Damaged Hearts (20 page)

“I’d be delighted to have you as a friend.”  Anna replied.  “Now, what do we do about that conversation going on downstairs?  It worries me that Marie’s father is here in your house behind closed doors with your father.”

“For now; we wait.”  Frances said quietly and thoughtfully.  “From what I have seen and heard about Marie’s father, I am not sure we want to go up against him alone.  What we need is a plan and some help.  Any ideas?”

“If we could somehow get word back to Rick and Matt, they would be here in a heartbeat.  If you could see all the pain and damage that was inflicted on Kaitlyn, you would totally understand my meaning.”  Anna told her.  “In that kidnapping that was orchestrated by Marie’s father, she had her ribs broken and fractured, her wrist sprained, a broken cheek bone, numerous bruises, abrasions and a really nasty cut on the back of her leg that had to be cauterized twice it was so big.  I’d say get word to the ranch and let’s finish this.”  Anna said with finality.

“I suppose I’m with you on this.”  A quiet voice came from the door.  “Sorry Anna, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but I wasn’t sure where you went and thought I’d come talk to Frances.  If you are serious about sending someone to the ranch for the men, send Willie.  He’s the quickest and probably the most trustworthy at this point since we have no real idea what’s going on down there.”  Marie finished indicating below them.  

“Ok, so let’s get this right…”  Frances started.  “First we need to gain Willie’s attention and send him to the ranch for the men, then what?”

“We need some sort of diversion to keep my father here so that he can’t escape again.”  Marie said sounding almost defeated.  “I can’t say that I like this but I’m at a loss as to which way I should turn.”

“I’ll leave the two of you to discuss the diversion.”  Anna told them.  “I think I’ll speak with Willie as you call him.  When I knew him, his name was Billy Alexander; and he was my brother.”  With that, Anna left the room and hurried in the direction she assumed was the back way out, leaving Marie and Frances to stare after her with their jaws open.

“Oh my goodness.”  Marie finally said.  “I never dreamed in all those years of having him as my driver that he could possibly have had another life.”

“Marie,” Frances started.  “You truly are a snob.  I mean it in the most affectionate of ways of course but listen to yourself.  Our friend just said that your old driver is her long lost brother and all you can think is how the man may have had a previous life that you didn’t know about?”

“Oh forget it Frances, that’s the second time tonight that I’ve been called a snob and I’m starting to believe it.”  Marie sighed.  “So, what are we going to do for a diversion?  I have an idea but you may want to listen to it before we decide.”

“Ok, out with it.  What’s your idea?”  Frances asked, impatient to get started with what she saw as an excuse to get away from the dullness of her life, if just for a little while.

“Well, here it is.”  Marie began.  “We need to be downstairs in plain sight; either playing cards or sitting by the fireplace or something normal.  Once our fathers finish with whatever they are discussing in private, they will come out and my being here should be enough to begin the diversion.  Once I speak with my father, that ought to add more than enough drama to our diversion to keep him here and temporarily occupied.”

“Let’s get to it then.”  Frances said in agreement.  “I’m going to go with your idea and hope we don’t regret it.”

“Don’t worry my friend.”  Marie patted her shoulder.  “If there’s any regret to be had, it’s all mine.”

~XXV~

They silently and cautiously went down the stairs and Marie situated the chairs as Frances got out the cards.  They dealt a fourth hand several hours later and pretended to be highly involved with it when the door to the study opened and their fathers came out both looking equally serious.

Marie drew a card, as she looked out of the corner of her eye curious about her father’s reaction.  “Well, well, well.”  He came to her chair.  “If it isn’t my missing daughter.”

“Hello Father, how have you been?”  Marie asked innocently.  “I have been staying for a short time with a new friend, getting to know her.  You know how important it is to have all the women in the area happy what with the Right to Vote issue being the thing right now.”  She said playing the long time game.

“How right you are Marie.”  Her father agreed.  “I was sorely disappointed to hear about how much time you have been spending with disreputable men and rough women though.  It can’t be good at all for your reputation.”

“Oh bother!”  Marie groaned under her breath.  “Father, I think there is much more to be concerned with then where I am choosing to spend my time.”

“Oh really?”  Her father said arching his eyebrows.  “Please tell me Daughter; what is more important than your sterling reputation?”

“Well Father,” She started.  “Maybe at this point in time your reputation has more to be concerned about.”

“Is that right?”  He asked nastily.  “And why might that be, may I ask?  What are you hearing that has not hit the ears of Mayor Andrews or myself?”

“Well, um Father.  I…um…well I have heard something about some cattle rustling and kidnapping.”  Marie finally said.

