A Bride in Disguise: Wagon Wheel Justice, #4

1

Belinda Salinger knew when she awakened that bright spring morning that everything was about to change. Her sisters were going away, and she would be left at their private investigating agency alone. For a short time anyway.

The year before, Belinda and her three sisters, Amelia, Sadie, and Josie, inherited a successful private investigative business in Sacramento, California from their Uncle Gabriel. Overcoming the apprehension that was common when it came to working with women on such private matters, but with the year 1900 coming quickly, the girls were confident things were changing for the better.

Belinda was the only one left of the four sisters who hadn’t found a man to spend her life with. She was looking forward to it happening for her, but in the year and a half they had been in Sacramento, she’d found no one who showed more than a polite interest. She wasn’t a beauty queen, but by no means was she ugly. The problem Belinda experienced was that she was often quiet, her nose in a book, staying inside while her more outgoing sisters went out on the town.

So now Josie and her fiancé, Taylor, were taking his two children by his first marriage on their honeymoon to Europe. Adelaide and her beau, Cody, were taking a boat trip for two weeks. Last, but definitely not least, her vibrant sister, Sadie and her beau, who was also the security for the Wagon Wheel Justice Agency, were heading off for an interesting case in Lancaster, taking the train that very afternoon.

Why all her sisters decided to leave at the same time was beyond Belinda’s comprehension. She suspected it had just happened that way. Or maybe the ladies thought she needed some time on her own to run the place.

Either way, and as apprehensive as she might feel about it, she was ready to give it a try. It might be fun.

She slid out of bed and got dressed, cleaning her face with the warm water she’d left by the fire to heat it up. There was always a chill in her room in the mornings, so she got up early and started a fire in the hearth in her room so she could get a few hours of sleep at a warm temperature.

Josie was downstairs in the kitchen. Belinda could hear her talking and laughing with Taylor’s children, Bella and Alex. She was probably making pancakes with them. She smelled coffee in the air. That was enough to motivate her to hurry down and get a cup. It would invigorate her.

She went through the door into the kitchen and was a little surprised to see the rest of her sisters were there with their beaus, as well.

I feel like I’m late for something, she said with a soft laugh, moving to the stove to pour herself a cup of coffee from the pot.

Not at all. Good morning, dear. her oldest sister, Amelia, was the one standing at the stove watching over the eggs in the pan. She poured a cup for Belinda , who leaned in to give her sister a grateful kiss on the cheek.

Thank you and good morning. I reckon everybody was too excited to sleep late today. So much to do. I just know we’ll leave something behind, and I’ll have to spend money to get what I’m missing. Not that it would be hard to do, but I just hate to spend frivolously.

Cody, the man she intended to marry, gave Adelaide a big smile. And that’s why you’ll always have the money you need, my dear.

You aren’t upset that we’re leaving you here alone, are you, Belinda ? Josie asked, setting a plate of eggs down in front of Alex and moving to set another one in front of Bella. Here you go, babies. Eat up. We have a long trip ahead of us.

I feel like I’m tired already, Bella said.

Belinda’s eyes darted to the five-year-old, as did every other eye in the room except Alex’s. She couldn’t help laughing with them. Bella was precocious and sweet. Belinda would definitely miss the children while they were gone.

No, I’m not upset, she said, putting her cup down on the table and returning to the cabinets to get a plate. She got herself some eggs and bacon strips, picking up a biscuit on her way back to the table. I’m looking forward to a few days of peace.

A few days? Cody inquired, sitting across from Belinda. And what will you do after that?

Wallow in misery and loneliness? Belinda quipped, giving him a grin as she pulled her chair in so she could sit comfortably and eat her breakfast. She felt a sense of deep satisfaction when all the adults in the room laughed loudly.

If you ever get lonely, you know Mrs. Bixby will be happy to have some company if you want to visit, Sadie said, holding her biscuit. She took a big bite and smiled with a closed mouth while she chewed.

She’s right, you know, Larson put in from his place beside Sadie. She’s always asking Sadie to come over and have lunch.

"Well, she’s not asking me all the time, Belinda responded. That sounds to me like she likes Sadie. We are two separate people, you know."

Again, laughter filled the air, and having finished her biscuit, Sadie remarked, She’s right. We’re actually not very much alike at all.

I’ll be fine. Don’t you worry about me.

Two hours later, Belinda watched as her sisters and their beaus rode off in their wagons, one right after another. Not only were they all leaving that day, but they were also leaving at the same time. Belinda waved them off before turning to go back into the office that used up the rooms in front of the house.

She looked at the empty foyer, listened to the sound of silence around her.

She took in a deep breath and held it for a moment. Everything was going to change now.

She could feel it.

