The Christmas Calamity Read online

  “Would you like me to ride with you?” Arlan asked as Alex easily stepped up to her seat.

  She gave him a speculative glance. “No, thank you, but you may ride your horse beside the wagon, if you like.”

  Arlan nodded and took the place beside her as she urged her horse to begin the descent down the hill. He kept one eye on the enchanting girl driving the magic wagon and one on the wobbly wheel as he answered her questions about life in Eastern Oregon.

  A look of relief passed over her face as she guided the horse to a stop outside Douglas’ shop. After stepping to the ground, she patted Bill on the back, praising his efforts, then smiled at the men with gratitude.

  “Are you visiting someone here in town, Miss Janowski?” Luke asked as Douglas backed the wagon into his shop.

  “No. I’m just passing through.” Alex watched Douglas. It bothered her to allow anyone else to drive her wagon, but she’d have to leave it in the care of the blacksmith, at least for a day or two until he fixed the axle and wheel.

  “Where are you headed?” Chauncy stepped beside Luke.

  “I’m on my way to California. I have plans to spend the winter there.” Alex hated revealing any information about herself, but she supposed the vague details couldn’t get her into too much trouble.

  “So you have nowhere to stay while Douglas fixes your wagon?” Chauncy glanced at Luke and discreetly tipped his head toward Alex.

  “I’ll stay in my wagon.”

  Douglas joined them and shook his head. “That won’t be possible, Miss Janowski. You need a new front and rear axle along with a whole new set of wheels. I may need to replace the entire undercarriage, but won’t know that for certain until I’ve had time to get beneath it. You can’t stay in it while I work.”

  “Oh. I had no idea it would require such extensive repair. Is there a boarding house where I could take a room for a few days?” Alex looked from Luke to Chauncy, refusing to glance at Arlan. The unwelcome urge to cry and rest her head against his chest made her irritated with him.

  “You’re going to need more than a few days. It’ll be closer to a month before I can repair your wagon, maybe longer.”

  Alex’s knees wobbled at the thought of being tied down in town, not to mention the expense of paying for room and board. Maybe she could find temporary work. She couldn’t put on any shows without her wagon, so making a few dollars on her trade was out of the question.

  Both Arlan and Douglas stared at her and she glanced down, comprehending how out of place she’d look in the small town in her performance attire.

  “You can stay with us, Miss Janowski. We’ve got plenty of room at our home.” Luke pointed down the street to the top of a house visible at the outskirts of town.

  “I couldn’t impose, kind sir. It wouldn’t be right.”

  “I insist. Truthfully, if I don’t, my wife is likely to beat me for not bringing you home.” His eyes sparked with mischief and humor.

  Chauncy slapped Luke on the back and grinned at Alex. “That’s right. His wife would be quite displeased. No one wants to get on Filly’s bad side.”

  “I hate to be the reason you receiving a beating, Mr. Granger.” Alex noticed their lighthearted tone and teasing smiles. “I accept your invitation and thank you for it.”

  Luke appeared pleased. “I’ll run home and tell Filly to expect you for supper. Arlan, can you show her the way once she gathers her things? It goes without saying, you’re invited to join us for the meal.”

  Arlan’s eyes lit up at the prospect of eating a meal prepared by Filly Granger. Beautiful and charming, she had a reputation for creating mouth-watering meals. “Thanks, Luke. We’ll be there shortly.”

  Luke and Chauncy guided their horses down the street, headed toward the edge of town.

  Alex didn’t appreciate the men talking over her as if she wasn’t even there. However, since one of them offered her a bed to sleep in and food to eat, she chose to ignore it.

  “May I leave Bill here, at the livery?” She turned to Douglas.

  “Sure can, Miss Janowski, although Luke has plenty of room in his barn and corrals. If you’d rather, he wouldn’t mind keeping your horse there.”

  Alex turned to Arlan for confirmation.

  He nodded his head. “Luke won’t mind. Get whatever you need while we unhitch your horse from the wagon.”

