Tracie Peterson (11 page)

Sixteen

Z
andy walked from the room with a new determination to free Jim. She noticed that K.C. was still absent from the office and breathed a sigh of relief that she’d not have to explain herself to anyone. Her relief was short-lived, however. She walked out the door of the jail and straight into the waiting arms of her husband.

“Riley!” she gasped. Looking into his angry face, Zandy steeled herself for his rage.

“Alexandra,” he said between clenched teeth, “we need to talk.” He took a firm grip on her arm and pulled her with him.

“I can explain, Riley.”

“Oh, you will definitely do that,” he replied, barely controlling his temper. “Starting with why you came into town when I left explicit orders that you were to stay in the house.”

“I had to come. Pamela said that Jim is innocent of trying to get ransom for her. He was bringing her home, Riley.”

“It still doesn’t answer my question. I gave you orders for your own good. I didn’t do it just so I could have the upper hand with you. This town isn’t safe, and you know that full well. If you couldn’t respect my wishes for your own safety, how dare you risk the life of our child!”

Zandy felt herself close to tears at his accusation. She was more angry than she’d ever been. “How could you, Riley? How could you?”

Riley stopped and looked into her angry green eyes. “I don’t want to bury you. This town is out of control, and decent folk aren’t safe. The sheriff spends his day running from one end of the town to another, just to identify the bodies. You knew the risk, yet you figured that man in there was worth more than your own life or your baby’s.”

Zandy raised her hand to slap Riley, then halted, suddenly realizing what
she was about to do. Taking a deep breath, she pushed away, but Riley would
n’t let her go. Instead, he moved her toward the carriage he’d brought.

“Get in,” he said, helping her up.

Zandy did as she was told. She was mortified that she’d been angry enough to hit her husband. What was wrong with her? She’d never in her life felt like this.

Riley quickly joined her and slapped the reins against the horse’s backside. With a jerk the buggy moved down the street, and when Riley turned away from the road that would take them home, Zandy turned to question him.

“I thought I was supposed to be at home,” she said in a sarcastic voice.

“We’re going to talk about this first, and I don’t need an audience,” Riley replied. Once they were outside of the town proper, Riley directed the horse off the road and into a small clearing. Pulling back on the reins, Riley turned to face his wife. “I love you, Alexandra. I’ve tried to be a good husband, a proper husband, but you challenge me at every turn. How can I lead if you won’t let me? We can’t even face life side by side, because you continue to take matters into your own hands.

“You’ve insisted on interfering in things that aren’t of your concern, and this time it could have well cost you your life. Pamela’s problems are her own making, just as Jim’s are. You have to leave them alone to resolve the messes they’ve gotten themselves into.”

“You don’t even care that an innocent man may die,” Zandy declared. Her eyes were ablaze with the fire of her anger. “Jim may be hanged because of something he didn’t do. He never intended to kidnap Pamela.”

“I know,” Riley replied, matching her anger. “He intended to take you! Did you know that?”

Zandy sighed. She felt the baby move restlessly in her belly and wondered if she was causing her child harm by arguing with Riley. Finally, she nodded, and when she spoke, her tone was less harsh.

“Yes, I know. Pamela told me first, and Jim and I discussed it. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I couldn’t. I thought it might be Jim, but I couldn’t be sure. The thought of anyone trying to take you from me, for any reason, left me cold. I didn’t want you to worry and wonder, and that was one of the biggest reasons I insisted you stay in the house.”

“But Jim didn’t want to hurt me. He thought I was living in misery with you,” Zandy stated.

“It doesn’t matter what he thought!” Riley declared.

“It does!” Zandy exclaimed. “He didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”

“Well he did. Alexandra, you have to stay out of this.” Riley’s insistent tone caused Zandy’s anger to rekindle.

“I can’t!”

“You will or else!” Riley demanded.

“Or else what? Are you going to lock me in my room?”

“If I have to.” Riley was nose to nose with her by this time.

Zandy clenched her fists in her lap. “Take me home.”

“Not until you understand how things are going to be,” Riley replied.

