Unjustly Accused

 by Ella Grace

Note: Ella Grace sent lovely pictures of the dresses to go with the story. I had some extra time, so I have included them at the end of this story (after saving them since they wouldn't copy and paste. Enjoy! 

“No lace,” 18 year old Andrea Carter said.

“You need at least one dress with lace on it, Andi,” her sister, Melinda responded. “Every married lady needs dresses with lace.”

“No. No. No. No lace.”

It was 1886, three weeks before Andi’s wedding, and the sisters were in Fresno shopping for Andi’s wardrobe. Melinda was convinced that Andi needed tons of new clothes before getting married.

“Andrea Rose Carter. One lace dress? Please?” Melinda begged.

“No,” Andi said, crossing her arms and looking away.

Melinda sighed. “Name two good reasons, and I’ll let you off the hook.”

“I can give you several.” Andi leaned against the wall and held up four fingers. One by one, she ticked off her fingers.

“I hate lace on my dresses. Riley likes me better in my split skirts. I’ll get the lace muddy and ripped within five minutes of putting it on. And lastly, how often will I actually wear a dress with lace? I can always borrow from you or Lucy.”

“Okay. Okay,” Melinda relented. “No lace dresses. But at least do one with ruffles…” Andi's sister wandered into the section of the store with ruffled dresses.

Andi stared around at the rows of dresses. Laced dresses, ruffled dresses. Ones made of silk and others made of cotton. All beautiful. And she didn’t care for a single one of them. She looked wistfully at the overalls, split skirts, and riding boots. Why, if she must get new clothes, couldn’t she get those?

Andi wandered towards the front counter where a couple men stood, talking excitedly.

"Did you hear how that store in San Francisco was robbed last week?" The first man blurted. His hands waved as he spoke.

"You mean Sam's Dry Goods? I did! They haven't caught the thief yet either." The second man leaned against the counter, obviously planning to stay awhile.

Andi moved closer, her ears peeled for a piece of juicy news. She loved being the first to hear exciting news and share it with her brothers.

"Exactly," the first man said. His eyes brightened. "Didn't onlookers say that he appeared to be the same man seen robbing Alice's Dress Boutique in another part of San Francisco?"

"You know," commented the second man. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I think you’re right. I'm surprised he hasn't been caught yet."

Wow. This really is some big news. But I bet Justin has already heard. Lawyer big brother always hears news first.

Andi slid around a display of stockings and meandered closer towards the men. She clasped her hands behind her back, trying to look nonchalant.

"Andrea Rose!" A hand gripped her shoulder.

"Yipes!" Andi yelped and whirled around. Melinda stood behind her with a scowl on her face. Andi's countenance darkened.

She probably wants to show me another dress… ugh…

Andi tried to put a pleasant look on her face. "What do you need, Melinda?"

"You disappeared. You are supposed to be looking for dresses," moaned Melinda.

"I'm sorry!" Andi atoned. "I just got a little distracted…"

Melinda's cool expression thawed. She sighed. "It's okay. You can't help being yourself.

"But did you hear what the men said?" questioned Andi eagerly. She grabbed her sister’s arm and bounced on her toes.

"No I didn't."

"They said that a—”

Melinda brushed Andi away.  "I don't care, Andi." She headed towards the counter with a dress in tote. Andi scurried after Melinda, her dress swishing around her ankles and her corset digging into her ribs.

"Why not? And did I agree to buy that dress?" Andi grumbled.

Melinda handed the cashier the money. "Yes you did. It's the light green dress with ruffles. And I don't care because I know you're going to tell the family at dinner which we will be late for if we keep Chad waiting."

The storekeeper handed Melinda the dress wrapped in paper and tied with string.

"Thank you!" she said brightly. Andi scowled.

"Come on," Melinda said. Andi practically flew to the door. She stood tapping her foot impatiently.

"Now Andi," Melinda chided. "You know we’ll come back tomorrow."

Melinda brushed past Andi, ignoring her sister’s indignant expression. Andi hurried after Melinda.

“We’re doing two days of clothes shopping!?”

Melinda walked across the street, skirting the mud puddles, and looked back at Andi.

“Hurry up,” she said. Andi sighed and trotted across the street.

“But why must we come back tomorrow?” pressed Andi. She planted her hands on her hips and scowled. “I’m riding with Riley tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry,” Melinda answered. She waved her hand at a figure approaching them in a wagon. “You’ll still have time to ride with Riley in the evening. We will go shopping after breakfast.”

The wagon pulled up next to them and Chad smiled down on Andi’s scowling face. His bright, teasing grin made Andi’s mood lift.

Chad helped Melinda up onto the seat. Andi clambered up after her and squished herself in next to Chad. He clucked to the horse and the wagon jerked forward.

