“What happened?” Sims stood over Bart. “Is he dead?”
Evangeline shrugged as she looked at Jake. “No. He’s gone the way of Artie.”
“Take this varmint and lock him up in one of the sheds,” Jake ordered Pete and Walters. He hugged Evangeline close as her chilled body trembled. He grabbed a blanket from one of the bunks and wrapped her in it as she broke down and cried uncontrollably.
Jake’s embrace soon broke through her fears, and tears changed from terror to relief in his arms. When they walked outside, Hitchcock’s body was tied to his horse. Sage whinnied and nuzzled Evangeline. She relaxed as Jake drew her closer.
Violet looked on as tears trickled down her face. “My husband didn’t even bother to come to my rescue. He sent these despicable characters instead. Please, may I stay with you?”
Evangeline sniffled, still clinging to Jake. “Of course you may.”
“Andy promised me if I’d come West with him, he’d make me rich. I had no idea it required me to be someone else. My name is Hester Stanton. My parents own a dry goods store in Shelton, Illinois.”
Griggs raised his gun at her confession, and a click sounded. Sims’s peacemaker lay against the gunslinger’s head. “I wouldn’t.” Sims turned to Danby. “That goes for you too. Drop the guns.”
The men complied.
“I’ll be needin’ that shed for these two, as well.”
“Who do you think you are?” Danby protested. “Griggs and me are on your side.”
“I’m U.S. Marshal Sims.” By the men’s reaction, no other explanation was necessary. “I’m arresting you both for multiple bank robberies. The last two were well played, I must say. Hiding out on a cattle drive was ingenious.”
Jake gave Evangeline one last squeeze. “You’re safe now, darlin’.
Let’s go home.”
CHAPTER 35
Jake helped Evangeline from Sage. She held to him for a moment as Juliet and Selena came to greet her. As the women embraced, Manny took Sage’s reins.
Evangeline caught the relieved expression on the boy-man as he spoke encouraging words to the horse. “Sage, you have brought the Señora home safely. Glad to have you home, my friend.”
Selena touched Evangeline’s face. “Let me tend to your wound.”
Juliet held tightly to her waist as they stepped up on the porch. “I was so worried. I prayed and prayed for you.” A trembling smile formed as her eyes glistened with joyful tears. “Tell me all about your adventure.”
Jake handed the reins of the other horses to Manny and helped Violet down. She meekly followed the other women into the house. Evangeline paused, waiting for her husband to join them. When he took her hand, she felt her weariness once more.
“Adventure is probably not the word I would use.” Evangeline wrapped her arm around Juliet. “But let’s go have a seat in the parlor, and I’ll tell you all about it.” Cookie and Manny joined them as Evangeline and Jake shared details of Bart’s thwarted plan.
Violet’s silence reminded Evangeline of her confession. At least the woman’s face was regaining color. Not once did this otherwise talkative friend add to the story. Tears trailed down her cheeks. Evangeline offered her a handkerchief, and Selena patted her like a protective mother. Violet’s head hung lower with each offer of kindness.
Finishing her story, Evangeline looked at Selena. “Has Isabel returned yet?”
“She left early afternoon and we have no seen her and Señor Tony since. I fear it was not easy to redeem Miss Amelia.”
Jake frowned and scratched his head. “The marshal took my crew and headed into town. If there was any trouble, they’ll get to the bottom of it. Duke told Sims all about Amelia’s problem. Sims told us how he’d been in Rose’s Place a few times investigatin’. He heard lots of suspicious things while we were on the cattle drive.”
The sound of horses brought the entire group to the porch. Duke and Isabel dismounted as Tony helped a tiny woman from his horse. The woman shrank back and covered her chest with her arms, hiding her immodest apparel.
Evangeline and Juliet ran to hug Isabel, who beamed at them. “Allow me to introduce Miss Amelia Weaver.”
Evangeline embraced the young woman. “I’m so glad you’re safe. God has truly answered our prayers.”
