A Constant Love (The Hope of Cheyenne #1)

Chapter 23

23

“We already told you ladies that you cannot visit the prisoner Micah Hamilton,” the police officer said, waving Charlotte and her mother back.

“We aren’t here to see Micah, at least not just yet,” Mama told the man. “We’re here to see Chief Vogel. They said he might be back later in the afternoon, and so we’ve returned. He’s a good friend, so if you would just go tell him that Lucille Aldrich and her daughter would like a word, I’m certain he will allow us to meet with him.”

The man looked absolutely exasperated but got to his feet. “Very well, I’ll go speak with him, but he’s mighty busy, and I doubt he’s going to want to spend his time hosting a hen party.” He stomped off as though Charlotte and her mother had asked him to collect rattlesnakes by hand.

“He wasn’t at all happy with the task you gave him,” Charlotte said in a whisper.

“No, I suppose he wasn’t, but as my grandmother used to say, ‘He’ll have to get glad in the same clothes he got mad in.’”

Charlotte smiled and nodded. She longed to see Micah set free. He didn’t deserve this terrible treatment. Lewis Bradley was the one who should have been thrown in jail for all his ugly threats.

The officer returned and behind him followed Edward Vogel. Mama moved forward to greet him.

“Your man wouldn’t let us see Micah, and I was afraid he wouldn’t allow us to see you either.”

Chief Vogel glanced over at the man, who now looked rather sheepishly at them. He gave a little shrug and quickly busied himself with the paperwork on his desk.

“Lucille, it’s good to see you again. Why don’t you and Charlotte come on back to my office, and we’ll talk?”

“Thank you.”

They followed Edward Vogel to his office, where he offered them a seat and then took his place behind the desk. Mama leaned forward to immediately engage him with her story. Charlotte had never held more respect for her mother than in that moment.

“I’m afraid that I am the one responsible for all the problems Micah Hamilton is now facing. I’ve come to set the record straight.”

“I see.” Chief Vogel eased back in his chair. “I was hoping someone would.”

Mama shook her head. “I apologize.” She sighed and looked at Charlotte. “This isn’t easy, but perhaps it’s made just a bit easier because I already confessed it to our pastor. I suppose each time I tell the truth it will be better.”

“The Bible says the truth will set you free.” Chief Vogel looked nothing but sympathetic. “It doesn’t promise it will be easy, however.”

Mama chuckled. “You are quite right to say that.”

Chief Vogel placed his arms on the desktop and folded his hands. “So tell me what you’ve come to say, Lucille.”

“I understand Lewis Bradley had Micah arrested for the murder of his father. I’m here to tell you that Micah did not kill his father. I was there when Wayman died ... by his own hand.”

Vogel’s eyebrows raised slightly. “Suicide?”

“Yes.” She sighed again, and Charlotte reached over to take hold of her mother’s hand. “My husband and son had gone out and were caught in the blizzard. I waited much too long to send someone to search for them. Wayman and Micah were the only ones willing to go. I’m afraid our new ranch hands, young boys from Texas, were unnerved by the low temperatures and wind. Anyway, Micah and Wayman set out to search. They found them ... frozen ... dead.” She paused for a long moment, and no one said a word while they waited for her to continue.

“Wayman sent Micah to our place for a wagon. I insisted on returning with him. I needed to see for myself the place where my husband and son had died. We were nearly there when—when we heard a single gunshot fired. When we reached the gully, it was clear that Wayman had shot himself in the chest. By the time Micah made his way to him, Wayman was dead.”

“I am sorry that you had to suffer that. That Micah had to go through it,” Chief Vogel said, shaking his head. “A terrible experience to be sure.”

“I don’t know what got into me,” Mama continued, “but I knew how people could be regarding a man taking his own life. I’d seen it happen years before. Even good Christians were cruel, heartless. Some were less so, well-meaning, but still they said and did things that caused more pain than healing.”

Vogel nodded. “I’ve seen that myself.”

“So after helping Micah load my husband and son into the wagon, we went back for Wayman. His body had already started freezing. The cold was bitter, and it came to me that we could just tell people Wayman had died along with my men. It wasn’t exactly a lie.

