“Thank you, Marina.” He kissed her cheek, inhaling the clean scent of woman.
Marina leaned into him and Noah stumbled backwards. The embarrassment on her face told him he hadn’t been mistaken.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“Noah, you didn’t do anything wrong. You’re a handsome man and so full of life.” She shrugged, a sad smile on her face. “I just wanted a brief taste of it.”
Marina stuck her cup in front of her face and looked into the black depths of the coffee. Noah took it from her and set it down before cupping her face with both hands.
“You’re a beautiful, smart woman who any man would be lucky to call his own.” He kissed her quickly on the lips. “My heart belongs to someone else or I’d be after you in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”
Marina shook her head. “You’re a charmer, you know that?”
He stepped back with his thumbs hooked into the top of his britches.
“I don’t believe I am. I speak only the truth. That’s what lawmen are supposed to do.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Thank you for telling me all of this. I know you didn’t have to.”
“Yes I did.” This time Marina smiled.
Noah swallowed the last of the coffee and said goodbye to his friend. He had to find out what Johnny Boyton knew.
Chapter Ten
Rosalyn had trouble waking up on Tuesday. The incident at the Decoration Day party had stolen her sleep. She’d only drifted off sometime near dawn, and then slept like the dead for hours. By the look of the sun, it was almost noon. She’d completely missed working breakfast and might have missed most of the dinner crowd.
She splashed tepid water on her face and tried to clear the sleep from her eyes. Her dreams had been frightening and odd, as if she could see her parents alive again, only this time Rosalyn had been the one hanging from the tree. A shiver wormed its way up her body and she dressed hurriedly in her blue dress.
As she stepped from the small room at the top of the stairs, she heard the clink of glasses and plates from below. She tied on the apron Elsa had given her and ran downstairs. The older woman was in the kitchen, serving up beef stew and biscuits.
“I thought maybe I’d have to send the cavalry for you.” Elsa picked up the dishes and thrust them at Rosalyn. “I fed your cat already. She was meowing to wake the dead. Go give these to Martha and Reginald Stevens—they’re at the table by the door.”
Rosalyn stared in horror at the steaming food. She hadn’t yet had to serve any food, had only been working in the kitchen cleaning up and helping.
“No one is going to hurt you, child. Now move it.” Elsa frowned and waved her hand. “Earn your keep.”
With more than a little fear, Rosalyn stepped into the dining area. The plates trembled in her hands and she prayed to God she wouldn’t drop them. She spotted the couple, a young man and his wife, at the same time they spotted her. Rosalyn didn’t know them although she had a feeling they knew who she was.
It didn’t matter if they did. Rosalyn knew there was nothing to be frightened of. She’d lived so long hiding from people she imagined things that weren’t there. Thrusting her shoulders back and clenching her stomach against the fear, Rosalyn walked toward the couple. She even put a small smile on her face.
“Good afternoon, folks.” She set the plates down without spilling any.
“Enjoy.”
The woman murmured a thank you and the man nodded, then they turned their attention toward their food. Rosalyn returned to the kitchen with a huge grin and a spring in her step. Elsa thrust two more plates at her.
“Here. Bring those to the sisters Beddington. They’re the two old ladies in the corner.”
Rosalyn wasn’t completely unafraid of the two biggest gossips in town, but she had confidence she’d survive. She could make it through anything.
———
Noah rode out to Johnny’s small farm at a slow pace using Marina’s directions. He thought long and hard about how to talk to the older man, to get the most information without sounding like Noah was interrogating him. Tyler Calhoun had taught him well and Noah aimed to use those skills for the first time.
The sheriff had retired to ten acres a few miles outside town. It was a beautiful place with a lot of trees and a few chickens pecking outside. He heard the low of a cow and the shuffling of a horse or two. Bees buzzed on the wildflowers blooming in the field next to the yard.
As he approached the ranch, Johnny came out of the house wearing a faded pair of overalls and a brown shirt. His straw hat had a cockeyed brim and a few stains.
