Having gotten more comfortable, Sean says, “I t’hink introductions are due. Brigit, t’his is Doctor David Bakker, and Marshal John Cardwell out of Denver, just down tha road. Gentlemen, t’his is Brigit McKennon. She’s working for us, while she recovers and gets back on her feet.”
She quietly acknowledges both John and David. From what John sees, she seems to be withdrawing deeper and deeper into herself.
Sean asks David, “How do ya know her, Doc?”
David adjusts his chair, takes a drink and sets the glass down, out of the way. He folds his hands in front of him, and looks at Brigit seriously. “Just after the landrun, I was brought to a patient, out at a local family’s claim. She was dressed as a boy, and looked like she had taken quite the drubbing.”
Her eyes start to water. “That was me,” she whispers, then asks, “You saw me?”
“I did.” David shifts once again in his discomfort. “I tended your wounds as best I could. I got a bad feeling from the family, but I had to leave you with them. While I was living in White, I tried to stop by and check on you. They wouldn’t let me see you. After I moved to Denver, John and I tried to stop by and see you on our way home from our last visit to Norman, but they told us you had run off.”
She shakes her head in denial. “A lie.”
“That’s what I’d figured.”
Sean’s voice is almost accusatory when he asks, “Why leave her behind? Why not take her somewhere else?”
Brigit’s face goes from being sad to being outraged in the blink of an eye. She looks at David, expression demanding an answer, but she remains silent.
David’s eyes never leave the beautiful young woman’s face. In a serious, sad tone, he says, “I’m sorry, Brigit, but you were too injured to move. I wasn’t sure you were gonna survive the night. If I moved you, it would most likely would have killed you.”
Brigit looks down at the table. In a small voice, she says, “It would have been better than that monster.”
John hears in her voice what sounds to be enough strength to explain the situation. With as compassionate a tone as he can muster, he says, “Brigit.”
She looks up from the table and studies his face for a long moment, finally her face takes on a questioning look.
“Would you tell us everything that happened? It will help us, to help you.”
Her face takes on an iron-hard aspect as she starts in a monotone voice. “I had made the run with no issues. Even had people giving the young man a hand or something. People were pretty nice. Had my claim papers and everything. My land. The little bit I had in my possession, my mule, my cookware . . . It was mine. I was heading in to White to get it registered, when I got jumped. I don’t remember anything about it. Just a group of young men coming up to me. That’s the last thing I remember. Next I know, I’m waking up to pain like I’ve never known. Then I was waking up to Mrs. Buchannon taking care of me.”
“Do you remember what the men looked like?” John asks.
“I don’t. They were younger than you, Marshal. Actually, younger than Doc Bakker, that is.”
Having met the Buchannans already, John can imagine that the poor girl was subjected to various forms of torture. Needing to know all the details, he asks, “What happened next?”
She looks away, the ghosts of the pasts dancing their macabre jig across her eyes. “The Buchannans moved me into an upstairs bedroom once they got their house built and took care of me. They kept me in the house, allowed no visitors, even though there weren’t any. I had started to really make progress healing when Richard, their son, came in and started talking about payment for his family’s generosity in taking care of me.”
Not wanting to cause the girl any more pain than is necessary, but needing to know the charges that will need to be handled, John asks, “Did he force himself on you?”
“He tried, but I started getting in some lucky scratches. Even bit his ear.”
Remembering the bruises and scratches on Richard’s face and neck, John is sure she was the one who did that. John can feel a smile twitch on his lips. He also remembers Richard kept his hair down over his ears. He asks, “Bit it off?”
She snorts derisively. “No. Mrs. Buchannan walked in and Richard claimed that I went crazy, that I was the one who attacked him, but when I said he attacked me, she didn’t believe me. Said that it was a fine way of paying them back for all the care they had given me, by attacking their son.”
Having seen how they acted towards each other, I doubt—what was her name again? Oh, yes, Leslie — either believed her son at all, or just happened to be going by the room at that moment by accident. The timing is just too perfect. He probably planned for his mother to come in and give the poor girl some kind of a guilt trip. He shifts a bit in his seat. “Did he hurt you?”
