Faith

by Peggy McKenzie

  Faith wasn’t brave like Grace. She wasn’t outspoken like Charity. And she wasn’t adventurous like Hope. She hid in the shadows like a timid little mouse, scared of being noticed. But right now, in this moment, there was nothing more she wanted in life than to be noticed by the handsome Irishman standing next to her.

  She looked up and right there, within inches of her face, were his lips. His very kissable lips. Did she dare? Stretching on tiptoes, she took a deep breath for courage, and then she leaned in.

  “Well, what have we here?”

  The stilted voice of Mrs. Lavinia Markham interrupted the moment. Liam stepped away and grabbed for his jacket.

  “Lavinia? I mean, Mrs. Markham. Are you here to see Hiram? He didn’t mention—

  Faith watched the wealthy woman sweep into the room and stand next to Liam. A little too close for a client, if anyone had asked Faith’s opinion. Which they didn’t. She stepped back and dropped the soap and wet cloth into the bowl of now tepid water.

  “No, I’m here to see you, Liam. Might I have a word with you?” She turned and looked pointedly at Faith. “In private.”

  Liam stepped away from the woman. Faith was glad to see he recognized her as trouble, in spite of her beauty.

  “Mrs. Markham, I have a hearing at the courthouse this morning. I really need to prepare. Is this something Hiram can help you with? He’s in his—”

  “No, I must speak with you about a most pressing matter. It will only take me a few moments to explain.”

  Faith could tell Liam wanted to be anywhere but in the same room with Lavinia Markham. But he was also a professional.

  “Very well, but we must make it brief. As I said, I—“

  “I understand.” Mrs. Markham turned to her, her cat-like eyes sly and calculating. “Fanny, dear. Would you mind preparing some tea? I had to cut my ministrations short this morning”

  “Again?”

  Faith watched the woman’s eyes squint with retribution, but Faith had had a life full of ill-treatment. She was learning to guard against being a victim. She was growing very fond of speaking up for herself. At least here, in Creede, she had reinforcements if she needed them.

  Raising her chin in quiet defiance, she shot her own sarcastic remarks at the woman. “I’ll get your tea, Mrs. Markham. Will your husband be joining you?”

  If looks could kill, Faith knew she would be crow bait about now. She didn’t know what made her speak so boldly. Jealousy, perhaps?

  “And so there will be no misunderstandings in the future, if you should have need for the services of Mr. Hanover or Mr. O’Brien, my name is Faith. Not Fanny. Not Francis. Not Fancy. It’s Faith. Faith O’Malley.”

  She had no idea it would give her such joy to leave Liam behind closed doors with that vicious woman, but it was worth it to see the look of shocked surprise on the woman’s hard, perfectly painted face.

  Smiling to herself, she exited Liam’s office, closing the door with a bit more force than necessary.

  18

  Liam motioned for Lavinia Markham to sit. He rushed to his chair behind the large oak desk, putting as many obstacles as he could between them.

  “Now, what is this matter of urgency, Mrs. Markham?” Liam waited with pen in hand suspended over his notepad, hoping to look as professional as possible.

  “Liam, please. Call me Lavinia.”

  “That somehow seems inappropriate, Mrs. Markham. So if you don’t mind—“

  She waived her hand and dismissed his concerns. “You and Francis certainly looked cozy just now. Is there something I should know?”

  He ignored her question. “Tell me, what brings you to the Hanover-O’Brien offices so early in the morning?”

  He could tell she didn’t like his evasions, but it was none of her damned business what went on in his life. Liam watched the persistent woman utter her words with reluctance.

  “Well, we’ll talk about that later. I have a more pressing matter that needs attention, Liam.”

  He ignored her insistent use of his first name and urged her to tell him her business so he could get her gone.

  “Hiram is your attorney of record. He is in his office. Why don’t I go get him for you—“

  “No. I can only talk to you about this matter. It’s too personal. Too private.” The woman’s emphasis on the word private made his danger senses stand up and take notice. Before he could object, she continued.

