Cowboy Homecoming

by Louise M. Gouge

  With his steel-gray hair, matching mustache and muttonchop sideburns, Judge Hartley possessed the imposing presence of a man who wouldn’t shrink from sending a guilty man to the gallows. He sat at the sheriff’s desk and drew a gavel from his pocket. With Lawson’s assistance, and due to the tight quarters, he selected only six men for the jury, who sat between the desk and the front window.

  Tolley watched to see who’d volunteered for the duty. The men who’d accosted him in the park on Independence Day had said they’d vote guilty no matter what evidence the lawyer presented. They weren’t chosen. Tolley didn’t know whether to be pleased or disappointed. It was a solemn matter to send a man to his grave, and every man deserved a fair trial, even polecats like these.

  Tolley and Adam had offered to carry Bob Starling to the trial, but Bob insisted upon walking. The moment he entered the room, the entire audience gasped. Gaunt and gray, he seemed like a walking skeleton, like the men in photographs who’d emerged from the notorious Andersonville Prison at the end of the War. Tolley had seen the man in his bed, so he wasn’t surprised, but Judge Hartley appeared stunned.

  The trial opened. Sheriff Lawson testified first, describing the gang’s threats when he put them in prison in Kansas. Reverend Thomas and Grace testified about their encounter with Purvis, Hardison and Smith. A representative of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad testified about the gang being suspected of the payroll robbery during which Bob Starling was beaten. As an aside, he said there’d be a reward to anyone who found the stolen payroll. That brought on a flurry of chatter from the onlookers, and the judge banged his gavel to restore order.

  Last, Bob Starling testified. Ed Busey said there was no way Bob could be certain which Purvis beat him or even if one of them had. Both now claimed to have been in Kansas at the time of the robbery. With great effort and helped by his son, Bob walked to the cells and studied each man. At his sign, Adam held out two of Mrs. Starling’s apple tarts, one to each twin. Jed reached through the bars with his right hand, Jud with his left.

  “Thank you kindly.” The brothers spoke in unison, a hint of mockery in their voices.

  “That’s him.” Bob pointed to Jud. “The man who tried to kill me was left-handed.”

  “Now, Mr. Starling,” Busey said, “do you expect us to believe that while you were beaten, you paused to notice which hand the man used?”

  Tottering back to his chair beside the desk, Bob wheezed as he caught his breath. With a trembling hand, he pointed to the vicious scar running down the right side of his face. “Is this proof enough?”

  The room erupted again, and the judge pounded his gavel. “Order. I will have order!” Once quiet returned, he said, “Busey, what do you say to that?”

  “Hey!” Heep Skinner called out from his cell. “I want to talk. I ain’t gonna git hung for what they did.”

  “You shut up,” Jed called out. The twins reached through the bars, trying to grab Skinner.

  “Go on, Mr. Skinner.” The judge pointed at him with his gavel. “You can testify from there.”

  Tolley noticed that while the man kept order in his makeshift courtroom, he didn’t adhere to as strict a format for the trial as judges in Boston did.

  Deputy Gareau held the Bible while Skinner reached through the bars and put his hand on it, promising to tell the whole truth.

  Judge Hartley nodded in his direction. “Go on, Skinner.”

  Tolley could see the outlaw hesitating and prayed he wouldn’t change his mind. After a glance at the Purvis brothers, Skinner appeared to steel himself with a deep, shuddering breath.

  “Last December, Jud Purvis shot Sheriff Lawson, intending to kill him. I saw him shoot with my own eyes. That’s when Jed and I lit out. Shootin’ a lawman ain’t no small thing. I was done with this place.” He swiped a hand over his mouth and stared at his former friends. “Will I get a lighter sentence if I tell it all?”

  “We’ll treat you fair and legal,” the judge responded.

  “What if I tell you where the rest of the payroll is?”

  That stirred up the room again. Once the judge regained control, he said, “We’ll see.”

  “Awright. I’ll do it.”

