by Nann Dunne
Leah raised her hands, palms up. "I learned all this just after I got your telegram. I figured I'd let you tell her."
"Good. I'm looking forward to that." Sarah stood up. "I'm going to go see her now."
Leah reached again for her hand and pulled her down. "No, you're not. You've had a long trip, and you said yourself, you're exhausted. Stay here. Take a bath. Have supper with us. Then get a good night's rest here in your own bedroom. Tomorrow's Saturday. You'll have plenty of time to see Faith. You'll look better, and you'll be in a lot better shape to face down Litchfield if you have to."
Every particle in Sarah's body ached to see Faith, but she realized Leah's words made sense. And after five days on the train, she certainly needed a bath. She wanted to look her best for Faith. She suddenly felt too tired to move.
Leah must have sensed it. "You stay right here. I'll fill the bathtub and lay out a towel and clean clothes for you. Phillip can take care of Redfire when he gets home."
Sarah used the table to push herself to her feet. "I'll fill the tub. I can still stagger that far." It helped that a tub was in the washroom right next to the kitchen. Sarah had carried many a bucket of hot water from the pot hanging over the fireplace to the washroom. The familiarity of it flowed over her. She was really home. No, her heart told her. It didn't feel like home when Faith wasn't here.
Sarah couldn't generate any energy. "Leah," she called up the stairs. "Don't bother laying out any clothes, just bring me a nightshirt, please. I need to go to bed."
Exhaustion brought one good result. Sarah slept soundly all night. She woke early in the morning feeling refreshed for the first time in days. She opened her eyes and looked around the room. Sunlight coming through the eight-paned window painted small blocks of gold across the bed. She threw back the heart-covered quilt and rose. She had opened the window before getting in bed yesterday, and she stood a moment breathing in the air. The sweet smell of lilac wafted in, and she could picture the flower bushes Faith had planted at the side of the house, some white, some light violet.
Nothing in her room had been moved. Her brush and comb lay on the same bureau, her underclothes and socks were in the drawers, and the closet held her shirts, jackets, pants, and boots. She supposed Phillip and Leah hadn't reached her room yet to box up her belongings.
She was surprised to see a letter addressed to her and Faith, lying on the bureau. She didn't recognize the Oklahoma return address. Curious, she opened it and looked at the printed signature. It was from Velia.
Dear Miss Sarah and Miss Faith,
Noah got a job on a big ranch here. He works with steers. I get to cook. Daniel is done skool and helps cleen barns. We is fine. Hope you ar to. Com see us somday.
Velia
Her heart lifted as she read, happy that her friends had found a spot to live a decent life.
Her stomach growled as the scrumptious smell of sausage and eggs rose from the kitchen. She could hear the rumble of Phillip's deep voice interspersed with the lighter tones of Leah and Amy. She laid the letter down. Splashing water from the pitcher that sat on the bureau, she washed her face and hands and dampened her hair. She dried her hands and combed through her hair.
Pleasantly surprised, she saw her vest, the gift from Rusty, hanging on the back of the straight-backed bedroom chair. Leah must have checked her saddlebags while she slept. Sarah donned her best navy blue pants and a pale yellow tunic and shrugged on the vest. She brushed her hair until it shone and tied it back. After slipping the letter into a pants pocket, she hustled down the steps.
"Good morning," the Showell family said in chorus. Phillip stood and came forward with his arms open wide. Amy jumped up, too, but politely waited her turn.
"Welcome home, Sarah." Like a friendly bear, Phillip enveloped her in his arms and gave her a hug. "Good to see you back all in one piece."
"Hello, Phillip," Sarah said, her voice muffled against his chest. Phillip was the only one of her friends who topped her height. She stepped back and gave him a friendly shove. "What do you mean, 'all in one piece'? Did you have any doubt that I could take care of myself?"
Sarah bent down to hug Amy. 'Hi, sweetheart. I'm sorry I didn't see you yesterday. I was too tired to wait up. But it's wonderful to see you now."
"Hi, Aunt Sarah. I'm just glad you're home. Come sit down. Mama cooked a special breakfast for us to celebrate that you're back." She took Sarah's hand, led her to a seat, and sat next to her. Sarah gave Leah's arm a pat as she passed her.
