"Not really. But your face…it's so ashen. I…"
"It's about John…" Jo Ella began. "I don't know how to tell you this. I don't know if I can say it aloud. To me it's all so unthinkable."
Nadine reached for her and hugged her. "It can't be that bad, can it?"
"I'm afraid so." Jo Ella's voice broke with emotion. "You see, John went to see the baby. Naturally Martina's father was upset to say the least. He got the gun out. He shot John in the arm."
"Oh dear God…no!" Nadine wailed loudly.
"That's not all of it…" Jo Ella took her hand and squeezed it as if saying, hold on…it gets worse.
"What…what happened?" Nadine's eyes widened in fear.
"Martina's father…he held the baby up so John could watch and he killed him, right there. He killed that innocent baby so John couldn't have him. John pulled a small gun out of his pocket and killed the old man. Then John ran."
"Oh God no! How could this happen?" Nadine shouted aloud. She began to pace and to wring her hands and tears came out like a river. "No…it can't be. I never for once suspected anything so tragic in my life."
"There's more…"
"How can there be more?" Nadine stopped and suddenly gripped the edge of a kitchen chair until her knuckles turned almost white.
Jo Ella braced herself too. She couldn't look her in the eye and say it.
"John went to the cemetery, to his wife's grave, and he pulled the gun out once more…and Nadine….he killed himself. He lay on top of her grave when Harry found him."
Nadine fainted, right there in her own kitchen. Blackness invaded her senses and all thoughts disappeared as they were too horrific to bear. The tears were gone, and she fell to the floor.
Jo Ella screamed and Gabe came running in.
Jo Ella told him what had happened and how Nadine had fainted on the floor. Gabe expression was tight with concern for Nadine.
"It was too much. I shouldn't have told her all at once."
"Don't blame yourself. Can you bring the doc out here to see about her though. It's probably too shocking for her to deal with. I felt a tension in her ever since Sarah came out to talk to her. And that day, I knew there would be more trouble. It was in the air I felt it. But God knows, I never expected this. And neither did Nadine. I think she sensed something but was afraid to say it in words. But God help, I never figured on anything so terrifying as this."
"I know…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told her. Are you alright? I only did because this isn't the kind of thing you hear second hand."
"Yes, you're right. I'm glad it was you, but I'm sure it was hard to say. It is shocking…she would have heard from someone else, if you hadn't told her. It's better coming from you." Gabe comforted her. "From someone she loves."
Gabe picked Nadine up and carried her to their bed. He got a cold rag and laid it on her head. Jo Ella left to get the doctor.
Nadine roused about a half hour later, very quiet, very still, her eyes opened, but she didn't respond yet.
Gabe didn't say anything, he knew she wasn't ready to talk about it.
The doc came and tended her.
When he came out, Gabe and Jo Ella were in the kitchen talking.
"Well, I got her resting easier now. She'll be fine in a day or two."
"Oh…that's wonderful news." Jo Ella cried with relief, her hand on her forehead.
"No…the wonderful news is that she's gonna have a baby…" The doc smiled and looked from Gabe to Jo Ella.
"A baby!" Gabe stood up and grabbed the doc's arms. "Are you sure?"
"I think I've seen enough pregnant women to know." The doc laughed.
"Oh thank you Lord!" Gabe shouted and turned to hug Jo Ella. "She's been praying for another child. This will make everything more bearable for her."
Jo Ella was laughing and after having a cup of coffee with them, the doc left.
"I'm so proud for you and Nadine!" Jo Ella grabbed his hand.
"Thank you! We needed some good news about now!" Gabe smiled.
"We sure did! We sure did!"
Nadine would be so happy, Gabe had a grin on his face as he thought about telling her the news. He couldn't wait!
Chapter Twenty-Four
A week later Nadine went into town with Gabe and saw the girls again. The boarding house was buzzing with boarders, and Ma had invited her sewing club over to work on another quilt. They were all so happy for her, Jo Ella had told everyone.
