by Jillian Hart
They enjoyed their noon meal at a bustling café. Hayden, now wearing his new clothing, sat a little straighter and copied the two women’s behavior by placing his napkin on his lap and thanking the server who brought their food. He ate a heaping mound of potatoes with dark gravy and started on the sliced beef.
Jillian had taken her cues from Deliah and ordered braised chicken with carrots.
“Meredith!”
At her name, she turned and spotted Ivan crossing the room toward them, holding his hat against the front of his coat. She rested her fork on the edge of her plate. “Hello, Ivan.”
He glanced around, spotted a chair and dragged it to their table. Deliah moved to that seat so he could sit near her daughter.
“I waited at the hotel for an hour,” he claimed. “I had hoped to see you first thing this morning. Are you well?”
His brown hair was neatly combed, as always, and he wore a tailored suit with gray trousers and a black coat. His white shirt had a stiff collar, and gold cufflinks winked at his wrists.
“Yes, I’m fine. Ivan, this is Hayden Langley and his sister, Jillian. They shared the adventure with us. Children, this is Mr. Kingsley.”
Jillian gave him a wary smile and Hayden reached to shake his hand.
Ivan glanced at the boy’s hand, but spoke to Meredith without taking it. “When I heard you had arrived in Denver safely, I went straight to the hotel. Your father told me you were too weary to see anyone.”
Hayden dropped his hand with a disconcerted look, but resumed eating.
“We were all exhausted last night,” she answered. “I slept like a rock.”
“You’ll dine with me this evening, of course. I have to return to work now, but I had to see you and know for myself you were all right.”
“The marshal took good care of us.”
“I’ll come by for you at seven.” His demeanor suggested he would have liked to say something more, but he stood and excused himself. He adjusted his hat upon his head before exiting the café.
“He came by the hotel every day,” Deliah said. “He was as concerned as the rest of us. Your ordeal made the headlines of the Rocky Mountain News. Everyone was talking about it and waiting to hear of your return.”
For the first time, Meredith took notice of the people at the tables around them. Several patrons gave her a smile or a brief wave. “How do they know who I am?”
“Your portrait was printed with each article.”
Resigned to being the topic of local news, Meredith sipped her tea. “I hope you gave them the one where I’m wearing the lavender dress with the scalloped tiers and the matching shawl.”
“Of course. It’s your best.”
“Mother, would you mind seeing the children back to the hotel so I can attend to some business? There are a couple of visits I need to make alone.”
“Regarding the little ones?”
“Yes.”
“Of course, dear. We’ll stay for a slice of pie and then go to our rooms and nap.”
Meredith stood and gave her mother a peck on the cheek.
She’d never visited a lawman’s office, so she hailed a carriage and asked the driver to deliver her to the City Marshal. Fred Swope recognized her, not only from the newspapers, but from their encounter the day before. “Miss Abbott.”
“Marshal Swope. I’ve come to discuss the children’s situation.”
“Cavanaugh has been in and out, too. He’s waitin’ on telegrams. We figured out who Langley is. Seems he’s wanted in several states.”
“He’s a criminal?”
“I’m afraid it’s a certainty, miss. In cases like this, the children hafta be placed in the custody of a safe facility.”
“An orphanage.”
“Yes, miss. It’s the best place for them.”
“They’ve already run away from a place like that. I don’t see how another one would be an improvement.”
“They can’t stay with you. You have no legal hold on them. If you bring them in today, my wife will take care of them until other arrangements are made.”
Her heart sank and her breakfast threatened to come back up. But above the escalating fear rose indignant anger. It wouldn’t further her cause to be rude to the man, who was only doing his job, so she cautioned herself and took a deep breath. “What will happen if I don’t turn them over to you?”
“Then I’m afraid I’ll have to come get them.”
She thought over the consequences of not complying. The children would only be more confused and hurt. “This is the only way?”
“Until we can get a judge’s ruling on where to take them.”
“How is it they can stay with your wife and not with me?”
“She’s a married woman. A law officer’s wife. We have youngins of our own and we’ve taken in orphans before.”
“Very well. I’ll bring them this afternoon. Do you know where Marshal Cavanaugh is staying?”
“The Oxford. Thank you for cooperating.”
Turning quickly before he saw her distress, she exited the building. The driver helped her into the carriage.
“The Oxford Hotel, please.” As soon as the driver had closed the door, she promptly burst into tears. After blindly searching for a handkerchief in her reticule, she finally located one and buried her face. She was stronger than this. She wasn’t a simpering female. Anger fueled this blubbering, and she had yet to curb that emotion.
The thought of seeing Jonah sobered her. She didn’t want him seeing her red-faced or out of control. She dried her tears and dabbed on face powder from her gold compact. A dab of lip color followed. There now.
She would be taken seriously as long as she kept her emotions in control. She’d never let anyone glimpse an insecurity.
Once they’d pulled up before the unfamiliar hotel, the driver took her gloved hand and aided her step to the ground.
