Rowena's Hellion

by Velda Brotherton

  “I’ll bring some more water to rinse out the soap.” The nurse took the pitcher and left.

  Careful in case he had abrasions on his scalp, Rowena massaged his head gently with her fingertips. He closed his eyes and sighed.

  “Feels good, doesn’t it? Sweetheart, would you talk to me, please? I’m worried about you.”

  He coughed, cleared his throat, lips forming words that would not come out.

  “Do you know where you are?”

  He shook his head, eyes coming to life.

  “Oh, darling, I’m so sorry you are frightened.” She then explained where they were and a bit of what had happened.

  He watched her lips as if reading them, some of the confusion leaving his features. She continued to wash his hair because he appeared to enjoy her fingers running over his scalp.

  “And now we are waiting for James Lee to arrange a hearing. You will go home soon, he says.”

  The nurse returned with water and helped her rinse the soap out. She wrapped a towel around his head, and they moved him to a more comfortable position. While the nurse cleaned up and gathered everything onto the cart, Rowena gently worked the towel over his hair, then kissed him on the forehead, on each eyelid and cheek, and on the lips, her tears wetting his face so she had to dry them away. And all the while he remained silent, his gaze unnerving. Why didn’t he say something? He barely responded to the kisses.

  She sat beside him till he fell asleep, still clutching her hand. She pried her fingers loose, crept behind the screen, and changed into the dress Marguerite had sent with Tyra when she and James Lee returned to Hays that morning. Grady had brought it to her and now waited in the hallway, where James Lee was in consultation with Ellis County Judge Eldon Conroy, Sheriff Calumet, and the distinguished George Grant, founder of Victoria.

  Once dressed, she joined the group to discuss Blair’s problem.

  “He does not even know where he is. I tried to explain, but I’m afraid he’s still confused.” She cast a hard glance toward Calumet. “I could not explain why the sheriff did what he did because I do not understand it either. I thank you for coming, Mr. Grant, and you too, Judge Conroy. I hope you can help us. But I would appreciate it if you get this man out of my sight before I scratch his eyes out. I can’t bear to look at him after his cruel treatment of the man who lies in there.”

  She whirled and to her own surprise slugged the sheriff on the chin. The blow sent pain shooting through her hand and up her arm, but she did not care. No one did a thing, just stared at her.

  Calumet staggered backward, his hat falling to the floor. He shook his head and cradled his chin in one palm, gazing at her. Simmons stepped between the glowering sheriff and Rowena. “Perhaps you should go somewhere else.” He faced the sheriff, his usual cool demeanor exploding in fury. The angry lawman scurried away down the hall.

  Grant was as tall as James Lee, but much more rotund. He had a trim white beard and matching head of hair. He cleared his throat and addressed her. “This entire affair is most unfortunate. We will certainly try to help your young man, ma’am.”

  He then spoke to Judge Conroy with a heavy British accent. “Lord Prescott has been an exemplary member of our settlement for more than two years. His family goes back for generations. They are not outlaws or lawbreakers of any sort. We in Victoria would appreciate your consideration in this matter. If a hearing could be held in his hospital room, it would be much appreciated.” He ran a finger over his mustache and smiled warmly at Judge Conroy.

  Conroy nodded and aimed his stern brown eyes at James Lee. “I understand you are representing the young man in this matter. Is he able to comprehend what he is charged with?”

  “At this moment, no, but I believe once he comes out from under the influence of the morphine, he will be able to, sir. He is of perfectly sound mind. We would also like to request a hearing here at the hospital. To move him could permanently damage his leg, if that hasn’t already occurred with that brutal sheriff’s treatment. Prescott suffered additional injuries during his unseemly and violent arrest. His doctor wants him to remain here another day, at least, before going home. Holding the hearing would speed things up for the court and us. There is not a shred of evidence against my client.”

  Conroy held up a hand. “That’s to be determined at the hearing, but I do agree, and we can hold the hearing as soon as he is awake, provided the doctor pronounces him fit to hear and understand the charges.”

  At that moment a ruckus erupted inside Blair’s room. The noise of breaking dishes and shouting reached them.

