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  They both woke early the next morning and fixed breakfast together, but neither one had much of an appetite. When it was time for the store to open, they opened the door and waited. And waited. And waited. By lunchtime they'd only had two customers. They were beginning to worry, when Sheriff Fitch came in.

  "Good morning, ladies," he greeted.

  "Good morning, Sheriff," Elsie answered for both of them. "Is something going on today that we don't know about?"

  "Not that I know of. Why?"

  "We've only had two customers all morning. I thought after being closed for several days we might be rather busy."

  The sheriff looked momentarily surprised, but hid it quickly. "Maybe people just don't know you're open again. It might take a day or two for the townspeople to get the word that you're open again, but I'm sure they'll be in."

  "I hope you're right. Have you heard anything new about my parents?"

  "Not yet, but I'm still looking into it. I was on my way to the telegraph office to see if anything has come in for me, but I stopped off here to be sure you two are doing all right."

  "We're fine," Gertrude assured him.

  "Good. I'll be on my way then, but I'll try to stop back in later this afternoon. You ladies be careful now."

  After he left, the ladies talked about their lack of customers, but neither knew what to do about it. They had two customers all afternoon, which resulted in two small purchases. Elsie was beside herself with worry, when Cade came in.

  Looking around to be sure no one was there to see, he reached down and gave her a quick kiss on her cheek. "Lucky for me, I somehow caught you between customers," he said with a smile.

  "It wasn't really lucky. You'd have had to be lucky to catch me with a customer in here today."

  He frowned, seeing how upset she was. "What do you mean?"

  "I've had four customers all day, and none of them bought much at all. I don't know what's going on. The only thing I can think of is I was closed for so long they've all gone to Wilson's Mercantile. I knew I shouldn't have been closed that long. Now I've lost all my customers."

  "I'm sure that's not it," Cade said, trying to soothe her. "They probably just don't know you're back open. Give them a day or two and people will see you're open and start coming in again."

  "Do you think that's really it?"

  "I don't know what else it would be. Now, I have a list of things Maria needs, and then I was hoping you two lovely ladies would have supper with me next door at the restaurant. What do you think?"

  Elsie gave him a forced smile. "That's so nice of you, but I don't think I'd be very good company tonight. I'm really worried about the store's lack of customers."

  "All the better reason to go next door for supper. Let people see you're back, so they'll know the store's open again. Come on, it'll be good for you to get out."

  Knowing Cade wasn't one to give up easily, she agreed. "All right, I suppose it might be good for people to see us out and know we're back."

  "I've got a couple errands to do while you're getting Maria's supplies, but I'll be back and help you close up the store, and then we'll go eat, all right?" The ladies nodded, and he left.

  His first stop was to talk to Sheriff Fitch, who stood and greeted him when he walked into his office. "Good afternoon, Cade."

  "Sheriff," he said, shaking hands. "Do you know anything about the lack of customers at Wintock's Mercantile?"

  "I was in earlier today and Miss Elsie told me she was concerned about her lack of customers, so I did a little checking into it. I went down to Wilson's and saw a few people who were generally at Wintock's, so I waited until they left the store, and talked to them."

  "What did you find out?"

  "Well, Cade, you aren't going to like this, because frankly, I didn't, either, but I don't know what to do about it. A few people said they didn't plan to go back in there until we know who killed them and why. You know how people talk. They don't know why they were killed, so until they do, they're afraid to go back in. What if whoever killed them comes back while they're in the store?"

  "That's ridiculous," Cade exclaimed.

  "I know it is, but how do you get that thought out of their heads? I heard a couple other people say that a mercantile shouldn't be run by a lady, and although they like Miss Elsie, they feel you need a man in the store to do the heavy lifting and to keep it safe."

  "That's not right. It's being very unfair to her." He thought a moment. "So what can we do? I don't know of any men around town who need a job, so who is she supposed to get to help her?"

  "I don't know, Cade. I've been thinking about the same thing all afternoon. Sherman's growing and I hate to see one of the mercantiles close down. That's a lot of business for one shop to handle, and there won't be anything from keeping the Wilsons from raising their prices. They might not, but I'd be willing to wager money that if Elsie were to shut down, Wilson's prices would go up."

  "Oh, I agree with you. I don't trust the Wilsons, either one of them. Ralph, the older one, isn't around much any more, and I thought that would be better. But the more I get to know his son, Theodore, I can't say I trust him much, either. I can't say why; they just rub me the wrong way."

  The sheriff smiled. "It wouldn't be because Theodore was hanging around Miss Elsie for a time there, was it? I heard he asked her out a couple times."

  Cade blushed a little and quickly turned away. "That could be part of it, but I don't think it's all that. Elsie turned him down every time he asked. She said she doesn't trust him much, either."

  The sheriff was looking thoughtful. "I don't really know either one of them very well. They kind of keep to themselves. If you go into the store, though, Theodore's friendly. He's very complimentary and makes good suggestions to people."

  "He's a good salesman," Cade said flatly. "I've noticed that, too, but I don't think it's his natural personality coming through. I think he knows he has to be nice to get and keep customers."

