“That should work,” Ben said. “Where is the wagon?”
“I left it at the livery.”
Ben nodded. “I’ll send the hotel’s messenger boy to have the wagon brought around back and have Karson bring you a couple of blankets. Between Doc and I, we can keep Mrs. Pomeroy and the preacher busy until you make it out of town.”
Miranda smiled, and Ben hurried out the door.
Miranda sat back down next to Alice. “Don’t worry, child, no one is going to hurt you again. I have a spare room with a soft bed, an indoor bathing room, fresh clothes, and hot food at my home. Winifred and Becca stay with me so you will have company. I promise you’ll be safe.”
Alice reached out and took Miranda’s hand. “Thank you. I’m indebted to you for all your help.”
“No, my dear. You are no longer indebted to anyone. You have my word on that.” Miranda hugged the frightened young woman and said a prayer they would make it out of town unnoticed.
~ * ~
Sheriff Clay walked into the hotel dining room and approached Mrs. Pomeroy’s table. “Ma’am, Doctor Winters examined your daughter-in-law, and she needs to rest and be under his care for at least a day or two. She has been taken to his office where she will stay until the doctor determines she is fit to travel.”
The fire in Mrs. Pomeroy’s eyes matched the scowl on her face. “How dare you take her anywhere. She needs to return home with me this evening.”
“That’s not possible. She will remain in Doctor Winters care.”
“I can assure you, sheriff, that my needs surpass your importance. You are employed by this town. You must have a superior. I demand to speak to him,” Mrs. Pomeroy insisted.
Ben shrugged, “That’d be the town council. I suppose we could take up the matter at the next meeting. I think that’s a week from tomorrow,” he lied enjoying the look of annoyance on her face. He had no idea when the next council meeting was scheduled.
“Who heads your town council?”
“That would be Judge Magarey. He witnessed your son threatening Miss Winifred and sentenced him to the two weeks in jail. Truthfully, he doesn’t care to deal with women in legal capacities, and I’m not sure if he’ll see you. I suggest you make yourself comfortable until your daughter-in-law is able to travel or allow her to remain here and she can travel home with Ambrose.”
“That’s unacceptable.”
The pastor spoke, “Either way, Mrs. Pomeroy, I must leave this evening. I promised my wife this would not take more than a day and I have other responsibilities. Is that all right with you, sheriff?”
“Absolutely, you and Mrs. Pomeroy are free to leave. Have a good trip home,” he nodded and strode out of the dining room.
Mrs. Pomeroy glared at the preacher and finished the rest of her tea and then stood and walked away from the table without a word. The preacher shook his head and headed for his room to rest before heading to the station to catch the outgoing train.
Mrs. Pomeroy stormed into the sheriff’s office screaming her son’s name.
“Mother, what is wrong?”
“I have done all I can for you. You have been difficult from the moment you were born. I no longer care whether or not you inherit your grandfather’s estate. Your new wife is at the doctor’s office recuperating from a fall. I am leaving you and her here. If you can get out of jail in time and if that woman will have you, then you can live wherever you want. Please don’t return home. My door is no longer open to you,” she spat at her son while pulling papers out of her reticule. “This is her employment contract and your marriage certificate. Do with it what you want.” She threw the papers on the floor just out of Ambrose’s reach and stormed out of the office more angry than when she arrived.
She nearly walked into Ben as she left and he backed up to give her space. When he walked into the office, he saw Ambrose lying on the floor trying to reach papers lying outside his cell.
“What are you doing, Pomeroy?”
“I need those papers. They’re my marriage certificate and Alice’s employment contract. How do you suppose it works when you are married to a woman who has to also work for you? It should make life interesting,” Pomeroy stammered as he tried to reach the papers.
Ben grabbed them off the floor and said, “I think the judge may want to see these first. He will decide if everything that happened today is legal. I don’t know why that young woman married you, but we’ll find out. You should know she had an accident earlier and she’s at the doctor’s office for a few days.” He strode toward the door ignoring Ambrose’s questions and curses.
