Wild Winds Page 16

  After Maggie nodded, Catherine related, “Ben doesn’t care for the type of business Newl’s in. He reminds me of you in many ways; he loves challenges, adventures, and excitement. He likes to travel and hire on for temporary jobs, but he promised Newl he would settle down here one day and probably run a mercantile store or a gun shop; he’s very knowledgeable about weapons and skilled with them. Every time he’s been here, he struck me as a genial and easygoing young man who loves and respects his father and has a good sense of humor; he makes me laugh easily and often, and he helps out around the house with chores. He’s kind and polite to me and to others. Some of the people he’s helped tried to testify in Ben’s favor at his trial, but the judge wouldn’t allow it because he said it was irrelevant to the charges. I like him, Maggie, and he appears trustworthy. On occasion when he’s between odd jobs, Newl gives or sends him money, and Ben insists his father keep a tally of the amount so he can repay him later. If he were robbing people and places, he wouldn’t think of that. Ben just doesn’t strike me as a criminal. And I don’t think he would do anything to hurt and shame his father, or risk going to prison and lose the freedom he loves so dearly.”

  Although some of those descriptive points troubled Maggie, she smiled and said, “Thank you for being honest with me, Mother, and that gives me a better picture of my stepbrother: From what you’ve said and from things I learned, it certainly sounds as if they put the wrong man in prison.”

  “They did, Maggie, surely they did.”

  “I hope so, Mother, and I pray I can prove it soon. I’ll tell you what happened in Yuma and Prescott, then I have some other questions.”

  Catherine was wide-eyed as Maggie related the events in both towns and the information she had uncovered to that point before asking, “Do you know why Frank Moore and Newl really are such fierce enemies? If there’s another reason besides opposing politics, I have to know, because it could provide a reason for Frank framing Ben. Without a stronger and more plausible catalyst, I’m stumped for a motive.” Maggie saw a look of mingled indecision and dismay cross her mother’s face, then watched Catherine glance at the door as if to make certain it was locked.

  Catherine moved closer to her daughter and almost whispered, “What I’m about to tell you, dear, can’t ever be repeated to anyone, including Newl himself, who confided this secret to me.”

  “I swear I won’t reveal this secret, not even to help exonerate Ben.”

  “Before Newl married his first wife,” Catherine disclosed, “she was Frank Moore’s sweetheart. He left Tucson to head northward to seek his fortune; after he succeeded, he was supposed to send for her. Of course, there wasn’t a town or fort there in the fifties, so it was impossible to get mail out of that area. Frank had told her it might take a long time, but she promised to wait for his return or summons. When the town and fort were established in ‘63, Frank gave up his work in the gold fields to go into the lumber business. He used his earnings to build a sawmill, buy freight wagons and teams, and build a home for them. Something happened to the two letters Frank wrote to her that year telling her what he was doing and that he was coming for her before Christmas. But after waiting such a long time and without any word from him, she presumed she had been jilted or Frank had died or been killed. To avoid being a spinster, she turned to Newl. When Frank came to Tucson that winter and learned she’d married and had a son, he thought he’d been the one jilted, so he left without seeing her. I suppose it never occurred to him that he had been gone for years and she hadn’t received his letters; maybe it was a wicked twist of fate that kept them apart. Or maybe Indians and outlaws attacked the carriers and made off with their satchels as often happened. The perils to mail delivery to and from the territorial capital was one of the arguments Newl used to get it moved to Tucson the following year.”

  Maggie nodded, but held silent for her mother to continue.

