last. My own mother was taken in by his claims of kinship and died as a result.”
“I’m terribly sorry,” the proprietor murmured in solemn empathy.
“My sorrow is fading with each passing day, sir. The recovery of my father’s coffer means a great deal to me. I’m thankful you bought it and that I saw it here in your shop. I’m even more grateful that my husband is willing to buy it for me. The box will become a treasured keepsake which we can hopefully hand down to our offspring in years to come. If you hadn’t purchased it, I’d still be wondering what happened to it.”
“You’re as gracious as you are beautiful, madam,” the shopkeeper averred with a kindly smile. “And it is my wish that in the months and years to come the coffer will become an even greater asset as you store away memories of your father.”
“T HEY’RE COMIN’ OUT NOW ,” O LNEY H YDE ANNOUNCED , leaning near the window of the hired livery in which he was now safely ensconced. Chortling softly, he gestured toward the couple who were just emerging from the shop across the street. “Look at that! Mr. Birmin’am’s done gone an’ bought yer liedy somethin’ else.”
“ Dummkopf! Get back before somevone sees yu!” Gustav Fridrich snapped irately. “Or haf yu forgotzen zo zoon zhat yu’re still vanted by zhe sheriff?”
The curly headed blond grinned cockily as he considered the older man whose stocky frame dominated the opposite seat of the well-worn carriage. The German was nearing two score, stubborn to a fault, and lame now in one arm, which seemed forever destined to be kept bound up in a sling. He had thick, blunt features, a shining bald head, wiry brows, and pale-blue eyes, the coldness of which could almost freeze a man. At the moment, they were hot, angry, and glaring a hole through his younger companion.
Shrugging off the harsh reminder with a casual twitch of his brawny shoulders, Olney relaxed back into his own seat. “Ain’t no use in frettin’ yerself ’cause o’ that lame-witted sheriff, Mr. Fridrich. He ain’t gonna find me. I knows this here town an’ all the areas ’round ’bout it like I do the back o’ me hand. I can come an’ go just as much as I please wit’out Sheriff Townsend bein’ none the wiser.”
“It vill be zhe back of my hand zhat yu’ll be getting if yu cause me any more trouble,” Gustav barked. “I haven’t forgotzen zhat it vas yu who shot Herr Birmingham and made his pistol go off and shatter mien shoulder! Nor do I zhink zhe sheriff iz as stupid as yu make him out to be. Yu, however, may be lacking vhat he iz not. If not for zhat freight wagon and my timely intervention earlier today, Herr Birmingham vould haf caught yu and no doubt haf relished beating yu to a bloody pulp before personally escorting yu to zhe sheriff’s office.”
Olney scoffed. “Maybe he would’ve, maybe not. Just ’cause Birmin’am’s close ta a head taller’n me don’t mean he can best me. I’da’ve hit him in the gut afore he could’ve even swung a punch. Anyways, I forgot ta tell ye thanks for askin’ the driver ta halt for me on the street like ye did.” Olney’s shoulders shook as he recalled his adversary’s frantic search after the livery had passed. “Yes, sir, we sure fooled that fancy man, we did, but ye know, Mr. Fridrich, ye ought not ta get inta such a temper o’er what’s already been done. It ain’t good for yer liver.”
“Yu imbecile! Vhat do yu know about livers?”
“Only what I’ve heard Doc Clarence tellin’ ye, but enough ta figure out yers is a-gonna turn green wit’ all that bile a-workin’ in it.”
“Yu prattle inanely about matters beyond yur ken,” the German sneered, “and yu annoy me in zhe process.”
“More’n Mr. Birmin’am?”
Gustav’s lips curled in disdain as he swept his gaze out the window and fixed it glaringly upon the tall, well-garbed man presently strolling with his ravishingly beautiful bride on the
“I’m terribly sorry,” the proprietor murmured in solemn empathy.
“My sorrow is fading with each passing day, sir. The recovery of my father’s coffer means a great deal to me. I’m thankful you bought it and that I saw it here in your shop. I’m even more grateful that my husband is willing to buy it for me. The box will become a treasured keepsake which we can hopefully hand down to our offspring in years to come. If you hadn’t purchased it, I’d still be wondering what happened to it.”
“You’re as gracious as you are beautiful, madam,” the shopkeeper averred with a kindly smile. “And it is my wish that in the months and years to come the coffer will become an even greater asset as you store away memories of your father.”
“T HEY’RE COMIN’ OUT NOW ,” O LNEY H YDE ANNOUNCED , leaning near the window of the hired livery in which he was now safely ensconced. Chortling softly, he gestured toward the couple who were just emerging from the shop across the street. “Look at that! Mr. Birmin’am’s done gone an’ bought yer liedy somethin’ else.”
“ Dummkopf! Get back before somevone sees yu!” Gustav Fridrich snapped irately. “Or haf yu forgotzen zo zoon zhat yu’re still vanted by zhe sheriff?”
The curly headed blond grinned cockily as he considered the older man whose stocky frame dominated the opposite seat of the well-worn carriage. The German was nearing two score, stubborn to a fault, and lame now in one arm, which seemed forever destined to be kept bound up in a sling. He had thick, blunt features, a shining bald head, wiry brows, and pale-blue eyes, the coldness of which could almost freeze a man. At the moment, they were hot, angry, and glaring a hole through his younger companion.
Shrugging off the harsh reminder with a casual twitch of his brawny shoulders, Olney relaxed back into his own seat. “Ain’t no use in frettin’ yerself ’cause o’ that lame-witted sheriff, Mr. Fridrich. He ain’t gonna find me. I knows this here town an’ all the areas ’round ’bout it like I do the back o’ me hand. I can come an’ go just as much as I please wit’out Sheriff Townsend bein’ none the wiser.”
“It vill be zhe back of my hand zhat yu’ll be getting if yu cause me any more trouble,” Gustav barked. “I haven’t forgotzen zhat it vas yu who shot Herr Birmingham and made his pistol go off and shatter mien shoulder! Nor do I zhink zhe sheriff iz as stupid as yu make him out to be. Yu, however, may be lacking vhat he iz not. If not for zhat freight wagon and my timely intervention earlier today, Herr Birmingham vould haf caught yu and no doubt haf relished beating yu to a bloody pulp before personally escorting yu to zhe sheriff’s office.”
Olney scoffed. “Maybe he would’ve, maybe not. Just ’cause Birmin’am’s close ta a head taller’n me don’t mean he can best me. I’da’ve hit him in the gut afore he could’ve even swung a punch. Anyways, I forgot ta tell ye thanks for askin’ the driver ta halt for me on the street like ye did.” Olney’s shoulders shook as he recalled his adversary’s frantic search after the livery had passed. “Yes, sir, we sure fooled that fancy man, we did, but ye know, Mr. Fridrich, ye ought not ta get inta such a temper o’er what’s already been done. It ain’t good for yer liver.”
“Yu imbecile! Vhat do yu know about livers?”
“Only what I’ve heard Doc Clarence tellin’ ye, but enough ta figure out yers is a-gonna turn green wit’ all that bile a-workin’ in it.”
“Yu prattle inanely about matters beyond yur ken,” the German sneered, “and yu annoy me in zhe process.”
“More’n Mr. Birmin’am?”
Gustav’s lips curled in disdain as he swept his gaze out the window and fixed it glaringly upon the tall, well-garbed man presently strolling with his ravishingly beautiful bride on the
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