CHAPTER FIVE

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Creed worked late that night with the marshals, bringing in the bodies and the three stray horses. After a rough night of sleep, he approached the Morgan Estate astride Johann, Coconino bounding by his side.

While Miles Morgan and his family owned a beautiful house on Cliff Street above the bay, their primary residence stood at the end of a dirt road. It had four wings, one for each family member, which included Miles, his wife, Marian, and Lucy. Morgan and Marian reserved the fourth wing for guests. Anna had lived in it for several years, inventing for his company in secret.

Creed pulled Johann to a halt. He found Anna and Jonny's horses, Espiritu and Cyclone, hitched in front of the porch. Creed's gut clenched, but he breathed through it. That was all right. He wanted to give Anna space, but she was his daughter. Despite the current tension, there was a lot of love between them.

He rode Johann up to the home’s hitching post, dismounted, and knotted the reins on the post. Espiritu, whose skeletal markings looked more endearing than frightening by daylight, neighed a greeting to Johann.

Voices came from inside. Anna, Miles, Jonny. Creed held his breath and let it out slowly as the door opened and the three stepped out.

"Won't your other doves be upset if I hire Maybelle?" Morgan said to Anna as they came out onto the porch. "Everyone knows she's your best friend. It will look like favoritism."

Anna raised her gaze to her boss. "One girl at a time, Miles. She helped me with some delicate work when I was learning about the ether. Maybelle has dexterous hands and has learned a lot from me, and she’d be an asset to any of your scientists."

"I will consider it.”

"Hello, James." Jonny flashed Creed one of his honest smiles. The young man always seemed fond of his partner's father, which had become clearer since Jonny regained the ability to speak.

"Good to see you, Jonny."

Morgan, a tall, heavyset man wearing a brown suit minus the jacket, and Anna, in a conservative blue dress that one might wear to church, turned their surprised gazes on Creed.

"Dad!" Anna exclaimed. "What's going on?"

"Something happened last night, and you all need to know about it."

"Then come in," said Morgan.

"Coco!" Creed called, and the coyote faced him, tail wagging. "Stay here. Take care of the horses. I'll be back soon."

The coyote barked and went to play.

At the breakfast table, Morgan offered Creed a bite to eat, but Creed declined. He shared with them the tragic events of the night before. Jonny, thin but with the metabolism of a horse, made himself a ham sandwich. Halfway through the story, he put it down on his plate and held his belly.

"So, they have the young woman's body with those machine parts," Creed said.

Anna crossed her arms. "Whoever made those may be ahead of my research. I haven't done much with it, aside from studying Gilmore’s work. We're not developing that kind of technology anymore."

Creed knew they were still working on healing units, the same kind they used to enliven his cells after his death and to heal Anna from a gunshot wound. For the time being, they were opting to keep that technology to themselves.

"Time we work on it again," Jonny said.

"And, who do we test it on?" Anna shook her head.

Jonny shrugged. "If we understand how their gadgets operate, we'll have a better chance of stopping them."

Anna bit her lip. "Maybe so."

"When the marshals come knocking, I know who to send," Morgan said. "He worked under Gilmore in our healing department. He should be able to do what you're asking."

"Erving Beyers?" Anna asked, and Morgan nodded.

Creed sighed with relief. "Good."

They wrapped up their conversation and headed outside, where Coconino was drinking from the horse trough while wagging his tail. The sun hung at its midpoint, leaving few shadows, but a breeze came through the forest, bringing relief to the spring heat.

As Morgan headed to the stable to get his horse, Anna tugged on her father's arm.

"Yes?" He turned and she hugged him.

"I'm sorry I was in a mood last night," she said.

He held as tightly as he dared. "I'm not. I should have been there for you all those years ago—"

"No, don't do that! I don't blame you."

Creed frowned but pressed his cheek against the top of her head. Her hair smelled of lavender. "I blame myself."

"I don't want you to."

He said nothing.

Jonny unhitched and mounted Cyclone and looked away.

As Anna pulled back, she kept her gaze on Creed's steely eyes. "What about the girl?"

"It's in the hands of the marshals now. Probably the federal branch. I suspect they took over the investigation this morning. They'll find out who she was and who sent those men after her. I just needed to make sure they don't have that technology."

"I understand," Anna said. "Is there anyone to make burial arrangements?"

Creed hadn't considered that. "I don't imagine she has relatives in San Francisco. If she does, they're likely in slavery, too."

"I'll pay for a plot for her here in Santa Cruz Cemetery."

A warm tingle filled Creed's chest. He knew rich people, and while many blurred together because of his persistent memory loss, he thought most wouldn't have bothered to do anything for the poor woman. But Anna hadn't always been rich, and she had learned hard life lessons. Her kindness made him proud.

"Then I hope they learn her name soon," Creed said. He kissed Anna on the forehead. They said their goodbyes and all left, Creed riding ahead with Johann and Coconino.