"I'm coming," she said as she walked down the stairs. "I did hear you, Becky."
"But you didn't answer."
Becky went to the kitchen as Marian went to the dining room. When she walked in, Evan looked up and his heart began to beat faster. The girl in the picture he'd carried for twenty years had come to life.
Chapter 50
James and Evan stood.
"Marian, this is Evan Morgan. Louise..."
James continued to talk, but Marian didn't hear a word he said. Her heart was pounding so loudly that it drowned out all other sounds in the room. Her eyes were riveted on Evan's face and she couldn't believe he was there, in her dining room in Colorado, alive and well. When the initial shock wore off, it was replaced by a slow burning anger, and Marian returned to her senses. She sat and the men took their seats, too.
"So this afternoon, Evan and I are going out to look for the man with Pete and whoever else he can get to help," James said.
"What?" Marian asked.
"We have to look for the man," James said.
"What man?"
"The man who killed Grady," Jimmy said.
"Someone killed Grady?" Marian asked.
"Yes, Mama," Hannah said. "They found him in the woods this morning. Well, Mr. Morgan found him."
Marian looked at Evan again. He was staring back at her. Her mouth felt dry.
"Hannah, pleased pass me the pitcher," she said.
Hannah handed Marian the water pitcher and she poured herself a glass. She drank, but it didn't help. Hannah noticed the strange look on her mother's face and wondered if she was still upset.
Earlier, Marian had told Hannah that the doctor had gone.
"Why?" Hannah asked. "I thought he was having dinner with us."
"He said he had forgotten to check on a patient and had to go."
"But he never said a word in the buggy."
"He had forgotten, Hannah, that's all. He remembered when we were sitting on the porch. He apologized and asked me to tell you."
The tone of Marian's voice made Hannah feel as though there was more to Owen's departure than Marian would say, but Hannah didn't question her further. Marian left her to go to her private room, and Hannah helped Becky in the kitchen, but she couldn't stop thinking about her mother. She couldn't think of any reason Marian would be upset, but still, she had been short with Hannah.
In her room, Marian wrapped her arms around herself and paced the floor. Meeting Owen that morning had stirred up memories that Marian wanted to forget. His haughty attitude and the way he talked about Hannah reminded her of Randall. She had watched Hannah closely to see if her daughter was mindful of what to Marian was outright arrogance, but Hannah seemed unaware that he was being anything but polite. But Hannah was young and inexperienced, and from what Marian could see, taken with the handsome, young doctor. She wouldn't notice the subtle signs that were so obvious to Marian.
It had been many years since Marian had been subjected to the type of snobbery she detected in Owen. She had been eighteen when her father arranged her marriage to Randall. Her parents were eager to see her wed to Randall. The marriage would raise their social standing. After his family snubbed their wedding, Randall had sequestered her away in New Beach where she raised Hannah alone while he consorted with women of ill-repute.
One day Marian's parents arrived at her door for a visit and to see the new baby, little Hannah. While she and her mother were alone, her mother looked at the small parlor and began to weep.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Marian asked.
"It's this house. Oh, Marian, it's all anyone talks about."
Marian was vexed. Why would anyone talk about her house?
"Who talks about my house?"
"That woman, Randall's mother. She tells people he's hidden you here because he's ashamed of you."
"That's a terrible thing to say," Marian said. Now, she, too, had tears in her eyes.
"She says terrible things about Hannah, too. She says she's...ugly."
"But she's never even seen her! How can she say such things?"
Marian was more upset that her mother-in-law would talk about her innocent child than about her contempt for Marian. She stood and began to pace while her mother sobbed.
"I don't understand any of this."
"I begged your father to call off the wedding, but he wouldn't listen. He thought she would welcome him as one of her own. He's devastated now."
Marian's anger flared. "He's devastated?" she said. "Has he given a thought to his granddaughter? Or to me?"