“What?”  Her father yelled.  “What are you talking about?  Cattle rustling and kidnapping?  That’s just utterly ridiculous!”  He protested.

Now knowing the truth of the matter, “It doesn’t matter Father.”  Marie blurted.  “Your reputation will still be hurt all the same by the rumors that are circulating.”

“It’s true.”  Frances interjected.  “I just heard something of the sort when I was at the dress shop earlier this week.  I just ignored it but I did hear the talk.”

Looking decidedly uncomfortable, Mayor Alexander looked back and forth at the two young women.  “Now, now; let’s not get too riled up over what may be nothing.”  He said knowing the truth, but not what to do with it.

Anna picked this time to walk calmly back into the room, looking around as if it was nothing out of the normal for her to be wandering around the mayor’s home.  “I am so sorry ladies.  Do you want to deal me in on the next hand or are we changing the game?”

“Where did you come from?”  The sheriff said threateningly.  “Where have you been lurking and why are you just now coming in?”

“My goodness Sheriff!”  Anna acted quite shocked.  “Frances and Marie invited me to play cards with them this afternoon and if you really must know, I had to make a trip to the necessary.  Am I under arrest now?”  She asked him impertinently.

“Father, please.”  Marie almost shouted.  “Why are you antagonizing Frances’ guest?  Please, sit down Anna and we will deal you back in.”

“Father, shall I summon Thurston and have him serve both of you drinks back in your study?”  Frances asked, attempting to calm the two men and put control of the situation back into the women’s hands.

“Oh, why not.”  Mayor Andrews sighed.  “Henry, would you please join me back in my study?  Maybe we can make some sense of these rumors the girls are speaking of.”

Frances quickly pulled the rope to summon Thurston and quietly instructed him to bring a bottle of brandy and serve her father and the sheriff in the study.  After sitting back down, she nodded at Marie who then proceeded to deal out the cards for a hand of Rummy.  The last card hit the table, as the front door flew open admitting the Jamison brothers, Frank, James, Willie, Samuel, Edward Jamison, Jacob Weatherby and Josephine Andrews.

The door to the study opened in response to the commotion.  “What is the meaning of this?”  Mayor Andrews yelled above the scuffling and talking.

“Where is the sheriff, Jack?”  Edward strode forward.  “We know he is here and there is no sense bringing your family down by hiding him.”

“Jack, please.”  Josephine pleaded as she came through the door.  “Tell me what is going on.  I thought we had agreed that Henry was not to be allowed in this house after everything that had happened.  And please tell me who all of these people are.”

Looking wildly around, Henry Fairchild emerged from the study only to grab Frances and drag her in front of him using her as a shield as he held his gun to her side.

“Father, stop this nonsense at once.”  Marie shouted and stomped her foot.  “Frances is my friend and I can’t believe for an instant that you are doing this.”

“Stay out of this Marie.”  Her father ground out.  “I didn’t want it to come to this but it looks like I have no choice in the matter.  Come with me now and we’ll pretend our last arguments never happened and I’ll think seriously about letting Frances go.”

“You will let Frances go right now!”  Mayor Andrews bellowed.  “What are you thinking Henry, using my own child as a hostage?”

“He’s done more than that and you know it, Mayor!”  Matt hollered from across the room.  “Why would it surprise you that he would take your daughter hostage after everything else we told you the other day?”

“Jack!”  Josephine stomped her foot.  “Why is this man in our house and what are you going to do about our daughter?”

“Henry, step away from the girls and back up against the wall over there and no one will get hurt.”  Edward stated calmly.  “You don’t want to hurt Miss Andrews and you definitely don’t want to hurt your own daughter.”

“Why would he stop now?”  Rick stepped up.  “He has terrorized his other daughter for pretty much her entire life.  What would stop him from hurting Marie?”

Marie and Frances looked at each other communicating silently with their eyes; simultaneously they slid to the ground. As Frances pulled away from the Sheriff, Marie fell into him knocking him slightly off balance as they seemingly passed out.

Once they were out of the way, guns pointed towards the sheriff. Frank and James flanked the man, each grabbing an arm.

Crawling out of the way, Marie and Frances stood up on the other side of the room away from their would-be abductor.  Glaring at her father, Marie let her displeasure be known.  “Father, I cannot even begin to understand why you have done all that you have done.  Tonight, you have just proved to me however how misguided my own life has been.”

Josephine pulled Frances and Marie to her and walked primly from the room with Anna bringing up the rear leaving the men to deal with the sheriff.  Stepping forward, Edward took control of the situation.  “Mr. Weatherby, if I assume correctly you are probably not here to help the sheriff; is my assumption correct?”

