Marnie:

by Shanna Hatfield

  Lars tackled Ed and took him down to the ground, pinning him against the sidewalk.

  “Give it up, Ed. It’s over.” Lars yanked the gun out of his hand and pulled his arms behind his back, fastening handcuffs around his wrists.

  Kade bent over the motionless form of the deputy. Lars heard the sound of gunfire before he leaped out the window, but didn’t realize the deputy had been hit.

  Forcing Ed to stand, Lars marched him back to where a small crowd gathered around Kade and the downed deputy.

  “How is he?”

  “Dead,” Kade said, rising to his feet. Taking off his badge, he handed it to one of the men who’d come outside to see what the commotion was all about. Pulling back his fist, he smashed it into Ed George’s face. “You didn’t have to shoot him.” Kade’s second punch landed on Ed’s chin, knocking his head up while the sound of cracking bone filled the silence surrounding them.

  Kade retrieved his badge and pinned it back on, then turned to Lars.

  “If you don’t mind hauling him to the jail and calling the sheriff, I’d appreciate it.” Kade accepted the blanket one of the working girls handed him and draped it over his fallen friend.

  Lars took Ed back to the jail and tied him to a chair then shackled his feet, just to make sure he couldn’t escape.

  Beyond the cracked jaw and bleeding nose Kade gave him, cuts from the window glass covered the outlaw while blood dripped beneath the chair from the bullet Lars lodged in his thigh.

  “Unless you start talking and telling me what I want to hear, Kade isn’t the only one who’s going to pound your face. Not only that, but it’s going to take me a good long while to remember to call Doc.”

  “You can’t do that,” Ed said, tipping his head back, trying to slow the blood dripping down his face.

  “I can and I will.” Lars placed a telephone call to the sheriff and a second to the undertaker, grateful the telephone office hadn’t yet closed for the evening.

  Turning back to Ed, Lars picked up the chair holding the outlaw and slammed it down in front of a small table. Roughly wrapping a towel around Ed’s thigh, just to keep from making another puddle of blood on the floor, he strode over to Kade’s desk and pulled a file out of the drawer.

  Slapping it down on the table, he sat down in the chair across from Ed and opened the file. Lars removed a photo and slid it across the table.

  “This is you. Ed George, alias, Tom Bowman, leader of the Bowman Gang.” Lars tapped his finger on where Ed stood in the photo.

  “Kind of looks like me, don’t it?” Ed said, refusing to look at the photo. Lars got up and grabbed another towel, wetting it in a bucket of water. Stalking back to Ed, he slapped it on his face and rubbed it around, ignoring the man’s painful shouts before pulling it away.

  Satisfied no blood would drip on the photo, he sat down and held it up so Ed could look at it.

  “Let’s try this again. This is you, right here, standing next to Chad Webster and Bob Newberry.”

  Lars saw a flicker of worry in Ed’s eyes before he got control of his emotions. Lars named all the men in the photo, saving Melton Feldts for last.

  “Where is Melton?”

  “Who, marshal? Don’t think I know a Melton.” Ed gave him a broad smile.

  “Think you’re pretty clever, don’t you, Ed? Think you’ve got it all figured out. I’ll admit you’ve been a hard one to catch, but once we figured out who Tom Bowman really was, all the pieces fell into place.”

  Lars leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, studying Ed. “You know, for a man with such a pretty wife at home, I can’t figure out why you’d waste your time in a brothel. You have those two sweet little girls, too. What are their names? Alice and Beulah, isn’t it?”

  The smile melted off Ed’s face and he stared at Lars. “Ed George isn’t married.”

  “True, but John Edwards is. That’s clever, using part of your real name. From my records, your full name is John Edward George. You married Lizzie Ann McGee on the thirteenth of March in 1899 in Walla Walla at the Presbyterian Church. Reverend Albert Cole presided. You set her up in a little house in Athena, where you pretend you’re a traveling salesman and away from home for weeks, sometimes months at a time. You also own a hundred acres just north of town that you inherited from your parents upon their death. If you’re going to pretend to be a farmer, it might be a good idea to plant something on all that fertile ground. By the way, we’ve already found your stash of earnings from the robberies along with some of the personal effects you stole from innocent people you’ve shot, which clearly ties you not only to the holdups, but also the murders.”