  “Please, Liam. Hear me out.”

  Reluctantly, he nodded. “Go on.”

  “As you are aware, I am in the process of filing for a divorce from my husband.”

  “Yes, I’m aware. Hiram is handling your case. Have you told your husband of your intentions?”

  “Hardly, Liam. He’s the kind of man…let’s just say he wouldn’t be pleased I’m leaving him.”

  Liam watched the woman choose her words as if fearful of saying the wrong thing.

  “You can talk openly in here, Mrs. Markham. Anything you say behind these walls is held in the strictest confidence.”

  “I hope that is true, Liam. Because what I have to say is of a most delicate nature.” His visitor stood and paced across the floor several times before sitting back down in her chair. The woman began sobbing. At least she sounded like she was crying. Liam wasn’t one hundred percent convinced, but when she raised her head, she dabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief.

  “Tell me what has you so upset, Mrs. Markham. Perhaps Hiram or I can help.”

  He watched the woman sitting across from him, elegant, beautiful, and wealthy, struggle with her answer. Like the good attorney he was, he observed her subtle nuances and waited for her answer.

  After some moments, she raised her eyes to meet his. He saw a profound sadness in her eyes. And then, almost instantly, a cold hardness replaced it. This woman was angry and she wanted retribution on the man who’d wronged her.

  He wondered how many times he had he felt the same way. Liam’s problem was he hadn’t been able to find the people he wanted to exact retribution against. Is that why he was so angry inside?

  “I want my independence. To do what I want. When I want. I’m tired of Travis questioning my every move. After all, it is his fault that my attentions may…wander from time to time. He leaves me alone too much. And he doesn’t pay the slightest attention to me when I buy a new dress. Or new unmentionables. I know how other men look at me. I can see the lust in their eyes.” She cut her eyes toward him.

  He froze, careful not to do anything that would further the woman’s line of comments. Thank the good Lord she kept going.

  “I want my husband to pay for every single harsh, thoughtless word he has ever spoken to me. And I want to hurt him for all the nights he left me alone—to my own devices. Why, even on our wedding night he was too squeamish to give me what I wanted.”

  Liam’s ears burned. He wasn’t exactly certain what Mrs. Markham was referring to, but he had an idea. And if the way she was looking at him right now was any indication of her next move, he needed to get her out of here and gone as soon as humanly possible

  “Mrs. Markham, regardless of the reasons, divorce laws are very permissive these days and grounds for divorce are very liberal. It’s a matter of filing the petition and setting a hearing. Whether or not you get a fair settlement, well, that will be up to the hearing judge’s way of thinking. It is possible Hiram can get you a fair settlement. Everyone around here knows how wealthy your husband is. He flaunts it often enough. Hiram can present your case in a way so the judge will at least award you enough to live comfortably.”

  She leaned toward him, her full bosom puffing up and over the edge of her neckline, momentarily distracting him. He knew by the satisfied look in her eyes she noticed that he had noticed.

  “I have a lot more plans I would like to discuss with you. Over dinner perhaps. After all this nasty bit of business is over with, of course.”

  Liam knew what she was asking. It was a bad idea. So he redirected her intentio
ns for now. “How about let’s get the first part of this business over and then we can talk about your other plans and how I might advise you on how to proceed. Now tell me what it is I can do for you this morning.”

  “Of course.” She remained sitting.

  Liam watched the woman hesitate and then she spoke. Loud and clear.

  “As you are aware, my husband is being sued by your client, Mr. Jedidiah Mitchell. He is claiming my husband has stolen a mining claim from him and that he is the rightful owner.”

  Now Liam was really uncomfortable. “Mrs. Markham, I can’t discuss my client’s case with—“

  “I’m not asking you for information. I’m trying to give you information that will help you win your case against my husband.”

  Now he was intrigued. “I’m listening.”

