Chapter 14

14

Kat rushed into the hotel's dining room and went straight for Ginny.

"I saw Dr. Horecroft on the street." Kat sounded frantic as if she might grab Ginny and run.

Maeve couldn't decide whether to stop her from making a run for it or help her. Bruised and filthy, Maeve's green dress was torn at the shoulder and bloodstained. She was pretty sure it was Thaddeus Rutledge's blood, and she rather liked knowing that. She and Ginny were both disheveled, their hair in a tangle and loose when they usually had it bound up.

And they were both coated in dust from tumbling around on the street. In a physical fight. Maeve had never so much as shoved her sister or brothers prior to this. She was still shaken from having attacked Rutledge and punching him. Her hand ached as a result.

Ginny wasn't quite so hurt, but she was pale and shaking so badly that she could hardly breathe. Maeve wasn't so frightened. It was the fury that made her tremble.

"Yes," Ginny replied. "Dr. Horecroft is here with Thaddeus to take me home."

Kat shuddered and pulled out a chair from the table. Maeve, and even more so, Ginny, had been shaking too badly to risk the stairs. Mr. Whitmer had kindly offered to help them to their room. He'd seen how upset they were and knew they would need assistance. They'd asked if they could sit in the hotel's dining room for a while, and he'd left them alone once he was sure they were all right.

Kat angled her chair to face Ginny and sank into it. She rested her hands on Ginny's shoulders. "I know what it took for you to come out of hiding and face the accusations against you. And that was without your husband being involved."

"If anyone knows what it took, it's you, Kat. Having you here in Cheyenne, knowing you'd be able to contact people and make arrangements for me, helped give me the courage to face a judge."

Kat brushed Ginny's bedraggled hair back with gentle hands. "I'll tell you what I told Seb when a man came to our house and tried to kill us."

Ginny gasped and hugged Kat firmly. "You never told me that."

"It's been hard to include everything in a letter. I gave you the highlights."

"And a killer coming after you wasn't a highlight?"

Kat gave a little shrug. "The man ended up dead, and I thought I might be tried for murder. His gun went off while I tried to get away from him. The bullet ricocheted and killed him, but the law only had my word on that. Thankfully, the law in this state is very kind to women, and it turned out that there was no question I'd be charged for what happened. We also knew—because the man had said so with his dying words—more gunmen would be coming for us. I told Seb we could either stay here and be on our guard for the rest of our lives, or we could turn tail and run back to Hidden Canyon."

Ginny managed a weak laugh. "You two hated that canyon. Beautiful as it is, neither of you are suited for such an isolated life."

After one winter they'd stopped to visit Maeve and her family on their way out. On their way to getting married. Beyond that, they had no idea where they were headed.

"Or," Kat said, easing back in her chair and looking Ginny in the eye, "we could go to Independence. We figured the gunman to be from there, as Seb had told only his lawyers where we were. So we could confront his lawyers, demand to know if they were behind our troubles, and if not them, then who was."

Ginny drew in a shuddering breath.

After a long moment, with Kat holding Ginny's gaze, she went on. "We chose to face our troubles. We decided we didn't want to hide in that canyon anymore. Nor did we want to live on edge for the rest of our lives. We decided to fight back. And you're here because you've chosen to do the same. I'm sure you hoped to get through the trial and receive the obvious and only possible ruling handed down by the judge, deciding once and for all about your sanity. But now Thaddeus is here, and you'll have to carry on with him directly opposing you. Add to that, you'll have to face that awful Dr. Horecroft."

Ginny stared at Kat as if absorbing strength from her. Maeve remembered Kat from their journey west on the wagon train. A quiet woman, Kat had been the one who knew just what to do when they had the accident with the O'Toole wagon. It was Kat who'd gotten Ma breathing again. Others, copying Kat's movements, had gotten Bridget and Conor breathing again.

They'd been too late for Da, but not for lack of trying. Maeve remembered the day well, every last detail—kneeling at her ma's side, working over her as Kat gave instructions. Sebastian had watched what they were doing and rushed to work on reviving Da, but to no avail.

