Judge Harvey Osborne rubbed his hand over his face. He hated this whole situation. It was bad enough sentencing a man to death, but hanging a young woman was definitely against everything he believed. Still, there was little choice. He took his watch from his pocket and opened the case as though looking at the time; however, it was not the hour Harvey Osborne was seeking, but reassurance. Silently he read the inscription: Let justice be done, though the heavens fall.
As always, the words gave him courage to do what must be done. Still, Judge Osborne cleared his throat twice before speaking. “I have no choice but to sentence you, Meagan Anne Reilly, to death by hanging and—” He got no further, for Meagan Anne Reilly fell to the floor in a dead faint and heard no more.
In the rush that followed Meagan was lifted to a chair and held there while one of the village women waved a burned feather under her nose. As the fervor quieted the jury foreman raised his hand, waving it tentatively until he got the attention of the judge.
“Y-your Honor,” he stammered, “the jury would like to suggest mercy for the defendant. We don’t feel that Miss Reilly killed Lily Daniels on purpose. She had no motive to do something like that. Most like it was an accident of sorts.”
Immediately the prosecutor was on his feet. “Your Honor, I object. This woman has committed murder. In an unprovoked fit of rage Miss Reilly struck Lily Daniels and shoved her down the stairs, leaving a bereaved husband and a motherless child. She refused to admit her guilt, although it’s been proved beyond all reasonable doubt, and the murderess shows no signs of remorse. She must be punished!” The man warmed to his theme. “Think of the poor widower who must cook and clean and milk and plow while he tries to raise his child alone, without the help and succor of his beloved wife.” He raised his hand, index finger pointed upward. “In the name of Josh Daniels and his daughter I demand retribution.”
The attorney looked over the room as though expecting applause. There was a buzz of voices, and again the judge brought down his gavel as Meagan’s lawyer jumped to his feet.
“Your Honor, my client cannot admit something of which she is not guilty. No one, including Meagan herself, saw Mrs. Daniels fall to her death. You cannot sentence a woman to hang for something even the jury doubts that she has done intentionally.”
“I have no doubt that she did it,” The voice of Ruth Somers rang through the schoolroom. “I saw her standing over poor Lily’s body. I know what I saw!”
The crack of the gavel echoed above the sound of voices. “Be quiet, all of you. Let me think on this a few minutes.”
Judge Osborne leaned back in his chair and scowled at the crowded room. The girl didn’t deserve to die. It seemed as if her only crime had been one of panic. In all probability the ladies came in unexpectedly and caught the girl pilfering. In her haste to get away Meagan Reilly had likely knocked the fragile Lily flying as she tried to push past her and escape down the stairs.
If Meagan Reilly had lived in Banebridge for any length of time it would have been an entirely different matter, but the girl had been there but a few weeks, with little to recommend her other than good manners, a cheery disposition, a decent education and her willingness to work.
He sighed. Judge Osborne was not an exceedingly clever man, but he prided himself on being fair, and he didn’t feel that sentencing the girl to death was fair. Unfortunately, he was unable to come up with a satisfactory alternative.
Justice was the name of the game—as it said in his watch case—and it was justice he was sworn to uphold. An eye for an eye. A life for a life.
His eyes fell on the bent head of the newly widowed husband. It would be difficult for the man to carry out the duties of his farm and family without the help of a woman, and women were few and far between. The child had been sent east to stay with relatives during the trial, but the man would want her back soon.
What Josh Daniels needed was a hired girl.
Judge Osborne’s head jerked up and the room fell silent as surely as if he had struck his gavel.
“After taking the recommendation of the jury, as well as both lawyer arguments, under consideration, I have come to a decision.” He paused dramatically and was pleased to see that the defendant had recovered enough to listen. “Having been found guilty of murder, and having the jury recommend mercy, in similar circumstances a man would be sentenced to life in prison. However, we have no prison facilities for women in the Carolinas. I therefore sentence Meagan Anne Reilly to serve her sentence by. working for Josh Daniels and his family in such manner as they see fit. She will work without remuneration, other than bed and board and such clothing as is necessary.”
“Why, that smacks of slavery!” one of the women said in an outraged whisper.
“You can’t send a young woman to live with a single man,” Meagan’s lawyer burst out. “It’s immoral!”
“I can and I will!” the judge shouted. “I cannot comprehend a man having sexual relations with the woman who killed his wife, but should Meagan Reilly manage to seduce Josh Daniels in an effort to lighten her lot, I will be forced to revert to the prescribed sentence of hanging, and Mr. Daniels will be held in contempt of court.” With that the gavel fell again and the judge pushed his chair away from the teacher’s desk and smiled in satisfaction.
Yes, sir, he’d done it again, thought Judge Harvey Osborne. Josh Daniels had a helpmate who would work right alongside him for the rest of her life and it wouldn’t cost a cent, and Meagan Reilly wouldn’t hang after all. He was still congratulating himself when he left the courtroom, oblivious to the shock, disbelief and hostility on the faces of the man and woman most directly involved.
“I refuse to have that woman in my house!” Josh slammed his fist on the table with such force that the pictures trembled on the schoolhouse walls.
“Would you rather see the girl hang?” Will Carmichael asked. He had served as Meagan’s lawyer despite his close friendship with Josh.
“No! I don’t want to see her hang.” Josh pulled his fingers through his thick blond hair. “I don’t want to see anybody hang. I’m sick of death.”
Half the settlers in Banebridge Valley had passed on to their rewards during the past year. Lily’s death had been only one more cross to bear. It was so senseless. So unnecessary.
“How dare the judge saddle me with a woman who suffers from fits of temper and refuses to admit her weakness?” Josh wondered aloud. “How dare he suggest that I leave my daughter in the care of the woman who is responsible for my wife’s death.”
“Just talk to the girl, Josh,” Will suggested. “She isn’t a bad sort. She’s young and strong and looks to be healthy enough.” He paused. “If you don’t have her I’m going to ask the judge to let me take her into my home, but I’ll tell you straight out, I don’t think I have a chance. Judge Osborne has his mind made up. And the woman’s life is on the line.”
Josh sighed in resignation. “Abbie will stay with her grandparents until summer’s end. I’ll talk to the girl. If I can abide her presence I’ll take her home with me. She can take over the chores. If she doesn’t work out, I’ll bring her back and you can deal with her.”
“Josh, you know that half the people around these parts have served an indenture for one reason or another. There’s hardly a family that doesn’t have a servant who has been found guilty of some crime, and the settlers pay good money for their services.”
“I’ve paid for this woman,” Josh reminded him. “Paid with the loss of my wife.”
Will nodded, breathing a silent prayer of gratitude that Judge Osborne had not known Lily Daniels, that he had considered her to have been a helpmate to her husband rather than a lovely hothouse flower. Had her true demeanor been known, the judge’s decision might have been different. Especially since it was Josh who had done the baking,