His heart swelled with love and hurt all at the same time. They might have a day or two left.
“Will Edith expect you to spend Christmas with her? She seems to have adopted you in a way.”
“I hadn’t given it much thought. I figured she’d be out here with Cookie. I suppose it’s better to find out what the plans are. I just don’t know about her. She’s the nicest to me, but the way she treated you is just plain wrong.”
Molly touched his arm. “Listen, she’ll be here long after I’m gone. Don’t cut ties for me. Just let it go for now. From when I gather she thinks you and Anne Marie are suited.”
He half chuckled. “That is not going to happen. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s if a woman flutters her eyelashes too much she’s up to something. Ann Marie was all about fluttering and when that didn’t work, she said she had something in her eye and asked me to look. I moved closer and she wrapped her arms around my neck and tried to give me a kiss. She’s strong. It took a lot to get her off of me.”
“Sounds to me like she expects you to be her husband. Who knows what Edith told her. Anyway, let’s not think about them now. Do you know any Christmas Carols?”
“You want me to sing?” His face heated.
“Surely you know some and yes I want you to sing.” Her eyes were full of humor.
“If we both sing it’ll be fine I suppose.” Singing wasn’t something he did but for her he would. They sang "Silent Night" and "Joy to the World" then "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear". Poor Boy didn’t know all the words so he made some up. Soon enough they were laughing.
Lunchtime approached, and the singing stopped. She looked forlorn, and he wanted to make things easier for her.
“I’ll go down to the main house and grab some grub. We can have a picnic in front of the tree.” He knew she was pleased by the relief in her eyes.
“Thank you.”
He grabbed his hat and coat and walked outside.
The next morning after breakfast, Cookie broke the bad news that Judge Gleason was in town. Molly’s heart pounded out of control at Cookie’s words. The blood drained from her face, and the room began to spin. Poor Boy caught her by the elbow and guided her to the settee.
“Any word when he’ll be out here?” Cinders asked.
“Any time now, from what I heard,” Cookie said.
Shannon sat down with baby Robert on her lap. “Judge Gleason is a fair man, Molly. We have to hope for the best.”
“Will he take me today?” Tears rolled down her face.
“I honestly don’t know with tomorrow being Christmas Eve and all. He may let you stay here or take you back to town, I just don’t know.”
“Or he might hang me.” She dashed away her tears and it took all her strength to hold herself together. “I shouldn’t have said that. It’s the holidays, and my problems are my own. I don’t want to ruin your happiness. It’s a situation of my own making.”
Robert began to squirm and reached for Molly, and she readily took him. What a delight. Shannon and Cinders were truly blessed. They seemed to know it too. What they had was rare, and it was what she would have wanted. But she’d also had a rare couple of days with an amazing man. She hugged Robert to her and then handed him back to Shannon.
Suppressing a sigh, Molly stood and went to Poor Boy, put her arms around his middle, and leaned against him. He returned her embrace and held her to him. She’d be gone but he’d be left behind. “I need to talk to you.”
He nodded and led her outside.
As he started toward the cabin, she pulled him to a stop. “I want to spend as much time outside as I can.”
Poor Boy turned toward her and gazed into her eyes. “Everything will be fine.”
“You don’t know that. I came out here to say a few things while I can.” He started to interrupt, but she put her hand up and shook her head. “Let me say this while I can. I’m trying to be brave, but we both know I’m not. So, here goes. I’ve never met anyone like you before. You are the best man I’ve ever met. Somehow, you’ve gotten beyond every barrier I’ve put up and you are in my heart. You fill my heart. I already know what the judge is obligated to do. But I’m not sorry I fell in love with you. It’s been the very best part of my life. When I’m gone, though, you need to go on. You have so much to give, and you deserve a loving wife and family. Don’t settle for anything less than love, but don’t avoid it. There’s someone out there for you. Not Ann Marie, mind you, but someone sweet and loving. I wish beautiful sunrises and peaceful sunsets for you Poor Boy. I wish for you to walk in the light and never the darkness. Can you do that for me?”
