“I’ll go see about a tray of food for her,” Merry said.
Josephine had left a flannel nightgown hanging on a hook behind the door. Louisa sagged against me as I slipped the nightgown over her head.
I carried her back into the bedroom and pulled the covers over her. Louisa trembled and let out a small, sad sigh.
“Are you sleepy?” I asked. “Do you want to eat first?”
She nodded. “I went to town for food,” she whispered. “But the butcher shop was closed. We have nothing at the house to eat. Pa’s been asleep since last night.”
Asleep? Passed out was more likely.
Merry came in with a tray of chicken soup and some of Lizzie’s freshly baked sourdough bread.
“Is that for me?” Louisa asked.
“It is. Can you eat it all up for me?” I set the tray over her lap.
“Yes, Miss Cooper.”
Her hand shook as she brought a spoonful to her mouth. She took a timid sip, then another, then another. I buttered a piece of bread for her, and she gobbled that down next.
When she’d had enough, I set the tray on the dresser and returned to the bed. I adjusted the pillows, so she was less upright. “Louisa, why didn’t you go home after you came to town?”
“I was out looking for food,” she said. “Sometimes I can find berries or a dead bird.”
A dead bird? Goodness, this poor child.
Louisa’s gaze never left my face. It was as if she were watching to make sure I didn’t leave. “If I come home without anything, Pa gets mad.”
“Does your pa beat you if you don’t bring home food?”
“Yeah. And other things too.”
“Like what?”
“We play the hunter game. He chases me through the woods. I’m the deer.”
Chills traveled the length of my body.
“If he catches me, I get a beating. I deserve it because I’m not fast. He says he’s teaching me how to survive.”
“Does he ever shoot his gun at you?”
“Sometimes. Just to scare me. He thinks that’s fun.” She shuddered. “One time he almost hit me. I felt it go right past my ear. He laughed and laughed when I fell to the ground.”
I tried to steady my breathing, but my pulse raced. The hunter game. What if he’d been playing that the night Samuel was killed? Had he been firing his gun to scare his little girl and killed Samuel by mistake? Did he know he did it?
“Did you ever see any other people during your game?” I asked.
“Only once. A man in a black jacket was out by a shed.”
“Did he see you?”
“I think so. He shouted something, but I didn’t stop. I was too afraid.” A shadow of a smile crossed her face. “That night I got away. Pa shot two times, but he didn’t get me. I got to the house and hid under the bed, but he never came home. I fell asleep. The next morning, he was back.”
I drew in a deep breath to steady my nerves. “Was that the same night the bullet whizzed past your ear?”
“No, that was a different time. These shots seemed far away. I was running fast and not looking back because that’s when the enemy will get you, like Pa taught me.”
I got up from the bed and went to the window. This bedroom faced the barn. The doors were open, and I could see Harley brushing the horses. “You’re going to stay with us for a while.”
“I can’t. I need to go to Pa.” She sat up and pushed back the covers. “He’ll beat me real bad if I don’t come home with food.”
“We’ll let him know where you are and that you’re going to be a guest for a few days.”
“But he needs food. I was supposed to bring it back to him.”
“Would you feel better if we took some meals out to him? Would that get you to rest?”
She nodded, but her face remained pinched and worried. “I guess so.”
“Now lie down and close your eyes.”
Louisa turned on her side and tucked her hands under her chin. “This is such a soft bed.” Her eyelids fluttered, then closed. I tucked the covers more securely around her small frame and sat watching her. She twitched as she drifted off to sleep. What would become of this poor, hunted child?
I paced in front of the fireplace as I described to Alexander and Jasper what the little girl had told me. I’d never before seen Jasper sink into anything, always stiff and formal, but for the first time, he collapsed onto a chair. “Dear God,” he said.
“It’s like something out of an Edgar Allan Poe story,” Alexander said. “We have to get her away from that man.”
Neither of them seemed to have grasped the other possibility. “What if they were out in the woods the night Samuel was killed? What if Kellam shot him by accident?”
What was left of Alexander’s color drained from his face. “Kellam’s shack is not far from their property.”
“He might not have even known he did it,” I said.
“There were two shots,” Jasper said. “Aimed right into the middle of his chest.”
“It can’t be accidental then,” Alexander said.
My mind raced ahead of the two men. “Samuel saw them. He saw what he was doing to Louisa. She said Samuel called out to her. Then there was shouting and two gunshots. Kellam shot Samuel because of what he saw.”
“Rachel didn’t hear voices,” Alexander said.
“Didn’t you tell me she was playing the piano?” I asked. “She might not have heard voices, just the gunshots.”
“Yes, and the music room is on the other side of the house,” Alexander said.
“What do we do?” I asked.
“We go into town and tell the sheriff what we know,” Alexander said. “And pray he’ll do something about it this time.”
“Not in this weather,” I said. “We’ll wait until morning. There’s nothing he can do between now and the time this storm passes.”
Chapter 28
Alexander
The next morning, we woke to clear skies and five feet of new snow. Harley hitched the horses to the snowplow, and the two of us went into town. We cleared our driveway and the road that led to town. He dropped me at the sheriff’s office, promising to return for me after he plowed the streets of town.
