Helen Heals A Hotelier (Brides With Grit Book 10) Read online

  “I’m fine for now,” she said declining his offer.

  The marshal laid the two certificates side by side on his desk. “Maynard Jantz’s signature is very similar to Maurice Jensen’s. Unusual how the ‘M’ and ‘J’ are almost identical with their swirly letters.” He held the two pieces of paper up to show everyone in the room.

  “That doesn’t prove anything but good and similar penmanship. My name is Maurice Jensen,” Maynard snapped.

  “True,” the marshal agreed.

  “Mrs. Jensen, since you’re a newlywed, I assume you know little about your husband, except in correspondence?”

  “Yes, I’ll confess that’s true. I saw his mail-order bride advertisement, looking for a rancher’s wife, and I accepted his proposal after his third letter.”

  “Did he require you to bring anything into the marriage besides yourself?”

  Helen watched as Maurice closed his eyes and held his breath.

  “He wanted me to invest in his ranch.” Why was Maurice acting this way?

  “Have you seen his ranch yet?”

  “No, we were driving out there to see it after lunch. I’m anxious to move in, but Maurice said the home was being worked on, so we were going to spend a few nights in the hotel in town before moving out there.”

  “Can I ask how much money you were going to invest in the ranch, Mrs. Jensen?”

  “I object! That’s a personal matter between me and my wife,” Maurice slapped the desk in protest!

  “Um, he wanted money, but I didn’t have extra cash…so I brought a few pieces of jewelry I could sell instead,” Helen said while glancing sideways at her new husband.

  He stared at her in disbelief. If Maurice thought that was a big surprise, wait until he heard her next confession.

  “Mrs. Jantz, is there any way you can prove this man is your husband?” Adam turned to Lorna.

  “Yes, besides the marriage certificate listing our ceremony, Maynard is wearing the gold cuff links I gave him as a wedding gift. They have his initials on them.”

  “Yes, they have my initials on them, because they match my name, Maurice Jensen,” Maurice huffed. “You saw them while we were in the café.”

  “I bought those cuff links for you when I stayed over in Kansas City for a day on my trip here. I have the receipt,” she addressed the group as she handed the paper to Adam. “Which also has the instructions to add your initials to the cuff links.”

  Maurice mocked her by shrugging his shoulders. “It’s your word against mine as to where and when I acquired these cuff links. I’ve had them for years.”

  “You know, I’m seeing a pattern here that’s interesting.” Adam pulled a desk drawer open and pulled out a pile of papers. He shuffled through them a few moments then drew two papers out to the pile.

  “Looking through the wanted posters which circulate through the area, I have a hundred dollar reward poster for a Marion Jones, wanted for swindling money from a woman in Abilene,” then Adam picked up the other paper. “And there is a five hundred reward out for bringing in a Marlin Jackson, wanted for the murder of a banker in Wichita.”

  “Just a coincidence with our initials.” Maurice held out his hand to Helen. “It’s time we leave, dear. They have nothing on me except lies.”

  Helen remained sitting, her hands firmly clasped in her lap. “I want this matter of identity cleared up before I walk out the door with you.” She was not going to be involved with a man who could cause her family harm in any way.

  “Is it also a coincidence that you, like Marion Jones, stole a thousand dollars from me after our wedding night, which left me with a child?” Lorna’s voice rose as she accused him of his misdeeds to her.

  Oh my word! Who did I marry?!

  “You could have been with anyone and now you’re trying to foist your baby onto me,” Maurice folded his arms, after stretching his arms to flash his cuff links. “My name is Maurice Jensen and you’re all upsetting my wife. You have no reason to question me any further.”

  The marshal held the two posters up side by side for a few seconds so they could study them, but not have time to read the description below the facial drawings. Adam put the papers back on his desk and studied them again.

  “From this distance, the drawings of the men are very similar, except for the beard on the man wanted for the murder charge,” the lawyer commented from behind them.

  “The man has a scar according to the description on the Abilene poster.”

