Chapter 26

The fall back into consciousness was like plunging into ice cold water.  For a moment she didn't remember where she was or what she was supposed to be doing. Until she heard their voices.  She could hear them and comprehend them.  But her eyes remained closed.

"Evangeline, can you hear me?"  That was Aunt Livvy.

"Poor child must be overcome with nerves about tomorrow."   That was Georgia.

"Nonsense.  After all she's  been through, that girl's as steady as a rock."   That was Mr. McCreedy.

But where was the voice she was waiting for?  Where was Joshua's voice?  Joshua?  Don't you mean Hannibal?  Hannibal Heyes.  Her eyes flew open.  She sat upright.  Dear, Lord, he was in trouble.  She had to get to him.  Before it was too late.

She blinked at the three faces that loomed in front of her in concern.

"You fainted, darling.  You were out  for quite a few moments.  Are you alright?"

"Yes.  I'm fine.  I think I need to...."

"What you need to do is get your behind upstairs to that bed.  A body up and falls out like that, you need to rest,"  Georgia cut her off emphatically as she headed up the stairs mumbling about  turning down Evie's bed and building a fire.

Rest was the last thing she needed.  She needed to get to Cold Springs and warn Hannibal and Kid.  If it wasn't too late.

"What time is it?"  she asked.

Mr.  McCreedy took the watch from his pocket.  "Two in the afternoon."

Oh, no.  They were going to be in town by noon.  That meant they'd already been to the blacksmith's shop.  If Bradley Shepherd had  recognized them, it was too late. There was nothing she could do.  What should she do now?  She got to her feet with Livvy and Big Mac's help.

"I need to speak to the preacher,"  Evie stated matter of factly as she moved past her aunt and Big Mac to head towards the front staircase leading to Preacher's bedroom.

"Why?  Are you having second thoughts, dear?"  Livvy asked following behind her.

"I'm just in need of  some advice."  She turned to face her aunt before heading up the stairs.  "Private advice.  Mr. McCreedy, will you escort me into the Preacher's room, please."  She hoped she was putting just enough inflection in her tone of voice to let him know that she required his council as well, without giving anything away to Livvy.  Livvy only regarded her request as a detail of propriety.

Big Mac cleared his throat.  "Oh, why, certainly."  He followed Evie up to Preacher's room.

Once behind the closed door of Preacher's bedroom, Evie began to nervously pace while wringing her hands.

"Is something the matter, Miss?"   Preacher asked, surprised by a visit from both the young lady and the man of the house.  He hoped they couldn't smell the whiskey he'd been drinking from the flask he'd hurriedly hidden under a pillow when he heard a knock at his door.

"I think Hannibal and Kid might be in trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"  Preacher asked, suddenly very sober with genuine concern.

"What makes you think that?"  Big Mac inquired.

"It's a long story and I'm asking you to trust me.  But there's a woman who recognized Hannibal in Cold Springs a couple of weeks ago.  They were sweethearts when they were kids, but she broke his heart for another boy.  The same boy she is now married to.  The same boy who is now the blacksmith in Cold Springs.  The same blacksmith they were taking that pony to this morning.  I only figured it all out a moment ago in the kitchen.   I just know he's going to recognize them and turn them in to the sheriff."

"You said they were due in Cold Springs about the same time I arrived in Red Rock.  That was noon,"  Preacher stated glumly , as he looked at the mantle clock.  "It's past two o'clock.  It's too late to warn them off.  If he did recognize them they're sitting in a jail cell by now."

"If he didn't kill them first.   They're worth the same dead as alive, you know.  And I don't figure Mr. Shepherd is feeling too kindly towards Hannibal Heyes these days."

"What do you mean by that?"  asked the Preacher.

"Mrs.  Shepherd it seems, developed a severe case of hero worship a few years ago when she started reading articles and dime novels  about the exploits of  Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes.  She had it in her head that he was loaded with cash and had a swanky hide out.  She cornered him at that barn dance last night and wanted him to leave and take her with him.  If her husband has any notion of how his wife feels...."

"I get the picture,"  Preacher said.

"Let's not jump to any conclusions. If it's been a long time since that man has seen the boys,  maybe he didn't recognize them at all,"  Big Mac reasoned.

"No, they're in trouble.  I know it.  That's the part I'm asking you to trust me about.  I've got to get to Cold Springs to find out exactly what kind of trouble they're in.  But I can't let Livvy know why I'm going.  If she finds out the truth....I don't even want to think about what will happen if she finds out."

