She tossed her head, the way she’d seen Sassy do. “He is the most patient man in the world.”
“I’m sure he is.” His eyes closed and his chest inflated with a deep breath. When he spoke again, his tone was calmer. “Did you have a reason for following me?”
“I…” The reason now sounded hollow. She averted her eyes. “After tomorrow we will not see each other again.”
He went still, and she felt his gaze on her. “No, we won’t,” he said in a voice soft as a caress.
A heavy silence hung between them. An uncomfortable feeling grew in her chest and threatened to rob her of breath. The danger of a moment ago was past, but this new one was far more alarming.
She cleared her throat. “You promised to preach for me. If not today, I do not know when we will find time.”
“What, here?”
“Better here than in jail.” A grin took possession of her lips. “I saw some cows not far away. I could lasso them for you in no time.”
The offer produced a laugh. “That I’d like to see. You with a lariat.”
She straightened. “I can lasso. I have not practiced in several years, but I knew how once.”
The smile she gave him was returned, and she relaxed. The ease of their friendship was restored.
“Gus is waiting. Let me go get him, and I’ll escort you back to town.” He started to turn away and then stopped. “Why don’t you come with me? It’s not safe for you to be here alone.”
A glance at the thick woods surrounding them brought back her original fright. No, she definitely preferred to stay with Colin. They secured the horse and wagon and then took off on foot through the trees.
“What are you doing here?” she asked as he helped her climb over a fallen log.
“I was following a man, but I lost him.”
“An outlaw?”
His expression grew troubled. “I wish I knew. Something’s going on, but Kaspar won’t tell me anything.” He gave her a sideways glance. “And I know Annie Diggs is planning something too. She rented rooms at the Eldridge Hotel for tomorrow night.”
She averted her face on the pretense of ducking beneath a low-hanging branch.
“I hope whatever you ladies have planned isn’t going to interfere with my leaving.”
A flush crept toward her face. The peaceful protest would cause no trouble. But the ladies’ discovery that the new sheriff would be lenient toward liquor sales in town might make his reception uncomfortable for him and the town council. She realized Colin was watching her for a reaction, and she gave him what she hoped was an innocent smile.
A flash of white up ahead proved to be Gus, whose reins had been looped around a low branch near the outer tree line. A half dozen of the cattle she had seen earlier grazed nearby, two of them within a few feet of the horse. He tossed his head and stamped a hoof when he caught sight of Colin and Rebecca.
Colin ran a soothing hand over the horse’s neck and untied the reins.
“I was hoping to follow that man back to a camp, but he disappeared.” His gaze strayed over the nearby hills. “I thought he might be hiding in the woods, but my guess is he went that way. I did find something interesting, though. A still.”
Rebecca shook her head at the unfamiliar word. “What is a still?”
“It brews liquor.” He grinned. “Want to see? It’s nearby.”
She trailed him around the edge of the tree line, Gus following along. Cattle grazed all around the area. They hadn’t walked far when Colin pointed ahead. “There it is.”
A clearing contained the strangest-looking contraption Rebecca had ever seen. A huge metal barrel sat up on three legs over the ashes of a recent fire. A blackened pipe ran from the top to a second metal container, this one not quite as big, and a spiraled tube connected that to a third. Barrels and bottles littered the ground around the tubs. A rough plank fence formed a circle around the area.
Colin looped Gus’s reins over a dilapidated rail and led Rebecca through a narrow opening in the fence.
“They use corn mash in that one.” He pointed to the biggest of the containers. “Then they light a fire under it, and if they keep the temperature just right, the alcohol steams up through that pipe over to that one.”
“Who makes this whiskey?”
His face contorted with a grimace. “I don’t know, but this still has been recently used. Those ashes are fresh.”
Rebecca’s gaze searched the area. Annie Diggs and the other ladies would be outraged.
“It’s illegal to make whiskey in the state of Kansas.” A thoughtful expression came over his face. “Something needs to be done, don’t you think?”
