“Don’t go in looking like that. You will have Rick summoning the undertaker. Doc White knows what he is doing. He sent for some new medicines.”
Almanzo didn’t like the fact Scott wouldn’t look him in the eyes despite his joke. He wanted to introduce Tilly to Rick to see what his pa, for that’s how he saw Rick, thought of her. But if he was unwell, now was not the time.
“Al, before we go in there is something you need to know.”
Almanzo’s heart beat even louder. “What?”
“Sarah ran away. She’s eloped with Edwin Morgan.”
Almanzo kicked a stone on the road out of sheer frustration. “What did she have to do that for? Can't she see he is an idiot?”
“Son, I know you have feelings for her but…”
“Scott the only feeling I have now is the urge to grab her and spank her. How could she do that to Jo and Rick?”
“They are hurt and angry too, Al. So don’t go in there all guns blazing. Rick could do with some good news. Do you have any?”
Almanzo shut his eyes briefly thinking of Tilly. She was good news, he could feel it but as yet there was nothing definite. He shook his head briefly before forcing a smile on his face. He was not going to add to Rick’s worries. Not now.
Chapter 23
Tilly paced back and forth across the room. She felt confined especially after spending the last few days out in the open. The bath had been glorious. She was so thankful the ladies had suggested they stay in the private house, rather than the hotel. The ladies had felt Tilly and Fiona needed time to come to terms with their ordeal in private. Richard was staying at the hotel and after his performance when they first rode in, Tilly didn’t want to see him.
Fiona came out of a bedroom dressed in one of Tilly’s gowns. She looked wonderful despite her recent ordeal. The sunburn was fading thanks to Broken Wing’s lotions. Tilly sent Fiona a reassuring glance and was rewarded with a big smile.
“You must come out to Jo’s place and meet Bridget. She is Irish too. She never stops speaking though,” Becky said smiling.
“Fiona is like that. Once she starts, she never stops.” Tilly teased her friend thankful to see her eyes were once again shining with interest in what was going on around her.
“Miss Masterson, your fiancé sent a message. He is waiting at the hotel to speak to you,” Mrs. Newland said.
“Let him wait.” Tilly retorted. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude but I would prefer not to speak to him.”
“I can understand that. If he was my fiancé I would be riding back to the Indian camp,” Becky said taking a seat and easing her feet out of her shoes. She examined her ankles pulling a face.
“Becky!” Eva reprimanded her younger sister. “Please excuse my sister’s manners, Miss Masterson.”
Since she agreed with Becky, Tilly didn’t say anything to Eva. She turned to Becky, “You are Becky? Almanzo told me a little about you.”
“I can imagine,” Eva replied. “Becky’s exploits on the wagon train to Oregon are fast becoming a legend around these parts.”
“Stop it, Eva. You sound like an old grump,” Becky replied before turning her attention back to Tilly. “I apologize if I spoke out of turn. But since I am in trouble anyway, what is a girl like you doing marrying a man like him?” Becky’s eyes twinkled mischievously. Tilly knew she would like the other woman. She really admired the way the blonde woman had put Richard in his place. For all her dainty looks, she was made of strong stuff. Tilly closed her eyes, remembering how Becky’s husband had looked at his wife, with admiration and love. Would anyone ever look at her like that? Would Almanzo?
She took a deep breath but before she could reply, Fiona answered.
“Her father made her accept the proposal. If what Master Richard said was true, and Tilly’s father is dead, then she should tell him to go play with some buffalo.”
The women laughed at the idea of the stuffy little man they had seen downstairs trying to combat the Buffalo.
“I assume he is nicer in person than the image he portrayed downstairs?” Eva asked.
“Not really. He is what he is.” Tilly replied.
“He has a lot of money and expects everyone to jump when he shouts. He is not a kind man, not like Almanzo,” Fiona said, the look on her face making the older women smile.
For some reason, the dreamy expression on Fiona’s face irritated Tilly. She shouldn’t be telling these strange women anything about Richard, her father or anything else of a personal nature. Tilly didn’t want to admit Fiona’s appreciation of Almanzo was making her jealous.
