Last Promise

by Scarlett Dunn

  “Yes, when I knew I would be coming back here, I wanted to bring a few things to you.” Mary Ann had purchased items at the mercantile so Lillian would have everything she needed to make a few special things for her home, as well as some cloth to make some new dresses. She’d also packed a bottle of her most expensive perfume.

  Lillian’s fingers were shaking when she gingerly pulled out each item. By the time she reached the small box that held the perfume, tears were streaming down her cheeks. She pulled out the etched fan-style crystal stopper and sniffed the perfume. “Oh my, this is the loveliest thing I have ever seen. I’ve never received such a present. It is too much. How can I ever thank you?”

  Mary Ann thought about her life in England and how she’d taken such luxuries for granted and she felt ashamed she hadn’t appreciated all she had. Just these few items brought Lillian to tears, and to Mary Ann’s way of thinking, she was a woman who deserved so much more. “Why, your biscuit recipe alone is worth a small fortune! You should have seen the way Luke . . . the customers at my uncle’s hotel gobbled them up. This is the least I could do for you as my uncle will be making a fortune off your biscuits.”

  Lillian started to put the bottle back in the box when Mary Ann stopped her. “Now put some behind your ears. Henry will like it, I’m sure.”

  Doing as Mary Ann instructed, Lillian laughed. “He’ll be thankful to smell something other than horses.” She looked at the beautiful crystal bottle. “I have nothing so magnificent to give you.”

  “You can write me letters when I get home and tell me how you cook everything.” Mary Ann thought that would be the greatest gift even though she would probably never again cook a thing once she was married to Stafford.

  Lillian’s eyes brightened at the thought of having something of value to offer her. “I can do that! I have recipes from my mother and grandmother. They were excellent cooks.”

  “That is by far the greatest gift I could ask for.” Mary Ann hugged her again.

  “Now tell me about the fella that ate all of those biscuits,” Lillian urged. “Did you say his name was Luke?” She’d caught how Mary Ann’s eyes lit up when she said the name.

  It didn’t surprise Mary Ann that Lillian was so perceptive. Anyone with that much love in her heart took the time to read people. “He’s the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life.” Mary Ann told her all about Luke McBride and about everything that happened in Wyoming. She didn’t stop until her father and Edmund strolled into the room an hour later.

  They all sat around the table enjoying the modest meal of stew and biscuits. Mary Ann was pleased that her father had the good manners to compliment the simple meal. Mary Ann and Lillian chatted about women’s fashion while the men discussed horses. The dinner ended and Mary Ann and Lillian were clearing the table when Henry jumped and said, “Riders.”

  Henry and the stagecoach driver walked to the door to see who was arriving unexpectedly.

  Three men reined in at the corral and tied their horses off before walking to the house.

  “Hello to the house,” one man said.

  “Come ahead,” Henry replied.

  “Thanks. We were wondering if we could pay for a meal and some shelter for the night.”

  Henry didn’t like the looks of the threesome. “We can offer a meal, but we’re full up for the night.”

  “We can bunk in the stable.”

  Henry didn’t think that would present a problem, he’d just have to sleep with one eye open, so he agreed to that arrangement.

  When the three men sat at the table, Lillian saw how they were looking at Mary Ann, and she whispered to her to stay away from the table.

  Hardwicke and Stafford paid little attention to the newcomers, they continued discussing the merits of different breeds of horses.

  Mary Ann glanced at the men as she washed the dishes. All of them were filthy as if they’d been riding the trail for months without the benefit of a bath. One man was big and tall and there was something about him that made her feel like she was looking into the face of evil. The other two men kept glancing around as though they expected someone to appear from the other rooms. They shoveled their food in their mouths like they hadn’t eaten in months.

  “Is this all the boarders tonight, old man?” The big man was the one who directed the question to Henry.

  “I’m expecting more people in a bit. There’s another stage that will be stopping.” Henry wasn’t about to tell these hombres the truth.

  “I didn’t know there was another stage through here,” the man retorted.

  Henry didn’t contradict himself. “You been through here before? I don’t recall seeing you.”

