Man could tell the boys wanted to ask or discuss something, but they shut up and rode in silence. He felt when they were more comfortable with him they might tell him what was on their minds.
Before they got back to his home, Man casually made a comment. “When I introduced myself as a marshal, I saw your faces. Care to tell me why being in law enforcement startled you?”
Neither of the young men made a comment. Man let it ride for a few minutes or so, before he tried again. “If there’s anything you want to tell me, I’ll listen. If there’s a problem, I may be able to help.”
Roy spoke in almost a whisper. “Our mother made us promise we wouldn’t tell anybody.”
“Is somebody bothering or hurting her?” he asked.
“We can’t tell you,” Roy said.
“If it’s something serious that won’t go away, maybe your mother would like to talk to Kate. You know, woman to woman. Discuss it with your mom tonight and if we can help, bring her with you tomorrow. She and Kate can visit and your mother may need a friend.”
The two boys exchanged glances, but didn’t say anything.
When they got to the house, they unloaded the building materials. Kate came out dressed in her field working skins and went with Man to haul hay to the barn.
Man told her about the incident with Roy and Dan. “I don’t know what’s worrying the two boys, but something is definitely bothering them.”
The next morning he saw the two boys coming on their old mule. He waited by the barn and fed the mule a ration of oats and hay. The nutritious food was already having an effect on him. His ribs no longer showed through his hide. He looked healthier and younger.
Roy stood looking at the ground, kicking at the dirt with the heel of his boot. Man faced him and waited.
“Tell him,” Dan said.
“It’s kind of a long story,” Roy said.
“And it’s very private,” Dan put in.
Then let’s go inside and drink a cup of coffee while we talk. Since it involves your mother, Kate needs to hear it, as well.”
Kate served them a hot cup of coffee and sat beside Man on the other side of the table.
Roy took a sip, and then looked at Kate for a moment before speaking. “Our dad and a man named Robert Engledow were neighbors. Our dad died last year and Mr. Engledow helped us through it.” He looked up, took a deep breath and another sip of coffee.
“Go on,” Kate said, speaking softly.
“Last spring, Mr. Engledow’s wife was found dead at the bottom of a cliff. From what we heard, she went out looking for a calf and fell. Mr. Engledow is a night watchman at a mine and gets home about sunup. That afternoon when he woke, she was gone. He went looking for her, but didn’t find her. He went to the police. They found her body the next day.”
“After that, Mr. Engledow changed,” Dan said.
“How did he change?” Kate asked.
The two boys glanced at the other. “Mom told us we could tell them,” Dan said.
“Mr. Engledow comes to our home in the afternoon when we’re gone working,” Roy said.
Man and Kate knew the rest of the story, but wanted the two boys to go on.
“Mr. Engledow had a paper that said our dad owed him two hundred dollars and unless Mom did what he wanted, well, he would foreclose and take our house away.”
“Our dad never borrowed any money from anybody,” Roy blurted out. “He always said, if you can’t pay cash, you don’t need it.”
“Mom is afraid of Mr. Engledow,” Roy said. “We’ve seen bruises on her arms and face. He showed Mom the paper and it had our dad’s signature at the bottom, but Dad didn’t sign the paper.”
“How do you know he didn’t sign it?” Man asked.
“He couldn’t read or write,” Dan said with his head down looking at the coffee cup.
“When Mom told him that, he said it was his word against hers and the law would take his word over hers.”
“Is that true? Will you take his word over hers?” Roy asked.
“Not necessarily,” Kate said. “We need to see the paper and talk to Mr. Engledow. We have ways of determining the truth. We deal with liars all the time.”
“How often does Mr. Engledow visit your mother?” Kate asked.
“We don’t always know,” Roy said. “Mom is embarrassed about it, but usually we can tell when we get home.”
“We think about twice a week,” Roy said. “On days we’re not working and the mule is in the barn, we have seen him ride in front of our house and turn around and leave. Our home is the last house on that road.”
“We think when he doesn’t see the mule, he stops. We’re old enough to know why,” Roy said.
“I need to talk to your mother,” Kate said. “I know we can stop him visiting her without her permission.”
“We’ve been saving every penny we earn,” the older boy said. “We eat only beans and bread. Mom does sewing for extra money. We hope to earn the two hundred and pay Mr. Engledow.”
“Mom said maybe that would stop the visits, but we have our doubts,” Roy said. “He uses that paper to make Mom do what he wants. But if we pay him, we don’t think that will stop him.”
The two boys looked at each other. “We’re afraid for her. We think he murdered his wife. We’re scared he may hurt Mom if she ever crosses him.”
“Why do you think he murdered her?” Man asked.
“For one thing, he kept the calf in the lot and turned the cow out to graze during the day. The cow would always come back at night with the calf bawling. We went over that afternoon she was missing and the calf was in the lot. The cow was outside wanting inside where her calf was located. But, he told the police she went looking for the calf. That was a lie.”
“We know he hit his wife,” Roy said. “We saw the same kind of marks on her we’ve seen on Mom. We think he killed her and dropped her body off the cliff. That accounted for the marks on her face. Since nobody saw what happened, well, there was no way to prove he murdered her.”