Chad turned toward Andi. “I’m guessing from the grimace on your face that shopping for dresses didn’t amuse you.”

Andi glowered. “Melinda made me buy a green dress... with ruffles.”

Chad hooted. “That’s what you're so upset about?”

“I tried to finagle her into a lace dress,” Melinda said, shrugging. “But she wouldn’t let me. So I settled for green muslin.”

Chad slapped his knee and chuckled. Then he assumed a solemn expression. "I believe you’ll be quite pretty in a green muslin dress. Whether it has ruffles or not."

Andi scowled, and hunched her shoulders, planning to stay that way the rest of the ride home.

Melinda chattered away to Chad about the styles of boots she had seen. Chad looked as bored as Andi felt. He was staring at the dusty road, obviously in his own world thinking.

Andi nudged him. “Whatcha thinking about?” she whispered.

Chad glanced down at her. “We hired a new hand for the ranch and he doesn’t seem to be doing his best. He’s disappearing during work hours. I don’t know how to motivate him.”

Andi shrugged. “I’m not gonna be much help with that.”

Chad’s smile made a very faint, brief appearance on his face and then he went back to staring at the road. Melinda kept talking away, now about the party the Ladies Committee was throwing next Saturday.

The rest of the ride home was very tedious.

❀

That night at dinner, Andi almost burst while waiting to tell her news. She quietly bounced in her seat during the boring talk about the ranch’s financial situation and the yawn–inducing conversation about what Melinda should wear to the party next Saturday, until Justin finally looked at her.

“Honey, it appears that you have something on your mind. Would you like to share it with us?” Justin questioned.

Andi’s face brightened. “Yes!”

“Go ahead,” Mrs. Carter pushed.

“Well…” Andi said. “At the store today, I heard two men talking about some robberies that happened in San Francisco! And they said that it was the same man! And that he hadn’t been caught yet!” Andi leaned forward. “Can you believe that?”

Justin sat back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “You know, I think I did hear about that.”

Andi’s face fell. “Really?”

“Yes,” Justin answered, smiling. “But I have some more details you may enjoy…”

Andi leapt up. “What?”

Justin stood up and gently guided Andi into the sitting room. The rest of the family followed, settling down in various chairs around the room. Chad sat down, looked out the window, and slammed his fist on the side table. The lamp rattled. Then he stormed out of the room grumbling about that lazy, no good, stupid new ranch hand.

“Tell!” Andi gasped out, excitedly, ignoring Chad's outburst. She plopped down on the footstool by Justin’s chair.

“Well, from what bystanders said about the man, he was short and stocky, with light brown hair and a ruddy complexion.” Justin leaned back in the navy blue armchair and crossed his legs. “The police weren’t able to verify the shoplifter.”

Andi bounced. “What if he came here and stole from one of our stores?!”

Justin laughed and reached out to muss his sister’s hair. “I doubt that would happen, Honey. We don’t have many stores worthy of a high-class thief.”

"Rats.” Andi paused. “But what if he did! And what if I caught the thief and got the prize money they’re offering! Shasta really needs a new saddle!"

Melinda rose and reached for Andi's arm. "Come on, Sis. I have a few catalogs upstairs for us to look through."

Andi's demeanor clouded. "Melinda!" she caterwauled. "I spent the whole day looking at dresses with you. Do I have to spend my night looking at them too?"

"No, of course not," Melinda consolled.

"Wait. Really?" Andi wrested her arm out of Melinda's grasp and bounded up off the footstool. She grabbed her boots and began jerking them on.

"Hold your horses, Andi. Just because I said we don't have to look at dresses doesn't mean we aren't going to still look.”

Andi stomped her foot. "But you said—”

"I said we weren't looking at dresses. We’ll look at shoes."

"Fine." Melinda took her arm and guided her towards the stairs.

Justin looked up from the afternoon paper. "Just a minute, Honey."

The girls stopped.

"I gather that you want to learn more about the robbery, Andi, and I will let you know if I discover anything else."

"Thanks, Justin," Andi smiled. Melinda led her up the stairs.

❀

Andi sulked as Melinda pulled her off the dusty train. She had spent the last seven hours traveling to and from Madera, and shopping for underclothes and shoes while there.

A mind numbing past time. And she would miss riding with Riley.

"Come on, Andi. We have one last stop."

"What now, Melinda?" Andi glowered.

Melinda flounced across the road. "We're picking up the party dress we ordered from San Francisco last week."

"For you or me??" Andi trudged after her sister.

"Yours. The white one with black swirls." Melinda opened the door and the sisters walked through. The bells jangled cheerily, a blithe sound for Andi's mood. And for what was to come.

❀

Melinda cautiously grasped the brown paper wrapped package and handed it to Andi.

Abruptly, the bell above the door jingled fiercely.

The door slammed and Andi heard the lock being turned. She looked up and gasped.

