Millie (Pendleton Petticoats Book 7) Page 25

  His eyes lingered on her smiling lips, but he didn’t voice his thoughts that wooing her had been the best idea he’d ever had. Not now, when they’d agreed to remain only friends.

  “Tell me more. What type of restaurant would it be? When would you open? What sort of hours would you keep? How much staff will you need?”

  Gideon grinned as she pelted him with questions, pleased by her interest. “I’d be open for dinner service to start. Eventually, if a demand for it exists, we’d serve lunch. I won’t do breakfast, though. I’d like Cully’s mother to work as my head cook. I know she’s capable in the kitchen and I’d pay her well enough she wouldn’t have to take in mending and laundry and all the assorted work she does now. Abel would manage the business and oversee the wait staff. We’ll need a dishwasher, an assistant cook, and a server or two. I want to start small and go from there.”

  “Would you do the cooking or leave it all to Mrs. Campbell?”

  “I’d do some, to start with, but I don’t want to do it every day. The restaurant would remain closed on Sundays, but open the rest of the time.”

  “Oh, it’s a marvelous idea, Gideon, and I think it would be quite popular, too. Especially if people knew they could get a sample of your wonderful creations.”

  “We’ll see. I’m still sorting out the particulars. As soon as I sell my alcohol inventory, I can essentially switch things over to the restaurant.”

  “Will it be hard to get rid of the inventory, with so many other people in town doing the same?” Millie hated the thought of individuals buying up liquor and hoarding it at their homes. It rather defeated the whole point of her efforts, but she had no doubt many men would spend the last penny they had to stockpile booze, no matter if their women and children went hungry.

  “No. There’s a place in Walla Walla I’m going to contact. It’s a very well appointed establishment and I think they’d be happy to take any full barrels I want to sell. I’ll send them a telegram tomorrow. If they’re interested, I’ll load the barrels on the train and make a trip up there. The rest of my inventory I’ll sell at the saloon.”

  “I see,” Millie said, thrilled at the idea of Gideon opening a restaurant. She’d been worried he’d pack up and move or do something equally as desperate if the vote went against the saloon owners. “I’m glad you’ll be able to keep Mr. Jamieson employed.”

  “Me, too. We worked on the idea together and his wife is happy about it, as well. Abel will be home much earlier in the evenings.” Gideon picked up his fork and took a bite, covertly watching Millie as she picked at her food. “Is something bothering you?”

  She shook her head then raised her gaze to meet his. “I’m truly sorry, Gideon, not about shutting down the saloons in town, but about shutting down yours.”

  “I know, Millie.” Gideon squeezed her hand in his. “Now, I’m thoroughly tired of talking about this particular subject. Tell me something crazy you heard at the office today or something funny someone has done.”

  Millie smiled at him, more than willing to change the subject. “Bertie called this afternoon. It seems she spent an hour this morning picking a huge bowl of strawberries before she went over to Aundy’s to help her in the garden. While she was gone, Steve got in the house and ate every single strawberry. Riley was quite upset he wasn’t going to get the strawberry cake he’d been looking forward to.”

  “That mule of theirs is something else,” Gideon said with a smile. “Can’t they put a lock on the door or something?”

  Millie shook her head. “They’ve tried everything imaginable to keep him out, but Steve goes where he wants, when he wants. Bertie did say he was hiding in the pasture because he knew he was in trouble the moment she set foot in the kitchen.”

  “And like a badly behaved child, he doesn’t learn his lessons, does he?”

  “Nope, but he does make for some interesting conversations.” Millie took a bite of her lasagna then grinned as she recalled another story. “I forgot to tell you that Aundy is convinced Emmalee said ‘horsey’ today.”

  “Really? I bet Garrett about popped the buttons right off his shirt.”

  Millie laughed softly. “I’m sure he probably did. I think she’s going to be one horse-crazy girl when she grows up.”

  Gideon smiled. “Or she might be just as crazy about sheep or cattle.”

  “It’s entirely possible.”