She took a deep steadying breath before she dared to look into his eyes. She shouldn’t have looked. His eyes were filled with tears. Her heart skipped a beat as she tried to hold herself together.
“I love you too. You’ve been the best part of my life too. I’ll fight for you as much as I can. I’ll talk to Shane and Judge Gleason. There has to be another answer.”
There wasn’t, and she knew it, but she nodded anyway for his sake. “Perhaps you’re right. People talk about Christmas miracles. I’ve never put much stock in it, but maybe.”
The sound of a wagon approaching made her heart drop. This was it.
Chapter Seven
Shane drove the wagon with Judge Gleason by his side. “Whoa,” Shane said as he stopped the horses. Shane nodded to both Molly and Poor Boy. Then he tied off the reins. He jumped down and waited for the judge to climb off.
Poor Boy automatically reached and took Molly’s hand in his. “Shane, Judge Gleason, good to see you.”
“Well, look at you, son. You’re a man now. You’ve been missed around Asherville. I’m darn glad to see you back.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I take it this is the prisoner?” He pointedly stared at their joined hands.
Molly let go of Poor Boy’s hand and stepped forward. “I am, your honor. I’m the one you’re here to hang.”
A lump formed in Poor Boy’s neck. She was so very brave. Others might have cut and run, but not Molly.
“I guess that’s what I’m here to determine,” the judge said solemnly. “Let’s get out of the cold. I hope Cookie has something sweet to eat. I’m in the mood for cookies or a cake.” He led the way into the main house.
How could the judge talk about food when all Poor Boy wanted to do was throw up? Nothing made sense any more. They all went into the main house and Cinders, Shannon, and Cookie all welcomed them.
They sat around the big dining table. Cookie quickly had coffee made and set out cookies he’d made earlier before he sat down to join them. Poor Boy could feel the tension in the room. He was wound up tight waiting for Judge Gleason to say something. The fear in Molly’s eyes had him wishing he could just take her and run.
Judge Gleason ran his fingers through his white hair, which hung below his collar. He never looked much like a conventional judge. He always wore a crisp white shirt with black pants, but he looked and acted like the rest of the town folks. “What we have is a dilemma. Yes indeed.” He stared at Molly, seeming to take her measure. “I’m not quite sure what to do with you, miss. On one hand you look to be decent enough, but on the other hand there was that bank robbery.” He sighed.
“But—”Shannon started.
“No, no interruptions please. Here’s the deal. We don’t take bank robbing lightly, and we can’t send out a message that we immediately forgive those who rob us at gunpoint. There are a few in town who want a hanging. There are a few hankering for a trial. What do you think, Deputy?”
Poor Boy startled. “She’s been a model prisoner, sir. I have found her to be a kind, caring woman.”
The judge nodded and gazed at Cinders. “Hear tell, you have them living in the same cabin here. That plain isn’t good for anyone’s reputation. How are people supposed to think of Poor Boy as a deputy when he lives with the prisoner? I leave town, and all heck breaks loos
e. I’m sorry, miss, but you need to come back to town and spend some time in the jailhouse while I look into this some more.”
“We’re not exactly equipped to house a female at the jail,” Shane explained. “That’s one of the reasons she’s out here. That and the line of bounty hunters who have been by the office sniffing around.”
“I understand but the people in town, the ones out for blood, don’t understand. Personally, I would have found another option, one that doesn’t include the deputy living with his prisoner. Cinders, I made you marry Shannon so she wouldn’t be a single female living in this house with you. All right, grab your things and we’ll head back to town.” His tone announced he would tolerate no debate. He swigged his coffee down, put his hat on his head, and went out the door.
Molly’s eyes grew wide. “What just happened? Am I going to hang or not?”
Shannon reached across the table and patted Molly’s hand. “That’s the thing. He didn’t say. You go on to town, and Cinders and I will gather reinforcements to come to town.”