"Oh, Marian, he's been asked to leave his club. They said he had become an embarrassment. But he knows Randall's mother is behind it. She hates that Randall married you and wants to hurt us."
Marian felt like a fool. She remembered her wedding. She had been numb that day. She was heartbroken over Evan. She was marrying a man she didn't love and barely knew. When her mother told her Mrs. Dawes had snubbed them, Marian hadn't understood what that meant to her. Now, she did.
After her parents left for Philadelphia, Marian cried alone in her private room. Randall rarely came home. He had no interest in Hannah. Becky hadn't yet become her friend. The only person she had in the world was Hannah. She kept thinking over and over, I'm not good enough. I'll never be good enough. It made her feel worthless.
As time passed, she grew less concerned about Randall's mother. She liked New Beach and soon became glad that she and Hannah were free to live as they chose. Marian vowed to protect Hannah from those who would hurt her. She would never let anyone tell Hannah she wasn't good enough.
Chapter 51
Hannah looked at Evan. He hadn't said a word, but James kept talking about Grady. He couldn't get over the boy's murder. Hannah had never seen James angry. He always found the positive side of any situation and tried to settle things peaceably. To hear him talk about catching the man who did it with such vehemence amazed her. As she looked from one to the other, she noticed Adam staring at her. She felt her cheeks redden.
"I thought that doctor was coming to dinner," he said.
"He had to tend a patient," Hannah replied.
Hannah turned and looked at Marian. She was moving her food around her plate, but Hannah hadn't seen her eat a bite. Something strange was going on.
"Can I come with you?" Jimmy said. "I can fire a gun."
"You're not going anywhere," Marian said.
"Your ma's right, son," Evan said. "This is a dangerous man. You're too young to go after him."
"Tom says I'm the best shot he's ever seen for an eleven-year-old."
"That's high praise, Jimmy," James said, "but you still can't come with us."
"But I can help."
"You're not going and that's final!" Marian cried.
There's that tone again, Hannah thought.
Why does everyone treat me like a baby? Jimmy thought.
Marian looked at Evan. "I'm sorry, Mr. Morgan."
"No need to apologize," Evan said.
Marian pushed herself away from the table.
"If you will excuse me," she said.
She stood and left the room, and soon they heard her going up the stairs.
Evan had barely touched his food, either, and he stood.
"I think I'll wait outside."
After he left, Becky gasped and put her hand to her mouth.
"What is it, Becky?" James asked.
"I remember him. I know who he is."
"What do you mean you know him?"
"He's the man she wanted to marry before she married Hannah's pa. He went away to the Indian Wars and she never heard from him again. It broke her heart."
"So that's why she was acting so strangely," Hannah said, remembering the photograph of the soldier she'd seen when they were moving to Colorado.
"Oh, dear. I can't believe it," Becky said.
"Can I leave now?" Jimmy asked.
"Yes," James said.
"Do you think I should go see her?" Hannah asked.<
br />
"I'd leave her alone for a while," Becky said. "Help me get these dishes off the table."
"I guess dinner's over," James said. He looked into Hannah's eyes. "You don't leave the house. Not for anything, do you understand?"
"Yes," Hannah said.
"I don't know when we'll be back," he said. He looked at Becky. "I'll see you when I get back. Lock the doors after we leave."
Adam looked at Hannah. He looked sad and she tried to think of something encouraging to say but all she could think of was "Be careful."
"I'll make sure he comes back," Adam said.
"You come back," Hannah said without thinking.
"I'll come back, too."
Becky began grabbing plates from the table and took them to the kitchen before Hannah could see the tears in Becky's eyes.
"Son," James said as he and Adam passed Jimmy on the porch. "I want you to go inside and protect the women."
"If I see him, can I shoot him?"
"If he points a gun at you, you can shoot him. Now, go inside."
Jimmy stood and went into the house. Evan was sitting on Old Mike. James climbed on Ulysses while Adam went to the stable to get Blue.
"Meet us by the road," James said as he and Evan rode away.
