Riverton Chronicle
September 21, 1881
Our Sentinel
Our sheriff took immediate steps to quell a possible brawl on the church grounds. He is a man of action. A man who aggressively maintains peace, not one who waits for disruption then attempts to stop it. What kind of sheriff do you want watching over our town? A man who confronts the threat with authority or a man who knows the law written in books but not its practical application? The merchants have a right to expect protection. But filing charges and waiting for the court system to administer justice is a lengthy process. Riverton is growing, but in our haste to be respectable let us not toss aside the very real need of a man who can take charge and settle disputes with fairness and respect.
The Advocate
Hannah read over her third article, printed in the latest Chronicle one more time and now held her fourth and final in her hand, ready to secretly submit it. This was the last one. The election was tomorrow. She wasn’t sure her advocating on Mitch’s behalf had guaranteed him the election. She was aware of the stir they caused if the many overheard conversations were any indication. But she wouldn’t know for certain until tomorrow when the votes were cast. She’d prayed daily over every word she wrote, asking for His blessing on her endeavors. Surely God wanted a good man like Mitch for the town’s sheriff.
She refused to think about what would happen if Greenly was elected. Picking up an envelope, she folded the article and slipped it inside, sealing it and printing THE ADVOCATE in block letters on the front. A glance at the clock told her she was running late. Normally she would slip out of the house early and shove the envelope under the door of the newspaper office for her aunt to find when she came in. She might not make it today.
Quietly she stepped from her room reminding herself to avoid the third step from the bottom on the stairs that creaked.
“I’ll take that in for you.”
Hannah whirled, coming face-to-face with her aunt. Her hand was extended and a knowing smirk softened her features.
She wiggled her fingers. “Hand it over. I’ll save you a trip and you can enjoy the muffins I have waiting in the kitchen.”
“How did you find out? I was so careful.”
“You were. At first. I really didn’t know it was you writing those articles until the third one.” She grinned, slipping the envelope into her skirt pocket. “You got careless and let your emotions show through.”
“No. I was very cautious about that. I rewrote each one several times to make sure it sounded completely professional and objective.”
“And you did a good job. Most people wouldn’t have noticed. But I know you, and I know that somewhere along the way you’ve fallen in love with our sheriff.”
Hannah raised her hand to deny it. “No, I haven’t. He’s the best man for the job, and since he wouldn’t lift a finger to help himself win, the least I could do was remind everyone what he had contributed and how well qualified he was for the position.”
“It’s all right, dear. I understand. I just hope the man appreciates what you’re doing for him.” She patted her hand. “How does he feel about you?”
“He doesn’t. I’m not his type. He wants a nice, docile, complacent woman. I’m certainly not that.”
“That might be what he thinks he wants but not what he needs. Give it time. Maybe after the election, things will change.”
“You won’t tell him, will you? You won’t tell anyone, promise me.”
“Of course, I won’t. But I think it was a fine thing you did for Mitch. You’re right. He is the best man for the job, and if the voters have any sense at all they’ll vote him back in office.”
Hannah spent the rest of the day helping the ladies at the historical society and did her usual stealthy surveillance of the activities in the town. Since she’d started her investigating, she’d managed to find several interesting goings-on and called attention to oversights that she’d printed in the paper under the name J. D. Wright. The initials for her father—Joseph Davis—and the Wright as a play on words.
She saw Mitch ride out of town midmorning causing her spirits to sag. They rarely spoke since the moment in the barn at the social, but at least she could comfort herself with glimpses of him around town. She knew to the minute when he would make his strolls along the streets and made sure she was out and about at the same time. Silly, but it was better than not seeing him at all.
Would he understand what she was trying to do with her articles? He’d quit complaining about them to Polly after the second one was printed. She wasn’t sure if he’d just given up or if he’d come to appreciate them. Worse yet, what if he hadn’t even read them? Perish the thought.
Late in the afternoon Hannah offered to make the deposit at the bank for her aunt. The small lobby was bustling with activity. As she left the teller window, she noticed Mr. Cosgrove and his man Jenkins huddled in the doorway of the banker’s office. A paper passed between them surreptitiously. Casually she moved closer, straining to hear their conversation.
“Are these the latest names? Greenly has to win for our plans to work. I’ve got the list, don’t worry.”
Jenkins nodded. “You know Chester has been spouting off about you stealing his land. He says you changed the dates on his mortgage so you could foreclose.”
“No one is going to listen to that old drunk. You just make sure Greenly has all the votes he needs.”
Hannah kept her face averted until she heard the voices dying off. The men had left the bank and the door to Cosgrove’s office was wide open. If she could find the list of those who’d sold their votes or, better yet, the mortgage papers from Chester’s land, she could prove his land had been stolen from him and maybe Mitch could get it back.
Slipping into the office, she slowly closed the door. Quickly she scanned the papers on the large desk. Next she opened several drawers but didn’t find any list. The large file cabinets weren’t locked, so she selected the one with the letter G and searched for one labeled GOODMAN.
“I knew you were a troublemaker, but I never suspected you were a thief.”
Hannah whirled around, her body hot with humiliation. “I was just looking for—” What could she say? Something to prove you are a crook.
“Whatever you were looking for is unimportant. I think it’s time you were taught a lesson.” He took her arm and steered her to the chair and shoved her down into it. “Jenkins.”
The man appeared and started to ask a question, but Cosgrove halted him. “Get the sheriff. Tell him I found a thief in my bank that he needs to arrest.”
Hannah’s heart raced. “No. I didn’t mean any harm. I was just curious.”
“Hold your explanation for the law.”
Hannah bowed her head. How was she going to explain this to Mitch? He already disliked her. Now he’d have more reasons to keep his distance.