by Kari Trumbo
Hugh nodded. Didn’t seem to be all that difficult. He could probably do the job faster without stopping for coffee or hanging around, but perhaps that’s what people needed in order to feel safe. They needed to see the law in the street. He could also see how the older deputy had grown such a large gut, all the coffee and sweets would turn a man soft in no time.
He followed Peterson around the Holy Terror, then to the Keystone mine, the Bullion, the Lucky Boy and finally the Big Thunder. They were all in a close arc that led right back into town. There wasn’t much going on in the small town during the early morning. The teacher had very little to share and, being married, was quick to send Hugh outside because he was a single man. The teachers board was kind to let her teach as a married woman, but there were standards she had to uphold and she was strict about them.
The seamstress’ little home was the last place they visited. Ezzy sat in the big front window of her home, draped in fabric and pins. He stood near the front porch, trying to keep from looking suspicious or nervous, but if Hattie really did have some form of drink, he needed to know she wasn’t giving in. He prayed for her again.
Peterson spoke to Ezzy for a few minutes and just as they were about to leave, Hattie came down the stairs. She walked slowly and her eyes looked sunken and red. His stomach plummeted to his boots. She hadn’t looked that bad off since he’d taken her from the Garter.
He approached her slowly. “Hattie?”
She turned to him with blank eyes, her hands were hidden in her skirts, the very same skirts she’d worn the day before, rumpled from lying in bed. Her skin again was very pale and wane.
“What did you do, Hattie?” he whispered.
She barely looked at him. “Ezzy, you called?”
Ezzy cleared her throat. “Yes, dear. About two hours ago.”
“Oh. I guess I lost track of time while I was getting ready.” She turned around and went back up the stairs. She hadn’t even acknowledged Hugh’s presence.
Hugh turned on Ezzy. “What’s going on with Hattie? How long has she been like this?”
Ezzy narrowed her eyes at him. “She’s been drawn like that since just after you left yesterday. She hasn’t eaten, nor does she want to talk. She just sits in her room. I showed her how to measure a dress yesterday afternoon. After she castigated herself for her past, she blockaded her door and hasn’t come out until now, and I suspect I won’t be able to get her out again.”
“Did you give her anything, or did you see her drink anything?” He had to know for sure. He could only speculate until he did.
“How foolish do you think I am, Mr. Bradly? I know she’s hiding something, but I didn’t give her anything. Not that I didn’t try to give her everything I had to get her to come out last night.”
He glanced up the stairs, but he couldn’t very well go up to her room. There was no cause. She’d already forgotten him, had looked right past him. He’d never fathomed how much he’d miss that girl.
Ezzy gave them a confused smile as she attempted to stand underneath the yards of yellow fabric. Peterson prodded him with his elbow and they left the seamstress to her struggle.
“What do you make of Hattie?” he asked Peterson.
“I think the gal’s been crying for hours, I don’t think she’d done anything wrong. I didn’t smell anything and that’s hard to hide.”
He hadn’t considered that. But if it wasn’t drink, what would’ve made her act so out of sorts? It made no sense.
Peterson eyed him. “You were only with that gal for a week. You telling me you fell that hard in one week?”
“I don’t know what I feel, confused mostly. I wish I knew what Hattie wanted.”
Peterson nodded and clasped his hands behind his back, his belt thumping against his leg with every step. “It don’t really matter what she wants. You ain’t there yet. You need to figure out what you want first. Never know. Maybe it’s the same thing.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
HATTIE CLOSED HER DOOR, her mind, and her heart with a decisive thud. It had taken all her concentration to avoid Hugh downstairs, to treat him as she would the Deputy. That is, to treat him as if he weren’t there at all, excepting to see Ezzy. Because that was why he was there. He wore his badge again. He hadn’t worn it since that first day at the cabin. Hadn’t needed to since his job for Bullock had been to find her, and he had.
Ezzy would understand her behavior. She’d spoken soft words of reassurance through the door the night before when she’d refused to come down. Her stomach rejected food for wanting a drink. Hattie couldn’t open that door and let her in. Hugh was the only one who’d seen her in such a state of need and no one else would be allowed to see her in that state.
