Mid-October , 1882, Oklahoma (Indian) Territory
“Why Daniel, what a surprise!” Helen smiled at the tall Marshal but her smile faded when she saw how serious he looked. “Has something happened?”
“I’m afraid so, Mrs. Belden,” he said quietly. “This is official business. Is Mart here?”
“Of course. Mart?” Helen called.
Trixie looked up from the comforter she was sewing on, surprised to see her beau, and even more surprised he was asking for Mart. When she saw Deputy Marshal Hardy with Dan, her heart began to pound in worry.
“Hi, Dan,” Mart rose from where he had been helping Bobby with his homework. “What do you need?”
Trixie frowned when she realized how serious Dan looked, and how pale. Dan rarely showed his emotions but this was evident. “Dan, what is it?” she asked in alarm.
“Be quiet a moment, Trix,” he said gently. Turning to his friend, he swallowed. “Mart, where’s your knife? You know, your special one?”
“In my room,” Mart answered, puzzled. Trixie watched Dan’s face. No expression, but his eyes were tormented.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. I keep it in its sheath. Dan, what’s happening?”
“Can you go look please? Bring it out,” Dan answered. Frowning, Mart headed for the room he shared with Bobby, and Brian before he went to school.
“Dan, why do you need Mart’s knife?” Trixie demanded. She didn’t notice Hallie had stopped working on her dress and was sitting very stiffly.
“I can’t tell you yet, Trix,” he said softly. “I need you to just trust me, okay? No matter what, I need you to keep your faith in me.”
“Tell me what’s happening,” Trixie demanded. Dan held up one finger to her.
Mart returned, his face ashen.
“It’s gone,” he whispered.
Dan closed his eyes. His prayers had gone unanswered.
“Dan, what’s going on?” Trixie had stepped to Mart’s side.
“Curtis Stodge was found dead a few hours ago,” Dan said quietly. “The weapon that murdered him was a knife to the back, and it was still in him.”
“Who?” Peter asked. He and Helen stood behind their son.
“The man Mart threatened last week, over his attention to Diana. He’s fairly new in town, but he was found outside of Flanagan’s last night, after the social.”
Trixie felt her blood go cold. “No,” she whispered.
Dan didn’t look at her; his eyes were on Mart, who stood tense and scared.
“I was hoping Mart could produce his knife, because I wanted there to be two. Fenton?”
Deputy Marshal Hardy handed Dan something wrapped in cloth. Dan unwrapped the knife, covered in dried blood. Holding it in the cloth, he extended his arm to show the hilt.
“Is this yours?”
Helen gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. Trixie grabbed Mart’s arm. Peter’s face was emotionless.
Mart nodded. “It’s mine,” he whispered. “But I don’t know how-Dan, I swear it was in the case!”
“Someone got it,” Dan said quietly. “And used it on Stodge. Have you all had any visitors lately?”
Peter shook his head. “Just yourself, Jim, and your parents. The Wheelers and Lynches a couple of times. It’s the end of harvest, there’s no time for extra socializing.”
Dan nodded. “Any drifters? Strangers spotted hanging about? Did you hire anyone to help with the harvesting?”
Peter realized Dan was looking for someone other than Mart. Knowing the Marshal didn’t believe his son was guilty eased Peter’s fear only slightly.
“No,” Peter said quietly.
“Any of the workmen from the Lynch’s seen hanging around?”
Peter shook his head.
“What-what’s going to happen?” Trixie asked.
Bobby was watching from his seat on the floor, blue eyes wide.
“I don’t understand how the knife left my room,” Mart said dazedly.
All eyes turned to Bobby, who jumped to his feet and shook his head vigorously. “I didn’t, Mart, I swear I didn’t!”
“I believe you,” Mart answered gently. His kid brother knew this was serious and Bobby had grown out of his denial-when-guilty phase.
“Dan, what’s going to happen?” Trixie repeated tersely.
“I don’t have a choice,” Dan almost whispered the words. “Mart needs to come with me.”
“You’re arresting my son?” Peter asked quietly as Mart swallowed.
“Not formally,” Dan stared at the floor before he looked up, his eyes closed off. “But I do need to take him in for questioning, and hold him.”
“How’s that different from arresting him?” Trixie demanded.
“I’m not recording it. Not until there’s more proof. It’s just a formality.”
“For how long?” Helen asked.
Dan swallowed, hating his job more and more with every second. “Circuit judge won’t be out this way until next week.”
Helen looked away as Trixie gasped. Mart paled.
“There’s no telling how long a trial could take. But I have to be honest. Mart’s admitted the knife is his and it’s definitely the murder weapon. That doesn’t bode well.”
