Shadows Through Time

by Madeline Baker

  She sat beside him now, his hand clasped in hers. She could feel the tension radiating off him like heat from a furnace as they waited for the jury to reach a verdict. She had run out of small talk long ago. Her own nerves were strung tight as she tried to decide if the fact that it was taking the jury so long to decide his fate was a good sign or a bad one.

  A muscle throbbed in Reese’s jaw. What would he do if they found him guilty? He had told her he wouldn’t go to prison and he wouldn’t let them hang him. Thinking about the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes when he’d said it sent a chill down her spine. Was he planning his own escape attempt? Should she tell him that Papa Joe was way ahead of him?

  Muttering, “I hate this,” Reese stood and began to pace the floor. His long legs carried him quickly from one end of the cell to the other. Back and forth, back and forth, restless and angry, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.

  Kelsey watched him, wishing she could think of something to say that would ease his mind, wishing she could think of something to allay her own growing fears.

  It was a little after four when the sheriff announced that the jury had reached a verdict.

  He ordered Reese to approach the cell door and had him turn around so he could cuff his hands behind his back. When that was done, he unlocked the door. Gun drawn, he escorted Reese out of the office.

  “Reese, I’m going to go get Papa Joe and Angelina,” Kelsey said.

  He nodded curtly but didn’t reply.

  Kelsey hurried toward the house, her heart pounding heavily in her breast. Reese’s future would be determined in the next few minutes.

  * * * * *

  Kelsey decided that the news about the verdict must have spread quickly through the town because the courthouse was even more crowded now than it had been earlier in the day.

  All the seats were taken and people were standing shoulder to shoulder along the walls. She saw Nate Osgood and Pete Muldoon in the crowd, along with the men Reese played poker with at the Square Deal. Heedless of others, she made her way along the wall until she found a place where she could see Reese. He was looking straight ahead, his gaze fixed on some point behind the judge’s bench. He sat so still, he might have been carved from granite.

  The jury filed into the room and the judge followed a few minutes later. The bailiff called the court to order. The judge asked the jury if they had reached a verdict and the foreman replied that they had. He handed a slip of paper to the bailiff, who handed it to the judge.

  Kelsey’s heart was in her throat as she waited for the judge to read the verdict aloud.

  “We, the jury find the defendant, T. R. Reese…”

  Her heart was pounding so loudly she could scarcely hear the words. Reese remained as still as stone save for a muscle that throbbed in his jaw. She knew, before the final words were spoken, what the verdict would be.

  “Guilty of manslaughter.”

  Guilty. The word seemed to echo in Kelsey’s mind…guilty, guilty, guilty. She looked at Reese. His expression hadn’t changed.

  The silence in the courthouse was deafening as the spectators waited for the judge to pronounce sentence.

  “The defendant will please rise.”

  Reese pushed his chair back and stood tall and straight. The only sign of the tension pulsing through him was the clenching of his fists.

  “You have been found guilty of manslaughter,” the judge said. “I hereby sentence you to ten years in the territorial prison. Court dismissed.”

  Kelsey braced herself against the wall as her legs threatened to collapse. She couldn’t believe it. Ten years. Oh, but it wasn’t fair. She didn’t have ten years to wait for him. It was only a few months until the portal to her own time would be open again.

  Needing to touch him, she pushed her way through the crowd.

  “Reese…” She looked up at him as words failed her. What could she possibly say to make it better?

  “Excuse me, Mrs. Reese,” Sheriff McCain said, his voice uncharacteristically kind, “I need to get him back to jail.”

  “Yes, of course,” Kelsey murmured. Rising on her tiptoes, she gave her husband a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Reese nodded once, curtly, then turned and headed toward the door.

  Papa Joe and Angelina hurried toward Kelsey.

  “Well, they gave him the benefit of the doubt,” Papa Joe said as they left the courthouse.

  “What do you mean?” Kelsey asked.

  “They could have found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to hang.” He shook his head. “I’ve always been a good judge of men and I’d be willing to bet my pension that it was self-defense.” He shook his head again. “That verdict was a load of…” He looked at Angelina and clamped his mouth shut.

