by Zina Abbott
His father’s hollered demand captured his attention and halted his pursuit. “Henry, get out here. What do you think you’re doing with that?”
Otto turned and walked to where his brother stepped out from behind a tree, the rifle in his hand. “I was keeping Otto and Libby from getting knifed by that man, Pa. After those things he said...He’s rotten to the core, Pa.”
“No one’s disputing that, son. What I want to know is who gave you permission to bring the rifle in the first place, and shoot it in the second?”
A look of bewilderment on his face, Henry waved his free hand in frustration. “What did I do wrong, Pa? I mean, when I was with Otto, and he asked me what I would do if outlaws showed up while I was there alone, he told me to get away rather than try to take them on by myself. But, this was different, Pa. I’m the only one who knew I brought the rifle—well, me and Otto—and all Otto had was the little knife. I wasn’t about to let that man get to him.”
Jefferson shook his head. “You could have missed and shot Otto or Libby instead. Did you consider that?”
“No, because I did some target practice while I stayed with Otto. Even he said I was getting to be a good shot. I had to shoot when I did before that man got too close to Otto so what you said didn’t happen.”
Otto could tell he needed to come to his brother’s rescue. “Thank you, Henry. I appreciate what you did.” He turned to his father. “Try to not be too hard on him, Pa. I think he did use good judgment. He held his fire until it was clear that man intended to charge us with the knife and do bodily harm, but he didn’t wait so long we were upon each other and he couldn’t hit him without risking me.”
Henry stood a little taller after Otto’s defense, but still he looked to his father for approval.
Otto waited while his father, with a bemused expression, looked between his two sons. Otto knew part of the problem was that the words “Henry” and “good judgment” didn’t normally go together in the same sentence.
Jefferson huffed out a breath as he lifted his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ll concede Otto has a valid point, Henry. You did get off a good shot. You winged him and stopped him in his tracks without taking a life. I guess it wouldn’t have caught me off-guard so much if I’d known you had the rifle here.”
“I was afraid you’d holler at me about it, Pa. I figured if I brought it and we didn’t need it, I’d just take it back home, and no one would be the wiser.”
“Well, I suppose you had a legitimate concern. I wouldn’t have liked it, but it worked out for the best. Now, I’ll ask you to see if you can use of Mr. Palmer’s shotgun. I need to take the rifle from you so I can help go after him. I don’t see Sidney or some of the others, so I hope that means they’ve gone home to get their weapons so we can start the search. Before it gets dark, some of us should to stay here and keep an eye out while the women clean up the food. The rest of us need to make sure that pond scum is nowhere around. If we catch him, we’re dragging him into Salina.”
Edward Palmer chose to keep his shotgun as he positioned himself on the porch while the women quietly cleaned up the food. He offered Otto the use of his pistol and holster.
Seeing Henry felt put out over being left without a weapon, Otto clapped him on the shoulder. “Look at it this way, Henry. You were the man of the hour. You need to give the rest of us a chance for a little glory.”
“I suppose.” Henry gave his brother a piercing look. “Why did you say you and Libby were married?”
Otto sighed. “I know it was a lie, Henry, and I expect I’ll have to get on my knees and repent. At the time, my main concern was convincing that man to leave and not bother Libby any longer. You see, if he followed her from wherever they came from, us just telling him to go away wouldn’t be enough to send him packing. I was hoping if I could convince him there was no hope she was free to go with him, he might give up.”
“You think he bought it?”
Otto shook his head. “No, I doubt it. Now, knowing she already turned me down before, I hope Libby isn’t so angry with me for claiming we’re married, she’ll never speak to me again.”
“Probably not. She sure showed off that ring right proud, claiming it came from you. She better give it back to Grandma Mary, though. I don’t think Grandpa Edward would like it if his wife no longer had her ring.”
“I’m sure she will. My worry is she’ll try to run away again instead of staying among people who will help protect her.”
Otto strapped Edward’s gun belt and holster on his waist and settled them on his hips. The back of the belt pressed on the sore spot, but it didn’t seem to cause additional pain. He knew once he returned to the ranch, he would need to pull his belt out of his trunk and start wearing it again, at least until he was certain Warren Murray was no longer in the area and would not pose a threat to anyone—including any young daughters of the families in the region.
Ten years old Libby had been the first time that monster had come after her. Otto’s blood had turned to ice when he heard her tell Mary. He thought of his sister, Magpie, and what she had been like before he left home for the 16th Kansas Cavalry. She was a child then, still playing with dolls, and certainly not old enough to understand or welcome the kind of attention from a grown man such as Libby had endured.
While he served in the Volunteers, Otto was accustomed to wearing a belt with a repeating pistol. His now had a nick in his belt where the bullet that entered his back had hit it first. The Army surgeon, Doc Erickson, had told him while he was in one of his more lucid moments he had been lucky. The bullet that lodged in his lower back next to his spine had come from an old musket and had already been mostly spent before it hit Otto. If not, the ball could have shattered Otto’s spine, leaving him paralyzed, if he lived at all. The thick leather, free of bullets with their powder cartridges that could have exploded and been enough to kill him, had slowed the ball even more. Otto had not felt lucky at the time, but he now had a new appreciation for that old gun belt.
