The man looked around. “I left it in the depot office. I wasn’t concerned since it only held my clothing for this trip.”
Mr. Daniels pulled a key out of his pocket and handed it to Angus. “Please fetch the bag for us, will you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And keep the key since it’s your office now,” Mr. Daniels slapped Angus back while nodding to Mr. Murfitt. “I assume Angus has the job since he and Daisy solved the robbery case.”
“Yes, I’ll stand by my pledge and signature, but I’ll be checking on you...” Mr. Murfitt conceded.
“I’ll always welcome your visits, sir. Excuse me a minute while I retrieve your bag.” Angus nodded as he slipped out the door.
“I believe you owe us cups of coffee, Marshal. Got a tin of cookies to go with it?” Daisy’s grandfather piped up.
“How about a piece of Millie’s apple pie instead? I think we’ll have enough for everyone, now that we don’t have to share with the three we put in jail.” Marshal Wilerson grinned at her grandparents.
Daisy wound her watch, set the time, and put it in her reticule since it still needed repair. She was glad to have it and her jewelry back. Now, would hers and Angus’ lives get back on track, so to speak?
***
It only took Angus a few minutes to walk over to the depot, jimmy the key just right and step into the depot office.
Angus took a deep breath and stared around the room. Was he ready to be in charge of the town’s depot, the personal and business property that relied on the train’s service? Or the thing that worried him the most, the passenger’s safety?
People just thought of the depot agent work as a job, but Angus had always sensed it was more when working with Mr. Daniels. And he was right, the older man had instilled the importance of the job to Angus when they worked together.
Daniels was confident he could do the job, so now he had to use his own strength to follow through on his commitment. Angus knew he had his parents, brothers, and most importantly Daisy, supporting him too. Growing up, Angus had always taken care of everyone else, maybe it was time to accept others support when he was feeling overwhelmed with the job he’d just been given.
Murfitt’s carpet bag sat beside the chair where Murfitt had been sitting while talking to Daniels. At least he wasn’t concerned about it as the other three men had been when their bags were out of their reach.
Truth be told, Angus didn’t think Murfitt was involved in the robbery, just that the man was too arrogant to consider he might be wrong about something.
“Saved you a piece of pie, Angus. Well, maybe a sliver since Mack ate more than his share,” the Marshal declared as Angus set the bag on the floor by the desk.
“Did you search it?” Mr. Murfitt asked Angus.
“Nope, that’s the marshal’s job. Mr. Daniels always told me when working with passengers and telegrams, ‘You don’t snoop, you don’t gossip, and you don’t decide the law.’ I’ve always lived by those rules.”
“Well then I hate to admit it, but you’ll be a good agent.” Murfitt drained his coffee cup. “Sorry I doubted your part in the robbery too.
“Okay, please search my bag, and then I’ll write up a telegram for Agent Reagan to send to the Denver railroad office.”
Angus finally looked at Daisy and her grandparents sitting along the wall of the jailhouse. Daisy hadn’t said a word since she received her jewelry back, but she met his eyes and gave him a smile and a nod. Everything was going to be alright after all.
“Help!” A strangled call came from the cell as a scuffle commenced between one and the other two men.
“Hey now!” The marshal was on his feet, with Mack and Angus right behind him.
“Get me…out of…here!” Johnson was up against the wall and Smith’s hands were tightly squeezing his neck.
Marshal Wilerson unlocked the cell door, grabbed Smith by his coat collar and yanked him backwards. Smith didn’t let go of Johnson and they both tumbled on the floor of the cell, falling into Nelson who was standing beside Smith, trying to pull the man’s hands off of the other’s neck.
“Settle down!” the marshal roared at the trio on the floor. “You better get used to life behind bars while there’s only three of you together!”
“I want to confess,” Johnson coughed. “Will that keep me from being hanged?”
The marshal sighed as he pulled Johnson off the floor and out of the cell before slamming the cell door shut and locking it.
Johnson stared at Murfitt a long second, but Murfitt didn’t look worried as if Johnson was going to say he had been a part of the robbery.
“Okay, sit down and talk.” Murfitt stood above the man he’d spent the last month with.
“Will it help me out if I confess all I know?”
“It might, but people were killed besides money and property stolen.”
“I didn’t kill anyone! That was Smith’s work!”
“If you would have killed the detective and the woman like you were supposed to, we wouldn’t have gotten caught, you moron!” Smith yelled from the cell.
Angus instantly looked at Daisy, clutching her neck with her right hand. They had been spared because of the young man’s guilt during the robbery.
“Thank you for sparing us, Mr. Johnson. It would have devastated my grandparents if you’d done that.” Daisy’s quiet voice brought tears to the young man’s eyes before he dropped his head.
“How many people were involved in the robbery?” Marshal Wilerson asked as he poised a pencil over a paper tablet. He was ready to write down all the facts.
“We three were on the same car as Reagan and Miss Clancy. There were three other men in the other car, plus the men who set up the barricade and brought us horses further down the track.
“So total?”
“Money was split ten ways. I didn’t take any of the passenger’s belongings, but the other’s rifled through the luggage and took what they wanted.”
