by Natalie Dean
"You flatter me, Mr. Langton. Tea and cake?" Cecilia said giving him a coy smile.
As other patrons came into the tea shop, Cecilia didn't get a chance to talk to Daniel again. He was very charming. So why were her thoughts on the new Sheriff?
"Mrs. Aikens, do you mind if I escort you to the hotel this evening?"
Cecilia agreed. As Daniel left, the other ladies swooned as he passed by them. Cecilia chortled. Daniel no doubt had many admirers.
"I must fix that curtain rail," Cecilia murmured to herself as she cleared the tables. One of the fixings had come loose when a child had decided to swing off the curtain. Every day she planned to fix it, and every day she forgot. It was almost closing time, but she never rushed anyone out of the tea shop. The less time she spent on her own, the less time Cecilia had to think about her loneliness.
"Goodbye, Cecilia. We shall see you later. It's very exciting having a new sheriff. I heard he used to be a marshal," Mrs. Patterson said as she left the shop.
"A marshal," Cecilia mused as she pushed the chair against the wall and got a needle and thread ready to mend the curtain. Even though she was tall, she still had to stretch.
"I should take it down and do a proper job," Cecilia murmured to herself. “But this is just faster.” She heard the door of her tea shop open, but as she turned around to see who had come in, Cecilia twisted and started to fall from the chair.
"My goodness, Miss Aikens, you must take care," Sheriff Dexter said as he caught Cecilia in his arms.
"It's Mrs. Aikens," she corrected him. She was still winded, as he held her in his arms. It was a long time since a man had supported her in any fashion. While she had her flirtation with Daniel, they hadn't even kissed. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked into the Sheriff's eyes. They were chocolate brown and looked sad.
"Apologies Mrs. Aikens, I was passing by when I saw your cake on the window sill. I miss a good cake. Good thing I decided to come in or you'd have had a nasty bump on your head."
"I can stand now, thank you, Sheriff," Cecilia said. Why did he smile at her like that? She didn't like it. It made her feel something she didn't want to feel. He was just like all the other men, bossy and expecting a woman to be in the home. She wasn't some feeble female needing a man's help.
Cecilia wiped down her dress and then put her hands to her hair. She chided herself for that action. Lance smiled at her.
"Where is Mr. Aikens? Will I be meeting him this evening?"
Cecilia didn't answer. She didn't want the Sheriff knowing anything about her.
"Have this on me," she said as she gave him a slice of cake.
"Have I done something to offend you, Mrs. Aikens? It certainly hasn't been my intention, but you seem rather flustered by my presence."
"Not at all, Sheriff," she lied, "I was about to get ready for this evening. If you don't mind, I'd like to shut the shop up."
"Well I know how you ladies like to get all fixed up," he smiled at her as he spoke. He looked like he was going to say something else, but Cecilia waved dismissively at him.
Lance chortled as he walked away. Cecilia was annoyed at the effect he had on her. Feelings like these she couldn't control. He looked back, and she was embarrassed that he had seen her looking at him.
Cecilia usually didn't have to make much of an effort. Her natural beauty did the work for her. But somehow, she felt off. She didn't know why her heart fluttered and it was like her stomach was doing somersaults each time she thought about the sheriff. The audacity of him flirting with her and as far as he knows she’s married. He didn't know she was a widow and yet he openly teased her.
The knock on her door broke Cecilia out of her thinking. It was Daniel.
Chapter 4
"Cecilia tells me that you were in Bozeman recently and Missoula. What business are you in?" Doc said as he spoke with Daniel Langton.
"A little of this, a little of that. I'm what you call a professional gambler," Daniel said, and then he moved away from the Doc.
"He's a strange one, isn't he?" the Doc said to his wife, Lottie.
"At least he's a gentleman from what Cecilia says. I must pry her away from Mrs. Lavery." Lottie went to her friend's side.
"Sheriff, poor Mrs. Aikens is a widow after a few months of marriage. It was so sad…" Cecilia stiffened as she heard Mrs. Patterson's words. She was hidden by the pillar in the foyer and couldn't help but listen.