  “Lorna, did you see or feel any scars on your husband, whom you call Maynard Jantz?” Mr. Elison questioned Mrs. Jantz.

  “Yes, I saw a scar on his neck and we even talked about how he received it from a Confederate attack on his person. I could draw it for you…to compare with the poster’s description.”

  Adam set a clean piece of paper on the corner of the desk and Mrs. Jantz walked up to accept the pencil Adam held out to her. She paused to study Maurice a bit, and then as she drew she spoke. “It’s a white line ending with an upside down ‘Y’ on the end of the scar. It starts behind his left ear, and then trails down the top of his shoulder for about three inches.”

  “Almost every man in the war had scars, so you can’t use that as evidence,” Maurice snapped.

  Mrs. Jantz handed the paper to the marshal, who compared it to the description on the poster.

  Helen glanced at Maurice, who was definitely acting nervous. Now she thought of her own safety. Did he have a pistol or knife hidden on him? Mrs. Jantz was staying as far away from Maurice as possible in the room, but Helen was in easy reach if Maurice should decide to do something...drastic. Should she get up and move out of his reach? She didn’t know the man after all.

  “Helen, maybe we should step out of the office so the men can check on his scar? I’m sure he’d prefer to take off his shirt without a female audience.” Mrs. Jantz held her hand out to Helen and she quickly left her chair to join the other woman by the door. “A good idea. I’ll…be outside while you clear up this misunderstanding, Maurice.” She addressed her husband but already had her hand on the door handle.

  “No, Helen. You stay with me. The woman is lying!”

  “So, there might be another way we can prove or disapprove the man’s connection with the two of you. Women seem to keep love letters. Lorna and Helen, do you still have the letters your future husband wrote to you?” Marshal Wilerson asked and both woman nodded to confirm.

  “Please place them on the desk so we can compare letters.”

  Maurice’s posture changed from stiff and defiant, to slumping in the chair. He leaned over with his elbows on his knees and his head held in his hands.

  She and Lorna took their letters and laid them side by side on the table. Both women had three letters each, and…they were identical in handwriting and wording except for the greeting and signature names.

  “I’d say the same person wrote both sets of letters. Wouldn’t you agree, Counselor Elison?”

  “I’d testify in court that they are, Marshal Wilerson.”

  “So what does this mean?” Helen asked in confusion. “Am I married or not?”

  “Mr. Jensen or Jantz, whatever your name is, do you have papers stating you divorced Lorna before marrying Helen? Actually, did you do any other mail-order scams between the time frame of these two marriages?”

  He’s just sitting there, not saying a word! What have I gotten myself, and my girls into?

  Helen felt her vision narrow as a panic attack hit her mind. She felt, rather than saw Lorna grab her arm to steady her.

  Lyle moved a chair over to her side. “Why don’t you sit down, Helen, while we figure this out.” Lyle eased her down in the chair while he spoke.

  “What am I going to do?! I spent the last of my money to travel here!”

  Helen’s temper cleared her vision in a hurry. She rose from the chair, walked the few steps back to Maynard and slapped him in the head with her reticule. “How am I going to take care of my children now? You
promised a nice home with this marriage!”

  “Children?! What are you talking about?” Now it was Maurice’s turn to be stunned with surprise.

  “My four girls are waiting at the hotel to meet their new father!”

  “You said nothing in your letters about any children!”

  “And you said you had a large home and ranch so I knew there would be plenty of room for them, too!”

  “Okay, okay, time to sort this out.” Marshal Wilerson calmly led her back to the chair near the door.

  “Sir, it’s obvious you’ve had a mail-order scam going on and now you’ve been caught. You will be spending time in jail until the judge comes around to hear your case.”

  “You can’t hold me…”

  “Oh yes I can, because I know you’ve broken a law or two, let alone two women’s hearts. Plus, my wife would have my hide if she heard I hadn’t thrown you in jail.”

  “You can’t make up your own frontier rules!”

  “Plus, there’s the matter of two wanted posters with similar names and faces to yours.”

