Chapter Two

Lucy looked up from her cup as a man and a woman followed Addy into the kitchen. The woman took off her hat and revealed the prettiest shade of red hair Lucy had ever seen. The younger man stood half a foot taller than the woman. When he took his hat off, he ruffled his blond hair. His blue eyes stared off into the distance, making Lucy wonder what was different about him.

Addy motioned to the newcomers and told Lucy, “This is Eliza Evans, my dearest friend in the entire world, and this is her son, Brian Evans.” Turning to Eliza and Brian, she said, “This is Lucy…” She glanced at Lucy. “I’m sorry. What’s your last name?”

Swallowing the bile that rose in her throat, Lucy said, “Nilles.” A good twenty-four hours ago, she relished saying that was her last name, but now…

Eliza smiled at her. “How do you do?”

Lucy looked into the woman’s kind eyes and felt a sudden kinship with her that she couldn’t explain. Surprised by the strange reaction, she cleared her throat and shrugged. “Fine now, I think.” She didn’t know what else to say, and whenever people asked that kind of question, it was the response they expected.

Eliza took Brian’s hand and held out her other hand to Lucy. “Brian’s blind, so he prefers to shake hands when he meets someone.”

“Oh.” Lucy set the cup down on the table and shook his hand, noting the solid strength in his touch. “Uh…hello, Brian.”

He smiled and turned his gaze in her direction. “Good afternoon, Lucy.”

Even though he was blind, she felt as though he could see her. Clearing her throat, she removed her hand from his, glad the odd exchange was over with. Her mother once commented that when a person lost one sense, the other senses grew sharper, and now she had no doubt as to the truth of that statement. She didn’t like the thought that this stranger might pick up on her sin. She married a married man. Her face heated with shame, and she quickly picked up her cup and took another sip of coffee.

Addy nudged Eliza. “Don’t be shy, you two. Have a seat and I’ll serve up some cookies.”

Brian pulled out a chair for Eliza and waited until she sat down before he pushed it in. He turned toward Addy.

“Go on and sit,” Addy told him. “I’ll be up and down getting things as they’re needed.”

He nodded and sat next to his mother, which happened to be directly across from Lucy.

It was unnerving that he stared in her direction. He seldom blinked or moved his eyes. Lucy shifted in her chair so that she didn’t have to look at him.

“Brian’s my adopted son,” Eliza spoke up while Addy set a plate of cookies in the middle of the table. “John and I found him when he was eight.”

Unsure of how to respond, Lucy picked up a cookie and bit into it. She didn’t know why Eliza would share this information with her. They’d just met after all, but she suspected Eliza’s intentions were good.

“John and I couldn’t have a child together, so finding Brian was an answer to our prayers,” Eliza continued.

Lucy’s hands trembled so she quickly set the cookie on the plate Addy set out for her and smoothed them on her dress. A child? Her heart raced with dread. What would she do if her time with Adam resulted in a child?

From across the table, Brian’s eyebrows furrowed, and she struggled not to bolt from the room. He couldn’t know what she was thinking. No one could read another person’s mind. But he sensed her unease. She was sure he did.

Addy poured more coffee into Lucy’s cup before making her rounds to everyone else’s cup. “John is mute, so John and Brian had to work out a system to communicate. It took awhile, didn’t it, Eliza?”

“A good year.” Eliza nodded and turned back to Lucy. “We had to learn sign language. John signs the words and Brian touches his hands so he knows what John is telling him.”

“Quite clever if you ask me,” Addy said as she finally took her seat and picked up her cookie.

“Well, to be fair, your daughter knew a man who could teach us,” Eliza told Addy with a smile.

“It works well,” Brian spoke up. “I rarely misunderstand what Pa means.”

“Those two are close,” Eliza said. “They make furniture together out at our place. It’s quiet and simple out there.” She chuckled. “Though I suppose with me chatting away, it’s not so quiet. As you can tell, I talk a lot more than Brian.”

Lucy offered a slight smile, finding the comment amusing since she could already tell Eliza enjoyed talking.

A knock at the door caused Addy to stand up. “I’ll get that,” she said and swallowed the bite of cookie before she wiped her hands on her apron and hastened to the door.

“It sure is busy at Addy’s house,” Eliza replied. “You’re in good hands with her, Lucy. She’s got a heart of gold.”

