A Horsewoman for Harlan

by Barbara Goss

  Billy shrugged again. “I don’t know. Big… very big.”

  Elise asked, “Did he have a beard?”

  Billy nodded. “Scar.” Billy ran his hand along his left cheek.

  Elise stood. “You know what, Billy? If we find this bad man, he’s going to get locked up, so don’t you worry about him. You are a hero, and you might just be the one to save little Millie. I’m going to find this man and bring Millie home. You are so smart and brave.”

  Billy smiled.

  Elise headed for the livery, where she barged into the owner’s office.

  The owner, startled by her abrupt entry, simply stared at her.

  “I’m looking for a big man that works here.”

  The man laughed. “All our men are big. What’s his name?”

  “I don’t know, but he has a beard and a scar on his cheek.” Elise ran her finger down her left cheek. “That’s all I know. Someone saw him grab Millie Tanner at the church picnic.”

  “Ah,” the man said as he leaned back in his chair and slid his thumbs under his belt. “I heard about that kidnapping. That would be Pete Swanson. I fired him two weeks ago for coming in to work drunk. He’s a no good... well, he’s rotten as they come.”

  Elise felt hopeful. She had a name. “Do you know where I can find him?”

  “He used to have a room at the boarding house next to the saloon.”

  Elise turned to leave, but she stopped and asked one final question: “Is he the type of man who would... hurt a little girl?”

  The man shook his head. “I never saw him hurt anyone, but he’ll do anything for money.”

  Elise thought about going to the boarding house, but she felt unsure if that was wise. If the man was dangerous, should she go to his home alone? She walked to Sheriff Smith Conn’s office with the hope he’d accompany her.

  When she reached his office, it was closed, but there was a note on the door. It read that he was out with his posse. Of course, they were looking for T.J.’s ranch. Now, what should she do?

  Pedro and Clay had also gone with Harlan and the sheriff.

  She stood on the wooden walkway, not knowing what to do. She had no weapon.

  Elise turned and headed for the general store.

  Once there, she walked the store's wooden floor looking for something she could use as a weapon. An umbrella? No, not sharp enough. The knives were household paring knives; they wouldn’t help either. She felt defeated as there wasn’t a thing she could use. She walked down the last aisle and spotted an ax. Perfect. She bought it.

  After she’d paid for it, she wasn’t sure how to carry it without the whole town seeing her marching with it to the boarding house, so she went to the back of the store and picked out a black cape.

  After tucking the ax handle under her belt at the back of her skirt, she put the cape over her shoulders.

  Now, she was ready.

  Harlan, Clay, Sheriff Conn, and his pose had searched every ranch and farm from Russell to Hunter’s Grove. They were exhausted. When they were about to give up and halt the search, Clay spotted something far off the main road.

  “That looks like a small ranch.”

  Everyone shielded their eyes and squinted. It was barely visible.

  “Let’s check it out,” Harlan said. Everyone followed.

  When they'd reached the house, they noticed the land was barren of crops, and there wasn't even a single head of cattle. As the sheriff dismounted, he said, “I hope the owner is all right. There’s no sign saying the place is for sale, yet it looks empty.”

  Harlan ran up and knocked on the door, which flew open. He and the other men entered to find the house empty. The furnishings were old and musty, reminiscent of how an elderly person might live. Several worn pipes were sitting on the fireplace, and a nicely carved cane laid on the kitchen floor.

  An empty valise sat in the corner of one of the bedrooms. Harlan picked it up and saw initials on the handle: T.J.A. He couldn’t recall T.J.’s last name, but he knew it was his bag. “This is the place,” he said to the others.

  Clay looked at the valise and said, “They got away with Millie.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Elise approached the run-down boarding house. She knocked timidly on the front door, which was opened by a sweet-looking, full-bodied woman with a cheerful smile.

  “Hello, dear. I don’t have any rooms to rent right now.”

  “I’m not looking for a room,” Elise explained. “I’m looking for one of your boarders.”

  “Which one?”

  “His name is Pete Swanson.”