The flask on the dresser glinted in the soft sunlight pouring through her window, taunting her. It was Roy’s, she could see that now. The small jewel on the front glimmered as it had on the trip from Deadwood to Lead and then to Keystone. He’d always made sure it was full. Now, he was trying to pull her back the only way he knew how. And, if Hugh wouldn’t have her, at least Roy would. She sat on the bed, the flask within reach, and the whiskey within compelled her to make a choice.
Roy’s attention, if it could even be called that, was more fickle than a warm spring breeze on a Montana morning. Even though Hugh was no longer interested in her, his bits of affection were far superior and left her wanting more, whereas she’d hid from Roy. Hugh had made her feel as if she was worthy of better. She let her head drop to her chest. She wasn’t fit to make a decision like this. To take that drink would be like slapping Hugh in the face and would be giving Roy quarter to do as he pleased again.
You can do better. She looked around the room, but saw no one. Her mind had to be agreeing with Hugh; she could do better. She could tell Roy straight away that she’d not take his flask or anything else. She was free, free of drink and free of him. Hattie stood and swiped the flask off her dresser. She shoved it back into her pocket and rushed down the stairs, her feet barely touching the steps.
Hattie paused on the base of the stairs just as Ezzy dashed toward the back of the house. She wasn’t about to disrupt her, and didn’t want Ezzy knowing she’d left at all. She had something to do. Hattie knew where to find Roy if she really wanted to. There was a small cave just a mile outside Keystone where he’d hole up when Ros was angry at him. It had happened frequently enough over the last year. From there, he could walk to town in under a half hour, even with the uneven terrain.
She searched around by the front door for a bonnet, no sense in alerting the town to what she was doing. She’d gotten herself into the mess with Roy and now she’d end it. Near Ezzy’s bonnet sat a small box of tools, a couple shiny thimbles, needles stuck into a cushion, a small scissors, and a measuring rope, but nothing she could take to defend herself. Beside it sat Ezzy’s mailed-in orders and her pearl handled letter opener. It wasn’t incredibly sharp, but she remembered facing Roy all too well, and wouldn’t face him again without a weapon. Hugh would be angry if she went into that battle without something to protect herself. She pocketed the letter opener and rushed out the door.
The sun was almost straight overhead and burned down hot on her heavy shoulders. Town was north, so Roy’s cabin would be east of town or past all of the businesses and mines and to the right. It was also past the cabin where she’d stayed with Hugh. She slowed her steps. She’d never seen the writing on the note tied to the rock. She’d assumed it had been Lola’s man, but it could also have been Roy. She shook her head and began moving again, keeping her head down. If he’d done that, all the more reason to give him back his property and tell him to leave her alone. She was finished with him for good.
Men stood outside the mine, eating their lunch, and she kept as far from them as possible. Though it was as likely as not they were family men, it was still a group of men with a lone woman. Her heart raced as she wrapped her hand around the handle of the letter opener in her pocket. It was certain that, in the small cl
utch of men, one would be sure to recognize her. She ducked her head further and pressed on. Soon the trees closed in around her and she followed the trail back to the cabin.
It sat lonely where they’d left it the day before. Without the sound of Hugh’s ax or his voice, it was just like any other cabin. Desolate and dark. She pressed on deeper into the woods and along the canyon, away from the rock where Hugh had taken her yesterday. When he’d let his guard down and she’d seen beneath his measured surface to the caring and heat beneath. But she’d let her fear lead her. If he’d discovered what she’d carried with her, he would’ve been so disappointed. But what did it matter? It wasn’t worth thinking on if it would only lead to more hurt. She focused on the uneven rock face ahead of her, thoughts of Hugh pushed to the back of her mind, at least for a while.
Roy had said you’d only be able to see the cave if you knew where it was. You could be looking directly at it and not see it because of the shadows of the jutting granite slabs. She approached the rocks, careful to keep as silent as a church mouse on potluck day. The trees rustled around her and the hair on the back of her neck prickled.
