“Don’t you think that’s pushing it? It’s a thousand miles there and a thousand back. It took us five months with the wagon,” said Zach.
“Exactly. That’s why I can’t take the kids with me. I can ride a lot faster by myself. And I may be able to take the train part way. I think I can pick it up in Cheyenne. It won’t go to Jeff City but I can take it to St. Louis and then ride back to the capital.”
“I’ll miss you,” said David. “But I understand that this is more important.”
“Whoa,” said Liam taking his son by the shoulders. “Nothing is more important to me than you and Hannah. Never. You are my life. But this needs to be done. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.” David straightened his back and stood tall.
“We’ll be happy to take care of David and Hannah while you’re gone,” said Becky. She smiled at his children. “They spend half the day at our place anyway.”
“And it’s the least we can do for you, especially if you’re successful. I’ll owe you my life,” said Jake.
“Our lives,” said Becky.
“I’ll go with you,” said Zach.
“You can’t. I want you out of harm’s way with Jake. Besides, you have to work our claim. Jake and Becky have their own claim to work now that Becky’s father is dead. When I get back we’ll start on the cabin.”
Zach nodded. “All right, I can do that. I want you to write as soon as you get to Jeff City and again when you leave to come home. If you’re able to take the train, you may beat the letter home.”
They all laughed at that, but it was no less true. Mail was very slow getting to Deadwood.
“I’ll write. I promise. Now it’s getting close to suppertime. What do we have for tonight, David?”
David straightened, as he always did whenever he spoke to his father. A habit left over from him watching all those soldiers come to attention in front of his dad. David had only been about five, Hannah’s age now, when a general stopped by Liam and Mary’s home. Liam automatically came to attention when he answered the door and saw who it was. Of course, the general put him at ease but David remembered, and mimicked his father ever since. Even when he understood the meaning behind the gesture, he continued to put his shoulders back, chest out and stand up straight whenever someone spoke to him. It was a habit no one wanted to see the little gentleman lose.
“I caught lots of tiny brookies today. Becky scrambled them up with some fried potatoes, made some cornbread and found some tinned peaches for dessert.”
Liam looked over at his new sister-in-law. “You’re going to spoil us.”
“It’s nothing,” said Becky, the color rising in her cheeks. “Besides it turns out it’s going to be the last family meal for a while. It should be a little special.”
Liam smiled at her. “Thank you. I’m glad you’ve joined the family.”
Jake put his hand on Becky’s knee while she sat on the log next to him and gave her a little squeeze.
She grinned. “So am I.”
Jake cleared his throat. “We were going to wait but with Liam leaving we decided to tell you all now.” He paused. “Becky and I are going to have a baby. Doc Cochran says probably late June or early July.”
“Congratulations,” exclaimed Liam and Zach simultaneously.
Zach clapped Jake on the shoulder and shook his hand.
Liam got up, walked to Becky holding Hannah’s hand. He gave Becky a kiss on the cheek and then looked down at Hannah. “What do you think about Becky having a baby? Are you excited?”
Becky looked down at Hannah, a smile on her face.
Hannah stared up at her daddy, her eyes looked so unhappy. “Does that mean she won’t be my Aunt anymore, ’cause now she’ll have a baby?”
“No, pumpkin. Becky will always be your aunt, but she’s going to be someone’s mama now, too,” he explained to his daughter. He understood she was afraid of losing Becky to the new baby. Apparently Becky recognized it, too.
“Hannah, this baby isn’t going to change who you are to me, which is a very wonderful little girl. You and I have a special bond,” she pulled Hannah up on her lap. “When I saved you from the river, we became bonded to each other. Nothing can get rid of or change that bond, because it happened to us. Just don’t go near the river again. I don’t want to lose you, sweetheart.”
“I won’t. The river is bad. It almost drownded me.”
“Yes, it did. It almost drowned both of us.”
Liam owed Becky so much more than he could ever repay. She’d saved his baby, and risked her own life in so doing. When Hannah fell in the river in September he’d nearly lost her. Hannah was fine now, but definitely had a healthy respect for the water. She didn’t go anywhere near it without an adult with her. Nearly dying cured her curiosity about the water.
~*~
Early January 1877
Jefferson City, Missouri
“So, Charles, what do you say? Will you help me?” said Liam, smoking the cigar Charles had given him upon his arrival, along with a glass of the best whiskey Liam had had in a very long time.
He stood by the window, being able to observe the room and the growing city outside at the same time. Charles’ office was opulent by the day’s standards. A large mahogany desk, behind which Charles sat in a well-padded leather chair, dominated the room.
The sideboard held a crystal decanter and glasses, one of which Liam sipped from. He was surrounded by bookcases filled with leather bound books. Law journals, most of them. If Liam were a betting man, he’d bet there were some fiction first editions on the shelves as well. Perhaps the copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Written only last year, the book was already being touted as a classic.
