gabe was the first to return. He absently tossed his coat onto the rack, muttered a quick hello and rushed up the stairs, already flipping through his sketchbook. She listened to his door ease shut and knew she probably wouldn’t see him again until supper a few hours from now. There was nothing strange about that.
She glanced up when the front door opened again and was relieved to see Ellie and Lawson Williams enter. As the town’s unofficial matchmaker, Ellie was exactly the person Isabelle should ask about the courting lessons she’d promised Rhett. She greeted the couple with a quick hug. “I’m sure you’re here to see Rhett. He’s right through that door and ready for visitors. Ellie, would you mind if I borrow you for a few moments before you leave? I need a bit of advice.”
“Well, now I’m too curious to wait. Why don’t we talk now?”
Remembering that Rhett had been able to hear her entire conversation with Violet earlier, Isabelle glanced toward the study. “All right, but let’s not do it here. The walls have ears.”
Ellie followed her gaze. “I’m guessing those ears belong to Rhett.”
Lawson grinned. “Why don’t y’all go for a quick walk? I’ll visit with Rhett.”
“Thanks, Lawson.” Isabelle quickly bundled up in her coat, hat and gloves before she and Ellie walked down the porch steps out onto Main Street.
Ellie slipped her hands into her pockets as she sent Isabelle a concerned look. “Is everything all right?”
She’d meant to keep the conversation light, but her response somehow came out a bit drawn-out and shaky. “Yes.”
Ellie frowned. “Isabelle, what is going on?”
Isabelle pressed her lips together. Don’t say it. Don’t say it.
“Isabelle?”
“I kissed Rhett.”
Ellie stopped in her tracks in the middle of Main Street. “Wait. What?”
Isabelle closed one eye and winced before tugging her friend across the street to the courtyard. “I did. I kissed him. Well, actually, he kissed me. Or we kissed each other. I don’t know. It just sort of happened because it was New Year’s Eve. Then the world exploded. And I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”
Ellie shook her head and waved her hands in random circular motions. “Whoa. Slow down. My mind needs to catch up with your words. You and Rhett kissed on New Year’s Eve. That’s...” Ellie nodded then grinned. “That’s wonderful. Hurray!”
Isabelle glared at her. “No! Not wonderful. Not hurray. This is bad.”
“It is?”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
“There are so many reasons.” Isabelle shook her head as she led the way down a path strewn with dead brown leaves. “First of all, I don’t go around kissing men willy-nilly. That is not the kind of girl I am. Second, I had on a mask, so I thought he didn’t know who I was, but he did. He knew the whole time. Third, he’s living in the boardinghouse now, and it was my idea to have him there. Finally, if my parents find out any of this, they will not be happy at all. In fact, they will probably throw him out.”
Ellie grimaced. “Oh. Well, the only thing that really sounds like a problem is the part about your parents. The rest seems pretty romantic to me.”
Panic surged through her. “No romance. Absolutely not. This would be the worst possible time for one with everything so up in the air.”
“What is up in the air?”
“Nothing. Never mind.” Her parents were trying to keep their doubts about the fate of the boardinghouse in the family circle until a decision had officially been reached. “Most important, I refuse to even consider a man who was in love with my sister just a matter of months ago.”
“Hmm.” Ellie started walking again, albeit very slowly. “What does Rhett have to say about all of this?”
“He...” She could almost see the confusion and disappointment on Rhett’s face as she offered the courting lessons in response to his overtures toward...what exactly? She hadn’t let him finish. His words had started to sound too similar to what she’d been hearing from John and Chris, so she’d cut him off almost instinctively. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve made my decision.”
“I see.” Ellie’s knowing gaze said she probably saw far too much, at that.
“The reason I’m telling you this is because I need your help. Rhett’s a good man. He deserves to find someone.” She bit her lip. “What I mean is surely there is some other girl we can send his way to...”
“Distract him?”
“Yes!” Seeing the disapproving frown that earned her, she amended, “No. Ellie, you’re a matchmaker. Surely, you had someone in mind for him when you made the Bachelor List. I mean that’s what the list does, right? It pairs the town’s eligible bachelors with the women you think would be a perfect match for each of them.”
“Yes, that is what it does.”
“So?”
Ellie stared at her for a moment before shaking her head. “I’m no longer in possession of the Bachelor List. Quinn has it and refuses to give it back. He told me some nonsense about it belonging to the bachelors. He’s going to pass it along to someone else eventually, I suppose.”
“Well, we don’t need it. You created it, so you know everything that’s on it. Who did you match Rhett with?”
“That is a private matter between Rhett and me...and Lawson. Lawson knows.”
Isabelle lifted a brow. “And Quinn and whoever else happens to get their hands on that list.”
Ellie placed a calming hand on her arm. “Isabelle, I care for you dearly. You are one of my closest friends. However, I’m getting more than a little tired of being questioned about that list. My policy is not to discuss its contents with anyone. I’m afraid that includes you.”
