Chapter 22
22
Charlotte marched back into the house with a new determination. The man she loved was facing murder charges, and there was no time to waste. She bounded into the dining room where her mother had reclaimed her seat.
“We need to talk. Now.”
Mama smiled and got to her feet. “It’s about time.” She looked at the others. “Once again, I must beg your indulgence. This is most important. I’ll explain later.”
This time no one said a word as Mama rushed out. Charlotte led her mother into the front room and turned to face her. “The truth must come out, so I’m not going out of my way to speak to you somewhere else. Soon everyone will know.”
“All right. What truth are you talking about? Did you find out where Micah is?”
“Yes.” Charlotte shook her head. “It’s not good. Lewis has had him arrested.”
“For what? Did Micah fight with him?” Mama’s expression betrayed her fear.
“No.” Charlotte paused a moment. “First, I must apologize for the way I’ve behaved. I honestly didn’t know what else to do, but keeping the truth from you wasn’t the right choice.”
“I agree it wasn’t, but I accept your apology. Now please just tell me about Micah.”
“Lewis overheard something Micah and I were discussing at church. We were talking about the past. Micah was hurting over his father. We talked about it, but never mentioned the word suicide . We never once said aloud that he had died by his own hand. But apparently the things we did say led Lewis to believe the situation was even worse than that. He believes that Micah killed his father.”
“Oh no!” Mama’s hand went to her mouth.
“I’m afraid so.” Charlotte came to her mother. “Lewis threatened to expose the truth, and I figured he meant the suicide. Instead, he’s decided Micah’s a murderer. Worse still, he threatened to kill you, Mama, if I did anything to try and stop our wedding from taking place.”
“What?” Mama was indignant. “How dare he?”
“It’s partially my fault. I tried to bargain with him. Tried to assert that I had as much power in the situation as he did. I threatened to sign over my inheritance to you prior to the wedding so that he couldn’t touch a cent of it. He told me if I did that, you would die.” Charlotte sighed and met her mother’s gaze. “I’m so sorry for all of this. I thought I could manage it. Thought I could somehow save you and Micah both from further pain and shame. However, I think we’re going to have to tell the truth about Mr. Hamilton and what happened.
“I know we’ll probably be looked down upon for a long time. I don’t know what legal ramifications Micah, or even you, will have to face, but the lie has caused us so much trouble.”
Mama nodded. “Yes. The truth needs to be told. We should never have lied. God hates lies, and I should have trusted Him to handle the situation. Instead, I tried to fix a problem that hadn’t yet become one.”
“It’s a hard-learned lesson,” Charlotte agreed. “But now we have to figure out how to resolve this situation and get Micah released from jail.”
Mama nodded again. “I agree.”
Micah had never spent the night in jail before now. Waking up and seeing where he was, Micah tried hard to trust the Lord for his well-being. The trouble was, all that had happened was the result of sin. How could God bless that? He had lied about his father’s death. But so, too, had Lucille, and it was her reputation Micah had hoped to save. It didn’t matter what the folks of Cheyenne thought of him, but she was a good woman with a kind heart. People in Cheyenne thought highly of Lucille Aldrich. Her good deeds through church and the Ladies’ Aid Society and elsewhere were well-known. Micah wanted very much for her to maintain those high thoughts. Added to that was her relationship with Rich. What if the man no longer cared about her once he knew she’d lied? Rich Johnson didn’t seem like that kind of fella, but Micah didn’t want Lucille to be hurt by any of this.
He punched the mattress and sat up. He heard movement in the hall and the voices of men talking. Within a few minutes, a young officer appeared at his cell, tray in hand.
“Breakfast, Mr. Hamilton,” the man said.
Micah didn’t bother to get up. No sense in making the kid think Micah might rush him. “Thanks.”
“Chief Vogel said he’ll talk to you after you eat.” The young man deposited the tray and left without another word.
The watery oatmeal and coffee didn’t look all that welcoming, but Micah prayed thanks over the food and began to eat. He’d eaten worse, to be sure. At least the coffee was strong.
It was hard to know what to do next. No doubt Vogel wanted to talk to him more about the situation, but Micah’s thoughts were more on Charlotte and Lucille. Without him there to protect them, what might Lewis Bradley do?
By the time he was tossing back the last of the coffee, Micah felt no better about anything. He knew Edward Vogel was a good man, but if Micah told him the truth of what had happened, he would be obligated to report it all ... every last detail.
Micah sat on the edge of his cot, thinking about the future. Now that he knew he loved Charlotte and that she loved him, he wanted very much to move forward with marriage. He was confident their efforts in ranching could still prosper, even if some people quit doing business with them. He could imagine them living quite comfortably, raising cattle, and keeping to themselves. If the truth did cause folks to ostracize them, then they’d have each other. Lucile would stay on with them if Rich Johnson decided the truth was too much to contend with, and Micah would see to her having whatever she needed.