  They finished their meal then indulged in a serving of Caterina’s special chocolate cake before Gideon walked Millie back to her apartment.

  He lingered at the door while she stood just inside the telephone office, uncertain what to do or say. Since they’d reached an agreement not to engage in any flirtatious exchanges including kisses, it seemed so awkward when it came time to say goodbye. They both wanted something they knew they shouldn’t have.

  “I truly am sorry about your saloon closing, Gideon.”

  “I know, Millie. Things have a way of working out, though, so don’t fret.” He took a step back and grinned at her. “Thank you for going with me to dinner.”

  “Thank you for asking. I’ll, um… see you around.”

  “I’ll be around,” he said, tipping his hat to her and strolling down the sidewalk. She watched him go, happy his shoulders no longer slumped as he whistled one of his favorite tunes.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Hello. Pendleton Central.” Millie put a smile in her voice as she answered the incoming call. It was a beautiful June day and in spite of all the tension in town over the saloons closing, it was far too nice a day to let worries weigh her down.

  “Good morning, Miss Matlock.”

  Millie smiled at the resonant sound of Gideon’s voice. Without conscious thought to her actions, she reached up and tucked in a hairpin, adjusting her hair. When she realized what she’d done, she rolled her eyes and swallowed back a giggle. It was a good thing Gideon couldn’t see her at the moment or he’d tease her mercilessly.

  “Good morning, Mr. McBride. How does this day find you?”

  “It finds me quite well. I was wondering if you might connect me with Mitchell Lawry.”

  Millie blinked at the switchboard, wondering why on earth Gideon wanted to speak with the attorney. “Certainly. Just a moment, please.”

  She put his call through then sat at the switchboard, silently stewing, curious what transpired.

  Nearly every day since the election, the newspaper had run some type of article that kept the prohibition topic at the forefront of everyone’s minds.

  Yesterday, they’d published an article about several saloon owners filing a lawsuit with the circuit court, requesting the judge issue an order restraining the county court from making an official proclamation of Umatilla County going dry.

  The allegations in the article said the saloon owners were requesting the order of restraint based on the fact the county court was not in session during the month before the ballot issues were decided. The court made no order calling for a vote on prohibition prior to the election. It also claimed the county clerk failed to serve the sheriff a notification of the election twenty days prior to the day of voting and that the sheriff failed to post any notices of the election being held for the matter of prohibition.

  On the technicality that the election was called upon by the residents rather than the legislature, the suit claimed the votes cast were illegal.

  The article went on to state the allegations were false and the county judge as well as the county clerk, the sheriff, and the deputies all acted appropriately and within the bounds of the law.

  Millie wondered if Gideon’s call to Mr. Lawry had anything to do with the small group of saloon owners determined to have the election deemed illegal in an effort to keep the saloons open.

  Although she thought he’d resigned himself to closing Second Chance and opening a restaurant, they hadn’t discussed it further. They’d both been busy. She’d only seen him for a few minutes one afternoon when she ran into him at the mercantile.

&n
bsp; Before she could give it any more thought, the switchboard flooded with incoming calls and remained busy throughout the day.

  Nora Nash stopped by to leave the girls a basket of cookies and gave Millie three jars of jam she and Aundy had made. Grateful for the food her friends supplied, Millie wished Gideon would hurry and open his restaurant. Although she loved Caterina’s cooking, she wouldn’t mind the option of eating Gideon’s. Everything he made was so delicious.

  Thoughts of deliciousness pulled her mind in the direction of his kisses. With unwavering determination, she forced herself to close that door before it led somewhere she refused to go.

  Even if Gideon was the one member of the male species she could trust never to drink, she still didn’t want to surrender her independence to a man. If she were married, even to someone like Gideon, ultimately she’d sacrifice what she wanted to do to make him happy or be an obedient wife.

  Prudence dictated she forget all about the way Gideon’s kisses and hugs made her feel, and instead focus on her work.

