Two mornings later, Luther Markin walked out of Annabella’s Saloon. He squinted at the sunlight beating down on the dusty street. He flexed his shoulders and stretched his full six feet. It had been a good two days and he didn’t regret a minute of it. Sure, he’d have to travel some miles to catch up with the wagon train, but that would be no problem. His horse was strong and so was he. Ask any whore in this place. I’ve had them all in the last two days. They’ll tell anyone what a man I am, he thought as he put his hat on his head. And when I catch up with her, Fiona Webb is going to say the same thing.
Luther stepped off the plank sidewalk and headed for the hotel where he’d met Larson and his wife earlier. The food on their plate had looked awfully good and he needed to get a good breakfast under his belt. The grub at the saloon was good enough at the time, but now he needed a substantial meal. He had an important job to do and it wouldn’t be easy unless he had a sharp and clear mind.
He planned to eat then go to the general store and lay in some supplies. He might have to fix a few meals before he got hold of Fiona. Then she could do the cooking. He grinned as he thought of the scrawny kid. He decided it might be fun to watch him stirring beans while he cuddled nearby with the aunt. His thought changed. Wonder if she’ll fight me like her sister-in-law did. Probably not. I bet she’s gonna like it. I know I will. Too bad I had to kill Marian. She’d had a right fancy little body and I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t up to Fiona’s.
Pushing the thoughts away, he entered the hotel dining room. It wasn’t crowded and Luther found a seat at a small table near the door. The service was fast. In a few minutes he was eating eggs, steak, potatoes, and biscuits and drinking big mugs of coffee. He was so into his meal when two men who came in and sat at the table next to him. It was only after they ordered their food and began a conversation in their eastern accent that Luther bothered to listen in.
“Why are you dragging your feet, Wade Fillmore? We need to get sweet little Rose back. I can’t stand the thoughts of him putting his hands on her. She deserves a good man who loves her.”
“I know she does. I intend to get her back and find her the right husband, but I don’t want to go off in the wrong direction. We need to be sure of which way they ran then we’ll know we’re on the right track.”
“The desk clerk said she and Larson stayed here for several days and ate here all the time. What more information do you need?”
Luther glanced at the pair and saw the last speaker was a heavyset man with tight checked pants, a yellow silk shirt, and brocade vest which his ample stomach hung out from under. His pudgy hand was reaching for a biscuit. Luther almost laughed at the man’s appearance, but thought better of it.
“Don’t worry, Leo. We’ll find them. You don’t think I’ll let a nobody like Larson get away with what he’s done, do you?” This man was taller, more slender, and had a neat salt and pepper beard which matched his salt and pepper hair. He was dressed in a dark brown suit.
“Do you really think he’s got her pregnant, Wade?”
“That’s what she said in her last letter. I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“Wade Fillmore, do you want your first grandson to be sired by the likes of Clint Larson?”
“Of course not, Leo, but before I can do anything about it, I have to find them and see if Rose is all right.”
“I think the hotel clerk is right about them leaving with the wagon train.”
“It seems like that might be a case, but I can’t help hoping the fool wouldn’t take Rose on a wagon train, especially if she’s pregnant.”
“If he did, how are we going to get her back?”
Before the man called Wade Fillmore could answer, Luther pushed back his empty plate and said, “Excuse me, gentlemen.”
“How can we help you?” Wade eyed the big burly man.
“I couldn’t help hearing you say something about Clint Larson.”
“So, what’s it to you?” the fat man said.
“It’s more than you think.” Luther picked up his coffee mug and eyed the men. “I have a score to settle with Clint Larson myself.”
“Oh,” Fillmore said as both men gave Luther an interested look.
“Damn right, I do.” Luther stood and whirled his chair around to join the two men without being invited. “Names Luther Markin,” he said as way of introduction, “and Larson stole something from me.”
“I’m Wade Fillmore and this is my business partner, Leo Carver.” He took Luther’s offered hand. “What did Larson take of yours, Mr. Markin?”
“He’s hiding some people who belong with me.”
Fillmore raised an eyebrow. “It so happens, he’s hiding my daughter from me.”
“She’s a real pretty little thing. Black silky hair and lovely green eyes. She’s much too refined for the likes of him.” Leo Carver stuck out his chest, but didn’t offer his hand. “She’s more our kind of people.”
“Is she related to you?”
