by Indiana Wake
Katy wasn’t sure if she would be up for talking. Her mind was in a whirl. She would be lucky if she got any sleep after a revelation like this.
Chapter Seven
Simon lay on his cot, staring at the ceiling. He had been right about the homicide being justifiable, but he wasn’t sure that people back on the East Coast would agree. The Colemans, despite their abusive behaviors, were big benefactors. There were many influential people on their side. They would make sure the killer hanged for her crimes.
Simon wasn’t about to let that happen. He would be going back and laying out what he found. If they didn’t believe him, Simon was more than prepared to protect Emma. She had been caught in a desperate situation, something that should never have happened.
This had gone on far too long. Too long for Emma and Katy. How they hadn’t cracked under such pressure was amazing. Simon wasn’t sure if he would have been the same.
Sleep was not going to come anytime soon. Giving up, Simon slipped on his boots and left his room. Maybe a walk in the fresh air would help him.
The rain had stopped, but the smell of rain was still in the air. It was fresher than in Philadelphia. The whole place had a tougher way of life, but everyone in San Francisco made it work. They were happy with their lot, something Simon hadn’t seen often.
It was a hard life in the West, but it was looking much preferable to what he had before. Simon could see himself living out here, a new start. Maybe he could request moving out here instead of working the East Coast. The marshals were always looking for people willing to go along the western frontier.
Simon was jerked out of his thoughts as he entered the courtyard. There was a dark shadow huddled by the well, wrapped in a blanket. From the flash of blonde hair, Simon didn’t need to guess who it was. He approached her slowly.
“Katy? What are you doing out here?”
“I couldn’t sleep.” Katy looked up. Then she rose to her feet, brushing herself off before tugging the blanket tighter around her shoulders. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t. I couldn’t sleep myself.” Simon raised his eyebrows. “Mind if I join you?”
“I… all right.”
Katy lowered herself back to the ground, leaning against the well. Simon sat beside her, stretching his legs out in front of him. His knee screamed at him when he did that. A bullet had almost completely shattered his knee and nearly stopped his career as a marshal before it even started. Simon didn’t want to think about what damage the bullet was doing as bits of it scraped around inside his leg.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
Katy sighed. She was staring at the ground.
“I can’t believe Emma didn’t tell us anything,” she said. “I’m bouncing from relief to fury… I thought I had killed them. Parts of my memory have gone… I’ve not been able to remember much of that night. I thought it was me trying to stay in denial, to block out the bad bits.”
Simon could understand. He had been there himself.
“But you didn’t kill them. And I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had.”
“Really?”
“There had been times when I wanted to kill them myself.”
“I wish you had.” Katy looked up at him, her eyes wide in the dark. “What are you going to do about Coleman? About us?”
“Us?”
“Jessica, Emma, Rebecca…”
“Oh.” Simon cleared his throat. “Coleman… I can deal with him. You lot, though… I will need to tell my superiors what I’ve found. It’s going to take a while, but if others come forward about the treatment they suffered, it should help.”
But Simon wasn’t sure how much. Somehow, the Colemans had kept their abuse from everyone else. Orphans claiming abuse would be discarded as trying to tarnish the good names of the deceased. Hopefully, Simon could find several who could turn that on its head.
“People will talk now,” Katy said quietly. “If we’re brave enough to do it, they will.”
“You think you’ll be able to go back and tell the truth?”
Katy nodded. Then she leaned into Simon, resting her head on his shoulder. Simon started, almost knocking her away. It had been a long time since someone had shown any signs of genuine affection towards him. Most of those times it had been from Katy herself. Simon treasured those moments.
“If you’re with me, absolutely.”
Those words were like music to Simon’s ears.
Chapter Eight
They had sat out in the dark for a long time, almost until the sun came up. Katy had started getting drowsy by that point, but she hadn’t wanted to leave Simon’s side. This was the safest she had felt in a long time.
At some point, Simon had carried Katy back inside and put her to bed. Katy couldn’t remember it happening, but the next thing she knew she was waking up in the bed Mary had provided for her. The sun was high and coming through the window. A lot of activity was going on outside.
Katy washed and dressed, hurrying out into the hallway. The door to Emma’s room was closed, but Simon was coming out from the room across the hall. He was still buttoning up his shirt, his fingers pausing when he saw Katy. His hair was standing up on end, and he looked bleary-eyed. Katy had a sudden urge to throw herself into his arms. He looked like he needed some comfort.
But she kept herself at bay. Now was not the time to be thinking of warm and fuzzy moments.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.” Simon yawned and dragged his fingers through his unruly curls. “I feel like death, though.”
“Well, we were up talking for a long time.”
“I know.” Simon finished buttoning his shirt and shrugged on his jacket. “Listen, I’ll need to head out later. I’ve got to find Richard Ford. If he’s in the area, chances are he’s going to find out what’s going on pretty soon. I need to get to him before he runs.”
“I understand.” Katy didn’t want Simon to leave, but he was still working. Then a light flickered in her head. “Have you checked the Townsend ranch?”
