PART III – Clarke
July 1882

Chapter 10
Missing Money

The men who had gathered at the sheriff's office were angry, most of them were outright so, others were keeping it contained. Clarke Hansen had made his rounds to every ranch in the area surrounding Stockton and had promised all of them that their new industry would be an excellent asset to them and help boost the economy of Stockton.

Now those bright promises seemed to be shattered. He had taken their money, money that was meant for the orphanage and they were angry. Very, very angry. Lynching angry.

Scotty Scott was leaning against the wall in the back as the men, all of them much taller than her argued, cursed and shouted. She had her arms folded across her chest and her ragged hat tipped forward as she listened to the chaos that reined supreme in the room. All three Barkley men were in the room, Jarrod trying to help Fred Madden calm down the men, Nick seeming to be undoing it. He did though, control his fiery temper after a while.

"Getting all riled up isn't going to get that money back."

"He could be halfway to New York by now for all we know," one man yelled.

"I know," Jarrod said. "But we do know he left on the train headed to San Francisco, so at least that's a start on where to find him."

"And when we do," some one else in the crowd balled up a fist and hit is other palm. "We'll string him up."

"You'll do no such thing," Fred said calmly, but deadly. "You'll let the law handle it. Now I need deputize someone who'll keep your heads and go after him."

"I'll go," Nick stepped towards Fred's desk.

"So will I," Heath pushed forward.

"Okay," Fred nodded and was about to go through the procedure.

"Oh no ya don't," somebody in the crowd called out. "The Barkley's are liable to let the man walk free after they get the money; they ain't likely to bring him in. He was sweet on Audra. One of us'll go along, just to make sure he does get back to the law."

"Now wait a minute," Nick stepped forward, anger flooding through him.

"Wait a minute Nick," Jarrod said, putting a calming hand on his younger brother's shoulder. "All right, what if someone else was chosen to go instead of Heath? Someone who isn't a Barkley but will still keep a level head? Would you agree to that? Even if we chose him?"

A chorus of reluctant yeahs and all rights rang in the small office. Jarrod took Nick aside and spoke in a low tone. "Take Scotty?"

"Scotty?!" Nick barely kept his voice low. "What do I want to take her along for?"

"Nick, she'll be sensible and she's strong enough to do what's right."

Nick glared at his older brother, but turned on his heel, his spurs jingling. "All right, I'll take Scotty along with me."

Silence rang in the room, as the named unfolded her arms self consciously. "Yer going to take a woman along for this job?"

"I…don't know if I can deputize her," Fred responded hesitantly.

"Do you need to deputize her?" Jarrod asked calmly. "You said you only needed to deputize someone. She could just go along for the ride."

"Maybe ah got somethen to say about this," Scotty spoke up finally. "Maybe ah don't want ta go along on this expedition."

"Did you contribute to the orphanage fund, Miss Scott?" Fred asked her.

"Ah did," she nodded.

"Then you have an interest in recovering the money?"

"Yeah."

"Then I suppose that qualifies you for going after this man. Will you go?"

She hesitated and looked around the room. Then her eyes returned to Nick. She bit her lower lip in thought. She glanced at Heath, then she nodded, slowly. "All right Sheriff. I'll do it."

Scotty bent over the sleeping form of Nellie and brushed away the strands of dark, course hair that had escaped from her braid. She kissed the dark cheek and smiled at the peacefulness of the sleeper. She then turned her attention to the smaller, freckle faced form that'd kicked off his blanket. A mop of blonde hair was darker than normal from the sweat that made little rivers across his dirty face. She shook her head.

"Ah guess he fell asleep before he washed?" she turned to Aunt Neat who nodded.

"The way 'a boys I reckon." Scotty bent down and found a relatively clean spot to kiss the boy.

"Hate not saying a proper good bye to 'em, but they'll be cranky enough when they wake and'll be a handful for you and Ben anyhow."

"They'll be jes' fine," the elderly woman smiled. "You jes' take care 'a yourself, hear?"

"Ah will," Scotty nodded.

Gathering up the last of her gear, Scotty turned to Ben. "Now you listen to Mrs. Barkley and Miss Audra, Miss Leah and Heath and Jarrod, you hear? You make sure to tell Nellie and Luke too."

"Yes'm," Ben nodded. "I wish I could go with ya, Ma."

She shook her head. "Ah don't think Nick would like that too much. He's mad enough about me goin' along."

As she headed to the stable where her horse was waiting in a stall, Leah came in carrying bags. "I made sandwiches with some of the leftover barbeque meat. It should last you for a little while."

"Thank ya," Scotty took the bags.

"I added some jerky, cheese and bread too."

Scotty handed off one of the bags to Nick as he tightened the girth on his horse. "Ah don't have ta go iffen ya don't want me to, Nick." She told him when Leah had left, wishing them a safe journey.

