Page 19 of A Groom for Millie
Millie realized she didn’t get an answer to her question, so she raced down to the edge where the boy was telling Linda and that lawyer man about the events on the stage. Millie listened with rapt attention until the boy mentioned the shooting of the second man.
A commotion could be heard from inside the stage, and a wail that shook Millie in her shoes could be heard over the sea of people. It sounded like an animal in pain. She saw Heather step out from the coach and raise her hand to assist someone out.
A lady in a gray cloak stepped down, a carpetbag by her side. Once she was out, Heather disappeared back in the coach where the wailing continued.
“Momma!” Millie yelled, waving her hand. Regina Baker raised her hand and quickly walked off the ferry.
“Millicent,” Regina said with an exaggerated sigh. “I’ve had the worst trip. I need to lie down.”
“Of course, Momma.” Millie grabbed her mother’s arm and quickly recoiled, pulling her fingers back. They were covered with blood. “Are you hurt? Do I need to get the doctor?”
Regina waved her away. “It is Mr. Martin’s blood. Those heathens shot him.”
“How terrible.”
“Right in front of his wife and child.”
“Is that Mrs. Martin?” The wailing continued. Millie understood Mrs. Martin’s pain. She had wailed like that when she realized her George wasn’t coming home.
“Poor dear is completely distraught. The doctor is trying to calm her down.” Regina turned to her daughter. “Why does your town have a woman physician?”
“Well… she isn’t a physician. She’s a midwife.”
“A midwife? Well, that makes sense, I suppose.” Regina looked around the small town. “Is this it? I expected something…,” she waved her arm in the air, “grand, based on your letters.”
“Momma, the town is just perfect.” Millie tugged on her mother’s arm dragging her towards the buggy. “We need to get Mary Rose and then we’ll head home.”
Regina jerked her arm away from Millie. “You left your daughter alone?”
“Of course not. She’s right here surrounded by my friends and family.” Millie walked over to the buggy and peered over the seat. Reaching out her arms, Mary Rose climbed into them and Millie turned to show her mother. “Momma, this is Mary Rose.”
Regina put her fingers to her lips. “She’s beautiful, Millie.” Regina put her bag down and stroked Mary Roses’ reddish curls. “Come to grandmother, little one.” Regina held open her arms. Mary Rose pouted her lip and put her head underneath Millie’s chin. As Regina flexed her fingers to beckon the child over, Mary Rose wrapped her arms around Millie’s neck and turned away.
“She’s just shy around strangers, Momma. She’ll warm up soon enough and you’ll be wanting days where she is quiet.”
Regina lowered her arms and looked at the buggy. “We aren’t riding home in this, are we? My trunk will never fit.”
Millie shook her head. “No. I have a wagon down by the school. We can pick up your trunk from the ferry office.” She glanced to see the man coming back down the road without the body on his horse.
She spied Linda rushing up from the ferry. “Did you see Michael?”
Millie shook her head. “What’s wrong?”
“Since our telegraph is out, a message was sent to Grand Platte and Par delivered it.”
“Par?”
“The young boy on the stage,” Linda explained.
“What did it say?”
“That there was a shootout at the saloon in Flat River and the deputy was killed, along with several others. A large amount of money was stolen.”
“How dreadful,” Regina replied.
Linda read from the telegram once more. “It says the man’s name is Deuce Taylor or Duke Tylor and he may be headed this way. The Marshals are looking for him and he’s wanted dead or alive. May be running with the Myron Brothers.”
“Oh goodness,” Millie replied. “We better get home.” She didn’t want to be outside after dark if there was a chance of a murderer in the area. She would check with Heather and see if she should take Cecily and Arthur back to the Reed Ranch for the night. Who knew how long Heather would be delayed caring for the traumatized woman?
