The Marshal's Mission

by Barbara Goss

  “It’s going to be a colorful one tonight, son.”

  Spence gave her a polite smile. “The sky is already starting to turn.” Spence picked at his callused hands as he spoke.

  “Tell me what’s wrong, Spence. You’re not the same son that left for Kansas. Are you in some kind of trouble?”

  Her words shocked him. He’d thought he’d hidden his feelings well. “No, no trouble.”

  “Well, something is very different about you. I’ll understand if you’d rather not confide in me, but maybe I can help.” She closed her eyes for a moment and smiled. “Remember how you always used to confide your problems and worries to me at bedtime when I tucked you in?”

  Spence gave her a warm smile. “Yes, I do. And you always managed to make things better so I could sleep.”

  “Maybe I still have that knack.”

  Spence sat in silence, picking at the blisters on his hands.

  “You can tell me anything, you know. Remember the many times I sheltered your ‘mistakes’ from your father and fixed them for you behind his back? You can trust me, son.”

  Spence sighed and squeezed his mother’s hand. “I’m a man now, and I need to figure things out for myself.”

  “A man’s never too old to need his mother’s advice or help.”

  Spence bit his bottom lip but kept silent.

  “What is it, son?” she said with such compassion that Spence melted.

  “I had to leave Kansas before I was ready,” he blurted.

  “You didn’t want to come home?”

  Spence grimaced. That hadn’t come out right. “Not exactly. You see, I didn’t finish the job, and John took me off the case.”

  “He must have thought your part of the job was finished. You said he had the proof he needed to arrest the criminal—that’s what he hired you for, right?”

  Spence gripped the arm of his chair tightly. “Yes, but I made a few promises to people in Salt Creek that I can no longer keep, and that bothers me.”

  “Oh, I see,” his mother said softly. “Hmm, and your father has you so busy you can’t even think of getting away—is that it?”

  Spence nodded and thought about Glenna living out in the wilderness with Ruth. He wondered what she’d think when a strange deputy marshal escorted her home instead of him.

  “I promised Mr. McKay I’d finish the building job I started for him, for one thing. I worked and lived on his ranch.”

  “I’m sure he’ll understand.”

  “Maybe, but...well, I met someone special there, and she’s depending on me. I’m letting her down, too.”

  Martha Blackwood smiled knowingly. “You met someone? How wonderful. Tell me about her.”

  “She’s pretty, Ma, and smart, too. Her name is Glenna McKay. She’s the one who found the evidence. I had to take her to a safe place because the criminals were after her. She was so frightened.” He felt his eyes widen and his cheeks blush as he spoke of Glenna. He hoped his mother hadn’t noticed, but he doubted she’d missed it. He couldn’t keep the excitement from his voice.

  Martha squeezed his hand. “Do you love her?”

  “I wasn’t sure at first, but I miss her so much. I must…is that a sign of being in love?”

  “Oh, yes,” she answered. “How does Glenna feel about you?”

  “Mind you, we’ve never been...you know, improper. I did steal a tiny kiss before I left, and I held her in my arms whenever she was frightened. I’m fairly certain she feels the same.” Spence shook his head sadly. “I miss her so much, and I’m worried about her being hurt when a stranger comes to take her home instead of me, as I promised. And what if the marshals don’t find Asa? What if he finds Glenna first?”

  “Spencer Blackwood, you need to go to Kansas to straighten out this mess. John doesn’t have to know. He can’t prohibit you from traveling to see the friends you made while on the job.”

  “Yes, but Father has me so busy, and as bossy as he is, I love him and can’t disappoint him.”

  “Geoff was telling me just this morning how much better his foot feels. While you were gone, his friend, Matthew, came and helped out, too.”

  “I feel like I’m needed here, but my heart is in Kansas.”

  “Spence, do you know how hard it is to find true love? Don’t let it go. Go to Kansas and bring that lovely woman home. We can build you a cottage—”

  “No, Ma, that’s not all.” Spence bit his lip again. “Her father made me promise not to take her away from him.”

