Denton's Bride (Runaway Mail-Order Bride Book 1)

by Marie Higgins

  “Yes.”

  “Pass that and keep going down the slope, and you’ll see another building. Alan’s name – Cartwright – will be written in big, bold letters on the sign. You can’t miss it.”

  “By chance, have you seen a man fitting that description walking around town?”

  Bryan nodded. “In fact, I have. This morning, actually. He walked by the mill. I can now only assume he was heading toward the boat shop.”

  “Great.” Denton clapped his friend on the shoulder. “I appreciate your help.”

  “How long will you be in town? Maybe you and I can meet later for some dinner at Boyd’s Diner.”

  “That sounds good, but I’m here with the sheriff of Helena, and... my woman friend.”

  Bryan’s eyes grew large, and a silly grin touched his mouth. “You have a woman friend?” He chuckled. “I never thought that day would come.”

  “We are just friends.” Denton didn’t know why he had to lie. Well, it really wasn’t a lie, but until the case was solved, they would only be friends.

  Bryan punched Denton in the arm playfully. “That is how relationships start, don’t you know.”

  “I’ll have to bow out on the dinner. But I promise to think about the offer of making Stumptown my home.”

  “You had better, my friend. With your experience, you would make a reliable and trustworthy sheriff.”

  As Denton left the sawmill, a smile stretched across his face. Images popped into his head, and he could envision himself as the town’s sheriff, with his lovely wife next to him, supporting him in his position. And the gorgeous face of his lovely wife was Courtney’s.

  It was a nice dream. Now the question was, would it ever become a reality?

  DENTON RODE TOWARD Alan Cartwright’s boat shop. He’d told the sheriff and Courtney to stay back in hiding. Terrance couldn’t know that Denton had brought the lawman with him. He needed his friend to be oblivious to the reason Denton was in town. He just hoped his murderous friend was still at the boat shop and hadn’t already noticed Denton and the sheriff riding through town.

  He reached the shop and walked in through the front double-doors. Men’s voices were heard, but Denton couldn’t tell which direction they were coming from because of the echo. Several wooden canoes and rafts were displayed, and some were still being built. The tools of the tradesman were hanging on the walls.

  Denton continued walking through the building until the voices grew louder. Then he recognized Terrance. The man’s height and red hair were easy to detect. Terrance was talking to another man who appeared to be one of the workers at this shop by the way he was dressed. The conversation between the two men didn’t look pleasant at all. Terrance’s face was red, and as he spoke, he moved his arms wildly around.

  Slowing his steps, he listened intently, but the echoing made it almost impossible to hear anything. He detected the phrases you owe me, and no more deals, from the boat worker. Terrance said something to the effect of this time it’ll work, and you’ll be sorry. Whatever kind of deal the two arguing men were trying to make, Denton felt it wasn’t good. He had a feeling Terrance was trying to convince the man to give him money, and the man refused.

  His movement must have captured the boat worker’s attention because the man snapped his gaze toward Denton. That, of course, made Terrance turn and look. Anger was the man’s first expression, and when he noticed Denton, his whole countenance changed, as if Terrance was two different people. Denton highly suspected the man led a double life. That could be the only explanation as to why Terrance felt the need to kill his father.

  “Denton Reed!” Terrance smiled and walked toward him. “What a surprise it is to see you here.”

  Denton shook hands with his friend and tried not to let his feelings show because Terrance would be suspicious. “I heard from your father’s servants that you had traveled here, and they didn’t know when you would return.”

  Terrance’s eyes widened. “Do you have news of Miss Mills?”

  “That’s why I’m here.” Denton tried smiling, but it wasn't easy. “Do you think we can talk privately?”

  “Yes.” Terrance turned back to the other man. “We’ll finish our business later.”

  The middle-aged man huffed, turned, and walked away. Denton could read people well enough to know that this man didn’t want to finish their business later.

  Terrance followed Denton outside, but they stayed near the front of the building.