So Smith went through Daisy’s bag and reticule since he was in their car. At least this luck got her jewelry back.
“Where are the other men?” the marshal continued.
“I think they’re all still around Denver.” Johnson’s foot restlessly tapped the floor as he rolled his shoulders. “I can write down the names of the men I know.”
“You better shut up, Johnson!”
I was coerced to help with the robbery, or else they’d hurt my family,” the young man whined.
“He’s a liar!” Smith protested from the jail cell.
“All that will be sorted when you go to trial,” the marshal said over his shoulder to the man in the cell.
“Make your list of robbers, Johnson, and I’ll add it to my telegraph. Hopefully some of these men can be caught before I return to Denver.” Murfitt shook his head, probably thinking that he’d once trusted these men.
“So what do you do with these three?” the marshal asked.
“I’ll contact a federal marshal to stop here and take them back to Colorado to stand trial. Could be a few days or longer before one is available to get them.”
“I’m walking this promissory note over to Lyle Elison, our Boston-schooled lawyer right now,” Mr. Daniels pointed a finger at Mr. Murfitt. “Besides Angus getting his job, you owe him and Daisy the reward money for these three robbers.”
“Miss Clancy received her jewelry back, so the railroad shouldn’t have to pay her anything else.”
“You signed this document,” Mr. Daniels protested. “One of the other rules I taught Angus is...you don’t go back on your word, especially if you signed your name to it.”
“I thought I taught him that,” his father said.
“Maybe we both did,” Mr. Daniels grinned. “But you taught him how to swear without getting into trouble.”
“Oh Deuteronomy!” Angus, Mack, and Cullen said in unison.
Angus smiled at Daisy, knowing their future received an extra boost this afternoon. They would be planning
their wedding this evening after all.
Chapter 13
Daisy was ready when Angus knocked on her front door. Before they left the jailhouse, Angus said he’d be over at six o’clock to take her out to eat. As much as she loved eating at the family café, she hoped he was taking her to the Paulson Hotel. It was more private to talk, and Daisy hoped they would be having a serious discussion about their future.
“Good evening, Daisy.” She could look at that handsome face all night, especially since he looked truly relaxed for the first time since they’d first met back in Colorado. Until now, Daisy hadn’t realized how much the stress of the robbery, loss of his job and not knowing what to do next had shone on his face.
Daisy leaned up on her toes to caress his cheek and give him a sweet kiss on the lips.
“Just one kiss?” Angus asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close.
“There will be more, after we eat. I’m suddenly famished. Where are we eating tonight?”
“Put on your warmest coat and hat as we’re going somewhere it might be chilly for supper.”
“Why? Is there no heat in the Paulson Hotel this evening?” Daisy took her coat off the hall coat rack and handed it to Angus. He held it open so she could put her arms through the holes, then she buttoned up the front.
“We’re not going to the Paulson’s, nor the café.”
“Should I wear a head scarf instead of a hat?” Maybe there were taking an early evening buggy ride out to a picnic spot. Both the river and Horsethief Canyon was a little too far away to drive there, eat and drive back without it being cold and pitch black on their return.
“No, your hat is fine, but you might want to drape your scarf over your shoulders in case you need it.”
“Ready?”
“Yes, let’s go.” She’d been ready for this evening for years, if it ended with a marriage proposal.
Angus picked up a basket after they walked down the stairs and stepped out on the boardwalk.
“A picnic supper by chance?”
“That’s the plan, but we’re not going far.” Angus held out his elbow and Daisy slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow, enjoying the feeling of warmth and security it gave her.
They walked two blocks downtown then kept going, which would take them past the school, church and parsonage. Why would they picnic at one of these three places?
Daisy noticed a light on in the schoolhouse as Angus turned to walk up the stairs.
“We’re eating here? Is it open?”
“Iva Mae gave me the key,” Angus said as they walked up the three steps to the school and Angus opened the door to usher her in.
“Ah, it’s not cold in here,” Daisy unbuttoned her coat and slipped it off to hang on one of the many hooks along the wall for the school children’s coats.
“I asked Iva Mae to use the school. I didn’t expect her to light lanterns and light the stove before she gave me the key. I was going to do that after we arrived.”
“I’ll be sure to thank her later for a warm place to have our private picnic,” Daisy said as she walked to the middle of the room where the pot-bellied stove radiated heat.
“And here’s a pot of hot coffee on the stove. Cups and a covered pan of—,” Daisy lifted the cloth to reveal a half a pie. “Looks like apple crumb pie.”
“She’s always the perfect hostess, even in her schoolhouse.”
“That’s how she grew up, always being a hostess in a hotel.”
Daisy felt silly making small talk, but she didn’t know what else to do but look around the school room. Angus didn’t say anything else, just watched her, waiting for...
“Oh my! Angus?!”
There was a big chalk board on the wall behind the teacher’s desk, and “Daisy, will you marry me?” was written in Angus’ distinct cursive writing.
Daisy whirled around to find Angus standing behind her waiting with open arms.
“Will you marry me, Daisy?”
“Of course! I’ve been waiting for this moment for...years!” Daisy laughed and wrapped her arms around Angus’s waist. Angus’ arms embracing her and his kisses made her feel loved, respected, and safe.
