Her father wouldn't care if she was or wasn't married since she was no longer there to embarrass him. And living in America was certainly less formal than back home. Living here wouldn't be so bad either once her husband was dead and of course she'd inherit everything he owned. No, life was improving by the day.
Emmaline ate her bread and butter, noting that Ingrid's bread was superior to this. To give the girl her dues, she could certainly cook. Perhaps she could employ her after Harald was gone and she'd soon find out how a proper contract of employment worked. It was four o'clock. There was plenty of time for a few more drinks and perhaps a short nap.
The problem was, she drank more than she intended. It always happened. One drink led to another and another and before she knew it, she was fast asleep. And not a soul knew she was there.
While Emmaline enjoyed her slumber upstairs, the Sheriff and his deputies came to install extra security and soon had the place locked up tight. They had no reason to search inside because they'd relocated the former inhabitants earlier in the afternoon. What they planned, was to keep watch out the back and then arrest the man who came by to drink with the unknown woman Hetty had heard.
One way or another, they would find out what was going on. They left and started out with the patrols up and down the street the Sheriff wanted.
Emmaline slept on in a drunken stupor. Sadly she did not look like Lady Emmaline now, disheveled with spilled whiskey all over her clothes. Not that she was capable of caring.
During the early evening, Clem Williams had a change of plan. Sure, he'd go and do what the Lady wanted but he'd have a bit of fun of his own first. He was going to set fire to Big Jim's place. The man had no further need of it where he was going. Besides, it would have everyone in town down here trying to put it out and it would provide the perfect distraction for his firing of the mercantile. Perfect.
He made his way to the back door and when he found it padlocked, cursed. No matter. He would break a window. All he needed was a horse blanket from the barn, which he had wrapped around his arm a couple of minutes later. Inside, he thought of all the things that had happened in this place and decided not to feel any guilt for what he was about to do. The place deserved to burn to the ground. He splashed kerosene about then threw a live match at it.
Whoomp. It caught right away so he climbed out the way he came, silently blending into the night. He made his way down the street, keeping to the back alley and was soon making himself comfortable in the barn, out back of the mercantile. It wouldn't take long for everyone to run down the street and with a bit of luck, Harald would go too, leaving the mercantile unprotected.
~#~#~#~
Everything was quiet in the street until around half past nine when flames erupted from the now boarded up saloon down the end of the street. On cue, the posse met there, but what was the point in trying to save the building. The lumber was dry and caught quickly, helped along by the kerosene that Clem had drenched the place in.
"Let it burn. It's more important to save the building next door. Wet it down quick as you can," Jake called out, trying to be heard above the roaring flames. "We don't want it to spread."
There was no reason to suspect anyone was inside. They'd removed the former inhabitants and boarded the place up without knowing that Emmaline was fast asleep upstairs. Even if she woke up, there was now no way in or out. But Emmaline didn't wake up and for once, it was as well she'd consumed so much whiskey. Her death was tragic, but peaceful given the circumstances and she never knew what happened.
She would never know just how rich she made Harald. Unbeknown to Emmaline, her father had doubled her remittance money and there was $40,000 waiting at the bank for Harald to claim.
Out on the street, Jake was worried. Why would anyone want to burn down this place? No one had been to visit Big Jim who was safely locked away in the jail house. There was no plot afoot there. Besides, according to what Hetty had heard, the arsonist was to rendezvous with the unknown woman after he'd set the fire. Something didn't add up, but it soon did when Jake's gut kicked in.
"Bobby," he yelled. "Come with me now."
Bobby, his deputy, peeled off and went with Jake. "What's wrong."
Jake answered. "Something is telling me this fire is a ruse to get everyone up this end of the street. Meaning the other end is wide open for an arsonist to waltz in and set fire to anything he pleases down there. Grab a couple of men and let's go take a look."
"Sure thing Boss."
