Love’s Battle Won (The Rileys of Misty Creek Series) (A Western Romance Story)

by Elliee Atkinson

  “Stars!” Nathan said suddenly, pointing up at the sky, and Serena’s heart lifted. She had Nathan and nothing else mattered.

  “Yes, darling, stars! Ever so many of them too!” She took his tiny hand and kissed it. Even as she did that, something inside of her stirred. She was not going to let Patsy or Trent get hold of her ranch…or sell it to anyone.

  Patsy walked behind her, all the way back to the cottage, and when Serena was in her room, she banged on the door. “I have a proposition for you, Serena,” Patsy said when Serena opened the door.

  “What is it?” Serena asked.

  “Do you want to keep this job?” A cunning look crept into her eyes. “After all, you have to feed and clothe Nathan. You really need this job very badly.”

  “There are other places to work, Patsy,” Serena said.

  “If you leave before the wedding, Mrs. Riley won’t give you a letter of reference and you can kiss any prospect of a job goodbye,” Patsy replied.

  “Look, I’m tired. What do you want of me?” Serena asked.

  “One signature is all I want,” Patsy replied, and Serena stiffened.

  “My signature? On what?”

  “The ownership papers of Sweet Haven Ranch.”

  “I gave the ranch away – to my father’s friend…because I couldn’t look after it,” Serena replied, feigning ignorance of Patsy’s connection to Trent.

  “Ah well, I have been approached by that friend to get you to sign the papers stating that the property now belongs to him…”

  “Why? He didn’t require my signature before,” Serena said.

  “You ran away from your ranch, but the handing over was never official. Your signature is required…in case the ranch has to be sold at some point.”

  “Oh,” Serena said, wondering how she would tackle this situation.

  “If you sign, I will leave and go away. You can be free to do as you please and I won’t be around to tell Mrs. Riley any stories about you.”

  “I see. And where are these papers that you speak of?”

  “With me, of course!” Patsy announced proudly, and Serena realized that the girl was more foolish than she thought.

  “I must read through what I am signing,” Serena said.

  Patsy’s hackles rose. “Do you take me for a fool, Serena?” she asked, her voice louder than she realized.

  “Hush, don’t shout. You’ll wake Nathan.”

  “Sign the papers or I will do more than just wake Nathan. I will make sure you never see him again!”

  “Bring them to me,” Serena said calmly, and she returned to her room and rummaged through her bag. One thing she had brought with her from Sweet Haven was a beautiful pair of silver candlesticks. She retrieved them from the bag and then went out of her room, closing the door firmly behind her.

  “Where are you going?” Patsy shouted, hurrying back with the document.

  “Nowhere,” Serena replied. “I was merely shutting the door behind me so that Nathan isn’t disturbed by our voices.”

  “What are those?” Patsy asked, pointing at the candlesticks.

  “Oh,” Serena said, looking lovingly at them. “They are the candlesticks that stood on the mantelpiece in the living room at Sweet Haven. Please do me a favor and replace them for me. They really should remain there rather than stay in my bag.”

  “Certainly,” Patsy said, reaching out for them. When she was close enough, Serena firmly brought one of them down on the side of her head. She took another swipe at Patsy’s head to make sure she was unconscious, and then snatched the paper from her hand. She put the deed to her ranch at the bottom of her bag, and then packed the rest of her things quickly, including the candlesticks. Then she woke Nathan, picked him up, and ran out of the cottage, keeping to the shadows.

  She went to the stables, and took one of the horses.

  “Who goes there?” the stable hand asked.

  “It’s me – Serena. Please tell Mister Jeremiah that I am borrowing a horse and will return it. I have been called away because my sister has taken very ill.”

  The stable hand was too sleepy to question the veracity of Serena’s story, so he grunted, turned over, and went back to sleep. Serena hoisted Nathan onto the horse and sprang up after him; taking off at great speed and not daring to look back. She knew that Trent and Patsy would be coming after her the moment the latter regained consciousness, and that thought spurred her forward with greater resolve. She had to find a place to hide out until Jasper found Daniel, and then they both could return to Sweet Haven together.

