Return to Whispering Pines

by Scarlett Dunn

  Jack walked to the door and together they walked down the hall. “They’re worried about what is going to happen.”

  “I know. I am too.”

  Jack thought she sounded exhausted. He stopped walking and turned to face her. “Do you think Prescott is doing this because you turned him down? Or, do you think he really feels it is in the best interest of the children to return to Boston?”

  Addie looked up at him. “Yes . . . no, oh, I don’t know. Perhaps I am too involved with the children. I couldn’t imagine that Prescott would be so cruel as to try to hurt me by using the children.”

  “Why didn’t you agree to marry him?” Morgan told him earlier that she rejected Prescott’s offer, and he’d wanted to know the reason.

  “Many reasons,” she said evasively.

  “Like?”

  “He wanted me to return to Boston and live there. Even if I married him, he wouldn’t adopt the children.” These were important reasons to her, but she had other reasons for turning down Prescott’s proposal. The main reason was one she couldn’t admit to him. Prescott wasn’t Jack. No matter how much she tried to deny the fact, Rose was right, Jack was important to her. She told herself it wasn’t love. She liked and admired him for so many reasons, and certainly for the kindness he’d shown the children. He didn’t seem like the kind of man who’d share his feelings easily, but he’d shown his true heart to the children. She remembered what Clarissa had said that afternoon. Jack had obviously given his heart to her.

  Jack noticed she didn’t say she didn’t love Prescott. “If he agreed to adopt the children, would you marry him?”

  Addie turned away and proceeded down the hallway. “It doesn’t matter, he’d never agree to that. Prescott wants children, but he wants his own children. We would always disagree over my close relationship with the children.”

  As they walked down the stairs, Jack said, “Morgan told me that he and Rose are thinking of adopting the children until you marry.”

  “Yes, but I told them they should consider that I may never marry.”

  Jack thought Prescott might come to his senses and agree to adopt the children if he really wanted Addie. “I’m sure you’ll marry one day.”

  Addie didn’t want to think about never finding a man to love her. “I saw Clarissa at the mercantile today. She said you had a lovely dinner last night.”

  That was a surprise to Jack. He hadn’t seen Clarissa in town today, and in his estimation, their dinner was certainly not lovely. After he’d told her he wasn’t ready for marriage, he couldn’t get out of there fast enough. “Hmm.”

  Addie didn’t think anything odd about his noncommittal response. “I’m sure she’ll make a wonderful wife.”

  Jack didn’t know why she was talking about Clarissa. She was the last person he wanted to talk about. “Yeah.”

  They walked into the kitchen and sat at the table with the others, and Morgan said, “Addie, have you decided you like our plan?”

  “My only concern is you may have the children until they are grown.”

  “Nonsense,” Granny said, dismissing the notion Addie wouldn’t marry soon.

  “Rose, I just want you to consider that possibility before you commit.”

  Rose leaned over and squeezed her hand. “We considered all possibilities. You and the children are welcome here forever.”

  “Then it’s settled. I’ll talk to Prescott and tell him our plans,” Morgan said.

  “I don’t think Prescott thought you were talking about you and Rose adopting the girls,” Jack said.

  Addie’s eyes widened. “You spoke to Prescott about this?”

  “We saw him at the boardinghouse, and Morgan mentioned someone may be interested in adopting the girls, but he didn’t mention names.”

  “What reason could he give for refusing us?” Morgan asked.

  “None that I can see, but I’m still not convinced he will agree,” Jack said.

  Addie was of the same opinion. “I don’t know what he will do. Prescott told me one reason he was closing the orphanage was because I didn’t tell him I had an outlaw for a brother.”

  “If Prescott doesn’t agree, we couldn’t very well take it before Judge Stevens, given the circumstances with Frank,” Jack said.

  Morgan had already thought about that scenario. “Yeah. I can’t see Stevens would agree to anything in our favor.”

