When You Are Near

by Tracie Peterson

  “You won’t turn her out, will you?”

  Mother shook her head. “Of course not. She can stay, whether she works in the show or remains here with me.”

  Lizzy kissed her mother again, then took two biscuits and passed the platter to her right. “Thank you. And thank you for last night. I am truly renewed.”

  “As am I,” Mother said, nodding. “I think your father is probably smiling in heaven to see us moving forward and putting our sadness behind us.”

  The conversation around the table mostly lent itself to the upcoming tour. Jason Adler didn’t show up until they were nearly done. He explained that he’d had breakfast with Uncle Oliver in his room.

  “I need to go over some of the show’s details with the crew as soon as they conclude their meal. I’ll wait in the living room.” He left as quickly as he’d appeared.

  “What’s that all about?” Lizzy asked her mother.

  “I believe Jason and Oliver made some changes to the way the acts will be presented. At least, that’s what they were discussing this morning when I took your uncle a tray.”

  Little by little, the ladies excused themselves to seek out Jason. When only Lizzy, Mother, Wes, and Ella remained, Ella’s father pushed back from the table.

  “I don’t wish to seem ungrateful for the lovely meal, but I would like to be on my way back to town.”

  “Of course,” Mother replied. “Feel free to go whenever you choose.”

  Ella’s father frowned. “That isn’t the point. I’ve come for my daughter, as you well know.”

  “Yes, I do realize your purpose here,” Mother said. “However, I also know that the young lady has reached her majority. If she chooses to remain here with us, I am perfectly content with that decision.” She looked at Ella and smiled.

  “She will return home with us,” Mr. Fleming insisted. “I brought the sheriff so there wouldn’t be any trouble.”

  Mother looked at the sheriff. “You know us well enough to know there won’t be trouble. I’m sorry you came all this way. Mr. Fleming and Mr. Spiby were here yesterday, as they might have mentioned. Their daughter told them then that she intended to remain here to perform with the show.”

  The sheriff looked at Mr. Fleming. “You led me to believe your daughter wasn’t of age.”

  “She’s not qualified to make decisions, whether she’s of age or not. She is rather simple-minded, and I am trying to protect her.”

  “From what?” Lizzy couldn’t help interjecting.

  Mother put her hand on Lizzy’s arm. “It’s best that you let them work this out. Why don’t you and Wes meet with the others? I’ll stay here with Ella.”

  Lizzy didn’t want to go, and she was certain Ella didn’t want her to leave. Still, she didn’t want to dishonor her mother by arguing. She put her napkin on the table. “Very well.”

  The minute she stepped outside the dining room, however, Lizzy stopped. Wes nearly ran into her.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  She put her finger to her lips and pulled him away from the door. To her surprise, however, Wes all but dragged her into the living room, where Jason was talking about how Mary and Alice’s act would play out.

  “I think the timing will be better in the long run,” Jason declared. He smiled at Wes and Lizzy as they entered the room. “Ah, Mr. DeShazer. I was hoping you might speak to the group about how you and your men will handle the animals and equipment.”

  Lizzy moved to where Mary sat by the music room door. She waited until Wes had begun talking to nudge Mary. When several of the girls started asking questions of Wes and Jason, Lizzy pulled Mary into the adjoining room.

  “I want to hear what Ella’s father and the others are saying. I figure you want to know as well.”

  Mary nodded.

  Lizzy led her through the music room into the library. From there, they slipped out of the library via the hall door and made their way to the kitchen’s rear entrance. Lizzy spied Irma and put a finger to her lips as she and Mary snuck over to the dining room door. It was open only a fraction, but it was enough to hear what they were saying.

  “I’m sorry you made the trip all the way out here, Sheriff. I can vouch for Miss Fleming’s sound mind. She is not at all feeble nor incapable of reason. I believe her father has only suggested this because he plans for Ella to be married to his business partner.”

  “Is that true, Fleming? Is this the only reason you came here?”

  “She’s my daughter, and I demand she return with us.”

  “She’s twenty-one,” the sheriff replied. “Mrs. Brookstone, I’m sorry for inconveniencing your day.”

