The rooster immediately hopped off the man's head and actually defecated on the reverend’s shoes, walked a few steps away, turned and looked up at the preacher as he puffed out as much as he could and let forth a hearty COCK-A-DOODLE-DO!! The Reverend jumped back and covered his head with his hands as if afraid the rooster was about to attack again. Henry looked the Reverend in the eye. “As you can see, Bob is very protective of Hannah. I assure you that nothing untoward happened under his watchful eyes or beak.
“However, I am going to say this, Reverend. Your near hanging didn’t teach you anything, did it? You better learn to curb that tongue of yours or the next time I see a mob trying to hang you, I might just ride on by.”
Millie had taken Hannah in her arms and the two were off to the side talking. Henry looked at the Doctor and the other minister. “Either of you want to chance angering Hannah’s protector?”
The doctor shook his head. “She said you were shot?”
“Yeah, in the back. She patched me up.”
“Would you mind if I took a look to make sure?”
“No, come on in the cabin and I’ll let ya see.”
The doctor nodded; he and Reverend Bing started toward the cabin. Reverend Theodore startled when Bob flew up and flapped his wings in the man’s face and he froze. “I don’t believe the bird will allow me to pass. “
Henry laughed and nodded. “I reckon you’re right, Reverend. Maybe you’d better just stand real still so Bob doesn’t think you’re trying to attack Miss Coppersmith again.”
Still chuckling, Henry entered the cabin and undid his buttons. The doctor checked and probed the wound. “Looks very good; she did an excellent job.”
Henry agreed and told the doctor so. Then Callum Bing cleared his throat. “Henry, you know what is going to be expected of you after spending the week alone in Miss Coppersmith’s home?”
Henry nodded. “We both do, Callum. We were actually on our way to see you when you pulled up. I asked her to marry me this morning and she agreed.”
“Well then, good. Don’t get me wrong, lad. I’m glad the lassie patched you up, but I’m even more pleased you agreed to do the right thing. The woman’s been through enough at the hands of the men of Creede without having to go through what would have happened if you’d refused.”
“I promised to keep her safe, Reverend, and I plan to spend my life keeping it.”
“Well, if the doctor and my sister will stand as witnesses we can marry you both right here.”
“Then let’s go see what the women have to add. I need to go see Ketchem, too.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because, Doctor, I’ve looked at it every way I can and the only person I can come up with that shot me in the back is Ketchem.”
“Are you sure? I mean, I know he bends the law for Anders from time to time but attacking a U.S. Marshal; that’s a death sentence.”
“I am fairly certain. Letting him see me alive and making sure he knows I’m going to be looking for the man who shot me might be enough to get him to mess up.”
“Well, let’s go get you wed so the two of you can do what you need to do today.”
With that the three men exited the cabin to get the women and have a wedding.
Ten
Hannah watched as Henry went inside the cabin with Doctor Thomas and Reverend Bing. Bob was still riled up and wouldn’t allow Reverend Theodore to move at all. She turned her attention back to Millie who had been talking to her. “I’m sorry, Millie, what were you saying?”
The other woman smiled and patted her arm. “It doesn’t matter now. You’ve answered my question without saying a word. I wanted to be sure you were okay with what was going to inevitably happen here, but I can see that you’re completely in love with Marshal Wheeler and my concerns are unfounded.”
Hannah blushed. “I am in love with him. I’ve been in love with the idea of him since I was seventeen.”
Millie looked at her in surprise. “Oh? I didn’t realize you and the Marshal knew each other that long.”
Hannah nodded, “We grew up just a few blocks from each other. He courted my sister for a while.”
Millie’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Yet you claim you’ve been in love with the idea of him since you were seventeen?”
Hannah sighed; she hadn’t wanted to have to tell this story again. “Yes, while he was seeing my sister we had several occasions to talk. He was going to take over his father’s store back then. I always wanted to become a nurse and told anyone who’d listen that I was going to go to nursing school when I finished school. My mother was determined that my sister and I would marry well, but I didn’t want that. Henry was the only person back then that listened to my dreams and took them seriously. He encouraged me to follow them. I was heartbroken when my sister accepted another suitor’s proposal and Henry stopped coming to our house. Then we’d heard he’d gone west as a Deputy Marshal. I never thought to see him again.”
“And you are okay with the fact that you’re about to marry one of your sister’s suitors?”
Hannah blushed and then nodded. “My sister was never serious about Henry. She even laughed in his face when he proposed to her. He wasn’t from a wealthy enough family for my sister. My only concern was that he still was in love with my sister. He’s shown me that he is not.”
Millie’s eyes got wide. “What are ya tellin’ me, Hannah? Was Reverend Theodore right in his assumptions?”
Hannah glared at her friend and the sister of the pastor everyone liked. “No! Nothing happened like you are thinking. You know me better than that, Millie. Henry is barely healed from his wound and loss of blood. Besides, I planned to come to my marriage bed pure and Bob has been very protective of Henry getting too close. But we’ve had time to talk and share our thoughts and fears and dreams this past week. That was all I meant.”
