“There were orphans at the convent. The nuns cared for them. You could have gotten a job at an orphanage and made those children happy. All children need love. Buying a child is wrong, and West assured me the man who offered you a child will be prosecuted. You had a chance to do some good in this world and decided to break the law. You had a chance but took the wrong path,” Julia said.
“I suppose,” muttered Kate. “But it’s too late now.”
Kate stopped talking when West returned with telegrams and two plates of food.
“We received two telegrams. The marshals should be here in two days to escort Kate back to New Mexico for trial. I have to speak to Father Dominic and see if he wants to press charges against her for the attack. I know he said he didn’t, but he might have changed his mind. There is also one from Meg’s family. They want her to come home as soon as possible. She can ride the stage back to Cheyenne with us and we can make sure she arrives safely,” West said before returning to Smiley’s for his own plate of food.
“Who’s Meg?” Kate inquired.
“A young lady I’m going to do my best to help so she doesn’t end up taking the same path in life that you did,” Julia answered. “She’s young and impressionable.”
“I hope you can do that. Be sure to tell her to stay away from men.”
Julia didn’t answer but knew that Meg had already learned a lesson about men, at least the wrong type of men.
Two days later, shortly after dawn, a U.S. Marshal and his deputy rode up to Smiley’s and took possession of their prisoner and the coveted gold chest.
“West explained to Julia, “They are going to travel overland instead of taking the road back to Cheyenne and then catch a train to New Mexico. The marshal said he didn’t want to expose innocent citizens to Kate on the stage, and he didn’t want to wait for the tumbleweed wagon to make its rounds.”
Julia nodded. “I suppose that makes good sense. Kate may try and escape. They are better off taking her somewhere she can’t cause any trouble.”
“I agree. Smiley said the stage is due here in about an hour. We have time for breakfast, and then we can catch the stage back to Cheyenne and catch a train to Denver.”
“Will we have to travel to New Mexico and testify at her trial? She told me all the reasons she wanted that chest,” Julia asked.
“That will be up to the prosecutor. If he needs us, he’ll send a telegram to Denver after he reads our written reports,” West explained.
The stage ride back to Cheyenne was peaceful, and Julia felt calmer than she did the first time she took the stage at the start of their assignment. The job had gone well, and she had learned quite a bit about being a better agent. Helping Meg had been a plus to her feeling of accomplishment.
Julia knew that either in Cheyenne or on the train back to Denver, she and West would have to discuss the timing of the annulment, but she did her best not to think about it.
Annulment. Her heart ached each time the word forced its way into her thoughts. Why did she have to fall in love with West? It was foolish of her not to guard her heart, and healing from her heart breaking would be the price she’d pay.
Once they arrived in Cheyenne, Julia gave Meg her address in Denver and told the girl she could write her anytime. Julia’s heart filled with joy when she saw Meg’s family waiting for the stage and embracing the girl with tears and kisses. Julia felt that Meg had learned a valuable lesson, and would move forward in her life a more confidant yet cautious young woman.
West booked them back into the same hotel they stayed in before they left for Smiley’s. After a bath and supper, Julia was sure she would feel much better.
“I’m certainly happy this case ended without either of us having to shoot Kate,” Julia said as they returned to their hotel room after supper. “I’m not sure how well I would sleep, knowing she was hurt or worse.”
“At least tonight, you can sleep in a soft bed and not on the ground or in the barn at Smiley’s,” West answered.
“Yes, but I do believe it’s your turn to sleep in the bed.”
West strode up to Julia, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her deeply. When he dropped his hands, he whispered, “I hoped we might share the bed tonight.”
“I did, too,” Julia said and winked.
Epilogue
Two weeks later:
West hurried up the stairs of the attractive three-bedroom house he and Julia purchased on the edge of Denver’s residential neighborhood. Pushing through the front door, he called, “Julia, are you home?”
“In the kitchen,” came Julia’s response.
West walked into the room, holding a yellow slip of paper. “This arrived today from the New Mexico prosecutor. The trial is over.”
“That was quick, “Julia said.
“Not really,” West explained. “Kate confessed, the church didn’t want to press charges for the theft of the gold box, Father Dominic didn’t want to press charges, and the doctor agreed that the priest in New Mexico died as a result of a fall. I think the prosecutor and judge took into account that Kate didn’t mean to kill the priest. I believe your letter to the prosecutor explaining that you thought Kate had an emotional problem rather than a criminal one helped them come to a conclusion.”
West handed the telegram to Julia, and she read it. Shaking her head slowly, Julia said, “I’m not sure which is worse, being sent to prison or being sent to an asylum