  For the next hour, he listened as she not only gave intimate details of the underhanded dealings of her husband, but provided actual documentation that sealed his fate. Liam sat back in his chair when Mrs. Markham was done with her story and pondered the whole sordid affair. There was one thing he still needed to know.

  “Why are you telling me this? Why are you all but putting your husband behind bars?”

  “I thought I made that clear.”

  “Mrs. Markham, I’m not sure inattention is an offense worthy of putting the man in jail. Are you sure about this? Once this information comes to light in the courtroom, there’s no going back,” Liam warned. It was one thing to talk about changing one’s entire life. It was quite another to suffer the backlash of one’s actions.

  “I’m sure. Your partner is representing me in my divorce. Once these shady dealings come to light, I’ll surely be entitled to a fair recompense in our divorce. I mean, what judge is going to put someone like me, someone who looks like me, and who is used to a certain lifestyle, out on the street without a penny. Once my divorce is final, I can live my life as I wish without my husband controlling my every move. I have the perfect dress to wear in front of the judge.”

  Liam watched the woman practically preen. He had never noticed how vain she was before today.

  “What happens if the court decides these ill-gotten gains need to be repaid, leaving both you and your husband penniless?”

  “I may look like so much window dressing, Liam, but I’ve had a few years to contemplate my escape. I have been diligent in siphoning funds and redirecting them into a bank account in Denver. If I don’t get the slightest recompense because of my husband’s dealings, I shall still be able to live the life to which I am accustomed. And with Travis behind bars, I won’t have to worry about him tracking me down.”

  Liam tapped his pen on his notepad. “I see. Well, you have given me quite a lot to think about. Perhaps I should ask the court to postpone the hearing today to more fully prepare my case. In light of this new information, I think the court would be agreeable.”

  He stood, hoping to signal the end of their meeting. Lavinia remained seated. After a few moments, it became obvious she wasn’t going to move on her own volition. Finally she left him no choice, and he moved in her direction.

  “Well, thank you, Mrs. Markham. I’ll be in touch. Let me see you to the door.”

  He extended his arm. She accepted. But when she stood, she rushed into his arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him squarely on the mouth.

  Liam heard a quick knock and the door immediately swung open. “Liam, Faith and I would like to—“

  And then dead silence. Liam’s back was to the door, but he didn’t need eyes in the back of his head to know what had just happened.

  Lavinia Markham made a show of peeling herself off him. She adjusted her clothing and, head held high, walked toward the door. Liam turned, his body rigid, arms at his sides, and watched Mrs. Markham march past his mentor and his tongue-tied, ghostly pale employee. There was no point in explaining what just happened. He wasn’t certain he could if he tried. Every explanation that came to mind sounded trivial and defensive.

  He watched Faith stammer and stumble over her words, finally getting out a few.

  “I’m...sorry. I—Mr. Hanover said he wanted me to come with him to—I’m sorry. I, we—should have waited for you to answer.”

  The look on Faith’s face tore at his heart.

  “Hiram, I—don’t know what to say.”

  His mentor ambled into the room. “I’d say the fox has breached the henhouse. Faith, would you mind getting us all some coffee. I think we need to have a serious discussion between the three of us.”

  Faith nodded and left the room. Not once did she look at him. It hurt. Especially when he’d heard her laughing so openly with Billy Buchanan just a few hours ago.

  But what did he expect? She’d walked in on him kissing—no, being kissed by—a married woman after he had kissed her last night at the bottom of the Hanovers’ stairs.

  Liam was humiliated enough at being caught with a married woman in such a compromising situation, especially after Hiram had warned him about her.

  “What just happened, Hiram? One minute I’m sitting at my desk, the next I’m trying to explain why Markham, a married woman, threw herself at me. What the hell is going on?”

  Faith felt as if she was moving in slow motion after the scene she had just witnessed. The sight of that woman wrapped up in the very same arms that held her just last night, kissing the very same lips that kissed her with so much passion at the bottom of the Hanovers’ stairs was too much. How could Liam do such a thing? She never once dreamed he was such a scoundrel.

