Ten minutes later, all the important guests from the front row of the opera house surveyed Will’s suite. Simon, Mrs. Foster and Mr. Rumsford represented the hotel staff.
All of Will’s rooms had been torn apart. Furniture was upturned, curtains ripped off the walls and cushions split. Stuffing and broken table legs littered the floor. Tomasina knelt and touched the pieces of a broken inkwell. She glanced at Will to gauge his reaction. He was shuttered off, and she couldn’t read his expression. A sure sign he was upset. Will went ice-cold when angry.
“Who did this?” Leah lamented, clapping her hand over her mouth. “Why?”
Quincy Davis appeared in the doorway. “The money. After the council meeting, Will collected thousands of dollars of investments for Gideon Kendricks. Whoever ransacked the suite was after that money, mark my words.”
Daniel set his mouth in a grim line. “Did they succeed?”
“No.” Will shook his head. “The safe is located behind the desk in the lobby.”
Mr. Rumsford straightened his collar. “The desk was manned the whole evening. No one touched anything.”
A collective sigh of relief circled the room.
“How did the Murdochs get into the hotel without someone seeing them?”
“They didn’t.” Old Horace elbowed his way into the room. “I saw who done this. It was that drover. It was James Johnson.”
Tomasina gasped. “No! James wouldn’t do something like this. He’s not a thief.”
“I saw him with my own two eyes. He was walking out of the hotel not ten minutes before the alarm was sounded.”
She liked Horace; there was no reason for him to lie. Yet she didn’t trust his observation. The townspeople were always blaming the drovers. They’d become a convenient excuse whenever a crime was committed in town. The people of Cowboy Creek turned a blind eye to everyone else.
Quincy Jones replaced his hat. “I’ll track him down.”
Panic shot through Tomasina.
She grasped Will’s sleeve. “You can’t let them do this. James is putting together a crew. We’re leaving for Colorado tomorrow. Why would he rob the hotel tonight?”
“Tomorrow?” Betrayal flickered in his dark eyes. “Did you plan on saying anything?”
“Yes. Tonight. I would have...” Her voice trailed off.
She’d been putting off the conversation. There was no use making excuses for herself.
“Round up James Johnson,” Will ordered. “Since we have a witness, we have to question him.”
The room cleared, leaving Noah, Will and Tomasina. Daniel had taken Leah home to rest, planning to return once they’d captured James.
Noah shook his head. “This is bad. People are furious with the Murdochs. They’re tired of living in fear. If we’re not careful, they’ll lynch that drover.”
Tomasina’s hand flew to her throat. “They can’t hang James.”
“Quincy Davis won’t let him hang.” Will placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll find out the truth.”
“I know James. He didn’t do this.”
She’d never been more certain of anything in her life. James was many things, but he wasn’t a thief. If a tiny thread of doubt lingered, she shoved those feelings aside. His insistence on leaving for Colorado immediately could be explained away for any number of reasons. Whatever James was running from, he wasn’t running from this crime.
“I appreciate your faith in him, Tomasina,” Will said, “but we have a witness. Sheriff Davis will investigate all the leads.”
“You have someone who saw James leaving the hotel.” She snorted. “That’s not a crime. Every time something goes wrong around here, you folks are awful quick to blame the drovers. They’re not all bad, you know.”
“Sheriff Davis is following up on the information he’s been given. Why was James here in the first place? Unless he was visiting you.” Will searched her face. “If you were leaving together tomorrow, did he come to see you?”
“No.” There was no use lying. The truth would come out sooner or later. “We spoke yesterday. He knew I’d be at the opera house.” She snapped her fingers. “Unless he was leaving a message for me. He could have been, you know.”
She clung to the glimmer of hope. With her rehearsals at the opera house, there’d been no time for planning.
“We’ll ask him.”
He clearly didn’t believe her, and her heart sank. “What happens now?”
“The sheriff will bring him in for questioning. As long as he has a reasonable explanation for his whereabouts, we’ll let him go.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“Then James is in a lot of trouble.” Will’s tone was inflexible. “We need to know the truth.”
Was a fair trial even possible? The drovers were easy scapegoats in the community. Not to mention she feared James had secrets. Secrets that might land him in even bigger trouble.
She reached the door, but Will caught her arm.
“Tomasina, trust me.” His gaze flickered to where Noah stood, and he lowered his voice. “As long as James is innocent, he has nothing to fear.”
“He’s all I have left, don’t you see?” Panic threatened to choke her. “He’s all I have.”
“You have me.”
