Neil tightened his jaw, but it was the only emotion he let anyone see.
But Peck and his cronies were grinning and shaking hands and preening over the job they’d done. Peck stood up, “Your Honor, on behalf—”
“Sit, Peck, I’m not through. This is going to be a three-, maybe four-part equation.”
Everyone stared. A surprised and wary Olivia sat up, attentive.
“Now, let me begin by saying I know Mr. July. He and his brother helped me on an investigation this past spring down in Texas, and they did a bang-up job. But Mr. July is an outlaw, and by the count of all the money he’s stolen, he’s very good at his profession. However, he’s never shot anyone or abused a woman during a robbery. He doesn’t take down a train by removing ties from the track, setting it on fire, or by using dynamite—all methods that would hurt or maim. He’s also a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.”
Parker then looked out at Olivia. “I was, and am, very impressed by you, Mrs. July.”
Olivia was startled by being addressed so directly.
“Being married to you may be July’s last hope of keeping his soul out of hell.”
Olivia could see Peck’s angry, reddening face.
“So, I’m suspending the sentence. I—”
The cheering of the spectators drowned out whatever else the judge had to say, and he began to bang his gavel. All the noise filling the room covered the sound of the gavel, the judge’s angry demands for order, and the furious objections being screamed out by Peck.
Olivia was so flabbergasted that she couldn’t move. Everyone around her was jumping up and down, but Olivia was still trying to determine if she’d heard the judge correctly. Was Neil really going to go free? She wanted to take off her hat and throw it in the air, but she was still waiting for confirmation of what she thought she’d heard.
Finally, order was restored, but the buzz in the room was loud.
Peck yelled, “You can’t do this!”
“I am appointed by the president and approved by the Congress to rule as I see fit, and like I said, I’m not done,” Parker declared. He then looked into Peck’s steaming red face and said, “Answer me this: Which safes on your trains are the easiest for thieves to crack?”
Peck looked offended. “I don’t know. Ask July, he’s the thief.”
The judge’s emotionless eyes turned to Neil. “Do you know? I don’t need to know the name of the safe manufacturer because we don’t want to give a leg up to somebody trying to walk in your boots.”
The spectators laughed.
Neil, not certain where the judge was going, replied, “Sure, I know.”
The judge then asked Peck, “Which safes are the most difficult?”
Peck shrugged.
The judge asked the suits and uniforms seated in the chairs behind Peck, “Can any of you answer the question?”
They couldn’t.
“Mr. July, can you pick out a Pinkerton posing as a passenger?”
“Most times, right away.”
“How, may I ask?”
“Their clothes are usually new—boots too. They stand out like a beard on a woman.”
“Thank you, Mr. July.”
He then proceeded to ask Peck a few more questions about how long it took to break into a safe, what kind of terrain train robbers favored, and whether or not trains were robbed when it rained. Peck and his group couldn’t answer any of them.
He then asked, “Are any of you men a president with the railroads?”
One man stood and announced himself as president of the Kansas Pacific.
Parker said, “It seems to me, in light of all these unanswered questions, that you’d be a bit concerned about your lack of knowledge in the ways and means of the folks robbing your trains.”
“I am.”
“Good, because in exchange for his suspended sentence, Mr. July is now your employee.”
Neil yelled, “What?!”
The judge said, “You love being on trains so much, Mr. July, I’m going to make you ride them for the next seven years. You are to make yourself available to the railroads and advise them on how to keep me and the rest of their passengers safe from men like you. And, if you don’t like it, I can send you to jail.”
Neil wanted to protest. Work for the railroads! He’d rather be boiled in oil, but then he heard himself. He thought about the future he and Olivia might really get to have, and he supposed he should shut up, so he did. “Thank you, Your Honor.”
“That’s better. I’m also extending this decision to include Mr. July’s brother and sister.”
Peck jumped up. “I object!”