“Yeah. I had some good bruises from it.”
“You showed some of them to her, and she didn’t believe you?”
“She didn’t believe me. That’s what her son did in defense of himself. So I quietly began to work my strength back up. I didn’t want them to get the idea that I was getting stronger than what I was. I walked on eggshells for the next two weeks. Until, one day, when the house was quiet, Richard walked into my room.” She starts trembling with anger. John can see the unshed tears in her eyes. “He said that everyone else was at a church event and no one would hear me. That it was time to pay up. I knew I had to get out of there.” Her eyes clamp shut and she shakes her head in anger.
John refrains from saying the obvious. It sounds to him, as if Richard decided he’d found the perfect sex slave. She’s lucky she was able to fight him off, to get out of there. John doubts the girl would be alive today had she not left when she did.
David’s face is outraged as he fiercely says to John, “I told you they lied! She was there the whole time!” He pounds the top of the table with his fist hard enough that the dishes clattered. “I shoulda known better when they demanded a warrant.”
This girl’s testimony could put the entire family in jail for quite the while. Only problem is, it’s her words against theirs. David’s point is valid, but when I accepted the badge, I also accepted the limitations that come with it. The bitter taste of disappointment fills his mouth as he says, “Felt wrong to me, too, but we didn’t have any legal choice.”
In a barely audible voice, Brigit says, “I barely made it out of there intact.”
Hoping to be able to wrap things up quickly, John leans forward onto his elbows and asks, “Did you at least give as good as you got?”
Sean gives the young woman an eager look and asks, “Wha’ did ya do ta him?”
With pride tinging her voice, she replies, “I hit him with everything I had. I bit, clawed, stabbed him with Mam’s rosary, and then hit him with a chair. A luck shot, really. I was desperate and just slammed the chair down on top of his head. I didn’t think I had the strength to do it. Even climbing the stairs exhausted me.”
John is impressed, not by the girl’s actions, but by the retelling. She’s remaining remarkably composed, given what she’s been through.
David drains half his beer in one draught. “Desperation gives you strength when you don’t have any, Brigit. Was he still breathing?”
“He was when I left.”
From the kitchen, Laura’s voice calls out, “Brigit!”
Chapter 59
Brigit’s eyes widen and she gasps, “The food!” She jumps out of her chair and rushes toward the kitchen, returning quickly with the two plates of now cooled food onto the table. She grabs their now almost empty glasses, saying, “I’ll top these off at no charge,” and rushes back towards the back of the restaurant.
Sean takes one look at the retreating young woman and says, “S’cuse me,” as he stands and then follows after her.
John looks at David curiously. He is watching the pair as they escape to the kitchen.
David says in a low voice, “I do believe Sean’s in love with her. Poor guy. I don’t t
hink she has a clue. I hope she doesn’t play around with his heart. I like him and don’t wanna see him get hurt.”
John nods. “Yeah, he’s gonna be in for a rough time. She’s been through a lot. He’s gonna have a lot to get through to her.”
Shortly after leaving, the young couple returns and gives each man their drinks. David bows his head in prayer a moment, with Sean following suit. John smirks as Brigit rolls her eyes at seeing the two men in the practice of their faith.
After a quickly muttered “Amen”, David starts shoveling food into his mouth. Between bites, he asks, “What about you, Sean? You were getting ready to tell us how you ended up finding her?”
Sean hums and pulls his chair around to where he can face the other two men better. “’Twas on my way home from bringin’ ya t’hose s’plies, John. Had jus’ drove t’hrough White ‘n was passing tha las’ house on tha west, when tha door slamt open ‘n a surly man staggert out, ‘n went towards town. He lookt like he’d bin in qui’y tha donnybrook, t’be sure. ‘N hollerin like a drunk madmin at someone or somet’hin’. Devil possessed, t’hat one is.”