  “Have you arrested Miss Mills yet?” Terrance asked with entirely too much excitement.

  “No, I haven’t.”

  Terrance scowled. “Then tell me you found the person who murdered my father.”

  “I think I have found that person, but it’s not Miss Mills.”

  Growling, Terrance bunched his hands into fists and paced the ground. “Of course, it’s her. She is the only one who had any reason to kill him.”

  “Perhaps, but because she isn’t strong enough to lift the marble bust of George Washington and whack it over your father’s head, that right there tells me she’s not the killer.”

  Terrance stopped and glared at Denton. “What are you talking about?”

  “Our killer must be strong enough to pick up the bust, lift it high enough over their head, and have the strength to bring it down hard and hit it over someone’s head.” Denton sighed. “Miss Mills isn’t that strong. Your sister, Louise, is stronger than Courtney, and even your sister couldn’t lift the bust that high.”

  Denton studied the man’s eyes. A hint of panic laced his brown eyes, and Denton prayed it wouldn’t be difficult to arrest this man.

  “Fine, then Miss Mills didn’t do it. So, who did?”

  Slowly, Denton expelled a breath as he began pacing. “After ruling out Miss Mills and your sister, I did some checking around, and I discovered that the person who killed Albert Greenwood was after his money.”

  Terrance snorted a laugh, sounding very much like Louise when she did that. “His money? Are you joking?”

  Denton stopped and met his friend’s gaze. “Not at all. In fact, after I had come to this conclusion, I realized I had three more suspects. In order to weed out the killer, I dug deeper and even visited with your father’s lawyer.” He paused, waiting for his friend’s reaction. Just as Denton expected, panic was the emotion on the man’s expression now.

  “Do I want to know what you concluded?” Terrance asked in a tight voice, slipping his hands into his coat pockets.

  Denton folded his arms. “Why did you do it, Terrance? Was getting your inheritance important enough to kill your father?”

  Terrance laughed forcefully. “Me? You think I killed him?”

  “No.” Denton paused briefly. “I don’t think you killed him. I know you did.”

  “You’re wrong. I didn’t do it. My sister should be the one arrested. She was the one who hired a man to kill our father.”

  Denton nodded. “I’d suspected that was the case. However, I also know that the man she hired did not go through with his assignment. I’m guessing it’s because you had interrupted him.”

  Shaking his head slowly, Terrance’s gaze wandered around the empty road in front of the boat shop. Denton stayed alert, preparing for anything to happen.

  Terrance huffed. “I cannot believe you’d doubt your good friend. I suppose you have your mind set and nothing can change it.”

  Denton wondered what game Terrance was trying to play with him now. “What I can’t believe is that my good friend would think I was a fool not to suspect you, considering this is what I do for a living.”

  “You’re wrong, Denton.” Terrance turned and entered the shop quickly.

  Denton had a strong feeling he knew what was coming next and hurried inside to finally bring this long-awaited showdown to an end.

  FOURTEEN

  COURTNEY IGNORED THE aches in her legs as she concentrated on watching Denton and Terrance. She and the sheriff hid behind two large trees, just as Denton had requ
ested. But now she wished she had a gun – if only to have something in her hands to keep them occupied. Her nerves were already jumping, and once Denton and Terrance walked back into the building, she thought her quaking nerves would make her scream with frustration.

  “Why did they go back inside?” she whispered to the sheriff.

  “I don’t know, and I don’t like it.”

  “What should we do?”

  The sheriff swung his attention to her. “You should stay here. I will go inside.”

  “But Denton told us to stay out here.”

  “Yes, but because I’m his backup, and I can’t see him, I need to get closer.”

  “Then I’m coming with you.”

  The sheriff threw her a glare. “No, you’re not. Going inside will only put you in the line of fire. You are staying here, Miss Mills, and I don’t want to hear any argument from you.”

  Courtney gritted her teeth. She wouldn’t argue, but neither would she sit idle.

