Hank looked at Beth and Lacy. Gwen could see that he wondered what role they’d had to play in the situation. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to fix the problem, Mr. Bishop, but I assure you, we’ll work it out.”
He turned and walked away without a word. Gwen couldn’t really read him. She didn’t know whether he was angry or just defeated. Major quickly joined the man, however, as if snubbing the girls for their role in the matter.
“I think they’re pretty,” Beth said, sashaying her shirts from one side to the other. “Like the lilacs in Bozeman.”
“Stop it now. This isn’t funny. That poor man has had to endure enough. Stop tormenting him.”
“We didn’t turn the shirts purple,” Lacy said innocently.
“Maybe not, but I’m betting you know what happened to all of my blue dye. I had three new boxes before this matter came up.”
Lacy shrugged and Beth smiled. “I’m sure they’re simply misplaced.”
“Well, I hope they find their way home soon,” Gwen declared. “I’d hate to spend money on something I already have on hand.”
“Oh, let him wear the purple shirts,” Lacy said, laughing.
“At least one of them.”
“Maybe two,” Beth added.
Gwen shook her head. Making her way back into the house, she tried not to be angry with her sisters. They were just looking out for her. Mr. Bishop had been unkind and harsh, and even after apologizing, they knew he still didn’t believe Gwen’s explanation that Harvey had come to her with nothing.
“It’s time, I suppose,” Gwen murmured, “that I simply put the matter to rest.” She made her way upstairs, feeling a heaviness wash over her. She knew that what she was about to do would help ease Hank’s concerns, but it would it only serve to stir up her own pain.
She went to her room and quickly retrieved the battered suitcase from under her bed. Hank had asked to see it and anything else that Harvey had left behind. Gwen couldn’t help but run her hand over the scratched, dried leather.
“Oh, Harvey. I do miss you. You and Pa, and the way you’d make us laugh, even when life seemed hard.”
Gwen pushed aside the thought and took the case with her as she made her way to Hank’s room. She had thought to simply leave it on his bed and then let him know that he was free to sort through what little there was. But as she reached the door that separated the girls’ hallway from the rest of the house, Gwen was surprised to find Hank coming up the stairs.
“I . . . ah . . .” She clutched the suitcase close and tried not to seem so surprised. “I thought you might want to go through this.”
Hank looked at the case and then met her gaze. “Is that Harvey’s?”
“Yes. Everything he left behind is here. Well, with exception to his clothes. We gave away the good ones and turned the rest into rags. But the letters he wrote me, my wedding band, his watch and Bible—they’re all there in the suitcase. I swear this is all I have that belonged to him.”
“Would you go through it with me?” he asked.
This surprised Gwen. She had hoped to avoid the memories. “I hardly think that’s necessary.”
“But I’d like for you to be with me. That way in case anything disappears or turns up harmed, you’ll know it wasn’t me.” His eyes seemed to plead with her.
“Very well,” Gwen said. “Why don’t we take it downstairs.”
“We could just go through it here in my room.”
She shook her head. “That would hardly be appropriate.”
“We can leave the door open. I’d hate for just anyone to wander in while we’re going through these things,” Hank said softly. “It would seem an intrusion.”
Gwen smiled. “But it’s not an intrusion if you go through them?”
“I wouldn’t put you through this if it weren’t important.”
She heard what sounded like regret in his voice. “I’m still not convinced that my husband was your brother, but I suppose this is the only way to resolve that. If you don’t conclude things for yourself one way or another, I fear for your existence here at Gallatin House.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. Reaching out, he took the case from her. “I can take care of myself. You needn’t worry.”
“But I do worry, Mr. Bishop. At this rate, I worry my sisters will burn the place down, just on the slight chance that they’ll somehow inconvenience you.”
This caused Hank to roar with laughter. Gwen liked the way his skin crinkled around his eyes.
“Come on. Let me see what you have here.”
Hank led the way to the bedroom and placed the case on the bed. “It’s in pretty bad condition, isn’t it?”