“I want to visit with your mother as soon as possible,” Kate said. “From what you told us, your mom may be in real danger. We need to know the truth. Ask her if I can visit her tomorrow.”
Both boys nodded agreement. “I told you they would help,” Roy said.
The next morning, Man was in the barn feeding the animals when he saw a buggy coming. He went back to the house and called Kate. She came outside and stood by his side as the buggy got close enough for them to see the occupants.
“It’s Roy and a woman in front, and Dan is in the back,” she said.
The buggy stopped beside them and Roy jumped out first and helped the woman out. Dan stepped out and stood beside the woman. “This is our mother, Lucille Shobert,” Roy said.
Kate nodded and smiled at the woman. Lucille kept her sandy-brown hair pulled back in a tight bun on the back of her neck and wore a neat handmade blue dress. Her hazel eyes seemed to sparkle even after all she’d been through recently.
“I’m Kate Manchester. Deputy Marshal Kate,” she said as she gripped the woman’s hand. “My husband, Marshal Manchester. Welcome to our home. Shall we go inside and let the men get to work?”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Lucille said. She took Kate’s offered hand and the women went inside. Man led the mule toward the barn. The two boys watched their mother disappear inside the house, and then hurried to help Man with the buggy.
Kate gestured toward the table. “Coffee?” she asked as she put two cups on the table.
Lucille nodded. “Please. It’s been a long while since I had coffee. We can’t afford to buy it now.”
“You have two fine sons,” Kate said. “Both are good workers and polite.”
Lucille smiled. “That’s always nice to hear. I’m doing my best since their father died.”
They made small talk about the weather and how much longer it would be before the first snow came. “With Roy and Dan’s help, we hope to get the porch enclosed and then my husband has two other jobs in mind.”
“My two boys enjoy working for Man, as they call him. I told them to say Mr. Manchester, but they said he insisted they use only Man.”
“That’s all anybody calls him, including me,” Kate said. “He picked that nickname up on the Oregon Trail.”
“That’s how we got here,” Lucille said. “I came with my parents. We were on one of the first trains coming west.”
“I came only three years ago,” Kate said.
She decided to get into the reason for the visit. “Roy and Dan told us an alarming account about a man named Robert Engledow.”
Lucille spilled a little coffee on her hand as she jerked at that statement or hearing the name Engledow.
“I didn’t mean to alarm you,” Kate said. “I need to hear it firsthand from you. We can put a stop to him bothering you.”
“They said they told you the whole sordid story,” she said. She clutched the cup with both hands. “Bob comes to our home once or twice a week and does horrible things to me. If I try to refuse, he hits me.”
“That will stop as of today,” Kate said. “That I assure you. I want to be there when he visits the next time.”
“If he sees our mule and I’m sure if he saw any other animal there, he wouldn’t barge in.”
“When was the last time?” Kate asked.
“Monday, the day the boys started to work for you. He may come today, but I won’t be there. He gets off work at daylight and sleeps until mid-afternoon, and then comes to see me before going to work.”
“Tomorrow may be a good day for me to be there waiting,” Kate said.
“I don’t know,” Lucille said. “Bob is a big man. He’s awful strong. I would hate for you to get hurt and there’s no telling what he would do to us.”
Kate smiled. “Let me worry about that. I have something that’s stronger and more powerful than Mr. Bob Engledow.”
“But he’s over six foot tall and must weigh two hundred pounds. You’re tall for a woman, but you can’t weigh more than one twenty-five.”
Kate stood and went to the bedroom. She came back with her twin Walker Colt pistols on her hips and her Winchester rifle over her shoulder. “The four of us can handle Mr. Engledow.” She gestured to the weapons.
Chapter 2
As soon as Lucille left with her sons, Man came in the house. “How did it go?”
Lucille said he was blackmailing her over the debt. He comes to her home in the afternoon before he goes to work. The two boys were accurate on what’s happening. I told her I would put a stop to it.”
“What are you planning?” Man asked.
“She said if he sees their mule in the barn or any other animals there he won’t come. Can you take me and drop me off? We could go while he’s asleep. I would think soon after noontime. The last time he came was Monday, so he may be eager today with the weekend coming, when the boys will be at home. I think today is the ideal time.”
“We can do that. I’ll bring your horse back here and then come get you when the boys go home.”
“That’ll work,” she said. “Mr. Engledow has to go to work about then. If he goes to her home, it will be before then.”
Roy and Dan were nervous the next morning. “Mom told us Kate is going to our house this afternoon to confront Mr. Engledow,” Roy said. “Mom’s worried about her and what he’ll do to them.”
“Kate has taken down a lot tougher men than Bob Engledow,” Man said.
“Will she shoot him?” Roy asked.
“Only as a last resort, but if he attacks her, yes, she’ll shoot and she won’t miss.”
Kate wore her case buckskins, as she felt more comfortable in them. Her twin Walkers were on her hips and both rifles were in scabbards on her saddle.