  She hurried into the back of her wagon and gathered a few things into a worn traveling bag.

  Uncertain about leaving her wagon with a stranger, she locked the back door and dropped the key into her coat pocket.

  “Thank you for your assistance, Mr. McIntosh, and for repairing my wagon.” She gave Douglas a bright smile that made the older man grin like a schoolboy.

  “My pleasure, ma’am. If you’d like to stop by tomorrow, I should have a better idea of what repairs are needed and an estimate of the cost.”

  “Thank you.” Alex accepted the arm Arlan held out to her although she refused to relinquish the hold on her bag. They strolled through town, leaving both her horse and his at the livery.

  Although there weren’t many people out, the few who were gawked at her with open curiosity. She pasted on a friendly smile and acted as if their stares didn’t bother her in the least.

  Arlan offered informative comments about the businesses they passed as they walked down the street. She noticed his nice manners as he tipped his head to a few older women and responded to a question from a farmer passing by in a mud-splattered wagon.

  As they stepped off the end of the boardwalk onto a lush green lawn, he grinned down at her. “Here we are. Welcome to Granger House.”

  Alex lifted her gaze to the three-story home with gingerbread trim, turrets, and a wrap-around porch.

  A big, gangly dog loped out to them from his spot by the front door and woofed. Arlan rubbed his head. “This is Bart.”

  The dog woofed again as she scratched behind his ears.

  With no expectation of ever receiving an invitation to stay in such a grand home, she stood gaping at the imposing structure.

  Fortifying herself with a deep breath, she followed Arlan up the steps.

  Chapter Two

  “Pardon me, Mr. McIntosh. I’m sure I misunderstood. Please repeat your assessment.” Alex heard what the man said, but hoped if he repeated the information it would somehow sound more agreeable.

  Douglas walked over to her wagon and put a beefy hand on the side where the bed connected to the undercarriage.

  “I know this isn’t what you want to hear, Miss Janowski, but everything beneath the bed needs replaced. Everything. You’re lucky the wagon didn’t break down long before now out in the middle of nowhere.”

  “Lucky, that’s me.” Slightly ill from the news the blacksmith delivered, Alex wished she hadn’t waited so long to have the wagon repaired. She’d done her best to keep it functioning, but it seemed her best hadn’t been enough. “How long will it take and how much will it cost?”

  “Best I can figure, it will take me a solid month to six weeks because some of those pieces will have to be made to fit.” Douglas removed his soiled cap and ran a hand over his head. “As to the cost, well, um… this is the estimate I put together.”

  The man lifted a sheet of paper from a nearby worktable and handed it to her. Alex fought down the urge to scream in protest. The repairs on the wagon totaled more than twice the money she had.

  Essential to her livelihood, she had to have her wagon. Without it, she couldn’t perform her magic act and make more money.

  Swallowing down her fears, she looked at the blacksmith. “That is quite a large sum, Mr. McIntosh. Would you allow me to pay part of it now and the rest when you finish?”

  “I think we could work something out. Let’s assume it will take me six weeks to finish your wagon. Would you be agreeable to making a weekly payment?”

  Relief washed over her. “That would be most agreeable, sir. Thank you.”

  “I’ll put it in writing.” Douglas gri
nned at her as he made a note on the estimate, dated it, and asked her to sign it. “Now, do you have a trunk or something I can deliver to Granger House for you?”

  “I have a few bags, but I can carry them. Please just be careful with my wagon, Mr. McIntosh. It’s one-of-a-kind.” Alex hoped the man wouldn’t discover all her secret nooks and crannies as he worked. If he did, she’d have no hope of doing any magic shows in town to earn a little money before she continued with her journey south.

  “I kind of figured that, ma’am. Never seen anything like it and I’ve had a lot of wagons come through here. I’ll take real good care of it for you and get it back to almost new.”

  “Thank you.” Alex accepted the man’s hand as he helped her into the back of her wagon. Filling two bags with clothes and necessities, she took one last look around and stepped down, tripping on the skirt she wore.