There, wielding an intimidating gun, stood a short, stocky man with light brown hair and a ruddy complexion. A black mask covered most of his face and leather gloves adorned his hands.

"I'll be with you in a moment," the shopkeeper hollered.      

"L–listen to me," the man blurted. "T–this is a robbery. Get behind the c–counter and don't even think about trying to g–get the sheriff."

Melinda turned pale. "What's happening…?" she stuttered.

"Y–you heard me. Get behind the counter. I mean it!"

The shopkeeper dropped the packages he was holding and sank behind the front counter. Melinda turned whiter and wobbled.

Andi grasped her sister’s arm and calmly guided her to the floor next to the retailer.

Melinda gasped. "Are we really witnessing a robbery?" she squeaked.

"No t–talking!"

Andi clamped a hand over her sister’s mouth as Melinda let out a strangled cry.

Andi peaked above the top of the counter to watch the robber. He had shoved his gun into his belt and was harshly thrusting the most elaborate dresses into a burlap bag.

"Get b–below the counter, Missy." The robber jerked his gun out of his belt and pointed it at Andi. Melinda yanked Andi down.

A few minutes later though, her head was back up, watching intently. The man had moved on to less fancy dresses. He was stripping row after row of frocks. Andi nodded approvingly. The more dresses he took, the less she had to look at.

Once again Andi found the man giving her an icy cold stare. Her eyes widened as the gun cocked and found its way towards her head. Andi dove to the ground, covering her head, just as the gun went off.

Melinda shrieked as the bullet whizzed over their heads and sank into the wall inches from where Andi's curious face had been.

Andi leapt up, furious. "How dare you shoot at me!".

The gun fired again and Andi darted left to avoid the bullets. Melinda flew up onto her knees in shock, then sank to the ground, unconscious as another bullet streaked through the air.

Andi dropped to the ground, flummoxed. There is no reason for the man to hurt me! All I’m doing is looking.

Andi found a scrap of paper and a pencil on the desk and quickly scribbled a note:

If I’m not here when you wake up, go to Justin. He’ll help us.

Andi folded the paper and shoved it in Melinda’s curled up hand.

The man thrust one last dress into the bag then walked over to the counter. As he peered over the top at Andi he said, "Y–you missy, are one handful of t–trouble. I feel sorry for your big brother, Chad." The robber brought forth his gun and slammed it down on Andi's head. Everything went black.

❀

Andi groaned. Her head hurt.

What happened?

Andi heard a thud and she opened her eyes.

"Ohhh." Andi rubbed her head and felt something sticky. Her hand came away covered in blood.

Andi sat up and looked around. She had been laying on top of Melinda. Beside them lay the unconscious clerk. As Andi stared at her sister, another thud echoed throughout the room.

Andi checked her sister over for injuries, then vaulted to her feet. She leaned against the counter to steady herself as the world spun.

After Andi's vision cleared, she looked around the room. The robber was gone and so were all the dresses.

Searching for the source of the thud, Andi discovered the robber in the back room, rifling through a crate of jewelry.

Andi slipped into the storeroom, quiet as a cat. She stood unsteadily, observing the robber.

He wore gray, homespun clothing, with black leather boots. He still boasted the black mask, but his leather gloves were discarded a few feet away.

Andi debated with herself. Could I grab the gloves without being noticed? They might help Sheriff Tate catch the robber…

Andi stepped forward, cringing as a floorboard creaked beneath her foot.

Fortunately the man did not hear.

Andi flew forward, light on her feet. Grasping the gloves, she shoved them deep into her skirt pocket.             

As she fled the room, Andi tripped over a glove box and tumbled to the floor. The man spun around. "You!" he cried.

The man didn't stop for anything else. He seized the burlap bags and dashed out the door. Andi struggled to her feet, making the unwise decision to follow him.

Andi tumbled out the door of the lady's clothingwear store and spotted the thief charging down an alleyway to the left. Andi began to run after him, her pounding head completely forgotten.

❀

Andi sank to the ground next to her family's house, gasping for breath. In her hand she clutched a small handful of jewelry that had fallen out of the robber's bag. She was exhausted. Her deep brown hair was in shambles, and her head pounded like a drum.

Andi's chase after the robber had taken her into the foothills of the Sierra Mountains. Then they had rounded back towards town, where Andi had made a pit stop at the Blake's livery stable to borrow a horse.

Once on horseback, Andi had caught up to the robber only to be wrenched off her horse and thrown to the ground. By the time she had recovered her senses enough to get up, the robber was far ahead and the horse was gone.

Andi had tried to catch up with the robber, but only succeeded in grasping a handful of necklaces he had dropped when hopping a fence. Unfortunately, it had been a barbed wire fence and Andi was now covered in scratches. But the fence had been on Carter property, and it had been no trouble finding her way home.

