Boldly Chapter Twenty

 Chapter Twenty

Boldly

Hank set off for Greenwood that evening… seventy miles away.

"It's a long shot," he told Lorna just before he left, "But I jes don't know what else to do. Greenwood is where thet Carter Bank Robbery happened and maybe… I'm hoping if it can be proved thet Jason didn't kill Carter, then they'll be more likely to listen t' reason. Can't understand what's wrong with thet Deputy."

"What if somethin' happens while ye're gone?" Lorna's eyes where filled with concern.

"Nothin' can be done until after the trial and they haven't said anything about a trial yet. As long as… as they abide by what they're s'posed to. It's happened before that someone will jes take th' law into their own hands. Happens all the time out here in the territories. But… I can get t' Greenwood an' back in three days, if I hurry. Keep prayin', Lorna."

And so the days slowly wore on. But still… nothing at all was said about a trial. The deputy let her in to see Jason once more but not again after that. Lorna taught as usual, but her heart wasn't in it and her students noticed the difference. But they didn't make trouble… sensing that something was wrong.

Lorna practically haunted the sheriff's office after school every afternoon but the deputy became increasingly annoyed with her presence. He refused to say anything about a trial and finally, in a fit of temper, told her to stay away.

"I don't care how upset ya say ya are," he growled. "I told ya that I'm not sayin' any more on the case now. You just stay away from here an' stop botherin' me!"

And so Lorna did stay away. But she paced the floor at night. Three days by now had passed and still Hank hadn't returned. There wasn't a trial date discussed or even, so far as she knew, a trial even being mentioned at all.

By the fourth day, Lorna was near a nervous wreck and chiding herself inwardly for being such. Her students filed into the classroom quietly, as if afraid that any slight noise would upset her. Lorna hadn't been out to join the children in recess all week and when they came in that morning, she sat at her desk with her head in her hands. She had been reading… had found the chapter in the Bible where the verse hanging in her room had come from.

"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

That verse was certainly a comforting one and yet a convicting one. For she knew she wasn't being bold. The fear she felt inside was anything but bold. She felt as if she had completely lost courage. If only they would set the trial date! If it didn't come soon, she would have lost all nerve.

She started the day with math problems and it was quite a relief to have the students all sitting quietly at work instead of firing questions at her and chattering noisily behind her back. They were dear children and even more so since this had happened. Fancy children actually understanding! Lorna smiled lovingly at them, in spite of herself. Little Laura caught her eye over her slate and beamed back at her.

School had been in session over an hour when the door suddenly opened and twelve-year old Paul came in, panting as he leaned against the door to catch his breath.

"Paul!" Lorna frowned. "Ye're late t'day… is everythin' alright at home?"

"Yup. It's alright at home…" he gasped out. "But it shore ain't in town!"

"What d'ye mean?" Lorna closed her math text and stood as Paul stepped forward.

"Haven't ya heard? They're hanging Jason McCulloch today!"

Math was forgotten. The room was suddenly swept with a murmur of frightened voices as the students whispered to each other over their neglected slates. Lorna turned dead white and clutched at her desk to keep from falling.

"That canna be true," she murmured. "There's been nae trial yet."

"S'pose not," Paul shrugged. "But they're hangin' him anyway. That's how it works out here, more often than not. They fergit the trial since they're sure they're guilty. An' we are just a territory… not a state. They can twist the law if they want to."

"When?" Lorna closed her eyes and gripped the edge of the desk until her knuckles turned white.

"Now. Within the hour."

"Are ye sure… dead sure?"

"They were hangin' the rope from the tree when I went past the green."

Lorna shuddered and sat down again. The class was silent as they watched her, eyes wide open with fright. Lorna sat with head bowed, eyes closed, breathing shakily. It had suddenly hit her… she didn't know how or why… but she realized it at that very moment. She… loved Jason. And she couldn't lose him.

Gu dana. Boldly. The old clan motto shattered through her wall of terror and she suddenly lifted her head, fire in her eyes.

"Class dismissed," she said calmly, rising quickly. "Now listen, children. I want ye t' go straight home… all o' ye. Right away. An' not a single one o' ye is t' gae past th' green, understand? Find another way home if ye have to. Quickly now."

The children stood up, collecting their books and lunch pails, filing out without a word. They had never seen eyes like that and they were almost frightened of her just then. And they knew what a hanging meant. Some of them had even seen one before.

Lorna stepped out last and shut the school door resolutely. She didn't have the least idea what she was doing but she was certainly going to try. If only… if only she wouldn't be too late! She knew she would have to make it there before anything happened. And if, God forbid, there was nothing she could do, she would at least be there for him. She would not let him die without knowing that… she loved him.