Peter nodded as Helen’s eyes filled with tears.
“You can’t take him,” Trixie stood in front of her taller brother. “You can’t!”
“Trix,” Mart said softly. “Stop it. I’m going with Dan. It’s only temporary.”
“Trixie, I need you to help me,” Dan said.
“Help you prove my brother murdered that filthy, no good Stodge?” she demanded.
“Help me prove he’s innocent,” Dan answered.
Mart stepped forward.
“Let’s go.”
“Dan, don’t do this.” Trixie spoke in desperation.
Dan hated the warning tone in her voice. His job could very well cost him the only woman he had ever loved.
“Trixie, I have to,” he forced the words out, but his eyes conveyed his distress. “And I need you to investigate.”
Peter stepped up behind his daughter, placing his hands on her shoulders.
Trixie’s blue eyes filled with tears and malice as she bolted from the room.
Crushed, Dan turned to her parents. “I’m sorry.”
Helen touched the young man’s arm. “It’s all right, Daniel. We know Mart is innocent. Justice will prevail.”
Dan nodded. “I’ll do everything I can to prove he’s innocent. Please believe that.”
“We do, Daniel. Just be careful,” Peter added, reaching for his wife.
“Are you going to shackle me?” Mart asked quietly.
“No. There’s no need,” Dan answered.
Mart followed his friend out the door.
In the barn, Trixie wrapped her arms around Susie.
“This can’t be happening,” she cried. “It can’t! There’s no way Mart did it!”
Susie whickered softly and nuzzled her ear.
“You know what we have to do, right girl?” Trixie asked. “We have to find out who really murdered that man.”
***
Dan made sure his friend was comfortable in the cell, and gave him an extra blanket.
“I’m not locking this door,” Dan said quietly to him. “I know you won’t run and I feel just awful about this.”
“I know,” Mart said bravely. “I just don’t know how that knife got there.”
“Someone had to have taken it from you,” Dan answered, sitting at his desk. “But who?”
“I don’t carry that knife all the time. Bobby was playing with it the other day, trying to shave,” Mart said with a half smile. “But he wouldn’t have taken it. And he’d never swear to not doing if he really didn’t.”
“How many days ago?” Dan asked.
Mart shrugged. “Three, four. I don’t know.”
Dan made a note of that.
“Think about who could possibly know where you kept it.”
“Just my family,” Mart answered.
“We can pretty much rule them out. Are you sure Bobby didn’t take it to play with? Maybe dropped it somewhere?” Mart shook his head.
“He knows better,” Mart answered. “And I only take it out occasionally. I don’t use it for whittling or anything like that.”
When Dan’s shift ended, Fenton was still on duty through the morning.
“Don’t lock that door, and he can have as many visitor’s as he wants,” Dan ordered.
“Sir, that’s a bit unconventional.”
“Mart Belden is no more a murder than your own mother, Hardy.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dan tossed and turned that night. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Trixie’s pretty face, angry and accusing. The warning in her voice. The looming threat that could end their relationship permanently.
Dear God, don’t let her hate me for this!
***
Hallie maneuvered her way down towards the stream as soon as it was light outside. Surely not. It couldn't really be Mart's knife. There had been no one around here that day, save Regan when the cat attacked. Was there a tramp hanging around, spying on them? The thought made her shudder.
Reaching where she had been with the knife in her hand, she began to look frantically. It wasn't here, but there were a lot of footprints. Even if someone hadn't been here that day, they had since. The water was shallow enough at this point of the creek she could see clear to the bottom. She even reached in, digging around in the sand.
Now the knife was gone.
And Mart was in jail.
***
As the Belden's sat down to breakfast, Trixie glanced at Hallie, who was unusually quiet.
Bobby had noticed as well. "Why so quiet, Hal?" he nudged his cousin, who looked up guiltily.
"Just...thinking," she replied, keeping her eyes on her plate.
Trixie's blue eyes narrowed. Her cousin was hiding something and she was going to find out what. Trixie vaguely recalled Hallie had been acting odd since Mart was arrested. Did Hallie have something to do with the murder, or was it something else that had her cousin acting skittish? It was no secret she had been flirting with Jim and Dan, but Trixie wondered if Hallie had taken up with someone else now. There was only way to find out. Trixie would have to follow Hallie.
***
Dan sat down at his desk and handed Mart a bowl of oatmeal.
“I’m sure your mother makes better, but this is what us bachelors eat,” he chuckled.
Mart smiled and added the sugar Dan offered. Dan handed him a cup of coffee as well.
