Everyone looked at each other silently.
“Of course, it’s possible that this is just a random bandit, decided that she looked wealthy enough to get a payday outta someone. It’s a bit suspicious how close to town they would have gotten, most things like that happen out on the road,” Ottie continued.
He turned to Jacob. “Mr. Fisher, when you saw Miss Laura in town yesterday, did you see anyone else near her? Anyone that looked like they might have been up to something?”
“No, nothing that I noted,” Jacob said flatly.
“Well, until we get a ransom note this is all still just speculation. But I caution everyone to keep their eyes out. If this is indeed targeted toward your family, there’s no knowing what else these people may be capable of.”
Jacob was staring daggers at Abe. Abe cleared his throat.
“While I’m sure Mr. Fisher has said a few unkind things about my character, I promise I’m putting every last bit of my abilities into helping the Sheriff find her.”
“And we very much appreciate that, Abe,” Aunt Ethel said.
“So, we just wait here until we get a ransom note? What if that never comes?” Xavier asked.
“Abe and I will be going back into town, combing around for any evidence we may be able to find, anyone else that might have seen something,” Ottie said.
“So, you have no idea, no suspects?” Dorothy asked, sniffling back the tears.
“Keeping our options open as of now until we find out more ma’am,” Ottie replied. “Well, we should get back to it.”
Ottie and Abe said their goodbyes and headed out the door. Before they could ride off, Jacob appeared on the porch.
“Don’t think because you’re buddies with the Sheriff you’ll get away with it,” he shouted at Abe.
Abe stopped dead and turned around slowly. He walked over to Jacob until they were standing inches apart. He spoke in a strong, deep, slow voice.
“Mr. Fisher, I’ve been more than patient lately with how much you’ve been calling my character into question. But I’ve had just about enough of it. Now, I’ve known your bride quite a bit longer than you have, and I have every intention of finding out what’s happened to her and bringing her home safe.”
He paused and grabbed Jacob’s arm tightly, causing him to flinch. “But if I were you, I’d be frightened of what else I might uncover as I go poking around town. Seems you’ve made quite a few friends over at the saloon that might be willing to shed some light on the kind of man you really are.” Abe stared at Jacob a moment longer, then let go of his arm and walked away.
As he got to his horse, Ottie stopped him.
“What’d you say to him?” Ottie asked.
“Nothing,” Abe replied.
“What did I tell you about causing problems with that boy? We got enough to do. I don’t need to be breaking ya’ll up every time,” Ottie said.
“He understands me. It won’t be a problem,” Abe replied, and he swung up onto Bruce’s back.
The two then rode back toward town, leaving Jacob standing dumbstruck on the porch.
* * *
Abe and Ottie spent the rest of the afternoon asking every shop owner around town if they may have seen something, but no one had even the slightest recollection. They checked the post office for any incoming telegrams, still nothing.
Abe was getting more and more discouraged.
How can someone just disappear without a trace in broad daylight in the middle of town? It just doesn’t make sense.
Ottie dusted off his hat in frustration. “I can’t think of a soul we haven’t tried that may have been around town.”
Abe sat on the porch of the post office and thought for a moment. “What about just outside of town? We should check the livery.”
Ottie paused. “You think she left her horse and leased another? What good would that do?”
“It’s the only place we ain’t tried yet, you have a better idea?”
“Nope,” Ottie replied.
When they arrived at the livery, Mr. Leary was still working away on the carriage. He greeted them cheerfully as they walked in.
“Hello Sheriff! What brings ye over t’day?”
“That’s a fine carriage you got there. Are you expanding?” Ottie asked.
“Oh no, this is a special project fer Mr. Fisher. He wanted a carriage tae take his new bride back tae Tucson with him, so I’ve been fixin’ this up tae his likin’. Put some beautiful finishes on it if ye’d like tae see!” he said proudly.
“Not right now, Johnny. So, if you’ve met Mr. Fisher, have you met his fiancé?” Ottie asked.
“Miss Edmonds, yes! Lovely lass! Was in ’ere just yesterday tae check on the carriage!” Mr. Leary said with a smile.
“Laura was here yesterday? You’re sure of that?” Abe said excitedly.
“Why yes, she came ’n sat in the carriage. Poor thing looked like she was havin’ a bit o’ a day,” he said solemnly.
“She seemed upset?” Abe asked.
“Yes sir, she was cryin’ when I came tae check on ’er after I went in the back. Said she was just havin’ one o’ those days, like we all do,” he said earnestly.
“Would you excuse us for a second Mr. Leary?” Abe asked.
“Why o’ course. I’ll be in me office, ye boys just come an’ get me if ye need me.” Mr. Leary plodded off to the office while Abe took Ottie aside.
“Why was she fine in town and crying when she got here? And why was she out here to begin with?” Abe said quizzically.
