Page 35 of Love and Order

CHAPTER 5

“What do you mean, the trial begins Wednesday?” Andromeda’s world tipped and spun. “You said it would take time for the judge to make it back to Cambria Springs.” Could she even attempt to mount an appropriate defense in such a short time frame?

“It does—and this district’s judge was here two months back, so it’ll be a while before he returns. But after Rion’s escape, Downing wanted a fast trial. He’s called a justice of the peace to preside.”

How could this be? “This is a territorial matter. He’s accused of breaking territorial law, isn’t he?”

Calliope laid a hand on her arm. “Andie, I’ve struggled with this too, being from Chicago. Everything moves slower in the territories. When things move too slowly, people find faster ways to get things done. For instance, a posse made up of local citizens rather than marshals and deputies. Vigilante groups exacting justice without a trial. Or, in this case, finding a faster way to try Rion.”

She gulped. “But if the usual processes don’t apply in who conducts the trial, how can we be assured they’ll apply in other areas?” Could Rion even get a fair trial here, given three women from the town had been affected? Women who were friends or family of the town residents—or in the soiled dove’s case, someone from whom many men had sought … pleasure. She shuddered.

“It’s a hard truth of life in the West.” Joe’s tone was soothing. “Things aren’t as refined as in St. Louis.”

No. No, they weren’t, and she struggled to grasp it.

Andie took deep breaths to calm her racing thoughts. “All right. If this is what I have to work with, then I’ll need every minute between now and Wednesday morning. I need files, notes, witness statements—and someplace big enough to spread things out.”

Joe and Calliope both thought.

“Lu’s renting a house a couple blocks from here,” Callie said. “She might let us use her place.”

“All right.” Andie shook her hands as if flicking water from them. “And I’ll need to send some telegrams.” She should notify Papa. Perhaps even from afar, he could guide her.

Joe motioned. “That’d be the Wells Fargo office. But it’s Sunday. They’re probably closed.”

“But Sheriff Downing told Mr. Littrick to send word to the US Marshal this morning.”

Callie shook her head. “You two check on whether you can send your telegrams. I’ll ask Lu about using her house.”

“All right.” Andie tried to settle her racing heart. “Since this is all outside of the usual procedures, who would I petition now for a change of venue?”

“A what?”

“A new location. To Denver, or … somewhere. Given the murdered women were a part of this community, and especially the respect the community holds for Hattie and her mother, I don’t know that Rion will get a fair trial here.”

“Changing location is a tall order.”

“But necessary.”

Joe groaned. “It’s a mighty big risk. How many people will travel to the new spot to testify? Could work in Rion’s favor, in that people who’d testify against him may not show. But it’ll work equally against him, when folks like Seth and Lena maybe can’t make the trip because her time’s so near.”

“Out here, people will wantonly ignore a court summons to testify?”

“Some will. In Seth and Lena’s case, it wouldn’t be brazen disregard, just bad timing, with her baby due any minute. But they’re an important piece of your case—explaining that Rion didn’t kidnap Hattie. You need them there. And Hattie’ll speak for Rion, but she’s not strong enough to make an out-of-town trip yet.”

Oh dear.

“Besides, don’t you usually do that kind of thing in the first days of a case?”

“Of course, but why should the judge travel here only to move the location? If I could request the change of venue now, it could save time, money, travel.”

“I see your point, but I think you’re stuck.”

She probably was. If only she didn’t have to deal with it all on her own. Her mind was spinning so fast she struggled to grasp thoughts as they raced past.

Andie glanced across the foyer of the grand house and saw the large family Bible on its stand in the corner. At its sight, her heart slowed ever so slightly.

“Does this town have a church?”

“A church …” Joe repeated.

“A house of worship?”

Callie nodded. “It serves as a school most times, and an itinerant pastor comes to town every so often. But yes, and they even open the doors on Sundays so folks can gather on their own.”

“Would one of you point me to it? I need to pray.”

The only way she knew to combat the turmoil she felt was to fall on God’s mercy.

