The Hanging
Chapter 11
William Lucius checked his pocket for the third time to make sure he still had the tickets. The 9:12 to St. Louis was leaving soon, and he and Helen would be on it. Helen leaned against her father, one hand clasped tightly in his and the other wrapped around his arm. It was the safest she had felt in a very long time.
The people who had seen them through their darkest hour in Dodge had come to see them off to their new life in Baltimore. They would be staying with Helen's aunt until William could get established there. He hoped to start a new business with the money he had made from selling the old one, after splitting the money with his partner's widow. Helen would return to the school she had been attending before her nightmare began.
William was overcome with emotion as he prepared to say goodbye to those who had made this journey possible. He turned to Doc Adams, the man who had taken care of his daughter like she was his own and also kept his word under circumstances no man should be asked to.
"Goodbye, Doc," he said softly. "I'm sorry for putting you through all this. You are a true friend."
Doc swiped his moustache and looked down uncomfortably. "Well, I'm sorry for what you had to go through, too, but I sure am glad it all worked out," he said. Doc looked at Helen and winked. "And as for you, young lady, I expect to get regular reports on your progress in school, and they'd better be good ones," he teased.
Helen smiled. "Yes, sir. I suppose I'd better get good grades if I plan to go on to medical school."
"Medical school?" Doc replied quizzically.
"Yes, sir. I wasn't sure until now what I wanted to do with my life. But I've decided that I want to help people, just like you."
Doc was touched beyond words. "A woman doctor," he finally said, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "By golly, if anybody can do it, you can." He walked over and put his arms around them both before turning away and pulling out his handkerchief.
Matt extended his hand to William. "Good luck, Mr. Lucius. I wish you and your daughter here much happiness."
"Thank you," William said, returning the handshake. It seemed ironic that the same man who had arrested and prosecuted him had also worked so tirelessly to save him, out of nothing but an unwavering desire to do the right thing. "This town is very lucky to have you, Marshal. Helen and I will never be able to repay you, but please know we will always be grateful."
Matt nodded and tipped his hat in acknowledgement of the comment. A humble man of few words, he was never inclined to take the credit he deserved.
Kitty looked at the small form standing next to her father. The carefree child who had come home from school was no more, replaced with this young woman so brutally forced into a grown up world with all its problems. Yet despite her ordeal and the challenges ahead, she looked happy and was hopeful about her future. Though Kitty had only met her a short time ago, she felt on some level she knew Helen Lucius as well as she knew herself—this girl was a survivor.
Helen let go of her father's hand and threw her arms around the woman who had helped her in ways no one else understood. Abused by one man and surrounded by others, a stranger had stepped forward to offer the kind of nurturing and comfort that only a woman could provide her. How fortunate she felt that it had been this particular woman, who was not a mother herself yet instinctively knew how to be one.
"Thank you," she whispered through tears as they embraced. No other words seemed necessary.
"All aboard!" yelled a voice from the train.
"Well, that's us," William said to his daughter. "First stop St. Louis. Are you ready?"
"I'm ready," she replied.
Matt, Kitty and Doc watched as they boarded the train and took their window seats. With a loud whistle, the train slowly pulled out of the station.
"Doc, how do you think she's going to handle it when the baby comes?" Kitty asked, knowing her plans to give the child a better life through adoption.
"Well, it's hard to say," Doc answered honestly. "It's the most loving thing she could do, but probably also just about the hardest."
Kitty tried to imagine what it must be like to feel a child growing inside you, knowing that raising your child would be someone else's joy to experience. Somehow, she knew Helen had the strength to do it.
She nodded slowly. "I suppose a love that selfless requires a very special woman."
Matt looked warmly at his own special woman, feeling like a very lucky man. "It sure does," he said, hooking his arm through hers as they walked back toward town.
End
-GSG-