  She rode like the wind, her mind working frantically to come up with a place where she could take refuge. As if in answer, she saw the outline of a church looming in front of her. Perched on a hill, the building looked remote and yet comforting. As she drew closer to it, her heart beat faster. This was not the church that the Rileys, or even her own family, had attended. It was altogether unfamiliar, therefore Serena allowed herself to hope that she could throw herself on the mercy of the priest and take refuge there until Daniel returned.

  The horse struggled up the hill, almost losing its balance on loose clods of earth, and Serena found herself praying even more fervently. When they were finally on even land and looking up at the building, Serena rode to the back to look for any signs of life.

  “Please…is anyone here?” Serena called softly, rapping at the door. Her gentle rapping turned to a frenzied thumping as she grew more desperate to find help inside.

  When she heard footsteps on the stone floor inside, Serena held her breath and hugged Nathan closer.

  “Mama,” Nathan said. “I want Jasper.”

  Serena gasped. “Why Jasper, darling? Mama’s here.”

  “Jasper said he keep Mama safe,” Nathan lisped and Serena stifled a sob.

  “Who is it?” a voice asked.

  “I’m a woman – alone…with a child…in need of help.”

  “What kind of help?”

  “Shelter… A place to stay, please. I beg you…” Serena pleaded, her voice faltering.

  She heard the heavy doors creak open and the welcome light of a lamp floated before her eyes for a minute.

  “Where are you from?” the voice asked, and Serena strained her eyes to see past the lamplight to the bearer of the lamp.

  “I will tell you everything, but first, my child needs some food, water and a bed…please.” Serena took a deep breath. “And please – may I see your face?”

  The bearer of the lamp held the light up to her face and Serena looked relieved. The voice belonged to a portly woman of indeterminate age.

  “Come in,” the woman said and backed inside, beckoning to Serena to enter. “I’m Laura. What is your name?”

  “If I tell you, please promise that you won’t reveal it to anyone,” Serena replied.

  “Why? Are you running from the law?”

  “Quite the contrary,” Serena answered. “I’m running from two law breakers who are trying to steal the last thing on earth that belongs to me – my ranch.”

  The woman shook her head disapprovingly at her. “The last thing on earth that belongs to you is in your arms, woman,” she said.

  Serena sighed. “You’re right, and I accept that. But I have lost everything – my parents, my husband, who has not returned for the last three years…and my property.”

  “You are not making any sense at all,” Laura remarked. “I’ll give you a bed. Try to get some sleep and we will talk in the morning.”

  “Thank you,” Serena answered, following Laura, who led her to a room at the back and pointed to a bed.

  “Lie down,” she said. “In the morning you may introduce yourself to me and tell me what brought you here at this hour.”

  “Thank you,” Serena said gratefully.

  Laura returned a few minutes later carrying a tray.

  “Here’s some bread and warm milk.”

  Serena accepted the food gratefully.

  “I’m Serena,” she said as she fed
Nathan the bread dipped in milk. “Have I wandered far from Misty Creek? This is unfamiliar territory to me.”

  “Go to sleep now,” Laura said. “And don’t worry. You may be far from home, but you are safe here. God brought you to this church for a reason.”

  Serena held Nathan close and tried to sleep, but though she dozed fitfully, deep rest eluded her. Thus, when the dawn sun broke through the clouds, Serena threw back the covers and woke Nathan. Laura entered a short time later, as though she had been waiting for Serena to awaken.

  “Go that way if you want to wash,” Laura said.

  “Thank you,” Serena said.

  “When you are ready, we will have breakfast and we can talk.”

  Serena nodded and took Nathan off to wash and change. On the way back, she took a good look around. The church had rooms at the back and she had slept in one of them. Laura, it appeared, occupied one of the others, and a young girl called Claudia was in the third. The fourth room was a kitchen with a fire blazing and a stone stove with two pots on it.

