“It looks like someone hit you in the head with something. Did you get a look at who did this to you?”
“Nay, lad. I was beating a horseshoe out. I didn’t hear nothing because of me own bangin’. Didn’t see no one either.”
Liam was aware of the sheriff behind him.
“Well, whoever the bastard was that hit you, Big Angus, they shot Hiram and in the process, shot Faith too.”
Liam thought the big Irishman was going to faint, his tanned skin bleached to a sickly shade of gray.
“Dear Lord, is he—are they—?“ The man couldn’t even say the word.
“Dead? No, it was a shoulder shot. Went clean through. The doc is upstairs with him now. Faith was grazed on the arm.” Liam assured the burly man Hiram and Faith would be right as rain in a week or so. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up and have the doc look at that knot on your head. Looks like you might need some stitches.”
“I ain’t lettin’ nobody come close to me with them damned needles. They hurt.”
Liam helped Angus to his feet. He was a little shaky at first, unsteady on his feet. The sheriff grabbed his other arm. Liam wasn’t one hundred percent sure he could have held the big man up if he lost consciousness without the sheriff’s help. Luckily he recovered quickly and bolted out the door before Liam could slow him down.
“Angus, let’s get you cleaned up before—“
“I gotta see with my own eyes Hiram and Aggie are okay. They been nothin’ but good to me since I got here, and I promised to protect them with my life. All the good that did ‘em,” the Irishman groaned.
“There wasn’t anything you could have done, Angus. Nothing at all.” Liam tried to sooth the man’s guilt as much as his own.
They reached the edge of the Hanovers’ green lawn when the normally cool-headed Miles Grayson went off like a roman candle on the fourth of July.
“I’m gonna hunt them sons-a-bitches down until they get tired of runnin’ or I die tryin’.”
“I don’t think it is going to take that long, Sheriff. It’s not sons-a-bitches. It’s one son-of-a-bitch by the name of Travis Markham. He may not have pulled the trigger but his money did. I’m certain of it.” Liam’s jaw tightened.
Sheriff Grayson slapped Angus on the shoulder. “You go get that head of yours looked at by Doc Howard. He’s still upstairs. Then you can see for yourself that Hiram and Aggie are just fine. When you get the all clear, you take up watch at this back door. I’m sending my deputy to guard the front door. Nobody is getting in or out of that house without somebody seein’ something. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Sheriff.” Angus thumped up the back steps and disappeared inside.
There was no way anyone was getting into the house without some serious consequences. He felt a little better about leaving Faith. And the Hanovers.
“We’ll wait here until Angus gets situated so why don’t you tell me again about Travis Markham’s unwelcomed visit, his threats against the Hanovers, and his insinuations that something bad could happen to Faith and no one would give a damn. Well, I give a damn.” A few choice expletives followed the sheriff’s declaration.
Liam retold his story, leaving out nothing, searching for any details he could think of that he’d missed telling the first time.
Ten minutes later Angus made his reappearance, a bandage on his head and a determined look in his eye. “I’ll be right back. I’m getting my thunder buster from me room in the carriage house. There won’t be enough of the bastards to feed crows if I get a clean shot.”
Liam and the sheriff left a deputy at the front door and a fired-up giant-of-an-Irishman at the back door, and headed down to the jailhouse. Liam wanted to file a formal complaint against Markham and he wanted to have Mrs. Markham brought in under suspicion.
He fingered the pistol in his waistband. Until he could determine where the threat was coming from, he wanted to keep Faith safe. He would have to be very cautious how he did it. To keep her safe, he would need to keep her by his side as much as possible. And that would cause gossiping tongues to wag and situations of a marrying kind was sure to follow with the noose of matrimony he had worked so hard to avoid. But if he were careful, he could protect the Hanovers, Faith, and her sisters. And if things moved in that direction for him and Faith, then he might be open to the idea. Only time would tell.
24
Faith did everything she could to help the Hanovers after Liam left with Sheriff Grayson. She tried to ease Aggie’s anxiety. And when Doc Howard left later that afternoon, he gave Faith a bottle of sleeping draught in a brown glass bottle with a stopper.
