Page 21 of Brian and Cora
A boy with dark brown hair and crystal-blue eyes stood there practically vibrating with excitement.
“Miss Cora, the posse’s returned.”
“Oh!” Cora gasped and clapped her hands together.
“They caught the robbers. Papa says to come to the parlor so he can tell everyone the details all at once.”
Goosebumps feathered over Cora’s arms and legs. “Oh, how wonderful! What a relief for everyone.”
He eyed her wet hair. “Can you come now?”
“Just a minute.” She whirled to the dressing table and quickly twisted her hair up into a bun, stabbing in hairpins. Hurrying back to Micah, she held out a hand. “Lead the way, kind sir.”
8:00pm
Ivy,
My letter to you was interrupted with the most welcome news. After being gone almost a week, the posse has returned, having captured the robbers! The money is recovered. Twomen were wounded and are recuperating at a farmhouse near the thieves’ hideout. You can imagine the town’s relief and jubilation.
I did have a chance to meet Reverend Joshua Norton (addressed as Reverend Joshua to distinguish him from his father, Reverend Norton) as he gathered us to hear the details of the posse’s capture of the robbers.
Reverend Joshua is unlike any minister I’ve ever met. He has crystal blue eyes (as does his son) that are apt to twinkle. I’ve already heard one of his interesting tales of Africa. He doesn’t hide his obvious love for his wife and son and father-in-law. The bond between them all gives me an ache in my breastbone, and I can’t help wishing my mother had lived so I could have grown up in a family this close.
Micah is an endearing little scamp. He’s as different from my siblings as could be. I’ve already fallen in love with him. He’s bright, adorable, mischievous, yet thoughtful and caring, especially with Mr. Bellaire. You’d think the man was his blood grandfather.
As for the story…. Turns out the gang was hiding on an isolated farm that belonged to the leader, Frank McCurdy. He’d left the area years earlier, eloping with a saloon girl, and no one knew they’d returned with their three children, some servants, and the other bad guys.
They converted the farm into a fort and settled in, committing crimes here and there, but mostly keeping to themselves. The day of the Harvest Festival, one of the deputy sheriffs, Chogan Redwolf, befriended the youngest McCurdy son, Walter. (As you can probably tell from his name, the deputy’s an Indian from the Blackfoot tribe! I can’t wait to meet him!)
While scouting around the fort, Deputy Redwolf ran into Walter and persuaded the boy to help them. Walter put syrupof ipecac in their morning porridge to cause them vomiting and diarrhea and opened the back gate to sneak in some of the posse members. Deputy Redwolf climbed a nearby cliff and shot burning arrows into the haystacks and outbuildings to cause confusion, while one of the men ran around the outskirts of the fort to open the front gate for the sheriff and the rest of the posse, so they could attack from two sides. Long story short, all except the leader and his wife were killed. Two men from the posse were injured but should make a full recovery.
The happy surprise is Sheriff Granger and Deputy Redwolf returned engaged and were married today. They are adopting Walter. The poor child was repudiated by his family.
The elder Mrs. Norton brought over Walter to get acquainted with Micah. The boy is solemn and reserved, no doubt from his background, which was quite abusive. After a while, I started wanting them to be like normal little boys and make noise. They played a game of checkers, but finally Walter seemed more comfortable, and they went outside. Through the window, I watched Micah teach Walter to use his slingshot! His smiles melted my heart.
Since we’re strangers, Rose and I didn’t attend the sheriff’s wedding. We’re both worn out and looking forward to sleeping in comfortable beds that aren’t moving.
So, all’s well that ends well. How’s that for putting a trite saying over such a traumatic situation?
I can barely keep my eyes open, so I’m stopping here. Good thing, for my pen is scraping the bottom of the inkwell.
I might not miss my family, my dear Ivy, but I certainly miss you!
Sincerely,
Cora
CHAPTER 8
The next day, Cora awoke with a sense of buoyancy that made her bounce out of bed. The feeling stayed with her while she got dressed, all through breakfast, and driving in the coach with Delia to visit the Hatters to check on Horace’s recovery. The bank clerk was knocked unconscious by the robbers and had been slow to recover.
At the Hatters’ they’d found Horace out of bed and holding court in a chair. He was resplendent in a robe and slippers gifted by Andre and Delia, with only a small bandage around his head. Several of the ladies of Sweetwater Springs, along with Margaret Temogen, wife of the sheriff of Morgan’s Crossing, who’d dropped by for a final visit to before she returned home with her children, circled the man as if they were his courtiers. The excited chatter of the women made them sound like twittering birds—joyful ones.
After they left the Hatters’ and climbed into the carriage for the short trip to the Camerons’ home, Delia let out a soft sigh. “I declare, the difference between our visits this past week and today are night and day. To see Mr. Hatter up and around instead of being bedridden from his injury and remorse…”
Cora chuckled. “He was practically levitating out of his chair with relief that the stolen money was returned.”
Delia placed a hand on her chest. “My, it does my soul good to laugh. Her expression sobered. “This past week, as much as we tried, we couldn’t hide our fear. The very air in Sweetwater Springs was heavy with tension. And I’m sure the Good Lord felt bombarded by our prayers.” Her Southern accent thickened to honey. “To feel the relief and joy…” She patted her heart. “I find it hard to put my feelings into words.”
