A Horsewoman for Harlan by Barbara Goss (the top 100 crime novels of all time TXT) 📕

darkness because as soon as the sun went down, he trotted to a shack.  Once there, he tied her to a bed, took some gardening shears, and cut off one of her braids.

“I need this to prove I have you so I can get paid.”  He left promptly with her braid, leaving her in darkness.

Chapter Twelve

Elise prayed in the sitting room, and she must have fallen asleep at some point.  She awoke to Martha shaking her.

“Has anyone found our Millie?” she asked.

Elise shook her head.  “Clay and Harlan have been gone all night, searching.”

“Oh, no,” Martha cried.  “Why would someone want our Millie?  Several of us women were out most of the night with torches, looking for her but there was no sign of her.”

“Not only that, but someone broke into the stables while we were gone and took several horses,” Elise said.

“They can have all the horses.  We just want our Millie back.”

“I agree, Martha.”

Elise washed up, changed into a riding outfit, and rode into town.  She stopped at the church to find the minister in his office.

“Excuse me, but I need some help.  I need the addresses of some of the congregation.  I won’t stop knocking on doors until I find someone who knows something or saw something yesterday about our Millie.  Someone had to have seen something.”

The minister nodded. “Under these circumstances, I’ll gladly help you.  He handed her a black book.  Every regular member is listed here.  We are all praying for Millie.”

“Thank you.”

Elise went from house to house, and while everyone was sympathetic and praying for Millie, no one could tell her a thing.

When she got to the Davidsons' home, she was invited in for tea.  By then, she was exhausted, so she agreed.  While Ruth Davidson prepared the tea, Elise looked around the sitting room.  In the corner, sitting quietly, was their son, Billy.  Everyone in church knew Billy because he was different.  He had some mental issues. He was quite sane, but his behavior and speech were slow.  He often made odd noises and had irregular movements. The doctors didn’t quite know what was wrong with him.  He stared into space a lot, rarely spoke, and when he did, his speech was halted and slurred. Billy was about a year or so older than Millie.

Elise recalled Millie telling her about him.  She had always tried to befriend him.

“Hello, Billy,” Elise said.

Billy raised a limp hand in a wave.  Elise thought that at least he’d responded to her.

When Ruth returned with a tea tray, they began talking about what had happened to Millie at the picnic.  Every so often during their conversation, Billy would let out a low growl.  Elise tried to pretend she hadn't heard it, so as not to call attention to the sick child.  She recalled how Millie would often bring him small drawings and books she’d read, so she knew that Billy liked Millie, and he was probably growling because of what had happened to her.

Having finished her tea, Elise stood.  “I wish I could sit and chat more, but I have about twelve more families to visit.  Someone had to have seen something.”  She turned to leave and noticed Billy waving his arms frantically.  She wasn’t sure if she should pretend not to notice or stop to talk to him.

Ruth said, “Billy, what is it?  What’s wrong?”

“Don’t go,” he said, looking right at Elise.

Elise stooped down to Billy’s level and said, “I have to keep asking people questions.  I have to find Millie.”

“Big man... took her,” he said.  “He’s gonna... get me... if I tell.”

“What?” Ruth asked. “Who?”

Billy sighed.  “The man... behind outhouse.” He stopped to wipe away a tear. “He grabbed Millie... saw me... and said, ‘quiet... you be next.’” Billy grabbed his mother’s dress.  “Help me, Mama.”

“No one will get you, Billy,” Ruth said.  “You are safe.  Mama and Papa won’t let anything happen to you.  It was very brave to tell us about what you saw.”

Elise patted the boy’s clenched fist.  “You are very brave, Billy.”

Ruth asked gently, “Do you know who the man was?”

Billy shrugged.  “Dunno... maybe—”

“Who?” Ruth prompted while Elise leaned in closer.

“I don’t know... at livery,” Billy said.

“Very good of you to remember that, Billy,” Ruth said.  “What does he look like?”

Billy shrugged again.  “I don’t know.  Big… very big.”

Elise asked, “Did he have a beard?”

Billy nodded. “Scar.”  Billy ran his hand along his left cheek.

Elise stood.  “You know what, Billy?  If we find this bad man, he’s going to get locked up, so don’t you worry about him.  You are a hero, and you might just be the one to save little Millie.  I’m going to find this man and bring Millie home.  You are so smart and brave.”

Billy smiled.

Elise headed for the livery, where she barged into the owner’s office.

The owner, startled by her abrupt entry, simply stared at her.

“I’m looking for a big man that works here.”

The man laughed.  “All our men are big.  What’s his name?”

“I don’t know, but he has a beard and a scar on his cheek.” Elise ran her finger down her left cheek.  “That’s all I know.  Someone saw him grab Millie Tanner at the church picnic.”

“Ah,” the man said as he leaned back in his chair and slid his thumbs under his belt.  “I heard about that kidnapping.  That would be Pete Swanson.  I fired him two weeks ago for coming in to work drunk. He’s a no good... well, he’s rotten as they come.”

Elise felt hopeful.  She had a name.  “Do you know where I can find him?”

“He used to have a room at the boarding house next to the saloon.”

Elise turned to leave, but she stopped and asked one final question:  “Is he the