“I don’t know. You sent our witness away,” Ottie said shortly.
“What if he’s not the witness? What if he has something to do with this?” Abe asked insistently. “He could be making up a story about her being upset to throw us off.”
“Maybe, we won’t know unless we talk to him more though,” Ottie said, and with that he walked over to the office and stepped inside. Mr. Leary was happily writing in his ledger.
“Yes sir? Can I help ye with anythin’ else?” he asked.
“Miss Edmonds, when did she arrive here?” Ottie asked.
“Oh, I’d say a little after noon.” Mr. Leary replied.
“And when did she leave?” Ottie asked.
“Probably fifteen, twenty minutes after she arrived, I’d guess,” Mr. Leary said. “Why? Has somethin’ happened?”
“Did she mention anything about where she was going?” Ottie asked.
“No, not at all. Seemed when she left, she was headed back toward town, or maybe I just assumed she was. I’m sorry, I don’t understand what’s goin’ on,” Mr. Leary stammered.
“Miss Edmonds has gone missing, and it seems this may have been the last place she was before that happened. Do you recall seeing anything unusual at all while she was here, maybe someone hanging around that shouldn’t have been?”
“Oh no, that poor girl. She’s so sweet. I don’t recall anyone other than the usual customers about. Though, truth be told, I didn’t have much time tae be noticin’ anythin’ since I’ve been so busy an’ a man short.”
“A man short?” Abe asked.
“Yes, fella came in ’ere a few days back lookin’ fer work, so seein’ as I’d been so busy lately with all the folks in town fer the celebration at the end o’ the month, I brought him on. Except yesterday morning, he just never turned up. An’ I had a whole pile o’ things tae do yesterday, set me back quite a bit,” Mr. Leary said.
“This man, do you have his name?” Ottie asked.
“Just went by Harry, never got a last name,” Mr. Leary replied.
“What did he look like?” Abe asked.
“Oh, dark beard, about your height,” he said, motioning to Abe. “Looked like he’d seen a thing or two in life, that sort o’ type. But he said he was strong, an’ he was, so I put him tae work. Was happy tae have the help.”
“And so, after a few days of work he just didn’t show up, and hasn’t been back since?” Ottie asked.
“Nope
, not a once. He didn’t even collect his last days wages. My till was short day before last, so I promised him I’d pay him once I made it tae the bank yesterday, but he hasn’t turned up fer it,” Mr. Leary said.
“Hm, alright, well thank you, Johnny. Tell you what, if that man of yours does show up, you give me a shout. I’d like to talk to him as well if I can get the chance.”
“Absolutely, Sheriff. I sure hope he’s got nothin’ tae do with Miss Edmonds goin’ missing though. I’d tear myself tae pieces if I made any harm come tae such a sweet lady like that,” Mr. Leary said with a tear in the corner of his eye.
“I’m sure you did nothing of the sort, Johnny. Don’t you worry now, I’ll let you know if we find anything. In the meantime, you mind if me and Abe just take a quick look around?” Ottie asked.
“No, o’ course not, please do,” Mr. Leary said.
“Thank you,” Ottie replied.
They walked back out into the large barn and back over to the black carriage. Abe opened the door and stepped inside. It was empty and spotless, Mr. Leary had clearly been polishing every surface within an inch of its life.
“Mr. Fisher must have paid a pretty penny for this,” Abe remarked.
“Yep, suppose so,” Ottie replied, as he looked under the carriage.
Abe hopped out and began circling around the carriage, but nothing seemed out of place. He headed toward the stalls with the various horses inside, moving about restlessly and tossing their heads.
At the end there was an empty stall. Abe let himself in and began sifting through the hay. Nothing. He let himself back out, then noticed a ladder over to his left that led to the hayloft.
He climbed up into the dark loft. He could hear something rustling in the corner. He slowly stepped toward it, trying to keep his footsteps as silent as possible. Suddenly, a dark figure lunged at him, causing him to dive to the ground.
The very angry barn owl flew just over Abe’s head, then settled back into the rafters at the other side of the loft. Abe clutched his chest, trying to catch his breath. He heard Ottie’s voice holler up at him from down below.
“Abe, you alright up there?”
“I’m fine, damn owl nearly scared me to death.” Abe shouted back. He could hear Ottie chuckle below.
Abe got back on his feet and headed toward the back of the loft. In a corner, there was a pile of hay that had been matted down a bit, similar to what Abe had seen a while ago, back in his own barn.
Now that’s really strange.
He bent down to examine it closer, gently moving the hay around with his hands in the dim light. Suddenly, a glint of something gold caught his eye. He reached out and picked it up.
It was a cigar band.
Who the hell smokes in a hayloft?
He headed back to the ladder and climbed down.