  Ed lost all his bravado and slumped in his chair. “How do you know all this? How could you possibly know everything?”

  “I told you. As soon as we figured out Tom Bowman’s identity, all the pieces fell into place.” Lars held up the photo and pointed to Melton. “Last time I’m asking. Where is Melton Feldts?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Lars shoved the photo back in the folder and returned it to Kade’s desk. “Wrong answer, George. Now that you made me mad, I’m going to have to ride to Athena, bring your wife back here, and let her see for herself that the man she married doesn’t exist. Do you suppose she’ll wear that pretty blue hat or the yellow one with the white roses trimming it?”

  Ed jerked in his chair, shooting daggers at Lars, frightened by how closely the marshal had observed his family. “Leave her out of this. You just leave her and my girls alone. She doesn’t need to know anything. She can think I died in some stagecoach accident or something.”

  “She could, but you don’t want to help us, so why would I help you?”

  Ed stared at Lars for a while then slowly shook his head. “I’m telling the truth. I don’t know where Melton is. When Webster and one of the other guys were shot robbing the stage in Ontario, he took off and none of us know where he went.”

  Lars sat down at the table again. “Does he have a place around here?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Then how does he know when it’s time to go out on a job?” Lars held onto what little remained of his patience with both hands. He needed to bring in Feldts not only to have all the gang behind bars, but also for Marnie’s sake. As long as the man roamed free, she’d never feel entirely safe.

  “I leave a message with one of the chippies at Steel’s Saloon.” Ed swallowed and gave Lars the most sober look he’d seen on the man’s face. “I’m not lying to you. I really don’t know where he lives.”

  “How did you meet him? How did he become part of the gang?”

  “One of the first stages we robbed was close to Portland. He happened to be on it and begged us to let him join the gang. I refused, partly because I didn’t know if I could trust him, partly because he’s just hideous to look at. He grabbed a gun away from Bob, shot the driver of the stage and one of the passengers, cleaned out everyone’s pockets and handed it over to me before we knew what had happened. I told him he could ride with us.” Ed brushed the blood dripping from his nose against his shoulder and sighed. “He’s not right in the head. If I’d realized it sooner, I would never have let him join us. The last few years, he’s been more of a liability than an asset, so we don’t always invite him along. The last job was a big one and I needed everyone to help.”

  “I want a list of every member of your gang, past and present.” Lars took out a sheet of paper and a pencil.

  Ed rattled off the names Lars already knew and added seven more to the list. “Those last five are already in jail, mostly for being stupid, and the two before that are dead.”

  Relieved that Melton was the last member of the gang they needed to apprehend, Lars glanced at Ed. The man was fast losing color along with blood and needed to see the doctor. “The name of the harlot at Steel’s?”

  Getting what he wanted out of the outlaw, Lars released the shackles around his feet, untied the man and half-carried him to Doctor Reed’
s office.

  “Doc? It’s Lars Thorsen. I need some help with a prisoner.” Lars pounded on the door and waited a moment before pounding again. “Doc? Open up!”

  A light came on and the doctor appeared at the door with his feet bare, hair standing on end, and his shirt buttoned crooked. “No need to wake the whole neighborhood, son.”

  “Sorry, sir. Can you help him?”

  Doc motioned Lars to follow him down a hall to an operating room. “He run into a wall?”

  Lars sneered at his prisoner. “Something like that. He’s got a bullet in his leg, too.”

  “Can you stay and help me or do you need to run off?” Doc asked, lifting a sterile cloth covering a tray of tools.

  “I won’t leave him here unattended,” Lars said, letting the doctor know the man he was about to work on was dangerous.

  “Wash your hands and roll up your sleeves.” Doc motioned toward the sink.