“No, Mr. Markin, but she’s as close as if she were my own daughter and I want to see her happily back in Baltimore where she will be with her own kind. Not with some roughneck cowboy who has taken advantage of her purity.”
Luther looked at the fat man and wondered how long the girl would keep her purity around him. There was no mistaking the lust in his eyes. Her father might not know it, but this man wanted the woman back for his own purposes, not to reunite her with her family. Though it would be easy to expose this to the girl’s father, Luther chose not to. After all, it was none of his business what the man did with Fillmore’s daughter. He was interested in Fiona Webb and her nephew, not some snooty Baltimore business man’s offspring.
He took a deep breath. “I saw Larson and a pretty little black headed woman having a meal in this very dining room a few days ago. He told me she was his wife. Was he lying?”
“My daughter tells me they’re married, but I didn’t attend the nuptials so I’m not sure how legal it is.”
“Well, for your sake I hope they’re married because she’s sure about to make you a grandpa.”
“So she is pregnant!” Leo gasped.
“I told you she said they were going to have a baby, Leo,” Wade said to him then turned back to Luther. “Did my daughter look all right? Was she sickly or anything?”
“Nah. She looked healthy as any woman with a belly full of baby looks.”
“For heavens sake, you don’t have to be so crude.” Leo wiped his mouth delicately with the napkin.
“Don’t insult the man, Leo. Mr. Markin may know where Larson took Rose.”
“I sure do. They headed out with the wagon train three days ago.”
“The fool!” Wade lost his temper. “He should’ve known better than to take a pregnant woman on such a trip. This town is primitive enough. I can’t believe he’d subject Rose to the rigors of a wagon train.”
“We’ve got to get her back, Wade. Shouldn’t we call the sheriff to go after her?” Leo was twiddling his hands.
“Wouldn’t do you any good.” They looked at Luther and he went on, saying, “Your daughter’s a married woman. You don’t think the sheriff’s going to ride after the wagon train and demand she leave her husband, do you?”
“Why not?” Leo blurted.
“Be sensible, Leo. The man’s right. We have to go after the train ourselves and convince her to come back home.”
“From the way she was looking at Larson that day, I’d say it’s going to take a lot of convincing.” Luther had a sneer on his face.
“She must be made to see reason,” Wade said. “Her mother and sisters are beside themselves with grief. They miss her so. She’s the not the kind of woman to live in the wilderness like this. She needs the security and love only her family can give her.”
Luther lifted an eyebrow. “So, she has a sister?”
“Yes. She has two of them.”
“If I’m not being too forward, what are their names?”
“Why do you need to know?” Leo eyed him.
“Because there’s a woman they call Sarah who’s traveling with them. She claims to be your daughter’s sister.”
“I don’t know who this woman could be, but let me assure you it’s not either of my daughters. Susanne and Edith are both safe at home in Baltimore.”
Luther nodded. “That’s what I thought. I’m sure the woman with them is the woman I’m looking for.”
“Then, Mr. Markin, I think you’re right. We have a common problem. Let’s have another cup of coffee and discuss what we can do about it.”
“I know what I’m going to do about it.” Leo pushed his chair back. “I’m going to rent a buggy and go after Rose. I don’t intend to let her get any further away with that swine.”
Luther snorted. “That swine, as you call him, is six-foot tall and carries a six-shooter on his hip he could stop a buffalo with. You’d better know what you’re doing before you go running after him. It wouldn’t do your friend’s daughter any good if the man blows your head off.”
“He’s right, Leo. Sit down.” The waitress brought a pot of coffee to them and he paused until she walked away. “Let’s hear what Mr. Markin has to say. I want to make this as easy on Rose as I can, but rest assured, I intend to get her back home as soon as possible.”
* * * *
The wagon train stopped by a creek for their evening camp. Fiona hung the cooking kettle over the fire pit Clint built. He and Joey went into the woods in search of more firewood. Wood was still available in this area, but Clint told them they would soon be cooking over buffalo chips.
When Rose turned up her nose, he explained the dried buffalo dung made a good fire over which many settlers before them had cooked. She sighed and took a seat on the upturned bucket Fiona sat down for her.
“I should be helping you,” Rose muttered. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a complainer today.”
“There’s not much to do. I’ll make some cornbread to go with the stew. Besides, you haven’t complained much at all. Lord knows if I was in your condition, I’d probably be a mess.”
Rose smiled. “You’re an understanding woman, Fiona. I guess you know how it is to be big and pregnant.”
