Chapter 9
Gabriella
“Right this way, miss,” Harrison crowed as he led Gabriella into his restaurant. “Have you and Dirk had dinner yet?”
She shook her head.
“Well, good! Then, dinner’s on me tonight!” Harrison led her to a table in the center of the room.
All the tables were round with crisp white tablecloths adorning them, almost covering the spindly wooden legs. Harrison pulled a box of wooden matches from his pocket, struck one along the rough side, and lit the white candle in the center.
“You really don’t have to do that—”
“Nonsense!” Harrison pulled out a chair for her and then leaned in conspiratorially as she sat down. “It’s been a long time since Dirk has brought in a lovely lady friend to dine with him.”
Gabriella blushed. “Merci Beaucoup. You’re too kind.”
“Oh! Are you from France?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m from the C?te d”Azur.”
Harrison’s eyebrows rose. “Oh? What part?”
There was no way she was going to tell him that she was from Monaco. Although she knew she had to go back sometime, her heart ached at the thought of having to leave Dirk so soon.
“Is he filling your head full of his dazzling sweet talk?”
Gabriella looked up as Dirk sat in the chair next to her. She shook her head. “No. He was just keeping me entertained until you arrived.”
“Well, be careful around Harrison,” Dirk teased. “He’s quite the silver-tongued devil with the ladies.”
Harrison laughed. “Don’t bet on it.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I just appreciate a beautiful lady when I see one.”
Gabriella chuckled, inconspicuously pulling her hand away, not wanting to hurt his feelings. “Not to worry. He was quite the gentleman.”
“Always.” Harrison returned the smile. “Millie will be with you in just a moment but let me know if you need anything.” Then he turned to Gabriella. “It was a pleasure to meet you, miss. Enjoy your stay in Whiskey River.”
“Thank you,” Gabriella replied. After Harrison walked away, she turned to Dirk. “Why do they call the town Whiskey River? How did the town get its name?”
“Legend has it that some miners were on their way to California and when they stopped here, they fell in love with the area and decided to stay.” Dirk chuckled. “They named the river Whiskey River because it flowed through the mountains the way they probably hoped that whiskey would flow here. But instead, families moved in, and the miners moved on, but the name stuck. Mrs. Jenkins is one of the founding members of the town. She could tell you more about it. Now, some people pass through but many fall in love with the town and decide to stay.”
“Like you?” she asked, curious.
He nodded. “Who knows? Maybe you might decide to stay, too.”
Her heart sank at his words, knowing that one day she would have to go back, but not now….
“Well, well!” a pretty brunette young woman approached their table. “It’s about time Dirk brings a lady friend in here!” She nodded to Gabriella. “The name’s Millie Martin and I’m your server this evening. Pleased to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Gabriella replied, suddenly aware of how different her accent sounded in comparison to everyone in the town.
Millie’s eyes opened wide. “Are you from France?”
Gabriella blushed as she smiled.
“Gabriella’s from the French Riviera,” Dirk interjected, saving her from Millie’s prodding. Millie was a good sport but could get a bit nosy at times. “Could I get a cup of coffee, please?”
Millie nodded and turned her attention to Gabriella. “And what can I get for you?”
“The same, please.”
Millie nodded toward the front windows. “Well, I think you’d better order soon, unless you’d like to get snowed in here.”
Gabriella looked out the window and giant flurries of white puffs were swirling around in the daylight. A man outside pulled the collar of his coat up over his neck as he passed by. “You don’t think we’ll be snowed in, do you?”
Dirk shrugged. “Maybe.”
Millie smiled. “Don’t worry. Dirk always has a room here at the hotel—”
“Are there any other rooms available?” Gabriella asked, suddenly panicked.
Millie smiled devilishly. “I think we’re all booked up—”
“I can’t stay in the same room with Dirk,” she said flatly as panic filled her voice. “How many beds are in the room?”
Dirk raised an eyebrow as one corner of his lips curled into a smile, unable to resist teasing her. “One.”
Gabriella threw down her napkin. “Take me home. I can’t stay here—”
Millie stepped back, her eyes widening at Gabriella’s outburst.
“Calm down, Gabriella.” Dirk laughed as he reached over and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I was only teasing. Don’t worry. If we have to stay, we’ll find something. I’m sure Harrison can find you a room.”
