A Truth Revealed (The Heart of Cheyenne #3)

Chapter 20

20

That night Will sat up thinking about all that Laura had told him and all that had happened over the last few months. His relationship with God was on better footing, but there were still times when Will prayed in a more accusing fashion than he should. He always sought God’s forgiveness and knew his thoughts were already known to God before the words came out of his mouth, but sometimes he felt so ashamed.

God was good. Will knew that. He knew that God hadn’t ceased to be good or loving just because his mother and sister had died. God hadn’t stopped being in control just because bad things had happened and bad men were prevailing. They wouldn’t prevail forever.

“But what am I supposed to do now? My mother and sister were murdered, possibly by white men seeking nothing more than money. My lifelong desire to serve You is in tatters, and my faith is shaken.” He looked toward the ceiling as if he might glimpse God there. “What am I supposed to do now?”

He saw the letter he’d received sitting on the dresser. It was from the family lawyer. His mother’s will had left everything to him with the instructions to take care of his sister. With her dead as well, the small fortune came to him alone. He wouldn’t necessarily have to do anything for a while. But he’d never been one to sit idle.

Will pulled out his Bible and looked again at the sixth chapter of Micah.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the L O R D require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Will let the words settle in his mind. Micah was a book of both tragedy and hope. The writer was a prophet filled with the Spirit of God, sent to speak out against the sins and false teachings of the day. He spoke this verse to make clear that God had showed them what was good and what He was asking of His people. Was this what God was also requiring of Will?

If Laura’s father and his men were responsible for killing the people on the stagecoach, then he could hardly blame the Indians. But even if the Indians had done the horrible deed, they still needed forgiveness, and they needed to hear the Gospel message.

However, Will also wanted justice for his mother and sister. Maybe that was why Will hadn’t received a position for ministering on a reservation. Maybe Will first needed to settle the matter of what happened during the stagecoach attack.

Another section of verse came to mind, and Will flipped over several books to Matthew twenty-two. Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees and Sadducees were trying to ensnare Him with questions. They were hoping Jesus would answer in such a way that they could condemn Him, but Jesus was more than able to handle them. Then came the question from a lawyer. He wanted to know which was the greatest commandment.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The two passages were in complete agreement. After all, how could one do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God without adhering to the commands Jesus said were greatest? To love God with one’s all, a person would have to walk with Him humbly, do justly, and love mercy. And to love a neighbor as one’s self, a person would have to do justly and, again, love mercy. There was no contradiction, and the words settled on Will like a warm blanket. An encouragement to move forward in confidence that God was truly in control, and that despite the complications and disappointments Will had been made to face, his calling had not been altered.

But Mr. Blevins assigned the work to someone else.

He supposed there would be other opportunities ... locations. People came and went from jobs all the time. If God truly wanted Will in a position of ministering to the Indians, He would make a way.

Will got up and went to the window. It was barely dawn. He heaved a heavy sigh. “Lord, I don’t know what You have planned for me. I used to think it was all so simple, and now here I am.”

Laura came to mind. He cared for her. In fact, he was confident that he’d lost his heart to her. She was quite an incredible woman, and in more than one way, she was the perfect woman for him.

Still, could he completely love someone whose father had been responsible for the deaths of his own mother and sister? As the years went by, would he fault her or hold it against her? He didn’t want to be the kind of person who would make someone responsible for something via their association with the guilty party.

Then, too, there was his concern of losing her as he had the others he cared for. Was it better to guard his heart against love and admire her from afar? If he didn’t allow himself to love her or anyone else, then he’d never again have to bear the pain he had endured over his lost family.

But I already love her. Trying to stop now would be like trying to stop breathing. He saw the sun edge up above the horizon.

Lastly, there was the complication of serving amongst the Indians. Would Laura have any interest in such a thing? It would be important that she also feel called to such a life-changing task. If he took her for a wife and she despised the ministry, Will would be stuck in a bad place.

“Father, I am trying so hard to understand and do what You have called me to do. I hadn’t figured to take a wife, at least not right away, but if Laura is the one, please show me. Help me to see the truth of this entire situation. Let the truth be known, Lord, in every way.”

At nine o’clock in the morning, Edward showed up just as they’d agreed. He and Will made their way to the jail, where they planned to meet with the city marshal and sher iff. Once they were assembled, Edward and Will explained all they knew.

“It seems to me,” the city marshal finally said, “that the best hope we have of getting Evans as the responsible party would be if we could get one of his men to turn against him. Maybe one of the men who was involved in the stagecoach attack, if they indeed were the ones to do the job.”

Will shook his head. “No one really seems to know who his men are. In all the time I stayed with them, I didn’t see anyone but his household staff. He doesn’t usually hold his meetings at home. Even his daughter hasn’t met the men who work for him, except for that Gus Snyder.”