“All right.” She pulled in a deep breath. “I understand. I won’t bother you about it again.”
“Good.”
Her mind scrambled to find some way around this new obstacle. “I’m all for letting Rhett choose his own woman anyway. At least, as long as it isn’t me.”
Ellie rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Isabelle.”
“I am being honest. The real problem here, and the one I need your advice on, has nothing to do with the list. In a moment of desperation, I offered to help Rhett overcome his trouble with women.”
“Did you, now?”
Ignoring her friend’s smirk, Isabelle nodded. “Yes, I did. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to do that.”
Ellie sighed. “Well, I hate to tell you this, but I already tried to help Rhett. I didn’t end up making it any better. In fact, I’m afraid I might have even made it worse.”
“Oh.”
“Hold on. Don’t give up on me yet. Let me think about it for a minute.” Ellie bit her lip and stayed in deep contemplation as they passed the steps of the courthouse. It was only when they turned back toward the boardinghouse that the matchmaker spoke again. “Perhaps Lawson and I skipped a step when Rhett asked us for advice. We gave him tips on how to communicate better. I think the problem is he never gets that far. He just panics.”
Isabelle narrowed her eyes and bit her lip. “So we need him not to panic.”
Ellie nodded. “Figuring out why he does it and where that fear comes from might help him get over it.”
“How do I do that?”
“Get him to talk about it. Listen. Support and encourage him as he faces it.” Ellie shrugged. “That’s my best advice.”
Thinking over the list of duties Ellie had prescribed for her, Isabelle nodded. “I can do that.”
Ellie gave her a knowing look. “And you really want me to believe you’re doing all of this solely to distract him.”
“Well, I’m also doing it to help him, so my motivation isn’t entirely selfish...only partially.” Isabelle opened the boardinghouse door then leaned back against it to allow Ellie to enter first.
Instead of walking inside, her friend lingered. “Right. All I have to say is... Never mind.”
Isabelle narrowed her eyes at her friend. “What? Go on, tell me.”
That was all the encouragement needed to prompt a grin on Ellie’s face which was followed by a quick wink. “That must have been some kiss.”
Isabelle leaned back against the open door and stared after her friend, who soon disappeared into the study. “Honestly, Ellie, of all the nerve...”
“Amy!” a man’s voice called.
Her heart jumped into her throat as she glanced around in search of her sister. Instead, she saw John Merriweather walking up the path to the front porch with a box of candy in hand. She glanced around one more time to make sure she hadn’t missed anyone, then released the door to meet John at the porch steps. She frowned at him in confusion. “Did you call me Amy?”
“Did I?” He smoothed his flawlessly shaped mustache. “That was her favorite color, you know.”
She followed his gaze to her blouse—Amy’s blouse, to be exact. It was one of the many hand-me-downs she’d received over the years. “Yes, I know.”
“How is Amy, by the way?”
She stared at the man, feeling appalled. At least Chris and Rhett managed to call her by the right name. It was past time to put an end to John’s childish shenanigans. Pulling in a deep breath, it came out in a bit of a huff. “Married. Amy is still most definitely married. I expect she’ll stay that way.”
“Yes, of course. I only meant...” He trailed off as though he wasn’t entirely sure what he’d meant and in spite of herself, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.
“John.” She touched his arm to pull his dejected gaze from the ground. She tried to keep her tone kind yet firm. “I know that you were sweet on her in school, but that was a long time ago. She kept meaning to tell you it was over. She just never could turn down that particular kind of candy. At least, that’s what she told me. I need you to trust me on this. She moved on. Perhaps it’s time for you do the same.”
A slow grin spread across his face. “I am so glad to hear you say that, Isabelle. I’d started to think I wasn’t making any progress with you, but now I know that isn’t true. I’ll go straight in to talk to your father.”
Eyes widening, she instinctively cut him off as he made a beeline for the front door. “Wait. My father isn’t here right now. Besides, I didn’t mean you should move on with me. My feelings for you are platonic—strictly platonic.”
“Oh...” For someone who’d been all fired up to set their courtship in motion, he seemed unfazed by her rejection. “All right. If you don’t mind, I’ll keep the candy.”
“By all means.”
He tipped his hat and turned on his heel. She waited until he was a ways down the block before she rolled her eyes and shook her head. As frustrating as their exchange had been, it had still gone far more smoothly than she’d anticipated. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be back. That left Chris and Rhett. She hardly saw Chris because he stayed so busy helping with his family’s mercantile. She’d find some way to deal with him later if he persisted in pursuing her. For now, her focus needed to be on Rhett. Or, rather, on finding someone else for him.
Despite Ellie’s comments, she would not fall into the trap of thinking about that kiss. It wouldn’t be happening again. The best thing she could do for Rhett and herself was to get started on those courting lessons—as soon as possible.
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