“You can always stay with me, if you like,” Millie offered.
Gabriella’s eyebrows rose. “You wouldn’t mind?”
A broad smile spread across Millie’s face. “No, not at all! I’d enjoy the company! Any friend of Dirk’s is a friend of mine.” She gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. “Besides, Dirk wouldn’t let you sleep out in the cold.”
Gabriella nodded as she smiled, knowing she really had a lot to learn about people in the West. Here, Millie didn’t know her at all but was willing to let her stay in the same room with her, just because she knew Dirk. For that matter, Dirk didn’t know her, either, but had taken her into his home without question. Gabriella could see that the people here in Whiskey River looked out for each other.
Dirk smiled. “Thanks for the offer, Millie, but we’ll see if Harrison has an extra room available first. Now, what’s the special tonight?”
A broad smile spread across Millie’s lips. “Paul has some roast left and he always has his famous fried chicken.” She looked over at Gabriella and smiled proudly. “Paul Garrett, our cook, makes the best in three counties.”
“The chicken sounds delicious.” Gabriella never had fried chicken before, and she had always wanted to try it.
Dirk smiled as he reached across the table and held Gabriella’s hand. “Make it two.”
“Mashed potatoes, creamed corn, and hot bread like usual?” Millie asked, raising an eyebrow.
Dirk looked over at Gabriella and she nodded, enjoying that Dirk was asking and not just ordering for her. In Monaco, she always ate the very best foods, but never had a choice. The menus were planned way in advance, and she just ate what was served without question.
“Sounds good,” Dirk replied. “Thanks, Millie.”
“Not to worry.” Millie gave Dirk’s hand a friendly squeeze. “I’ll have that out in just a bit.”
Gabriella watched as she walked away and then turned back to Dirk. “She’s very friendly, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she is.” Dirk’s lips curled into a smile. “She’s as good as they come.”
Gabriella smiled. “Have you known her for a long time?”
“Ever since she came to Whiskey River.” Dirk let out a deep breath, thinking. “She left home when she was young and came to the West.”
Gabriella leaned in, clearly intrigued. “Why did she leave home?”
Dirk shrugged. “You’ll have to ask her.”
Gabriella’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Don’t you know?”
He smiled. “Yes, but it’s not my story to tell.”
She nodded, understanding. He didn’t like to gossip or to tell other people’s stories. How admirable.
One of Dirk’s eyebrows rose. “So, what brought you to the West?”
Gabriella shrugged, smiling as she sat back. “Just craved adventure, I guess.”
Dirk chuckled. “See? We all have our secrets.”
Gabriella leaned her head to the side, contemplating what he’d just said. At that moment, she wanted to tell Dirk everything: where she came from, about running away in search of adventure, and about being kidnapped. She sensed that she could trust him, that he wouldn’t try and hold her for ransom, too, or send word to her uncle to come get her. But then again, greed did awful things to people.
“Here you go!” Millie proudly announced as she placed the plates on the table without ceremony, along with a half a loaf of piping-hot bread. “Can I get anything more for you?”
Dirk glanced over at Gabriella, raising his eyebrows, and she shook her head. “No, we’re fine. Thanks, Millie.”
A broad smile spread across Millie’s face. “If you need anything, just let me know. I’ll be back to warm up your coffee in a bit. Enjoy!”
Gabriella looked at the plate before her and it was filled with fried chicken, mashed potatoes with brown gravy, and creamed corn. “I’ll never eat all this.”
“Good.” Dirk winked, causing her to blush. “More for me.”
Gabriella laughed. “I don’t think so.” She looked over at his plate. “Besides, I think you have enough over there. You don’t want to eat too much and get fat.”
Dirk raised an eyebrow. “You think I’m fat?”
She laughed. “I never said that.”
“Then, you think I’m just right?” Dirk smiled as he took her hand.
She pulled it back, laughing. “You’re teasing me. Let’s eat before it gets cold.” Steam rose from their plates so there was no danger of it getting cold any time soon, but Gabriella was getting a bit uncomfortable with the direction their conversation had taken. She was about to pick up her fork when Dirk stopped her.
“Would you like for me to say the blessing?”
She smiled, setting her fork back down. “Yes, of course.”