  “Sounds like he’s awake,” James Lee said.

  Grady was the first into the room, followed closely by Rowena and Simmons. The others hung back, for the place was astir with activity.

  Grady stepped through the breakfast scattered over the floor and spread a big hand on Blair’s shoulder, easily putting a stop to his struggle to sit up.

  “Captain, you need to settle down now, ’fore these good folks take it in their heads you might need tied down again. Come on, Captain.”

  The nurse glanced up. “It was my fault. I startled him awake when I brought his tray. His arm hit it and knocked it to the floor. It was my fault. He did nothing wrong.”

  Rowena pushed her way to his other side while the young nurse tried to explain what had happened.

  “Please, let me.” She took his arm, and the harried nurse backed up, murmuring, “Gladly.”

  “Blair, darling. Come on. Everything’s okay. I was just out in the hall. You need to quiet down now.”

  The moment she began to speak, his tensed limbs calmed. Terrified, puzzled dark eyes gazed into hers. Dear God, where was he, and would he ever return to her?

  “You have to let these people take care of you, so we can go home.”

  He was so afraid, she couldn’t bear to think of what might be going on in his mind. The darkness that dwelt there would frighten anyone. With the back of her hand she smoothed his cheeks, and at last he closed his eyes, never letting go of her.

  Doctor Proctor, whom she had met earlier and who had only just come into the room, spoke. “I’ve seen this before. Soldier’s heart they called it during the Civil War. Dreadful war, that Franco-Prussian disaster, but then, isn’t all war dreadful? He’ll be fine. Just give him a chance to get his bearings.”

  As he spoke, he took Blair’s pulse, listened to his heart, and kept up the monologue in his soothing voice.

  Blair’s gaze went from following his every move to studying Rowena.

  “Not unusual for some men to experience this type of upset, sometimes many years after their service. Don’t you worry, dear.” He patted her arm and glanced back at Blair, who lay peacefully, still clutching her hand. “He seems to be attached to you. These men don’t usually develop close friendships. You see, they’ve lost so many friends in the battles that they fear if they attach themselves to someone, they too will be taken away or will leave them.”

  She lifted Blair’s hand, kissed it. “Will he be forever damaged, or can he get over it?” She feared what the answer would be and wished she hadn’t asked.

  “Hard to say. Some learn to handle their emotional turmoil”—he patted her hand that clutched Blair’s—“especially when someone truly cares for them. Others become dangerous to themselves or others and have to be committed. Has he ever hurt you?”

  “No, he has not. And I will not allow him to be committed.”

  He nodded without reply, then moved to examine Blair’s leg. When finished, he instructed the nurse in an undertone Rowena couldn’t hear.

  “The judge wishes to speak to you.” She gestured toward the hallway where Grant and Conroy remained in conversation.

  The doctor patted her hand and left.

  “Can he have something to eat now?” She eyed the young man cleaning up the tray and the food scattered over the floor.

  “I’ll bring another tray,” the nurse said. “Doctor said there’s no reason he can’t eat what he
wants. But I’m going to let you give it to him.” She grinned wryly. “That is, if you don’t mind.”

  Rowena smiled back at her. “I don’t mind in the least. Thank you for being so understanding.”

  “Oh, we’re used to these kinds of shenanigans from our boys. They deserve a bit of understanding, don’t you think?”

  “I certainly do. I will just sit here with him, if you don’t mind.”

  “Doctor says you’re to be allowed to remain with him, seein’ as how you quiet him so.”

  Rowena batted her eyes to keep from shedding any more tears. There had been quite enough of that. Judge Conroy appeared to be cognizant of the situation. If Blair could remain awake and alert after he ate his breakfast, the judge would listen to the witnesses and let the sheriff present his evidence, then make a decision as to whether Blair would be held for trial or set free. Blair did not actually have to speak for himself, and James Lee, acting as his lawyer, said he would not be asked to. Earlier, Judge Conroy had assured her that if a trial had to be held, Blair could pay a bond and return to Fairhaven until it was scheduled.