"See…the only ones we have to worry about now are Trish and Maggie." Jo Ella announced as they gathered around the quilt. The women all admired the work that was done and they gathered their supplies of needles and threads before sitting to work on the quilt.
The frame had been hung from the ceiling and Ma let it down when she wanted to work on it. She'd done a lot of the work herself and designed the pattern for them.
Nadine couldn't wait to join them. Her sewing skills had increased and her and Sarah could make almost anything they put their minds to. Nadine had never realized how much she could do, until she tried.
"Is there any word from Maggie yet?" Nadine asked as she picked up the stitching across from Sarah.
The huge quilting frame took up most of the parlor and Ma's boarders had to walk around it to get out, but none of them seemed to mind as they found it interesting work to look at. A lot of them bragged on the quilt, marveling at the design.
"No, I guess she'll contact us when she's good and ready." Jo Ella shrugged drawing her needle up through the material easy like.
"Who's quilt is this?" Nadine asked, as she paused to look up at Ma.
"Why it's yours and Gabe's. We all have one, it's your turn. We take turns every year deciding on a new design and who will receive it when it's finished. Almost every lady in Vada has one of these beautiful creations." Sarah answered not missing a stitch as she talked.
"Oh my, I've so admired the others, I was hoping." Nadine laughed.
She looked around the quilting frame at the other ladies. She knew most of them by name now and felt comfortable talking around them.
No one mentioned John or his wife. Nadine was secretly thankful.
She looked at the quilt that would someday be hers and smiled. "It's just beautiful…"
They were making a pretty butterfly right in the middle of it with many different colors on it. Each piece of material that they added carried a special memory, and was told as they sewed. It was an old custom with quilt making that the design and the pieces carry a story with it, and whoever received the quilt would know those stories and treasure the quilt even more.
The stories were meant to be passed down from generation to generation.
Quilts were a winter pastime for most of the womenfolk in Vada, almost every woman in town had helped with the makings.
The women worked and talked at the same time. Everyone enjoyed it.
Later, Nadine went into the kitchen and was making the coffee while Jo Ella sliced everyone some pie when they heard gunshots coming from the main street of town.
The girls looked at each other then both of them ran out on the porch.
When more shooting erupted they headed for the main street. They didn't excuse themselves, but ran.
It didn't take them long to see what was going on. Dillon Spears was drunk and shooting up the town. Harry was calling him out, Jo Ella shrieked. "On no, not again."
Nadine didn't see Gabe.
"Dillon put the gun down, and I won't arrest you." Harry was saying. "Since I know you have the money to pay for the damage. Not as long as you don't hurt anyone. If you do, you'll answer to me and a judge."
"Can't do that Harry." Dillon shot the glass out of the general store window. "Just got back from a drive. Stopped off at Dodge and the Marshall there wasn't very friendly, the boys weren't able to cut loose. So we came home and figured we could have some fun here. We're only foolin' around, Harry. No reason to get your dander up. And I have no intention of killing anyone, just wanted to have some f
un."
"Fun with a deadly gun, can quickly turn into a disaster Dillon. Look there's no reason for all this." Harry suggested in a reasonable tone.
"I'm not doing anything, but having a little fun…"
"Fun you are going to pay for…" Harry assured him.
"Then I'll pay for it, won't I?" Dillon laughed and fired his gun into the air. "You know I’m good for it."
"Destruction of other people's property is not something anyone is good for Dillon. And it's certainly not fun to destroy." Harry explained. "Anyone presses charges you'll be behind bars before you know it."
Gabe was loading his wagon when a shot was fired at his feet. He jerked about, his hand ready on his pistol.
"Mr. you got a problem with me?" Gabe asked facing the drunken cowboy.
"I just wanted to see if you'd dance, that's all." Dillon laughed.
"I don't dance with guns, mister." Gabe frowned at the man, his hand ready for whatever came.
Harry moved toward him, while Dillon was talking, he got the jump on Dillon and tried to grab his gun.
Dillon turned the gun toward Harry and his finger began to squeeze on the trigger.
Another shot fired and this time Dillon fell at their feet.
