by Kari Trumbo
“Roy’s the man who kidnapped Hattie and used her addiction to convince her she wasn’t worth salt. Ros…was her madam.”
Ruby gasped and clutched the front of her walking suit. Beau was there in a heartbeat, his arm supporting her. Near enough she could take his strength if she wanted it.
“How long was she with Ros?” Ruby whispered.
“About ten months, far as I can tell. I know she spent a short time in Lead with Roy. I don’t know what happened there, but he brought her here before I made it to Lead. I might’ve caught her there if I’d left right away, instead of waiting for Aiden and Jennie’s wedding, then helping with building their house. I didn’t know…”
Ruby’s face had gone stark white. “We didn’t expect you to leave and many of us assumed that she wanted to be gone, so we thought there was no rush.” Joseph fussed and Ruby broke away from them to go retrieve the bundle.
“So, where can we find Roy and Ros?” Beau’s voice had a sharp edge and it bolstered Hugh’s own anger.
“Ros will be easy to find; she owns the upstairs of the Red Garter. Roy…he hasn’t been seen in days.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
A SCREAM LODGED IN her throat for a moment too long. She didn’t have to turn around to see who it was, that voice would haunt her for a lifetime. Roy clamped one hand over her mouth and hauled her against his body.
“It’s been too long Hattie. Five days you’ve played house with that good for nothing lawman. I had to take matters into my own hands. I had to convince Lola there was a reward for your return. I had to tell her what to do and to get her man involved so she wouldn’t foul up.” He whipped her around to face him, his eyes angry pools of hatred. “What I don’t understand, is why I had to. I gave you everything, and you turned on me like a viper the moment he showed up. What did he offer you that I didn’t?”
She couldn’t answer with his hand covering her mouth and he didn’t seem to need an answer badly enough to move it. She had no words that would appease him, anyway. Roy yanked her hair back, pulling the bonnet off and most of the pins out. She yelped at the biting pain. He dug his fingers in her hair and smiled slowly, then crushed his mouth to hers. For the first time, her stomach roiled with something other than fear. If she could only reach her pocket, she could defend herself against him.
Roy shoved her from him, satisfied for now. She resisted the urge to wipe her mouth with her sleeve; that would only enrage him further.
“It was time I brought you here. If you can’t make me any more money, no use in putting it off any longer.” He grabbed her arm tightly and drug her toward the face of the rocks. It looked as if they would stride right into them until all of a sudden, the dark spot right in front of them looked less than shadow, it was a hole. It wasn’t large, not much more than three feet by three feet, and about two feet off the ground. He ducked her head and shoved her into the dark cavern.
Roy’s body completely blocked the light. She couldn’t see if she was dropping into a hundred foot cavern or if it was a tunnel that would slowly tighten until she was trapped. Roy shoved at her from behind. “Get in there, gal, before someone comes along. I don’t need people knowing I don’t live in no palace.” He cackled and a shiver ran down her back as she crawled, holding the front of her skirt so she didn’t fall face first in the tunnel. It went along for a while, then opened up. She tried to pull her legs forward so she could swing them down and gradually find her footing, but Roy was right behind her and gave her a mighty shove, spilling her a few feet down into the cave.
“There.” He spoke into the dark, and the scratch of a sulfur match against his boot brought a tiny flame to life. He stuck it into a lantern by the cave mouth and it bathed the small area in light. The cave had yellow stone that looked slippery and wet. The whole room felt damp and cold.
“This little room is where I stay, but beware, back there—” he swung the lantern toward the other side of the cavern, “back there is a drop off.” He picked up a pebble they’d tracked in and tossed it to the other side of the room. There was no sound for a long time, then finally a faint plink as it hit something below. “Don’t know how far down it is, but I suspect you wouldn’t live if you fell.”
Hattie slipped down the wall, clutching her knees to her chest. No one would ever find her here. Roy laughed and set the lantern on a crude table in the middle of the cavern. The lantern shed weak light in the space that was maybe fifteen feet in each direction. The edges of the room hung in darkness and she couldn’t see where the floor ended and the expanse began. Her stomach did a loop and her head swam.