  Granny thought she was the only one who was confident the children would stay in Whispering Pines. “One thing is certain; he won’t find anyone in Whispering Pines to take the children to Boston. Given that, he may be more inclined to have the girls adopted now instead of waiting for the school term to end to have them returned to Boston.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Jack and Morgan dropped Addie and the girls off at school the next morning before they rode to the mercantile with Granny and Rose. Their next stop was the boardinghouse, where they hoped to speak to Prescott again, but he wasn’t there. They rode back to the new jail where they joined Jack’s deputy working on the roof.

  Webb reached in his pocket and pulled out a telegram. “Sheriff, this arrived a few minutes ago.”

  Jack read the telegram and looked at Morgan. “It’s from Sheriff Trent. Marshal Holt arrived in Denver this morning. He said he’ll be there until morning if we want to talk. Says he’s chasing Joe Culpepper and Win Taggart.”

  Morgan thought he recognized the names. “The stagecoach bandits?”

  “Yeah. He’ll have his hands full if he catches up with them.”

  Morgan whistled low. “I’ll say. They’ve killed their share.” In addition to being robbers, Culpepper and Taggart were well-known cold-blooded killers.

  “I guess I’d better ride that way and talk to Holt. I’d like to make sure he hears the story from us.” Jack was thankful it was Holt he was going to see. Holt was a decent, honest man who would listen to facts, and the judge wouldn’t buffalo him.

  “I’ll go with you. I want to get the situation with Joseph settled.” Morgan didn’t want Joseph to feel like he no longer had a home. Joseph was in his seventies, and Morgan didn’t think he needed to be roaming the country at this stage in his life.

  “What about Prescott?”

  “We have a couple more days before he leaves.” If Marshal Holt only heard the judge’s and Frank’s version of the story, Morgan figured he’d be forced to deal with soldiers on his ranch within a week.

  “Webb, can you take the women back to the ranch tonight if we aren’t back?” Jack asked.

  “I sure will. Maybe I’ll get a good meal.”

  “Let’s go tell Granny and Rose where we’re going,” Morgan said.

  * * *

  Jack and Morgan arrived at the sheriff’s office in Denver just before lunchtime. As soon as they entered the jail they were surprised to see Judge Stevens and Frank Langtry sitting there talking to Sheriff Trent and Marshal Holt.

  Judge Stevens turned to see Jack and Morgan. Realizing they were alone, he slammed his fist on the sheriff’s desk. “Where is that renegade I told you to bring to Denver?”

  “I don’t plan on bringing him to Denver,” Morgan replied.

  Stevens bristled at Morgan’s blatant disregard for his authority. “Sheriff Trent, place this man under arrest.”

  Sheriff Trent’s eyes darted from the judge to Marshal Holt. Trent thought Holt looked stunned by the judge’s outburst. “Now, Judge, let’s be reasonable.”

  “You gave us a week,” Jack said. “I don’t figure the week is up yet.”

  “Sheriff, you heard me. I’ve thrown out all charges against Frank. He’s a free man.” He flailed a finger in Morgan’s direction. “This man is the one I want arrested. I want him held in contempt.”

  Marshal Holt stood and addressed Judge Stevens. “Wait a dang minute, Judge. I want to talk to these men before we do anything rash.” Holt had heard of Morgan, and he wanted a chance to find out what was going on before Trent arrested him.

 
Judge Stevens was not to be second-guessed. “I’m the judge here, and I’ve instructed you to arrest him, Sheriff Trent.”

  “Judge, these two aren’t going anywhere right now. I’m going to talk to them,” Marshal Holt replied. “Now you and Frank go on about your business, and come back here in an hour or so.”

  “Marshal, if these two aren’t here when we get back, I’ll have you arrested.” Judge Stevens glanced at Frank. “You go on and take Charlotte to lunch. Come by the house when you’re done.”

  Frank grinned at Morgan and Jack as he walked out the door. “I’ll see you two later.” Frank tried to appear calm, but today was the day of the robbery, and like he was before all of his other robberies, he was twitchy. Knowing what was about to happen made him feel powerful. He knew his boys were already in town, but he’d never expected Jack and Morgan to appear this morning. He told himself it didn’t matter, he couldn’t call it off now. In his twisted logic, having Jack and Morgan in town made it all the more exciting. He was going to pull off a robbery right under their noses, and they’d never figure out that he was involved. He’d be in the clear.

