Will paused. He thought about his next words very carefully. “Two years isn’t a long time to be alone. And you haven’t really been alone.”

  Charlotte looked at him and then plopped down on the chaise lounge, lifting her legs up so they were stretched out beside her.

  “It has been much longer than two years,” she sighed, smoothing her hair back. “We were estranged for several years before that. Harris took to his workshop. I stayed here with Theresa. I just don’t want to be lonely anymore.”

  Will leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “I totally understand but think about what you are doing to yourself. You are working yourself up over nothing.”

  “How can you say that to me, Will? I just said I didn’t want to lose my daughter and grandbabies. Here you are criticizing me for that.”

  Will sighed, dragging his hand down his face. He loved this woman for sure. No man who didn’t would put up with this type of ridiculousness. “Then let’s talk about something else.”

  She lifted her head off the pillow and looked at him. “Like what?”

  “How about your answer to my question at the picnic.”

  Charlotte paused. “That day was a blur. I can’t recall the question right now. Can you refresh my memory?”

  Will stood. This was not going as planned. How could she not remember? He took a deep breath and looked at Charlotte reclining on the lounge. Perhaps it was best if he didn’t repeat the question. No matter how much love he had in his heart, there was one thing that remained. Charlotte was Charlotte – never paying attention to what was around her, instead, focusing on the next thing coming her way.

  “Let’s just drop it for now.”

  Charlotte sat up. “No, I really want to know what you were asking at the picnic.”

  Will was saved from responding when Milam came into the room, followed by Marshal Sewell. She quickly left and the marshal came closer, removing his hat and holding it in his hands.

  “Marshal! What a delightful surprise. How are your wife and the twins?”

  “They are just fine, Mrs. Daniel. The little ones are growing like weeds. Congratulations to you on your two grandchildren.”

  “Thank you.” Charlotte looked over his shoulder. “Oh, look, here they are now.”

  Tess and Dawson returned. “The babies are asleep. Oh … Marshal Sewell, nice to see you.”

  Dawson extended his hand. “Alex. What brings you out today?”

  “I was just finishing up my investigation and I had a few questions I needed to ask. You too, Mrs. Elliot. I was under the impression that you were in New Harbor.”

  Tess sat down next to her mother. “I don’t know why everyone thinks I was in New Harbor.”

  Alex coughed. “I think someone saw you, Marty and Hattie in the wagon. I know Dawson was down there, so it was said you must have gone too.”

  “They dropped me off here on their way out of town. Momma was with me Saturday night because Rosie was sick, she had a fever. Hattie was there too. She gave Rosie something to bring the fever down – these drops in a glass bottle. And she gave Momma something to help her sleep.” Tess looked to her mother. “What was it that Hattie gave you.”

  “I don’t remember. But I can go get the bottle.”

  “Yes ma’am. That would be helpful,” Alex answered. He scribbled some notes down on his notepad and looked at Tess again. “What else can you tell me?”

  “I don’t know what you are looking for. Perhaps I can help you then.”

  “When did Marty and Hattie bring you here.”

  “It was Sunday morning, after the fire.” Charlotte walked back in and handed the bottle to Alex. He looked at it and wrote what was on the label in the notebook. When he set the bottle down on the side table, Will picked up the amber bottle and looked at the label. Potassium bromide. He committed the term to memory to ask Dr. Childs about it the next time Will saw him. There were five pills left in the bottle.

  “How many of these did you take, Charlotte?” Will asked, putting the bottle back on the table.

  “I’ve taken three. I took two that night Hattie gave them to me and one last night.” Alex scribbled in his notebook.

  “What time did you leave the Elliot’s?”

  Charlotte thought for a minute. “I think it was just after 10 o’clock.”

  “Between 10 and 10:30 at night,” Dawson chimed in. “I had just gotten back from New Harbor and I walked her home. You still haven’t said what this is about.”

  “The fire started just after midnight. Is there any chance you went back out after you got home?”

