Lawfully Matched, Justified, and Redeemed

by Lorana Hoopes

  “Yes, love,” the man said. He opened the coach door and held out his hand for the woman to help her up. Then he scrambled up behind her.

  Ellen raised her eyebrows at Kate, who was forced to cover her mouth to keep from giggling.

  “All ready, ladies?” Mr. Cooper asked as he approached them.

  “Yes, thank you,” Ellen said as she took his hand and climbed in the stagecoach. Kate followed suit and then the door closed behind her.

  The interior of the coach surprised Kate. It was covered in a dark plush fabric and could seat four people comfortably. The stern woman and Norman had taken the far seat, so Kate sat next to Ellen.

  “This is not that ba—” Kate began, but her words were cut short when the coach lurched forward, and she was thrown back against the seat.

  “You were saying?” Ellen asked, her lips pulling up into a grin.

  Kate shook her head. “That should teach me to speak too soon.”

  “I abhor these contraptions,” the woman said, “but they are slightly better than traveling by horseback.”

  “Thankfully, we don’t have far to go, love,” the man said. “We’re going to Belleville to visit my sister,” he added for Ellen and Kate.

  “I don’t see why she couldn’t just come to us,” the woman harrumphed.

  Kate and Ellen shared another smirking glance, and then the ride evened out. Kate became accustomed to the rhythm of the swaying coach. Though occasionally bumpy, the ride itself wasn’t much worse than the train; however, the plume of dirt that resided out their window made it nearly impossible to see the passing scenery.

  “While the accommodations are not that bad,” Kate said, “I cannot imagine making the entire trip from Boston this way.”

  Ellen smiled and nodded. “Yes, it was quite a long trip to be sure. I much prefer the train where at least there is a privy and a place to clean up.”

  “I much prefer not to take such trips at all,” the woman said.

  The conversation halted after that, and Kate’s mind turned to her future. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the coach stopped suddenly.

  Kate looked to Ellen. “Are we there already? That seemed awfully fast.”

  Ellen’s eyes were wide as she shook her head and placed a finger to her lips in a shushing motion.

  There was a commotion outside, and then the door of the coach opened. Ellen and the stern woman gasped as it was not the friendly face of their driver. The face of the man was covered by a red cloth. Only his eyes were visible, and they were a clear blue and as cold as ice.

  “Hey, boss, we got a group of women in here,” the man said.

  “I am not a woman,” Norman began, but his wife elbowed him, and he shut his mouth. Not in time though as he drew attention from the robber at the door.

  “Correction, three women and one man.”

  “Bring em out, and make sure they grab all of their things,” a voice hollered back.

  “You heard the boss,” the masked man said. “Grab yer things and git on out.”

  Kate wanted to refuse, but the gun the man brandished as he motioned them to get out kept her mouth shut.

  Grabbing her bag, she stood and stepped down from the coach. Kate bit her lips together as she spied the driver face down in the dirt. She thought she could just barely make out the rise and fall of his chest. Kate hoped he was just unconscious and had not sustained a more serious injury.

  “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine as long as he stays down.”

  As Kate looked up at the man on the horse who had spoken, he pulled his black hat even lower on his eyes. A similar cloth covered his face, and the only defining characteristic Kate could identify was the sling over his right shoulder. He appeared to have been injured recently.

  Ellen climbed down beside Kate, and the two women clasped hands. The stern woman and Norman followed Ellen and stood on the other side of the door.

  “Those sacks all you have?” the man on horseback asked as he gestured at the traveling bags clutched in their hands.

  Kate knew he could see their trunks from his vantage point on the steed and guessed he was testing them.

  “We each have a trunk,” she said, pulling her shoulders back to present a brave front.

  “You’re a smart girl,” the man said, and though Kate couldn’t see his face, she would have sworn he was smiling.

  “Mine holds mainly my clothes,” she said. “Nothing of value.”

  “I didn’t ask you what they held, girl.” The man’s voice had turned into a snarl. “Whether there is value in them or not is for us to determine.”

