by Natalie Dean
“I thought I’d hitch up the wagon, then maybe we can take the long way home,” Will said between bites of his sandwich. Bess clapped her hands for joy. She loved it when he took her the long way home. There were so many beautiful sights nearby, from valleys that stretched on for miles to immense buffalo herds. Those massive creatures with their great horns both terrified her and thrilled her all at the same time.
“I’ll hurry with the dishes,” Bess said once she finished her sandwich. Will nodded, and headed outside to hitch up the team.
Bess sat in the wagon looking about the town. William had gone inside the general store to pick up a few things he needed in the barn, and Bess really didn’t enjoy listening to him bargain with the general store owner. She felt that her presence added pressure to the situation, as though he felt he ought to get more supplies for the price he was paying. Bess had assured him more than once that she didn’t know anything about farming or the cost that was involved, and therefore he ought not to feel pressured when she was standing there next to him, but she knew though he said he didn’t, he did.
She didn’t mind waiting in the wagon. It was a beautiful day – the sun was high in the sky, the bright, puffy clouds were floating lazily along the deep blue expanse, and the gentle breeze kissed her cheeks and ran through her hair as it blew by. She knew she ought to be wearing a bonnet, as the sun would make her freckle, but she also loved the freedom she felt when the breeze ran through her hair, and she decided it was worth the risk.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then let it out slowly as she opened them once more. There were men and women walking about, but none were paying any attention to her. Though she had been in town a few months, she didn’t know many people who lived there, and she was okay with that. Miners were always passing through, each after gold and gold alone.
There weren’t as many women in town, and Bess had quickly gotten the impression that the women who did live there were content to say hello to her and leave their acquaintance at that.
Suddenly, something caught her eye, and she immediately felt sick to her stomach. There, at the other end of the street, were three men. She immediately recognized how they stood out from the crowd, and even more than that she immediately recognized the face of one of them.
Victor French.
“Oh, no! No! No! No! No! No!” Bess whispered to herself. She felt tears forming in her eyes and panic settle into her heart. They were a good distance up the street, and they weren’t looking in her direction, but Bess yanked on her bonnet strings anyway. She quickly tied the bow beneath her throat and sunk into the seat, feeling panic consume her.
Will came out of the store whistling a tune, but he stopped when he saw her.
“What on Earth? What’s wrong? You’re white as a sheet!” he exclaimed as he leapt up into the wagon.
“We have to go. We have to go – right now!” Bess said frantically. She glanced back up the street, but she lost sight of the three men.
“Will, let’s go!” her voice rose with intensity, though she fought to keep it under control. She frantically looked up and down the street, trying to get a glimpse of where the men had gone. William sat down on the wagon seat and put his hands on her shoulders.
“Bess! You have to tell me what is wrong with you? What’s going on? What happened?” he kept asking, looking up the street in the same direction she had. All that was up the street now were miners and settlers – each one looking like they belonged in the little town. Without answering him, Bess reached down and grabbed the reins.
“We have to go right now!” she hissed.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, okay. We’re going,” Will said as he took the reins from her. She had never driven a team before in her life and had no idea how powerful the animals really were. Will looked at her with a mixed look. She could see that he was angry with her for how she was acting, but that he was also gravely concerned.
Something had happened when he was in the store, but she was so panicked that she couldn’t – or wouldn’t – let him know what it was. He turned the wagon toward home and slapped the reins on the backs of the horses. He coaxed them into a canter, but Bess kept looking back over her shoulder.
Though she couldn’t see the men nor any sign of them, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were right behind her – following her. As they pulled out of town, she began to relax a little – though not much.
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” Will asked, a tone of impatience in his voice.
Bess sat silently for a moment, looking only at the road in front of them. She shook her head slightly, then leaned forward in her seat and buried her face in her hands. It was then that she burst into tears.
Chapter 10 – The Truth Comes Out
“Madam, I am certain Jacob now understands how serious I am, and it annoys me that I have to reach out to his wife to settle this business. However, I see now if something is to be done properly, I am going to have to do it myself.
Your husband owes me fifteen hundred dollars. As he is now dead and unable to pay himself, that means the responsibility falls to you. I am not a patient man, but I do know how to treat a lady well – so I will give you three weeks to come up with the money.
I advise you that it is in your best interest not to take this to the sheriff. Signed, Boss – Bess, what is this?” William read the note out loud, then looked at his wife who was seated at the table in front of him. She had her head in her hands, and there were still tears running down her cheeks.
“I – I – have something to tell you,” she replied, sniffing and running her hand beneath her nose. He looked at her with inquisitive eyes.
“I was married to a man named Jacob Brown when I lived in New York City. I thought that he was an upstanding man who was a traveling businessman – at least, that’s what he told me. Truth is, I never saw him, he was incredibly secretive, and one night, he turned up dead.” Her voice cracked, and she waded the kerchief she was holding in her hands. The stone-cold silence from William prompted her to continue.