“It was that way when we found Harvey. He and it both looked like they’d been through a lot.” Gwen paused at the doorway momentarily, then stepped toward the bed.
“I don’t recognize this valise.” Hank closely inspected the leather, as if looking for something that might reveal the truth to him.
The latches unfastened, but the straps nearly tore apart as Hank released their hold. He opened the case and pushed back the cloth lining that hung in frayed disarray. Inside were the few articles Gwen had mentioned. There were several letters addressed to Gwendolyn Gallatin. They were tied with a red ribbon, and a small gold wedding band had been knotted in place on top. She easily remembered the day she’d created the bundle.
“The day after Harvey’s funeral, I put them in there,” she whispered as Hank picked up the bundle.
“Was this your wedding ring?”
She nodded. “It had belonged to my mother. My father saved it for me. Harvey wanted to take some of his gold earnings and get me something pretty, but I told him this ring had greater value to me.”
“And the letters?”
“You can keep them here and read them later, in case there is some cryptic message that leads you to what you’re looking for.” Her tone was harsher than she’d intended, but she couldn’t bring herself to apologize.
Hank put the letters on his nightstand and reached back into the tattered case. He pulled out Harvey’s watch and held it up. “Now we have our proof.”
“What do you mean?” Gwen asked.
“This watch. I gave Harvey this for his eighteenth birthday.”
“No. He told me his friend gave it to him. It’s even engraved,” Gwen said. She couldn’t bear to think that the ruthless thief Hank had described was truly her Harvey.
“It is engraved. I had it done, inside the cover.” He held it up. “I don’t even have to open it to be sure. I recognize it.”
Gwen bit her lip and tried to breathe normally. “Very well, Mr. Bishop. What does it say?”
“Cuisvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perse-verare. Any man is liable to err, only a fool persists in error.”
Gwen felt the blood drain from her head. A dizzying wave overcame her and caused her to grip the footrail of the bed.
“Here, sit,” Hank said, pulling her to the edge of the mattress.
For several minutes, Gwen couldn’t speak. She was overwhelmed with the moment—with the truth. How could this be happening? How could the entire past that Harvey had shared with her be nothing more than a lie?
“I’m sorry,” Hank said, kneeling beside her.
Gwen looked at him. What could she say? He’d been right about everything. Now she had to wonder if Harvey committed other deceptions, along with the stock certificates and jewelry.
“I don’t . . . I don’t know what to say or think right now.”
He shook his head and took hold of her hand. Gwen wanted to pull away. He was the enemy. He was the one who had ruined it all. She didn’t move, however. The warmth of his fingers on hers was almost mesmerizing.
“I’m glad you have your proof,” she finally managed. “But I still don’t know how to help you.”
“I have a thought, if you’ll hear me out.”
Gwen nodded. What choice did she have? Mr. Bishop had already prov
en her husband to be a liar. She owed it to him to cooperate in any way possible.
“Mr. Bishop would like for me to accompany him to Virginia City to search for the items Harvey stole,” Gwen announced to her sisters.
Hank watched with great interest at their reaction. Beth shook her head, while Lacy looked at him like he’d suddenly grown a second head.
“You can’t go off alone with him,” Beth declared. “It wouldn’t be appropriate. He could kill you in your sleep.”
Hank nearly choked on his coffee at this statement but managed to swallow in the nick of time. “I beg your pardon?”
Beth shrugged. “Well, there’s no telling what you might do to her if you had her alone.”
This much was true, Hank realized. He was finding himself more and more drawn to Gwen and her gentle spirit. At first, it was nothing more than his hope to woo her in order to get what he’d come for. But now he wasn’t so sure.
Gwen sat completely still. Her stiff, unyielding posture suggested to Hank that she was hoping to just put all of this behind them.
“I’ll take one of you with me,” Gwen said.
“Take Lacy, then,” Hank threw out. “I wouldn’t want there to be another ‘accident.’” He eyed Beth with a raised brow. “I’d hate to roll off a cliff in my sleep.”
