Page 8 of A Chance for Candace

Chapter 4

He stiffened. There were eyes on him, he felt it and yet did he dare to turn around? Who would follow him to Last Chance? There was no need for his brothers to be here yet. Or, at all. They planned to stay with the family bakery in Chicago. Even though they promised to visit now and again, Jessie knew better.

If it wasn’t his brothers, then who was staring a hole in his back. He slowly straightened and turned to the humongous window at the front of the store. It would become a great place to showcase his cakes and baked goods and draw customers into the store. Then, he saw her.

Candace Sweigart was here! What was she doing here? He stared into her shocked eyes. She looked as confused at seeing him as he did when he saw her face in the window. He had slept most of the way on the stage, but a few times he thought he recognized her voice in his dreams. It hadn’t been a dream after all. She was the woman sitting next to him.

As he made his way towards her, Jessie also realized he saw her at McVey’s Insurance office. Had she been there for the same reason that he had been? He had to find out what was going on. A sharp wave of unease went through him. Jessie flung open the door, determined to get to the bottom of things. “Miss Sweigart, is that you?”

She turned and looked at him in horror. ‘What are you doing on my property?”

He frowned. “Your property? I bought this fair and square from Daryl McVey.”

She placed both hands on her hips, drawing the coldest stare he’d ever seen on a woman. “So did I and you are trespassing.”

He shook his head. “There’s been some mistake. I specifically went to see him and you know it because I saw you in the hallway right before I met with him.”

It occurred to her in that moment that there was a slight problem. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I was there first and have the deed.”

Jessie grinned. “So do I.”

She looked confused. “How can there be two deeds? I don’t understand.”

He shook his head. “The man is a shyster. He fooled us both.”

Her eyes became huge as if she remembered something. She clenched her jaw. “That dirty, rotten no gooder! I was walking to the train station and noticed there was a for rent sign up at his Insurance business.”

Jessie sighed. He ran a hand through his hair. “We have a huge problem. I don’t plan to give this up.”

“Neither do I. The sheriff’s office is right up the street. I suggest we take it to him. You’ll find out that I was the first to buy this property and it is mine.”

“That’s not how the law works, but you’re right. We better get the sheriff involved in case there are others who show up here claiming this property is theirs.”

“Oh, dear. I never thought of that.” She hurried off the porch, walking so fast Jessie had a hard time keeping up with her. He was tall and had long legs, but the woman was almost running as fast as she could in her skirt. People passed by her, tipping their hats, nodding and waving but then they’d watch her in surprise as she began to run to the courthouse.

He made it up the steps of the courthouse just as she went in through the doors. He wasn’t going to rush in and demand the sheriff do something, like he knew she would. No. He’d stay calm and collected and get to the bottom of things.

Just as he thought, Miss Sweigart was talking to the sheriff in loud tones, informing him of what happened and ordering him to do something. Jessie stayed back, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms.

Finally, she ran out of words. The sheriff smiled. “It looks like you both have been duped. Have a seat so we can get to the bottom of this.”

The sheriff waited until they were both seated and went behind his desk, standing there for a moment before taking a seat. “From what I understand, McVey sold you both the same property? They both nodded, knowing better than to interrupt the sheriff. He didn’t look like he would put up with too much nonsense.

“Since we don’t have a lawyer here right now to determine if what the man did was legal or illegal, I’ll have to be decision maker here.” He turned to Candace. “What type of business do you propose to open?”

She looked at Jessie, then smiled. He wanted to stick his tongue out at her but thought that would be foolish. And childish. The thought was there, though. “I will be opening Candy’s Sweet Shoppe, with European receipts that date back to the 1700s.”

The sheriff nodded. Then he turned to Jessie. “You?”

“A bakery.”

She snickered. The sheriff asked her what was so funny.

“His baked goods can’t compare to my delicious sweets and mouth-watering chocolate.”

“Is that a fact?” The sheriff was grinning. “How am I supposed to make a decision who stays and who goes when I love both sweets and cakes. Is there any chance the two of you can work together in this business? Last Chance sure needs something positive happening here. As long as you don’t overcharge for the goods, I think everyone will enjoy some sweet treats.”

“There’s no way I’ll work with a traitor!”

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