Oregon Trail Boxed Set

by Hutton, Callie

  The sheriff cleared his throat, and kicked at the snow under his foot. “I understand there’s a Mrs. Sylvia Hardwick residing here with you?”

  “Yes, that’s right.” Nate frowned. “She’s my wife’s stepmother, been here for a few months.”

  The sheriff thumbed his hat out of his eyes, and sighed. “There really isn’t any good way to say this, Nate. I have a warrant here for her arrest.”

  “Her arrest!” Angel gasped, holding Julia-Rose as she came down the steps to join Nate and the Sheriff.

  “Yes, ma’am, I’m afraid the Police Department in New York City has been looking for her for quite some time.”

  “My stepmother? There must be a mistake, Sheriff. My stepmother never did anything criminal in her life.”

  “Well, ma’am, that may be, but I still need to take her to the jail.”

  Nate rested his fists at his waist. “Now, wait a minute, Sheriff. Take her to the jail? Is that really necessary?”

  “I know this is difficult for you, ma’am,” he nodded in Angel’s direction, “but I have no choice. With this here warrant, I have to take her into custody.”

  “Then, what?” Nate put his arm around Angel’s shoulders.

  “Well once she’s at the jail, I’ll notify New York City, and follow whatever orders they give me.”

  “This is unbelievable.” Angel glanced at Nate.

  “Mrs. Hale, I understand your distress, but I must ask you to please get Mrs. Hardwick.”

  “Nate?” Angel’s voice trembled.

  “Honey, go get Sylvia, but don’t tell her anything yet. I’d rather be there when we tell her.”

  Turning to the sheriff, Nate said, “Won’t you come inside, Sheriff? Sylvia may be some time.”

  The sheriff took his hat off, ran his fingers through his hair and tugged it back on. “Actually, Nate, I hoped you would be willing to bring her in. All I have is my horse, and I think the lady would be much more comfortable in your buggy.”

  “I agree. I don’t think Mrs. Hardwick would appreciate being slung over the back of your horse like an outlaw.” As the sheriff turned to go, Nate added, “Incidentally, she recently became engaged to Eli Benson, so I’ll need to notify him.”

  The sheriff sighed, and hung his head. “This is getting complicated, Nate. I’d rather not deal with Eli right now. Please bring Mrs. Hardwick to the jail, and then you can get whomever you want. Since I know she’s here, I really shouldn’t even leave without her.”

  “I understand,” Nate said. “I’ll get her there right away.”

  “Sheriff,” Nate stopped him once more as he turned his horse. “What’s the arrest warrant for?”

  “Grand larceny.”

  * * *

  Sylvia had not stopped sniffling into her handkerchief since Nate told her about the sheriff’s visit. She was thoroughly confused. Jail! How did one conduct oneself in jail? Would she have a roommate? How long would she have to stay? How much clothing should she pack? And her job!

  “I still don’t understand,” Sylvia wailed once more as they stopped in front of the sheriff’s office.

  “I don’t either, Sylvia, but let’s get you inside, and then I’ll fetch Eli. With his connections, he can surely find out what’s going on.” Nate gave her a brief hug.

  “Where did you say Angel was?” She twisted her handkerchief, almost tearing it to shreds on the ride in.

  “Angel’s home with the children, but I sent Matt to Mrs. Darby to see if she could come over to watch them. As soon as I get back home, Angel and I will go see Eli.”

  “Please hurry.” She grabbed his hand with a grip that threatened the bones. “I’m scared.”

  * * *

  Angel also twisted her handkerchief as their buggy approached Eli’s house. The pristine snow signified the residents had not yet left the house. Nate guided the buggy up the long driveway, and setting the brake, jumped down and helped Angel out.

  “Honey, it’s better to let me do the talking, okay?” She clung to his arm and nodded, still confused and upset. Sylvia could be silly and self-centered at times, but Angel would bet everything she owned—all right, that wasn’t much, but still—that Sylvia would never steal anything.

  The doorman ushered them in, and at Nate’s request proceeded to the library to get Eli. He had directed them to the parlor to wait, leaving them with the sound of his shoes echoing on the polished marble floor as he made his way down the hall.