Through the window of the sheriff’s office, I spotted Lancaster asleep with his feet up on the desk. I startled him awake when I burst through the door.
“What? What the hell, Barnes? You scared me.”
I hid how pleasing that was to me with a quick apology. “I’ve got some information for you.” The sheriff’s office also contained our jail, which consisted of a small cell behind steel bars. Most of the time, it remained empty. Today was no exception.
“You know, Barnes, your obsession with Cole’s death has become tedious. Aren’t you busy enough seducing the schoolteacher to let this alone?”
I’ve never wanted to punch someone as badly in my life. “Keep Miss Cooper out of this.”
He shrugged. “Everyone knows she’s living with you. Tongues wag, you know. Most folks think she’s no better than a common whore at this point.”
“That’s not true,” I said. “Every parent in this town loves her.”
“Not what I hear from the boys down at Carter’s.”
“We’ve already established their lack of moral character,” I said, “when they wanted a man dead for marrying the woman he loved.”
“What do you want?” he asked. “I’ve got a game over at the saloon in a few minutes.”
I laid out the entire story. “We have her at the house and have no intention of sending her home to that murderer. I hope you’ll take it seriously this time and go out and question him.”
Lancaster took one of his rolled cigarettes from his pocket. “See here, Barnes. It’s not our job to take a young one from her father.”
“Her father killed Samuel Cole. She has bruises from beatings. He hunts her like an animal.” I gestured toward his unlit cigarette. “He burns her with his cigarettes. Isn’t that c
ause enough?”
He struck a match against the rough desk and lit his cigarette. “We don’t know all that to be true.” He took a deep drag, then let out the smoke as if we had all the time in the world. I wanted to strangle him with my bare hands.
“Thing is, no one here cares about how Cole died. As far as I’m concerned, a man has the right to do with his daughter whatever he pleases. Also, it seems to me that this is nothing more than coincidence. We have no evidence it was his gunshots that killed Cole.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You’re going to do nothing about this?”
“Can’t say as there’s much to do.”
“Listen here, you can arrest me, but I’m not letting Louisa go home to a man who thinks it’s a funny game to hunt his own child.”
He laughed the phlegmy snigger of a heavy smoker. “Barnes, what happens between you and Kellam is your own business. You think you can steal his kid and get away with it, then by all means, take your chances.”
I leaned over the desk and snatched the foul cigarette from his mouth. “Listen here, you son of a bitch.” I put the cigarette out on the sleeve of his cowskin jacket. He flinched as the tip burned a hole through the thick material. I pulled back before it burned his skin, even though I would have loved to see him yelp in pain. Tossing the cigarette aside, I drew closer, inches from his face. “You can bet your corrupt ass I’m going to take my chances. As far as you go—I’d suggest you start thinking about a different town to do absolutely nothing in but drink whiskey and play cards. This is my town. The people in it deserve a fair sheriff.”
“What exactly are you going to do about it? I was sent out here by the governor. He’s a friend of mine, Barnes. We go way back. Unlike you, we belong in America.”
“Let me put it to you this way. When I offer a large donation to the cause of his choice, I have a feeling he’ll do exactly what I want.” I straightened, unable to stomach his rank breath for another moment. “Start packing your bags.”
“Get out,” he said through gritted teeth.
“With pleasure.” I shoved a pile of newspapers across his desk. “Burn in hell, Lancaster.”
Back home, I told Quinn and Jasper about my interaction with the sheriff.
“I can’t believe a man of the law would behave this way,” Quinn said.
“He’s not a man of the law,” Jasper said. “He’s nothing but a coward.”
We had to stop talking when Josephine came into the library. “Papa, Miss Quinn, would it be all right if we all went to the barn? Lizzie’s had enough of us in the kitchen.”
Alexander gave her permission.
“I’ll go with you,” Quinn said. “And keep an eye on the little ones. Care to join us, Alexander?”
“I have a few letters to write,” I said. “When I’m finished, I’ll have Harley take them in to the post office.”
“Very well, then,” Quinn said. “We’ll see you later.”
When I was alone, I went to my desk with the intent to write two letters. The first was to Quinn’s mother.
Dear Mrs. Cooper,
I’m writing to ask permission to marry your daughter. If you’re in agreement to our union, which I pray you will be, I’d like to have you and Annabelle come live with us. I’m including a check for travel expenses and anything else you might need. I can assure you this is a match made of love and mutual respect. I promise to always take care of her and her family. I await your response with hope and prayers. Also, if possible, I’d love for you to come before Christmas. I can’t imagine a better gift than your presence at our Christmas dinner. My daughter Josephine and I will pick you up at the station in Denver and ride with you the rest of the way to Emerson Pass. According to your daughter, that was a harrowing passage, and I wouldn’t want you to be scared.
Yours truly,
Alexander Barnes
On the way home, I’d remembered the governor’s passion for higher education. My letter to him was short and to the point. Replace Lancaster and accept my donation to build a library at the college in Boulder.
