“It seems unreal,” Faith admitted crossly. “These are men I thought I knew. Now, they seem more like strangers.”
“Deceit has that effect. It is one of the reasons being a lawman is often difficult. People don’t like to admit to being deceived. They would rather the Marshal be wrong in his assessment.”
Faith reached across the darkness and placed her hand on Royce’s arm. His warmth penetrated through her glove. “I will remember what you said,” Faith declared. “Forget what I thought I knew about these men and trust your judgment.”
“We are going to have a hard ride if we are to reach Clear Creek before the stage leaves,” Royce said. He did not have to say more.
Faith whipped her horse into setting a fast pace. “I will race you,” she shouted. The wind caught her words carrying them to Royce. The horse Faith rode was out front and the space lengthening that separated them.
Royce discovered he need not worry about Faith’s riding ability. She was a born horsewoman. The brown gelding she rode the better of Hogan’s two horses out paced the horse Royce rode.
Faith enjoyed her victory.
The town of Clear Creek was in darkness when they rode down the main road of town. Royce dismounted and flipped the reins over the hitching rail in front of the Stagecoach Station before helping Faith off the saddle.
The small building had a lamp lit in the office. A bell jingled when the door opened. “I will be right with you,” a voice called from the backroom.
Royce escorted Faith over to the potbellied stove. He held his hands out to the warmth. Faith took a chair placing it in front of the stove then set the toes of her boots against the iron apron. She was chilled to the bones. Her face tingled from the heat radiating from the stove.
“Yes,” the man dressed in shirt sleeves asked as he came into the office.
Royce walked over to the desk. “Robby,” he greeted.
“Hargadon! Bless my buttons,” the man replied. “What are you doing in Clear Creek? Come to make an arrest. I told Cal if he did not stop snorting Fire Water you would come along and throw him in the calaboose. When that Indian drinks he looses his head. The last time he shot up the saloon and chased poor Mrs. Dunn down the middle of the road howling he was going to scalp her. Took five men to pin Cal to the ground they locked him in Steward’s shed until he sobered up. Took more than two days to calm Mrs. Dunn’s fears she shut herself up in her house and wouldn’t come out. Mr. Dunn was right displeased over the matter. Said he was going to write Marshal Tinsley and have someone sent over to lock the crazy coot up.”
Royce smiled. He knew Cal had used the half breed on occasion to track down outlaws. “I didn’t come about Cal,” Royce stated. “Joe still driving the stage between here and Carrington City,” he asked.
“Sure. Best man I know when it comes to handling a team. Why do you ask,” Robby inquired.
“See that young woman,” Royce said with a nod of his head indicating Faith. “She is the future Mrs. Hargadon. I want Joe to see she gets safely to Headquarters. You tell him to guard her with his life.”
“You don’t say,” Robby replied his gray eyes growing wide. He looked Faith over with interest. “The future Mrs. Hargadon you say,” he whispered.
“I want you to see she gets on the stage safely. Tell Joe I will stake him out over an anthill if so much as one hair comes to harm.”
“Yes Sir,” Robby replied. “I will see to the matter.”
“I’ve got to get back,” Royce replied. Wishing this statement was untrue. He wanted to wait and put Faith on the four o’clock stage to Carrington City. He could not.
“Don’t you worry,” Robby said. “She will be safe with Joe.”
“Give us a minute alone,” Royce ordered.
The middle aged man grinned from ear to ear. So Marshal Hargadon had found him a woman at long last. Royce had dodged the bullet on more than one occasion as Robby well knew. Weren’t a year ago Widow Marsh had set her sights on Hargadon. Robby rubbed his chin wondering just how close the Marshal and Widow Marsh had gotten. Apparently not close enough.
Royce took Faith’s hand and pulled her to her feet. He wrapped one arm about her shoulders. “Robby will take good care of you,” he said, his mouth only inches from hers. He kissed Faith wanting to hold her forever in his arms.
“I will be alright,” Faith replied touching Royce’s cheek with her fingertips. She felt the roughness of his beard as she ran her hand over his chin. His green eyes glowed with hidden fire. “I love you,” she whispered.
Royce breathed deeply. “I love you,” he replied and kissed her again. “I have to start back.”
“Can’t you warm up first,” Faith asked cupping Royce’s cheek with one hand. “You’re still cold.”
“I wish I could,” Royce replied. “I will be hard pressed to get back to Junction City before classes start. If I am missed Walden will have me occupying one of his cells until Tinsley shows up. The good citizens of Junction City might decide to hang me first and ask questions afterwards.”
“Keep safe,” Faith bid him goodbye. Standing at the front window she watched Royce mount his horse. He waved before riding into the darkness.
Faith felt her heart skip a beat. She had noticed the gray pinch to Royce’s mouth. The way he held his shoulder indicated he was in pain. He had hours of hard riding ahead of him. She stopped fussing over what she could not change and offered a silent prayer for his safety.
* * * * *
Amos Walden came to his feet hastily setting his coffee cup down on top of his desk. Imogen with tears streaming down her face looked
