“What brings you out this early? Everything all right,” Cal asked.
Ben explained about the previous night’s arrests, and Cal was surprised he slept through it all. “Can’t believe it happened right across the street, but then I can only see the front of the seamstress shop from my windows upstairs. Sit down, and I’ll make you some breakfast.”
Ben gratefully accepted the bacon, eggs, pancakes, and toast.
Nell, her long blond braid hanging across her shoulder, walked into the kitchen wearing her nightgown and wrapper and said, “Darling, why are you making bacon this early. You know it makes the baby and me hungry.”
Cal laughed. “I made breakfast for Ben.”
Ben smiled.
Nell blushed red. “Oh my, I thought you were alone, Cal. Sorry, Ben.” She hurried back upstairs before either man had the chance to say another word.
Ben fought back the urge to laugh. “Nell’s a sweet girl. You got lucky with her, Cal.”
“I certainly did, but I hear you are courting Molly. She’s a special girl, too.”
“That she is,” Ben agreed and left money on the table for his breakfast and a second plus the bread and cheese. “I woke Joseph up to sit with my prisoners. Can I send him over for breakfast? I left the money on the table.”
“Sure thing. Just have him come to the back door. I’m not ready for a mess of customers yet.” Cal suggested.
“Thanks, take care,” Ben said, picked up his package, and headed out the back door.
Nell came bustling into the kitchen dressed for her day and exclaimed, “You might give someone a warning when we’re not here alone. It’s a good thing it’s cold enough to need a wrapper. What if I’d just run in here with my night dress on?”
Cal laughed again. “I’m sure Ben’s seen a woman in a nightdress before.”
“Not this woman,” Nell blurted and blushed red again.
“Sorry, sweetheart. Next time make a little noise coming down the stairs. You’re as quiet as a cat. We could put a bell around your neck,” he grinned at her, and she playfully hit him on the arm.
Ben returned to the jail and relieved Joseph telling him he had a hot breakfast waiting for him at Callahan’s. “Can you come back here and sit with these two after you eat so I can see the judge.”
“Yup,” Joseph answered. “Underwood’s grumbling is actually interesting. He truly believes he’s above the law. He’s named a dozen men you should investigate. Willis hasn’t said a word. I’ll be back soon, thanks for ordering my breakfast.”
When Joseph shut the door, Willis yelled from his cell, “Hey, don’t we get anything to eat.”
“Yeah, yeah, just a minute.” Ben handed him two slices of bread and a chunk of cheese.
“You call this breakfast,” Willis spat. “I heard you tell the other guy he’d have bacon and eggs. I want a hot breakfast.”
“You’ll get what I give you,” Ben retorted. “You’re lucky you have any food at all. If you quiet down, I’ll see about a hot meal at noon.”
Willis grumbled under his breath, and Underwood took the bread and cheese without complaint.
Willis yelled again, “Hey, at least give me some coffee.”
“I have water,” Ben said. “I don’t serve prisoners anything hot that they can throw in my face.”
“I promise I won’t. It’s cold in here. Have a heart, will ya?” Willis wailed.
Ben poured a cup of hot coffee and told Willis to stand back away from the bars. “I’ll set this on the floor but so help me, if you toss it out here, I’ll drag your sorry hide out of that cell and shoot you. No one will believe you weren’t trying to escape.”
Underwood sat on his cot eating but finally asked for a glass of water. Ben slid a cup into the cell and watched Willis drink the coffee. The man didn’t move off his cot until he finished.
Ben sat at his desk and put his feet up thinking; I must be more convincing than I thought. Willis looked scared. Maybe the judge and I can get him to talk.
When Joseph returned, Ben walked over to Judge Magarey’s office. It was early, but Ben saw the hint of lantern light coming from the upstairs offices over the bank. He knocked quietly, and the judge’s assistant answered his knock.
“Sheriff, come in,” the thin, balding man offered.
“Thanks, is the judge in yet?” Ben asked removing his hat and stepping into the outer office.
“Yes, I’ll tell him you’re here.” A moment later, he appeared and held the judge’s door open for Ben to enter.