Fiona ducked her head and said nothing. Rose went on almost in a whisper. “Joey isn’t your son, is he Fiona?”
Fiona dropped the pot she had in her hand. “What makes you think that?”
“First of all, Joey slips up every once in a while and starts to call you something besides Ma. Second, you always try to cover his mistakes and it shows in your eyes you’re scared someone will figure out the real relationship between you and Joey.”
“Rose, let me assure you...”
“You can trust me, Fiona. You’ve kept my secret. I’ll keep yours. I’ll not say a word to anyone, but it might make it easier if I knew the real reason you’re so hell bent on getting away with Joey.”
Fiona was about to tell Rose the truth when Mattie Watkins walked up. “Hello, ladies.”
They both nodded to Mattie. “What’s going on with you and your family, Mattie?” Fiona smiled at her.
“The girls are cooking supper so I thought I’d mosey over here and check on you two. How are you feeling, Rose?”
“I’m doing all right. My back is hurting a little, but I figure the wagon hits about every hole on the Oregon Trail. I’m sure yours is sore, too.”
“Got to admit, it ain’t like sleeping on a feather bed, but I’m making it better than anybody thought I would. I’m a tough old bird.”
“You sure are.” Fiona smiled at her. “You’re good at driving those mules, too. Rufus told me you could handle them as well as he can.”
“I saw you and Rufus walking along in a deep conversation today.” She chuckled. “Got to warn you, Fiona. He ain’t worth trying to take away from me. No other woman in the world would take the junk I do off of him.”
Fiona laughed. “I don’t think any woman in the world could take him away from you, Mattie. Rufus is in love with his wife.”
She frowned. “What’s he been lying about now?”
“I’m sure it wasn’t a lie. He told me about this beautiful Savannah socialite who defied her parents and ran away with, as he put it, a no good cowboy. Said the woman had never complained about the rough life and had given him two beautiful daughters and had even learned to talk like a farmer’s wife.”
Mattie almost blushed. “My family wasn’t so social. Turned out my poppa made most of his money swindling his bank depositors. I was glad Rufus and me had already moved away and settled in Louisiana when it all came out.” She grinned. “My husband might not be the richest man in the world, but he is close to the most honest. He’d never swindle anybody.”
“Clint would give him a run for that title,” Rose said.
“What title am I after?” Clint walked up with an armload of wood. Joey followed him with almost as much in his arms.
“I said you’re an honest man.”
He grinned. “I try to be.” He dumped the wood beside the cooking pot and then leaned over and kissed Rose’s cheek.
Mattie looked at the boy. “Joey, I came to see if your Ma would let you come sleep with Benny tonight. We decided we’re far enough away from Independence and thought it would be a good time.”
“I don’t know if Joey should. He’s been sleeping in the tent...”
“Ah, Ma. Please let me. I want to sleep under the wagon with Benny.” He piled his wood on the top of what Clint had dropped.
“I’ll be out here tonight, Fiona. I’m on guard duty. I’ll keep an eye on the boys.” Clint looked at her.
“I guess we’re far enough away from Independence.” She still sounded hesitant.
“Sure you are, honey. If that man was coming after you, he’d have been here by now.” Mattie touched her arm. “Rufus will be checking around, too. It’s his night to go on guard duty about midnight.”
Fiona sighed. “Well, if you both think it’s safe.”
Clint came up beside her and put his hand on her shoulder. “I promise you, I’ll keep a sharp eye on their wagon. Nothing is going to happen to Joey.”
His touch burned as it ran from her shoulder down her arm the same as if she’d brushed it in the fire under the cook pot. She wanted to tell him to hold her and tell her he would always protect her and Joey. Instead she said, “I guess it’ll be all right.”
Joey’s face broke out in a big grin and he let out a whoop. He ran to Fiona and threw his arms around her waist. “Thank you, Ma. Thank you a whole bunch. I love you.”
She touched his light hair and whispered, “I love you, too, Joey. You know I can’t stand the thoughts of anything happening to you.”
“Nothing’s going to happen, Ma. Uncle Clint will be close and I’ll yell for him if old man Markin comes.”
“Oh, Lord. Please don’t let me think about anything like that.”
* * * *
When they climbed into the wagon to sleep, Rose said, “Please don’t worry, Fiona. I’m sure Clint will keep as good an eye on Joey as he does when they’re in the tent.”
“I know he will, Rose. I’m just so afraid of losing Joey.”
