An Unexpected Dilemma Bride_Family of Love Series_A Western Romance Story

by Elliee Atkinson

  He grunted. Vacation. So much for that.

  He quickly prayed that it would be a nice day for the first day of the county fair. He wondered how many people would be attending. He hadn’t seen most of the people in Wickenburg for many years. They all knew him from when he was a much younger man and would visit with his father. He doubted many of them would recognize him.

  Five minutes later, Nate was coming through the doorway. “No coffee yet? You’re slacking, my friend. I expected that to be ready for me by now.”

  Joshua raised his eyebrows. “I apologize. I didn’t know you thought I was a miracle worker.”

  Both men laughed.

  “I’ll throw some eggs in a pan. We can at least have some eggs and toast.”

  Joshua chuckled. “That sounds good. I guess both of us are going to have to search for what we need. If there are no eggs in here, you gotta go out to the chicken coop.”

  “This is beginning to sound like a whole lot of work I didn’t sign up for.”

  Joshua could hear the amusement in Nate’s voice. He was glad the man was there to assist him in solving the case. Nate was a smart man, a good friend, and Joshua liked him. “You seem to know me pretty well, Nate. You’ve been keeping up with my work?’

  “Yeah ever since we worked our last case, I’ve been keeping an eye on your achievements. You’re a brilliant man and that means a lot in our field. I’d like to think I work like you do, and I’m hoping that is proven true as we work this one.”

  “Wow. Thank you, Nate. That’s a compliment.” Nate nodded at Joshua. They were both opening and closing cabinet doors, taking out necessary items needed.

  Nate chuckled and slapped Joshua gently on the arm. “Take a look,” he said, pointing above the icebox. A long basket hung down. It was filled with eggs. Both men laughed.

  “Well, that was easy. Okay, now where’s a pan?” Nate was mumbling to himself as he checked a few more cabinets, muttering until he found the pans. He pulled out a pot and handed it to Joshua. “You need this for the coffee?”

  Joshua took it from him and began fixing the coffee.

  “This is going to be an exciting day. A party is the best way to meet new people. I know you’ve got people here who already know you, Joshua, but I will be meeting all of them for the first time. That might make things a little easier for us.”

  “Oh? How’s that?” Joshua thought he knew the direction Nate was taking with this conversation, but he didn’t want to step on Nate’s toes.

  “Because your past with them might taint what you think of their possible involvement, should it come to that. I would be completely objective.”

  “I would never let my past with someone, or even a present relationship, hinder my ability to see the truth,” Joshua said, gently.

  Nate nodded. “Oh, I know. I was merely mentioning that we will both be good for this case in our own way.”

  Joshua smiled. “Of course we will. I’m glad you’re here, Nate. Thank you for working the case with me.”

  “It’s too bad it had to happen on your vacation, though,” Nate said. “I probably wouldn’t be here if this hadn’t happened. But still, it’s ruined your down time.”

  Joshua shrugged.

  He was glad to be with his uncle and aunt, even if something had turned it into a case. He didn’t mind helping people fix their problems. He enjoyed making people’s lives easier. However, a vacation would truly have been nice. He wasn’t going to complain. It was the way his life was.

  His mind turned back to the evening he’d spent with Samuel and Nate. Samuel had returned to try to convince his wife to come home. Failing that, he sat with Joshua and they talked for a while, until Joshua could take no more and had to sleep. Nate had headed back to the Inn already. He and Samuel had stayed up for about another half hour, with Samuel telling him various stories about where he and his wife had visited along the East Coast.

  Nate had left fairly abruptly, showing his disinterest in the man’s stories. After he’d closed the door behind him, Samuel said, “Well, he’s got a bug up his bum.”

  Joshua didn’t respond. He had given Samuel another half hour of his time only to analyze him, to get to know him, observe him, to decide whether he needed to ask him where he had been on the night of the murder.

  “I feel grungy from sleeping on that couch in the same clothes I wore yesterday,” Joshua said as he drank his coffee. The hot liquid tasted wonderful and the aroma awakened him fully. He was ready to eat the scrambled eggs Nate had made. “I can’t stand it much longer. I gotta get cleaned up. I’m not going to the fair looking like this.”

  “I understand. I’d like to bathe, too, beforehand. I don’t want people to think I stink. Can’t question people when they can’t breathe because ya smell bad.”

