The coldness of the room penetrated into his consciousness. The fire in the cook stove had gone out hours before. Shivering, Royce knelt before the stove and fed in kindling. He blew hot breath over his fingers to warm them before striking a match. Smoke curled around the kindling before the dry woodchips ignited. Blue flames licked up the woodchips leaving behind white ash. He fed several chunks of wood into the stove and closed the metal door. Padding barefooted across the floor Royce crawled into bed and huddled under the covers to wait for the room to warm.
* * * * *
It was late afternoon when Royce approached the Gaines’ two story home. Wind was blowing off the mountains sending out icy fingers of cold. The sky had turned gray and wintry. The smell of snow was in the air.
Royce knocked on the front door hoping Faith would answer. When she did, he stood before her tongue tied. How could he place the woman he loved in danger. Yet, he had to get word to Marshal Tinsley and since he could not go himself there was only one person he trusted enough to send.
“Yes,” Faith asked when Royce did not speak.
“Come outside,” he said gruffly.
Faith knew Royce had something on his mind. “I’ll be with you in a minute. I will need my coat.” A few minutes later Faith sat down on one of the porch chairs and huddled inside her warm coat. “You want something,” she asked.
“I don’t know how to explain what I need you to do. You can tell me no if you’ve a mind to,” Royce said.
“You haven’t said what you want,” Faith reminded. She watched Royce pace back and forth across the porch. “Is it a sin or against the law,” she asked simply noticing the worried frown upon Royce’s face.
“What,” Royce quipped. He had been thought miles away.
“Is it a sin or against the law,” Faith repeated and smiled when Royce gave her a quizzical look. “What you want me to do.”
“Oh.” Royce said and knelt before Faith holding her cold fingers in his hands. “Neither,” he admitted boyishly. “I need your help. My letters haven’t been getting through to Marshal Tinsley. I want you to go to Carrington City.”
“The Mail Stage robberies,” Faith stated. “Your letters were what the robbers were after.”
“I believe so,” Royce admitted reluctantly. He was having second thoughts about sending Faith. It might be too dangerous. “I can’t go myself. My absence would be noticed. Ferguson and his gang could disappear only to resurface someplace else. The killings and robberies would continue if this happens.”
“Can’t you arrest them,” Faith asked.
Royce waited a long moment before speaking. The frown creasing his forehead intensified. His green eyes were bright jewels that reflected his concern. “Ferguson and his cohorts were out of town the night I was shot. Someone else did that and until I can find the person responsible I can’t trust anyone,” Royce replied.
“You are trusting me,” Faith reminded. She leaned towards Royce in her earnestness. Her heart lodged in her throat. How could she go and leave the man she loved to face unknown dangers alone.
“Am I wrong to trust you,” Royce asked.
“Need you ask,” Faith replied as she shook her head no. “What do you want me to do,” she asked simply, bravely. Her fingers shook as she opened her hand and gripped Royce’s hand tightly. Fear darkened her eyes as color stole slowly up her face.
“Meet me after dark in the stables. We will ride through the night to Clear Water. I will put you on the stage there. You will have a three days journey to Headquarters. Faith, I know it is asking a lot but you must not tell anyone. Not even your family. Their fears must be genuine or Ferguson might suspect what you are doing then your life will be in great danger. No one must know you are going for Marshal Tinsley,” Royce stressed. He gripped Faith’s fingers urgently.
“Mother and Father will be frantic,” Faith whispered. Not sure she could do what Royce asked of her.
“I know my love. It can not be helped. I don’t want any harm to come to you. Will you still go?”
“I will go,” Faith replied after silent moments of reflection. “Mother will understand as for Father.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I might me locked in the cellar for the rest of my life,” she admitted ruefully.
Royce did not say anything. He drank in Faith’s loveliness marveling at her courage. “I do love you,” Royce said hoping that was sufficient. They were both taking chances. “I will go now. I don’t want anyone to see us talking together or I’ll be occupying one of Walden’s jail cells when you turn up missing.”
Faith’s smile was uncertain before nodding her head in agreement. “I will meet you after the sun goes down,” she whispered.
* * * * *
Royce had the horses saddled and waiting when Faith crept across the lawn. Long purple shadows hid her movements. Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure the entire town could hear it. She stopped at the edge of the corral and crawled through the fence. “Royce,” she called softly not seeing him standing in the shadows.
Royce moved out of the darkness. “I’ve saddled Hogan’s two geldings,” he explained. “I should be back before sunup. If I’m late I want Get-a-long found in his stall.”
“Father might not miss Mr. Hogan’s two horses right away,” Faith agreed. “You can have them back before questions are asked.”
“If the need arises I can turn the horses loose in the field behind the house,” Royce said soberly. He was second guessing his decision to send Faith