“Give Aggie and Hiram two drops each in a drink, tea or water. I know Hiram is going to want something stronger but not with this stuff. He’ll be out for days.”
Faith nodded her understanding and escorted the doctor to the door.
“And be sure you keep that ointment on your wound. It is a paste of turmeric and honey. Turmeric reduces inflammation and honey works on germs. Together they are my miracle salve. There’s plenty more where that came from so don’t be shy about using it, okay?”
“Okay, Doctor. I’ll use it faith-fully.” She smiled to let him know she intentionally made a joke.
“Well done, my dear. You have always been so quiet, I didn’t expect that from you. It seems you are emerging from your cocoon at last. And you were very brave today. Most women who are shot usually fall into histrionics or faint dead away. You should be very proud of yourself.”
He smiled and opened the front door to leave. Blocking his way was a very large and well-armed deputy standing guard.
Fear clawed and scratched around in Faith’s chest, but she tamped it down. She pulled her shawl tightly around her shoulders. She might have seemed brave to the doctor, but she still needed her protective guardian against the world.
The deputy instructed her to lock the door and stay inside until the situation was resolved. She had no problem with that. She felt safe inside the Hanovers’ large home, regardless of what had just happened outside.
She worried about Liam and the harm he could come to since Markham had made his threat toward him. And only Liam. Which meant if Markham killed Liam, there would be no witness to convict him of attempted murder. At least not until they could find who pulled the trigger and shot poor Hiram. And her. She fingered the bandage underneath her clothing then went in search of her sisters.
Hope and Charity were in the kitchen with Sarah, preparing some soup and fresh bread for Aggie and Hiram. Faith doubted they would eat after she administered the sleeping draught, and, considering the horrible scare they had this afternoon, they would probably feel much better with a long rest rather than a meal.
Faith went to the kitchen and prepared some lavender tea. Carrying the tray with the tea, sugar, and cream, she walked down the hall past the library to the Hanovers’ bedroom. The door was wide open, and it broke her heart to see Aggie fret over her husband. She adjusted his pillow, his blanket, kissed his cheek, held his hand. It was as if the woman was afraid her beloved husband would slip away from her if she stopped touching him.
Faith could tell by Hiram’s expression he was in a lot of pain, but he indulged his wife’s desires to administer to him.
“Aggie, I brought you and Hiram some lavender tea. It will sooth your nerves. And the doctor left a draught for the both of you. He said it will help you get some restful sleep.”
“I can’t sleep. Hiram needs me—“
“Aggie, darling wife of mine. You have had a frightful day.” He glanced at Faith and winked.
“Now, I myself would rather have something a little stronger than lavender tea. But, if I know Doc Howard, he has given strict orders to our caretakers to keep the spirits corked. Am I right, Faith?”
Faith smiled and nodded. “Yes, sir. The doctor thinks it best not to mix alcohol with his medicine.”
“Well, I’m not going to say he’s right, but if he thinks his concoction would help us recover from this nasty
scare, then I think we should humor the man. Come, Aggie.” Hiram patted the bed next to him. “Take off your shoes and crawl into bed with me. Let us slumber together with only sweet dreams as our companion.”
Tears glistened in Aggie’s eyes. Faith could tell she didn’t want to give up control as Hiram’s guardian angel, but she could not deny the man anything at all.
“Okay, darling. I only want what is best for you.” She turned to Faith. “Administer the sleeping draught, but please make certain we are not left in the house alone while we sleep. At least not until we find the Devil’s spawn who did this to my poor Hiram.”
Faith did her best to assure the overwrought woman. “Of course, Aggie. Angus is armed to the teeth at the back door, and you know neither heaven or hell could move that man if he doesn’t want to be moved. The sheriff’s deputy is at the front door and he is every bit as big and armed as Angus. Charity, Hope, and Sarah are in the kitchen, and I’m taking up my post in the parlor for the rest of the afternoon. I can assure you it would take a whole regiment of the United States cavalry to breech this fortress.”
