Cowboys & Ghosts

2. Documents Of One Big Lie

It was over an hour, and it was quiet in the entire orphanage. Daisy was wide awake, as the 'secret' Meredith had said was racing through her head. This woman had something to hide, and if no one ever found out, the former would spend the rest of her life remaining where she had always been. Daisy sat up in bed, striking a match, lightening the candle. As quietly as possible, with her bare feet against the cold wood floor, she exited her bedroom. Nothing but the candle that was lit in the dark. A few days before, she had seen Meredith hide some filed papers in a drawer, that was close to the front room. She tip-toed down the stairs, and down the hallway, then the front room. First, she glanced left and right. Nothing. She walked over to the drawer, then steadily opened it. The papers were hidden under a blanket. She took the papers and one by one, examined them with her own eyes. Indeed, this was Daisy's birth certificate. She was born in the spring of 1835. Her biological parents names were Rhoda and Gerald Martinsen. There were stained blood drips on the paper, which had been dry for so long, that it remained permanent. Daisy then found a picture. The picture of a beautiful baby girl and her parents. The same eye color, same hair, and even the same kind of right minded personality Daisy was born with. Or at least, she felt it. Then, she found a letter, which on it was Meredith's hand-writing. "Today, on March 31, 1835, I just needed a child. I couldn't have one of my own, but I could raise one as my own. A couple came into town with their baby late at night, seeking for shelter. I hid behind my front door, and I shot the couple, who fell from their horses, which ran off into the night. The baby was alright, in a basket, crying. She was only a few days old. I took the baby, pronouncing to everyone that her parents had been killed by outlaws. I named the little one 'Daisy' and took her in." Daisy nearly fell, but if that had happened, it would've give away the fact that she was out of bed after lights out. She took everything that she found, and as quietly as she did before, she was back in bed. It took a while, but soon enough, deep sleep fell upon her.

Daisy had the evidence hidden under her bed, the time she awoke. The September sun shone brightly through the thin window blinds. This was not like any morning, where she felt refreshed after a long night's rest. Meredith had lied to Daisy; her entire life. For whatever reason, this woman wanted a child here to keep this orphanage afloat. A light went off inside Daisy, who planned to report her 'master' to the local sheriff, if Meredith sent her out later. She was confused, shocked, and above all; she was angry. Daisy dressed into her usual blue gown for the day, and looked herself in the mirror. A knock on the door attracted her notice, and Meredith came through. "Good morning, flower," she said. "Good morning, master," replied Daisy. She turned, putting on a grin, when in reality, anger was behind closed doors. "Is there any chance for me to pick up something for you today?"
"Oh." Meredith approached her foster daughter, brushing her hair with her right hand. "Glad you asked me, sweetheart. Before breakfast, would you mind buying some bread? There's a need for a dollar fifty, isn't there?" She handed Daisy a one-dollar-bill and fifty cents, and with a smile, she turned and left. The younger woman clenched the first that held the money. Big mistake, she thought. She put on a jacket, that held the documents, followed by gray boots clothing her feet. She exited the orphanage, letting the late summer breeze hit her face. Within five minutes, she was downtown Batesville, with riders on horses in every direction. As she passed a saloon, there was drinking and laughing in the background. Halfway through town, Daisy made her destination to the local sheriff's office. With no hesitating, she opened the door and had her eyes on Quinn Target; the somewhat forty-year-old sheriff of Batesville. "Good day to you, Mrs. Martinsen," said the sheriff. "I was hoping for some company."
"You might be expecting more than that today," Daisy replied, taking out the documents from her jacket. She then sat across from the sheriff, handing the papers to him. "I have proof that Meredith Garner killed my parents. The excuse was...bearing for children." The room was silent, and the more Target read the papers, the more shock he appeared to express. Daisy thought that would be it, but no. Not just yet; it wasn't complete in the court of law. "I will send my best officers to the orphanage, and we'll know more," said Target. "But Mrs. Martinsen, how did you find out?"
"I overheard secrecy," Daisy mused. "If you're going to put her in jail, what will I do?" For a moment, Target couldn't answer. "There will be moments of truth."