The Loyal Heart

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Fifteen minutes later, Belle was sitting on a hard wooden chair inside the sheriff’s small waiting room and doing her best to avoid the dark stares of not only Sheriff Kern’s deputy, but also two men who appeared especially weather beaten and rough.

  All three of the men had raised their brows when she’d asked to speak with the sheriff and looked at one another in disbelief when she’d refused to explain why she needed to see him.

  When she resolutely refused to answer any questions, Deputy Banks told her to sit down and then went about his business.

  The other two men, however, merely turned so they faced her and looked at her with increasingly lewd expressions. She felt exposed and at a disadvantage. And, frankly, wished she was sitting anywhere else but where she was.

  Her only consolation was that she was the one sitting in the waiting area and not her employer. Imagining gentle, shy Mrs. Markham being subjected to such disrespect was difficult to contemplate. Belle might be small but she knew she was far tougher. She’d also had plenty of experience with men who had next to no manners and little respect for a woman like her.

  But as the minutes passed, some of her confidence faded. The men’s too-forward stares were making her uncomfortable. She could practically feel their bold, assessing eyes drift over her body. Their disrespect made her feel like she used to when she stood by her mother’s side back in Louisiana.

  After her mother died, Belle had promised herself she’d do everything in her power never to be at such a disadvantage again. If she hadn’t promised Mrs. Markham that she’d contact the sheriff, Belle would have stood up and walked away.

  But Belle had promised, and she was willing to do whatever it took for her employer to feel safe. Therefore, she had no recourse but to sit with her hands pressed in a tight knot on her lap and pray for Sheriff Kern to arrive sooner than later.

  But as the clock’s minute hand continued to move at a glacial speed, the tension in the room rose. Belle could have sworn the very air she was breathing had become thicker.

  Though she was trying hard not to look at them, she could still feel the men’s appraising leers.

  After another five minutes passed, one of the men kicked a boot out. The sudden motion forced Belle to turn her head their way.

  “Where do you work?” one asked, his voice sharp and staccato, betraying that he was a Yankee.

  The wariness she’d begun to feel was replaced by fear. “That is none of your business,” she replied when it became apparent she had no choice but to answer him.

  He lumbered to his feet. “Ain’t no shame if yer a sporting girl,” he said. Almost kindly. “All I is aimin’ to know is what house you’re a part of.” He leaned closer, bringing with him the faint scent of fish and onions and stale clothing. “That way I’ll know whether to bring a quarter or a dollar.”

  She was both appalled and saddened by his comment. Pity for the soiled doves who frequented the port and warehouse district overwhelmed her. It made her ill to think that a man like him could have his way with a woman for less than the cost of a meal.

  Against her will, memories of the men who frequented her mother’s room hit her hard, causing her mouth to go dry. “I am not a . . . a prostitute.”

  “But you could be, if you had a mind to it,” he said, as if he warmed up to the idea. “Shoot, a pretty thing like you? Chances are good you could earn a decent living on yer back. Heck, you could even buy a better hat.”

  She folded her hands tightly in her lap and remained silent. Where was Sheriff Kern? And why couldn’t Mrs. Markham have simply written a note that needed to be dropped off?

  He grunted. “What’s wrong with you?” He scowled. “Can’t you talk?”

  She didn’t want to talk to him. Feeling more anxious, Belle glanced at Deputy Banks. Waited for him to intervene. Unfortunately, he was leaning back in his chair eyeing the interplay with a bored look.

  The swarthy man’s voice turned rougher. “Or do you consider yerself better than the likes of me?”

  Worried that he was going to approach her if she didn’t respond, she spoke at last. “I am waiting for the sheriff. That is all.”

  He coughed. “Where I come from, women know their place. They don’t ignore a man when he’s speaking to them. They know actions like that have consequences.”

  His threat did not fall on deaf ears. She believed he would happily retaliate for her rudeness if he felt he could. The fact that not for Winnie and Mrs. Markham taking her in Belle could be at the mercy of a man like him made her tongue sharper than was wise.