  Frank and the judge walked out of the jail, and Frank said, “Wonder what made them show up this morning?”

  “It doesn’t matter. You’ve told me the truth about everything, haven’t you, Frank?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Now enjoy your lunch,” the judge said.

  Before Frank walked away, he said, “Judge, I saw Leigh earlier and she said she agreed to have dinner with you tonight.”

  The judge forgot all about Jack and Morgan. His eyes lit up like a young schoolboy. “Yes, she is, and I have you to thank for that. It looks like she is willing to forgive me. Now, all we need to do is get Charlotte to come around.”

  “I’m working on it, Judge.” Frank felt like laughing. He’d done nothing but encourage Charlotte to harbor bitterness toward the judge’s girlfriend. Charlotte’s anger was going to be very useful today.

  The judge put his arm around Frank’s shoulder. “I know you are, my boy. And I won’t forget what you have done. Leigh hasn’t said as much, but I think you’ve talked her into forgiving me for not telling Charlotte about her. I plan on spending the night at the hotel. If you don’t hear me come home, you know where to find me.”

  Frank laughed. He’d spent nearly two hours this morning at the little house on the outskirts of town with Leigh. He didn’t think she’d let the judge anywhere near her hotel room tonight, or any other night ever again. “She is a beauty.”

  “I haven’t been able to sleep for thinking about her.”

  “I understand.” Frank had had the same problem. Once he split the take from the robbery with the boys, he planned to find a safe spot where he could hole up with Leigh for a few weeks. He’d think of some excuse for his wife and the judge. But, what did it really matter? The judge had dropped the charges against him. He was no longer a wanted man. He was untouchable.

  * * *

  Frank had timed it perfectly. He was escorting Charlotte to lunch, and they were passing the bank at exactly noon. Leigh walked from the bank and intentionally bumped into Charlotte, nearly knocking her to the ground. Charlotte clutched Frank’s arm to keep from falling down.

  “What do you think you are doing?” Charlotte said indignantly.

  “I apologize, I’m afraid I was closing my reticule and wasn’t paying attention,” Leigh said.

  Hat askew, Charlotte looked up to see who had nearly knocked her over. When she saw it was her father’s girlfriend, she became enraged. Face now a blotchy red, she lit into her nemesis. “You did that on purpose!”

  “I did no such thing. It was an accident. I was just going about my business,” Leigh insisted.

  “You are trying your best to intervene in my life. I want you to stay away from my father! What business could you have in a bank?”

  Leigh’s chin snapped up a notch and she smirked at the judge’s daughter. “Depositing the money your father gives me. And you would be wise to mind your own business.”

  Charlotte looked her up and down. It enraged her all the more to see this trollop wearing the same cloak she was wearing. There was no way Charlotte was going to share her father, or what would be her rightful inheritance, with such a woman. “My father is my business, and I demand you stay out of his life.”

  “Your father is going to marry me whether you like it or not. You are just jealous because I’m prettier than you are.”

  Frank had told Leigh exactly what to wear, and what to say to Charlotte to set in motion a verbal spat guaranteed to create a scene in the middle of the street. And he’d been right, Charlotte was livid and she was losing her composure. Frank watched as people started gathering around the two screeching women, hoping to see a good catfight. He glanced inside the bank and saw Reb lower the shades on the front windows.

  “My father will never marry the likes of you.”

  Leigh placed her hands on her hips and gave Charlotte a look of defiance. “Don’t you think I have what your father wants? Or are you too blind? Maybe you can’t see with that hat in your eyes.” She reached up and snatched Charlotte’s hat from her head and tossed it on the ground.

  Charlotte’s eyes widened at Leigh’s insolence. “How dare you!” She slapped Leigh hard across the cheek. “You witch.”

  Leigh grabbed a handful of Charlotte’s hair and tried to pull her to the ground. And the battle was on. The two women were squaring off like two bulls with their horns locked.

