by Duane Boehm
The men eyed one another again and Gideon could see that his words had stirred memories. At least some of them were putting the pieces of the puzzle together. The ringleader seemed at a loss on what next to do.
“Why would they kill them?” the man finally asked.
“I think it was because the couples were not married. Pastor Gordon seemed to have an obsession with couples living together outside of marriage. I believe he thought he was on a mission from God. He seemed to ignore some of God’s other teachings as he saw fit. None of this was your fault. You didn’t know,” Gideon said.
The fight looked all out of the men now, replaced with self–doubt. Gideon could see in the men’s faces that they realized he was right and he hoped by not blaming them, it would allow them to leave with their dignity still intact with no need to try to save face.
The ringleader rubbed the back of his hand against his lips. “We will talk about this back at the church and see what everybody remembers. I know you’re right about the cross,” he said before turning his horse and riding away with the others in tow.
“Do you think that this is over?” Finnie asked after the men were out of hearing range.
“Oh, yeah, it’s over. They realized that I was right. They just have to get used to the idea now,” Gideon answered.
“I don’t know about you, but all this stare–down nonsense has given me quite the appetite,” Finnie said before shivering.
“Let’s go get the good doctor and partake ourselves of the fine culinary delights at the Last Chance,” Gideon said.
Chapter 26
The dawn’s first light fell on Last Stand as Finnie walked to the jail. Mary’s recovery put him in a fine mood and he whistled “Whiskey in the Jar” as he went. He entered the jail and jumped back at seeing a shadowy figure standing by Gideon’s desk.
“It’s just me, Charlotte. Don’t be such a lily liver,” she said.
Charlotte stood before him dressed in men’s clothing. Suspenders were the only thing holding her gapping pants up and the sleeves of the shirt were rolled up several times. A man’s winter coat lay in the chair along with a hat.
Embarrassed by his actions and Charlotte’s comment, Finnie barked out, “Standing there in the shadows you looked like one of those scrawny ghosts that roam Ireland. We have lots of them in the old country.”
“Well, you must be plenty scared of them the way you jumped,” Charlotte said.
“Why are you here?” Finnie asked.
“I ran away again,” she said.
“I thought that you were married,” he said.
“Depends on what you call marriage. I told you I wouldn’t do my wifely duties with Cecil and I kept my word. Every time he got near me, I’d punch him right in his baby–maker. He got to where he walked around with his hand dangling in front of him for protection. He’s too embarrassed to tell anybody,” Charlotte said.
“By God, you’re a mean one alright,” Finnie said.
“Since Pastor Gordon and the rest of them got killed, everybody is running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I heard about all of them coming to town. After they figured out that the sheriff told the truth, they just fell apart. They’re ashamed. My pa acts like he don’t know how they are going to survive. Shoot, they did all the work. Pastor Gordon is the one that had it easy. Nobody will come for me this time,” she said.
“I’m sure poor old Cecil won’t. You probably ruined him on women for life. Gideon and I tried to get you back, but that wasn’t going to happen,” Finnie said as he lit the stove.
“Serves Cecil right. I should have a say in who I want to marry,” Charlotte said.
“You won’t get an argument from me on that point. I like you outfit. Nice and manly,” he said.
“Well, I wasn’t about to run away in a dress in this weather. I’d like to see you running around in snow with bare legs,” she said with irritation.
“You’re a lippy thing. I could just throw you in a cell,” Finnie said.
“How’s Mary?” she asked, ignoring his threat.
“Mary lost the baby and we about lost Mary. She’s doing better now, but she’s still mourning the loss,” Finnie said.
Charlotte seemed taken aback, sorrow showed in her face, and she sat down in the nearest chair. “I’m truly sorry for you and Mary’s loss. She’s a fine lady and she was good to me. Can I see her?”
“Sure. She was beside herself when you disappeared and she’ll be glad to see you. Are you hungry?” he said.
The girl nodded her head.
