Simone shook her head. “You’re wrong. I won’t do the things you plan for me.”
“And how do you propose to stop me? You couldn’t even escape me,” Louis replied, slurring his words. “I had it all planned. I came back for you that night.”
“What are you talking about?” Simone asked, her hand going to her head as if to clear out the haze that kept her from understanding.
Louis laughed. “I came back for you after leavin’ you with Davis. Figured on changin’ our plans.”
“You came back?” she asked and her voice was barely audible. Then, as if forgetting what she had asked, Simone eased up on her knees and asked, “Can I have some water?”
Louis looked at her for a moment. She looked to be in bad shape, and while it had served his purpose to keep her weak, if he was going to get any real money out of her, he was going to have to treat her right. He tossed her a canteen and then begrudgingly cut a chunk of cheese and tossed that at her, as well.
The canteen landed at her right hand, and she’d just managed to sit down when the cheese landed in her lap. She stared dumbly at it for a few minutes before Louis spoke.
“You’d better eat it. We don’t have much, but you’ll have to keep up your strength.” He watched as she drank from the canteen. She looked so much like her mother that to Louis’s drunken mind she was very nearly the same woman.
“I told you not to betray me,” he muttered. “I warned you good. You shouldn’t have left me.”
Simone looked up at him. “You gave me away. You sold me to Garvey Davis.”
“But I came back.”
“You keep saying that,” she whispered, nibbling at the cheese.
“I came back to take you with me,” he said. “Decided to take you so that you could make me some money.”
“I won’t,” she said flatly, and when she said nothing else, Louis continued.
“They’ll like your looks in Denver. They liked your looks in Uniontown. Could’ve made good money there.” He paused and looked past her into the darkness. He could almost see them living it up in Denver. If she would just see things his way.
“I won’t go with you,” Simone said.
He looked back to her. “You’ll go. You don’t want me doing to you what I did to him.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked, scooting closer to the fire.
“I told you I came back. Saw what you did to Garvey.” Louis laughed a deep, throaty laugh. “Didn’t know you had it in you.”
Simone shuddered. “I’m not proud of what I did. But I was protecting myself. He would have raped me! You left me there and now you suggest—”
“He was to be your husband. That weren’t rape. What a man does with his wife ain’t rape.”
“It is when it’s forced,” Simone replied.
Louis shrugged. “He was moaning and groaning. Couldn’t even get up.”
“What are you saying?”
Simone moved closer still, her face blurring before his eyes. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this tired, and that, on top of the whiskey, was making it hard to remember what he was saying.
But Simone was adamant. “What do you mean he was moaning and groaning? Are you talking about Garvey Davis?”
Louis shrugged again. “Who else would I be talkin’ about, you dim-witted girl? I finished the job you started. Took my maul from the tool shed and did the job right.” He rubbed his eyes, and when he looked at Simone again, she was crying. “What ails you now?”
She shook her head. “I … I thought … I killed him.”
Louis laughed. “The law thinks that, too. But I don’t care. It’ll give me control over you. You’ll do what you’re told, or I’ll turn you in.”
“But I was going to turn myself in,” Simone replied. “All this time I thought I’d killed Garvey Davis.” She wiped her eyes. “I didn’t kill him. I didn’t kill him.”
“No, you didn’t,” Louis replied. “I killed the man. Figured if he was stupid enough to get himself into a fix like that, then he didn’t deserve to live.”
“But you’d let them hang me for this? For a crime I didn’t commit?”
“As far as the law is concerned, you did the deed.”
“But I’m your child. Your own flesh and blood.”
“You ain’t mine. Your ma was already carrying you when I met up with her in Denver.”
“What?” Simone got to her feet slowly. “What are you saying?”
Louis, too, struggled to his feet. “I’m saying you ain’t my kid.”
“Then who is my father?” Simone asked, a look of shock clearly registered on her face.
Louis shook his head. “I don’t know and I don’t care. I just know that I’ve done the job all these years and now you’re coming with me. You owe me.”
Simone shook her head. “No wonder you could do those things to me. No wonder you hated me so much. I couldn’t understand how you could just give me to Garvey Davis, but now I know.”
“I didn’t give you to nobody. Davis bought you fair and square. Just like the others are gonna do.”
“No,” Simone replied, backing away. “I won’t do it.”
“You have no choice.”
“You can’t watch me twenty-four hours a day,” Simone replied.
“And there’s no place you can run that’s far enough to keep me from finding you.”
Simone shuddered and Louis laughed. He knew she sensed his power, and it gave him courage. “So unless you want to end up dead like Davis, you’d best get it in your head to cooperate.”
“There are worse things than death,” she said.
Louis thought about the words for a moment. The girl had a point. He supposed there were a few things worse than death. He staggered back a step before speaking. “It don’t matter. You’re coming with me. The world thinks you’re a murderin’ thief. Just remember, it was you—not me, who took Davis’s horse and saddle.”
“But you killed him,” she threw back.
“Yeah, I killed him. I did it. I killed Garvey Davis, but no one ’cept you and me knows that.”
