Nicademus: The Wild Ones (24 page)

“Ms. Kitty?”

She glanced up from her bench. The girls became silent. The man was tall, and regal in his uniform. He had pale skin and a mustache that curled at the tips. His grey eyes were hard as granite. They bore down on her. “Your name is Ms. Kitty right?”

“Yes, sir,” she stood.

“Open up,” he ordered the jailer.

The door was opened and the man stepped back. Cora glanced to the girls. Honey kept her head down whenever the lawmen came close. But even she was looking at Cora with concern. She gave the girls a reassuring smile and walked out of the cell.

“Come with me,” the marshal said.

Cora hadn’t changed or bathed in three days. She looked a sight. Besides the bathroom breaks given to them, all the girls were near crazy from confinement. And they only received a meal at the end of the day.

She stepped outside into the sunlight. It was so blistering hot and bright it stung to open her eyes fully, so she covered her eyes with her hand. She stepped down and walked into the road. Nicademus was under the command of the 9
th
Calvary and Marshal Rudolph Henkerson, the man informed her. She saw the Negro soldiers all lined up and at attention. A few of them she knew and they stared at her with pity. The marshal walked her past them. Cora tried to keep up, but she hadn’t used her legs that much in days.

“Where’s the sheriff? Is he alive?”

“He’s recovering,” the marshal said. “He was set to hang with Jeremiah Polk and some of the other townsfolk.”

“Hang?” Cora stopped.

The marshal paused. He glanced back at her. Cora felt weak. “Red Sun? The Indian? Is he …?”

“They’re alive. It seems the governor has come in and changed the judge’s order.”

Cora put her hand to her chest. “Governor? I don’t understand.”

The marshal gave her a look of disdain. “Me either. But you will soon. Please, your presence has been requested.”

Cora picked up the sides of her tattered dress and walked fast. She was led to her saloon. Several of the Buffalo Soldiers were there. They stood outside of it staring at her. She smoothed back her knotty hair and tried to look like a lady. One of the soldiers extended his hand and helped her climb the steps. She was grateful for the kindness. The marshal stopped before going in. She glanced to him and he gave her a nod. She nodded in return and pushed open the doors.

Nothing prepared her for who she saw when she entered. Senator Daniel Shepherd stood at the bar. He took his hat off his head. In all the years that had passed he had only changed a bit in height. He was still as heroic looking as she remembered.

“Cora,” he smiled.

“You got my letter,” she said trying to keep the sob from her voice.

He looked her over. She shied away from his perusal. But he had seen her in a much worse state. Still, having him there sparked memories her heart knew she should have long ago passed on. “Have a seat,” he said.

He walked over to a table and righted up a chair. Her saloon still had the blood on the floors from the carnage from days earlier. She sat at the table and let him scoot her closer to it. He took a seat across from her.

“So I guess I should call you Senator now.”

Daniel smiled.

“What will they do to us, Daniel?” she asked.

“You haven’t asked about Pa,” Daniel said.

Cora avoided his eyes. “Where is he?”

“At the undertaker’s,” Daniel replied.

Her gaze swung to his. “Dead?”

“Dead. A really nasty death from what I’m told. Doctor is stumped as to what’s the cause. I got here just before he passed. The few times he was conscious he was so delirious from fever the marshal couldn’t get a true statement from him.”

Cora understood now. Daniel had a choice years ago, her or his father. He chose himself. Sending her away to keep from his father’s wrath, and his feelings for her. Saving her life by default. She believed. Now his father was dead and it was clear in his eyes that he knew how.

“His men said Jeremiah Polk and your friends set up an ambush in town and slaughtered everyone.”

“It’s not true. In my letter I told you I—”

“I don’t care about your letter, Cora. I don’t give a shit about the truth!”

Cora frowned. Daniel took a step toward her. “My father has been terrorizing land owners for close to a decade. And he’s used my political connections to cover his trail for years. Now he’s dead. And dead men tell no tales.”

