Run to Texas

by Stephy Smith

Chapter Six

  Bagwell didn’t come down for breakfast. The Churches said they heard him rattling around in the middle of the night. His door slammed, and footsteps clomped down the hall and out the back door.

  Mattie didn’t hear a thing that came from down the hall or anywhere else in the house. The only thing she did hear was her heart crushing after her short journey to paradise in James’s arms. She was too involved in James to pay any attention to Bagwell’s shenanigans. Mattie kept her thoughts to herself.

  Rose sighed when the Churches left for work. “I don’t understand it,” Rose broke the silence. “He’s paid up for the next three months. Why did he pay that much money just to sneak out in the middle of the night?”

  “Was anything missing from your room last night, Mattie?” James caressed Mattie’s arm.

  Temptation to jerk away from him and slap him upside the head with a skillet shoved to the forefront of her mind. There were a few problems with the idea. The skillet was hot, and she didn’t want Rose to know how her son had stolen Mattie’s heart. At least the thought made her feel a tad better.

  “No. I didn’t have anything with me worth stealing.” She refused to look at him. “Whoever was in my room wasn’t looking for me.” She didn’t look to see if he caught her double meaning.

  “Who did what to you last night?” Rose grabbed her chest with one hand and wadded her apron with the other.

  Your son came into my room under the ruse of a gentleman and left with my heart like a thief in the night. There was no sense in airing dirty laundry in public, so she kept her mouth shut.

  “Someone went through Miss O’Sheay’s things. I carried the tub to her room and it was orderly. When she came up, it had been ransacked,” James said.

  “I better get to work. I’m sure there’ll be a mess in Bagwell’s room. He doesn’t appear to be the tidy type.” Mattie pursed her lips and climbed the stairs. She lugged the bucket of soapy water and the mop to the room. The floor creaked as she crossed to the locked door. She had it all planned to where she wouldn’t have to see James until supper.

  Taking a deep breath, she pulled the key to Bagwell’s room from her pocket. She opened the door and froze. The blood drained from her face, and her eyesight narrowed down a tunnel. Her heart tapped rapidly against her ribcage. She heard a scream echo in her ears. Her hands covered the sides of her face, and a fierce tremble shattered her thinking. The smell of blood, alcohol, cigar smoke, and gunpowder churned her stomach.

  This could’ve been her. She tried to break off the panic. Her hands began to shake, her knees grew weak, and she fought against the breakfast rising to the back of her throat. The scurry of feet bound up the stairwell. In a few seconds, James and Rose stood beside her. Each moved their arm around her waist.

  Mattie’s eyes refused to leave the blood-soaked room and the squatty body of Bagwell. His window stood open with the curtains sucked out the opening. She was thankful most of the smell had escaped from the room.

  “I’ll get the sheriff,” Rose called over her shoulder as she bolted for the stairs.

  James grasped Mattie by the shoulders and led her to his room. “The sheriff will want to talk to you. Are you up to it?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Mattie stared at the open door.

  “What is your name?” James pulled her to him.

  Last night he was pushing me away, and now he wants to continue where we left off before he so abruptly walked out on me. Especially at a time like this. This is not going to happen, Mr. Parker. I don’t care how safe and secure you try to make me feel. He doesn’t even remember my name. Heaven help me, the man has gone insane.

  “Mattie O’Sheay.” She rested her head against James. His spicy aroma replaced the pungent odor of Bagwell’s room. She nestled her nose closer to his body for one last sniff before Rose returned with the sheriff.

  “Good girl.” James patted her gently on the back.

  Mattie grew anxious. It seemed like Rose was taking longer than necessary to bring the sheriff back. Being near James tested her to her limits. The tragedy weakened her inner strength, but his nearness and incessant coddling gnawed her inner core.

  The sheriff and Rose stuck their heads in James’s door. “How’s she doing, James?”

  “She’s shaken up quite a bit. She’ll be fine when the shock wears off.” The tension stiffened her back as James held her.

  The sheriff followed by James, Rose, and Mattie, moved down the hall to Bagwell’s room. “From the looks of this room, that man got on somebody’s bad side.”