Inside, an enormous Christmas tree stood in the middle of the lobby. At the desk, she asked for Jonah’s room number and climbed two sets of stairs to reach it. Her heart thudded as she stood before room thirty-seven, her hand raised. She rapped on the panel and waited. After two more louder knocks, she accepted that he wasn’t there.
Disappointed, she took the stairs back down to the lobby.
“Meredith!”
At his voice, she stopped in her tracks and found him ten feet away. “Jonah.”
Chapter Eleven
They met halfway and faced each other. Seeing him here, in an unfamiliar setting, was odd. He looked good. He’d shaved and had a haircut. He wore the same coat however, and held his familiar hat. “Look at you,” he said. “Is there a party?”
“No, I came to find you.”
“Are the kids all right?”
She tampered down the jolt of fear that threatened to overtake her at his question. “They’re fine for now. But that’s what I need to talk to you about.”
“I have news, too,” he said. He glanced around the spacious area. “Let’s sit over there.”
He led her to a grouping of overstuffed chairs not far from the decorated tree and pulled one close to another so they could sit facing each other. There was no one else nearby, and she appreciated the privacy.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
She took a breath. “Marshal Swope needs to take Hayden and Jillian into his custody until a judge decides what to do with them.” She looked into his dark eyes and read his compassion. “He claims they’ll be sent to an orphanage. I won’t let that happen. That’s why they were in that luggage car, remember? Running away from a place like that.”
“It’s worse,” he stated simply.
“What’s that?”
“Their father is dead. I spent the morning sending telegrams to lawmen around the country. Heard back from a sheriff in Kansas. Seems Langley was shot during a holdup.”
“Oh.” Meredith couldn’t muster up any sympathy for the man. All her concerns were for Hayden and Jillian, who were truly orphans now.<
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“This will make it easier for a judge,” he explained. “Now there are no living parents or legal guardians, so he can make an informed decision.”
“Still, it lands them in an institution.”
He lifted a shoulder. “There aren’t many options.”
“I can adopt them.”
“I suppose you can. You’ll be married soon. The authorities will require that a married couple take them.”
The dream rose in her thoughts, along with the very real distress she’d felt over the belief that she was married—and not to this man. “Yes.”
His eyes revealed nothing he might be thinking.
“I guess I will be married soon. And then I can ask for custody. A judge would be in favor then, right?”
“I don’t see why not. You could make a good home. You care deeply for them already.” He paused. “Have you seen Kingsley yet?”
“Only briefly. We’re having supper tonight, though. My parents said he called on them every day while I was missing.”
“I like your father. Wasn’t at all what I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“A stuffy railroad baron who threw his weight around. He’s genuinely kind. And he adores you.”
“I could use a lot less adoration and a little more respect.”
“You deserve it.”
His words touched her. “Thank you.” She considered the news he’d delivered. “How are we going to tell the children about their father?”
She hadn’t stumbled over the word we. It had come out quite naturally. If he thought anything of it, he didn’t let on.
“They don’t need to know how he died,” Jonah replied. “But they need to know he’s out of their lives now. Can’t have them running off to find him again.”
“Will you come with me? To tell them? We only have this afternoon, and then I have to deliver them to the City Marshal.”
“I’ll come with you.” He stood and reached for her hand.
Grasping it, she got to her feet. “I have a carriage outside.”
They arrived at the hotel, and she paid the driver. Together they entered the grand foyer and took the open curved staircase to the next floor. At the end of the hall, she turned the key in the lock on a set of double doors and entered first.
She saw the suite through his eyes, with its elegant furnishings and tasseled draperies. Her mother was seated in a chair, reading. She looked up and gave Jonah a curious once-over.
“Mother, this is Marshal Cavanaugh. Jonah, this is—”
Deliah sprang to her feet and enveloped Jonah in a hug. His expression of surprise amused Meredith, and she grinned.
“You dear man,” she said on a rush of emotional fervor. “I can’t thank you enough for protecting Meredith. You saved the life of my precious daughter. I’ll be forever indebted.”
He extricated himself from her zealous embrace and removed his hat. “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am. Can’t take that much praise for how things turned out. Your daughter here is darned clever on her own. She could’ve survived without my help.”
“Nonsense,” Meredith denied. “He’s completely responsible for keeping all of us safe. You should probably throw a party for him, Mother.”
Deliah’s face lit like the brightest candle. “Indeed!”
Jonah’s brows lowered over dark eyes and he scowled at Meredith.
She couldn’t help but laugh.
“Where are Hayden and Jillian?” he asked, ignoring her foolery.
She led him to the bedroom, where they lay on a high bed with a canopy.
Both had heard their voices and immediately sat up. “Jonah!” Jillian cried and bounded up to wrap her arms around his neck.
He allowed her hug, and then shook hands with Hayden and ruffled his hair. “You got taller. And those new duds look fine on you.”
“See my dress?” Jillian asked, not to be outdone.
“I noticed it was mighty pretty.”
Meredith touched the little girl’s shoulder. “Let’s fix your braid, and then we’re all going to sit and talk, all right?”
Deliah had ordered tea, and they all gathered on the divan and nearby chairs and sipped the hot brew. She had even cooled the children’s with milk.