  Frank didn’t attempt to break them apart. His eyes were locked on the bank. He’d told the men how to enter through the back door, and to work fast once they were inside. Their horses were waiting in the trees for a quick getaway. He knew Charlotte and Leigh would draw a crowd when they started arguing, but he’d never expected a physical confrontation. It couldn’t have worked out better. They’d been the talk of the town since that night in the restaurant, so he figured this little scene would distract the crowd for a good ten minutes, maybe more.

  A shot rang out. Splintering glass crashed to the sidewalk. Frank shot a glance at the bank as he squatted down. Something was going wrong. He’d told them specifically not to fire their guns. “Get down.” Frank reached for Leigh’s hand to pull her to the ground behind him when another shot sounded like it exploded next to his ear. He glanced at Charlotte, and she was on her knees. Four loud bangs followed in rapid succession, causing people to scramble in all directions, hiding behind whatever they could find. Frank heard some commotion going on inside the bank. He pulled his gun and waited. Suddenly, there was complete silence from the bank, and Frank thought he heard horses in the distance. He waited, eyes on the door of the bank, for what seemed like an eternity.

  Hearing footfalls on the wooden sidewalk, Frank glanced around to see Jack, Morgan, Sheriff Trent, and Marshal Holt running toward him.

  “What is going on here?” Sheriff Trent shouted as he approached.

  “Shots were fired from the bank,” Frank responded.

  Jack and Sheriff Trent ran to Frank, and saw Charlotte lying on the ground. When she didn’t move, Jack kneeled down and gently turned her over.

  Unaware that his wife had been hit, Frank looked down to see what Jack was doing. Charlotte’s eyes were closed, and there was blood at the corner of her mouth.

  Jack held his forefinger to Charlotte’s neck, hoping to feel a pulse. “She’s dead.” He moved to the judge’s girlfriend, who was lying behind Frank. Frank turned around and watched in stunned silence as Jack placed his finger on Leigh’s neck.

  Frank had been focused on the bank door, and he hadn’t realized that both women had been shot. “Leigh!” He dropped his gun, leaned over and shook her. “Leigh, wake up!”

  “She’s alive. Someone get the doctor,” Jack called out. He glanced over at Morgan to see if he was watching Frank. Morgan’s gaze met Jack’s, silently communicating he was witnessing Frank’s unusual behavior.

  A clerk ran from
the bank. “We’ve been robbed. Mr. Rivers has been shot.”

  Sheriff Trent and Marshal Holt ran into the bank.

  Sheriff Trent saw the back door standing open. “How many?”

  “There were three of them.” The clerk pointed to the back door. “They ran out that way.”

  Sheriff Trent ran through the bank toward the back door. “Let’s go!”

  Jack and Morgan ran to the back of the bank and caught up with Trent and Holt. They stopped and listened, but they didn’t hear anything other than the usual sounds of nature.

  “They made a quick getaway,” Sheriff Trent said. “Let’s get our horses.”

  When they returned to the bank, they saw one of the clerks attending to the bank president, Mr. Rivers.

  Sheriff Trent kneeled beside the clerk. “Can you tell me what they looked like? Did you recognize anyone?”

  “No, all three wore masks, and their hats were pulled low. One man was really big.”

  “Did they get the money?” the sheriff asked.

  “Yeah. That’s when Mr. Rivers grabbed a gun in the drawer and started firing.”

  Sheriff Trent stood and said, “I’m going after them.”

  “I’ll go with you. I doubt this is the work of Culpepper and Taggart, but I’ve lost their trail anyway,” the marshal said.

  When they walked outside, they saw the doctor hovering over Leigh. Frank was still by her side, holding on to her hand.

  “Did someone go for the judge?” Sheriff Trent asked.

  “Yeah, here he comes now,” someone in the crowd said.

  The judge came running and dropped to his daughter’s side. “Charlotte!”

  Sheriff Trent placed his hand on the judge’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Judge.”

  The judge turned to Frank. “Leigh?”

  Frank didn’t respond, but the doc said, “She’s in a bad way, Judge.”

  “Dear God.” He pulled Charlotte into his arms. “My poor baby girl.”

  “Doc, Mr. Rivers has been shot,” Sheriff Trent said.

  The doc stood and spoke to some of the men. “Let’s get both of them over to my office.”