“If you could be with Ike, the same way you were with Abe, would you?”
“It doesn’t matter what I do or don’t want, or what I would or wouldn’t do. I’ve already made the first step with Abe. I’m not some soiled dove, and I’ll not act like one. Don’t you see how wrong it would be?”
Rachel moved closer and sat down in the grass. “Nothing is wrong between people that love each other. I’ve seen the way Abe and Ike look at you and they both have strong feelings.” She hesitated and looked up at Sarah. “I’ve also seen the way you look at them, and there’s no mistaking that you’re crazy about them, too. If there’s love in you for both men, then why not be with both of them?”
Sarah’s mouth dropped open. “Do you know what you’re saying? Do you know what people would say if they knew I was carrying on with the two of them?”
Rachel shrugged. “Who cares what other people think? If the three of you are happy, then it’s nobody’s business.” She pulled her legs up and locked her arms around her knees. “Do you know where I came from before they sent me to the Grover Street Orphan Asylum?”
“You told me your ma and you lived over a saloon and she worked there.”
Rachel took a deep breath. “That was only part of the truth. My ma ran a…um, a house of ill repute.” She laughed. “That sounds so ridiculous.” She cleared her throat, and raised her gaze. “My mother ran a whorehouse, a top-notch one.”
Sarah’s breath caught, but she didn’t say anything.
“The last two years of her life were the happiest I’d ever seen her. She’d taken up with a pair of gamblers who came around a couple of times a month at first, and then later they’d turn up several times a week. It got to where they were spending so much time with us she let them leave clothes in our rooms.” She picked up a dead leaf and began to shred it on her knee. “At first I thought she was cheating on them with each other. Then, they started coming together and staying for days at a time. They both loved her and she loved both of them.”
“Did they treat you right?”
“The treated me like a princess, just like I was their own daughter.”
Sarah leaned closer. “What happened?”
“Everything was going great. They were even talking about taking us with them to Texas. They took my ma out for an afternoon buggy ride to talk about moving and they were ambushed and robbed. All three of them were shot and killed.”
“Didn’t you have any other family?”
“No, it had always been just me and Ma. I never knew who my real father was.” She let out a bitter laugh. “I’m not even sure Ma knew who he was.” She hesitated. “The point I’m trying to make is you never know when your happiness is going to be taken away. If you’ve got two men who love and want you, then grab what you can while you can. Nobody, especially none of us, are going to think badly of you.” She grinned. “We all like Abe and Ike, even Daniel!”
Sarah studied Rachel and then pulled her into a hard hug. “How’d you get so smart at your age?”
Rachel leaned back and giggled. “Just lucky, I guess.” Her expression sobered. “I want you to know how grateful I am that you took me with you. With my background I know what Miss Rivers would have had in store from me. You saved me from a dreadful life and I mean to make sure you have a happy one.”
Sarah felt tears burn behind her eyes and quickly blinked them away. She loved Rachel and the boys as much as if they were her own children. She’d made her wish on the stars for a loving family all her life, and it looked like her wish was finally coming true. Maybe she could share her love with both men. As long as nobody in town found out, nobody should be able to get hurt. She stood and brushed the dirt from the back of her skirt. “Let’s get home, girl. Tonight I’m going to saddle Duke and pay a friendly visit to our neighbors.”
Rachel stood and smirked. “How friendly?”
Sarah smacked her on her butt. “Never you mind. Do you think you could put together supper tonight?”
“I’ve already got it covered. I put in beans to simmer before I came looking for you.”
“Then, let’s get moving and I’ll see if I can get Ike to forgive me.”
* * * *
Ike slammed his fist down on Abe’s desk. “You’ve wasted enough time. You need to ride out to see Sarah now.” He looked up when the door opened.
Daniel walked in and glared at Ike. “Afternoon, Sheriff. I’m here to do the cleaning.”