The president of the Kansas Pacific placed a hand firmly on the lawyer’s shoulder and ground out, “Sit down! Do you know how many people are going to pay to see the Julys on our trains, and how much money we’re going to save once they make us rob-proof? Thank you, Your Honor, the Kansas Pacific accepts your decision.”
One of the uniformed men stood and said, “The army signs on, too. We lose a lot of payroll gold to July’s friends, and we’d love to be able to stop them.”
The man representing the state of Kansas just threw up his hands and shrugged.
The judge announced, “Then if we are all agreed, this proceeding is closed.”
A bang of the gavel later, it was all over.
The spectators went wild. Olivia had never been so happy in her entire life. Chase removed the bracelets from Neil’s wrists and Neil ran to Olivia, grabbed her up, and held on tight. “Oh, thank you for marrying me.”
She laughed and cried and held onto him like she’d never let him go. “I’m so happy.”
Their supporters congratulated them with pats on the back, and everybody had tears in their eyes. Olivia’s parents came up, and Olivia accepted a strong hug from them both. James Sterling stuck out his hand to Neil, who, after looking into his father-in-law’s eyes, accepted the gesture. Both men knew it would be some time before all the issues between them were settled, but it was a start.
Sophie announced she would be throwing a party tomorrow for the happy couple. Olivia was glad that it wasn’t going to be tonight, because she wanted to share this evening alone with her husband; they had a whole lot of screaming and hollering to do.
While they continued to accept the hugs and congratulations of the spectators in the hall, Neil placed his arm around Olivia’s waist and squeezed her tenderly. In reality all he wanted to do was take his wife home. Making love wasn’t even a priority at this point; he just wanted to hold her in the quiet of their bedroom and savor this new lease on life he’d been given. As it was, the well-wishers had formed a receiving line and were all waiting their turn. By the number of folks waiting, Neil figured it would be Sunday before he and Olivia were able to sneak away.
When the lady in black stepped up, Neil knew her right away. He hugged her almost as hard as he’d hugged Olivia. Teresa was his only sister, and he loved her like the desert loved rain. He stepped back and surveyed her disguise. “Look at you.”
“I clean up pretty good, don’t I?”
He grinned.
Teresa then hugged Olivia and whispered emotionally, “Thank you, Olivia, so very much for being you.”
Olivia hugged her back. “You’re welcome.”
The two women faced each other, and Olivia could see the tears beneath Teresa’s veil.
Teresa said, “I’ve never had a sister before.”
“Nor I.”
Teresa stuck out her hand like a man. “Welcome to the family, sister.”
Olivia shook her hand. “Thank you, sister. And you look stunning, by the way.”
“Thought if I dressed like you nobody would know it was me.”
Olivia laughed. “You were right.”
They hugged again. Teresa kissed her brother on his cheek, then stepped away to allow the folks in line behind her their opportunity to greet the happy couple.
By Olivia’s estimate, she and Neil received hugs fr
om every person in the valley. She hugged the Preacher, the Blake brothers, and Marshal Wildhorse; then the members of the Elder Board, who offered her her job back (she said yes, by the way); newspaper reporters, folks she’d never met, and giggling adolescent girls who went all cow-eyed when Neil shook their hands.
The last person in line was the president of the Kansas Pacific. He wanted to talk with Neil about coming down to Topeka for a meeting. Olivia excused herself so that they could speak privately, and she and her supporters and her parents went outside to grab a breath of fresh air.
The streets were still crowded, and the mayor was glad to see the wealth of folks going in and out of the stores and shops. She hoped they were spending lots of money, but her mind wasn’t really on mayoral things. Neil was free!
Cara Lee asked, “How long do you think you’re going to grin that way?”
Olivia looked at her friend. “Christmas, maybe.”
They both laughed.
Eunice tapped her daughter on the shoulder. “Olivia, your father and I are going up to our room. It has been some day.”
Olivia agreed.
James said, “And while we’re up there, Eunice, how about we talk about the trip to California I’m taking you on.”