“God expects us to fight for the right,” Zandy said. “He doesn’t expect us to hide in fear just because something bad might happen. I know Jim is innocent, and you expect me to say and do nothing to try and stop an injustice being done. That’s not of God! You simply can’t forgive Jim for caring about my happiness. Forgiveness is a part of your responsibility as a child of God as well. Luke 17:3 says, ‘Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.’ Jim asked my forgiveness, and I gave it. You should learn to do the same.”

Riley shook his head. There was no reasoning with her. She drew on her years of Bible teaching and verse memorization and used it like a mighty weapon against him. Taking the reins in hand, Riley urged the horse forward.

They said nothing on the way back to the house. When Riley stopped the horse just beyond the back entryway, Zandy climbed down awkwardly from the buggy and ran into the house.

Riley wanted to call out to her. He wanted to stop her and ease the anger between them, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t find a way to get past her consistently placing herself beyond his authority. He couldn’t help her to see that he didn’t want to dominate or rule her as a king would a subject, he just wanted to protect her and see to her safety and the safety of his child.

Inside the house, Zandy let go the tears she’d been holding back. Why was she so angry when she knew that Riley was right? Maybe it was because he was right that she was mad. All her life, she’d tried to live by the Word of God, and now she almost hated herself for throwing it in Riley’s face. She knew full well that wasn’t the way God had intended it to be used.

Moving with weighted steps, Zandy felt as though a burden was crushing her down. She had never allowed there to be this kind of anger between her and Riley. How could she resolve it? How could she make him see that Jim’s life was just as important and just as worth saving as her own?

She made her way to Pamela’s room and knocked lightly.

“Come in,” the voice called from within, and Zandy pushed back the door. Tears still streamed down her cheeks, and Pamela immediately took notice. “What is it, Zandy? Is Jim. . .is he. . .?”

“No, Jim is fine,” Zandy said, getting control of her emotions. “I just had a horrible fight with Riley. He found out that I’d gone to the jail. He was livid, of course. Oh Pamela, I can’t convince him that we need to fight Jim’s cause. He just won’t listen to reason.”

Pamela nodded in complete understanding. “I know exactly how you feel. I tried to talk to my Uncle Bob, but he won’t listen to reason, either. I told him everything, including how Jim saved my life, but he just doesn’t see that it merits helping him now. He says that Jim made those kind of choices when he decided to take me in the first place. Oh, Zandy. What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know,” Zandy replied in complete exasperation. There didn’t seem to be any answer. Then her conversation with Jim slowly came back to her. “Yes, I do.” Her words held more confidence. “We’ll do exactly as I told Jim to do. We’ll pray. The three of us will pray for Jim’s deliverance. There is a thing called intercession. Riley himself told me about it. It’s a kind of coming before someone on someone else’s behalf. Jesus intercedes for us, as does the Holy Spirit. Now we are going to intercede for Jim,” Zandy replied confidently.

Pamela seemed to pick up on her enthusiasm. “Just tell me what I must do.”

For a time, they prayed together. Then Zandy left Pamela and went to another of the empty bedrooms and locked the door. She had no desire to see Riley. Her heart was still filled with anger toward him, and it became very clear to her that it hindered her prayers.

“God,” she prayed, getting to her knees beside the bed. “I’ve served You for so long and believed that Your Word was true. I know You have a purpose in this situation, yet I can’t see what possible good can come from Jim’s imprisonment. I feel so angry with my husband, because. . . .” Zandy fell silent. Why was she mad at Riley?

“I don’t know how to live with him,” she finally said. A bit of a laugh came out, surprising Zandy. “I’ve been married to him for some time now, yet I still don’t know how to be a good wife. He hasn’t the years of spiritual training I’ve had, and I suppose that makes me feel like I have to lead him. But I don’t, do I Lord?” It wasn’t really a question, because Zandy already knew the answer.

“I don’t need to lead him, because You will. But You can’t help him if I’m always interfering. Forgive me, Father. I don’t mean to be so foolish and blind. It’s hard to follow Riley,” she whispered. “It’s hard, because I’m afraid he won’t know what Your will is on the matter. I suppose I’ve become a bit of a snob when it comes to my Christian teachings. I can’t seem to accept that You can fill Riley with all the wisdom and knowledge he needs in order to be a good husband. Help me, Father. Help me to trust You to guide Riley. Help me to be a wife who is a helper, not a hinderer. I don’t want to cause Riley to give up in discouragement.”