  Tolley noticed Fred Brody taking notes about the trial. When Skinner began talking, he turned over a new page and tapped his pencil against his tongue, then began to write rapidly to keep pace with the man’s testimony. Even though Tolley was watching the trial, he looked forward to reading Brody’s report in the Esperanza Journal. Once the memories faded, the facts would be archived for future generations to read.

  Skinner explained that the gang indeed robbed Bob Starling of the railroad payroll back in February of ’81. They divided up part of the money, both cash and gold, and Hardison, being the leader, kept the rest. Then the gang split up. Skinner and the Purvis brothers went on to rob a bank in Kansas, and Lawson put them in prison for it. Hardison and Smith stayed in Colorado, where they hid the rest of the money.

  “We heard tell they tried to rob your bank next door and was put in the Canon City Penitentiary. Me and the Purvis boys broke out, then come to Colorado and broke them out. I wanted to git the money and hightail it down to Mexico, but Jud Purvis said he’d kill Sheriff Lawson first. Hardison said he had a beef with some people here in Esperanza, and he’d get his revenge afore he went anywhere. Me? I didn’t want no part of it, but the only way I could git my share of the railroad gold was to stick around. I never shot nobody.”

  Even though the Purvis brothers continued to scowl at Skinner, they didn’t contradict anything he said.

  Satisfied with the man’s testimony, the judge instructed the jury in how to deliberate. Without even leaving the room, they put their heads together, consulted quietly and pronounced their verdict: guilty. Once the cheering crowd settled down, Judge Hartley delivered his sentence. The twins would be delivered to the Canon City Penitentiary for hanging. Skinner would serve a life sentence.

  Skinner cursed and yelled at the judge. “I ain’t gonna tell you where that payroll is. I’m gonna git outta prison on good behavior and come back and git it. It’ll all be mine.” He eyed his former cohorts. “Whatcha think of that?”

  Once again, the twins attempted to lunge at him through the bars, to no avail, although their antics caused a good deal of laughter among the onlookers.

  Judge Hartley ordered Sheriff Lawson to deputize ten men to accompany the three prisoners to Canon City Penitentiary. They had to leave early the next morning and ride hard to make it before nightfall. He then declared the trial over and dismissed the onlookers.

  Giving his brothers a quick wave, Tolley made his way through the milling crowd and headed back home. He couldn’t wait to tell Laurie what had happened. He also wanted to make sure she’d be going on Reverend Thomas’s expedition next week. Only this morning, Effie Bean agreed to tend the boardinghouse for the three days they’d be gone, which should ease Laurie’s concerns about leaving Mrs. Foster.

  Now he needed to practice how to propose once they reached Raspberry Gulch. He had to say it the right way, or she’d turn him down. In fact, it might even ruin everything between them. After the way he’d begun to care for her beyond friendship, he’d be crushed if that happened.

  * * *

  “Molly, I think we should begin your voice lessons.” Laurie knew it was a little soon, but if she taught the child carefully, she wouldn’t harm her voice, and spending time with Molly could help the child recover from her trauma. “Would you like for me to teach you?”

  Molly blinked her big brown eyes. As far as Laurie knew, she hadn’t smiled since the kidnapping. Now a hint of a smile appeared on her lips. “Yes, Miss Laurie. I’ll be happy to do more chores to pay for it.”

  “We’ll see, sweetie. Maybe you could help me make cookies. We eat a lot of cookies around here.”

  Her words bro
ught a long-overdue smile. “That would be fun.” The smile quickly faded.

  A sharp ache stung Laurie’s heart. At not quite eight years old, Molly shouldn’t have to worry about how to pay for her lessons. None of her Denver students ever thought about such things. Only one or two cared even about playing piano or singing. How could Laurie leave such an eager, talented student? The longer she spent with Molly, the more she became devoted to the child. She couldn’t expect Mrs. Foster to give free lessons. Nor could Mrs. Foster teach Molly the advanced techniques Laurie had learned at the conservatory. The more she thought about it, the more she began to understand why her determination to return to the city had always been accompanied by doubts about it being the Lord’s will for her. Did this mean He wanted her to stay here? For the first time in all her life, she sensed she could stay in the San Luis Valley forever and never regret it.

