“You can keep your milk,” he told Elwood. “I expect I won’t be getting much sleep, so the coffee will do me some good. Why don’t you have the saloon proprietor rustle some up for me, and I’ll be there soon as I can?”
Elwood nodded enthusiastically, then ran out of the office. Hawk turned to the other two men. “Are you going to help me, or not?”
Rosalind couldn’t bear the sound of her mother’s sobs anymore. She stepped out of the family tent, hoping to get some air and to clear her head. She looked around, wondering if Hawk had returned yet. It would be nice to know that the law was involved. As it was, people were starting to blame her family for what had happened.
“Whore!” A man stopped in front of the house and yelled at her. If he thought that was going to intimidate her, he obviously hadn’t seen all the men pawing at her since they’d come to work for the railroad.
She stared at him. “You wish. That tent’s on the other side of the camp, but I hear they charge double for the likes of you.”
He lunged in her direction, but then Hawk stepped out of the shadows and in front of him. “I believe you’ve already been warned about these ladies being off limits,” he said.
The man stared at her direction, but as Hawk moved his hand to the gun at his belt, the man stepped away. “My mistake,” he said. “But I hope you aren’t making one in helping that family get away with sabotaging the railroad.”
“No one’s getting away with anything,” Hawk said. He glanced back at Rosalind, then turned his attention on the man. “I aim to do a full investigation of the situation, and I will see that the culprits face the maximum penalty.”
Something about the way he said maximum penalty sent shivers down her spine. She’d known that Hawk was a dangerous man. Not only had she heard the stories about him, but she’d seen him in action. He was there for every meal, and if any of the men got a little too handsy, or too crass in the ladies’ presence, he made sure they toed the line. Until today, it had been weeks since anyone had been inappropriate in her presence, thanks to Hawk.
“You see that you do,” the man said, walking away.
“Thanks,” Rosalind said. “Do you want to come in? I’ve got some coffee on, and there’s plenty of stew. The railroad man came by earlier to say our services wouldn’t be needed anymore in preparing the meals, but we’d already started cooking.”
“What railroad man?”
She let out a long sigh. So many people had already come by, most to berate and belittle her family, but everything was starting to blur together. Fortunately, he’d given her his card. She reached into her apron pocket.
“A Mr. Richard Stiles,” she said, reading the name, then handed him the card. “Even though they owe us money for providing the meals this month, he said he wouldn’t be paying us, in consideration of my father’s…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence. Was there anyone who believed him innocent?
“I’ll see to it you get your money,” Hawk said. “You and I both know your father didn’t do it. And even if he did, that doesn’t mean that his family, who has been providing the railroad with an important service, shouldn’t be paid for that service.”
At this point, the money was the least of her worries, but it was kind of Hawk to put it on his list of priorities when he likely had so much to do already.
“Thank you,” she said. “I don’t know what is going to happen now. My parents sold everything to come out here, to build a life in Noelle. Mother is despondent, and Jane and Cordelia are doing their best to remain positive, but I know they’re worried. Horatio told by Mr. Stiles that he is no longer welcome on the railroad crew. So what are we to do?”
She let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry. Our problems are none of your concern. I just don’t understand how anyone could think that we would do this, that my father would do this when it would cause us to lose everything?”
Hawk nodded slowly. “I don’t believe your father did this. In fact, that’s why I’m here. There was a witness who saw the men we believe caused the explosion. I was hoping you had a picture of your father we could show her so she could confirm that he was not one of the men.”
The elation she felt at Hawk’s words was almost ridiculous, considering her father had just died. But it would be so much better, knowing he had died a hero, rather than everyone thinking he was a villain.
“I’m sure we do,” she said, then her excitement faltered momentarily. “You’ll make sure we get it back, won’t you?”
He nodded. “Of course. I only wish I didn’t have to take an item of such comfort from you at this time. But the sooner we can determine that your father was not among the men who destroyed the bridge, the sooner your family can get their lives back.”
Then he let out a long sigh. “Or at least part of your life. I know nothing will ever replace your father, but the least I can do is repair his reputation, so you don’t suffer for it.”
Something in his voice made Rosalind wonder if Hawk had suffered a similar tragedy in his past. Had he lost someone?
Even though she’d always entertained fanciful notions of being courted by Hawk, she realized she didn’t know him very well at all. She knew of his reputation, of course, and she knew that he was a hard-working man who did everything he could for his men. But this, his service to her family, carried with it a deeper layer of compassion that made her realize there was far more to this man than she’d ever glimpsed.
Her father used to say that Hawk was the best man he’d ever known, though he’d never said why. But his determination to help her family made her understand her father’s words just a little bit better. If only she could tell him…
A sob caught in the back of her throat, and even though she prided herself on being strong and not crying so that she could be there for her family, something about the idea of not being able to confide in her father ever again tore at her insides. The tears started flowing before she even knew what was happening, and though part of her insisted that she stop, she couldn’t. Hawk put his arms around her and held her close, letting her head rest against his chest.