"I suppose it explains her independent streak. Women need to take care of their men folk," the sheriff replied.
"What about you, Sheriff? Are you married?" Mrs. Patterson asked as she joined Mrs. Lavery to begin their interrogation of the sheriff's personal life.
"No. My life has been a nomadic one. Ain't conducive to settling down," he said but there was something about the way he said it that made Cecilia wonder if that was the truth.
"Perhaps, Mrs. Aikens will help you settle in Bannack," Mrs. Lavery said as Cecilia had to hold herself back, but her curiosity was piqued, what reply would he give.
"I'm afraid Mrs. Aikens would be too independent for me. If you ladies will excuse me, I should mingle and meet the deputies."
"Cecilia, there you are, my darling," Daniel's words startled Cecilia. She had all but forgotten about him.
"Oh Daniel, where were you?" she asked, but her focus was on the sheriff. Who did he think he was deciding who and what she was?
"I needed some air, but I'm feeling much better now. Let's go dance." The music started, and the dance began.
"She's quite something, isn't she?" Lottie said as she sidled up to the sheriff. The sheriff didn't seem able to take his eyes off Cecilia.
"She's a widow," he said, but Lottie wasn't sure if he was confirming Cecilia's status or talking aloud.
"Who’s that she’s with?"
"That's Daniel Langton. He's in Bannack on business. They make quite the attractive couple, don't they?" Lottie smiled as she noticed how Lance clenched his jaw. He didn't like it.
The celebration of the sheriff's arrival continued into the early hours. However, the morning brought the sheriff his first case.
"Sheriff, come quick, we need you," Hank, one of the new deputies, said as he banged on the door of the sheriff's quarter above the jailhouse.
The sheriff didn't drink so he was already ready for the day.
"What is it, Hank?"
"It's the bank. It's been robbed. But that's not all. Harvey, the night watchman, has been killed."
The men raced to the bank. Mr. Nelson, the bank manager, had arrived to open up only to find Harvey dead and the safe emptied.
"It looks like they came in through the office window in the back. Get the doctor. See if he can figure out when Harvey died," Sheriff Lance directed as he looked around. To his eye, Harvey was in rigor so the robbery must have occurred while they were at the hotel.
"Sheriff, I didn't think we'd be working together so soon," Hamish said as he knelt beside Harvey. As he looked at the body, there was a stab wound in the man's heart.
"I think it occurred during the night. I'll take him back to the surgery and see if there’s anything else poor Harvey can tell us. It looks like there's something in his hand but leave it with me," Hamish said as the men carried the body away.
"Who are we looking at? Any known gangs or bank robbers in the area?" Sheriff Lance asked.
"What's this?" he asked as he bent down to pick up a feather. "This looks like it's from an eagle."
The men looked at each other.
"What is it?"
"There's an injun, Johnny Eagle. He wears eagle feathers. But he wouldn't do this. He's harmless," Hank told his new boss.
"Bring him in. Looks like he's been here, and we need to know what he knows."
Word spread like wildfire that Johnny Eagle was arrested for the robbery and murder. It didn't help that a witness had come forward. Daniel Langton had been discrete when he went to see the sheriff.
"I saw him. I didn't pay much heed to him a
t the time, but with the events of the evening, I felt it my duty to come forward," he told the sheriff. The town was in turmoil. Everyone liked Johnny Eagle, and everyone liked Harvey.
Cecilia couldn't take any more. She crossed to the jail house and was surprised to see Daniel leaving.
"Daniel, what were you doing here? You're not a resident."
"Sorry, Cecilia. Just saying what I saw, that's all."
"What can I do for you, Mrs. Aikens?" Sheriff Lance said. He was very formal now that a case needed to be solved. Daniel’s presence had distracted Cecilia. What would he have to offer to the sheriff? He didn't know the town. She'd talk to him in a bit. She had to get the sheriff to see sense instead of locking up Johnny.
"Sheriff Dexter, we may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but there's no way Johnny Eagle would do such a thing. He doesn't have it in him. He's…" the sheriff raised his hand to stop her talking.