Millie nodded and hugged Hannah. “Good, I didna think you’d allow the man liberties, but I’ve heard that love makes people act as they shouldn’t sometimes. My other concern is what will your sister think of all this?”
“Esther is dead. The man she chose over Henry killed her about a year after their wedding.”
“I’m sorry; I didn’t know.”
Hannah shook her head. “Nothing to be sorry about. No reason for you to know; it’s not like I talk about it. I worry a bit about what Mother will think, but at this point she’ll probably be happy that I got married.”
Just then the men came out and headed their direction. Reverend Theodore fell in step with them. Bob was right on his heels making his presence known. When they all got to where she and Millie were standing, Reverend Bing turned to her. “Henry has told me the two of you talked and were coming into town to get married today. Is that true?”
Hannah moved over to Henry who put his arm around her shoulders. “Yes, Reverend.”
“Then if there are no objections, I’ll conduct the ceremony now and we can go into town and sign the license when we are finished.”
“Absolutely not!” Reverend Theodore bellowed. “Reverend Bing, I insist that they be placed in church discipline and be forced to live separate for a time before they are married. That is the proper and Christian thing to do. Otherwise we are just giving God’s approval to living in sin.”
Henry let go of Hannah and stepped up to the younger minister. “I believe you, sir, need a lesson in tact. Perhaps I should join Bob in teaching you that lesson.”
The younger man gasped. “You would threaten to lay hands on a man of God?”
Henry laughed in the other man’s face. “A man of God? Is that what you think you are? Let me tell you something, Eugene. I spent the last four years working alongside Reverend Nathan Ryder and spent plenty of time in the company of Reverend David Ryder, both of whom like Reverend Bing here, I consider to be men of God. You, sir, are nothing more than a Pharisee and a man using the office of minister to make himself more important.”
“How dare you, sir!”
Callum Bing looked at Doctor Thomas and Millie, both of whom nodded. “That’s fine, Marshal. Only I would urge you to marry today; it would be the best thing for Hannah and your reputations.”
Hannah smiled as Henry looked at her. “Reverend, I don’t give a hoot about my reputation but I’m not waiting one more day to make this beautiful and kind woman my wife. We’ll see you this afternoon.” Theodore opened his mouth, Hannah was sure to protest once more, but just then Bob started clucking and pecking at the man’s legs as high as he could reach without leaving the ground. Eugene screeched and started running for the buggy they’d all come in with Bob running after him clucking and flapping his wings right on his heels. “I believe Bob is telling Reverend Theodore it’s time for us to be going,” Millie said, trying hard not to laugh. As Doctor Thomas looked at Hannah, she could see disappointment for a brief moment on his face. “Yes, it seems like he is. Shall we drop the Reverend off at his church and go prepare for Miss Coppersmith’s wedding?”
The others nodded and the three of them moved to the buggy at a slower pace. Once they were all settled, Doctor Thomas nodded to her and Henry, and then turned the buggy and headed back the way they came.
“Let’s head into town as well. I want to go by the mercantile and grab a new coat and some supplies we’ll need in Topaz. Get what you want at the store, Hannah, there isn’t much food wise at my place. Even if we aren’t going to head that way till tomorrow, it would be wise to plan ahead.”
She smiled and nodded. He stopped and put his hands on her waist as if to help her into the buggy, but instead pulled her against him. She tilted her head back as his drew near to her and once again she was lost in his kiss, right up till Bob crowed a loud Cock-a-doodle-do, then Henry released her lips and helped her into the buggy. She heard him talking to Bob as he came around to the other side. “Your task is almost done, Bob. I won’t put up with you interrupting me after we say our vows.”
Henry climbed up beside her and reached for the reins. They both were startled when Bob hopped up onto the rear seat with a loud cluck and then settled in the middle. “I guess he means to see us to the church.”
Hannah gigged, “Well, it wouldn’t be right to get married and not have our chaperone present after all he’s done for us.”
Henry’s eyes showed his humor at the situation. “No, and if Bob’s there we can be sure Reverend Theodore won’t be.”
“No, not if he’s smart he won’t.”
With that Hannah snuggled close to Henry and with a snap of the reins they were headed into Creede.
Henry basked in the feel of Hannah holding on to his arm and snuggling in close on the ride to Creede. For him the trip was over too soon. He shrugged out of the bear fur in front of the mercantile and then helped Hannah down. He looked at Bob. “You stay here and watch over the buggy, Bob. We’ll be back as soon as we are done getting supplies.”
The ornery rooster clucked and ruffled his feathers as if to say okay. Henry was amazed again at Hannah’s curious bird. If he didn’t know better he’d think that it understood every word spoken to it. He turned and walked arm in arm with Hannah into the mercantile. Mortimer's new bride, Toria, was behind the counter which meant that Mortimer was probably upstairs having his lunch and Tom was either with him or on a delivery. Mrs. Jackson looked up when they came in. “Hello, Marshal, it’s good to see that the rumor of your death was wrong.”
Henry smiled. “Yes, I’m sorry to say I’m still alive and kicking. Just took a while to heal enough to get around.”
“So you were shot then? We had wondered when you never turned up anywhere.”