“Yes sir, you are correct.”  Jacob answered.  “I am actually here to listen to proceedings and look out for Kaitlyn Carson’s welfare.”

“Kaitlyn Carson?”  Mayor Andrews asked.  “What does any of this have to do with her?  I thought she was just an illegal squatter that had attempted to homestead on already claimed property.  In fact,” He turned looking at Sheriff Fairchild, “You told me that she had stolen horses and cattle and was under suspicion of poisoning water holes.”

“What?”  Rick and Matt both yelled.  “He was the one that poisoned her water holes, shot her cattle and horses, rustled her cattle, and set her house on fire.”

“He’s also guilty of several murders.”  Willie said stepping up.  “Something that Anna did not know was that he was responsible for our parent’s deaths in addition to several others; that’s why I made sure I went to work for him.  I planned to make him pay for it.”

“What are all of you talking about?”  Mayor Andrews asked confused.  “Are we talking about the same person?  I mean, this is the sheriff not some common criminal.”

“Mayor, this may be a surprise to you but Sheriff Fairchild is nothing but a criminal.”  The elder Jamison said.  “We need to hold a hearing but I feel it will probably be pointless.  With all the evidence stacked against him, I figure we should prepare ourselves for a hanging.”

“A hanging?”  The sheriff spoke for the first time since he lost control of the situation.  “Don’t you all think you’re getting a little ahead of yourselves?”

“No sheriff.”  Rick stepped up.  “I think we’re actually moving a little slow if you ask me.”  He added as he cocked his gun and pulled a wicked looking knife from its sheath.

Stepping up, James added his gun.  “I think we’re moving a lot too slow.  That girl is like a daughter to me and since this worthless piece of scum is her true blood, I say we take care of that problem right here and now.”

Holding his head in both hands, the mayor sank into a nearby chair.  “I just can’t understand how I could be so terribly wrong about someone.  I mean it’s insane Henry, you had me change that deed, and you even had me gain you access to the books so you could erase the record of her tax payment, saying that it was an error.”  He added shaking his head sadly. 

Jacob scribbled furiously taking note of any and all references that could possibly help his client.  Looking around, “Is everyone listening to this?”  He asked, wanting to also note who he could call later as a witness if he needed one.

“Thurston, please bring some rope if you would be so kind.”  Mayor Andrews requested.  Edward, what do you think we should do as far as an acting sheriff for now?”  He asked taking control of the situation for the first time.

“James, would you mind having a temporary job if it were offered?”  The elder Jamison asked.  “I know you want a nice quiet life but until we find a sheriff, you would make an excellent replacement.”

“Well sir, I’m not sure how excellent I’ll be but as long as the job is only temporary and as long as it comes with meals and a roof; I suppose I could give it a try.”  James decided.

“Let’s get this part taken care of then; anyone have a bible handy?”  Edward asked, and then took it from Thurston.  “Ok James, hold up your right hand and put your left hand on this here bible.”  He quickly swore him in, took the small official star off Henry’s shirt, and pinned it to James before looking back.  “You won’t need this where you’re going and you never should have had it to begin with.”

“Well, let’s get him outta here.”  James said, taking his first duty as acting sheriff very seriously.  “Edward, what do you think of giving me a deputy?”  He asked looking pointedly at Willie. 

“I think it’s probably a good idea.”  Grabbing the bible back up, Edward proceeded to swear in Willie.  “You are old enough now aren’t ya boy?”  He asked before completing the process. 

Nodding the affirmative, Willie raised his hand, put the other on the bible, and recited as he was told.  That done, he grabbed the bound hands of the previous sheriff and shoved him ahead intent on getting him out of the house where the women were.

“Let’s get moving Henry.”  He said shoving him towards James.  “Just be happy that I don’t use this position to bury you like I really want to.”

Content that the law would be upheld and that they had someone to take care of things for the time being, Jack took a small sigh of relief before looking around at the faces remaining in the room.  “Well, what now?  I mean I may be the mayor but you’re the judge.”  He looked at Edward. 

“Jack if you had seen some of the bruises on that girl, you would be one of the first to suggest throwing up some gallows.”  Edward started.  “Just the thought of that monster having Anna or Frances is enough to make my blood boil all over again.  What do you think Son?”  He looked first at Rick and then at Matt, knowing they both had more knowledge of Kat’s misfortunes then he did.

Before either of them could answer, someone pounded on the door; it flew open and Angel came in looking wildly around.  “Rick, Matt; you both better get out here.  After you left the house, I couldn’t even begin to convince Kat to stay.  It’s been a hell of a ride but I need some help getting her down off Dusty and inside.”