Mart knew Dan hadn’t slept any better than he did. The young Marshal slept in the back of the jail, in a small room, and Mart could hear him tossing and turning. Knowing Dan had plenty of money, Mart wondered why his friend tortured himself with such simple surroundings.
They were halfway through their breakfast when Helen arrived, bearing a hamper with eggs and bacon and biscuits.
“Thought you boys might be hungry,” she said brightly. Mart and Dan exchanged a glance, looked down at the oatmeal, and smiled at Helen.
“Most assuredly,” Mart smiled.
“Did Trixie come with you?” Dan asked cautiously as Helen handed them plates.
“No,” she said softly. “I’m sorry, Daniel.”
“It’s all right,” he sighed. “I can’t expect her to take this well. I’m not taking it well,” he sighed.
“It’s part of your job, Daniel. Trixie will understand that eventually,” Helen said gently.
“She’s with Jim right now, isn’t she?” he asked, staring down at his plate, no longer hungry.
“I believe she was going to visit your brother, yes,” Helen answered, hating the look of anguish in the young man’s eyes. She had grown fond of the charming young man, and his brother. They were good for Trixie, whether Trixie would admit it or not. It was obvious to everyone but Trixie that this was ripping Dan in half.
Dan just stared at his food. No doubt this would be the tie breaker. This would push Trixie into Jim’s arms for good.
But Dan knew his brother. Jim wouldn’t want Trixie to choose him because she was mad at Dan. He’d want her to choose him because she wanted to be with him. His brother was nothing if not honorable that way.
***
Jim had been startled by the announcement of Trixie’s arrival. He rose from the table as she was guided in.
“Trixie, what’s-” she almost knocked the air out of him as she threw herself into his arms, sobbing.
His parents exchanged worried glances.
“Trixie?” Julianna was asking.
Trixie pulled away, wiping her eyes, ignoring the fact his family was there.
“Dan arrested Mart!”
“What?” Jim demanded. “When? Why?”
“Last night, he came to the house-” Trixie took a breath, “and arrested Mart for murder!”
Jim just stared at her, his hands holding her by the arms.
“Did he say why? Dan wouldn’t without real evidence-”
Trixie relayed the prior evening events tearfully. Katje hurried to help her sit and Julianna brought her a cup of tea.
“I’ll go talk with Dan, find out what’s happening,” Jim kissed the top of her curly head, not caring about how improper it might be. “Trixie, you know Dan would never have done it if the evidence wasn’t solid.”
***
Dan wasn’t surprised to see his brother appear in the doorway. Mart was sitting on his bunk, for the thousandth time since last night trying to think of anyone who would have a grudge against him.
“I wondered how long it would take you,” Dan said, by way of greeting.
“When our girl shows up hysterical, I have to do something,” Jim answered.
Dan nodded. “Have a seat. We’ll fill you in.”
***
Dan stepped outside so Trixie could talk to her brother privately. She had swept in without a glance at Dan and simply said, “I want to talk to my brother.”
“Are you all right, Mart?” she asked anxiously. “Really?”
“I’m fine, Trix. Look, Dan doesn’t even lock my cell. He shares his food with me. He’s not enjoying this, Trixie.”
“How can he do this to you?” she demanded.
“Listen to me,” he took her hand as she sat on the bunk with him. “Dan knows I’m innocent. He’s trying to prove it. He needs you to help him, not fight him on this. Trix, he loves you,” Mart said softly.
“What? He’s never given-”
“He loves you. It’s as obvious as my freckles. This is tearing him apart because it’s hurting you so much.”
Trixie went silent. Dan, in love with her? Impossible. He wasn’t a one-woman kind of man. This whole double courting thing was a game, she was sure of it. Just a fun game. Wasn’t it? Was it possible that Dan did care for her, truly care for her, the way she did both of them? Jim had already said he loved her, but not her dark haired suitor. So she took that to mean he didn’t.
“Trix, please. Help him find out who’s doing this.”
“I will, Mart. I promise.” Trixie squeezed his hand.
On the way out, she saw Dan leaning against the post, hands shoved in his pockets. She stepped towards him when she realized he was talking to her cousin.
Hallie was running her hand down his front and smiling coyly at him, batting her long lashes.
Trixie couldn’t hear Dan’s response but she saw him reach up and cover her hand with his.
Tears blinding her eyes, she whipped around and left in a hurry.
“Hallie, stop it,” Dan reached up and knocked her hand away.
“I know it must upset you to have to arrest my cousin,” she drawled. “And I’m sure you’re distressed. I thought a swim might help you relax.”
“Forget it,” he growled, turning away in time to see Trixie dashing off. His heart sunk as he realized what she had probably seen, and misinterpreted. “Damn!”