“Why, if it isn’t Hattie Arnsby come to pay me a visit. Did you miss havin’ a real man, Hattie?”
Chapter Twenty-Three
HUGH STOOD FROM HIS chair where he’d been listening to Peterson relay all the laws passed so far in South Dakota that pertained to their small burg. His voice droned on and Hugh couldn’t keep Hattie’s red rimmed eyes from pressing in on his thoughts. Was it his fault? Had he hurt her in some way? Had he been wrong about the drink?
Hugh pulled back the curtain to watch as the stage rumbled into town and stopped in front of Franklin’s. He blinked a few times and shook his head. Could he be imagining the redhead that had stepped off with a dark-haired man? Not many had hair the color of a ruby, but he knew one. Hattie’s older sister, who bore the same name as the precious stone.
“Bradly? You listening?”
“I’m sorry, stage just came in. Caught my attention.” He glanced out the window again.
The woman held a bundle in her arms and the man wrapped his arm around her back and pointed toward the Red Garter Saloon. They both turned to look around the small town. No doubt about it, it was Beau Rockford and his wife, Ruby. Hattie’s oldest sister. They could take her home; his obligation was finished. It sat like a lead weight in his stomach.
“Sir. I think the answer to your prayers just arrived on the stage. Hattie’s family is here.”
Peterson stood up and started clearing his desk. “Well, go get them, son. Don’t just stand around here jawing.”
Hugh grabbed his hat and went outside to meet Beau and Ruby. Beau saw him first and led Ruby to meet him in the street.
“Hugh. Been a while. We just couldn’t wait any longer.” Beau held out his hand for a shake then pulled him into a one-arm hug as soon as he had hold of him. He’d hoped Aiden had been with them, too, but that wouldn’t make any sense since Beau and Ruby were Hattie’s guardians. He showed the couple up the short flight of stairs to the Deputy’s front door and held it for them. Deputy Peterson made a spectacle of continuing to clear off his desk as he gruffly welcomed them, but neither appeared to care much.
Beau was never one for many words so he cut right to the chase. “We’re here for Hattie. Been pert near a year since we’ve seen her.”
Hugh nodded and glanced at Peterson. “Mind if I take them over to Ezzy’s?”
“Yes, well. I’ve got quite a lot to do, I think that’s a fine idea. Send my regards.” Hugh had picked up from their earlier visit that Peterson had a soft spot for Ezzy, as if she were a daughter, though, he and his wife had no children of their own.
Ruby cooed to the little bundle in her arms as they walked the few blocks toward the seamstress. The weather was warm for late July but the boy didn’t fuss. Hugh had pent up so much of what he felt for so long that he didn’t know what to say to Hattie’s sister. While he was glad to see them, it also meant she’d be leaving much sooner than he’d expected. Somehow home would be different. He just knew Ruby and Beau would worry about her and never let Hattie out of their sight. Even if Hattie accepted him, they wouldn’t agree to a courtship after losing her for a year.
He had to say something to break the strange silence. “How’s little Joseph? He’s such a tiny little guy.”
Ruby laughed and nuzzled Joseph’s head. “He’s supposed to be tiny, Hugh. When was the last time you ever even saw a baby?”
Fair question. He couldn’t remember. While Ruby didn’t look like Hattie, they still had a similar face and watching her nuzzle her little one reminded him too much of a sweet blond and what he’d prayed for as he’d laid down to sleep the night before.
“I got Aiden’s telegram, that’s why I didn’t bring her right home.” They hadn’t yet said why they’d come in defiance of a quarantine.
Ruby turned slightly and smiled. “Aiden is finally doing better under Jennie’s watchful eye. He was pretty sick for a few weeks. When Bullock got your telegram, he didn’t want to come right out and say your brother was sick. He thought it would distract you when you already had a lot on your mind.” She stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him, her stance suddenly one to do battle. “When we were at the office, you said Hattie, not my wife. Why aren’t you married yet?