"Mrs. Aikens, you're not the first person to tell me that and I'm sure you won't be the last, but I have to follow the evidence. This is why women shouldn't be getting involved in things like this. It's not about what you think the person is like. It's about cold hard facts. It doesn't help that when my men found his camp, some of the money was there."
"Some, but not all?" Cecilia said, "It was planted. I know it was. Johnny is being made a scapegoat. You can't let him get hung for something he didn't do."
"To ensure all is fair, I have sent for the magistrate. This isn't the situation I wanted to be in, not when I'm new in town. Please leave it to me and let the law do its job, Mrs. Aikens," the sheriff returned to his writing. Cecilia was about to leave when something caught her eye on the wanted posters.
"Have there been robberies in all those places?" she asked. Her question caught Lance off guard.
"Yes, I put them up yesterday. I guess part of me expected the robbery, but there hasn't been a murder at any of the others. Missoula and Bozeman could be part of a trail to here. I'm checking on where Johnny Eagle has been. But I…. Cecilia, wait."
But Cecilia was gone. She knew who the robber was, but the sheriff needed evidence. She went to the livery to get her horse saddled. There was no time to lose. But she didn't know if she was being watched.
Daniel Langton had overheard the conversation. He knew Cecilia was smart but never figured that she'd get involved in this case. She couldn't find anything to link him. He liked her, but this was a matter of self-preservation. He nodded at one of his men. No one would even know they were connected. Strangers were always coming into Bannack. Daniel needed a horse.
He followed Cecilia's tracks. She must be looking for Johnny's camp. Then he saw a cabin in the distance. He could see her dismount and walk in. There was no smoke from the chimney. Could this be her home? He had heard she used to have a farm.
Daniel snuck in behind her. Cecilia stood up straight.
"I wondered how long it would take you to get here," she said. “I figured you’d follow me after you saw me talking to the sheriff.” She lifted the gun and told him to confess to the murder, but Daniel grabbed the barrel and took it off her. He pushed her on a chair and tied her hands and legs together.
"Oh Cecilia, beautiful Cecilia. How I longed to make you mine. You are too smart for your own good."
"I wasn't paying full attention, but when I heard what happened, I remembered that you were quite out of breath for someone who had supposedly gone out for air. Plus, there was a dab of blood on your sleeve. You did a good job of trying to hide it, but I noticed it. Why Johnny Eagle? Why not just ride off afterward?"
"Why I was hoping our little dalliance would develop into something more? I stayed for you, Cecilia," Daniel said as he ran his hand over her face. He bent down to kiss her lips. She spat at him, and he hit her. Daniel was the same as the others. Cecilia hated herself for believing he was different as she slipped into unconsciousness.
"All good things must come to an end." She could hear Daniel talking as he bundled her under the floor. She began to scream out, but he laughed at her.
"Scream all you like, my beauty, no one will hear you."
It went dark as the trap door closed.
Something was bothering Sheriff Lance. He didn't know what it was. But something on his board had caused Cecilia to think of something. It had to do with the robbery. She was a fascinating woman. That got women in trouble. He got his horse and went in the direction that Cecilia had gone. One of his men had heard how she had ridden off like a mad woman.
As he rode along, he was feeling annoyed with Cecilia. He should be focused on his case, not on a woman but there was something about her that drew him in. He wasn't sure he wanted another spirited woman in his life. It had hurt too much.
In the distance, he could see smoke coming from a cabin. He kicked his horse into a gallop as he watched the cabin smolder.
"Cecilia, are you there? Cecilia?" he yelled at the top of his voice as he neared the cabin. Lance could see a horse, so someone must be around.
Cecilia opened her eyes. Was she imaging it? Was someone calling her? But it was too late. She opened her mouth, and with all the might she could muster, she screamed.
Lance knew many of the cabins had a trap door. He doused his coat in a bucket of water and ran into the burning the cabin. It was hot, and he called out again. He heard the sound. He had to kick away a burning chair that covered the trap door, but within moments he was able to open it.