  Sheriff Calumet spluttered something to the effect that the way Blair was acting only proved he was violent. The judge ignored him.

  “There’s really nothing Calumet can do once the judge rules,” James Lee told her while they waited at Blair’s bedside for his second breakfast to be delivered.

  Propped up by pillows, his eyes were closed as if he slept, though he continued to hold her hand tightly.

  “What about the charges the sheriff brought against Blair, Simmons, Grady, and me for assaulting officers of the law?”

  “Under the circumstances, I would imagine a small fine will settle that. Calumet was in the wrong when he made the arrests with such unnecessary force. Course you did pop him one in front of the judge, but my guess is we’ll be on our way back to Fairhaven as soon as the doctor releases Blair. I think we might consider lodging a complaint against the sheriff. What he did was absolutely uncalled for.”

  Blair squeezed her hand. “Rowena?”

  Startled, she bent down and kissed his cheek. “Yes, do you need something?”

  “That is you. I thought…I was in Paris. Strangest thing. Why am I here? What happened to me?” He held up his bandaged wrists.

  Explaining it to him once again, she brought him up to date, then kissed him on the mouth. He responded with a gentleness that nearly broke her heart. To lighten the mood, she said, “You were speaking French again.”

  Before he could explain, his breakfast arrived. A plate of fried eggs, ham, potatoes, a chunk of bread buttered lavishly, and a cup of coffee.

  “Not exactly an English breakfast, but it looks wonderful. Would you like to sit up to eat?”

  “Yes, please.”

  James Lee helped her lift him to a sitting position and prop more pillows at his back. She slid the tray onto his lap, spread the napkin under his chin, and handed him the eating utensils. He attacked the food with such vigor that she and James Lee laughed. He glanced up and grinned before stuffing another bite in his mouth.

  Relief spread through her in such a rush she had to stifle a joyful shout. It was as if he had completely recovered from an unendurable emotional and physical experience.

  Blair mopped up the last of the runny egg yolks with a chunk of bread, washed it down with black coffee, laid down the utensils, and leaned back. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his stomach. “Cowboys sure do know how to eat, don’t they? What’s next? When can we go home?”

  James Lee explained the process that would occur, including that Rowena, as a witness, could not stay with him but had to wait outside. James Lee said that he would be with him. Blair assured her he was ready to get it over with.

  After Doctor Proctor declared Blair sound of mind, Judge Conroy led the witnesses into the hospital room. Annie and Lizza had been fetched after James Lee and the judge discussed the hearing the day before, so they were there too. Sheriff Calumet filed in with Colonel Crouch and two deputies, one wearing a sling on his arm and a ferocious frown. The group filled the room.

  The judge explained that he would hear all their stories. The witnesses would wait outside until their turn came to testify, but Blair, being the one charged with murder, would remain during the hearing. James Lee would ask questions of the witnesses, presenting his case for Blair, then the sheriff, the colonel, and the two deputies would tell their side. There would be no shouting, no disruptions, or he would cheerfully charge the disrupter with contempt. Everyone nodded that they understood, the witnesses were escorted out, and the hearing began.

  Lizza, who had not been present during the altercation between Barton Crouch and the others, could only testify to her husband’s state of mind. Rowena knew precisely what the girl would say. She’d heard it that day at the clinic when she first met Lizza.

  Rowena sat outside the room with the others on a hard wooden bench set there by a couple of men who could have been staff or patients. First Simmons, then Annie, then Grady filed in when called upon by the nurse who had been asked to act as clerk. Each one went inside, then returned looking relieved. Rowena took a deep breath when the door swung open and her name was called. One small white lie had to be maintained. And that was that they were the only ones in the room. Calder and Wilda had to be kept out of this. If any of the others had mentioned them, their demeanor didn’t reveal the slip.

  Blair remained propped up in his bed, and he lifted a hand toward her when she entered. She wiggled her fingers back at him, and he smiled. Despite all he’d been through, he appeared alert, if a bit haggard, his face battered.

  James Lee asked her to tell exactly what had happened the day Barton Crouch was shot and killed at Fairhaven. And she did, concluding with Blair’s lifting the gun from his sickbed and shooting the man who had already fired several times around the room.