As Amelia began to cry, Evangeline tightened her embrace, cooing words of comfort. Together, she and Isabel helped the distraught woman into the house. Selena brought out a warm meal of tortillas and beans. While they ate, Jake and Tony exchanged information from the day’s events. Isabel’s description of her ordeal was far more colorful than Tony’s.
“Isabel has many skills, jefe.” Tony grinned around a forkful of beans.
“And Antonio Garcia Sanchez is a very brave man.” Isabel’s use of his formal name caused Tony to duck his head. “Without him I would not be alive.”
“I think we make a good team.”
Juliet squirmed in her chair. “You said this Mr. Davis locked you up and planned to kill you?” Her tone was intense. Leave it to Juliet to find intrigue in a fearful situation.
“Tony pushed his way into Davis’s office. Such a menacing glare he gave that reprobate. I was very impressed.” Isabel recalled the entire scene for her listeners. “I knew him immediately. His was the voice from the funeral. Prentiss Davis, alias William Cramer, the man who had seduced Amelia and brought her to this place. When he asked how I found him, I said, ‘Quite frankly, the odious scent of greed led me to you.’”
Tony joined in. “When he refused to give us Amelia, I say, ‘Davis or Cramer or whoever you are, you will do this, or you will die.’”
Juliet’s eyes widened. “Then what happened?”
“Two brutes subdued us both, I’m afraid,” Isabel said. “They knocked Tony unconscious and tied us up in a room. Their plan was to kill us at sundown.”
“But we were mucho clever.” Tony described how they managed to loosen their bonds and Isabel picked the lock.
“After we found Amelia, Tony broke the window in the hallway, and we climbed out.”
Tony grinned. “I whistled for Bonita, and she waited below the window for us.”
“Don’t forget I was there in the nick of time,” Duke added.
“Si, Duke drew on a big man who came out the saloon door just as the marshal, the sheriff, and his deputies came upon our plight.”
Isabel patted Duke’s hand, causing him to flinch. “We four fled town with haste.”
Duke filled a plate as Tony took up the story. “Once we were clear of Charleton, I asked my friend, ‘What took you so long?’”
Duke swallowed a mouthful of food. “I told him I was busy rescuin’ other damsels in distress.” He shot Isabel a smile. “The marshal sent me to tell the sheriff to head to Rose’s Place.”
Evangeline caught Amelia staring at Tony. He smiled back at her. “Señorita, you are safe now. No one will hurt you again.”
“Thank you, Antonio. If not for you, my sister-in-law and I might be dead,” she said through her tears.
Tony turned his gaze to Jake. “Jefe, what’s next?”
“Sims got the full story from Mrs. Farley—I mean Miss Stanton—before he left. She told him the silent partner at Rose’s Place was Matthew Paine, our fake Farley’s real brother. One of his aliases is Prentiss Davis. His job was to lure women.”
When Amelia began to sob, Tony leaned over and took her hand. Evangeline studied the interaction between the two. Tony’s touch seemed to comfort the wounded woman. Amelia took the handkerchief Evangeline offered and breathed deeply as she wiped her tears.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, Didn’t mean to cause you more pain.” Jake’s words were gentle.
“These are tears of relief, Mr. Marcum. I have been rescued from hell and am eternally grateful.” Amelia picked up her fork and began to take small bites.
Isabel finished her coffee and picked up another tortilla. “Where is Marshal Sims now?”
“He’s gone to meet the she
riff and his deputies. They’re makin’ plans for bringin’ in the Paine brothers. He promised to send word if he needed our help. A bunch of other lawmen should be here by mornin’. Seems the Paines are wanted in a lot of places.”
***
Evangeline brought a nightgown for Hester. It would take time to get used to Violet’s real name. Juliet was happy to give up her room for the adventure of sleeping in the hayloft. Evangeline had persuaded Marshal Sims not to take Hester into custody just yet.
Shame covered the woman’s face. “Do you hate me for deceiving you?”
“Now that you are Hester, not Violet, I like you much better.”
“I want to raise my child the same way I was raised. My parents taught me about the Lord, but I went after money and what I thought was the good life. I need to send them a telegram tomorrow to see if I can come home. That is, if I don’t go to jail.”