He sounded so much like Mrs. Diggs that Rebecca turned a startled look on him. “Did you not say that saloons were to be left up to politicians?”
“That’s what I’ve been told.” He traced a finger along the curling tube. “Never sat well with me, to be honest.”
She stepped up beside him, close enough to the still that her hem trailed in the ashes. “The new sheriff will do nothing to stop this, will he.” It was a statement, not a question.
He gave a soft snort. “Not a thing. But I am still the sheriff, at least for today.” A sudden grin came over his face. “You want to be my deputy for a few minutes?”
For a moment she simply stared at him, uncomprehending. Then his meaning stole over her. “You intend to tear the still down?”
In answer, he grasped the tube and jerked. The top of the second container came off. With a look of intense satisfaction, he twisted and pulled until he had separated the pieces into two, and then he dropped the lid on the ground and stomped it with his boot. The smile he turned her way took on a note of triumph.
Rebecca drew in a breath. She had never been purposefully destructive. It was not the Amish way. And yet there was something exhilarating in his actions against wrong. According to Mrs. Diggs, an abundance of liquor destroyed men’s lives, and as Colin said, operating this device was against the law in Kansas.
Heart pounding with excitement, she leaned forward and placed her hands on the biggest of the containers and shoved. It rocked on its legs but did not fall.
“Allow me to assist you, ma’am.”
Colin placed his hands beside hers and together they shoved. The barrel tipped and crashed to the ground. A laugh escaped her as she lifted the heavy pipe and beat it on the ground while Colin picked up a log and pounded dents into the barrel. What Bishop Miller would say she didn’t know, and at the moment she didn’t care. Finally, she had done something worthwhile with her rumspringa.
In short order the still lay in mangled pieces around them. Surveying their handiwork, Colin heaved in a deep, satisfied breath. “That felt good.”
Rebecca smoothed a lock of hair away from her face. It had felt good, and more because they had done it together. She sensed that the act had been cleansing for him, and he had shared it with her. Somehow, smashing the still had confirmed their friendship. Words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them.
“I will miss you when I am gone.”
He took in another deep breath, and his features softened. “I’ll miss you more.”
The gentle tone sent her pulse racing, and suddenly she could not look into his face. She averted her eyes.
“I must return Mrs. Evans’ wagon to town.”
In the pause that followed, her heart pounded so loudly in her ears that she couldn’t hear her own thoughts. But when he spoke, she heard resignation in his voice.
“Come on. I’ll take you back.”
During the walk back to the wagon, she forced herself to focus on one important fact. Jesse would arrive tomorrow.
And not a moment too soon.
TWENTY-TWO
Wednesday arrived. Colin’s first waking thought, even before he opened his eyes, was, Today is the last day I’ll see her. An empty hole gaped in his chest. Maybe, in time, the ache would fade. Maybe when he had built the church and the Lord started gath
ering a flock for him to care for, he would find solace. But today the thought uppermost in his mind was that Rebecca would be gone.
With Jesse.
Biting back a groan, he rolled off of his narrow cot. The tin star winked at him from atop the chest of drawers that had already been emptied of his few belongings. Two bags in the corner waited to be strapped onto Gus’s saddle. When Mulhaney’s train arrived at noon, he’d hand over the badge, load up, and stop at the bank for his savings on his way out of town.
When he left his room, he glanced at Kaspar. The man sat on the corner of his bunk with his back against the wall, knees bent and arms draped across them. That was one duty he’d be glad to hand over. Maybe Mulhaney could get something out of the surly outlaw.
Kaspar’s greeting this morning was different than his usual demand for coffee. “Today’s the day, Maddox.”
A note in the man’s voice made Colin stop and look into the cell. His grimace held a smugness that Colin hadn’t seen before.
“You mean the new sheriff taking over?”
The roughened lips twisted into a smirk. “Yeah. Sure. That’s what I mean.”