  Eli came into the room, smiling at his guests.

  “Nate, Angel, so good to see you.” He motioned to the stuffed chairs by the roaring fire keeping the large room comfortable.

  “Eli, we came to get your help.” Nate sat across from his host, leaning his elbows on his knees.

  “Anything within my power that I can do to help my fiancée’s family is done.” He shifted his unlit cigar from one side of his mouth to the other.

  “Actually Eli,” Nate said, “it’s really Sylvia who needs your help.”

  “Sylvia?” Eli croaked, sitting forward. “What’s happened? Is she sick? Where is she?”

  “Sheriff Travis came by a little while ago with a warrant for her arrest.”

  “What?” He bellowed as he leapt from his seat. “That’s preposterous. There’s definitely a mistake. Why did you let that asinine sheriff take her?”

  Nate raised his hands. “Eli, I had no choice. He had a warrant. Now, I suggest you calm down. We think there’s been a mistake, too, but we have to follow the law.”

  Angel slid forward on her seat, regarding the angry man. “The sheriff won’t give us any information except he had to arrest her for grand larceny based on information from the New York City police.”

  “Marcus,” Eli bellowed, turning toward the door.

  The doorman appeared, his face blank as befits all well-trained servants.

  “Yes, Mr. Benson.”

  “Arrange to have my horse saddled. And send word to my attorney that I want him to meet me at the jailhouse. Immediately.”

  The doorman bowed, and left to carry out his task.

  “We’ll go in our buggy and meet you there.” Nate took Angel’s arm.

  “Don’t you worry, little missy.” Eli patted Angel’s hand. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  * * *

  Eli slid from his horse at the jail house and stomped up the steps. The door flew open, and Sheriff Travis flinched as it banged against the wall. Eli pulled himself up to his full height, and glared at the sheriff.

  Eying the gun strapped to the man’s hips, the sheriff stood. “You better calm yourself down, Eli, or you’ll be joining the little lady back there in her cell.”

  Eli shifted his cigar and leaned fisted hands on the sheriff’s desk, as the lawman sat back down. “I understand you made the huge mistake of arresting my fiancée, Sheriff.”

  The lawman ran his fingers through his hair. “I merely did my duty.”

  “Eli!” Sylvia’s voice moaned from the hallway.

  “I’m comin’, sweetheart.” Eli glared at the sheriff as he stomped down the hall.

  Sylvia reached out between the bars to grasp his hand.

  “Eli,” she sobbed, “the sheriff said he arrested me for grand larceny. I don’t even know what grand larceny is.” Hanging on the bars, her eyes red and puffy from crying, Sylvia looked pathetic. Eli’s gut clenched.

  He turned to the sheriff who had joined them, and rattled the bars. “Open this damn door.”

  “Now, Eli.” The sheriff shook his head. “I can’t release Mrs. Hardwick until I get instructions from New York.”

  “I don’t care if you’re awaiting instructions from the President of the United States. I want her out of there. Now.”

  The front door flew open, and Nate, Angel, and attorney Damian Lawton entered the front room. Damian took off his bowler hat and ran his fingers around the inside of his shirt collar.

  Spotting the man, Eli shouted, “Damian, move yourself over here, and get my fi
ancée out of this cell.”

  The lawyer hurried to the cell surrounded by the sheriff, Eli, Angel and Nate. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he turned to the sheriff. “Sheriff, I’m sure Mrs. Hardwick can be bonded out.”

  “Well, I can’t rightly say.” The sheriff rubbed his chin. “I’m waiting for instructions from New York.”

  “I don’t give a damn—excuse me ladies—what New York says. I want her out of here now,” Eli thundered.

  Damian turned to him. “Eli, let me and the sheriff discuss this. It will all go much smoother.”

  The attorney took the sheriff by the elbow and eased him away from the crowd. “Sheriff, this woman is Mr. Eli Benson’s fiancée.”

  The sheriff pulled his arm free and placed fisted hands on his hips. “Damn it man, I know that. What I’m trying to tell you is I have to wait on instructions from New York.”

