She finished painting the last of the wooden pieces, then opened the back room’s high windows to let in a breeze to dispel the smell of turpentine as she cleaned her brushes and hands. A glance at her pin watch revealed it was time to open the library. As she set her supplies on an upper shelf, a knock sounded on the glass front door.
“Oh, Justice, use your key. You don’t need to knock,” she told herself, even as her pulse quickened at the thought of seeing him. Emerging from the room, she saw not the sheriff, but Hugo, a cheerful smile making the most of his handsome face. Too bad such cruelty lay behind his perfectly formed visage.
Heart dropping, she crossed the room and unlocked the door. “Yes? You wanted something?”
He laughed, a sound far too reminiscent of his cousin Lucius. “Good morning, my dear. You’re looking beautiful, as always. Why don’t you quit this ridiculous menial job and come to work for me? You and Isabelle will make such lovely additions to my...shall we say, harem?”
Her stomach did a violent turn, and she almost threw up in his face.
“There, there, my dear.” Twirling that ridiculous walking stick, Hugo strutted into the library. “No need to make yourself ill. Like all of my girls, you’ll get used to the profession after proper instruction.”
Evangeline swallowed hard and repeated her question. “What do you want, Hugo?” She knew, of course, but she would make him say it.
“Why, I simply want to get familiar with your quaint little cow town. It’s always interesting to observe how the rabble lives.” He sauntered to the bookshelves and appeared to study the titles. “Not much of a library, is it? So few books.”
“Of course there aren’t many books. People have borrowed many of them.” She shouldn’t have answered him. He deserved no such information. She sat at her desk and busied herself with paperwork, happy to find Georgia had kept everything organized.
Hugo continued his perusal, taking down one book at a time to inspect its contents before replacing it on the shelf. “Tsk, tsk. Too bad you didn’t bring Cousin Lucius’s books with you. They’d make this pathetic little hovel into a true library. Oh, wait. I forgot. The books were sold.” He slid one of his sly looks her way, flattening his handsome face into a snake-like appearance. “Fortunately for me, I was able to buy them.”
Evangeline gasped softly, but Hugo didn’t seem to notice. So he was the one who’d purchased all of those lovely books at the auction. Some of them were first editions of classic novels. While Lucius was alive, she’d spent many a lonely day reading such great literature as Shakespeare’s plays from an early printing and poetry by Milton or Donne. That vast library would indeed be a marvelous addition to this one.
“Tell you what.”
She gasped again at his sudden appearance beside her desk, and he emitted a chilling laugh.
“There, there. Don’t be frightened. I simply want to make you an offer. I’ll ship my cousin’s entire library to this dirty little hamlet. What do you think?”
She huffed out a laugh of disbelief. “I hardly think you’d give away such a treasure.”
His laugh was now light, and he waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Of course not. All I want is for you and your lovely children to return with me to New Orleans, and—”
Evangeline jumped to her feet. “Get out.” She pointed toward the door. Through the window, she saw Justice entering the bank across the street. Would he come here next? Would the two men confront her together?
“Very well.” Hugo strolled toward the door. “We’re not finished, you know.”
After he left, she slumped down in her chair, fighting tears. So he and Justice wouldn’t confront her, at least not now. But Hugo gave no reason for coming here today, nor had he mentioned the promissory notes Lucius signed, for which she was responsible. He hadn’t reminded her of his friend Judge Grable, who would gladly declare her an unfit mother and seize her children. He probably came simply to torment her, to make her life miserable until she did what he demanded.
And she had no one to turn to now that her world was about to come crashing down around her.
Chapter Nine
Through the bank window, Justice observed Hugo Giles as he ambled up Main Street. It appeared he’d been to the library, yet he didn’t carry a book.
“Hello, Sheriff.” Nolan Means joined him by the front window. “Did you need to see me?”
“Nope. Just made a deposit.” He nodded toward Reuben Brandt, who stood inside the teller’s cage recording figures in a ledger. Earlier, Justice’s foreman delivered his mine’s latest haul and gave him a report on a new vein. With no place to keep the gold safe in his rooms over the jail, he always brought it next door to the bank right away.
“You see that fella?” He indicated Giles, who was almost out of sight.
Nolan followed his gaze. “Yes. Hugo Giles. He came in a short while ago. Hails from New Orleans.”
“Did he open an account?” Or perhaps he was scouting out the place to see if it would be easy to rob.
The banker shook his head. “He wanted to introduce himself. Said he’s thinking of settling down and wants to get the lay of the land.”
“Hmm. Sounds harmless enough.” And not exactly what he’d said to Justice.
Giles could still be considering a move to Esperanza. First he visited Justice, then the town banker. Friendly visits, the kind to demonstrate he was an upstanding citizen. He hadn’t attended church yesterday, but maybe no one invited him. Justice could invite him, or he could ask Reverend Thomas to visit the man at the hotel. Having the minister call on a new man in town instead of the sheriff would be less threatening.
“Say, how’s your house coming?” Nolan had been the first one to encourage Justice to build his own place.
“Should be finished by Christmas.”
“Are you planning a housewarming?” Nolan asked the question as if it were a reasonable expectation, but Justice grimaced.