Suspicion niggled Colin’s mind. What did Kaspar know?
“I wouldn’t be too eager about that, if I were you. From what I hear, Mulhaney doesn’t have much use for lawbreakers.”
There was no reply, but the smirk didn’t leave the man’s face. Uneasy, Colin continued toward the small stove in the corner to get the coffee going. Between now and when the train arrived, maybe he’d station his deputies around the outer edges of the town and tell them to keep an eye out for anything unusual. After that, whatever was going on would be Mulhaney’s problem.
At eleven thirty, Mrs. Evans locked the front door of her shop. Rebecca had watched the door all morning, her nerves mounting with every passing minute. Jesse had not yet arrived. Mrs. Diggs had assured her that Mr. Diggs wanted to be in town in time to witness the women’s march, so she was sure he would have arrived this morning. But now it was time to assemble with the other women at the train station, and still there had been no sight of him. She fell in step beside Sassy and Mrs. Evans. What if he didn’t come? As they headed down Massachusetts Street, she cast a quick backward glance toward the jail. She hadn’t seen Colin today, either.
Amos stood watching them morosely from the front step of the milliner’s shop. For a moment she’d thought he would forbid her to participate, but when Sassy stepped in, his arguments ceased.
“Hello, Imogene,” Mrs. Evans called to a woman near her age on the other side of the street.
The woman waved, a wide grin on her broad face. She and her companions were also heading in the direction of the train station.
“This is so exciting!” Sassy’s step was bouncy and eager. “I can’t wait till we march past the Dollar and Ed sees us with those important women.”
Rebecca couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. Her eyes sparkled and dimples creased her cheeks. She made a pretty picture today in the dress Rebecca had finished last night. A touch too many frills still, but at least this blue was not as garish as the other.
Rebecca ran a hand self-consciously over her dress. Amos had scowled when she appeared in the buttery yellow fabric instead of her Amish clothing, but she didn’t care. After consultation with Sassy and Mrs. Evans, she had decided that this dress would make a more favorable impression when Jesse saw her for the first time in four years. Later, after they returned to Apple Grove, she would don her Plain garb again.
At the end of the street they turned the corner and had their first glimpse of the train station.
Sassy squealed and clapped her hands. “Would you look at that? We’re gonna have every woman in town here.”
“Not quite,” said Mrs. Evans, “but this is most encouraging.”
A crowd of at least two dozen had gathered outside the station office, and more joined their ranks every minute. A stream of billowing skirts traveled in that direction, both behind and in front of Rebecca.
“Look. There’s Mrs. Diggs.” Sassy pointed out a commanding figure in the midst of them, hands gesturing as she spoke.
But Rebecca’s attention was drawn to the person with whom Mrs. Diggs spoke. He stood a head taller than most of the women gathered around him. Her heart lurched at the sight of him, followed by a stab of guilt. What was wrong with her that she could be so happy to see Colin when her one true love was even now riding to meet her?
They followed the stream to the main group.
“Let’s get closer,” Sassy whispered. She grabbed Rebecca’s hand and began weaving her way through the crowd. When they arrived at Mrs. Diggs’ side, Colin was shaking his head.
“I’ve known you were up to something for a while, but this?” He gestured to indicate the crowd. “What are you trying to accomplish here?”
Nearly as much excitement showed on Mrs. Diggs’ face as Sassy’s. “We will make our statement, Sheriff. We will make our statement.”
He focused on Rebecca. “You know what happened the last time you tried to make a statement.” He folded his arms. “Don’t think I won’t throw you in jail again at the least sign of trouble.”
A triumphant gleam shone in Sassy’s eyes. “You don’t have room for all of us.”
He bent toward her. “I have plenty of room for the ringleaders.”
A whistle sounded in the distance, and an excited titter rose from the ladies.
“The train’s comin’.” Sassy bounced on her feet, grinning like a child.
The sheriff’s gaze returned to Rebecca’s and, holding it, he took off his hat.
