A Western Christmas Homecoming: Christmas Day Wedding Bells ; Snowbound in Big Springs ; Christmas with the Outlaw

by Lynna Banning

  “Sheriff Baniff,” Abby said. “None of this is right. He’s not dangerous. He doesn’t belong locked up in jail.”

  “He’ll take off if I don’t confine him.”

  She glanced at Russ. Would he?

  He nodded.

  Oh, Russ! “Well, he’s innocent until proven guilty. Remember that. And he’s been injured. Please treat him with care.”

  The sheriff tipped his hat to her. “Think I got it, Miss White.” He headed out the door with Russ.

  Abby followed them to the boardwalk with Teddy and Doc Graham. The jail wasn’t far, just down the street, but Russ hadn’t walked that far since his injury. As he stepped off the boardwalk down to the dirt, one knee buckled and he clutched his side. She started toward him.

  Teddy took her arm. “Wait, Abby.”

  Sheriff Baniff tightened his grip on Russ and waited for him to catch his balance.

  “The sheriff is a good man,” Doc Graham said. “He’s just doing his job. He’ll sort through all this and do the right thing.”

  “He just has to,” she said. “I cannot consider the consequences otherwise.”

  They walked back inside the printing office. Teddy offered the doctor a cup of coffee and got one for himself while they waited for the sheriff to return. Abby sat on a tall stool at the counter. She wasn’t angry with the doctor. He had been a big help to Russ. But she was fiercely angry at all who had conspired to hurt Russ—Johnson most of all.

  When Sheriff Baniff returned, he took each of them separately aside into Teddy’s office to hear their own version of the story. The interrogation took twenty minutes apiece. They must have matched up, because when he finished with the doctor, he had no further questions for them. “I’ll just check the upstairs once more, if you don’t mind.”

  Abby followed him up. She picked up Russ’s hat and vest from the foot of the bed. “I think this is all there is. Will you take these to him?” She held them out, and as she did, she noticed a paper tucked in the inside vest pocket. She withdrew it. An envelope. It was addressed to a Mrs. McCabe in Barton, Colorado.

  “I’ll take that along with his things,” the sheriff said.

  Downstairs, while the rest of them looked on, he opened the envelope. Two hundred dollars in large bills had been stuffed inside, along with a note. The sheriff read it first. “Condolences,” he said. “But he doesn’t mention his innocence. I find that incriminating.”

  “He didn’t do it,” she said. It didn’t matter how many times she had to say it, she would forever if it would only help Russ. “You need to ask him why.”

  “I intend to.” He stuffed the letter and money back into the vest. “You are all free to get on with your business tonight. I’ll telegraph the marshal in Barton that I’ll be bringing Carter on the Kansas Pacific tomorrow.”

  Chapter Ten

  Russ lay on the cot, staring at the ceiling, his hands clasped behind his head. The fire in the stove had died down in the early hours of morning. He would have been an hour on the road to Denver if he hadn’t been discovered. As it was, he was stuck here in the cold jail cell while the morning light slowly turned the gray outline of the buildings outside his window to muted colors.

  Deputy Chadwick walked over to the small cast-iron stove and threw in a scoop of coal. He looked as tired as Russ felt. They’d both been up most of the night. What would Russ encounter in Barton? Would anyone believe his story after the lies Johnson had spread?

  Sheriff Baniff entered the one-room building carrying a covered plate. “Anything new to report?”

  “No, sir,” Chadwick said. “Quiet all night.”

  Russ eased his legs over the side of the cot and sat up.

  Baniff grabbed the cell keys from their hook on the wall. He unlocked the cell door and handed the plate to Russ, then relocked the door. “You’re good to head home then, Deputy. Thanks for your help.”

  Chadwick slipped on his wide-brimmed hat and headed out the door.

  Russ ate the breakfast of eggs and toast and bacon and was slipping the plate through the bars of the cell to the sheriff when Abby walked into the sheriff’s office.

