Chapter 62
“YOU’RE NOT OUT OF THIS YET,” the matron whispered, propelling her down the empty hallway, the ring of keys jangling on her belt. “A few more hurdles await.”
Her mind spinning, Josephine struggled to keep up, scarcely believing this was really happening. “So you and Mr. Thacker, you’re both part of whatever—”
“I assumed he told you.”
“I think he was trying to, but—”
“This is all your brother’s doing, Miss Dunham. Or at least the seed of it. It’s grown since his death. Inspired by it. Emboldened, you might say.”
“But what is all this?”
“Todd Dunham had a way of bringing people together. People who would not usually view each other as allies. Your brother found common ground and used it to build unlikely relationships where justice could prevail. Like this—at least we hope.”
The matron stopped at two doors opposite each other near the end of the hallway. The door on the left led to the women’s cells. She unlocked the one on the right. “Don’t say another word until we’re outside this building.”
She guided Josephine into an office lined with desks behind a waist-high counter. Most were vacant. Three remaining clerks in the back were gathering their things.
The matron approached the counter, Josephine in tow. “One more before you go. A discharge. Bond was made.”
The three clerks exchanged looks before one sighed and motioned them forward. The others took their leave.
“Name?” the clerk asked, reaching for a stack of folders.
“Josephine Dunham,” the matron answered.
The woman paused, her gaze sliding to Josephine. “I thought bail was denied in that case. That’s what the newspapers said.”
Josephine’s heart pounded, and the matron’s grip tightened on her arm.
“I read the same thing. Then I was told bond had been set and posted, so we let her go. I’m just doing my job—and hoping to get home before the day’s spent.”
“You and me both. But really, what is the world coming to.” The clerk flipped through folder after folder, then frowned. “I’m not seeing papers for her. Are you sure—”
A door opened, and an officer walked in. Josephine glimpsed the crowded lobby beyond him, and fought the urge to run. Then recognition set in.
The desk sergeant who had taken her into custody handed the clerk a piece of paper. “Magistrate’s office just dropped this by. Thought I’d deliver it before heading out.”
The clerk took the form. “Sergeant, your timing is impeccable. And the magistrate’s office? Tardy as usual.” As she penned a ledger entry, Josephine thought she caught a fleeting exchange between the sergeant and the matron, but couldn’t be sure.
A minute later, the matron led her across the lobby, hand still firm on her arm. “Breathe, Miss Dunham,” she whispered, opening one of the double doors. “You’re almost home free. I’ll walk you to the front gate. After that, you’re on your own.”
But she wouldn’t be on her own. Dodge would be there. Somewhere. She knew it. And even if he wasn’t—if, for some unfathomable reason, he didn’t come—she still wouldn’t be alone. Not ever again.
She crossed the threshold into the late afternoon sunshine, and the first breath she took, she knew she’d remember forever.
The streets bustled with traffic and people, and as they walked down the steps, she searched every face for his, her nerves taut. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything. And please, when you see Mr. Thacker—”
“I know. I will. And Miss Dunham, know this . . .” They paused by the heavy iron gate. “Adelaide Stewart did not die alone. I overheard your conversation with Mayor Darden the other night. I was with her till the very end.”
Josephine couldn’t have put it into words, but she sensed the confirmation of that deep inside her. “Thank you, I’m so grateful to know you were—”
The matron frowned. Her gaze trailed Josephine’s toward the street—where Mayor Darden was climbing from a carriage. The matron spun back. “Go. Now. He hasn’t seen you. Walk to the end of the street. Don’t run. Then do as Mr. Thacker said. Vanish!”
The matron left her and, having no choice, Josephine willed one step after another, passing through the iron gates, and walking straight toward Frank Darden. The mayor seemed intent on his conversation with the man beside him, and Josephine kept her head down, though still where she could see him.
Just as she turned left, he looked up—and stopped mid-step.
But she did not. She kept walking, matching the pace of those around her, every nerve screaming for her to look back—and to run. She rounded the corner and quickened her stride, dreading the sound of footsteps behind her. And Darden screaming her name.
Aware of curious glances, she’d tried to make herself presentable for the attorney meeting, but knew she looked as worn and beaten as she felt.
A carriage slowed beside her, and she panicked and started to bolt, when someone stepped up behind her and a firm hand closed around her arm.
