Mr. Johnson frowned. “I would have to look into my schedule for that.” He pulled a small leather notebook from one of his desk drawers and started sifting through it. “Ah yes, I was visiting one of the recently acquired mines with one of my associates, and my lawyer Dwayne St. Claire.”
“I will need the names of all your associates as well,” Robert insisted.
“Certainly,” he started reciting, and Robert took a small piece of paper that he carried with himself at all times, just in case, wanting to write all that down. “Would you mind if I borrow your pen?”
“Of course, Sheriff.”
“Thank you.”
“You can keep it if you want,” Mr. Johnson offered generously.
The pen looked like it was made out of solid gold. Robert returned it.
“Is that all?” Mr. Johnson was clearly getting impatient, not that Robert cared.
“What about your wife? I would like to speak with her about her alibi.”
Mr. Johnson looked at him as if Robert suddenly grew two additional heads. “You must be joking?”
“I assure you, I never joke while conducting an official investigation.”
It was clear Robert managed to irritate him further. “My wife was here, of course, and the whole household can attest to that.”
“Or lie for her.”
“Sheriff, I must object, this is starting to feel like harassment.”
Robert simply stared at him until Mr. Johnson relented. “Very well, if you do not believe me, believe Dr. Gildow. He was here conducting an exam since she was complaining about a headache.”
That Robert did believe. In a house with such a spoiled daughter, it was to be expected the mother was no different and would alarm the entire house for a headache. “Thank you, Mr. Johnson, for your cooperation,” Robert replied all sweetly, making a mental note to speak with the local physician again.
Fergus Johnson simply nodded in return. Then something occurred to him. “If you ask me, you are only wasting your time.”
“Excuse me?”
“You are wasting your time with this matter.”
“And by this matter, you mean Elsa Potter's murder.”
“Indeed.”
Robert smiled without actual humor. “I am sure Elsa wouldn't agree with you on that one.”
Mr. Johnson shrugged as if what Robert said had no merit. “Elsa Potter was a lonely woman who won't be missed.”
Robert's thoughts instantly went to Mrs. Laurel and Geraldine. Mr. Johnson was wrong. Elsa Potter would be missed and dearly since she was loved by two wonderful women. “So, I say to you,” Mr. Johnson continued with his little monologue. “Thank you for all your help, you certainly did your best. Now stop wasting your time. I am positive you have more pressing issues than solving a case about a lonely, bitter, old woman.”
Robert gritted his teeth. “You are wrong, Mr. Johnson, on every account. Regardless of your opinion, or mine for that matter, I still have a job to do, and I will continue to do it until I solve this case.”
Mr. Johnson sighed as if he were greatly disappointed by Robert's behavior. “I am rarely wrong, my dear Sheriff, that is why I have all this,” he waved with his hands around himself, showing everything. “But do what you must.”
Robert planned to. “If you remember something-”“Yes, yes, I will contact you immediately,” Mr. Johnson interrupted him impatiently. Robert had had enough of this man.
He wished Geraldine to be present for this last part of their conversation, unfortunately, he would have to enjoy this moment, for both of them.
“Oh, and one more thing,” Robert said standing up.
“Yes?”
“Just a quick reminder. According to my notes, you are way behind on your federal tax payments.”
Fergus Johnson pursed his lips, he did not appreciate being caught off guard. Deputy Bane was the one that usually dealt with this, in this part of the jurisdiction. Robert decided to make an exception since this man irked him to no end.
Besides, he would certainly have words with his deputy since he allowed to be pushed around instead of doing his job. “I am certain your notes are wrong,” Mr. Johnson managed to choke out. And that was the first time he saw real fear in those man's eyes. He is hiding something.
“I assure you, I am never wrong. So, please make sure to correct this wrong by the end of the week. Plus interest, of course,” he added for good measure and Mr. Johnson inclined his head. “I will see to it today,” he promised.
“There's no need to rush, just do not make me return here because of that,” or for any other reason. Robert infused just a little bit of threat in his voice.
“Let me see you out,” Mr. Johnson said, jumping to his feet. His sudden change of attitude entertained Robert. Still, he wasn't fooled. Mr. Johnson acted all guilty all of a sudden. As much as he was calm and confident, smug even during their conversation about Elsa, he was acting entirely opposite when his money was involved. He was guilty of something, and Robert was going to find out of what.
They exited the study and were instantly assaulted by shouts. By the looks of it, Susannah Johnson was yelling her head off at Geraldine. Robert instantly wanted to jump in between and had to remind himself those were not two armed drunken idiots fighting in a bar. Simply two girls having an argument.
Apparently, he was wrong thinking those young ladies couldn't be equally troubling or deadly. “You are nothing, and you will always be nothing,” Susannah raged in Geraldine's face.