  A sudden memory returned of her mother pretending that the men who called on her actually cared, and Belle’s anxiety transformed to fear.

  But she wasn’t weak. Not yet. Forcing herself to look far braver than she felt, she raised her chin. “Where I come from, women do not speak to strangers.”

  The man’s friend chuckled. “She’s a fiery one, she is, Jeb.” Standing up, he stepped in her direction. “Don’t be acting like you’re a real lady, now, ’cause we all know you ain’t that.” His assessing look turned into something else. “Now, why don’t you answer me? Who are you?”

  She looked at Deputy Banks yet again. Surely he was going to help her now? If not for her, for her mistress?

  After the span of a heartbeat, he colored. “Sit down, Henry. Belle here is right. You ain’t got no call to be speaking to women like that.”

  “Or what?” the Yankee asked, just as the outer door swung open at last. “What are you gonna do, Banks? Tell me I gotta start bowing and scraping to all the girls that walk through yer door?”

  She and the three men inhaled sharply as Sheriff Kern entered the room with none other than Mr. Truax on his heels. It was obvious to all that they’d heard the Yankee’s words—and Deputy Banks’s allowing of it.

  Deputy Banks jumped to his feet.

  Both of the other men took their seats, looking cowed and bedraggled all of a sudden.

  Belle breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe she was going to be all right after all.

  “Miss Harden, good afternoon,” Sheriff Kern said politely. “May I help you?”

  “Good afternoon, Sheriff. I, um, was hoping I might speak with you for a few minutes. If you wouldn’t mind.”

  “Of course I don’t.” Glaring at the two Yankees and his deputy, too, he gestured toward his office. “Why don’t you go into my office? I’ll be there directly. I must attend to a piece of business first.”

  “Hold on,” Mr. Truax said. “Belle, is everything okay at the Iron Rail?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t believe so, sir.”

  Sheriff Kern raised his brows. “Is this an emergency?” He turned to Banks. “Why didn’t you assist her?”

  “She said she would speak only to you.”

  “You knew I was having lunch. You should have gone to get me.”

  “I couldn’t leave her alone in here. Sir.” Reddening slightly, he said, “Besides, you know what everyone says about Mrs. Markham. It ain’t like Belle here is working for a real lady.”

  One of the Yankees grinned. “So that’s why the girl didn’t tell us who employed her. There’s only one person around Galveston Island who is even less welcomed than a couple of Yankee dockworkers! No wonder you didn’t want us to know about you.”

  Sheriff Kern looked from Belle to Mr. Truax to his deputy. Then he scowled. “Robert, why don’t you join Miss Harden and me?”

  “I think that would be a good idea.” Without sparing the deputy or the two men another glance, Mr. Truax strode toward Sheriff Kern’s office door, gallantly opened it, and waved on through. “Let’s go inside, Miss Harden.”

  “Yes, sir.” She stepped inside Sheriff Kern’s office, glad to be out of that awful front room and away from the terrible men.

  But now that the time had come to speak to the sheriff, she realized he was simply not going to let her share Mrs. Markham’s message and leave. No, he was going to want her to share everything she knew.
And when she did that, Belle was going to have a whole new set of worries on her shoulders.

  She was going to need to find the right way to tell the sheriff and Mr. Truax everything she knew . . . all without betraying Mrs. Markham’s privacy.

  Was that even possible? And how did Sheriff Kern and Mr. Truax know each other anyway? They seemed too comfortable with each other to have just met.

  As she gingerly sat down on the padded leather chair Mr. Truax held out for her, Belle exhaled.

  Then, as they waited for Sheriff Kern to join them, she at last did what she should have done in the first place. She prayed that she’d find the right words to do the most good.

  8

  AT THIS POINT IN HIS LIFE, ROBERT TRUAX KNEW SOME things to be true. One, C.S.A. bills were worth less than the paper they were printed on. Another was that regrets were a waste of time, as was foolishly hoping that something good would last forever. Nothing was always good and nothing ever stayed the same.