"To answer your question," Phillip said, "I have no doubt you can take care of yourself, Lady Blue."
"Ah, my old password. I haven't heard that since I left military service. I'd almost forgotten."
"I don't think I'll ever forget," Phillip said with a chuckle. "Theo told me many a tale of the questions, some ribald, his men asked him about the soldier who used a woman's title as a password."
Leah poured Sarah's coffee. "Ribald? Now there's a new word I'll be looking up."
"Knowing your brother," Sarah said, "half the stories he tells are probably fictitious." As soon as Leah sat back down, Sarah dug into her breakfast of sausage, eggs, biscuits, and fried potatoes. A plate full of frosted cupcakes sat to one side. "The food is wonderful, Leah. As usual." She glanced toward Phillip.
"How is Theo, by the way?"
"As a matter of fact, Scott's giving him more and more responsibility at the foundry. Says Scott's grooming him to take full charge of the mill and the office."
Sarah paused in her eating. "That's interesting. I never thought my brother would hand off his responsibilities to anyone outside of our family, although you and Theo both are practically family to us." She raised her eyebrows. "Is there any problem?"
Phillip swallowed a mouthful of biscuit. "Not that I know of. Leah, have you heard anything from Lindsay?"
Leah and Amy had finished their breakfast, obviously getting a start before Sarah came downstairs. Leah set her coffee cup in its saucer. "Lindsay did say that Scott hadn't been feeling well, but she didn't say anything specific about it. I hope it's nothing serious."
"I hope so, too," Sarah said. "Although I think Lindsay would say if it was."
"Now that you're home," Leah said, "maybe they could come and visit you."
"And where would I put them? Here?" Sarah finished eating one of the cupcakes.
"Of course, here. This is your home, isn't it?"
"No. It's your home now." Sarah looked from Leah to Phillip. "You did get the deed recorded?"
A slow smile grew on Phillip's face. "No, we were waiting for you to get back. Shortly after we moved in here, we decided that your decision to sell was made under a kind of threat. To you and Faith and Benjamin. You might have noticed that we left everything just as it was. We want to give you time to make the decision in a calmer atmosphere."
"In the meantime," Leah said, "the house is still yours."
Sarah was caught unawares. "I-I don't know what to say. You are two crazy, wonderful friends, and I thank you. I just...I can't come back here without Faith and Benjamin." She stood. "I need to go see Faith." Everyone at the table rose when she did. Amy began to clear the dishes. Leah came over and slipped her arm through Sarah's.
"Phillip and I already talked about it, and he'll stay with the children. I want to come with you." She held up her hand to stop Sarah's answer. "Not to come in with you. I just want to be available in case things don't work out the way you want them to."
It made sense. Leah had stood by Sarah in one of the worst times of her life. She would welcome having her support if this should turn out to be another worst time. Oh, God, please not. "I'll be grateful to have you along."
"Thank you. We'll take the buggy and hitch Redfire to the back. That way, if things turn out all right, I can come back home in the buggy. Phillip, will you please get them ready for us?"
"Right away." Phillip grabbed a hat and jacket and slipped out of the room.
"I have to change my clothes," Leah said.
"I won't take long." She walked across the room to head for the stairs.
Amy had started to wash the dishes, and Sarah picked up a dish towel. "I'll help, Amy." She gazed at the towel decorated with yellow roses then waved it in the air. "I thought you didn't change anything," she said with a laugh.
Leah peeked back over her shoulder. "Well," she said, in a mock huff, "I had to put my mark on something." She continued on up the stairs.
"Aunt Sarah," Amy said, "are you here to stay?"
"I'm not sure. A lot depends on what Aunt Faith says. If she wants to keep teaching next year, it will have to be somewhere else and we'll have to move." Then what? Sarah wondered. Everything was up in the air until she and Faith came to some agreement about their future.
Amy dried her hands and put her arms around Sarah's waist. "I want you to stay."
"Don't you like living in this house?"
"I love this house, and so does Mama. But I want you to have it. You and Aunt Faith and Benjamin. I want things to be the way they were."
