gold nuggets. He was wasting time. “Goldie is in danger. We cannot simply stand here talking about it! The note says—”
“Calm down, Viola.” Ed Parker’s voice was kind, but firm. “There is time to meet the kidnapper’s demands. And we can do that best if we know what we’re up against.” He looked beyond her. “What do you think about the Tlingits being involved, Stone?”
She might as well be invisible! Viola glanced up at the missionary, found his gaze on her. She was not invisible to Thomas Stone. A shiver slipped along her spine. He looked calm and decisive. And strong. She lifted her hand and rubbed the spot where he had gripped her elbow as he’d propelled her along the street. All those forceful men at Dengler’s had— He glanced down at her hand. She froze and he looked back at the sheriff.
“I think the rumor is ridiculous, Ed. The Tlingits are honest traders. Kidnapping a baby for gold or revenge is not their way. And no Tlingit would use the wording in that note. But Teena Crow would know for certain. Why not ask her about this?”
Yes. Decisive and strong was the perfect description of Thomas Stone. But not calm, as he appeared. There was a little muscle jumping along his jaw. A sure sign a man was angry. She knew all the signs. She turned, using the movement to create more space between them. “Sheriff Parker, I don’t care who the kidnappers are. It doesn’t matter if they are white men or Tlingits. I only want to get Goldie back.” She whirled and took a step toward Mack Tanner. “Could we please go get the gold nuggets now? I have to take—”
“Not you, Viola.”
She whipped back around to face the sheriff. “But I must! I—”
“Nope. It’s too dangerous. The note just says ‘leave the gold’, it doesn’t say who should take it there.”
“But—”
“No arguing. You go on home and let us men handle this.” Ed Parker pulled a gun belt from a drawer, strapped it on and came around the desk. “I think Stone’s got the right idea. Let’s go talk to Teena Crow, Mack. You come, too, Stone. We’ll see if she agrees—”
“I am not going home.”
The men stopped at the door, turned their heads and frowned at her. Viola drew her shoulders back, lifted her chin and faced their displeasure. “Goldie was left on my doorstep, along with a note from her father asking me to care for her until he returns from the gold fields. I am responsible for her, Sheriff Parker. And I am going with you.”
“Now see here, Viol—”
“Her point is a valid one, Ed. And there is no danger to Miss Goddard at the clinic.” The missionary’s quiet words interrupted the sheriff’s growl.
Ed Parker scowled but said no more, simply snatched his hat off a hook on the wall, slapped it on his head and opened the door.
A group of men clustered on the walkway looked up. “What’s goin’ on, Sheriff? We heard—”
“You men go on about your business now. There’s nothing here that concerns you. If I need help, I’ll come find you.” The sheriff stepped outside, using his giant size to force the men to move. Mack Tanner followed.
Thomas Stone took a step back. “After you, Miss Goddard.”
Viola stared at the missionary. Why had he argued in her defense? Why had he insinuated himself into this situation in the first place? She had not asked for his help. A shudder traveled through her. In her experience, men always had some nefarious motive for their actions. And it was usually costly for a woman. But she hadn’t time to concern herself with that now. Saving Goldie was what mattered.
She stiffened her spine and swept by the man, out onto the plank walkway, and hurried to catch the sheriff and Mack Tanner. If Thomas Stone did have a base motive, if he thought he could collect some personal “favor” for helping her, he was very much mistaken. Richard Dengler and his thugs were back in Seattle. She had escaped his grasp and was through with a life of prostitution forever. And no man…no man would ever touch her again. Not even to save Goldie. She would listen to their plans and then she would find another way. One that kept her at a distance from Thomas Stone. She did not like the hint of admiration she saw in his eyes, though at the moment, she was grateful for his tall, muscular presence beside her, blocking her from the crowd forming in their wake as they walked toward the clinic at the other end of town.
Thomas strode beside Viola Goddard, close enough to protect her from the crush of the swelling crowd following them, but far enough to maintain a respectful distance. A safe distance. He had felt a drawing, a connection to the woman when their gazes had met earlier at the clinic, and he wanted nothing but the most distant and casual of relationships with her. He had vowed to himself, when his wife and baby died, he would never love or marry again. And he’d felt no interest in any women for the past three years. But there was something about Viola Goddard….
He glanced down, swept his gaze over the sacklike thing covering her hair, that was gathered in a mass at the back of her head, studied her pale, tense face. She was staying strong in insisting she have a part in the kidnapped baby’s rescue, but her strength was born of desperation. There was a vulnerability in the depth of her eyes that tugged at him, made him want to help her, to protect her. An odd thought. It was the baby who was in danger.
The anger born when he’d learned of the baby’s kidnapping surged again. He’d been helpless against the pneumonia that had claimed his baby’s life, but he could fight the kidnapper that was endangering this one. He clenched his jaw, focused his gaze on the sheriff. He would ask Ed Parker to deputize him. That would be best. But one way or another, he would help get the baby back alive.
“That is…it’s…untrue.” Teena Crow’s dark eyes shadowed with hurt. “What have my people ever done to the whites of this town that they would say such a thing?”
Viola moved over to stand beside her friend. “People do not always deserve what is said about them, Teena. But—”
“But what, Viola?” Teena turned toward her, her dark braids and the small strings of beads dangling from her ears swinging from her quick movement. “Are you saying your heart believes my people have taken Goldie from you?”
“I did not—”
“What’s going on, Teena? I could hear voices in the other room.”
Viola jerked her gaze from the soft smile of delight that warmed Teena’s face, to the doorway. Dr. Jacob Calloway stood there wiping his hands on a towel and scanning the room. A frown line appeared between his dark brows. “I thought I heard your voice, Sheriff.” He looked at her. “Is this about the baby, Viola? Mavis Goodge told us she had been kidnapped. Have you found her injured? Do you need—”
“They think some of my people have taken Goldie.”
Viola shook her head. “That is not true, Teena. None of us have accused the Tlingits. We only came seeking your opinion of the note—though why it matters is beyond my understanding.” She lifted her hands and rubbed at the throbbing in her temples. “I don’t care who kidnapped Goldie. I only want to get her back. And we are wasting time with all this talking!”
“You are right, Viola. To save baby Goldie is what is important.” Teena gave her a quick hug, then crossed to the sheriff. “There are good and bad in all peoples. I will speak the truth. What do the words on the paper say?”