“Good morning, Ben. What brings you in so early? Please tell me you didn’t arrest a woman.” The judge tried to chuckle, but his frown told Ben the man worried.
“No, your honor, I have a man in custody who tried to break into the seamstress shop last night to abduct Miss Lucy and Miss Rose. Underwood hired him, so I arrested him, too.”
The judge stood and grabbed his coat and hat. “This I need to see. Let’s go. I’d like to question your prisoners.”
Underwood whispered to Willis, “If you say anything to help the case against me, I’ll have you shot. You know I can get it done. Keep your mouth shut.”
Willis nodded and sat on his cot.
Underwood called out asking for coffee. Joseph responded, “I’m not here to bring you coffee. Sit down and be quiet.”
The door opened, and Ben allowed the judge to enter his office first. Willis saw the judge and dropped down onto his cot feigning sleep. Underwood jumped to his feet and demanded his release.
“Quiet,” Judge Magarey yelled. “I need to ask a few questions. You can answer them or not, but mind you that I will decide what charges, if any, are appropriate. Then, and only then, will I decide on a trial date.”
“Sit up, Willis,” Ben barked, and Willis popped off the cot and fell to his knees. He stood and shoved his hands in his pockets.
“You first, Willis. I understand you tried to break into Mrs. Bowen’s seamstress shop with the intention of abducting Miss Lucy and Miss Rose who reside above the shop.”
Underwood snorted.
“Quiet,” Ben insisted.
Willis stood wide-eyed and silent.
The judge began again. “It seems you don’t want to answer. I understand you confessed in front of the sheriff, and two town residents. That’s three witnesses to your confession. I don’t think I need to hear from you.”
Ben mumbled, “Isn’t abduction a hangin’ offense, Judge?”
Before the judge could answer, Willis cried out. “They don’t hang people here anymore. All you can do is put me in prison.”
Judge Magarey nodded slowly and then spoke. “He’s right, Ben. We don’t hang folks in this state, but the men in town will be angry when they discover a couple of prisoners tried to steal women for immoral purposes. No telling what they’ll do. There’s a lot of woods just north of town. Someone could be hung and never found or left for the animals.”
Willis dropped back down on his cot.
Judge Magarey turned to Underwood. “I understand you hired Willis and another man to abduct the women. You’re not as young as Willis. Prison is hard on a man. I doubt you’ll come out alive if I don’t sentence you to life for the crimes. I could go a bit easy on you if you tell us the entire story.”
Underwood stared at the judge before replying, “I don’t have anything to say.”
Willis jumped to his feet. “I do and would you go easy on me if I told you?”
The judge shrugged. Underwood hollered at Willis to shut up. Ben threatened to gag Underwood.
Willis began to bare his soul. “I didn’t want to do anything. The talk going around is that Underwood was going to open his saloon in a tent and have some women set up in a barn. I came into town to see what was happening. I saw Underwood talking to a man I know as Boots. I don’t know his surname or his real given name. They were planning to get two ladies to work at the barn. Underwood said the woman were his. I believed him.”
Underwood groaned.
> “Go on,” the judge said.
“I went with Boots as a lookout. Boots said he knew how to break a lock. We were supposed to get the two women and take them out to the farm. Easy, no worries, until I got hit in the head and Boots disappeared.”
Underwood snorted again and said, “He’s lying. It’s my word against his. Let me out.”
Willis pulled a wad of bills from his pocket. “Look at this. Underwood gave it to me and said we’d get more when we brought the women to the farm plus free services and drinks. I never had this much money at one time in my life.”
Judge Magarey turned to ask Ben, “Do you have any idea who this Boots fella is?”
“Yeah, I do. I’ll get Joseph to sit with the prisoners while I ride out to look for him. I’ll stop at Roy Greiner’s and get Luke Tremble to fill in as temporary deputy again. I have a feeling I’ll be busy for the next few days.”
“Good idea. Trial’s Wednesday bright and early. I should talk to Preacher Reynold’s again. We’ll need to use the church. Next summer we’ll have a courthouse if it kills me.”
Just as the judge prepared to leave, Giles Bowen arrived. “Good morning, gentlemen, I received a note at my office saying you arrested Underwood.”