  He’s lucky someone else got to his rotten bones before I did. Mattie couldn’t help the feelings coming over her. Not after the way James treated her, in addition to this little man everyone in town hated with heated fury.

  “The Churches across the hall thought he moved out during the night. They heard a ruckus coming from his room. Shuffling around and things of that nature,” Rose told the sheriff.

  “What’s his name, Rose? We need to find his next of kin. Men, take the body down the back stairs. Miss Rose doesn’t need this kind of publicity. Keep it quiet as long as we can.” The gray haired sheriff smiled at Rose.

  “His name is Reginald Bagwell. Thanks, Ed.” Rose squeezed the sheriff’s arm.

  “I need to talk to Miss O’Sheay. How well do you know her?” Mattie was hurt. They were acting as if she were invisible.

  “She’s a good woman, a hard worker, polite and well-liked by the other tenants,” Rose said, glancing over at her.

  “And Bagwell, what did the others think of him?” Ed raised his eyebrows.

  “I don’t think his own mother liked that man.” Rose crinkled up her nose.

  “Not a well-liked man?” Ed shook his head and added a laugh. “I think that’s the general consensus around town.”

  “He wanted to know everybody’s business. He never talked of his affairs. He was a bully. Been bullying Miss O’Sheay since he got here.” Rose glanced down the hall.

  “Shall we?” Ed linked elbows with Rose. She led him down the hall to James’s room.

  “Ma’am, are you up for a few questions?” He turned and waited for James to guide Mattie into the room, where he offered her a seat on the bed.

  Mattie shook her head, staring at a fixed place on the floor.

  “Tell me what you saw this morning.” Ed kept his voice steady.

  Mattie told the story to Ed. Unwavering; she sat on the bed as if permanently fixed to it. Deep down, she knew the murder had something to do with her. Mattie’s mind kept reeling back to the first night in Linden when Bagwell saw her in the hallway at the hotel.

  A shiver spread over her. She was after the Howards to deposit them behind bars where they belonged, and if not behind bars, in the ground. What did Bagwell have to do with this mess? How did the old coot recognize her? Had he been spying on her husband and her for a long time before he helped kill him? Mattie’s lips tightened.

  “Did you hear anything last night? From down the hall?” The sheriff spoke as if he were speaking to a child.

  “No. My room is across the hall.” With a slight nod, she pointed to the door.

  “James?”

  “No. I didn’t hear anything come from that way. Someone was in Miss O’Sheay’s room and ransacked it.”

  “Is that true, Miss O’Sheay?” The sheriff pivoted abruptly.

  “Yes. Nothing is missing.” She barely heard her own voice. Nothing but my heart, and James stole it right out from under my nose.

  A disturbance downstairs pulled their attention away from Bagwell. They rushed to the dining room. Charles Howard’s stumbling form attempted to cross the floor with his drunken wife, Jane, following behind. The couple crashed into chairs and upset them as they tried to make their way to the back stairs.

  “What’s going on down here?” James’s words bounced off the walls.

  “We’re going to see Bagwell. He owes Jane money, and I’m going to collect it,” Charles stammered.

&
nbsp; “Yea, so move out of our way.” The scantily dressed Jane stumbled into the solid doorframe and fell to the floor. The two giggled and tried to stand. They shifted one way and then the other trying to keep their balance.

  Mattie sat on the stairs and stared at the Howards in disbelief. She fought the urge to push them back to the floor every time they lifted themselves up. She didn’t trust herself to lay a hand on them with all of the recent upsets.

  Charles Howard slurred, “Bagwell should man up. He owes money, and he should pay. Stand up and be a man, not a low-life coward.”

  Mattie stood and clenched her jaws. One more word and they would rue the day they met her and her husband. If she only had her gun, she could fix the problem here and now. As it were, the gun would take too much time to retrieve from her room.

  How dare the coward discuss anything remotely accusing someone of owing him money when he himself owed more? Poor choice of words, Mattie thought to herself as she gripped the rail of the staircase.