2

"I ’m telling you, Dwight, Lionel Calverson said in a casual tone, if that bull was any gentler, I’d say it was a cow. I’m serious about this."

Dwight Barnes, Lionel’s best friend, threw back his head and laughed. I can’t disagree with you there. Chance is one gentle bull.

That’s why Jimmy-boy didn’t put him in with Decker. Decker would have trampled Chance to get to those cows. He’d never have had a chance.

This time he joined Dwight in laughter, and they clinked their glasses together.

Lionel was the son of the mayor of Sacramento. He was one of the wealthiest young men in all of California and was considered to be almost royalty among the wealthy citizens of the state. Not only was he rich, but he was also intelligent, handsome, and a most compassionate man, as well.

Dwight, for his part, was a wealthy man himself. He had a successful cattle ranch and moved in the same circles as his friend.

Lionel. Both men looked up and saw Sheriff John Nolan and a stranger coming out on the veranda of the mayor’s mansion where they were sitting in lounge chairs, enjoying the beautiful Spring day. In front of them was the butler, whose face looked sterner than usual. Lionel pushed himself to his feet and held out his hand, walking toward the men. Sheriff Nolan and Inspector Binks to see you, sir, the butler finished, stepping back to get out of Lionel’s way.

Nice to meet you, Lionel said, shaking the inspector’s hand. What brings you to our neck of the woods?

A very serious matter, I’m afraid, the inspector responded, his voice deep and ominous. He turned his eyes to Dwight.

Uneasiness settled in Lionel’s chest as he stepped back to his chair and sat down.

What’s the problem? he asked. He was running his eyes from Dwight to the inspector to the Sheriff, wondering why the two authority figures were staring at his friend.

It’s Dwight we’re here to talk to, the sheriff responded, his voice more respectful than the look on his face. I’m afraid we have some questions about the cattle rustling that’s plaguing our fine city.

I’ve told you all I know, John, Dwight replied, looking confused.

Yeah, but now the inspector is on the case, and he would like to hear it for himself.

The thing is, sir, the inspector said, coming over to the veranda chairs near the table, pulling one over, and setting it close to Dwight. He plopped himself down and crossed his legs, giving Dwight a crass look. Lionel was beginning to feel even more uneasy, we’ve been told that your ranch is one of the few that isn’t being hit. But yet the ones around you are. It seems pretty obvious to me that you wouldn’t be rustling cattle from your own yard.

I also wouldn’t be hitting only the ranches around me if I was the one committing the crime, Dwight responded hotly. Lionel could hear the irritation in his voice.

Or maybe that’s your excuse, the inspector responded, narrowing his eyes.

The look of frustration on Dwight’s face was obvious to Lionel. He leaned forward, using one hand to gesture. Inspector, we’ve been over this with the law already. Dwight has. If you pardon my intrusion, you have all been looking in his direction for too long. You’re missing possible clues to who it could be because you’ve been focused on Dwight. He isn’t doing this. I’ve told my lawyer, as well as my father, that this harassment must cease.

The inspector turned his wrath in Lionel’s direction, which was what Lionel intended in the first place. He had been friends with Dwight since they were in the schoolhouse. He knew everything that had happened in Dwight’s life. It was true that Dwight had left Sacramento and done some traveling, but he’d only been gone seven years and had written to Lionel nearly every day, detailing his adventures.

I know why you’re doing this, Lionel said firmly. He’d been defending his friend’s honor since he’d returned to claim the estate his father left behind when he passed on. Tom Barnes had become severely ill with influenza and died within six months of the virus weakening his system and causing multiple other issues to flare up. Dwight had not come back when his father fell ill and did not return until after Tom was gone. Many people held that against Dwight, calling him the prodigal son and judging him for what he’d done.

But they didn’t know the truth. Those who did made a personal decision whether to believe Dwight’s reason or not. Lionel, of course, fully believed Dwight because he’d been in correspondence with his friend the entire time.

This has nothing to do with any personal feelings or grudges, the inspector claimed, pinching his thin mustache between his fingers while glaring at the two men one at a time. This is about catching the cattle rustlers and taking down the boss of the entire operation.

You have no proof that Dwight is responsible for any of it, Lionel exclaimed, scowling. Until you actually have—

Not so fast. Sheriff Nolan stepped forward, his hands grasping his belt as if it needed help holding it up to his waist. He was an average size man, shorter than Lionel and Dwight but taller than the inspector, who was rather on the short side. "We’ve found a handkerchief with the initials BT on it.

The ranch is called Big T because my father’s name was Tom. It stands for Big Tom. He didn’t have any handkerchiefs made that said BT. Those weren’t his initials. His initials were TB. Tom Barnes.

Lionel didn’t blame Dwight for being irritable about the whole thing. The law had been after him for the specific reason that many thought he had abandoned his