“She’s fine,” Alexander replied. “I want you to reconsider. I’m serious about her, I have a good job, and I can provide for her. If she never wants to see me again, I’ll back off. But I have to try.”
William smirked. “Haven’t you heard?”
“Heard what?” Alexander felt uneasy.
“Ashleigh’s engaged to a wealthy lawyer from California. James Pendergrast,” William said.
“What? But . . . when?” Alexander could hardly formulate a coherent sentence.
“It all happened recently. We leave for California in four weeks, so Ashleigh and James can marry,” William explained. “With all due respect, we need to go now.”
“I had no idea . . .” Alexander was still stunned.
“I’m sorry, Alexander. But this is what’s best for Ashleigh.” Gilbert put a hand on his shoulder, then winced, seeing that he’d gotten dirt all over Alexander’s shirt.
The brothers moved on, leaving Alexander standing all alone for the second time that day. Ashleigh was engaged to another man. His dreams, his ideas, his plans . . . all of them had just gone up in smoke.
Chapter Seven
Ashleigh smiled as she read the latest letter from James. She had sent a book with her last letter, and he had read it and expressed that he’d enjoyed it very much. She couldn’t wait to meet him in person. She wished there was a way for James to come to Creede, so she and her cousins could stay, but she knew that would never happen.
As usual, Ernie showed up at the most inopportune of times.
Ashleigh was horrified. “What are you doing in my room?” She prepared to call for help, but then she remembered the events a few weeks prior, when no one else had seen Ernie. “Wait a minute. You’re not real. You’re just in my mind.”
“This is impossible. Impossible! I get the worst ones!” Ernie complained, looking up at the ceiling.
“Who are you talking to?” Ashleigh didn’t understand. If Ernie was something she had thought up, why didn’t he make any sense?
Ernie plopped down on the bed. “Ashleigh, you’re not going mad.”
“I never said I was going mad,” Ashleigh said defensively.
“But you thought it,” Ernie countered.
“How would you know that?” Ashleigh asked.
Ernie sighed and glared toward the ceiling. “I’m not really supposed to have to spell it all out for you, but let’s just say, I know things. Things about you. And only you can see me. Because I’m here to help you.”
Ashleigh took this all in. “Help me with what?”
“I was sent here to help you survive. But the only way you survive is by staying here in Creede and marrying Alexander. You can’t go to California. Terrible tragedies will occur,” Ernie emphasized.
“What kind of tragedies?” Ashleigh whispered. Against all odds, she found herself believing Ernie. “I thought all the tragedies were in my past.”
“Do you love your cousins?” Ernie asked.
“Of course! What kind of question is that?” Ashleigh made a face.
“If you all go to California, there will be a horrible accident. Philip will be killed instantly. Gilbert will die a slow, painful death. And William will survive, but he’ll be too disfigured to ever work or live on his own again. You will be forced to care for him, living out your days as a spinster. Is that what you want, Ashleigh?” Ernie collapsed onto the bed, exhausted from his speech.
Ashleigh was too flummoxed to be appalled that Ernie was lying on her bed. “That all is going to happen if we go to California? And you know this because . . . ?” The man was as crazy as she was beginning to think she was! Why was he saying all these things?
“I have it on good authority,” Ernie said. “The best authority, in fact.”
Ashleigh’s eyes widened. “Are you telling me you’re an angel?”
Ernie sat up straight. “Finally! Took you long enough.”
“God sent you here to help me?” Ashleigh asked.
“Even I don’t know all the particulars. No one can understand everything. All I know is that you shouldn’t go to California. You should stay here and be with Alexander. That’s it. Is that so much to ask for?”
Ashleigh smiled despite herself. Even though he could be obnoxious, Ernie was growing on her. Her smile faded as she thought about Alexander’s treatment of her. “But he’s ignoring me. He doesn’t care for me at all. He never even responded to my letter!”
“Have you really been trying though, Ashleigh? You seem like you ignore him at work,” Ernie protested.