Zandy immediately felt better. She could suddenly see how she had tried to lead the spiritual matters in their home for some time. It wasn’t that Riley didn’t want the responsibility, as was the situation for the husbands in some homes, it was that she wouldn’t let him have it.

Getting up from the floor, Zandy sat on the bed and began to wonder how she could deal with the situation in a way that would put all the wrongs to right. She loved her husband, of this she had no doubt. But Jim was innocent, and someone had to convince Robert and Riley in order for him to go free.

“God, You are our only hope,” Zandy whispered. “Please help Riley and Robert to see the truth, and help Pamela and me to leave it in Your hands. Amen.”

Seventeen

R
obert Charbonneau stood amidst the men with a determined look on his face. Four of the original men he’d hired to find Pamela waited in silence for their temporary boss to speak. Robert sized each man up as the type who had no conscience, then proceeded with his plan.

“I find it necessary to call upon your assistance once again,” Robert began. “My niece is creating quite a stir with stories of her ordeal. She’s completely lost her sense in the matter and truly believes Jim Williams innocent of her abduction. Personally, I think it’s just one of those addle-headed female infatuations, but I find it most impossible to persuade her otherwise.

“And, as you know,” Robert continued, “our friend is still sitting in his jail cell awaiting some type of justice. I for one am growing weary of the wait. It’s been four weeks, and I don’t care how much flooding there’s been, we’re entitled to a speedy trial for this man. Whether a judge can get through the pass or not, I intend to see justice carried out swiftly.”

“What are we supposed to do?” the leader of the group asked. He was a stout man with red hair that hadn’t seen a washing in more than a month of hard riding. He spat tobacco juice on the ground, and Robert was silently grateful that he’d decided to hold this meeting in the barn instead of the house.

“I’m sure we can think of something,” Robert replied.

The man stared blankly for a moment, then seemed to catch Charbon-neau’s meaning. “We can’t very well hang him properly in his cell.”

It was as he made this comment that Pamela came upon the men. They didn’t see or hear her, so she crept into one of the empty stalls and listened.

“No, that’s true,” Robert said, thoughtfully rubbing his chin. “However, he could be shot trying to escape. Desperate folks attempt extreme measures when faced with the possibility of their own death. How hard would it be for a man to attempt such an escape?”

The red-headed man leered a grin. “Not hard at all with the proper kind of encouragement.”

The stall was hot and dusty, and Pamela felt sweat pouring down her back. Still, she couldn’t risk being seen and give away the fact that she knew what her uncle was planning.

“Well, gentlemen,” Robert said with a satisfied smile, “I suggest we be about our business right away. This is Saturday, and Saturday nights in Dawson seem to be a most laborious night for our sheriff and his deputies. What say we plan a little diversion just in case the town rowdies don’t accommodate us?”

“A fire would bring just about the whole town to help,” one of the other men offered.

“A fire would be good,” Robert said with a nod. “It must be threatening enough, without doing too much damage. After all, we wouldn’t want the entire town destroyed.”

“There’s some old shacks down at the south end of town, just across Meiers Gulch,” the leader remembered. “They’re used for storing mining equipment and such. We could set those on fire, and with Corner Creek between it and town, it would bring folks to put out the fire, without risking the Main Street district.”

“Good. Then that’s what we’ll do. Can you get enough help to set the fire and still have enough men to offer the encouragement needed for our friend to escape?” Robert asked, eyeing his watch. It was nearly five. “Say we set the fire around six. Then have things set up at the jail. Just in case you can’t get the deputy to leave the place, have another man wait outside to announce some problem. Maybe you could tell him that someone was breaking into the assay office. Just use any old excuse to clear the jail.”

“We can handle it, Boss. When the money’s right, we can do most anything we need to.”

Robert laughed, “A man after my own heart.”

Pamela shuddered to think that her uncle could so cold-heartedly plan the death of another. In the weeks since her return, while Jim waited in prison for the circuit judge, she’d only managed to slip notes to Jim by way of one of Zandy’s brother’s friends. He, of course, couldn’t write back, but he usually gave the boy a message for her, and though it often came to her in a most garbled fashion, Pamela knew that Jim was not giving up hope that God would send him a reprieve.