Ben filled Giles in, and Giles turned to Underwood.
“The ladies in question are personal friends of my wife. I can’t represent you even if I wanted. It’s a conflict of interest. However, I will, out of respect for the law and fair representation, send a telegram to any lawyer you’d suggest.”
“Underwood shook his head. I never needed a lawyer before. Ask Jewel. Maybe she knows someone or do you know anyone?”
“I can inquire by telegram to a few I know. Perhaps one will represent you.”
“If not,” Underwood stated. “I can represent myself.”
“Hey,” Willis interjected. “I can’t afford a lawyer. Judge can you help me if I tell you it was Underwood that started the fire. He didn’t plan on it, I don’t think, but he did decide it was a good way to try and blame Mr. Willoughby.”
The judge turned around. “How did he start the fire?”
“I was there, and he was cooking. He was playing a game of dice and we heard a loud crash and then smelled smoke. Underwood ran into the kitchen and ran out mumbling that the lantern shelf broke again and the oil started a fire when it hit the stove.”
Ben asked, “What about the ladies? Did you see them?”
“Yeah, they were all upstairs together. Miss Jewel ran one way, and Miss Rose and Miss Lucy ran down the stairs towards me. We got out just before the place burst into flames. We could hear the liquor bottles exploding.”
“So, the ladies were upstairs when Underwood ran into the kitchen?”
Willis nodded.
“Is that important?” The judge asked.
“It was. I thought Miss Jewel might have set the fire. It appears she didn’t have the time. It was a stupid accident,” Ben informed the judge.
“Good, the last thing I want is another woman on trial,” Judge Magarey said just before he left the office.
Giles looked at Underwood. “Do you want me to send that telegram?”
“No, I don’t need a lawyer. I know a jury would never find me guilty of trying to abduct two soiled doves.”
“That’s settled. Giles, would you like to get a cup of coffee?” Judge Magarey asked. Giles nodded and the two headed for Callahan’s.
Chapter 8
Ben knocked on the seamstress shop’s door in time to walk Molly to Sunday services. When she opened the door, she whispered, “I told you that Rose and Lucy would like to accompany me to church. Are you sure you want to walk with us?”
“I told you I would walk you to church. I plan to sit with you. I want the town to know how I feel. Miss Rose and Miss Lucy are welcome to accompany us and sit with us,” he smiled, and Molly’s heart warmed. Oh, how she loved this man and worried about his future with her. Today would tell how the town reacted to them as a couple.
Ben held out his arm and Molly took it. Lucy and Rose followed them at a fair distance to allow them time for a private talk. Ben kept the conversation light. He didn’t think it was the right time to declare his deepest desires before sitting in church. He could do that after if he found a few moments alone with Molly.
When they arrived at church, Lucy whispered, “Are you sure we should go in there?”
“Of course, Molly said. Follow me.”
Molly led the way into the church and strode right up to a few empty seats in the second pew. She stood back to allow Rose and Lucy to take their seat and then slid in leaving room for Ben.
A few heads turned, but most people sat quietly waiting for the service to begin. Pastor Reynolds saw Lucy and Rose sitting with Molly and quickly adjusted his sermon on brotherly love to include love and acceptance of all people and not to judge. “All men and women are sinners,” he stated. “Our sins may be different, but God sees our sins the same. Do not judge your fellow man and do not think you are better than your neighbor. I am a sinner. You are a sinner.” He threw his arms open as if to encompass the entire congregation. “Accept others the way you want them to accept you.”
He continued with his sermon and received quite a few “Amens” and nodded heads. Molly hoped it helped the town understand Rose and Lucy.
As they stood to sing a final hymn, Ben whispered, “I’m going outside to make sure all is quiet. I’ll meet you after the service.” She smiled at him, and he wanted to kiss her right then and there. Get a grip, man, he scolded himself. You’re in church.
Molly chatted with Lucy and Rose as they walked out of church. “Oh, no, here comes trouble,” she whispered.
An elderly woman dressed in a navy-blue woolen suit and matching hat approached them Her hair was pulled tightly enough into a severe bun that Molly thought she wore it that way to reduce facial wrinkles.