“What are you saying to me, Daniel?”

He reached and took her hand. Cora blinked at his touch and stilled when he brought her knuckles to his lips. He pressed a kiss on them. “Never loved another woman since you. My Cora. I know you believe I sent you away because I didn’t want you. That I did it because I didn’t want to be with you.”

“Didn’t you?” she asked.

“I did it only for you. To save your life. To give you freedom. You could never be free with me.”

“Daniel …”

“Cora, let’s be honest. If you were born free, would you have chosen me?” he asked.

She pulled her hand away. The truth was, until she met Red Sun, she didn’t know love. Not real genuine love. Daniel was the light of hope in her dark torturous existence. Does a woman love her savior for gratitude and nothing more?

“My friend the governor is pardoning everyone. I’ve also made sure that Jeremiah Polk is returned what was taken from his family by my father. One of my dad’s men confessed that Polk didn’t kill those lawmen in Arkansas.”

“Why would he?”

Daniel shrugged. “To escape the hangman’s noose I suppose.” He paused and smiled at her. He shook his head. “You are still beautiful. My actions may cost me politically, but I don’t care. I owe you this.”

“I did love you, Daniel. It doesn’t matter the reason. Once again you have saved my life. I can never tell you how much I … I love you for it.”

He looked around the saloon and then back to her. “They tell me you run this place?” he asked.

She pushed her chair back and stood. “I do.”

He stepped over to the bar and put his hat on his head. “You were always a survivor, Cora. You’ve done well. Be well.”

“You too, Daniel.”

He started to walk off and she hurried after him. She grabbed his arm and found herself in his arms in an instant. She hugged him and inhaled his strength and integrity. It was the sweetest smell next to freedom. When she lifted her head Daniel kissed her brow. “It’s over, Cora. You’re free.”

“Goodbye, Daniel.”

He let her go and walked out. Cora came to the door. She watched as he walked to his carriage and got inside. Several soldiers were accompanying him on his horse. Daniel leaned forward and smiled at her. He then leaned back and was gone. Cora stepped out on the porch and the marshal approached.

“The women are being released. We will be out of the town by nightfall.” He glanced to the carriage and caravan leaving, then back to Cora. “I don’t know how you managed to pull this off. But let’s be clear. This better not happen in Nicademus again.”

Cora glanced to the marshal. She nodded her head as if to say she understood. The marshal turned and walked off.

**

 
“Jeremiah!”

He sat up on his bed. He was locked in a room with no windows. The door opened and Jeremiah stood. Annabelle rushed him. She threw her arms around his neck. Confused, he held her and looked past her to see if the soldier would step inside. They were alone.

“You free! It’s over! You free!” she grinned.

“I don’t understand. I was convicted,” he said.

“The cavalry leaving. It’s over!” Annabelle repeated. She made no sense. Two days ago he had stood next to Red Sun and several others while the judge who came to town passed his sentence. They were to hang by the neck until dead. His only hope was that he’d see Annabelle again before he died. Now she said he was free? It made no sense.

“Annabelle, slow down. What changed?”

“I dunno. The soldiers come and they let us go. I ask where you were. One tell me. He tell me they leavin’. That it’s over. He say you and Red Sun free. And then I see Ms. Kitty. She tell me to bring you to her. She has more news. You free,” she stroked his face. “Aren’t you happy?”

“I’m surprised. I didn’t expect … freedom. I’m still not sure I understand it,” he said. He held her to him. For three days he had waited for it all to end. In fact, he had made peace with it. Life was too hard if he couldn’t live it the way he wanted. Now she told him his crimes had been wiped away? Not possible. And if it was possible, Jeremiah had to understand how.

**

Red Sun rubbed his wrist. They were sore. The sheriff was kept at Doc Samuel’s, healing from his gunshot. The outlaw was given a room with a bed to wait his sentence. Red Sun however was chained to the back of the jail, like a dog. His jailer came over and unlocked his chains, mumbled that he was free, and walked away.