Daisy finally pulled away and looked up at Angus’ grinning face. “So why did you pick the schoolhouse to officially propose in?”
“This is where we first met, and where I first kissed you. I’ll never forget that second ‘event’ because Da asked me who I’d fought with in school to get that shiner. I hated to admit it was because I’d kissed a pretty girl.”
“I liked you back then, but you caught me by surprise. I was a tomboy and got in my share of fights back then.”
“Yes, you’ve always been independent, and I’ve always admired you for that, then and now.”
“So are you really ready to settle here, or will you be a husband who will stop by now and then to see me and our family?”
“No moving if I can help it. My traveling days are over, but I won’t promise we’d never need to move. We’ve both seen there is more to the world than just Clear Creek.”
“I agree, but I’d prefer to live here while we still have my grandparents. I’ve missed them so much, and I feel like it’s my turn to help them now. I don’t know what would have happened to me and Nolan if they hadn’t been available to raise us.”
“Yes, I’d prefer being close to them and my family too. Plus, you have your pharmacy to manage.”
“You’re still all right with your wife working?” Daisy raised her eyebrows with her question.
“You’d be helping the community just like my mother, your grandmother, Mrs. Paulson, and so many other women in town. I know you’ll be organized well enough to run a store and a passel of children at the same time.”
“I plan to hire help so I don’t have to be in the store all the time.”
“See, you’re already a smart business woman.” Angus complimented his statement with another kiss.
“So, ready to see what’s in the basket?” Angus took his hands from her shoulders and grabbed one hand to pull Daisy to the teacher’s desk where the basket set, forgotten until now.
“I really do hope food. Why? Is there something else?”
“Are you really hungry?” Angus asked almost in exasperation. “I’ve been so nervous today I couldn’t eat.”
“Well, the drama and the excitement of the day is over and now I’m finally hungry.”
“Okay, don’t peek in the basket then, and let me set out the food.” Angus unwrapped a heavy towel on top of the basket to reveal glass-covered containers, then two plates, and silverware.”
“Smells delicious!”
“Ma made fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy.” Angus reached into the basket again, moved something around to pull out a wrapped cloth. “And biscuits with butter and cherry jam already spread on them.
“Allow me.” Angus pulled the teacher’s chair away from the desk, Daisy sat down and Angus pushed it back up to the desk. “Should I have looked under the desk to see if there were any critters or pranks before I pushed you in?”
“If Iva Mae knew what you were doing tonight, I don’t think so. Now if this was ten years ago, I can imagine a Reagan boy taking advantage of an open school house late at night.”
“You know we did sneak in here one night for some kisses when we discovered the door had been left unlocked.” Angus smirked as he scratched his chin.
Daisy laughed. “Only once, but then we also kissed in the church, the barn, the alley behind the livery stable...”
“You have a good memory, Daisy.”
“That’s because I loved you then—as I do now—and enjoyed your affection.”
“Don’t know how we managed to drift apart, but I’m so glad you were sightseeing in the Denver mountains.”
“Me too. Pull up another chair, Angus. Your mother’s chicken is best eaten hot.”
They ate, laughed, and reminisced until they’d eaten their meal.
�
�Before we have our pie and coffee, I want to continue with my evening’s surprise.”
“There’s more?”
“Well, you were so hungry I thought you’d enjoy it better after you’d eaten,” Angus laughed.
“And I do feel so much better and relaxed. Proceed, my fiancé.” Daisy waved her hand like Queen Victoria would wave to a crowd.
Angus reached back into the basket, pulling a book out from under the cloth liner.
“You had a book under a bowl of gravy?”
“Don’t worry, I was careful carrying the basket very balanced,” Angus chuckled.
He handed the handsome cloth-bound book to her and she read the title on the front aloud. “Our Family Records.”
“I liked the idea of recording our family history, from the very beginning. It has pages to fill in for our marriage certificate, our vows, births, about our children…”
Daisy reverently opened the book and looked at each page. “Oh, the pages are color-illustrated with verses pertaining to the event. What a thoughtful gift, Angus. I love it!”
“So, what date shall we start using the book?”
“What do you mean?”
“What day shall we fill in our marriage certificate?”
“I’d be game for tomorrow but we need to make plans. And we need to wait until Fergus is home. Do you know when he’ll be back in Clear Creek?”
Angus would be very disappointed if his brother wasn’t at their wedding, so she wouldn’t set a date until they knew he’d be home.
“His last letter to my parents said he’s in the Kearney area for a while, but didn’t give a date of when he’d be home. He drives a converted sheepherder’s wagon for his work, so I don’t think he’ll give a certain date of his return.”
“I remember the old wagon sitting at the Bar E Ranch, after they sold their sheep flocks and brought the longhorn cattle in.”
“That’s the wagon Fergus used. He and Mack refurbished it so Fergus could live in it and haul his photography equipment around when he’s touring an area. He has a team of Morgan horses Seth raised to pull it.”
“Surely Fergus is in Kearney now and then for supplies. Would he check at the post office or telegraph office for news from home?”
Grooms with Honor Series, Books 1-3 Page 11