  “Tell me all about yourself,” Laura said, laying plates down on a wooden table.

  Serena sighed. “I lived in Sweet Haven ranch in Misty Creek,” she began, and told Laura and Claudia her story.

  “What was your husband’s name?” Claudia asked.

  “Daniel,” Serena replied.

  “And he went off gold prospecting to North Carolina?”

  “That’s what he did,” Serena replied. “Three years ago.”

  “And you’ve been waiting all these years for him to return?” Laura asked, aghast. “There are some who would have remarried for security.”

  Serena looked lovingly at Nathan. “I don’t have that luxury. And I would rather wait for my husband to return than marry someone else. My son needs his father back.”

  “How are you sure that he will return?” Claudia asked.

  “I have faith in Daniel’s love for me,” Serena replied, thinking guiltily of how she had betrayed him by allowing and encouraging Jasper’s advances.

  “But what if, despite his love for you, something has happened to keep him from returning?” Laura asked.

  “What could possibly keep a husband away from his wife?” Serena asked.

  “My child,” Laura said gently. “You must be in denial. Gold prospecting in North Carolina – why, that’s dangerous business. If he hasn’t returned in three years, chances are good that he isn’t ever going to come back…because he can’t.”

  “You mean he has found someone else to love? Another wife? Are you saying he has forgotten Nathan and me?” Serena asked, injured.

  “Serena,” Claudia said, gently, “God has definitely brought you here for a purpose. The fact is, I was also married to a man who went to North Carolina. He was killed there. I waited too. For four years. My husband died fighting a rival group of men who took all the gold he had found. That happens, you know. It’s not safe, and it’s not a friendly business.”

  Serena looked away. “I have thought about such a scenario when I lay awake at night, unable to sleep, but I can’t believe that it will happen to me. I have a lead now. A man that my husband went with is supposed to be living in a town near Misty Creek. All I need to do is locate him and then I will know when Daniel is to return.”

  “I see,” Laura said. “I wish you luck.”

  Serena wrung her hands. “Laura, I need a place to stay. I can cook – really well, actually. I can do any work at all. Could you allow Nathan and me to stay? I have nowhere to go.”

  “Well,” Laura said, “There are some big houses not too far from here. Perhaps you can go looking for work there.”

  “I would…but I would also be afraid of being found…by the man who is trying to harm me and take my property.”

  “Serena,” Laura scolded, “You have to be strong. You must go back and reclaim your home and ranch. I don’t believe that worldly goods bring any happiness, but you need to give your son a future, and to have your ranch back would be a good thing.”

  “I need protection, Laura, and I don’t have it. I can return to my home, but the man I told you of would come back to threaten my safety and my virtue.”

  “I have no home either,” Claudia said. “I have been living here for almost a year. I don’t mind coming with you if you will take me to your ranch.”

  Laura smiled. “Yes, that’s a good idea!” she said.

  “What about you, Laura, do you live alone here in this church?”

  “My husband and I are the caretakers,” Laura replied.

  “Where is he? Your husband?” Serena asked.

  “He has gone to help with the harvest at the Darrot’s farm.”

  “Clive and Hilda Darrot?” Serena asked.

  “No. They passed on. This is Freddie and Matilda Darrot I refer to. But how do you know Clive and Hilda Darrot?” Laura asked.

  “They were good friends of my parents. They visited Sweet Haven on a few occasions.”

  “Then we could find you work on their farm,” Laura said.

  “I think I should also consider going to my own ranch with Claudia.”

  “Two women against a man who is as vile as you say he is? I am not entirely sure it’s a good idea,” Laura said.

  Serena sighed. “I am confused right now. I don’t know which way to turn.”

  “You came here looking for sanctuary. If you had seen your face last night. You were so scared,” Laura remarked. “Things will improve.”

  “I feel so much braver this morning, for having met you both,” Serena admitted.

  “Then, you stay a while until we think of a solution to your problem. You can also have a chat with Reverend Custer when he comes to take service here.”