“I think it is time we changed the conversation.” The older woman owned the store and was putting a roof over their heads. Tilly was appalled to realize she had forgotten her name.
“Thank you very much, Mrs.” Tilly faltered, embarrassment flooding her face. “I am so sorry I have forgotten your name.”
“Newland dear. You are most welcome. I had a run in with some Indians on the way to Oregon. It wasn’t as unpleasant experience as what happened to you although they were an unmannerly lot. Not like Paco and his tribe. Lovely bunch of people they are.”
“Walking Tall was very helpful to us,” Tilly confirmed eagerly to make a good impression.
“He calls Tilly Fire Daughter. It makes her …” Fiona stopped speaking as Tilly glared at her. The other women smiled but Fiona didn’t share anymore.
“Downstairs ladies and let’s all have some food and coffee.” Mrs. Newland ushered them out of the room.
After they had eaten and were sitting in Mrs. Newlands sitting room, the sheriff called to see Tilly and Fiona. Johanna Hughes excused herself as she wanted to check on her husband and Almanzo. Becky and Eva asked if the ladies wanted them to leave but Tilly asked them to stay. So, they together with Mrs. Newland listened as they told their story to the sheriff.
“You are fully certain it was white men who attacked the wagon train?”
“Yes sir, although there were some Indians riding with them. They were armed with guns, not bows and arrows,” Tilly confirmed.
“And these men? Would you recognize them again?”
“I am not sure sir, we saw them from a distance and they were wearing bandanas around their faces. I guess to hide their identity,” Fiona guessed
“We heard them speaking though so that may help identify them,” Tilly suggested although she wasn’t sure if that was proof in a court case.
“Ladies, I know you have both been through an ordeal and I hate to ask but I need to know everything that happened to you in the camp.”
Tilly guessed by the color of the sheriff's face, he was as embarrassed as they were. She exchanged a glance with Fiona, suddenly tempted to announce they were both ruined. Then maybe they would get rid of Richard once and for all. But as soon as the thought came, it went away again. She couldn’t do that to the Indians who had done their best to look after them. They had shared their food although there seemed to be a shortage. Compared to the fate that awaited women caught by other tribes, they had been incredibly lucky.
“No sir, nothing happened. We were treated well.” She noticed him glancing at the rope burns on her wrists. “I had my wrists bound.”
“You were tied up like an animal?” his voice raised in anger.
“No not like that,” Tilly hastened to correct the sheriff. “The Indians had to tie my hands as I kept hitting them.”
“She kept kicking them too. They called her Fire Daughter. She was very brave. I didn’t do anything,” Fiona said softly, shame written all over her face.
The sheriff looked from one to another. “Are you sure that was the extent of the abuse?”
“It wasn’t abuse. The Indians were very kind to us. Much kinder than I was to them. Given what happened to the other people on our wagon train, I suspect if it weren’t for the Braves who found us, we would both be dead by now,” Fiona said firmly, her mouth a mutinous line daring anyone to argue with her.
The sheriff lo
oked uncomfortable.
“Sheriff who did survive?” Tilly asked hesitantly. She didn’t really want to know the answer but knew she had to ask the question. If she closed her eyes, she could still see the child trying to outrun the men on horseback. She shivered.
“Your fiancé Richard and a couple of his men.”
Her eyes opened wider as she stared in shock at the Sheriff. He looked at her keenly before glancing away, a flush on his neck.
Chapter 24
“What of the other women and the children?” Tilly whispered.
“No other women. A couple of small children survived,” the sheriff said looking troubled. “But they haven't said a word to us.”
“The poor things they must be terrified. No offense to you or your town, Sheriff but they don’t know you,” Tilly hastily apologized. She didn’t want to offend anyone. “They will speak to Fiona. She has a real gift with children.”
“Could you come and see them now Miss Murphy? I hate to ask you but we have been very concerned. We also believe the children may know something but they seem terrified of Richard and his friends.”