  “No, this is new territory to us.”

  “Where you headed?”

  “You ask too many questions, old man.” The big man shoved his plate of food aside and stood. The other two men followed his lead. Suddenly, the big man grabbed Lillian as she reached for the plates. He pulled her in front of him and pulled his pistol and held it to her head. His companions immediately pulled their pistols. The stagecoach driver reached for his pistol, but the big man shot it out of his hand.

  “What’s this?” Henry shouted. His eyes darted to his rifle over the fireplace.

  “Don’t do it unless you want a dead woman.” The big man pointed to Hardwicke with the barrel of his pistol. “Empty your pockets and put it on the table.” He looked at Stafford and the two detectives. “You too.”

  “We don’t have money here, mister,” Henry told him.

  The big man pointed to Hardwicke again. “I bet this old codger has enough to last us a while.” He gave Hardwicke a fierce look. “All of you better do it quick or she gets popped.”

  Stafford took out his pocket watch and put it on the table, but Hardwicke made no move to follow his lead.

  The big man glared at Hardwicke. “Put your money on the table too, or do you need some encouragement?”

  Speaking to one of his men, he inclined his head toward Mary Ann. “Go get her. I have a feeling that they need to see we mean business.”

  The man grabbed Mary Ann and pulled her across the room until she was standing in front of the big man.

  The big man eyed her up and down. “Let me see that pin you’re wearing.”

  Mary Ann’s hand automatically went to the cameo at the top of her dress. It had been a gift from her grandmother.

  “Take it off.” He gave her a lecherous grin. “Unless you want me to do it for you.”

  “Leave her alone,” Lillian said.

  “Don’t worry, old woman, we won’t ignore you.” The big man reached out with one hand to take the cameo from Mary Ann’s neck and Lillian slapped his hand away. He shoved Lillian so hard she stumbled and fell to the floor.

  “You son of Satan!” Henry started to move to his wife when one of the other men put a gun to his head.

  “You people ain’t moving fast enough, so this is your fault.” The big man directed the barrel of his pistol toward Lillian and Mary Ann thought he was going to pull the trigger. She remembered the man who was going to shoot Luke in the back. This man was going to kill Lillian for no reason. She pulled away from the man holding her and covered Lillian with her body in an effort to shield her just as the gun exploded. The shot stunned everyone, even the man who pulled the trigger. Mary Ann’s body went limp. Henry was the only one to maintain his wits and moved quickly to grab the pistol the stagecoach driver had dropped on the floor. Seeing what Henry was doing spurred the detectives into action. They pulled their guns and started shooting. The three robbers ran for the door as bullets started flying in all directions. Hardwicke and Stafford dived for cover behind the table. Henry winged the big man in the shoulder as he disappeared through the front door, but the other shots missed their targets. When Henry ran out of bullets, he ran to get his rifle above the fireplace and headed for the door. The three men were already in their saddles and riding away. Taking careful aim, Henry pulled the trigger. One man fe
ll out of the saddle, but the other two men didn’t stop, they hightailed it out of there. The detectives ran to the man on the ground. They wanted to make sure he was dead.

  Lillian was already tending to Mary Ann and shouting instructions. She pointed to Stafford and shouted, “Help me carry her to bed!” Hardwicke followed behind them.

  Once they got Mary Ann on the bed, Lillian cut her dress down the back to see where the bullet entered.

  “Where’s the nearest doctor?” Hardwicke asked.

  “Clive is not a doctor, but he’s as good as any doctor at tending serious injuries. He’s about seven miles one way.”

  Henry came into the room with the boiling water. “How bad is it?”

  “I’m not sure, the bullet went in at an angle. Let’s pray to the Good Lord that it hit nothing vital, but it needs to come out.”

  “I’ll go get Clive,” Henry told his wife.

  “I think that is a good idea. Bring whiskey if he has it.”

  “I have some whiskey in one of my valises,” Stafford said.

  “Good. I’ll clean the wound with it and if she comes around we will give her some for the pain,” Lillian told him.

