“How dare you treat me like a common criminal!” she shouted as she struggled to get free.
“Oh, you’re far from common, Miss Piersal,” he replied yanking her along with him. “You’re the worst kind of felon, one who appears to be well-bred and rational, but inside is poisoned with hate and jealousy. As your cohort said, you seem to be a viper.”
“I’m innocent until proven guilty,” she snapped back, stiffening her pride and walking alongside him once they were on the boardwalk.
“That is true. Guess we’ll let the circuit judge decide who’s telling the truth when he comes through town again.”
“When will that be?” she demanded.
“Hard to tell,” Marshal Riley replied calmly. “Might be next week, might be three months from now.”
“You can’t keep me locked up for three months! I have a shop to run.”
“Guess you should have thought about that before you got involved in such a dangerous game.” Reaching Mrs. Barker’s boarding house, he knocked briskly on the door.
“Why Marshal Riley,” the older woman said when she answered. “What have we here?”
“I believe you know Miss Piersal?”
“Yes, I certainly do.”
“Well, she seems to have gotten herself into a bit of trouble,” he began.
“I’m not surprised,” Edna Barker replied with a nod. Standing straight and tall she looked Lilly over and sniffed.
“I’m going to need you to give her a room. One with a good lock and a window she can’t get out of, if you know what I mean. The town will pay your usual rate for room and board, as well as a stipend for making sure Miss Piersal is still around when the judge comes through. Do you understand?”
“I do, and rest assured Marshal Riley, Miss Piersal will be right where you left her when that day comes.”
“Good. Thank you, Mrs. Barker. Now don’t be fooled by anything she might say to sway you from your duty or to get your sympathy. She’s up to her neck in this mess, and I have no doubt you’ll get the story soon. Word has a way of getting around this town mighty quick.”
“Have no worries,” Edna stated firmly. “I’m not deaf, dumb, or blind and haven’t been for quite a while regarding Lillian Piersal. Why the way she’s treated those poor motherless girls and tried to turn the town against them is monstrous. She won’t get out away from my boarding house,” she promised, shoving up her sleeves and revealing the strong arms of a woman who’d worked hard all of her life.
Marshal Riley gave an approving nod and passed Lilly to Mrs. Barker.
“I’ll send someone over with a few of her things later.”
“That will do nicely.”
Tipping his hat, he turned and walked away. Listening to Lilly squawk, he shivered. He might just have to see that Mrs. Barker received a bonus.
Two hourslater Mead arrived at Barker’s with a bag for Lilly.
“I’d like to see Miss Piersal,” he said when the front door was opened.
Edna Barker nodded and took a ring of keys from her waist.
“That’s fine Mr. Whittaker. I can let you in to see her, but I’ll have to go through that bag, and I won’t leave you alone with her.”
“I understand,” Mead replied, taking off his hat. “And to tell you the truth I’d like a witness.”
Unlocking the door to a second story bedroom, Edna ushered him in. Lilly stood at the window, one covered by a black iron grate.
“Oh, Mead,” she gushed, running to him and throwing herself against him.
He did not embrace her.
“Leave us, Mrs. Barker,” Lilly snapped. “I want some privacy with my intended.”