“I figured I’d see you sooner or later.” He frowned. “You’d best come on in then and do your speaking.”
Perhaps Johnny assumed Marina would tell Noah about his deal with the town, or maybe the old sheriff had confidence that Noah would figure out something was wrong in town. Either way, at least Noah wouldn’t have to start from scratch with his questions. Johnny might even be willing to talk.
Noah tied up his horse outside and followed the older man into the house—a tidy little place with a rag rug, two chairs and a table. The fireplace was surrounded by a bed and a rocking chair. It wasn’t much, but at one point in his life, would have been a palace for Noah.
“Coffee?” Johnny held up a battered coffeepot.
“No thanks. I’ve had enough today.” Noah pulled out a chair and sat down, folding his hands on his belly.
Johnny made a big deal of pouring himself a cup, then getting the sugar tin down and spooning some of the sweetness into the coffee. By the time he sat down, Noah had already figured that Johnny was using his own techniques to throw the conversation off before it got started.
Wily old man.
“What can I do for you, Calhoun?”
Noah chose his words carefully. “I’ve found out some things the past two weeks that have me puzzled. I was hoping you’d be able to help me figure them out.”
Johnny’s eyebrows rose. “I’d be happy to.”
“Someone has been killing Finley’s lambs and leaving the bodies for him to find. I expect it’s Shep Seeger, but I can’t prove it yet. Did you see anything like that when you were the sheriff?” Noah had a feeling Johnny wouldn’t admit to it even if he had. Perhaps Seeger had added to the sheriff’s coffers on a regular basis.
“Now I can’t rightly say I saw any dead lambs.” Johnny studied his coffee. “Finley did come to see me a couple of times about some missing sheep. You know those wooly creatures, dumb as stumps. Probably wander off all the time.”
“Did you investigate Finley’s claims?”
“Nah, didn’t have to. He was new in town, didn’t know the terrain. Probably lost them himself.” Johnny took a long gulp of his coffee.
It was what Johnny didn’t say that Noah heard. The former sheriff had known someone was making off with Finley’s herd one sheep at a time, but didn’t do anything about it. Noah had to tread very lightly.
“He seems like he is very precise and exacting to me. He knew exactly how many sheep he had, how much each one is worth and even knew the boundaries of his land.” Noah traced a knot on the table with his finger.
“And you believed him?”
“I believe the land office at the county seat.” Noah met Johnny’s gaze.
“They confirmed what Finley told me.”
Noah let Johnny digest that information before continuing. “I think Seeger is playing a very dangerous game and he needs to be stopped. Are you willing to help me, Boyton? Or are you going to hide out here on this farm?”
Johnny’s face paled a bit. “There’s proof about the land boundaries?”
“Of course there is. Everything can be found if you know where to look.” Noah gazed at the older man, willing him to meet his gaze. He was hoping Johnny would be the good man Noah thought he was and own up to his own failings as sheriff.
“I never thought to check with the county.” Johnny stood abruptly. “I need more coffee.”
/> Noah knew he hadn’t even drunk half the cup, so he was fairly certain the information had rattled Johnny a lot. This was a good thing. A rattled man was more easily swayed.
“Johnny, I know you think you’re good and truly stuck here, but that’s not true. If we work together we can stop whatever Seeger’s doing and make things right.” Noah hoped like hell Marina was right about her friend.
Johnny stood with his back to Noah and blew out a breath. “I don’t know if I can help you.”
Noah rose. “Yes, you can. Marina told me about your deal with Dickinson. Tell me everything you know and maybe between the two of us, we can figure out what to do.”
It was a topsy-turvy feeling to be the one planning and pushing for change. He’d always shied away from being up front and in the spotlight. Yet here he was, fighting for his new town.
Johnny’s gaze finally met Noah’s. “I guess if’n I go to jail, I’ll probably die quick.” He shrugged. “Maybe I can make some amends for what I done before I meet St. Peter.”