Unfortunately, his belt was miles away on his farm. Libby, and the man who threatened her, were here. He wanted to race home to collect every weapon he owned and return to protect her until they knew this man from Libby’s past was dead or banished from her life forever.
He knew it wasn’t possible. He couldn’t leave his animals to die or burden others with their care. He still had to get the rest of his corn planted so he had feed for the winter. His vegetable garden was starting to come on. He needed to harvest what he could and store it in his root cellar for winter.
What he really needed was Libby. Or, now that her real name had been exposed, would she prefer to go by Ginny?
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CHAPTER 19
~o0o~
The Atwell families and the neighbors they recruited searched as long as they could that evening and again early the next morning. Edward rode into Salina and notified the local sheriff. He also insisted there be a telegram sent to the U.S. Marshal for the area telling him of the attack. Beyond that, it appeared the man reached a horse and escaped by leading it into the river which was low at that time of year. They couldn’t be sure whether he followed the river east towards Abilene, or had gone south, then west up either the Smoky Hill or the Saline to evade pursuers.
Otto stayed as long as he could before he left for home to relieve his neighbor of the care for his animals. He had not been able to speak with Libby again since she avoided contact with everyone but Mary. If she had confided more to Mary, the woman was tight-lipped about it, only offering that Libby still preferred to be known as Libby, not Ginny, and that she expressed her gratitude to Otto for standing up to Warren Murray on her behalf.
Otto had felt his life going nowhere once the doctor in Kansas City had confirmed the diagnosis that Otto would never fully recover from the wound to his hip that left him walking with a limp—something about how the ball had destroyed part of a nerve and scar tissue no
w pressed on it. He had felt his life head in even more of a downward spiral ever since Libby had refused his offer, and he realized he somehow had fallen in love with her.
Perhaps that was why he was lost in his thoughts as he finished crossing over the Solomon River bridge just before that river flowed into the Smoky Hill when someone—or something—slammed into the back of his head and knocked him off the bench into the footwell of the wagon. As he fought losing consciousness, he instinctively pulled on the traces to stop his mules so he could regain his seat.
A second blow to his back and left shoulder sent him sprawling again. A high-pitched, sinister laugh and a voice he recognized spoke close to his ear from behind. “I knew you weren’t married to her. It’s the only reason I’m letting you live. But, take my warning, pup, and stay away from her. She’s mine.”
Another hit to the back of his head sent Otto into oblivion.
~o0o~
“Jefferson! You here?”
At the sound of his brother’s voice, Jefferson Atwell rose from the dinner table and walked out on the porch to meet with the two men on horseback. Beside Sidney sat a stranger to him, a man whose clothes and slouch hat marked him as a farmer.
Sidney motioned towards his companion. “Jefferson, this here’s John Upton. He’s got a farm between the Solomon and Abilene. He’s come with word about Otto.”
His forehead wrinkled with concern, Jefferson stepped to the ground and approached them. “Good to meet you, Mr. Upton.” Jefferson glanced behind him long enough to see the rest of the family had followed him out and stood on the porch. “What’s this about Otto?”
“I found him knocked out cold in the front of his wagon not far from my place the other day. His mules looked like they had been run hard, but by the time I found them, they were helping themselves to the graze alongside the road. Tried to wake him, but judging from the lump on his head, I figured he was concussed. Looks like he got whacked a couple of times, and he has a pretty good gash on his shoulder, too. Looks like someone took a knife to him.”
Jefferson and Sidney exchanged glances, and both had the same thought.
Warren Murray.
Thank goodness, for once Sidney didn’t say it out loud or start a tirade about it. Whichever ancestor had passed down the tendency to speak whatever came to mind without thinking about it first, it had come from his side of the family. Henry had it, and so did his brother.
Carlotte’s cry of distress caused Jefferson to turn around. “My dear, please take Magpie back inside. I don’t think she needs to hear this.”
“First about Otto tell me. Is he all right?”
“Yes, ma’am, I think he’ll be fine.”
“Carlotte, please.”
Once Carlotte took their daughter back inside and closed the door, Jefferson turned back to Upton.
The man continued his tale. “Took him home for the missus to stitch up and look after. He finally came to enough to give us his name and where his place is. I’m looking after his mules, and I found the neighbor he spoke of. The man agreed to keep looking after the rest of the animals until someone comes to take over.”
“So, you figure Otto’s going to be laid up for a while?”
“Yessir. He said he was hit from behind, but he knows who done it. He asked if you can spare one of the family to come.”
Jefferson looked down the lane as something moving caught his eye. He swore under his breath at the sight of Mary, arm-in-arm with Libby, hurrying towards them as fast as Mary could jog.
Mary called out his name and, breathing heavily, halted while several feet away. “Jesse ran over and said Otto’s in trouble.”
Jefferson nodded as he considered what needed to be done. “I’m afraid so. It sounds like he won’t be in any shape for some time to get the rest of his corn planted. I’m going to have to send Carl out to help him until he’s back on his feet.”
Upton interrupted him. “Actually, Mr. Atwell, Otto asked for Henry to come.”