  She looked like she hadn’t slept well either. Her hair had been hastily swept up on top of her head. She’d even forgotten her bonnet. She strode straight to the cell door and grasped the bars. “I’m so sorry this happened! I couldn’t think what to say!”

  He hadn’t expected her to take the blame on her own shoulders. He didn’t want her holding on to any guilt because of him. “I’m the one who landed unannounced on your doorstep. The responsibility is mine, starting all the way back in Barton. Like I said, I should have spoken more with the workers. I should have watched Johnson closer.”

  “You couldn’t have known he would betray you and then turn the town against you. Teddy said those men want to hang you. You need someone there to make sure you get a fair trial. I want to go with you, Russ.”

  They wouldn’t listen to her. Not for a minute. But he loved that she was willing. “You think they would care what you said? You are a stranger to them.”

  She shook her head, her eyes tearing up. “Probably not.”

  “Oh, Abby. Don’t cry.” Her tears tore him up inside.

  She stamped her foot. “There has to be a way to help,” she said, her voice filled with frustration.

  He slipped his hand between the bars and cupped her trembling chin. “You don’t do anything halfway, do you? And you don’t give up.”

  “Not when I’m sure of something. Not when I love someone.”

  He stilled. She loved him? He hadn’t expected this. He’d hoped, but... “Come here.”

  She pressed her face to the bars.

  He leaned down and kissed her. It didn’t come close to satisfying him. He wanted to hold her. Wanted to make her melt like she had with their kiss. Reluctantly, he pulled away. “I’ll do a better job next time.”

  A wobbly smile appeared. “Always the charmer.”

  “Only with you. I promise. From now on only with you.”

  A deep cough behind Abby made him glance over her shoulder.

  “Seems I missed a few changes while I was in Barton,” Ted said, and then stepped forward offering his hand. “Do your best to come back. I’d like you to meet my wife and daughter.”

  Russ shook firmly. “You’re a good friend, Ted. Always have been.”

  A whistle blew, signaling the Kansas Pacific pulling into the station.

  The sheriff walked from behind his desk. “It’s time, Carter.”

  Abby and Teddy stood back while Baniff unlocked his cell door and clapped the handcuffs on him. At least this time he was cuffed in front of his body, not in back. Abby slipped inside the cell and picked his hat up from his cot. She swept his hair back, her hand cool and loving against his brow, and carefully set his hat on his head.

  He swallowed, wanting to kiss her again.

  “Make sure he has a fair trial, Sheriff. Please. You are our only hope.”

  Baniff tipped his hat to her and, grabbing Russ by the upper arm, stepped outside.

  * * *

  Abby stood with Teddy and watched the train pull out of the station. She held herself with her arms crossed tight over her middle. She felt numb and helpless.

  “He’s gone, Abby.” Teddy put his arm across her shoulders, and gently urged her to turn back to the newspaper office. “Maybe you can fill me in on what happened while I was gone.”

  “I fell in love.”

  “Think I got that part. Let’s go have some coffee.”

  She needed something to keep her occupied. The worst had happened. Now all she could do was wait for news. “I’ll make it.”

  Teddy paused midstep, and then continued. “Right. You’ll make it. I’ll get busy on the paper.”

  At noon, Teddy went home for his meal. Abby wasn’
t hungry. She climbed the stairs and entered the room Russ had used. It was dark. Like her thoughts.

  She walked over to the window and slid the curtains open, tying each side back with their sash. Outside, the sun barely showed itself through a thick layer of snow-filled clouds. Across the street, Mrs. Taylor stood on the boardwalk in front of her husband’s barber shop, shaking a small rug.

  Abby turned away from the window and stared at the bed’s rumpled sheets, the mashed pillow, the blanket. She must get hold of herself. This moodiness wasn’t like her. None of her worry and doubt would help Russ. She marched to the bed and pulled off the sheets. She’d take them to the laundry.