  Once Lillian had Mary Ann’s wound cleaned and the bleeding stopped, she went to check on the stagecoach driver. Fortunately for him the bullet had just grazed his hand and caused no real damage. She had the whiskey with her and poured him a stiff drink and situated him on a cot to get comfortable.

  The detectives sat in the front room with their guns at the ready in the event more trouble arrived that night.

  It wasn’t long before Henry arrived with Clive, but Hardwicke blocked the bedroom door and questioned the elderly man before allowing him to enter. “Have you removed bullets before?”

  “Dozens of times,” Clive assured him.

  “What has been the survival rate of your patients?” Stafford asked.

  “About fifty-fifty.” Clive had lived too long not to see his fair share of trouble. He saw no reason to lie to the man. “The way I see it, I’m the only chance she has unless you want to dig that bullet out.”

  Hardwicke allowed the man to go to his daughter’s side, but not without warning. “Nothing dire better happen to her or you will answer to me.”

  Clive stared harshly at Hardwicke for a brief moment. He didn’t like being threatened, but he wouldn’t let the man keep him from doing what he could for his daughter. “Lillian, hold that lantern for me, please.” Lillian grabbed the lantern and held it close while Clive inspected the wound in Mary Ann’s back. “You did a good job of cleaning this, Lillian.”

  “What do you think?” Lillian asked.

  “I think she is a lucky young woman.” Clive turned to address Hardwicke and Stafford. “If you two are squeamish, I suggest you leave the room now.” Once they’d left the room, Clive pulled his black bag open and pulled out what he needed. “Lillian, are you ready with that whiskey?”

  “I’ll be ready. You just be careful with her, she’s a special gal,” Lillian warned.

  “Yes, ma’am. Now hold that lantern close.” Clive bent over and went to work. It didn’t take him long to dig the bullet out and when he was done he expelled a loud breath. He held it up for Lillian to see. “That did it and nothing vital was hit.”

  “Thank God.” Lillian breathed a sigh of relief. “This little gal probably saved my life.”

  Clive smiled at her. “Henry told me. Don’t you worry, she will be fine.”

  Lillian set the lantern down and handed him the bandages. “She awoke once, but she quickly passed out again. Do you think she will be out for long?”

  “Hard to say, her body has had quite a shock.” Clive finished with the bandage and he put his hand on Mary Ann’s forehead. “She feels feverish.”

  “That’s not good,” Lillian said.

  “No. We’ll keep a close eye on her. I’ll stay for a while to see how she does.” He tucked some quilts around Mary Ann so she couldn’t turn over if she awoke.

  “Have you eaten?”

  “No, I was getting ready to eat when Henry arrived.”

  Lillian stood and started toward the door. “I’ll tell her father how she’s doing and warm some stew for you.”

  “Tell the stagecoach driver to come on back and I’ll tend his hand. And if you don’t mind, bring back a cup so I can have some of that whiskey.”

  After Clive ate his meal Lillian told him to get some sleep and she stayed with Mary Ann. She had almost fallen asleep in the chair when she heard a moan coming from Mary Ann. She immediately came alert and grabbed a cup and poured some whiskey in case she needed to give it to her for pain. Mary Ann moaned again and it sounded like she was mumbling something. Lillian leaned over her, trying to hear what she was saying.

  “Luke.”

  Mary Ann mumbled the word, but Lillian understood. “Honey, it’s me, Lillian.” Just a few hours ago Mary Ann had told her about the handsome man she’d fallen in love with in Wyoming. Lillian figured she was dreaming of him. “Honey, you are with us in Missouri. You’re going to be fine. Now just get some rest.” Lillian felt her forehead again and thought her fever was even higher, so she ran to get Clive.

  “Let’s continue to wash her down and hope it breaks soon.” Clive heard Mary Ann trying to say something. “Can you make out what she is saying?”

  Lillian closed the door and then told Clive the story Mary Ann had told her about her time in Wyoming, and how her father came back to take her home to England. “She’s being forced to marry that man, Stafford.”

  “That’s a shame,” Clive said. “I don’t understand a man like that.”