  Charlotte’s eyes flew open wide. “Most certainly not. Dawson escorted me home and I went straight to bed. Whatever it was that Hattie gave me knocked me right out. I was surprised I even made it home.”

  “Why’s that?” Alex asked.

  “Because I took the pills at the apartment and 30 minutes later, I was falling asleep. That is why Dawson made sure I got home alright. If I had known they would work that quickly, I would have waited until I got home before taking them.”

  “I think that is all I need right now. If you think of anything else, I’d appreciate you coming to the office and letting me know.” He picked up his hat from the side table and turned back to Charlotte. “I would refrain from walking through the town after dark, Mrs. Daniels. We have a bunch of new people arriving daily, and your safety should be your first concern.”

  Charlotte nodded. Alex put his hat back on his head and headed out of the room.

  “Marshal, I forgot to let you know something when we met earlier,” Will called to Alex as he just reached the door.

  “What is it?”

  “The day of the festival, I thought I saw someone I knew. I couldn’t get a good look at him, but he reminded me of someone from New Harbor.”

  “Who did he remind you of?”

  Will looked around the room at the faces waiting to hear what he said. He never told anyone the depth of his addiction and how far down he fell; and he didn’t want to now. But he knew he needed to say something if he was going to keep Silverpines safe.

  Will took a deep swallow. “It looked like one of the peddlers that pushed laudanum in the back alleys down in New Hope. A man by the name of Montgomery Shippenbottom.”

  Dawson stood up from the chair where he was sitting down. Charlotte gave a gasp and sat back down on the chaise. “I only saw him from the back, but it definitely looked like him.”

  “Have you seen him since?” Dawson asked.

  “No. That was it. Just on that Saturday.”

  Alex looked at Dawson. “You probably want to send a telegram, don’t you?”

  “Yes. Shippenbottom was on his way to New York and escaped. That is what I had been investigating. His trail went cold, so I came back.”

  “I wonder why he came back to Silverpines?” Alex said, looking directly at Charlotte.

  “I don’t know what you are implying, Marshall Sewell. I haven’t had any contact with him for nearly four months, and I am most certainly not using laudanum again.” She burst into tears and hid her face in her palms.

  Will went over and took Charlotte in his arms. He rubbed her shoulder and stroked her hair. Kissing her softly he whispered into her ear.

  “I know Charlotte hasn’t been using laudanum. She’s been with me almost every day since we met. I would know if she was nipping at the bottle.”

  Alex stood looking at them for a minute. “I’m just letting you know, that the fire was caused by someone cooking opium. The only reason they would be cooking opium is if someone is buying it. So, I want you to be really careful about your activities in town. Understand?”

  Charlotte nodded between the hiccups. Will pulled her closer, pressing her head to his shoulder. “We will. Thank you for coming by to see us.”

  “I’ll see you out, Alex,” Dawson said, guiding the Marshal out of the sitting room. Will could hear the murmur of their voices and then the closing of the door.

  Dawson came back with Milam who announced dinner was ready. Will helped Charlotte stand and placed a light kiss on her forehead before releasing her.

  His biggest concern was, if he had in fact seen Shippenbottom, how could he make sure that Charlotte remained safe?

  Chapter 5

  Charlotte wiped her eyes before taking another sip of her tea. She was visiting with Odessa Gale after the funeral of Fannie pearl.

  “I can’t believe she is really gone,” Odessa said.

  “It won’t be the same not seeing her walking the streets, talking to everyone.”

  “The service was beautiful, and your Will did a beautiful job carving her casket.”

  Your Will. Charlotte smiled at the thought. He had been consuming her thoughts since the picnic. Something changed after that and she hadn’t been able to figure out what it was. “Yes, he did do a beautiful job.”

  “That young man is very talented.”

  “Yes, he is.” Charlotte took another sip of her tea. “How old do you think he is?”

