Ellie watched closely as Mark settled his father in the reading chair and brought him a cup of coffee. The man's face was pale and drawn, but it was the one she remembered, hard, with jutting cheekbones and a strong jaw. She frowned. The eyes...Bantry's eyes had been like cold blue stones. This man's eyes followed the boy around with a look of pure love. Earl Bantry could never have looked at another person like that. She cleared her throat nervously. "Mr McCain, I asked the marshal to bring me here so I could apologize. I know you'll be pressing charges against me and it's what I deserve, but I wanted to tell you how truly sorry I am."
"You're sorry," said the boy bitterly.
"Mark." The big man put out a hand and his son came to him, the same look of love in his eyes that his father had. "Ma'am…"
"Ellie Palmer," she said quickly.
"Miss Palmer, I don't understand. I've never harmed a woman in my life."
"I thought you were Earl Bantry." Her voice was low. "He harmed me plenty. I came out here with my husband almost ten years ago. We had a dry-goods store. It wasn't much, but it was enough to support us. We were hoping to start a family when my husband died in an accident helping a friend move some cows."
"I lost my wife to smallpox," said Luke.
"Then you know how…" Ellie twisted her hands together. "It's so hard. So hard, and so lonely...but I had friends, and the store. I managed. Then Earl Bantry rode into town. He said he fancied me." Her eyes fell. "I told him I wanted nothing to do with him. He was a hard man, a brutal man, and he frightened me. He finally left town, but not before he…" Her words came out in a gasp. "He came to my house and he took what he wanted."
Luke and Micah exchanged a look and the big man leaned forward, wincing at the pain of the half-healed wound in his side. "I'm very sorry, Miss Palmer."
"Please call me Ellie." She felt slightly disoriented. Luke's eyes were soft and full of sympathy but the face was still Bantry's face. "That was six years ago. I sold out, moved to a new town, started another store...I suppose it sounds foolish to leave all my friends and go among strangers…"
"No." Luke sat back. "I did the same thing. I even left my wife's grave behind. I couldn't bear to stay."
Mark spoke up. "You've been looking for Earl Bantry for six years?"
"No!" Ellie looked surprised. "I had my boy to take care of."
"But I thought you said your husband died before you could start a family." Mark looked puzzled.
Luke said softly, "Son, I'll explain to you later. Go on, Ellie."
"Two months ago, a man came to our town. William Ford and his wife Allison. He bought a spread, twenty thousand acres, started raising cattle. His wife couldn't have children and he took a liking to my boy. I didn't think there was any harm in it, but then he offered to adopt Johnny. I told him no, and he…" Ellie's eyes filled with tears. "He took my son. He said Johnny would be better off with him."
Micah asked, "What did the marshal say?"
"He went right out and demanded Ford return my son." Tears spilled down the woman's cheeks. "They brought him back with three holes in his chest. Mr McCain…"
"Lucas."
Ellie smiled tremulously. "Lucas. I had nothing left. I must have lost my mind, because I got to thinking about Earl Bantry and what he did to me and I started looking for him. A week ago I heard he was in this area so I started going to all the towns. When I saw you…"
Luke looked at Mark and raised his eyebrows. The boy didn't answer his father directly but he went to Ellie and asked, "Would you like some coffee, Miss Palmer?"