Black Conley (28 page)

While the maid and Laura went into the second bedroom of the suite, Black relaxed in one of the overstuffed chairs in the sitting room and lit a cigarette. It had been trying dealing with the nuns and disappointing to learn that they hadn't even taught Laura to read or write. He knew he wasn't the best teacher, but he would try.

"Mr. Conley,” the maid said as she entered the room wringing her hands. “I think you should come in here and see this."

"See what, woman? I don't want to embarrass my daughter."

"I doubt you'll think the same once you've seen what I have to show you."

Black got up and followed the woman into the room. The tub was large and made Laura look like a very small and fragile child in comparison.

"Show your father your back, child,” the woman requested.

Laura sat forward and for the first time Black saw what had so disturbed the maid. Laura's back was crisscrossed with white scars and ugly red welts.

"Who did such a thing to you?” he demanded, all the while knowing the answer.

"The sisters said that they had to beat the sins of our mothers from us. Three times a week when we knelt in prayer, we were beaten. It is our penance for being born to whores."

"You said we. Were there more than one of you who were beaten?"

"There were three girls who were not adopted when they were babies. We are good friends. Deborah was so happy for me when you came to get me."

"What about the other girl, wasn't she happy for you?"

"Mary died last month. Her back became infected, and God's angels came to take her to heaven. Mother Superior said it was because God was afraid that Mary would become a whore, and he wanted her at his side to protect her from that."

Black rolled his eyes. “I saw some boys there. Were they beaten as well?"

"Michael and Jonathan are brothers. They came when their parents were killed in a flood. They were only beaten when they didn't get their work done. They both say that as soon as they are old enough they'll run away, but I doubt that will ever happen. The nuns guard them closely."

Black could feel his anger building. No child should have to live in such conditions when there were people in the world who would love them.

"Did I say something wrong, Sir?” Laura questioned.

"No, darling, you didn't, but please don't call me Sir. If you can't bring yourself to call me Pa, then Black will do. No one calls me Sir ... or Mister, for that matter. Now, you enjoy your bath. I have some business I have to take care of. When you're done, why don't you take a nap, and when you wake up, I'll be back with a pleasant surprise for you."

Laura nodded and rubbed the scented soap that the hotel had provided onto the soft cloth so that she could begin washing her body. As she did, Black motioned for the maid to follow him into the sitting room.

"I'm going out there after those other three children. Can you stay with my daughter while I'm gone? I'll pay you extra. When I get back, I'll need three more tubs of water brought up here."

"Yes sir, but I don't know what you can do. I doubt those old crows will let those children all go. The boys were sons of people who were passing through town and got caught in a flash flood. They were settlers heading west. The nuns took them in and..."

"And what?"

"I've heard that they are grooming them to take care of their sexual needs when they are old enough. My husband was brought up out there and when he was old enough he was made to service the nuns, if you know what I mean. He ran away as soon as he was able to and came into town."

"What's your husband's name? Maybe he can help me."

"It's Collier Trent."

Black wondered why the name sounded so familiar, and then it hit him. “Is he a U. S. Marshal?"

"Why, yes, he is. How did you know?"

"I don't have time to explain, but please keep a close eye on my daughter and see if you can get some salve for those welts. I'll be back as soon as I can."

When the woman returned to the room where Laura was bathing, Black went into the bedroom where he'd spent the previous night and got his guns. Once armed, he headed for the U. S. Marshal's office to talk to Collier Trent.

"Are you Collier Trent?” he asked as soon as he entered the office.

"Yes, sir. What can I do to help you?"

"You can tell me why you haven't cleaned out that nest of black crows at the convent."

The look on the man's face was a mixture of hatred, shame and shock. “What do you mean?"

"I just adopted a child from there, and found out exactly what goes on. Your wife says that you were brought up there and forced to service those women."

"She had no right to say that. I've told no one but her about that time in my life."

"She had every right. If I'm not mistaken, you were the one who found out that Laura Leigh was still there. Now, I need your help to get the other three children who are being mistreated out of there."

"Are you Black Conley?” Collier asked, eyeing Black's guns.

"It doesn't matter who I am, but yes, I'm Black Conley. Now are you going to help me?"

"Of course I'll help you, but I doubt anyone else in this town will. They all think those nuns can do no wrong. That's why I've never told people about what really goes on out there. I doubt anyone would believe me. Just what do you plan to do with those children once they're out of there?"

"I'm going to adopt them and take them to Montana. I know a ranch where there's an orphanage that's run with a lot of love. The work is hard, but so is the country. They'll grow up to become productive men and women rather than studs to so-called nuns in heat."

Collier strapped on his guns and then called to two other deputies to join them. While the others rode their horses out toward the convent, Black drove the carriage. As much as he wanted to be on a mount as well, he knew that he would need the carriage to bring the children into town with him.

Once there, he knocked on the same door he'd knocked on earlier. It was the same old woman who answered the summons. “Mr. Conley, what are you doing here? Has Laura displeased you? If so, we will gladly take her back and see that she's punished for her sins.” She tried to look around the bulk of his body to see if Laura was in the carriage.

"Laura has been punished enough. At this moment, her wounds are being cared for. I've come for Deborah, Michael and Jonathan."

"But ... But you can't. They belong here. Mother Superior..."

"Mother Superior can go to hell. I've come for those children, and when I leave it will be with adoption papers for all of them in my pocket."

The old woman crossed herself at his use of profanity, but stepped aside to allow him entrance to the convent. As he stepped across the threshold, he could hear the men behind him enter as well.

"Just what is the meaning of this, Mr. Conley?” Mother Superior said, as she came out of the office where he'd signed the papers to make Laura his.