“But first I have to get out of here.”
He heard voices again and straightened. The young officer returned and opened the door. “I’m taking you to Chief Vogel’s office.”
Micah nodded and stood. “Should I bring the tray?”
“No, I’ll come back for it.” The man motioned Micah forward. “Chief Vogel said you wouldn’t give me any trouble.”
“No, I won’t. This is my first time in a jail, and I intend for it to be my last.”
The younger man smiled. “I used to be in here all the time. Chief Vogel straightened me out good, and now I’m workin’ for him.”
They headed down the hall to the door at the far end.
“Seems like a good job to have.”
“It is. I like what I do,” the man replied. “I definitely prefer not getting into trouble all the time. Made my ma so unhappy, and now that it’s behind me ... she’s proud.”
Micah smiled. A mother’s pride was important to a young man. He knew how much he longed for his mother’s approval. Maybe she was up in heaven smiling down on him now. She would know what the truth was and how all he wanted to do was to protect her dear friend. He was certain protecting Lucille was something she’d approve of, but the practical side of her would probably tell him it would never have been needed if they’d just been honest.
The officer led Micah to the hall where Chief Vogel had his office. He knocked on the door, and at the command to enter, he opened the door and motioned Micah inside.
Edward Vogel rose and smiled at Micah. “Morning. How’d you sleep?”
“Cot wasn’t very comfortable, but I slept pretty well. However, I told your man here this is my first time in jail, and I hope to make it my last.”
“We like to hear that kind of thing from our visitors,” Vogel replied. “Have a seat.”
Micah took a chair in front of Vogel’s desk and sat down. The room was large and had a case of books set against one wall and windows that faced the street on another.
After closing the door, Edward Vogel returned, and rather than take his chair, he simply leaned against the desk just inches away from Micah.
“I was hoping maybe we could talk. I know you, Micah. You’re a good man. Your pa was too. I’m less impressed with Lewis Bradley. The man has a ruthless reputation, and it doesn’t surprise me that he’s somehow tied up in all of this. Still, I’m hoping you can shed some light on the matter. I only locked you up for your own good. I thought maybe a night here would make it a little easier to talk about what happened.”
Micah respected the man more than anyone else in town. He’d met the Vogel family when attending Decker’s School for Boys. Robert Vogel had been in the school, although he was quite a bit younger. Edward Vogel had been good friends with the headmaster, Charles Decker, so they often saw the men together.
“Chief Vogel, I have the utmost respect for you, and I swear on the Bible that I did not kill my father.”
Vogel nodded. “I never figured you did, Micah, but why don’t you tell me what did happen and why Bradley thinks you might have.”
“I can’t without betraying someone I care about a great deal.”
“Charlotte Aldrich?”
“No. Not exactly, although she would be very hurt by the situation. It’s her mother who I’m thinking of.”
“Son, murder accusations are pretty severe, and while I don’t think you killed your father, I need to know the truth about what happened. Lewis Bradley isn’t the kind of man to just let this drop. And he has Kit Hendricks willing to testify to you having threatened to kill your father, so the law isn’t able to just look the other way. And from the way you looked when he mentioned digging up your father’s body, I can’t help but wonder what we’d find.”
“Bradley is jealous. Pure and simple. He’s been after Charlotte for years now. He wants her as his wife and had some sort of arrangement with her father for them to marry. But Charlotte refused the idea of marriage. Even argued with her father over the situation. She thought it was all behind her, but Lewis has been badgering her and trying to force her with threats to her and her mother and ... me.” Micah paused and looked up. “She’s in love with me.”
“Congratulations,” Vogel said, walking around his desk. He sat and leaned back in the chair. “And you love her.”
It was more a statement than a question, but Micah answered all the same. “I do. I’ve only just come to realize it, but there’s the truth of it.”
“And Bradley knows she loves you, so he needs to eliminate his competition.” Vogel nodded and rubbed his chin.
“That’s the way I’ve got it figured. I don’t know why he’s so determined to marry someone who despises him, except that he must want her money.”
“Men have died for less,” Vogel replied.
“I know that’s true,” Micah agreed. “But none of what is being said is true. Bradley is just guessing off bits and pieces of a conversation he heard between Charlotte and me. I was having a hard time, and she was trying to encourage me. Bradley got it in his mind that my feelings of guilt and misery were because I had killed my dad, but nothing could be further from the truth.”
“But you won’t tell me what the truth is.”
Micah shook his head. “I can’t because it could cause problems for someone else. It isn’t murder, however. You can be assured of that.”
“Well then, I’ll arrange for a lawyer to come see you. You may not even need him if I can get Bradley to drop all this nonsense and confess that he made it all up.”