“You ever hear of this guy, Vogel?” the sheriff asked.

“No, I can’t say that I have. He hasn’t been in trouble with the law. That’s for sure.”

“I’m not familiar with him either,” the marshal threw in.

“Without knowing who his men are, it’s going to be hard to get anyone to betray him.” The sheriff seemed to consider this a moment. “What about his business associates and clerks at the store?”

“Could be someone there might know something, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Evans is a very private individual. Between what I’ve observed and what Laura has told me, he seems to limit who knows about his business,” Will replied. “Besides, it seems to me that since suspicions haven’t come up before now, Evans’s men must be extremely loyal. It’s going to be hard to get anybody to talk.”

“I agree, but what other choice do we have?” the sheriff asked.

“I might have an idea,” Will said. “Granite Evans offered me a position. I don’t know what he has in mind, but maybe if I convinced him that I was loyal and trustworthy, he’d hire me on to do some of his underhanded tasks. Then maybe I could stop whatever he has planned.”

“What if we also convinced him that you were going to be working with the new governor?” the city marshal said. “Then Evans might see you as his inside man to Campbell. Maybe you could be his secretary or perhaps just his escort to Wyoming.”

“As I said earlier, I know John Campell. We grew up together and went to war together. I’m sure he would cooperate with us and use me in whatever capacity will help.”

“But would Evans trust you in a plot to kill Campbell if he knows you two are friends?” the marshal asked.

“And will Evans really believe that you’d do anything for him?” Edward asked. “He knows you’re a preacher first and foremost. Is he going to believe you’re willing to commit murder?”

“He knows I was angry at God and on the fence about issues of faith. I doubt Laura has told him of my progress toward repentance. And if she has, then I’ll just have to assure him that it was nothing more than an act for her benefit.” Will shifted and leaned forward. “I’ve got another reason to pretend loyalty to Evans. I’m in love with his daughter. Maybe I could wrap all of this up with a proposal of marriage. I don’t have the powerful connections he wants, but with my mother’s death, I’ve inherited a small fortune. That should be appealing to Mr. Evans. All of this could be just the right combination to pique his interest. Once he knows about my connection to John Campbell, I’m sure he’ll see the value in hiring me. I can even make it sound like I have held a grudge against John all these years. That I’d just as soon see him not come to the territory.”

“Sounds like a lot to coordinate,” the sheriff replied.

“And a lot of lies to get straight and memorize,” the marshal added.

“Can’t say I would normally advocate lying,” Edward began, “but it may be the only way to keep the governor from getting himself killed and put a stop to the supposed Indian attacks. I’m convinced the Indians aren’t to blame.”

The sheriff nodded. “I am too.”

“This is an evil man with an evil plan. I am not one to advocate lies either,” Will said, shaking his head. “But if it saves a life, I have to think that like Rahab in the Bible, it’s more about the matter of heart than the deed itself.”

“I told Father that you were ill,” Laura said. “And in some ways, I know you are. You’re sick of heart and worried about all that is going on.”

Etta Duffy poured her another cup of tea as Laura glanced around Etta’s small kitchen and continued with her thoughts.

“I think it’s important that you come back to work. Otherwise, my father will wonder if something happened, and it might cause trouble in catching him in his horrid plots.”

Etta’s eyes widened, and the teapot shook in her hands. “I don’t know if I can work in that house and not give myself away.”

“I know you’re afraid, but I need you there. I need you to help me. I promise you I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you are safe. Etta, we must see justice done. If my father is responsible for the deaths of those people on the stage, then he must go to prison, perhaps even ... hang.” She had a hard time saying the word. It hadn’t dawned on Laura when she’d been talking with Will that her father’s guilt could cost him his life.

Etta put the pot back on the stove and returned to the small kitchen table. “Oh, Laura, I know this must be so hard for you. You love your father dearly, I know that much. I’ve watched you with him since you first arrived. You adore him.”

“I did. Now I’m just so heartbroken to imagine him being the kind of man willing to end another person’s life. He’s not the man I built him up to be in my mind ... and heart. I don’t think I’ve ever really known him, and now it’s too late.”

The older woman huffed a breath. “I’ll come back. I owe it to you. I’ll do whatever I can. I’ve never been one to let fear rule my life.”

“Oh, thank you, Etta. I know this is not an easy decision for you.”

“I’ll return tomorrow if that’s soon enough.”

“Yes. I’ll inform Father tonight that I checked on you and you’re much better and will be back on duty in the morning.”

“Very well.”