  Robert knew better men than he had died far too young. He also knew men who were not as honest as he was would live far longer than he would.

  And finally, he knew Belle Harden was currently scared out of her mind.

  Once they were alone in the sheriff’s office with the door shut firmly against prying ears, he said, “Tell me, are you frightened because of the news you are about to share or because of something those men did?” Already thinking the worst, he added, “Do you need me to deal with them?”

  She shook her head. “No, Mr. Truax. I am fine.”

  Each word sounded so brittle that he was surprised she didn’t break down right there in front of them. “We both know that is not the case.”

  “I am tougher than I look, sir.”

  “You are all blond hair and blue eyes. You look like an angel. You do not look tough at all.”

  “That may be true. But still, I wasn’t scared.” When he merely stared at her, silently willing her to stop lying, she bowed her head. “Well, I will admit to feeling a bit frightened before you and Sheriff Kern came in.”

  Few things made him more upset than men ganging up on helpless women and children. He’d seen men prey on the weak all his life and had been their unwilling victim more times than he cared to remember. When he was seven, he’d promised himself that one day, when he was old enough to protect those weaker than him, he would.

  For the most part, he’d done just that.

  Now, knowing that this young woman had been afraid while waiting for the sheriff in the waiting area outside his office—one of the few places in Galveston where a woman should feel safe—well, it irritated him to no end.

  “What did they do?” he asked as calmly as he was able. She didn’t need him to make things worse or more frightening than they already were.

  Belle folded her arms protectively across her chest. “Nothing you need to worry about, sir.”

  “Miss Harden, although we don’t know each other much, I hope you will trust my reputation as a former Confederate officer to know that I only mean to help you.”

  “I trust that, sir. However, I promise that my problems should not be your concern.”

  When the door opened and Sheriff Kern strode in, looking vaguely put-upon, Robert unleashed his frustrations on him. “What kind of deputy did you hire, Jess?”

  Giving him a sardonic look, Kern paused. “A rather weak one, it seems,” he said lightly. “He can’t seem to understand that he’s in the office to help people, not make friends.”

  Crossing the room, he reached for Belle’s hand. “Belle, Chet said those men did nothing more than ask you rude questions. Is that the truth?”

  “Isn’t that enough?” Robert interjected. “A woman should be able to come into this office without being afraid she is in danger of being accosted.”

  “I completely agree.” Kern’s expression turned hard. “He made a mistake and I told him so. That said, he’s also in a difficult position. His older brother works with the shipping companies and brings in a lot of business to the island. Because of that, it’s in Chet’s family’s best interests to get along with our city’s visitors.”

  “If that is the case, then he shouldn’t be deputized,” Robert said bluntly.

  Wearily, Sheriff Kern nodded. “You aren’t saying anything I haven’t thought more than once myself.”

  “Please, may we not talk about this any longer?” Miss Harden asked. “There was no harm done, and it was nothing that I haven’t encountered before.”

  “Which is a problem,” Robert said.

  “We both know I’m not a lady. I’m made of stern stuff.” She drew a breath. “Plus, I would have been willing to put up with all sorts of things to help Mrs. Markham.” Looking from one to the other, she continued. “Mrs. Markham is why I am here.”

  “What happened?” Robert asked, already mentally planning the quickest route back to the Iron Rail. “Is she hurt?”

  “Not exactly.”

  Robert stood up. “What does that mean? Does she need medical attention?”

  Belle shook her head. “No, sir. It’s nothing like that.”

  Sheriff Kern walked to the front of his desk and perched on the edge of it. Staring at her intently, he said, “What, exactly, is it like?”

  But instead of relaying the problem, she continued to hedge. “Mrs. Markham asked if I would come here and ask if you could pay her a call soon. At your convenience, she said to tell you.”

