Chapter 5 #2
She followed his gaze and spotted them. A little way from the barn was a row of three small cabins.
“Who lives there?”
“Kyle and Alice and now Alice’s sister and her husband. Anita and Kevin rent the other cabin to visitors.”
They entered the gate to the farm and turned left.
There was the main house, and in front of it was a long, squat building that had to be the restaurant.
It had a porch that ran the length of the place and large windows.
It looked inviting despite the windows and doors being closed against the weather.
Robert led her up to the door and opened it for her. Entering the restaurant, Lucy stepped into a world of delicious smells that made her mouth water.
“It’s warm in here,” she said, taking off her oilskin coat.
“Table for two?” someone asked.
She was tall, lithe, and pretty. Lucy had to look up to see her face.
“Anita,” Robert said.
“Robert,” Anita said. “And this must be Lucy. Kevin said you were a pretty little thing. You two want a table in the back? It’s more private.”
“No, we’re fine anywhere,” Robert said. “Unless you have a preference?”
Lucy shrugged. “Not really.”
Anita nodded. “Come on. This way.”
She led them to a table at the far end of the room. They passed a couple of occupied tables, but mostly the place was empty.
“It’s the weather,” Anita said as though reading Lucy’s thoughts. “We generally get fewer customers when it rains.”
They were seated, and Anita brought them both coffee, then she left them to consider what they wanted to order.
Lucy perused the menu. There was a lot to choose from.
“What’s good here?” she asked Robert.
“Everything,” he said. “The toasted chicken cheese and tomato is especially good.”
“Ah, then I’ll go with that,” Lucy said. “I like all those things.”
He smiled. “Me too.”
They put the menus down and stared at each other a little awkwardly.
Say something. Come on, Lucy, say anything.
“You had things to do today. Anything interesting?” she asked.
“I put an advertisement in the paper today.”
“Oh? What for?” she asked, intrigued.
“Gunmen for our copper shipments,” Robert said. “We can’t always spare extra men when we take the ore into town, so people whose job it is specifically to help us in that department would be welcome.”
“I can help with that,” she offered, thinking that sounded far more exciting than cutting fabric.
“You’re supposed to be keeping a low profile,” Robert pointed out. “Just until things blow over in Boston. Maybe one of these days you should send a telegram to your folks and see how things are going.”
“That could be risky,” she said. “They know where I am and how to reach me. I just don’t want to get them in trouble, you know?
If there are telegrams from me, then it could get awkward.
” She didn’t say that if the police came looking for clues and there were telegrams around the house, her folks could possibly lose everything.
Robert nodded. “We can find a way. We could use an alias for you, and I could send the messages from me. Technically.”
“That’s not a bad plan,” Lucy said, smiling. “I was wondering how I was going to let them know I’m okay.”
They smiled at each other. After a moment, Lucy picked up her coffee cup and took a sip.
She cast about for something to say. It was so strange being face-to-face with Robert.
When she was writing letters, she hadn’t had to think on her feet, as it were.
She could take her time to find something to say. That wasn’t the case now.
“So …” she said.
“So …”
There was a commotion at the door, and Anita was talking in a low rumble.
“The sheriff hasn’t even had his lunch!” she exclaimed indignantly as someone came hurrying into the restaurant.
The person was still wearing their oilskin with the hood up, and only when Troy pulled it down did Lucy recognize him. He strode over to their table, dripping water all over the floor.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Robert. Hi, Lucy … We have a situation at the gate,” Troy explained hurriedly.
“Hi,” Lucy said, her curiosity piqued. “What kind of situation?”
“What’s going on?” Robert asked.
“It’s the man Mac was supposed to be sending here,” Troy said. “He’s arrived.”
“What? How? The others aren’t back from San Antonio already, are they?” he asked, confused and a little concerned too.
Troy shook his head. “Which is why I came to find you. We think this is a little strange.”
“How did he get here?” Robert asked.
“He hired a horse and buckboard from someone in San Antonio and drove out here himself. My question is, how did he know the way? We haven’t exactly put up signposts.”
“This is a little odd,” Robert agreed. He turned to Lucy. “I have to go and sort this out. You stay and have a lovely lunch.” He got up.
Lucy stood, pushing her chair back too. “You’re joking, right? What am I going to do sitting here by myself? Maybe I can help.”
Robert frowned and stepped closer to her. “Lucy, we said you should keep your head down. Poking your nose into places isn’t doing that. Stay and eat, and I’ll see you later.”
Lucy should listen, she knew. The problem was that she was no good at doing the things she was expected to do.
She gave him a look and shook her head. “I hardly get to see you. What are you going to do anyway? You’re going to check this man’s credentials and the like and then either lock him up or let him in. Right?”
“Right,” Troy agreed.
“Then why can’t I watch you work? I would love to see how you keep Unity safe,” Lucy said. She turned her most convincing smile on him.
Robert stared at her and then nodded. “Okay, but Lucy …” He gave her a warning look.
“I know,” she said. “I’ll behave.”
They left the restaurant together. Lucy could hardly contain her excitement.