“I'm ready whenever you are,” she cries.
Solomon doesn't feel the least bit ashamed when he walks in and catches them holding each other. The Sheriff looks up and sighs. “How much of that did you hear?” he asks while she tries to hide and conceal the bruises on her face.
“Didn’t take you to be a violent man, Sheriff,” Solomon implies.
“I wouldn’t ever lay a hand on my Willow,” he says hanging his head in shame.
“You wouldn’t understand,” she says, hugging her husband tightly.
“I understand. I heard enough, and I can promise you that there's a story like this at almost every mining site. I need some questions answered, and if you help me, I can promise you that I will lead the snake away so you can escape. I would highly suggest you leave quickly. When the bank is through with the land here, there'll be nothing left.”
“Willow, make coffee,” pulling off his hat the sheriff drops heavily into his seat. “What do you need to know?”
Forty minutes later, Solomon has the information he needs and leaves directly. Eustace and his son have been killing and stealing from the people here long enough. No one is safe from them. He makes sure to ride through town and make a big deal about leaving. He intends to draw Aiden away from town, buying those left behind time to make their choices.
He hopes they take his advice, it would be a shame to return and find they didn’t heed his warning, an image of Faith pops into his mind. Yeah, he will definitely be handling this one personally. He rides over to the hotel, checks out and leaves a note for Faith. Solomon takes his time riding through town, making sure everyone sees his departure.
Faith is working in the post office when Solomon rides through town on his way back to San Francisco. She watches for a long time until she sees the shadow ride out after him. “God be with you, Solomon Abbott.”
Time to get to work on decoding the messages. She isn’t getting paid to do nothing. The clicking sound of a receiving message draws her from her thoughts.
A few minutes later she is transcribing the message, and her mouth goes dry, and her hands begin to shake. She gasps in shock. “Explosion at the mine, five dead.” The names that follow include William B. Smith. “Noooo!” The moaning wail that she hears in the distance is hers. When she jumps up in disbelief, her water breaks.
Faith stumbles from the post office, doubled over in pain and fear. The baby is coming, and her husband is dead, what will become of them now? She stumbles towards the hotel, and voices are suddenly around her. They help her to the doctor and twelve hours later, her baby girl, Hope Smith is born. She has a head full of red curls, like her mama and her lusty screams echo through the house. Willow hands her daughter to Faith, and whispers, “Congratulations, Faith.”
Looking down at her daughter, she can't help but thank the Lord. “She's perfect, isn't she?” The doctor smiles, and they laugh.
“Of course, she is. A beautiful, healthy baby girl. I want you to take it easy for a few days, Faith. Feed her and rest. Those are my orders.” Willow walks the doctor out, and Faith hears hushed voices.
Lifting the baby to her breast, she allows her tears to fall for the husband she lost and the father her daughter will never know. “I promise we will be okay. You have brought me Hope, my little angel.”
A knock on the door has her wiping her tears. “Good evening, Faith,” her friend Christina calls out. Sitting on the side of the bed, she oohs and ahh's over the baby before speaking again.
“I’m so sorry about Billy. You will not be alone, Faith. Mama said to tell you whatever you need, you let her know.”
Faith smiles, “Thank you. I will.”
“That sexy cowboy left you a note before he left.” Shock registers for a moment and she wonders what Christina thinks. Taking the sealed note, she places it on the bed beside her and changes the subject.
“Would you like to hold her?” They laugh, enjoying the new baby until Willow returns.
“Okay, time for the new Mama to rest.” Ushering her out, she offers to watch the baby while Faith sleeps.
“Thank you, Willow. You'll bring her to me for her next feeding?”
“Of course, now you get some sleep. Before long, you will be wishing someone was telling you to sleep.”
After Willow leaves, she slips the note open and gasps in shock. A fifty-dollar bill falls out along with a written note.
“Thank you for your discretion. I will be back in a few weeks, stay safe. Solomon Abbott.”
Faith quickly tucks the money in her bible on her side table and smiles in relief. “Oh Billy, I hope you are watching over us.” She falls asleep easier knowing Solomon is returning, for some reason he makes her feel safe.
Chapter 17
Safety is the last thing on Solomon's mind. He rides for five hours straight, through rough terrain. The trip down took almost two days, this time he plans on making it in a day and a half. The shadow following him will not have planned out the trip the way Solomon did. The horse will need water and rest after a few hours of riding, and he feels bad pushing him, but time is of the essence in this case.
Around two o'clock he stops to water the horse by a creek. He gives the animal a good rub down and builds a campfire. He eats slowly and waits. Aiden had fallen a few miles back. Solomon had pushed his animal to the