"I've come for Deborah, Michael and Jonathan. I will not allow the mistreatment they've received to continue."

"I cannot allow that."

"You can, and you will,” Collier said. “I've kept my mouth shut about what went on out here, but Black made it perfectly clear that shame was no reason to allow it to continue. I'm here to arrest all of you and find homes for these children. Black has agreed to take the older ones and my wife and I will gladly take the little ones. Any home would be better than what you give them."

"Black?” Mother Superior questioned. “I thought your name was Phillip. As for you, Collier Trent, I know who you are and what you've done. Do you think the people of Cincinnati will accept you once they know of your life here?"

Black drew his gun and stepped up until he was toe to toe with the irate woman. “I've heard enough about what goes on out here today to be so outraged that I'd press charges against you. Instead, taking away the children is the best thing for everyone concerned. As for my name, the one I was born with was Philippe, for my grandfather. I was called Black from birth because of my coloring. I'm assuming the name means something to you."

"Who hasn't heard of the gunslinger, Black Conley? Your reputation is well documented in the newspapers."

"So you do know how to read. If that's the case, why haven't you taught the girls in your care to do the same?"

"It wasn't necessary. My parents taught me to read, but my calling was the church, just as these girls are called to serve God. There is no need for them to be able to read. That is not mandatory to become a nun."

"Not even the Bible?"

"The words of our Lord are memorized. There is no need for these children to read them for themselves."

Black's blood boiled at the woman's comment. He took education very seriously and couldn't understand anyone who didn't. “Look, lady, I'm letting you off easy. I'd prefer to see you behind bars for what you've done to these children. I'll settle for papers giving custody of them to Collier and myself. How many children are we talking about?"

He didn't know if he had intimidated her by his tone or by the gun that was pointed at her heart. In either case, she told him that besides the three older children, there were two toddlers and one infant.

Within the hour, the children were all piled into his carriage and were being escorted back to Cincinnati by the marshals. He couldn't help but wonder how Belle would react when he arrived in Larson's Gap with not only her daughter but also three other children in tow. He prayed he had done the right thing.

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"Push, Belle, push!” Kate's words cut through the pain of labor.

"Damn you, Black Conley, you should be here for this,” Belle heard Annie say.

With all her might, Belle pushed one more time and then heard the lusty cries of a newborn baby. Too exhausted to care about anything, she lay back against the pillows and allowed the girls and Annie to care for her.

"You have a fine son,” Annie announced as she lay the screaming infant in Belle's arms. “He's got a beautiful head of black hair and a pair of lungs that will raise the rafters of this old house. It's been a long time since there's been a little one around here to care for."

"A long time, hell, what about those seven children of Clayte's?” Kate responded.

"For the most part, they're old enough to take care of themselves. This little guy is completely dependent on all of us."

Belle cradled her son in her arms and marveled at the perfect being she'd just brought into the world. Each little finger and toe was accounted for, and his darker skin made him look less like the pink, helpless child she'd given birth to in the convent. This little boy was meant for greatness.

"What are you going to call him?” Lacy asked.

"Matthew, for my father. He'd like that."

Within a few days, Belle was back into the routine of running the ranches as well as the orphanage. Clayte's children had proven to be a joy in her life. At first they were timid, but as time went on, they had become outgoing and more than willing to do their share of the work around the ranches. Even though they weren't old enough to work independently, the boys gladly helped clean out the barns and care for the animals. From Clayte's stock, she'd made certain each of them had their own horse and saddle and gave their schooling in ranch matters over to Roy. The old man had glowed at the prospect of teaching youngsters everything he knew.

As for the girls, the older ones helped with the younger ones and were adept in the kitchen. The addition of the house was kept spotless without Annie ever having to remind them of the chores that needed doing.

Since the older children were enrolled in school, Cara took over taking them to their classes and picking them up every day in the buckboard. She also oversaw their homework and monitored their progress through meetings with the teacher, Mr. O'Donnell.

The train had brought not only the end of the stage line, but also prosperity to Larson's Gap. No longer did people look down on her and the girls who helped her run the ranch. She had been able to employ several new hands and reopen the bunkhouse.

Zeek had recovered and helped her to find someone to manage the Diamond A and to live in the house until Clayte's boys were of an age to run the place themselves.

The only thing missing from her life was Black. She hadn't heard a word from him since he left the day of the hanging. Even though Belle knew it was for the best, she longed to again know the security of his arms and the sweetness of his lovemaking.

Matthew was two weeks old when Clayte's oldest son, Joshua, came running into the house. “There's a wagon coming, and it's loaded down with a bunch of kids."

Belle inwardly cringed. She wasn't certain just how many more children she could accommodate at the orphanage. They'd already had to build on another addition to the house to accommodate Clayte's seven children and the four others who had showed up on her doorstep.

She laid Matthew in his cradle next to the stove in the kitchen and went out onto the porch to see who could possibly be bringing children to her now.

"Sorry it took me so long to get here, darlin'.” Black jumped down from the driver's seat of the wagon. “I had a special delivery I had to pick up for you in Ohio."

As much as she wanted to run to his arms, his words stopped her short. She looked past him to the four children in the wagon. There was no denying that one of the girls was her daughter, but who were the rest of them?

"How did you find her?"

"It wasn't hard,” he replied. “She never left the convent. After I found her, she told me about the other children and I just couldn't leave them behind. Would you accept me as your husband and these four children that I adopted?"

"Five,” she said. “That is, if you want to claim your son. He's sleeping in the kitchen."

Black's eyes sparkled and he smiled broadly. “You had my son? You had to have known before I left, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I wanted you to return for me, not because you felt compelled to do the right thing. Judging by this special delivery you have for me, I can see that you were doing what you considered the right thing."