He scratched the back of his neck and closed his eyes. Lord knew he wanted to be. “We had planned to head to Hill City yesterday to have it done but, well, it’s a long story that I’ll let Hattie tell you. We just aren’t married and it doesn’t look like we need to be now.”
“No. That isn’t how it was supposed to happen. I told Bullock to tell you to get married. I spent hours convincing him it was the perfect way to keep Hattie out of that place and secure with a husband. You were supposed to follow the order, right away.” Her eyes pierced and challenged him to defy her. Ruby had been a formidable woman before, but as a mother, she wasn’t one to be crossed, especially with her gun-toting husband at her shoulder.
He shook his head. “You told him? You’re asking an awful lot from me, Ruby.”
“Am I? You signed on to save Hattie’s life. When she gets back to Deadwood, all those old feelings will return. She wanted to be married, to have someone to cherish her. She made a wrong choice and there’s no one who’ll have her now. Except you.”
Beau laid a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “I told you not to make trouble, Ruby. You stepped in where you should’ve let God handle it.”
Ruby shook her head and buried her face in Joseph’s curls. “I just don’t want to see her hurting anymore.”
Hugh took a deep breath and let it out slowly to keep from saying what he really wanted. Ruby had no business meddling, and he’d never admit she was right, but he couldn’t just let her manipulate his life.
“Ruby, I know you love Hattie and, to be honest, I’ve grown to love her over the last week. But I don’t think forcing marriage is going to make her feel cherished. She never wanted to marry me, not even when it seemed like the only way out. You picked the wrong man.” He strode past her and continued toward Ezzy’s. His gut was in knots. Beau and Ruby could take Hattie back on tomorrow’s stage. For months, he’d thought about finding her and protecting her, so how could he turn that over to Beau? It would be one of the most difficult things he’d been called to do. Could he stay away until his feelings were good and dead?
He knocked on the door and it took Ezzy a full minute to open it. When she did, her eyes were red and her hair was in a frazzle about her head. She dabbed her handkerchief under her eyes and sobbed.
“Oh Hugh! I’m so glad to see you. Hattie’s gone! I don’t know what happened, she’s just gone!”
Hugh turned her back into her house, Beau and Ruby close behind.
“Ezzy, this is Hattie’s sister, Ruby, and brother-in-law, Beau. Please tell us exactly what happened.” Hugh took to pacing in front of her as Ruby stood to the side, her face a mask. His mind rac
ed in all directions while the older woman pulled her wits about her. Where could Hattie have gone and why?
“I was in the back room, looking for fabrics that would go well with the dress I started yesterday. I didn’t hear her come downstairs, didn’t hear the door close. I came from the back room around luncheon then went upstairs, determined to get her to come down and eat. I knocked and called, then yelled, finally pushing the door open to an empty room.” She let loose with a huge sniffle and Beau handed her his dry kerchief. She blew into it daintily and folded it into her hand. “I searched the house as fast as I could. My bonnet is missing, and my letter opener, of all things.”
“Why would she take a letter opener?” Ruby interrupted. Hugh strode to the stove. He had to admit he needed to think, and coffee usually did the trick.
Ezzy shuddered. “That girl needs Jesus, Hugh. She was keeping a secret. She fancies you. Did you know? She’s sure you don’t want her anymore. I told her to turn it over to Jesus and she laughed at me.”
Hugh swung his head to Ruby and she gave him a triumphant jab of her chin, but it was short-lived. “So, if you were Hattie. Where would you go with a letter opener and a purpose.”
Hugh scratched his chin, afraid to say what he’d really do, but knowing he’d have to be honest with Ruby. “I’d make sure I’d slayed all my demons before leaving town. I’d make sure they could never chase me down again. That would mean either Ros, Roy, or both.”
Beau stepped forward and crossed his arms. “Who are Ros and Roy?” Beau always wore an ancient pistol on his hip, claimed it was more accurate than any gun he’d ever owned, and Hugh considered that he might need Beau’s assistance. Beau unfurled his long arms and rested his hand atop the old barker as if he knew the direction of Hugh’s thoughts. It wasn’t bluster, nor a threat. He was ready and Hugh would accept every bit of his help.