Dirk folded his hands and said a beautiful blessing over the meal. As Gabriella listened, a homey feeling washed over her. In Monaco, she often dined with her uncle—when he was in town—and her cousin, but somehow, it didn’t seem as personable, intimate, as what it did now. For the first time since she had lost her parents, she was beginning to understand the true meaning of home.
“Gabriella?” Dirk asked, bringing her from her reverie.
“Umm?” Gabriella asked, embarrassed that she had been caught daydreaming.
“I said that after we eat, we can go across the street to the general store, if you like.” He took a bite of his mashed potatoes.
“Sounds good,” she agreed as she picked up her fork and began picking at the chicken breast on her plate. “But if we have to stay overnight, we may want to wait until the morning to go to the general store before we go back, in case we buy any vegetables or whatnot.”
One corner of his lips curled into a smile as he watched her struggling with her chicken. “Here,” Dirk instructed, picking up the chicken leg on his plate. “With fried chicken, don’t worry about using a fork. Just pick it up and take a bite.”
Gabriella smiled as she watched him take a big bite. “When in Rome?”
He laughed as he raised his shoulders. “There’s no better way.” He took another bite and groaned.
“Enjoying yourself?” Gabriella chuckled.
“Most definitely.” He took another bite and swallowed. “Don’t worry about the vegetables. They’ll keep overnight. Besides, I have plenty of canned vegetables in my root cellar.”
She picked up the chicken leg and took a dainty bite. Warm juices and the delicious taste flooded her mouth. “Umm… this really is good.”
Dirk smiled. “The best in three counties.”
“That, I can believe.” She took another bite and savored the flavor. “Then what are we going to the store for?”
“I thought that you might like something more for Thanksgiving.” Dirk took a bite of his creamed corn and closed his eyes.
Panic rushed through her. “But… but I… don’t know how to cook.”
Dirk smiled, obviously enjoying her discomfort a bit too much. “Don’t worry. I’ll help.”
Gabriella laughed. “I sincerely hope so, unless you want to eat burnt, undercooked, or tasteless food.”
“Don’t worry. You can do it.” Dirk chuckled. “I have faith in you.”
Gabriella swallowed the chicken in her mouth, savoring the flavor. “I’m glad someone does.”
Dirk’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “Why do you feel that no one has faith in you?”
Her lips curled into a smile. “You are direct, aren’t you?”
He raised an eyebrow and waited.
Gabriella shrugged. “I didn’t mean it exactly like that. My uncle has always had faith in me, telling me that I will know what to do when the time is right.” She didn’t tell him that he had been talking about her duty to the monarchy and to marry someone suitable when the time was right.
Dirk reached over and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “He’s a wise man.”
She looked down. “Yes, he is.”
At that moment, she wondered what he was doing. By now, he knew she was gone. A pang of guilt gripped her chest as she realized that he must be frantic. She had never meant to cause her uncle or cousin pain, but she wasn’t ready to go back yet, either. Then she realized that she really didn’t have a choice. While the pass was still closed, there was no way to get word to him, even by mail, since the post rider couldn’t get through. Her sense of adventure had definitely gotten her into trouble this time. But it had also brought her to Dirk’s door.
“What are you thinking about?” Dirk asked, bringing her from her reverie.
She shook her head as she let out a deep breath. “About my uncle. Of how worried he must be right now.”
Dirk’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “He doesn’t know you’re gone?”
She shook her head.
He took her hand into his. “Gabriella, how did you come to be in the woods in a blizzard alone? How did you find your way to my door?”
She smiled. “Luck, I guess.”
He let out a deep breath as he released her hand and sat back. “You can trust me, you know.”
She nodded, unable to meet his gaze.
Dirk dabbed at his lips. “Well, you’ll tell me when you’re ready. Are you ready to go to the general store?”
Gabriella smiled, thankful for the change of subject. She dabbed at her lips and laid her napkin on her plate.
Dirk held her chair for her as she rose to her feet. “I’ll take care of the bill if you’d like to wait at the door.” A slight look of disappointment clouded his face as he walked away to hunt down Millie.
Gabriella nodded in understanding. Another pang of guilt gripped her chest as she walked to the front of the restaurant and looked out the window, watching the snow fall. She wished she could tell Dirk about running away, about being kidnapped, but she just didn’t know how.