Laura leaned closer. “Etta, we’re going to have to go through Father’s things and see if we can find any incriminating evidence. I don’t know just how we’ll accomplish it, but it’s important that you be thinking on the matter.” Will had advised her to say and do nothing, but Laura felt she had to at least try to right this wrong.

“We’ll have to search his office and his bedroom suite,” Etta replied, looking thoughtful. “I have keys to those rooms. We’ll have to find a time when he’ll be out of the house and of no threat to us.”

“I’ll talk to him over breakfast each day and learn what his plans are. We usually discuss such things, so he won’t find it strange.” She reached out to cover Etta’s hand with her own. Their eyes locked.

“I hate that it’s come to this, but I can’t live with a mur derer.” For a moment, Laura started at her own comment. Her father was a killer. Or at least, he had no trouble planning to kill. His words about the new governor were proof enough of that.

Will was just coming from the jail when he heard his name called. He turned and found Mr. Blevins rushing toward him. The little man seemed all excited about something.

“Mr. Porter, I had hoped to come see you later, but it’s most fortuitous that God should cause our paths to cross just now.”

“What seems to be the problem?” Will asked. Seeing the man gave him the slight sensation of being hit in the stomach.

Mr. Blevins gave him a glance from head to toe. “Now that you’re back on your feet, have you reconsidered the idea of working on a reservation?”

“Why do you ask? I thought you already assigned the positions to others.”

“That had indeed been the plan, but strangely enough, I have one opening left that no one else is interested in. Or they’ve moved on to another assignment.”

Will’s heart skipped a beat. “And now you wish to offer it to me?”

“I do. If you are willing to take it. I know your mother’s and sister’s deaths have no doubt sullied the vision you had of working with the natives, but not all Indians are bad.”

“They weren’t the cause—” Will had nearly said too much. “No. Not all Indians are bad.”

“So does that mean you’ll take the job?”

Will saw it as God’s direction and answer to his prayers. “I will.”

“Oh, glory be.” The man put his hand to his chest. “I leave in the morning for Washington, D.C., and was hopeful I could tell them that the matter was arranged.” He adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. “I’ll return in six weeks, and we’ll finalize the paperwork. Be ready to leave for Fort Bridger on the first of June.”

Will nodded. The first of June would give him plenty of time to resolve the issue of Granite Evans. The little man started to leave, but Will called out. “I have a question.”

Mr. Blevins turned. “What?”

“Would there be a problem if I were to ... say, bring a wife?”

“A wife?” The man looked momentarily confused, then shrugged. “I can’t see any reason why not. I didn’t realize you’d married.”

“I haven’t,” Will said with grin. “But by then I plan to be.”

Blevins shook his head and rolled his eyes skyward. “Bring a wife, bring a dog, bring whatever you like, so long as you bring yourself to fill that position.”

With that Blevins disappeared around the corner. Will started walking down the street in a complete sense of wonder. So much had happened in just the course of twenty-four hours.

And then, as if preordained, he spied Laura down the block. She was putting something behind the seat of her carriage. The same horse and carriage that had struck him down back in January. As she turned to climb up, Will hurried forward to stop her.

“Laura!”

She turned in surprise. There was a look of questioning, as if she were worried about what he intended.

“I’m glad to see you appearing so well. I was concerned about you after last night.”

A flicker of relief crossed her face. “I suppose I’ve been thinking that you would never speak to me again.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said, taking hold of her elbow. “Let me help you up, and then I can drive you home. I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“Something has developed, and I want to share it with you, but you must agree to keep quiet about it.”

She nodded and took her seat in the carriage. Will quickly joined her. “You’re still of a mind to get justice, aren’t you?” He took up the lines and released the brake.

“Of course.” Her response was immediate.

Their eyes met, and Will gave a nod. “Then I have a plan.”

On the way to the Evans’s house, Will explained their thoughts. “I’m going to ask your father for a job. He previously offered me one and even questioned me again about working for him when I came to see him about the necklace. Getting him to hire me will be step one. I’m also going to let him know that I know the governor, which will lead to step two. I’m going to pretend to be chosen to escort the new governor to Cheyenne. That news will come out in the Leader tomorrow morning to support my story. When I see your father, he will hopefully have already read about it and want to question me. If not, I’ll bring it up. I’m also going to let it be known to your father that I hate John Campbell—that there was bad blood between us and that I don’t want to be a part of anything to do with him. I think this will encourage your father to approach me to help him with setting the stage for killing the governor.”

“Oh no!” Laura put her hand to her mouth.

“The authorities think your father will probably want the deed done prior to the governor’s arrival so that the fair city of Cheyenne and its people here won’t be associated with it. So your father, knowing that I’ll be escorting the governor here, might decide to set up things en route.”