  Martha Blackwood sat back in her chair and merely said, “Oh.”

  “If I were to encourage my relationship with Glenna, it would mean my living there. It would be the only way.”

  “That is a problem. Your father will be leaving the business to you and Geoff someday. He’s counted on it since you two were born.”

  Spence grimaced. “It would break his heart.”

  Martha put her hand over his. “You can at least go and finish what you started. Finish the building, bring Glenna home to her father when the criminal is safely behind bars, and re-evaluate your feelings then. If you truly love her, do whatever you have to in order to be happy. Your father and I will cope. Love is the most precious emotion. You can’t ignore it and just hope it will go away because it won’t.”

  Spence thought about what she’d said. “But the Bible says I need to honor my father and mother.”

  “Yes, and it also says ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined with his wife and the two shall be as one flesh.’”

  “The Bible says that?”

  “Yes, in Ephesians. Our minister did a sermon on it not long ago.”

  “Father will be livid if I leave.”

  His mother patted his hand as it rested on the arm of the chair. “Finish out the week, and I’ll have Geoff back at work, and his friend Matthew, too. Let me handle your father. I’ve been handling him for thirty years now, and I promise you, it’ll be fine.”

  Spence felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “Mother, you still have the knack.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Asa Livingston and six of his gofers from the mine stood beneath the trees near the U.S. Marshals’ Headquarters in Fort Smith.

  Asa swore. “If we’d have caught up to him sooner...but you men wouldn’t answer my knock on your doors that night. You know you’re supposed to be on call day or night.”

  The men looked at each other sheepishly.

  “Then, when I finally rounded every one up, no one volunteered to accompany me to Fort Smith. You men that I finally drafted, took too long to pack and bid your families goodbye. Had we beat him here, we would have been able to stop him from reaching the marshal office.

  One of the men spoke up, “He had a thoroughbred horse under him.”

  “He didn’t stop to rest much either,” one of the other men said. “He rode so fast we weren’t even sure it was him until he came out of the office a few minutes ago.”

  Asa swore again. “My fate is now sealed. I need to get out of Fort Smith before every marshal in town is after me. Let’s go.”

  The men rode like the wind toward Salt Creek. On one of their rest stops, Asa sat with his head in his hands. “What to do now?” he mumbled. “What to do now?”

  One of his men said, “We have families to return to.”

  “I know. You men can go. Leave me to figure out what to do. If asked, you don’t know a thing.”

  The men all exchanged looks, and mounted their horses, and fairly flew down the road, probably in fear that Asa might change his mind.

  Asa swore over and over at Glenna McKay. This was all her fault. Then he got an idea. He was just stressed enough to say it aloud—or maybe to his horse: “I’m going to find her and use her as a bargaining tool. If they want the girl, they’ll have to let me go free. Dagnabbit, I’m good—that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