Aggie gave her a solemn nod, removed her boots, and climbed into bed next to her husband. “Alright, Faith, you can administer the tea now. I think we are ready.”
Hiram placed his arm around his wife and kissed her on the cheek. “Aggie, dear. We are only taking a nap. This is not the sleep of eternity.”
He laughed. Aggie’s face pinked in embarrassment. “I know that, Hiram. I just hate not being able to stand guard, in case—something else should happen.“
She shuddered, and Faith could only imagine what went through the woman’s mind after seeing her husband shot right in front of her. Faith’s thoughts turned to Liam. She wondered where he was at this moment.
She handed the pair steaming cups of tea mixed with Dr. Howard’s medicine. “I’ll check in on you in a few minutes to see if you need anything.”
“I’m sorry we are so much trouble. Faith. I hate to be an imposition with all of this but it couldn’t be helped.” Aggie offered a wan smile.
Faith turned and faced the couple lying side by side. They were as much her family now as her sisters.
“Aggie, you once said it doesn’t matter how we come to be a family. All that is important is that we are here for one another. I am here for you now. So are Hope and Charity. And Sarah and Angus. We all love you as if we were born into this family by blood. Please don’t give it another thought. You relax and let us take care of you for once.”
She crossed the room and lay a loving kiss on Aggie’s cheek. Tears pooled in the woman’s eyes and ran down the side of her face. The woman was overcome with emotions. All she could do was nod her understanding. Hiram smiled his appreciation too.
She left the couple lying in each other’s arms, Aggie’s head on Hiram’s uninjured shoulder, his arm around her shoulders, his fingers stroking her arm, tracing circles on her dimpled elbow. Her arm laying across her husband’s stomach.
Faith returned the tray to the kitchen.
“How’s Hiram? And Aggie?” Hope asked.
Charity and Sarah leaned in, interested in her answer.
“They are finally resting. I gave them the draught the doc left to help them relax and sleep. They will probably be asleep in a few minutes.”
“Good. I feel so bad for Aggie. I know Hiram is the one who got shot, but the look on Aggie’s face was pure terror. I don’t know what would become of Aggie if something happened to Hiram. Have you ever seen a couple more in love than those two?”
“Grace and John,” Faith offered.
Hope and Charity nodded their agreement.
“How is your arm?” Charity asked.
“Sore but it will be okay. Doc Howard gave me an ointment made of turmeric and honey. He said it would keep the swelling down and stave off infection. Who knew that honey and spices could do such wonderful things?”
“Well, Doc Howard has always been a forward-thinking physician. People around here think he’s a quack, using herbs and things to make people well but I say to you that those herbs were put on this earth by the good Lord to be used and Doc Howard is the only one smart enough to figure that out and—“
Faith, Hope, and Charity stood open-mouthed, staring at the usually subdued housekeeper.
“What?” Sarah stopped her monologue when she noticed her audience gawking at her.
Charity spoke up. “It sure is funny how you are singing Doc Howard’s praises all of a sudden. I think you got a crush on the old geezer.”
Faith watched the housekeeper pink with embarrassment.
“Well, that shows you what you know, Little Miss Smarty Pants. I’ll have you know Doc Howard is thirty-six years old. Hardly an old geezer. And not that it is any of your business, but I’m only thirty-four. Hardly ready for sittin’ on a shelf, watching the world go by. Now get back to washing those vegetables. We got a lot of work to do.” Sarah huffed.
Faith knew Hope and Charity were holding back laughter, but they loved the hard-working housekeeper so they kept it to themselves.
“Would you two mind checking in on the Hanovers in a few minutes?”
Charity squinted her eyes in Faith’s direction. “Where the hell are you going? The sheriff said not to leave the house.”
“I want to check on Liam. He’s got a lot on his mind, and I want to help if I can.” Faith pulled her shawl around her shoulders, pinned her hat on her head, and grabbed her reticule. Thinking perhaps she should be a little more prepared than hairpins and coins, she hurried upstairs and grabbed the infamous pistol she had used to end a man’s life.