“Can’t imagine why?” Becky said, sarcasm dripping from every word. Tilly looked up and caught her speculative glance. Had Becky come to the same conclusion she had? Should she say something?
“Yes, Sheriff I will come with you. Tilly, do you want to come too?” Fiona asked.
“Yes although I would like to find the preacher. Has he said a service for my father and the other victims?”
“They have been buried. I can assure you the service was respectable. Our new preacher is a fine man. A bit young but…” the sheriff was cut off by Mrs. Newland.
“The Reverend and his wife are a lovely young couple,” Mrs. Newland spoke firmly. “They have been doing an admirable job looking after the poor little mites who were left all alone. I am sure it would help you to speak with him, Miss Masterson.”
“Call me Tilly, please. Thank you so much for everything Mrs. Newland.”
“Sheriff, these ladies are staying with me for the next few days. I have the room and they need privacy.” Mrs. Newland smiled over at Tilly and Fiona but her kind eyes were full of concern. “There are people in this town who have nothing to do but gossip. Such unkind speculation will do nobody any good at all.”
“Quite right,” the sheriff responded but it was obvious he was uncomfortable with the notion of female gossip. Tilly guessed he couldn’t wait to be back outside in the company of men.
“Mrs. Newland is a very kind woman. She helped save our lives on the trip to Oregon. She will look after you very well,” Eva said putting her hand on the older woman’s arm.
There was clearly a warm friendship between these women. Tilly wondered if the rest of the townsfolk would be so accepting of her and Fiona. Somehow she doubted it.
“Ah Eva, don’t be flattering me. I just did what I had to. Now, Tilly and Fiona, you don’t mind if I call you by your first names, do you? It's less formal here in the West.”
The two women didn’t get a chance to say anything as Mrs. Newland continued talking. “I will have your beds ready by the time you get back. Don’t stay too long, you both look like you could do with a good night’s sleep.”
Tilly thanked the lady. She wasn’t sure how she was ever going to sleep again. How was she going to survive? One thing was sure, she wasn’t going to marry Richard. With her father dead, she didn’t have to. She sighed with relief but her new friends misinterpreted her feelings.
“Tilly, dear, you are overwhelmed. It is a lot to take in. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to go straight to bed? I can go to see the children with Fiona?” Eva said. “You can speak to the Reverend tomorrow.” Over Eva’s shoulder, Tilly saw Becky nod slightly. She guessed Eva’s sister wanted to speak to her.
“Thank you, Eva, that would be lovely if Fiona doesn’t mind?”
“Not at all Tilly. At least you may escape having to talk to Richard. He won't bother with me.” Fiona smiled to show she wasn’t upset by this but her remark was yet another reminder of how wrong Richard was for Tilly. She loved Fiona and didn’t want to spend any time with someone who looked down on a person because they didn’t have the same level of material wealth.
But if Richard was so rich, why would he be involved in a wagon train robbery? It didn’t make any sense. Plus, he and Father were friends so why kill him? Why kill anyone? The risk of discovery was very big. But then he had made huge efforts to kill any potential witnesses. Surely he hadn’t killed the older children but given the comments made by Mrs. Newland and the others, it appeared as if the children staying with the preacher were very young. She closed her eyes trying not to see the children playing as they had done the night before the attack.
Fiona coughed to gain her attention, her expression asking Tilly should she stay. Tilly shook her head and smiled back hoping to reassure Fiona she was all right.
Tilly said goodbye to Eva, the sheriff and gave Fiona a quick hug. She wasn’t surprised when Becky offered to show her the way to where Fiona and herself would sleep. Mrs. Newland said she had dishes to do.
“You want to speak to me in private?” Tilly asked as soon as they got to the bedroom and Becky closed the door. “Should you not be resting?”
“I am pregnant, not ill,” Becky tempered her remark with a smile. “I think you know who was behind the robbery on the Wagon Train.” Becky looked at her, her eyes so piercing Tilly felt they could read her mind.