  “It wasn’t an inconvenience at all. It was good to see you again.”

  Lizzy and Mary exchanged a glance. Would that put an end to it?

  “I wonder if I might speak privately for a moment with my fiancée?” Jefferson Spiby asked. “Perhaps we could take a walk?”

  “I have no desire to speak with you, Jefferson.” Ella’s voice sounded stronger than earlier. Perhaps she felt confident, given Mother’s support.

  Lizzy opened the door just a little wider to hear better. She knew from where everyone had been sitting earlier that the only person who might notice her was Ella.

  “I’m not asking for much, my dear. I’d simply like to speak to you. If you are still determined to remain here after that, I won’t protest.”

  Ella glanced up and caught sight of Lizzy. She bit her lip as she seemed to contemplate something. Lizzy wondered what she was thinking.

  “Very well,” Ella finally said. “I will take a short walk with you, but keep in mind that it is rather cold outside.” She looked again at Lizzy, then got to her feet. The sound of other chairs moving left no doubt that the men were getting to their feet. “If it’s too cold,” Ella said, meeting Lizzy’s gaze, “I can show you where I train.”

  Lizzy pulled back. “Get our coats. We’re going to follow her. I don’t want Ella to be alone with that madman for even a moment.”

  Mary nodded and quickly left the kitchen. Irma looked at Lizzy with concern. “What are you planning now?”

  “It’s nothing to worry about. If anyone comes looking for us, however, I’d appreciate you not mentioning that we were here.”

  “I won’t lie, Lizzy.”

  “Nor would I ask you to.” Mary returned with their work coats, and Lizzy quickly slipped into hers. “Just don’t volunteer anything.”

  Irma smiled. “I suppose I can do that much.”

  Lizzy and Mary slipped out the back door.

  “It is rather cold out, my dear. Is there someplace we might speak privately without subjecting ourselves to this bitter chill?” Jefferson asked Ella.

  She nodded. She’d seen Lizzy watching her from the kitchen door and prayed that her friend was even now continuing her vigil. “As I mentioned, we can step into the arena where I train.”

  “Honestly, my darling, I don’t know why you would do such a thing. It’s hardly the calling of a proper young woman.”

  “Perhaps I’m not proper.”

  Ella opened the arena door rather than allow Jefferson to do so. She stepped inside, grateful that large windows on either end allowed for decent light. Some of the girls had been training earlier and had lit the large lanterns that further brightened the arena. Ella walked out to the center, knowing that if Lizzy had made it to the equipment room to hide, she’d be able to see what was going on.

  “Say what you wish to say, Jefferson, and let’s be done with it.”

  He looked at her thoughtfully. “You’ve certainly grown bold.”

  She shrugged. “Let’s just say I’ve learned my value.”

  “You hardly dress as if you know it. Look at you.”

  Ella glanced down at her outfit. Today she’d donned a dark navy split skirt that had been banded at the knee like her other performance skirts. On top she wore a loose yellow calico blouse, and over this a canvas coat Lizzy had found for her. Her boots and
gloves completed the outfit.

  “I see nothing wrong with the way I’m dressed.” She looked back up.

  Jefferson scowled. “It’s most inappropriate for a young lady. Especially one who is to be my wife.”

  “Jefferson, I’m going to be training with Lizzy in a few minutes, so it’s quite appropriate that I dress in this manner. If I were attending a formal ball, then it might be different. Furthermore, I am not going to marry you.”

  He stepped toward her, and Ella backed up a few steps and put out her hands. “Stay right there. I won’t be manhandled by you.”

  “You’re wrong there, Ella. On both accounts. You will marry me, and I will handle you as I please.”

  She shook her head. “I have only to scream, and half the hands on this ranch will come to my rescue. Heed my warning, Jefferson.”

  He stopped advancing and cocked his head. “You need to learn your place. Your father has let you have your way long enough. Call for your ranch hands if you must, but I will not allow them to come between me and the arrangement I have with your father.”