“Not likely.”
The banker chuckled. “You let me know if you change your mind. My wife would be glad to help you with entertaining. She’s not happy unless she throws a party every other week.” He clapped Justice on the shoulder. “Our annual Christmas ball will take place on December 22. You’ll receive our invitation in the next few days.”
“Thank you. I’ll keep the evening open.” He bade Nolan goodbye and headed over to the library.
The moment he stepped into the cozy room, he knew Evangeline hadn’t recovered from last Friday’s distress, despite her peaceful countenance in church yesterday. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her cheeks appeared pinched with anxiety.
“Morning, Evangeline.” He kept his tone light.
“Good morning, Sheriff.” She buried her head in the book on her desk.
“How are you today?”
“Well. And you?”
This wasn’t solving anything. He brought a chair from one of the reading tables and set it beside her desk. “I don’t think you’re well. I think something’s troubling you and—”
“Good morning, Evangeline, Sheriff.” Laurie Northam entered the library with her year-old son on her hip. “Evangeline, Georgia tells me you had quite a rush on Friday and Saturday. I hope you still have some good books available. Little Bart here only takes one long nap these days, and since I can’t practice piano while he’s sleeping, I need something to read.” She walked to the shelves holding novels and histories.
“Good morning, Laurie.” Justice stood and moved his chair back in place. Two more ladies appeared in the doorway, and soon the women had turned the place into a hen party, gushing in their female way over the baby, the library, clothes and who knew what else. Disappointed at the interruption, Justice stared at Evangeline, hoping to catch her eye. She avoided his gaze and instead focused on the other ladies. He had no
choice but to leave and hope for another opportunity to talk with her alone.
Back at the office, he considered how he was going to finish the Christmas village in less than four weeks if he couldn’t work in the library during the day. More important, he needed to break through the wall Evangeline had built around herself. The moment he’d observed her anguished expression, he’d given up all pretense about remaining aloof. Something was wrong, and he planned to find out what it was.
Yesterday, when the pastor preached about fleeing troubles, Justice realized he’d been trying to run away from his past, at least the part involving Evangeline. She might have chosen to marry Lucius Benoit rather than him, but that didn’t mean he shouldn’t help her with whatever problem was tormenting her now. He wasn’t certain he could help her without endangering his heart again, but he had to try.
“Lord, please help me figure this out.” The prayer wasn’t out of his mouth before a vision of Hugo Giles came to mind. “Huh. And I call myself a lawman. This Cajun man comes to town and I don’t link him to Evangeline? Where has my brain gone?” On the other hand, the man’s youth and gambler-like appearance made him an unlikely acquaintance of a decent society lady.
After his midday meal at Williams’s Café, he would visit the man at the hotel. To invite him to church, of course. And to discuss their common background in Louisiana.
* * *
More ladies entered the library, and Evangeline indulged herself in some pleasant feelings regarding her successful enterprise. At least when she left town, citizens of Esperanza would have a library they could be proud of. Perhaps even the book club would proceed. Laurie Northam was Georgia Eberly’s older sister and, like Georgia, had a knack for pulling people together, especially women. The sisters could lead the endeavor. Right now, Laurie basked in the praise the others were heaping on chubby little Bart, who, she explained, was named after his father.
“When my husband was born,” Laurie said, “his sister couldn’t say his name, so he was nicknamed Tolley. As in Bar-tolley-mew.”
All of the ladies laughed at this revelation. Evangeline permitted herself a moment of restorative laughter, knowing full well she would have to address her problems once she returned home after work. Susanna and Nate had a right to know of Hugo’s presence in town and her flight from justice.
“Mrs. Benoit, I understand you’re starting a book club,” Mrs. Stanley said. “You must tell me when it takes place and what book we’ll be discussing so I can attend.”
“Oh, tell me, too,” Mrs. Brice chimed in. “Do you think we should include our husbands?”
“Humph. Not mine.” Mrs. Stanley shook her head. “He’ll take over the conversation. Let’s limit it to us ladies.”
The others laughed because Mrs. Stanley appeared to be joking. But not Evangeline. Lucius frequently told her to shut up if she dared to express an opinion while they were socializing. That bitter memory spoiled her current enjoyment and caused her to doubt her plans to tell Susanna and Nate about Hugo. She couldn’t explain the debts without breaking down in tears and telling them how Lucius had controlled and abused her so cruelly. It would sound like an excuse for running away from her responsibilities. The memories themselves brought a rush of heat to her cheeks and shame to her heart.
* * *
Justice finished his dinner and stepped out onto the boardwalk to head for the hotel. A half block away, he saw Hugo Giles headed his way. This was good. He’d invite the man over to his office where Justice would have the upper hand.
“Hello, Sheriff.” Giles lifted a hand in greeting. In his other hand, he held a brown leather portfolio. “I was on my way to see you.”
“Come on over.”
All the better for Giles to take the initiative, because the man wouldn’t be as defensive as if a lawman approached him. They shook hands and proceeded across the street. Once seated across the desk from Justice, Giles studied his hands and cleared his throat.