She turned, ready to fight—then froze at the sight of him, and the love in his eyes.
“You make it awfully hard for a man to rescue you when you’re rescuing yourself.”
Josephine threw her arms around his neck, silently vowing never to let go, and Dodge held her tight. He carried her to the carriage, which lurched forward almost before he’d closed the door. The interior was dim, the curtains mostly drawn.
“I knew you’d come,” she whispered.
“I’ve been watching from across the street all day. I’d almost given up hope, when you walked out. Then just as quick, I saw a look on your face, and spotted the man getting out of the carriage.”
“Darden.”
“I figured as much. So I followed you until I could get to you without drawing too much attention. But Josephine—” He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t spare you what you went through in there.
But I knew if I tried to grab you on the way, Rigby would make good on his threat.
And somebody could’ve been killed.” He drew her to him.
“I saw you board the train with him. I followed you all the way to the jail, and it—” His voice broke.
“—about killed me to watch him walk in there with you. But we had talked it through several times, and—”
“We?”
“Uncle Jack. He’s here, so is Bethie. We’re headed their way now. But first, tell me the truth. Are you all right?”
“I am now.” She touched his face, still needing to be sure he was real.
“And this—” She pulled the handwritten jerky recipe still tucked in her sleeve.
“—gave me such hope. I’ve thanked God for you and Slim Poyner so many times in recent days.
” She quickly told him what he needed to know for the moment, deciding the rest could wait.
“But Dodge, the money that was posted for bond. I know it was either you or Mr. Daniel.”
“Actually, it was both.” He smiled, smoothing the hair back from her face.
She looked down, self-conscious. “I can’t imagine what I look like right now.”
Thumb beneath her chin, he urged her gaze back to his. “You are, and always will be, the most captivating woman I’ve ever seen. But Josephine, you need to know . . . While I could never have given you the cathedrals of Europe or the pyramids of Egypt, now I can’t even offer you what I once could.”
“Dodge, I don’t—”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “The bond money took most of the proceeds from the sale of the land, but I would have given every penny. The money’s on its way, but Uncle Jack gave me a loan until it comes through.
” He exhaled. “You need to know that he offered to pay the bond outright, but I aim to take care of the woman I love. The woman I want to be my wife . . . If you’ll have me. ”
“If I’ll have you?” She smiled through tears. “Dodge Coburn, I will go anywhere with you. To the farthest ends of the earth. Which is actually preferable at the moment, please.”
They both laughed.
“Then that bodes well for what I have to tell you next. Because, while it’s a far cry from Wyoming . . . Uncle Jack saw a posting from a rancher out in Colorado needing a foreman. It’s a good ways from Denver, I think. It wouldn’t be our farm or our cattle, but—”
“I don’t need a farm or cattle or a ranch or riches, or even Europe or cathedrals.
At least not without you. And Bethie. But .
. .” She looked into his eyes. “I know that working another man’s ranch isn’t what you’ve dreamed of.
Will this be enough for you? Do you think there might ever come a day when you .
. . regret what you’ve done for me? What it’s cost you? ”
“Regret doing what I’ve done for—” He blew out a breath.
“Look at me closely as I say this. I would give everything I own to be with you. No, working for another man’s spread wasn’t my dream.
But dreams change, Josephine. I used to dream about Wyoming, and cattle, and a stretch of land wide enough that a man could ride half the day and never cross his own tracks.
Now . . . I dream about you and me starting a new life, the children we’ll have, and how we’ll prepare them, along with Bethie, for all the changes coming in this world. Changes we’ll work for together.”
Josephine’s throat tightened as her gaze lowered to his mouth, her love for him stronger than anything she could remember.
He pulled her closer on the bench seat. “Is that an invitation to kiss you, Miss Dunham?”
“Always, Mr. Coburn.”
His lips brushed hers, softly, their breath mingling, and his tenderness roused a passion within her, and in her heart—one she prayed they’d have a lifetime to explore together.
“One last thing,” he said after a moment. “Uncle Jack managed to track down how Clay Darden was there in Lynchburg. At the last minute, a son of one of the vendors invited Darden to come along as his guest. Uncle Jack feels so bad for what happened.”
“It’s not his fault. There’s no way he could have known.”
“That’s what I told him, too. Still . . .”