Chapter 26

Kat and Seb returned to the boardinghouse to sleep that night, with plans to accompany Patrick Wadsworth's body back to Chicago.

She'd had a long day doctoring; he'd had a long day talking with the sheriff.

They'd brought Huey Jessup along and rented him his own room for the night. The sheriff said he wanted to talk to all of them again.

Thaddeus Rutledge was in jail for kidnapping, as was Dr. Horecroft. Horecroft protested that he'd never touched Kat, but the sheriff told him that standing by, following along, with full knowledge of a kidnapping and doing nothing made him part of the crime. The sheriff said he had plans to hang both of them, along with Sykes and his partner.

But Kat knew how rich and well-connected Thaddeus Rutledge was. She believed he'd find a way to go free.

Marcus Coleman was in a jail cell along with everyone else. His family had been informed, and they were sending the top lawyer in St. Louis to straighten things out.

"Marcus ranted and raved to the sheriff," said Seb, "about how I'd promised him a partnership in my inventions. The sheriff saw the way he was acting. I expect when his family comes for him, they'll make promises about getting him help, and the sheriff will let him go." Seb frowned. "I don't believe Thaddeus Rutledge will end up in jail. Their story about getting you out of the line of gunfire is weak, but Rutledge has a lawyer coming in from Chicago, and I expect a lot of money will change hands. The man will go free, and Dr. Horecroft along with him most likely."

"At least he has a broken arm." Kat had refused to help set it. That should slow him down some.

They hadn't told Aunt Vivian about their day. Maybe they would over supper in an hour.

Kat looked down at her bloodstained dress. "I need to wash up and change clothes before Aunt Vivian gets a look at me."

Seb went to the pitcher on the dressing table and poured water into a basin. "I'll get you a new dress. I'm afraid that one is finished."

The pretty green calico they'd bought together in Omaha. Ruined. With both hands, she gripped the collar and ripped the dress apart. Half out of her wits, she tore at the dress and tore and tore until it was in shreds on the floor by her feet. Then she saw her chemise, bloodstained like her dress. As she reached for the neckline, Seb came and gathered her into his arms.

She broke down and sobbed.

"I'm sorry about today," Seb murmured as she buried her face against his chest and wept. "It was Marcus who brought all this down on us. It was my past that drove me out west, that caught up with us so soon after we emerged and brought us to the gunfight. I'm sorry about it all."

He held her, his heart aching as she wept, as any reasonable person would do after being shot at, kidnapped, and watching her uncle die just as she found he wasn't quite the awful man she'd always thought. She'd spent the entire afternoon surrounded by wounds and blood and pain, focusing first on her uncle, then both of Seb's lawyers. Even Rutledge needing a cast had kept the doctors busy, leaving more for her to do. Huey needed stitches, as did Sykes. Dr. Horecroft looked bruised, but no one bothered much with him. Sykes's partner had been knocked out cold, although he'd eventually regained consciousness and shuffled out with Sykes in the sheriff's shackles.

A deputy had come back to fetch Rutledge and Horecroft, both men highly indignant.

She cried for all of that, and he held her. Finally, the tears ebbed and changed to sniffles. Seb dragged a handkerchief out of his pocket and pressed it into her hand.

When she finally wiped her eyes and blew her nose, she looked up at him. Her eyes were awash in exhaustion and worries.

"Maybe tomorrow on our train ride to Chicago with your uncle Patrick's remains, we can discuss the fact that you're now one of the wealthiest women in Chicago."

"There's nothing to discuss, Seb. I'm going to sell everything, turn it into gold, and donate a chunk of it to every church in Chicago and Cheyenne. Then we're moving back into our homestead cabin."

"Can we save a few dollars of it so I can buy chemicals?"

Kat nodded. "We probably don't need Patrick's money for that, but you can keep as much money as you want."

"I'll sell my house and warehouse here, and we can stop at churches along the way to Cheyenne and drop a nice chunk of the money in their offering boxes. I like that idea. And you're right—I'll probably be able to pay for the chemicals with my own money."

"I'd like to buy some chickens and a milk cow in Omaha. They're hard to come by in Cheyenne no matter the price."

"Sounds like our whole life is nicely planned. When we get to Cheyenne, let's ride on past to Idaho and get that package back we mailed to the O'Tooles and see about visiting Hidden Canyon."

Kat reached out and snagged Seb's wrist, shaking her head almost violently. "What if we get snowed in for another winter?"

She felt him shudder at the very idea.

"Can we get changed for supper now?" Seb leaned forward and kissed her on her very shiny nose. Then she looked down on the rags she'd made of her dress. "Without destroying the rest of our clothes?" Then he shrugged one shoulder. "Unless it makes you feel better. In which case..." He stepped well back as if to give her plenty of room to do her shredding.

Kat gave a weak smile, then changed into a new chemise and dress in a completely civilized manner.