Eustace laughs until tears flow. “You dare to come to me now! Now, that I am wounded, what kind of men are you?”
The sheriff takes the butt of his rifle and brings it down hard on Eustace’s good arm. The cracking of bone echoes in the room and Eustace screams. “That is for my Jackson!”
Eustace thrashes in agony and draws his pistol from under the covers and shoots the Sheriff in the throat before anyone can move.
Someone catches the Sheriff moving him from the room to safety and runs to the doctor. An hour later the mob leaves and everyone circles the house. “Anyone want to speak before we finish this?”
“May God forgive us for not acting sooner.” A match is tossed, and the house ignites with a whoosh of lantern oil and wood. The mob watches until the house is completely engulfed, no one moves to slow the flames. They look on in sorrow and relief as all their shame turns to ash and cinders.
Sheriff Bower is buried the next day as his wife and child watch. Willow is a broken woman. Jackson stays by her side and holds on tightly to his mother. Faith watches and wonders what will happen to them now. The crowd disperses, and Faith moves close.
“Let’s get you home, Willow.” Faith urges rocking the sleeping babe in her arms.
Willow follows quietly with Jackson, and she joins them as they climb into the wagon and heads to their home. Faith settles the baby on a blanket on the couch and turns to find Willow standing where she left her. The poor woman is pale and in shock. Having just lost her own husband, Faith is not sure how much help she will be.
“Come on, Willow. You rest, and I will wake you when dinner is ready.” She gently guides Willow to her bedroom and tucks her in. “Try to sleep, now.” She leaves the room and finds Jackson staring at her from the hallway.
“Jackson? What can I do to help?” she asks softly. The little boy standing before her struggles desperately not to cry.
“I should have been able to stop him!” he cries out.
“No, Jackson. Evil like this takes more than one person to stop! Your father loved you, and he wanted to protect you. In time you will come to understand that, until then, take care of each other.” Faith hugs him and cries with him over the loss of his father. When the baby starts to cry, they move into the living room, and she picks her up. Jackson stays close.
“I need to make some dinner, would you hold her for me while I do that?” she asks him.
“Really? Yeah, I mean, I’ve never held a baby before.” He says, wiping his hands off on a towel.
“Me either, until a few days ago.” She waits until he sits in a chair and settles the baby into his arms.
“Now then, let’s see what your Mama has to eat.” A knock on the door and Faith opens it to find some of the women from the town. They are somber and all carrying dishes of food. Some have cookies, some have soup, bread, and tea.
“Thank you, Ladies.” Faith guides them inside, and soon the house is full of the sounds of family and friends.
Jackson is playing outside with some friends when Willow wakes. She watches him play and makes her decision. She finds Faith nursing baby Hope and sits quietly beside her.
“Faith I'm leaving this God forsaken town. We are going to stick to the plan, it's time for me to go home. I will take with me only what I need to get home and our savings. If you want to go with us, you are welcome.”
“I think that is the wise thing to do, Willow. How soon are you leaving?” she asks, lifting the baby to her shoulder she pats her quietly.
“Tomorrow. Can you be ready to go in the morning?” she asks.
“I can be. There isn't much I have to have except this little bundle here. I will go back and be back at dawn.” Faith gathers the baby and hugs her friend goodbye. On the way home, she goes to her office and sends a final message to the Western Union office in San Francisco. She tells them she is looking for work and will be in town in a few days.
Later that evening, Faith is looking around her tiny house after packing the few things she wants to take with her. Looking around she realizes that Billy left her a long time ago, she was just in denial. Each time he left, he was gone longer and longer. He was no husband to her, and she isn't sure he would have been a father to their child. “Thank you, Billy. The one good thing from our marriage was this little treasure. I will take good care of her.”
Hope wakes, and Faith picks her up, “Everything is going to be okay sweetie, and tomorrow we are going to San Francisco! Not even a week old and you will be going on a train. You are quite the adventurer.”
Chapter 18
Cassandra rolls over and reaches for Dalton only to wake up alone in his bed. A single yellow rose rests on his pillow with a note for her. She smells the rose, smiling softly and reads,
Good Morning, beautiful.
Thank you for a wonderful night, I look forward too many more evenings in your arms. I had to run to the bank for a meeting with Mr. Wells. I will be back soon with our Train tickets.
Love, Dalton
“Meeting with Mr.
