John looked at the sheriff.
“I’m not the judge or the jury. I’m just the fella they pay to bring people into custody and lock ‘em up until the judge can get around to havin’ a hearing. And right now, I have a wanted poster with your wife’s face on it. I have no choice. I gotta take her in.”
The sheriff slapped his hat on his leg in disgust. “I don’t want to put a pregnant woman in my jail cell. But, it’s my job.”
John looked around the room. Sheriff Grayson looked like he’d rather be anywhere else but here. Mr. Hanover was standing next to his wife deep in thought. Mrs. Hanover was twisting her handkerchief with nervous fingers. There had to be something someone could do until he could get to the bottom of this mess.
“Sheriff. Is it possible to get the circuit judge to set bail until he comes to town? We could send him a telegraph telling him the prisoner,” the word stuck in his throat “was a pregnant woman.”
Sheriff Grayson shrugged. “Never had knowledge of anything like that happening but we could try, I suppose. What do you say, Mr. Hanover? You’re the legal mind here.”
Mr. Hanover squinted at a spot on the wall waiting for the answer to the Sheriff’s question to magically appear.
Impatient, John repeated the sheriff’s question. “Mr. Hanover—the sheriff asked you…”
“I heard him, boy. Let me think a minute.”
Mr. Hanover walked to a shelf where law books four inches thick rested on a shelf. He thumbed down the titles until he came to the one he wanted. Picking up the huge tome from the shelf he thumped its spine down onto his desk and flipped through the pages. Fast. Then slow. His finger came to rest about the middle of a page. And then he smiled.
“Sheriff. According to Colorado’s Criminal Code, a prisoner is allowed to post bail unless the crime for which they are incarcerated is a felony. In this case, murder would be considered a felony. However, it also states if the accused is somehow physically or mentally incapacitated, he would be allowed to post bail and be remanded to house arrest until the trial.”
Mr. Hanover closed the book shut and replaced it on the shelf.
“I do believe I can arrange for Grace’s bail based upon her fragile condition of being with child. Since you live so far out of town, John, I think it would be best for Grace to remain under house arrest here with me and Aggie. If she needs medical attention, of course, we would send for Doc Howard post haste.”
John looked at the sheriff.
“Mr. Hanover is the legal expert. I’ll draw up the papers for posting of her bail.”
John looked back and forth between the sheriff and Mr. Hanover mentally calculating how much money he had at the bank. Not as much as he would have liked but how in the hell was he supposed to know that his new wife, now pregnant wife, was a criminal wife.
“Got any idea how much money we are talking about?”
The sheriff looked pensive.
“I know in the past it has to be stiff enough to thwart any attempt at running. I think it was a percentage of damages but how do I set a value on a person’s life?”
Mr. Hanover came around the desk, leaned against it resting his hands on the desk, crossing his legs at his ankles.
“It has been my experience the judge would set bail to ensure the defendant would return for trial. Since I don’t believe Grace has anything monetary to post, what about you, John? As her husband, the law will look to you for posting her bail.
John shrugged and sat in the chair by the fire, his head in his hands.
“I have some cash in the bank. My homestead—the home, the land, some livestock.”
Mr. Hanover perked up.
“What about that wagon and team of yours? That should be worth more than enough to appease the judge. What do you think, Sheriff Grayson?”
John looked back and forth between the two men.
“You can’t be serious? That rig is my livelihood. Without them, I can’t work. I’ll be ruined within six months if I can’t haul freight. No. The team is not an option. Think of something else.”
A knock on the door interrupted the men’s attention.
“Come in.” Mr. Hanover called out.
The door swung open and John could see Grace’s pale face just behind the wide berth of Mrs. Hanover.
“Gentlemen.” Mrs. Hanover nodded.
“Join us, ladies. We were in some discussion on whether John should put his team and wagon or his home as collateral for Grace’s bail.”
John heard Grace’s gasp. He turned to catch a glimpse of his wife. He realized he didn’t know the woman at all. He should have known something was amiss. He didn’t write the letter and there was no one else he could think of that would possibly send it for him. Could this woman have written the fraudulent letter herself as a means to escape her troubles with the law. Well, she had a lot of explaining to do as far as he was concerned.
“Would you mind if I had a private word with my wife?”
Sheriff Grayson nodded.
“I’ll be right outside.”
Mr. Hanover gathered his wife by her elbow and escorted her toward the library door. Mrs. Hanover turned at the door and pinned him with a stare.
“Mr. Malone, your wife is in a delicate state. Please don’t do anything to upset her.”
He couldn’t believe the nerve of that woman. He was the injured party here and this woman was worried he would do something to upset Grace. Ha. That would be laughable if it wasn’t so damned frustrating.
The Hanovers exited the room together and closed the library door behind them. John could hear muffled voices in the hall but he couldn’t care less about what was being said. All he cared about was knowing if he had been tricked with a bogus letter, a fugitive bride and now the law wanted his prized team of perfectly matched draft horses.
He sat on the leather chair staring at the fire. He wanted an explanation. Instead, all he got were a few sniffles from the woman sitting on the settee.