The sound of a gun cocking instantly grabbed Louis’s attention. He might be drunk, but he wasn’t so far gone that he couldn’t recognize that sound. He looked at Simone for a moment. The look on her face told him that she’d heard it, too, but it wasn’t until she took another step backward that Louis realized he’d been found out.
Two men emerged from behind the trees. One held a gun level with Louis’s midsection. The other, too well dressed for this kind of business, clearly had his eyes fixed on Simone.
“Louis Dumas, I’m arresting you for the murder of Garvey Davis.”
“Weren’t me,” Louis protested, his hands flailing. “It was the girl.”
“We heard your confession,” the man with the gun commented.
The other man moved quickly to where Simone stood. Louis heard him ask if she was all right. “Leave her be. Unless you’re paying, you stay away from her.”
“Oh, Jeffery, you found me,” Simone murmured, her tears flowing anew. “He took me from Florence.”
“I know,” the man whispered, pulling her into his arms.
Louis pulled a knife from his boot and lunged at Jeffery. “I told you to leave her be.”
Simone screamed and Jeffery quickly shielded her behind him. Louis swept the knife through the air. “You aren’t going to ruin this for me. You aren’t taking her away.” He slashed at the air with his knife while Jeffery narrowly escaped by dodging back and forth. The fact that he held Simone behind him slowed his steps, however, and without warning, Louis’s blade caught the edge of the man’s coat.
Louis knew he’d made contact with the man’s flesh, just by the look in his eyes. Louis had seen that look a hundred times before. It was a look of panic—a look that questioned survival.
“I’m gonna kill—” Louis felt the hard blow on his head, and for a moment he stood as though nothing had happened. Then
everything went black.
Simone looked down at her father’s crumpled form and then to the man who’d struck him with the butt of his revolver. The man with the gun came forward and stood not two feet away while Jeffery tried to bind his cut with his handkerchief.
“I didn’t kill him.” Simone looked into the man’s face, shadows from the fire dancing around him. “I didn’t kill Garvey Davis.”
“I know,” the man with the gun replied. “I heard everything he said.”
Jeffery turned to her. “We were out there for most of the time you were sleeping. We were going to come in then, but we were afraid of what might have happened if you awoke in a start.”
“Jeffery,” she gasped, looking at the red-stained handkerchief.
“You’re bleeding pretty good,” the other man said, holstering his gun. “You’d best let me see if I can get it stopped.”
Simone watched as he unwrapped the handkerchief and inspected the bleeding wound. It was more than she could take. With the knowledge of her innocence, Simone followed her father’s example and passed out cold on the hard prairie ground.
THIRTY-THREE
“WELL, IF YOU AREN’T the popular one,” Nellie said, bringing in not one but two bouquets of flowers for Simone’s inspection. The Harvey House mother beamed a smile at Simone. “I’m glad to see you up and dressed. You look so much better. These ought to perk you up even more.”
Simone shook her head and finished securing a pin into her hair. “Where in the world did those come from?”
“The two gents who are awaiting your arrival in our downstairs parlor,” Nellie replied. “Same two gents who brought you here in the first place. That nice Mr. O’Donnell and his friend Mr. Matthews.”
Simone nodded. She had known without asking that this would be the case. Una had told her the night before that both men seemed very concerned for her welfare. She had teased Simone about keeping a stable of beaus, but Simone hadn’t taken the matter seriously. Zack Matthews had his heart set on one thing alone, and that was solving the Davis murder case. In speaking with him on the long ride back to Florence, Simone had been amazed to learn that Matthews had followed her from Wyoming, all on the chance that he could solve the case and bring in the murderer of Garvey Davis.
He had also confided that he’d never really believed Simone to be the murderer. He did worry that she’d been a pawn in her father’s schemes but was happy to be proven wrong on that matter. Jeffery, ever attentive and concerned for her well-being, had said practically nothing as they’d ridden across the windy prairie. He seemed greatly preoccupied with something else, but he gave Simone no indication of what that might be. She supposed he was anxious to get back to work and to Chicago.
“You’d best go down and speak with those boys,” Nellie said, interrupting Simone’s reflections and placing the flowers on the desk. “They’ve been here constantly nagging me for information. Poor Una was stuck answering questions all morning. They aren’t likely to go away until they’ve talked to you and seen for themselves that you’ve survived your ordeal.”
Simone discarded her thoughts and nodded. “I know you’re probably right.” She gave her appearance a hasty assessment and smoothed down the form-fitting bodice of the red gingham gown. “I suppose I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“You look mighty pretty in that dress. I’m sure you’ll have both of those men eating out of your hand.”
Simone laughed. “I’ll point them to Mr. Harvey’s dining room if they so much as attempt such an act. Nowhere in my line of duty am I required to hand-feed customers.”
Nellie laughed at this and stepped into the hallway. “You could probably make those two do anything you suggested.”
Still smiling, she followed Nellie downstairs and into the parlor. Both Zack and Jeffery stood in welcome to greet her. Jeffery grinned from ear to ear, while Zack looked rather embarrassed by the entire matter. Simone understood Zack’s reaction. She felt rather embarrassed herself.
“Simone, come sit here,” Jeffery said, coming forward. “We don’t want you to wear yourself out.”