Big Mac pondered the situation for a moment as he took several draws from his cigar.  "We've already established the fact that it's too late to warn them.  So leaving now won't change anything if they've been arrested.  And leaving now would definitely have Olivia raising her eyebrows.   But if they weren't arrested they'll be back here in a few hours.  I think you should wait to see if they come back."

"They should be back be nightfall.  If they're not back by nightfall, we'll know they're in trouble,"  Preacher added.

"But then I'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out exactly what kind of trouble they're in.  I don't think I can do that.  I'll go crazy,"  she pleaded.

Big Mac turned to face her before opening the door to leave.  "That is part and parcel to being the wife of a wanted man with a price on his head.  Something to consider,  my dear."

She ignored that last remark as she watched Mr. McCreedy close the door behind him, leaving her and Preacher alone.   If Hannibal  was in trouble she would have to find a way to help him out of it.  Then all they had to do was wait the two years it took for her to be financially independent and all their troubles would be over.  If the amnesty didn't come through first.  Either way,  nothing would change her mind about becoming Mrs. Hannibal Heyes.

She turned to face the tall thin man dressed in black.  "I don't know what to do.  I've never felt this helpless before.  I know they need help but how can I help them if they're in jail.  And what if they're...."  she trailed off not wanting to voice the other alternative out loud.

"Now, miss, it's times like this you have to have faith.  I know that's what Heyes would tell you if he was here.  And besides, those two have gotten out of predicaments worse than this before.  Why,  I've never seen two fellas that the good Lord watches out for more than Heyes and the Kid.  It seems like there's always some sort of divine intervention that helps them out of any trouble they get into.  And there's also the fact that I've never know anybody that can bust out of jail easier than them boys. But ma'am,  I gotta say, I think Mr. McCreedy is right.  We oughta wait to see if they ride in tonight.  Like Heyes always used to tell the gang, 'don't go borrowing trouble.'    If we leave tonight, you'll have a lot of explaining to do to Ms. Livvy.  And the good Lord will keep his hand on them.  Them boys have done as much good as they've done bad.  They just don't realize it."

 The logical part of her brain knew he was right, but the emotional part of her brain and her heart wanted to jump on a horse right now and head for Cold Springs. "Mr. Heyes may have said 'don't borrow trouble'  but my mama always said 'hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.'   And if the worst has happened,  and they don't come back tonight, I'm going to need help. I'll have to get to Cold Springs as soon as possible.  Can I count on you?  Can they count on you?"

"Ma'am them two boys couldn't mean more to me if they was my brothers.  They can always count on me.  And so can you."

"If they don't show up tonight, can you be ready to ride at dawn?"

"Yes, ma'am, I'll be ready."  

She left the room and ran to the bottom of the stairs and out the front door.  A shaft of cold air smacked her in her face and almost took her breath away.   But she didn't go back into the house,  she kept running until she reached the front gate of the ranch.  Maybe Preacher and Mr. McCreedy were right.  Maybe she was looking for trouble when there wasn't any.  But she couldn't relax until she saw his face riding over the hill towards the gate.  She waited and watched until the cold wind had her teeth chattering.    The bunkhouse was closer than the ranch house so she ducked inside to ward off the chill and grab Joshua's jacket.  When she got inside she found not only his tan jacket but his blue coat as well.  They were hanging from the row of brass hooks by the door, along side Kid's leather jacket and sheepskin coat.  A shudder ran through her that had nothing to do with the temperature.  They were both out in this cold wind with no coat.   She remembered vividly the sight of them riding out this morning.  Neither with coat or jacket.  It had been warm and sunny then.  But now, it was cloudy and cold.  She was starting to feel sick to her stomach.  Now she had even more reason to worry.    God, please keep them safe, she prayed as she left the bunkhouse.  And please let them come home.  She wasn't going to wear a coat.   If Hannibal was out in this weather without one, then she would be too.  She resumed her vigil by the gate.  Watching.  Waiting.

An hour passed before Olivia realized that Evangeline wasn't in the house.  Evangeline saw her aunt's small figure approaching out of the corner of her eye.

"What in the world are you doing out here in this freezing wind without a coat?"  Livvy scolded.  "You should be upstairs resting.  Georgia has your bed turned down a nice warm fire blazing."