Across the street a tall man with long brown hair, wearing a gun belt and spurs walked under the covered wooden walkway, headed toward the sheriff’s office. Her heart pounded when she realized it was the same man who had tried to save her in Laramie.
“Ready?” Dirk placed his hand on the small of her back.
“You know, I was thinking that we should just go back home before the snow gets too bad,” Gabriella stammered. A part of her was grateful to the long-haired man for trying to save her, but if he saw her before she could tell Dirk….
Dirk’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “What are you talking about? We came into town today to go to the general store.”
“I know, but I changed my mind.” Gabriella looked outside and the long-haired man stopped with his hand on the door and looked in their direction. He bent his head and narrowed his eyes as he spotted her. Then he released the doorknob and headed toward them from across the street. “Dirk, there’s something I have to tell you—”
Dirk looked outside and noticed the man walking toward them, his eyebrows pulling together in concern. “I wonder what Colton wants.”
“Dirk, please—”
He stepped outside, ignoring her pleas.
Gabriella followed him out, wringing her hands as she waited.
Colton looked only at her. She tried to look away but couldn’t escape his gaze. “Dirk, please—”
“It’s you,” Colton said as he approached.
Dirk narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about? Do you know her?”
Colton nodded. “I went to Laramie the other day to pick up Miss Baker when I saw four men kidnap a woman—”
“Dirk, please—”
“I tried to stop them, and I killed one, but the other three got away with her,” Colton explained, taking her in.
Dirk looked between them in disbelief.
Colton looked only at Gabriella, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you all right, miss?”
She nodded nervously and then her shoulders slumped in defeat. “Yes, I am. Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
Dirk stood with his mouth open in disbelief.
Colton didn’t notice. “How did you get away from them?”
Gabriella sighed. “I waited until they fell asleep and then I ran through the woods….” She looked over at Dirk. “Until I quite literally fell at Dirk’s door. He found me and took me in. He saved my life.”
Dirk seemed to recover himself. “Actually, Buster found her.”
Gabriella smiled sheepishly. “I stumbled onto Dirk’s porch and collapsed. Buster found me and pawed at the door until Dirk came.”
Colton smiled. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay. I was so worried. Daxton and I’ve been working with the U.S. Marshal in Laramie to try and find you and your kidnappers, but I didn’t get a good enough look at them.” He placed his hand on her arm and gestured toward the sheriff’s office. “Would you mind giving us a description and looking through some Wanted posters to identify them?”
Gabriella looked up at Dirk. A look of disappointment clouded his features, but he nodded. “Yes, I’d be glad to,” she answered as she took his arm and let him guide her toward the sheriff’s office. Gabriella heard Dirk’s footsteps crunch in the snow as he followed behind, but she didn’t dare look back at him, not wanting to see the disappointment in his eyes again. She should have told him before he found out like this. The last thing she wanted was to hurt him. It would have been better coming from her.
Colton led her across the street and opened the door to the sheriff’s office. Inside, a man with dark brown hair was sitting at a desk and rose to his feet. “Colton?”
“Daxton, do you remember the girl I told you about that was kidnapped in Laramie?” Colton’s eyebrows raised.
The sheriff nodded as his eyebrows pulled together in concern. “Is this her?”
Colton nodded. “This is—”
“Gabriella,” she supplied as she extended her hand, palm down out of habit.
Daxton shook it as he looked at her in disbelief. “It’s a pleasure. How did you escape?”
“It’s a long story,” Colton supplied. “She agreed to give us a description of the men and to look through some sketches and Wanted posters.”
Daxton was quick to hold the chair for her to sit down at his desk. “Yes, please sit down. Did you get a good look at them?”
She nodded. “Yes, and so did Dirk.”
Daxton looked quickly at Dirk, who was expressionless.
“But he didn’t know it,” Gabriella quickly added. “The next day after Dirk found me, the men knocked on his door and told him that they were in search of their sister who wandered off.”
Daxton’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “Why did they kidnap you?”
Gabriella let out a deep breath but sat up straight in an effort to maintain her composure. She looked up at Dirk, but his expression was cold. “They wanted to hold me for ransom. My family is very rich.” She didn’t want to tell them how rich just yet and there was no point in telling them that she was a princess. For the moment, she just wanted to be treated as normally as possible.
“Did they succeed?” Daxton asked.
She shook her head. “No, they didn’t have enough time to send a telegraph to demand it.”