Pete and his posse of one were waiting for them at the road.
"Only one man?" James said.
"It's Sunday. The womenfolk won't let their men fight on Sunday."
"Don't they know he killed Grady?" James asked.
"He wasn't their ranch hand."
"Earl," James said to the other man. "Glad you could help us."
"Grady owed me a beer," Earl said. "I'm taking it outta that Frenchy's hide."
"I guess that's as good a reason as any to go after him," Pete said.
"Where do we start?" Evan asked James.
"These woods cover most of the mountain. If he's been here a while, he's probably been holed up somewhere where he could sleep and eat. You get any reports of drifters, Pete?"
"Nope. Nobody come complainin' to me."
"That old sheep ranch would be the perfect place to hide," said James.
"Darn sheep," Earl said and spit.
"They're gone, Earl. Nothing but little sheep ghosts out there now," James said, smiling.
"Darn sheep ghosts," Earl replied.
Adam rode up and stopped beside James.
"Let's move out," Pete said, taking the lead.
They rode through the woods and over the hill where Hannah did her painting. They went through the woods on the other side of the hill and rode until they came to the abandoned farm. There was no smoke coming out of the chimney, and they couldn't see a horse or any signs of life.
"Let's take a look," James said.
James took the lead and urged Ulysses forward. He passed the shearing shed and was halfway across the pasture on the side of the house when they heard a shot. James fell off Ulysses and Adam slid off Blue and ran to him. Another shot rang out, causing Pete and Earl to race back to the woods. James had been hit in the shoulder. The bullet had gone clean through and the wound was bleeding in front and in back.
Adam dragged James to the old shearing shed. He took off his shirt, put it over James's wound, and held it there as he tried to stop the bleeding.
Pete crawled up to them.
"I gotta get the horses," Adam said.
"I'll cover you," Pete said. He had his gun in his hand. "But I don't think he wants to shoot your horse."
"No. I gotta take him home."
Adam was angry. He wanted to catch the man and beat the living tar out of him.
You wanna make a run for 'em?"
Adam looked over the top of the shed. A bullet whizzed past his head and he ducked.
"We could try and flush him out," Pete said.
"Like how, like start a fire?"
"Too close to the woods."
"Then how?"
"Let me think on it, will you?"
Evan joined them. He also had his gun in his hand.
"We gotta flush him out," Evan said.
"No kiddin'?" Pete said.
"We could set the house on fire."
"Did you two discuss this before I got here?" Pete asked.
"No," Adam said. "He's bleeding hard. I gotta take him back."
"We ain't settin' no fire."
"Then what do you suggest?" Evan asked.
"I say someone goes through the woods and comes out in back of the house. Someone goes to the front. He sees the man in front and runs out the back."
"But what if he shoots the man in front?" Adam said.
"That's a chance I'm willing to take," Pete said. "Adam, you go to the front. I'm gonna take the back."
Adam looked at Evan, who had a big smile on his face.
"Don't listen to him, Adam. He's joshing with you."
Pete crawled back to the woods where his horse was waiting for him. He climbed on him lickety split and rode through the woods coming out at the back of the house. Evan watched the house to see if there was any movement by the windows.
"You can't see anything in those windows," he said.
"They're all covered but for the one over the kitchen sink," Adam said. "I've been in there. This side is the kitchen. He must be at that window."
"Is there any place he wouldn't be able to see?"
"I'm trying to remember. I think the other side of the house is a solid wall."
"And if I follow Pete I can get there?"
Adam nodded. His hands were covered in James's blood.
"Take my horse and take him home," Evan said.
Adam kept his head low as he dragged James to the woods. He saw Old Mike tied to a tree branch and hoisted James onto his back. He got on and rode as fast as he could back to the ranch.
Evan crawled to the woods, then he stood and looked to his left. He didn't see Pete, but it wasn't hard to reason that if you turned left, you would end up behind the house.
He found Pete shortly thereafter. He was staring at something. The door of the house was open.