"Why? Do you not want to go?" he asked shortly.

"Ah jes figured you didn't want me along was all," she shrugged. He glared at her over his saddle.

"How's your hand?"

"Fine," she replied. "How's yours?"

He ignored her and continued saddling his horse. The fingers of early morning light were crawling across the sky as they headed out. They had slept a few hours during the night but had gotten up early to be on the trail before the sun rose.

They were silent through the morning, stopping early for a quick lunch of the sandwiches and then back on the trail. It was a dusty day and by night fall, Scotty could feel the dust collecting on her clothes and skin. They made camp for the night, eating the rest of the sandwiches and relaxing in the glow of the camp fire.

Heath and Leah were sitting at the kitchen table in Scotty's cabin. It was growing late and in an hour or so, Heath was planning on heading back home. All of the children were in bed, sleeping as they discussed plans.

"There's a little hill, about here," Heath indicated an imaginary map he'd drawn on the table. "That over looks the creek. I've always thought it would be a nice spot for a house."

"You'll have to show it too me," Leah responded smiling, shyly.

"Are you sure Leah?" he asked, still afraid to take the next step. He'd thought on and pondered Scotty's words. It had not merely been the difference in their ages that had bothered him, but also the fact that he was afraid that Leah felt that she owed him something for helping her in Haven.

"I'm sure Heath. Very sure."

The padding of feet brought both their heads up looking towards the front room. Ben was pushing a reluctant Luke in front of him. "What's wrong?" Leah asked.

"Luke's got somethen to tell ya."

The small boy peered up at the older one with sorrowful blue eyes. "Do I have ta, Ben?"

"What did you do, Luke?" Heath took control of the situation. Luke glanced back at the blonde cowboy, then at Leah.

"I did a very bad thing yesterday."

The next morning Scotty awoke first and fixed their breakfast and some coffee. They were back in the saddle before the sun was up. By noon they'd arrived in town and went in search of the business firm Clarke had said he was with. They told the secretary who they were looking for and she referred them to Ray Bainerd and the two explained to him their situation.

"The orphanage funds?" he asked, skeptical. "I don't know anything about that, but I do know that Clarke tried to send you a telegram but the wires to Stockton were down. He's not here in San Francisco right now; he went to his home up in Davisville."

Scotty and Nick exchanged glances. "All right," Scotty rose first. "Thank you for your help," she extended a hand and Nick, rather angrily, followed her out.

"Now we've got the ride up there!" he shouted at her.

"Don't shout at me. It's not my fault," she retorted. "Are we heading out now? We could still get a few miles in tonight."

He growled to himself. "Yeah, we'll get on the road now. But I want to send Jarrod a wire before we leave." But they found that the lines to Stockton were indeed down and wouldn't be up again for another day.

They road out of San Francisco and made camp about five hours later as the light was dimming. Scotty started the fire and their supper. They hadn't said much to one another during the trip and tonight didn't seem to be much different.

Scotty sighed. "Ah don't reckon yer always this quiet are ya Nick?" she asked.

He was using a tree for a prop as he finished off the last of a can of beans they'd picked up in the city. "Nope."

"Ah suppose it's the company then?"

"Yep."

Scotty chuckled. "Am ah that bad a person to be around?"

"No," he shook his head. "I just don't like you."

She nodded. They were silent for several more minutes when he finally turned towards her. "So what's your real name?"

"My real name?" she laughed. "Ya mean what's my name besides Scotty?"

"Exactly."

"Wouldn't ya like ta know."

"Fine," he moved to his blankets and propped his saddled up for a pillow before turning his back on her and lying down. Scotty watched him as he settled in and when he was finally quiet she sighed again.

"It's Esmeralda."

There was no sound except the chirruping of crickets for several moments and she almost thought he'd gone to sleep until she heard a chuckle, faint at first but growing louder. "Esmeralda?" he was laughing loud now.

"Now Nick, iffen ya tell a soul…" she trailed off as he sat back up still chuckling.

"You certainly don't remind me of an Esmeralda, Essie," he grinned at her broadly. She raised one eye brow.

"That's why ah go by Scotty. And ah mean it Nick, if ya tell a soul I'll make your life miserable."

He held up a hand as if to ward off a blow. "All right Essie, I promise I won't tell nobody."

She stared at him grimly, one hand resting on her hip. Finally she unfolded her own bed roll and crawled beneath the covers. "Night Nick."

"Night Scotty," he replied.

Riding into Davisville, a yellow dog trotted by, but ignored the strangers. Scotty glanced up the street looking for a sheriff's office or some other official building. Nick finally spotted it from the other direction. "Come on," he motioned for her to follow him.

They found the bulky sheriff reclining in his chair, whittling on a pieces of wood. Small shavings littered the floor around him. "We're looking for a man."

"Aren't we all," the sheriff didn't look up.