  She had no right to be angry. Or jealous. After all, she had no claim on him, and yet—

  She delivered the coffee to Mr. Hanover and turned to quit the room, but Liam stopped her at the door.

  “Faith, I’m sorry. That was very inappropriate and I assure you—“

  “Don’t bother explaining to me, Mr. O’Brien. What you do behind closed doors is your business. Now if you will excuse me, I have work to do.”

  “Faith, would you mind grabbing your notepad and pen, and taking notes for this meeting?” Hiram’s words called out to her from Liam’s office.

  “Of course, Mr. Hanover. I’ll be right back.” Faith reluctantly hurried to her desk, picked up her pad and pen from her desk, and returned to Liam’s office. She would rather not have to face the object of her heart’s desire, fresh from the arms of a married woman.

  By the time she returned, Hiram and Liam were sitting in the chairs across from Liam’s desk. She sat in the chair in the corner, out of the way and yet close enough to hear everything that was said.

  “Liam, why don’t you start at the beginning and tell us what trumped up reasons Mrs. Markham used to stage this circus act.”

  For the next hour, Faith listened intently as Liam explain to Hiram the purpose of the wretched woman’s visit.

  Faith scribbled furiously on her pad, trying to capture as many comments as possible. The more she heard, the more lighthearted she grew.

  Finally the truth of this morning’s unfortunate little scene was clear. Mrs. Markham wanted a divorce from her husband and was plotting revenge against him for all the real or perceived transgressions he’d perpetrated against her. A strange turn of events for Liam’s client’s case, but a welcome one if Mr. Hanover and Liam’s enthusiasm was any indication. A sudden dark cloud scurried across her new-found insight. If Lavinia Markham was no longer married, did that mean Liam could be openly interested in the beautiful and wealthy woman? Faith wasn’t certain where Liam’s interests were, no matter how many kisses he doled out to innocent women like herself. Perhaps he simply liked kissing women. Any woman. The thought settled hard in her chest.

  “Now, if we are all in agreement, Liam needs to talk to the judge and request a continuance for today’s hearing. I can’t imagine Mr. Markham’s attorney will object. He’s a well-respected man Markham brought in from Denver with a reputation for being a reasonable and fair adversary. Then we can process these documents and the testimony of M
rs. Markham, and ask the court for a trial date. I don’t see how we can lose.” Hiram patted Liam on the back as proud as any father would be of a son.

  “But what if the woman changes her mind? You know, takes back her testimony.” Faith could only guess she got caught up in the excitement of the moment. Otherwise she would never have the courage to speak so boldly.

  Liam turned to her, surprise etched across his handsome face. Her face pinked with embarrassment, and she did her best to hide her pleasure when he answered her question.

  “Whatever happens with that situation, these documents can’t be unseen and we have them in our possession. We have Markham right where we want him. Now, if we want to postpone today’s hearing, I need to prepare our pleading and present it to the judge.”

  Hiram congratulated Liam again and quit the room to his own office, leaving her and Liam in silence. She rose to go, but Liam stopped her before she could clear the room.

  “Faith—“

  Her first impulse was to flee. Run away. Hide. Become invisible. That was how she had lived her entire existence. It was self-preservation, fine-tuned over a lifetime. But she wanted more out of life than being a shadow on the wall.

  It took courage, a lot of courage, but she managed to tamp down her flight reflex and turn to the man who held her heart in his hands.

  She didn’t speak. She couldn’t. Her emotions were much too raw to chance a tearful outburst. So she waited for Liam to begin.

  “Faith...” His words trailed off.

  She waited.

  “Faith, I—”

  She could help him, she supposed. Make it easy on him. He seemed to be struggling with saying whatever it was he wanted to say. But, for some reason, she held her tongue. If he had something to say, then he would have to do it on his own.