“Fiona, with Clint watching out you’re in no danger of losing the boy.” When Fiona said nothing, Rose went on. “As I said earlier, he’s not your son, is he?”
There was a long pause then Fiona finally said, “He’s my nephew.”
“I thought it was something like that. What happened?”
“His father was my brother. I lived with them and I love Joey as much as if he was my own son. I can’t give him up, Rose. I can’t.”
“Well, Fiona, there’s no reason why you’d have to give him up unless his parents took him from you.” She took hold of Fiona’s hand. “Markin isn’t your brother, is he?”
“Oh, Lord no.” Fiona took a deep breath. “My brother and his wife were murdered on their way to town to pay the mortgage on our farm. They never made it and the county took the farm.”
“I’m so sorry, Fiona.”
“It was hard, but I knew Joey and I had to work through our sorrow and make it together. Then Luther Markin threatened to take my nephew away from me to work on his farm. Or that was his excuse. I think he meant to make a slave of Joey. Maybe even sell him. I’ve heard it happens to homeless children sometimes.”
“But Joey isn’t homeless. He has you.”
“In a way we’re both homeless. Luther Markin is an evil man and that’s why we ran away. I’ve been terrified he’d find us and take Joey ever since.”
“Markin couldn’t do a thing, even if he tried. Joey’s your blood kin. The courts would make sure he stayed with you.”
“You don’t understand, Rose. Luther said he’d go to court and swear I was an unfit woman to raise a young boy. He has a lot of influence in our county. He can do most anything he wants and he gets away with it. I had to get away with Joey. I didn’t even know where we were going at first, but when we got to Independence and saw the wagon train, I knew that was the answer. I met Mattie Watson and she told me they wouldn’t allow a single woman to travel with them. Joey and I talked it over and he agreed to pretend to be my son so we could get on this wagon train. You know the story from there because the next day we met you and Clint and with your help we were able to get away from Luther Markin. You were the answer to our prayer.”
“I’m glad you’re away from that horrid man. I’m sure he’d never come this far to steal one little boy.”
“I don’t know, Rose. Luther Markin might do anything he thought he could get away with. I’m sure he’s a thief. He has to be to have the money he always has in his pockets.”
“Do you think he killed your brother and his wife?”
Fiona became stone still. “Oh, my God. I hadn’t thought of such a thing.”
“I’m sorry I brought it up. I’m sure he’s probably not that vicious.”
Fiona closed her eyes. She knew Luther Markin was an evil man, but was he evil enough to kill Jonathan and Marian? For some reason, she thought he might have. Finally she muttered, “I’ll feel better when we’re out of his reach completely.”
Rose yawned. “If you’re not already, I’m sure you will be soon.”
“I hope so.” Fiona turned over to her side. “You’re getting sleepy. Maybe we should try to get some rest. Good-nigh, Rose.”
“Good night.”
Fiona lay awake for a long time. She’d known all along Luther was wicked; it was only now that she began to know how malicious he could be. If he had killed her brother and his wife, there was no way he’d stop until he got his hands on her and Joey. He could be out there in the night watching them right now. He could snatch Joey and no one would ever know what went with the boy.
Oh, Lord, she thought. I’ve got to get out of here. I’ve got to be sure Joey is all right.
She was getting up when Clint’s voice came into the back of the wagon. “Fiona, are you asleep?”
“Is Joey all right?” She almost panicked.
“He’s fine. I’m putting him in the wagon with you and Rose.”
Joey, still half asleep, climbed into the wagon and fell on the mattress beside Rose. He was asleep again as soon as he lay down.
“Clint, what happened? Is it Luther Markin?” Fiona moved to the back of the wagon and stuck her head out.
“We don’t know who it was, Fiona. It could be a robber or anyone. Rufus got a glimpse of a moving horse and rider. We decided the boys needed to be inside. Benny is with his mother and you have Joey. Stanly developed a stomach ache and went back to his parents earlier.” He reached up and touched her cheek. “Now go back to bed. I’ll keep a close watch. Everything will be fine.”
She grabbed his hand. “Thank you, Clint.”
“Sure.” He squeezed her hand. “Now you go back to sleep.” He closed the cover on the wagon.
Fiona crawled back beside Joey. She put her arm around the little boy and said a thankful prayer that Clint was as watchful as he said he’d be. She then spent the next half hour reliving the touch of Clint’s fingertips on her cheek.