“I was lucky that Nurse Coppersmith found me and was able to fix me up. However, it was at the cost of that lovely coat you’d sold me. Would you happen to have another one?”
Toria nodded. “We do, I believe it’s hanging back there beside the scarves and gloves that Mrs. Clark has been making for us.”
“I’m much obliged. Hannah will be getting some supplies. I’m going to go over and let Ketchem know I’m alive; I’ll return and settle up with you if that’s all right.”
“That’s fine, Marshal. If we can’t trust the law to pay their bill, who can we trust?”
Henry chuckled, knowing that Toria was picking on him. He could also see the curiosity behind her eyes and knew that as soon as he left she’d be asking Hannah for the reason he was buying her supplies. Henry found the coat; it fit just like the last one so he left it on as he walked over to Hannah. “If there is a dress back there in the women’s section that you’d like for a wedding dress, get it.”
Hannah smiled at him. “I’m fine as I am.”
“I know that, but this is the only time you’re going to marry if I have any say about it, so just look and if you find one you like, get it please.”
“Since you put it that way, I’ll look.”
Toria Jackson was lit up with the news she’d overheard and said, “Oh, Hannah, Vivian just sent in a new gown I think would make the perfect wedding dress for you. I haven’t even gotten it out yet. Come see.” The two women headed for the back room and Henry used that opportunity to slip out the door and head over to the sheriff’s office.
When he reached the jail, he slipped the hammer thong off his Peacemakers just in case. He was convinced that the only person who could have shot him was Ketchem and the fact that the man had been telling people he had been shot and was most likely dead seemed to be the final verification Henry needed. He couldn’t arrest the man without proof but he planned to let him know he was still alive and more determined than ever to prove the sheriff was crooked and would add attempted murder of a U.S. Marshal to the crimes he was investigating. Once he was ready, Henry opened the door of the jail and stepped inside, sliding to the right and keeping the wall behind his back.
Black Jack when he heard Henry entering the office, turned white as a sheet. “Marshal, we thought you were dead when you didn’t turn up for a week.”
“Sorry to disappoint ya, Jack.”
“Not disappointed, relieved actually. Didn’t want to have to wire Marshal Ryder and have the Preacher back in my town again.” He indicated the chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat. Want some coffee.”
Henry smiled. “I’m fine standing, thank you, and I don’t need any coffee. Just wanted to check in and let you know I’m still alive. Nurse Coppersmith removed the bullet and sewed me up. I’ve been snowed in and recovering since. Doc just checked the wound himself this morning; said she did a right nice job of it.”
“Well, that’s good. We all figured you’d died trying to get help. Glad you didn’t.”
“I’m sure you are. I’ll be back at my investigation next week but wanted to ask you if you got any leads on who shot me in the back or if you’d arrested Archie for trying to lynch the Reverend. I can see you didn’t.”
Jack shook his head. “The snow made finding any tracks of who might have shot at us impossible.. Lucky for you I came along when I did or they might have finished the job.”
“Umm hmm. And Archie?”
Ketchem held his hands out in the innocent pose. “I know you think that he was one of the instigators but Mr. Anders and a ton of other witnesses all say he was at the Golden Nugget all night that night. I think you were mistaken.”
“Then I guess that tells me what I need to know about your choice, doesn’t it? If I were you I’d be thinking of making a change Ketchem, won’t take me long to ge
t the evidence I need to prove you’re in Ander’s pocket. Since you don’t seem too concerned with investigating my shooting, I’ll just have to look into that myself, too. By the way, do you still have that derringer you used to brag about keeping in your vest pocket?”
Ketchem’s face turned even more pale. “Um… no, I lost that two weeks ago in a card game over at the Nugget.”
“I see. Who’d you lose it to? I’d like to talk to him since I was shot with a small caliber weapon like a derringer.”
“New guy named Gus Reed, runs Anders’ upstairs for him.”
“Better hope he backs your story, Jack. Attempted murder of a Marshal is a hanging offense.”
“Now see here. I fired on whoever it was that shot at us. Remember I was there in the line of fire, too.”
Henry leaned off the wall and let his hands fall to rest on his gun belt just behind each holster. “Were you? As I recall, you were behind me when that shot rang out. Funny how I got shot in the back and you didn’t even get a scratch.”
“What are you insinuating?”
“I think you know what I’m saying, Black Jack, You better hope that Reed fella backs your claim and can show me that derringer. Else I’ll be back and slap cuffs on you.”
“Now see here, there’s no call for that.”
“Just giving you fair warning, Ketchem. One way or another you’ll end up behind my bars soon and Creede will be better off for it. Now if you will excuse me, I need to go to the saloon and then fetch my bride to go see Reverend Bing.”
“Your bride? Who you marrying?”
“None of your business now, is it, sheriff? I’ll be seeing ya soon. Lucky for you I got an appointment with the Reverend or I’d be hauling you away today, I bet.”
Ketchem stood and reached down, only to be looking at the barrel of Henry’s right hand Colt. “Now you wouldn’t have been thinking of trying to shoot me again, would you, Jack?”
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