Her vision wavered. “I have to go.”
He released her, and she dashed from the room. They were too different. He was a Northerner, she was a Southerner. He was bringing civilization West, and she was part of the old ways. He saw the drovers as a threat, she saw them as family.
She took the stairs two at a time and slammed into her room. At the sudden interruption, Hannah yelped.
Tomasina started. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were here.”
Hannah cradled Ava against her shoulder. “I was watching the baby. How was the show? What’s wrong?”
Tomasina yanked at the pins holding her hat in place. She caught her reflection in the looking glass. Her costume was disheveled. She wasn’t Texas Tom anymore.
“Someone robbed Will’s suite. They were after the investment money Will collected for Gideon Kendricks.”
The other girl’s face paled. “When?”
“Just now.” Tomasina paced the floor. “And that’s not the worst of it. They think James Johnson was involved.”
Hannah backed away. “I don’t understand. Why do they think James is responsible?”
“Old Horace saw him leaving the hotel. The whole town is up in arms. There’s been trouble before. Everyone is on edge. Unless James has a good reason for being here, he’s in real hot water.”
Tomasina rummaged through her wardrobe and then stood back. Did she wear her dress? Or did she wear her drover’s clothing? If she wasn’t Texas Tom any longer, then who was she?
She snatched the green calico. What did it matter what she wore? A man’s life hung in the balance, and here she was fretting over her wardrobe.
Hannah set Ava in her bassinet. “I saw you packed. Are you leaving?”
“Yes. No. I think so.” She tossed her discarded costume on the bed. “James found us a job in Colorado. He’s put a crew together. We were supposed to leave tomorrow.”
Wrapping her arms around her middle, Hannah stared out the window overlooking Eden Street. “When did you decide to leave?”
“Yesterday. Everything happened so fast. With the show at the opera house, I didn’t have time to tell you.” Tomasina tugged the dress over her head and shimmied the material into place. “James wanted to leave quickly. That’s why I’m worried about him. I don’t believe he’s responsible for the robbery, but I think he’s keeping secrets. If he isn’t careful, his secrets will get him killed. These boys aren’t fooling. They’re out for blood.”
Hannah pressed her fingers against the window. “What are you going to do?”
“Whatever I can. James is in trouble, and there’s no one else who can help him.”
“Can you help him?” Hannah asked without turning.
“I don’t know.”
To the law in this town, she was just another drover. Tomasina forced down her rising panic.
Her pa would expect her to stand by James. No matter what he’d done. No matter who he’d crossed. They were family.
She’d fight for James, even if that meant fighting Will Canfield.
* * *
Will watched the proceedings with a jaundiced eye. James had slouched in a chair set behind the table, one arm slung over the back, his expression insolent. The air in the room was charged. Too many weeks living beneath constant fear of the Murdochs had stretched the men taut. They wanted someone to blame, and James was sitting in front of them, refusing to defend himself.
The sheriff and his deputies had picked up the drover on the outskirts of town. He’d been packed and ready to flee. Thus far, he’d refused to answer their questions. His lack of cooperation only made him appear more culpable.
Daniel propped his hip on the table. “It’s an easy question, James. All we want is the truth. Why were you visiting the Cattleman Hotel this evening?”
“I wasn’t,” he replied sullenly.
“More than one person saw you. Mr. Rumsford witnessed you crossing the lobby and taking the stairs. Horace saw you leaving the building. We know you were at the hotel this evening. All we want to know is why.”
“You saw me in the hotel. That gives you the right to arrest me? You think I did something, prove it.”
“You’re not under arrest, James. Not yet. This is an informal questioning. Miss Stone has vouched for you, which is why we’re at the hotel and not having this conversation in the jail. Is Miss Stone right in defending you?”
Tomasina scooted closer. “Just tell them the truth, James. Don’t make this worse.”
He looked away. “This has nothing to do with you, Tom.”
The hurt flickering in Tomasina’s eyes pained Will. She’d staked her reputation on her fellow drover, and he feared her loyalty was misplaced. James was guilty of something. Everyone in the room sensed his duplicity.
Tomasina faced the deputies. “James has a point. He visited the hotel, and he walked down the street. You can’t convict someone for that.”
“Then why won’t he talk?” Deputy Watson demanded. “Why won’t he tell us what he was doing?”
“Why must he prove he’s innocent?” Tomasina half stood from her chair beside the prisoner. “If you can’t prove he’s guilty then let him go.”
Sheriff Davis stepped forward. “If you’re not going to talk, I’m taking you to jail.”