  Sheriff Calumet asked if he could ask a question, and the judge allowed it. She squirmed in the chair they’d provided for witnesses. The man frightened her after the way he’d dragged Blair around so viciously. She wanted to smack him again, but it probably was not a good idea.

  He rose and stared at her, a plaster on his chin. She stared right back. “Did any of the fired shots hit anyone in the room?”

  “I…no, of course not. One went in the pillow next to Blair’s head.”

  “That’s all. I contend that the man was only threatening, or he would have shot someone in that room, Judge. He didn’t need to be killed.”

  James Lee rose to his feet. “The defense would like to state for the record that Blair Prescott did not have time to aim precisely and simply wound the man. All were in danger when Crouch continued to pull the trigger.”

  Judge Conroy said, “Duly noted,” and gestured for James Lee to be seated.

  “Thank you, Lady Prescott,” Judge Conroy said, waving a hand of dismissal.

  Her hands shook, and she could only look at the floor when she left. If she met the sheriff’s gaze, he’d guess she might not be telling everything she knew. But as long as they all stuck to their stories, Calder would not be involved. If the law learned he’d been involved in a shooting in Kansas, he could be tracked down and arrested. He had nothing to do with what had happened, so there was no reason to involve him in any way, and she didn’t feel guilty. It was hard to lie, that was all, even if for a good cause.

  No one said anything as they sat outside and waited for the judge’s decision as to whether there would be a trial. Even the outgoing Grady remained silent at Annie’s side, holding her hand in both of his. Funny how holding the hand of someone you loved was so soothing to the heart and soul.

  Watching Blair inside during her testimony, all she’d wanted was to go to him and hold him. Though he was aware he’d shot Crouch, he did not remember it, and so it must have been difficult for him to listen to four people attest to it. She was glad that James Lee had decided not to question him as to what he might recall, for he might have remembered Calder and W
ilda being at Fairhaven. She had mentioned that they needed to be kept out of it, but he might not remember.

  Finally, the door opened, and the nurse/clerk told them they could all return. Rowena hurried in first, going to sit beside Blair in case the news was bad. No telling what he might do. Would she ever be absolutely sure how he would react to even the simplest occurrences? But no matter. He loved her and she loved him, and together they would handle whatever came up.

  She held her breath, fingers intertwined in his, when Judge Conroy began to speak. “It is my opinion that the prosecution has not presented sufficient evidence for the defendant to be held over for trial. As to the charges of assaulting officers of the law, I have chastised Sheriff Calumet for his handling of the arrest and cleared Blair Prescott, Mr. Simmons, Grady Jones, and Rowena Duncan Prescott of the charges. You can all go home.”

  The sheriff threw his hat on the floor, his face red as a beet, ready to splutter a protest. Judge Conroy pounded his gavel and gave him a stern look. Rowena kissed Blair on the mouth in front of everyone, and he kissed her back soundly before Judge Conroy came to his bedside and offered his hand.

  “I want to apologize to you, son, for what happened, and assure you that as long as I’m judge of this county, that sort of thing will not be tolerated. You take care now, the both of you.” He nodded at Rowena and left, a scowling Colonel Crouch right behind him, muttering something she couldn’t hear. He wasn’t pleased, that she could tell.

  He could say all he wanted now. It was over and done with.

  Once the room had cleared, Doctor Proctor came in. “Congratulations, son. I’m glad it went that way for you. We need to try to get you some help for your, um, other problems.”

  He looked so serious that Rowena dropped down into the chair beside Blair’s bed. “I understood this was an army hospital. I thought you would send him back to his doctor in Victoria for treatment.”

  “It is, ma’am. But you should know that this is the finest hospital in this region, and as such we do treat civilians. While Blair here is technically a civilian, he is a veteran of the Franco-Prussian War.” He smiled. “A foreign war, true, but les Zuoaves were and are some of the finest fighting men in the world, and some took part in our Civil War.” He glanced at Blair, who watched him intently. “Your training and experience with them is probably what saved you from serious injury during that altercation with Sheriff Calumet.