“It will be very dangerous, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

Will met her gaze and smiled. “Why, Laura Evans, are you breaking your vow?”

“What vow?” She looked confused.

He chuckled. “The one you made to never love another.”

She bit her lower lip and looked away. “I might be.”

He laughed all the more. “Could be I have done the same.” He put the horse in motion.

Laura said nothing for a full block, then turned to him. Will could see the questioning in her eyes. “Then what are we going to do?”

Will sobered and flicked the lines to get the horse to pick up the pace. “First things first. We settle this mess, and then I have a feeling the rest will just fall into place.” He looked at her a moment longer, then smiled again. “By the way, how would you feel about living on a reservation?”

Saturday morning, Granite read the front page of the Leader . There was an article about the new governor and his planned arrival in May. It also mentioned a group of men who had been called upon by the local city council to be part of the entourage to bring Governor Campell to Cheyenne. Wilson Porter was among the men listed.

He’d barely finished with the article when Mrs. Duffy appeared with a tray of coffee and his favorite cherry Danish.

She went to place it on a table in front of the fireplace. “Would you like me to serve, sir?”

“No, just leave it. I’ll tend it myself.” Granite got up from his desk and came around to the fireplace. “I’m glad to see that you’re feeling better, Mrs. Duffy. I hope it wasn’t anything too serious.”

“No, and I’m fit as a fiddle now, Mr. Evans. Thank you for your patience.” She straightened and gave him a hurried smile. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I told Mrs. Murphy I’d be right back to help her with something in the kitchen.”

“Of course.”

Granite had always liked the fact that she wasn’t one to linger and draw out a conversation. Mrs. Duffy had proven to be quick to task and never all that interested in gossip.

He had just taken a seat beside the fire when a knock sounded on his office door.

“Enter,” he called, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“Mr. Evans, Mr. Porter is here to see you,” Mrs. Duffy announced.

Granite couldn’t believe his good fortune. “Show him in and bring another cup for him.”

“Of course, sir.”

She stepped back, and Will bounded into the room. He extended his hand to Granite. “Good morning, Mr. Evans.”

“Good morning, Mr. Porter ... Will.” Granite smiled. “I was just reading about you in the paper.”

“Me?” Will looked surprised.

“Yes, didn’t you know? There’s an article about the coming of the governor in May, and it says that you’re among several men chosen to escort him here.”

“Just from Omaha. John and I were boyhood friends and comrades-in-arms. Not that we’re all that close. Truth is, I didn’t want to go on the trip to escort him back, but I wasn’t given much of a choice.”

“And why would you not want to put yourself into the company of powerful men like Campbell?”

Will glanced up at the ceiling. “Well ... let’s just say there’s some bad blood between us.”

“Oh, really?” Granite wondered just how bad it might be. “Please sit.” He motioned to the other leather chair in front of the hearth. “Mrs. Duffy has gone to get you a cup and saucer. Ah, see. Here she is.”

The woman came into the room carrying the china set. She placed it on the silver tray. “Would you like me to pour?” she asked once again.

“No, I’ll see to everything. Close the door on your way out so that Mr. Porter and I may speak without being disturbed.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied and quickly exited the room.

Once they were alone, Granite poured coffee into Will’s cup. “Do you take cream or sugar?”

“Black is fine,” Will said, reaching for the cup and saucer when Granite lifted it his way.

“There’s cherry Danish, as you can see. The very best. Mrs. Murphy, as you know, is quite capable in the pastry department.”

Will smiled. “I agree. I’ve had her Danish before.”

“Well, help yourself,” Granite said and took one for himself. “And then tell me to what I owe the pleasure of this visit.” There’d be time enough to sort out the man’s degree of feelings toward Campbell.

Will set the coffee aside and took up a Danish. “Sir, there are a couple of things on my mind. First, I’ve had a letter from my mother’s lawyer. It seems I have inherited a great deal of money. Knowing you as one of the most successful men in Cheyenne, I am hoping you might offer me advice on management of the inheritance.”

“Why, Will, I’m quite touched that you would think of me.” This couldn’t be going better if Granite had planned it out himself.

“Well, there’s no rush. As I understand it, my mother’s estate is still being settled, and it will most likely be summer before all is resolved.”

“And the second?” Granite asked, eager to move the conversation along.

“Well, I wondered if your job offer is still available.”

Granite wanted to shout an affirming response but forced himself to remain calm. “For a man of quality and intellect such as yourself, there is always a job available. I must say, however, I’m surprised. You seemed confident of continuing as you were.”

“Things have changed considerably for me,” Will replied before taking a long slow drink. He replaced the cup on the saucer. “And there’s the other matter.”

“What is it?”

Will smiled. “Your daughter.”