“Sheriff Muldoon – he’s the head officer of the city – he came with two of his deputies and told me what had happened. Then, at the funeral, a man – one of the men I know I saw today – handed me this note. Of course, I went to the sheriff once more, and he told me my husband was involved with this gang. They’ve come after me. They’ve come for the money!” she sobbed into her kerchief, and William stood where he was, silently shaking his head in disbelief.
“And you never told me?” he asked, hurt and anger mixed in his tone.
She looked up at him, her eyes red from crying. Tears brimming over and running down her cheeks.
“How could I? What was I to say? ‘Dear Mr. Miller, I am running for my life from a gang, can I marry you and hide in your house?’” she scoffed and shook her head, looking away. William was silent for a moment, then he walked over and sat down at the table.
“I suppose that wouldn’t have been what I wanted to hear, but I would have liked to have known that you had been married before, that you have been lied to before, and that’s why you don’t trust me. All this time I thought that I had done something wrong.” William shook his head.
“No! No, it was never you. You are the kindest, most loving and honest man I have ever met. I love you, William, and I am so very sorry I brought this down on you. I’m going to make this right. It’s me they want. It’s me.” Bess put her hands over her husband’s, and she forced a smile. He gave her a weak smile in return.
She had never before told him that she loved him, and now that she said the words aloud, it felt more real than any love she had ever felt. He twisted his hands so he was holding hers, then he lifted her fingers to his lips.
“I love you, too. And I am not going to let them lay a finger on you. You are my wife, and I am going to protect you!” Will spoke with conviction, but Bess shook her head furiously.
“They murdered my first husband. Left him lying in a hor
se watering trough, I couldn’t let them do that to you, and I know that if you get involved, it is only going to end in one way,” she twisted her kerchief as she spoke. Will rose from the table and put his hands in his pockets, then walked over to the window.
“You mentioned a sheriff?” he asked, and after another sniffle, Bess nodded.
“Sheriff Muldoon. I don’t know much about him, but he promised me that he was going to ensure justice for my husband. I know he’s got to still be on the case, but I’m afraid I can’t go to him now.” She blew her nose into her kerchief. Will stood for a moment longer, still looking out the window with his hands in his pockets. Bess could hear him breathing heavily, as though he were agitated and infuriated all at the same time. She wasn’t sure if he was angry at her, or at those men and what they had done to her.
“Bess, I want you to listen to me. I want you to stay here – in the house. Don’t go outside for any reason at any time. I am going to figure something out, and I am going to take care of this. But, I can’t do that if I don’t know where you are. If these men are as dangerous as you say they are, there is no telling what they will do, or how far they will go. They’ve already tracked you down this far.” He shook his head.
Though Bess was looking up at him, he never once stopped looking out the window. When she didn’t answer, he turned and looked at her.
“Listen to me, Bess. I need to know that you are going to do as I say. Promise me that you are going to stay in this house, and you won’t set foot outside for any reason. Promise!” Will gave the command instead of asking a question, and though Bess hated doing it, she agreed. She didn’t know if it was a promise she was going to be able to keep, and she didn’t want to tell Will so.
If worse came to worst, she would do anything in her power to protect William. She had brought this trouble down on him, and she wasn’t going to let him pay for the mistakes that her first husband had made. William suddenly turned from the window and walked over to Bess, putting his hands on her arms and lifting her out of the chair.
Bess opened her mouth in surprise, but before she could say anything, he pressed his lips to hers. It was the first kiss the couple had shared, and in spite of all the fear she felt running through her body, she felt comforted, knowing she didn’t have to be alone.
“I’m going to take care of you,” Will said when he pulled away. He then turned on his heel and walked out the door before she had a chance to answer. Bess walked over to the window and looked out, just in time to see Will disappear into the barn.
She felt fresh tears running down her cheeks as she lightly shook her head.
“No, William,” she whispered. “I am going to take care of you.”
Chapter 11 – The Meeting in the Alley
A week dragged by, and Bess felt as though she was going crazy. Both she and William were on edge, and William spent as little time out of the house as he could. He felt that Bess was safer in the house than she was out of it, but he hated leaving her alone for any length of time. When he simply had no choice but to go to town, he made her promise to stay in the bedroom until his return.
Bess knew it had to be difficult for him, and she hated that she had dragged him into the situation, so she did everything she could to make him happy. But, Bess was also forming a plan of her own, and she knew it was only a matter of time before she was going to carry it out.
When she couldn’t sleep, Bess got up out of bed and lit the lamp on her writing desk. She had fought with her emotions all week, and she knew she couldn’t take it any longer. She had to face those men, and she had to do it before they found her with Will. She didn’t have the money, and there was no way she was going to get it – even if she did, she had gone directly against what she had been told to do, and she doubted the Boss would give her a second chance.