  She carried them downstairs when a sudden thought stopped her. She could contact the widow! Maybe this Mrs. McCabe knew something—something she was afraid to tell the law there in Barton. Hadn’t Teddy said that people were afraid to speak because they were afraid they would be fired at the mine? Maybe Abby could get through to her, woman to woman. Maybe she could convince her to trust Sheriff Baniff. Hope flooded through her. She had to get to the telegraph office immediately.

  Chapter Eleven

  For eight days Abby had sequestered herself upstairs thinking of Russ. Yesterday, she had gone about in a fog of constantly worrying about Russ and whether he was all right. Teddy had commented on it and wouldn’t let her work the press for fear she would smash a finger.

  She had to get back to her job. Teddy had been managing too long by himself. Besides, it would keep her mind occupied until she heard word from Russ or the sheriff. Her worries about Russ overshadowed her newspaper work, but she sat down at her desk and started making a list of people she could talk to about advertising space. This one edition of the paper would be the Gazette’s Christmas gift to the town of Oak Grove and it would be free of charge. Christmas was about giving and it was time she started doing her part.

  After school, Patty stopped in the office. “I have my article. Will you check it?”

  Abby sat down at her desk and read the article with a critical eye. Slipping the pencil from over her ear, she made a few minor corrections. “This is wonderful, Patty. You’ve done an excellent job.”

  She grabbed the wire basket of the other articles she’d written for the special edition and walked over to the end of the counter where she spread them out. Together, they arranged and rearranged them until they were satisfied with what should be the lead article on the front page and what should be on page two, leaving spaces for advertisements.

  Patty thrilled at being part of the entire process. When they were done, she clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “People are going to be so surprised! This will be the best Christmas Oak Grove has ever had!”

  For the first time in days, Abby smiled. “After our regular edition goes out on Saturday morning, we’ll start pulling type for the Christmas edition. Mind you, it will take all day.” She rose and slipped on her coat.

  “Where are we going?” Patty asked, following her lead and tightening the scarf around her neck.

  Abby liked the way Patty jumped right in, ready to take part. It was a good quality for a reporter. “To the restaurant to mark your first officially accepted article with a celebratory piece of pie.”

  Patty’s grin widened. “I like the sound of that!”

  Abby laughed. “Me too. After that, we are going to round up some Christmas elves.”

  That afternoon Abigail and Patty visited neighbors, bartering advertising space in the Christmas edition in return for various gifts hoped for by the townsfolk. For the articles, she had planned only inspiring news that would hopefully bring the community together. The biggest news would be the town project that would be voted on at the Community Christmas Party in two weeks.

  * * *

  Sheriff Baniff arrived from Colorado on the Friday train and strode into the Gazette office.

  Teddy held up his hand. “Just a minute, Sheriff. Jamie. This is a personal matter. Would you mind stepping out for a few minutes?”

  When Jamie had gone, Abigail and Teddy turned back to the sheriff.

  “You and Carter were right about that town. Johnson has those workers tied up in knots. I did what I could to assure Carter a fair trial. They are securing a new judge to hear the evidence and I contacted that attorney in Denver.”

  “It sounds like you may believe Russ is innocent too,” Abigail said.

  “Innocent until proven guilty. I’ll let you know if I hear anything else. The trial is set for Monday.”

  “Thank you.” Teddy shook his hand. “Guess that’s all we can do.”

  “Not quite. Now that that part is done, there is the matter of you two and your involvement.”

  Oh, dear. Abigail had worried there would be repercussions on her and Teddy’s part in helping Russ.

  Baniff gave them both a stern look. “This had better be the first and the last time either of you harbor a wanted man in Oak Grove. The way I’m going to log it is that you and your brother were unwitting Good Samaritans. Although the two of you are the least ‘unwitting’ people I know in Oak Grove, we’ll leave it at that.”

  Abigail breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Sheriff.”

  Baniff settled his Stetson back on his head, nodded and left the office.