"I'm just anxious for Joshua to get home.  I'm really missing him right now.   I thought I'd wait here for him."

"It may be hours before they get back.  He wouldn't want you waiting in the cold without so much as a wrap.  Come back inside.  Georgia will have supper ready soon."   Evangeline didn't reply.  "They won't get home any sooner with you standing out here.  You're just having a case of nerves.  It's time to come back inside."

"No,"  she snapped.  "I want to wait here.  Please, Aunt Livvy,  just leave me alone, alright?"

Olivia wondered at her niece's anxiousness.  A little nerves before making a commitment to someone was one thing, but she seemed to be on the verge of hysterics.   She was smart enough to know when something was wrong.  Olivia wanted desperately to make her come inside and get to the bottom of her anxiety, but decided it was best to humor her niece.  "Alright, but at least put on a coat.  Here, take mine, and I'll go get another and come back and wait with you."

"Thank you, Livvy but I would really like to be alone right now."

"Fine, dear, but please take the coat."    She removed her brown wool coat and placed it around Evie's shoulders before reluctantly returning to the house.

Five o'clock.  One more hour of daylight then temperatures would plummet.  She was almost unbearably cold, even with Livvy's coat.  A swift gust of frigid wind sliced through her, whipping her loose hair about her face.  She shivered.  How must Hannibal feel?

 She paced.  She stood.  She prayed.  She cried.  She hoped.  She despaired.

Another hour passed.  Watching. Waiting.

Dusk.  Watching. Waiting.

Darkness fell.  Watching.  Waiting.

Complete darkness.  Still watching.  Still waiting.

When eight o'clock came and went, so did her hope that they were coming home. It had been two hours since nightfall. Why hadn't she called them back this morning?  She had felt the urge to but had hesitated, not wanting to appear silly or over cautious.  Now she was kicking herself for ever letting them leave this ranch. They were in trouble.  She knew it.  They should have been back by now.  Even allowing extra time for any mishaps, they should have been here at least an hour ago.  She knew he would have come back to her if he were able.  That meant he wasn't able.  Dear, God what if he had been killed?  She felt suddenly weak in the knees.  Her legs trembled.  She held onto the large stone gateway for support then stumbled slowly to the bunkhouse.  She had to sit down.

Once inside she leaned with her back against the door, trying to catch the breath that her lungs seemed incapable of holding.  She removed Livvy's coat and let it drop to the floor.  She removed Hannibal's  blue coat from the hook;  the one he had given her to wear when they were out on the trail together.  She put the coat on and wrapped it around herself.  She hugged the coat to herself as she let her eyes scan the large room.  How empty and lonely it was without them here.  Her gaze fell on the worn leather gloves that lay at the foot of the bunk he slept in.  He had left them there this morning before he'd asked her to be his wife.   She staggered to the bunk and sat on its edge.  She lifted the gloves in trembling hands.   The soft leather had molded itself into the exact shape of his hands.  She stroked them as tears began to stream down her cheeks. She held the the gloves against her cheek, imagining it was his hands that touched her.  She began to sob as she clutched the worn leather gloves to her chest.  Her sobs grew into an anguished wail as she crumbled into a ball on his bunk.  She lay there in a fetal position, gripping tightly to the only things she had left of him. She felt like her whole world was crumbling around her.

That's how Olivia found her, curled in a ball on Joshua's bed wearing his coat and clinging to his leather gloves.   When she led the inconsolable young woman back to the house she didn't resist. She let herself be lead like a child.  What difference did it make now?  There was no need to wait any longer.   She wasn't going to see the face that she loved smiling at her as he rode over the hill into her waiting arms.  And into their future.

"I wonder what's making them so late?"  Livvy pondered out loud as she settled a lethargic Evangeline near the fire in the parlor where everyone else was waiting.

No one in the room answered.

When ten o'clock had come and gone,  Livvy too became concerned.  "I can only think of three possible reasons for them not coming home,"  she said as she parted the curtains on the front window and looked out towards the front gate.  "They either got waylaid along the trail, or they decided to have themselves a bachelor party and got drunk at the saloon and are now sleeping it off at the hotel."

"And the third possibility?"   Georgia asked as she threw another log on the fire to warm the chilly room.

Livvy looked cautiously at Evangeline.  She didn't want to upset her any more that she already was, but it was obvious why she was so distraught.  It was best just to say what everyone was probably thinking.  "Well, he wouldn't be the first man to get cold feet and leave a girl standing at the alter.  And it's best that you find it out now, dear instead of having to find out on your real wedding day."