Eunice stared. “California?”
“Yes. I thought maybe we’d take a second honeymoon. A little moonlight…candlelight.”
Olivia heard a thump. She looked around and saw her mother out cold on the walk. She gave her shocked father a shake of the head, then knelt and hollered, “Sophie!!”
Eunice was revived and taken inside by her husband. Olivia watched their departure with a knowing smile.
Cara joked, “Now I see where you get all that fainting from.”
Olivia laughed and elbowed her in the ribs. “Hush.”
Rachel and Daisy were heading home. They passed out kisses and hugs and promised to see everyone at tomorrow’s party.
Cara said, “I need to find my husband—”
“Excuse me, ladies. Either of you know Armstead Malloy?”
Both women turned and met the brown eyes of a rather large, fashionably dressed, brown-skinned woman. Beside her stood three young children.
“Yes,” Olivia answered. “He owns that big mercantile across the street.”
The woman eyed the place, and her jaw seemed to tighten. Olivia and Cara shared a look.
Cara said, “My name is Cara Jefferson. I’m the sheriff’s wife, and this is Olivia July.”
“Pleased to meet you, ladies. I’m Elvira Malloy, Armstead’s wife.”
Olivia and Cara Lee picked their jaws up off the walk, and Olivia said with a joyous light in her eyes, “Welcome to Henry Adams, Mrs. Malloy. Are these your children?”
“Yes.” She then introduced them as Robert, William, and Annie. They were aged five, seven, and eight.
Mrs. Malloy said, “Town always this crowded?”
“No,” Olivia replied, unable to take her eyes off Elvira Malloy. “Special doings today. Would you like me to take you to your husband?”
“Yes, and Mrs. Jefferson, you may want to bring your husband.”
Olivia did her best to hide her exultation. “Come this way, Mrs. Malloy.”
As she led the Malloys down the walk to the Lady, Olivia looked back and saw Cara Lee gleefully rubbing her palms together.
The Lady was packed. With all the visitors in town, business was booming.
Elvira asked, “What is this place?”
“It’s called the Liberian Lady.”
Elvira stared at Olivia. “Why on earth would he be here?”
Olivia could hear the piano player pounding on the keys. “He owns it.”
“What!” Elvira screamed so loud people stopped to look.
Olivia nodded.
Elvira scanned the building’s fancy façade, the men going in and out, and she said, “He was supposed to be here founding a CHURCH!”
It took all Olivia had not to roll on the ground with laughter.
Steam pouring from her ears, Elvira said, “Miss Olivia, would you mind my children for a moment?”
“I’d love to.”
So while Olivia gathered the children to keep them out of the line of fire, Elvira Malloy pushed open the Lady’s newly hung double doors and stormed inside. Eight-year-old Annie, the spitting image of her mother, looked up at Olivia and said to her as only a child can, “I think Papa’s going to get a whipping.”
Holding back her laughter, Olivia said, “I think so, too.”
That evening, Neil and Olivia were on the back porch, and she had Neil in tears telling him about what happened next. “She came barreling out of the Lady and had Malloy by the ear. If she had been a cussing woman, the air would have been blue. Instead she dragged him off quoting Scripture about evildoers and harlots and being on the brink of the pit.”
Neil was having trouble breathing. “What did the children do?”
“They were running behind her trying to keep up. Oh, Neil, it was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. Everyone on the street stopped and stared.”
“He was sent here to found a church?”
“That’s what she said. Can you imagine? He’s supposed to be a deacon, for heaven’s sake.”
“She didn’t know he was here?”
“Apparently she didn’t know where he was until she saw the drawing of him that was in the Cyclone reproduced in a paper in St. Louis. All the money he spent building the mercantile was the life savings of the congregation.”
Neil chuckled and shook his head. “It’s a strange world, Olivia. A strange world.”
“I know, and I can’t wait to tell her about the reward money he’s been so proud about. He’s supposed to get the bank draft tomorrow. Looks like he won’t be putting a new addition on the Lady after all.”