“I told Micah we wouldn’t speak of the suicide. We would take his father to his ranch, where he could bury him beside Micah’s mother without anyone being the wiser.” She stopped and clutched her hands together.

“Micah was grief-stricken. You remember how bad it was anyway. All those cattle gone, other people who had died. Everyone had suffered tremendously because of the weather. It was an easy lie to tell, but not done for any divisive or illegal reasons. I just didn’t want Micah to have to deal with the attitude I was sure he’d get from other folks on top of trying to deal with losing the last member of his family.”

“Things were still bad for Micah,” Charlotte couldn’t help but add. “We tried several times to go and see him, but he was often gone. Usually off working to clear the carcasses and such.”

“She’s right. Micah was overwhelmed by all that happened, and I’m ashamed to say that my own mourning kept me from keeping my promise to his dear mother. I told her I’d always be there for him.”

“Now, Lucille, you can’t be blamed for neglecting a promise while mourning your husband and son. You went through a terrible loss, and you had a daughter who was struggling too. You’re one of the strongest women I know, just like my Marybeth. You don’t need to feel ashamed or singularly at fault for any of this. Given the same circumstances, who can say what any of us might have done?”

“None of us expected Wayman to kill himself. There was no sign at all. He was a driven man who loved God and served others with great compassion. The best I can figure is that it was all just too much for him. Micah said he’d seen so much death that day, and then to lose his best friend and see Frank Jr. dead as well. I can’t help but think he might well have thought it could just as easily have been Micah and might even yet come to that.”

“Who can know the torment in a man’s mind when he comes to that place where death is more welcomed than life?” Vogel replied.

Tears came to Mama’s eyes, which in turn brought them to Charlotte’s. She reached over to give her mother a hug.

“All I know for certain is that Micah didn’t kill his father,” Mama said, pulling a handkerchief from her purse. “He saw the aftermath, but he had nothing to do with the death, and he’s remaining silent to protect me from being ostracized for lying about it. But I don’t care.”

Her voice broke a bit, causing Charlotte’s tears to flow even more freely. She’d not seen her mother so full of sorrow and remorse since her father and brother’s deaths. Her confessions were bringing it all back.

“I don’t know what else I can say or do to see that boy set free, but if anyone deserves to be locked up, it’s me.”

“No, Mama.” Charlotte wept against her mother’s shoulder. “You mustn’t say that.”

“No, you shouldn’t say that,” Chief Vogel interjected. “It’s not true. As you said, you were trying to prevent even more devastating hurt. I knew it had to be something like this. I could tell Micah wasn’t lying when he said he hadn’t killed his father, but I knew there was something he wasn’t saying. Someone he was protecting. He even mentioned it when we were talking this morning.” He looked at Charlotte. “Is Lewis Bradley threatening you in order to force you to marry him?”

“Yes!” Her exasperation had to be quite evident. “Lewis wants the Aldrich money. I think if we had married, he would have forced us to sell the ranch and depleted every dime either of us had.”

Mama gave a nod and leaned forward. “He’s been unyielding in this. I don’t know the full extent of plans that he had with Frank, but I don’t think those are important to him anymore. I truly believe it has been only about the money.”

Chief Vogel considered this for a moment. “Some men never have enough.”

“He told me that if I didn’t cooperate, if I did anything to keep my inheritance from him, he would kill Mama.” Charlotte felt the tears come hot to her eyes. “How could I not agree to do whatever he commanded?”

“Bradley’s got a great deal to answer to. But for now ...” Chief Vogel got to his feet. “I think I’ve heard enough.”

Mama collected herself and drew a deep breath. “Can we please just see Micah for a moment? I want to reassure him that we’re here for him and to tell him the truth is out, as it should have been from the beginning.”

Edward Vogel nodded and got to his feet. “I think that’s only right. Come with me.”

He led them to Micah’s cell. He was stretched out atop the cot, reading a Bible. When he glanced up and saw them, he jumped up.

“What are you doing here? This is no place for either of you.”

“Micah, my dear, I needed to see for myself that you were all right,” Mama said, reaching through the bars to take hold of him as he drew close enough. “I wanted you to know from me that I told Edward the truth. He knows all about your father and what happened.”

“Oh.” He looked at Chief Vogel. “I, uh, well, now you know.”

“I do, son, and I understand why you did what you did.”