“I don't. At least not for certain.” Tilly said looking everywhere but at Becky.
“But?”
Becky wasn’t going to let this drop. Tilly looked at the woman and then asked in a low voice. “Does it not strike you as odd that the only survivors of the wagon train are Richard and his men and a couple of very young children?”
“Yes, it did. From the first moment I heard but we were given some story about Richard being out hunting at the time of the attack.”
Tilly started to laugh but her laugh became hysterical very quickly. Becky slapped her across the face and when Tilly started to cry pulled her close into a hug.
“Your poor dear, losing your father and now hearing this about your fiancé. I shouldn’t have said anything, I’m sorry,” Becky apologized.
“I hate him,” Tilly said softly but firmly.
“Your fiancé? Well, I have to say that doesn’t surprise me,” Becky confirmed.
“My father. This is all his fault,” Tilly whispered.
Becky looked stunned. Tilly guessed the other girl thought her wicked for speaking so badly about her recently deceased father. But the truth was, he was the one to blame. He had insisted on coming here just as he had arranged her marriage. He didn’t think to ask her what she thought. As far as her father was concerned, women didn’t have opinions. They did what they were told, first by their fathers and then by their husbands. Tilly had tried to argue Richard was too old for her but her father had insisted she needed a firm hand. She could still hear him now. Praying for her to learn from her wicked ways. She couldn’t remember anything she had ever done which was truly bad. She had continued a friendship with Fiona behind her parents back but that was the sum total of her rebellion. She didn’t read books she shouldn’t or go out with men. She didn’t sit beside anyone at church. The only men she was allowed meet were friends of her parents. When her mother was alive, she had complained constantly of the trial of having such a dimwitted ugly daughter.
Tilly poured all this out as she sobbed on Becky’s shoulder. She rarely cried and never in front of someone she had just met. But there was something about the woman that made her trust her. Or maybe it was just the events of the last few days had finally caught up with her. Either way, she was sitting on a bed, sobbing as she told a stranger details of her life she had never shared with anyone. Even Fiona didn’t know everything she had just told Becky.
After a while, she dried her eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t well I usually can control myself,”
she mumbled.
“Don’t apologize. You have been through an ordeal. Thank goodness Al and Walking Tall found you.”
Tilly wondered if she should mention who else Almanzo found but decided not to. It wasn’t any of her business. “Did I hear your husband say there was something wrong with Almanzo’s friend?”
“Yes, his pa. My sister Jo’s husband, Rick is very ill. Poor Almanzo between Rick being sick and Sarah eloping, his heart will be broken.”
Sarah? Who was she? Did Almanzo have a girlfriend but then why would Walking Tall have said anything. The Indian didn’t seem the type to joke about that type of thing. She itched to find out more, but she couldn’t ask Becky no matter how nice she seemed. Almanzo was her family whereas Tilly was a stranger.
“I hope his pa gets better,” Tilly said meaning every word but what she really wanted to ask was how long Almanzo had loved Sarah.
“I don’t think that is going to happen but we will have to wait and see what Doc White says. Anyway, he is home safe and you and your friend are too. Things can only get better now, can’t they?”
Chapter 25
Almanzo stood at the doctors office not wanting to open the door. He knew he had to face up to the fact Rick was seriously ill but he didn’t want to. For as long as he could remember, Rick had been his rock. A tower of strength who guided his decisions but didn’t tell him what to do. He always let Almanzo make the final choice but under his guidance Almanzo rarely made a mistake. As he dithered, Scott gave him a gentle push through the door.
“About time you got back son, I thought Jo was going to ride all over the country looking for you,” Rick said as Almanzo stared in horror at the old looking man in the bed. He looked so small, so frail. So unlike Rick. The silence continued. Almanzo gulped before speaking too quickly.
“I know you were worried Rick, and I am sorry but there was a reason why I was so delayed,” Almanzo apologized hoping his face didn’t give away his grief at the sight of his adoptive father. Rick looked awful, much worse than he had earlier in the week.
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