Molly nodded and stood. “Poor Boy, can I go and get my things?”
“We don’t want to make the judge mad. Cinders you’ll bring our things to town, won’t you?”
“Sure thing. Everything will be fine. I’ll round up Tramp and Keegan, and we’ll meet you in town.”
Tears fell from Molly’s eyes. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
Shannon’s eyes also glistened. “We’ll see you soon.”
Poor Boy took Molly’s hand and entwined his fingers with hers. “We might as well go.”
Her brave smile was a bit wobbly and it had him loving her all the more. He helped her into the back of the wagon as he swung up on the horse Rollo had ready for him. He’d known it was coming, but it was much harder than he thought.
Her stomach churned with the rocking of the wagon. The ride back to town seemed shorter somehow. She’d expected the street to be lined with angry citizens, but instead it was only Edith and Aaron who stood and watched her go into the jail. Not knowing what to expect, she began to shake, and when Cecily stepped forward to hug her, it was most welcome.
“You’ll be fine,” Cecily whispered before she let her go. Her kind smile almost brought Molly to tears again.
Being brave was so very hard and she couldn’t do it. She just couldn’t. How she wished she could curl up and hide somewhere no one could ever find her. But she was an adult, and she didn’t have the option of running away. Which was worse, pondering her fate or knowing her fate? She’d find out soon enough.
It was Christmas Eve tomorrow, and there was a very real possibility she wouldn’t be around to see it. They led her to the same cell she had occupied before, handed her belongings to her and then Shane closed the door with a clank. It was a sound that echoed within her. With her back to them she took a few deep breaths to steady herself. She turned around and tried to hold her head up high. She wasn’t certain if she really succeeded.
“Now what?” she asked.
“It’s up to Judge Gleason,” Shane told her.
She nodded, bit her bottom lip, and sat down. She’d done a lot of waiting the last few years. Waiting and praying her brothers would come home safe. How could an unjust accusation ruin her whole family? This time it wasn’t unjust. She’d held a gun, and she robbed the bank.
Cinders and Shannon arrived with Tramp and Ilene. Molly smiled at them and nodded when they asked if she was all right. A big man with a pretty woman alongside him entered, and it was obvious the couple were good friends with the rest of the folks.
“Hi Molly, I’m Addy and this is my husband Keegan. We’re so sorry to hear about your troubles. We hope we can help in some small way.”
“Thank you.” She sighed, not able to make small talk.
Keegan stepped forward and addressed the group. “First we need a place for her to live and a job. We don’t want any objections on that level. Next, we make her out to be a good Christian woman.”
“I am a Christian woman,” Molly said.
Keegan nodded. “Down on her luck, forced by her father.”
“I was certainly not forced by my father. There was another man who threatened us if we didn’t pull the robbery for him. It wasn’t the right thing to do, and I voiced my concerns over and over, but in the end we had no choice.”
Keegan smiled broadly. “Good you do have some fight in you.”
Molly frowned at them all until she locked gazes with Poor Boy. His concern for her was almost overwhelming. She changed her frown into a smile just for him. She noticed the exchanged looks between the others, but she didn’t care.
“The man’s name is Drew and he stayed at the saloon. I asked Noreen about him. Molly’s story pans out,” Poor Boy said.
Tramp cleared his voice. “We have all we need to know, I believe. Let’s go to the saloon.”
The saloon? What was he talking about?
“Poor Boy, keep an eye on the prisoner,” Shane said as he led the charge out the door.
“That’s it? Now they go and have a drink?” Her hope shriveled inside her.
“Oh, Good Lord, no. It’s not what you think,” Ilene quickly replied. “The judge hangs out at the saloon most days. He’s a tea teetotaler but he believes he’s most effective where the people are.”
“I see,” Molly said but she didn’t have a clue what was going on.
“He eats breakfast at Eats’ every morning so the women can see him then,” Addy added.