“What will you say when your husband comes looking for you?”
Shame crossed her face again. “Andy said he wasn’t the marrying kind.” A tear spilled down her cheek. “I thought my life in Shelton was so boring. I wanted excitement. Now I just want to go home. Do you think it would be wrong to say my husband died?”
They sat in silence until Evangeline offered a suggestion. “May I pray for you?”
Hester bowed her head.
CHAPTER 36
At the stagecoach, Evangeline hugged her friend one last time. “Remember, Hester, the truth will set you free.”
“I appreciate the reminder. Marshal Sims wants me to testify against Andy and Matt. Then he says I will be free to go because I was a pawn in the whole affair. God has shown me mercy. I honestly had no idea Andy was a con man. He told me he was a businessman and, like any woman in my position, I asked no questions. The trial will be in Hardyville, at least for his crimes here. Then he and his brother will be taken back East for another trial. I won’t need to be there. Once I get to Hardyville, I’ll write a letter to my family. After the trial, I plan on going home. I’ll write and let you know how I’m doing. Pray for me. And thank you for the money. It will make it easier to raise my child. I won’t have to worry about finding a job right away.”
***
Jake studied the two men who exited the stagecoach as Evangeline was saying good-bye to Hester. One was short and stocky, the other extremely thin and dressed in the latest East Coast fashion. They patted the dust from their expensive suits as Marshal Sims approached them. After shaking hands, he assisted with the luggage and led them toward Jake.
“Jake Marcum, let me introduce the real Farley.” Sims pointed to the shorter man. “This is Robert Farley and his assistant, Whitney Smithton.”
Jake shook hands with the men.
“Why are you looking at me in that manner?” Farley protested.
“Sorry, I’m tryin’ to decide if I remember you.”
“You have an older brother, Clevis, isn’t that correct?”
“He died in the war.”
“My sympathies. I lost many dear friends in the war. I do recall something about your brother that might assure you I am the real Farley.”
Jake hoped so. “Go on.”
“When I was a boy of ten, I came to visit my father for the summer. I rarely left the house, but on one particular day, my father took me with him to visit his neighbor, Mr. Mitchell. Your brother was there and, along with the Mitchell boys, sold me a rock, insisting it had magical powers. They convinced me this rock would make me taller if I slept with it under my pillow. Your brother told me he, too, was ten and it had worked for him.”
“I remember hearin’ about that.”
“As you can see, it did no good.”
They both laughed.
“Forgive me for doubtin’ you.”
“Perfectly understandable under the circumstances.” Farley turned to Sims. “Now, tell me, when do we confront this imposter?”
“The sheriff and his men raided Rose’s Place last night and arrested Matthew Paine. I had a few other marshals in place already. My report of the young lady being kept against her will seemed to turn the sheriff ’s sympathies away from Paine. Having a bunch of marshals on his doorstep didn’t hurt either. When Paine’s henchmen tried to stop the rescue, my men went into action. With the aid of the sheriff, his deputies, and some honorable cowpokes, we rounded them all up. Rose’s Place is shut down, and Matthew Paine and his men are locked up. He’s being held on attempted murder charges for starters. Once we have his brother, they’ll both be taken to Hardyville for trial.” Sims recounted the kidnapping just as Evangeline joined them.
With a look of admiration, Robert Farley spoke to Evangeline. “Mrs. Marcum, I must say you look well for someone who has been through such an ordeal.”
“Looks can be deceiving. I’m still unnerved by it all. But God’s peace and the presence of my husband have been my comfort.” Evangeline held firmly to Jake’s hand. “Thank you, Mr. Sims, for removing Griggs and Danby from the ranch.”
“I still don’t think keeping Vickers is wise, even if he is unconscious.”
“My wife’s a doctor, and she wants to be sure Bart recovers from the drug he took.” Jake did not miss the smile his confession brought to his wife’s face.
“You are a doctor?” Robert Farley looked at her, his face registering surprise for only a moment. “I am sure the town values your services to them.”
Jake ignored the remark. “My wife also has other reasons for keepin’ Bart.”