Roy strode over to her and yanked her off the floor, dragging her to a pallet of furs along the wall. She saw where he usually built a fire, right by the door, but it would be cold in the cave at night and that little fire wouldn’t reach far. He flung her onto the bed and reached for his suspenders.
“I been waiting for this for a long time.”
She reached into her pocket and dug for the letter opener. Finding it with her hand she drew it out and held it in front of her. The pearl handle was slippery in her sweaty fingers.
Roy laughed. “You planning to hold me off with that?” He came closer. “I see you’ve got your spunk back.” He lowered one knee onto the furs and she gasped, aiming the blade at his thigh. It wasn’t sharp enough to penetrate his trousers. He slapped her hand and she pushed herself up on both knees, holding the opener in front of her with both hands.
“Is that how you’re going to be with me? Did you open up for the lawman when you sat there all alone in that cabin? I know you didn’t, because I saw you there.” He bent low like he would rush at her and she adjusted her weapon, too late realizing that’s what he expected her to do. He hit the knife from her hands and was on her in a heartbeat. “I guess, like usual, I need to pay you first. Did you already drink what I sent you? It was good wasn’t it. Reminded you of what you’d been missing.” He twisted her hair in a vicious grip. “I’ll be back. Be ready when I get here.” He grabbed a bandana and wrapped it around her eyes. She held out her arms to steady herself as dizziness fell on her and he grabbed them, tying them behind her back.
“Remember. If you move too far, you’ll go over the edge. That’d be a waste.” He bit her ear below the tie and she yelped as he tossed her back into the bed.
In a few moments, even the edges of the bandana grew dark. He’d put out the light. If she crawled around, she could slip, especially without use of her hands. Cold fear crawled up her spine and the scream she’d swallowed earlier threatened to erupt. Even if anyone missed her, no one would ever know where to look. The cold air of the cave nipped at her hands and face. She sat still, trying to feel the origin of the slight breeze. It had to flow from the mouth of the cave to the opening in the floor. She sat up on her knees and tried to remember which way her letter opener had flown. If she could find it, she might be able to untie her hands.
Roy used his left hand most often, he’d often leave bruises on her right cheek, so she had to look right. But was right toward the opening of the cave? She stopped and tried to remember. No, it was toward the expanse she didn’t want to go near. She stood and found the wall with her foot. There was only so far it would take her until the floor disappeared out from under her, but she hoped she’d feel it first and not slip. Could she remember the knife hitting the floor or had it fallen to the depths below?
She swung her leg in a wide arc in front of her, trying to keep her foot from dragging on the floor. She didn’t want to kick the letter opener away. After a few steps, her leg tired and she switched to the other. On the tenth step, her slow half-circle found the edge of the deep and she sprang back away from it and wobbled, her head suddenly light as a feather.
She turned back and slowly searched for the letter opener with her foot, once again. Time was running short, she could feel it. It would take less than an hour for Roy to walk to town and back. It wouldn’t take him long at all to get whiskey from Ros; she loved to sell
it. Hattie pinched the skin of her hand. Stop it. You need your wits about you, now more than ever.
A chill spilled down her spine and she shivered. Ezzy had said that she should take her situation to her God—fine. If that’s what it took to get her out of this, she’d ask for help. Hattie stood rod straight. “I don’t know you, but Hugh and Ezzy do. When I was little and I needed someone, anyone, to pay attention to me, I prayed and you didn’t answer. You weren’t there. That’s when I took my first drink. The drink was there for me, and it brought me closer to my pa. He didn’t care about any of the others, but he cared for me. No one else knows it, but it was because of me Jennie wasn’t sold off like Ruby. I made him a bet I could drink him under the table and if he lost, Jennie wouldn’t have to go with the man he picked. Now, I know I should be sorry for that, but I’m not. I drank myself sick, but he passed out cold. I won. If you’re there and you care so much, how come you left a girl to fight that battle? Why weren’t you there when he sold off Ruby? How can I believe in a God that ignores those who need Him most?” She yelled and the sound echoed off the walls. Hattie stood up on her toes, trying to make herself bigger in the great expanse of the cave. She lost her balance and fell backward, her tied hands scraping against the smooth handle of the letter opener.
