“He is not able to provide for your younger sisters,” Royce asked, intrigued when he knew he should not concern himself with this matter. Perhaps it was the sadness in Faith’s voice. The feeling she was a captive of circumstances beyond her control.
“Ministers do not earn enough to keep body and soul together,” Faith replied honestly. “I believe schoolteachers make even less.”
Royce found he was irritated by Faith’s remark about schoolteachers. She had placed him as a second class citizen unworthy of her affection. He admitted he was attracted but had not gone beyond this fact in his thoughts. Faith telling him he was not worthy only heightened his interest. This irritated Royce as much as his first thought.
“It is just . . . well . . . I think Lydia has set her mind on making a match between you and me. She adores you.” Faith’s blush turned a deeper red. “I don’t want to hurt her feelings but you see even if I wanted . . .,” Faith stopped surprised by what she just about revealed. She did find Mr. Hargadon attractive and if it was not for her father’s insisting she make a good marry would find Lydia’s matchmaking worthwhile. It could not happen. A pain started in Faith’s chest and spread. Perhaps it would be better to tell Mr. Cook she would marry him.
“All is not what it appears,” Royce said his voice gruff. “Do not rush into a mistake Miss Gaines.” Faith felt pain behind her eyes at his sympathy. “A young woman should never marry for convenience unless she desires to do so. Time has a way of working out problems.” With this remark Royce stepped off the front porch. He tipped his hat to Miss Gaines before walking away. His thoughts were a jumble of impressions. Not sure why he was angry over Faith’s revelation.
Chapter Eight
Royce stopped in front of the Newspaper Office and read the bulletin board out front. MAIL STAGE ROBBED was the week’s banner headline. Royce read the posting a second time before it penetrated his thoughts. He was still disturbed over Faith’s revelation her father wanted her to marry Mr. Cook. And her admitting she loathed the man.
When Royce looked through the window Mclean was behind his desk writing an article about today’s fair. “What’s this about the Mail Stage being robbed,” Royce asked coming into the Newspaper Office.
Mclean looked up, removed his spectacles and cleaned them on the tie he wore loosely around his neck. “Newspapers are two cents,” the man stated. Mr. Mclean was abrupt in his speech. Royce wondered how the man went about collecting the news with such an abrasive manner.
“Right. Two cents,” Royce replied and retrieved to copper pennies from his front jean pocket. Taking the folded newspaper and tucking it under one arm Royce asked once again. “When was the robbery?”
“Wednesday night,” Mclean answered in his abrupt way of speaking. “Over by Cooper Creek.”
“That’s about forty miles from here,” Royce said. His mind was working on another problem. His letter home was on the stage when it was robbed. Was that a coincidence. Thursday morning was when he saw the stranger enter Miss Ferguson’s home. Was there a connection.
“More like forty five,” Mr. Mclean replied.
“Is it normal for the Mail Stage to be robbed,” Royce asked. He sat on the corner of Mr. Mclean’s desk settling in for a talk.
Mclean rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Hadn’t thought of that angle,” he admitted. “I don’t reckon the Mail Stage has ever been robbed. Doesn’t carry anything of value. There were three passengers aboard. One of them could have been the target.” Mr. Mclean shuffled through a stack of papers on top of his desk. “Let’s see.” He read through the list of names. “It is not likely one of these men carried much on them,” he admitted a few moments later. “Mr. Cook was on his way to Rim Rock to see his sister. I’ve never known Mr. Cook to carry more than a few dollars on his person. Mr. Cowen is a whiskey drummer. The man has a wife and seven children that keeps him poor.” Mclean paused for a moment.
“The third man,” Royce asked.
“Don’t know him,” Mclean admitted.
“Name,” Royce asked wondering if all of this information could be gathered from the article Mr. Mclean had written in his newspaper.
“Stage driver did not know. The name the man gave over at the Stage Station was Jesse Hancock. Why are you interested?” Mr. Mclean asked.
“Curiosity is one of the hazards of being a teacher,” Royce replied casually deciding he had asked enough questions. He would read Mr. Mclean’s article first then later ask any questions he felt necessary.
Royce skipped the boy’s horserace. In his rooms above the school he read through Mr. Mclean’s article on the stage robbery a second time. Pacing back and forth across the floor, Royce looked out over the Elementary School building at Miss Ferguson’s house. Was his letter the real reason behind the mail robbery. There was nothing incriminating in the letter. Unless the code was broken yet Royce wondered if his days were numbered. Would he be found lying dead somewhere like George Dean.
What did Faith know and how soon could he expect to learn whatever information she possessed. Her revelation about Mr. Cook still sent his temperature skyrocketing! Mr. Cook had been on the stage when it was robbed. The thought burned a hole in Royce’s mind. John Layfield had mentioned Mr. Cook the day they went hunting together. Was the man a member of the Barlow gang. It was time Royce asked some questions of Faith. Until today’s revelation he had decided to take Faith into his confidence. Now he paused. Imogen had known Dean was a Marshal before the man’s death. Would she admit knowing as much if she was in cahoots with Barlow and what about Faith.
Royce