Freedom didn’t matter to him. All he wanted to know was the fate of his daughter and his Cora. Men from the 9
th
Calvary were loading up on supplies. The marshal had already left for Tulsa, Dixon told him. The first place Red Sun went to find her was the saloon. The stench of blood and spilled whiskey singed his nose. He found the girls cleaning up. Mopping and taking out the broken furniture through the front doors.

“She in the back waiting for you, Red Sun,” Jessiemae told him.

He nodded his thanks and headed to her office. “Cora?” he said before he was inside.

She smiled and ran to his arms. He held her to his chest. “It’s over!” she exclaimed. He lifted her chin. “Annabelle?”

“She gone to tell the outlaw. He free too. We all are,” Cora said.

“How?” he asked.

“Governor pardon. They say Tyler Shepherd broke the law. Other towns like ours. He did the same thing. They took his men off in chains for their trial in Tulsa. But Nicademus is saved. We free.”

Red Sun studied her face. He didn’t understand any of the news. He’d never seen white men give or show any sign of kindness. He didn’t trust her happiness. He had nothing in his life to compare it to.

“Do you understand me? We free.”

“Tyler Shepherd?”

“Dead. He died of fever. No charges. And when you think of all the people that he murdered in our town there shouldn’t be. See. We beat him. We beat them all.”

“How did you do this, Cora? Tell me.”

She broke from him. “We free. That’s it. Whatever I did to get us here don’t matter. Nicademus is our town and no one will ever take it from us.”

Red Sun grinned. “You amaze me.”

Cora spun around in her dress with her hands to her hips. “Then marry me?”

Red Sun’s smile faded. Cora nodded that she was ready. “Marry me,” she repeated.

He went to his knees. Cora walked over to him and he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his cheek to her womb. He said a silent prayer that not only would they marry but she’d give him children. That the curse over their lives could be lifted, and they could truly be happy. After everything they’d been through, it was possible.

**

Annabelle wanted to bathe and change clothes, but she delayed it. First she wanted to hear what Ms. Kitty had to tell them. And she knew her Jeremy wanted the same. He didn’t trust her news. She could see his hesitance when they left and started toward the saloon. They walked hand in hand through town. Several of the men were hard at work, making coffins for the undertaker. Annabelle still wasn’t sure of the number alive or dead. And when she thought of Henry’s mangled body a sob congealed in her throat.

Grief would have to come after. For now she clung to the ray of happiness they had. She did so to keep her sanity. To forget the horrible things she saw, and to focus on what she wanted more than anything: for Jeremiah to stay in Nicademus with her, and for them to be together forever.

They climbed the steps to the saloon and went inside. The girls were busy getting the place cleaned up.

“They waiting for you in Ms. Kitty’s office,” Honey said.

“Thanks!”

“You doing okay, outlaw?” Honey asked.

Jeremiah blinked as if he were in a daze. He hadn’t said much since the walk over. He glanced over to Honey and smiled. “I am now.”

Honey grinned at them. Her left eye was swollen shut, and her lip split. Yet she looked the happiest Annabelle had ever seen her.

“See you later!” Annabelle said and pulled Jeremiah along. They went inside Ms. Kitty’s office. She was sitting on Red Sun’s lap kissing him. When they entered she stood.

“So you found him?” Ms. Kitty asked.

“I did. Go on, tell him. He don’t believe me,” Annabelle said. She crossed her arms and beamed with pride. “Tell him he free.”

Ms. Kitty walked to her safe. She opened and removed his bag of gold. “Never told them about the gold. They never asked.” She turned with it in her hand. “Here’s the truth, outlaw. You got your pardon. I think it was given so Nicademus could have a pardon too. Whatever the governor’s reasoning don’t matter to me. You a free man so all debts are paid. And I’m told your family land and assets will be turned over to you. Tyler Shepherd is dead. His son is a senator and he’s exposed the things he’s done.” She extended the bag of gold to him.