Andi stood up and looked around her. It was late afternoon and her family would expect her to be at the dinner table.

Darting up the house's back staircase, she managed to escape observation. Andi gently washed her bruised head and brushed her hair over the cut from the robber's gun. She splashed her face with water from the wash bowl then struggled out of her dress. Opening her closet, her tired mind reeled. What were all these new dresses doing here?

Andi's mind toiled to make sense of it. The only thing she could think of was that Melinda had put them there. Grabbing the comfiest dress she could see, Andi slid into it and started down to dinner.

Emerging from her bedroom, Andi contemplated the banister. Should she slide down? Throwing caution to the wind, Andi leapt onto the banister and off down the stairs she went, landing with a thud.

Picking herself up, Andi dashed into the dining room with an exclamation on her lips.

“I’m sorry I’m late but--”

Andi stopped mid sentence. Three deputies stood in her dining room. Three stern deputies.

“Andi,” Justin said, his arms crossed and brow furrowed. “These men would like to search your bedroom. They’ve already searched the rest of the house. Is there a reason they want to search? Does it have to do with what happened to your head?”

Andi gulped. “N-no.”

The head officer barked an order and the trio started up the stairs with Andi staring after them.

❀

A few minutes later, three triumphant officers clomped down the stairs, arms piled high with dresses.

“This is what we were looking for!” the second one announced.

Justin frowned. “Andi? Where did you get those?”

“Didn’t Melinda get those dresses?” Andi asked, rubbing her aching head.

Melinda stood up and began sorting through the dresses. “Nope.”

“Point proven,” the head deputy announced. “These are the exact dresses stolen from the store this afternoon. Ma’am, we have reason to believe that you are partnered with the robber.”

“That’s outrageous!” Riley exclaimed at the exact moment Chad slammed his fist on the table, causing the milk to spill on Mitch.

“It can’t be true!” Mitch gasped, his face turning as white as the milk on his lap.

“And what’s that in your pocket?” The officer shoved his hand deep in Andi’s pocket and yanked up a handful of diamond necklaces. “Even more evidence.”

“But it wasn’t me!” stuttered Andi, almost in tears. “I was chasing the thief. He dropped those.”

“Likely story,” the deputy scoffed. “Then answer me this. Where were you today when the store was robbed?”

“In the store with Melinda,” admitted Andi.

“And what did you do after the robber left?”

“I followed him, hoping to catch him.”

The deputy turned towards Melinda who stood in shock beside her chair. “Did you see her leave?”

“No,” Melinda hesitated. “I suppose I fainted and now I can’t remember anything after getting off the train in Fresno. Which is just fine with me. I only remember waking up with Andi gone and going to Justin’s office.”

“There’s your proof,” pronounced the officer. “How do we know she didn’t walk out with the robber and this is her share of the loot?”

“We don’t know,” Justin said. “But that doesn’t mean you have to arrest my sister. We can just set up a trap for the robber to catch him red handed.”

“Go ahead and do that,” barked the deputy. “But until then, we are arresting Miss Carter.”

The deputy grabbed Andi’s arm. “Come on Missy.” He yanked her out the door, the other deputies following.

Andi looked back, tears coursing down her anguished face. “Rileyyyyyy!!!!” she cried, reaching out towards him. He leapt up to grab at her, but too late. The door slammed behind her.

❀

Andi's bedroom door creaked open and a figure slipped through. The shadow began to open the closet. In the next instant, two other shadows leapt from separate corners of the room, pinning the intruder to the floor.

❀

Andi gazed out the window, tapping her pencil against the desk, recalling the adventure of three weeks before.

How Riley and Mitch had captured the robber in their trap and how they had woken the whole household with shouts of triumph. How they had dragged the thief through the streets and how they had then joyously charged through the jail doors hauling the man behind them. And how after interrogating the man, Sheriff Tate had released Andi quite remorsefully; how Chad had found out that the robber’s accomplice was his lazy ranch hand, and how Andi had laughed as Chad bellowed at the confused hand. How Mitch had swung her up into a hug, how Riley had planted an exuberant kiss on her cheek, how the entire family had given Andi a majestic homecoming banquet, and how wonderful her wedding had been.

Riley came to his wife's side. “Thinking about the robbery?”

Andi nodded. “It really was a crazy adventure.”

“Why don’t you write it down?” Riley suggested.

“Write it down?”

“In your journal. I assume that's what that notebook’s for,” Riley responded.

Kissing her forehead affectionately, he went and sat down in an armchair nearby.

Andi smiled and began to write:

 “It all began three weeks ago when Melinda took me shopping for dresses…

*** 

Andi's dreaded party dress:

Andi's green dress with horrid ruffles

Andi's somewhat comfy stolen dinner dress

The lacy dress Melinda wanted to get Andi