“Put on your coat. You can see Mary and eat some breakfast,” Finnie said and opened the door for her. He admired the girl’s spunk if not her mouth.
They walked to the back door of the saloon and went inside. Mary stood cleaning dishes and did a double take as she realized that Finnie’s companion was Charlotte. The girl moved quickly to Mary and the two hugged.
“I’m going to fix her some breakfast while you two get caught up,” Finnie said.
Finnie listened as Charlotte retold her story to Mary. She had his wife–to–be in stitches with her description of punching Cecil in the baby–maker. He took note that both of them might be dangerous if properly agitated. Mary told the girl about losing the baby and Finnie watched in surprise as the apparently hard–hearted Charlotte teared up.
With the bacon and eggs finished frying, Finnie set the plate in front of the girl. She dug into the food as if days had passed since her last meal. The conversation stalled and Finnie sat beside Mary as they watched the girl devour the food. She mopped up the remaining egg yolk with her bread before looking up and smiling.
“Much obliged. I guess the cold made me hungry,” Charlotte said.
“You can have your room back and start helping me until things get figured out. I need someone right now more than ever. That mean old doctor won’t let me lift much of anything,” Mary said.
Finnie stood. “I’m going back to the jail. I’ll be sure to tell the doctor your high opinion of him after he helped save your life.”
“Quit being so sensitive. You know that I was joking. If he were younger, I’d marry him instead of you,” Mary said before giving Finnie a kiss.
Gideon sat at his desk drinking coffee when Finnie returned.
“About time you showed up,” Gideon said.
“Didn’t you notice the fire a going? I came in and Charlotte stood waiting at your desk. I took her to Mary. It’s a good thing that girl wasn’t the ringleader of that Paradise bunch that showed up here. We’d had a shootout for sure if she was,” Finnie said.
Smiling, Gideon said, “I expect that you’re right. I got a letter from the sheriff in Toledo last week. He found her uncle and they agreed to take her in. Whether she will go will be the next thing. You’re liable to have a permanent resident at the saloon.”
“Oh, pity me if that’s true. That girl has a mean streak, but she can also be quite sweet when the mood strikes her. Wait until you hear her story,” Finnie said as he poured a cup of coffee and took a seat, ready for some gossip.
Finnie yapped all morning to the point that Gideon stood ready to brave the cold to get away from him. As much as he was tired of hearing the Irishman talk, he couldn’t help but be happy that his friend sounded like himself again. The more Mary recovered, the more Finnie talked and laughed.
“I’m going to the saloon to get lunch. You stay here and watch things,” Gideon said.
“Aren’t we going together?” Finnie asked.
“No, my ears need a break. You can get Doc to go with you and wear him out,” Gideon said.
“That’s a fine thing to say to somebody that risks his life with you. If you were a dog you’d probably bite the man that fed you a bone and then hike your leg up on him,” Finnie said.
Ignoring him, Gideon said, “Have you and Mary set a date yet?”
“As soon as she’s all well, we’re going to get Ethan to do the honor. You better get your Sunday coat ready,”
Finnie said.
“There’s no accounting for the taste some women have in men,” Gideon said as he opened the door to leave.
“Well, she had eyes for you before I ever lived here,” Finnie shouted as Gideon slammed the door shut.
Grinning all the way to the saloon, Gideon sat down at his usual table. His arrival was early and the place had yet to fill with patrons. Charlotte, now wearing a dress, brought him a beer and a plate of food.
“I see I have you to deal with again,” he said.
“You like me and you know it,” Charlotte said.
“Sit down a minute. I need to talk to you,” he said.
Charlotte looked around and sat after determining that she wasn’t needed anywhere for the moment. “What is it?” she asked.
“I got a letter from Toledo. They found an uncle of yours and you can go live with them if you like,” Gideon said.
The girl looked surprised by the news and didn’t say anything for a moment. “Really? Do I have to go live with them?”
