An Unexpected Annulment (The Colorado Brides Series Book 3) (2 page)

“The feral Montgomery children.”

“You’ve mentioned them.”

“It really is a shame what happened.”

“Someone died, correct?”

“Yes, their mother, Abigail. They’d only been living here a short while. He’s a miner. They came from Virginia. She became ill after arriving and passed away. It was very sad.” Hannah’s look was concerned. “Now the children fend for themselves. I honestly have no idea where Matthias Montgomery is.”

“In the mountains?”

“I suppose. Someone said that they hadn’t seen him for a long time. He might be a drunk now.”

Movement caught my eye, and, before I was able to say another word, the wagon jerked, creaking noisily. One of the wheels seemed to have locked, as we shuddered to an abrupt stop, Hannah nearly falling from the seat. I grasped the edge, screaming.

“What in heaven’s name was that?”

“I’m getting out to check,” I said, having a feeling we had just been sabotaged by someone—someone small. My feet landed on the ground. The horse seemed distressed, jerking wildly, pulling on the harness. Her head shifted from side to side, while her eyes were huge. “Easy, girl.” I patted her flank. “It looks like someone put a spoke in the wheel.”

“Oh, that can’t be!”

“It’s fallen out, broken, but that’s what it was.”

“Is anything damaged? How’s the wheel? Will we be able to get home?”

“The wheel looks fine. I didn’t hear the axle snap.” I had heard that sound before on the wagon trail. “This seems to be a half-hearted attempt to annoy us and scare the horse.” I gazed into the prairie, not seeing anything besides tall grasses, but I knew something was out there. Wandering towards the edge of the road, I listened, hearing chatter and giggling.

“What is it?”

I waved to Hannah. “Shush.” There was something hiding behind a scraggly-looking tree, the wind blowing out what looked like the bottom portion of a blue dress. “I know you’re hiding, you little rascals. Come out now. This very minute!”

In a flash of movement, two boys shot past me, their faces were dirty, and they wore soiled clothing. Both were shoeless. They dashed across the road, racing into the grassland, as if the hounds of hell were on their heels.

“Oh, those are the Montgomery brats!” cried Hannah, nodding. “They’ve become far too brazen. This is the first time they’ve tried to injure someone. I’ll have to have a word with Nathan about this.”

I’d hardly been able to get my wits about me, when another child ran by, but she wasn’t fast enough. I grabbed the back of her dress, stopping her. She screamed, “Let me go, woman!”

“I will not. Who are you?”

She struggled; her arms and legs were bare and filthy. There was dirt smudged on her face, and her blonde hair hung down her back in a tangled mess. “Hugh! Oscar! Help me!”

Her hand caught my face, resulting in a stinging slap. I gasped. “Hold still, you little savage!”

Hannah had climbed down from the wagon. “Oh, for goodness sakes, Annie. You mustn’t behave like this.”

“Then these are the Montgomery children?” I refused to let go of the girl.

“Of course they are. Where’s your father, Annie?”

“I got nothin’ to tell ya.”

“Did your brothers put you up to this?”

“Nope.”

She couldn’t have been more than five-years old. Her slim, malnourished body had ceased to resist, but a scornful and defiant look remained on her face. “I think we need to have a word with the father.”

Hannah grimaced. “That’s a terrible idea. I’m not going to that house.”

“Why not?”

“He…I’ve seen him from a distance. He’s not someone I want to be in close proximity to. I think it’s best to let Nathan handle this affair.”

“The girl is filthy. She needs a good bath and food.”

“Like I said, things haven’t been going well for them. Their mother’s passing was a blow. It’s best not to interfere with how someone raises their children.”

“Well, I won’t let this pass. If the wheel had broken, we could have been seriously injured. The axle could’ve snapped, and the horse might have been spooked. You could’ve died. I could have died.”

“That’s why I’ll be speaking to Nathan.”

“I’m going to take the girl to her father.”

“I…please don’t do that, Louisa. Let the men handle this. We shouldn’t get involved.”

“Tie the horse to the tree. You need to come with me. You’ve got the revolver, and, if anything goes awry, you can…shoot him.”

Annie gasped. “You’re gonna kill my pa?” Her blue eyes had widened to the size of saucers.

“Maybe we’ll just fire a few bullets over his head. That might scare some sense into him.”