“You find anything besides a very frightening barn owl?” Ottie teased.
“Actually, I did. Look at this.” He handed the cigar band to Ottie.
“Hm, nice brand. Johnny, do you make it a habit of smoking in your hayloft?” he asked Mr. Leary.
“I don’t smoke, never much acquired the taste for it,” Mr. Leary replied. “Besides, who would smoke in a hayloft?”
“Someone who likes to gamble I guess,” Ottie chuckled. “Your man, did he smoke?”
“I never saw him, but I do recall he had quite the odor o’ it on him.” Mr. Leary replied.
“Interesting, and were you giving this gentleman lodging as well as work?” Abe asked.
“No, he never asked for it,” Mr. Leary replied.
“I saw some hay that looked like something had made a bit of a resting spot out of it. He may have been stashing away in your loft,” Abe said.
“That’s strange. If he needed a place to sleep, I certainly would have offered him something,” Mr. Leary said.
“Hm. Maybe he didn’t want anyone knowing when he was coming or going, sneaking around altogether might have been easier for him,” Ottie mused as he put the cigar band in his pocket. “Well, thank you again Johnny. Abe and I’ll be heading back to town, see if we can make sense out of any of this.”
“O’ course, let me know if there’s anything at all I can do,” Mr. Leary said.
As they walked back into town, Ottie shook his head.
“This just gets stranger and stranger, Abe. I really don’t know what to make of this,” he said.
“Me neither,” Abe replied.
Strange man comes to town, the day he disappears, so does Laura? Who could he be? A bandit that saw an opportunity? Why would he take a job then?
They arrived back at the jailhouse and headed inside. When they stepped through the doors, Xavier and Jacob were both there waiting for them. Xavier held out an envelope to Ottie, his hand shaking.
“We found this on the porch not too long after you left. No knock, no one there,” Xavier said, his voice quivering as much as his hand.
Ottie slowly opened the envelope and pulled out the folded letter.
“Edmonds,
I have your daughter. She is safe, and hidden. If you want her back, leave $5,000 at the location I’ve drawn out on the back of this letter by Thursday at sundown. If the Sheriff or anyone else tries to stake the place out, or the deadline passes, I promise you won’t see your daughter again.
I’ve included a bit of proof, in case you were in any doubt.”
Ottie flipped the letter over and saw a crude hand-drawn map leading to a location just outside of town. He then reached inside the envelope and pulled out a thick lock of long, blonde hair.
Abe felt his stomach turn with worry and rage.
Just hang on, Laura. I’m going to find you.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Laura sat against the wall of the stall, straw poking through her dress and a sliver of sunlight streaming across her legs. She kept working her wrists against the rope that bound them together, but it wouldn’t budge. Her wrists were red and swollen from her continued efforts.
Frustrated, she gave them a momentary rest. She stared into the beam of sunlight and watched as the specks of dust danced through it, reflecting the sun off them like little diamonds. Her throat was dry and the cold air cut through the slats of the barn and through her dress. She pulled her knees tight to her chest to try and stay warm. She hadn’t heard any movement from her captor in a while.
How has no one found me yet? How far away could I be? They must all be out looking for me now. Maybe he’s gone, maybe I can get my ankles untied and make a run for it. Of course, maybe he’s just outside, waiting for me to try. It might still be worth a shot.
She crawled to the barn wall and peered out a small knot hole in the wood plank. From her limited vision, she saw nothing but land. Not another outline of a home, or a church, or anything.
How far could I run? And in which direction? I can’t even tell where the mountains are.
Suddenly, the slam of the barn door startled her. She jumped away from the wall and shuffled to the other side of the stall. Heavy footsteps plodded toward her and she saw her captor’s face appear over the stall door.
Oh god, what’s he come for now?
“No need to stare at me like that. I just brought you somethin’ to eat,” he said with a sly smile.
He unbolted the door and stepped inside. He squatted down and reached into the burlap sack in his hand and pulled out a bit of salted pork. He took a bite of it himself, chewing it with his lips wide open, pieces of pork fully on display as they mashed between his yellowed teeth. He handed a piece to Laura, who grabbed it with her bound hands and popped it in her mouth. The salt stung against her dry tongue and the meat was tough to chew.
“Here,” he said, as he handed her his flask.
She took a swig and the burning whiskey seared across her tongue, but it did soften the pork a bit, to the point where she could chew it enough to swallow. Her stomach was so empty she could practically feel the pork hit its bottom. Her captor took another piece and poppe
d it in his mouth, and Laura could smell the briny pork mixing with his rancid breath.
“You like what you see?” he asked, as he noticed her staring.
“Well, you are the only view here,” Laura said shortly.
He grinned, “You’re a smart one, ain’t ya?”
The Salvation 0f A Runaway Bride (Historical Western Romance) Page 18