Abe sighed, and got to his feet. “Daniel, we’re going to have to have a long talk about you pointing a rifle at Ike. Right now, I want the two of you to shake hands and put this behind you. You’re going to have to let Ike and Sarah work things out on their own.”
Daniel set his jaw and raised his chin. “I’m not letting anybody hurt my family.”
Abe patted him on the shoulder. “Son, I won’t let anyone hurt Sarah or any one of you kids. I’m going to ride out there in a few minutes and straighten everything out. Now, do as I say and shake hands with Ike.”
Daniel moved forward and held out his hand. If looks could kill, Ike would have been lying on the floor.
Ike moved forward and took the boy’s hand. “I’m sorry, Daniel. I never meant to make her cry.” He hesitated. “I love Sarah, and I’ll never do anything to hurt her.”
“You love her?” Daniel glanced at Abe. “You both love her?”
Abe cleared his throat. “Why don’t we wait on that conversation until after I go talk to Miss Sarah? Would that be all right?”
Daniel laughed. “Sure, that’s okay.” He winked at Ike. “I sure would like to be a fly on the wall for that talk.”
Ike laughed. “How is everyone out at the farm today?”
“Sarah’s fine. She and Rachel are doing some last-minute canning today and told all of us to stay away until she called us. She doesn’t want to risk anybody opening the door and letting in a cool breeze that might shatter her jars.”
Abe nodded, and grinned. “Ma was the same way.” The door opened and Richard walked in. He rode the stage regularly, delivering packages and mail along the stops. “How’re things going, Richard?”
“Just fine, Sheriff. Don’t have any mail today, but the district court is sending fresh wanted posters to all the surrounding towns. These are yours.” He handed Abe a leather satchel. “You got any mail going out?”
Abe glanced over at the box he put out for the townspeople to place their outgoing mail. The box was empty. “Not today, but I’d like you to meet my brother, Ike West. Ike, this is Richard Martin.”
Richard held out his hand. “Pleased to meet you. Are you in law enforcement, too?”
Ike chuckled. “Not exactly. I’m a retired bounty hunter.”
Richard nodded. “Guess them posters might interest you more than the sheriff.” He glanced at Daniel. “And who are you, young man?”
“I’m sorry, Richard. This young man is my assistant, Daniel Kees.”
“Pleased to meet you, boy.” He looked up at Abe. “I’m heading over to Sadie’s and get me one of her pies to take on the road. I’ll see you gentlemen another day.”
“Safe traveling, Richard.” Abe watched him wave over his head and disappear down the boardwalk. He opened the satchel and pulled out a stack of papers. He turned to Daniel. “I got a job for you, son.” He pointed to the wall by the potbellied stove. “You see them posters?” The wall held over a dozen wanted posters of people still at large.
“Yes, sir.” Daniel moved to look at them more closely.
“Go through these new posters and match them up with what’s already there. If the poster has new information on it, take the old one down and replace it. If they’re the same, you can burn the new one in the stove. Leave any brand-new ones on my desk and I’ll pick up some tacks to hang them up.” He peered over at the boy. “Do you think you can handle that?”
“Sure, not a problem. I’m happy to do it for you.” He took the posters from the sheriff.
Abe turned to Ike.
“Come on, little brother. I’ll buy you lunch.”
“I’m not your little brother.” Ike grumbled as he followed Abe out the door.
* * * *
Daniel sat down at the sheriff’s desk and began to go through the posters. He looked at each one carefully, sometimes carrying it to the wall to compare side by side with one already hanging. Some of them had faded badly, and some had new charges printed on them. He was careful to replace the ones that had the changes.
“Damn, this guy looks mean.” He chuckled and placed the poster on the stack of new ones and then froze. “Oh, no.” He picked up the poster with hands that shook.
“Wanted. Sarah Keevers, daughter of Mad Dog Keevers. Five hundred dollar reward for her capture. Wanted for theft and kidnapping of four orphan children. Inquiries should be sent to St. Louis Circuit Court, St. Louis, Missouri.”
