Lawfully Played

by Annie Boone

  “Did any of you realize you were missing items?” he asked the other attendees. One or two of them nodded, others shook their heads, and Jared Wilkes looked utterly bewildered.

  “Is there a reason you didn’t report the missing items to Sheriff Maitland?” Martin continued.

  Ellis Wilson stood up. “We thought that Missy had just lost her necklace and ring, thought they would show up soon enough.”

  “I can understand that,” Martin said, nodding. “The rest of you?”

  “I hadn’t noticed.”

  “I don’t check my barn loft too often.”

  “I was going to come down and tell him on Monday, when I went to the store.”

  “What have they taken from me?” Jared Wilkes asked, still looking confused. Zachery smiled.

  “I have all your belongings at the sheriff’s office. I’ll return them once Magistrate Lindower has passed judgment.” Zach looked around at the victims and nodded reassuringly to each one.

  Martin made his decision quickly, and the sheriff took the robbers back to the cells. The sentence was hanging, and that meant Zach would have to take them into Wilson Creek that afternoon. But in the meantime, he returned everyone’s possessions to them, trusting they would only claim those items that truly were their own.

  Poor Jared Wilkes still look stunned, even as he departed with his sack of flour, his barrel of butter, and a pocket watch that had been given to him by his father.

  “Would you like me to take you and your things home after church, Mama Mae?” Zachery asked the tired-looking old woman.

  “That would be good of you,” she said. “I must be getting old; this has taken more out of me than it should.”

  “Maybe we should think about getting you someone to help up at the farm,” Zachery said, giving her a concerned look. “Young Eric Schauble is a hard worker, he’d be good.”

  “His mama and papa need him. I wouldn’t feel right about taking him away.” Mae shook her head.

  “They need money, too. They have three other sons to help them on their land.”

  “I couldn’t ask it of them.”

  “Then I will,” Zachery said firmly. He knew just how tired Mae was when she didn’t argue any further. He vowed to seek out young Eric and get him to start the very next day. He stood and offered Mae his arm. “Shall we go to church?”

  She stood and took his arm gratefully, leaning more of her weight on Zachery than she ever had in the past. He clasped her hand and gave it a squeeze where it lay on his arm.

  As they stepped outside, he was surprised to see Miss Bonner walking ahead of them along Main Street. His eyes followed her as she made her way along the street toward the church. Carriages and gigs obscured his view of her from time to time, and a large crowd of townsfolk began to huddle around the church doors, making her even harder to pick out amongst the masses. Yet, he couldn’t help wondering why she was there. Tess didn’t usually go to church; at least, Zachery had never seen her there and he rarely missed services.

  Zachery couldn’t see any sign of Roper in the crowds. He felt oddly elated at that and convinced himself it was solely because such an opportunity meant he might be able to talk to her. He could see if she would open up to him about what the inveterate gambler’s intentions were.

  But Zachery also wanted to know if she truly was safe. He’d been so worried about her, hadn’t wanted to let her go home with Roper alone. He’d kept out of sight as he followed them, watching to ensure she wasn’t hurt. Seeing her silhouette in the window had almost stopped his heart; she had looked so sad, and then so hopeful as she’d seen him step out of the shadows.

  His heart hammered at the memory. What did it mean? What could come of it?

  Five

  The service was short, the sermon to the point, and the minister had to leave almost immediately afterward to get to the next town. No socializing and mingling with the congregation for him.

  Tess wondered if she’d ever experience the long and meandering sermons she’d been used to at the church her family had attended in Fort Worth. Pastor Hale was a little forgetful, but his passion for the Lord had been apparent in every word. She’d enjoyed his fervor.

  This service, however, served its most basic purpose, but it had done little to soothe Tess’s soul. She so wanted to feel God’s grace, and she’d almost come to the conclusion that it may never settle upon her ever again.

  “Good morning, Miss Bonner.” Sheriff Maitland stepped into her path as she walked out of the chapel.

  “Good day, don’t you mean? It’s past noon, after all, Sheriff Maitland.” She looked at him with a half smile and a raised eyebrow.