  “Your arrangement with Father is just that. Your arrangement. Not mine.” Ella could see she was only making Jefferson angrier, but she didn’t care. Movement behind him gave her confidence that she wasn’t alone. She saw Lizzy and Mary only momentarily, but it was enough to bolster her courage.

  Unfortunately, after taking her eyes off Jefferson, she didn’t realize he had closed the space between them. He grabbed her throat and held her fast.

  “Go ahead and scream for your friends. By the time they get here, I will have snapped this scrawny neck of yours.”

  “I see. Well, you did say that killing August Reichert wouldn’t be your last time.”

  Jefferson’s eyes turned dark and his expression cold. “So you know what I’m capable of.”

  “Yes, but not why. You killed the Brookstone wrangler because he’d seen too much. But what exactly did he see? Did he witness you kill someone else? Goodness, how many people have you killed?”

  “That’s none of your concern. What’s important is that I will add you to the number if you continue this nonsense.”

  Ella looked into his eyes, unafraid. “Then kill me. I would rather be dead than married to you.”

  twenty-five

  Lizzy felt an icy chill run up her spine at Ella’s declaration. It had been ominous enough to hear Jefferson Spiby admit to killing August and others, but to see him threatening Ella with death was too much. Mary moved beside her, as silent as the grave. Lizzy turned to see what she was doing and nearly gasped at the sight of her friend taking aim with her pistol.

  She reached out to Mary and shook her head, but Mary merely moved Lizzy’s hand away. The look in her eyes was determined. She intended to kill Spiby.

  Lizzy put her lips against Mary’s ear. “You can’t do this. We’ve heard him admit what he did. Now we can bear witness to the sheriff.”

  Mary shook her head. “He deserves to die.” Her words were barely audible, but Jefferson Spiby’s rang through the arena. Both Lizzy and Mary returned their attention to the scene in the arena.

  “I won’t kill you . . . just yet. But if you don’t do as I command, you’ll wish you were dead.” Ella said nothing, and he continued. “We will marry this afternoon in Miles City before boarding the train. That way you will never get the chance to do anything like this again.”

  Ella tried to pull away from his hold, but it only angered him more. “You think your friends here can keep you from danger, but I promise I’ll make them suffer. I’ll make each of them suffer for your defiance.”

  “They’ve . . . done . . . nothing wrong.” Ella was barely able to speak.

  “I don’t care.” He lowered his voice, making it hard for Lizzy to hear what he was saying. “I will hurt them. I will kill them.”

  Ella tried again to break free, but Jefferson held her fast.

  “I thought you’d rather be dead,” he said.

  Ella gasped for air and tried to pull Jefferson’s hands away from her neck. Lizzy looked at Mary. If she was going to kill him, why didn’t she? At least now she had a good reason. If she didn’t shoot him, he would kill Ella.

  Mary stared straight ahead. Lizzy thought she looked frozen. “Mary?” she whispered. “Mary?”

  Lizzy looked again toward Ella fighting for her life. She got to her feet. “Stop!” she yelled.

  Jefferson didn’t even seem to hear her.

  Lizzy looked down at Mary. “Do something.”

  Mary pulled the trigger. The sound echoed in the arena, and Jefferson let out a roar. He held his arm as he scanned the room to see who was responsible. Rage marred his face.

  Ella stumbled away from him. She coughed and sputtered, but at least she was alive.

  “Don’t move, or I’ll shoot you again,” Mary declared from her perch.

  “You’ll pay for this.” Jefferson growled in pain. “You will pay for this.”

  The arena doors flew open, and Wesley and the sheriff rushed in. They stopped at the sight of Jefferson holding his arm, writhing in pain.

  “What’s going on here? We heard a shot,” the sheriff said, looking around the arena.

  Lizzy stepped out of the shadows. “He tried to kill Ella. He admitted to killing August Reichert.”

  Wesley closed the distance between them with incredible speed and took hold of Lizzy. “Are you all right?”

  She saw the worry in his expression. “I’m just fine.”

  “Sheriff, I demand you take that woman into your custody. She tried to kill me,” Jefferson declared as the sheriff approached.

  This brought Mary out of hiding. She walked toward Jefferson with her pistol still at the ready. “She didn’t shoot you. I did. I could have killed you. God knows I wanted to, given you admitted to murdering my brother.”