  "That's an interesting thought." Sheriff Fitch was rubbing his jaw, obviously thinking. "You don't suppose either or both of the Wilsons have anything to do with people leaving Wintock's for their store, do you?"

  Cade cocked his head to the side and studied the sheriff. "What do you mean? Are you suggesting they could be pulling Elsie's customers in?"

  "Well, someone had to start this wild rumor that it's not safe in that store until they find out who killed Henry and Velma and why. I've been thinking this afternoon about who could have started that idea that's been floating around and why. They would certainly have as good a reason as anyone to start such a ridiculous thought."

  "That is true. I really don't know them well enough to accuse them of something like that, though," Cade admitted.

  "Nor do I," the sheriff said, "but as part of my investigation into who killed Henry and Velma I need to look into any possibility."

  Cade looked directly into the sheriff's eyes. "You're not saying you have reason to think either of them is behind their deaths, are you?"

  "No, of course not. I do have to wonder, though, if they're behind spreading that concern around town. If people believe it, the only thing that will ease their mind is for me to find the killer, and I still have nothing to go on. I'm not a bit closer to finding their killer now than the day they were shot. The Wilsons may have figured that out and could be spreading that rumor around town, thinking if Elsie loses a good portion of her business, she'll have to close. If she closes, they stand to make a good deal of money."

  "That is true, but is there anything you can do about it? Elsie's already lost her parents. I hate to see her lose the store, as well, but if people feel that way, is there anything either of us can do about it?"

  "If I find out either of the Wilsons is behind that rumor, I can sure point it out to the townspeople. If they hear the Wilsons started it, hoping to draw all her customers away so she has to close, thus making it easy for them to charge higher prices, they won't be happy."

  "She'
d get customers back," Cade said, thinking and nodding his head.

  "Hopefully. But that's assuming they're the ones behind the rumor and that I can find that out and prove it. Those are some mighty big ifs."

  "I understand. I know you'll be looking into it, though, Sheriff, and I want to thank you for that. Will you please keep me informed of anything you find out?"

  "Of course I will. We're going to be working together on this for a spell, Cade, so I sure wish you'd call me Dan."

  Cade smiled. "Thank you, Dan." He shook hands with the sheriff and left, wondering how he might be able to help Elsie. As much as he wasn't in favor of her running the store herself, he sure didn't want her to stop running it for this reason. He was hoping she might be willing to sell it when they got married and she moved to the ranch. If things kept going like this, though, no one would want to buy it. He had to get her customers back somehow.

  He went back to the store and paid for his purchases and put them in his wagon while the ladies closed the store. He escorted them next door, where they enjoyed supper. He made a point of speaking to several people he knew, and made sure they were aware the store next door was open again. He watched their expressions, and was pretty sure the sheriff was right. People had heard the rumor and were leery of going back into the store until the killer had been caught. A couple people expressed their concern for the ladies being in there alone.

  There was one other response that concerned him a bit. George Carlton glanced at Elsie and Gertrude, then pulled Cade over to the side a bit. "Cade, are you really going to allow her to try to run that store with just herself and her aunt? My wife went to Wilson's today to do her shopping because she needed flour and sugar. She does a lot of baking, with all our children, and she buys a lot of flour. She said she wasn't sure she could lift a fifty-pound sack of flour, and was afraid Elsie would be hurt trying to lift it. She's such a little thing, you know, and her aunt's not much bigger."

  They talked a couple minutes, and Cade assured him she and her aunt together could lift it. The customer was still concerned about them doing the stocking of shelves, though, and Cade couldn't argue, because that was a concern of his, as well.

  When he sat back down with the girls, Elsie turned to him immediately. "What did he say? Why wouldn't he just say it in front of us?"

  Cade wasn't one to lie, so he was honest. "He's concerned about you and Aunt Gertrude being able to load fifty pound bags of flour or sugar into a wagon. He's also concerned about all the heavy lifting that needs to be done when you get supplies in, and stocking the shelves."

  "We can do it," Elsie assured him. "So he's going to Wilson's because he thinks we can't lift the heavy bags of flour and sugar?"

  Cade cringed. He knew she wouldn't like what he was about to say, but he had to discuss it with her. It would be better to wait until he got her back home, as she occasionally had a problem with her temper, but he knew she wouldn't want to wait. He had to try, though. "Let's talk about this when we get back home, Elsie."

  "Why can't we talk about it now? If he thinks I can't lift a bag of flour and that's why he's not shopping at our store, I want to talk to him, before he leaves."

  "No, don't do that until after we talk, honey. Hear me out first."

  "Then talk. We can lift a sack of flour. I don't want him shopping at Wilson's because he doesn't think we can handle it."

  "Elsie, I think we need to talk about finding you a man or older boy to help you at the store. He's not the only one who's concerned about the two of you lifting heavy things at the store. And before you yell at me, it's not just an occasional sack of flour they're concerned about. What about when you get a shipment of supplies in? There's a lot of lifting going to be required then."

  She fidgeted just a bit, which told him she was at least minimally concerned about that, as well. She quickly recovered, though. "I've helped Papa for several years now, every Tuesday when the shipment arrives. I know what's involved."