"I've got you, Cecilia. Don't try to talk." In one swoop, he had her in his arms and wrapped his coat around her. He took her outside and tried to give her some water from his canteen. She was covered in dust. Cecilia began to cough as she tried to speak.
"Shh, don't say anything. I've got to get you somewhere safe." He wrapped her as though she was dead. Whoever set the fire could be watching, and if the intention was to kill Cecilia, then the killer must think he had won.
"I'm sorry Cecilia, but we must make them think you're dead."
She could hear him, but it was a struggle to think. Cecilia said nothing while she lay over his horse. She was glad to be alive. After riding for a little while, he stopped the horse and got off.
"We'll make camp here. I don't want to go to Bannack yet," he said as he gently lifted her off the horse and lay her on the ground. "You'll be sheltered here."
She nodded. Her throat felt raspy, and she didn't know if she could talk, but the sheriff busied himself in making a fire. She watched the flames as they burned. Cecilia had never been so close to death, and it had shocked her system.
"Here, eat and drink up. I can't say that it's any good, but it'll warm you up. What were you doing out here?"
"Johnny didn't do it. It was Daniel Langton," she whispered. “After I saw the locations of the robberies on the wall in your office, I remembered Daniel saying he had been in all of those places. I had to get proof that it was him.”
Lance sat close to her so she wouldn't have to strain her voice.
"I reckoned the places meant something to you. It didn't sit well with me that someone like you would be tied up with a gambling man."
Cecilia shrugged. She began to cry. All her feisty nature had ever done was get her in trouble. John Aikens had given her a glimpse of a different life, but it was so fleeting.
"Don't cry, Mrs. Aikens," Lance said handing her the handkerchief.
"No lecture, Sheriff. I thought women shouldn't get involved in men's business." She chided herself for being churlish. Only for him, she would be dead.
"I ain't the graces or the words of an educated man so I come out clumsy. But I don't say it because I think women are weak. It's only that men are cruel and some bad men don't treat women any different to how they'd treat men."
He stared into the fire and Cecilia saw a vulnerability in him. His voice had faltered.
"Who was she?" she asked.
“What do you mean?” Lance said with a sidelong glance toward her.
“The woman who broke your heart.”
"My
wife."
Cecilia's eyes widened at the revelation. He had a wife. He looked towards Cecilia and said, "Eat your beans." She did as she was told, hoping he'd open up a little more.
"Tell me about her. When does she arrive in Bannack?"
Lance shuffled at the question. He didn't like it. Cecilia knew then that his wife was dead.
"I'm sorry, Sheriff. I didn't mean to pry," she said.
"It's okay. I guess it's why I'm here. Although it's too late for Sylvie. I was a Marshal, so I was gone a lot. But Sylvie never made me feel guilty for it. We had a little place in Albany, a small general store. She wanted to stay in town. Sylvie was the independent sort. A lot like you. There's something about the air here that gives freedom. But it comes at a price. I was away, but there was a gang robbing the stages coming into Albany. Sylvie got involved, and it cost her life. There was nothing I could do to help and the man who shot her got away. I thought my work as a Marshal would bring trouble. I thought she was safer being in a town. The irony."
He didn't look at Cecilia, he just stared into the fire. She reached over and squeezed his arm.
"I'm sorry for your loss. Why Bannack?"
"I felt the town needed protecting and here on my first day a man gets killed and you nearly…." He looked at her, and their eyes met. His brown eyes were so sad, and Cecilia felt a pang in her heart. He wasn't the controlling man she thought. He was protective.
"I thought you were just another bossy man. All my life I've been told what to do. Men only tended to see the face the good Lord has given me. You know when I arrived, my husband didn't want to marry me. He thought I was too weak for the work. He didn't care what I looked like. John was a good man."
"How did he die?" Lance asked.
"He had chest problems. He used to be a miner. Doc said it was a build-up of the dust deposits. We had a good marriage. He showed me that not all men are bullies."
"I hope you don't think I'm like that," Lance retorted.