"I think he skedaddled," Pete said. "Orn' he'd be shooting at us."
"Let's go in," Evan said.
"I'm going after him."
"How're you gonna find him in these woods?"
"I'm gonna follow the tracks."
Evan looked down and saw hoof prints in the dirt.
"What if they stop?"
"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," Pete said as he rode away.
He'll probably shoot you first, you stubborn little man, Evan thought.
He held his gun in front of him as he approached the house. It was quiet, but that didn't mean Pierre had gone. It could be a trap with Pierre waiting near the wall for him. He went to the side of the house and looked in the kitchen window. The room was empty. Then he walked around to the front.
He opened the door and went inside. The fireplace was full of ashes. There were papers and old furniture scattered around the room. Evan walked through the house but found no one there. The bandy little sheriff had been right. Pierre had high-tailed it out of there.
He began to shake with frustration. He had him. If he'd had his own people helping him, they would have gotten Pierre. Unlike these country bumpkins, they knew how to apprehend a man.
Evan climbed on Blue, took Ulysses' reins, and headed back toward the ranch. He didn't see Pete and assumed he had gone in the other direction. He wanted to go after Pete but he was unfamiliar with the woods and it would be easy to get lost, so he went the way they had come earlier that day.
Adam rode to the porch of Marian's house. He slid off his horse and began to pull James down. The door flew open and Becky came running out of the house.
"Oh, my God!" she cried. She saw the blood and began to cry. "Oh, please God, no."
"He's alive," Adam said. Becky helped get James over Adam's shoulder and Adam carried him to the settee in the parlor and laid him down. Becky ran for towels and Marian, seeing the blood, ran t
o James' side.
"James!" she cried. "Oh, James."
"He's unconscious," Adam said. "I'm going to get the doc."
"Hurry," Marian said.
Adam jumped on Old Mike's back and sped off down the road. Marian unbuttoned James' shirt and looked at the wound. It was in his right shoulder. Becky brought towels from the kitchen and placed them over the wound. She put more towels behind his back where the bullet had exited.
"Help me pull the settee away from the wall," Becky said.
She and Marian pulled the settee to the middle of the room, and Marian sat on one side with her hand on his back covering the exit wound while Becky kneeled on the floor by his head and put her hand over the wound on his chest. Becky looked at Marian and tears filled her eyes.
"I know, Becky, I know."
"No, you don't know."
"Becky, it's written all over your face when you look at him. I know how you feel about James."
"I've been so afraid to tell you."
"Becky, we're not the Hugheses of Philadelphia anymore. You are my dearest friend. I want you to be happy."
Becky put her forehead on James' forehead. She sobbed for several minutes. Marian cried, too.
Hannah and Jimmy ran into the parlor and Hannah gasped.
"I'll kill him," Jimmy said.
"No!" Marian cried. "Don't you leave this house!"
Jimmy stood clenching and unclenching his fists. Hannah put her arm around him and drew him to her side.
"Don't," she whispered. "Just stay here."
Chapter 52
Pete emerged from the woods near the edge of the south pasture. James hadn't used the pasture since the sheep had been driven over the edge. He was afraid the cows would wander over it, too.
Pete saw a horse standing in the middle of the pasture. He also spied something at the edge of the cliff and rode over to inspect it. He found a pair of shoes and a suit jacket lying near the edge of the cliff and slid off his horse to get a better look.
The evidence suggested the man they were looking for had ridden to the pasture, gotten off his horse, taken off his shoes and jacket, and jumped into the chasm. Pete asked himself why the man would take off his shoes before jumping in. Was it some kind of religious thing? While Pete didn't understand why, he accepted the idea that the man had jumped off the cliff. It made sense. He was filled with remorse over what he had done and ended his life. Pete had seen it before and since he hadn't had his Sunday dinner yet, he decided the case was closed, got back on his horse, and grabbed the other horse's reins. He wanted to see how James was doing before he went home, so he headed to the ranch.
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