  “I didn’t murder anyone!” Maurice panicked, visibly shaken by the thought he might be charged for that crime?

  “And the other charge of scamming money?”

  Maurice looked at the floor and didn’t answer. Helen felt sick. How many other women had been taken by this man?

  “I’m with child because of our wedding night,” Lorna stated and Helen watched Maurice glance up to Lorna’s middle a second before looking back at the floor. “Your son or daughter will be born soon. How are you going to support us with you in jail?”

  Maurice shrugged his shoulders. That was his only answer, after all he’d apparently put this woman through, by being missing all these months since their marriage?

  Lorna moved in front of Maurice and snapped. “Hand over my thousand dollars RIGHT NOW or else robbery will be added to your list of crimes!”

  “Already spent,” Maurice finally looked up and smiled. “I enjoy gambling you see, and I had a wonderful time in Denver spending your money.”

  “So when you’d run out of money, you’d order another bride?” Lyle asked this question.

  “My scheme has worked for years. I’m sure the brides returned home after I disappeared.”

  “Not if they didn’t have money or family to return to!” Lorna looked ready to charge to the marshal’s gun cabinet to borrow—and use—one of his guns.

  “How many women have you falsely married?” Lyle asked.

  “Oh, I’d guess…maybe a dozen or so over the last five years.”

  “Can’t remember exactly how many? Doesn’t it bother you?...Don’t you have a conscious?” Lyle asked incredulously.

  Again Maurice shrugged, apparently knowing his scheming days were over. “I was raised in a Mormon family. My father had several wives. I decided I’d do something similar, only have one wife at a time.”

  “Plural marriages were prohibited in 1862 with the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act.” Lyle stated. Lorna guessed he’d learned that while studying the laws.

  “But it hasn’t been enforced much in Utah.”

  “Well, it will be here in Clear Creek, Kansas,” Marshal Wilerson opened a desk drawer and pulled out a ring of keys. “Until the judge comes to town, you’ll be single in a cell.”

  Helen watched in shock as the marshal escorted Maurice into the cell and locked the door behind him. Now what am I going to do?

  “I think we can assume neither of your marriages are valid to the man in question,” Lyle stated with disgust at the man.

  “Helen…what is your last name again?” Lyle addressed her, but it took a minute for her brain to function.

  “I guess it’s back to Mrs. Helen Higby.”

  “Lorna and I will escort you over to our local church. My sister, Cora Hamner, set up a fund for family emergencies and Pastor Reagan works with the families in need. Clear Creek will welcome you to the community, if you and your children would like to stay here.”

  “I have no place to go. I spent all my money to get us here.” Helen wiped her watering eyes with her handkerchief before turning to Lorna. They traveled from Pennsylvania to be stuck in a frontier town? Her vision started to fade again, but she took a deep breath to clear it. It was better to find out the truth about Maurice now than later like Lorna had.

  “Lorna, I can’t thank you enough for spotting Maurice—or Maynard—and speaking up.” Helen gave Lorna a tight squeeze to her shoulders.

  “I’m glad he came back to town so I could catch him. Don’t worry. We’ll help you out, just as others helped me,” Lorna assured her. “Now I can finally move on with my life, too.” Helen could imagine the relief Lorna felt finding out the truth of her wayward husband. And it looked like the lawyer had more feelings for Lorna than that of a client. Maybe the two could plan a future together now?

  Chapter 4

  “Momma’s back!” Avalee’s shout caused three girls to scoot out of their chairs and run to the front door. Ethan was left with a screaming Luella trying to crawl out of the high chair to join her sisters.

  “Wait! Wait! Let me help you out before you knock over the high chair!” Before the rest of the chicken and dumplings lands on the carpeted floor. Why did his mother think the dining room should be carpeted for heaven’s sake? Did she think they’d never have a child eat in here? Little ones couldn’t help but make messes with their clumsy acts of learning coordination.

  Before he could untie the towel around Luella’s neck she was off toward her momma, tripping over the towel as much as her foot. Didn’t slow the toddler down though. She was on a mission to be back with her mother.