  Damian lowered his voice as he continued to move the man away from the cell. Eli turned in their direction, listening to every word the lawyer said. “Sir, the reason I mention that is because Mrs. Hardwick is obviously not going anywhere. I would like you to release her into Mr. Benson’s guardianship. We will make her available to you when your instructions are received.”

  The sheriff rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. “I’ll release her, but you make sure she stays in your house.” He pointed at Eli.

  As the cell door swung open, Sylvia collapsed into Eli’s arms, sobbing. Throwing the sheriff a dirty look, Eli walked her out of the office, murmuring, and rubbing her back as they left.

  * * *

  “Sheriff, we would sure like more information on this. Did the police in New York tell you anything else except the charges?” Nate took the chair across from the Sheriff’s desk in the newly quiet office.

  “No. Sorry, Nate,” he said, flopping in his chair. “As soon as they tell me, I’ll let you know.”

  Damian Lawton tugged his hat back on, and approached the sheriff. “I would like to be notified the minute you receive further information. I will be either in my office, or at home.” With a nod in Angel and Nate’s direction, he left.

  Blowing out a huge breath, the sheriff rotated his shoulders, and turned to Nate. “From now on, I’ll let you deal with Eli Benson. That man may be of short stature, but he’s a force to be reckoned with.”

  “That’s because he’s very tall when he stands on his money.” Angel smirked, as she and Nate headed to the door.

  * * *

  Lucy sat in front of the gilded mirror in her room, brushing her hair, when she heard voices downstairs. Daydreams of her and Nate in San Francisco were interrupted by sobbing and the low rumble of her father’s voice. Curious, she quickly pulled her hair back and tied it with a ribbon.

  As she reached the bottom step, her father and a distraught Sylvia murmured to each other in the front hall. Papa slid his arm around Sylvia, and she sobbed into his shoulder. Lucy rolled her eyes and wondered what tragedy had struck the woman now.

  Papa and Sylvia entered the parlor, and Lucy joined them.

  “What’s wrong, Papa?” she said with glee, taking in the woman’s distress.

  “The idiot sheriff arrested Mrs. Hardwick today. It’s all a mistake. We’re waiting for him to clear it up.”

  Lucy’s heart jumped for joy, but she kept a sorrowful expression on her face. “Oh, that’s terrible, ma’am. I’m sure it will all be straightened out soon,” she murmured.

  “Lucy, will you please ask Cook to make a pot of tea for Mrs. Hardwick?”

  “Yes, Papa, absolutely. Right away.” As she turned to leave the room, Sylvia wailed, “I don’t understand.”

  After Lucy took care of passing along her father’s request, she returned to her room. She poured a glass of whiskey and sat on the edge of her bed to think.

  Mrs. Sylvia Hardwick had finally been arrested. The law had caught up with the common thief. She swung around and put her feet up, then took a leisurely sip of the brown liquid, rolling it around her mouth before she swallowed. A pity that a woman couldn’t enjoy a glass of liquor in public like men could.

  If only it had been Angel arrested. Lucy was more convinced than ever the Hardwick women were criminals. She felt almost giddy at the image of both of them being led away with their hands tied behind their backs, the sheriff moving them along with his rifle square in their backs.

  * * *

  Nate braked the buggy in front of the jailhouse, the same time Damian Lawton arrived. They nodded to each other, and entered the building.

  “Got information here for you fellas.” The sheriff lifted a piece of paper from his desk and leaned forward, holding the missive next to the oil lamp.

  They waited patiently while the sheriff’s eyes flicked over it once more.

  “The New York City Police said Mrs. Hardwick absconded with money from her husband’s estate that should have been repaid to depositors. It states in this here telegram that she needs to return to New York to face charges, or, since the country is involved in a war right now, they will dismiss the charges if she returns the money.”

  “How much money are we talking about, sheriff?” Nate wanted to know.

  The sheriff peered at the paper again. “According to this, one thousand, two hundred fifty-nine dollars and twenty-seven cents.”

