Though he could do little for her at the moment, Theo did try to comfort the woman. “Not forever, Mrs. Perkins. Help has come to Kearney. We just need to wait another day or two before the arrest can happen.”
Turning to Whitey, he barked, “You be a gentleman and get Mrs. Perkins to the doc’s office. After doc takes care of the break, bring her back here to stay.”
Before she left with the young man, the widow threw a pleading glance at the lawyer. Not bothering to stem her tears, the woman spoke between sobs. “The good Lord truly did send you to help. You’re an answer to months of prayer.”
Patting the woman’s uninjured right arm, Theo tried to show his appreciation. “Yes, ma’am. And Kearney’s brought the answer to a few of my prayers as well.”
One of those answers walked into the kitchen then. Round wire-framed spectacles sat on the end of Ginger’s pert nose. No hint of her vivid locks remained. Instead, coarse white hair pinned up in the back sat under a faded blue mob cap.
The curves that tempted Theo were also gone. The short woman standing in front of him was round through the middle. The women had rolled something to give her, well, rolls where she should have had a waist.
Her stooped shoulders added to her appearance of bulk. With a light shawl over her shoulders, Ginger appeared to be a very different person.
“Well, young man. Are you going to stare, or will you help this old granny to a chair?”
Even her voice held none of the husky notes that so attracted him. It was high and brittle. As if she struggled for her next gulp of air.
He moved to put a hand under her elbow, choosing the side that didn’t hold the ebony cane. Carefully, they moved to the parlor.
He knew they were rehearsing for the time that outsiders came looking for Ginger. If for no other reason, he played along with her act. He desperately wanted to somehow guarantee her safety.
In this world, he realized there were no guarantees. All the more reason to pray and cling to his faithful savior.
Chapter 16
Reeves, Whitey, and Theo stayed busy that night. While Whitey took the marshal to the proposed ambush spot, Theo sneaked into Melvin’s office again.
This time the man was upstairs, adding to Theo’s anxiousness. He eased the window up more slowly. While pushing aside the false back, it made a squeak that he was sure Melvin had to have heard.
Holding his breath, Theo plastered himself against the wall in the room’s darkest corner and listened. No footsteps echoed on the ceiling. Perhaps Melvin wasn’t even home.
What if the man came home and found him in the office? Afraid of that happening, Theo didn’t even light a candle. He simply lifted the wall the rest of the way and grabbed everything stored behind it.
Setting the pile in a wooden crate he’d brought for that purpose, he lowered the false wall and shut the cupboard. Awkwardly, he lifted a leg over the sill. Then he worked to balance himself and the full crate before leaping the few feet to the ground.
Staying close to the building, he made his way down the alley to the first intersection with a street. Voices stopped him.
“I swear none of us saw it comin’. One minute, Riley’s blubbering about how the girl shot him and got away. Then, Collins’ Colt was smoking as the sheriff fell to the ground.”
The other person snickered before he spoke. “Well, Jessup, guess you lucked out since you tried to snatch her, too. Surprised Collins didn’t shoot you.”
Silence stretched out. Then the man named Jessup spoke. “He needs me for the hold up tomorrow. He don’t trust Whitey, Ellison can’t leave the fort to help, and now Riley’s dead.”
“What ya mean? We’re grabbing the gold in two days, not tomorrow.”
Jessup growled low to the man. “Keep it down, will ya? You’re yelling like we want the town to know our business.”
In a softer voice, the man asked his question again. “Yeah, okay, but why the change?”
“Morely’s back from watching for the shipment. Says the soldiers left a day early. We’re gonna have to make our move tomorrow. Collins sent me in to find you and Jack. Get out to the spot before dawn and wait.”
Only a few feet away and around a corner from the men, Theo thought over what he’d heard. So, the sheriff was dead and the heist would happen a day early.
What luck that he was in this spot and heard the plans!
And then he knew. The Lord intervened and allowed for things. The twenty-eighth verse of Romans eight came to his mind. All things did work together for good. Somehow, being a lawyer and living here in Kearney was part of God’s purpose for Theo’s life.