He took a deep breath. “They’re looking for Sarah.” He glanced up at the door and then quickly folded the poster and stuck it inside his shirt. “I’ve got to warn her.” He opened the door and glanced toward Sadie’s diner. When he didn’t see the sheriff or Ike, he mounted his horse and quickly rode off toward the farm.
* * * *
Sarah threw her hand out scattering the feed for the chickens. “Come and get it you little feathered demons.” She laughed when the rooster came charging her way.
“Sarah!”
She looked up to see Daniel racing toward her on his horse. She dropped the bucket and went running. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
Daniel jumped from the horse and ran into her open arms, hugging her tightly. His body trembled violently.
“Shhh, what is it.” She rocked him back and forth. “Come on now, I can’t help if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’m so sorry,” he sobbed. “It shouldn’t be this way.”
“What shouldn’t be this way, Daniel?” She tried to pull away so she could look at his face, but his grip around her waist was too tight.
“They can’t take you. I won’t let them.” Daniel continued to tremble, his breath coming in shuddering gasps.
Frightened, Sarah pushed away hard, and then reached down and grabbed his chin, forcing him to raise his head. Tears streamed unchecked down his cheeks. “Daniel, you have to tell me what’s wrong.”
He reached into his shirt and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Silently, he handed it to Sarah.
A fear unlike anything she’d ever known before washed over Sarah. She took a deep breath and slowly unfolded the paper. “Oh, no,” she sobbed. “This can’t be happening.” She raised her gaze to Daniel and pulled him into a tight hug. “Where did you get this?”
“The stage brought a whole bunch of wanted posters to the sheriff.” His hands tightened around her waist. “I’m supposed to hang the posters on the wall at the jail.”
Sarah swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Did anyone else see it?”
He shook his head against Sarah’s shoulder. “No, the sheriff wasn’t in the office when I found it.”
Sarah pulled back and kissed his forehead. “That’s good, quick thinking. It’ll make things easier.” She held the crying boy in her arms and looked over at her little sod house. I’ll have to leave now. The kids aren’t listed on the poster so they should be safe as long as they aren’t found with me. “Daniel, I need your help.”
He pulled back and wiped his shirt sleeve across his eyes. “What do you need me to do?”
“I want you to saddle Duke and get my saddlebags out so I can stock them.”
His eyes went wide and he swallowed hard. “What are you gonna do?”
Sarah brushed a tear off his face. “It’s best if I leave.”
“No, you can’t leave us.”
“I have to, at least for a little while. I’m gonna try and leave a trail the law will follow away from the farm so they don’t find the rest of you.”
“I thought you’d gone to town to work, Daniel.” Rachel came out of the house and walked closer. “You’re crying, what’s wrong?”
Daniel grabbed the poster and handed it to her.
Frowning, Rachel glanced at the paper. “This is you, Sarah.” She gasped. “It’s a wanted poster!”
Daniel snorted. “Tell us something we don’t know.”
Rachel sighed. “But what does it mean?”
Sarah put her arm around Rachel’s shoulder and gave her a little hug. “Don’t worry, sweetie. It doesn’t mention you or the boys. They’re only after me.”
“What are you gonna do?” asked Rachel.
“Sarah’s acting crazy. She says she’s gonna leave.”
“No!” Rachel grabbed onto Sarah’s arm. “You can’t leave us.”
“Shhh.” Sarah pulled Rachel further away from the house. “I don’t want the other boys to hear us if they come back early.” She stopped just inside the barn. “I’m just going away for a little while. Once I’m sure they aren’t looking for me anymore I’ll come back.”
Daniel crossed his arms over his chest. “You didn’t really do anything wrong. The money you took from Miss Rivers’s desk belonged to you.”
Sarah sighed and gave him a small smile. “That’s true, but I did take the four of you with me, and I had no legal right to do that.”
“They can come after you for that?” Rachel asked.
“Yes, they can. It’s called kidnapping, and I can go to prison for it.”
