“Imogen and Faith made my new dress,” Laurie replied proudly with a wide smile on her lips.
“The last town you and your father were in was Cooper Creek,” Royce asked sure of Laurie’s answer. The town where the Mail Stage was robbed and his letter to headquarters had been intercepted. Hogan always ran with an unsavory crowd. He just might have hooked up with Barlow or a member of his gang. Hogan also would have recognized Royce’s name. Had Hogan told anyone who he was or had the man’s intentions been to wait and see how the winds blew. As long as Royce had known Hogan the man was not able to keep his mouth shut for long. If he knew who Barlow was this could have signed the man’s death warrant. Barlow would not take any chances.
“Yes Sir,” Laurie replied.
“How long were you in Junction City before the man on the funny looking horse showed up,” Royce asked using Laurie’s description of the horse.
Laurie looked to Faith for the answer. “Did you sleep in Junction City before the man came,” Faith asked knowing children paid little attention to time. She might remember sleeping in a new town.
Nodding her head yes Laurie studied Royce with fear bright in her eyes. She did not trust Royce.
Royce touched Laurie on one cheek with the rough tips of his fingers. The child moved away reaching for Faith. “I am a friend if you ever need me,” Royce declared securely. “Faith and I are friends.” He did not realize he was using Faith’s name for the first time. He thought of her as Faith. “It is time we went back,” he added a moment later. If Barlow was in possession of his true identity he did not want to endanger Faith.
The Gaines house was full of people. Citizens of Junction City stood around the dining table filling plates. Their voices were a loud murmur that blended together. In the kitchen ladies were slicing pies, cutting cakes into thick wedges, replenishing baskets of sliced loaves of bread and biscuits.
Faith carried in a basket of sliced bread and placed it on the dining table. Glancing over the tabletop decided more plates were needed. She was walking back to the kitchen when a hand grasped her wrist and shoved her against the wall. Mr. Cook towered over her menacing. “What do you mean going off with Mr. Hargadon,” he growled. His fingers bit into Faith’s flesh. “You have no right to be seen in public with another man now that we are engaged.”
“We are not engaged,” Faith replied tight lipped. Her heart pounded in her chest. A pain started in the back of her head from banging against the wall.
“I talked with your father. He has agreed to our marriage,” Mr. Cook reminded his dark red face was twisted in fury. He stepped closer to Faith. His features were menacing.
“Father and I have talked,” Faith replied swallowing down an impulse to scream. She steeled herself against Mr. Cook’s blazing eyes. Faith felt her heart thump wildly against her ribs then take off at a rapid pace. Admitting for the moment she was afraid of Mr. Cook. “Father has left the decision to marry up to me. I have decided I do not wish to marry at present.” Faith hoped she sounded determined wondering if she should have told Mr. Cook outright she would never marry him.
“We will be married,” Mr. Cook growled. He pulled Faith’s hands against his chest tightening his hold on her wrist.
Faith panicked. Her eyes widened in fear as she glanced around for a glimmer of hope. The dark haired man standing behind Mr. Cook with his back turned to them looked familiar. Her rattled brain sought help. “Sheriff Walden,” Faith’s voice squeaked as she looked hopefully towards the sheriff.
“Miss Gaines,” Sheriff Walden said turning his attention to Faith. He read fear in her eyes. “Is there something I can do for you,” he asked.
Swallowing Faith tried to focus on Sheriff Walden. She was shaking so violently she could not at first speak. “Mr. Cook is leaving,” Faith’s voice squeaked as she gulped for air. She felt as if she was suffocating. “Will you please escort him to the front door,” Faith requested hoping she would not fall at the man’s feet. She was as close as she had ever come to fainting. The thought was mortifying and stiffened her spine.
“You say the word Miss Gaines and Mr. Cook will spend time inside one of my jail cells,” Sheriff Walden replied stepping so he could get a better look at Mr. Cook’s taut features. The man was in an uproar. A muscle twitched at the corner of his mouth. His eyes bulged from their sockets.
“That won’t be necessary,” Faith declared breathing a sigh of relief. “Goodbye,” she said looking Mr. Cook straight in the eyes.
“This is not finished,” Mr. Cook growled. He leaned towards Faith his anger boiling over.
Sheriff Walden was sure he heard Jim Cook call Faith a bitch and grabbed the man by the arm. “Yes it is,” Sheriff Walden retorted. “You cause any more trouble and whether Miss Gaines feels it is necessary or not you will see the inside of a jail cell. Do I make myself clear!”
Mr. Cook stalked angrily out the front door and shook off Sheriff Walden’s hand. “I will have your badge for this insult.”
“If I worried every time I have heard that line I wouldn’t have time to do anything else,” Sheriff Walden retorted his eyes glacier cold. He had never liked Jim Cook and now had even more reason to dislike the man. Amos Walden had seen the red welts on Faith’s wrist. “If I see you anywhere near Miss Gaines I will bend my gun barrel over your head,” the