~#~#~#~
Down at the mercantile, Harald was standing outside the front door of the shop. He'd been watching people race down to the fire and sent up a silent prayer it wasn't his place that had been targeted. To his delight, Clem found the kitchen door unlocked and he crept inside seeking a lamp or lantern filled with kerosene or lamp oil. There was no shortage of choice in the mercantile and he found a large oil lamp that had obviously just been filled, at once. He crept into the body of the store.
That's when he noticed Harald standing outside the front door. It was an opportunity too good to miss so he picked up a flatiron and gave Harald a bang on the head with it. He didn't even cry out, but crumpled to the ground. Clem dragged him back through the front door and positioned him in front of the stove in the kitchen, deciding to take a break for a moment before settling down to the business he was being paid for. He didn't notice Hetty, who was hidden behind the barber pole on the front sidewalk.
Immediately, Hetty recognized the man who hit Harald. He was one of Big Jim's henchmen. She quietly made her way around to the back door where she had arranged to meet Ingrid for an evening of wrapping small gifts ready for the children. Ingrid was standing by the back door, wondering why it was unlocked when there was no sign of a light inside.
Hetty put her finger to her lips to indicate silence, then whispered in Ingrid's ear. "When I was out the front, I saw Clem Williams hit Harald over the head with something then drag him inside. He's one of Jim Olson's men and up to no good. We need to get the Sheriff down here right away, but first I want to take a look inside."
They heard the sound of Harald moaning as Clem laid him in front of the stove. "Shut up if you know what's good for you," snarled Clem."
Hetty was convinced. "That's the man I heard talking this afternoon, being paid to do away with the woman's husband."
Ingrid was outraged. "It must have been Emmaline put him up to this."
"You go and fetch the Sheriff. I'm going to see what he's doing in there, but I suspect he's going to ruin all the work we did this afternoon when he sets it on fire."
Ingrid pulled at Hetty's arm. "But you can't go in there. He'll kill you."
"He can try," answered Hetty. "Tell me, do you have a heavy frying pan handy in the kitchen?"
"Yes, there's one sitting on the side of the stove."
"OK. While you go and fetch the Sheriff, I'm going to sneak up behind Clem and hit him over the head with the pan. If there's any chance I can't do that, I'll come back out here and wait for you."
"I'm not happy about it Hetty and you better keep your word and wait out here if you can't take a good crack at him."
The young women separated. Hetty found Clem head down in the store, dumping lamp oil every which way and it was the work of a moment to hit him with the frying pan. Clem fell on his face while Hetty set about organizing a light in the kitchen and seeing to Harald.
Jake and Bobby came into the kitchen with Ingrid. "Tell me you didn't take on that man yourself," said Jake, surprised that Hetty would even have considered trying, let alone doing it.
"I packed him a good wallop with Ingrid's big frying pan and he's face down in a puddle of lamp oil in the store. There's no light in there yet because I don't want this place to catch alight with all the lamp oil poured over everything in there. I'll deal with the lamp oil if you can deal with Clem. He's the man I heard talking to that woman this afternoon. If he'd set this place on fire Harald would have been killed."
Jake interrup
ted. "Let's go boys. Bobby, tie him up and take him down to the jail house. He can go in with Jim's other henchman. Now I think we need to let these good folks put this place to rights. I'll take your statements in the morning."
Bobby slung Clem over his shoulder and the lawmen left the women to clean up.
Harald groaned as Hetty sat him up and turned him over to Ingrid's ministrations.
Ingrid put her arms around Harald. "Don't you dare die on me Harald Larson. I'll take care of you, I promise." Ingrid was frantic with worry.
Hetty comforted her. "Just thank the Lord Clem grabbed the small flat iron. If he'd used the big one, I'm thinking Harald would have been a goner."
"She's right Ingrid. I've got a mighty sore head but I'm not going to die. You and I have some unfinished business to attend to. When my divorce comes through, will you marry me? I need you in my life and if anything would stop me dying, it's the thought of being married to you."