Chapter Twenty
Miranda thought she heard noise coming from the kitchen as she walked down the steps the following morning. She noticed a lamp burning and walked into the room expecting to see her husband rummaging around for something to eat before heading out for his early chores. She stopped when she saw the thin frame of Alice appearing more frail than the previous evening wearing a dress Becca gave her. The dress hung on the poor girl even though Becca was also of slight build. Alice was busy peeling potatoes and humming.
I doubt that girl has had a decent meal in a long time, Miranda thought before she said, “Good morning, Alice. How did you sleep?”
Alice jumped, “Oh good morning, Mrs. Greiner. I slept well, thank you. I thought I would start breakfast.” Her smile made Miranda’s heart glad.
“I thought you would sleep later today?”
“I’m used to getting up early. I needed to have things ready for the cook each morning. How many potatoes will I need to prepare breakfast this morning? I should have asked last night how many I will feed this morning, but after the large meal you insisted I eat, I was so tired that I forgot,” Alice explained.
“Alice,” Miranda said softly. “Please sit down with me.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Alice replied and wiped her hands on her white apron before sitting at the table.
“You don’t have to get up early and cook anything. You are my guest, not my servant or even my employee. Winifred and Becca help me prepare breakfast and if you wish to help us, that is fine, but you don’t need to get up before everyone to prepare anything.” She reached out and took the young woman’s hand.
“I want to earn my keep, ma’am.”
“No, no, you don’t need to do that. While you stay here for a few days, I want you to rest and eat well. You will need strength to travel to Texas to see your sister. I do not want to be here worrying that you might faint or become ill because you are too weak.”
Alice smiled, “Thank you, that is kind of you, but I’m not sure when I can get to Texas, and I want to earn my keep. You see, I thought we would be going back to the Pomeroy home, and I left my savings hidden in my room. I don’t have the money to go to Texas.” Alice dropped her head to hide her feelings trying not to let her tears fall.
“When Doctor Winters says you are fit to travel, we will send a telegram to your sister letting her know when you will be traveling and Roy and I will pay your train fare.”
Alice’s head shot up, and she opened her mouth to speak, but Miranda held up her hand.
“Roy and I discussed it last night, and if our daughter was ever in trouble, we pray someone would help her. Please let us help you,” she reached out and clasped Alice’s hand.
Alice nodded and wiped her tears away.
“Good. That’s settled. Now, let’s see about making breakfast,” Miranda told Alice who used her apron to wipe the tears that streamed down her cheeks unchecked.
~ * ~
Two hours later, Judge Magarey and Otis rode up to the Greiner home. Roy met them at the front of the house.
“Good morning, Judge, Otis. It’s good to see you both. Come on in for coffee. If we’re lucky, there might be some of Miranda’s cherry pie left.
Roy opened the door and called, “Miranda, Judge Magarey and Otis are here.”
“Come in,” Miranda answered hurrying for the kitchen. “I just made a fresh pot of coff
ee.”
After settling in at the table and enjoying a slice of Miranda’s cherry pie, the judge set down his fork and asked, “Is Mrs. Pomeroy available to speak with me?”
“Yes, I am sure she is,” Miranda said. “I made her lie down after breakfast. That poor girl thought she had to cook for me because I allowed her to stay here. She hasn’t had a good life so far. I hope we can improve that.”
The judge nodded and asked Miranda to bring Winifred and Becca along with Alice. He needed to speak with all of them.
Roy excused himself giving the judge some privacy, but the judge asked him to remain and listen. There was more to the story of Ambrose Pomeroy.
Miranda returned with a frightened Alice. “Please sit, Alice, and don’t be afraid. The judge is here to help you.” She introduced Alice, and the judge smiled at the waif of a young woman.
The judge sat quietly and listened to Alice’s account of her experience with the Pomeroy family and her trip to Gentle Falls.