Beth rolled her gaze to the ceiling and crossed her arms. “You are a very unforgiving man, Mr. Bishop.”
“Lacy will come with me. Beth, you can run Gallatin House for a while. I’ll ask Patience to come and help you,” Gwen announced.
Her sisters turned in unison to look at her as if she’d lost her mind. Hank noted, however, that even as Beth began to protest this idea, a look crossed over Lacy’s face that suggested something else had come to her mind.
“It won’t take all that long,” Gwen told Beth. “We’ll go on horseback so we can move quickly. We’ll be gone a week, maybe a few days more. You should be just fine.”
“I still don’t like it.”
“I think she’s right, Beth,” Lacy said, suddenly taking her sister’s side. This made Hank even more suspicious. “The sooner we do this, the sooner Mr. Bishop will leave us alone. I’ll get things ready and have Simon make sure our horses are in good order.” She got to her feet and left the house before anyone could say another word.
What was she up to? Hank couldn’t help but wonder at her sudden enthusiasm. Gwen, too, seemed rather taken aback by her younger sister’s action. She looked at the front door and then back to Beth.
“I promise we won’t be gone any longer than we have to be. I’m not even sure the place where we lived in Virginia City is still standing.”
Gwen stood, causing Hank to do likewise. He might be in uncivilized country, but there was no need to forget his manners. She was a lady, after all.
“Well, you might as well take him to Norris, too,” Beth said, getting to her feet. “Harvey could have hidden something there, as well. Goodness, but I’ll never marry. In-laws are just too much trouble.” She went off in the direction of the kitchen.
Hank laughed. “She’ll be some man’s pleasure and curse to bear. A lady of her caliber won’t stay single for long.”
“Beth is no one’s curse. That job, unfortunately, is mine,” Gwen said as she walked from the room.
Hank stared after her for several moments. It was the second time he’d heard her reference herself in that manner. How was it that she saw herself as cursed?
Gwen had finished packing for the trip and had just brought her small pack downstairs when Dave Shepard knocked on the door and poked his head in. “Howdy, Gwen.”
“Come on in, Dave. What’s going on?”
“I’m afraid it’s your sister.” He took off his hat and ran his hand back through blond hair. “Lacy is causing trouble with some of the area ranchers.”
“In what way?” Gwen put her pack down and straightened.
“Yes, in what way?” Beth asked as she came in from the dining room.
Dave looked rather sheepish. “I’d just as soon talk to Gwen alone, if you don’t mind.”
“Well, I do,” Beth said, placing her hands on her hips.
“I do, too,” Lacy said, following in behind Beth.
Dave looked to Gwen. She felt sorry for him, but there was no way either of her sisters were going to leave now that he’d announced a problem with Lacy.
“Okay.” He turned his back on the girls and faced Gwen. “Sheriff wants you to keep Lacy from going out to the area ranches and snooping around.”
“Have you been doing this, Lacy?” Gwen asked.
“I just figure if the sheriff won’t do his job, then I will,” Lacy said, defending her position. “It’s not my fault Dave and his boss are lazy.”
“If you can’t keep her home,” Dave continued, “Sheriff Cummings said we’ll have to arrest her for trespassing.”
“Just let him try,” Lacy said, coming to stand in front of the six-foot-three deputy. “It’ll take more than you, Dave Shepard. You’d better bring an army if you plan to arrest me.”
“I’ll bring as many gentlemen as I need,” Dave promised, leaning down until they were nearly nose to nose.
Gwen watched as Lacy gave him a smirk. “But if only gentlemen are allowed, you’ll have to stay behind.”
He pressed forward, causing Lacy to bend backward to avoid his touching her. “I’ll bring hardened criminals if it means settling you down. Why can’t you just be a lady like your sisters?”
“Oh!” Lacy gasped and stepped back. She was nearly at a loss for words and stormed from the room. “I’ll show you!”