Hearing his name jolted Henry into action. He bounced forward and faced his father. “Did you hear that, Pa? Otto asked for me. I know how, Pa. Planting corn isn’t my favorite, but I can do it, especially since he says there’s not much left to do. And I know how Otto likes his animals took care of. I’ll even take care of the chickens, though I don’t much like to.”
“Henry…”
“He asked for me, Pa. And I know how to use his rifle, too. If that man shows up, I can back Otto up like last time. We’ll run him off.”
Jefferson shook his head. “You’re starting to talk me out of letting you go, Henry.”
His mouth open, Henry stared at his father a few seconds before he spoke. “You’re going to send me, Pa?”
“Yes, Henry. Otto asked for you. I’ll go with you so I can pick him up from the Uptons’ and take him home, plus I need to see for myself how bad he is. I’ll have Carl stay close to the house with your ma and Magpie until I get back, plus I’m sure Sidney will keep an eye out.”
“I’ll go and help care for him, Mr. Atwell.”
Everyone present turned towards Libby.
“When I stayed with the nuns, I learned how to do some nursing. I can also care for the house and the chickens.”
Mary studied her with concern. “Are you sure, dear? It will be more isolated there, and you won’t have as many people to look out for you until this man is caught.”
Libby looked around at the group studying her. “It’s because of me Otto was attacked. It’s only right I help him until he’s well again. As long as I remain here, Warren Murray may stay close by, which puts the young girls in the family at risk. It’s better I draw him away.”
“Libby, I don’t know if it’s proper for you to live in the same house with him.”
“Henry will be there, too, Mary. He can sleep in Otto’s room, and I’ll sleep downstairs.”
Jefferson felt the need for action. “Not sure I like it, but under the circumstances, I don’t want us spread too thin around here for too long. I guess we’ll take our wagon.” Jefferson turned to his youngest son. “Henry, go tell your Ma you and I are going and let her know we need food for a few days. Pack like you did last time, in case you’re there for several weeks.”
“Sure, Pa.” Bursting with enthusiasm, Henry raced into the house.
“Jefferson, we’re going to go so Libby can get ready. I’ll send her mattress along for when you take Otto home, and that way she’ll have something to sleep on while she’s there.”
The yard began to empty, leaving Jefferson the opportunity to find out all he could from John Upton. He sent the man to wait for him at his brother’s place while he went inside to tell what he had learned to Carlotte, although he knew Henry had already told her most of it. With a little bit of luck, Henry would be so excited about being the one called on to go and help Otto, he’d hitch up the wagon without being asked.
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NEAR ABILENE, KANSAS – SUMMER 1868
CHAPTER 20
~o0o~
By the time Jefferson, Henry and Libby arrived at the Uptons’ sod house, it was almost dark. Otto had improved somewhat, but he still found it hard to stand or sit upright without feeling dizzy or nauseous. Having brought two lanterns so they would have light to complete the journey, the men settled Otto on his stomach on the mattress in the back of the Atwell wagon. The rest of the supplies were transferred into Otto’s wagon pulled by his mules which Henry drove. Jefferson left the Uptons with his thanks and a promise of feed and supplies on his way back home to help compensate the struggling family for their help.
Although tired after the journey, Henry still possessed enough energy to take care of the two teams plus check on the other animals—all but the chickens, which he left for Libby.
It took the combined efforts of both Henry and his father to get Otto up the stairs to his bed.
Once he was settled in, Libby volunteered to sleep in the barn so J
efferson could use her mattress. He refused, pointing out the folly of her being by herself in an outbuilding while Warren Murray might be in the area. Starting that night, Libby slept on her mattress in the bedroom once used by Henry after Henry moved his pallet to the foot of Otto’s bed.
On his way back from Abilene with supplies, Jefferson also brought a physician. After examining Otto, the doctor declared Mrs. Upton had done a fine job of stitching up the gash and there appeared to be minimal signs of infection. He opined the swelling from the blow to the back should eventually go away with no lasting effects. His biggest concern was the one blow to the head. He warned that Otto could suffer up to two weeks of dizziness and queasiness in his stomach, but with luck, it also should heal.
Libby noticed Otto grew uncomfortable over the scrutiny the doctor gave the healed-up gash to his head, even after he explained it was a war injury, received the same day as the bullet in his lower back. “It’s why I wear my hair long even though it isn’t the style. I don’t like how the scar draws attention when I wear it short.”
Convinced that Otto would mend within a couple of weeks and feeling he had done all he could, Jefferson loaded his wagon for the trip home with his gear, plus what he planned to leave with the near neighbor who had cared for Otto’s farm and the Uptons.
Libby stood at the upstairs window in Otto’s room and watched as Jefferson placed his hand on Henry’s shoulder and appeared to give him some last-minute instruction. He then looked up at her watching him and nodded before he climbed up into the wagon to start for his farm in Salina.
As she had done before, she wondered what Jefferson Atwell thought of her, particularly what he thought of Otto offering to marry her the day they had first met. She wondered if he thought better or worse of her the day Otto had claimed she was his wife after Warren had slunk out of the trees like the slime he was in an attempt to force her to return to him.