His body was warm and solid, and his arms felt strong enough to take on all her pain.
“I would say it’s going to be all right,” he said. “But it’s going to take time. And I’m not going to be one of those people who spins all kinds of lies about life going on when it’s impossible to see. But I promise you, though everything in your life will be different from here on out, I will do everything I can to help your family find a way to make it good.”
Whatever his tragedy had been, it had been similar enough to hers that he could understand the impossibility of seeing their way. They had no choice but to move forward, but the how and where were such a mystery, it all seemed to be a bit much. And yet, something about sharing her pain with Hawk, knowing she wasn’t alone, gave her the strength to lift her head and take a deep breath.
“Do you think they’ll still want us in Noelle?” she asked.
He released her from his embrace and took a step back. “I don’t know. But I do have friends there, and I will make inquiries on your behalf. First, though, I need you to retrieve the picture of your father. The sooner we get this nonsense sorted, the easier your lives will be.”
Before Rosalind could return to the tent, a commotion from down the street drew her attention. Moses and another man were dragging Horatio toward the tent. Even at a distance, Rosalind could see that Horatio had been badly beaten.
“Stay here,” Hawk told her, then turned to meet the other men.
Who did he think he was, telling her not to tend to her injured brother? But as she saw the angry mob behind Horatio, she decided to heed Hawk’s advice.
Hawk helped the men bring Horatio the rest of the way. His face was almost unrecognizable from the beating he’d taken.
“He’s unconscious,” Hawk said. “Do you have a bed or a cot we can put him on?”
Rosalind nodded. “Yes. Bring him inside no
w. Has anyone sent for a doctor?”
Moses muttered something to Hawk that Rosalind couldn’t hear. Hawk said something that sounded like the beginning of a swear word, but then he shook his head.
“Once you give me that picture, I’ll head to Noelle and fetch Dr. Deane. He’s a good doctor, and he’ll take good care of Horatio.”
Which meant the doctor in the railroad camp had refused to help him. It figured, considering everyone else in this place had made it clear they were no longer welcome. But to not help an injured man seemed like an even worse crime.
As Rosalind showed them her brother’s bed, Jane got up from where she and Cordelia were laying with her mother. “We’ve just gotten her to fall asleep. What has Horatio gotten himself into this time?”
“He was trying to make arrangements for your father’s burial,” Moses said. “But then a group of men came upon him and started beating him, saying he deserved it for what your father did. I came as soon as I heard what was happening, and I did my best to stop it, but he’s been badly beaten, and we can only pray that he regains consciousness soon. What medical supplies do you have on hand?”
Cordelia got up from the bed and tucked more blankets around their mother. “I think she’ll continue to sleep. Forgive me, but I gave her an extra dose of laudanum so that she would get some rest. I’ll get our medical supplies and tend to Horatio. Jane, fetch some water. What’s this about a picture?”
Of all the sisters, Cordelia had always been the most practical. And, with their mother’s illness, she’d been the one to oversee her care. Cordelia would best know what to do for Horatio.
Rosalind filled Cordelia in as quickly as she could as she rummaged through one of the trunks to find the most recent picture of their father. They’d had a family portrait done in Denver shortly before coming to work for the railroad. Their father had said he wanted to commemorate the start of their new adventure. And now, given that all the other pictures were so old, she was grateful for that moment of fancy he’d had, even though at the time, they could ill afford such an extravagance and their mother had snipped at him for a while for it.
But even that memory brought a small smile to her lips. They’d had a good life together, as a family. And somehow, they would get through this as a family.
She found the picture and, resisting the temptation to hug it tight to her chest and never let go, held it out to Hawk. “Here. I pray it will have the desired effect. Our family needs some good news.”
“I will take good care of it,” Hawk said. As his hand brushed hers to take the picture, she felt the same strength and comfort she’d found in his embrace earlier. He jerked away quickly, as if he felt something wrong, and deemed it inappropriate. She supposed it had been improper for him to have embraced her at all, but it had been such a comfort to her that she was glad he’d cast caution aside at that moment.
“I’ve asked Moses to remain nearby in case there’s trouble. It wouldn’t be proper for him to remain inside your tent, but if you need anything, call out for him, and he’ll be there. Reggie here, who you might recognize as the man who brought you home earlier, will replace him this evening.”
She looked at the two men Hawk had indicated. “Thank you,” she said. “I greatly appreciate your service to our family.”
“Joe was a good man,” Reggie said. “I’m sorry he died. A lot of folks are.”
“Then why aren’t they here? Why isn’t anyone standing up for my family?” Rosalind looked from Reggie over to Hawk.
But it was Moses who stepped forward. “Considering it’s Brian and Jace leading the charge against him? Easy enough to figure out. When your father got promoted, Brian was real sore. He thought that job should’ve been his. And Jace isn’t real happy that your father caught him sleeping on the job and docked his pay for it. Sometimes, when you look at a situation like this, you have to ask yourself what’s in it for the person making the accusations. With Joe gone, Brian is the next most qualified to run things.”