To get on with that purpose, Theo had to let the others know what he heard. First, though, he needed to get this crate of papers hidden before riding out to speak with the army detail. But, where to hide it?
An idea came to him. There was a spot that Mouse would fiercely guard. The grandfather clock!
“You may do no such thing!”
Mrs. Hooper’s body shook with indignation as Melvin Edwards watched from the wraparound porch. She didn’t intend to let him in the house. Anger suffused him, causing his face to turn purple.
He’d asked to come in and search Theo’s things. The man was his assistant after all. The request wasn’t as outrageous as the old biddy made it out to be.
Mrs. Hooper’s voice also revealed her anger. “Get the sheriff if you want to force your way in here, Mr. Edwards. Otherwise, you are out of luck. I will not violate my guest’s privacy by allowing you to paw through his things.”
Melvin let out a howl of rage. “I already tried to find that nitwit. He’s not in town.”
Running a trembling hand through his thinning hair, he grumbled, “You’re protecting a thief. I know it has to be that boy who took my files. Been acting suspicious for days.”
“Now, none of this is my business, Mr. Edwards. Seems it’s both a family and a business affair for you so keep it to yourself.”
Those words unleashed something in the man. He pushed through the screen, knocking Mrs. Hooper off of her feet so that she flew backwards. Suddenly, two old women came at him. One hit him with a parasol and the other used an ebony cane. Above, a bird flitted around his head, rough fluttering its wings in his face.
From another part of the foyer, something rushed forward and sank fangs into his calf. Rather than releasing the leg, the dog shook it violently, pulling him off of his feet.
Defeated, Melvin Edwards crawled out of the house, past the broken screen door. The old crone with the ebony cane stood over him and snarled in her high, thin voice. “What can we expect from that man? He did break the widow’s wrist.” Looking up, he saw surprisingly young-looking blue eyes glare down at him in accusation.
None of this was fair. Didn’t they understand that he was the victim? People stood in his way. Tried to keep him from what should be his.
It just wasn’t fair!
Inside the house, Ginger watched Melvin pull himself upright before he teetered from the porch and off into the dark night. Once she was sure the man had left and wouldn’t do something crazy like set the house on fire, she turned back to her friends.
Mari Lisa fussed over her cousin. Mrs. Hooper put a soothing arm around her cousin to calm the woman down, assuring Mari Lisa that the fall hadn’t hurt her at all.
Mrs. Perkins, dressed in a borrowed nightgown and wrapper, stood halfway down the stairs. She’d pressed herself against the wall, but now straightened her shoulders and finished descending.
“It did my heart some good to see the bully get his comeuppance.” She admitted with some shame in her voice. “Though, I know we ain’t to repay evil with evil. Still, seems like you ladies was protecting, not revenging.”
Ginger laughed. “Good way to put it, Mrs. Perkins.”
Mrs. Hooper looked toward them and then inclined her head in the direction of the kitchen. “Ladies, I think a soothing cup of chamomile is called for. Something my dear mama used to recommend on nig
hts like this one.”
As one, they agreed and moved to the room in the back of the large house. Anything to pass this anxiety-filled night. Theo had left after hiding the files. Before going out the door, he explained about the gang’s change in plans.
He’d put a hand to Ginger’s heavily powdered cheek and smiled down at her. “Do you see what this means, dear Ginger? The Lord allowed me to overhear. He’s opening the way for the gang to be defeated even though they’ve changed plans twice to outsmart anyone who might try to stop them.”
The hand on her cheek moved to grip hers. Squeezing it gently, he grinned. “God willing, this will be over soon.”
Chapter 17
For Theo, the worst part was the waiting.
They knew what the gang planned. Rather than stopping them, the army lieutenant and Bass Reeves agreed that Collins and the others had to be allowed to strike. Then, they could be tried for the robbery instead of merely conspiring to rob the army detail.