Her look darkened. “You’re more than welcome to try to kill him, lady. He’s got a shotgun, and, if he sees you comin’, he’ll shoot you first. He won’t think twice about it either.”

I dragged her with me, seeing a house in the distance, although it looked rundown and inhospitable. The boys had disappeared in this direction. “How old are you, Annie?”

“None of your cotton-pickin’ business.”

“Her manners are dreadful.”

Hannah followed, although reluctantly. “I really don’t want to do this, Louisa. I…let’s not go there.”

“I’ll handle it. You won’t have to talk at all.” Determination had gotten the better of me, and I had resolved to have a talk with Mr. Montgomery regarding his ill-behaved children. “It’s one thing to run around feral; it’s quite another to try to disable a wagon.”

A road led to the house, while a horse was in the paddock. A wagon waited to the side. There was someone home, but the structure looked abandoned. The windows were cloudy, either from filth or cheap glass, and someone had discarded trash, empty jars, newspapers, and broken crates in the yard. Bits of wagons had been strewn across the grass: wheels, axles, broken framework, and an upside down canoe.

I marched right to the front door, noticing empty whiskey bottles amongst the debris and dragging the reluctant girl with me. Knocking on the wood, I waited.

“He won’t answer.”

“Why not?” I glanced at her dirty face.

“He’s been drinkin’.”

“Does he do that often?”

She nodded. “Yep.”

I eyed her. “You look so thin, honey. When was the last time you had food?”

“None of your business.” She crossed lean arms over her chest.

Hannah stood at the bottom of the stairs, not wanting to come any closer. “We should go, Louisa. I have a bad feeling about this. We shouldn’t bother people who plainly don’t want to be bothered.” She glanced at her feet, noting the trash.

“Mr. Montgomery!” I yelled, banging on the door. “Come out here this minute!”

“Louisa!”

“He’s drunk. He won’t hear me unless I’m loud.” I glanced around, spying a steel crow bar. Releasing the grip I had on Annie, I snatched the item from the porch. I had expected the little girl to run away, but she remained by my side, her eyes wide.

“Are you gonna beat my Pa with that?” She seemed genuinely concerned.

“Oh, goodness, no. I only want to get his attention.”

“That might not be such a good idea, lady.”

“Well, we’ll just see about that.” I swung, hitting the door with a loud bang. “Mr. Montgomery! I know you’re in there!” The metal struck repeatedly, small dents appearing in the wood. “Mr. Montgomery!” I’d been about to strike again, when the door suddenly swung inward, revealing a bleary-eyed man, who wore stained denim pants and a rumpled tow shirt. “Oh!”

“Who in the Sam Hill are you, woman?” His eyes had narrowed into angry, bloodshot slits.

“I…I’m Louisa Hoffman. Your children tried to disable our wagon.”

He glanced at the crowbar in my hand, snatching it from me. I was truly frightened now, realizing that I had acted rashly. I had no idea what this person was capable of. His dark hair was unruly; thick strands fell over his forehead. A pale, unshaven face glared menacingly.

“Get off my property!” he growled.

“Your boys threw a spoke in our wheel! They’re running amok and terrorizing the neighborhood, sir. We could’ve been injured.”

“Louisa, I think we should go.” Hannah’s hand was in her pocket. “I have a revolver, sir. If you so much as lift that crowbar at my sister, I’ll use it.”

His attention was on her. “Who are you?”

“I’m Hannah Hoffman Weaver, sir. I live down the road. My husband is Nathan Weaver.”

“I know him.” He threw the crowbar into the grass, pointing a finger in my face. “Get off my porch.”

“Fine. You’re indescribably rude, sir.” I picked up my skirts, eyeing him with distain. “These children need clean clothes and shoes. They could use a good meal as well.”

“I don’t care a continental. Now git outta here!”

The conversation was over, and I turned on my heel, marching down the steps. “What a horrible man.” I’d spoken loudly, wanting him to hear. “What ill-mannered children.”

“Let’s just go, please.” Hannah took my arm, murmuring, “I never want to come back here again.”

I sensed we were being watched, and I glanced over my shoulder, as Mr. Montgomery and his daughter stood on the front porch. They were a sorry-looking lot, bedraggled, and thin. The oddest sensation went down my backbone, pricking with awareness. I wasn’t worried over my safety anymore, which was strange. I was more concerned about them, even though he had been the most disagreeable person I had ever met. I couldn’t help wondering what they would eat for supper. Was there any food at all?