“I’m going to announce it at church on Sunday, Micah. I’d like it if you could be at my side.” Mama looked to Chief Vogel. “Will he be out of jail by then?”

“I’m releasing him now,” he replied and grabbed the keys. “I’m sure sorry for what you went through, Micah. Sorrier still that you felt you had to lie about it in order to keep people from looking down on you. My wife and I will certainly stand by you through this. And I’ll make sure there’s no further trouble with the legal system.”

“I appreciate that, Chief Vogel. And ... I’m glad the truth is out. I think it’s been just as hard to keep it to myself as it would have been to answer everyone’s questions.”

“Thank you, Edward.” Charlotte’s mother rushed forward to embrace Micah. “Forgive me for all of this mess.”

He hugged her, but his eyes caught sight of Charlotte. After releasing her mother, Micah came to her. “Are you still certain that you’re over your infatuation?”

She walked into his arms and stretched up on tiptoe. “It’s no infatuation. I’m completely in love with you. It has always been and will ever be a constant love, Mr. Hamilton. Of that, there is no doubt. Furthermore, I have no desire to ever be over it.”

“Good, because I feel the same way.” He kissed her then and there, as she had known he would. She didn’t care who looked on. This was where she belonged.

The minute Lewis Bradley heard that Lucille and Charlotte were in town, he began planning what to do next. Success was so close he could almost touch it. After hearing they’d had a meeting with the police chief, Lewis knew that he would need to go and speak to the man as well. He wanted to make sure any female conniving and pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.

“You’re not going to like this, Boss,” Kit Hendricks said, coming into Lewis’s office, “but the sheriff has let Hamilton out of jail. I just saw him walking to the hotel with the Aldrich women.”

“What!” Lewis jumped to his feet. “Why is he free?”

“I don’t know, but he sure enough is.”

Lewis muttered several expletives and grabbed up his hat. “I intend to have a talk with Chief Vogel. You go keep an eye on them and see if they leave the hotel.”

He flew past Hendricks and made his way from his office to the police station. Anger didn’t begin to describe his range of emotions. He felt overwhelmed with a sense of betrayal and annoyance that culminated in absolute rage. Why couldn’t things just go his way this one time?

The clerk at the police station was surprised when Lewis barged into the building demanding to see Edward Vogel. Vogel himself seemed far less concerned. He didn’t even invite Lewis to come back to his office.

“I figured you’d come here as soon as you knew Micah was free.”

“How could you let that murderer go?”

“Because he’s not a murderer,” Vogel replied in casual confidence.

“He is. I have a witness.”

“You have nothing. I had another talk with Kit Hendricks. Seems some of the details are a bit hazier to him now.”

Lewis lifted his jaw a bit and glared at Vogel. “But he’s a witness to Micah’s threat to kill. There were others there too. If you could find them, I’m sure they’d confirm his story.”

Vogel chuckled. It wasn’t at all what Lewis expected. “Those cowhands are long gone, Mr. Bradley, and well you know it. What I’d like to know is what your part is in all of this.”

Bradley looked at the man as if he’d gone mad. “Wha-what? I only have justice on my mind. I want the truth to be told and the guilty to be punished. That’s what’s good and fair under the law.”

“And you’ve no other motive for this?” Vogel watched him carefully.

Lewis felt as if he were the one being accused of murder. How dare the man act as though Lewis was the guilty party.

“You should go and dig up the body. It’s only been a year and a half. There’s bound to be proof there that Micah shot and killed his father.”

Vogel’s eyes narrowed. “I have all the information I need, Mr. Bradley. However, I would ask you to stick around town. I might have more questions for you to answer. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get back to work.”

Lewis forced a smile. “I’ll be happy to help in any way that I can, Chief Vogel.”

The man had the audacity to ignore his comment. Lewis went to the door and then turned back. “I don’t suppose you know if Mrs. Aldrich and her daughter were going to remain in town tonight.” The expression on Vogel’s face suggested concern. Lewis shrugged. “I thought I might catch up to them and invite them to my home for dinner.”

“As I understood it, they were headed to the hotel to get their things and then to the livery stable. They’re hoping to get home before dark. Micah is going with them.”