  “When Ben was a teenager, Newl discovered his wife and Frank were meeting on the sly and she intended to leave him for Frank. In fact, she was carrying Frank’s child.” When Maggie inhaled sharply, Catherine said, “That’s right, dear, she had betrayed her husband and marriage vows. During the preceding year, she had told Newl that her … wifely duties were painful. They hadn’t shared a marriage bed for over seven months, so there was no doubt about whose baby she was carrying. She told Newl she had never loved him or been happy with him and wanted a divorce to marry Frank. Newl was devastated, so he told her to leave. She took off in such a hurry to get to Frank that she didn’t even take her belongings with her, told him she would send for them later. She didn’t get far out of town before she was thrown from her horse and killed. Frank blamed Newl for her death and that of his unborn child, even accused Newl of killing them. Yet, no matter how he felt, Frank didn’t report his foolish suspicions to the authorities because he didn’t want to stain his reputation now that she was gone; you can imagine what a scandal it would have been if it became known he had impregnated and enticed away another man’s wife. We think Frank was punishing Newl for those losses, and punishing Ben for not being his son. He knew Newl wouldn’t expose the real reason in court why they hated each other because Ben doesn’t know the truth about his mother and Newl couldn’t bear to tarnish his son’s memories of her. Since there were two witnesses against Ben and they didn’t appear to have any connection, Newl felt that it wouldn’t help Ben’s case for him to try to discredit Frank by revealing their troubled pasts.”

  “At least I understand their hostilities now,” Maggie said when her mother concluded. “It could be that Frank framed Ben for revenge, or he could be honestly mistaken, and it could be that Frank and the bank owner were in on that robbery.” After reiterating her speculations about the bank door and vault, Maggie added, “But I can’t imagine how I could prove that possibility; and without evidence, I can’t even mention it to the Law. I’m heading for Tombstone in the morning to see if I can find a trail to Barber and Jones.”

  “I’ve heard they’re mean and sly, Maggie, so please be careful.”

  “I will, and I’ve hired a skilled gunslinger as my partner, so you won’t have to worry about my safety. He doesn’t know who I am or what I’ve done or plan to do.” Maggie reminded her about the journalist cover story she was using and how it had worked on a past investigation. “He thinks he’s helping me gather facts for my article and being my bodyguard and tracker. He’s very nice, Mother, you’d like him and trust him, but I can’t afford to introduce you to him and expose our relationship.”

  “But traveling alone with a man, a near stranger, isn’t proper.”

  “Nor is busting somebody out of prison, Mother. I have to do what I think is best. Don’t forget, I’m a trained and experienced professional. This isn’t my first sojourn into peril. I’ll be fine.”

  They heard footsteps on the porch, so Maggie hid in the first-floor bedroom while Catherine opened the door.

  After she heard Newl’s voice, she joined them and returned his smile. He beamed with joy as he embraced Maggie and kissed her cheek.

  “You’ve made me the happiest man alive, my dear girl. It’s good to see you, Maggie. You look wonderful as always, even in that unusual garb.”

  Maggie laughed as she glanced down at her black shirt and pants, and fingered the hair-concealing dark shawl draped around her neck. “This is my sneak-around outfit so I can blend in with the night. I already know Muns and Sayers are dead, but do you have any news on the whereabouts of Barber and Jones?”

  “Your timing is perfect, Maggie. That detective I hired to trace them just told me yesterday by telegram they were in Nogales on Friday and heading for Tombstone. Since I knew you were coming this way, I told him to stay put so he wouldn’t spook them. Using that cover you mentioned to me in Wilcox, not to mention your good looks and elegant manners, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting them to talk freely. Cocky men love to boast and impress other people; they’ll probably be tickled to death to have colorful stories written abo
ut them and their exploits. They’ll never suspect your real identity and motive, and you’ll be safe there. Tombstone is a wild town, but the law’s real strong there. So, tell me what you’ve been doing and how the work is going.”

  Maggie repeated what she’d already told her mother. She watched Newl’s elation and excitement increase by the minute.

  “You did it, my girl; you actually got Ben out of that awful place, and you’re making enormous progress on his behalf. I’m so happy and so proud of you; I couldn’t love you more if you were my own daughter. I knew you were sent from God to help us. I told you Frank lied about Ben. I wouldn’t put it past the bastard—please excuse my foul language, but I wouldn’t put it past that scoundrel to be responsible for the robbery. I tried to convince Frank he was wrong and not to seek revenge on me through my son. I told him he had no reason to bear a grudge against me for our past troubles, because I don’t bear one against him; at least, I didn’t until he framed Ben. I even tried to buy his silence, but he said he had plenty of money and didn’t want any of mine. If he was in on that theft as you suspect, he told the truth for once; but I won’t let him get away with harming my son for revenge or for filling his greedy pockets. I have every confidence you’ll get Ben cleared of these fake charges. And it will be an added bonus if Frank’s unmasked and punished for his foul deeds.”