When the men departed for town and Robert hurried back to the mansion, Pamela made a dash for Zandy’s room. Mindless of the straw that still clung to her skirt, she rushed up the back servants’ stairs and knocked softly on the door.

Zandy opened the door, not at all surprised to find Pamela.

“What is it?” she asked, however, when she saw the look of terror in her friend’s eyes.

“Uncle Bob plans to kill Jim!” she exclaimed barely above a whisper.

Zandy motioned Pamela inside. She quickly closed and locked the door before pulling Pamela toward the far end of the room.

“No one will hear us if we talk softly,” Zandy said.

Pamela stared for a moment, as if seeing her friend for the first time. Zandy was obviously very expectant, and Pamela knew it would only be a matter of weeks before the baby would be born. How could she even begin to involve her in this mess?

“I’d better just handle this alone,” Pamela finally spoke. “You aren’t in any condition to be helping me, and there isn’t time to get anyone else.”

“What are you talking about?” Zandy questioned. She reached out to force Pamela to stay where she was.

“My uncle is planning a jailbreak for Jim. It’s going to happen in just an hour or so. I overheard them talking in the barn. And, Zandy,” Pamela said, with tears in her eyes, “they plan to kill him.”

“No!” Zandy exclaimed louder than she’d intended.

“Uncle Bob is just convinced that I’m too stupid to see Jim for what he is. He thinks I wear my heart on my sleeve and give it to every man that comes along,” Pamela explained. “Now, he’s convinced that I’m lying to save Jim because I’m in love with him.”

Zandy’s eyes widened. “Are you, Pamela? Are you in love with Jim?”

“I don’t know, Zandy. I care very much for him. He was so kind and gentle. Yet he was firm with me too. He never once allowed that spoiled, little-girl attitude of mine to run the show. He made it clear that he’d not tolerate my selfishness, and I guess I needed that to show me what I’d truly become.”

“But that’s not the same as loving him. You must know whether or not you care that much,” Zandy pressed.

Pamela put her hands to the sides of her head as if to press out the images that were flashing through her mind. She could easily see the plan her uncle made coming true. She could see Jim lying dead in the muddy street of Dawson.

“I’ve thought constantly of him since our return,” Pamela admitted. “I’ve thought of the way he consoled me when we learned about Bradley. He was so tender, and yet he helped me to see God’s hand in it all, and he made me understand that I didn’t have to face my pain alone. I’ve slipped notes of encouragement to him on more than one occasion, but the message I get back is never one that shows anything more than curt acknowledgement of having received them.”

“What do you expect, love letters?” Zandy asked with a smile. “You need to listen to that heart’s calling you’re always talking about. I think if you listen long enough, you’ll find that you care more about Jim than you’re willing to admit.”

Pamela nodded, then paled when she heard the clock chiming half-past the hour. “We’ve only got a little less than half an hour. They plan to set some shacks on fire to create a diversion on the opposite side of town!” Pamela exclaimed. She pulled away from Zandy and hurried to the door. “Is Riley back yet?”

Zandy shook her head. “His meeting with Mister Tabor must have lasted longer than he planned. He wired to say he’d arrive on this evening’s train.”

“Then he can’t very well help us,” Pamela replied and fumbled to unlock the door. “What about your parents?”

“They’re out visiting friends, and I don’t know when they’ll be back,” Zandy answered and crossed the room. “Look, whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me. They won’t threaten Jim if we’re there. I mean, how would it look? A respectable young woman and a mother-to-be standing between them and their man. What are they going to do, shoot us?”

“They very well could, Zandy. That’s why I don’t want you to come with me.”

“Nonsense,” Zandy replied. “You run ahead and make certain your uncle isn’t going to see us leave. I’ll be downstairs directly and meet you at the back door.” Pamela nodded reluctantly and hurried to do what Zandy suggested.

After a hurried prayer for guidance, the two women slipped into the dusky shadows of twilight. Zandy directed Pamela to take the garden path, for the extra coverage of the shrubbery and vegetation. The lingering scent of flowers and pine lent the lavender sky an air of romance, but the thoughts in the minds of Zandy and Pamela were far from that pleasure.