“How would you know that?” Ashleigh hadn’t seen Ernie at work lately.
“I’m always near you, Ashleigh. I told you, I know things. Can we move on already?” Ernie stood up and began pacing. “We don’t have much time left.”
“That’s right. We’re leaving for California in only two weeks,” Ashleigh agreed. But she badly wanted to stay there with Alexander . . . or did she want to be with James? Her mind was starting to mix the two men up.
“You need to start spending more time with Alexander. Write him more letters. Something. Anything!” Ernie said, sounding frantic.
Ashleigh shook her head sadly. “I don’t think so. Plus, I’m writing to another man, a man from California.”
“You shouldn’t trust letters from a man you’ve never met,” Ernie scolded.
“You’re not my father! Why are you constantly telling me what to do?” Ashleigh burst out. For a guardian angel, Ernie was extremely annoying! She wished she could tell him to get out and never come back, but what would happen if she did? He was an angel after all.
“Look, I’m only supposed to focus on you and Alexander. This other man . . .he’s outside of what I do. I’m not supposed to get involved. But I wouldn’t be so excited about him, that’s all I’m saying,” Ernie explained.
Ashleigh rubbed her eyes wearily. So much was happening all at once. Who was she supposed to trust? Ernie seemed like he was looking out for her, but he was so mysterious and odd. Alexander was her dream man, but he acted irritated around her. Her cousins wanted what was best, but they wanted to go to California, which would likely end in more death and despair. What was she supposed to do?
When she looked up again, Ernie had disappeared. Ashleigh shook her head. She supposed she should go downstairs for dinner so her cousins wouldn’t worry about her. Since the time Ernie had shown up at dinner, they’d been treating her cautiously, as if she were a very delicate child instead of a young woman.
When she got downstairs, the dining area was abuzz with hushed, worried chatter.
“What’s going on?” Ashleigh asked as she took a seat next to her cousins. Everyone wore grim expressions on their faces.
“There have been more robberies,” Gilbert said gently, not wanting to upset Ashleigh further.
Ashleigh felt a chill of fear. “Were they wearing masks?”
Gilbert looked down. “Yes, they were.”
“Maybe we should leave to go to California sooner,” Philip piped up.
“No, we can’t!” Ashleigh blurted out.
William stared at her. “Why not?”
“We just . . . I need more time! Just a little more time in Creede. Please,” Ashleigh pleaded. She tried to think of what might change their minds. “I’m not feeling well. I need more time to rest before such a long journey.”
William’s brows furrowed but he nodded. “That seems reasonable. How much longer?”
“Only a week or two,” Ashleigh promised. Even as she said it, she worried it wasn’t enough time. How would she be able to convince her cousins to give up their dream of California in only a couple weeks?
“Fine. We’ll make our plans. It will give us another week or two of wages from the mines,” William said.
“Ashleigh, are you really sure you should keep working? Maybe you should rest and stay around the boardinghouse during the day. That will help you start feeling better,” Gilbert suggested. Ashleigh had given them all a
scare, but he knew her better than anyone and was still concerned.
Ashleigh shook her head. “Thanks, Gil, but I will feel much better by working. I promise. I just need a little time.”
“All right.” Gilbert nodded.
“If that’s settled, I think it’s time to eat!” William announced, standing up and walking over to the table, where Becky had just set out a large plate of roast beef. “My favorite!”
Ashleigh wasn’t hungry. She had a lot to work out in the next two weeks. She tried to think. What could possibly make her cousins want to stay in Creede? Different jobs would be essential. As her cousins had explained, the workers in the mines got paid good money, but the risk was too high to do that kind of work on a long-term basis. She wondered if she could find other jobs for her cousins.
Just then, she remembered the letter she had written upstairs for James. How would she break the news to him that she was no longer going to California? Over the past weeks, she had grown more and more excited to receive letters from him. It seemed like they both liked the same things and had the same hopes and dreams for their lives. She didn’t want to get her hopes up, but she had a feeling if she met him in person, she’d be hopelessly in love.
