“Yes. He didn’t flinch. He suspected. He presented me with opportunities before to tell him the truth—the last time was the night you and Remington rode out to Thunder Point—but I threw them all back at him. I didn’t trust him. Not enough. You know why.”
“Ellie.”
“Yes.” Her voice dropped to a whisper and she glanced over her shoulder before she went on. “He says I’m wrong about Ben, but it’s not because he never slept with Ellie. He believes she would have told him if it were true, which I think is naïve of him, but I have made peace with it. He also said that she might not know the truth. Her husband reappearedaround that time. Thaddeus thought she might leave with him, but it never happened. Then Mr. Madison died and there was no question but that she would stay. There has been nothing between them all these years.”
“And you are satisfied with that?”
“I am, mostly because of what else he said.”
“What’s that?”
“He is giving her notice, Phoebe. It’s because of the money. I told him about that, explained that I wanted to leave, and how she understood that without me ever telling her and offered me the means to go. Thaddeus was surprised, more than that, actually. I think he considered it a betrayal, so he is going to tell her to go. She will be well compensated, but he is firm that she will be leaving, and for everyone’s sake, it will be done quickly. I expect she will be gone tomorrow. You will help me manage, won’t you? It will only be for a few days until I can interview and hire a new housekeeper. I want someone who will help me, and help me learn, not shut me out.”
Phoebe was too stunned to do anything but nod.
“Good. I felt certain I could depend on you.”
Phoebe found her voice. “What about Ben?”
“Yes. Ben. Thaddeus does not want him to leave and I certainly would not ask Thad to force it. I like Ben. What he does will be his decision. That’s only right.” Fiona tilted her head as she studied Phoebe’s face. “What? What is it? You look worried.”
“I am, but perhaps not as worried as you should be. I would think twice about eating anything Ellie prepares for you before she’s gone.” She patted the back of Fiona’s hand. “And no, Fiona, I won’t be your taster.”
Chapter Thirty-seven
Ellie Madison sipped tea from a pansy-patterned china cup, but she returned the cup to its saucer when Natty Rahway joined her at the table. The restaurant in the Butterworth Hotel was largely empty in the middle of the day. She thought that perhaps she should have suggested a different time, but the truth was that no matter the time of day, someone would notice her speaking to this man, a stranger to everyone, because it was so far outside the normal course of things.
“Thank you for coming,” she said. “I didn’t know if you would.”
“I shouldn’t be here.” He removed his hat and laid it on the seat of the chair beside him. “But I was curious.”
“I told Mr. Butterworth—he’s the owner—that I was being interviewed for a new position. Was that all right?”
It was better than he hoped for when he decided to answer her summons. “It’s fine. You talk first.” He raised his hand, gestured to the girl hovering at another table as she talked up a cowboy, and asked for a beer when she came by. “What’s happened?” he asked when she was gone.
“I was let go. After more than twenty years, Mr. Frost showed me the door. You’re the first person I’ve told the truth. It’s only been a few days, but people around here think Mrs. Frost and I couldn’t get along, which is more or less the way it was. I’m satisfied with folks assuming I left on my own terms, and Mr. Frost is never going to say any different. What I don’t like is anyone thinking his wife got the better of me.”
“Ben?”
“He’ll likely go on working at Twin Star. I have no plans to tell him what happened. He thinks the house got too crowded for me what with Mrs. Frost hovering and her sister always trying to be helpful. I took a room here for the time being. Mr. Frost was financially generous in his desire to see the last of me, so I can sort through what I want to do, where I want to go. I don’t see myself straying far, and I already have offers. One of them is here at the Butterworth.” She shrugged her narrow shoulders. “Managing a hotel could not be much different than managing Twin Star.”
Natty’s beer appeared and he took it from the waitress’s hand before she placed it on the table. He shooed her away without ordering any food. “So why did Frost show you the door?”
“His wife told him I offered to give her the money she needed to go back to New York.”
He whistled softly. “I see. Is it true?”
“Doesn’t matter. He thinks it is.”
Natty chuckled softly as he raised his glass to his lips. “Always wondered what the money was for. I figure now I know.” He put out a hand to stop her from saying anything. “I’m not sure why you asked to see me. Seems strange meeting face to face after all this time. Good thing you didn’t change your mind about that fussy flower hat you’re wearing or I wouldn’t have been able to sort you out from...” He briefly cast his gaze around the dining room. “From, say, that sour-faced pickle of a woman over there picking at her hash. All things being equal, I’m glad it’s you.”
Ellie’s thin smile was cool. It did not touch her eyes. “I don’t want any of what happened coming back on me, and I especially don’t want my son involved. I think we can agree you were compensated handsomely to perform a service, and part of that service involved a guarantee that you would not be caught.”
“Perform a service.” His rough, deep voice was a soft echo of hers. He locked eyes with her and raised one dark eyebrow. “I’m not sure that’s how the Putty brothersdescribed it to me, but all right, let’s call it a service for now. What’s this about getting caught? What have you heard all the way out there at Twin Star? Or maybe it’s been since you came to town.”
Ellie did not answer the question directly. She leaned forward as though earnestly engaged in their conversation and spoke so she could not possibly be overheard. “Blue Armstrong. Let’s talk about Blue. Why did any one of you think that was necessary? And don’t deny involvement. I won’t believe it. I heard—overheard—enough to know his murder is connected in some fashion to the robbery.”
Natty stopped short of jabbing himself in the chest with a forefinger. “I don’t know what you think you know, but I had nothing to do with that.”