"I wouldn't push your luck Harald," laughed Hetty.
"I would be honored to marry you Harald, just as soon as you are free. Meantime, I'm going to look after you and the store until you're completely well again. Maybe Hetty could could come and stay too, just to keep things proper."
"I'd be pleased to and I could give you a hand in the store until Harald is up to taking over again. In fact, I would love it Ingrid, but only if Abigail can spare me. I can't see it being a problem though. In fact, it would be doing her a favor to free up a bed, especially with the girls from Big Jim's place staying there."
"Please help me up, groaned Harald."
"I'm going to need your help Hetty. Just leave the lamp oil for a minute."
Together the two women pulled Harald to his feet and it was obvious he was in a lot of pain because he swayed precariously.
"You've just made me the happiest man in the world, Ingrid."
He had to hold on to Ingrid to stay upright and it took only a small adjustment before he placed his lips gently on hers. "I love you Ingrid Swenson and I want you by my side forever."
~#~#~#~
Chapter Ten
"Emmaline Larson has been found," Bobby panted as he rushed through he door of the Sheriff's Office. "She was in the saloon that went up in flames last night."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Burning is a terrible way to die. She must have got in there before we boarded the place up. Clem there," he pointed at Clem, "says he'd arranged to meet her out back after he'd finished setting fire to Harald's place. Then he decided to torch the saloon to distract us from figuring out the real target. He told me there was plenty of liquor in the new saloon where she was staying and they could have had a drink there. Says he can't figure out how she could have got in because she didn't have a key."
Big Jim Olson was listening. "There was a secret entrance near the kitchen. She knew about it because she used to come visit with me, if you take my meaning."
"Well it's a bad thing to have happened. No one deserves to die like that, whatever they've done. Bobby, the Judge hasn't left yet so we can have a trial for Clem later this afternoon. Then we'll have three of them to ship out to Huntsville at the same time. You boys will be celebrating Christmas together either here or in Huntsville. Either way, you're gonna be miserable. Now let's go and see the Judge."
The Judge was having his breakfast in the hotel dining room and knew after the ruckus last night that he wouldn't be leaving today. He didn't know yet about the attempt on Harald's life or the torching of the mercantile which had been averted by the swift action of Hetty. Jake joined him. Emma served them all up some of her coffee and they set to talking about what had happened and the best way to deal with it.
"That young woman doesn't need to be hauled back into court again, Sheriff. If you and lawyer Garret have all the paperwork we need in order to proceed I think we can quickly move on with the business of trying Clem Williams."
"Hetty and Ingrid are both willing to testify if necessary but Harald really should be in bed for a while. I'm telling you, the good Lord was guiding Ingrid's hand when she put out those flat irons for display. If Clem had picked up the big one, Harald would be dead."
The Judge cleared his throat. "Why don't I come down to the mercantile and I can hear their evidence there. That way none of them will need to set foot in the courthouse. Can you arrange it Sheriff? This morning would be fine."
Jake replied, "I need to go down there now to tell Harald about Emmaline and I daresay that will have some repercussions too. Unless I hear otherwise, I'll meet you there at half past ten. Be seeing you Judge."
Jake walked down to the mercantile, knowing that the news he was about to deliver carried a mixed blessing. He entered the store to find Hetty on her hands and knees with a scrubbing brush, hot water and lye soap, diligently removing the last of the spilled lamp oil from the floorboards. "Morning Sheriff, you're here early."
"I wanted to take your statement and let you know the Judge is coming down directly to hear your evidence, just so you don't have to go back to the courthouse. Yesterday was enough. Now how about you keep doing what you're doing and I'll take down what you tell me. Then I need to speak to Harald."
"Sounds good to me, but I can tell you he's one happy man for someone who was hit over the noodle with a flatiron."
Hetty applied herself to her task and it didn't take long for Jake to take down the details.