“I have discovered that anyone under the influence of this particular drug, although unresponsive, can hear everything that goes on around them. I have a plan to encourage Bart to confess his sins when he regains consciousness. I refuse to be held captive by my own emotions. I’m working on forgiveness and praying for him.”
Robert nodded solemnly at Evangeline. “You are far nobler than I, madam. I wish to see this man prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
“Mr. Vickers will get what he deserves. He shot Javier in cold blood. But I know the Lord would desire to give him eternal life.”
“You sound like your cousin Ida.”
“You’re welcome to stay at our place,” Jake offered. “The hotel here is owned by that Paine fella, and it ain’t much to speak of.”
“Our home is humbler than you are used to, but it’s clean, and Selena is a wonderful cook,” Evangeline added.
“We would be delighted.”
***
Jake’s buckboard entered the yard, followed by Farley’s rented one. Manny and Bo left the barn and stood by the fence as the wagons pulled to a stop.
Bo’s head was bowed with shame as he pulled Jake to the side. “Boss, I need to talk to you. It’s real important.”
Jake turned to his guests. “I need to tend to business. My wife will show you to your rooms. Manny, take in their luggage.”
Bo led Jake into the barn. “I got to confess somethin’.”
“Go ahead.”
The young man’s hands were shaking. “I stole them cattle, me and Bart.”
“I suspected as much.” Jake’s calm response apparently surprised Bo.
“You did? Why didn’t you say somethin’?”
“I was waitin’ for you to tell me.”
“You gonna turn me over to the marshal?” The shaking intensified.
“Do you think I should?”
“Well, I done wrong, that’s for shore. I got Mrs. Marcum kidnapped and almost killed. I never told when I heard Artie was killed, ’cause Bart said he done it.” Bo’s confession flooded out in one breath. “I kept quiet, and my momma always said if you do wrong and no one finds out, you’re guilty anyways ’cause God knows all ’bout it. An if you know the truth and don’t tell it, same as lyin’ …” His voice trailed off, and he hung his head.
“Your momma is a wise woman.” Jake put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Tell me, Bo, you ever steal anythin’ before?”
“No, sir.”
“You plan on s
tealin’ in the future?”
“No, sir—I done learnt my lesson.” Bo fidgeted while Jake pondered a response.
“Tell you what. Let’s handle this like the Bible tells us to. It says if a man steals, let him steal no more but work with his hands. I figure if I make you work for me a few months without pay, it would make things right. How about you bein’ available to help any neighbor that has a need as well? Should square us up, don’t you think? After all, the cattle are all accounted for, and Mrs. Marcum is home safe.”
Bo’s brows drew together. “What about Artie’s sister? Won’t she turn me in when I tell her what I done?”
Jake considered telling Bo the truth about Artie but decided that with Bo’s new resolve for honesty, it wasn’t a good idea. “I’ll discuss it with her, but I don’t think she’s the kind of woman to hold grudges.”
Bo’s face reflected his relief. “I’ll start workin’ off my debt now by finishin’ the stalls.”
Jake headed to the bunkhouse to check on Bart. He found him tied to the bunk with Cookie sitting nearby reading aloud from the Bible. “‘The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’” Cookie stopped when he saw Jake. He set the Bible in the chair and walked over.
“How’s the readin’ goin’?” Jake asked.
“Reckon it’s goin’ fine. The Missus gave me a list of Scriptures to read to him. Do you think he really hears me?” Cookie turned to look at Bart’s still form on the bed.
“Isabel said she heard every word said over her coffin. Evangeline figures Bart is kind of a captive audience for God’s Word. She was in here early this mornin’ prayin’ for him.”
“Bo overheard her tellin’ Bart she forgave him and that Jesus would too if he’d ask. The kid left blubberin’ like a baby.”
“The real Farley and his lawyer are here. Sims plans on movin’ in on Paine and his men later today.”
“Well, Boss, I reckon it’ll all be over sooner than later.”
***
Sims appeared at the ranch just before dusk and accepted Jake’s dinner invitation. “We got the whole bunch,” he said while heaping food on his plate.
Secrets & Charades Page 26