They shared more laughter and then quieted as the memories of the day passed silently between them. Neil looked her way. “I don’t think Parker would have given me that suspended sentence if it hadn’t been for you.”
Her heart swelled. “I just told the truth, and I think he knew what was in your heart.”
Neil wasn’t so sure, but he was glad to have her in his life. “Thank you, Olivia.”
She touched his cheek. “You’re welcome.”
The kiss they shared then was filled with all the love and hope of the future. As the kiss deepened and hands began to roam and breathing began to rise, Neil picked up his wife and carried her inside.
The next morning, Olivia left Neil sleeping and went to her office. No one was on the streets, and she savored the quiet and the blessings she’d received. She and Neil were about to embark on a life free of worry but filled with love.
The office was locked as it was every morning, and as she put the key in the lock, she felt a gun in her back.
“Scream and I shoot you right here.” The voice belonged to Horatio Butler. Olivia didn’t move. “Let’s go.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“Away, and your father is going to pay me to get you back.”
“You’re kidnapping me?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m not going.”
He increased the pressure of the gun. “Yes, you are. The people I owe money to won’t wait any longer, and neither will I. Now, move!”
But before she could do so, she heard another voice that filled her with joy.
“What the hell are you doing! Drop it, you bug!”
Teresa July.
Her voice hardened. “Drop it or I’ll send you to the devil right now.”
Olivia felt the pressure of the gun removed from her back. She heard the gun clatter onto the walk. Only then did she turn around.
Sure enough, there was Teresa in her dress, holding one gun in Butler’s back and the other against his balding head. To her further surprise, standing beside her was Two Shafts. He nodded at Olivia and gave her a smile.
Teresa wasn’t smiling; she looked angry enough to spi
t. “Have you lost your mind?” she asked Butler. “This is my sister! My brother’s wife!”
Butler was visibly shaking.
“You okay, Olivia?”
“I’m fine, sis.”
Teresa nodded, then lifted her skirt, showing off the leather trousers beneath so she could stick one of the guns back into her gun belt. “Get a rope, Shafts, and tie him up.”
Shafts walked over to his horse and brought back a rope. Butler tried to fight, but Shafts was too big and too strong.
“Let me go!” he demanded.
Shafts chuckled. “In a while, but right now we want to play with you.”
Olivia had been around the Julys long enough to know that whenever the word “play” was mentioned, some outrageous act was sure to follow.
Shafts knelt to tie Butler’s feet and ankles, and the armed Teresa warned Butler, “Kick my brother and you’ll walk around on stumps.”
The fuming Butler didn’t move while Shafts tied his ankles, but when Shafts picked him up by the back of the suit and brought him up to eye level, he shrieked.
The big Comanche said to the horrified Butler, “We are going to have so much fun.”
He then carried the yelling and squirming Butler over to one of the buckboards parked on the street, asking, “Olivia, do you know who this belongs to?”
“Handy Reed.”
Shafts tossed Butler into the bed none too gently, then climbed up to the seat. Teresa hurried to join him.
Shafts said, “Tell him we’ll bring it back later.”
Olivia realized that as the mayor she wasn’t supposed to be condoning the carting away of town visitors for humorous purposes by Neil’s siblings, but she figured they wouldn’t hurt him—Butler deserved it—and the Julys would bring him back when they were done.
Shafts and Teresa drove off with a wave. Olivia waved back and went into her office.
The party thrown by Sophie for Olivia and Neil was attended by everyone who could fit inside the big ballroom. Olivia had on one of her best gowns, and Neil wore the new suit he’d purchased at the small mercantile owned by Henry and Harriet Vinton.
Olivia and Neil were seated at the head table, taking a break from the dancing, when her parents waltzed by. Olivia said to her husband, “I think they’re going to be all right now. Did I tell you he’s taking her to California for a second honeymoon?”