  “So it is,” he said with a grin. He pulled an elderly lady forward. “Might I introduce the lady who brought me up and made me into the man I am?”

  Tess nodded. “Hello, ma’am. I’m Tess Bonner.” She held out her hand and smiled kindly at the older woman.

  “It’s quite a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bonner. I’m Mae Ellison.” She took Tess’s hand in both of hers and held it firmly. She had a twinkle in her eye that seemed to be permanent. “Zachery’s never introduced me to a young lady before.”

  “Mama Mae, Miss Bonner and I are new acquaintances. She’s new in town, and I know you are a kind and welcoming soul. I thought you might become friends.” His voice was calm, but he fidgeted with his collar, and Tess noticed that his neck had flushed red.

  “Well, would you care to join us for supper?” Mrs. Ellison said, chuckling at the sheriff’s discomfiture. "I have a chicken roasting for a special meal. Today is Zachery’s birthday.”

  “I couldn’t intrude,” Tess said, feeling a little awkward. “But I hope you have a wonderful birthday, Sheriff Maitland.”

  “Of course you can, Miss Bonner. And it wouldn’t be an intrusion at all. Don’t want the bird to go to waste. Far too much for just the two of us, despite the amount this one can put away when he tries.” She patted Zachery’s belly, as if he were still a boy.

  “Mama Mae, you make me sound like the worst of gluttons.” Though he protested, Zach chuckled and seemed not to mind the obviously affectionate teasing. “Please, come, Miss Bonner. I can think of no better gift than getting to know you better.”

  Reluctantly, Tess allowed herself to be ushered toward the cart outside the sheriff’s office.

  “I’ll take you both up to the farm, but I have to quickly return and take the prisoners to the jail at Wilson Creek. I’ll not be gone longer than an hour, I promise.” Zach helped each one into the cart and then went to the driver’s side to start the drive to Mae’s home.

  Perched on the front seat of the wagon, Tess prayed that they wouldn’t see Tommy as they drove through town. He should be sleeping—he usually was at this time on any day. But Tess knew that this would be a friendship he would rather she didn’t make. In fact, she was sure he’d be irate if he knew she’d had more than a few words of greeting after their supposed flirtation at the Longhorn.

  Mae was quiet, sitting in the back of the cart, as they drove up the mountain to her farm. “She’s had a tough time recently,” Sheriff Maitland said softly.

  “She was one of those robbed, I presume, as we have a cow and her calves tethered to the cart?”

  “She was. Her husband, Nate, died in the fall. She hasn’t gotten used to him being gone. She’s stubborn. Still insists on doing everything herself, won’t let me do anything for her unless I insist.”

  “Maybe I can help talk her into accepting some help. Maybe I could do a few things for her around the house? I can spare a few hours a week, I suppose.” Tess surprised herself with the offer she’d just made. It was spontaneous, and she found she hoped they’d accept her offer.

  “That would be most kind of you,” Sheriff Maitland said, his eyes widening. “But you’re usually busy at the Longhorn, aren’t you?”

  “Only five days a week. The other days I can do as I want. I’d be glad to have something to get me away from the boarding ho
use, to tell you the truth.”

  “I can’t imagine that kind of life, living out of a suitcase, following your man around from place to place.” The sheriff flushed and looked away. Tess realized this was his way of asking what there was between her and Tommy.

  “Sheriff Maitland, are you trying to probe me for information?” Tess couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease him.

  “You don’t have to tell me anything. I know I’m a bit nosey. I suppose that’s part of what makes me a good sheriff.”

  “Well, let’s get this out in the open right now. Tommy is not my man. He was kind enough to help me when I had no one else. He brought me here and helped me to get my position at the saloon, but that’s all.”

  Tess wasn’t sure, but she was sure she saw a flicker of relief pass over the sheriff’s face. She smiled inwardly and felt more confidence than she had in months. Maybe he liked her as she liked him. She knew she could not assume anything, but it gave her hope and a spring in her step.

  It was sweet the way the tall and muscular sheriff tenderly helped Mrs. Ellison from the cart. He bustled around making sure Bessie and her calves were safely back in the barn, and the sacks from the back of the cart were stored back in the pantry.