She sat at the desk for a moment, then she sighed and pulled out a piece of paper. She dipped her pen in ink, then allowed it to hover over the top of the sheet for a few seconds, unsure of how to start. At last, she began.
My Dearest William,
You have no idea the joy that you have brought me in being my husband these past few months. I am convinced that these are some of the happiest days of my life, though they were days that I spent in fear. I greatly apologize for dragging you into this situation, I am ever so sorry that I lied to you, and I apologize that I was not completely honest with you about myself from the beginning.
You have been more of a husband to me than I have deserved, and you have given so much to me for so little in return. I pray that you find another wife who is able to offer you the love and companionship you so very much deserve.
It is with a heavy heart that I pen this letter, as I know when you find it you will know that once again I have not been the wife that I should be, and I have broken the promise that I made to you. However, I simply cannot stand by and watch them do to another man what they have done before.
It is my fault that they are here, and I am not going to let you pay for the mistakes that my previous husband and I have made in life.
All my love, all my best wishes, and with everything I have left I want you to know that I will always be yours.
Sincerely,
Bess Miller
Bess had tears in her eyes as she finished the letter, and as she re-read it to ensure she had said all that she wanted to say, many of the tears spilled down and onto the paper. She then quickly got dressed and silently slid out of her room. Will was sleeping soundly on the floor. He hadn’t been sleeping much the past week, and Bess knew it had finally taken a toll on him.
She gently blew him a kiss, then left the paper on the table. Then, as silently as a thief, she slipped outside into the early morning light.
Bess’s heart pounded in her chest. She walked quickly away from the house, disappearing from view as soon as possible. She didn’t want Will to wake and see her before she had a chance to get away, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before the sun was spilling over the horizon, flooding the world with light.
She didn’t have much of a plan, just to face those men as soon as possible. She knew there would be little chance of them showing her mercy, but she no longer cared. She knew she loved Will more than anything, and as long as she got them away from him, she could be happy with her decision.
Then everything would be right.
Bess hurried into town just as the sun was beginning to shine off the windows, and she slipped into a dark alleyway. She knew the men had to still be around somewhere, and they were most definitely searching for her. All she had to do was wait.
Bess sat straight up. She hadn’t realized she had fallen asleep, and now she blinked against the sun. She guessed it to be early in the afternoon. The sound of the train pulling into the station had woken her, and she rubbed her eyelids groggily.
“Good afternoon, Sweetheart,” a sickeningly familiar voice caused her to jump up with a start. Victor French laughed along with his two companions.
“You know, we’ve been looking for you all week, and to think that you were sleeping in some alleyway the whole time. It’s like a gift from God.” The other man walked over to her, and though she took a step back, she kept her jaw set and her shoulders up.
“I know who you are, and I’m going to tell you straight that I don’t have your money, nor am I going to get it for you. You can tell your boss to just forget the whole thing!” Bess spat, and the men laughed once again.
“I see why Jacob liked you, you’re a fiery little thing,” the man said as he rolled a cigar in his hands, “but, there’s something you should know.”
He bit the end of the cigar and took his time lighting it. Bess raised her eyebrows in arrogant curiosity. The man blew the puff of smoke right in her face, and as she coughed and fanned it away, he leaned toward her.
“I’m the Boss.”
Chapter 12 – Happily Ever After
Bess took a step back, partly from fear and partly because she didn’t want this horr
ible man standing so close to her. At first, she was taken by surprise and had no idea what to say, though her hands quickly flew to her hips.
“Well then – Boss. You can hear me tell you plain as day that I am not going to give you a single dime! I don’t know how my husband was mixed up with you, but that was his debt to pay, not mine, and seeing how you killed him, I think you cheated yourself out of the money!” She crossed her arms, and her eyes glared as she spoke, and she could see both men behind him exchange glances. They both looked amazed at her fire, but also amused that she would behave in such a way toward their boss.
Bess only had one thing on her mind. She was convinced she would not ever see Will again, but she silently prayed he wouldn’t find them too soon. The man stood puffing his cigar a few times, clearly amused that she was so defiant. After a moment of silence, he took a deep breath and blew the smoke into the air.
“Do you realize that your husband begged for a second chance? Do you realize he promised me he would get the money before the end of the three weeks? Do you even realize what kind of man you were married to?” a malicious smile spread across his lips and Bess fought back the tears she felt forming in her eyes.
“You are a cruel and despicable human being, and you will face justice for what you did one day, mark my words,” Bess said flatly. The smile faded from the man’s lips, and in a sudden motion, he leapt upon her. Grabbing her by the back of her hair and covering her mouth with his hand, he hissed in her ear.
“I hope you realize you are going to face the same fate as your husband, and if we weren’t in the middle of town, I would shoot you right now!” he looked up toward Victor, then added, “bring the wagon around. We’ll throw some blankets over her in the back and take her a little ways out of town. I think we can finish this discussion there.”