Kat was quiet, though underneath she was strong. While Ginny drew on that strength, Maeve found herself doing the same, or rather finding strength of her own.

"It's an ugly business, Ginny," Kat said, "but you'll find a way to face up to it. I know you will."

Maeve watched Ginny's shuddering stop, her spine stiffen, her shoulders square. Then fire flashed in her eyes, matching Kat's.

Kat gave Ginny all the time she needed. She looked at Ginny with eyes that searched deep. At last, the strength of that gaze changed to satisfaction.

"You'll face up to it and you'll win," Kat added. "I'll stand beside you, add my voice to yours about how you were mistreated in that asylum. And I'd be honored to swear before a judge that your kindness and strength helped many women cling to sanity while Dr. Horecroft did his best, day after day, to drive us all mad."

Ginny rose to her feet.

Maeve was delighted to see how steady she was now. Before Kat had gotten there, Maeve wasn't sure Ginny's shaking knees would have allowed her to stand.

With a sigh of pleasure, Maeve knew Kat had done some doctoring here in this hotel dining room. If only those women still locked away as they were in the asylum could be given the wisdom and care of Kat Jones. She should be a doctor. In fact, she should run that asylum. And, Maeve suspected, Kat's first act would be to let most of the women there go on home.

"I'm going up to my room now to wash up, fix my hair, and put on a clean dress. You're right, Kat. It's time I face up to Thaddeus and his ill-treatment of me."

Kat was dressed beautifully, though in a comfortable blue calico dress. But it was clean and unfaded. No ripped seam or bit of dust anywhere. She wore no bonnet, leaving her golden hair to gleam in plain sight. It was tied back in a neat bun, not a strand out of place—a strong reminder that Ginny and Maeve weren't so presentable. No decent woman would step out in public in such disarray.

"No." Kat shook her head. "Let's leave you coated in dirt. I think the sheriff needs to see you like that." She turned to Maeve. "And your dress was torn? I heard there was a tussle, but we got there after everything was over, and I've heard no details of what occurred. No woman here has been mistreated in such a way as you two were, not in Cheyenne. Sheriff Peters needs to see both of you just as you are."

The jailhouse door flew open. Ginny led the way in, striding straight into the back room. Eyes flashing, Maeve came in right behind her, Kat next.

Dakota wondered what had happened. Ginny seemed all right now, while only moments ago she'd seemed near collapse. Her skin had been as pale as milk. Her body was racked with shudders, and her eyes were brimming with tears.

Now she looked like she was leading soldiers into war. Her cheeks were flushed and pink, her hands fisted as if she were looking for someone to fight.

Maeve was still dusty from the tussle with Rutledge. Her left sleeve was torn nearly off at the shoulder. She had blood on one fist and a splatter of it on the front of her dress. With cold satisfaction, Dakota knew none of that blood was hers.

Ginny ignored everyone in the room and walked right up to the iron bars confining her husband. "I'm glad you're here, Thaddeus."

Dakota jumped. Everyone in the room jumped except Kat and Maeve, but then they probably knew what had happened to transform a terrified woman into a warrior.

Oscar's fists clenched.

Rutledge's eyes went wide. "You are?"

"Yes, I am. I have allowed your cruel treatment of me for too long. Today we settle things once and for all."

Oscar's fists unclenched. Satisfaction shone in his eyes.

The whole back room of the jail was crowded with Jake's family, three little ones included. Add in Kat and Sebastian, the two prisoners, Dr. Horecroft, and of course Sheriff Peters. There was barely enough room to move. And yet Ginny had cut through the crowd like a razor-sharp knife. Her only goal to look her husband right in the eye and stand strong against him.

"Today I will be found sane, Thaddeus. Today your time of ruling over my life like some cruel despot is over. Today you will be sent home to Chicago, and we will see each other for the last time." Ginny's eyes narrowed as if she were just now really seeing her husband. "What happened to you? You look terrible. And it's not just your bleeding face."