  Odessa looked at her. “I don’t know. He appears older than Tess, but not as old as Dr. Childs.”

  “He is very young.”

  “Not that young.”

  “He needs to find a nice woman and settle down.”

  Odessa coughed around the sip of tea she was drinking. “What makes you think he hasn’t?”

  “Hasn’t what? Settled down?”

  “Found a nice woman?”

  Tears formed again in Charlotte’s eyes. She told herself it was from the services, not that her heart hurt at the thought of Will with another woman. “I’ve not seen him with anyone. Perhaps he has a sweetheart in New Harbor?”

  Odessa let out a harrumph and reached over for Charlotte’s hand. “For someone who has experienced quite a bit and knows most of the goings on in town, you really are quite simple, aren’t you?”

  “I don’t know what you mean.” Charlotte looked out the window. Odessa lived outside of town, surrounded by trees.

  The fruit trees were starting to bloom, showcasing their fragrant blossoms. Charlotte watched as the bees flew from one flower to the next. Somedays she wished she was like a bee. Travelling from one place to the next, not caring what anyone else around her was doing.

  “Charlotte Daniels, that man is head over heels in love with you.” Charlotte glanced Odessa’s way. “Yes, you.”

  “I’m too old for him. He considers me a good friend. Nothing more.”

  This time Odessa let out a hearty laugh. “Too old? Look at yourself, Charlotte. You are a beautiful woman. Any man would be proud to have you on his arm. You are healthy too, which is a plus. I’m going to assume you have all your teeth?”

  Charlotte laughed. “Stop it. You’ll make me spill my tea.”

  Odessa smiled at her friend. “It is good to see you laugh. I don’t think you’ve laughed since Tess brought home that goat that one of Hattie’s customers gave her.”

  “That goat destroyed my garden. I was furious.”

  “How was she to know that releasing it in the garden would destroy all your flowers in a matter of hours?”

  “It was a sweet goat, even if it did have a taste for roses. I wonder what ever happened to it.”

  “Didn’t she give it to the Winters family?”

  “That’s right. I think Mr. Winters came by and took it to their home in the woods. He said it was a milking goat and that his wife, Sarah, could use it.”

  “I remember Tess didn’t speak to you for a week after that.”

  “You are right. She was such a headstrong child. Still is. But I’m so happy she found love with Dawson and she didn’t move away.” Charlotte returned her teacup to the tray on the table. “Did I tell you she is moving out of town?”

  “Really? Where to?” Odessa refilled Charlotte’s cup and offered her a small sandwich filled with butter and cress.

  Charlotte took a bite of the sandwich, the peppery flavor from the cress filling her senses. “Remember the old Johnson place?”

  “On the way towards the horse ranch?”

  “That very one. Well they want to head back east, so they have decided to sell. Tess and Hattie have talked their husbands into buying it and creating a farm where Hattie can grow her herbs.”

  “So, they would live together?”

  “No. They would build separate houses, but share the land.” Charlotte finished her snack and sighed. “I know it isn’t far, but I want my baby and her babies with me.”

  “Will they close the apothecary?”

  “Oh no. They were talking about combining it with the clinic into one office and Hattie would just remain out at the farm raising the children. She’s been teaching Lacey Lou a thing or two about herbs.”

  “What about Lacey Lou?” a voice called from the other room. The sound of a door slamming came right afterwards.

  “Martin Gale, please do not slam the door. We have company.” Marty came into the room looking sheepish.

  “Sorry, Ma.” He took his hat off and gave a slight bow towards Charlotte. “Mrs. Daniels.”

  “Goodness gracious, what happened to you?” Charlotte asked. Marty’s clothes were covered in mud. It was caked on his face and in his hair. There was a clear line where his hat was, as the mud formed a circle around the top of his head.

  “I fell….”

  “Are you alright?” Odessa asked.

  “I’m fine, Ma. I just came to grab a clean change of clothes and wash my face. What did you say about Lacey Lou?”