Unused to anyone pampering her like this, Simone stiffened slightly. “Jeffery, I assure you I am fine. Nellie took good care of me these past two days, and there is nothing more that need be done for me.”
She turned to Zack, who was twisting his hat in his hands. What a contrast between the two men. Zack in his faded jeans and broadcloth shirt. Zack with his tanned face and windblown hair. He seemed to be a deep thinker and a man of few words. He didn’t mind that his appearance was less than orderly. As she looked at Jeffery she saw nothing but perfection. He was impeccably dressed in his brown serge suit, his hair had been carefully parted down the middle and slicked back on either side with tonic water. She could smell his cologne from where she stood, while Zack smelled of nothing more than soap and summer air.
“I … uh … just wanted to let you know,” Zack began awkwardly, “I’ll be taking your father … uh … Mr. Dumas back to Wyoming today. We leave on the afternoon train.”
“I see.” Simone looked at the floor and tried to feel something other than relief that this man she’d called Father would soon be far away from her. “Forgive me if I sound harsh. I really don’t mean to be, but I’m glad you’re taking him away.” She looked up hesitantly. “I just don’t think I could go through the trial.”
“I don’t think there’ll be much of a trial. I mean, I heard his confession and I have both yours and Mr. O’Donnell’s sworn statements. I figure given the circumstances, the charges against you for theft will be dropped, and there should be no need for you to come back to Wyoming.”
“Thank you.” Her voice betrayed her obvious relief.
“I think you should know that given the situation,” Zack continued, “and the violent nature of Mr. Davis’s demise, your … Mr. Dumas will probably face death for his actions.”
Simone nodded and lifted her eyes to meet Zack’s compassionate gaze. “I know. I’ve thought of nothing else for some time.” She paused and looked at Jeffery. “It could have been me. And because of the horror of what I’d experienced, I thought I wanted him dead. Now I realize taking his life won’t change what he’s done. When I think of how close I came to …” She paused and shuddered. “It could have been me. He could have killed me or left me to hang for Garvey Davis’s death.”
“Shhh,” Jeffery interjected. “God interceded. He knew the truth of the matter and didn’t allow an innocent person to be blamed for something they didn’t do.”
“It’s more than I can begin to understand,” Simone said softly. “I stand amazed that such a miracle could take place on my behalf. God really heard my prayers.”
“I don’t suppose you want to see him before we leave,” Zack said as if to introduce the idea to Simone.
“No, I don’t want to see him. I never want to see him again. He’s caused me nothing but heartache. I really want to forgive that man for all he’s done to me, especially for taking away my mother and brother.”
“I thought you said they deserted you,” Jeffery interjected.
Simone shook her head. “My mother left to bring the law back with her. She intended to return, but Louis Dumas killed her and my baby brother.”
“What!” Zack and Jeffery declared in unison.
“It’s true,” Simone replied, looking from man to man. “He used to taunt me with that fact. He came home and found they were gone and he went off in search of them. When he returned, he told me how he’d killed them and how my mother would never come back to help me again.”
“Did he ever tell you where he put their bodies?” Zack questioned, then realized the delicacy of the situation. “My pardon.”
Simone shook her head. “No, he never said a single word about what he had done with them afterward.” She felt a heavy sadness overwhelm her. “I wish I knew where they were.”
“But you do know,” Jeffery replied. “You told me yourself that your mother had accepte
d Christ as her Savior. You’ll see her again one day in heaven.”
Simone realized he was right, but it didn’t lessen the sense of loss. “I’ve spent a lot of time being angry over things I couldn’t control. Now I feel God has finally given me hope for the future.”
Zack smiled. “He’s good to do that.”
She nodded. “I guess I’m just starting to see that for myself. It’s a wondrous thing.”
“Perhaps your earthly father is still living,” Zack offered. “You might find out one day who he is and where he lives.”
“Perhaps,” Simone replied, “but I’m sure a search like that would take a great deal of time and money.” She sighed and smiled. “Besides, I have a job with Mr. Harvey’s company. I have a contract that I must see through, and I’m thankfully no longer a wanted woman.”
“Oh, you’re wanted,” Jeffery whispered, leaning very close.
He seemed not to mind that Zack could hear his words, but Simone felt her face grow hot.
“Well, I’d best be going,” Zack said, finally breaking the silence. “I have to collect my things before I head out.”
“Thank you again,” Simone said, stepping forward to offer her hand. “I’m still overwhelmed to realize that God brought you here. I thought for a time it was His curse that you should be able to track me down, but now I understand that what I saw as harmful, God meant for good.”
Zack smiled and shook her hand very gently. “I’ll send you a letter and let you know what happens.”
“Thank you. I think that would be most helpful.”
He nodded first to her, then to Jeffery. “If you folks get up Wyoming way, look me up.”
With that said, he took his leave. Simone had no time to think about Zack Matthews’ departure because no sooner had the screen door closed behind him than Jeffery pulled her into his arms and surprised her with a kiss. His lips were warm against hers, and Simone felt a sensation of heat spread out from the union.
“I’ve wanted to do that since you first came into the room,” he told her.
A Shelter of Hope Page 28