  “An inside job is only a speculation at this point, Newl,” she reminded him, “so don’t get your hopes up in that direction.” She looked Newl straight in the eye before asking, “Why did you tell me that bank teller might die and Ben might hang?” She noticed he didn’t look uneasy or guilt-riddled.

  “When my detective checked on him, his leg was badly infected and the doctor said he could lose it and his life if gangrene set in; fortunately for him and for us that didn’t happen. But I fibbed a little by not telling you I’d just learned he was better, and I admit it. I’m sorry, Maggie, but I was desperate and scared. Besides, it is true that Ben was in danger of hanging if they pinned other crimes on him, and the Law’s surely trying to do that, as you learned in Prescott. And his life was in danger there at the prison from other inmates, sadistic guards, or sickness from the foul conditions. You’re our only hope, girl, so please don’t lose faith in us now; I’m begging you.”

  “I won’t, if from now on, you tell me anything and everything relevant to helping me clear Ben. And don’t forget our deal: if I can’t succeed in two months, Ben turns himself in while I continue to work on his case. I know you want him safe and free, but the longer he stays on the loose without vindication, the more crimes he may be accused of committing, which will worsen his chances for exoneration or a pardon. There’s always a possibility that Barber and Jones won’t confess their guilt or Ben’s innocence, no matter how charming I am to them. There’s also a possibility they’ll claim Ben was with them; since he was accused, convicted, and imprisoned for that deed, they might allow him to remain a part of it for amusement.”

  “Do anything necessary to obtain the truth, Maggie, please. Find a way to force them to clear my son. I swear to you, Ben wasn’t in Prescott that day and he hasn’t committed any crimes. Ask your mother.”

  “Even if Newl didn’t say Ben was hunting with him,” Catherine said, “I don’t see how he could have gotten from Prescott to here during the time span involved. Please do whatever you can to help him, but don’t endanger yourself.”

  Newl drew Catherine closer to him on the couch and said in a tender voice, “Don’t worry, my beloved wife, Maggie knows what she’s doing or I wouldn’t have asked her to take on this task.”

  “I know, dear, but she’s a woman, a young woman, my only child.”

  “She’s much more than a mere woman, my sweet. She’s discovered and accomplished more in a short time than Ben’s lawyer and my other detective combined did in months.”

  Maggie watched them, as they talked and cuddled as Newl tried to appease his wife’s fears. She was certain her mother loved Newl and trusted-him. Newl was a tough and sometimes vain man, but he appeared to truly love his son and wife. He also seemed to be the good and decent man Catherine believed him to be, but she wondered if he would do or say “anything necessary” to protect them from harm.

  “Did the authorities come to visit and question you after Ben’s escape?” Maggie asked.

  “Yes, within two days. They even watched the house for about a week, then gave up and left town. I made sure they were gone, because I also was having them watched. I haven’t dared to contact him in Sante Fe, and Ben knows it would be foolish to come here or telegraph me. At least he’s out of that hellhole and safe. He’ll stay put like I told him.”

  “I hope so, sir, or he’ll ruin everything we’ve worked on for weeks. If he allows himself to be sighted and recaptured, there’s no way I could rescue him again; they would guard him day and night. He’d never be permitted to go out on work detail again, and he’d probably spend some time in that Dark Cell and in leg irons. I hope he’s smart and obedient.”

  “Don’t worry, Maggie, he knows what’s at stake. He also knows he’s not too big for me to tan his hide if he disobeys me.”

  “I want you to tell your detective to catch the train, to Prescott and see what he can learn about Frank and that bank owner. I need to know about their finances and holdings prior to and following the robbery. If there were any big changes in them, it could provide clues or evidence against them.”

  “That’s a smart idea, my girl, and I’ll put him on it immediately.”

  “Well, for certain there’s no way I can prove the Moores lied in court or persuade them to tell the truth. From what I could tell, Frank Moore detests you with an evil passion. I just don’t understand how a difference in politics could cause such hatred.”