“Townsend? As in Matthew Townsend, the horse breeder?”
“Yes. He’s been known to hire criminals on the run. He doesn’t discriminate. And his wife is Richard’s sister.” Katy shrugged. “Chances are, Richard would stick close to family, and Lorna is his only family.”
Simon was staring at her for so long Katy wanted to squirm. Then he approached her, chucking her chin with a smile.
“You know, I could have done with you a long time ago.”
“Where’s the fun in making me do all the work?”
“Fair point.” Simon raised his eyebrows. “Care to join me? You might be able to calm Richard down. From what I remember, he was fond of you.”
“He was fond of everyone.” Katy smiled. “Especially Emma.”
“You think that’s why he protected her?”
“No doubt about it.”
Simon grunted. Then he held out his hand.
“Come on, then. Might as well head over there after we’ve eaten.”
They wolfed down their food, much to Mary’s amusement, before they headed out on a horse and buckboard to Matthew’s ranch. Katy hadn’t been up there, but she had heard things about the workers. Most, if not all of them, were criminals of some sort. They came into town every now and then, and they weren’t what Katy expected. But she had never seen Richard. Chances were, if he was at the ranch, he kept himself very close to his hideout.
It was nearly evening when they finally reached the ranch. Even at that hour, the activity in the place was vibrant. Horses were being moved around the courtyard and into the paddock. Nobody paid them any attention as Simon drove the horse into the ranch; everyone was focused on their work.
Katy wondered if they were that relaxed about their new lives that they had lowered their guards. Nobody reacted as Simon jumped off the cart and helped Katy down. Everything about Simon screamed that he was a lawman, but nobody batted an eyelid.
Katy
looked around. It was dustier than she expected, and it went up her nose, causing her to sneeze.
“Here.”
Simon passed over his handkerchief. Katy blew her nose, wiping the dust from her eyes. Then she looked up and saw a familiar face coming around the side of the big house. He was dressed in faded clothes covered in dust, his brown hair longer than she remembered. He was looking stockier than Katy remembered.
But there was no doubt who he was. Katy touched Simon’s arm.
“There he is.”
Simon turned. Katy stepped past him as Richard Ford approached them. He hadn’t seen them yet. It wasn’t until Katy was almost standing in front of him that Richard realized they were there. He slowed right down, his eyes widening and his mouth dropping open.
“What the… Katy?”
“Hey, Richard.”
“I…” Richard spluttered. “What are you doing here?”
“It doesn’t matter now.” Katy hugged him, Richard hesitated before his arms tightened around her. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”
“Of course, I am. I…” Then Richard’s voice faded away. Katy looked up to see Richard staring over her head at Simon. His expression hardened and went blank. “Simon.”
“Richard.”
Richard looked down at Katy. Then he gently released her and stepped back, squaring his shoulders as he turned to Simon.
“It was me. I killed them. Do what you want with me, Deputy.”
Simon shook his head.
“Emma told us what happened, Richard. We know the truth, and we know you only helped her. You never killed anyone.”
Katy watched as Richard’s stern stance faltered. His face lost some color as he stared at Simon.
“She… she really told you about that night?” he asked weakly. “How did you find her?”
“Because she’s here with me, Richard.” Katy took his hand, giving him a reassuring smile. “We all came out to San Francisco together, along with Lorna. I would have thought she would have said something.”
“She…she mentioned an Emma, but I had no idea that we knew the same person.” Richard looked like someone had hit him over the head. He swallowed hard. “She’s really here in San Francisco?”
“Yes. And she wants to see you.”
Katy didn’t know that, but from the way Emma was whenever the footman was around back in the orphanage, she would be glad of his presence. They danced around each other to the point that it was amusing, but Katy wasn’t blind to the fact that Emma had some feelings towards Richard, and vice versa. Richard wouldn’t have put himself as the prime suspect if that wasn’t the case.
Simon indicated the main house.
“Do we need to explain everything to Townsend? Or would you want to do it?”
“Matthew knows everything. It was either that or lose Lorna.” Richard grunted with a half-smile. “The fool thought Lorna and I were lovers. We had to tell him the truth.”
“And he knows you’re innocent?”
“He knows the story, but not the whole truth.” Richard sighed. “I suppose I’m going to have to tell him now.”
“Does he know your real name?”
“Yes. But I go as Herman Gohill now.”
Katy found herself bursting out into giggles. Simon looked confused.
“What’s so funny?”
“Herman was one of the benefactors of the orphanage and Coleman’s closest ally.” Katy tried to stop giggling, but it wasn’t easy. “I’m surprised you didn’t have a closer look and click when you saw the name.”
Richard shrugged.
“I don’t know what I was thinking about that. I was in a rush.”
Simon grunted.
“Well, you won’t have to worry if you want to change your name back to Richard Ford.”
“Trust me, once this is blown over, I’m more than prepared to do that.”
“I should hope so.” Katy was still giggling. She squeezed Richard’s hand. “Do you want to see Emma?”
“I do.” Richard turned to her. “Is she all right?”