Her real wedding day.  Tomorrow was supposed to be her real wedding day.  Though only she and Preacher were privy to that information.  The thought brought tears back to her eyes.  Eyes that stared unseeing at the fire that blazed in the fireplace.   She rose slowly from the hearth before any one could see her watering eyes and sat in front of the piano.  She couldn't speak right now.  Words would fail her if she tried, so complete was her sorrow at this moment.  She knew in her heart that Hannibal was either in jail waiting extradition,  was on the run in the cold or.... Her heart was breaking in two.

She played what she always played when she was sad or upset.  Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata."  As she poured out her soul through the music, she let her mind drift back to the first week she had shared with him.  It had been scary and dangerous.  But it had been beautiful and magical too.  Just like this song.  The song Beethoven had written for the woman he loved and wanted to marry. The woman he was never allowed to have.  She played it over and over until her hands started to cramp.  Then she folded her arms over the keys and laid her head on her arms and bawled.  Again she let Olivia and Georgia lead her to her bedroom where she fell, still dressed, into her bed.  When she was alone, she let the floodgates open again and she wept bitterly.   She reached for the handkerchief lying on her bedside table.  Her hand fell on the small book that was such a huge part of her childhood.  She sat up and took the book in her hands and examined it.  With a sorrowful  groan she hurled the little book as hard as she could against the opposite wall.  Damn the accursed thing!  Her life was turning out just like her namesake in the book.  She had found the love of her life.  Everything was perfect.  And the day before she was to be his forever, fate had stepped in and ripped him out of her life.  "Why?"  she asked aloud.  "Mama, where are you now?  I need you to tell me what to do.  I know you tried to warn me, but I didn't listen.  I'm listening now.  Please tell me what to do."    She fell back onto the bed and buried her sobs into the mound of pillows.

Her crying had subsided to sniffles when Livvy came into her room carrying a tray with the supper she had missed.  She nearly tripped over the little book lying in front of the door.  She bent to retrieve it and laid it on the bed next to the supper tray.

"I know you probably don't feel like it but you really should try to eat something."    She picked up the book that had once belonged to her sister.  "Here, read some of this.  It was your mother's favorite.  It will make you feel better.  And tomorrow we'll get to the bottom of everything.  I know it won't do any good to say it but, try not to worry.  I'm sure they're fine.  And I'm sure Joshua will have a very good explanation for his absence."  At least she hoped so.  She leaned over and kissed the top of Evangeline's head before exiting the room and retiring to her own.

She sat up on the side of the bed and stared at the book.  She was almost afraid to touch it.  She didn't want to open it and see the words that were like a prophesy of doom.  She didn't want to read about finding her true love as he lay dying, breathing his last breath.

With trepidatious hands she lifted the book and let the pages fall open where they would and read the first words that caught her eye.

"Whither my heart has gone, there follows my hand, and not elsewhere.
For when the heart goes before, like a lamp, and illumines the pathway,
Many things are made clear, that else lie hidden in darkness."

Her heart swelled with a bit of hope.  He was alive.  She felt that in her heart.  If he were dead she would have felt something different she was sure.  But he was in trouble and he needed help.  He couldn't come to her.  She understood that now.  Else he would have been here by now.  And if he couldn't come to her, she would go to him.   "Where my heart has gone, my hand will follow,"  she said aloud.  Everything would be made clear once she got to Cold Springs tomorrow and then she would know exactly what she was facing.   She could not - would not - sit here like a blubbering ninny and do nothing.  He'd risked everything to save her when she'd been in trouble.  And now he was the one in trouble.   And just like her namesake in the book,  she would go wherever she had to to find him.  No matter how long it took or how far she had to go.  She wiped the streaks of tears from her face.  It was time to make a plan.  If she was going to pull this off there were several obstacles that had to be overcome.  The biggest of which stood five feet two inches tall and was sleeping in the bedroom down the hall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"At least let me come with you.  What if you get there and find out something bad has happened.  You don't need to be alone.  Just let me get dressed."

Evie looked down at Livvy as she stood on the front porch in her robe and slippers, shivering against the frosty morning air.

"There's no time for that Aunt Livvy.  We've already mounted and are ready to ride.  Besides, I won't be alone.  Preacher will be with me.  He's just as concerned about them as the rest of us.  He'll take good care of me."

