In the pantry, stacking the new provisions beside the carefully managed existing stores. She felt for the first time since before the storm that the numbers were going to be all right. Not comfortable, not easy, but all right. Parker said something, Gideon said from behind her. She kept stacking.
What did he say? He had a man come through 3 days ago. Traveling merchant. Said he'd come from Cheyenne. She stopped stacking.
He knew your name. Gideon said he'd heard about you from someone at the Grand Hotel. The pantry was very quiet. She turned around. Said Dale Coover got caught stealing from a hotel in Laram.
Gideon said, "Same scheme he ran on you. Apparently, he'd been doing it at two hotels before the Grand, and someone finally caught him with proof this time, he confessed. He paused. The man told Harker that word was getting around that what happened to you at the Grand wasn't what Parish said it was. She stood in the pantry with a jar of canned tomatoes in each hand, and she looked at Gideon, and she did not say anything.
"I thought you should know," he said. She set the jars on the shelf. She turned back to the remaining provisions and started stacking again methodically without hurrying. Rosaly, I heard you, she said. It's good news.
I know it is. Then why? Because knowing the truth was true doesn't change the 5 weeks before anyone sensome said it out loud, she said. And it doesn't change what Parish did or Mrs. Briggs or the men in Harker's store or Bellard.
She stacked another jar. The truth being confirmed is good. The truth having needed confirming is something else. He was quiet behind her. She finished stacking.
She straightened. I appreciate you telling me. There's more. He said, she turned. Harker said the Grand Hotel's new manager, Parish, is gone.