Chapter Twenty-Five
RUBY PICKED UP JOSEPH and cuddled him close. “If Roy hasn’t been seen for days, then we can count him out.” She bounced the tiny bundle on her hip.
Hugh scratched his jaw and considered what to say. If only that were the case, but he didn’t have time to explain it to Ruby. “Beau, you ready?” He flipped the strap on his holster, leaving it open for use. If Hattie’d gone to either of those two, there was no telling what kind of trouble she might be in.
Beau nodded and stepped over to his wife. He whispered something in her ear and she gave a shaky smile and nodded to him. He didn’t have to hear what Beau said to know what he was doing. Ruby had been worried about her sister for a year and she’d hoped to be embracing her now, not sending her husband out to save her.
Hugh closed the door behind them and waited until they were a few paces from the house. “I wish I could say Ruby was right, but I don’t think Roy went very far. He’s connected to Ros, helps her find new girls. Even if he is gone, he’ll be back soon.”
Beau kept a steady pace and made almost no noise. “I think we ought to aim for Ros first, then if she isn’t there, we move on to Roy.”
The bottle, or whatever it was, in Hattie’s pocket, was the only clue. If it had come from Roy, then she’d go to Roy, but since Lola had gotten the reward information from Ros maybe that’s where Hattie went. He just couldn’t be sure. “I suppose that’s a good plan. I don’t know where Roy is, he might have a room with Ros. We can ask her. I don’t think she’ll share, but what have we got to lose?”
Beau nodded and kept pace. “Hugh, what are your intentions with Hattie? I know what Ruby did was rash and if Hattie ever finds out, she’ll think Ruby’s just as bad as her pa was. She really thought it was the best course, but you did say you’d grown to love her.” Beau stopped moving and regarded him with knowing eyes that reminded him of his own father. “So, I need to know what you intend.”
Hugh took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Wasn’t that the same question he’d wanted to know himself? “I told her I’d marry her when I got the telegram. It was out of duty and I even offered her an annulment as soon as she wanted one.” He glanced to the heavens for the right words to finish what he wanted to say. He had to get this right. While Beau wasn’t her pa, he was her guardian and had the final say.
Beau crossed his arms. “And now?”
Hugh sighed. “Now? I can’t stop thinking about her. I’m worried about her when she isn’t with me. I think about her all the time. I know she’s young and I’m, well, quite a few years older than her, but I can’t help but hope that she’d want stability after all she’s been through. I’d take good care of her, Beau.”
“I know you would, but that’s not what I’m asking. You said you love her, do you?” His eyes hardened. He wanted answers. He’d always known Beau to be direct. He should’ve seen this coming, instead it pulled the rug right from under him. “I don’t know.”
Beau frowned and turned his feet back down the path. “We’ll take her back with us and give you some time to think on it. Once we find her.”
“You’re right. I’m worried for her, but somehow, I know she’s all right.” And he did. He knew he should be worried, but there was a peace that shouldn’t be there, that hadn’t been there when he’d searched for her all those months. She was nearby.
Beau gave him a look out of the corner of his eye and a smile lifted the edge of his lip then dropped. “You sure you don’t know?”
The question hit him between the shoulders and sent his mind buzzing around like a dragonfly. You couldn’t fall in love in such a short time, could you? He certainly felt protective, but that came with the job, didn’t it? He was concerned about her feelings and her health, but that could just be Christian charity. He wanted everyone to be healthy. But even as he tried to discount all his feelings as common, Hattie was so much more.
Hugh looked through the front window of the Garter to see how many people would be around and how many of them would come to Ros’s defense. He could see three people plus the bartender, but no Ros. He jerked his head toward the door and Beau opened it just as silently as he walked. Not a person looked up from their drinks as they strode over to the bar. The keeper wiped off two places as Beau and Hugh sat.