Daniel sat on the front row of the schoolhouse, elbows on his knees and hat in his hand. He’d folded his suit coat over the bench behind him so he could feel the breeze blowing once he’d opened the doors and windows.

“Father, long ago I committed to You and Ma that I wouldn’t approach any trial with a wrong heart. I promised I’d deal honestly, seek the truth, not just to win.” Victories in his profession could cost men their freedom—or their lives. He wanted no part of falsely convicting anyone, but if Braddock was truly guilty, then he should pay.

“You lead, please, Father. Let justice be served.”

Sheriff Downing’s sneering attitude when he announced Miss McGovern would be his courtroom opponent, as well as the cutting exchange he’d had with her that morning, jangled in his mind, standing out like a single ill-tuned key on an otherwise-tuned piano. What was wrong with him? It shouldn’t matter if she was rude and antagonistic. His parents taught him to respect women, and he’d been nothing but disrespectful to her.

Heaviness grew in his chest, and he knelt, facing the bench. Settling his hat on the seat, elbows on either side, he started again. “Lord, I don’t like how I’ve acted toward Miss McGovern.” He buried his face in his hands. “Reckon she’s showin’ me the darkness in my own heart, and I don’t much like it. Forgive me. I’m embarrassed. I expect more of myself. No wonder I’m the only Littrick who isn’t married. I got much to learn—and I’ll need the rest of my lifetime to drive those lessons through my thick head.”

If he’d said anything he’d spoken to Miss McGovern in his parents’ hearing, Ma would’ve grabbed his ear and dragged him outside to cut a switch. He should be capable of restraining his tongue out of simple kindness.

“Lord, help me mind my speech and my manners. We got off on the wrong foot—and I’ve danced on her toes ever since. If we’re to be thrown together in this trial, please keep me from speaking any more disrespect.”

He was a fool …

“The village idiot, for certain.” He shook his head. “Help me, Lord. I got so much to learn …”

He would have continued his prayers, but a sniff from the back of the room drew his ear. Startled, he looked up. There, Andromeda McGovern stared, her pretty pink dress reflecting off her cheeks quite fetchingly.

“Beseeching the Lord, are you?”

Red-faced, he stood. “I’m still clean, miss, so it’s a fine time to get next to God.”

“And why were you invoking my name, Mr. Littrick?”

Heat flooded his face. “Heard that, did you?” Why had he shaved the two weeks’ worth of scruff from his jaw before boarding the train yesterday? If he’d left it, at least there’d be something to hide his embarrassment.

“I did.” She straightened. “What’s your purpose in speaking my name in your prayers?”

“Just makin’ sure my heart’s right, miss. Nothin’ more.”

“Or were you enlisting God in plotting my failure in Mr. Braddock’s case?”

“I wish you no ill will, miss. In fact, I was prayin’ the truth would come, no matter who wins.”

“I’m sure you’d like nothing more than to put a presumptuous woman with the preposterous notion she belongs in a courtroom in her place. Relegate her back to being a wife and mother.”

“I had no such designs, but if that’s where she belongs …”

She sniffed. “Few men believe otherwise.”

“Don’t you think you ought to get to know a fella first, before you decide what he believes? We ain’t all cut from the same cloth. Some of us might surprise you.”

“I doubt it.”

He cocked his head. “Where are you from, miss?”

“What does that matter?”

“Just tryin’ to get a fix on where that uppity manner comes from. You from some moneyed family back east?”

“What would you know about life back east?”

“Considerin’ I spent several years in Massachusetts attendin’ Harvard Law School, more than you think.”

Her face paled, and she settled a hand on her belly before she stiffened her spine and glared. “You are not a Harvard-trained lawyer.”

“Believe what you want, but I got a head full of knowledge and a real pretty paper with my name on it to prove it.”

The way she gulped air, she looked like she might be ill.

“Somethin’ wrong, miss?”

“No, Mr. Littrick. All is well enough. But since you’re obviously occupying the church, I’ll come again later.” She stomped out before he could say he was done.