Heart of a Hero (H.O.C. #3)

Chapter 17

The coming of dawn brought no relief of conscience for David. In fact, the night had passed with little to no sleep and worry over Lottie as well as guilt for staying in Abilene when he knew Titus had been right. Titus Kirby. Who knew the man was so wise? Maybe David needed to learn some things about being a husband after all. Inhaling a cleansing breath, he sat up slowly and rubbed his eyes before taking a good look around. He needed to get on the next train. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

“Who is it?” He asked in a husky, not-quite-awake voice. His mind drifted to Lottie that quickly. She always smiled when he spoke to her in that tone. Shaking his head before his mind went to places he wasn’t ready to ponder, he repeated his question. “Who is it?”

“A wire for you, Sergeant Harmon.” The voice, obviously the innkeep’s son, answered timidly.

“Just, uh, slide it under the door, boy.” He grabbed his waistcoat from the chair next to the bed, reached into the pocket and found a nickel. This would make the child’s morning he thought as he tossed it in the air a time or two. He remembered being a boy of six or eight. A nickel was like pure gold at the mercantile, where a lad could get a bag full of candy and rot most of his teeth before suppertime.  “Thank you, son.”

“Thank you, sir!” The child’s exuberant feet sounded a noisy retreat on the wooden floors and then the stairs. David chuckled.

There were two messages. David picked up the folded papers, took a shaky breath and opened the first. It was an official Cavalry message from Colonel Dudley’s Executive Officer.

Report back immediately. Stop. New threat. Stop.

That was it? What new threat could possibly be looming now that the Ne’er-Do-Well’s were disbanded and most of them dead? The warning that had kept him from any peaceful slumber drifted to the forefront of his thoughts once more. Trickster’s final words: Beware El Forajido! Maybe Abel Trickett just meant to make David feel uneasy. That tactic has worked all too well. Blinking a few times, David opened the next wire. It was a wire from Ryne, with Buddy’s name underneath.

Colorado. Stop. Lottie. Stop. Hurry. Stop.

Now he was just plain baffled. What did that mean? Was Lottie planning on going to Colorado? David understood her desire to leave Kansas. Her short time in the Sunflower State had not been pleasant in hind sight. What force could possibly be driving her back to Colorado?

“No.” His nights would all be sleepless if she weren’t right by his side, and he’d tell her so in person. Her place was with him. But, first he had to get to Hays, and that was a long way to go in just six hours.

David dressed in a hurry, forgetting to shave or shine his boots. He had to get on the next train heading west!

*****

Peter Greisen stood, mouth agape, staring at Sergeants Kirby and Austin. “What do you mean by, 'Lottie’s leaving?'”

“According to Mr. Wilkinson, she said she’s leaving. She’s going back with the Brands this afternoon.” Austin offered with a shrug.

“Does Harmon know?”

“I believe that’s why Mr. Wilkinson sent the telegram. Why does it matter? The Harmons will work it out.”

“Look, all military matters aside, the Harmons are my very dear friends. I think we owe it to David to encourage her to stay.” Peter, always an optimist, tried to persuade the other two. He’d been there, singing with Lottie during the train derailing, and knew the minute he saw them together that it wasn’t just a “we’re fond of each other” relationship, but a “true love from God” marriage. Lottie couldn’t just up and leave.