  Their trunks thudded to the ground followed by a third masked robber. The woman moaned as one trunk popped open and spilled its contents across the ground. Norman shushed her and pulled her closer to his side.

  “Relieve them of their bags,” the man on horseback ordered, and the first man snatched their satchels from their hands. He loaded up the saddlebags on one horse. “Get those other trunks open,” the leader said to the third man, “and let’s see what’s in there.”

  The man on the ground obeyed and rifled through the couple’s trunk that had opened on impact. He held up a wad of money before shoving it in a pouch and turning to Ellen’s trunk. Dresses and jewelry went flying out of her trunk as he opened the lid and knocked it over.

  The robber snatched up her jewelry, shoving it in a pouch and flung the rest of the clothes to the side. Kate felt Ellen stiffen beside her, and a glance out of the corner of her eye showed the older woman biting her lip.

  Kate’s trunk fared no better fate. He flipped the lid open, and Kate cringed when he grabbed her mother’s brooch and shoved it into the pouch. She watched, helpless, as her other jewelry was added to his stash, but she could hold her tongue no longer when he held up her wedding dress.

  “Please,” Kate said. “Please let me keep my dress. I’m betrothed and supposed to be meeting my husband in Lisbon. Please do not make me get married in this.” Kate motioned at the traveling dress she wore.

  The man on horseback walked his horse over until he was directly in front of Kate. “Married, huh?”

  She tried to keep her eyes on his to pretend she wasn’t afraid of him, but his harsh gaze penetrated her thin wall of bravery, and she dropped her eyes. They landed on his left hand which was holding the reins of his horse. A white scar in the shape of a crescent moon resided there.

  “Well, I certainly wouldn’t want you wearing rags to your wedding.” The man laughed as he turned his horse away. “Let’s ride, boys!”

  The men on the ground mounted their steeds after grabbing the remaining jewelry and money from Kate’s trunk and the couple’s trunk.

  As they rode out of sight, Kate hurried to the driver on the ground. There was a gash across his head, but it appeared shallow, more likely from the butt of the gun than anything else. With the tip of her skirt, she wiped the blood away.

  “I think he’ll be okay,” she said turning to Ellen. Ellen; however, was curled into a ball. Her arms were wrapped around her knees, and she was rocking back and forth. As Kate hurried over, she noticed the other woman had fainted and Norman was fanning her face. Kate wrapped her arm around Ellen. “It will be alright. It was only things.”

  “It was everything I had,” the older woman murmured.

  “We’ll figure something out,” Kate said, although she also wondered how she was going to pay for any other incidentals.

  The driver was still unconscious when the woman woke. Her stern words were gone, and she was content to let Norman stroke her hand. Kate picked up the contents of the trunks while they waited for the driver to stir.

  The sun had shifted considerably in the sky when Mr. Cooper finally felt able to continue the journey. Though none of them felt comfortable continuing on, they feared for their safety even more if they stayed put. After reloading the coach, Thomas helped the four subdued passengers back inside.

  “How far are we from Sage Creek?” Kate aske
d the driver before he closed the door.

  “Another few hours. We’re about an hour out of Belleville.”

  “Let’s stop and talk to the sheriff there in case the robbers come after the town. Do you think they would telegraph Sage Creek and Lisbon and let them know of our delay?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he nodded. “I’m sure they will.” With that, he closed the door, and Kate settled back against the seat.

  “How is it you appear so calm about all this?” Ellen asked as the coach lurched forward again.

  Kate bit the inside of her lip as she thought about how to answer. “I wouldn’t say that I’m calm. I’m as angry as a hornet and scared of how I’m going to make it with no money, but I guess the difference is that I know Jesus is looking out for me. Even when I’m worried, He has a plan, so I’m trying to leave it in His hands. It’s not like worrying helps solve the problem anyway.”

  Ellen sat back and regarded Kate. “I’ve never been one much for religion, but I think I’d like to hear more about this Jesus of yours.”

  Kate glanced over at the other couple, but when they didn’t protest, she smiled and told Ellen of Jesus’ love.