  Although she owned several dresses, she hated the confinement of the skirts around her legs. She much preferred the pants, fancy waistcoats, and topcoats she wore to perform.

  Regardless of her preferences, the townspeople would not be as accepting of her in her show attire. Mindful of making a good impression, she donned one of her dresses before joining the Granger family for breakfast.

  Filly Granger, Luke’s wife, was a delightful surprise. Gracious and compassionate, the woman immediately made her feel welcome. She even allowed Alex to cuddle their three-month-old daughter, Maura, the previous evening and again that morning.

  Luke offered to escort her to the blacksmith’s shop, but Alex insisted on going alone. She wanted to receive the bad news by herself.

  “Careful, miss.” Douglas steadied her as she jumped off the step to the ground with her bags. “Can I carry those for you?”

  “No, thank you, Mr. McIntosh. I’ll be back with your first payment before the end of the day.” Alex smiled at the man then hurried out the door and down the street.

  If she was a woman given to tears, she would have dissolved into hysterical sobs right there in front of the mercantile. Instead, she took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She would pay Mr. McIntosh what money she had and set about finding a job.

  Luke and Filly might have some suggestions. As she passed the bank, she couldn’t help but glance in the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Arlan.

  The man was a puzzle to her. While he seemed a little uptight and high-strung, he also appeared gentle and honest. She’d never seen anyone with such kind, expressive eyes. They were the type of eyes that could make a girl consider giving up a nomadic lifestyle, should the chance present itself.

  However, from the conversation that took place at the dinner table last night, the opportunity would never arise.

  Arlan intended to court the town’s schoolteacher, a woman Filly referred to as Miss Bevins.

  Throughout the course of the meal, she observed that Luke and Arlan enjoyed a warm friendship despite their relationship as employer and employee. The familiarity and ease Arlan shared with the Grangers made it obvious they thought of him as a treasured and close friend.

  Alex tried to recall the last time she ate a meal with someone who knew her well. Far too long. After the death of her father, she doubted anyone would know her well again.

  Frustrated the bars on the window obscured her view into the bank, she continued walking down the street.

  She’d only taken a few steps when she heard someone call her name.

  “Miss Janowski!”

  Turning, she watched as Arlan rushed toward her. “Good morning, Mr. Guthry.”

  “Good morning, Miss Janowski. How does this day find you?”

  “Well enough, I suppose.” Alex almost blurted out the truth. That she had a lack of funds, no immediate prospects for employment, and three men who would make the calamity of her broken wagon seem like a minor mishap if they caught up to her.

  No, there was nothing well or good about her day.

  “May I help you with your bags?” Arlan asked. There was no denying he needed to stay away from Alex Janowski. The woman reminded him of the wild gypsies he’d read about in school but when he saw her walk past the bank, he couldn’t stop from running out to see her.

  His gaze traveled from the top of her head where she’d somehow managed to capture all her luxurious hair into a tidy twist to the hem of her simple navy gown. Although any respectable woman in town could have worn a similar hairstyle and dress, on her they seemed to hold a bit of untamed excitement.

  “No, I’ve got them, but I appreciate your offer.” Used to taking care of herself, Alex thought she’d suffocate under all the polite attention tossed her direction if it continued for any length of time. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”

  “There isn’t anyone but Luke in the bank right at the moment. I just wanted to make sure you had a good night and Douglas gave you an estimate on your wagon.”

  Thoughts of the estimate made her stomach roil, so she instead focused on the lovely room Filly insisted she claim as her own for as long as she stayed at Granger House. The bed was the most comfortable place she’d ever slept. The bathroom next door, where she soaked in a hot bath until her fingers grew wrinkled, made her almost glad the wagon broke down.

  “Yes, Mr. McIntosh gave me an estimate. He’ll begin work right away.”

  “Well, that’s good news.” Relieved Alex’s wagon could be repaired, Arlan hoped she’d soon be on her way.