Another nagging voice in the back of her head warned her that Ernie might not be telling the truth. He had said he was an angel, but how did Ashleigh know that was true? What if Ernie was trying to prevent her from going to California for another reason? Ashleigh’s head spun as she considered the possibilities.
“Aren’t you going to get some food?” Philip asked.
Ashleigh had almost forgotten. She stood up and retrieved a plate of roast beef, but she still wasn’t hungry. She pushed her food around. “Do you want any?” Ashleigh offered her plate to William.
His face lit up, and he nodded. “Thank you, Ashleigh!”
Suddenly, Ned staggered into the dining area. His pants had a rip in them, and his head was bloodied. He took a few steps, then collapsed onto the ground.
Ashleigh stood and raced over to him. Becky brought a glass of water and a cloth, and William and Gilbert lifted Ned up and set him down on a sofa near the fireplace.
Becky cleaned his wound, and Ashleigh held the cloth to it until the bleeding stopped. Ned blinked his eyes.
“Are you okay? What happened?” Ashleigh exclaimed.
“I was coming back from the mercantile, and two men—they came out of nowhere—and they hit me over the head. They took all the money I was carrying, and the fabric I’d bought at the mercantile. I was going to make you a parting gift,” he told Ashleigh.
Ashleigh’s eyes filled with tears at the older man’s generosity. She knew Ned didn’t have much, and the fact that he’d paid for a gift for her meant so much. “Don’t worry about that now,” she said softly.
“Were these men wearing masks?” William asked.
Ned nodded.
“I’m going after them! That’s it!” William shouted, standing up. A few of the other boarders stood up, too. They cheered.
Becky frowned at him. “Not now, William. You all will wind up hurt—or dead.”
William shook his head. “Something has to be done!”
A few others nodded their heads in agreement.
“We can’t allow these masked men to terrorize our town,” William continued. “We need to show them that they can’t act like that. If they hurt us, we’ll hurt them back!”
Becky looked like she was going to be ill, and Ashleigh agreed.
“William,” Ashleigh said softly. “Can we talk about this calmly?”
William shook his head. “I’m sorry, Ashleigh, but I can’t stand idly by while this happens.” He looked around the room. “Who’s with me?”
A few of the other men jumped to their feet and followed William out the door. Gilbert and Philip remained, looking conflicted.
“Please, stay here with me,” Ashleigh pleaded.
“I’ll stay,” Gilbert quickly replied. Ashleigh breathed a sigh of relief.
“I don’t want to fight. But I think I should go after William and make sure he doesn’t do anything he regrets,” Philip said.
Ashleigh and Gilbert looked at each other. Ashleigh didn’t want Philip to get hurt, but he was right—someone needed to go after William and calm him down. Ashleigh nodded.
Philip rushed out the door, hurrying so he could catch up with William and the others.
Ashleigh turned her attention back to Ned. “How are you feeling now?” His wound hadn’t started bleeding again, and he seemed to have more color than he had when he’d staggered into the boardinghouse half an hour earlier.
“A little better,” Ned whispered.
Becky was still staring at the door, seemingly in shock.
“Are you all right, Becky?” Ashleigh asked.
“I have a bad feeling about all of this,” Becky said.
Cold chills ran down Ashleigh’s spine. She prayed to God to spare her cousins. She couldn’t bear to lose them, too, after everything that had happened.
“I can’t believe all of the terrible things that have happened since we came here. I can’t wait to leave this horrible town,” Gilbert confided.
“There are some things about Creede that I’ll miss,” Ashleigh admitted.
Gilbert made a face. “Don’t tell me it’s that chef from Graham’s Grub.”
Ashleigh felt her face flush. “That’s none of your business.”
“Ashleigh, I’m your best friend! It’s sort of my business,” Gilbert teased.
“I’m serious, Gil,” Ashleigh said. “I don’t know what to do.”