Gabe realized it was him that fired the shot. He looked at Dillon lying in the street, then at Harry. He immediately handed his gun over to Harry. "I didn't mean to kill him…"
Harry stared at Dillon on the ground, blood oozing from his gut.
Harry looked at the gun and shook his head. "I know that Gabe. I'm not gonna arrest you for it. He almost killed me. I did a fool thing. I caused it. I shouldn't have jumped him. I should have waited until I had the drop on him."
A crowd began to build around them.
Jo Ella and Nadine ran toward them.
"Harry, Harry, are you alright?" Jo Ella grabbed her husband and hung on.
"Yeah, thanks to Gabe here, I'm fine." Harry announced loudly so the crowd would know that Gabe was not to blame.
Nadine came and hugged Gabe. She held him tight, and laid her head on his shoulder. "What happened?"
"Dillon happened. He was shooting up the place and then he started on Gabe. I tried to stop him and almost got killed myself, if it weren't for Gabe here, I would be dead now." Harry acknowledged. "His gun was cocked, his finger was on the trigger. If Gabe hadn't been so fast, I'd be dead now."
Jo Ella looked down at Dillon and tears sprang to her eyes. "He's dead?"
"Yes." Harry affirmed as he rolled him over with his boot.
Harry took the gun still in Dillon's hand and put it under his belt. "Thanks Gabe…"
"I'm sorry Harry, Jo Ella…" Gabe began.
Jo Ella shook her head and dried her eyes leaning on Harry. "Don't be, you saved Harry! These tears aren't for Dillon, they are for the husband I still have."
"Want me to go to the jail with you?" Gabe asked as the crowd moved in closer.
"No need for that…" Harry began.
"Shouldn't you let a judge decide that?" Someone in the crowd hollered.
Harry could have sworn it was Dillon's ranch foreman, but the words were out and now he looked at Gabe strangely. "Maybe you better come with me, Gabe."
Gabe nodded as though he totally understood.
The girls looked at each other and wondered what had just transpired.
Why was Harry arresting Gabe/
When they got to the jail, Harry locked him up, then looked at him. "This is for your own protection, you understand. The circuit judge will be around in a couple of days and we'll get this straightened out."
When Gabe sighed a little too loudly, Harry turned to look at him again. "You won't be here long, I can assure you. You saved my life, Gabe."
"I understand." Gabe nodded and then looked at Nadine. "It's best honey."
Jo Ella turned to Harry. "You're arresting him? After what he did for you?"
"No, I'm putting him in protective custody, Jo. That bunch outside might decide to do something drastic. I want to avoid that. He's in there for his own good. He knows what I'm doing." Harry told her. "Now you take Nadine on over to Ma's and let her sleep there. He'll be out in a day or two and they can go home."
Nadine watched with wide eyes. "But he saved your life!"
"Yeah, he did. But now I gotta save his. Trust me Nadine, it's for his good." Harry pleaded. "Lon gets that crowd stirred up, there could be a lot of trouble. I don't want any trouble and I know that Gabe is innocent."
Nadine eyed him, and Jo Ella, then she looked at Gabe.
"It'll be alright, honey, go on over to Ma's and stay a couple of days. This will blow over soon. Harry's dong the right thing."
Nadine went up to the bars and kissed him on the lips. "I'll come see you tomorrow…"
"Don't fret honey." Gabe assured her.
She nodded dully.
"I'll try not to worry."
As they walked home they had to make their way through the gathering crowd outside. One man was rather loud and obnoxious.
"We gonna let a darkie get away with something like this in our town?" The man asked. "Dillon was just funnin'. he meant no harm. Everybody knows that."
Nadine shivered, then glanced at Jo Ella, hugging her, "Now I understand."
"Good. I was hoping you'd see." Jo Ella patted her on the back. "Come on, let's go home and you can come see him tomorrow."
Nadine shivered and let Jo Ella guide her back to the boarding house, as her tears were blinding her.
Ma was on the back porch looking out to see what was going on. They explained it and Ma covered her mouth. She shook her head. "I'll swan. Must be some of Dillon's men in town causin' all the ruckus."