"That's right, ma'am.  I won't let nothing happen to Joshua's gal,"   Preacher said as he checked the ammo in his six shooter.

Livvy sighed heavily in resignation.  "Very well.  But I want you to go to the authorities immediately if there's been trouble and let them handle it.  Then get back here as soon as possible."   She turned to go back inside but turned back to add, "With two hungover cowboys hopefully."

Evie wished a hangover was the only problem she was about to face as well.  But she knew better.  "We'll be back as soon as we find out what's happened."   She pulled the hood of her black wool cloak over her head before nudging Rusty forward through the gate.  She felt underneath the folds of her cape with hands wrapped warmly in worn brown leather, to make sure the blue coat was there.   Then she glanced over at her partner and smiled to herself seeing the sheepskin coat he was wearing.  They had decided it was best to wear the boys' coats to make sure they were warm, in case they ran into them on the trail.

They didn't meet a single person on the road to Cold Springs.  The white coating of frost that covered every blade of grass and every rooftop began to disappear as the sun rose higher in the the sky.   But her dread grew with every mile that brought them closer to town.  When they passed the sign that said "Cold Springs - Population 894"  a shudder went through her body.  She looked silently at Preacher.  He gave her a nod, indicating he knew the plan and was ready to carry out his part.

She waited by the sign just outside of town while Preacher rode on.   His first stop would be the blacksmith's shop.  If that revealed nothing he was going to the saloon.  In the mean time she would ask questions in the mercantile and the last result was going into the sheriff's office.

After giving Preacher enough head start she rode into the town that she was coming to loath.  Something bad always seemed to happen here.   She drew rein in front of Handy's mercantile and dismounted.  Out of the corner of her eye she saw the image a woman with a baby on her hip.  She turned and saw Laura Thomson holding baby Hannibal emerging from the alleyway between the blacksmith's shop and livery stable.   She watched her from under the cover of her dark hood.   Her eyes narrowed in suspicion and distaste.  Had she turned them in?  Had her husband turned them in and she had done nothing to stop it?

She pushed the hood off her head revealing herself just as the mother of seven approached her.  Their eyes met and locked.

Laura stepped back a couple of steps, seeing the fiery look in the younger woman's eyes.  Her first instinct was to turn and run back towards her house, but she knew she owed this woman an explanation.

"I had nothing to do with it, I swear,"  Laura stated quickly and firmly, knowing why she was in town.

"With what?"

"My husband....he....well, he turned them in to the sheriff."

Evie closed her eyes and sighed.  Mostly in relief.  At least he hadn't killed them.

"So they're in jail?"  Evie asked.

"No.   They got away.   I helped them escape and they rode north out of town."

"They brought a pony with them.   Where is it?"

"It's in the livery."

Evie turned her back to the older woman and started to mount.  She turned back when Laura stopped her.
"Wait.  I....I just want to tell you that I'm sorry.  About the barn dance and about what happened to Hannie and Jed.  If I could have prevented it I would have, but I had no idea they were going to be in town.  And I certainly didn't expect them to bring any business to our shop.  I hope that Texas ranger doesn't catch up to them."

"What Texas ranger?"

"Sherman McMaster.  He was a ranger a couple of years ago when he nearly caught them somewhere in northern New Mexico.  But they managed to lose him in some canyons and he's been itching to get another shot at them ever since.  I'm afraid if he does catch up to them it won't end well."

"How many men are in the posse?"

"Two posses.  Ten men each.  They split up to cover more ground."

Evangeline's face drooped with fear.   How could they possibly escape two posses that size when they were without coats or food?   And they weren't being chased by a posse who wanted reward money.  It was personal.  That meant the reward wasn't money, but their hides.  She had to find them.  Soon.

"Thank you for the information.  And thank you for helping them.  I just hope it wasn't in vain."

Evie mounted Rusty and was about to head out to find Preacher when Laura halted her again.
"I thought you should know.   He wanted to come back to you.  He wanted to ride south back to Red Rock, but Jed wouldn't let him.  Jed said that it would lead the law straight to you and you might be in trouble for helping them.   He finally agreed with Jed and rode north, but he didn't want to.  He didn't want to leave you."

She had known that all along.  But hearing it out loud from someone else made her heart hammer in her chest.  It also gave her a revelation.  She knew where they were.  She had to find Preacher.  And she prayed he knew how to get to Rising Gulch.