“The chances of that aren’t good, but I’ll be praying for you, Chief Vogel.”
The older man smiled and gave a nod. “That’s much appreciated, son. Much appreciated.”
It was afternoon when Lucille and Charlotte made their way to the Cheyenne jail. They were immediately greeted by several officers who refused to grant their request to see Micah.
“We don’t allow women to visit the prisoners,” the clerk told them.
Charlotte planted her hands on her hips. “He shouldn’t even be a prisoner. He’s done nothing wrong.”
“Micah Hamilton was arrested for murder. That makes him one of our prisoners,” the man countered. “Now, I need for you ladies to leave.”
“I’d like to speak with the chief of police,” Mama declared.
The man shook his head. “Chief Vogel isn’t here. He’ll be back later, so you could try then.”
“Very well.” Mama turned to Charlotte. “Let’s go until we can speak to Chief Vogel. He’s an old friend, and I believe we’ll get more resolved with him.”
Charlotte didn’t want to leave Micah in jail for a moment longer, but there seemed to be no other choice. She followed her mother back outside and took hold of her arm. “What are we going to do?”
“First, we’re going to go check in to the hotel in case this takes more than one day. Then we’re going to go see the pastor.”
“The pastor? Why?” Charlotte didn’t know what he could possibly do to aid their situation.
Mama gave her a sad smile. “I want to tell him what happened and ask his advice. He can advise me on what to do. I think, too, that he won’t judge me too harshly.”
“No doubt others will. They won’t understand why we’ve kept this secret.” She shook her head. “No, they’ll believe we did it to hide Micah’s shame.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore, Charlotte.” Mama gazed down the street shaking her head. “I don’t know why I ever suggested such a lie. I knew it might catch up with us one day, but it seemed the right thing at the time. Micah was so vulnerable and broken. It hurt my heart to see him so shattered.”
Charlotte took hold of her mother’s arm. “He’s stronger now, Mama. But I’m worried about you. When the truth is told, I fear people will treat you poorly. You won’t deserve their judgment and ugliness.”
“I brought it on myself.” She drew a deep breath. “I chose to lie, and even if my intentions were good, it was wrong. It’s only right that I face whatever punishment is due.”
“I’ll be with you, Mama. I’ll never leave you, and I know Micah won’t either. If they all decide to hate us, then so be it. We can sell out and head north. Montana is a good place, I hear.”
“Lucille, you’ve carried quite the burden.” The pastor gave her a compassionate look. She appreciated the lack of condemnation in his expression. “And I can’t say that I blame you, given the stigma of the taking of one’s life.”
“It wasn’t my desire to lie, Pastor, so much as to protect. My motive was born of love. God knows this. You must understand, we were close enough to hear the gunshot. Micah couldn’t stop it and felt that it was somehow his fault. I knew that if it became public knowledge that his father had shot himself ... well, people would say things. Condemning things regarding his father’s soul. I just wanted to keep that from happening. Of course, I knew it was wrong, but I somehow convinced myself that it was the right thing to do.”
“Sometimes our human nature takes charge in that way, convincing and manipulating until sin seems reasonable, even desirable. And instead, it serves only to make the matter worse. Now Micah is facing false accusations and all because the truth was hidden,” the pastor replied.
“And now the truth will be revealed.” Lucille glanced at Charlotte. “Micah is stronger and so are we. I suppose it did allow us time for our grief. I intend to speak to Chief Vogel. I will explain exactly what happened and hopefully see Micah released. Then on Sunday, I will address the congregation as you suggested. I don’t know if Micah will feel up to speaking or not.”
“And I just want to confirm that the wedding is canceled?”
Charlotte answered before Lucille could speak. “It is most assuredly canceled. It was never supposed to happen in the first place.”
The pastor frowned. “The entire situation is most concerning. I should probably speak to Mr. Bradley. His actions in this matter reveal a side of him that is most alarming. I would like to know his thoughts on why he’s done what he’s done.”
“My guess, given the way he was insistent on my giving him Charlotte’s supposed dowry, is money. I know he’s supposed to be quite wealthy. After the death of his wife’s father, they inherited a great deal. But money seems to be the driving force with him, so perhaps he doesn’t have the money he pretends to have.”
“I agree with Mama. I believe this has been solely motivated by financial reasons,” Charlotte said. “He never spoke of it to me but has made it clear that he intended to control my inheritance after we were married.”
“Well, I’m glad you came to speak to me about all of this,” the pastor said, his voice filled with compassion. “I would like to pray with you now if that’s all right.”
“It’s more than all right. I’ve a feeling we’re going to need all the prayers we can get in the days to come,” Lucille said, looking to Charlotte. “But I have the greatest confidence in God and know that He is and will ever be our Redeemer.”