"So do I, sweetheart. So do I." Would they ever be the same? She gave Amy another hug then stepped back. "I have to get ready to leave now."
"Wait, I almost forgot. I have a surprise for you. Wait right here." Amy ran off and returned soon with a round, brown box tied with a big yellow ribbon. She handed it to Sarah. "Welcome home, Aunt Sarah."
Sarah untied the ribbon and lifted the box lid. Inside lay a deerskin cowboy hat with a wide brim and a rounded, shaped top. It had an earthy smell, like it had just come from the forest. "Amy, this is beautiful." She took it out, put it on, and walked over to look in the mirror that hung on the back of the door to the living room.
Amy walked beside her, clapping her hands. When they reached the mirror, she pointed to Sarah's image. "That looks a lot nicer than your old hat."
"It surely does." She picked Amy up, twirled her around and set her back down. "Thank you so much." She gave Amy a kiss on the cheek and let go of her just as Leah entered the kitchen. "Did you see what your lovely daughter gave me?"
"She showed it to me last night when she and Phillip got back from shopping. He told me Amy thought you needed a new hat worse than he did." Leah laughed. "She was right, so Phillip bought one for himself and let her pick out this one to give you. She made a fine choice." Leah had changed into a bright blue dress striped lengthwise with silver that flattered her ample figure.
"That she did," Sarah said. "I love it. Thank you all for thinking of me. Ready to go?" Sarah donned a brown, lightweight jacket, held Leah's navy blue coat for her to slip into, and they went outside. New hat, new vest, good pants. Sarah figured she was ready for anything and hoped for the best.
Sarah stopped the buggy at the schoolteacher's house. She sat for a minute and took a deep breath. Buck up, you ninny. It's now or never.
Leah touched her shoulder. "Good luck."
"Thanks." Sarah climbed down, hitched Drummer's reins to the rail, and walked toward the house. At the door, she took another deep breath and knocked. Nothing. Not even a dog bark.
Sarah knocked again, harder. But no one came. She walked back to the buggy, untied Drummer's reins, and climbed onto the seat beside Leah. "She's not home. Looks like Benjamin isn't there either. I didn't hear Paddy bark." Sarah had been emotionally prepared to face Faith, and that hadn't happened. Her shoulders slumped.
Leah prodded her, hard, with a finger to the ribs. "Don't go giving up." Prod. "The Sarah-Bren Coulter I know is a fighter." Prod. "Faith's probably in town. We'll go there." Prod.
"All right, all right." Sarah couldn't help giggling. She rubbed her side. "Your finger's a dangerous weapon, woman."
"So are your eyes."
Startled, Sarah looked right at her and raised her eyebrows.
"You heard me," Leah said. "You could lure any woman you wanted, with one loving look. Give Faith a dose of those eyes, and she won't stand a chance."
Sarah flicked the reins and clucked to Drummer. "I think you overestimate my powers." She turned Drummer toward the town.
"Oh, no, I don't. I'm in love with Phillip, but sometimes when you look at me, I have to catch my breath. I wonder...never mind what I wonder. Just remember what I said."
Sarah knew Leah was trying to bolster her courage. She could use all the bolstering she could get. How could she be so brave in other situations and so scared in this one? Admit it, she was scared. What was it she used to tell Scott when they were children? Act brave, and the enemy will think you are. Was Faith her enemy? She might be. Who knew what effect Joel's powers of persuasion might have had on her? That's what was scaring the hell out of Sarah.
Her mind shifted to Joel Litchfield. Something had been skittering around the back of her mind for a while now, ever since the train robbery. She jerked Drummer's reins and halted the buggy, and Leah gave a yelp.
"What's going on?"
"Hang on a minute. I need some time to think about something."
"Think about something? What on earth—"
Sarah waved a hand, and Leah quieted. Sarah let her thoughts dwell on the train robbery. A few things had slipped into the back of her mind, and she needed to bring them forward.
She recalled that when the thief grabbed the neck of her tunic and laid a gun next to her head, she had smelled a mixture of metal and oil and another substance. What was it? She had smelled it before, but where? She sniffed, trying to remember. On Faith's hand! Rosewater. She had asked Faith what it was, and she said Litchfield had patted her hand and must have transferred the scent to her. She explained that doctors use a mixture of glycerin and rosewater to keep their hands from drying out and from picking up odors.