  The front door opened, and Tolley appeared in the wide doorway into the parlor. He gave her the devastating smile that always thrummed on her heartstrings.

  “Afternoon, ladies.” His green eyes twinkled. “Want to hear some good news?”

  “Sure do.” Laurie gave Molly a hug while questioning him with her eyes. Perhaps his news wasn’t appropriate for a child’s ears. “Is it—?”

  Tolley nodded his understanding, which only added to his appeal. “Let’s just say the bad men are going away for a long, long time. In fact, they won’t ever come back.”

  Laurie’s eyes stung. She couldn’t let herself think about what lay before those evil men. Maybe Micah could visit them before they left and share the Gospel with them. After all, their fellow gang member, Deke Smith, trusted the Lord before he died.

  Molly gave Laurie a solemn look. “Will Adam be here soon, Miss Laurie? I want to go home.”

  “I don’t know, honey.” Laurie traded a look with Tolley. “I’d take you home, but I must fix supper. Would you mind if Mr. Tolley took you?”

  Tolley gave Molly a gentle smile. “I’d be pleased and proud to walk you home, Miss Molly.” He sketched a bow even his proper English brother-in-law would approve of.

  Molly giggled, bringing more tears to Laurie’s eyes. She didn’t know Tolley managed children this well. It only added to his appeal.

  “Well, then, off you go.” Laurie closed the music book and handed it to Molly. “Don’t forget to practice at the church every day.”

  Doubt crossed the child’s face, but she said, “Yes, ma’am.”

  Laurie watched as Tolley walked up the street with the small child. What a sweet picture they made as he waved his hand toward the sky, the trees, the houses they passed, perhaps intent on distracting Molly from her fears. What a good father he’d make one day.

  Something shifted deep inside Laurie’s heart, a swell of emotions, a fierce affection for him that she could almost call love. If he asked to court her again, maybe she should say yes. After all, courtship wasn’t engagement. It was a time when people discovered whether they were suited for marriage.

  A horse and rider passed the two walkers, and Molly desperately clutched Tolley’s hand with both of hers. How long until this sweet child, until all the people of Esperanza, could feel safe again in their law-abiding little town?

  One thing Laurie knew for certain. When she was with Tolley, she felt entirely safe, more than she ever had in Denver, even among the elite families whose children she taught. Some in higher society could be such snobs, as though money made them better than other people or more loved by God. That wasn’t the way her salt-of-the-earth parents raised her and her sisters. While some wealthy people gave to charitable causes or even raised money for the less fortunate, they always seemed to maintain a safe distance from the hard work. But giving hands-on help, such as Tolley’s installing a bathroom for an elderly lady, showed true character. For Laurie, running Mrs. Foster’s boardinghouse had given her more satisfaction than she’d ever imagined possible. She now felt confident she could run her own household one day.

  Would it be a fancy brick house in Denver or a wood-frame clapboard house in the San Luis Valley?

  Chapter Fifteen

  After Saturday supper, Tolley added the columns of figures for a third time to be sure he hadn’t made a mistake. “Just as I thought.” He showed the ledger page to Laurie, who sat beside him at the dining room table with that silly cat curled up on her lap. “Mrs. Runyan and Mr. Parsley have taken advantage of Mrs. Foster for three years. She’s not making a living from them at all. In fact, she’s practically supporting them.”

  Setting the cat on the floor, Laurie leaned close to the page. Tolley could smell the sweet, heady scent of lilacs on her hair. For a moment, he forgot their purpose here and considered proposing right away.

  “How horrid.” She ran a long, slender finger down the page where the services and their costs were listed. “Doing their laundry, cleaning their rooms and, most of all, feeding them as if they were royalty. What an outrage.”

  Brought back to the moment by her vehemence, Tolley shook off his romantic dizziness. “Why didn’t she notice? I mean, she kept these books up-to-date, so why wouldn’t she see she spent more than she brought in?”

  Laurie sat back and glared at him. “At the end of the day, I’m far too tired to think about balancing the books. Imagine how exhausted Mrs. Foster gets at her age.”