  Nate whistled softly. “That’s a lot of money. I’m going to have to talk to Sylvia, and see what she knows about this. I’ll tell you, Sheriff, my mother-in-law has her faults, but I doubt she would be involved in stealing money from her husband’s bank.”

  “Well, I’ll let you all handle it. Either the money goes back to New York or she does.” He glared at the attorney. “And please remember, Mr. Lawton, Mrs. Hardwick is out of this jail based on your assurance that she would not leave.”

  “I understand, Sheriff,” Damian said. “I’m going out to Eli’s place now.”

  * * *

  Sylvia reclined on the bed in one of the guest rooms, a cold cloth on her head. Tears would no longer come, but as tired as she was, she found it impossible to sleep. Thoughts about the arrest kept swirling in her mind. Thinking she would be dragged back to the jail, and locked up again, terrified her.

  Her head jerked at the sound of a buggy arriving. She hurried to the window. If the visitor was the sheriff, she planned to hide.

  She pushed the heavy damask drape aside and watched Eli’s attorney and Nate walk up the front steps. After dabbing her face with the wet cloth, she smoothed her hair and left the room.

  “Sweetheart, how are you feeling?” Eli took her ice cold hands in his warm ones.

  Her voice trembled. “Not good. I’m still terrified.”

  He led her to the oversized settee and sat next to her, pulling her body close to his, a dour expression on his face. He motioned to the two chairs across from him. “Have a seat, gentlemen. I assume you have information?”

  “According to the wire the sheriff got from New York, Mrs. Hardwick left New York with money due to depositors in her husband’s bank.” Damian sat stiffly in the chair, obviously not happy to be the deliverer of bad news.

  “Honey, do you know what he’s talking about?” Eli turned to Sylvia.

  “No. All I know is the attorney for Gerald’s estate told me while my husband was sick, the assistant, who he’d left in charge, stole money.” She cleared her throat, her chin trembling. “All the money my husband left me, as well as our home and all its belongings, were turned over to the bank for the people who lost money.”

  “Did you get any money before you left?” Nate leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.

  “Yes. The lawyer gave me a check for two hundred eleven dollars. All I had in the world. That’s why I moved in with my sister. The money barely paid the fare for me and my maid to travel to Virginia.”

  “How much are we talking about here?” Eli looked at Damian.

  Damian scanned his notes. “One thousand, two hundred fifty-nine dollars and twenty-seven cents. The sheriff sa
id, according to the New York City Police, either the money or Sylvia has to be returned to New York.”

  “I don’t want to go back to New York.” Sylvia wailed, tucking her head into Eli’s shoulder.

  “You’re not going anywhere, sweetheart.” He rubbed circles on her back.

  He glared at his attorney. “Write a check, and make this go away, Lawton. I don’t want my fiancée upset.”

  “Yes sir.”

  Eli stood, and helped Sylvia up. “Mrs. Hardwick has had a terrible day. I am going to see she gets a hot bath and a comfortable bed. You’ll excuse us.”

  Nate and Damian both nodded at the couple, and started for the door.

  * * *

  It had been a long, tiring day. Nate walked into his bedroom and unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it out of his pants. Angel slept, propped on a pillow, with a book on her lap. Even in sleep, she wore a slight smile. Once again he reflected on how much he loved her, and what a difference she’d made in his life. Her cooking was dreadful, her housekeeping skills minimal, and she was a beautiful woman. All the things he hadn’t wanted in a mail order bride. Thank heaven the Good Lord hadn’t taken him seriously.

  He retrieved the book, closed it, and placed it on the table next to her, then reached over and blew out the lamp.

  He finished undressing and crawled into bed. He eased Angel down, and she cuddled against him, wrapping her arm around his waist. Nate settled her onto his chest and kissed her sweet-smelling hair. He tucked his hand behind his head, and thought about the day. The missing money presented a quandary, but Eli evidently wanted to forget the whole thing. Sylvia could be described as flighty and somewhat silly, but she didn’t have the makeup to do something criminal.

  “How did everything work out?” Angel’s sleepy voice interrupted his musings.

  “I thought you were asleep.” He shifted and took in Angel’s half-lidded eyes.