Liberty Belle (38 page)

“Harley, I have to warn you. Libby’s mother can be a bit harsh. I think you’ll like her father though.”

“We’ll be fine.” He glanced her way. The sunlight set a glow on her face. She’d filled out some since he’d first met her on the stage. If she did her hair different, maybe lose those glasses, and carried herself with a little more confidence, she’d be a handsome woman.

###

Heat rushed to Flora’s cheeks. She turned her head, trying to appear interested in the scenery on her side of the carriage. That man flustered her. His dark hair, mysterious gray eyes, and muscular frame, no wonder half the women in Denver made it their duty to parade past The Yellow Slipper.

Get hold of yourself.
Flora concentrated on controlling her breathing. If only there was a way to force the heat from her cheeks. Thinking of her brother and his wife helped. What would they say when they found out Libby was getting married today?

“There’s the hotel. Want me to go in with you?”

She clutched his arm. “Oh, would you? It would mean so much to me.”

He patted her hand. “Sure. I’d do anything for my favorite woman.”

Warmth spread over her as she anticipated Harley’s help getting down from the carriage. She was supposed to be thinking of Libby. This was her day. But Flora couldn’t stop the fluttering in her stomach.

Harley lifted her from the step and set her on the ground. He held out his arm for her and together they walked inside the hotel. For a moment, she forgot she was a spinster, forgot she’d never belonged to another, forgot she’d never been with a man.

Flora fanned herself more from the heat inside her than the heat outside. “I hope they are still in their room.”

###

Harley led her to the front desk. He recognized the clerk as one of his regular losers. The poor man lost more games trying to fill an inside straight than a soul ought to. Maybe he’d learn. “Room number for Mr. and Mrs. Longstreet.”

The man eyed him warily and then scanned the register. “They’re staying in room 210, but you’ll find them in the dining room having their lunch.”

After tipping his hat, Harley escorted Flora through the doors, sorry that she’d have to endure the rude stares of prominent citizens aimed at him.

She pointed. “There they are at the table by the window.” Her grip tightened around his arm.

Mr. Longstreet surprised him. Not a dandy gentleman. He had broad shoulders and wore a worried look on his brow. One glance at his wife and Harley couldn’t blame him. She was a pretty woman and looked a lot like Libby. But her eyes held enough judgment to send an outlaw running. Poor Wade.

###

Flora braced herself. “James, Eleanor.”

Libby’s mother looked up and dropped her fork. “Flora!”

James stood and held out a chair for her. But it was Harley who pushed the chair in. Then he went to the other side of the table and sat across from her.

Swallowing hard, Flora glanced at Harley.

He quirked his sly grin and winked.

Courage emboldened her. She’d not crumble in front of Libby’s parents. “James and Eleanor Longstreet, this is Harley Mason. He has been a great help to Libby and me.”

James nodded. Eleanor, a gloved hand to her mouth, managed a slight nod.

His eyes narrowing, James faced Flora. “Why is my daughter in jail and accused of murder?”

Flora fought the old feelings that had kept her in such a timid state all her life. “I’m not really sure. Perhaps if she hadn’t moved out of our room at The Yellow Sli—I mean, when she took the job of teacher for Mr. Rowen’s children—”

Eleanor came out of her shock. “Yellow Slipper! Why that’s the name of a house of ill repute we saw yesterday.”

Harley stiffened.

Flora hoped he wouldn’t do anything untoward. She did her best to smile at Eleanor. “We have come to invite you to Libby’s wedding.”

Eleanor’s jaw fell open.

This time James dropped his fork. “Wedding? Who’s she marrying? Is Thomas here?”

“No. She’s marrying a wonderful man by the name of Wade Calder. He’s a deputy here in Denver.”

Eleanor waved her napkin. “I feel as if I am going to be sick. How could she marry a common man? I had such wonderful plans for her.”

“They love one another and will be happy for the rest of their lives.” Flora surprised herself with the authority in which she spoke. Her brother and Eleanor never paid her much mind, but she’d never spoken so forcefully before. She relished the freedom.