Dakota had noticed, too.

"What's the matter with your arm?"

Kat, standing just behind Ginny, her arms crossed, said, "He broke it when Seb tossed him off a train."

Ginny glanced at Sebastian and nodded, pleased with him. She turned back to Rutledge. "And what's wrong with your leg?"

His lips twisted into a snarl.

"I was told he was already limping when staying in Independence," Kat said. "That was last year. I did some investigating into your husband. He came back from his trip to Idaho sewn up in a dozen places and with his leg cut up badly by Yvette."

"Yvette did that to your leg?"

Rutledge remained silent, glaring at her, his eyes angry.

"Well, good for her," Ginny said, her focus still on her husband. "Your suit is too tight. You've gotten fat, Thaddeus, and your hair has gone all white. Your shirt is dirty, too. I suppose it got stained when you attacked me the moment you saw me, and you ended up on the ground. But it's more than stained. Your suit looks worn and shabby, and your shoes are scuffed. I've never seen you with other than perfectly polished shoes. This isn't all the result of a scuffle with my little Irish friend." Ginny gave Maeve an approving nod. "I do believe you've fallen on hard times, and not just since Jay Cooke's bankruptcy little more than a week ago."

Rutledge finally piped up. "It's been a bad time financially, but nothing unusual. And things will come around for Cooke—he's too smart a man to be kept down for very long."

"I'm sure in time Jay will recover, but what about you? Have you convinced yourself that whatever financial ruin you're facing will come right?"

"Of course it will come right, you fool woman." Rutledge took a step closer to the bars. His limp was pronounced. "You can count on it."

Kat moved to stand beside Ginny, shoulder to shoulder. The two of them faced Rutledge together. Kat said, "You've shut yourself away from the world to hide from this wretched man?"

Ginny nodded.

Sebastian drifted forward to be with Kat, making it a foursome, all of them staring down Rutledge.

"Well, I haven't been shut away," said Kat. "I have friends in Chicago. Your husband has for a fact fallen on hard times. He's lost nearly everything. His creditors came calling a month or more ago. He ran."

Oscar nodded and said, "Word has it he was on shaky ground even before that. I'm not surprised to hear he's used up all his chances. Chicago burned nearly all the way to the ground two years ago. Several of your husband's tenements went up in smoke."

"I was insured," Rutledge sneered. "I rebuilt."

"Right," Kat went on, "and he rebuilt using shoddy material. He crowded in as many tiny, badly ventilated rooms as he could and with no regard for the fire laws, which Chicago has now. Then he raised rents even higher. Even with insurance to help, he ended up with buildings mortgaged to the hilt. His creditors forced him to sell, but even then he was left drowning in debt. He lost his shares in nearly every company he was invested in. His own home burned to the ground."

Ginny gasped and took a half step closer to Rutledge. "Our beautiful home burned down?"

Dakota thought she was too close and opened his mouth to warn her, tell her to move back a bit.

"You were never going to be allowed to live in it again." Rutledge narrowed his eyes. "Now, that's enough about my finances."

Kat ignored him. "He built himself a larger mansion, no shoddy construction there. Only the best for Thaddeus Rutledge. The biggest house in the best part of town. It's also heavily mortgaged. I heard he left town through his back door while his creditors were howling at his front door."

"You've got no business prying into my financial affairs." Rutledge reached through the bars with a sudden, violent motion. He latched on to Kat's arm and dragged her toward him.

Kat cried out and stumbled into the bars, banging her head against the iron with a sickening thud.

Sebastian leapt forward and wrenched Rutledge's hand away from Kat.

Ginny shoved at her husband, shouting, "Get your hands off of her!"

"Stay back, ladies. We can't trust him to behave decently." The sheriff pushed in between the women and Rutledge. He faced the women, his back to Rutledge.

"I'll not have that woman gossiping about my personal life to anyone who'll listen."

Sebastian grabbed Rutledge by the front of his stained shirt and pulled him hard against the cell door. Rutledge's head gave a satisfying thud to match Kat's.