“No, you’re free to do what you want. If you stay, you’ll have to figure out things. I don’t know that Mary will be able to keep you on forever. You’d have to talk to her about that,” Gideon said before taking a bite of boiled pork.
“And the marriage?” Charlotte inquired.
“I’m going to take a walk to the recording office. I have a hunch that the record of Cecil and you obtaining a marriage license might have disappeared and if it’s ever returned to be recorded as a marriage, that might disappear too,” Gideon said.
“You’d do that for me?” she asked.
Gideon smiled. “I didn’t say that I was doing anything. I just told you my hunch.”
“Thank you. There’s a lot to think about,” Charlotte said.
“Why didn’t you tell the truth and come with us when we rode out to Paradise to get you?” Gideon asked.
“Because Pastor Gordon told me that he would make my fourteen–year–old sister marry Cecil if I didn’t and I thought that I’d get you and Finnie killed if I tried to go with you. I wasn’t about to let either thing happen,” Charlotte said.
Mary came out of the back room, and on seeing Gideon, walked to the table. “Are you trying to keep my help from doing her job?” she asked.
“Well, aren’t you looking pretty? You look just about healthy enough to start chasing that blabbering Irishman with a frying pan,” Gideon said.
Mary sat down at the table. “He has been talkative, but I have to be nice. I can tell that I scared the devil out of him and he’s treating me like a queen. Sometimes he acts as if I’m going to break in two.”
Gideon took a swig of beer. “So how are you doing?”
“I’m getting better, but some days are harder than others. I still have a hard time accepting that I lost the baby. After years of thinking I couldn’t have one and then to lose it, it’s just too much. I wonder if I’ll ever get another chance,” Mary said and forced a smile.
“I’m betting on you. The world needs another little Finnie running around,” Gideon said, making Mary laugh.
“Speaking of the little Irish devil, there he and Doc are,” Mary said as the two men entered the saloon.
“Good God, I told him to wait. Now I’ll have to listen to him some more while I eat,” he said before taking a big gulp of beer.
Chapter 27
The weather turned unseasonably warm for the last week of October. All of the snow melted away and the streets of Last Stand turned into a mud bog. Boards laid across the street made crossing from one side to the other possible. Wagons left deep ruts and horses plodded to their destination.
Mary and Finnie were digging into plates of eggs, sausage, and biscuits with gravy. Afterwards, she planned to go see Sarah for her first Wednesday visit since her illness. Doc would not hear of her riding a horse, but had reluctantly agreed that she could take a buggy. She had no idea whether Sarah would be expecting company or if Abby would be there, but she desperately needed out of the saloon. Between convalescing, liver, the weather, and Finnie’s smothering attention, she needed some time for herself.
“Are you sure you’re ready to go out?” Finnie asked.
“Finnie, I feel fine. I’m almost back to good as new,” Mary replied.
“Well, are you ready to set a date to get married then?” he said.
The question made her smile. She had secretly feared that now that she had lost the baby and felt better, Finnie would get cold feet about a wedding. “If Ethan can do it, let’s get married on Saturday.”
Finnie held up his coffee cup and toasted with Mary. “To the future Mrs. Ford,” he said.
Taking a bite of sausage, Mary chewed it methodically before speaking. “I’ve been thinking that maybe we should buy the Lucky Horse. This place is making so much more money since that place closed and one of these days somebody will buy it and cut our business. If we own it, somebody would have to build a new saloon from scratch.”
“Won’t we be competing against ourselves if we run two saloons,” Finnie said.
“I wouldn’t make it a saloon. We could rent it out as a store, or what I’d really like to do is make it a restaurant. The hotel is the only place men can take their wives to eat and I know that we could beat their prices. Delta could run it and we could get out of the whoring business. I’ve no stomach for it anymore,” she said.
“Listen to my little business baron. You’ve really thought this out,” he said before taking a sip of coffee.