  “It isn’t polite to listen in on other people’s conversations, Marty.”

  “We were just saying that Hattie is teaching Lacey Lou how to mix up those herbs she has in her shop,” Charlotte answered.

  “Oh.” Marty looked disappointed. “Okay, I’m gunna go get changed.” He ran towards the back of the house and Charlotte heard the sound of a door shutting.

  “I swear that boy is always going.” She turned back to Charlotte. “I went over to see the café yesterday. It looks like it was completely destroyed .

  “It was.”

  “Did you ever talk to Lily Jo about buying it?”

  “I did. And we hadn’t signed the papers yet.”

  “I wonder what she is going to do?”

  “Most likely have to take it up with the insurance company.”

  “Are you still thinking of opening a restaurant?”

  “I don’t know. It sounded like such a great idea. It would allow me to have a source of income and Milam could cook.” She took another finger sandwich. “These are so good. They are the perfect bite to go with the tea.”

  “I wish there was a tea house around here.”

  “I agree.”

  “Well then, why don’t you do one?”

  “A tea house?”

  “Yes. Do you still have all your teapots that you brought from Boston?”

  “I do. They are the one thing that he didn’t take.” Charlotte didn’t want that man’s name anywhere on her lips. Neither Shippenbottom, nor the name Charlotte knew him as … Mr. Clemmons. The cad.

  “Let’s make a list of what you would need to get it started. Maybe you can go to the bank for a loan?”

  “Hmmmm. I don’t know if Mr. Richards would take a chance on me. Especially after … uhm-huh… cleared my account.”

  “But wasn’t Dawson able to get most of the money back to the bank?”

  “Yes. But I think because I told Mr. Richards in no uncertain circumstances how I felt, I didn’t endear myself to him.”

  “Well then, let’s make a list for how we might raise the money.”

  “But the people in town….”

  “Charlotte Daniels,” Odessa interrupted. “Are you looking for a solution or an excuse?”

  Charlotte looked down at her hands. “You are correct. I’m looking for a solution.”

  “Good. I’m going to get some paper and we will get busy.”

  Odessa returned and they started to make a list for how Charlotte could get a tea shop off the ground. Suddenly they heard the sound of Marty’s boots banging against the floor. The house reverberated as he stomped across the wooden planks.

  “Where are you off to, Martin?” Odessa called after him. “I hope you didn’t leave your dirty clothes on the floor.”

  “Awww, Ma.” They could hear the sound of footsteps returning to the back of the house. “I put them in the soaking bucket. I’m helping Mr. Abernathy at the train station, by carrying people’s luggage. I’ll be back later.”

  “Don’t slam the…” Odessa’s words were interrupted by the sound of the door shaking on its hinges. “I swear that boy is going to destroy this house. But at least I know where he is at all times.” Charlotte gave a little laugh. “I think we have a good list going so far. I’m going to make some more tea and you can tell me more about your Will.”

  Charlotte put on her best dress. It was blue with lace at the neck and cuffs. She took time pinning her hair in place and using her fingertips to fix the curls on her forehead. When she was done, she pinched her cheeks and dabbed a bit of rouge on her lips.

  She eyed herself in the mirror. Perfect.

  She looked like a business woman. Well at least like a business woman back in Boston might look. Around here most women that owned businesses wore simple poplin dresses with very little trim. Charlotte sniffed. Better to be plain and practical, she surmised.

  But not her. She wanted to at least appear the part. She gathered up an envelope with the list she and Odessa created the previous day, her bank book and a smidgen of courage. She didn’t know how Mr. Richards might react, but she was going to be hopeful.

  This tea shop was needed. It would allow the women of Silverpines a place to gather and socialize that was just theirs.

  Charlotte grabbed her wrap and headed out the door. As she walked towards the bank, she imagined what it would be like having her own shop and earning her own money. The only challenge? Charlotte never worked a day in her life. That is why she had Milam to help her.