“Grace. I think it’s time you told me exactly what’s been going on since you arrived in Creede. Did you…did you trick me into marrying you?”
Her shoulders slumped and she wiped at her eyes with a handkerchief. She seemed lost. Devastated. Beaten. His heart ached for her but he needed to hear the truth before he would allow his emotions any more freedom to wreak havoc on his long protected heart. Unable to quell his anger, he barked her name.
“Grace!”
She visibly jumped and finally sad brown eyes met his icy cold blue ones. She nodded in surrender.
“I didn’t write the letter to the Matrimonial News. Someone wrote it for you. The postmark is from Creede, Colorado. So, no, I didn’t fake the letter asking me to marry you. That part was real.”
“But what about the wanted poster? Are you wanted for murder?” John was terrified of the answer but he had to know what he was up against.
“Apparently, that is true. But, no, it isn’t true. I didn’t kill anyone.”
“So, you are saying this is all a mistake?” His tone was less than friendly but he couldn’t allow his guard down where Grace was concerned until he knew the truth.
“No, there was a man killed in Kansas City. But it wasn’t murder and he wasn’t killed by me.”
“Are you going to make me drag this story out of you? I have a lot riding on your answers and I would appreciate the truth, the whole truth, and now.”
“My adopted sister, Faith, is Native American Indian. The man, who I now know was the mayor’s son, tried to rape her and she was forced to defend herself.”
“Well then how in the hell did your face get on that wanted poster?”
“I volunteered.”
He heard Grace sniff and for a moment, he felt bad about pushing her so hard. But the reality of their situation hit him hard in the gut giving him a sick feeling that his world was about to crash around him for the second time. He needed answers.
“You volunteered? Who does that? Volunteer to be placed on a wanted p
oster for murder.”
“I did it to save my sister.” Grace raised her chin and she met his eyes boldly. “And if the circumstances were the same, I would do it again.”
“Is that right? Well, that’s really noble of you, Grace but it’s time you come clean. You have to tell Sheriff Grayson what really happened. You cannot sacrifice yourself for any one of your sisters. They need to be accountable for their own actions. You can’t be responsible for them forever. You are worth saving too.”
“I’ve never really thought that, I guess. That I was worth saving. It was always my self-appointed job to take care of everyone else. It wasn’t easy being a little girl suddenly thrust into a strange place full of strangers. Nothing and no one around you familiar.”
John picked up his wife’s trembling hand and held it between his bear paws.
“It must have been awful for you.”
“It was terrifying.” She whispered staring at his hands covering hers.
“None of us were considered special. We were just—there, taking up space, sucking in air knowing that as soon as we made room by leaving, another unfortunate soul stepped in to it. I heard in one of my lessons one time that nature abhors a vacuum. I didn’t understand it at the time, but as I grew older and watched the never-ending faces come and go at the orphanage, I learned what it meant. So no, John. I’m nothing special.”
“Grace, you are special. To me. And you will be special to that little person we made.” He lovingly touched her belly. “Please, you have to tell the sheriff what he needs to know. You are innocent. You can’t sacrifice yourself for someone else?”
“Someone else? You make it sound like it’s a stranger off the street. John, those are my sisters. Maybe not by blood, but they are the only family I have.”
“And what about this family, Grace? What about the family you and I have started together? Will you sacrifice yourself and leave me behind? You wanted a family too and now we are having one. Don’t let your misplaced loyalty rob us of that happiness.”
John squeezed his wife’s hand. Grace’s actions were admirable but he hoped he could infuse some sense into her misguided thinking.
“Grace, things haven’t worked out like you and your sisters had hoped. You are wanted for murder and until that noose is no longer hanging over your head, we have no future. You—have no future. And I’ve already lost a wife and a child. Can you set me on that path again in all good conscious?”
A tear slipped down his wife’s cheek. His heart broke for her predicament but the thought of Grace and his child being taken from him ripped his soul in two. He squeezed her hand in encouragement.
“I need an answer, Grace.”
She nodded.
“Could I please speak with Mr. Hanover? Alone.”
John’s heart beat wildly in his chest. Did this mean she would agree to vindicate herself or was she hell bent on sacrificing their future because of some misguided loyalty to her sisters.
“Very well.”
John rose to his feet and crossed the room. Opening the library door, Mr. Hanover, Mrs. Hanover, Sarah and the sheriff stood in the hallway—waiting.
“She wants to speak with you in private, Mr. Hanover. Please do all you can to convince her that facing the gallows is going to do no one any good.”
Mr. Hanover nodded, entered the library and closed the door behind him. Whatever happened now, he only hoped Grace loved him enough to make the right choice. Only time would tell.
“Mr. Malone—John, would you care for something to drink while we wait, for—you know.”
He could tell Mrs. Hanover felt ill at ease which didn’t help his state of mind at all. He had to get out of here. The walls were closing in on him.
“Thank you, Mrs. Hanover. But if you don’t mind, I think I’ll go down to the Holy Moses and have a stiff one or two.”
He looked at the sheriff.
“I’m assuming that’s okay?”
“Yes, you aren’t under arrest.” The sheriff spun his hat in his hand, obviously uncomfortable about the situation at hand.
