Chapter 24
Thursday, December 2, 1869
Morning came early in the Chauncy home after a late night of sorting through Simon Rassbach’s files. But nearly everyone in Roses Briar was ready and waiting for the train to roll in that afternoon.
“We’ll be on the lookout for your Mr. Rassbach. And thanks for the descriptions of the fellows you assume are with him,” one of the prison guards said as they loaded the eight convicted men into a boxcar.
“Thank you,” Ben gratefully answered, not only because things might return to some semblance of normal in his quiet little town, but also because he was anticipating a long nap on a cold winter’s day.
When he woke up later that afternoon, Ben found Jacob on one side and Caleb on the other. In fact, the whole household was asleep – Arthur was curled up with his mother in the rocking chair, and baby Sebastian was sound asleep in his crate.
Staying still so he wouldn’t wake the sleeping children, Ben stared at the ceiling. He’d moved the Pinkertons to cells on the second floor as soon as he’d returned from the train depot. But the space was in a deplorable condition after housing eight unruly men for so long. And with that thought on his mind, Ben carefully snuck from the bed and rounded up the few cleaning supplies Sheriff Danbury kept around.
“Surprised to see you,” Ambrose Gilbert said when Ben thumped his way upstairs.
“Brought some things so you fellas can clean up your cells a little bit. You should be warmer up here.”
“Sunlight,” Baxter Orville rasped. “I’m just happy to see the sunshine again.”
“The doc is going to stop by later today and check you over again, Orville. His patient is doing a little better, and he’s borrowed a nurse from the hospital in Clear Water Falls to help out for a short time.”
“’Preciate that.”
“I’ll be moving the files from Rassbach’s office up here while you men are tidying up. So let me know if you need anything,” Ben advised while sweeping out the corner under the eaves where he planned to pile the evidence he’d collected.
“You know, I’ve got a couple of thoughts to share with you and the judge,” Gilbert said. “Any chance we can talk after the evening meal?”
“I’ll send him an invitation to supper after I check with my wife.”
“Can’t believe you did it,” Gilbert grunted. “Why tie yourself to a woman like that, Sheriff? Sure gotta be a pretty young thing around here somewhere that’d been a much better choice.”
Ben’s head snapped up, and he stalked toward the cage housing the Pinkerton. “I’m only going to say this once, so listen good. You speak against Roseanna again, and your time here will be mighty short.”
“Easy there,” Gilbert soothed. “No harm intended. But you know it won’t be long before things shake out.”
“And you know powerful men have strong incentive to keep their darkness hidden. Or didn’t you learn that lesson well enough after associating with Simon Rassbach?” Ben stiffly questioned.
Orville interrupted, hacking until his face turned crimson from the effort. When he caught his breath, he groaned. “A pretty face can have the same effect,” the man breathlessly advised, massaging his chest to ease the ache there.
Conceding the point, Ben released a pent up breath. “It’s not my story to tell, but that girl has been through more than any child should ever see. I can’t make it right, but I will protect her and those boys till my last breath. So, if you got something to say, you say it to me. But if either one of you disrespects Mrs. Chauncy, or treats her poorly, then don’t expect any more leniency from me.”
The prisoners lifted their hands to ward off the Sheriff’s anger and clamped their mouths shut.
“Same goes for my boys. Understood?”
Orville and Gilbert nodded, their faces grim. “Just don’t underestimate Gerald Matthews. That’s all we’re saying,” Ambrose Gilbert solemnly replied. “Men like that get their way. Not because they are right, but because they’ve got enough money to buy whatever they want.”
“Including that woman’s children,” Baxter Orville regretfully added.
Taunted by those words, Ben tossed and turned, his narrow cot wobbling every time he moved. What can I offer, Lord? All I’ve got is this simple room, and the desire to do right by the people you’ve given to me.
The heavens were silent, but a very simple spirit of trust flooded his body, drowning out the anxious thoughts. When he woke, the room was still dark, but Ben could make out Roseanna’s form as she moved toward the rocking chair.
“Do you like it here?” Ben whispered after she was seated and comfortably nursing.
“Yes,” she answered lowly, drawing the word out slightly.
“Good. I know we both kinda fell into this, but it seems to be going alright.”
Roseanna blinked sleepy eyes and tried to figure out what prompted the strange conversation. “Are you having second thoughts? I know we are a lot to take on. Even Arnold looked nervous when he introduced himself.”
That gave Ben the urge to laugh. Arnold Danbury was a man of great courage. So, if the thought of a wife and four children had him worried, Ben decided his own jangling nerves were perfectly normal. “That so?”
Nodding, Roseanna offered a timid smile. “We appreciate what you’ve done for us, Sheriff, and we’ll do our best to make this work.”
“Guess that’s all anyone can ask, isn’t it?”