***
Brian Belden stepped off the stagecoach with a smile. He glanced around his hometown, now named Sleepyside, and enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the growing town. Soon enough it would be a real city, he thought happily.
He had almost wired his parents to let them know he was coming but opted for a full surprise. He really wanted to see Madeleine. It was the thought of her big hazel eyes and pretty pink lips that had really helped him push through his shortened final term.
It had been a difficult secret to keep from his parents, but medical school wasn’t as prestigious or scholarly as it seemed. The lack of organization and skills being taught had bothered Brian and several other students to the point where they sought out other means of instruction. Late nights spent with midwives, herbologists, and homeopathics, grueling sessions of learning, and Brian finally felt he was learning to treat people. He had even made friends with a local Indian who finally took him to the tribal shaman.
Surgery was another matter. The undertaker didn’t mind letting the first year students practice on some of the corpses, and the school had one good surgeon who taught in a crowded room. Brian had pretty much come to the conclusion that surgery was half luck and half knowing just where the organs were. Despite the growing common practice of ether and chloroform usage, the instructing surgeons didn’t seem overly concerned about whether or not their instruments were sterilized.
Brian had cut his fall terms short, unbeknownst to his parents. He and his friends pushed themselves with studying, learning all forms of medicine that they could, soaking in as much as knowledge and information as they could get their hands on. The school’s administrators didn’t really notice, they granted the early graduations.
His grand scheme was to come back to Sleepyside, buy out Doc Ferris’ practice and expand it. The city might be growing but there were plenty of folks who would rather an herbal poultice or concoction over some new fangled medicine deemed scary. Financing was another question, but his father had entrusted him with enough money to finish out his school year. Having graduated early, Brian still had leftover money that he had saved and hoarded carefully.
But Brian had found in these alternative studies what he felt was a greater understanding of the human body, and the way it worked. He was determined to become the best doctor he could, with an array of weapons to fight illness. The American Medical Association would have disapproved heartily, but Brian decided to not worry about them. They had a small hand in the lack of real education at his medical school, and he decided the best tactic was always a multi-sided offense. Brian dreamed someday of big hospitals with resources and advanced medicine for healing of all kinds. Regulations and standards enforced by the AMA, who couldn’t really oversee any doctor around the country.
It hadn’t been hard to take what the school considered exams. He had graduated early, and now here he was, back home and ready to practice.
Brian stood waiting while his bags were unloaded. He’d hire a wagon to drive out to the farm, but first, he wanted to pay a visit to Marshal Mangan, and find out the Marshal’s intentions towards his baby sister. Bobby’s letters implied they spent more time together than proper.
Paying a coin to a young boy hanging around the station to watch his luggage until he returned, Brian strolled over towards the Marshal’s jail. He hadn’t had much time to get to know Dan; he had departed for school shortly after his arrival. Mostly Brian’s information came from letters from his family.
Strolling through the door of the jail, Brian’s eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the room, and he froze, staring.
Dan was sitting in a cell, playing poker with Mart Belden. The door to the cell was open, Dan wore his gun, and the two were conversing in low tones.
“Call,” Dan said with a grin.
Mart sighed. “You win again. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were cheating.”
“You just don’t bluff well,” Dan laughed.
“I wouldn’t accuse a man of cheating when he’s wearing a gun and you’re sitting in a cell with him,” Brian said.
The men looked up and Mart’s jaw dropped.
“Brian?” he gasped. He and Dan both rose.
“Well, Ma’s latest letter didn’t mention this,” Brian said calmly. “Are you in trouble or have you joined the Marshal service?”
Dan and Mart exchanged a glance.
“Have a seat, Bri,” Mart sighed.
***
Hallie rode back to Crabapple Farm, thinking. She had tried fishing information out of Dan but he wasn’t playing along. In fact, he didn’t play at all, she noticed. She knew that he knew her games, and he wasn’t amused.
Guilt nibbled at Hallie. Mart had always been nice to her. He didn’t deserve this. Trixie might despise her but Mart had always been good to her, as had Brian.
Maybe she could help, she thought. It was her fault Mart was in this situation. And helping prove him innocent would show everyone she wasn’t the bad seed they believed her to be.
***
Jim sat on the porch swing with Trixie, holding her hand. It wasn’t proper, and they both knew it, but neither cared. Some things superseded propriety and this was one of those times.
“You know Dan doesn’t want to do this,” Jim said quietly.
“Then why is he?” Trixie asked. “Why can’t he look for another suspect?”
“He is. Dan believes in the truth,” Jim answered. “He’ll find a way to get to the bottom of this. He’s incredibly stubborn but incredibly dedicated. He knows Mart is innocent, Trix, he’ll make sure everyone else does too.”