  Joshua laughed. “Yes, that’s a good point, too.”

  Hours later, Joshua, Nate and the women arrived in town, where most of the people were milling about, eating a variety of snacks and sipping lemonade. There were games for children and adults, and lots of laughing and talking.

  Samuel was among the guests. There were quite a few people already there, which surprised Joshua. He looked for his uncle. He spotted him and lifted one hand in greeting. Adam responded and waved them over.

  He turned to see that Laura and Cynthia sitting off to the side on a small white stone bench. Cynthia was holding her friend’s hand and speaking very quietly and quickly. Laura was looking at the ground. Sometimes, she nodded. Cynthia put her arm around Laura’s shoulders, tilting her head so their foreheads touched. Laura closed her eyes.

  Laura’s sadness weighed on Joshua’s heart, but he was determined not to let it show. It was inappropriate.

  Alice ran up to her husband and gave him a hug.

  “Are you enjoying the party, nephew? I know how much you love a good party.” Adam was obviously being sarcastic, a wide smile on his face.

  “Oh? You know me better than I know myself then.” He gave his uncle a returning smile and looked down at Alice. “I am enjoying the fair. I only just got here though. Give it time.”

  They all laughed.

  “You don’t like parties, Joshua?” Nate asked. “Now that I wouldn’t have guessed.”

  Joshua shrugged. “It’s just a thing. Uncle Adam, do you know those people over there? I think I remember them.”

  “That is Mark. And his wife, Molly. That’s my best friend. I’m sure you remember him from when you were young. He is always at the house.”

  Joshua nodded. “Yeah, I do remember him. He’s a good guy, from what I recall. I think he was friends with my dad, too, wasn’t he?”

  “Probably. He knew us all. We’ve always been real close. We’ve been friends for so many years; I can’t remember when we weren’t.”

  Joshua scanned the crowd. He watched as Cynthia stood and left Laura sitting on the bench. Cynthia headed toward Samuel, who was watching her approach with a sneer on his face. Joshua could tell he really didn’t want her to come over.

  He moved his eyes back to Laura. She was watching as Cynthia and Samuel talked. He looked back at Cynthia and Samuel. Cynthia was speaking urgently, apparently pleading with Samuel about something. The possibility that Laura might move in with them temporarily to help her through the grieving process ran through Joshua’s mind. It made him uncomfortable. He would much rather the woman came to stay with the Collins’. He was sure his aunt and uncle wouldn’t mind. He would just stay at the Inn so they could have more room.

  He shook his head.

  “Penny for your thoughts, Joshua?” Alice asked. “You look like you are distraught about something.”

  He looked down at her. “A penny is too much for my thoughts, Aunt Alice.”

  She laughed. She had noticed him watching Cynthia. She wondered what that was all about. She noticed that Samuel had been staring at the women, too.

  ”I was thinking it looks like Cynthia is trying to get Laura to go stay with them while she recovers,” h
e said finally.

  “You don’t like that plan?”

  “I’m not sure. I… I don’t know if it would be a good idea for her to be in their house. They don’t seem to get along very well and I know that wouldn’t be a good environment for someone going through what she’s going through. From all accounts, she and James had a good marriage. She wouldn’t want to be somewhere where a husband and wife are always arguing.”

  Alice glanced over to where Samuel and Cynthia were talking. She looked back at him. “I think you’re probably right, Joshua,” she said resignedly. “But what can we do? It’s her decision and her life.”

  Joshua sighed, looking back at Laura. “I know.”

  Alice sat down next to him on the bench. “You seem like you are more invested in this than would be expected.”

  He just looked at her.

  “You are attracted to Laura?”

  Joshua blushed. “I can’t deny to that. She lost her husband a few days ago and I’m trying to help Adam figure out how. This is no time for childish crushes.”

  Alice gave him a gentle look. “You are a good man, Joshua. If Laura was ever to seek someone to protect her, you would be a good candidate.”

  “Thank you, Alice. However, like I said, that’s just not appropriate. I will keep my heart separate from this.”

  “Many, many women have wanted to be with you, Joshua. I think if you finally have feelings for someone, you shouldn’t let them go. It might not be appropriate right now. I know you are still a virtual stranger to her. But I know her. You would be good for her.”

  Joshua didn’t know what to say. He wanted to keep his feelings neutral. Every glance at Laura told him he wouldn’t be able to now.