  “Get these two out of here.” The cool, low words of Rose sent shivers down Mattie’s spine.

  James grabbed Charles’s arm. Ed carried Jane out the front door and through the white picket gate.

  “You better go home, or I’ll place you both under arrest. Stay home until you sleep it off.” Hatred shot from Ed’s eyes.

  “Ed, are you alright?” James’s eyes widened.

  “Those people have caused more hate and discontent in this town since they’ve been here. I deal with those two every day. Mr. Howard owes more money than he’ll ever collect no matter how many men Mrs. Howard sleeps with. They’re nothing but trouble.” Ed tossed both hands in the air.

  “I appreciate you keeping quiet about Bagwell. Have you heard anything else on him since our last talk?” James held the door open for Ed.

  “The law in Georgia doesn’t know who he is. Not even by description. I’ve seen him enter the hotel with Jane more than once. Charles stays in the lobby and waits for her to come down. The Howards run with another couple in their line of business. You need to watch them also. Their names are Dorothy and Joseph Frazier.” Ed slapped James’s back, “Bid good-bye to Rose and Mattie.” The spunky sheriff spun on his heels and sauntered down the walk to his office.

  “How’s Mattie?” James asked his mother.

  “Why don’t you ask me yourself? Are you afraid I may actually tell you my feelings, Mr. Parker?” Mattie clenched her teeth and raised her index finger to his chest. James’s jaw dropped, and he ducked his head to her hand. “You and Ed both acted like I’m some kind of weak woman. Neither one of you had the nerve to ask me. After all, I am the one who had the answers to your questions. I am the one who you all ask about, but not one of you has the gumption to ask me yourself.”

  “I’m getting us some tea. We’ll be in the study if you care to join us.” Rose left for the kitchen.

  James pried the tray from Rose when she returned. Mattie went to the window and stared out. She heard the door shut and whirled around.

  Jittery as she was, she managed to keep her shoulders straight and her head high. She grabbed a deep breath and let it out. The world spiraled out of control. This whole situation kept getting deeper. Mattie had revealed more of the story and was unsure how much more she should tell.

  “I know Charles and Jane Howard. I don’t know them well; I know who and what they are. They owed my husband and half of the town money from what I heard. They left before anyone could lynch them. I don’t know why my husband would have dealings with them. He was not the sort of man to seek out women of Jane’s kind.” Her voice was low and soft.

  “Do you know anything about Dorothy and Joseph Frazier?” James ambled toward her and, once again, she sidestepped his advance.

  “Not enough to know much about those two. They ran in the same circle in Georgia. Charles and Joseph, they were always drunk. Dorothy and Jane were always with other men.” Mattie waved her hand.

  “Why don’t you go rest? You’ve had a rough day already. I can manage down here.” Rose twisted her toward the door.

  “No. I need to get the blood out of those curtains and bedclothes and off the floor, walls, and ceiling. I’ll be all right if everyone would quit treating me as if I were a small child hiding behind her mother’s skirt. I am not as weak as you wish me to be.” Mattie tried to still the anger in her voice.

  “I’ll help her, James. You run along and find out what you can.” A slight smile gently crossed Rose’s face.

  Mattie opened the door. More of the putrid smell faded through the open window. She was thankful as she scanned the room and entered slowly.

  She yanked on the light blue spread. James and his mindset had her probing her sanity. Just because he thought she wasn’t capable of taking care of herself didn’t mean he should be appointed her caretaker. Mattie tossed the spread over by the door. She leapt back into Rose as she entered. The muffled thud drew their eyes to the finger resting in the center of the bed.

  Rose steadied Mattie and followed her gaze. Rose’s mouth gaped, and she covered it with one hand.

  “Oh, goodness.” Rose stared down at the lone finger. “Don’t touch it. Let’s go get Ed. He needs to check and see if Bagwell has all of his.”

  They set in motion and shoved each other as they attempted to back through the door. Mattie locked the room and ran down the stairs. Rose was right behind her when they hurried out the front door.

  Mattie’s heart pounded, and the color returned to Rose’s pale face. They neared the sheriff’s office. Ed stepped out the door, his head snapped in their direction.