Once seated in the wagon, Hannah took the reins. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“I can’t believe it either.”

“He looked so…sorry.”

“That whole family is sorry. What’s the matter with them?”

“Nathan would know more. I hope I’m not in trouble for bothering Mr. Montgomery.”

“Why would you be? His children tried to hurt us. They could’ve spooked the horse. We could have had an accident and died.”

“I know. I’ll talk to him about it.”

Twenty minutes later, we were in the kitchen of Hannah’s farmhouse. Salt and pepper shakers stood in the center of the table with a basket of freshly baked bread. Maria held the baby, rocking her back and forth, shifting from foot to foot.

“You did what?” Nathan sat, with his hand around a cup of tea. “Say that again.”

“It was Louisa’s idea.”

“Those children tried to sabotage our wagon.”

“That’s a serious accusation.”

“Yes, it is,” I said. “What they tried to pull was very serious indeed. We could have been killed, had the horse taken off.”

“Montgomery’s had a rough time of it lately. His wife, Abigail died about a year ago. He’s been down and out.”

“Those kids are running around without shoes, and they look like they’re half-starved.”

“I don’t think it’s wise to go messin’ in somebody else’s, business, Louisa. I know you’re concerned about the children, but it’s another man’s family.”

“You and Hannah keep saying that. I understand I shouldn’t be sticking my nose in other’s affairs, but, once I get the school up and running, I want to see those kids attending and learning something. Everyone should know how to read and write.”

“They might already know how to do that,” said Nathan. “They might be learned for all we know. I’d say, leave it be. If you poke your nose in there, you might end up regretting it. Please, don’t stir up a hornet’s nest of trouble in the neighborhood.”

“Fine, but if I see those kids again running around half-naked and starved, I won’t turn a blind eye. You might be able to do that, but I can’t.”

He gave me a look, his expression irritated and exasperated.

Chapter Two

“Oh, something’s very strange,” said Maria. Her accent was thick, as she was Hispanic.

I had my hands full of carrots, having just pulled them out of the ground. “What is?”

“We’re missing eggs.”

“Missing eggs? Did they break? The cat might’ve been up to mischief.” My sister’s cat had more than likely gotten into the henhouse again. “Cottonball is such a nuisance.”

“No, no eggs broke, Ms. Hoffman. They’re missing.”

“Well, it’s like the ham in the smokehouse last week. It grew legs as well.”

“I’ll speak to Mr. Weaver. We might have to put a lock on everything.” She shook her head. “What’s happening here? Now we have to watch our back. There’s a thief on the farm.”

I sat on my heels, my mind turning over. “I wonder…”

“What?”

“When are these things missing?”

“I don’t know. I count the eggs yesterday, and this morning five are gone.”

“So, the thief strikes at night?”

“Or the morning.”

“Maybe, if we get up early and look out the window, we’ll see who it is.”

“I suppose. But, a lock would solve this problem even better. Then we don’t miss sleep.”

“But I want to know who it is.” I had a strong suspicion I knew exactly who was stealing from us. “I bet it’s those Montgomery children. The poor things must be starving.”

Maria shrugged. “I don’t know, Ms. Hoffman.”

“That’s fine. Don’t worry about it. I’ll keep an eye out.”

From a window on the second floor, a baby cried. “I go see about Letty. She needs to be changed.”

“I’m going to pull out the rest of these carrots. They’re good-sized. I’ll be in shortly.”

“Yes, Ms. Hoffman.”

Hannah and Nathan had gone to town a while ago. I helped wherever I could, doing laundry, cooking, and tending to Letty, but I knew I would have to find a place of my own soon. The schoolhouse was in the process of being built, and, once it was complete, I would rent a room in Denver City. I had been hired as a teacher by the local claim club, although they were more interested in the business of mining than educating the children of the area. I had successfully lobbied for the position, and, being one of the few college educated women in the territory, I had been hired. The school wouldn’t be ready until the beginning of September, and I had plenty of time to prepare, knowing I would be teaching several grades all in one room. I relished the challenge, feeling twinges of excitement at the prospect of shaping young minds.

After Nathan and Hannah returned, Maria told them about the missing eggs. Nathan had muttered, “I have to lock the henhouse? I might as well chain the blasted barn too.” He’d thrust fingers through his hair. “If someone’s on the property, wouldn’t George have barked? What good is that guard dog?”