“Although you have had a dreadful experience, you are still a fortunate young woman. Mrs. Pomeroy and the preacher left town last night, but not before she disowned her son and told him she would no longer help him. Pomeroy was distraught to the point that he ranted and raved about his mother and what she has done to him and what he needed from her. From things Pomeroy said, our sheriff became concerned that both Pomeroy and his mother are capable of anything. The sheriff sent telegrams to their hometown sheriff, and to another judge, I am acquainted with near where they reside. He received answers this morning, and we believe that the Pomeroys will stop at nothing to get what they want. While Mr. Pomeroy needs to marry to inherit, his mother also needs money from his inheritance to cover major business losses. I believe the scene she caused in the jail yesterday was part of her scheme to get what she wants.”
Alice took a deep breath and spoke barely above a whisper. “Will she try and hurt me again?”
The judge shook his head slowly, “I am not sure which is why we will make sure you leave town before she can send anyone here to cause more trouble. While she left your marriage certificate and employment contract behind, you could still be in danger here. Do you have anywhere to go where you would be safe?”
Alice explained about her sister in Texas.
“Then you will leave tonight,” the judge explained. “Joseph, one of our deputies, will take the train with you heading west where you will then connect with a train heading south. I believe the Pomeroys will believe you would head east to a large city to hide. Joseph will remain with you until you are safely on the train heading to Texas and will assure you are not followed.”
“Thank you, your honor. You have been so helpful that I apologize for asking, but do I need to remain married to Mr. Ambrose? I never wanted to marry him except to be released from my contract and leave to live with my sister.”
The judge smiled. “When Mrs. Pomeroy ranted at her son yesterday, she tossed these on the floor. I assume she wanted him to have them since from what we’ve learned, having men abduct you would not be unexpected. Pomeroy could then contact his own attorneys and gain access to his inheritance if he has the paperwork and you.”
Alice shuddered and began to cry. “Will I ever be safe?”
The judge slid the papers to Alice. “The sheriff retrieved these and I think you should take them with you or burn them.”
Alice picked up her employment contract and marriage certificate. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Thank you, your honor.”
The judge nodded as he filled out a paper he pulled from his pocket. “This is your annulment. This paper you should keep with you just in case.”
Alice clutched the paper to her chest unable to speak. These kind people saved her life.
“One last thing, last night during Pomeroy’s rant, he mentioned you, Miss Winifred. He has no idea where his new wife is since the sheriff told him that she had been injured and was under a doctor’s care. In his distraught state, he began mumbling about getting you to marry him, Miss Winifred. You could also be in danger.”
Winifred shot to her feet from the chair where she was seated. She backed up until she hit the wall. “No, you were in the restaurant when he accosted me. He’s insane. I don’t have anywhere to hide. What will I do?”
Otis stood, “That is why I accompanied the judge. He told me you were in danger and asked if I would help him. He said we could tell Pomeroy we were married and he would have no reason to pursue you.”
“Pretend to be married? I don’t know?” Winifred mumbled.
“The judge suggested the pretense, but after our supper together, I think you know how I feel. Marry me, Winifred, for real. The judge can do it right now, and you’ll be under my protection. I planned to ask you after a few more suppers, but I see no reason to wait. You can remain here until Pomeroy leaves town or you can move to my apartment above the barbershop. It isn’t large, but it is warm and safe. Once all this is settled with Pomeroy, we can buy one of the new homes the bank built. You’ve seen them. They are the empty houses that sit next to Sarah’s home. We could be happy. I love you, Winifred. What do you say?” Otis stood stoically waiting for an answer.
Winifred stared at Otis before tears began to flow down her cheeks. Her head bobbed up and down before she could form the words, “Yes, oh yes, I will marry you, Otis Hegal.”
Otis wrapped Winifred in his arms and turned to look at the judge. “Your honor, will you marry us right now to assure she is under my protection immediately. I will speak to Pastor Reynolds and set a date for us to have a proper church wedding.”