  “Hey, this isn’t my fault.” Why did she turn cranky when he was doing his best to help?

  “I know.” To his relief, her expression softened, and she touched his hand, sending a pleasant tickle up his arm. “I also noticed you’re paying twice as much rent as they do, and you help me pay to send out the laundry. And of course installing the bathroom. Mrs. Runyan and Mr. Parsley don’t contribute anything to the household except complaints.”

  “It’s the least I could do.” Mrs. Foster had given him a home when his own family cast him out. He’d do anything for her. “Besides, you’ve given up your whole summer to help her. You can’t buy that time back.”

  “As you said, it’s the least I could do for such a dear lady.” Laurie copied his shrug. “So what are we going to do about it? I mean, isn’t there something legal we can do?” Trust now emanating from her eyes, she batted her dark auburn lashes at him.

  Kiss her! How he longed to surrender to temptation. But then he’d be tempted to propose, which would ruin his plans for making it a special event at the raspberry picking.

  “Tolley?” She tilted her head in an appealing manner and gave him a sweet half smile. “Are you all right?”

  “Um. Uh. Yes. I’m fine.” He coughed softly. “I don’t think we need to resort to legal methods. We can’t exactly sue them for back rent when they’ve paid what Mrs. Foster asked.” His mind back on track, he considered possibilities. “We can take either of two courses. One, we can raise the rent, provided Mrs. Foster agrees. Or, two, we can cut back on room cleaning and laundry service or at least the number of times prime beef and such things are served.”

  Laurie reached down to pet the cat, which had wedged itself between them as if it were their chaperone. “They’ll raise the roof, of course.”

  He shrugged. “We can’t let Mrs. Foster go on like this. Considering the way things are now, it’d be better for her if they left.”

  “I suppose.” She wrinkled her forehead. “Let’s ask Mrs. Foster if we can tell them she’s raising the rent. They may throw a fit but, well, they can take it or leave it.”

  “Sounds like a good idea.” Tolley gazed at her, his heart warming at their camaraderie. “You know what? We make a good team.”

  The cat began to purr as if it agreed.

  Laurie gave him a smile he felt clear down to his toes. “Yes, we do.” An expectant look in her eyes hinted at something, but he couldn’t figure out what.

  He closed the ledger and stood. “We’d better get a good night�
��s sleep so we’ll be ready for church tomorrow.” As he left the room, he heard her muttering something he couldn’t quite make out. Probably talking to the cat.

  * * *

  “How thoughtful of you.” On Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Foster, looking better than she had since her accident, sat at the kitchen table while Laurie and Tolley showed her the pages of her ledger. “I suppose you’re right to be concerned. However, when Mrs. Runyan first came to Esperanza to set up her millinery shop, she appeared quite destitute. I wanted to help her get started, so I only required twenty dollars a month for room and board. While she set up shop that first week, I agreed to do her laundry, but I didn’t realize she’d expect me to continue doing it. Mr. Parsley arrived shortly after and of course, being a man, considered laundry to be women’s work, so I agreed to do his, as well. I couldn’t exactly charge him more than I charged her, but I never thought to consider my own costs.”

  Laurie gave Tolley a teasing smirk. Maybe he’d see how foolish his own thoughts were about “women’s work.” Instead, he questioned her with one raised eyebrow. She shrugged and spoke to Mrs. Foster. “Would you give Tolley and me permission to tell the boarders you’re going to raise the room and board to thirty-five dollars a month, and that they must take their laundry to Mr. Chen?”

  Mrs. Foster sighed. “Seems like a great deal of money, and I know they’ll be unhappy about it. I dislike unpleasantness of any sort.”

  Reaching across the table, Tolley took Mrs. Foster’s hand. “But you shouldn’t support those two people. They make very good livings in their businesses.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Tolley gave her a knowing wink. “I checked with Garrick. Travelers staying at the hotel often spend money on hats and watches in their shops. Local folks do, too, of course. And both of them eat expensive dinners in the hotel dining room every day. Why shouldn’t you receive payment for the fine food you provide for them?”