All right, that was one memory. What was the other? This one took more effort, but she eventually dredged it up. The thief had called her "bitch." Everyone who didn't know her thought she was a man. So the thief knew her. It had to be Litchfield.
Sarah was getting excited. "Leah, when Trudy said Litchfield gave the girls presents, did she mention anything specific?"
"No. I didn't think to ask her about that."
"Can you go with me now to Calleton?"
"Sure, but why?"
Sarah shook the reins and started the buggy. "I need to talk with Trudy. I'll explain on the way."
"We'll probably have to drag her out of bed at this time of the day." Leah chuckled. "Catching up on her sleep, I mean, but I'm game."
Sarah could hardly contain herself on the way back from Calleton. Not only had Trudy verified that Litchfield gave the girls jewelry, but wonder of wonders, he had visited Trudy the night before and had given her a ring that sounded just like the cameo stolen from the lady on the train yesterday. She had no doubt that other jewelry could be tied to Litchfield, also. When Sarah had explained the train robbery circumstances, Trudy had agreed to appear in court and testify.
They had almost reached Bonneforte when Leah patted Sarah's thigh. "This might not bring Faith back, but it sure will keep her from making a huge mistake."
"I know. I can't wait to tell Sheriff Schmidt. I'd like to see that bastard's face when the sheriff takes him into custody." The thought gave her pause.
"What's wrong?" Leah asked.
"I'm being petty."
"That needn't keep you from telling me what you're thinking. We're all petty sometimes."
Sarah fought to keep her hand from shaking as she rubbed the back of her neck. "If Litchfield is out of the running, and Faith turns to me, how will I know I wasn't second choice?"
Leah gave a snort. "That's not being petty. It sounds to me like a reasonable question. But I can't help you with that, darlin'. Only Faith can." Leah gave Sarah a quick hug, bringing her some solace.
They rode along sun-flooded Main Street into the center of town and got down from the buggy. Sarah tied Drummer to the hitching rail, and they walked across the boardwalk toward the sheriff's office. Leah put her arm through Sarah's, and Sarah squeezed it against her side.
On such a lovely day, the sto
res were doing good business, and the streets were well populated. Men tipped their hats as they walked by, and Sarah nodded to them. Some she recognized and was gratified to see that they didn't seem to have any bad feelings about her. At least they weren't showing any publicly.
She and Leah went into the office.
"Ladies." Schmidt stood and waved toward the chairs. "What can I do for you?"
"Sheriff," Sarah said, "we're here to do something for you." She gave him all the information she and Leah had gathered.
The more she talked, the wider Schmidt's smile got. When she finished, Schmidt said, "I never have felt comfortable about Doc Litchfield. Too damn smooth. Guess my instincts were right." He reached into the desk drawer. "Just sign this paper, and I'll go pick him up. I can fill in the details later. And if you'll excuse me for a few minutes, ladies," Schmidt said with a red flush creeping up his face, "I have to make a trip out back before I can act on this." Sarah and Leah signed the paper.
"We'll wait for you outside," Sarah said.
When they got outside, Leah chuckled. "I guess even lawmen have to use the outhouse once in a while."
"I guess so," Sarah said. "We can walk toward Litchfield's office while we're waiting."
Chapter Thirteen
The hem of Faith's long green dress brushed the brown carpet as she moved across the empty waiting room. She knocked on the doctor's office door, and Joel opened it and smiled.
"Good." He took her hand and squeezed it. "I was hoping you could join me for dinner."
"I could hardly ignore a written invitation."
Joel turned away and walked to the counter behind him. "When Benjamin answered the door and you weren't home, I figured a written invitation was better than a spoken one. In my experience, youngsters often get engrossed in other activities and forget to pass along the message." From behind him, Faith saw him take the bottle of glycerin and rosewater from the shelf above the counter, pour some onto his hands, and set the bottle back.
He turned around. "You look lovely today." He rubbed his hands together and gave an almost wolfish grin. "As you always do."
Faith inclined her head. "Thank you."