Fifteen

By the time Marty reached the courthouse, her dark curls had popped out on all sides of her head. She took her handkerchief and blotted her face dry. She didn’t dare touch her hair or it would worsen. She smoothed her wet dress and strode inside. There were a lot of people already there, but Judge Vance had yet to show.

Marty stopped to look for her nieces. All the staring eyes made her uncomfortable. She scanned the room for Dani and Davey. Where were they? Did she have the right place? Relief swept over her when she spied Reece. She was glad to see him even after all he had done. His unflappable, confident nature had a way of making Marty feel calmer, less on edge.

He motioned her to the front of the courtroom with him. Before she reached him, she spotted Davey and Dani. They tried to rise and go to her, but two women, one in her late thirties, the other around sixty, reprimanded them and kept them in their seats. In front of the women sat the red-haired William McRae with his attorney. Marty looked away quickly when he scrutinized her, trying to penetrate her soul. His stare resembled the weather—cold and gray.

Marty went over to Reece, hoping he could do as he boasted and get her nieces back. He was her lifeline. At least until she got her nieces back.

The McRaes huddled with their lawyer. They seemed to be discussing Marty. They were as distressed by her presence as she was by theirs. She longed to rush to her nieces. Their eyes beseeched her to take them away. She wanted nothing more than to do just that. She clutched the string of her bag.

❧

Like the rest of the spectators, Reece stared at Marty. He couldn’t help himself. She was stunning. She didn’t realize the stir she caused among the men. She was trying to show the judge she was an ordinary lady. But there was nothing ordinary about Marty Rawlings. Reece noticed the new dress. She certainly hadn’t brought it with her from Montana. That must have been what she bought yesterday.

Her hair was pulled up in a tidy bun on top of her cute head. Loose curls framed her face and lay at the nape of her neck. She was the picture of femininity. No one would guess otherwise, except for the masculine stride she tried to hide.

Reece knew what she was up to, at least in part. She wanted the judge and everyone else to think she was an ordinary, helpless lady. They would be unsuspecting when she sprung her trap. She was up to something, of that he was sure. He didn’t know what exactly, other than that the end result would be her leaving town in a hurry with her nieces.

He noticed her working the handle of her reticule between her hands. Oh, no. She hadn’t brought her derringer, he hoped. He prayed she wasn’t planning on holding them all at the end of her gun and taking the girls. It would never work. Everyone would know she would have only one shot. She wouldn’t be that stupid, would she?

No, but she might be that desperate.

He reached over and grabbed her bag.

Marty looked up at him startled.

He pulled it from her grasp. “I’ll hold onto this for you.”

❧

Marty started, but didn’t protest. She knew now wasn’t the time or place. She was almost thankful he had taken the temptation from her reach.

“I assume since you came alone, I am to be your attorney.” Amusement twinkled in his warm brown eyes.

Marty rolled her eyes, but didn’t dignify his comment with a response. Reece smiled.

An elegant young woman behind Reece tapped him on the shoulder. “I have never known you to be so rude, Reece dear. Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

Marty opened her eyes wider. Reece dear?

Reece forced a smile and turned stiffly to the woman. “Gina. This is Miss Martha Rawlings, Daniella and Daphne’s aunt.” He motioned toward Marty. He turned to Marty and continued, “Marty, this is Miss Gina Sadder,” motioning toward the woman.

“It’s nice to meet you. Marty, is it?” The woman smiled a counterfeit smile.

Marty got the distinct impression she meant the opposite. Judge Vance’s arrival spared her from responding.

The judge was annoyed with the complication Marty’s presence caused. In order not to show his favoritism and tip his hand, he had to hear both sides of what was supposed to be a quick hearing. The McRaes’ lawyer played on the fact that these darling girls had been cruelly withheld from a family that loved them. To deny a grandmother from seeing her only grandchildren was heartless.

Reece stood up. “I will speak on behalf of the Rawlings family.” He straightened the front of his coat. “There was no formal inquisition into the other family. Assumptions were made on little or no information. Very little was known about them. We cannot presume they are bad people simply because we don’t know them.” He continued extolling the virtues of both Marty’s family and Montana Territory.