Reeves laughed at the lawyer as he quietly grumbled and fidgeted. “Good thing you’re a different kind of lawman than me. You’d never be able to lay low and wait for the man you’re hunting.”
Theo stared at him and then snorted. “Yep, we have different callings. I don’t like the danger. This all has been too much excitement for me.”
The soft call of a morning dove broke the silence that hung in the early morning air. “There’s the signal. The soldiers will be on the move now.”
Grabbing a spy glass from his saddle bags, Reeves shimmied up a tree. Once he was on solid ground again, the man gave his companion a satisfied look.
“Yes, sir. Collins is there, hiding behind the bunch of shrubs. My colt and I are gonna go say howdy to him.”
Unarmed and ill-prepared to join the battle, Theo hunkered down. He waited and prayed. While he knew he’d fulfilled the part God called to play in stopping these men and, hopefully, sparing lives today, still he wanted to join in. Common sense and the hope of a future with Ginger kept him in hiding and out of the action.
In the end, Reeves managed to capture Collins immediately after that man yelled for his men to shoot the soldiers escorting the gold shipment. He had the man gagged and tied up quickly so he couldn’t give the outlaw further orders. The men around him fired, but the escort had been warned about the attack. They’d already moved behind their mounts and returned fire.
In very little time, the gang members had surrendered. The fear, the threats, and all the planning made this moment seem anticlimactic. Almost disappointing for anyone who enjoyed danger and excitement.
To Theo, it came as a huge relief. Now, only Melvin’s arrest remained. And that should be easy. After all, he wasn’t a murderer like these men.
“That is not good. Not good at all. Shoot!” Concern deepened Bass Reeves’ already low voice. “He’s on to us if he came here and tried to search the place.
Reeves leaned against the marble mantle in Mrs. Hooper’s parlor and frowned. Mari Lisa fluttered her hands and looked frightened by this large man’s frown. Ginger, too, started twisting her hands.
This had been Theo’s idea. He’d sought out Bass and was anxious to see an end to this. “What should we expect now? Do we go to his rooms above the office?”
With fingers under his chin and one across his mouth, Bass stood deep in thought for a moment. “He’ll make a move to get those files back. The deeds are in them, right?”
Theo had read through the files after returning to town with the army detail and the outlaws. The deeds and even notes on how Melvin planned to obtain the land in each case were included in the folders.
“Yes. They’re there along with the evidence you’ll need. I also have Mrs. Perkins’ affidavit, attesting to Melvin’s actions.”
Bass nodded. “Good. I’ll haul him to Judge Parker along with Collins.”
“What about the rest of the gang?”
With a shake of his head, Bass denied that. “Can’t take them all. The army’ll take over with them.”
An odd voice yelled Theo’s name from outside. It sounded familiar, yet he couldn’t place it. Pushing aside the lacy curtain, he saw Melvin standing in front of the house. And, he wasn’t alone.
Amy May Snap whimpered as Theo watched Melvin grind the gun barrel against her temple. Whispering to Bass, Theo asked, “What do we do? He’s got a pregnant hostage out there.”
“Stay outta sight, kinda to the left of the window and talk to him.”
Without watching Melvin as he spoke, Theo yelled to him. “What are you doing with that poor woman?”
He wanted to make a comment about the man picking on widows. Good sense prevailed. Now wasn’t the time to anger the other man. A woman’s life hung in the balance.
The man screeched his response, high and loud. “You took my things. I know it. Give ‘em to me and you can have the woman.”
Bass moved his right hand in a gesture that indicated Theo should keep Melvin talking. Struggling to know what to say, words suddenly entered his head.
“You’re headed down the wrong path, Melvin. It’s not too late to give everything back. Be the lawyer you took an oath to be.”
Maniacal laughter floated on the heavy July air. “That got me nothin’. Never found a wealthy woman to marry like your father did, I guess.” The last sentence held a note of acid in it. Theo ignored the jab at his parents and waited.
Melvin didn’t keep him waiting for long. “The woman’s gonna get it real quick if you aren’t out here with my deeds. Railroad’s comin’ next week to buy those from me.”