James recovered first. “What time and where? We were on our way to the jail to see what we can do to help her.” He grasped his wife’s hand. “We’ll be there for the wedding.”

Flora wanted to chuckle at the stern look her brother gave his wife, until she thought of the answer she’d have to give them. “The ceremony will be at five o’clock … in the jail.”

“James, do something. This can’t be.” Eleanor wriggled from her husband’s grasp and picked up Flora’s fan and waved it frantically.

With a piercing glance to his wife, James nodded. “We
will
be there.”

###

Wade checked the clock for the fifth time in five minutes. He scratched at the tight collar. The suit Harley had loaned didn’t fit him right in size or character.

Sheriff Bill Winters even dressed up. Harley and Flora sat in the sheriff’s office. Preacher Harold studied the Bible he held. Libby’s parents were with her in the cell.

Her mother had made it clear she didn’t want him to marry her daughter. He winced at the cold glare she’d set on him. No wonder Libby had run away.

He’d spent most of yesterday trying to find any clues that might help Libby. He’d found nothing. He wanted to ride into the hills where he’d seen the outlaws on the trail, but with the wedding today, there wasn’t time.

James Longstreet stepped into the room. His expression held a mixture of frustration, pride, and sorrow. With his long stride, he found his place next to Wade. “Son, you’re getting the apple of my eye. Treat her well.” His words were as much a threat as request.

Wade stiffened at the challenge. “I intend to love her with all I have. I’ll take good care of her. I promise that.” The tension between them eased.

“I believe you will. I want to apologize for my wife’s rude behavior. She really is a wonderful woman, but she had other plans for Libby.”

The old sense of failure pierced Wade. Would he be able to protect her? Maybe he should grab her and run.

Preacher Harold cleared his throat. “Shall we begin?”

Flora broke out into a sweet melody. Her voice quieted the small crowd and filled the jail with sounds of love and joy.

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Eleanor walked out of the cell and stood next to her husband.

The song ended.

Wade turned, and his breath caught. Like an angel, Libby glided toward him. Everything and everyone else faded from his view and mind. He loved her with all he was and ever would be.

She came to his side and smiled. A deep smile from her heart full of love and pain. A tear trailed down her cheek. Her lips quivered.

He brushed the drop with a finger, his heart ripping at what should be the happiest moment of their lives together. But how long did they have?

She placed her hand in his, and they faced the preacher.

Arms raised, Preacher Harold pronounced blessings on the small crowd. Finished, he held Wade and Libby’s hands in his. “Today, we bind this man and woman in holy matrimony. Let no one come against them. Do you both pledge your hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ and each other?”

They answered, “Yes.”

“Libby will you take this man as your husband? To love and cherish as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” Her voice quavered.

“Wade, will you take this woman to protect and love as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” Wade let his words sound proud and confident. But inside they rang hollow.
As long as you live.
How long did they have? He purposed to put the question out of his mind. This was their day. Their first day.

“By the authority of our Father in heaven, I pronounce you as man and wife.” He turned Wade and Libby to face the congregation. “I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Calder.”

Harley nodded. Flora and Daisy clapped excitedly. James smiled proudly while Eleanor wiped tears from her eyes.

Wade took her in his arms and kissed her as if there were no tomorrow. Praying there would be. Giving himself to her, pledging to keep her safe. Dying inside at the thought, they may only have days together.

She trembled in his arms, but her lips received him, giving back, sealing their love.

He held her tight, willing the moment to last forever. But this wasn’t enough. They were man and wife. He couldn’t leave her in the jail. Not tonight.
God please
.

She pulled away and gazed into his eyes. “I love you, Wade Calder. I love you forever.”

He caressed her face. “I love you, Mrs. Calder.”

Together they accepted their congratulations. All seemed happy, all but Eleanor Longstreet. Although he’d give her credit, the woman had managed a smile.

The sheriff, eyes glistening, pulled them aside. “Wade, Libby, I have a wedding present for you. I’ve worked out a little scheme. Flora has agreed to pretend she’s Libby. Wade, you’re to pretend to be Harley. You can change clothes in my room and then after Libby’s parents leave, Cody will drive you and your missus to my cabin. That will be the jail until the trial.”