  Jefferson looked at the sheriff. “She’s mad. I admitted no such thing.”

  Lizzy stepped away from Wes. “He did so. He threatened to kill my family and friends here if Ella didn’t do exactly as he wanted.” She looked at Jefferson, who seemed almost confused. “We can both bear witness to what he said, Sheriff.”

  Ella joined them, still rubbing her neck. “He tried to strangle me.”

  Jefferson seemed to gather his wits. “They’re making this up. They’re trying to keep Ella from returning with us.” He pulled back his hand to reveal the blood on his arm. “I’m the injured one.”

  The sheriff looked at Ella and then back to Jefferson. “It looks like we’d better get you some help. I suggest we go back to the house.”

  He took hold of Jefferson but looked at Mary. “You can put that away. He’s going nowhere for the moment.”

  Mary lowered her gun. “All right, but I’ll be right behind you.” She looked at Ella. “I won’t let him hurt you again.”

  The two girls followed the sheriff and Spiby from the arena, leaving Lizzy and Wes alone. Wes watched her with grave concern.

  “I’m fine, Wes. Stop looking at me like I’m going to die.”

  “I thought maybe you had.”

  She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him on the lips. He didn’t have time to react before she stepped away with a grin. “See? I couldn’t be better. Come on, we need to follow them. I heard and saw it all, including Jefferson Spiby confessing to killing August.”

  Wes followed her back to the house, but she knew he had to be confused about everything that had just happened. Especially the kiss. She felt bad that she hadn’t explained anything to him.

  There was utter chaos in the living room when Lizzy and Wes entered the house. The sheriff was trying to calm everyone down. Thankfully, the other performers and Jason had gone.

  “Take a seat, folks. We may be here awhile,” the sheriff said, pushing Spiby onto a wooden chair.

  Everyone with the exception of Ella’s father sat. Mr. Fleming, however, was indignant and paced back and forth. “What in the world is going on? Who shot this man?”

>   “I did,” Mary admitted. “Because he was about to kill your daughter.”

  “Bah! I don’t believe it. Jefferson would never harm a hair on her head.” He looked at Ella. “Tell the truth.”

  “He tried to strangle me,” Ella said, her voice hoarse.

  “I did no such thing.” Jefferson vehemently denied the accusation while writhing in pain. “You and your friends lured me to that place in order to kill me.”

  The sheriff looked at Mary. “Why were you there?”

  “To protect Ella.”

  “That’s right, Sheriff,” Lizzy interjected. “I was listening when you were all talking in the dining room. I knew Ella was terrified of Mr. Spiby and her father and wanted to keep an eye on her.”

  “This is madness,” Ella’s father declared. “She isn’t terrified of me or of Jefferson. She’s merely been listening to the bad counsel of this woman and her family.”

  “That’s uncalled for, Fleming,” Wes said. He put his hands on Lizzy’s shoulders. “This family has done nothing wrong. They’re good, godly folks who took in your daughter when she ran away.”

  “I suggest that Elizabeth Brookstone encouraged her to run away.”

  “I did,” Lizzy admitted. “Not only that, but I would again.”

  “See there!” Fleming yelled, pointing his finger. “She admits it.”

  Mother came into the room with Irma on her heels. Irma held a tray of bandages and other medicinal articles. Mother went to Jefferson and helped him out of his coat. She then ripped open the already torn sleeve to get a better look.

  Everyone stopped talking for a moment, almost mesmerized by her ministering. When the wound was clean, Mother smiled. “It’s nothing more than a graze. Hardly even that. We’ll bandage it up, and you’ll be fine. Probably won’t even notice it in a day or two.”

  “I’ll notice it plenty, and it’ll be a wonder if I don’t get blood poisoning. I need a drink,” Jefferson grumbled.

  “I can’t accommodate you there, Mr. Spiby. I have no alcohol on the property. We don’t allow it.”

  Jefferson swore at her, much to everyone’s dismay. Mother said nothing, however, and instead reached for a bottle and poured a generous amount onto the wound.