  “I guess it’s easy enough to see what man she really loves.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Lillian and Clive worked all night to keep Mary Ann’s fever down. The next afternoon her fever finally broke and Mary Ann awoke.

  “How are you feeling, honey?” Lillian asked.

  Mary Ann glanced around the room, her brow furrowed in confusion. “What happened?”

  “Honey, you kept me from getting shot,” Lillian explained. “Don’t you remember? You shielded me from that bullet and it went in your back instead of mine.” Lillian pointed to Clive. “Clive got the bullet out and no organs were hit, but you had a fever all night.”

  Mary Ann turned her attention on the older man. “Thank you.”

  “Think nothing of it. Do you think you could eat something?”

  “I’m not very hungry, but I would like some water.”

  Lillian held her head while she drank some water. “Honey, why on earth did you jump in front of that gun?”

  “That man . . . I knew he was going to shoot you.” She remembered how she felt when that miscreant shot the stagecoach driver and then aimed his gun at Lillian. It was the same terror she felt that day when Luke was nearly shot in the back. She couldn’t explain what she did, she’d just reacted. “Is the stagecoach driver all right?”

  “He’s fine, the bullet just grazed his hand.”

  Mary Ann glanced at the door. “Where’s my father?”

  “He’s in the front room. Do you want me to get him?”

  “No.”

  It was just a one-word response, but Lillian heard the immense sorrow it carried. “He has been very worried about you, and that young man as well.” She was stretching the truth, but she only wanted the best for Mary Ann. After what she had gone through, the least she could do was tell a little white lie. God would surely forgive her for that.

  Mary Ann didn’t respond to Lillian’s comment. “Can I sit up?”

  “Let me have a look at your wound first.” Clive was pleased with the condition of the wound so he and Lillian helped her into a sitting position. “Gently now.”

  “I’m sure Father is displeased that we were unable to leave today.”

  Lillian didn’t confirm her statement even though she knew that Hardwicke was very unhappy that they weren’t on their way this morning. “The stagecoach driver wa
sn’t up to leaving either, and it would take a long time for another driver to arrive. So there is no need for you to fret. Everyone will have to be patient.”

  “You don’t need to be traveling right now.” Clive left the room to tell her father that very thing. He wouldn’t allow Mary Ann’s father to jeopardize her health with his impatience to get to England.

  Lillian sat on the bed beside Mary Ann. “Do you want me to get your brush from your valise so I can brush your hair?”

  Mary Ann’s hand automatically went to her hair and she winced in pain from the movement. “That would be lovely.”

  While they were alone Lillian decided to ask some questions about Mary Ann’s father. “Do you think he would change his mind and allow you to stay here?”

  Mary Ann explained to Lillian the reason she thought her father was adamant about the marriage. “Edmund wants to marry me and he’s very wealthy.”

  “There’s no chance this fellow, Luke, would come for you?” She didn’t want to tell Mary Ann that she’d said his name while she was delirious.

  “No. I’m afraid he was angry with me for not telling him about Edmund. He thought I was playing him for a fool and he refused to forgive me. I didn’t even get to say good-bye to him.”

  The man had to be a fool if he didn’t know how much Mary Ann cared for him. “Then he doesn’t deserve you, either. Would you like me to speak to your father? Maybe I could convince him forcing you into a marriage will bring no happiness to anyone. I know I lead a simple life and I’m not a sophisticated person, but there is one thing I do know: Nothing is more important to a parent than the happiness and well-being of their children.”

  “Thank you for offering, but it is pointless. Father would disagree and tell you that he knows what is best for me.” She appreciated Lillian’s willingness to intercede on her behalf, though she knew her words would fall on deaf ears. She didn’t want to chance her father being rude to Lillian, which he was apt to do. And if he thought she still cared for Luke he might send his watchdogs to hurt him.

  Lillian felt sorry for Mary Ann. She couldn’t imagine being in a loveless marriage. She’d been married to Henry for forty years and she loved him more today than the day they got married. “Maybe Henry could persuade him.”