Looking down at her lap, Molly pretended to smooth out wrinkles on her skirt. She couldn’t stand to have them all stare at her. The door opened, and she quickly looked up. Edith had arrived.
“Back where you belong. Good.” She turned to Shannon. “Did Cookie come to town?”
“No, he volunteered to watch the kids.”
“Mine too,” Addy said.
“You left your children to come here for her?” She raised her hand and pointed at Molly.
“Isn’t that what friends do?” Shannon asked.
Edith’s brow furrowed. “I’m just glad she’s behind bars. I expect you all will be attending the Christmas Eve festivities at the church tomorrow. We really need a preacher of our own. Ever since Pastor Sands died, all we’ve had is that circuit preacher, and he’s not due here until after the winter.”
“I’m sure we can pray just as well on our own,” Cecily said. “It’ll just be nice to have the community together.”
“When’s the hanging? Tonight would be best or we’ll have to wait until after Christmas.”
Poor Boy put his arm around Edith’s shoulder. “Now, none of that talk around here.”
Edith glared at Molly. “Fine, I have food to prepare for tomorrow night. Ann Marie will be there.”
Poor Boy escorted Edith out the door. He must have walked her home, because he came back a few minutes later and gave Molly an apologetic grin. “Don’t worry about her. She’s the same way with most folks around here.”
Molly nodded to him.
“Well, we brought your things. It looks like you’ll be sleeping here tonight. But I promise you we will have our say at Eats’ tomorrow morning. The men are laying the groundwork tonight, and we will do our best to get you set free.” Shannon then gave Poor Boy a hug. “Hang in there.”
Minutes later, Molly was alone with Poor Boy. “Maybe Edith is right. They might still come for me tonight. Who’s going to allow a bank robber to ruin the town’s Christmas?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Judge Gleason is a fair man. I don’t know what the outcome will be, and to tell you the truth Molly I’m as afraid as you. I’m afraid that I’ve finally found love, and I might lose it. My home is wherever you are, and if something was to happen and they take you away, I don’t know how I’d survive.” The tears in his eyes broke her heart.
“I feel the same way. We just found each other and now…I can’t find the right words to express how much I’m grieving already.”
“Exactly,
I feel like I’m already grieving and my heart is being ripped out of my chest.”
Shane walked in, and she didn’t even bother to wipe her eyes. It was too much.
“I know this is hard, but things will look better in the morning. The judge is a hardheaded man at times, but he has his own ways. He said he’d think on it and let us know in the morning.”
Poor Boy’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “In the morning then.”
“I’ll be back at sunrise. We gave it our best shot, and I’m hoping for the best outcome.” Shane turned and left, but not before she saw the shimmer of moisture in his eyes.
“I’m so tired, but I don’t want to sleep the last of my hours away.”
“I know what you mean,” Poor Boy agreed. He grabbed two tin mugs from a wooden shelf and poured coffee into them. He handed one cup to her and while holding the other cup, he pulled a chair up to the bars. He reached through so they could hold hands.
Hours later, Molly watched Poor Boy sleep. They’d stayed awake most of the night, but finally he had nodded off. He looked so very young, and she wondered if that was the boy everyone remembered. To her, he was her hero. A man of integrity and kindness. A man with so much love to give. She shook her head. She’d cried too much already. She didn’t want him to remember her with red eyes and nose. Instead, she took down her hair, unbraided it, and then brushed it. There was no sense going to the gallows looking shabby. She rebraided her hair and left it hanging down her back.
Then dawn was upon them, and she was afraid she wouldn’t get a chance to talk to Poor Boy again. And yet…while he slept, he felt no pain. His anguish mirrored hers, and she didn’t wish that for him.
The door opened and Poor Boy woke. Judge Gleason popped his head in. “Poor Boy I’d like to talk to you. Come on I’ll buy you breakfast.”
Poor Boy stood and gave her one last long look before he left.
Poor Boy's Christmas with Bonus Book Page 7