3. Abilene
The boys were rambunctious and didn’t stay in their seats for more than a few minutes at a time for the whole train ride, except when they were sleeping. Candace, however, was so quiet, her groom-to-be wondered if he had picked up the right bride. Her face was drawn with worry, so he left her to her thoughts for the hours they spent riding side by side down the dark track. By Kansas City, her spirits appeared to have improved. She smiled as she forced the excited boys to sit still long enough to eat the breakfast Craig insisted on buying for them. Candace still couldn’t eat, though. Her mind was still reeling from discovering that her rancher was actually a sheriff. She knew she needed to come clean to him before he found out some other way.
By the time the coach arrived for the last leg of their trip, Candace had decided to wait until they reached their destination, knowing that it might cause her more trouble when he sent her packing in a rage, but too timid to confess something so terrible in front of her brothers and the other woman riding the coach with them. She looked up into the lawman’s eyes as he offered her his hand to climb into the interior of the coach. She smiled shyly and blushed when from behind his back, he produced another flower. This one was nothing like the other. It was bushy and painted vibrant shades of red-orange and yellow.
“It’s an Indian paintbrush.” Craig murmured to her. “It grows wild wherever it can take root out here, and it’s one of my favorites.” He answered her smile with one of his own and whispered into her ear so softly, she wondered if she’d imagined it. “I’m a little nervous too, Candace-love. Don’t be afraid of me.” She flinched at his words, and her blush deepened. Too shaken to answer, she nodded her agreement and he boosted her into the cab. Sill and Darren took turns riding with the driver, so there were frequent, but brief stops along the way.
The other woman in their party turned out to be an entertainer of some sort on her way through Abilene. Candace couldn’t quite understand exactly what kind of performer she was, but the singer or actress or whatever she was took a liking to the sheriff and talked almost nonstop for the entire trip. When she paused long enough that Candace thought she might finally be able to speak to Craig, he pulled his hat over his eyes and went to sleep. The sharp-eyed woman gave Candace a long look and then sneered.
“Oh, you look so sad.” The woman scoffed at Candace. “You didn’t think he’d want to talk to you, did you?” She shook her head in mock sympathy. “Don’t worry dear, I’m sure you’ll find some hunchbacked cowpuncher who will scoop you up someday.” She laughed derisively and turned her attention to the scenery on the other side of her dusty window.
Sill, who was riding in the carriage next to Candace at the time, clenched and unclenched his fists. He looked between Candace and the other woman with shock and rage on his usually sweet face. Candace shook her head and held one of his hands in her own, until he relaxed enough that he stopped shaking and his fingers loosened. He put his head on her shoulder and exhaled. He glared at the woman until the rocking of the carriage finally put him to sleep.
Candace finally drifted off too, and when she awoke, it was as the coach jerked to a stop. Sill nearly fell off his seat, but she instinctively reached out with her arm and held him back. The woman was talking to Craig again, resting her hand possessively on his arm. When he noticed her stirring, Craig glanced over at her. She looked at the woman’s hand and shook her head in disgust, then turned away from him. The coachman swung down to open the door, and Darren began lowering luggage to the ground. Candace helped Sill out, then he turned and gave her his hand. She hopped out with a quick jump and walked toward where the coachman now had Darren carefully stacking the trunks and carpetbags.
Craig stepped out next, blinking in the sunlight. He saw Candace and her brothers collecting their luggage, and saw Candace instruct Darren to leave his small bag behind. He rubbed his neck and absently thanked the driver, wondering exactly what he’d done wrong. He stepped away from the carriage and a rather shrill voice called out behind him for assistance. He looked back at the garish woman who had caused him so much auditory distress over the course of the journey. She had called herself an “entertainer” but what his cop sense told him was “low rent whore”. She batted her hand at him, as though asking him to help her down. He pretended he thought she was waving goodbye, and with a curt salute, pivoted on one heel and strode over to the luggage for his one small bag.