“That may be true,” Geraldine allowed. “Maybe I am nothing and always will be nothing, however, even that is far greater than being you,” she countered. Robert was quite impressed by how she preserved her dignity despite such words. Geraldine took his breath away, staying true to herself. She was absolutely right, upbringing did not matter. The thing that mattered the most was a person's integrity, good morals, and proper manners. Sadly, Susannah was lacking in all those things, and Geraldine wasn't wrong to call her out for that. Unfortunately, with all that being said, Robert should have anticipated Susannah's reaction to Geraldine's words. The other girl started screaming and then she did the unthinkable. She slapped Geraldine across her face. “No!” Robert shouted. It was too late, the damage was done.
Geraldine covered that part of her face with her hand as her eyes met his. He saw so many things in that simple, fleeting glance. She was stunned, infuriated, hurt. Above all, she was mortified for some reason. What horrified Robert the most was the fact that her eyes were full of tears. “Geraldine,” he started to say, then stopped not knowing what he wanted to say since he had a lot on his mind.
Geraldine turned away from him, and pushing Susannah out of her way, ran through the main doors. Robert instantly went after her. “That was completely out of line, and I hope it will come back to you tenfold,” he snapped at Susannah's on his way out. “Geraldine,” he started calling out for her in hopes she would slow down or at least turn around. Unfortunately, she kept running. “Geraldine,” he tried again as he doubled his pace. It took him no time to catch up to her. Grabbing her by the arm, he forced her to stop and then, without a thought, he hugged her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Geraldine tried really hard not to cry. She couldn't believe Susannah just did that. Susannah always had a problem with her, that was pretty obvious, but up to this moment, Geraldine wouldn't believe she would ever go this far and actually slap her.
And he saw it. “Geraldine!” She heard the Sheriff calling out to her, and she quickened her pace, trying to run even faster. The darn skirt was getting in her way. With her luck, if she wasn't careful enough, she would trip over it and end up on the ground, flat on her face. She couldn't look him in the eyes, she felt so embarrassed. I just stood there and did nothing.
Well, not nothing. Geraldine did manage to tell Susannah her piece of mind at least. Unfortunately, she couldn't do anything else. She would never strike her back, of course. Geraldine simply wished she defended
herself more. “Geraldine.”
I need to get away. And suddenly, she was forcefully, not to hurt, stopped from advancing.
Geraldine's mind became quiet the moment she felt the Sheriff's strong arms around her. He embraced her with all his might, and she sunk into it. All the insults and harsh words from Susannah ceased to exist because they did not matter anymore. All that did matter was this precious moment, which she wanted to last forever.
Geraldine wasn't even aware she was crying until she heard his soothing words. His lips were next to her ear, his every word meant only for her. “Everything is all right.”
Geraldine tried to take a deep breath. An unknown weight pressing her chest prevented her from doing that. “I got you. And I won't let anyone harm you ever again,” he promised, and Geraldine believed he truly meant that in the fleeting moment when nothing else mattered in this world but him and her and the feelings they so clearly had for one another.
Geraldine detested he had to see her like this, weak. That he had to witness that whole scene with Susannah in the first place. She didn't want him to know anything about that part of her life, all her struggles because it made her feel ashamed. Geraldine didn't want the Sheriff's opinion of her to be tarnished in any way. It was silly in a way, Geraldine did not do anything wrong, unfortunately, that knowledge didn't prevent her from feeling the way she did. “I am here, Geraldine. I got you.”
Hearing him say all those sweet words to her was telling her she was worrying for nothing. So, Geraldine simply clung to him, accepting the comfort he was so openly and completely offering. The Sheriff stroke her hair and she leaned into that tender touch. It has been a while since anyone comforted her in such a manner. Her mother used to do that, and her father before he disappeared.
“Everything will be all right from now on.”
Eventually, she stopped sobbing. You are all right. She instructed herself, only to realize she really was all right. The Sheriff really did have a strange effect on her. Geraldine felt safe and protected while in his arms, and a part of her knew she should be terrified of such feelings since they couldn't be real or even last. In reality, she wasn't.
Geraldine opened her eyes and took a deep breath then another. “That's it,” he murmured approvingly. “Just breathe.”
She moved ever so slightly so she could look him in the face. She didn't know what to expect while gazing in his eyes, maybe some kind of reprimanding or disappointment, and found none of those things. He offered a small smile to her.
“I am sorry for all this,” Geraldine said to him. Her upbringing prevented her from doing anything other than apologize for making a scene. Her voice felt strange to her, too hoarse, so she tried clearing her throat a bit.
“You do not have to apologize to me,” the Sheriff was quick to reassure her. He glanced toward the Johnson's house and his expression changed. It was clear what was on his mind in those moments. He contemplated returning to that house.