“That must have been just after I got away,” Brigit mutters, almost under her breath.
All three men look at her.
She nods in confirmation meaning she meant to say that. “After I hit him with the chair, I ran. Nearly fell down the stairs, I was shaking so bad. I had no idea where I was. Figured away from town was better, so I ran down the road away from it. The last thing I remember is stumbling on the side of the road.”
“’N t’hat’s how I fount her.” Sean gives her a warm, sympathetic smile. “On tha side o’ tha road. Un-con-scious. Bead up good.”
“That was nothing compared to when I was claim-jumped,” she says simply.
“Oh, ta be sure, ta be sure. An’ t’hankful o’ t’hat I truly am.” The look he gives John speaks volumes. “Tha way he come outta tha door squealin’ like a pig caught in a trap.” He looks back a Brigit. “Oh, if ya caust t’hat, ya did a fine job, darlin’.”
David looks at Sean, questions clear in his young face. “You obviously decided to bring her back with you.”
“What? Leav’er t’here? Bite yer tongue, doc! Whaddaya take me fer, a knave?” Sean looks away for a moment. “O’course, I didnae. I godder in tha buckboart, pickt up’er saddle bags an’ brodder ‘ere. Had Doc Lopez check on’er lessen’ half hour after I godd’er ‘n bed.”
Apparently satisfied with the answers he’s received, David explains why he and John are in town, that they are having to testify against the claim-jumpers.
When David finishes his explanation, John takes the reins and describes how they’d captured the prisoners.
John looks at the young woman a moment, then launches into an explanation of how they have been having to fight against the Jacobsons. When he mentions Davis identifying Jeff, Brigit looks up.
“What . . . what did you say the boy’s name is?” Brigit begins trembling.
“Jeff. Why do you ask?”
“Ri . . . Rich . . . Richard mentioned a Jeff that attacked me.”
Chapter 60
John shakes his head. “Your attack sounds like something Jeff would do. Too bad I couldn’t ask his dad about any of it. I get the feeling he has a lot more to answer for than we know. Unfortunately, we will never have the chance to ask him.”
Sean’s jaw drops. “D’ya t’hink it’s tha same one?”
John looks at Sean a moment before answering, “Most likely. White isn’t that far from Denver, after all.” He goes on to describe Jeff. With each part of the description, Brigit gets more pale, trembles more violently.
“Th . . . Th . . . That’s one of the ones that attacked me.” She stares into the wood of the table again, lost in her own thoughts.
Sean’s face is outraged. “Oh, I DO hope ya get t’hose murderin’ beasts ‘n make’em pay for all t’hey have done.”
“That’s what we’re trying to do.” David shifts and eats another bite. “With the evidence we have, the prisoners we already have are done for.”
John leans onto the table once again. “Just before we left Denver, it was discovered yet another crime of Jeff’s. The problem here is the evidence isn’t irrefutable. The witness is quite young. We won’t be able to have him testify of course. Though, at the moment, it’s a moot point until we get Jeff in custody.”
“How long da ya t’hink t’hat’ll be?”
“We’re having some trouble going on the trail against him. I’m hoping we can talk Marshal Blackwolf into helping us out, somehow.”
“Oh, t’hat’s fine, jus’ fine. An’ whaddaya expectin’ her ta do, Marshal?” Out of frustration, Sean jabs a finger at the young lady.
John pulls the page out of his vest. “Got a wire from Blackwolf. Be on the one o’clock train tomorrow.” He flicks his wrist and flips the page to David.
David catches it smartly out of the air, opens it and reads it. “It’ll be good to see the Marshal, again. Be glad to share the news of my impending marriage.”
Sean’s smile is genuine. “I’ll be sure ta have tha bathhouse set up fer ya. Da let ya know ‘bout tha changes ta it?”
Both John and David nod.
David lays the page down on the table. “That’ll be wonderful, Sean. Only question is, do ya think I can get Bekah out of there before tomorrow?”