“What can I get for ya?” He chewed on a mangled sliver of wood.
“Information. Looking for Hattie, or Ros. Do you have either of them handy?” Hugh asked, drumming his fingers on the bar. A knot of tension coiled in his shoulders, which meant they’d attracted the attention of the men behind them.
“It’s four o’clock.” The bartender said with a smirk. “Ros is at tea.”
“Where can we find her?” Beau leaned forward, the growl in his voice an unmistakable threat.
The barkeep thumbed the stairs. “In her boudoir, of course.” He mocked her with the word. Things weren’t as happy at the saloon as people would think.
Hugh pushed himself away from the bar and headed for the stairs, Beau right behind him. The last time he’d gone up those stairs was because he’d heard a scream, but not just that, he’d also heard Hattie was there. Finding her so quickly had been lucky. If only he could be that lucky now. The hallway consisted of a door every few feet, three doors on each side. All of the doors were closed and chained shut on the outside except the one on the very end. They stopped in front of it. This was the point of no return. Making Ros angry could get you more than hurt. Her men could take your life and dump you in some mine where no one would miss you.
Beau raised an eyebrow and shoved the door open with a bang. That was one way to get the job done. Porcelain shattered and sharp shards spread out around the richly dressed Ros. She was having tea, alone. She growled and let loose with a cussing streak.
“That was my best set! What makes you think you can just come on up here and slam into my room. I’m not just a common wench, you know!” Then she eyed them closer and squinted dark kohl-lined eyes; her cheeks were far too pink and her lips were dyed a deep red.
“You.” Her lips pursed into a deep frown that left creases beside her lips and eyes. “Just because you’re with Peterson doesn’t give you the right to come in here. Until South Dakota makes what I do illegal, you’ve got no business here.”
Beau pushed on Hugh’s back but he stood his ground. “I’m looking for Hattie. She turned up missing today and you’re on the top of my list. Do I need to bust down all those doors out there, or will you cooperate?”
The skin under all the false color went pale. “You won’t find her here. Roy was just here looking for whiskey. I sold him some but didn’t ask questions. He bought some two days ago as well, so I assumed he’d gotten back together
with Hattie. He doesn’t drink whiskey himself. He’s always been more of a beer drinker.” She drew a cigarette and a long holder from a pouch sitting on her table and fitted them together. You can unchain any of those doors you want. Most of my girls are awake now and getting prepared for what we call ‘lunch.’ Not a one of them has seen Hattie. I can assure you.” She took a match from a small box and lit her cigarette. “Now get out. I’ve got work to do.” She brushed past them, her leather boots crunching the porcelain into the rug.
Beau turned as she walked through the door. “Where can we find Roy?”
She glanced over her shoulder, a wicked gleam in her eye. “You’ll never get it out of me, cowboy.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
HATTIE GASPED AS SHE twisted and reached to grab the letter opener. She had to scoot around and find it, but the cool smooth handle slid easily into her hand. She slipped it up until the blade rubbed against the rope. The blackness all around her tugged at her every sense, making her feel as if she were in a tiny box, not a cavernous room. The opening was in front of her, by maybe a few feet. She had to get back to the pallet before Roy came back or he would know what she was up to.
She slid backward along the floor until she hit her head against the table in the center. Good, the bed was to her left. It was an almost impossible feat as she struggled upright, still holding her precious yet dull blade. She stumbled against the pallet and fell onto it, struggling again to sit up and work to cut the cord. Her fingers were near numb from holding them behind her back and the blade slipped in her fingers. She dropped it twice, but the cord came free. She pulled her hands forward and rubbed her wrists to relieve the numbness and the bite the rope had left.
A scraping sounded all around her, bouncing off the walls and coming closer. Her heart took up residence in her throat. If that was Roy, she’d have but a moment to put her hands back and pretend she was still bound. Feet slapped against the floor of the cave and Roy’s menacing laugh reverberated around her.