Lewis nodded. “Very well. I suppose dinner can wait. Soon we’ll be married, and Charlotte’s mother will hopefully be living with us, so there will be plenty of dinners together in the future.”

“Of course,” Vogel replied, his tone sounded a bit too guarded for Lewis’s comfort.

He hurried from the police station toward the livery, then stopped. He turned around and went back to his office. If Vogel wasn’t going to handle this, then Lewis would take care of matters himself.

“You’re back sooner than I figured,” Hendricks said when Lewis rushed through the door.

“Is there something you need, sir?” Lewis’s secretary looked up from his desk, appearing just as surprised as Hendricks.

“I forgot something. I must get it to prove something to Vogel.”

He dismissed them both with a glance and went to his desk, where he took a short-barreled Colt from his right-hand drawer. Let them think what they would. Lewis had it all planned out. He would go to the livery and provoke Micah to fight. In the middle of it all, Lewis would have to shoot him ... in self-defense. He smiled as he hurried to the livery. Self-defense was perfectly understandable. Hamilton hated Lewis for getting him thrown in jail. Once the deed was done, Lewis would threaten the Aldrich women into supporting him. It was a simple plan. It couldn’t fail.

“I’ll be glad to get home,” Lucille Aldrich said, smiling at Micah. “I’m just so happy to have you with us.”

“I have to admit, I wasn’t at all sure how God was going to work it out,” Micah said, putting Charlotte and Lucille’s things in the back of the wagon. “But I had a genuine peace about it. And I slept pretty well, even though the cot was terribly uncomfortable.”

“That’s because you had no guilt to keep you awake.” Lucille patted his arm before letting him help her up onto the wagon.

He turned and looked at Charlotte, who was waiting to receive his help. “And you. You do realize this might have been resolved years ago if you had just told me how you felt.”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t feel the same. You and Frank Jr. were always talking about your lady loves. I was just the little sister.”

“Well, you weren’t my sister,” he said, leaning over to kiss her once again. Micah didn’t figure he’d ever get tired of doing that.

“Get your hands off of my fiancée!”

Micah raised his head and looked past Charlotte to where Lewis Bradley stood glaring. “She’s not your fiancée, Bradley.”

“This gun begs to differ,” Lewis said, pulling a Colt revolver from his coat pocket.

Micah shoved Charlotte behind him. “Put the gun away, Bradley. I’m not armed.”

“I’ve endured all the interference from you that I’m going to take. I don’t know exactly what you did to your father, but I still intend to see you pay for his death.”

“I’ve been paying for a long time now, and if you want to hear the full story, then come to church Sunday. Lucille and I plan to be quite open about what happened.”

“No. Sunday I’m getting married. It’s my wedding day, and you aren’t going to spoil it.” He pointed the Colt at Micah. “I suppose we could hold your funeral after that.”

“Look, Bradley, I’m done with this. You need to stop before someone gets hurt.”

“Oh, someone is getting hurt.” It was clear he wasn’t going to be reasonable. “You should have died before now. None of you deserve to live.”

Micah had no way to protect Charlotte and her mother if Bradley decided to start shooting. He prayed silently while looking around as carefully as he could. He didn’t want to rile Lewis Bradley any more than he had to.

“You know, Charlotte, I tried to make you come to me. I paid Hendricks to help me—to burn down the Aldrich empire. Well, maybe not everything, but enough that you’d have to come to me to figure out what to do. Charlotte, you should have come to me. But I can take care of everything right now.” He pulled back the hammer of the gun, keeping it aimed at Micah. “I’ve planned this out for a long time now. I want you dead, and since the city won’t hang you, I’ll put a bullet in you myself.”

But before Micah could move, Edward Vogel stepped out from behind one of the stalls. “I think I’ve heard enough.” He looked at Lewis, who was obviously surprised by the chief of police interfering with his plans.

“Vogel! I’m glad you’re here. Micah threatened to kill me, and I had to defend myself. The women saw it all. They can and will support what I’m saying.” He looked at Charlotte and Lucille and narrowed his eyes. “They will confirm what I’ve said.” Vogel took the revolver away from him and grabbed Bradley by his collar with his free hand.

“I’ve been here since you left the station. I heard everything. You’re under arrest, Lewis Bradley, for intent to commit murder.”