Hawk nodded slowly. “I knew there was bad blood, but you’re right. With Joe gone, Brian would be the most natural choice to take his place. I’m sure most of the men know that, and none of them would be willing to speak out against their future boss. Especially since Brian is known to be a hard boss. That’s why I picked Joe over him in the first place. It’s one thing to ask a lot of your men, but it’s another to treat them poorly while doing so.”
“That’s what I figure as well,” Moses said. “But you’d be best getting on to Noelle, and finding Dr. Deane because some of these injuries look serious.”
As Hawk headed for the door, Rosalind stopped him. “And the sheriff? Would you be getting him too?”
Hawk shook his head. “Why? He’s already been apprised of your father’s death, and he knows what I’m looking into.”
“But what about the people who did this to my brother?”
The noise he made was so bitter that Rosalind had to wonder if there was bad blood between the two men. “With feelings against your father so high, do you honestly think that anyone will testify against the person who hurt your brother?”
She looked over at Moses. “But him and Reggie…”
“No one is going to take the word of a black man and a former criminal. Not when a dozen more respectable white men would be willing to provide alibis for all of Horatio’s attackers. But don’t think there won’t be justice. It will just have to take on another form.”
Instead of making her feel better, Hawk’s words only made her more fearful. Just what exactly did he have in mind? Given Hawk’s reputation, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer. And yet, as she looked at her brother’s still form on his bed and Cordelia gently tending him, then remembering her father’s lifeless body, a part of her didn’t care. Whoever had done this was a monster and had to be stopped at any cost.
3
Hawk tucked the picture in his jacket as he prepared to mount his horse. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d told Elwood he’d need as much coffee as he could get. The sun was setting, and he was feeling the exhaustion. But if he could get confirmation that Joe wasn’t involved in Dorcas’s kidnapping, by morning, he could get word out that they were looking for three other men, and they were still on the loose. With as much anger as had been directed at Joe for his actions, surely the rest of the men would get behind an effort to find out who these three men were.
But before he could get his foot in the stirrup, he could see Stiles approaching. As much as Hawk wanted to get on the road, he needed to give the railroad bosses some answers.
“Where have you been?” Stiles asked. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“I just got back from Noelle, where I was looking for you. I need to let you know what happened with the bridge.”
Stiles waved him off. “I know what happened. The man you hand-picked to lead the crew and get my railroad done on time set off some explosions and damaged the bridge, losing his life in the process. What I need to know is how you’re going to fix it.”
Which meant Brian had gone to him already. “That’s not what happened. We don’t know who blew up the bridge yet, but I’m investigating to find out who did.”
“His dead body was found with the fuses in his pocket. Fuses that you tried to hide, from what I was told.”
Hawk could sense Brian’s hand was all over this. “You weren’t given all the facts. I hid nothing, and if you check with Sheriff Draven in Noelle, you’ll find that I turned the fuses over to him for his investigation.”
Hawk knew perfectly well that Stiles probably wouldn’t talk to Draven. Both men barely hid their disdain for one another, and Hawk had no idea why. It wasn’t any of his business. But what was his business was making sure an innocent man didn’t get blamed for a crime he didn’t commit and the three guilty parties were brought to justice.
“This is railroad business. Why did you go to the sheriff?”
“Because a crime was committed,” Hawk said
evenly. “A man is dead. And, if you’d talked to the sheriff, you would know that a young woman was kidnapped, and three men were paid by her kidnapper to create a diversion to hide the kidnapping. That diversion was the explosion. The kidnapper is in custody, but there are three men, the ones who actually committed the crime against the railroad, still at large.”
He’d have thought his words would’ve had more power. That knowing more people were involved, Stiles would be looking to set up some kind of manhunt to find out who they were. But Stiles only waved him off.
“So Creary had some accomplices. Probably that son of his, who I understand was given his due. I don’t want you wasting any more valuable railroad time on finding some mystery man. His identity will sort itself out soon enough. All we have to do is look for the people trying to defend Creary.”
Stiles gave him a hard look. “Which is why I find it curious that you’re working so hard to prove a dead man’s innocence when you should be finding out what it’s going to take to fix my railroad.”
Hawk hadn’t even examined the damage. He’d own up to that. But what was a day in building a railroad when a man’s life had been lost? From what he had seen, it would take weeks, if not months, to repair the damage. Surely the railroad could spare a day.
“I’ll be on it first thing tomorrow morning,” Hawk said. Tonight, he could ride to Noelle, get confirmation that Creary wasn’t involved, and be back by sunup.
“Brian has already started to clear the debris. While you’ve been off chasing wild geese, and men who don’t exist, he’s been picking up your slack.”
Hawk closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying not to lose his temper. Having been trained as a lawman, he knew what clearing up the debris meant. Valuable evidence was being destroyed. Even if Hawk caught the three men who’d done it, they likely wouldn’t be convicted, because Brian’s earnestness in proving to Stiles that he was capable of doing the job was ruining all traces of the crime.
Rosalind: A Thanksgiving Day Bride (Brides of Noelle Book 8) Page 3