Candace had no idea where to go, so instead of leaving him behind, she was forced to merely glower at Craig as he caught up to them. He didn’t know how to deal with this new unhappy version of the pretty woman he’d brought home. He looked her over. Her bonnet was crooked, she was covered in travel grime and looked exhausted and had to be hungry after barely pecking at her food for two days.
“Let’s get you set up at the Abilene hotel so you all can get the travel dust off you before dinner.” Craig suggested. The Sill nodded happily and Darren crowed at the prompting. Candace’s expression softened, and she too, nodded her assent. Craig lifted her bag out of her hand and with his other, picked up one end of the larger trunk to help Sill. Darren carried the smaller of the two on his own and together, they headed into the hotel to check in. Eva saw them first. Waving her hands like they were feathers on a hen, she herded the two boys up to their room with much tongue clucking and concern over how thin they looked.
As Candace stood there, stunned, Karl walked up to introduce himself. He smiled and bowed over her hand as though she were the Queen of England. Craig laughed and brushed the dust off his hat.
“Welcome to Abilene, Miss…” Karl trailed off and looked to Craig.
“Shepherd, you old goat.” Craig laughed. “Miss Candace Shepherd. The two young men your lovely wife just kidnapped and is about to force to a level of cleanliness they didn’t know existed, are her younger brothers, Sill and Darren.” He set his hand under Candace’s elbow. “Candy-girl, this is Mr. Karl Mayweather. He owns this fine establishment along with his wife, Eva.” Candace dipped into a small curtsy and smiled at the hotel owner.
“Thank you for…” She trailed off as a man wearing a star burst in on them.
“Sheriff!” He exclaimed. “Mighty glad to see you, sir.” The young man blurted. He was twisting his hat in his hands and shuffling as he glanced from the sheriff to the pretty young woman.
“Good to see you too, Mark.” Craig replied. “Why don’t you go ahead and tell me what’s got you all in a knot, son?” Mark nodded and gulped hard.
“More railroaders are moving in sir.” The young deputy shifted his hand from hand to hand and glanced around again. “The cow pokes are making a pretty big fuss about the new gun law. They say they need to be able to protect themselves from threats from the newcomers.”
“God almighty. The biggest threat I can think of is drunk cattlemen with guns and a chip on their shoulder.” Karl swore.
“That’s the truth.” Craig sighed. “Karl, please get Miss Shepherd situated and have Eva show her and her brothers around. Karl nodded his assent with an, “ayuh” and escorted Candace toward the stairs. Craig tipped his hat to her and smiled an apology. “Candy-girl!” He called out to her as he reached the front door. “I’ll get some work done while you and the boys rest up, and tomorrow, we’ll take a ride out to the ranch, okay?” Candace nodded. Craig grinned. “See you at supper. I’ve got a friend for you to meet.” Her slow smile spread to her eyes for the first time since they’d left the grimy flat in Boston. Emboldened, Craig winked at her. He set his hat on his head at a rakish angle and ducked out the door behind his deputy
“Is he going to be all right?” Candace asked in a murmur. Karl patted her on the shoulder and waved down his wife who was just exiting the room she’d sequestered the boys in. Pinched between her finger and thumb were the travel clothes they’d been wearing.
“Eva, this is Miss Shepherd, the older sister and guardian of those two boys whose clothes you’re carrying with such contempt.” Karl laughed. Eva smiled at him.
“I sent the trunks to your room, I hope you don’t mind setting out some clothes for your brothers.” Her smile widened to a grin. “They put up a fight, but as you can see, they’ll be needing some clean britches.” Candace laughed out loud, a sound that came from so abruptly it startled her. There was something about this older woman that reminded her of a different time in her life, when she was allowed to have fun. She giggled again as Eva made a face of disgust and followed her the rest of the way up the stairs, still smiling.
While Candace and the boys were safely ensconced in the hotel under the capable watch of Karl and Eva, Mark led Craig to the stables, where a group of cattlemen had gathered and were saddling up their horses.