  After arriving in Salt Creek, Asa kept in the shadows. His first visit was to Ror
y McKay.

  ~~~**~~~

  Rory sat in the kitchen drinking his morning coffee when someone kicked open the front door. He jerked out of his chair and ran into the sitting room to see Asa Livingston standing in the doorway.

  “What in blazes do you think you’re doing?” Rory yelled.

  Asa waved a gun at Rory. “I’ve come for a visit, McKay. Sit down.”

  Rory had no choice. He sat.

  “Where in blazes is that busybody of a no-good daughter of yours? If she’s here, call her immediately—I have business to settle with her.”

  “I haven’t seen Glenna since the morning she went into town to search the land office with Zeke.”

  “You’re lying!”

  Rory shook his head. “I swear.”

  “And you aren’t worried?”

  “I’ve been assured she’s safe.”

  “By whom?”

  “By someone I trust.”

  Asa walked closer to Rory and held the gun to his temple. “Who? The ranch hand who was a marshal...Blackmore or something.”

  “I couldn’t say,” Rory said.

  Asa pressed the gun closer against Rory’s temple. “I’m already a wanted man. I have no reason not to shoot you dead right here. Talk!”

  Rory gulped. “Yes, the marshal…Blackwood. He took her somewhere—he didn’t say where—and assured me she was safe and not to worry.”

  “Did he, now?” Asa removed the gun from Rory’s head and scratched his chin with it. “And you have no idea where that safe place is?”

  “Blackwood said I was better off not knowing, and I trust him.”

  “Who does he know around Salt Creek?”

  Rory shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

  “Strangely, I believe you. I thought Blackwood was sweet on Glenna. The thing is, if I leave you alive, you’ll report that I was here. I can’t let you live, McKay.”

  “We were once friends, Asa...we broke bread together many times. I promise you: I won’t leave this house or tell anyone.”

  Asa continued to rub his chin with the barrel of his gun.

  “If my housekeeper or a crew member finds me shot in my own home, they’ll know it was you,” Rory said.

  “Shut up! I’m thinking.”

  After the sun went down, Asa had McKay saddle a horse and lead it through the back woods. They rode for a few miles until they came to the salt mine. Asa pulled McKay off his horse and led him into the mine at gunpoint. He lit a lamp and dragged him down through a white tunnel into darkness at the end. There, he opened a door on an abandoned office into which he shoved Rory, before slamming the door shut. Since the door opened out, Asa hammered boards to the outside of the door with large nails. McKay was safely out of the way. Now, to find Rory’s daughter.

  Asa made one mistake: he forgot to blow the lamp out before exiting the mine. He stood outside the mine and immediately regretted his mistake when he saw Zeke, sitting on his horse, pointing his gun at Asa.

  “I figured that if you came back it would be here, to the mine.”

  “Ah, the greenhorn sheriff,” Asa said.

  “Yep. Drop your guns. There’s a bounty on your head, so I won’t hesitate to shoot. The wanted poster said to bring you in dead or alive.”

  Asa grimaced. He threw his guns down onto the ground. “So, what will you do—take me to jail?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Well, get on with it then,” Asa said. “I could use some shut-eye.”

  “Is there a place where we can talk, first?” Zeke asked.

  “My office,” Asa nodded to a small building next to the mine’s entrance. “I’ll open it up.”

  Once inside the office, Asa set his light down on the desk. “So, talk.”

  Zeke frisked Asa, but he didn’t find any other weapons. “Sit,” he ordered.

  Asa sighed and sat behind the desk. The sheriff didn’t even check to see if he had a gun in one of his desk drawers, which he did.

  Zeke took a seat opposite him. “What’s it worth to you if I let you go?”

  Asa threw his head back and laughed. “So, you’re smarter than I’d thought.”

  Zeke smiled. “My family is dirt poor. I mean to change that, and you’re my chance. If I’d have found the ledger first, I’d have sold it back to you.”

  “But you don’t have it, so the price goes down.”

  “I would think your freedom would draw a pretty large price,” Zeke said, waving his gun in the air.

  “Since I have to leave this area if I’m freed, I’ll give you the salt mine and the factory.”

  Zeke thought for several moments. “Running the mine would take some money. I’d need some cash as well.”

  Asa laughed again. “It’s not as if I can walk into the bank and withdraw the money. As a matter of fact, I have some cash here, in the drawer.” He reached for the drawer, but Zeke stood and halted him.

  “Not so fast. I’ll open the drawer.” Zeke pulled it open, took out the gun, and stuck it into his belt. “Where’s the money?”

  Asa reached deeper into the drawer and pulled out a wad of bills which he handed to Zeke.

  Zeke fanned the wad. “Very nice.”

  “All right,” Zeke said, “do you have ownership papers for the business? You need to sign them over to me.”

  Asa knew he wouldn’t be able to run the salt mine anymore, so he quickly signed the business over to Zeke.

  “Now,” Asa said, “are you going to let me ride away?”

  “Yes. You’re free to go.” Zeke pushed the wad of bills into his pocket. “Free as a bird.”

  “I have one more job to do before I can leave. You wouldn’t happen to know where Glenna McKay is, do you?”

  Zeke shrugged. “If I knew, I’d have told her father who nearly killed me a week ago while looking for her. I have no clue where she is.”

  “Her father said that ranch hand turned marshal hid her somewhere,” Asa said. “I didn’t think he knew anyone in these parts.”

  “Me either...hey, wait—Glenna told me once he visited a lady in Mead. She wondered if the woman was another spy or something.”

  “Really?” Asa became animated. “Mead is just a half-day’s ride away. Did she mention the woman’s name?”

  “No, it was just a casual remark.”

  “I’ll find her.” Asa stood and made his way to the door. “It’s been a pleasure, Zeke.”