  “A load of manure?” Angelina supplied.

  “That’s not what I was going to say, but it’ll do,” Papa Joe allowed.

  “It’s not right,” Kelsey said. “He shot Lynch in self-defense.”

  Papa Joe grunted. “Well, as I understand it, manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a person without malice or premeditation, whereas murder is done with malicious intent.”

  “But it was self-defense!” Kelsey exclaimed. “They should have acquitted him.”

  Though her grandfather didn’t say the words, she could hear his silent “I told you so.” He’d been right, after all, she thought. And so had Reese. The jury had convicted Reese on the color of his skin and nothing more.

  Papa Joe’s gaze moved from Kelsey to Angelina and back again. “So, where do we go from here?”

  “I can’t let him go to prison,” Kelsey said.

  “So, we’re gonna break him out of jail?”

  “Break him out of jail?” Angelina exclaimed. “Are you two kidding?”

  Kelsey blew out a sigh. “I wish we were.”

  Angelina stared at the two of them and then she smiled. “What can I do?”

  * * * * *

  The wagon that would carry Reese to the territorial prison wouldn’t arrive for three days.

  Kelsey used that time to pack what she could take with her. She closed the coffee shop. They ate what they could of the food in the kitchen and she disposed of the rest.

  Papa Joe went to the livery and made sure Reese’s horse was ready to travel. He bought horses for Kelsey, Angie and himself, then took care of picking up enough supplies to last the four of them for at least a week. He bought derringers for Kelsey and Angie, a new rifle for himself and ammunition for all three weapons, as well as for Reese’s Colt. Enough ammunition, Kelsey thought, to fight off a small army.

  Kelsey took Angie shopping and they each bought a pair of dark-colored trousers, dark shirts, boots and hats.

  Tomorrow they would tie up whatever loose ends remained. Tomorrow night Joe St. James and his gang would hit the jail.

  * * * * *

  Reese shook his head. “Forget it, Kelsey. I don’t like it.”

  She leaned closer to the bars and lowered her voice. “Have you got a better idea?”

  “Just bring me a gun. I’ll take care of the rest.”

  “How do you suggest I do that? McCain searches me every time I walk through the door.”

  Reese swore. “It’s too risky, sweetheart.” He stroked her cheek. “Besides, if you get caught, you’ll all be here in jail with me.”

  “I don’t care. The best chance we have of freeing you is while you’re in here. Once the prison wagon comes for you, you’ll be handcuffed and surrounded by guards. This way, we only have to worry about McCain and getting out of town.”

  Reese shook his head. “No. I don’t want you putting your life in danger.”

  “You might as well save your breath. You can’t talk me out of it.”

  “Dammit, Kelsey, what chance do you think a young girl, an old man and a city girl have of getting me out of here?”

  “I guess we’ll find out tonight, won’t we?”

  * * * * *<
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  Reese stood looking out at the sky through the tiny, barred window of his cell. It was after midnight. With every passing minute, he expected St. James and the girls to come charging to his rescue. He didn’t know what they were thinking. None of them had any experience on the wrong side of the law and the last thing he wanted was to find Kelsey in the cell next to his.

  Reese grunted softly. What was the old man thinking to let Kelsey side him in such a mad scheme? On the other hand, knowing Kelsey, he didn’t know how the old man could stop her. He had to admire his bride’s grit and determination. She was a woman to ride the river with.

  The passing of another hour was marked by the chiming of the courthouse clock. When another hour passed, Reese decided that his would-be rescuers had come to their senses and changed their minds.

  He should have known better.

  He was stretched out on his cot, staring blankly at the white-washed ceiling, when there was a commotion at the door. Stilling the urge to rush to the cell door, Reese remained where he was, feigning sleep.

  Through slitted eyes, he watched McCain’s deputy, Matt Stover, draw his pistol and peer through the office door’s narrow window. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, Stover lowered his weapon and unlocked the door.

