Liam (3 page)

“I understand the problem. The letter you brought from the Governor of Missouri explained it and so did you. However, Colonel Jordan is AWOL. He apparently knew the nature of your visit as well,” said General Lassiter.

Lassiter was a slender man of average height and about fifty years of age. He had dark black hair with a shock of silver at each temple. Women would have called him distinguished. Liam thought he just looked tired, as men in his position often did, the weight of their responsibilities, heavy upon their shoulders.

Liam sat on the hard wooden chair across the oak desk from the general. The comfort of the chair did not encourage lingering. The room also held a sideboard and two bookshelves that matched the wood of the desk. He did notice that the general’s chair was heavily padded, giving Liam the impression that the general spent a lot of time there.

“Liam, you do realize that Captain Anderson will have to answer for the AWOL charge. Even with my recommendation that all charges be dropped, he may be sentenced to time in prison. The only way I can see for this to all go away is for him to resign his commission with an effective date prior to his encounter with Colonel Jordan.”

“I’m he sure would be willing to do that. I know he had intended to make the military his career, but he is prepared to do whatever he needs to.”

“Good. I think he’ll be exonerated due to the circumstances, but I can’t say for sure. I can only give my recommendation.”

Liam stood up and extended his right hand. “Thank you, General. You’ve been very helpful as I knew you would be.”

General Lassiter took Liam’s hand and shook it. Then he laughed. “I could have been a real bastard, you know.”

“Yes, sir, you could have, but there are not too many generals that have been in the position as long as you have, that would be bastards. The rigors of the job require that you be fair and just.”

“That sounds like the response a good politician would say. Do you have any aspirations to that end?”

“No, sir. I leave that for others. The only thing I want is to get back to my children.”

The general inclined his head. “Ah, that’s right. You said you have a gold claim up in the Dakota Territory. Deadwood wasn’t it?”

“Yes, sir. I left my children with my brothers.”

“I wouldn’t have picked you for a man with gold fever.”

“I’m not. It was just the farthest I could get from St. Louis at the time.”

The general looked at Liam as if he understood. “Running from something?”

Liam nodded. “Memories.” He said nothing more and the general let it go at that.

“Good luck to you, Liam. I’ll write you as soon as I know more about Colonel Jordan.”

He rose and took the general’s outstretched hand. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate you giving me some of your time.”

“You’re welcome. You know, the army is always looking for good officers. Should you want to resume your commission, please come talk to me.”

“Thank you, sir, but my children are my only concern now and army life does not agree with raising children alone.”

General Lassiter said, “I understand. Still if you change your mind…”

“I will, sir.”

Liam left the general and went back to his hotel. He was anxious to begin the trip back home. But tonight he would enjoy his last night in a real bed for a long time.

CHAPTER 2

Liam arrived in Deadwood on Sunday, the twenty-fifth of February, just in time for a snowstorm; back a month sooner than he expected because he was able to take the train for longer portions of the trip than he’d planned. His trip was very successful. Jake had been exonerated and the murder charge dropped. Liam had the pardon from Governor Hardin in his saddlebags to give to Jake.

Zach might still have to stand trial but only if the board didn’t accept his resignation and the general didn’t think there was any chance of that. The only thing that didn’t go as planned was Colonel Jordan was still at large, and a danger to the brothers and, by extension to himself and his children.

Liam sent a telegram to General Lassiter when he arrived in Cheyenne and then waited overnight for an answer from the general. When it came he’d been disappointed to find out Jordan hadn’t been caught. Yet he wasn’t surprised. Jordan was proving to be a slippery character. Liam was amazed he’d achieved the rank of colonel, but thought it must have been due to commissions given during the War Between the States—a terrible conflict that even now, more than ten years later, still had repercussions on the country.

Now that he was back at home, Liam decided to surprise his family with a special dinner, and visited the butcher before going back to the camp. Beef steak would be a welcome treat for his family. He was ready to see his children; he’d missed them more than he thought he would.

Passing in front of
The Gem
, he was knocked to the side by someone barreling out the door. He automatically reached for the person—a decidedly feminine person if the breast in his left hand was any indication.

“Are you all right? Miss?”

“Oh! Unhand me, sir.” The spitfire said in a tone that brooked no argument.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, releasing her immediately

She fell down onto the boardwalk. “Oh, owww.”

“Ma’am, calm down. I’ll help you up, if you would allow me.”

“I…I seem to have twisted my ankle. I can’t stand up,” she cried softly.

“Here. Take this.” He handed her his parcel of steaks wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. Then, he scooped her into his arms. “Let’s take you to see Doc Cochran.”

“You can’t carry me all the way there,” she protested. “I’m too heavy and it’s much too far.”

He chuckled, ignored her protests and started walking toward the southeast end of camp where Doc maintained his office. “I think I can manage.”

Doc’s office was at the far southeastern side of camp, just outside the Celestial’s village. Liam didn’t know why he kept it there when most of his clientele was at the opposite side of camp. It made no sense to him but Doc must have a reason. Maybe the rent was cheaper outside Chinatown?

He gazed down into her upturned face and found incredibly wide blue eyes, the color of the sky at dusk, staring back at him. He was momentarily mesmerized. “I’m Liam Anderson.”

“Eleanor Smith.” She perked up some. “Are you David’s father?”

Liam frowned. “Yes. How do you know my son?”

“He’s come into camp with Becky Finnegan…er…Anderson.” She closed her eyes for a moment, pain evident in the frown on her face. “Becky is my friend. I witnessed her marriage to your brother, Jake.”

Now he understood. “You’re the reverend’s daughter.”

