How much time would have to pass before his heart would not jump every time Mark brought home a letter? There hadn't been any remotely related to Albuquerque or any other judicial matter for weeks. Why should this one….
… be any different?
Lucas shrugged, and almost threw the small, heavy piece of paper into the fire.
He didn't know the writing or the sender.
Evenings were cold this close to year's end and they had a strong fire going. Mark had gone out again to meet friends and build snow forts.
Lucas broke the seal and pulled out the pages of good quality paper with a slight frown. That was a woman's hand, if he was not mistaken. Suddenly his heart was pounding again, but the address was formal …
Dear Mr McCain,
I do hope you don't think me forward for writing to you like this.
But the way my family met you and was taken care of in your house makes me bold enough to pen these lines.
Emery has been staying with us the past weeks. It is only a ride of an hour to the train station that takes her to Albuquerque. The trial has been hard on her – as you might imagine. Mr Buckhart has been most kind and helpful, but I – and my husband agrees with me – have the feeling that she misses Mark (and you) most acutely. The way her face lights up when a letter arrives speaks volumes.
All this aside, we are settled here in a way that we might offer hospitality to you and your boy. Thus – would you do us the honour and come for a visit? Maybe over the Christmas holiday? Might your farm lie dormant for a few days?
Albuquerque is a town worth a visit, if you are so inclined, hunting is fair, says my husband, and there will be a travelling circus in Laguna if Mark is interested.
There is no need to write, if you are coming. We would all love to see you again, Antoinette especially.
Yours truly, Florence and Abelard with Antoinette
Lucas stared at the words hard and long, read it once, twice, a third time. He had a hard time catching his breath. This was the second time he had word of Emery… but not from herself.
And for the hundredth time the scenes played behind his eyes.
Them both on the veranda, her trying to apologize again for the lie, and him taking her words wrong… the way the conversation had gone awry from that point… how stiff and stupid he had been at the good-bye… the way she had glanced over the farm, her words unknowable – but Sam Buckhart's glance.
The day on the field, repairing the fence – if he had reacted differently, she might have come out with the secret before Mark and Freddy turned up…
Lucas shook his head grimly, rubbing his hands over his face. This was pointless.
…
"Mark, anything worthy in there?" The boy was buried in the newspaper again.
"Agh, Pa, look! This gang, that robbed the train a month ago, now there are descriptions and sketches. And written such that… Pa?"
"What, son?"
"What is nacre?"
Lucas frowned. "Mother of pearl – why?"
"It says here that one of the men has a pair of guns with nacre handles, with a yellow-whiteish shine. What's that mean?"
"Sounds like they look like ivory handles. Mother of pearl or ivory are rare, but not too uncommon."
"Right…"
Lucas regarded the boy thoughtfully. He had not yet told him about the French family's invitation. He himself did not quite know how to approach the subject and all the underlying currents.
….
"McCain!"
Zach Valance came trotting down the main road toward Lucas and Micah Torrence.
Lucas smiled. "Valance! What's the hurry?" He stepped into the pinto's path and grabbed the mare's reign, greeting her warmly. He knew this horse, and liked her well. "Hello, there!"
Turning to the dark-haired neighbour, he asked genially: "How was your trip to Santa Fe?"
But the other man was not in the mood for small talk. "Didn't you get my telegram?"
Lucas froze. Telegram? "What?"
"I-"
"Wait, Mr. Valance." Micah cautioned gently. "If it's that important, are you sure you want to talk about it here in the street?"
It was true, the place was packed. It was a few short weeks to Christmas, and even out here in the west the mood was festive and busy.
"Right, can we step into your office?" Valance pulled the mare toward the crock.
"Yes, I'm coming from Santa Fe. You've heard of the train robbers? That gang that's been keeping the sheriffs of Coolidge and Lamar busy?"
Both men nodded agreement.
"They've been subject of the papers regularly. Sketches even now."
"Sure. I have friends in Santa Fe. People there are scared of the gang. Really scared." Valance was impatient, distracted even.
"Even though the military fort is so close?"
Micah shook his head impatiently at the rifleman. "Word is, they tried for the military gold before."
"Anyway, one of my contacts, he… Jesus, don't ask me details. He had contact with one member of the gang, got them to talk. Drunk talk. Guess what name came up."
Micah frowned, though calmly: "Spit it out."
"Norfolk."
"So they're coming here?"
"No, they were here! They were the gang that-"
Lucas ripped his hat off. "My god, the children! The schoolteacher – that gang!"
"I think so, too." Valance' words included a question.
"But you're not certain?"
"He said… he mentioned they wanted 'Revenge for Norfolk'. Said they've got a new member, a creepy guy."
Micah and Lucas traded a long look. Then the old sheriff turned to the other man. "And for this you would send a telegram?"
Valance' lips curled. For a moment it seemed as if he would shrug, turn and leave them, but then he squared his shoulders.
"Call me crazy. Who might want revenge for a plot gone wrong in Norfolk?"
When both of the others looked at him without understanding, he rolled his eyes. "Just bear with me. Within the last year…"
Lucas conceded grimly: "The group that abducted the kids and Miss Schuler. Micah, what happened with them? They got the descriptions from the children and… and Eirik."
But Valance was not waiting for Micah to elaborate. "Right, and…? What else?"
Lucas felt ice run down his back.
Micah frowned. "That weird day - Miss Schuler again. Is she the common denominator? That would-be-fiancée of hers?"
But now the tall rifleman had caught on. "Micah, Zach Valance mentioned that Lundy, the guy who pulled the strings – who would have profited… he got broken out of San Antonio."
The sherriff nodded, intently following the other man's thoughts.
"And your friend said the group had a new member. Em – Eirik's description of the six – five men included a gun with ivory handles. Which fits the description in the papers the other day. I'll have to check myself. What's the other common denominator between the two incidents?" Lucas stared intently from one to the other.
Valance countenance had lightened.
Micah Torrence pursed his lips. "The name that was asked after in Kansas, only a couple months after he left Norfolk… Eirik Donelly."
Lucas nodded thoughtfully. "The one who defused both situations… who got the children out… both times." he still felt cold thinking of those days.
Zach Valance let out a relieved sigh. "And I thought I was beein unreasonable."
For a long moment the three men stood, each following their own train of thought.
"Boys, each follows up on their hunch. We check the description in the paper. And then… I guess it's your turn, Lucas."
The tall man blinked, making Valance grin openly.
"You're the only one, I suspect, with a grain of knowledge where the young wo- young man might be." Micah had the grace to bite his tongue and grimace furiously at his slight.
Valance though – Lucas watched his neighbour's chin literally drop. He coughed an utterly surprised gasp, and the tall man could see the thoughts running in circles in his face. Then the dark eyes fastened on him, and Valance frowned. "When?"
Lucas shook his head in misgivings. "You're mare was there. Up in the mountains, after we'd brought home the children."
The other man shook his head slowly, finally breaking into an half affronted, half amused grin. "Us stupid men, heh?"
Surprisingly, the comment came from the sheriff: "Seconded."