  “I know who you mean. I call him the big guy. He doesn’t have a room here, but he rents the small shack behind the house. This house was once owned by a very wealthy family and the shack was where the maids slept.”

  Elise nervously waited for her to stop chattering and show her where the shack was. “Excuse me, I need to see Mr. Swanson—can you show me where the shack is?”

  “Certainly, I will.” Her chubby cheeks dimpled when she smiled. Elise thought that under different circumstances, they might become friends.

  “You can come right through the house to the back door.” She held the door open wide for Elise to enter.

  Elise followed the woman through several rooms until they reached the back door. The woman opened it and pointed. “There.”

  She eyed the dilapidated shack before thanking the woman, walked slowly toward the door, and knocked so loudly the wood of the door rattled. No one answered, but she heard a muffled voice inside.

  “Millie?” she yelled.

  The muffled voice grew louder.

  Elise knew Millie was inside. She rattled the doorknob, but the door was locked. She turned and ran to the boarding house's back door and pounded on it.

  “What’s the matter?” the woman came out to ask.

  “Do you have a key for the shack?”

  “Yes, but I couldn’t—”

  Elise had never spoken to anyone harshly, but she had to get Millie, and she was anxious to see if she’d been harmed. In her most intimidating voice, she said, “Oh, yes you can. A little girl has been kidnapped, and she’s being held in that shack. You must open the door immediately.”

  “Dear me. All right, then. Let me find the key,” the woman said. She returned moments later with a large key. She handed it to Elise, and followed closely behind her to the shack.

  The key was rusty and so was the lock, but after several tries, the door flew open. There, on the bed, tied to the post, was Millie, her eyes wide and teary.

  Elise ran to her and pulled the kerchief from her mouth.

  “Elise! He cut my braid.”

  Elise nearly laughed as she struggled with the ropes to untie her. All that bothered Millie about the whole scenario was her hair?

  The landlady stood in the doorway, her hands to her face. “Can I help?”

  “Yes,” Elise said, “you can untie her feet.”

  Finally, Millie was untied.

  “Are you all right?” Elise asked, hugging her.

  “He slapped me silly and cut my hair, but I’m all right.”

  Elise looked upward and murmured, “Thank you, Lord,” before helping Millie to her feet. “I’m taking you home, sweetheart.”

  Harlan, Clay, the sheriff, and his posse trampled through the old farmhouse but found no one and no clues.

  “T.J. did mention his crew took cattle on a drive to Topeka, but he didn’t go.” Harlan added, “If there’s money from the cattle drive, then T.J. will be heading that way to get his cut.”

  “All right. I’ll send half my posse to Topeka,” Sheriff Conn said.

  “Wait!” Clay said. “I hear someone riding up the path to the house.”

  The sheriff ordered, “Everyone to the kitchen where we can’t be seen. Good thing we left our horses in the back. Hopefully, whoever it is won’t see them.”

  The men crouched behind a pantry door and peeked around it to see who might enter the hous
e.

  “It’s a lone rider,” Sheriff Conn said. “He’s tying his horse.”

  It was only minutes before they heard pounding on the door.

  “Is that T.J.?” the sheriff asked Harlan.

  “No. I don’t know this man.”

  One of the men in the posse chanced a look and said, “That’s Swanson.”

  “Who?” Sheriff Conn asked.

  “He used to work at the livery. He’s a no-good drifter who’ll do anything for money.”

  “Is that right? Hmm...” the sheriff murmured. “Harlan, go out there and see what he wants. Pretend you’re one of T.J.’s men.”

  Harlan holstered his gun and went to the front door. “Who are you, and what’s your business here?”

  Swanson said, “I’m looking for T.J. He owes me money.”

  “For what?” Harlan asked.

  “For this.” Swanson held up Millie’s braid.

  Harlan felt faint, but he knew he had to keep his composure. He leaned on the doorjamb to keep from falling, but he couldn’t mask his pale face. It took him minutes to respond.

  “Well?” Swanson yelled. “Where is he?”

  “What did you do with the little girl?”

  “She’s tied up in my house. If I don’t get my money, I’m letting her go free. She’s kicked and bit me enough for one day. She’s a wild cat.”