  “Ed! Ed!” The frantic call of Rose echoed.

  He turned and lunged toward Rose. “What is it?” His concern etched his face. His arms reached out to Rose’s rounded shoulders.

  “There’s a finger in Bagwell’s bed. Did he have all of his?” Mattie blurted out breathlessly.

  “Let’s walk over to the undertaker’s and find out.” Ed led the way down the street.

  Mattie clutched Rose’s arm. James came out of the telegraph office and saw them enter the undertaker’s. He stepped in behind Mattie.

  “What’s going on?” he whispered close to her ear. A shiver went down her spine, and she stepped a safe distance away from him. His nearness uprooted her deepest, darkest emotions. He didn’t need to play with her feelings any more than he already had.

  “We found a finger in Bagwell’s bed. I guess it was the only thing that got a night’s sleep.” Mattie glared at James. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. I’m just flustered right now.”

  “I know you are.” James leaned over and kissed her cheek.

  Despite her turmoil, a burst of strange energy ran from her cheek to her heart. Mattie lightly rubbed her face. The area between her shoulder blades tightened. The last thing she wanted was his understanding. A need to stew in her own pot until she was ready to stop being angry absorbed her spirit.

  Here he was, pushing her fondly and she hated it. Never before had a man crawled under her skin and wiggled his way out on his own. She was always the one to say when they were forgiven. Oh, how she would love to hate the man without having to fight her heart. He definitely settled down there.

  “Let’s go to Doc’s office. Maybe someone came in missing a finger last night or today. Bagwell has all of his.” Ed told James then extended his arm to Rose. James took Mattie’s arm and guided her behind Ed and Rose.

  The morning sun shone brightly in their faces. Its heat warmed the humid air. A slight breeze rustled in the tree tops as birds harmonized in their cheerful songs. The footfall on the wooden walk carried them to the plain structure of the doctor’s office.

  Doc carried a pail of soapy water and wielded a mop in the air. They stepped on the wooden porch. “Watch the blood.” He pointed to the red stain below.

  “What happened, Doc?” the sheriff bent to take a look.

  “It was there when I got here this morning. I don’t know what happened. I ju
st got in. Mrs. Greer had a baby last night. I stayed with her until the sun came up.” He sat the bucket and mop down then extended his hand to Ed and James then nodded to the ladies.

  “Keep watch for someone missing a finger.” Ed ushered Rose back to the boarding house. James linked arms with Mattie and pulled her behind Rose and Ed. Mattie tried to pull away, but James refused to let go.

  As he pulled her along, her mind wandered. Is this what it feels like to be arrested? Will I be charged with some kind of crime I haven’t even committed?

  Ed collected the finger. Mattie shook out the bedclothes as she removed them. She didn’t know how much more of this odd stuff she could take. Even the strange events were wearing her down to where she had to fight herself to keep from attacking someone. When James wasn’t looking, Mattie scoured his body with her eyes.

  They all flinched when a knife clanged on the floor. The sheriff added it to his collection. He nodded for Mattie to continue.

  James moved to the curtains to remove them. Down on the ground lay a piece of cloth.

  “Sheriff, you may want to take a look at this,” he called over his shoulder. The blood-soaked pink material waved in the light breeze.

  A trail of blood led down the hall to the back stairs. The sheriff tracked the blood to the cloth on the ground outside the window. “It appears this was used as a bandage.”

  Mattie rushed behind the sheriff. This mess started because of her; she might as well see and hear the full story when they got through with their investigating to see how close to the truth they came. Just what was the truth? She didn’t even know why these awful people killed her husband.

  “Keep your eyes open. This person could be hiding in the woods. There’s a lot of brush in the area with the large oak and cypress trees back there,” Ed said. “I think we have found everything here. Let me know if you find anything else.”

  “Oh, we will.” Rose watched the sheriff leave. A slight smile crossed her face. Mattie paid close attention to the way Rose and the sheriff exchanged glances at each other. She dreamed someday a man would look at her in the same manner.