“You boys riding somewhere this evening?” The sheriff asked nonchalantly. He shifted his hand to his gun hip, and tipped his hat back on his head. A couple of the cowhands jumped at the sound of his voice.
“Sheriff, thought you were out of town.” Junior Quincy gulped. “Me and the boy was just taking a ride, ayuh.” He babbled. The sheriff looked around at the men standing around, none of them meeting his eyes. He called out, greeting a few by name and the whole crowd shifted uneasily.
“Now boys,” Craig proposed, “I did just get back into town, right this very hour. And while I am more than willing to do my job and protect the law, I’d be very much obliged if you all would put your horses back in their paddocks and take a night to think about exactly what it is you are trying to accomplish here.” He scratched his head and looked around. “Because to me, it looks like you are deliberately trying to get arrested, and I just don’t understand that, Junior Quincy.” He looked over at Junior, who ducked his head and mumbled something unintelligible in response. “For Christ’s sake, Junior, you were in my jail when I left! What are you thinking? Did you miss me that much?” Craig swore, exasperated.
A few of the men chuckled, and the air in the stable became more breathable as the tension eased abruptly and completely, as though someone had popped a balloon. Some of the men nearest the sheriff and his deputy tipped their hats to the lawmen and shuffled out, patting Mark on the shoulder on their way out. Junior stood sullenly in the center of the stables. He stared angrily at the ground and refused to make eye contact with Craig.
The sheriff sighed and brought out his handcuffs. He patted Junior on the arm and put a foot to the backs of his knees, forcing him to kneel on the dirt floor. Just as he was about to cuff him, Bud came bursting into the stable, half his face swollen and purple. He swallowed and then swallowed again as he tried to make his mouth forms words around his painful, inflamed mouth
“Please, Sheriff.” The older of the two twins pleaded. “Junior’s stupid, you know that, but he wasn’t trying to start trouble.” Craig lifted a lantern off the wall to get a better look at the wounds on his friend’s face. “I w..w..was just heading home from getting some pie and coffee at Miss Annie’s place, and a couple of drunk railroaders came at me from the dark.” He tried to stretch his jaw and gasped from the pain his effort caused.
Sheriff Ferguson patted the man on the shoulder gently, and paced the stable, rubbing the back of his neck. He sighed and helped Junior to his feet, brushing hay off of his knees. Mark shrugged and shook his head when Craig glanced at him, saying the twins hadn’t gone to him about the attack.
“Well now, “The sheriff drawled. “You fellas know that if you have trouble, you come to me, not handle it yourselves.” He stared down both of the twins and they nodded in agreement, eyes downcast. Craig turned to Mark. “You were certainly not exaggerating the escalation, were you?” He groaned. “Oh well, I guess we all can wait a few days for this to blow over, before we go out to the ranch.” Mark winced.
“Sorry, Boss.” He agreed. “I know this is a bad time, but I am glad you’re back early. I swear those rail boys were just waiting for you to be gone to start trouble.” Mark put his hands on his hips and spat into the dirt. “I wasn’t picking a side, but I got to admit, I’m starting to feel real sympathetic to the cowpokes around here.” Craig nodded. His face was grim as he spoke.
“Bud Quincy doesn’t pick fights with anyone but Junior.” He stated. “Those railroad camp fellas picked possibly the only man in town no one would believe had started the fight.” He sighed. Get to the telegraph office and send word to Marshal Ward in Kansas City that we have trouble brewing and could use a few more men of the law around here for a spell.” He directed. Mark set off without another word.
Craig breathed deeply and cursed under his breath. He gave the straw coated floor of the stable a swift kick, and headed over to the jail to write down what had occurred for when the marshals arrived. It was full dark by the time he retrieved Candace and her brothers and walked them down to Annie’s café. She was delighted to have them, and served them up a feast, letting them sample almost every item on her menu at once. For the third day in a row Candace picked at her food without really eating anything. Too worried to let it go any longer, he asked her to step outside with him so he could talk to her.