  Too agitated to sit down, Robert leaned against the wall and studied the maid closely. “What has happened? She seemed well enough yesterday.”

  Kern ignored him. Instead, he was staring at Belle intently. “Do I need to walk over there this minute?”

  “It’s not an emergency. At least, I don’t think so. The fact is, Mrs. Markham has been receiving a lot of terrible letters. Threatening ones.”

  “I was aware that she received a letter. She showed it to me.”

  “Oh, no, sir. It wasn’t just one.”

  “Really? How many has she received?”

  “Lots.”

  Robert felt as if ice were flowing through his veins. “Define ‘lots’.”

  “At least one a week.”

  Robert pushed off from the wall. “Kern, you made it sound like the letter was a one-time occurrence. Have you been ignoring her?”

  “I have not, Truax,” he bit out. After taking a breath, he stared at Belle. “Did she receive a letter today?”

  Belle nodded. “I think you should visit her soon. Very soon.”

  “Have you seen any of these letters?”

  She nodded again. “They are bad. Real mean. Some are so threatening it’s a wonder she doesn’t faint.”

  “What do they say?” Robert asked.

  “They say bad things about Mr. Markham, like the rumors that have been going around for so long. Most also promise that something bad is going to happen if she doesn’t give up the Iron Rail.”

  Robert was so agitated, it felt as if his spine were about to snap. “When did today’s letter arrive?”

  “This morning. I brought her some tea, and then she was opening her mail.” Looking increasingly distressed, Belle said, “I don’t know what it said, exactly, but it was bad enough for her to spill her tea. Sheriff Kern, what are we going to do?”

  “We are not going to do anything.”

  Looking alarmed, Belle gripped the armrest of her chair. “No, we must—”

  “I, on the other hand, will. Now, please, Miss Harden, don’t trouble yourself any further.”

  Sheriff Kern’s expression softened as he stared at Belle, making Robert realize that while the sheriff might think he had a soft spot for Miranda Markham, he had true feelings for this petite woman sitting across from him. Kern was gazing at her the way Phillip had gazed at the tintype of his wife.

  “I’ll pay a call on Mrs. Markham today and see if she’ll let me see the letters. Then we’ll see if we can get to the bottom of this.” After a pause, he murmured, “I prom
ise, Belle. I will not let you down.”

  Robert knew this to be true. After he had finally decided over lunch to take Jess into his confidence about his mission, he knew him to be a man he could rely on.

  “It doesn’t matter if you let me down, sir. I can handle it. But I really hope you won’t let Mrs. Markham down. If you do, I simply don’t know if she’ll survive.” She stood up, and with a flick of her wrist shook out her skirts and petticoats. “Thank you for seeing me, sir.”

  Robert walked to her side. “Allow me to walk you back.”

  “That’s not necessary.”

  “Yes, but it would be my honor.”

  She smiled softly at him. When she glanced the sheriff’s way, her gentle smile turned into a cautious look. She abruptly turned and walked out the door.

  Looking over his shoulder, Robert caught the reason for Belle’s awkward expression.

  Sheriff Jess Kern was glaring at him. “Watch yourself, Truax.”

  “Always,” Robert replied as he walked to Belle’s side.

  As they walked through the front room, he was pleased to see that only a chagrined deputy remained.

  When they stepped onto the street, he couldn’t resist grinning. Then, because it felt so good, he gave in to temptation and laughed. Loudly and without compunction.

  “What is that for?” Belle asked.

  “Nothing important. I was only thinking that some things never cease to surprise and amaze me. And that I’m so glad about that.”

  Robert changed his mind about that less than an hour later when he spied Miranda standing at the landing window, her hand pressed against the cold condensation. She looked extremely beautiful. She also looked desperate and afraid.

  “Anything special going on out there?” he asked lightly. He hoped he would make her smile. Encourage her to tease him back.

  Instead, he’d managed to startle her. “Mr. Truax. Hello. I didn’t know you had returned.”

  “I got here a bit ago. I came in the servants’ entrance.”