  Chapter 6

  Jesse sighed as he led Molly towards the stagecoach platform. The sun was setting, and he wanted to be home in bed concocting scenarios of revenge, but the telegraph of a stagecoach being robbed had come in a few hours ago. Being the new deputy and the only one without family (nothing like rubbing salt in the wound), he’d been given the task of meeting the stagecoach and taking accounts from the passengers.

  He stiffened as he saw three people on the platform. Was he late? No, as he grew closer, he recognized the tall physique of James and the smaller outlines of Pauline’s parents. What were they doing here? It wasn’t as if he were avoiding them, but they served as a reminder of Pauline’s death.

  “Go home, Jesse,” James said. “We don’t need you here.”

  Jesse matched James’s cool tone. “I’m here on sheriff business, James. It’s my understanding this stagecoach was robbed, and I am here to collect the details of the encounter in order to begin an investigation.”

  “Oh, now you care about the robbers,” James said snidely. “Too bad you couldn’t care a few days ago before Pauline was killed.”

  Jesse took a deep breath to remain calm. “What are you doing out this late? Is there something I can help with?”

  “We’re here for the stagecoach,” James spat. “My grandmother is arriving today. Even though she’s older and missed Pauline’s funeral, she’s making the trip over from the east coast.”

  The words stung Jesse, and he narrowed his eyes at the man who was almost his brother-in-law. He had loved Pauline, and yet James was acting as if it had been Jesse’s bullet that had killed her. Even if Jesse had been deputized on the day of the robbery, there was no guarantee the result would have been any different. He opened his mouth to say as much, but the look of sadness on Pauline’s parents’ faces kept him from it. There was no need to deepen their pain to satisfy his ego.

  Moments later the sound of the approaching stage drew Jesse’s attention. He sat straighter in his saddle, keeping his eyes peeled for any shadiness, but he figured the robbers would not be stupid enough to rob the same stage twice as nothing would be left to steal.

  The stagecoach came to a stop in front of the station, and the driver jumped down to open the door. A nasty bruise covered his forehead, but he appeared in decent shape otherwise.

  Jesse noticed there was no shotgun messenger. He would have to remember to ask if they had started with one.

  When the coach door opened, an older woman with grey hair stepped down first, followed by a younger woman with dark locks.

  “Mother,” Pauline’s mother croaked out through tears as she ran into the older woman’s arms.

  “Where is your sheriff?” the younger woman asked, her eyes glancing around. When they landed on Jesse, his breath caught. They were the bluest eyes he had ever seen. “We need to discuss the robbery to which we were subjected.”

  “I am a deputy sheriff ma’am,” Jesse said, removing his hat as he spoke. “I’m Deputy Jennings, and I’ll be taking that account down for you.”

  “Good.” The young woman nodded at him and turned to the driver. “Mr. Cooper, would you be opposed to a brief layover before we continue to Lisbon?”

  “No, ma’am,” the driver stated “I could use some rest too, and it’s dangerous to travel at night. We should wait and head out in the morning.”

  For the first time since the woman stepped off the coach, she appeared flustered. “But I have no money and no place to stay overnight.”

  “You’ll stay with us,” the older woman said, reaching out a hand to the younger woman.

  “Oh, Ellen, I could not impose,” the younger began.

  “Nonsense,” Ellen responded. “You kept your head when the attack happened and calmed me afterwards. It is only one night, but I will not hear of you staying anywhere but with us. Right, Iris?”

  “Sure, yes,” Iris stammered. “If you helped my mother, then our house is open to you.”

  Jesse stifled his sigh of irritation. He wanted to finish his duty and return home. “How about the three of you come with me then? I’ll take your statements, and you ladies can be on your way. Mr. Cooper, was it?” he asked, turning to the driver. “We’ll get you set up with a room at the inn.”

  “I don’t think I’ll be of much help,” Ellen said. “I was too scared to take much notice. I just remember there were three men.”

  “I’m sure my statement will be enough,” the younger woman said. “Why don’t you spend some time with your family, Ellen, and I’ll get this nice deputy to drop me off afterwards. That won’t be a problem, will it?”

