Wagon Train Cinderella by Kennedy Shirley

Author:Kennedy, Shirley [Kennedy, Shirley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Western, romance
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Members of the Ferguson wagon train were so engrossed in Donovan’s shocking news, nobody but Callie heard Nellie’s gasp of horror, nor saw the look of stunned disbelief that crossed her face. Callie caught her arm as she started to sag and pulled her up straight again. “Hold on, Nellie,” she whispered, “we’ve got to hear this.”

The whole camp listened with rapt attention while Sam Donovan told how Coy had appeared in their midst a little over a week ago. He seemed a nice young man and was hired immediately by Elihu Hawkins, a banker from Boston, who needed another hand to drive his wagons. Almost immediately Elihu began to find fault with his new hire. Coy’s laziness and insolent attitude were not to his liking. Worse, Coy was paying far too much attention to Sarah, Elihu’s sixteen-year-old daughter, who, despite her father’s warnings, continued to cast sheep’s eyes at the new hire whenever he was around. Hawkins warned Coy not to make free with his daughter, but the young man paid him no heed. When Hawkins found Coy and his daughter together “in intimate proximity,” as Donovan delicately put it, he immediately dismissed him. Backed by his captains, Donovan ordered Coy from the camp. A short time later, Hawkins caught the young man red-handed in his wagon, about to make off with his hidden stash of gold coins. He immediately leaped toward the thief, trying to restrain him, but before he could, Coy drew a pistol and shot him in the chest. “Hawkins fell backward from the wagon. He was dead before he hit the ground.” Sam Donovan shook his head with deep regret. “Hawkins was a fine man and respected by all. Left a wife and four children.”

Amid murmurs of sympathy from the crowd, Luke spoke up. “So, you’re holding a trial?”

“Tomorrow morning, nine o’clock. Any man wanting to volunteer as a juror is welcome to join us. We’ll give Barnett a full and fair trial.”

Gert Gowdy called, “What if you find him guilty?”

Donovan looked surprised, as if the question was unnecessary. “He’ll be hanged. The sooner the better. We’ve wasted enough time on Coy Barnett.”

* * * *

Callie got little sleep that night. She and Lydia spent hours trying to console Nellie, who cried her heart out until finally she fell into fitful slumber. Morning came, and with it a dreary leaden sky. Nearly every member of the Ferguson wagon train traipsed the short distance to the Donovan Train for the trial of Coy Barnett. The Whitaker family was among them.

Along the way, Pa noticed Nellie’s tear-stained face and despairing manner. “Don’t know why you’re crying, Daughter. I always said he was no good.”

Nellie gave an answering wail.

“Don’t waste your sympathy. He deserves to hang. There’s no call for you to be so upset.”

If you only knew. Callie gave her distraught stepsister a pat on the arm.

Magnus Ferguson fell into step beside her. “It’s a shame you have to see this, Miss Whitaker.”

She was happy to see him and glad for his reassuring presence.

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