“I just can’t believe he came to the house and took Mart away like a common criminal!”
“It’s his job,” Jim said patiently. “Dan won’t shirk his responsibility just because Mart is his friend. He has to uphold the system and follow the evidence.”
Trixie looked away. Jim reached over and touched her jaw, bringing her face to look at his.
“Trixie, believe me, please. We will do everything we can to prove Mart’s innocence.”
Trixie gave him a small smile, closing her eyes as he moved to kiss her. Heat shot through her, warming her to her toes. Jim pulled away reluctantly, never sure who might have been watching. Trixie opened her blue eyes and he smiled as he read the silent message in them.
***
“Brian!” Helen Belden threw her arms around her oldest son. “What are you doing here? What’s happened?”
“I finished early,” Brian smiled. “So I came home to surprise you.”
“This is a complete surprise!” She hugged him again. “Mart will be so glad to see you! But there’s so much to tell.”
“I already know,” Brian assured her. “I stopped by the jail to say hi to Dan and got the whole story.”
“Trixie’s been furious with Dan for arresting Mart,” Helen said sadly. “And it’s destroying Dan because he knows Mart is innocent but there’s so much evidence against him that the case doesn’t look good.”
“Don’t you worry, Ma,” Brian said soothingly. “We’ll find out who did this to Mart, and why. We have a little time before the circuit judge arrives.”
Helen marveled up at her tall son, who seemed…different, she decided. In a good way. He was confident, sure of himself. Schooling had been good for her boy, she decided. It was sometimes hard to be noticed with his more vocal siblings, and he had always been the quiet Belden.
“I just can’t believe you’re home,” she murmured.
Brian smiled at her. “I am. And I have plans, Ma. Big plans.”
Helen hugged her son happily.
***
“Thank you for coming out here to talk to me,” Dan said quietly. They stood near the small corral of Crabapple Farm. The sun was setting and they were just out of eyeshot from the house.
Trixie sighed, glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was around, and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face against his chest and startling him. He quickly hugged her.
“I’m sorry,” was the muffled answer. She looked up at him, tears shining in her china blue eyes. “I’m sorry I was so awful to you Dan. You didn’t deserve it and you were just doing your job-”
“Shh,” he held her tightly, feeling his whole being suddenly smooth out. Trixie was in his arms and she wasn’t furious any more. “Trix, don’t ever get mad like that at me again. My heart can’t take it and I’ll just die if I can’t hold you like this,” he whispered into her hair.
Trixie raised her head and before either knew it, he was kissing her, his hands burying into her hair as their tongues met and began to explore. He was lifting her into his embrace, she realized and she wrapped her arms around him tighter.
Dan felt his body come alive and it took every bit of will power to set her down and push her away. He wanted her in the way he knew he couldn’t have her without a wedding, and for a wild brief moment, seriously considered it.
Trixie almost stumbled but he still held her. Her eyes were wide and stunned.
“Dan-what-”
“You better get inside,” he managed to get the words out. His voice was rough.
“Dan, please don’t shut me out, again. Talk to me.”
Dan shook his head. “I can’t. It’s not proper to say such a thing as I want to a woman who isn’t my wife.”
Trixie’s eyes almost popped out of her head. Was he- had Mart been right?
“Are we going to fight again?” she asked. “I don’t like fighting with you.”
“No,” he said. “I don’t either. But we can’t keep going on the way we have been.”
Trixie went cold. “What do you mean?”
Ignoring his instinct, Dan crossed to her and picked her up, kissing her fiercely until she was sure she would never be able walk again of her own free will.
“I love you,” he whispered. “I’ve never told a woman that. But these last few days made me realize I better damn well speak up soon or risk losing you forever.”
“Oh, Dan,” she murmured.
He released her then, but the soft look in his eyes was something she had never seen before and it made her heart rollover.
“Go inside, Trixie. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said quietly.
Trixie just nodded. He escorted her back to the house, where he said good night to his parents.
He rode off with Spartan. What the hell was he thinking, kissing her that way? If Peter Belden had seen them kissing, there’d have been a wedding this very night.
And for the first time in his life, Dan Mangan realized he wouldn’t have minded.
 
Author Notes
- a huge yee-haa! to Julie, my ever patient and helpful editor! All mistakes are mine.
- now you know what Hallie dropped into the river that day.
- Med schools really weren't what they are today. All information gleaned from the following sites: http://www.ioma.org/history.cfm,
http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/history/history03.htm, and
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/sv/history/medicine/_1_4.html
-Word count 4,395
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