  ~~~**~~~

  Glenna sat by the pond daily, right in the spot where Spence had kissed her. She relived that day in her mind over and over. She missed him so much, and she anticipated his coming for her as soon as it was safe.

  She missed her father, too, but she knew Spence had kept his word and told her father she was safe. Glenna trusted Spence more than any other person in the world, including her father.

  Ruth and Glenna swam or bathed every nice day they could. Glenna had taught herself to swim, and she was so proud of herself. She yearned to show Spence, but, of course, she couldn’t, even if he were there—not without a proper bathing costume.

  Despite her missing Spence, Ruth was good company, and the two women formed a close bond. Ruth was like the mother she hardly remembered. They played cards, told stories, and laughed together. Glenna had to admit she enjoyed her time with Ruth, but in bed at night, she yearned for Spence Blackwood.

  She also wondered what had become of Zeke Thompson. She wanted to tell Silas Jones, head of the city council, about Zeke’s wanting to bribe Asa if he found the proof, and that he shouldn’t be trusted, but she’d been swept away before she could tell anyone.

  All she could do now was to wait for Spence to come for her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ruth stuck her head out the back door. “Glenna, it’s time to get out of the pond. I have to go into town to check for messages, and I don’t want you out here alone.”

  Glenna stood in the middle of the pond, submerged up to her chin, “I’m getting out,” she yelled back.

&nb
sp; The water felt glorious. She’d miss the pond and wondered if her father could dig one somewhere on their property. Glenna floated on her back for a while before deciding to get out and dry off since Ruth had said she needed to go into town, and she didn’t want to be left alone outdoors. She needed to be where she could let the dogs loose or have a gun at the ready.

  She climbed out and laid on her blanket. As soon as most of the wet had evaporated her gown, she could go inside to dress. It didn’t have to be perfectly dry, just enough that she didn’t mess the floors when she went inside. She’d hang the gown over the stove to make sure it was thoroughly dry.

  She’d brought out a book to read while she dried. She’d been reading Jane Eyre and had just gotten to the part where Rochester proposes. She hated to put it down, but she knew Ruth was waiting for her. She set the book, face down, on the grass, as she didn’t have a bookmark.

  Once inside, she went into her room. “I’m inside, Ruth. You can leave.”

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Ruth called. “Lock the door after me.”

  She slipped into her dress, latched the back door, and watched Ruth ride down the lane. Glenna always hated being left alone, but Ruth was usually back in an hour. In that time, she could find out if Jane accepts Rochester’s proposal. That’s when she realized she’d left the book out by the pond.

  Before she could reach the book, a horse barreled down the lane toward the house, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Her heart pounded. Could it be Spence?

  Could it be him? As the figure loomed larger in her view, she recognized the rider as Asa Livingston, and she momentarily froze.

  The dogs barked fiercely and jumped against the fence. Glenna made a mad dash for the back door, but Asa had ridden his horse through the yard and beat her to the door. He slid off his horse and grabbed her around the waist.

  “Now, where might you be going in such a hurry?”

  Glenna knew she had to find a way to free the dogs. “I have something on the stove. I need to get inside.”

  Asa let out a ghoulish laugh. “All right. Go in, but I’m right behind you.”