  Harlan felt his blood circulate again. Millie was all right, but he needed to think fast. He opened the door wide and invited the man inside. “T.J.’s not here, but he left your money. It’s in the kitchen on the table. Help yourself to it—you earned it.”

  Swanson walked swiftly into the kitchen where the sheriff grabbed him and tied his hands behind him. The irate man cussed up a storm.

  On the sheriff’s way out with Swanson, he called, “Half my men are going to Topeka. The rest will stay here. Harlan, you and Clay can go get your little girl. Swanson said his house is behind the boarding house.”

  Harlan and Clay rode like the wind to get to Swanson’s place to rescue Millie. When they got there and found the house empty, they felt defeated.

  “What now?” Clay asked. “I can see she was here—the ropes are still tied to the bedposts.”

  Harlan took a close look around as if he might find a clue, but there was nothing. He sighed. “Let’s go home, Clay. We haven’t slept in days. Maybe Millie somehow broke loose and is on her way home.”

  “I’ll be praying for her safety all the way home,” Clay said.

  “That’s a good idea,” Harlan replied. “It’s getting dark. I hate to think of her wandering around in the dark, but she knows her way home.”

  Harlan and Clay burst into the house and stopped short just inside the kitchen when they saw Millie drinking milk and eating cookies with Martha and Elise.

  “She’s safe,” Harlan exclaimed.

  “Thank God,” Clay said. “Tell us what happened.”

  Elise calmly told them how she found Millie and freed her. Still angry with Elise for having brought that man to their home, Harlan simply nodded, thinking how fitting it was that she had been the one to rescue Millie—Elise had caused the problem, and she should have been the one to solve it.

  “They still haven’t caught T.J. and his friends, but Sheriff Conn has Swanson locked up. I nearly fainted when he held up Millie’s braid.”

  “Martha and I have an idea for a new hairdo for Millie. I think she’ll love it,” Elise said.

  Harlan noticed that Elise didn't look him in the face when she spoke. If she felt guilty over this, she should. He wondered how he’d overcome his anger enough to work with her again.

  Harlan put his arms around Millie. “I was so scared. Thank God, you’re safe.”

  Millie looked up at him. “I was scared, too, Papa. I thought I’d never see my family again. I kicked and bit that man, but he was stronger than I was. When I was tied to the bed, I wanted to sleep, but I heard mice or rats running around. I prayed so hard, and suddenly, Elise was there to save me. I love her.

  “Let’s go up to bed, Elise. I’m tired, and I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed again.”

  Elise held her arms out to Millie. “Would you like for me to sleep with you in your bed tonight?”

  “Oh, yes! I’d feel safer in your arms.”

  “Say your goodnights, then,” Elise said, “and we’ll go up.”

  “I put fresh washing water and towels in your room,” Martha said.

  Harlan kissed Millie. “I love you,” he told her. He watched as she skipped alongside Elise until they disappeared up the stairs.

  Martha sighed. “Thank God for Elise. That little girl sure loves her.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  T.J. and Troy met their cattleman just a few miles south of Topeka. They split the money, and the cattleman rode away. T.J. told Troy, “Bring out those hidden horses. I can’t wait to see what we can sell them for.”

  Troy brought the hidden horses out from behind some large bushes about a half mile away. When he joined T.J. , he said, “How do we go about selling quality stock like this?”

  T. J. grinned and gave him a wink. “I know a man, a very rich one. He lives in Lawrence, not far from Topeka. He’s half Cherokee, and he breeds and shows horses. He knows his horseflesh.”

  “Will we ever go back to the ranch or Hunter’s Grove?”

  “Now, why would we want to do that?” T. J. asked.

  Troy shuffled his feet with his head down. “I’m sweet on a saloon woman there, and I thought we’d be going back.”

  “There’s someone I’m sweet on, too, in Russell, so we might go back, but I’d first have to find out if the law there is on to us or not. They might not suspect who stole the horses. If that’s the case, I’m planning on stealing more horses and maybe the sweet horsewoman, too.”

  Troy grinned. “I’ll be rich enough to persuade Sadie to marry me.”