  Though she formed the words as a question, the tone behind them was more of a command. Jesse opened his mouth to say no, but the woman batted her eyes at him and smiled ever so sweetly. Before he could utter the word, he found his head nodding against his will in response. “It will be no problem Miss...” he trailed off as he realized he hadn’t heard her name as of yet.

  “Whidby. Mary Katherine Whidby.”

  “James, be a good boy and grab our trunks, will you?” Ellen asked sweetly before turning her attention to Jesse. “You do know where to take her after she’s done giving her account, don’t you?”

  “Mother,” Iris hissed, glancing sharply at Jesse. “This is Jesse Jennings; the man Pauline was going to marry.”

  Ellen’s eyes grew round, and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, dear, I am so sorry. I should have realized from the name. I guess I’m still flustered from the robbery.”

  “It’s alright, ma’am,” Jesse said, swallowing the knot of emotion trying to climb up his throat. “But to answer your question, I do know where to take Miss Whidby.”

  Ellen stared at him a moment longer, then nodded. “We’ll see you soon, Kate,” she said, turning her attention to the younger woman.

  As Pauline’s family loaded up their wagon, Jesse threw Molly’s reins around a nearby post. “If you three will come with me, the sheriff’s office is just up the way.”

  Though Jesse led the way, he noticed that Miss Whidby stayed almost even with him in stride. Who was this woman and where had she come from?

  After unlocking the door, Jesse pointed to the two chairs in the room and grabbed some paper and a pencil from the desk. He leaned against the edge as he looked from the woman to the driver. “Let’s start with you, Mr. Cooper. Can you tell me what you remember?”

  The man nodded. “We were traveling the path to Belleville when I came across a fallen tree. When I slowed the coach down, a man came out from behind one of the trees with a gun pointed on me. Before I could reach for my gun, two more appeared on horses. I guess one of them hit me with his gun because the next thing I remember is waking up to Miss Whidby’s face.”

  The man shot an admiring glance at the woman who smiled but didn’t appear to reciprocat
e similar feelings.

  “Did you not have a shotgun messenger?” Jesse asked.

  “No, we weren’t carrying a strongbox, so they sent us on without one. I don’t know why they targeted us,” Thomas answered.

  Jesse shook his head, unsure himself. “Perhaps they were hoping for wealthy passengers or perhaps they were just desperate. How about you, Miss Whidby? What do you remember?”

  The woman drew herself straighter in the chair. “The coach stopped, and we heard a commotion. One of the men opened the door and ordered us outside. He wore a red cloth over his face, so all I remember were his eyes. They were blue and cold. Once outside, we saw another man on horseback. He also wore a mask and his hat low, so I couldn’t see any of his face, but his right shoulder was in a sling as if he’d been injured recently.”

  Jesse stopped scribbling and looked up at the woman. “Could it have been from a gunshot?”

  Miss Whidby shook her head. “I can’t say for sure. I don’t remember blood on his arm, but I suppose it could have been from a gunshot. Why do you ask?”

  Jesse tapped the pencil against the pad of paper. Could it be the same band of robbers? “Nothing, keep going, please.”

  “A third man came around the side of the coach and the two on the ground took our bags, dumped our trunks, and stole our money and jewelry. Oddly, the man on horseback allowed me to keep my wedding dress.”

  “Wedding dress?” Jesse asked.

  “Yes. I am supposed to be meeting my husband in Lisbon.”

  Jesse realized he was staring at her and forced his eyes back to the paper. “Alright, is there anything else you remember that you can tell me?”

  Miss Whidby closed her eyes for a moment as if mentally recalling the incident. Then her lids snapped open. “Yes, there was one more thing. The man on horseback had a scar on his hand.”

  Jesse’s throat went dry. “A scar did you say? What type of scar?”

  Her brow furrowed. “A small white one. Like a moon sliver.”

  Rage boiled within Jesse and he nearly snapped the pencil in two. “Where were you when you were attacked?” he asked the driver.