  She closed the door behind him. Then, slipping the pencil from her ear, she jotted a note in her notebook. When she finished, she looked up to find Teddy observing her.

  “What are you up to?”

  “Oh...just keeping a record of elves and unexpected gifts.”

  * * *

  Saturday morning, the Gazette office was afire with activity. Jamie and Teddy arrived early to bundle the stacks of the regular edition and load them on the wagon. At eight o’clock Abby waved goodbye to Jamie as he snapped the reins and drove his mule away from town. At the same time, she welcomed Patty through the door to begin work on the Christmas edition.

  After handing an apron to Patty, she instructed her how to pull the correct size and font of Hamilton type from the upper and lower cases, and how to use the composing stick to arrange the type backward and starting at the bottom of the page they would print to fit it tightly into the large frame.

  After two hours of steady work, Patty gladly handed off the composing stick to Teddy, then stretched her fingers and shook out her arms. “I’m glad the edition is only two pages! How do you manage this for one of your longer regular papers!”

  Teddy shared a smile with Abby. They both knew the aches and pains of typesetting well.

  “Why don’t you take a short rest? Look through the Christmas etchings in the drawer and decide which ones you’d like at the top of the page beside the heading.”

  A steady drizzle throughout the day against the hum of activity inside made the newspaper office feel cozy and warm. The scent of coffee and ink permeated the room. Abby was grateful for the busywork and the camaraderie of her brother, Patty and then Jamie once he returned from his early deliveries.

  Still, with any lull, she wondered about Russ. Was he warm? Had the attorney from Denver arrived to help? Did he miss her?

  When they were ready to print, Teddy handled the heavy press. It was too dangerous to let Patty manage it. Abby spread ink expertly on the large plate, and then Teddy turned the wheel, pressing the heavy iron plate of type against the sheet of paper. Patty then took up the newsprint and draped it to dry over the rope along the wall. Once dried, the entire process was repeated for the second page. It took the rest of the day and into the evening to finish. Finally, they were done, the papers folded, stacked and ready for distribution.

  The next day, the Gazette’s Christmas edition went out as scheduled. Patty handed it out after church. Immediately, her friends and family read her article on the front page and congratulated her, which made others stop and do the same. Discussions started up among those lingering on the fro
nt steps of the church about which gift made the most sense to start on first. The fishermen argued for benches along the river and the children pestered their parents about a park with swings.

  Abby stood back, enjoying the compliments that Patty received. The girl glowed, freckles, ink-stained fingers and all.

  Farther down the front page, Abby had listed anonymous wishes. She’d left instructions to contact her should the Spirit of Christmas come over anyone and they wanted to become an elf. She insisted on absolute secrecy. No one was to know the elves’ identities, and the elves weren’t allowed to divulge who they helped.

  By Monday, the box she had placed just inside the Gazette’s door was half-full with names of secret elves.

  * * *

  Monday was also the day of reckoning for Russ. The trial started at ten o’clock, and from that moment on she waited in suspense for the outcome. Would it be over in a day? Or take much longer?

  At six in the evening, Teddy hung up his apron and shrugged into his coat. “Guess we won’t hear anything this late. The trial must still be going on.”

  “I don’t mind waiting as long as the news is good.”

  Just then the sheriff walked by the front window and entered the office. He held out a telegram to her. “This just came.”

  Acquitted. Johnson arrested for murder. Back soon. Carter.

  Her knees grew weak. “Oh, my!” The words came out barely a whisper. “Oh, my!” She had been afraid to hope.

  Teddy took the slip of paper from her. He read it and then gave a big whoop, grabbed her up and swung her around. He set her down and took hold of her shoulders. “I can tell you he’s not coming back because of me. Sounds like he might be serious, Abby.”

  Wonder filled her. How had this happened? She couldn’t stop beaming and crying with relief at the same time! The pressed-down worry and frustration of not knowing what was happening had been bottled up inside her ever since Russ had left. The pressure had increased daily. And suddenly it was over! He was a free man and he was coming back!