"Goes by the name of Clarke Hansen." The man finally glanced up.

"What do you want with him?"

"I want to know where he is," Nick's voice was growing louder.

"Cain't help ya," the man shrugged.

Nick reached across the desk and grabbed the man's shirt. "Nick," Scotty spoke up for the first time. He released his grip that sent the wide sheriff falling back into his chair. "Mr. Hansen stole some money that was for an orphanage fund," she explained.

The sheriff stared at her for a long time before answering. "Are y'all here to hang him now?"

"No," Scotty shook her head, Nick had walked away, angrily and was now behind her.

"We're to take him back to Stockton for stealing this money. Nick Barkley here is deputized to take him in."

The sheriff stared at them both for a moment. "All right. He's at the house down the street with the flowery curtains."

Scotty thanked the man and she and Nick headed up the street. "A lot of windows have flowery curtains," Nick mumbled under his breath.

Scotty rolled her eyes towards him. "Jes quiet Nick."

They arrived at the neat little house with the flowery curtains blowing in the July breeze. "Ah suppose this is it," she said as she stepped forward. Nick knocked on the door and was met by a woman who was slightly shorter than Scotty.

"Oh dear, company," she touched her silvery bun self consciously as a small child darted through one of the rooms. Both Nick and Scotty exchanged glances. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, we're looking for Mr. Hansen," Nick had removed his hat and was holding it in both hands, smiling at the older woman.

"Oh dear, you'll have to check the grave yard I'm afraid."

"Oh, no, he mean's your son, Mrs. Hansen, Clarke," Scotty quickly interjected.

"Ohhhh, its Clarke you want. Hold on a minute dears," she was just about to waddle off toward the back of the house when Clarke appeared carrying a newborn baby.

"Nick, Scotty what on earth are you doing here?" he adjusted the baby on his shoulder.

"WHAT ON EARTH ARE WE DOING HERE!" Nick bit off each word.

"Nicholas Barkley!" Scotty reprimanded. "You're gonna bust my eardrums." The babe had jumped at the sound of his voice and started wailing.

He glared at her. "Clarke you stole money from the orphanage fund," Scotty told him.

Mrs. Hansen gasped.

"You…you didn't get my telegram?" he asked sounding rather puzzled, trying to calm the baby. A slender young woman appeared.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Of course we didn't get your telegram!" Nick growled, but he didn't raise his voice too loud this time.

"Come in, come in," he motioned them into the house, before turning to the woman. "Ellie will you take the children somewhere so we can talk privately," turning back he added. "This is my sister Ellie McCallum, and this," he indicated the baby with a proud smile. "Is my latest niece."

"Come on in and sit down." They obeyed and were soon seated in a small parlor as Ellie gathered up the baby and two more young children. "I had left my briefcase in the church so I didn't have to carry it around all day and when I returned just before catching my train I found a briefcase in one of the pews. It wasn't until I had gotten to San Francisco that I realized I had the wrong one. I was in a hurry after I got there to get home to see my sister and the new baby. My briefcase should still be in the church somewhere, unless someone took it. Perhaps Reverend Billings moved it without realizing it." He shrugged. "When I got to San Francisco I sent a wire about it."

"We didn't get any wire," Nick retorted. "How do we know you really did?"

"Nick, the lines were down yesterday when we tried to send one out." He glared at her.

"Do you still have the briefcase Clarke?"

"Yes, right here," he went into a nearby room and came back with it, handing it to them. "I'm sorry it's been so much trouble for you all. I've even added about $20 of my own to the collection."

Scotty smiled at him. "Thank you Clarke."

"You'll stay the night won't you?" Mrs. Hansen asked. It was indeed getting dark. "There's plenty of room even with Ellie here and you can get washed up."

"That'd be nice," Scotty told her. "And tomorrow you'll head back to Stockton with us?"

"I will," he nodded.

"I…" Luke trailed off and looked again at the two sets of eyes staring at him. "I thought I'd pull a trick on Mr. Hansen. I hid his briefcase under the altar. There was a cloth over it so it was hid."

"Do you realize the trouble you caused by playing that trick?" Heath asked sternly.

"Ma's gonna be mad at me," Luke responded, staring at his feet.

"More than that. You made a lot of people very angry with Mr. Hansen. They could have killed him if he hadn't been out of town. Not to mention the fact that you could have made Mr. Hansen miss his train if he'd had to search for his briefcase!"

"I…I didn't think about it…"

"Of course you didn't think," Ben responded angrily.

"What are you gonna do to me?" Luke asked, raising his clear blue eyes to Heath.

Heath considered the young man for a moment. "I think that's yer ma's decision, not mine. You'll have to just wait until she gets back to find out how she want's to punish you." The boy's face went white. He was only just beginning to realize the repercussions his actions could have.

(To Be continued…)