  Hours later, after leaving George under the watchful eye of the sheriff, he delivered a message for Melton, written in Ed George’s hand, to the harlot at Steel’s. Lars hurried back to his apartment, took a bath and dressed in black pants, a crisp white shirt, black brocade vest and a black jacket. Setting his black Stetson on his head, he packed a small bag, buckled on his gun belt, and hurried to Ilsa’s dress shop.

  Although it was barely six in the morning, he knew Marnie would be up. Trying the back door, he found it locked, so he rapped loudly. Ilsa had given him a key, but he’d left it in his apartment.

  Listening to the sound of footsteps approaching, he hated to leave Marnie right now, especially when she’d just gained one more child to care for, but he had to get Ed George to Portland.

  “Lars! I’m so happy to see you.” Marnie motioned him into the shop and closed the door behind him.

  Wrapping his hands around her waist, Lars pulled her to his chest and spent a moment resting in the comfort he found in her embrace. Her fresh scent filled his nose while her soft womanly curves fit in perfect harmony against his hard angles and planes. Burying his face in the pile of fragrant curls on top of her head, he breathed deeply and soaked in her warmth and sweetness.

  “What’s wrong?” Marnie asked, leaning back so she could see his face.

  Lars stared into those stormy blue eyes and knew he could easily lose himself there for a lifetime. “I have to leave town for a few days.”

  “Is everything okay?” Marnie saw worry and something she refused to allow herself to hope for in the bright depths of Lars’ blue eyes.

  Lars wanted to tell her everything was fine, but he wouldn’t lie to her. “We caught another member of the Bowman Gang last night. There’s just one left. I don’t like leaving you alone until he’s behind bars, but there’s not much help for it. Kade, Tony, or Garrett will come running if you need anything, so don’t hesitate to call any of them. Or the sheriff.”

  “It’s Melton, isn’t it? The one you haven’t caught.” Marnie leaned against Lars, drawing strength from him.

  “Yes. I’m more than a little concerned about what could happen if he finds out who you are.”

  “I’ve been here in town a long time and never heard about him or saw him. I should be fine for a few more days.” Marnie’s voice held a cheerfulness she was far from feeling. Thoughts of facing Melton again filled her with terror, but Lars had enough on his mind without fretting over her. “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

  “I know you can.” Lars looked up at the sound of a floorboard creaking overhead. “Guess the kids are up.”

  “Yes, they are.” Marnie pulled his head down and gave him a saucy smile. “If you hurry, sugar, you can get in a kiss before they discover you’re here.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Lars tipped back his hat and locked his lips to hers in a hot, passionate kiss filled with longing. When Marnie started to pull away, he splayed his hands across her back, pushing her into him as he deepened the kiss.

  Breaking apart only because they were both breathless, Lars gave Marnie a cocky grin. “Now that’s what I call a good way to start the morning. Want to try to top that one?”

  Marnie blushed and grabbed his hand, leading him to the stairs. “What I want doesn’t matter. Come up and give the kids a hug before you leave.”

  Ten minutes later, Lars stood at the door, holding Sophie while Sadie and Noah each hugged one of his legs.

  “You two,” he looked down at the Webster children, “mind what Marnie tells you and take good care of baby Sophie while I’m gone.”

  “Yes, sir.” They nodded in agreement.

  Lars bent down and kissed Sadie’s cheek, ruffled Noah’s hair, then kissed the baby’s downy head before handing her to Sadie.

  “You kids go watch out the front window and I’ll wave to you when I go by,” Lars said, giving them a gentle nudge toward the front of the store.

  When they disappeared through the doorway, Lars took Marnie in his arms and gave her a quick kiss then nuzzled her neck, wishing he didn’t have to leave. “Stay safe, sweet thing. I’ll hurry back as fast as I can.”

  “You be safe, too, sugar. It’s not just me who wants you to come back in one piece.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “When is Lars coming back?” Noah asked as he set the table for supper.

  “I don’t know, sweetie. He said it might be a few days before he could return.” Marnie stirred a pot of fragrant stew on the stove then removed a pan of yeasty bread from the oven.