  Tess hugged her arms around herself as the two women stood on the porch and watched him turn the cart and head back down the path. She felt a pang in her heart as she watched him go. Knowing he’d be back wasn’t enough. She wanted more time with him right then and there.

  “He’s a good man.” Tess didn’t take her eyes away until he was long out of sight.

  “Yes, he is,” Mrs. Ellison said, nodding her head and indicating that Tess should go into the house. “He’s like Nate that way.”

  “Nate was your husband?” Mae nodded slightly. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Ellison. Sheriff Maitland told me you lost your husband quite recently.”

  “Indeed, but it feels as fresh as if it happened just yesterday. At least sometimes it is.”

  “I know you don’t know me, but I’d like to help you. Just a little to take some of your burden away. Will you allow it?”

  “Let’s see how you get on with helping me with this lunch. I want it to be special for Zachery. He works hard and never takes anything for himself.” Mrs. Ellison looked at Tess and winked, taking her hand to pull her into the house. “Let’s go in and get started.”

  “Just tell me what you need me to do. I’m at your service.” Tess stepped forward eagerly and looked around the kitchen with interest.

  Mrs. Ellison patted Tess’s hand and smiled. “You’ll do,” she said mysteriously.

  Tess wondered what she meant. Someone to help her out around the house? Or was she saying she thought Tess was good enough for the boy she considered her son?

  “Where do we start?” Tess pushed the questions away. There was work to be done, and the questions would either get answered or they’d cease to matter.

  “Let’s fix him a cake,” Mrs. Ellison said, her tone definite. “If you fetch the flour and sugar from the pantry, I’ll get some butter.”

  It didn’t take the two women long to have two baking pans full of light and fluffy batter in the oven, with the rich scent of baking filling the kitchen. Companionably they peeled the carrots and potatoes, popping them into large pans ready to go on the fire as soon as Zachery returned. Mrs. Ellison told Tess tales of Zachery as a boy, how he’d been so eager to please and had worked so hard at everything. It was clear just how proud of him she was.

  By the time Sheriff Maitland walked into the warm and cozy kitchen, the two women had become fast friends, and Tess was surprised at how much she had revealed of her own story to the kindly woman.

  “Well, everything smells wonderful,” Sheriff Maitland said, smiling at them both. “Do I have fifteen minutes to go and wash up? After a night sleeping in my office and all the dust on the trail, I feel unfit for company.”

  “You can have twenty minutes,” Mrs. Ellison said, moving over to press a kiss to his cheek.

  “You are too generous.” He bent over to accept her sweet show of affection.

  “Actually, take all the time you need. You smell rather ghastly.”

  “Generous and honest. I’m not sure I like it.” He shook his head in playful annoyance.

  “Get on with you, we’re hungry,” Mrs. Ellison scolded playfully.

  “Yes, ma’am!”

  He disappeared into the yard, and Tess put the vegetables onto the stove. Mrs. Ellison sighed. “Are you quite well?” Tess asked.

  “Everything aches when you get to my age, Miss Bonner. And I do mean everything.”

  “Please, call me Tess. I see no need to be formal.”

  “Then you must call me Mae. Everyone does.”

  “And I’d like to hear less of the ‘Sheriff Maitland’ bit, too,” Zachery called from the yard. Tess poked her head out the door, surprised to see him stripped to the waist, his head bent under the water pump. She gasped.

  “He’s a fine figure of a man, or so I’ve overheard a few of the young girls say,” Mae teased, putting an arm around Tess’s waist. “But he’s terribly messy and works all hours. Not fine husband material, my girl.”

  “I… um, well. I—” Tess stuttered, as Zachery stood up, flicking his sodden hair back, causing rivulets of water to cascade down his perfect chest and strong back. He looked up. Tess ducked her head, trying to avert her eyes. She didn’t want him to see just how discomfited she was at the sight of him and his bare chest.