“Sheriff, this isn’t going to be easy for me. I don’t like to cause trouble for anyone, especially a widow with children.” He grimaced. “My late cousin’s widow.”
“Hmm.” Justice offered a sympathetic frown while struggling to quell the sudden turmoil in his belly. So this man was related to Lucius Benoit...and, by marriage, to Evangeline. He hadn’t known Lucius well, but now it began to make sense. “Your consideration is commendable.”
Giles smiled modestly at the compliment and shrugged. “Have you met Mrs. Benoit, the town librarian? Yes, of course you have. You’re obviously a man who takes his responsibilities seriously and knows everyone who lives in his community.”
His ingratiating comment caused another turn of Justice’s stomach. “Go on.”
“Before Evangeline...Mrs. Benoit came here, she and my late cousin lived in New Orleans. I’m sad to say she left considerable debts behind. Slipped out of town, actually, as though she didn’t mean to repay the hardworking dressmakers, milliners and other merchants with whom she ran up large bills. She also owes my own bank four thousand dollars, plus interest.” Another grimace. “Unfortunately, it’s my responsibility to collect those debts.” He held out the portfolio. “I have all of the documentation here, if you’d like to see it.”
So this man was a banker. Yet he hadn’t told Nolan of their common occupation.
Justice took the portfolio in hand, released the latch and removed two dozen or so pages. With all the self-control he could muster, he studied the official looking papers. The first was a promissory note signed by Lucius to his cousin for unspecified debts owed for a total of four thousand dollars, with interest to accrue as long as any of the balance remained unpaid. The second page was a power of attorney assigned to Giles by seven merchants. The following pages were bills for hats, gowns, shoes and a myriad of female fripperies. A feminine hand had signed Evangeline L. Benoit on each one. Justice hadn’t seen her handwriting in many years, but these elegant signatures appeared authentic.
“When she left New Orleans,” Giles said, “she and the children traveled east by train. I assume she meant us to think she was going to her relatives in Georgia. But halfway to their supposed destination, they disembarked and boarded a train heading west. My investigators tracked her here.”
A mask of sorrow covered the young man’s face, down to the red rims around his eyes. Nonetheless, Justice felt deep in his bones something wasn’t right. He could easily believe Evangeline had bought clothes and hats from the best New Orleans merchants. From what he’d seen, she still possessed them. Still wore them. But then, she’d always loved fine things. Loved them more than she’d loved him and had married the man who could provide them for her.
He tried without success to dismiss the pain. After all these years, the wound remained raw.
“It was difficult enough to lose my cousin,” Giles continued, “but to have his widow abscond with his children, whom he asked me to rear...well, you can imagine my grief. It’s my responsibility to see everything is set to right both for the debts and for the children’s care.”
Another alarm sounded in Justice’s head, and he leaned toward Giles in an aggressive manner. “Did he know he was going to die? Is that why he asked you to take care of the children? Did he leave a will to that effect?”
Giles blinked, and he sat back defensively at the hammering questions. “Uh, no. It came up in casual conversation, and of course I agreed. He said Evangeline was neglectful, that the servants were rearing the children while she socialized, and the little ones suffered because of it. Unfortunately, he didn’t have time to add this directive to his will.” He lifted his chin with a determined look. “But of course we know a judge can declare a mother unfit and assign a caring guardian for the little ones.” He placed a hand on his chest, maybe to enhance the appearance of sincerity. “Not that I would want to call for that unless it was absolutely necessary.”
Justice resumed a more relaxed posture and toyed with a pencil on his desk. “Of course, since Mrs. Benoit lives in Colorado now, she’ll be under the jurisdiction of our courts, should worse come to worst.”
“Of course.” Giles coughed artificially. “But one can assume Colorado law is similar to Louisiana law. I would think all courts would consider the needs of the children before anything or anyone else.”
“I’ll check into it.” Despite his churning insides, Justice managed to keep his expression interested but neutral. “Then we’ll see what we can do.”
“Thank you.” Giles sighed with apparent relief. “May I count on your help in convincing my cousin to return to New Orleans with me so we can avoid going to court both here and there? Please understand. I don’t want to destroy her. I merely want to collect what is owed and make sure the children are well taken care of. I know she has the money because she sold my cousin’s house and all its furnishings.”
Justice didn’t answer his request for help. “Have you spoken to Mrs. Benoit?” He gathered the papers and returned them to the portfolio.
“Yes, at the library this morning.” Giles reclaimed his sorrowful look. “She was quite alarmed at seeing me, so I didn’t linger. I didn’t want to upset her while she was at work. I don’t even know the best way to confront her so we can solve our problems in a way to benefit us all.” He lifted his hands in a supplicating gesture. “Will you help me, Sheriff?”
Employing an old device used by his mentor, Justice stared out the window thoughtfully and tapped his chin as if considering the matter. At last, he spoke. “As I said, I’ll look into the matter and see what I can do. In the meantime, I’ll ask you not to confront the lady about these debts.” He patted the portfolio.
Giles reached for it, but Justice pulled it back. Real alarm showed in the younger man’s eyes.
Cowboy Lawman's Christmas Reunion Page 13