Becca ran up to Winifred and hugged her and Otis. “This is wonderful Winifred, you could marry right after Adam and me. We could share the party, and I would be so delighted. Please say yes.”
Winifred nodded her head too emotional to speak. Becca whispered in her ear, “I think people are right. There’s something very special about Gentle Falls.”
Winifred turned to Otis, “I’m ready.”
The judge married them in a simple ceremony that lasted a few short minutes, but the love and happiness that filled the parlor in the Greiner home was immeasurable.
Alice spoke to Winifred, “When I heard Mr. Pomeroy broke off your wedding arrangements, I was both pleased and heartbroken. The entire house knew of your kindness and hoped you would bring it with you into the house and make it a home. Mrs. Pomeroy was cruel. Yet, I knew that you would suffer under her terrible temper and rules and I said a prayer of thanks that you escaped that fate. We are both free, Miss Winifred.”
Winifred wrapped her arms around Alice and said, “Yes, my dear, we are both free and will be happy. When you go to Texas, don’t marry the first man who makes you smile. Wait until you meet the man who makes you feel as if you can’t breathe if he’s not part of your life.”
“I will, I promise,” Alice said through happy tears.
Otis and Winifred confronted Ambrose in his jail cell and informed him of their marriage. His curses let them know he was not happy but there was nothing he could do. Otis told him if he ever spoke to Winifred again much less try to hurt her, he would kill him. He would shoot him dead without a second thought. Ambrose backed up and shut up eyes wide with fear while Otis escorted his new wife out of the sheriff’s office.
Joseph was able to escort Alice to the train station in Gentle Falls without any notice. They were the only passengers on the westbound train that evening.
Life was calm and blissful again in Gentle Falls.
Chapter Twenty-one
Light filtered in through the sheer pink curtains on Cordelia’s window. She groaned and pulled the pink and rose patchwork quilt over her head and tried to fall back asleep. It was too early. Suddenly, she sat up remembering her plans for the day. The earlier she began, the sooner she would be rid of Miss Rebecca Broadmoor once and for all.
Cordelia stood in front of her closet deciding on which dress to wear. She needed one that would make her appear as if she had been out
riding, but yet lovely enough to steal Adam’s heart when she explained to him that she had no idea where dear Rebecca was. Scrunching her eyes, Cordelia decided her riding habit would work best. It fit her well and what else would she wear if she were riding out in the country? A split skirt was not as attractive as one of her silk dresses, but it would do for the day. She felt a bit sinful when she remembered the day she tried to get her aunt to purchase riding trousers instead of the split skirt. The shade of red her aunt’s face turned told Cordelia not to ask again. She was a modern woman but had to admit this riding habit was much more comfortable than the one she learned to ride in back home. Cordelia wondered how anyone could ride astride in the riding habit she used to own but still wished her aunt had purchased the trousers for her.
Turning from side to side in the long mirror in her room, Cordelia was pleased at the way she looked. Her long blonde hair was piled up on her head and should stay in place under her riding hat. She left the hat on her bed and went in search of breakfast.
Finding Vera in the kitchen, she smiled and said, “good morning.”
“Oh, Miss Cordelia, you missed breakfast. Your uncle left for his office, and your aunt is at a church meeting. You appear to be ready for a ride this morning. Please sit, and I’ll have some bacon and eggs ready for you in a moment,” the cheery plump cook exclaimed as she set a cup of tea on the table in front of Cordelia.
“Thank you,” Cordelia mumbled as she sipped her tea.
Vera hummed as she cooked and Cordelia asked, “I plan on taking a long ride today. Would you pack me some food to take along?”
“Of course, Miss, I have fresh bread, cheese, and fruit. Your uncle has a canteen he uses for hunting. I can fill it with water for you. Would that be enough?”
Cordelia smiled knowing water would be fine since she already filled the flask she stole from her step-mother before leaving for Gentle Falls with her uncle’s best brandy. She could enjoy her small feast as soon as she was rid of Rebecca.
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