"His foreman…" Jo Ella answered.
"Well, we done put the quiltin' frame up for the day, we'll work on it next week some. You girls come on in and I'll fix you a piece of pie and coffee." She offered them.
Nadine felt helpless, and afraid for Gabe. No matter how she justified what Harry did, she was afraid for Gabe. He'd killed a white man, and that might change everything.
"Don't you fret. Harry knows what he's doin'. If he locked him up, he had good reason. And as many deputies as he has, that jail is the safest place for your Gabe." Ma hugged her. "So you hold your head up. This will all cool down in a day or so."
"It wouldn't have been so bad, but Gabe actually saved Harry's life, Ma." Jo Ella looked sympathetic toward Nadine.
"Land sakes, you don't mean it. Well, no wonder Harry is so concerned. A lot of Dillon's men are pretty corrupt. Now that he's dead they got something to raise Cain about. But Harry won't let them hang him, Nadine…."
Nadine's eyes widened. "Hang him?"
"That's why Harry locked him up. He didn't want them thinkin' they could take the law into their own hands. This town has some pretty good people in it, but they can be stirred like bees with the right agitator. You rest easy and let Harry handle this. Your man will be alright." Ma assured her and patted her on the back.
The more they talked about it, the uneasier Nadine grew. She hadn't thought it would turn out like this. And she never thought of Gabe hanging.
One minute she was sewing on a quilt, the next minute Gabe was going to jail.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The next morning Nadine was up early. She joined Ma in the kitchen and helped her prepare the morning meal. Ma had everything going and Nadine suddenly wondered what time the woman got up. The sun wasn't up yet. But looking at Ma, in all her Motherly glory, Nadine understood why Ma was such a spunky woman. She was in her element, doing for others. What a woman!
People came in and out of the kitchen for coffee, and some waited in the formal dining room for their breakfast. Since Ma had a full house there was a lot of cooking to be done and she was grateful for the help.
When one particularly tall man came downstairs, she shouted out to him. "Mind the quiltin' frame Robert, it might hit you in the head."
"Thanks Ma…" The man hollered back.
"Did you sleep any last night?" Ma asked as she put a pan of biscuits in the oven and glanced at Nadine.
"Not really. I was worried…"
"And understandably so. But you lookie here now Nadine. Harry is gonna take good care of Gabe, and I would think that Gabe must trust him since he didn't make a fuss about going to the jail. So don't you worry, everything will straighten out in a day or two. Harry just wants to make sure Gabe makes it to trial."
"No matter how much you and Harry love us, Ma, me and Gabe are black and persecution is a way of life for us sometimes. I just never thought it would happen here."
"It hasn't really happened here, Nadine. The people won't be fooled by all the talk. Everyone knows that Dillon's men are no good. Never have been any account. They know Gabe and some of them had to have seen what happened, the streets weren't empty." Ma explained turning to look at her. "Harry's just makin' sure it's all done legal and then no one can point a finger and say justice wasn't done. Plus, the extra deputies he puts on during times like these would scare off most crowds."
"I hope you are right. I surely do." Nadine cried.
"Aw now honey. Don't you cry, everything is gonna be alright, I tell ya."
Sarah and Joe came in. They had heard the news and were worried for Nadine too.
"Harry won't let this get out of hand." Sarah said trying to sooth Nadine.
"I'm sure he'll try to keep things calm, but that don't mean he can."
"Don't go borrowing trouble." Ma spouted, flipping an egg in the skillet.
Then she flipped the hash brown potatoes.
She had three skillets going at once when she put the ham on to fry.
Nadine helped herself to the coffee after she made a whole pan of biscuits for Ma.
Jo Ella came down and joined them.
"I knew you didn't sleep a wink last night, did you?" She asked putting her arm around Nadine.
"Not much, no."
Joe grabbed a cup of coffee and joined them at the table. He laid a hand on Nadine's and looked straight at her. "We just came from Harry's office and he's got three deputies working all day for him, and two will come on tonight."
Last Bride, Last Man (Book Three of the Red River Valley Brides Series) Page 19