  The sheriff crept away from the tree he’d been hiding behind, and made his way toward the building, holding a gun in his hand. When he reached the side of the building, he flattened himself up against the wall and scooted toward the closest window. It took him a few times to peek inside and then withdraw quickly before he switched directions and snuck around toward the back.

  Once the sheriff was out of sight, Courtney searched the ground until she found a tree limb that was thick enough to hit someone with, but not too large that she couldn’t lift it. Using the tree limb as her weapon, she darted from one tree to another, trying to stay hidden as she moved closer to the building.

  Suddenly, she saw a movement from the other side of the building. Her body froze as she pushed herself up against the tree for coverage. After a few seconds passed, she dared to take a peek. When she recognized Terrance hurrying away from the building as if the devil was on his heels, Courtney’s heart dropped. Denton was hurt, and she prayed that the sheriff would help him because she was going after Terrance.

  Her mind pictured David and Goliath's Bible story – her being David, and Terrance, the larger man. Yet, she had David’s faith that the Lord would help her stop Terrance. Justice must prevail!

  Since the tall man was on foot, she knew he’d not be able to get too far from her, although he ran, she would follow him.

  Terrance headed for the nearby woods, which was where she had been hiding. She suspected he wanted to hide away as well. She stayed behind a tree until he was well enough in front of her before she started following.

  She moved behind one tree to the next, keeping a good pace as she trailed Terrance. Every so often, he’d stop and look behind him. She was slender enough to hide behind these trees, thankfully. However, there weren’t many thick trunks where he could hide.

  His movements were slower. Courtney suspected he was out of breath. Although her legs were screaming at her to stop, determination to catch the killer was what kept her going. She might not have been in love with Albert, but she wanted to do this last thing for him by helping to catch the older man’s killer.

  She kept a prayer in her heart the deeper into the woods they ran. The sun was dipping in the horizon, and soon it would be dark. Once that happened, she’d be in big trouble, especially if nobody came looking for her.

  Suddenly, Terrance stopped and spun her way. The movement was too quick, and she didn’t have time to jump behind a tree.

  “Who are you?” Terrance asked in a loud voice. “Why are you following me?”

  Courtney could only assume he thought she was a man, since she still wore the large over-coat and cowboy hat, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. However, when she answered him, he’d know she was a woman. “I can’t let you get away, Terrance Greenwood.”

  He widened his eyes. “Who are you?”

  She yanked off her hat and tossed it to the ground. Tightening her fingers around the tree limb, she stepped closer to him, keeping her gaze locked with his. “I’m the one you tried to blame for your father’s murder.”

  “Miss Mills?” His gaze swept over her. “How did you know I was here?”

  “I came with Denton Reed.”

  Terrance’s expression relaxed, and he let out a loud laugh. “And you think you’re going to catch me?”

  She nodded. “Or die trying.”

  “Then, let me suggest, Miss Mills, that you prepare for a quick death because I’m not going to let anyone arrest me.

  “You’ll not win, Terrance Greenwood.”

  “I have so far.” He grinned victoriously. “Denton Reed is lying unconscious just inside the boat shop. As soon as he walked inside, I hit him in the head with a paddle.”

  Courtney’s heart clenched as her worry escalated. But she must keep the faith that God would watch over him – or that God would help the sheriff to take care of Denton. “Then I suppose it’s just you and me.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Terrance’s gaze narrowed on her as he walked forward. Her heartbeat quickened in fear, but she held strong. Please, Lord, guide me...

  His hand slid in the pocket of his long overcoat, and he withdrew a pistol. Her heart sank. His weapon had bullets that killed. Her weapon just knocked people out. The odds weren’t looking promising.

  Suddenly, that snapping noise of steel hitting a bone echoed through the forest. Terrance screamed in pain and dropped to the ground, grasping the animal trap that was now securing his foot.