  Mae went to Tess and pulled her back into the kitchen. “Come along inside. I think he likes you. He’s never so much as mentioned a girl before, let alone let me meet one. Seems like you like him, too. That’s good. Now, you’ve told me of your situation. Don’t you let him get hurt, that’s all I’ll ask of you. Can you do that?”

  “I’d never want to hurt him.” Tess couldn’t have been more truthful, and she felt her heart tug.

  “But you don’t know what this Roper fella is capable of?”

  “I don’t.”

  “Zachery’ll handle him. He’s not sheriff for nothing. Now, help me to carve this big old bird.” Mae handed Tess a knife and pushed the perfectly roasted chicken toward her.

  Glad to have something to do, Tess took to the task gratefully. She let her thoughts wander as she carefully sliced the tender meat and arranged the slices on a dish Mae had put down beside her. Zachery reappeared just as she was cutting one of the legs off. She looked up, and when he smiled at her, she closed her eyes for a moment. A sharp pain surged through her. She looked down and saw that she had sliced into her thumb. Blood was running over her hand, dripping onto the wooden tabletop.

  “Tess?” Zachery rushed to her side. He took her hand and turned it over. “Mama Mae, a clean cloth, please?”

  Mae dampened a clean muslin and handed it to Zachery. He cleaned up the wound and gave a low whistle. “I may need to carry you down to the doc’s. This might need stitching.”

  “Let me look,” Mae said, pushing him away and taking Tess’s hand. She inspected the wound carefully. “Fetch my box, boy.” She didn’t look up, but her directive was clear.

  “Are you sure?” Zach hesitated and slowly tapped his foot on the pine floor. “It’s been a long time since you had to patch anyone up.”

  “It isn’t a skill you forget. And don’t you forget that I patch up enough things every day round here. Don’t tarry.”

  Zachery still paused, but finally did as she ordered. Mae gave Tess a kindly look. Tess tried to smile, but her thumb was throbbing. Tess felt her head spin and started feeling dizzy and hot. Mae brought a fresh cloth and placed it on the back of Tess’s neck. Its coolness felt wonderful against her skin. She reached up and moved the cloth to her forehead, dragging it over her cheeks and down her throat.

  Zachery looked pale when he returned with a battered old tin in his hand. He handed it to Mae and took Tess’s hand. “This will hurt, but Mae has the neatest stitches I’ve ever seen. Y
ou’ll not even have a scar once you heal. Squeeze my hand as tight as you need and scream as loudly as you want. There’s nobody around for miles.”

  Tess jerked her head to look at him and saw his smirk. “That was the worst joke I’ve ever heard.” He chuckled and shrugged.

  Mae was deft and swift, and in no time Tess was left with a neat row of stitches running up the side of her thumb. Mae wound strips of muslin around her handiwork to protect it.

  “Now, you sit there and rest. We’ll get supper on the table, and then we can eat.” Zachery smiled at her and brushed her shoulder with his hand.

  Tess nodded. She looked down at her hand and wondered how on earth she would ever be able to explain it to Tommy. She looked up at the small brass clock on the wall of the kitchen. He would be up by now and certainly wondering where she was. She bolted upright.

  “I’m sorry, I have to go,” she blurted as she ran out the door and started walking quickly along the path back to town. It had been folly to think she could enjoy a meal with the sheriff of Springville. Tommy would see such behavior as a betrayal, and he’d most assuredly punish her for it.

  For just a few hours, she’d felt free. Normal. It had been wonderful, but she wasn’t free. She wasn’t normal. At least not anymore. It was better for her to remember that and not overstep her boundaries.

  Six

  Zach sat at his desk reading about the latest stage coach robbery up in Amarillo. It was hard to keep his mind on the details, even though he needed to be aware. Outlaws often thought small-town lawmen weren’t up to the task of handling more than Saturday-night saloon fights or henhouse break-ins. That made places like Springville prime targets for their misdeeds.

  Tess’s hasty departure worried Zachery, and he’d started to go after her. “I can at least drive her back if she won’t stay.”

  Mae had insisted that he let her go. “Poor little one has troubles she needs to deal with.”

  “What do you mean by that? She told you her story? What is it?”