James reared back. “You’re not taking me to jail.”
A flicker of apprehension snaked through Will. They were balanced on the edge of a precipice. Tensions ran high, and Quincy’s control of the room could slip at any moment.
“You gotta understand, boy.” The sheriff held out his hand. “It’s for your own safety, son. There are folks in this town who are tired of being afraid. Unless you’re willing to give us some answers, I have to take you in.”
“Wait!” a voice called.
The room grew silent, and everyone turned toward the door.
Hannah appeared, Ava in her arms.
Will moved to block her entrance. “Hannah, you shouldn’t be here.”
“No. I have to be here.” She straightened and threw back her shoulders. “I’m the reason James was at the hotel. He was visiting me.”
James lunged to his feet, and Quincy grabbed him, forcing the drover back into his seat.
“Don’t say anything, Hannah!” James shouted. “Go back upstairs.”
Tomasina glanced between the two, understanding flitting across her expressive face.
Ava fussed and cried.
“Don’t excite yourself.” Will put his hands gently on Hannah’s shoulders. “Why don’t you let me hold Ava?”
The poor girl was clearly hysterical, and he feared she’d hurt the baby.
She shook off his hold. “No! I have to say this. Ava is mine. She’s my daughter.”
Will dropped his arms and gaped. All of Hannah’s odd behavior suddenly made perfect sense. Her atrocious clothing when she’d arrived on the bride train had been camouflage for her condition. The baby had arrived within weeks of her arrival. The girl’s wan appearance and continued isolation had been due to Ava’s arrival. Of course she’d been eager to assist Will with the baby.
A collective gasp went up from the onlookers before the room went eerily silent once more. Curious gazes flickered between James and Hannah. No one spoke, no one moved. It was as though everyone in the room had taken a collective breath.
James collapsed into his chair and rubbed his forehead. “Hannah, you don’t have to do this. I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can take care of yourself. You’re selfish, and you don’t deserve my help. But Ava is helpless. She’s my baby. She’s our baby.” Her voice quivered with emotion. “If you don’t tell the truth for once, someone else will raise her. I’m not letting that happen. I love you, but I’m through making excuses for you.”
Spurred into action, Will led the overwrought young woman into a chair.
“Sit.” He motioned for Simon. “Fetch Miss Taggart some tea.”
His eyes wide, the boy nodded.
Sheriff Davis motioned to the rest of the men. The deputies and the others filed out of the room, their shocked gazes lingering over the couple.
Noah paused before Will. “Well that explains why James was at the hotel, all right. What now?”
“Fetch Reverend Taggart. Hannah shouldn’t be alone with this.”
Noah jerked his head in a nod.
Once the room had cleared, Will closed the double doors of the ballroom.
Tomasina had remained.
She stared at James in horror. “What have you done? When did this happen?”
James rolled his eyes. “Ten months ago, give or take.”
Tomasina stood quickly, tipping her chair. “Save your jokes. You’re a disgrace.”
Will felt her pain and betrayal as though it was her own. Hannah had become her friend. She’d defended James. He was her escape from Cowboy Creek. Will knew that Tomasina valued loyalty above all other traits, and James had betrayed that loyalty.
With tears in her eyes Hannah rocked the baby in her arms. “We met in Harper, Kansas. I was on a mission trip. I’d never traveled alone before. James was handsome and charming. I’d never laid eyes on anyone like him before. He made me feel special. Worthy. We talked about the future. We had plans. I thought we were getting married. I thought he loved me. Truly I did.” Her watery gaze appealed to the small audience. “He left before I could tell him I was expecting.”
Holding her hands over her mouth, Tomasina gasped. “James. How could you?”
“I didn’t know,” James cried, his voice strangled. “I didn’t know about the baby until Cowboy Creek. I didn’t even know Hannah would be here.”
“She has a name.” Hannah leaped from her chair and loomed over James, fiery color suffusing her pale face. “Her name is Ava. She’s your daughter!”
Will wrapped one arm around the girl’s trembling shoulders and led her back to her chair. “It’s all right, Hannah.”
Simon arrived with tea. He set the tray on the table and quietly backed out of the room. Agitated, the young woman clutched Ava against her chest.
Tomasina paced in front of James, her expression fierce. “Is this why you’ve been difficult since we left Harper? I’m not blind to who you are, but I expected better of you. Someone like Hannah deserved so much more. You should be ashamed of yourself. Be a man for once in your life. Take responsibility for your actions.”