  Cussing loudly, he tried to peel the steel claws of the trap off his foot, but to no avail. Once the shock wore off, she searched the ground for his gun, but because of the leaves covering the earth’s floor and the shadows forming everywhere, she couldn’t see it.

  Immediately, the thought came to her – knock him out. She wanted to believe this was the Lord helping her, so she hurried behind Terrance and whacked the tree limb against his head. Seconds later, he fell to the ground, unconscious.

  Courtney took deep breaths to calm herself, and at the same time, said a silent prayer of thanks for His help. She wouldn’t have been able to do it without Him.

  She quickly searched the ground for Terrance’s gun and breathed a sigh of relief when she found it. Now, when Terrance awoke, he wouldn’t have any weapon. Then again, he was rather stuck, anyway.

  From not too far off, she heard someone calling her name. She spun around and peered through the dense forest, but she couldn’t see anything because of the shadows. “I’m here!”

  As she studied the direction where the voices were coming from, she noticed a light. Someone had come to rescue her.

  “Courtney?”

  This time she recognized the voice, and she sobbed with happiness. “Denton, I’m over here.”

  As soon as she saw him, she broke into a run, calling out his name. Her heart burst with gladness. When she reached him, he wrapped her in a tight hug, burying his face in her neck.

  “You are all right,” she exclaimed brokenly. “Terrance said he’d hit you. I thought I’d lost you—”

  “Never, my love.” Denton lifted his head from her neck, but then he pressed his lips against hers.

  She answered back eagerly, kissing him fast but passionately. She couldn’t stop. It was too satisfying to know he was alive and that he wanted to kiss her, as well.

  “All right, you two,” the sheriff said with a touch of humor in his voice. “You have plenty of time for that later. Let’s take Mr. Greenwood back to town first, and then you two can be lovey-dovey.”

  Denton broke the kiss, but he kept his arm around her waist as he turned toward Terrance’s still form. “What happened here?”

  She shrugged. “I just imagined that Terrance was my Goliath, and I overcame my obstacle.” She glanced up at the sky. “Thanks to divine intervention.”

  Another man that she hadn’t noticed before stepped past her and Denton, holding a lantern. He stopped by Terrance’s body and chuckled.

  “It’s good to see my brother’s traps are still catching a
nimals.”

  “Courtney,” Denton grinned, “I want you to meet a good friend of mine. This is Bryan Easton.”

  She gave him her best smile. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Easton.”

  The man nodded. “It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who broke the mold.” Mr. Easton gave Denton a wink before he knelt beside the sheriff and they pulled apart the animal trap.

  It didn’t take long before the sheriff handcuffed Terrance and woke the man up from his short, but most likely, painful slumber. The criminal groaned and whined about his injured foot, but he was still able to limp back through the forest toward town with very little help. The sheriff kept a grasp on the man’s arm, although Terrance argued about his innocence the whole way.

  Denton and Courtney followed behind, still with their arms around each other’s waist. She enjoyed being this cozy with him.

  “Why is Terrance going on about his innocence even though we know the truth?”

  Denton kissed her forehead. “Criminals do that. For some reason, they think they can talk their way out of it. However, in Terrance’s instance, we already have a witness. He won’t be able to get out of this one, no matter how much sweet-talking he does.”

  Tilting back her head, she peered up at him. Even though night had fallen around them, and the lantern didn’t bring much light to his face, she had every curve memorized. She remembered how one side of his mouth lifted higher than the other when he smiled, and the dimple on his cheek would deepen. His green eyes would sparkle whenever he gazed at her, and when he kissed her, his eyes would turn a lighter color. No, she didn’t need light to know what he looked like right now.

  “Denton? What did Mr. Easton mean when he mentioned that I broke the mold?”

  Denton chuckled. “Well, my lovely Courtney, Bryan never thought I’d find a woman who would make me want to settle down. When I mentioned you today while I was talking to him at the sawmill, he realized that I have indeed found that woman.”

  Her heartbeat stilled for a moment as shock rushed over her. “You... have found that woman in me?”