Narrow Escape

Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-five

Lane walked out of the bedroom to talk with Harriet about the things he wanted taken care while he was away when they heard the bell jingle below. He hurried down the steps and was surprised to see Hadley standing there instead of Hart.

"I heard about Charlotte," Hadley told him as he came into the shop. "I gather we're going after Stewart?"

"He's the one I think has her or had her taken from here," Lane answered him as he led the way through the shop and up the stairs.

"Most likely he has her," Hadley told him nephew. "He's been camped outside of town for a long time. According to Saddler, the man I brought back here, Stewart left his ranch only a few days after you did according to the man."

"Is Saddler's the one that shot me?" Lane asked. Finding out Stewart had been camped close to town didn't surprise Lane the way he thought it would since they suspected it before now.

"Yeah, he shot you on Charles Stewart's orders," Hadley replied. "He's locked up in the jail and Hart was going to question him when I left."

"I hope he learns enough to put Stewart in jail for a long time."

"This is nice," Hadley said once they arrived in the parlor and looked around.

"We like living here," Lane answered his uncle and wondered if Charlotte would ever be back to live there again.

Harriet Wilson turned around in the kitchen to see who had arrived. Once she saw the man she asked him and Lane if they wanted a cup of coffee and both men agreed since they had to wait for Hart to arrive.

"Harriet this is my uncle, Hadley Jenson," Lane told her as she brought the cups and coffee pot to the table. "Hadley this is Harriet Wilson, she's been teaching Charlotte how to cook."

Each said it was nice to meet the other as Harriet poured the coffee into their cups before returning the pot to the stove.

"Harriet," Lane said. "Mr. Whitaker is coming in the day after tomorrow to start on Charlotte's shop if you could be here earlier than usual I'd appreciate it. If you want you could stay here in the extra bedroom and charge what ever you need at the general store on my account. I'm sure Angus will find someone to run it until he gets better and here's some cash too." Lane reached into his pocket and took out a roll of bills and pealed off several handing them to her. "Use what you need."

"I'll do that," Harriet answered as she took the money from him. "I have her drawings to go by and I'll make sure Mr. Whitaker does a good job just like she wants. I know when she comes home she'll want to see that progress was made while she was away."

When she comes home.

Lane prayed a silent prayer once more that Charlotte would be coming home.

He had to swallow the huge lump in his throat before he answered Harriet.

"You do that," Lane said to her. "I know she'll appreciate it."

They heard the bell sound below and a few minutes later someone coming up the stairs. Lane had left the door unlocked for Hart and the others when they arrived since Stewart was gone they had nothing to worry about.

"Well I'm ready to go," Belle said as she came striding into the parlor to come stand by the table between Lane and Harriet.

"And who said you could come along," Lane asked her his eyes narrowed. "I want you to stay here, Belle. We don't know what we'll be getting into once we find Stewart."