  Newl drew in a slow and deep breath of air and released it swiftly. “I guess I should tell you why he truly despises me and wants me harmed; after all you’ve done and are doing for us, I owe you the whole truth. This is humiliating for me, Maggie, so please bear with me while I explain.”

  She listened to him disclose what her mother had told her earlier, but pretended she was hearing it for the first time. She paid close attention to Newl’s expression and tone, to find both convincingly sad and sincere.

  Newl finished his revelation with, “I never told Ben what his mother had planned to do to us. He loved her deeply and cherishes her memory, so I couldn’t bear to hurt him by telling him she was wicked and selfish, and she had lived a cruel lie with us. A boy doesn’t need to hear that his own mother was going to abandon him. It wasn’t my fault she duped me and married me instead of waiting for Frank as she promised. And it wasn’t my fault she and his unborn baby were killed. It was wrong of him to rekindle their romance and sneak around behind my back. The only reason nobody guessed the dirty truth was because she didn’t have any belongings with her that day. After the accident when he came to confront me, I told him I could prove I was in town when she died, but he wouldn’t believe me. If I had thought for one instant exposing the past would help clear Ben, I would have revealed everything on the witness stand. I swear to you, Maggie, I never harmed my wife on that or any day.”

  Afterward, she asked, “How much do you love your son?”

  “What do you mean? I love him more than my own life, as I do your mother.”

  “Do you love him more than your reputation? Would you risk staining it to save his life? You have nothing to be ashamed of and you did nothing wrong years ago, Newl, so we might need to use that story as evidence in court. It provides a credible motive for Frank lying and seeking revenge; it might at least cast doubts on his testimony if we can obtain enough evidence to seek a new trial. Any resulting scandal should die down eventually and your son’s injured feelings should heal; but even if they don’t, Ben would be free and safe.” Maggie observed Newl as he deliberated the pros and cons of that strategy. Her opinion that he was being straightforward with her endeared him to her, as did the difficult choice he
made.

  “If you’re positive it would work in his favor, you can use it.”

  “That’s very generous and wise, Newl. I promise it will remain a secret unless I’m convinced we need to use it in court. If you can’t think of anything else to tell me, I should leave now.”

  “Must you go so soon?” Catherine’s tone held disappointment. “We haven’t talked about anything except this matter.”

  “I can’t risk being seen returning to the hotel too late, Mother. And I need to get a good night’s sleep for my departure tomorrow. Thanks for taking care of Blaze for me. I’m glad you had her taken her to the stable under my name. We can’t reveal our relationship or some sly detective or lawman might add up the clues and expose us. I’ll send word whenever and wherever possible, but don’t worry if you don’t hear from me soon.”

  Catherine walked Maggie to the back door, hugged her and kissed her cheek several times. “I love you, Maggie, so please be careful.”

  “I love you, too, Mother, and I promise I will be. Goodbye for now.”

  “Good-bye, my precious daughter. May God protect you.”

  “May He guide and protect all of us, Mother. Goodbye.”

  Maggie told herself that all she had to do now was sneak past Newl’s establishment and get back to her hotel room without being seen or detained by anybody …

  Inside the Paradise Club in the room of a pretty “soiled dove,” Hawk was making some shocking discoveries of his own …

  Chapter

  Nine

  Hawk was relieved to learn that Maggie had told him the truth about Newl Carver being gone for the day, and he was glad the owner was absent when he paid Callie a visit tonight. It wouldn’t do for Newl to notice that Maggie’s helper was a “customer” of his on occasion, nor for Maggie to be given the false impression he was there buying sex. He had waited until Maggie retired to her room before heading to see the lovely blonde with hazel eyes who worked in the Paradise Club and often fed him information about desperadoes with rewards on their heads. He used the facts she supplied to aid his ruse as a bounty hunter and tracker, and to put outlaws behind bars. Long ago, he had convinced his superior to pay Callie a portion of those rewards for her valuable assistance in locating and capturing wanted men, money she was saving to begin a new life with in another town someday. Callie was a good woman who had fallen on hard times following her husband’s death. She had taken the only job available, then had gotten trapped in that lifestyle by never making enough money to free herself… until Hawk came along.