By the time he concluded, you would have thought the Rawlings were royalty and Montana a glorious kingdom. Marty felt proud of herself and of Reece. She had experienced his competence firsthand. He could make anyone sound wonderful. She had heard the importance of speaking well. Reece was living proof. She could see for the first time the power of the right words.

The judge took a short break to figure out how to rule in favor of his bribe and not show blatant favoritism.

The courtroom was silent as Judge Vance returned, seated himself, and looked from the McRaes to Marty and back again. He cleared his throat. “I have come to a decision,” he said loud enough for everyone to hear. “It’s unfair for one family to have sole access to the girls without giving the other family time to get to know them. I grant William McRae temporary custody. There will be another hearing in six weeks. At that time I will consider the children’s well-being and make a final judgment.”

Shocked, Marty looked at Reece. How could he smile? He betrayed her with false hope. The weasel.

Reece rested his hand on her forearm. “Don’t look so worried. This is the best we could have hoped for under the circumstances,” Reece whispered. “Now we have time to prepare properly. We will win in six weeks.”

Marty’s mind raced. Her nieces would be in the hands of William McRae for six weeks! She had to do something and abruptly stood.

Reece took hold of her arm. “Marty, sit down.”

She pulled her arm free. “May I say something, Sir?” she said to the judge.

Reece stood next to her and whispered sideways, “Address him as Your Honor. And don’t be insolent.”

Judge Vance reluctantly agreed.

“Your Honor,” Marty said, unsure what to say next. “My nieces are frightened. How could you possibly think they would be better off with strangers?”

“Watch what you say,” Reece said through gritted teeth.

She glanced up at him, then back at the judge. “What I mean is, they have traveled a long way and are in a strange place surrounded by people they don’t know.” Marty spoke slowly, choosing her words with care. “Any nine year old would be a little frightened. If they could be with me, they wouldn’t be so scared.” And we could leave town the minute no one is looking.

“What is it you want?” The judge sounded irritated.

My nieces.

“What Miss Rawlings is proposing,” Reece jumped in, “is to accompany her nieces to the McRaes’ residence to help Daniella and Daphne adjust to their new surroundings. With Miss Rawlings there to help in the adjustment period, the girls would fare much better than without her.” Reece saw the judge look over to the McRaes, so he quickly continued. “After all, we all want what is best for the girls. They must be first and foremost in our minds. What could be better than someone familiar to help them in this unusual transition?”

Reece had gracefully backed the judge into a corner, and the judge conceded. The McRaes were livid. Not only had they not received permanent custody and access to the money, but now they would have the enemy in their camp.

While Marty told Dani and Davey she would join them later at the McRaes’, Reece sent for his buggy. Marty and Reece walked out of the courthouse together. Gina Sadder waited outside under an umbrella held by her carriage driver.

“I’ll take you by your hotel first to pick up your things,” Reece said, “before I drop you off at the McRaes’. I know you’re anxious to be with your nieces.”

“I can find my own way, but Miss Sadder looks lost without you.” Marty pointed at the woman standing beside an ornate carriage.

“Marty, be nice,” Reece warned. “It won’t help your cause to go ruffling Miss Sadder’s feathers.”

“What is that supposed to mean? She’s a bird or something? Maybe a turkey? I know, a vulture,” Marty said with a smart-alecky smile.

“She is first cousin to Dora McRae, William’s wife.” Marty looked up at him sharply. “The Sadder side of the family has more wealth and power than the McRaes.” As they approached Gina Sadder, Reece lowered his voice. “And I am escorting you to the McRaes’.”

Marty had an immediate dislike for this woman. She figured it would be easier to wrestle a grizzly than to say anything nice to her, so she chose to keep her trap shut, which she found almost as difficult.

The polite conversation between Reece and this woman droned. Marty wondered how people could talk so much and say absolutely nothing. When Marty’s patience had been pushed beyond its limit and she was about to interrupt, Reece informed Miss Sadder they must go.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Rawlings.” Gina forced a smile.

Marty forced her own quick smile, turned, and walked away.

“Good day, Miss Sadder.” Reece caught up to Marty in a couple of strides. “That was rude, Marty.”

Marty stopped and looked him square in the face. “I don’t care.” She walked on.

“You’ll care if she decides to stir the fire.”