“What are you talking about?” Gilbert looked over at his cousin, concerned.
Ashleigh deliberated whether or not she should tell Gilbert the truth. Ernie had warned her that they couldn’t go to California, or terrible tragedy would befall her cousins. But she knew Gilbert would never believe her. If the situation had been reversed, and he had told Ashleigh that he’d seen an angel, she would have thought he was losing his mind.
After a few moments of hesitation, Ashleigh decided to say as much as she could. “I don’t want to go to California.”
Gilbert’s face fell. “Why not?”
Ned looked away from them, as if he was determined not to listen to their conversation.
Ashleigh looked down at the floor, trying to find the right words to convince her cousin to stay in Creede. Finally, she looked Gilbert in the eyes. “I have a very bad feeling, Gil. I can’t explain it, but I know that we can’t go to California.” She knew she sounded crazy, but it would be even worse if she brought up Ernie!
“Ashleigh, it’s normal to be scared. I don’t know what California’s going to bring, either.” Gilbert tried to assure his cousin.
“Gilbert, it’s not that. Please. You have to trust me on this. We need to make sure that none of us ever sets foot in California,” Ashleigh begged.
Gilbert frowned. He’d never seen Ashleigh so worked up before. She wasn’t the type of person to get overly excited or fearful. He wondered what had made her so afraid.
Just then, the door to the boardinghouse burst open. William and Philip staggered in. Ashleigh could see that William was limping, with his arm braced around Philip for support.
“What happened?” Ashleigh cried. She and Gilbert rushed to greet them.
Becky ran to get more towels and hot tea. “Oh, my!”
Philip and Gilbert helped William sit down in one of the chairs in the dining area.
William fumed. “I don’t need all of you fussing over me! I need to get back out there and find the men responsible for these cowardly attacks!”
From the sofa, Ned craned his head, trying to see. “Did you go down swinging, William? Did you give them a taste of their own medicine?”
Philip looked down at the floor, the tips of his ears turning red.
William tried to ignore the question, but Gilbert and Ashleigh looked at him expectantly. “I tripped on the boardwalk and f
ell,” William mumbled under his breath.
“Excuse me?” Ashleigh asked. She was sure she hadn’t heard right.
“In my excitement,” William began speaking louder, “I tripped and fell down on the boardwalk. Philip had to help me hobble back here.”
Becky found some old scraps of cloth, and Ashleigh helped fashion them around William’s ankle. “Does that hurt?” Ashleigh asked, tying the last piece of cloth.
William winced. “No, I’m fine. I need to get back out there!”
Philip shook his head wearily.
“You’re not going anywhere tonight!” Becky stood in the front of the room with her hands on her hips. “We’ve had enough excitement for the evening, and I know for a fact that Mrs. Franklin wouldn’t stand for it if she were here. No one is leaving the boardinghouse tonight!”
Ashleigh breathed a sigh of relief. Becky was clearly serious. Even argumentative William couldn’t protest. She watched him carefully and saw that he’d set his mouth in a firm line. She could handle her cousin when he was angry. She just wanted to make sure he was going to be safe.
Chapter Eight
A few weeks later, Ashleigh waited patiently for William to escort her back to the boardinghouse from Graham’s Grub. His ankle injury had prevented him from working for a few weeks and had also delayed their trip to California.
While Ashleigh felt sorry that William had been injured, she was thrilled that the Steepletons weren’t on their way west. She wanted to stay in Creede, but it was becoming a very difficult place to live as a young, unmarried woman.
The robberies had intensified. The entire town was buzzing about the men in the masks. Ashleigh never walked anywhere alone. She wasn’t even allowed to walk to her room in the boardinghouse unaccompanied. At work, Alexander mostly ignored her. Sometimes, when he needed something, he’d bark out an order, barely even looking at her.
The letters from James had continued, and more and more, he seemed like Ashleigh’s ideal match. Ashleigh wished that her mother was still around or that she had sisters, so she could read each letter aloud to them and discuss its contents.
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