  If he planned to continue his romantic inclinations toward Miss Bevins, he needed Alex gone as soon as possible. He might even volunteer to help Douglas with the repairs in his spare time.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone enter the bank and gave the alluring woman a brief smile.

  “I must go, but I wanted to be sure you didn’t need further assistance.”

  “Not unless you know of someone willing to hire a woman on a temporary basis.” Alex glanced at Arlan, hoping he’d have an idea, but he shook his head.

  “I haven’t heard of anyone hiring, but I’ll let you know if I do. Enjoy your day, Miss. Janowski.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Guthry.”

  Alex turned and continued walking toward Granger House, hoping a miracle presented itself in the form of gainful employment.

  Chapter Three

  “Arlan Michael Guthry, I ought to slap you silly!”

  Arlan lifted his head from the account book on his desk and stared at Edna Bevins as she sailed inside the bank.

  Brisk footfalls tapped out a precise rhythm across the bank’s hardwood floor as she tramped to his desk then thumped her petite gloved hands on the top. Anger made red splotches stand out on her face while her lips thinned into a pinched line, creating an entirely unappealing appearance.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Edna. May I help you?” Arlan rose to his feet and towered over the tiny woman.

  With her muted brown hair and eyes, she often reminded him of the little wren birds his mother used to feed outside the kitchen window. The way Edna tipped her head when she spoke and nervously approached life often reminded him of the small, timid birds.

  Conversely, the fury currently sparking from her eyes and riding the tense lines of her slim shoulders didn’t make her seem at all docile or chipper.

  Grateful no one else happened to be in the bank to witness her fit of temper, he took a tentative step toward her.

  “It’s bad enough you ran all over town yesterday with that woman, giving no thought to my feelings, but I heard you stood right outside the bank carrying on with her this morning. How could you do such a vile thing?” Edna stamped her foot angrily, spluttering with indignation.

  “I didn’t carry on with anyone.” Arlan placed a calming hand on Edna’s arm, guiding her to one of the two chairs in front of his desk. Reluctantly, she took a seat while continuing to glower at him.

  He sat beside her and stared at the delicate fingers she held knotted on her lap. “If you are referring to Miss Janowski, I couldn’t very well leave her alone and broken down o
n the side of the road. What if it was you? Wouldn’t you hope someone would stop to help?”

  “I wouldn’t be so brash as to travel alone like her. Was she really wearing…” Edna leaned closer and dropped her voice to a whisper, “trousers?”

  “Yes, she was.” Of their own volition, Arlan’s thoughts traveled back to how Alex looked wearing those pants, with her long legs encased by the trim black fabric and boots up to her knees. Heat suffused his entire being and he tugged at his collar.

  Forcibly returning his attention to the enraged woman beside him, he struggled to be reassuring. “It was nothing, Miss Edna. As for the report I carried on with her outside the bank, I merely asked if she received an estimate for her wagon repairs from Mr. McIntosh. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Luke.”

  Calmed by his words, Edna relaxed. “I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions. Mrs. D… I mean, my friend must have not seen things exactly as they transpired. My apologies.”

  “No apology is necessary, Miss Edna.” Arlan kissed the back of her hand and gave her a charming smile. “If you don’t mind waiting just a moment, I’ll close the bank and escort you home.”

  “I don’t mind waiting.” Edna watched as Arlan finished tallying the accounts, locked the safe, and performed the tasks he did every night at precisely five o’clock.

  After locking the door, he offered his arm to Edna and they started down the street toward the far end of town. She lived in the tiny house behind the school that came with her position as schoolteacher.

  “Have the students settled down, now that you’ve been back in session for a few weeks?”

  “Yes. I despaired that the bigger boys would never cease with their pranks and disruptions. After a few members of the school board dropped by and lectured the boys on their behavior, they’ve improved.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. You know, as Benjamin Franklin said, ‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.’ I can’t think of any truer words for a student. Time spent in the classroom is an investment in their future.”