  With a sigh he rose to face the group in the foyer. Time to meet Helen’s new husband, whatever number he might be. Ethan hadn’t sorted that out yet. He wiped the worst of the wet spots off his jacket and trousers with his cloth napkin before leaving the table. Now he smelled like chicken broth.

  Hopefully the new man loved children, because he was inheriting a handful of…what? Work, worry, enjoyment? Ethan had never been around many children before, let alone helping them, but he had to admit, he’d done—okay.

  “Ethan? I need to talk to you,” Lyle Elison called to him from the hotel desk.

  “Just a second.” Ethan finished wiping the runny mess around Avalee’s plate before dropping the napkin on the table and walking into the foyer.

  Instead of seeing Helen hanging on the arm of a new husband, she stood by herself, with three girls hanging on her skirt and Luella clutched to her front. Lorna Jantz stood next to the woman and Lyle by the hotel desk.

  Why did Helen look upset and Lorna happy? The waitress had been only married one day before her husband disappeared.

  “The Clear Creek Family Fund will pay for two week’s room and board for Mrs. Higby and her children,” Lyle said simply, probably because the girls were standing right there with them. What happened to Helen’s marriage plans?

  “Helen, I’d like to meet your girls. How about we go up to your room to visit a moment?” Lorna pointed to the staircase, and Helen stared in that direction but didn’t say anything. She held Luella to her chest with her right hand while trying to touch the other three girls with her free hand.

  “Girls, I’m Lorna...Adams. Would you lead the way up to your room, please?”

  Why did Lorna use a different last name to introduce herself? Ethan looked at Lyle who nodded his head as if to say, “wait until they’re out of hearing distance”.

  The men watched the procession of females, quiet for a change, as they walked up the staircase and down the hall.

  “What happened?” Ethan was concerned by Helen’s shocked appearance.

  “Helen met her groom at the depot this morning, and then they rode the train to Ellsworth because he’d arranged for them to marry at the Methodist Church there. They came back to eat at Clancy’s Café. Lorna was working there today and recognized the groom as her husband.”

  “What? You�
��re kidding?!”

  “No, we all went over to Marshal Wilerson’s office to figure it out. The man denied knowing Lorna, but both women had their letters he had written to them before they traveled to Kansas. They were identical...exact stationery, wording...on three letters to each woman. The only difference was to whom the letters were addressed, and how he signed it with a different name. Lorna’s letters were signed by Maynard Jantz, and Helen’s letters were from a Maurice Jensen.”

  “Same initials, but different names.” Ethan shook his head, trying to comprehend what both women must be thinking now.

  “The man didn’t confess anything until the marshal pulled out wanted posters for other men with the same initials. There was a murder in Wichita which he swore he didn’t commit, but he didn’t deny he swindled money from a woman in Abilene.”

  “So what does it mean for the women?”

  “He confessed he’d been married over a dozen times, so neither Helen or Lorna’s marriages are legal. Adam locked him up and the judge and court will decide his fate.”

  “So Lorna?” Ethan guessed there was a reason Lyle smiled every time he said her name.

  “If she says yes to my marriage proposal, we’ll be married next Sunday.” Lyle grinned like a very happy man in love.

  “Congratulations! I’m glad everything has worked out for both of you.” Ethan extended his hand to give Lyle’s a congratulatory hand shake.

  “I must admit I never thought you’d settle down and amount to anything,” Ethan couldn’t help teasing Lyle. Lyle and his brother, Carl, had been “exiled” to the family’s Bar E Ranch on the Kansas frontier last year when Lyle’s gambling and drinking habits in Boston got out of hand. After some months the brothers had moved back to Boston, but returned to Kansas a week last summer for their sister Cora’s wedding to Dagmar Hamner. Lorna Jantz had mistakenly accused Lyle of being her missing husband then, so they knew each other when Lyle moved to Clear Creek permanently to be the town’s lawyer. Lyle had worked hard at building a new and reliable reputation, never once stepping back into the saloon where he’d spent many a drunken night.