  "You said you helped your father, and I believe that. But I also believe he did the biggest part of the lifting. I think we need to see about getting someone in there to help you. For the time being, until we can find someone else, that someone is going to be me or one of my hands. You said you get shipments in on Tuesdays. What time do they normally get here; in the morning or afternoon?"

  "Usually fairly early Tuesday afternoon, like maybe around two."

  "All right. We'll try to find you some help, but until then, I'll have someone in here Tuesday after lunch to help you."

  "Cade, you need your men for the ranch."

  "I need you more," he said simply. "I'm not going to let you and Aunt Gertrude try to lift heavy bags and boxes, and I especially don't want any customers who happen to be in the store at the time see that. If they're thinking that's a problem to begin with, I certainly don't want them to see you two lifting those heavy things. If there's a time your order arrives and no one from the ranch is there yet, just let it set where it is. If someone offers to help, tell them someone comes in to help on Tuesdays and he must just be running a little late. Hopefully he'll get there so the customer can see him doing the lifting. Do you understand what I'm saying, Elsie?"

  "Yes," she agreed, "and as much as I want to argue with you and insist we can do it ourselves, you're right. If customers are upset about that, it would be better for them to see a man doing it for us."

  He smiled, knowing how hard it was for her to admit that. They finished their supper and he walked them next door. Again, he went in first and made sure their living quarters were fine and no unwanted visitors were waiting for them, before allowing the ladies to go in.

  After he left, Gertrude sat her niece down for a talk. "Elsie, you have to tell him I'm leaving, or I will."

  "Aunt Gertie, how could you do that? I have to prove to him that I can run it."

  "The more time you give him to figure something out, the better." They spent the next half hour arguing, both confident their reasoning made more sense. In the end, they agreed to sleep on it, and both of them would give the other person's opinion some serious thought. If tomorrow weren’t any busier than today was, they'd have plenty of time to talk then.

  Chapter Three

  As it turned out, the next day was a repeat of the previous day. Sheriff Fitch came in at one point to check on them, and Elsie took the opportunity to ask him a couple questions. "Sheriff, we're fine. We haven't seen anyone we don't know, and we haven't heard a thing. But that's part of the problem. We haven't heard a thing because no one's coming in. We've only had two people come in all morning. Do you know what's going on? Surely people know by now that we're open again. What's going on?"

  The sheriff hesitated a moment, but looked up at her. "Miss Elsie, you've had a rough time and you deserve the truth. I've talked to people to find out that exact thing. I've been hearing two things. Some folks think running a store is a man's job. They don't like thinking about you and your aunt doing all the heavy lifting. They also don't realize how much your daddy taught you about running the store, and they don't think you know how to do it."

  "But I do know what needs to be done," she insisted. "Why won't they at least give me a chance to prove that to them?"

  "Now, don't get all riled up, Miss Elsie. I agree with you. I'm just telling you what I've heard."

  "Fine, I'll have to find a way to convince them I can run it. What's the other thing you've heard about why they're not coming in?"

  "Well, this one bothers me even more. Someone has apparently put a fear in people's heads, that whoever killed your mother and father may return. They're pointing out that no one knows who did it or why, so who's to say they won't be back?"

  "That's ridiculous," Elsie said dismissively. "Why would anyone think they'd be back?"

  Aunt Gertrude wasn't quite as quick to brush the thought aside. "What do you think, Sheriff? What kind of motive could someone have had to kill them? I've only been in town a month, but I never noticed anyone that seemed to
have any dislike for either Henry or Velma. I've wondered myself on several occasions what possible motive anyone could have had."

  "I've wondered the same thing, Miss Gertrude," Sheriff Fitch admitted. "I've been here longer than Henry and Velma, but I've never seen anyone that was even cross with them. That's why this is such a mystery to me. One thought I had was maybe someone did something they shouldn't have, and Henry and Velma just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and saw it. Whoever it was may have shot them so they wouldn't be able to testify against them."

  Both ladies were quiet for several moments while they contemplated his words. The sheriff shook his head. "I know that's just a theory, but I can't help but think it was something like that. My problem is I don't know where to start looking for whoever it was. No one seems to have seen any strangers in town the last day or two before this happened, so if it was a stranger, he came and left without being seen, which gives us nothing at all to go on. If it was someone in town that killed someone or stole something, I would have thought I'd have heard about the killing or theft by now."

  Elsie was quiet for quite a while before commenting in a hushed tone. "So with no leads, I guess I need to accept the possibility that I'll never know who killed my parents or why."

  "I'm really sorry to admit that, Miss Elsie, but I won't lie to you. You may be right. I haven't given up yet, but I'm running out of places to look and questions to ask."

  "Thank you, Sheriff, for all your work. I know you're doing all you can. It's just hard not knowing. And as long as we don't know, apparently it's making it harder to get my customers back. There's not a thing I can do about that, either, is there?"

  The sheriff shook his head slowly. "I don't know of a thing that will put a stop to that vicious rumor other than time. Eventually I think people will come back around."

  "If I can hold out that long," Elsie said with a touch of desperation and sadness in her voice.