“Candy-girl. I can see there’s something wrong with you. Anybody with eyes can see it.” He snapped. “Please just tell me what’s wrong.” He pleaded. Candace looked like she was going to cry. She sniffed and nodded.
“Okay.” She sighed. “Something happened in Boston that I didn’t want to tell you about. Something that might make you send us away.” She tearfully told him. “Something illegal.” She added. She flinched automatically when he reached up to scratch the back of his head.
“Well, things were tough for you.” He replied. “I reckon anybody might be tempted to steal if they had a family to feed. Is that what happened?” Craig was at a loss as to what to say. It was unimaginable to him for this sweet girl to break the law.
“When I worked at the mill, when we first began our correspondence,” She explained, “The night foreman found my alone by my loom. He put his hands on me…” She stammered. “He tried to kiss me and I hit him with my shuttle.” Tears were streaming down her face as she recounted the details of the event. “I made his head bleed, and he called the police.” Her slender shoulders shook and he pulled her into his chest.
“You should’ve told me.” He chastised her. “Why wouldn’t you ask for my help?” he mentally berated himself for not checking on her when her letters had stopped coming. She cried into his shirt while he gently stroked her back. “What’s going on here is the priority right now.” He reminded her. “But, when I am done with this… issue, that has arisen, I will help take care of your problem. Okay?” He pushed her away to arm’s length and looked her in the eye. “I’m really glad you fought him off.” He admitted to her.
Candace chuckled and wiped her nose on her apron. Craig walked her back inside and cajoled her into eating a few more bites of the plate that Annie had dished up for her. Soon enough, Sill and Darren were in their large hotel bed, each reading by candle light, and Craig was saying goodnight to Candace at her door. He cautioned her to stay in her room except in case of emergency, and promised he’d check on the boys and make sure they didn’t burn anything down.
He headed down the stairs to the saloon and looked the place over. The Pinkertons that Karl had hired seemed to be keeping the peace fairly well. He reminded them that no patron was allowed to have guns, and one of them tipped his hat to the sheriff. The saloon seemed pretty well controlled at the time, but he realized before he even reached the door that tonight there were no railroad men at the tables. He prayed that they would be able to keep the two factions separated long enough for the main rail camp to arrive, which, complete with their own law enforcement officers, could avert trouble.
Craig slept in the jail that night, if it could be called sleep. Every mouse that scuttled through the cells, every puff of desert wind that breathed through the cracks in the crooked window frame, made him jump. By morning, he was sore from spending the night on a cot, and in desperate need of a pot of strong, black coffee. He was still stretching and rubbing the sleep from his ey
es when Mark burst into the jail, gasping for air.
“Sheriff, Junior Quincy’s dead.” The deputy reported. I left Karl and the Doc with Bud, He’s still in bad shape from the beating he took and when Dickie rode into town and told us what happened, he just fell apart.
“What did happen?” Craig asked. “Who else was riding with Junior and Dickie?” He splashed some water from the wash basin onto his face and neck to help wake him up. Coffee was just a distant dream now. He sighed. “Junior seemed pretty cooled off when he left us last night.”
“Yeah, well he got a bottle of rot gut in him and Dickie and Robertson got talking…” Mark rubbed his palm across his stubble. “He thought he’d go scout out the camp, real quiet-like, and see if he couldn’t pinpoint where the guys who beat up his brother were.”
“How did he know who to look for?” Craig asked. He was pacing the floor as he listened.
“Bud was able to get out a few details.” Mark replied. “In fact, you already met our friendly neighbors.” Craig stopped in his tracks and glanced at Mark, who was looking at him expectantly.
“The tall thin guy and the stocky redhead that were asking about The twins the night before I left.” Craig snapped his fingers. “Did you send for the marshals?” He asked as he began strapping on his gun belt.
“Ayuh, I did.” Mark replied. “Don’t know how long before they get here, though.” He added. Craig waved it off. So far they had at least two perpetrators, and possibly more, if the railroad men decided to protect their own from the legal consequences of killing Junior.
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