“Yeah, just my wife is.”
John smashed his hat down over his head and headed out the door.
“If I’m needed, you know where I’ll be.”
He walked out into the October sunshine, surprised how beautiful and clear everything was. Too bad his life wasn’t as cut and dried. He heard the door close behind him and it gave him a sick feeling in his gut. Was his future behind that door or in front of him? Only God had the answer to that question.
He marched toward the Holy Moses with one purpose on his mind. To imbibe in some intestinal fortitude. He needed strength to deal with the next few hours. Otherwise, he was going to lose his mind.
25
Grace watched Mr. Hanover sit behind his massive mahogany desk covered with law books and files. Was he really as good as he claimed to be? She hoped so.
Mr. Hanover sat forward and tented his fingers on his desk. Grace smiled to herself. That was a very lawyerly thing to do, she supposed.
“How can I help you, my dear?”
“I want to know what will happen to me if I don’t admit that I was not the one that pulled the trigger and killed the mayor’s son.”
“Well, it’s hard to say for certain, Grace. You will have to stand trial and depending on the jury, you could either go free or you could hang.”
Grace felt suddenly ill. She pressed her handkerchief to her forehead and neck.
She was grateful Mr. Hanover remained silent while she processed the information.
“And what will happen if Rosie and my sisters admit that I was innocent. Would they have to tell the court that it was Faith that shot him?”
“That would be the most advisable course of action. If the truth was willingly offered, the chances of a jury of family men and women could find your sister innocent.”
“Even if my sister is a half breed Indian, Mr. Hanover?”
Mr. Hanover leaned back in his overstuffed leather chair and stared up at the ceiling. He didn’t respond so Grace sat and waited.
Finally, he spoke.
“I will admit that does present a challenge.”
Grace’s heart sank. She thought of John. She had no idea she would grow to love him so much in such a short time. And if someone had told her she would be with child within a few weeks of marrying that scruffy stranger, she would have laughed out loud. And yet, here she sat, expecting her very own child, who in a few months would begin to make its presence known to the world. She touched her stomach. The thought of sitting in a dank jail cell waiting for her time to come made her stomach threaten to send her breakfast back up.
Mr. Hanover leaned forward in his chair and began thumbing through his law books.
“But it is a challenge I gladly champion, my dear Mrs. Malone. First, we need to post your bail. That will prevent you from being carted through the streets of Creede in handcuffs. Then, I will file a motion to stop any extradition the City of Kansas City, Missouri might be contemplating. Aggie will send word to her cousin about the turn-of-events, although I am certain, your wanted poster has been displayed in a prominent position in Kansas City as well.”
The robust man grabbed a pencil and began scribbling notes on his pad of paper.
“Then, I will contact a friend of mine who has served as an investigator on a few of my cases from time to time. Let’s see what he can uncover about this son of the mayor. My experience has been most politicians and wealthy business owners spoil their children unmercifully. They mold them into poor excuses for citizenry and most aren’t worth shooting if you ask me.”
Grace was shocked at Mr. Hanover’s comment but apparently the man had no idea his choice of words could be considered questionable.
“Mr. Hanover. I appreciate everything you and your lovely wife have done for me. You both have been so gracious, opening your home to me. But I have no funds to pay for legal services, Mr. Hanover. For me or my sister.”
; “Think nothing of it, Grace. I consider it an honor to help a giving soul such as yourself. If it wasn’t for you, your sister, what was her name,” he checked his paper pad, “Faith, would already be among the dearly departed or she would be on the run from the law. And from what you told me of her disposition, she would not survive that kind of life for long. Have I correctly assessed the situation?”
Grace nodded. It was indeed a fact. Faith is so timid; it took her two days to muster up enough nerve to place the orders to keep the saloon going. The girl was destined for a life of solitude where no one could push her very hard for fear she would crumble into a thousand invisible pieces.
“Very well, then. I think I have a clear view of how we shall proceed. First your bail. Then, I will send missives to Rosie and my investigator friend. I will then depart for Kansas City immediately following. Rest easy, dear Grace. I have this well in hand.”
“What happens if I don’t post bail? What would happen to me then?”
“Well, if you did not post bail, you would have to remain in jail. And at some point, you would be transported back to Kansas City to stand trial. I don’t think— “
She stood and Mr. Hanover stood with her. She hugged his amble girth with all her strength.
“Thank you, Mr. Hanover. Perhaps, I should go back to Kansas City. It would prevent my husband from further embarrassment.”
“I don’t think that is very prudent, my dear? There’s no way to know what a jury of your peers will decide. It’s a very big gamble and in your condition, it could be dangerous to you and your unborn child.”
“I understand. I will trust your abilities as the brilliant legal mind you are.”
“Thank you, my dear. I will use every device at my disposal to exonerate you and I will represent your sister if, in fact, she should find herself in need of legal representation.”
She just hoped he was as confident as he sounded. But now was no time for doubting. She wiped her eyes with her now mauled handkerchief and followed Mr. Hanover to the door. He flung it open with a flourish.
“Sheriff Grayson. Could you please escort myself and Mrs. Malone to your office to arrange for her bail to release her into my custody?
Grace Page 17