“I have. I’m also beginning to think Charlotte won’t go to Ohio. She could work at both places. I think we could pull it off,” Mary said and smiled.
“What about when we have a baby?” Finnie asked.
Mary smiled at him again and her eyes moistened. “Finnegan Ford, I do love you. We’ll figure it out as we go.”
“We have my reward money that we can use to buy it,” Finnie offered.
“I’ve been saving money too. We should be able to buy it cheap. Nobody else has put a bid in on it,” Mary said.
“I could still be Gideon’s deputy, couldn’t I?” Finnie asked.
“Of course. Somebody has to keep him alive,” she joked.
“I think it best that I let you run things. I know my strengths,” he said.
“Finnie, I’ve been wondering something and I’ve been half afraid to ask. When I was talking out of my head, did I say anything embarrassing?” Mary asked.
Finnie smiled mischievously at her. “Mary, I can’t recall a thing that you said that was improper. It was all just nonsense.”
Looking at him warily, she wasn’t sure whether he was teasing. She decided that maybe it best she did not know and decided not to pursue the subject any further. “I’ve got to go. I’m ready to see Sarah,” she said.
∞
Abby stood dressed and ready to go see Sarah. She had no idea whether Joann would even realize that it was Wednesday, let alone think to come watch Chance because of the change in the weather. Peeking out the window, she saw her daughter riding up on her horse. A smile came to her face not only for the fact that she was getting out of the cabin, but also for the pride that swelled up in her at seeing her daughter. Joann looked lovely and had matured into a fine woman.
“Thank goodness you remembered. I’ve been pacing the floor wondering,” Abby said.
“I thought of you first thing this morning. How are you doing?” Joann asked.
“I guess I’m doing the same as I was when I saw you at church on Sunday. I’m fine sometimes and sometimes not. At least Gideon got the window replaced. That helps,” Abby said.
Chance walked over to his sister and she picked him up.
“Did you know that when the pastor ran behind the cabin to try to get through the window that Zack had to tackle Daddy to keep him from running straight into the gunfire? Zack said he would have been shot for sure,” Joann said.
“No, no one told me that. I’m not surprised,” Abby answered, shaking her head.
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“Afterward, Daddy was going to let Zack have it and Finnie stepped between them and put a stop to it. Zack couldn’t believe it. He’d never seen anybody stand up to Daddy like that, let alone it be Finnie,” Joann said.
“Good for both of them. Gideon forgets sometimes that he’s a mere mortal. He needs somebody to look out for him and keep him in line besides me,” Abby said with a chuckle.
“Abs, on the subject of men, does it ever get any easier living with them? Zack and I are happy and all, but there are times when I’d like to strangle him. He slurps his coffee when it’s too hot and he drops his clothes wherever he takes them off. It’s just little things, but it about drives me crazy sometimes,” Joann said.
Abby smiled and let out a sigh. “You’ll get used to their little annoying habits in time. Remember that we have them too. I drive Gideon nuts by leaving drawers open an inch. I do it without even thinking. I don’t know why I don’t push them in all the way. Age does wonders for your tolerance too. Zack Barlow has far more good points than bad,” Abby said in defense of her son–in–law.
“I guess you’re right. I’ll have to remember this conversation the next time I want to kill him. Get going and go have some fun. Chance and I will play up a storm,” Joann said.
Abby picked up the apple pie that she had baked and placed it in a basket. She always took Joann’s horse on her trip and she looped the basket onto the saddle horn with a string she’d tied to it.
Having a horse beneath her again felt good. Abby had always loved to ride and she felt free of her burdens for the moment. She avoided the roads as much as possible and traveled across pastures where the footing remained firm. Arriving at Sarah’s cabin just as Mary pulled up in a buggy, the two women grinned at each other.
“I hope Sarah is expecting us,” Abby called out.
Sarah walked out onto the porch. “It’s about time that you two got here. I was going to lose my mind if I didn’t have a conversation with somebody besides Ethan.”