  By the end of the day, curiosity was about to get the best of her, but she made herself retreat to her apartment instead of walking to the Second Chance Saloon and tapping on Gideon’s back door. She wished he would stop by for a visit or, at the very least, call to let her know what was going on.

  Worry gnawed at her as she made herself a simple supper of jam and bread with slices of cheese and a glass of cold tea.

  Once she finished her meal and washed the dishes, she moved to her sitting room and picked up a shirtwaist she was embellishing with embroidery across the yoke and down the front. Although the shirtwaist was simple in design, the elaborate stitching would make it unique. The particular shade of blue of the summery fabric complemented her eyes and she could hardly wait to finish it. If she worked all evening and the next, she might have it ready to wear to church on Sunday.

  She’d stitched until the light faded in the sky and shadows fell heavy across the room. Setting aside the shirtwaist, she stood and stretched her arms over her head then twisted from side to side.

  Rather than turn on the lights, she decided to go to bed. She’d just finished brushing her teeth when she heard a noise outside her kitchen door. Hopeful it was Gideon, she tugged on her wrapper on her way to the kitchen. Without looking to see if it was him, she opened the door and stared at a black hood covering someone’s face. The smell of alcohol made her stomach churn and she screamed when he reached out to grab her.

  Frantically dodging his hand, she scurried back and slammed the door with all her might. The man howled in pain as it caught his hand against the doorframe. Millie put all her weight behind the door and pushed it closed then quickly turned the lock.

  The doorknob rattled and the door creaked as her would-be assailant tried to break in. Millie shoved a chair beneath the knob then ran downstairs and called the sheriff’s office. Maude gave her a wide-eyed look from her spot at the switchboard.

  “Pendleton Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Rawlings here.”

  “Kade! It’s Millie. Someone is trying to break into my apartment!”

  “Stay right there near the switchboard, Millie. I’m on my way, but if he breaks in call anyone you can think of who is close by.”

  She heard a click as Kade disconnected and yanked off the headset, listening to see if the door banged open or footsteps thudded upstairs.

  When all remained silent, she released the breath she’d held and prayed Kade would soon arrive. She turned to Maude. “Some man tried to break into my apartment. Deputy Rawlings is on his way.”

  “Good heavens!” Maude nervously looked behind them at the street outside the telephone office to make sure no one tried to enter that way.

  In a matter of minutes, Kade tapped on the glass of the telephone office door and Millie hurried to unlock it.

  “Are you okay, Millie?” he asked, looking around to make sure she and Maude were unharmed.

  “We’re fine. Did you see anyone?”

  Kade shook his head. “No. I ran around back but no one was there. Let’s go up and check to make sure he didn’t break the lock on the door.”

  Millie followed Kade upstairs to her kitchen. He opened the door and checked to make sure it was still firmly held by the hinges and the lock hadn’t been damaged. Satisfied it would hold, he set the chair back beneath it for Millie’s peace of mind.

  “Can you give me a description of the man, Millie?”

  “Since it’s dark out and I didn’t bother to turn on a light here in the kitchen, all I could see was that he had a dark hood over his face. His eyes seemed dark, too. I think I saw a flash of purple, perhaps a kerchief or tie. Oh, and he wore a dark jacket.”

  “Was he tall or short? Fat or thin?” Kade asked, jotting notes in a pad he pulled from his pocket.

  “Honestly, I’m not sure. He seemed rather looming and beastly, but I think that might be because he took me by surprise.”

  “Did he knock on the door? What made you open it?”

  Millie felt her cheeks heat from embarrassment. “I heard a noise on the landing and pulled the door open without thinking. You can be sure I won’t do that again.”

  Kade gave her an empathetic smile. “I don’t think whoever it is will bother you again tonight. Just to be safe, though, you might want to think about installing a bar across the door, that way you could rest assured it would take a lot of effort to break in.”

  “Thank you, Kade, and thanks for rushing right over.”

  “I’m glad to help, Millie.” Kade walked down the stairs and tipped his hat at Maude before he opened the door. “You two stay out of trouble and have a good evening.”