  Angie stood in the doorway, her face wet with tears. “Come quick,” she said, “Mrs. Reese heard someone prowling around the house. She’s afraid one of Lynch’s friends might be snooping around, looking to get even, you know?”

  After a glance over his shoulder, as if to make sure his prisoner was still locked up, the deputy followed Angie outside and closed the door.

  Overtaken with a fit of nervous energy, Reese began to pace the floor. He didn’t have to wait long. Moments later, the door opened and Papa Joe slipped into the office. Wordlessly, he rummaged through the sheriff’s desk until he found the keys to the cell.

  “Hurry!” Reese urged.

  In minutes, he was out of the cell and buckling on his gunbelt. He opened the loading gate to make sure the gun was loaded, then moved toward the door. Opening it a crack, he glanced up and down the street. “Now what?”

  “Horses waiting around back. Kelsey and Angie will meet us at the abandoned line shack beyond the ridge. The rest is up to you.”

  With a nod, Reese slipped out the door. Keeping to the shadows, he rounded the building. Two horses waited in the shadows.

  Reese swung into the saddle and rode out of town. The old man rode out behind him.

  * * * * *

  Stover circled the house, then went inside and checked each room before returning to the parlor where Kelsey and Angie waited. “I searched the premises inside and out,” the deputy said. “I didn’t find anything.”

  “Thank you, deputy,” Kelsey said, clinging to Angie. “You know how frightening it can be for two women alone.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Stover said, smiling indulgently. “My own ma gets the night frights sometimes.”

  “She’s lucky to have such an understanding son,” Kelsey said. “Thank you so much for coming. I feel ever so much better now.”

  “I’m sure it was just the wind rustling the tree outside your window,” Stover said.

  “I’m sure you’re right,” Kelsey said. “Can I fix you a cup of coffee?”

  “That’s right kind of you, ma’am, but I’d best get back to the office and look after my prisoner…” His voice trailed off and a dark flush spread up his neck, no doubt caused by the recollection that it was Kelsey’s husband he had locked up back at the jailhouse.

  “Well, thank you again for coming out at this late hour,” Kelsey said, walking him to the door.

  “My pleasure, ma’am.” He tipped his hat to Kelsey, nodded at Angie and left the house.

  Kelsey waited until he was out of sight, then shut the door. “Are you ready?” She was peeling off her robe as she spoke. Sitting on the sofa, she reached underneath and pulled out a pair of boots.

  “Yes.” Angie removed her own robe and shrugged into a warm jacket. “My boots,” she said, panic in her voice. “What did I do with my boots?”

  “They’re under the other sofa. Hurry!”

  Moments later, they were running through the night toward the back of the livery where Papa Joe had left their horses.

  If they hurried, they could meet up with Reese and Papa Joe before McCain and Stover knew what had happened.

  Reese and Papa Joe were waiting for them at the line shack. Dismounting, Kelsey threw herself into Reese’s arms.

  “We don’t have time for that now,” Papa Joe warned.

  “Then we’ll make time,” Reese said, and lowering his head, he claimed his bride’s lips in a searing kiss.

  Kelsey blew out a sigh when Reese took his mouth from hers. “Papa Joe’s right,” she said regretfully. “We need to go. We’re cutting this mighty close as it is.”

  “Reckon so,” Reese agreed. He lifted Kelsey into the saddle, then swung onto the back of his own horse. “Let’s move out.”

  They were on the run. It was frightening and exhilarating, racing through the dark night with only the moon and the stars to light the way. Kelsey’s imagination kicked into overdrive. In her mind, every tree and shadow, every rock and hill, held menace. Fear pounded through her, the frantic beat of her heart keeping time to the rhythm of her horse’s hooves as the animal flew across the prairie. A gopher hole, a misstep on her horse’s part, could send horse and rider crashing to the ground with a broken leg or worse.

  She risked a glance over her shoulder. She couldn’t see Angelina’s expression in the dark. Was the girl as scared as she was? And what about Papa Joe? She knew, somehow, that he was enjoying all this.

