By Historian
CHAPTER EIGHT
Frank returned from his rounds and was surprised to see that not only was the prisoners, but Bridget was bound and gagged in the cell. He quickly released the frightened girl and raised the alarm. The sheriff was double outraged that the escape of one of his prisoners was accompanied by an assault on his daughter. He had planned to visit the boarding house the next day, but events made him change his plans. An immediate visit was now warranted.
Burke arrived at the boarding house and was met by Emma’s assistant. He indignantly insisted on seeing Mrs. Dalton, who emerged from the kitchen in an apron with traces of flour on it there was also flour on her hands. “Hannah, what’s the matter?” she asked, then changed tack “Oh, Sherrif Burke. To what do we owe your visit?” she asked.
“What do you know about Harriet Longabeau?” Burke insisted.
“I was shocked to discover she was involved with these horse thieves. She seemed like such a nice girl.”
“Then she’s not here.”
“Why would she be? She’s in your jail.”
Burke explained how it had happened. Emma gasped and said. “I can assure you Miss Longabeau is not here.” She displayed her hands “If you’ll forgive me, I’d like to have fresh bread available to boarders in the morning.” She displayed her hands to underscore the point.
Burke tipped his hat and made his way out the door. Emma smiled to herself after he departed. She had just donned the apron when she heard Burke come in. At the sound of Burke’s voice, she simply grabbed two handfuls of flour and spread them on her apron. A simple yet effective disguise.
“Great performance,” Roberta Parker said from the top of stairs.
“You should have been on the stage Emma,” Michelle Cassidy said admiringly.
“If I had known I had an audience, I would have turned in better performance.” Emma said.
“Frances and Bonnie should have Harriet hidden by now.” Michelle said.
“I know, but they won’t be back until morning. Somebody helped Miss Carson and Miss Sterling and I want to know who.”
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Julia had business at the mine to occupy her, but there was nothing at the ranch that could not be turned over to the foreman and ranch hands, so Becky set out for town. Of course, she was unaware of Harriet’s escape from the jail until she was told about it by Sheriff Burke.
“There still is something about Mrs. Dalton’s boarding house I don’t like.” Becky said.
“I went over there last night, but Harriet Longabeau wasn’t there.” Burke said.
“Did you see anybody else there?”
“Outside of Emma’s help, no. There’s not much I can do, But Amanda Pryor might be able to do something.”
“Yes, she did mention something about wanting to look into the boarding house.”
“She’ll head over there right after the stage coach comes through. By the way, she’s asked if you’d look after her horse while she’s there.”
“Sure, is she at the hotel?”
“Of course.”
Becky made her way to the Hotel where she met with Amanda. “The sheriff said you wanted me to look after your horse while you while you are at Mrs. Dalton’s,” she said.
“That’s right,” Amanda said. “I don’t think it would look too well if I ride up there on Charlie.”
“Especially in that get-up.”
Amanda
laughed and said, “I have to maintain an image. Miss Amanda Pryor of
Amanda wore an ankle length blue and white checked cotton skirt and high-necked cotton blouse. On the bed sat a jacket that matched the skirt. It was the sort of outfit Julia would have worn before she came west, Becky noted.
“What about protection?” Becky asked.
Amanda hiked up her skirts and revealed a Derringer connected to leg by a crude holster. “Is that protection enough for you?” she asked.
“Ample. Did you make that holster yourself?”
“I’m still not too good with leather work.”
Becky helped Amanda take her luggage downstairs. They timed it perfectly, as they arrived just as the stage pulled in.
“Will I have to carry my things all the way to the boarding house?” Amanda asked.
“As soon as the stage leaves, buggies and wagons appear,” Becky replied. “Some of our local entrepreneurs will take you to Mrs. Dalton’s for a nominal fee.”
True to Becky’s word, a buggy and a buckboard appeared soon after the stage departed. The buggy was able to take Amanda and her luggage. She thought the seventy-five cent fee was a bit excessive, but she didn’t let on. All the better to carry out her disguise as a rich young woman without a care about money.
On arrival at the boardinghouse, Amanda paid off the driver and saw a woman appear on the front porch. “Are you Mrs. Dalton?” she asked.
“I’m Emma Dalton,” the woman answered. “Shall I get somebody to help carry in your things?”