  “Very rich,” T. J. said. “Now, let’s get the horses to Lawrence.”

  Elise noticed Harlan’s coolness, and it made her angry. She had no idea T.J. was a crook, and hadn’t she single-handedly rescued Millie besides? Just when she’d become fond of him, this had to happen. There were no more walks or any one-on-one conversations with him. Millie was, of course, the bright spot in her days.

  They were sitting on a rock overlooking the creek studying some of the plants when Millie blurted out, “Why don’t you and my papa like each other anymore?”

  Elise was quick to answer since it had been constantly on her mind. “He blames me for bringing T.J. to the ranch.”

  “But T.J. wasn’t the one who kidnapped me.”

  “Yes, but he was being paid by T.J. and his friend to do it. Then, while we were out hunting for you, they stole the horses, just as they'd planned.”

  “But you didn’t know he was an outlaw.”

  “I know, Millie, but I ought not have talked to a stranger on the train, no less practically invite him to our ranch.”

  “Is the law just going to let them get away with it?” Millie asked.

  “The sheriff sent quite a few men after them. They got Swanson to tell them they were headed for Topeka. I pray every night they catch T.J., and getting our horses back would, perhaps, soften your papa up.”

  Millie sat for a while, playing idly with a shiny stone before saying, “I have a confession to make.”

  “What?” Elise wasn’t sure what the child would say next, but by the way Millie had said it, she knew it wouldn’t be good.

  “I wanted you to become my mama.”

  Elise sat frozen for several moments. “You what?”

  “I want you to be my mama. I love you, Elise.”

  Elise blinked back tears while hugging Millie. “I love you, too, but it’s impossible for me to become your mama. Your papa has already adopted you.”

  “I wanted you to marry him.”

  Elise froze in her hug with Millie. “Oh, sweetheart, you can’t plan something like that.”

 
Millie pulled away and asked, “Why not?”

  “Well, let’s have a talk about relationships.”

  Millie drew up her legs and wrapped her arms around them. “All right.”

  “A marriage is performed when a couple fall in love, and they want to spend the rest of their lives together. Like isn’t strong enough of a bond—it has to be love. Your papa doesn’t love me. In fact, right now, he sort of dislikes me altogether.”

  “But Elise, I think he liked you a lot before that happened. I could tell by the way he looked at you and smiled. I just know it.” Millie frowned. “It’s that scoundrel T.J. that spoiled everything.”

  “He sure did. I’m sorry I told him where I would be staying. I don’t blame your papa for being angry. He almost lost you, as well as his best and most valuable horses.”

  Millie cocked her head at Elise. “You miss Papa, don’t you?”

  “Don’t be silly.”

  “You aren’t as happy as you once were. I think that’s one of the things Papa liked about you, Elise—you brought so much joy into our home.”

  “Thank you, Millie.”

  “Didn’t you love my papa just a little?”

  “I wouldn’t call it love. Love needs time to nurture and grow, but I did—do—like him a lot. He’s a good man. I know why you’re so proud of him.”

  “Elise, do you wish he’d stop being angry with you?”

  “Of course, I do. I love my job, and I love living here. I have a feeling that I'll be looking for another job after the auction.”

  “Oh, no, Elise, that can’t happen. You can’t let that happen. You will be my mama someday. I just know it because I pray for it every single night.”

  Harlan rode into town every morning to find out if there was any news about T.J. and his friend. So far, nothing. As for Swanson, he was locked up in a cell.

  Nothing was the same around the ranch. Millie was sullen and moody, Martha was polite, but she seemed to hold back her judgment. He could tell by the way she pressed her lips together most of the time to remind herself to keep her opinion to herself. Elise was also quiet and kept herself busy, training one horse after another. He wondered if she was anxious to get her job done so she could leave. Surprisingly, the thought put a lump in his throat. No more Elise? She’d become a fixture in the family. He knew Millie adored her, and Martha, as well. So, that made him the villain... or so he felt. Millie and Martha looked at him differently, and Elise didn’t look at him at all. He didn’t think she was angry with him; he thought she felt guilty. The house was void of its usual laughter and liveliness.