“Damn it,” cried Daniel as Rachel began to cry quietly.
“I’m gonna need you two to be strong, and to watch over things while I’m away.”
“You don’t have to go.” Rachel sniffed, and stared down at the poster. “This doesn’t really look all that much like you, Sarah.”
Sarah harrumphed. “I might agree with you if we didn’t live next door to a sheriff and his brother, the bounty hunter.”
Rachel shook her head sadly. “You never should have gotten so close with them. Then, maybe they’d leave us alone and you could stay here.” Her head snapped back and she narrowed her eyes. “What if you stayed here as Samuel, and never left the farm. Daniel and I could take care of all the business we have in town. We’ve already put in supplies for the winter. We wouldn’t even have to go back until the spring.”
Sarah put her hand on Rachel’s shoulder. “We got lucky this time. Daniel was able to get to the poster first. There’re bound to be others and we might not be so lucky next time.”
“That’s true. I think I heard the sheriff say the posters came every few months.”
“Besides, if I go back to living as Samuel, and Sarah disappears, Abe and Ike are going to be very suspicious.”
“It’s not fair.” Rachel cried harder. “I’m just beginning to feel like I have a real family.”
Sarah blinked back her own tears. She knew exactly how Rachel felt. Leaving her home, and the children behind, was going to kill her.
“Sarah, where will you go?” Daniel looked up at the sky. “Winter’s coming soon and the winters out here are pretty hard.”
She shrugged. “It’s only October now. I’ve still got a good month before the real cold weather hits. I’m going to head west and put down some temporary roots in the first town I come across.” She thought for a moment. “I think I’ll make it a large town. It’ll be easier to disappear in.” She turned to Daniel. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you and Rachel to tell some white lies for a couple of weeks.”
“Rachel and I would do anything for you, Sarah. What do you need us to do?”
“I want you to stall Abe and Ike. Make them think I’m still around, just not available to them, for as long as you can.”
“What should we tell Zeke and Jonathan?” asked Daniel.
“Tell them I had to go away to take care of some business and that I’ll be back as soon as I can. Lay low as much as you can. Like you said, we’ve already stocked up for the winter so you should be able to stay away from town. I’m gonna leave you a good bit of money s
o you don’t have to do without anything you need. Just don’t spend a lot at one time and only get what you need to get by.”
“Should I quit working for the sheriff?”
“No, it’s better if you can stick it out. He’d be really concerned if you stopped coming around. Besides, you’ll be in a great place to be first to hear if something’s going on. Maybe you can keep them from being suspicious long enough for me to get far enough away to disappear.”
Rachel grabbed her arm. “You are coming back, right?”
Sarah hesitated a moment and then hugged the girl. “I’ll come back as soon as I can, Rachel.” She closed her eyes for a moment and then looked at Daniel. “I want you two to be in charge while I’m away. Each of you is responsible for the other equally. You make decisions together and keep everyone safe. I’m going to leave the pistol with you since I can barely shoot the thing, and I’ll take the rifle with me. You keep it handy, keep the house locked up tight at night, and don’t be afraid to defend yourselves. I think you’ll be safe. Nobody would ever think to look for you here.”
Rachel wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “You try to get yourself home by Christmas. It won’t be the same if the whole family ain’t together.”
Sarah couldn’t stop the tears that flowed down her cheeks. She’d wanted them to think of themselves as a family. She hugged Rachel again. “Come on, you can help me get into my Samuel clothes and help me decide what to pack.”
“I’ll get Duke ready to travel.”
Sarah nodded and led Rachel toward the house.
* * * *
Sarah dropped her hat on her head and sighed. It felt strange to be dressed as Samuel after spending so much time living as a girl. She wished she’d been able to say good-bye to Zeke and Jonathan, but they were off fishing with Jake. Maybe it was for the best because she didn’t know if she could have taken their tears.
Martine, Missy - Star Wishes (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 16