  Millie nodded and locked the door behind him then turned to Maude. “Do you want to go home now? I can finish your shift if you’d rather leave.”

  Maude shook her head. “No, Millie, but I think I’ll spend the night here when my shift ends. I don’t like the idea of walking home, even if it is just two blocks, and I really don’t want to leave you alone. I’ll call my mother and let her know not to expect me.”

  Filled with gratitude, Millie squeezed the girl’s hand. “That’s so kind of you, Maude. Just come up when you finish your shift. I’ll leave a light on so you can find your way around.”

  “Good night, Millie. Don’t worry. We’ll be safe.”

  “Yes, we will.”

  Millie pushed the incident from her mind in the following days. She’d asked Grant for advice on what sort of bar to install on the door. He’d appeared that very evening with a heavy wooden brace and brackets to hold it in place. The slab of wood was so heavy, she could barely lift it to open the door and that suited her fine.

  Since Gideon no longer snuck up her back steps to steal a kiss or two, she decided the door could remain firmly closed as long as she lived there. She’d convinced herself the man trying to break in was a random incident and there was no need to worry.

  Excitement filled the air one morning as she closed the telephone office and walked to the depot with Grant, Lacy, Fae, and Susan.

  A big military gun was passing through Pendleton and many people in town gathered to see it as the train stopped at the depot. It covered the length of three flat freight cars and drew much interest from the crowd of spectators.

  Grant pointed to the ten-inch gun of the cannon. “That modern piece of weaponry is being sent to a fort on the Oregon coast because there are those in congress who fear an attack from Japan is imminent. They are convinced the strike will hit along the northern Oregon coastline.”

  Lacy and Millie turned to look at Grant. “Do you think they’ll attack?” his wife asked, concerned.

  Grant laughed. “No, I do not, but it’s nice to know the cannon will be at the mouth of the Columbia River just the same.”

  A scent on the breeze caused Millie to turn and smile at Gideon as he moved behind her.

  “Admiring the cannon?” he asked.

  “Yes. It is quite something to see, isn’t it?” Millie glan
ced at him.

  Gideon grinned. “Without a doubt. Perhaps it will give people in town something new to talk about for a day or two.”

  “We can only hope,” Millie said, rolling her eyes and making her friends laugh.

  Once the train pulled out of the station, the crowd dispersed and Gideon walked with Millie and her friends in the direction of the telephone office.

  “If you want to go to lunch, Millie, we can handle the switchboard,” Susan offered as they waited to cross the street.

  “Oh, thank you, Susan, but I should be here since we’ve been closed the last hour.”

  “Why don’t I bring you all some lunch?” Gideon offered. “I’ve been experimenting with some recipes. So far, Abel and Cully are the only two offering opinions.”

  “By all means, we’d love to serve as your taste testers.” Millie looked to her friends for agreement. Eagerly, their heads bobbed up and down.

  “In that case…” Gideon smiled at Millie. “I’ll run back to my place and gather up some samples then come to the telephone office.”

  “We’ll be eagerly awaiting your arrival.” Millie shot him a flirtatious wink then realized what she’d done.

  Gideon didn’t seem to notice as he turned and hurried toward his saloon.

  When they reached the telephone office, they all stood in shocked surprise to see the glass broken out of the door and the door standing ajar.

  “Oh, my gracious!” Millie ran inside, heading for her apartment stairs. Grant followed her and tugged her back to the door.

  “You ladies stay here while I check around. Whoever did this might still be inside.” Grant cautiously made his way upstairs.

  In spite of his warning, Millie rushed to the switchboard and placed a call to the sheriff’s office. She told Lars the office had been broken into and he assured her he’d be right over.

  Barely had she disconnected the call when Grant raced down the stairs. “Millie, you better plan to stay at our house.”

  “Why?” She tugged off her headset and stood, prepared to go upstairs, but Grant grabbed her arm, stopping her before she reached the stairs.