Noah held out his hand. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet, boy, it’s a hard row we’re going to have to hoe. You sure you’re ready?” Boyton’s watery eyes reflected fear and resignation as he shook Noah’s hand.
“I’m ready. Just tell me the truth.” Noah sat back down.
Johnny landed in the chair with a thump. “It started about ten years back when the first sheep rancher came into Chancetown. Fella by the name of Spiegel. He brung in about a thousand of those wooly creatures, stunk something awful. Spiegel didn’t keep ’em on his land either. They ended up eating half the pastureland around Shep’s ranch and his cattle were skinny that fall. He only fetched half the price for them and was mighty angry about it.”
“I can understand being angry. What happened to Spiegel?” Noah had a feeling he already knew the answer.
“Spiegel liked to drink. One night he drank too much down at the saloon and broke his neck falling off his horse on the way home. Seeger slaughtered the sheep and sold the wool and meat. He kept the profit and made sure Spiegel’s widow left.” Johnny looked at his trembling hands. “It was another three years before another sheepman came in. Marsters was different than Spiegel, but kept to himself. When something happened to his herd, nobody listened to him or believed him because no one even knew who he was. I did, but I pretended like I didn’t. You see, by then Seeger knew he needed me, so he gave me part of the profits from the sheep.”
Shame crept into the old sheriff’s voice. Noah had no patience for what greed did to men or what they justified in the name of money. Marina obviously didn’t have the entire story of what Johnny had done.
“Two more sheepmen came through over the next seven years. They only lasted a few months before Seeger drove them out. I think that bastard Spiegel turned Seeger so badly against them sheep that nothing was gonna change his mind. Then after Finley settled in, Seeger started right in on him.” Johnny wiped his eyes on his sleeve. “Finley was different though—he hung on for over a year. I knew it was going to end in blood and didn’t want to be a part of it anymore.”
“So you plucked me from the saloon and threw the problem in my lap without any warning.” Noah’s slumbering anger at the old sheriff surged anew. “How does Dickinson fit into Seeger’s hatred for sheep ranchers?”
Johnny looked like he might burst into tears. “Dickinson bullied himself into being mayor. He’s Seeger’s cousin. I think Seeger figured that with someone over the town who he could manipulate, he could prevent sheep ranchers from even buying property. No matter what they did, Finley wouldn’t budge.” His gaze pleaded with Noah for understanding. “I didn’t know what to do and I can’t fight those two. They’re young bucks and I’m an old fool. When I heard you was a Calhoun… Well, I had a feeling you could do something.”
Noah shook his head. “What about your deal with Dickinson and Seeger?”
“Oh that. Yeah, I made that deal before I told them I’d hired you. They thought I was just gonna go look for a new sheriff. Seeger was mighty angry when he found out about you.” Johnny ran a hand down his face.
“First of all, there’s no guarantee they won’t fire me. Second, they could just as easily kill me and put some fool in the sheriff’s job who can’t find his ass with both hands.” Noah’s voice rose as his frustration let loose. “You set me up to die, Johnny. I was hoping to really make a difference in this town and meanwhile you were hiding behind dirty dealings and throwing me to the wolves.” Noah stood, knocking his chair over. “I’m sorry I came out here. But at least now I know who to tell my parents to hunt after I’m killed.”
Panic colored Johnny’s face. “No, that’s not true. Don’t tell your pa to come after me. I didn’t do anything.”
“Liar.” Noah leaned in so close he could see the flecks of fear in Johnny’s eyes. “I’m going to do my damnedest to fix this mess you made. If I can arrest Seeger and Dickinson you had better be there to testify against them or I swear to God I’ll kill you myself.”
Noah left the small cabin and sucked in a deep breath of fresh air. The atmosphere inside had been stifling to the point of making his stomach hurt. He’d known something was wrong, but he hadn’t known how deeply the law had been involved with the dirty dealings.