  They rode all through the night and into the dawn, stopping only when the horses needed rest.

  When, at last, they stopped to get some sleep, Kelsey took Reese aside. “Where are we going?” she asked, and knew the answer even before he replied.

  They were on the run and they needed a place to hide out while they waited for the portal to the future to open again. Where else would they go but to the one place no one could follow?

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  It was after dark when they arrived at the Lakota village. As Kelsey had already deduced, Reese had decided that holing up with the Lakota would be the wisest move. No one would look for them there, not McCain and certainly not Angelina’s mother.

  Reese spoke to the sentry that materialized out of the shadows. Moments later, they rode into the heart of the village. A dozen barking dogs announced their arrival. Kelsey saw several men peering at them from out of their tipis.

  Kelsey wasn’t surprised to see Hantaywee standing outside her tipi waiting for them, a smile on her weathered face.

  “She always knows when I’m coming,” Reese murmured as he reined his horse to a halt in front of the old woman’s lodge.

  Dismounting, he embraced Hantaywee, then turned and lifted first Kelsey and then Angelina to the ground.

  “Hantaywee,” he said, “this is Angelina and this is Kelsey’s grandfather, Joseph.”

  “Welcome,” Hantaywee said, smiling at Angie and Papa Joe. “Come inside and eat. Your lodges have been prepared.”

  Angie looked at Kelsey, then glanced around. “Lodges?”

  “Tipis,” Kelsey said, gesturing at Hantaywee’s home.

  “How did she know we were coming?” Papa Joe asked, frowning.

  “Hantaywee is a medicine woman,” Kelsey explained. “She can see into the future.”

  “That’s impossible,” Angelina said.

  Kelsey grinned at the girl as she took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I’m beginning to think nothing is impossible. Come on, let’s eat.”

  “What do Indians eat?” Angie asked, hanging back.

  “Mostly venison and vegetables,” Kelsey said. “But whatever it is, just eat it.”

  “Hold on a minute,” Reese said. “There’s a few things you need to know.” He looked at Kelsey. “T
hings I should have told you when we were here before but what with one thing and another…” He shrugged. “Anyway, when you go into a Lakota lodge, it’s considered polite for the men to go to the right and the women to go to the left. Also, it’s impolite to pass between the fire and a guest. Men and women rarely look directly at each other, although that’s a custom Hantaywee doesn’t practice much. It’s also custom for men to be served first.”

  “Anything else?” Papa Joe asked. “I don’t want to offend anybody while we’re here.”

  “If I think of anything else, I’ll let you know,” Reese said, and ducked into Hantaywee’s lodge.

  One by one, the others followed him. Inside, Kelsey and Angelina turned to the left and sat down, Papa Joe followed Reese to the right.

  Again following Reese’s lead, they sat down and accepted the bowls that Hantaywee offered them.

  “Pilamaya,” Reese murmured. Thank you.

  Noting that Angelina wasn’t eating, Kelsey leaned toward her and whispered, “Don’t worry, it’s just venison stew.”

  When they finished eating, Hantaywee showed the four of them to the lodges she had erected for them.

  Papa Joe thanked Hantaywee for her hospitality, hugged Kelsey and Angelina and ducked into his lodge, obviously ready to turn in for the night.

  The lodge beside Papa Joe’s was for Kelsey and Reese.

  “Where’s mine?” Angelina asked.

  “You will stay with me,” Hantaywee said.

  “Why can’t I stay with Kelsey?”

  Hantaywee smiled indulgently. “Kelsey and Tashunka Kangi need to be alone.”

  Angelina looked imploringly at Kelsey. “But…”

  “You’ll be fine,” Kelsey said, patting the girl’s shoulder.

  Reese put his arm around Angie. “You’ll love her once you get to know her.”

  Looking doubtful, Angie followed Hantaywee back to her lodge.

  “Maybe we should have let Angie stay with us,” Kelsey said.

  “Maybe tomorrow night,” Reese said, “tonight I want you all to myself.”

  His words sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.