“Yes, I can see that,” Lucy agreed.

“Brian likes to come for the tasty treats.” Eliza giggled. “I’m afraid I’m not very good at cooking.”

“You do fine,” Brian said finally glancing in his mother’s direction.

“It’s edible,” Eliza replied. “I haven’t killed anyone yet, and that counts for something.”

At that, Lucy laughed, but her laughter died when she saw the preacher and another man following Addy into the kitchen. She tensed, barely aware that Brian shifted in his chair in response.

“Mrs. Nilles, ma’am,” the preacher said, taking off his hat. “This is the marshal.”

Lucy gripped the edge of the table and stood. This was it. They were going to put her in jail. Brian stood as well, but she ignored him. She forced her attention on the two imposing men who had grim looks on their faces.

The marshal stepped forward, and she resisted the urge to step back. “We have a private matter to discuss with you, ma’am. I hope you don’t mind coming with us.”

She wanted to say no, but she knew she couldn’t.

Eliza stood and held Lucy’s hand. “Would it help if one of us went with you?”

Lucy glanced from Addy to Eliza and nodded, purposely avoiding Brian who continued to stay back and observe everything.

“I’ll go,” Addy said and put her arm around Lucy’s shoulders. “It’ll be alright. You don’t have anything to worry about, Lucy.”

Lucy’s lower lip trembled. That was easy for Addy to say. She didn’t just commit bigamy.

“The marshal and preacher are good men,” Brian spoke, startling her. “They won’t hurt you.”

“He’s right,” Eliza added. “You’re in good hands with these two.”

Not at all reassured by any of the people in the room, Lucy reluctantly followed the marshal and preacher. Addy held her close and went with her. Had it not been for Addy’s strength, Lucy thought she might collapse. The entire day had been a nightmare, and this was one horrible continuation of it. How different things looked for her only a week ago when she exchanged vows with Adam and departed from Minnesota, saying good-bye to her family.

At the doorway, Addy stopped and handed her the bonnet which Lucy mechanically put on her head. Addy followed suit with her own bonnet and placed her arm back around Lucy’s shoulders. They went with the men to the jailhouse, and Lucy felt her stomach toss and turn. As she went through the entrance, she feared she might lose her supper and prayed it was nerves and not a baby that made her sick. Women didn’t experience sickness so early in pregnancy, did they? She struggled to remember everything her mother taught her but her mind drew a blank.

The marshal pointed to the seats in front of his desk. “Have a seat, ma’am, Mrs. Garrison. I’ll be right back.”

After he left, the preacher smiled reassuringly at them. “There’s nothing to worry about. We’ll get this mess straightened out.”

Lucy fell into the chair, her shoulders sagging. Fresh tears fell down her cheeks.

Addy sat down and reached for her hand. “You’ll be alright. You’re not in trouble.”

“She’s right, ma’am. You have nothing to worry about,” the preacher said.

“I don’t?” Lucy asked, peering up at him.

“No. This isn’t your crime. It’s Adam’s,” he replied.

“But…but I married him,” she cried, taking the apron Addy handed her so she could wipe her eyes.

“You didn’t know he was married, did you?” he asked.

Appalled, she shook her head. “No. Of course not. I would never have married him if I’d known.”

“Then you are innocent in this crime. You didn’t know he was married. The marshal’s going to send out word for Adam’s arrest. In the meantime, we’ll get the marriage annulled.”

It took her a moment to register the fact that she wasn’t in trouble after all, and when she did, she cried even harder but this time with an overwhelming sense of relief. She wasn’t going to jail. They weren’t going to lock her away for life. Her hands shook as she dabbed her eyes.

The marshal returned to the jailhouse and brought another man with him. “You’re in luck, Mrs. Nilles. The judge is making his round through our town this week.”

She glanced from one man to another, not sure she understood their meaning.

The judge had some papers in his hand, and he tipped his hat in her direction. “This won’t take long, ma’am. The marshal explained the situation, and we’ll get the paperwork started to annul your marriage. It’ll be like the marriage never happened.”

“You can do that? I mean, it’s that simple?” Lucy asked.

“It’s the United States’ law,” the judge said. “The man you married is the one liable for the crime. Not you. I just need your help filling out these forms, and we’ll get things taken care of, alright?”

She nodded. The tension in her stomach eased as Addy rubbed her back, and she proceeded to tell the judge everything he needed to know.