“I looked into this a bit after you wrote me.” Governor Hardin was of average height and build. He had brown hair with a receding hair line and wore glasses that kept slipping down his nose. “The sheriff confirmed your story about Jake. He was not in a rage or drunk, said he was in shock, more than anything.
“I also spoke to Mayor Green. He’s not a bad man, just a father in pain looking for the murderer of his only child. He’s since regretted his decision to put a price on Jakes’ head, but didn’t know how to stop it once the ball started rolling. His solution was to require Jake to be alive and unharmed for the bounty to be paid.”
“Two men lost their lives trying to collect that bounty,” said Liam.
“He knows and is sorrier that he can say. I’ve told him I’m pardoning Jake Anderson and having all charges dropped. He had no problem with that. I even think he was grateful it was out of his hands.”
Liam puffed out a couple of rings of smoke from the fine cigar. “Thanks Charles. I appreciate it. Jake is trying to start over. Has a new wife and they’re expecting their first baby the end of June. This will start them off right. You’re giving them a wonderful wedding gift.”
“Tell them if it’s a boy to name it after me,” laughed Charles.
“I will.” Liam stood. “Well, I need to leave. I’m heading to Fort Leavenworth to find out what can be done about Zach. I’ve got to convince General Lassiter that a miscarriage of justice will be done if he doesn’t arrest Colonel Jordan. And that Zach was acting not only for his brother’s safety, but on behalf of the army at large, by keeping an innocent man from hanging.”
Charles stood and came around his desk. He reached his hand out to Liam. “Take care, my friend. I have prepared a letter for you to take to General Lassiter with my request that charges against Zach Anderson be dropped. Perhaps it will aid you in your discussion with him.”
They shook hands. “I hope so, too. Lassiter is a good man and I believe a fair man. Zach and Jake will probably have to come back to testify against Jordan, as will the sheriff, but I don’t think it will be a problem now that the murder charges have been dropped.
~*~
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Late January 1877
It had taken Liam two weeks of hard riding to cr
oss Missouri and reach Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was ready to head home, but not without the generals decision.
“I understand the problem. The letter you brought from the Governor of Missouri explained it and so did you. However, Colonel Jordan is AWOL. He apparently knew the nature of your visit as well,” said General Lassiter.
Lassiter was a slender man of average height and about fifty years of age. He had dark black hair with a shock of silver at each temple. Women would have called him distinguished. Liam thought he just looked tired, as men in his position often did, the weight of their responsibilities, heavy upon their shoulders.
Liam sat on the hard wooden chair across the oak desk from the general. The comfort of the chair did not encourage lingering. The room also held a sideboard and two bookshelves that matched the wood of the desk. He did notice that the general’s chair was heavily padded, giving Liam the impression that the general spent a lot of time there.
“Liam, you do realize that Captain Anderson will have to answer for the AWOL charge. Even with my recommendation that all charges be dropped, he may be sentenced to time in prison. The only way I can see for this to all go away is for him to resign his commission with an effective date prior to his encounter with Colonel Jordan.”
“I’m he sure would be willing to do that. I know he had intended to make the military his career, but he is prepared to do whatever he needs to.”
“Good. I think he’ll be exonerated due to the circumstances, but I can’t say for sure. I can only give my recommendation.”
Liam stood up and extended his right hand. “Thank you, General. You’ve been very helpful as I knew you would be.”
General Lassiter took Liam’s hand and shook it. Then he laughed. “I could have been a real bastard, you know.”
“Yes, sir, you could have, but there are not too many generals that have been in the position as long as you have, that would be bastards. The rigors of the job require that you be fair and just.”
“That sounds like the response a good politician would say. Do you have any aspirations to that end?”
“No, sir. I leave that for others. The only thing I want is to get back to my children.”
The general inclined his head. “Ah, that’s right. You said you have a gold claim up in the Dakota Territory. Deadwood wasn’t it?”
“Yes, sir. I left my children with my brothers.”
“I wouldn’t have picked you for a man with gold fever.”
“I’m not. It was just the farthest I could get from St. Louis at the time.”
The general looked at Liam as if he understood. “Running from something?”
Liam nodded. “Memories.” He said nothing more and the general let it go at that.
“Good luck to you, Liam. I’ll write you as soon as I know more about Colonel Jordan.”
He rose and took the general’s outstretched hand. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate you giving me some of your time.”
“You’re welcome. You know, the army is always looking for good officers. Should you want to resume your commission, please come talk to me.”
“Thank you, sir, but my children are my only concern now and army life does not agree with raising children alone.”
General Lassiter said, “I understand. Still if you change your mind…”
“I will, sir.”
Liam left the general and went back to his hotel. He was anxious to begin the trip back home. But tonight he would enjoy his last night in a real bed for a long time.
CHAPTER 2
Liam arrived in Deadwood on Sunday, the twenty-fifth of February, just in time for a snowstorm; back a month sooner than he expected because he was able to take the train for longer portions of the trip than he’d planned. His trip was very successful. Jake had been exonerated and the murder charge dropped. Liam had the pardon from Governor Hardin in his saddlebags to give to Jake.