Geraldine felt the warmth spread through her body, knowing he wished to defend her honor, on the other hand, she didn't want to create additional incidents, so she needed to distract him. And herself as well, since her heart was beating erratically. Now that she was starting to calm down from her fight with Susannah, all these other feelings and notions started to take its place. She was very much aware the Sheriff was still holding her tight against his body.
What am I to do? Being held by him in such manner did something to her. It was as if a dam broke inside of her. All these emotions she tried so hard to repress came rushing out, and she was completely overwhelmed by them.
“I completely ruined your shirt,” she informed him, looking at the big water stain created by her tears, that was coincidentally over his heart.
He turned toward her. The Sheriff didn't even spare it a glance, his eyes were only on her. He shrugged, wiping the remnants of tears from her face.
I must look ghastly, she worried. She knew how she looked like after crying. With a runny nose, big, puffy, red eyes. It confused her to no end he looked at her as if she was the only thing that mattered in this world, despite all that. “It wouldn't be the first shirt of mine you ruined,” he replied in all seriousness although he winked at the end and Geraldine chuckled, despite herself.
Very slowly, tenderly, the Sheriff petted her cheek. “Does it hurt?”
With him doing the things he did, acting the way he did, Geraldine couldn't care less about anything else. There was no care in her world or ache for that matter. “No,” she replied honestly.
The only thing that was actually hurt was her pride, nothing more. Any physical pain she felt was long gone, thanks to the Sheriff. “Are you all right?” He insisted.
“I will be,” she said without a thought and regretted it instantly. His frown was so deep she was worried he was about to let her go and march right back inside and fight.
Normally, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. In this circumstance, when her future depended on the good grace of Mr. Johnson, Geraldine did not want to ruffle any feathers, even indirectly. “Can we please leave this place,” Geraldine spoke again, hoping her words would prevent him from acting out. “I cannot stand to be near this house a minute longer.”
“Anything you want,” he replied instantly, and Geraldine sighed in relief.
Looking about, Geraldine discovered, that despite her best wishes, they were causing a scene and on a whole different level. The Johnsons had a large number of people working for them, and it appeared as if they all gathered to watch Geraldine and the Sheriff that day.
And he was still holding her! Will he try to kiss me again? Geraldine turned completely red. Not in front of all these people.
Geraldine tried to move backward. The Sheriff apparently realized all this at the same time she did and released her immediately. “I apologize,” he said, looking a bit awkward for a moment. Geraldine knew exactly how that felt since she was going through it as well.
“It's quite all right,” she muttered back. Suddenly, she didn't know what to do with herself or how to act for that matter.
Miraculously, their horse appeared at their side. Fergus Johnson may be a horrible man yet the people who worked for him were immaculate and the best in their fields of expertise.
They mounted Duke, first Geraldine and then the Sheriff.
It was getting easier for her to breathe as they put distance between them and the Johnson’s estate. She simply couldn't stop thinking about Susannah and her hateful words. Geraldine couldn't understand why the other girl resented her that much. She always tried her best to be pleasant to everybody.
In the end, maybe it didn't even matter. Geraldine should accept the things as they were and let go of everything else. Move on with her life. She had far more pressing concerns to deal with than stressing over Susannah and her delusions. Of course, all that was easier said than done.
While they rode, Geraldine didn't even question where they were going. As long as I am not inside that house, facing Susannah, I don't care where we're going. She trusted the Sheriff completely.
A part of her wanted to ask if he really meant what he said to her while she was distressed but held her tongue, afraid those were simple phrases he used to soothe her since she was so out of balance. These were lines she used many times in the past with her mother. And they were very familiar to her. “Thank you,” she heard herself say, “For...” For calming me during my weakest moment. “For earlier.”
“Don't mention it. It was my pleasure, to be there for you when needed.” You and me both. “That girl is really something… special.”
Geraldine simply sighed. “If you don't mind, I would prefer not to talk about her right now,” or ever. She was rather mad at Susannah and herself alike.
“Of course. I'm just sorry you missed my conversation with Mr. Johnson.”
That piqued Geraldine's interest and made her put aside all her other thoughts. “Was it that entertaining?”
“I wo
uldn't call it that. That man is really something special, infuriating.”
“Like father like daughter.”
The Sheriff laughed without actual humor. “That was my take on things, as well.”
“So?” She prompted, feeling rather curious all of a sudden. “Did he confess?” She asked even though she seriously doubted. “Did he say something helpful? Did you make him feel uncomfortable?”
“Whoa, slow down.” Duke immediately stopped. “I wasn't talking to you, Duke,” the Sheriff said, only slightly annoyed. On the other hand, Geraldine was highly amused as the Sheriff instructed the horse to start walking again.
“Well?” Geraldine prompted since the Sheriff failed to answer fast enough.
“Yes, I did manage to make myself a thorn in his side.”
The Sheriff's Rebellious Bride (Historical Western Romance) Page 23