All three men laugh. Sean looks at the expressionless Brigit with concern.
Quietly, John asks Sean, “Think she’ll be okay?”
Sean turns and looks at the Marshal a moment, confusion written on his face.
Did he forget we were here already? He really IS in love with the girl. He softens his look and asks again, “Think she’ll be okay?”
“Oh. Uh, I t’hink all t’his may jus’ be too much fer her, I t’hink.”
David readjusts his seat and leans on his elbows. “That’s what it looks like. Probably just needs sleep and time to come to grips with it.”
Hearing the tone in his young friend’s voice, John finishes his Guinness and leans back. “You did your best, David. The best you could with what you had.”
“Yeah? Doesn’t mean I’m happy I had to do it. And at what cost to her? I saved her life just to leave her in a hell on earth?”
“Yeah, well at least she’s still alive.”
Sean nods. “An’, wit’ tha Lord’s help, she’ll get well, too.” He glances at the beautiful young woman again and nods once more. “Alright, I’ll gedder ta bed.” He turns to her, touching her shoulder, saying, “Brigit, lass, ya’ve had quite tha full day. Why dunnae ya turn in?”
She doesn’t respond at all.
“Brigit?” Sean’s voice is deeply concerned. “Lass, are ya here with us?” He turns back to his two friends and says, “I’ll be right back, gennelmen.”
Understanding his concern, both John and David nod.
Suddenly, she looks up at Sean. John feels compassion for the young couple. He sees the love in her eyes towards Sean. Even though they don’t know it yet, it’s as plain as day to the outside onlookers.
“Brigit, go on ta ya room now, lass. Ya arennae doin yerself or anyone else any good righ’ now.”
After that initial loving look, her face turns blank and she just continues to stare into space.
His voice growing stronger in its emotion, Sean says, “Brigit. Talk ta me lass. Yer scarin’ me, girl.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, devoid of all feeling.
“Brigit, please.” He reaches out and touches the back of her hand with compassion. “Come on, Brigit-girl. Let’s get ya ta yer room.”
Almost imperceptibly, she nods. Sean takes her hand, lifts her to her feet and guides her away. Her movements are wooden, as if the body moves without a person inside.
On their way upstairs, Sean looks at his friends still seated and nods, confirming he believes everything is okay.
David sighs and shakes his head. “I wonder if Bekah is okay. I think I should
go check in on her.” He gets up and heads to the back door of the hotel.
John nods in response, and resettles in his seat. Just as David heads out towards the bathhouse, John is surprised to see Joseph come in to the restaurant from the kitchen with two mugs of Guinness and come over to John’s table.
“Well, me boyo, it looks lie t’hey’ve gone off an’ left ya ta yerself fer the momen’. I was t’hinkin’ ya migh’ like anotha drink ta finish yer meal wit’.”
John takes his mug, salutes the older man and has a drink from it. “I appreciate it.”
They spend the next fifteen minutes talking quietly and drinking while John finishes his plate of pot roast.
Speaking quietly to each other, David and Rebekah enter, hand-in-hand. Rebekah looks resplendent in her brown dress, wet hair hanging down to her waist, in a loose braid. John grins at the sight of the young couple.
Both John and Joseph rise as the young couple approaches.
Joseph says, “I’ll make sure ta get yer food fer ya, lass.” He rushes back to the kitchen.
David holds the chair for his fiancé, helping her get pushed in closer to the table, before he sits down. “So, what did I miss?” he asks.
“Nothing of importance. We were just chatting. Did you tell her about what happened?”
David nods, but his expression is uncertain.
John clears his throat meaningfully. “What?”
“I told her about the Marshal being expected tomorrow, and Brigit being here, but not about what we’ve found out about the attacks.”
Joseph’s return keeps Rebekah from answering with questions of her own. He gently sets the steaming plate down in front of the beautiful young woman. He says quietly, “I do ‘pologize, t’hings are a bit mixt up t’his evenin’. An’ what would ‘erself like ta have ta drink t’his evenin’?”
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