***
Elise burst in the door of Grannie’s inn and headed to her private salon. She didn’t knock this time, but boldly walked inside, her gaze searching for her quarry.
Grannie was sitting in a chair by the fire doing some knitting with Beau at her feet, but at the disruption, both of them raised their heads and took notice.
“Elise!” Grannie put a hand to her chest. “You nearly gave me a fright!”
Elise would feel chagrined later. Right now, she had to find the attorney. “Has Mr. Grimm returned yet?” she asked almost breathlessly.
“I have now.”
She spun at the sound of the masculine voice behind her. “Thank goodness!” His brows lifted at her enthusiasm. “I need you to speak with someone right away. He has some information about Mr. Cade that will be most beneficial.”
Grannie gasped and replied on his behalf. “Of course, send him over straightaway! You’re welcome to use my salon for privacy.”
“Thank you!” Elise rushed back to the saloon, her heart pounding, and not just from her exertions, but because she could see finally see the possibility of a future with Chauncey.She didn’t even feel the brisk winter air, or feel the cold of the snow beneath her feet as shereturned to the saloon.
However, when shewalked in the door,she wasdisheartened to find that Spadelywasn’tsittingat the bar where she’d left him.She set her hands on her hips, for he’d assured her he’d be there when she returned, so where had he gone?
“If you’re looking for the gent who was sitting there, he left right after you did with a couple of mean lookin’ fellas.”
Elise glanced up to see Samson’ssubstitutepouring a drink for another patron. Her stomachabruptlysankin fearwhen she realized the regular barkeep wasn’t around. “Where’s Samson?”
“He followed the trioout the back, said he didn’t like the look in their eyes—”
Elise didn’t wait for him to say anything further. She rushed toward the rear of the saloon. It opened to an abandoned alley; the perfect place to rough someone up in private, if that was their intention. And considering Samson had abandoned his post to check on things, his intuition generally rather keen on such matters, then she likely had sufficient cause to be alarmed.
While she had no idea what she would do if she came upon a scuffle, perhaps her intrusion would cause enough of a distraction that things could be handled accordingly, without escalating into something deadly.
She pushed open the wood door and burst into the alley to find a scene she had hopednotto find. Two men were lying still on the ground, and although she was relieved to find that Samson andSpadelywere the ones who were left standing, she couldn’t help but sway on her feet as the blood rushed from herhead.
Samson had been shaking his hand, but his head immediately jerked upward when he heard her arrival. He quickly walked over. “Elise! What are you doing out here?”
“Are they—?” She couldn’t even voice the words.
“No, just resting for a bit,” Samson winked at her. “I’m going to fetch the sheriff to take care of these miscreants. I’ll be right back.”
As Elise leaned against the side of the saloon, Spadely walked over to her. “At least this gives us more leverage to help free Cade,” he noted. “I don’t thinkDwarftonwants me to testify onMr. Cade’sbehalf. I joined him on this journey underhisbelief that I would be assistinghim, but I want him out of power at Rupert’s Land, and I knew Cade was the one man who could help me make that possible. Dwarftonis realizing that and doesn’t appreciate it, so he sent his bounty hunters to teach me a lesson.” He grinned. “What they didn’t know is that I’ve been trained by some of the best pugilists in England. It really wasn’t much of a fight, especially with Samson’s help.”
As Samson returned with the sheriff, they carted the two unconscious men away as Elise led Spadely back to the inn. Once they were in Grannie’s private salon, she introduced him to Mr. Grimm.
“You can use my salon to conduct your interrogation in private,” Grannie said as she and Elise headed to the guest room that Elise was currently occupying.
Once they were inside, Grannie took a seat by the fire, but Elise found that she was too restless to sit, so she began to pace back and forth along the room.
After a time, her companion sighed heavily. “Really, Elise, you must stop wearing a path across my floor.”
Elise’s cheeks reddened slightly as she sat down across from her. “I’m sorry, Grannie. I just can’t stop thinking of what is going on down there, and if it will truly help to free Chauncey.”
“Don’t fret, dear.” Grannie patted her hand affectionately. “You’ll find that in Charming, things always have a way of working out for the best.”
Nearly two hours later, with the time nearing midnight, Elise was still wide-awake. When the gentleman entered the room, shestoodexpectantly. However, all Mr. Grimm said was, “We’ll be heading to our rooms for the night now, Ms. Charming. I will see you in the morning.”
After they left, Grannie stood. “I’m rather tuckered out myself,” she said with a smile. “I may look spry, but such late hours aren’t good on these old bones anymore.” She chuckled, and then added, “Get some rest dear. Tomorrow is a new day.”
Once Elise was left alone, she changed for bed and slipped under the covers, but she knew it would be a long time before sleep actually claimed her.
***