Dawson was already enjoying an overzealous celebration for the week’s end of work. The last shift at the mine was just finishing, and Zandy knew that six o’clock would be signaled by the explosion that would be set off to blast ore from the rock face of the mines. She knew they would need to be in place at the jail before that, and she hurried, in spite of her cumbersome burden, to keep pace with Pamela’s lithe and graceful form. They had to make it time. They just had to!

❧

A hot and exhausted Riley Dawson stepped from the five-forty-five train. He glanced at his house up on the hill and sighed in relief to know that very soon it would be Horace Tabor’s problem to contend with. The sounds of gunshots and laughter from the brothel and gambling districts hurried his step toward the sanity and safety of his home.

His mind had been greatly preoccupied with thoughts of Zandy. There was so much that needed to be said between them, and he wanted very much to put an end to her worries about Jim. But how? How could he get Zandy to see reason where Jim was concerned? She cared too much, and that bothered Riley more than he could say. Was it possible that Zandy cared more for Jim than she was letting on? It was something that Riley had to find out. He had to know why she was so persistent in defending him.

The walk did him good and helped Riley to clear his head. He was glad to be home, yet completely reluctant to deal with his wife. “God,” he breathed the prayer, “give me the guidance I need to do what I must. Let my words be carefully chosen, and please let Zandy speak honestly to me.”

The house greeted him in silence, and Riley couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong.

“Zandy!” he called out as he took the stairs two at a time. Their bedroom revealed nothing. Perhaps she was spending time with Pamela.

Riley walked quickly to the end of the hall where Pamela’s room was. He knocked loudly, and when no one answered, he opened the door. Nothing!

Now Riley was worried. He hurried back downstairs and nearly ran through each room, trying to locate the women. When he reached the library, a single cough let him know the room was occupied.

“Robert?” he questioned, coming into the room.

“I see you made it back,” Robert replied from where he sat.

“Have you seen the women?”

Robert shook his head, noting the worried expression on Riley’s face. “Not since this afternoon. After lunch, Zandy went to take a nap, and Pamela went to her room. Why?”

“They aren’t in the house, and I didn’t see them on the grounds when I came home. I’m going to check the gardens, but as dark as it’s getting, they both know better than to be out there. Where are Burley and Ruth and the kids?” Riley called out from the doorway.

“I don’t know,” Robert said. He seemed completely confused as to why Riley was so disturbed. “I wouldn’t worry too much, Riley. They’re probably just off sewing for the baby or some such thing. I’ve not seen them leave the house all day, and I’ve been here the whole time.”

Riley ignored the man’s assurance. He knew how determined his wife could be if she felt the need to see to some matter. A quick examination of the gardens revealed them to be as empty as the bedrooms had been.

Riley ran a hand through his sweat-soaked hair and returned to the house. Where were they?

Coming back to the library, Riley heard the clock chime six. This was followed by the rocking explosion that signaled the end of the mining shift. Robert glanced up and started to speak, but Riley’s look silenced him.

“If they aren’t here, there’s only one place I can imagine the two of them would have gone,” Riley stated. “They must have gone to the jail to see Williams.”

Robert paled and got to his feet. “They wouldn’t! They couldn’t have. I would have seen them leave.”

“Be realistic, Charbonneau. Those two are fully capable of giving you the slip if they so choose. They aren’t here, so that means they must be somewhere. My guess is the jail.”

Robert glanced at the clock and back to Riley. The look on his face changed from calm to anguished. “They can’t be at the jail.”

“Why not?” Riley said, coming forward. “What is it that you’re not telling me, Robert?”

“I. . .well, you see, I—”

“What is it, man? If you know something that can help me find them, you’d best tell me now,” Riley said, nearly taking hold of Robert.

“I arranged for Williams to escape from the jail. I set it up so he’d be shot, and we’d be free once and for all without having to wait for a judge to hang him!”

Riley felt the color drain from his own face. He wanted to wring Char-bonneau’s neck, but that wouldn’t change a thing.

“When?” Riley questioned, throwing Robert a murderous look.

“Right now,” Robert answered.

Riley didn’t say another word. He could only offer up a prayer while running at desperate pace to reach the jail before Robert’s plan could be executed.