"I'm glad that's finished. At least the store smells clean again... and thank goodness he didn't pour it all over Ingrid's window display. Now, would you like some coffee and cake or do you want to see Harald first?"
"I need to speak to Harald, then the coffee and cake will go down just fine, thank you Hetty. I suppose Ingrid's been baking again since dawn."
"She's stocking up for Christmas but that girl surely can cook up a storm."
Jake headed up the stairs to break the news about Emmaline to Harald.
~#~#~#~
Harald was sitting up in bed with a headache he couldn't believe was possible. Jake came in and Ingrid moved to leave the room, ostensibly to refresh the cold cloths for Harald's head.
"Stay, please Ingrid. I want her to hear anything you have to say. We're going to get married after my divorce is settled."
"Congratulations to you both and I want to wish you both every happiness. But I have to say Harald, you've been clever to find a bride who can cook as well as Ingrid can."
Ingrid blushed.
"But the reason I'm here Harald," he turned to include Ingrid, "is to tell you that we found Emmaline's body in the wreckage of the fire down at the saloon last night. She's been identified. I believe she was drunk and had fallen asleep. She wouldn't have known anything before she died, so I guess the whiskey did her a merciful favor."
Harald and Ingrid didn't know whether to be happy or sad, but it was Ingrid who spoke for both of them. "I'm very sorry to hear that, Sheriff. No one should die like that, regardless of what they did in life."
After a moment Jake continued. "I admire your compassion Ingrid, but I am also obligated to explain what happened here last night. It seems Emmaline paid one of Jim Olson's henchmen to set fire to the mercantile. Apparently it was Clem Williams and Emmaline who Hetty heard talking yesterday when she went to fetch the straw for Ingrid's window display. It was Clem who hit you with the flatiron and tipped lamp oil all over the place downstairs. Thanks to Hetty, he didn't get a chance to light it. She hit him with a large frying pan and I can assure you, his head is in a worse state than yours."
Harald was stunned. "You mean she tried to have me killed?"
"Yes. He set fire to the saloon to make a distraction to take our focus away from the mercantile. Unfortunately he didn't know Emmaline was in there. No one did. What happened was an unfortunate accident."
"I can't believe she would do such a thing." Harald was genuinely taken aback by Emmaline's behavior.
"One more thing," said Jake. "Two really... the Judge is coming down here at half past ten to take evidence from you all,
and you Harald, will inherit all Emmaline's good and chattels. Her trunk is at the saloon and there's $40,000 waiting at the bank for you to collect. Her father gave her the money and she wanted to buy Big Jim's place. It's a good thing that won't be happening."
"I didn't know she had any money," said Harald.
"She didn't want you to know. When she moved out of here yesterday, she went to see Jeb about arranging the sale for her. Fortunately Jeb hightailed it over to the bank and put a stop on the funds, so that you would have to sign for them on her behalf. I suspect she realized her error and decided to have you killed instead. That way, she would have inherited everything of yours, had access to the $40,000 and put paid to you and Ingrid marrying. Fortunately, none it worked out as she intended."
Harald grimaced. "The only good thing to come out of this is that I am now free to marry Ingrid."
"Yes." Jake excused himself right away because Ingrid and Harald were now staring into each others eyes and grinning like loons.
~#~#~#~
"Ingrid, I've just had a thought.
"Careful now my love..."
"You know how Emmaline wanted to buy Big Jim's place? Harald wondered out loud"
"Mm..."
"I might just buy the land myself and build accommodation for homeless children and women fleeing houses of ill repute." Emmaline would have turned it into the most disreputable bordello in the country. Maybe we could talk to the townsfolk about it and see what they think, but after all the destruction Emmaline has caused, I'd like to do something for the community with the money... or some of it at least."
"I love you Harald Larson. What a perfectly wonderful idea."
"I am a lucky man Ingrid, clever too."
"How so?"
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