Johnny had been right about one thing. It was going to be a tough row to hoe. Noah mounted his horse and headed back to town, back to think and plan, back to the one person who kept him focused.
———
Rosalyn finished the dinner dishes by three o’clock. She hadn’t slept well the night before, with missing Noah like she did. It had been painful to have folks staring at her while that stupid man called her names. She’d wanted to hurt him as much as he hurt her. Noah had stopped her and for that, Rosalyn was angry with him.
Truth be told, she had almost gone to him for their nightly lovemaking. Elsa had seen her leaving and read her the riot act until Rosalyn felt so guilty she’d gone back in her room. She had no reason to be angry with Noah—he’d done his job and stopped bad things from happening at the celebration.
Rosalyn felt a bit like a spoiled child denied candy. She wanted to go to him, to be with him again, but her pride and temper had gotten in the way. She’d only hurt herself in the end.
With a sigh, she hung up the towel beside the sink and thought about how she’d be able to see Noah before tonight. She didn’t want to wait for dark—she wanted to set eyes on him now.
As if she’d conjured him from her imagination, Noah appeared at the back door, Whiskers at his feet. Rosalyn knew in a moment that something was wrong. His eyes brimmed with anger, frustration and need. Her first response was to throw her arms around him.
So she did.
Hard, warm arms wrapped around her, pulling her close until they were touching from head to toe. His whiskers scuffed against her cheek but she didn’t care. His embrace was like coming home. She felt safe and treasured and perhaps loved. They’d come to know each other’s bodies intimately but had work to do before they knew each other’s hearts and minds. Rosalyn was afraid that once he knew her story, the whole story, he might change his mind about being with her.
She had to take a chance if she wanted more than midnight visits to heaven.
“I need to talk to you,” she blurted before she lost her nerve. Whiskers meowed her approval.
Noah leaned back and met her gaze. “Me too.”
“Outside with you.” Rosalyn shooed the cat out the door, then walked over to peek through the door to the dining area. “Elsa’s gone to gossip with her friends. Come to my room.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want her chasing me with a rolling pin.” Rosalyn laughed. “I promise to protect you. Please, I have some things I need to tell you.”
Noah enfolded her hand in his. “Lead on, sweetheart.”
Rosalyn’s palms grew moist as they walked upstairs to her room. By the time they reached the door, she’d almost turned around four times.
“Nice room. Elsa’s treating you well.” He sat on the edge of the bed and put his elbows on his knees.
Rosalyn chose the floor since the bed might get her off the subject of what she needed to tell him. As it was, she was having a hard time controlling the urge to kiss him. Now wasn’t the time to kiss though.
“My daddy used to hit my mama all the time. He’d blacken her eyes a couple times a week, sometimes he’d even break a bone or two.” The memory of the sound of his fists hitting flesh had haunted many of her nightmares. “He left me alone though. Maybe because I was too small and not enough sport, or maybe because my mama always came between him and me. Either way, my daddy was not a good man.”
Noah focused completely on her, his brown eyes encouraging her to go on. She took a deep breath and prepared herself to rip the bandage off an old wound.
“One night, I must’ve done something that caught his attention because he hauled off and walloped me. My mother tried to come between us, but he just pushed her off. I was barely conscious at that point, and I’d lost half my baby teeth in that one smack.” She closed her eyes against the memory of blood filling her mouth. “He picked me up and I remember dangling off the floor and seeing him through red. I think he must’ve had me by the neck. The next thing I knew, a gun went off. It was really loud in our little shack. My father dropped like a stone and so did I.”
Rosalyn took a moment to catch her breath and try to swallow the tears that fell behind her eyes. Noah took a hand into his, silently urging her to continue.
“The town hung my mother before dawn and made me watch. I thought for sure they’d hang me too because I done something that made my daddy mad enough to try to kill me. I ran and hid where no one could find me.”
The Legacy Page 12