CHAPTER18
About once a month, a pony express rider would come to town with letters and correspondence for the citizens of Treasure Falls. Today when he arrived, Lee handed the man Daisy’s letter to her sisters, but he’d been shocked when he received a letter from his sister’s friend.
Occasionally, Beth wrote and asked for money. The girl was not married and had a hard time holding down a job. Lee wished she’d find a good man and settle down and have a couple of children. But so far, nothing.
Already he was sending her one hundred dollars a month.
He slit open the letter, fearing that it would say that she had passed.
Dear Mr. Chapman,
I’m your sister Beth’s friend and I’m writing to tell you I’m worried about her. George Richards, a very wealthy man here in town, is courting her. But it’s rumored that he is abusive to women. The last two women he courted, disappeared and were never seen again. This concerns me that Beth would consider him.
It’s also rumored that he keeps women at the Gold Mine Brothel. I’ve not seen Beth in a week and I hope she’s not working there because of Mr. Richards. Please come to Helena and find her.
This is none of my business, but I wanted you to know in case she disappears.
Sincerely,
Katherine Johnson
Fear spiraled through Lee. His only sister was in danger. He looked at the date of the letter. A week ago. Even now she could be missing or dead.
The door opened and several customers entered the store, but he continued to stare at the letter in his hands. Surely, Beth would not be working at a brothel. Surely, no man could convince her to take up the trade.
As much as he hated going off and leaving Ellis and Daisy, he had to go to Helena. It was only about a four-hour ride on horse, but he had no choice. He would convince her to return with him to Treasure Falls where he could watch her. Take care of her.
Glancing at his watch, he knew it was too late to leave today. But first thing in the morning, he would be riding toward Helena. An ache gripped his heart. Oh, how he wished his family was closer. Beth was all he had left.
And now she was in trouble.
He glanced at his helper. “Here are the keys. You open and close whenever you need to. I’ve got to go to Helena to take care of a family situation. Watch over the store.”
“Yes, sir,” Charles said, gazing at him. “Safe travels.”
Lee waved good-bye as he walked out the door and went into the bank next door. Ellis glanced up at him with a frown on his face.
It wasn’t often that Lee came to visit the bank. Usually, they met on the wooden sidewalk when the day was done.
“What’s wrong? Is Daisy all right?”
With a sigh, he walked up to Ellis and sank down behind his desk. He reached into his pocket and tossed him the letter from Katherine. His friend frowned as he opened the envelope and took out the letter. Quickly, he scanned the contents and then looked up at Lee, a frown between his brows.
“Not good,” he said. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to go to Helena tomorrow morning.”
Ellis shook his head. “This man is powerful and rich. You don’t need to tangle with him by yourself. We’ll both go.”
“And leave Daisy alone?”
“Yes,” Ellis said. “She’ll be fine.”
Standing, Ellis glanced at his helper. “Let me tell Mr. Smith that we’ll be gone for a few days.”
Lee didn’t like the idea of Daisy being left behind, especially with Henry causing problems. Somehow he had to convince Ellis to stay behind.
An hour later, they walked up the steps to the house. They were home early and as Lee glanced in through the door, he could see Daisy in the kitchen preparing their dinner. Her long blonde curls hung down her back and he loved her pert little ass as she bent over checking the oven.
They opened the door and stepped inside, she came rushing to the kitchen door.
“We’re home,” Ellis called.
“You’re early,” she said, gazing at them suspiciously.
Ellis walked in and kissed her on the cheek, took her hand, and led her to the couch.
“What’s wrong?”
Her sapphire eyes darkened with suspicion and fear.
“We’ve got to make a trip to Helena,” Ellis said.
“No,” Lee said. “I’m going alone and Ellis will stay here with you. I don’t like the idea of you being alone.”
Ellis shook his head. “And I don’t like the idea of you going up against a powerful man alone.”
“Someone needs to stay here and protect Daisy,” Lee said. “I don’t want her by herself with Henry being all crazy.”
For a moment, Ellis didn’t say a word, but frowned at Lee and he knew he was considering what he had said. Henry was crazy.
“Who is Henry and why are we going to Helena?” Daisy asked, standing, her hands on her hips. “What are you not telling me? We agreed to no secrets. I told you about Thomas.”
Lee could see the fire flashing in those sapphire eyes and he realized they had told her very little about their pasts. The entire time they courted, they had played and had fun, but nothing serious had ever been discussed.
She deserved to know the truth.
He pulled the letter out of his pocket and handed it to her. “I received this today. Beth is my sister.”
Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “You have a sister and you never told me?”
“Yes. She lives in Helena and may be in trouble.”
Daisy turned and walked into the kitchen. They could hear the pots and pans being banged around.
“I think she’s mad,” Ellis said.
“Why?” Lee asked, staring at his friend.
“I could be wrong, but I think it’s because you didn’t tell her about your family,” Ellis said. “I think she misses her sisters something fierce. That’s why she wrote them a letter.”
Suddenly she was back in the room, standing before them. “If there are any other secrets, you need to tell me now. And who is Henry?”
Ellis sighed. “Henry is the drunk in town who hates me. His son died in the mine and he blames my family for his death.”
She frowned and Lee could see her thinking about his response. Ellis should come clean about it all, but so far he hadn’t. It was hard to talk about Arianna and he didn’t want to explain to her how he let the old man convince him not to marry her.
“But you’re not in charge of the mine. That’s your brother and Andrew.”