“You say that with disdain. Do you have something against church?”

“Nope. Just got no use for ’em. Where was your God when my Mary died? In hiding somewhere, because He sure wasn’t with us.” The anger, still prevalent, surprised him. He thought he’d gotten over it by now.

Assaulted by memories still too painful to tolerate, he almost set her down and let her make her own way to the doctor’s place. But he was a gentleman and as such, he couldn’t do that.

“Have you just returned? David and Becky didn’t seem to think you’d be back until sometime next month.”

“I wasn’t expected. That’s why I was coming from the butcher before going home.”

“You…you…weren’t going into
The Gem
, were you?” she asked, surprised.

“No. I wasn’t.”

She let out an audible breath, like she’d been holding it for a long while. “Oh, I thought you…well you
know
what I thought.”

Liam watched her color rise. She was quite pretty in an understated way. Rich chestnut hair, deep blue eyes the color of the waning sky. Her bow shaped lips were full and immensely kissable. Slender, she weighed almost nothing in his arms.

“If you’ll wrap your arms around my neck it will be easier for both of us,” said Liam.

She did as he asked and the action brought her breasts flush against his chest. He hadn’t been this close to a woman since Mary died. Until now, he hadn’t felt any desire to do so. He was feeling a whole lot of things with this woman that seemed new to him. Maybe he
should
go visit
The Gem
and one of its
soiled doves.
Maybe then he could look at Eleanor with something other than lust on his mind.

“Are you sure you weren’t going to use the ‘
offerings
’ at
The Gem
?” she persisted.

He kept walking, debating whether or not he should answer her questions. He answered, deciding he wanted to get to know this woman better and figuring he wouldn’t have a better opportunity. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, I was not. I was simply passing by when you crashed into me. Do you always assume that every man that passes this way is going into
The Gem
? What were
you
doing in there and why were you so anxious to leave?”

She ducked her head and wouldn’t look at him. “Yes, I’m sorry about running into you. I wasn’t looking where I was going. You see, I minister to the women there and Mr. Swearengen doesn’t much like it. He was chasing me out, so to speak. Well, he wasn’t actually chasing me, just yelling at me. I don’t like it when people yell.”

“I’ll have to remember that.”

“Why would you care whether I like it when people yell or not?”

“We might become friends. You already know my son and probably my daughter, too.” He had decided they
would
become friends. Perhaps even more than friends. Where his children were concerned, he gave his all, and if they wanted to be friends with this woman, then so would he.

She smiled up at him. A beam so brilliant it nearly took his breath away. “Ah, dear Hannah. She’s so very smart. You know that don’t you? She knows her letters and is starting to read. And talk, goodness, she’ll talk your socks off if you let her.”

He grinned. “And do you let her?”

“Of course. I encourage all of our youngsters to explore their world. I told you, I also teach school here, didn’t I?”

He shook his head. “No, you didn’t mention it.”

“Oh well, Deadwood is a hard place to raise children and you have it even harder, trying to raise them out on that creek, which is more of a river than a creek. She has a good friend in Gemma.”

“Um, Lily Sutter’s daughter?” Liam tried to keep up with Eleanor’s chatter. She changed subjects mid-stream with no warning. Yes, she tended to ramble, but he found it refreshing. He found her refreshing.

Mary had been anything but a chatterbox, preferring to keep everything inside. He’d tried so many times to get her to talk to him about what bothered her. She refused. Always said everything was fine. He wondered now how long she’d really been sick before she died.

“Yes, the girls have been spending Saturdays together while your brother helps Lily in the store. Of course, you already knew that.”

“I hadn’t realized it was a regular occurrence. Miss Smith, I’ve been gone for more than three months, I’m sure there are many things about my family I don’t know, so please continue. Enlighten me.”

“Well,” she paused and took a breath. “Your brother Zach is trying to court Lily Sutter but she’s not having any of it. She told me that although Gemma is the best thing that ever happened to her, she’s not falling for another handsome face.”

“Zach will be pleased to know she thinks he’s handsome,” he said dryly.

She cocked her head for a moment deep in thought. “Yes, I suppose he would get that impression. Good looks seem to run in your family, so I’m sure it’s something you’ve heard before.”

“It’s gratifying to know you think so.”

“Oh, don’t act so surprised,” she admonished him. “You must know how handsome you are.”

“It’s not something I think about much.”

“Well, I should hope not. That would make you exceedingly conceited, now wouldn’t it?”

“Yes ma’am. I guess it would.” He smiled. She was feisty. He liked that in a woman.

Liam ignored the stares he got as he carried Eleanor through camp to the doctor’s office. He didn’t much care what people thought of him. They got some raised eyebrows, some guffaws and knowing glances. In Chinatown, the Celestials simply got out of their way and looked the other direction rather than directly at them.

They arrived at the doctor’s cabin, a small building made out of logs and held together with mud. There was a window in the door and one to the left side of it.

Liam lightly kicked the door a couple of times with the toe of his boot.

“Doc? Doc Cochran? You in there?” he called out.

“Coming, coming,” called the doctor just before he opened the door. “What is it?” he questioned grumpily.

“Hello, Doctor Cochran,” said Eleanor with a little wave of her free hand, keeping the other wrapped securely around Liam’s neck. “I seem to have sprained my ankle. Mr. Anderson was kind enough to bring me here.”

“Well, come in,” said Doc, holding the door wide open so Liam could carry Eleanor in. “Put her right there.” He pointed at the table in the middle of the room. “Now, let’s have a look.”

The doctor grabbed a button hook out of a drawer in his desk, unbuttoned Eleanor’s boot and gently took it off.