"No man around here puts his hands on a woman like that—not without consequences ." Sebastian gave Rutledge a forceful shove back into the cell.

Dakota looked at the sheriff, who seemed unconcerned about what was going on behind him with his prisoner.

Oscar came to Sebastian's side. Jake urged Kat and Ginny to step back a few more paces.

"If she spreads such lies about me," Rutledge growled, "she'll come to regret it. No decent woman would say such things."

Sebastian balked at Rutledge's statement. "There is no more decent woman in Wyoming than my wife. And if you dare to say different, you'll be begging Sheriff Peters here to keep you locked up because a jail cell is the only place where you'll be safe from those consequences I mentioned."

The sheriff tipped his hat to Sebastian. "Nicely put."

Maeve smiled, and Dakota watched the tension ease in Kat's face, then Ginny's. Maeve slung an arm around Ginny and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "You did a terrible job picking a husband, Ginny."

A laugh escaped from Ginny, and she hugged Maeve back. "I did for a fact."

Kat went right back to sharing her tales of Rutledge's money troubles. "Chicago was on its way to being rebuilt, but now Jay Cooke's bank failed. It will throw everyone into a panic. Banks are closing all over New York and Chicago. They'll no doubt fail in San Francisco, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Denver, and Boston. They're calling it the ‘Panic of '73.' They're going to stop building the railroads because Cooke was funding all of that. Men are losing their jobs left and right. Whole towns will fold up and die. Your husband, with very little left, will lose the last of his wealth."

Kat turned to glare at Horecroft. "You can only be here for the money. Well, I can promise you, Thaddeus Rutledge doesn't have any. He's probably told you he will get lots of money when he regains control of his wife. He will not gain control of Ginny, and he will not get her money."

Dr. Horecroft sneered. "Why on earth would I take the word of a madwoman like you, Mrs. Jones? Your husband may be willing to put up with an asylum escapee. I've heard women are scarce out here in the West, so he may feel like he can't do any better."

Sebastian took an aggressive step toward Horecroft, who ducked behind Sheriff Peters.

"But when we have this trial," Horecroft said from his hiding place, "you can be sure I'll have ready the testimony and paperwork necessary to get Mrs. Rutledge back to a place where she can receive the best care. And that's the Horecroft Insane Asylum in Chicago." Horecroft turned his attention to Rutledge. "Now, I have matters to prepare for the trial. I will see all of you in court."

Rutledge nodded with such confidence that Dakota felt his first qualm of worry. What did these two have planned?

Horecroft left the room in double-quick time as if he was a very busy man. Dakota thought it looked more like he was running away. But to where?

Kat shot Rutledge a look. "You should've been locked up after you kidnapped me in Independence. But that was two years ago, before the fire. Back then you could still afford to buy your way out of trouble. And that was in Missouri. You should know we take a much dimmer view of men assaulting women in the West. I think this time we should just toss you in the territorial prison, along with Mr. Sykes here—who was involved in my kidnapping—and let you both grow old and die in there."

"This man kidnapped you, Mrs. Jones?" The sheriff's bulldog face turned back to scowl at Rutledge.

Kat nodded firmly. "He most certainly did. And he paid off lawmen and judges and politicians all over Missouri. He contacted the governor and donated generously to his next run for office. He managed to stay out of jail. But he can no longer afford to bribe the authorities. His crimes are now catching up to him. If he tried to kidnap Ginny and assaulted Maeve, and this man Sykes helped him in doing so, they should both be locked up, just as Mr. Rutledge here formerly locked up his wife."

"Sounds like he's made a habit of kidnapping women," Maeve said, frowning at Rutledge. "He shouldn't be allowed to walk around free. Nor should Mr. Sykes be free."

Sykes blanched. Here was a man who knew trouble with the law could cause a man heaps of pain. Yet Rutledge just narrowed his eyes and looked at all of them with great contempt.

Dakota didn't like a bit of it.