Wade thought he might fall from shock. God had answered his cry. He and Libby would be together. “Thank you, sir.”

A serious frown crossed the sheriff’s face. “First thing Monday morning, he’ll drive Libby back here. I trust you’ll not make a run for it.”

“We won’t run.” Wade answered in a voice more sure than he felt.

“Good, just the same Deputy Cody will watch the cabin … from a distance.” The sheriff turned to talk to Harley and Flora.

Wade thought the time to leave would never come, but finally they were on their way. He slipped his arm around his wife and gave a silent thanks to the Lord. Together in the buggy, they watched as the sun slid behind the mountains and shadows stretched across the road.

Gazing into her eyes, he lost himself all over again. Wade held Libby in his arms. He loved her more than life. Would love her for the rest of their lives.

Pain sliced through his heart.
Please, God. Let her be found innocent.

Chapter 39

Libby woke long before dawn even thought of coloring the night sky. She soaked in the sound of her husband’s soft snores. The feel of his touch. The warmth of his body next to hers. She had pleaded with the Lord to let her have more time, but the trial started this morning.

She didn’t need anyone to tell her the chance of acquittal was next to nothing. After all, she had shot Mr. Rowen. The town had held the funeral yesterday.

Cody tried not to, but when he came to stand his watch and bring them dinner, he let on how the citizens were in an angry mood over the slaying of one of their favorites. The fact that Rowen’s children were also missing added to the rage.

She turned and gazed at her husband and ran a finger through his dark brown hair.

He opened his eyes, took her hand, and kissed her fingers.

“Wade, I’m afraid.”

He gathered her in his arms and held her tight. “We have to hold on and believe everything will turn out all right. We just have to believe.”

An owl hooted close to the cabin.

Libby trembled. “I love you, Wade Calder.”

His eyes creased with sadness. “I’ll have you to remind me of that every morning. You’re not leaving me.”

She pushed away. If she didn’t, she’d beg him to take her from Denver. And what scared her most is that he might do it. But a life on the run would be no life at all. Wade was a good man, and she didn’t want to be the cause of his ruin.

“Libby, I prayed all night. I want more than anything to take you and ride out. But I can’t. I threw my badge, honor, and respect down once before. I can’t do it again. I have faith in the Lord. And as I prayed, I felt like He was telling me we’d be together.”

Relief calmed her. He would remain a good man. She put a finger to his lips. “Let’s not waste the few hours we have left. Hold me until morning. Hold me until we have to leave. Hold me—”

His kiss smothered the rest of her words. Blissfully, she shoved the world out of her mind and loved her husband.

###

Numb, Wade sat behind the sheriff. Morning had come all too soon, and the ride into town had torn him in two. Angry men packed into the makeshift courtroom in a saloon. The hot air filled with anger. A rage aimed at his wife, and he was helpless to do anything about it.

One glance at the six men seated as jurors and Wade knew they’d already decided. Though stern, the judge was a good man, but he offered no kind glance toward Libby. Wade rubbed his neck, thankful he was sitting as the growing, hollow pit in his gut swallowed his life.

James and Eleanor sat behind Libby along with Harley, Flora, and Daisy. Held up by rain in the foothills, Tobias had returned with Mark late last night. Wade sent word for him to stay with the boy at the stables. Mark didn’t need to witness the hatred in the courtroom.

The sheriff faced him and shook his head.

Libby’s lawyer seemed like a nice young man. But the look in his eyes told Wade that he didn’t expect to be of much help.

The judge banged his gavel.

Wade’s heart grieved. Why would God take her from him? Was he still being punished?

“Will the defendant take the stand?”

Libby gripped the arms of her chair and rose. Unsteadily, she walked to the bar and took the oath.

The prosecutor paced in front of her like a lion waiting to attack. “Now, Mrs. Calder. You stated that you shot Mr. Rowen.”

“Yes, but because—”

“You also said Mr. Rowen became angry after you pointed out some canvas bags, and he came at you with a knife.”

“Yes.”

He held up Flora’s gun. “Have you seen this before?”