  Steam rose from the golden loaf as Marnie turned it out on a wooden slab she used for slicing bread. As it fell out of the pan with a hollow thump, the sound let her know the loaf would be light and airy, just how she liked it.

  Buttering the top of the bread, the aroma wafting to her nose made her mouth water and she thought how much Lars would enjoy a piece, or three, slathered with jam and butter.

  Wishing he were there to share the meal with them, she turned her attention back to feeding the three children in her care.

  “Sadie, can you set the milk on the table, please?” Marnie asked, scooting Sophie’s new high chair closer to the table. Tired of trying to hold the baby and eat, Marnie went to Mr. Johnson’s store that morning and purchased a high chair along with two teething rings. Sophie had been quite fussy so Marnie asked Caterina for advice. After feeling the baby’s gums, Caterina smiled and said a teething ring would help, especially if it was chilled.

  Thinking about the busy day she’d had, Marnie felt tired in a good way. Running errands after walking Sadie and Noah to school, she offered to keep Ben and Brett while Caterina and Kade attended the funeral of the deputy Ed George killed. He and Kade had been friends and coworkers for years and his death hit Kade hard.

  Watching over three little ones kept her hopping, especially with the lively Rawlings twins. Once Caterina retrieved them, Marnie took Sophie downstairs to Ilsa’s shop and set her in a large crate lined with a soft quilt, giving her some blocks to play with she’d made out of fabric and batting.

  Ilsa came in for a few hours of work while Tony kept Laila. The afternoon flew by with Sadie and Noah running in the door after school, full of excitement and hungry for a snack.

  If someone had told her the day Lars rode into town and stopped beneath her window that she’d be working for a famous designer, living in an apartment over a fashion boutique, and mothering three orphans, she would have suggested they have their head examined by Doc Reed.

  Now, watching Sadie and Noah laugh together as they helped put dinner on the table while Sophie banged her little feet against her high chair, Marnie couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.

  Dishing stew into bowls and setting them on the table, she spooned cooked carrots out of the pot then mashed them with a little of the broth until the consistency was thin and smooth. Retrieving a baby spoon she’d found in Sophie’s basket, she set it in the little dish and placed it just out of the baby’s reach.

  Pouring milk in glasses, she smiled at her charges and
sat at the table. “Who wants to say grace tonight?”

  A deep voice, a voice she thrilled to hear, spoke from the doorway. “I believe I would.”

  “Lars!” Sadie and Noah jumped to their feet and ran to give him hugs. Marnie wanted to do the same thing, but instead dished another bowl of stew and added another place setting to the table. Lars kissed Sophie’s forehead then held out Marnie’s chair, motioning for her to be seated.

  Taking her seat, she felt his lips graze her cheek and offered him a saucy smile. “You always know just when to show up in time to eat.”

  “Yes, I do.” Lars smiled and took Marnie and Sadie’s hands in his then offered a brief but heartfelt prayer for the meal.

  “When did you get back?” Marnie asked, passing Lars the blackberry jam Aundy had given her just that morning.

  “Long enough to run by my room and change my clothes. I could smell this delicious stew and bread clear out on the street,” Lars said, spreading jam on his bread with a hungry look of appreciation. “You must have known I was coming and made bread just for me.”

  “I had no idea, but I’m glad you’re here to share it all the same.” Marnie blew on a tiny bite of mashed carrots and held it out to Sophie. The baby opened her mouth and took the bite, waving her hand at Lars. He let her wrap her hand around the end of his index finger then kissed her tiny fingers before returning his attention to his dinner. For a fleeting moment, Marnie wished he’d kissed her fingers instead of the baby’s.

  Sadie and Noah kept up a lively chatter about their schoolwork and things they’d seen or done since he’d been gone. Lars asked about their new friends and if they were staying out of trouble.

  “Sadie got in trouble yesterday,” Noah tattled, flinching when his sister kicked him beneath the table.

  “You did?” Marnie asked, unaware there had been any problem. The teacher didn’t mention it when she walked the children to school that morning and she didn’t see a note come home with the girl the previous afternoon. “What happened?”