Chapter 29
Quinn
Wednesday during morning recess, I added a few logs to the fire while the students played outside. The Cole children hadn’t come to school today. After everything with Louisa and the sheriff’s lack of interest in protecting the Coles, I worried about them. I’d sent Harley out to check on them. He returned with news that they all had colds. I’d sighed with relief and gone on happily with the rest of the morning.
I’d just twisted the stove handle closed when a man stormed through the door. He wore dirty overalls over a stained gray flannel shirt, and a greasy-looking cap. Small, mean brown eyes peered at me from under thick, unruly eyebrows. From a feet away, I could smell the foul odor of cheap alcohol. I knew who he was without introduction. Kellam. Instinctively, I picked up the iron poker I kept next to the stove.
“May I help you?” I spoke as stoutly as I could, pretending to be brave. My heart beat fast, and perspiration coated the palms of my hands.
“I’m Louisa’s pa. I hear you’ve been sneaking around this town, poking your nose into things that don’t concern you. The boys at Carter’s shop told me you have her locked up at Barnes’s mansion. I come here to get her and bring her home.”
“She’s not going back to your house ever again.”
“Where is she?” He slurred slightly, his voice as unsteady as the rest of him, which swayed and lurched like a puppet. “Tell me where you’re hiding her.”
Had he not seen her outside with the others? Maybe he hadn’t recognized her in the coat we’d found in Josephine’s old clothes or with her hair freshly washed and braided.
“We know what you do to her,” I said.
“Louisa belongs to me, and I’ll do with her what I please.” His teeth were stained brown, matching his cap. “My wife died, Miss Cooper.” He spit my name out as if the words were foul inside his mouth. “She died giving birth to Louisa. That girl’s all I have to take care of me.”
“You’ve hurt her long enough,” I said. Inside, I was screaming silent instructions to Louisa. Run away. Run to Alexander’s office. Anywhere he can’t find you.
“You stay out of my family affairs. I don’t need no uppity schoolteacher telling me what to do.” He drew close, his breath rank with chewing tobacco and whiskey. “If you don’t, I’ll make sure you’re sorry. You want to end up dead, Miss Cooper? You think anyone in this town’s going to care if something happens to you?”
I stared him down, holding my breath against his foul odor. I’d survived the streets of Boston. I’d be damned if I’d let this cowardly man intimidate me. “Like you killed Cole?”
“Cole should’ve minded his own business.”
“You killed him because he saw the sick game you played with your little daughter. Everyone knows it. You’re going to prison.” Anger drove away any fear. Over my dead body was he taking Louisa anywhere.
“You one of them suffragettes?” He sneered at me as he stepped closer. “All about how women going to rise up?”
I gripped the poker tightly. I’d swing if I had to.
“She’s mine.” He snarled at me with his teeth bared like a rabid dog. “A child earns their keep. What did you tell her? That she didn’t have to listen to me? That she could sneak out of my house and lie to my face every night? And then to keep her at Barnes’s house like a prisoner? Like I wasn’t good enough to be her father?”
“You’re not good enough to be her father. You’ve treated her like an animal. I’d love to see you running through the forest with a man pointing a gun at your back. Or how about a cigarette burning your skin? What’s wrong with you?” I was spitting mad by this time and wanted to ram the poker straight through his chest.
“Shut up, bitch.” He knocked my arm, and I dropped the poker. It made a horrible clattering noise on the wood floor.
He lunged toward me. I backed into the wall.
“Don’t feel so
brave now, do you?” His thick fingers grasped the collar of my necktie and pulled it tighter, making a noose around my neck. “All that’ll be left of you is this man’s tie you wear around your skinny neck.” He pulled tighter, choking me. I could feel myself going purple as I strained against his grip. I’m going to die without saying goodbye to my family or the children or Alexander. Just when I’d found love, this was how it would end. After all the struggle, I would die in the hands of this drunken idiot.
Just as I was about to lose consciousness, the door flew open and the children ran inside, with Josephine in the lead. “Get your hands off her,” she screamed, her voice high-pitched. “Get away from her.” Those light green eyes flashed with rage as she led the rest of the children in a wave toward my captor and me.
The Johnson sisters were right behind her. “Stop it—stop hurting Miss Cooper.” Martha’s shrill words pierced through my fear. They’d seen what was happening through the windows and organized themselves into an army.
Like a swarm of wasps, they rushed toward Kellam, carrying kindling pieces in front of them like swords. Their expressions were crazed and furious as they shouted various cries of war. For a moment I feared one of them might try to stab our villain in the chest. Right before I passed out, Kellam loosened his grip and tossed me against the wall.
I fell to my hands and knees, gasping for breath and coughing. It felt as though he’d broken my neck, but I knew that somehow, through the grace of God and a pack of very fearless children, he had not.
“Get him,” Flynn shouted.
“Knock him down,” Isak said.
The sound of stomping feet as they ran en masse toward Kellam only just penetrated my brain. For a second or two, I remained crouched on the floor, gulping for air. Black spots danced before my eyes. Afraid I might faint, I concentrated on taking deep, steadying breaths until I could make out the grains in the pine floor.
The School Mistress (Emerson Pass Book 1) Page 24