Zach might still have to stand trial but only if the board didn’t accept his resignation and the general didn’t think there was any chance of that. The only thing that didn’t go as planned was Colonel Jordan was still at large, and a danger to the brothers and, by extension to himself and his children.
Liam sent a telegram to General Lassiter when he arrived in Cheyenne and then waited overnight for an answer from the general. When it came he’d been disappointed to find out Jordan hadn’t been caught. Yet he wasn’t surprised. Jordan was proving to be a slippery character. Liam was amazed he’d achieved the rank of colonel, but thought it must have been due to commissions given during the War Between the States—a terrible conflict that even now, more than ten years later, still had repercussions on the country.
Now that he was back at home, Liam decided to surprise his family with a special dinner, and visited the butcher before going back to the camp. Beef steak would be a welcome treat for his family. He was ready to see his children; he’d missed them more than he thought he would.
Passing in front of The Gem, he was knocked to the side by someone barreling out the door. He automatically reached for the person—a decidedly feminine person if the breast in his left hand was any indication.
“Are you all right? Miss?”
“Oh! Unhand me, sir.” The spitfire said in a tone that brooked no argument.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, releasing her immediately
She fell down onto the boardwalk. “Oh, owww.”
“Ma’am, calm down. I’ll help you up, if you would allow me.”
“I…I seem to have twisted my ankle. I can’t stand up,” she cried softly.
“Here. Take this.” He handed her his parcel of steaks wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. Then, he scooped her into his arms. “Let’s take you to see Doc Cochran.”
“You can’t carry me all the way there,” she protested. “I’m too heavy and it’s much too far.”
He chuckled, ignored her protests and started walking toward the southeast end of camp where Doc maintained his office. “I think I can manage.”
Doc’s office was at the far southeastern side of camp, just outside the Celestial’s village. Liam didn’t know why he kept it there when most of his clientele was at the opposite side of camp. It made no sense to him but Doc must have a reason. Maybe the rent was cheaper outside Chinatown?
He gazed down into her upturned face and found incredibly wide blue eyes, the color of the sky at dusk, staring back at him. He was momentarily mesmerized. “I’m Liam Anderson.”
“Eleanor Smith.” She perked up some. “Are you David’s father?”
Liam frowned. “Yes. How do you know my son?”
“He’s come into camp with Becky Finnegan…er…Anderson.” She closed her eyes for a moment, pain evident in the frown on her face. “Becky is my friend. I witnessed her marriage to your brother, Jake.”
Now he understood. “You’re the reverend’s daughter.”
“You say that with disdain. Do you have something against church?”
“Nope. Just got no use for ’em. Where was your God when my Mary died? In hiding somewhere, because He sure wasn’t with us.” The anger, still prevalent, surprised him. He thought he’d gotten over it by now.
Assaulted by memories still too painful to tolerate, he almost set her down and let her make her own way to the doctor’s place. But he was a gentleman and as such, he couldn’t do that.
“Have you just returned? David and Becky didn’t seem to think you’d be back until sometime next month.”
“I wasn’t expected. That’s why I was coming from the butcher before going home.”
“You…you…weren’t going into The Gem, were you?” she asked, surprised.
“No. I wasn’t.”
She let out an audible breath, like she’d been holding it for a long while. “Oh, I thought you…well you know what I thought.”
Liam watched her color rise. She was quite pretty in an understated way. Rich chestnut hair, deep blue eyes the color of the waning sky. Her bow shaped lips were full
and immensely kissable. Slender, she weighed almost nothing in his arms.
“If you’ll wrap your arms around my neck it will be easier for both of us,” said Liam.
She did as he asked and the action brought her breasts flush against his chest. He hadn’t been this close to a woman since Mary died. Until now, he hadn’t felt any desire to do so. He was feeling a whole lot of things with this woman that seemed new to him. Maybe he should go visit The Gem and one of its soiled doves. Maybe then he could look at Eleanor with something other than lust on his mind.
“Are you sure you weren’t going to use the ‘offerings’ at The Gem?” she persisted.
He kept walking, debating whether or not he should answer her questions. He answered, deciding he wanted to get to know this woman better and figuring he wouldn’t have a better opportunity. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, I was not. I was simply passing by when you crashed into me. Do you always assume that every man that passes this way is going into The Gem? What were you doing in there and why were you so anxious to leave?”
She ducked her head and wouldn’t look at him. “Yes, I’m sorry about running into you. I wasn’t looking where I was going. You see, I minister to the women there and Mr. Swearengen doesn’t much like it. He was chasing me out, so to speak. Well, he wasn’t actually chasing me, just yelling at me. I don’t like it when people yell.”
“I’ll have to remember that.”
“Why would you care whether I like it when people yell or not?”
“We might become friends. You already know my son and probably my daughter, too.” He had decided they would become friends. Perhaps even more than friends. Where his children were concerned, he gave his all, and if they wanted to be friends with this woman, then so would he.
Liam Page 2
