Pemberley Ranch - Jack Caldwell [101]
Charlotte blinked. A less self-assured person might have thought the sighting had never happened, but Miss Lucas was nothing if not confident. She looked about to see if her response was of note to anyone on the street. Assured of her safety, she quickly returned to her father’s office.
“Charlotte, are you certain of this?” cried Sheriff Lucas.
Charlotte rubbed her forehead, weary of the interrogation. “Yes, Paw. It was Lily Bennet. I know it! It was her!”
“Maybe we oughta go and take a peek,” Deputy Smith offered helpfully. He blanched at the look his boss threw at him.
“I’m still not convinced it was the Bennet girl,” Sheriff Lucas insisted. “Perhaps it was a trick of the light—”
“Paw!” Charlotte cried. “I know what I saw! It was Lily Bennet looking out a window in George Whitehead’s building not thirty minutes ago. I know it as sure as I’m sitting here. Why do you insist I didn’t see what I saw? Are you afraid?”
“Yes!” Lucas shouted as he leapt to his feet. “Yes, I am, and so should you be! Do you understand what’ll happen if I go stormin’ in there? Do you want Denny and his gang shootin’ up the town? Three lawmen against a dozen trained killers? There are more things to think about than one foolish girl!”
Charlotte stared at the two men in shock. Her father was flushed while Smith would not meet her eye. “Paw—”
Lucas cut her off. “No more, Charlotte. Not another word. I’ve said my piece. Now, get yourself back to the house. Smith, go walk her home.”
“No, Paw. It’s not necessary. I can find my own way home. To be honest, I’d rather not suffer your company, or Smith’s, any more than I have to tonight.” Charlotte did not wait to hear her father’s response, as she was out the door the next instant. But she did not head towards their house at the edge of town. Instead, she made her way to the livery stable.
As usual at Pemberley, the Darcys had their supper early and had their top hands join them. They were half-finished with their meal, and José was in the middle of an amusing story about a priest and a rabbi in a saloon, when Reynaldo approached the table.
“Señor Darcy, there is a young woman here to see Señor Fitz.”
Both men exchanged confused glances before Darcy told his butler to escort the lady in. The confusion was doubled as Charlotte was introduced.
“Miss Lucas,” Darcy greeted her, “you are very welcome, but may I ask why you’re here—alone, I take it? Has something happened to your father?”
The agitated girl shook her head. “No, no, he’s fine. Please excuse me, Miss Gaby, but I have to talk to Fitz right now!” She glanced at Darcy. “And, perhaps, you too, Mr. Will.”
Darcy looked at Fitz. “Very well, shall we adjourn to my study?”
“Charlotte, are you certain of this?” cried Fitz.
“Of course, I am!” she returned with some heat. “Do you think I rode all this way in the evening to tell you tales?”
William turned from staring out the window. “Miss Lucas, please calm yourself. We believe you. It’s just… so… fantastic.” He turned back to gaze outside. “All this time we’ve been looking for her and she’s been right under our noses.” He sighed.
“This changes things, Will,” said Fitz. “What’re we going to do?”
“What do you mean?” Charlotte cried. “Aren’t you going to help her? Are you scared of Whitehead, too?”
Fitz tried to soothe her. “Charlotte, please, if Miss Lily went there of her own free will… well… what can we do?”
“Tell her family,” said Darcy quietly. “They deserve to know. But,” he turned to face the room, “I want to make certain that Miss Lily did go there and wishes to stay there voluntarily. Miss Charlotte, you said she looked… how?”
The girl thought. “Sad… frightened. She was scared of the man in the room.”
Darcy nodded. “That’s good enough for me. I’m going into town. Fitz?”
Fitz jumped to his feet, still holding Charlotte’s hand. “Of course I’m comin’! But I think we’re goin’ to need some help.”
Darcy was already moving to