“Miss Sullivan, I thought you’d left our lovely town,” she stated staring Molly directly in the eyes.
“No, Mrs. Willoughby, I plan to stay,” Molly answered quietly hoping no one listened to their conversation.
“Well, I suppose that is your right although I thought you’d be happier elsewhere. Who are your friends? I don’t believe I’ve seen them at church before.”
Lucy held out her hand. “Name’s Lucinda. Please to meet you, ma’am. My friend’s name is Rose.”
Mrs. Willoughby gripped her Bible with both hands and asked. “Are you new in town?”
“No, ma’am, but until recently, Rose and I never attended Sunday services.”
“Why on earth not. Don’t you believe in church?”
“Yes, ma’am, but Rose and I worked at Underwood’s until it burned down. We couldn’t get here for services.”
Molly groaned, and the look in Mrs. Willoughby’s eyes could have frozen water. She reached out and grabbed Lucy’s arm. “You aren’t welcome here. Get off the church property. We don’t allow women like you here.”
Lucy pulled her arm away and spat back, “Listen, lady, I spent the entire service in there, and lightning didn’t hit so I think we’re all right.”
Mrs. Willoughby reached out to grab Lucy’s arm again, and Lucy said, “Lady if you touch me again, I’ll lay you out flat right here.”
Mrs. Willoughby sputtered, “Do you know who I am?”
“No, and I don’t care,” Lucy shrugged.
“My husband owns the bank and I think we need a mayor and he’d be elected.”
“Oh, Mr. Willoughby from the bank. He’s a nice man. When he comes into the saloon, he explains how we can save our money safely at the bank. How did he end up marrying you?”
“What? My husband never set foot in your saloon.” She took a step backward away from Lucy.
Lucy, feeling mischievous, winked at Mrs. Willoughby and said, “He was a good customer before the fire. Maybe he still is. I don’t know. I don’t work there anymore.”
Mrs. Willoughby threw a hand against her chest
and screeched, “Morton, Morton Willoughby, where are you? Come and tell this trollop you’d never enter a saloon.”
Mr. Willoughby ducked behind a group of men as his wife continued to call his name.
Ben turned to Mrs. Willoughby. “You should be on your way home now, ma’am.”
Pastor Reynold’s strode up, and Mrs. Willoughby held her head high and strolled away before he could speak to her. The pastor welcomed Lucy and Rose. He met them before when he would hold a small service on Saturday afternoons at the saloon. “Remember, Ladies; you are always welcome here.”
Rose, who had taken refuge behind Molly, looked around her and smiled at the pastor. Lucy shook his hand and thanked him.
Molly smiled at Pastor Reynolds, “Thank you, Lucy and Rose live with me now and won’t be going back to work at Underwood’s if he gets out of jail. We’ll be here for every Sunday service.”
“Wonderful, that is good news. Now, if I could convince Underwood to build his saloon elsewhere or not at all, it would be a miracle. Maybe his trial will solve that problem for me.”
“I’ll pray for that,” Lucy said standing taller.
Molly suggested they head for Callahan’s for lunch. She looked around hoping Ben would follow them.
~ * ~
Nell returned from church and hurried into the kitchen to help Cal. “Sorry I’m a bit late, there was an interesting confrontation between Mrs. Willoughby and Lucy.”
Cal’s eyebrows shot up. “That woman could cause trouble between a pair of angels.”
“Today, she tried to force Lucy off the church grounds, and when Lucy found out who she was, she told her how much she liked Mr. Willoughby. Mrs. Willoughby yelled his name over and over, and he hid.”
Cal laughed out loud. “Our banker loves his whiskey and Poker. What does she think he does when he isn’t at home?”
Nell stood with her hands on her hips. “Just what do you know about who does what at the saloon?”
He grinned at her and said, “I wasn’t always a married man. I might have had a drink or two at the saloon in my life.”
She squinted her eyes at him and twisted her lip. “I suppose that’s allowed. Oh, I hear the bell. I’ll seat our customers.”
Molly's Heart Page 5
