Mountain Woman Snake River Blizzard Read Free Page A

the law would take his word over hers.”
    “Is that true?  Will you take his word over hers?” Roy asked.
    “Not necessarily,” Kate said.  “We need to see the paper and talk to Mr. Engledow.  We have ways of determining the truth.  We deal with liars all the time.”
    “How often does Mr. Engledow visit your mother?” Kate asked.
    “We don’t always know,” Roy said.  “Mom is embarrassed about it, but usually we can tell when we get home.”
    “We think a bout twice a week,” Roy said.  “On days we’ re not working and the mule is in th e barn, we have seen him ride in front of our house and turn around and leave.  Our home is the last house on that road.”
    “We think when he do esn’t see the mule, he stops.  We’re old enough to know why, ” Roy said.
    “I need to talk to your mother,” Kate said.  “I know we can stop him visiting her without her permission.”
    “We’ve been saving every penny we earn,” the older boy said.  “We eat only beans and bread.  Mom does sewing for extra money.  We hope to earn the two hundred and pay Mr. Engledow.”
    “Mom said maybe that would stop the visits, but we have our doubts,” Roy said.  “He uses that paper to make M om do what he wants .  B ut if we pay him, we don’t think that will stop him.”
    The two boys looked at each other.  “We’re afraid for her.  W e think he murdered his wife.  We’ re scared he may hurt M om if she ever crosses him.”
    “Why do you think he murdered her?” Man asked .
    “For one thing, he kept the calf in the lot and turned the cow out to graze during the day.  The cow would always come back at night with the calf bawling.  We went over that afternoon she was missing and the calf was in the lot.  The cow was outside wanting inside where her calf was located.  But, he told the police she went looking for the calf.   That was a lie. ”
    “We know he hit his wife ,” Roy said.  “We saw the same kind of marks on her we’ve seen on M om.  We think he killed her and dropped her body off the cliff.  That accounted for the marks on her face.  Since nobody saw what happened, well, there was no way to prove he murdered her.”
    “I want to visit with your mother as soon as possible,” Kate said.  “From what you told us, your mom may be in real danger.  We need to know the truth.  Ask her if I can visit her tomorrow.”
    Both boys nodded agreement.  “I told you they would help,” Roy said.
    The next morning, Man was in the barn feeding the animals when he saw a buggy coming.  He went back to the house and called Kate.  She came outside and stood by his side as the buggy got close enough for them to see the occupants.
    “It’s Roy and a woman in front , and Dan is in the back,” she said.
    The buggy stopped beside them and Roy jumped out first and helped the woman out.  Dan stepped out and stood beside the woman.  “This is our mother , Lucille Shobert,” Roy said.
    Kate nodded and smiled at the woman.  Lucille kept her sandy-brown hair pulled back in a tight bun on the back of her neck and wore a neat handmade blue dress.  Her hazel eyes seemed to sparkle even after all she’d been through recently.
    “I’m Kat e Manchester. Deputy Marshal Kate, ” she said as she gripped the woman’s hand.  “ My husband, Marshal Manchester.  W elcome to our home.  Shall we go ins ide and let the men get to work? ”
    “It’s nice to meet you,” Lucille said.   She took Kate’s offered hand and t he women went inside .  Man led the mule toward the barn.  The two boys watched their mother disappear inside the house, and then hurried to help Man with the buggy.
    Kate gest ured toward the table.  “Coffee? ” she asked as she put two cups on the table.
    Luci lle nodded.  “Please.  I t’s been a long while since I had coffee.  We can’t afford to buy it now.”
    “You have two fine sons,” Kate said.  “Both are good workers and polite.”
    Lucille