When he was satisfied with the information she gave him, he handed her a piece of paper. “This states that your marriage to Adam Nilles never happened due to grounds of bigamy.”

“Just like that?” she asked, slowly taking the paper from him.

“Everything I need you to do is done.” He stood up, collected the sheets of paper, and tucked them under his arm. “I’ll take care of these when I get to Sioux Falls, but yes, it’s pretty much a done deal.”

“And I’ll notify the other marshals to be on the lookout for Adam Nilles, if that’s his real name,” the marshal said.

Lucy blanched at the thought he hadn’t even used his real name. “That’s the name he put on the marriage license. We had a small wedding, and it was rushed.” Her voice grew softer as she continued. “Now I know why he was in a hurry.”

Addy patted her shoulder. “There’s no way you could’ve known.”

“That’s the truth of it,” the preacher agreed. “Don’t trouble yourself over the past. The important thing is you move on.”

“That’s right.” The marshal offered her a kind smile. “We know what Adam Nilles looks like, and we’ll get a drawing of him posted. If we can, we’ll bring him to justice so he doesn’t do this to someone else.”

“In the meantime,” the preacher began, “you might want to think about finding a legitimate husband.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard,” the marshal said. “We know all the men and which are married and which aren’t.”

“Oh, Marshal,” Addy replied with a grin, “no man in this town would dream of committing bigamy.”

He smiled at her. “I realize that but I thought Lucy might like the assurance, and I agree with the preacher.” He glanced at Lucy. “You’d be hard pressed to make a living out here. No one needs governesses, and we have a school teacher already. Your best bet is to find a husband.”

Lucy sighed, not liking that particular option at this point.

“Or you could return home,” Addy suggested. “We’d chip in for your fare on the stage coach.”

The thought of returning home after what happened with her sister made Lucy’s stomach do another turn. “Um…no. I can’t go back.”

The silence hung in the room, and Lucy contemplated her options. Not that she really had any. Even if a teaching position had been opened, her education was limited. Beyond knowing how to keep a home, she had no skills that would endear her for any kind of employment.

“It’s something to keep in mind,” the preacher finally said. “Take some time to think about it. You’ve been through enough today.”

Lucy knew the reprieve from any decision making was temporary, but she welcomed it. The preacher was right. She’d been through so much that her head was spinning. “I’ll think about it.”

Addy nodded and helped Lucy to her feet. “You can stay at my house for the time being.”

“Oh, that reminds me.” The marshal went to the front door and opened it. “I brought back the buggy and your belongings seem to be in it, Lucy. I’ll take them to Addy’s house, and you can sort through them at your leisure.”

The last thing Lucy wanted was a reminder of Adam, but she’d need her clothes and having a buggy might prove useful, should she ever need one. “Thank you, Marshal.”

“There,” Addy said. “Things are looking up already.”

Lucy dutifully indicated her agreement because she was expected to, not because she believed it. She walked with Addy out of the jailhouse and down the street, pulling the sides of her bonnet further out so she didn’t have to see the people who turned and stared at her while she and Addy strode back to the house.

As the marshal promised, he took the buggy to Addy’s house and brought the carpet bag into the parlor while Addy went to the kitchen.

He set Lucy’s belongings on the floor by the fireplace and turned to her. “You’ll be just fine here, ma’am. Addy will take good care of you, and if you’d like my opinion, the men will be more than happy to take you as wife. There aren’t enough women in these parts, and my eldest daughter is thirteen so she has a couple of years yet before the gents come courting.”

Lucy knew he meant to be comforting, but she didn’t feel like hearing about any of the men in town. At least not now. But she knew she’d be rude if she didn’t thank him so she did.

He seemed pleased and headed out.

Addy came down the hallway and peered into the room. “Did the marshal leave already?”

Wiping her hands on her dress, Lucy said, “Yes.”

“What a shame. I’d have offered him something to eat or drink for getting that judge to take care of the mess for you.” Addy shrugged and smiled. “Eliza and Brian left while we were gone. They even cleaned up the kitchen for me.” She laughed. “You’ll learn that the Evans go above and beyond for their friends. Well, come along. You can sleep in my daughter’s old room.”

Not knowing what else to do and wishing to lie down and rest, Lucy picked up her bag and followed Addy up the stairs.