Jonah had handled a lot of unpleasant tasks in his life, but telling these youngsters about their father was one of the most difficult things he had ever done. Facing that cougar had been less traumatic. But he had thought out what he’d say, and he explained it to them so they understood the permanence of Langley’s death, but not so they’d think less of the man for his nefarious ways.
Both cried, with Hayden holding back as best he could, and Jillian sobbing against Meredith’s breast. Even Mrs. Abbott got out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes more than once. Meredith stoically comforted them without showing her own distress, and he admired her all the more for her strength.
He’d been determined to find their father. Only days ago he’d vowed to himself that he wouldn’t desert these children, and now that they knew the truth, his vow was more important than ever.
Once their young charges had grown calm, Meredith opened the next subject that had to be addressed. “I have to tell you about the law now,” she began. Halfway through the explanation, her voice broke. She composed herself and carried on. “Mrs. Swope is going to take very good care of you. There are other children for you to play with.”
Both children accepted their fate without a show of hysterics or emotional pleading. Their serene acceptance was almost worse, because it exemplified the hopelessness they’d experienced in their young lives.
“I won’t make you promises I can’t keep,” Meredith said with so much emotion in her husky tone that Jonah got up and went to the window, where he stood without seeing. “What I promise you is that I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you have a real home. A home with a family who wants you and loves you and takes care of you. I give you my word—my promise that I won’t stop trying until that happens.”
“Awwight, Miss Meredith.” Jillian hugged her. “Don’t be sad.”
Meredith quickly checked the little sob that escaped her lips. Jonah turned to see her gather herself. “We’re going to do something together now. We’ll play a game or read a book. And then I’m going to take you to the City Marshal’s office.”
“Does he got a jail there?” Hayden asked.
“Sure does,” Jonah replied. “I’ll show it to you.”
“Do we gots to sleep at the jail?” Jillian asked.
“No, you’ll have nice comfortable beds at the marshal’s very own house,” Meredith assured her.
“Okay.” Jillian hopped down from Meredith’s lap. “Let’s pway.”
Jonah perched on the divan. “I’ll stay if it’s all right.”
Meredith gave him a grateful smile.
Deliah looked from Meredith to Jonah and back, observing their interaction. She pulled the wall cord to summon a staff person and ordered more tea as well as cookies.
No matter the fare, neither of the children ever left behind so much as a crumb. More than once Deliah had raised an eyebrow over how much they consumed, but her expression was one of compassion, rather than censure.
Much as he wished he could, Jonah couldn’t stop the clock. The afternoon grew long, and Meredith resignedly packed all the children’s new clothing, shoes and books she’d purchased for them. Jonah carried the two pieces of luggage to the door.
Mrs. Abbott gave each child a watery smile and a motherly hug. Hayden was his usual inquisitive self, inquiring about the fate of the remaining outlaws and the gold.
“The gold arrived safely at its destination.”
“’Cause that’s your job, right?”
“Right.”
The bellman snagged a carriage for them, and they crossed the busy section of town. Jillian squealed with delight at the sights from the window.
Jonah watched Meredith and her reactions. Likely she wa
s thinking this would be their last time together, the four of them. He could see the strain in her elegant features. She had so many qualities he admired, he sometimes forgot how breathtakingly stunning she truly was. She didn’t behave like any of the attractive women he’d ever known, and as far as he could tell, she wasn’t even aware of her beauty.
The carriage pulled up before the brick building that housed the City Marshal and the jail. Meredith closed her eyes briefly, and then opened them to help Jillian to her feet. Jonah got out first and reached back to help them, one at a time.
Inside, Marshal Swope was seated behind his desk. A deputy poured a cup of coffee from the dented pot on a small cast-iron stove. Jonah set down the luggage near the door.
“I’m glad you came, Miss Abbott,” Swope said to her.
“I had no other choice.”
He nodded at Jonah.
“This is Hayden,” Jonah told him. “And this is Jillian.”
“Howdy do?” the man said. “Grady here is gonna watch over things while I take you to my house.”
Hayden raised a hand to shake Jonah’s. His slim hand felt so fragile in Jonah’s grip. Jillian reached for Meredith, and Meredith knelt to hug the little girl, her skirts pooling around her. Straightening, she smoothed Hayden’s hair, pressed her hands together under her chin and watched them go.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. It was the first time Jonah had ever seen her cry, and he didn’t like the fist that tightened in his chest at the sight. He didn’t care that the deputy was behind them, he took the steps that separated them and pulled her into his arms. Their bulky coats prevented him from feeling the extent of her trembling and the exquisite softness of her curves. He wished for a moment they were still cut off from the world, still alone and able to drop pretenses.
In reality, he was the last man her father would ever approve of for his daughter. And Jonah didn’t know anything other than what his years of protecting gold and chasing outlaws had taught him.
“I’ll see you back to your hotel, and then I’ll talk to Swope about getting this in front of a judge.”
“No, you stay.” She pulled from his gentle embrace. “The sooner you speak with him, the sooner things will move forward. I’ll see myself back to the hotel.”