“She’s fine. Scared, but she’s doing fine.” Katy looked at Simon, who nodded. “We’re prepared to take you to her, if you want to see her.”
Richard’s nostrils flared.
“Try and stop me from seeing her.”
Chapter Nine
Simon didn’t think of himself as the sentimental type. But as soon as he saw Emma run to Richard the moment he entered the room, the two of them embracing each other like their lives depended on it, he did find himself reaching for his handkerchief. Richard had never made it clear, but Simon had guessed he and Emma shared a silent bond. And Emma knew it. The chemistry between them was always strong.
It was a shame something as awful as the murder had to bring it out into the open.
Katy had been at Simon’s side the whole journey back to San Francisco, Richard sitting in the back. Simon had found himself holding her hand on the trip, Katy’s fingers eagerly gripping hold of his. He found some comfort in it; something about Katy had him relaxing. She was a stable influence.
He should have done something about the two of them before.
As soon as Emma and Richard hugged, Emma bursting into tears. Katy had left the room. Simon followed her, closing the door behind him. Gareth Stanier was with them; there was no chance of either of them running.
Katy moved a lot faster than Simon anticipated. She was gone before Simon had closed the door. Simon eventually found her out in the courtyard, leaning against the well. Her face was turned up to the sinking sun, her eyes closed. She looked very much at peace.
Then Simon saw the trickle of a tear down her cheek. Why was she crying? He touched her arm.
“Katy? Are you all right?”
“What?” Katy opened her eyes with a start. She gave him a small smile. “I’m fine. Sorry, I needed some air.”
“You don’t need to lie to me.” Simon leaned on the well beside her. “You found that scene touching, didn’t you?”
“I’m that obvious, am I?”
Simon chuckled.
“I’m afraid so. And I don’t blame you. It can get a little bit mushy at times.”
“You don’t find it touching yourself?”
Simon shrugged. “I’m just good at ignoring it.”
Katy smiled.
“I wouldn’t say that, Simon.”
“Why?”
“I can read you. This has been painful for you as well.”
He couldn’t hide anything from her. Katy had been a quiet but astute girl. And she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman. Simon folded his arms, feeling like he was under interrogation himself.
“Can you blame me? I was chasing people I grew up with. I was chasing you. And that didn’t sit well with me.”
“What part didn’t?”
“Chasing you.”
Katy turned to him. A frown was starting to marr her pretty face.
“Why am I so different, Simon?” she asked. “What is it about me that makes me different to everyone else?”
Being subtle wasn’t working. Simon was going to have to become more obvious. Katy was surprisingly wise, but she was also very naïve. He took her hand, gently tugging her toward him.
“If you can’t guess why by now, then you really need to open your eyes.”
Katy’s eyes widened. Her mouth opened, but then Simon cut off her protests with his own. Katy whimpered, and then sighed, kissing him back with an inexperience that Simon found endearing. She opened her mouth more, but their teeth clashed together. Simon pulled back with a wince.
“Oh!” Katy’s face went bright red and she tried to pull back. “I’m sorry, I…”
“Don’t be.” Simon tugged her back. “We’ve got plenty of time to get you used to it.”
This time when he kissed her, Katy let Simon take charge. She sank into his arms, allowed Simon to tuck her against his chest. Simon’s breathing was ragged when he broke the kiss, hugging her t
ightly to him.
“Does that answer your question now?” he rasped.
“I…” Katy’s throat sounded dry. She coughed and looked up, her cheeks still flushed but her eyes bright. “Yes, it does.”
“That’s good.” Simon kissed her forehead. “And I’ve got something for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes.”
It had been burning a hole in Simon’s pocket for months. He had begun to think he wouldn’t ever get to use it. But now his hand reached into his shirt and drew out the silver band with five small sparkling sapphires in the settings. It had cost him two months of wages, but it was worth it. Blue was Katy’s favorite color.
He held the ring up. Katy gasped.
“It’s beautiful. But why…?”
“I was going to ask you to marry me. I was walking out of the jewelers with this when I was told about the murders. I thought I’d never get to give it to you.” Simon kissed her forehead. “Come and live with me, Katy. Let’s get you out of that life.”
That was the wrong thing to say, because Katy visibly flinched and tried to draw away from him.
“You didn’t have to propose to me out of pity to get me out from the Colemans.”
“Katy, no!” Simon grabbed her before Katy stepped out of reach. “That came out wrong. It’s nothing like that.”
“Then what?”
“Oh, for goodness sake! Do you want me to explain myself again?” He kissed her, silencing Katy’s protests. “I’ve been in love with you for a long time, Katy. It just took a long time for me to go after what I wanted, which was a life with you.”
Katy was staring at him like she had never seen him before. Simon wondered if he had actually rendered her speechless. Then Katy’s eyes narrowed, and she prodded Simon in the chest.
“Have you just become soppy on me, Simon Huckerby?” she accused.
Simon groaned.
“I hope not. Don’t make me talk more, Katy. Just give me an answer.”
“Answer to what? You haven’t asked me a question?”