“Yes, please.”
Emma turned into the house and said “Hannah! Looks like we have a new boarder!”
Emma and Sarah took Amanda’s bags and brought them into the house. “You will have to share a room with another girl,” Mrs. Dalton said.
“I don’t mind.” Amanda said. “I’ll have somebody to talk to at least.”
The three women went to the bedroom. “The girl you’ll share the room with is not here now,” Mrs. Dalton said. “Her name is Roberta Parker.”
“Which bed does she use?” Amanda asked.
“That one.”
“Just set my things on the other bed and I shall go through them.”
As soon as Amanda was left alone, she rummaged through her luggage for her trousers and shirts. She rolled back the mattress and placed the clothes underneath it. The problem would not be getting out, but determining if Mrs. Dalton and her boarders had anything to do with horse thefts. She might not have the chance to slip out and investigate in her more practical clothes if the young lady she shared this room with was involved in the thefts.
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Becky was faced with the problem of wanting to look for the horse thieves, but with the burden of a second horse. She would have to leave Charlie in the sheriff’s care while she searched for evidence leading to the horse thieves. The cabin where she and Julia had been hidden would be a start. She didn’t expect to find the cabin in use, but perhaps there would be a track or trail nearby that would lead somewhere.
A search of the ground near the cabin did indeed turn a trail of some sort, one just wide enough to accommodate two horses and riders side by side. Becky followed the trail and to her surprise, found it turning back toward the town. Her surprise turned to absolute amazement when she noticed the trail reached Emma Dalton’s boarding house from the back. Becky knew that it had been a farm, and that Mrs. Dalton raised some of her own food, but a hen house, barn and stable were all present.
Becky decided to seek out the road then act as if she had approached from the ranch. As she came closer to the boarding house, she noticed Amanda standing on the front porch. She waved to her and rode up. Amanda came down from the porch and the two met up where an ordinary conversation would not be heard from the house. “Did you find anything?” Amanda asked.
Becky
described the trail that led from the cabin to the back of the
“Of course.” Becky said.
“Good.”
Becky became concerned about the time. The ride to and from town was a good two and hours. If she left now, she would be home by sunset. There was more she needed to do as far as the boarding house was concerned. She decided to check into the hotel for the night, a contingency she had discussed with Julia.
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Amanda found Roberta Parker to be a puzzle. She was polite enough, though she seemed happy to discover Amanda did not intend to stay indefinitely. Amanda became suspicious and tried to stay awake to see if Roberta slipped out, but the other woman soon dozed off.
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Becky rose early the next morning and dressed. After a quick breakfast -- just enough to say she had eaten-- she set out for the boarding house. Since it was early and Emma had cows to milk and eggs to gather, Becky decided to take the long way when she rode to the boarding house. She followed the path and reached boardinghouse. Becky found a tree near the end of the path and tied Atalanta’s reins to a low branch. She crept up to the stable and looked inside. There appeared to be far fewer horses than there was room for, but that made more sense than having more horses than you had stalls for.
Becky took a look at the horses, but she could not recognize them. It had been dark when she’d seen the horses ridden by the thieves, so she didn’t get a good look at the horses. There was no point in staying any longer, so she turned to leave the stable. She found the way blocked by Emma Dalton, Roberta Parker, and Bonnie Williams.
“So Miss Carson, you couldn’t resist spying.” Emma said. “Bonnie, get that worn out broom.”
Becky was puzzled by the need for the broom, until Emma asked “Miss Carson, have you ever heard of a buck and gag?”
“No.”
“It’s a common Army punishment. My father was a sutler, so I saw it quite often.”
Bonnie returned with the broom. There were a few ragged straws on the implement. “Sit down.” Emma ordered.
Becky obeyed. Emma then ordered Becky to draw up her knees and place her arms so her hands met in front of her legs. While Roberta bound the wrists, Emma and Bonnie placed the broomstick into the gap between Becky’s arms and knees. Even as Roberta bound her ankles, Becky noticed the pain.
“You think that’s bad?” Emma asked. “An officer would use a tent peg or bayonet as a gag. You’ll get a nice, soft kerchief.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Emma took a kerchief from Roberta and formed it into a gag. She drew it around Becky’s mouth and secured the knot behind her head. Without further word, the three women left the stable.