  “Does he not live in a cottage at the back of the church as most Reverends do?” Serena asked curiously.

  “No. He found it too lonely. He isn’t married, you see,” Laura explained.

  “Oh, I see,” Serena said.

  “But he has a sister who keeps house for him. People are always trying to match-make for the two of them – introducing Reverend Custer to charming single women, and Lily Custer to all the eligible bachelors they can think of.”

  Serena laughed. Her cares slipped away for a while as she sat at the table, listening to the women gossiping about the townsfolk. Nathan played at her feet with some wooden ladles that Laura had given him.

  “So, should I take you to the Darrot’s farm?” Laura asked.

  Serena remembered the days when Clive and Hilda Darrot would call on her parents at Sweet Haven, and she felt her spirits lift a little.

  “I know it will seem awkward to be asking for work when you all moved in the same social circles once upon a time,” Laura continued. “But it will be just for a while – ‘til we think of how we should help you reclaim your property.”

  “Of course,” Serena answered. She rubbed her eyes. “What day is it today? I’ve lost track.”

  “It’s Saturday. Tomorrow is Sunday,” Laura replied. “Reverend Custer will come to take the service here, so you can meet him. I have to go to the Darrot’s farm today to collect the milk, eggs and bread that they donate to the church, so you could come with me.”

  “I will go and freshen up, in that case,” Serena said.

  CHAPTER TEN

  RECLAIMING LIFE

  RECLAIMING LIFE

  “This is Serena,” Laura said as she introduced her to Matilda Darrot. “She has fallen on hard times and requires employment.”

  “What work can you do?” Matilda asked Serena kindly.

  “Absolutely anything,” Serena replied. “I can cook, clean and wash. I can even work in the fields.”

  “Oh, we won’t need you to work in the fields,” Matilda laughed. “We could do with someone to cook and clean, though.”

  “I will be happy to do that for you,” Serena replied, “just as long as I can keep my son with me. He’s no bother at all.”

  “Let’s give you a try then,” Matild
a said. “We are having a cattle show one week from now, and we usually serve a meal to the people who visit. That will be one big event for you to handle. Otherwise, just a couple of hours’ work every morning will do just fine.”

  Serena nodded and smiled.

  “It’s only until she finds a way to reclaim her property,” Laura interjected.

  “Your property?”

  Serena began to explain her predicament to Matilda, and at the end of the story she had won another ally. “Freddie and I will do all we can to help you, Serena,” Matilda reassured her.

  The next day, Laura woke her early. “Serena! Wake up! Reverend Custer will be here in a short while and we need to get the church clean and help put out the hymnals and prayer books.”

  Serena sprang out of her bed, and hurriedly washed and dressed Nathan and herself.

  “This is Serena,” Laura said, pushing Serena forward as Reverend Custer came in.

  “Very nice to meet you, Serena, though I wish it had been under happier circumstances. I would love to hear your story after service.”

  “Certainly,” Serena said, returning to Laura’s side and helping her and Claudia neatly place the hymnals and prayer books on each pew. The three women sat together for the service, with Nathan between Serena and Claudia, and Serena felt a sense of peace envelop her.

  “Serena,” Reverend Custer said, coming up to her after the service had ended and people were chatting by the entrance. “There’s a man asking to meet you. He spotted you during the service and asked me if your name was Serena Snowdon.”

  Serena desperately looked around for some way of escape, thinking it was Trent who had found her.

  “What’s the matter?” Reverend Custer asked her.

  “What is the man’s name, Reverend Custer?” she asked.

  “Martin, I believe,” he replied, and Serena felt her heart hammer against her chest.

  “Oh, Reverend Custer!” Serena exclaimed. “I have heard about this man. He was the one who was with my husband in North Carolina!”

  “Follow me,” Reverend Custer said, and led Serena over to one of the pews, where a man sat watching her as she approached.

  On closer inspection, Serena saw that he had lost a leg and that his face was scarred. As Serena and Reverend Custer reached his pew, he leaned on a crutch and stood.