“They’re not really yours, Melvin. Think about your soul, man, not about wealth. God’s giving you a chance to make things right before it’s too late.”
Amy May screamed as a loud snap jolted everyone in the house. Throwing safety to the wind, Theo looked out the window. What he saw had him racing to the front door.
Willard stood over Melvin’s prone form. The man’s neck lay at an impossible angle. Not looking at the man he’d killed, Willard whimpered and clung to his mother’s skirt.
Amy May sobbed into Ginger’s shoulder while Willard crouched, attempting to wiggle in between them. Theo listened as Ginger softly soothed both as she moved them toward the house. Mrs. Hooper had her hands full comforting her hysterical cousin.
Squatting by the body, Theo looked up at the marshal. “None of us knew just how little time Melvin really did have. Never forget that in your own life, marshal.”
For once, Bass’ toothy grin was absent. “Guess Judge Parker won’t get this one. You able to get the deeds back to families that lawyer cheated?”
“Yes. Most of them, anyhow.” Theo stood. “The real issue at hand is Willard. You planning to haul him to Judge Parker.”
Reeves looked at the youth’s back as he disappeared into the house with Ginger. “Wilikers but the kid’s strong. Where’s he live?”
Theo knew from those words that Willard must really have impressed the big man. Reeves himself possessed a super-human strength.
“The hostage was his mother. They live on Ginger’s farm and are shirttail relations.” He met Bass’ eyes. “The kid actually does all of the farm chores. He’s very trainable.”
“You really suppose they can train him not to kill?” The words were said without a trace of sarcasm. Bass genuinely wanted to know if Theo thought Willard might kill again.
Crossing his arms, Theo scowled. “You got to the core of the apple with that question, Reeves.”
Honesty forced him to answer. So, Theo shook his head and admitted, “No, I don’t. This is the second person he’s killed. True, it’s always in defense of himself or others. But, if he goes after someone, they die.”
A sigh of weariness and defeat whistled out of Bass Reeves’ mouth. “He’ll hang if he keeps killing people. Any way you can make a prison for him out on that farm?
“Keep him penned up, you mean? He could still do chores so he’d be productive. A provider of sorts for his mother.” T
heo rubbed a hand along his stubbly jaw. “That would take a lot of fence.”
A ghost of a smile twitched at the marshal’s lips. “Maybe Melvin Edwards left enough money to pay for a fence.”
Chapter 18
The most beautiful woman in the world sat across from him on a patchwork quilt. Since he’d missed the 4th of July picnic, Theo had purchased fried chicken and cookies from the café and invited his girl out for a picnic.
They’d spread the quilt behind the large, white boarding house that had come to mean so much to both of them. Mrs. Hooper observed the proprieties by chaperoning them from her chair on the back porch. She and Mari Lisa rocked and fanned while Mouse panted as he lay by their feet.
Looking at the contented dog, Ginger thought about Blue. If they built a fence around the farm yard, the dog would no longer be able to race through the fields. Of course, she rarely left Willard’s side so perhaps that wouldn’t matter to her.
What to do about Willard? No one could decide on that. Amy May refused to send him to an asylum. When Bass Reeves suggested it, the woman became hysterical. Mari Lisa had joined with her own hysterical wailing so that the marshal stomped away. He never once brought up the subject again before he left town.
Right now, Whitey Nielsen agreed to live at the farm. His father agreed that the boy needed to take Wiley’s place until the harvest was in. After all, accident or not, he’d caused the man’s death.
With Whitey there, Ginger felt confident that Willard would stay out of trouble. He would follow Whitey in the fields to work, something he’d done with Ginger many times. Willard did love to work.
“Where have your thoughts got to, lovely lady?”
The man across from her gave her an almost shy smile. “Sorry, Theo. My thoughts went to a farm just outside of town.”
He nodded in understanding. “They’ll be okay, at least for now. The will proves the farm is yours. That it was left to both you and your brother. We’ll take care of problems in the future, if they come up.”
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