Daxton let out an exaggerated breath. “Very well, then. Here are some Wanted posters. Tell me if you recognize them. Do you know their names?”
She nodded. “Yes, but just their first names. Harley, Blake, and Clayton. They never said their last names.”
Daxton’s eyes opened wide in recognition. “Not the Dougherty Boys!” Daxton flipped through some Wanted posters and pulled one out and laid it on the desk. “Do you recognize any of these men?”
A chill ran through her body. For staring up at her from the Wanted poster lying flat on the desk before her… were the faces of her captors. “Yes, these are the men.”
She felt Dirk looking over her shoulder.
“Dirk?” Daxton asked, looking behind her.
Gabriella didn’t look, unable to take her eyes from the sketch.
He let out a deep breath. “Yes, those are the men who came to my door.”
Daxton picked up the poster. “I’ll let the U.S. Marshall know.”
Dirk stopped him, placing a hand on his arm. “Daxton, they were armed. Be careful.”
He nodded in understanding. “Thanks, Dirk.” Then he held his hand out to Gabriella, helping her to her feet. “And thank you, miss….”
“Grimaldi,” Gabriella supplied, her voice thick with emotion. Her eyes didn’t meet his, for fear that he would recognize her name and her title. “Gabriella Grimaldi.”
But he just smiled. “Thank you, Miss Grimaldi.” He patted her hand, mistaking her emotion for fear. “Don’t you worry, miss. We’ll find these men. In the meantime, we can take you into custody for protection—”
Gabriella gasped.
“No,” Dirk cut him off. “I’ll keep her safe. Don’t worry.”
Daxton looked in Dirk’s eyes for a moment and then nodded. “Very well, then. If you see anything out of the ordinary at all, let me know right away.”
Dirk nodded as he extended his hand. “Thanks, Daxton.” He shook both his and Colton’s hands, smiling. “Well, Daxton and Colton, you both must come for Thanksgiving dinner.”
Gabriella’s eyebrows lifted in panic. She opened her mouth to speak but Daxton chimed in before she could say anything.
“I’d love to! Let me know what to bring,” Daxton replied.
Colton shook his head. “We won’t be able to make it, but I appreciate the invitation.”
Dirk’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “Is Ella having a rough time?” Then he turned to Gabriella to explain. “He’s about to become a papa. When’s she due again?”
Colton smiled proudly. “In March. And, yes, she is. This pregnancy has been hard on her.”
Gabriella’s heart went out to him as concern colored his features.
Dirk clamped his hand down on his arm. “Well, then. We’ll bring you some plates. Gabriella will—”
Gabriella gasped. How was she going to cook Thanksgiving dinner for two people, let alone many? “Now, wait. I’ve never had a Thanksgiving dinner before, let alone cook one.”
Colton smiled. “You don’t have to worry. I was going to fix dinner—”
“Nonsense!” Dirk objected and then turned to Gabriella. “I’m going to help you, remember?”
She raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “I sincerely hope so. I keep telling you that I don’t know how to cook.”
The men laughed.
“Well, miss, you don’t have to worry about cooking for us.” Colton chuckled. “I’ll fix our own turkey.”
“Turkey?” Gabriella asked, concerned. “Can we buy one at the general store?”
Dirk smiled. “No, I’ll hunt one.”
“I hope you don’t expect me to—”
“We’ll talk about it later,” he cut her off.
Daxton smiled. “Miss, you don’t have to cook for us. We’ll go to the restaurant—”
Gabriella thought about it and then shook her head and squared her shoulders, filled with resignation, not wanting to disappoint Dirk. “No, come over to the house at one o’clock. After what you’ve done for me, it’s the least I can do for you.”
Dirk smiled at her proudly and then turned to Daxton. “And be sure to bring the children. We’ll make a celebration out of it.”
Daxton glanced over at Gabriella. “Are you sure, miss?”
She gave him a small smile and nodded, hoping that she wasn’t getting in over her head. “And please, call me Gabriella.”
The sheriff smiled. “I will, miss… er… Gabriella.”
Gabriella nodded, a smile curling her lips. “We’ll see you then.” As she walked out into the falling snow with Dirk, she had no idea what a Thanksgiving dinner was or how to cook one, but after meeting some of the wonderful people in the town, she was determined to learn.