“By the way, you look mighty fetching today, Miss Switzer.”
Mrs. Diggs took advantage of his distraction and started to move away. Tearing her gaze from Colin’s, Rebecca started after her and stopped her with a hand on the woman’s arm.
“Have you news of Mr. Diggs and my Jesse?”
She replied with a distracted pat on Rebecca’s hand. “Not yet, dear, but don’t worry. Very soon now.”
Not at all comforted, Rebecca turned back to see Colin striding away. For a moment she considered going after him, but she could think of no valid reason to do so.
Colin left the group of ladies, his emotions roiling. Why did she have to wear that dress today? He recognized it instantly as the one she’d worn the first time he laid eyes on her. Only he didn’t remember her looking as lovely as she did today.
She’s dressed herself up for Jesse.
The thought churned in his gut like acid. He swiped a hand across his face, trying to dismiss his jealousy. He had plenty of other concerns today. This pack of women was going to ruin his departure. There had to be thirty-five or forty of them. And though no one had identified the people on the train, the excitement whipping through the crowd told him it would be someone important. Whatever plans the women had for today, he’d have to call in a couple of his deputies to keep an eye on them. This crowd might be composed of the fairer sex, but one cross word could transform them into a mob.
My last day, Lord. Couldn’t this have held off until tomorrow?
Mulhaney would be here soon to help. Colin brightened at the thought.
Someone poked his shoulder. When he turned and caught sight of the mayor’s scowling face, he groaned. The members of the town council surrounded him, their expressions grave. Come, no doubt, to welcome the new sheriff to town.
“What is the meaning of this?” Bowerstock demanded. “What is that woman up to now?”
“I wish I knew.”
“Well, do something about it!” he bellowed, and the other council members murmured agreement.
“They haven’t done anything wrong, Mayor.”
The train’s whistle sounded, much closer this time. Smoke billowed into the sky from an unseen point behind the town’s buildings.
“The new sheriff will do something,” Bowerstock blustered. “Unless he’s so put off by the sight of this lot that he gets right back on the train
and leaves.”
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, the train pulled into view. The ladies’ animated voices rose above the sound of the puffing engine. The engine slid past them and, with a screech of metal on metal, came to a stop. They pressed closer as one.
Curious faces appeared in the windows to stare into the crowd. The conductor climbed down and made his way to the passenger car, glancing nervously at the ladies grouped around the station. Colin saw Annie push her way to the front to stand beside him, her attention fixed on the door. A splash of yellow in the crowd caught his eye, but he couldn’t pick out Rebecca in the press.
The conductor placed a set of steps beneath the door before opening it. A woman stepped into view and paused, her gaze sweeping the watchers. A wide smile parted her lips, and she raised a fist high in the air. A cheer rose from the women, and dozens of arms waved in return.
Colin’s discomfort grew as he watched the conductor help six women climb from the train to the ground, each one met with a welcoming cheer. He didn’t know who they were, but with Annie Diggs as the organizer, no doubt they were temperance supporters. He only hoped their purpose was peaceful. Real peaceful.
When the last woman had descended, Annie led the newcomers away, and the crowd followed. Colin spared a glance after them, noting that they were headed in the direction of the hotel, and then he turned his attention back to the train. With the women out of the way, a handful of men surged forward to begin the task of unloading the cargo cars.
The conductor closed the door of the passenger car and stooped to pick up his steps. The mayor gave Colin a startled glance. A frantic feeling that something was about to go very wrong blossomed inside him.
“Hold on.” He ran toward the conductor, who stopped and turned.
“Isn’t there another passenger on this train?”
The man shook his head. “No, sir. We ran pretty heavy on cargo this trip. Not so much on the way of passengers.”
“Our new sheriff was supposed to be here.”
“Oh?” The conductor nodded. “That’s right. I took his ticket. He got off at Jefferson City.”
A Plain and Simple Heart (The Amish of Apple Grove) Page 20