Dave couldn’t seem to leave well enough alone. “Why don’t you learn knittin’ or quiltin’? That would keep you too busy to run around stickin’ your nose in where it doesn’t belong.”
“If I were you, Dave,” Gwen said softly, “I’d leave now. There’s no telling what she’s gone to fetch. There is a rifle in the kitchen, you know.” Beth nodded and threw a glance over her shoulder.
He blanched ever so slightly. “I guess I have overstayed my welcome. Just see that she stays home, Gwen. Otherwise, I’m afraid she’ll get hurt.”
“She’s coming with me to Virginia City and Norris,” Gwen told him. She pushed him toward the door. “That ought to keep her plenty busy for at least a few days.”
“I heard Lacy is going with you and Gwen,” Nick said.
Hank looked up from securing the last of his gear to the saddle. “You heard right.”
“I don’t envy you.” Nick laughed and moved to finish saddling Gwen’s horse. “Lacy Gallatin is pretty worked up about finding her pa’s killer. I don’t know how much good she’ll be to you on this trip.”
“At least it’s not Beth going along.”
Nick frowned, and Hank could see there was something in what he’d said that bothered the younger man. He checked one more time to make sure his cinch was tight enough. This whole saddling thing was new to him, and while he’d practiced every day since acquiring the animal, Hank was far from expert.
“Beth’s a good woman. She’s not anywhere near the trouble her sister can be.” Nick straightened and pushed his dark brown hair back.
“Well, she’s given me a fair amount of grief, and I’m just as glad to have her stay here. Maybe having her hands full with the extra work will keep her from pulling any pranks.”
“Beth?” Nick shook his head. “I don’t know that I would ever believe her capable of that. She can get her dander up—”
“Seems to me all of the Gallatin women are good at that,” Hank replied. He gave Nick a smile. “I’ve never met women with more gumption and determination.”
“I’ll second that,” Simon said, joining them. “The Gallatin girls are strong. They have to be to make it out here.”
“And then after all their pa put them through . . . He used to really regret that.”
“What did he put them through?” Hank asked.
Nick shrugged. “Oh, just things l
ike workin’ ’em hard, movin’ them from place to place all the time. They never had a real home after their ma died, until Gallatin House.”
“How did their mother die?” Hank found himself suddenly wanting to know everything.
“Childbirth, I think. They don’t talk that much about her.” Nick came to where Hank stood and nodded. “You’re gettin’ better. Looks tight enough to keep you going.”
Hank pulled several coins from his pocket and handed them to Nick. “Thanks for your work. If I find what I’m looking for in Virginia City, I may not be back this way.”
“Well, good luck to you,” Nick said, taking the money.
“You’re takin’ all your clothes in those saddlebags?” Simon asked.
Hank looked at the bags and shook his head. “Some of my clothes have met with . . . well . . . an accident. At least, that’s how Miss Beth Gallatin describes it.” He moved toward the door, and Major jumped up from where he’d waited near the front of the stall. “We’ll be back shortly for the horses.”
Hank and Major were just crossing in front of Rafe’s Saloon when the owner himself made an appearance.
“Howdy, stranger.”
“Hello,” Hank said, nodding.
“You’ve been around these parts for a spell now, but you’ve not come to see me.”
“I’ve had no business with you.”
Rafe frowned. “I’m Rafe. I own this here saloon and den of pleasure.” He laughed. “I figure everyone has business with me.”
Hank shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I’ve no use for your type of business.”
“So what is your business, mister?”
“Just that. My business.” Hank narrowed his gaze and stared hard at the man, as if challenging him to suggest otherwise.
“It’s a small town. Just lookin’ out for it and the people who live here,” Rafe said. He stuck his thumbs in his waistband and rocked back on his heels. “I’m kind of the self-appointed mayor.”
“I doubt anyone other than you sees it that way,” Hank said with a smile. “Nevertheless, I assure you that my motives are pure, and my deeds are not to cause harm to any of . . . your people.”
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