Man rode at her side on Arabian. He was frisky as this was the first time out of the corral in a few days. Red Bird was prancing around, as well. The brisk fall air was to their liking.
Roy and Dan gave them instructions on how to find their home. They rode by a house before reaching the Shobert home. “From what the boys said, that’s where Engledow lives,” Man said. The last house on the road was a log cabin, very similar to the one they’d left in the mountains near The Fort.
Kate smiled at seeing it. “This cabin brings back some cherished memories. Our life together started in a place like this.”
“I know,” Man said. “But, I suspect you like your new home much better.”
“Of course I do. I love it.”
They dismounted, walked to the door, and knocked. “Lucille, its Kate.”
Lucille opened the door for them. It was almost dark inside with only one lamp lit. She invited them inside and peeked out. It was obvious she was nervous.
“He’ll see the horses and won’t come in,” she said.
“I’m going to take them and come back with the boys at quitting time,” Man said.
“I’ll light another lamp. Oil is so expensive, when I’m here alone, I use only one.”
Kate saw a bolt of cloth on the table. “Are you sewing?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m making a dress for a woman. I make all of her clothing.”
“As dark as it is in here, you’ll ruin your eyes. Maybe after today, the money you and the boys have saved can be used to buy things you need. If the note he holds is bogus, that threat will end.”
“I need to move out,” Man said. He went to Kate and gave her a hug. “I’ll bring in your rifle.”
He went outside and came back in jacking a bullet into the firing chamber and adding another to the magazine. “It’s ready if you need it.”
She pulled her Walker Colts and slipped another bullet in the pistols.
Lucille was watching with big eyes as Kate loaded the pistols. “Does Engledow carry a pistol?” she asked.
“Yes,” Lucille said. “And I’ve seen a knife he has in a scabbard inside his pants. It has a very long blade.”
She blushed as she realized what she’d said.
“We understand why he comes here,” Kate said.
Man went to door and opened it. “Don’t give him any advantage,” he said.
“I won’t,” Kate said. “He won’t get close.”
Kate’s eyes were adjusting to the semi-darkness.
“Do you want me to light another lamp in case he comes?” Lucille asked.
“No, my eyes have adjusted. If Engledow does come, that’ll give me the advantage. His eyes won’t be adjusted coming in from the bright sunlight.”
They sat at the table and Kate watched Lucille sew. Every few seconds she glanced at the door. “How does he come in? I mean, does he say anything, knock, or does he open the door and come in?”
“He just opens the door and looks inside. I think to make sure I’m alone.”
“Then what does he do?” Kate asked.
She hesitated and her hand went to her mouth.
“I need to know so I’ll know what to expect,” Kate said.
“He come in and starts undressing. He tosses his clothes on the table and tells me to get naked. If I don’t undress fast enough he slaps me or punches me.”
“Is his pistol on his hip in a holster?” Kate asked.
“Yes,” Lucille said.
“Which side, right or left?”
“Right,” Lucille said. “Why is that important?”
“I’m going to be beside the door when he comes in and grab his pistol. I don’t want to be forced to shoot him if I can help it.”
She took a chair and placed it beside the door. “Go ahead and sew. I’ll be over here, ready. Does he ride or walk here?”
“He usually
rides. He stays until it is time for him to go to work.”
Kate pushed the door open a crack so she could see. She put her rifle against the wall beside her chair.
Lucille sat at the table and went back to work on the dress.
Kate glanced around the cabin and saw a fireplace made of rock with an iron rod across for hanging pots. A pot was over coals and she smelled beans cooking. She looked at the shelves on the back wall and saw only a sack of beans and cornmeal. Roy had mentioned they only ate beans and cornbread.
“Do you ever can food?” Kate asked.
“I did when we had a garden, but since we moved here there’s no place to grow anything.”
“Would you be interested in canning food for me on the halves? I would furnish the food and jars.”
“Yes, I would like to do that. The boys need vegetables.”
A noise outside caused Kate to stand and she moved closer to the door. A big man came in and his eyes focused on Lucille seated at the table.
“I came by yesterday and you were gone.”
“I was working,” Lucille whimpered.
Kate reached over and jerked the pistol from Engledow’s holster when he took a step inside the cabin.
“Who in the hell are you?” he shouted. “What are you doing here and why did you take my pistol?”
“Lucille, light another lamp. I have business with Mr. Engledow,” Kate said.
Lucille hurried to light another lamp. “My name is Deputy Federal Marshal Kate Manchester. Now walk over there and stand still.”
“Like hell I will,” he shouted.
He took a step toward Kate with his fist doubled up.
Kate pulled one of her Colts and aimed it at Engledow’s nose. “If you swing at me, this bullet will drive your nose back through your skull,” she said as she cocked the pistol.
The sound was deafening in the tiny room. His eyes were adjusting to the darkness now and he saw Kate more clearly with the pistol held steadily in her hand.
“What’s this all about?” Engledow demanded. “This is between Lucille and me. Now get the hell out of here and give me my pistol back.”
Mountain Woman Snake River Blizzard Page 2