James clutched his head in his hands. “I’m a drover. How am I supposed to support a family?”
The door swung open once more, and Noah appeared with Reverend Taggart.
His expression bewildered, he approached Hannah.
Clearly panicked, the girl backed away from her father. “He doesn’t know.”
Noah rubbed the back of his neck at the point where his scars disappeared beneath his shirt collar. “Miss Taggart, your father is worried about you. Nothing more.”
Tears streamed down her face. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Ava is my baby. She’s James’s daughter.”
The reverend collapsed onto a chair.
Hannah’s father was silent and bewildered. His gaze shifted around the room, skittering over Ava, as though he didn’t know where to look or what to say.
A rush of emotion flowed through Will. He recalled the first time he’d held little Ava. He knew what he needed to do.
He gently took the infant from Hannah. “Why don’t you let the reverend hold the baby?”
She reluctantly handed over Ava. Will crossed the distance and presented the reverend with his grandchild. Reverend Taggart shook his head then leaned away.
Recalling how Leah had forced the issue on him weeks ago, Will pressed closer. “Meet your granddaughter, Reverend Taggart.”
Ava’s mouth worked, and her hands curled into fists atop the knitted blanket.
The reverend blinked back tears, and Will felt his own eyes burn.
James watched the meeting, his own expression unreadable.
Tomasina approached Will and Noah. “Someone should fetch Leah. This poor girl had a baby four weeks back, and she’s had absolutely no care. No support. She’s been hiding her condition from everyone for months.”
Noah glanced at the new mother. “What about Doc Fletcher?”
“Let’s let Leah decide,” Tomasina said. “Hannah needs the support of another woman right now. Someone who understands what she’s been through.”
“Understood.” Noah replaced his hat. “I’ll fetch Leah, and if you don’t need anything else, I’ll be heading home after this.”
“We need to talk,” Will said. “This isn’t the time or the place, but we need to talk. Soon.”
A crease appeared between Noah’s eyes. “About what?”
Will hesitated. “It’s a long story. Daniel and I will come by your place the day after tomorrow.”
“You aren’t building another opera house, are you?”
Will’s laugh was devoid of humor. “Nothing like that. The day after tomorrow. Before lunch.”
“Sure.”
“Good.” Finally broaching the subject assuaged some of his guilt. “See you then.”
Noah glanced at the reverend and the baby before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
The reverend held out his index finger, and Ava wrapped her tiny fingers around his. He blinked rapidly. “She’s beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.”
Hannah sniffled. “She is.”
Reverend Taggart leaned forward and wrapped one arm around his daughter’s shoulder, pulling her into an awkward embrace over Ava. “You poor dear. You’ve been carrying this burden all alone.”
Hannah leaned back and wiped at her eyes. “I’m fine. Truly. Telling people feels good. I’m so relieved, I feel a thousand pounds lighter.” She turned to Will. “I’m sorry I came here under false pretenses. I know you were expecting a bride.”
“None of that matters, Hannah. This is your home, and we’re all here to help you.”
The reverend had yet to look at James.
Will cleared his throat. Only one question troubled him. “Why did you leave her with me?”
“I didn’t mean to.” Hannah flashed an abashed smile. “James said he was staying at the hotel, in room 311.”
James made a sound. “I was staying at a different hotel. The Drover’s Place, room 113.”
“I get my numbers mixed up.”
Will recalled how Hannah tended to be early or late when caring for Ava. She obviously mixed up her numbers quite often. A soldier beneath his command had had a similar affliction.
“Once you realized your mistake,” Will said, “you were stuck. So you offered to help.”
“To be near Ava. I was hoping... I was hoping for time. To work out an arrangement with James. He didn’t know about the baby right away. I wanted him with me because he loved me, not because of Ava. Not out of responsibility.”
The drover had remained relatively silent since the arrival of the reverend. Will stepped toward him, and Tomasina blocked his path.
She punched a fist into her opposite hand. “I’ll speak with James.”
Aware of their audience, Will grasped her shoulders and pressed his forehead against hers. “Don’t kill him.”
“No promises.”
He chuckled. “Never change, Tomasina Stone. Promise you’ll never change.”
Her hand fluttered against his chest. “That’s the whole problem, though, isn’t it?”
Before he could call her back, she’d approached James. Her melancholic expression had given him pause. Didn’t she realize he loved her just the way she was?
He felt as though he’d been bushwhacked. His surroundings melted away, and an overwhelming sense of clarity overcame him.
He couldn’t let her go, not now. Not ever.
He loved her.