Chapter 9 – I Saw What You Did

"I hope you wasn't disappointed with the stew, Mr. Bret. You only had three helpings of it," Lily Mae cajoled.

"Only three helpings," Bret repeated as he patted his stomach. "I couldn't eat another bite."

"What about dessert?"

"Dear God, no I'd burst, no doubt about it."

Doralice stood up from the table. "I'm gonna take a small bowl up to Bart and see if I can get him to eat it. It's always been one of his favorites." She began to prepare a bowl and then stopped. "I don't want you talking to the girls until I can be there."

Bret took the opportunity to go find Lucien, since Doralice was attempting to get some food into Bart. He discovered the newly-promoted foreman in the 'maternity' barn, where a pregnant Cross-breed mare was about to foal. "How's everything goin'?"

"Good, so far. I'd say we were gonna have a brand new resident any minute. Did you get to see Bart?"

Bret nodded. "I did, and if we could keep him in bed, everything would be good." He explained what he meant, and the two men had a good laugh. Just then the mare's water broke, and Bret went back up to the house as Lucien prepared to assist her, if necessary.

He found Doralice in the kitchen and waited while she and Lily Mae discussed supper. "Are you gonna stay for supper?" she asked Bret.

"No ma'am. I promised Ginny I'd be home for supper. Are you ready to go upstairs?"

"Let's go. Bart's asleep again."

Bret led the way upstairs and to the twins room. Belle was sitting by the window, quietly reading a book, while Maudie was holding Lily Beth and showing her how to put a bonnet on her baby doll. "Ladies, can I have your attention for a few minutes?" Bret asked. "I've got some things I need to talk to you about."

"Can Lily Beth stay?" Maudie asked.

"No, I think she better got find Breton," Doralice suggested.

"Uh oh, it's about daddy," Belle opinioned as she set down her book.

"It is, but it's nothing bad. I just want to know where each of you were and what you saw yesterday."

"I already said," Maudie explained.

"Tell me again, Maudie," Bret requested.

"I heard a horse comin', and Lucien yellin' for daddy, and I got up and went to the window to see what all the racket was about. I saw Lucien runinn' for the house, about ten feet away. Marshal Cole was gettin' off his horse with his shotgun in his hand. I heard him pound on the door, yellin' that daddy was under arrest. Next thing I heard was momma yell 'lookout' and the Marshal's shotgun go off and . . ."

'"Wait, Maudie. How do you know it was the Marshal's shotgun and not your father's?" Bret stopped her in mid-sentence.

"Because ours makes a funny little clicking noise when it gets fired. This one didn't. Then I heard our shotgun go off."

"Did you hear the clicking noise?"

"Yes, I did. Then I ran downstairs. Daddy was lying on the floor, momma was bent over him. The marshal was on the porch."

"What position was the marshal in?"

"He was flat on his stomach, face down."

"Where was your daddy's shotgun?"

"I . . . I don't know, Uncle Bret. I didn't see it."

"Didn't see it or didn't look for it?"

"I didn't see it."

Belle had sat quietly by the window while Bret questioned Maudie, but now she spoke up. "Why do you have all these questions?"

"We're tryin' to find out what happened, Belle. The sheriff's gonna have the same questions. I'm just tryin' to find out before he does, that's all. Where were you, Miss Belle?"

Instead of answering her uncle, Belle slid down off the chair and stood, with her hands on her hips. "The marshal shot daddy. Then the marshal got shot. That's all." With that she ran before anyone could stop her.

"Belle! Come back here!" her mother called after her, but it was in vain. Doralice turned her attention to her oldest twin. "Maudie, where was your sister when all this happened?"

"I don't know, Momma. I didn't see her."

Doralice and Bret huddled together in the corner of the room. "Any idea where Belle was when Bart was shot?" Bret asked.

"None," came the answer.

"We have to find out."

"Why, Bret? I know that she wasn't downstairs with us."

Bret huffed out a quick reply. "Because if we don't know where she was, somebody is sure to ask. And we'd best make sure there ain't no surprises. Besides, she might have seen something."

Doralice gave a resigned shrug of her shoulders. "Alright. But let me look for her. You go on home to your wife and children. And give Ginny a hug for me."

"I'll come back after supper."

She shook her head. "Stay home. Spend some time with your family. Come back tomorrow."

"Alright. Take good care of that brother of mine. I'll see you tomorrow." Bret kissed the top of her head and was gone.

"Belle, you can come out of the closet now. Your uncle is gone."

Slowly the closet door opened and Belle emerged. "Momma, how did you know I was in there?"

Doralice laughed. "I have eyes in the back of my head. All mothers have them. Why did you hide from your uncle?"

Belle just shook her head. "I don't want to talk to him."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Because of what I saw."