Someone knocked on the front door and Valerie hurried to answer the door. A young girl was standing on the front steps. Valerie wrinkled up her nose when the wind blew pass the girl and into the house. “Yes,” Valerie said. “May I help you?”
“Does God’s man live here,” the young girl asked. “They said this is where I can find him.”
“Yes,” Valerie replied. “I am afraid Father is not home at the moment.”
The girl sniffed back tears. Her clothes were soiled. Her face was dirty. Her blue eyes panicked at Valerie’s words. “I must have God’s man,” she whispered. “I need him.”
“Perhaps I can help,” Valerie suggested. “What is wrong?”
The girl wrung her dirty hands together. “Oh. Oh.” She hopped from one foot to the other. “They done shot him,” she announced between tears. “They done shot Pa and I got to find God’s man,” she wailed. “I need him right away.”
“Where do you live,” Valerie asked.
“In a wagon,” the girl replied before she turned and pointed to the west side of town. “We got to town yesterday and they shot Pa.”
“Don’t worry,” Valerie replied calmly. “Come inside while I tell Mother. I am sure we can do something to help.”
The girl sniffed and wiped at her tears leaving dirty streaks across her face.
“Mother,” Valerie called. “We are needed,” she added. With one hand against the child’s back she ushered her through the kitchen and onto the back porch.
“What,” Mary asked. The girl standing beside her daughter looked frightened.
“I believe we are needed by this girl,” Valerie replied. “As I understand it, her father has been shot and is asking for Father.”
“Oh my,” Mary said wiping her hands on the big apron she wore over her dress.
“You got to hurry,” the child implored. “Pa’s got blood all over him. He wants God’s man before he dies. He needs to tell him all the bad things he has done so he can go to heaven and be with Ma.” The girl was crying earnestly.
“We will come,” Mary said untying her apron. “Faith I want you to find . . .,” Mary stopped speaking and looked at the girl. “Amos Walden, do you understand,” she asked.
“Yes mother.”
“Valerie and I will see what can be done. Valerie, get the black bag out of your Father’s office. There are bandages and.” Valerie had hurried into the house before Mary could finish speaking.
The wash tubs were left standing as the three women hurried from the house. The girl had stopped crying and ran ahead of Mary Gaines and her daughter. Faith headed downtown to the sheriff’s office. Remembering only when she stood in front of the square brick building that she did not know where to take the sheriff.
Sheriff Walden was seated behind his desk and rose suddenly when Faith opened the door. Miss Gaines wore a white apron over her dress. Her head was bare. She was in a flap. “Oh how silly of me,” were the first words out of Miss Gaines’ mouth.
“Yes,” Sheriff Walden inquired then flush red when he realized his mistake. “You want something,” he asked.
Faith stared at Sheriff Walden a look of surprise widening her eyes. She pulled her lips into a tight smile. Her dignity was ruffled. For a moment she thought the man was agreeing with her stupid remark. Of course he was not. He only wanted to know why she was in his office. “A young girl arrived at our home. She says her father has been shot,” Faith took a deep breath before continuing. “Mother sent me to find you. Only I forgot to ask the girl where she lived.”
“I take it you did not know the child,” Amos Walden asked. He always forgot how really beautiful the Gaines sisters were until he was face to face with one of them. He shook his head trying to refocus his attention and wondered how many other men felt the way he did.
“No Sir,” Faith replied breathlessly still irritated over her lapse of commonsense. The child had been truly upset but that was no excuse.
“There’s a man and girl living in a wagon down by the old Spanish Well,” Walden stated reaching for his hat. “We will try there first. I’ll get my horse.”
Sheriff Walden held the front door open for Faith then she followed him around back of the jail to a corral. A big black horse trotted to the fence and stuck his head over the top rail. “Do you really need your horse,” Faith asked.
Walden stopped in the process of lifting his saddle. Miss Gaines was right. It would look silly him riding his horse while she walked beside him. He had not been thinking straight. He put his saddle back into the shed.
The quickest way to the old Spanish Well was through the back streets on the west side of Junction City. A place where ladies did not visit. Walden hurried down the boardwalk lined with shady businesses his hand under Miss Gaines’ arm.
Faith looked with interest at the business establishments. Some displayed intriguing names. Bird Cage? Now, why would a business want to be called by such an unusual name. While she peeked over the swinging lattice doors a scantly dressed woman stepped through the door and onto the boardwalk. Faith blinked then opened her eyes wide. “Sheriff Walden,” she whispered leaning towards the man. “Do all the women down here dress so outrageously.” She stumbled on a crooked board in the sidewalk and would have fallen except for the Sheriff’s hold on her arm.
Amos Walden felt heat burn his face. This was not a place to take a young woman especially a Minister’s daughter. Miss Gaines looked curiously at him when he did not answer her.
“Oh,” Faith exclaimed. “Never mind,” she said while color reddened her face. She bowed her head and watched