She hoped against all hope she wouldn’t have to do that again. But, she realized, she could if she had to defend someone she loved. Liam. Her sisters. The Hanovers. And she would too. Faith smiled to herself and let herself out the front door. She had come a long way from that terrified young woman living over a saloon in Kansas City. The move to Creede had been very good for her.
The deputy wasn’t happy she was leaving the safety of the Hanovers’ home, but Faith explained she was only walking the few blocks to the sheriff’s office. She would be more than safe there. The man nodded his agreement and added he would feel better if he escorted her to the jail, but he couldn’t leave his post. She assured him she was prepared to defend herself and patted the heavy pistol inside her purse hanging from her uninjured arm.
There was still plenty of daylight and lots of people on the streets of Creede. The heavy weight of the pistol in her reticule gave her a small measure of confidence. Brusque steps carried her in the direction of the jailhouse. Careful to stay on the main streets, she was almost there. One more block to go.
She crossed the street and passed the alleyway behind the row of businesses on Main Street.
“Well, what have we got here?” Faith’s skin pebbled with goosebumps. She turned and was almost toe to toe with Lavinia Markham.
She took a quick look around. The streets of Creede were bustling. Freight wagons rumbled up and down the dusty streets. People passed by, nodding their greetings to the town’s wealthiest citizen. She could tell they were curious about the two of them standing on the sidewalk but no one interrupted.
Faith relaxed a bit. After all, what could the woman do in the middle of a busy street in front of all these people?
“What have you done with Liam, my dear? Has he abandoned you already?”
The woman’s smile gave her pause. There was no mirth in it. Her eyes were fixed on Faith. She seemed to be studying her in great detail and in a most inappropriate way.
Faith tightened her grip on her reticule. The comforting weight of her pistol gave her courage. She lifted her chin. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
Lavinia Markham grabbed her arm to stop her.
A few curious glances in their direction and the woman reluctantly let her go. Faith had no idea what to do. Or say. So she curtsied, turned, and fled toward the sheriff’s office and safety.
She
heard the woman call out to her. “Have a nice day, Your Majesty. I hope you get everything that is coming to you.”
The woman’s behavior was disturbing. She would tell the sheriff and Liam of her encounter with Mrs. Markham. They would know what to do.
Liam sat at the sheriff’s table looking at a pair of sewing scissors, specks of blood dotting the blades. His heart pounded in his chest so hard he could hear the beat in his ears.
“Well?” Sheriff Grayson sat across the table from him. “Do you know who owns this pair of scissors? I can tell by the look on your face you do. Now, out with it. Do they belong to Faith No-Name?”
Liam handed the scissors back to the sheriff.
“I might. I mean, there are hundreds of pairs of sewing scissors, Grayson. I can’t say with any certainty—“ He watched the lawman turn the scissors over and point to the thumb loop.
“There’s an F etched here. Looks like it has been there a while. From the lack of surprise on your face, something tells me you know, or have a pretty good idea, who the owner is.”
The door to the sheriff’s office opened and Faith walked in. Liam jumped to his feet.
“Faith, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay inside the Hanovers’ house. Where are Angus and the deputy?”
“My deputy better not have left his post.” The sheriff stood and started toward the door.
“No, no, nothing like that. I wanted to make sure—“ Faith stopped short and her face pinked. She shot a quick look at him, and Liam realized Faith was worried about him.
The sheriff put the scissors on the table. Before he could advise Faith not to say anything, she spoke.
“My sewing scissors. Where on earth did you get them? The last time I saw them, they were in my desk drawer at the office.”
She walked to the desk to retrieve them, but the sheriff stopped her.
“I’m going to need to ask you a few questions, Miss No-Name.”
Liam’s sense of justice rose, strong and direct. “Her name is Faith O’Malley, Sheriff. And I would advise my client not to answer any questions without legal counsel present. Since Hiram is not available, I think it would be appropriate if I act as her attorney.”
Faith Page 16