  “Maybe Samuel will keep his temper down while Laura is there. Out of respect for her. He likes her.”

  “Yes, he’s said as much. But I think he has a hard time controlling his temper with Cynthia.”

  Alice snickered. “Who wouldn’t? Do you think you and Adam can figure this out?”

  “I hope so. For Laura’s sake, if for any reason.”

  “So do you think that maybe Samuel did it because he was jealous of Cynthia and James? He thought they were having an affair maybe?”

  Joshua shrugged. “I don’t know. He seems decent sometimes. But when it comes to his wife, he just gets angry. Angrier than I’ve seen a man over a woman. I don’t think Laura did it. He has no colleagues who hated him, according to her, but I guess it could have been a jealous writer. Laura says he did not have competitors, but writing is a talent and people are willing to kill over words. Right now, all I know is that it must be someone close enough to the Youngbloods to get into their home and poison him.”

  “Maybe he was poisoned somewhere else?”

  Joshua shook his head. “Laura didn’t mention any visitors. They were at the house most of the day, except when they went out to do a chore on the ranch. She said there was a broken fence, but she didn’t see him go out to fix it. He was taking a day off, I guess.”

  Joshua wished he’d had a chance to take a day off.

  “I hate to say it, but if it happened there, it almost sounds like no one else could have done it except her. But I don’t believe that. Do you?”

  Joshua shook his head. “No. It would take a lot to convince me that she was guilty of this crime.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  JOSHUA TALKS WITH LAURA

  JOSHUA TALKS WITH LAURA

  Joshua found the fair to be a lot of fun. Everyone was smiling, happy, and he got to meet nearly everyone in town. The only disappointment was that he left not having any new ideas as to who might have had access to or wanted to kill Mr. Youngblood. No one had anything bad to say about him. Joshua knew, though, that after what happened, anyone who harbored ill will against Mr. Youngblood wouldn’t speak about it now. It would make them a suspect.

  Joshua saw Laura walking with Cynthia and Samuel and hurried to catch up with them. He tapped her arm and she turned to look up at him. “Would you walk with me, Laura? I promise not to ask you a bunch of questions. I know Adam has already done that.”

  Laura smiled softly, though the smile didn’t reach her eyes. He didn’t expect it to; she was just being polite. She nodded.

  “I’ll be with you two in a little while, Cynthia.”

  Cynthia nodded, giving Joshua a grateful but cautious look. Joshua and Laura walked in the direction Joshua had come from, back toward the fair grounds. He watched as the vendors took down their booths and two young men climbed up on poles to remove the banners and balloons.

  “They seem in a hurry to take everything down,” he remarked.

  Laura looked up at the men and nodded. “Yes, sometimes the wind comes through this valley and it makes a terrible mess if there’s anything left up. Plus, they like to give the balloons to all the children in town.”

  “That’s very nice of them.”

  “I think so, too.” They walked in silence for a moment. “So are you going to interrogate me, Mr. Crawford?”

  “Please, call me Joshua.”

  “Only if you call me Laura.”

  Joshua smiled. “Of course.”

  “I’m surprised that you don’t want to interrogate me. I would think you have plenty of questions for me.”

  Joshua shook his head. “No, I think Adam should be the one doing that. This is his town. Why would you think I have questions?”

  Laura looked up at him. “Why else would you ask me to walk with you? We don’t know each other very well.”

  “I’d like to get to know you better, Laura. It will help me help Adam. I want to be your friend and for you to feel comfortable talking to me. If there’s anything you need to say, anything you need to get off your mind, I can help.”

  Joshua watched her face. He was thinking about the fight Cynthia had said Laura and James had the night before he died. Surely if it was relevant, Laura would mention it? Or was she afraid to because it would make her look like she had a reason to kill James. Even if she told him about it and told him it was a terrible fight, he still wouldn’t believe she had killed her husband. He would never believe that.

  “Cynthia has been helping me get through this.”

  “I’m glad you have someone. Samuel told me that you and Cynthia lived close to each other when you were young?”

  “Yes, we lived in East Wickenburg, a section of the city that has houses set closer together than these houses with lots of land and fields. We did everything together.”

  “What do you think of Samuel? It doesn’t seem that he gets along with his wife very well.” He glanced at her to see her reaction. Her face hardened and she didn’t look back at him.

  “He is her husband. I can’t do anything about that.”

  “Do you know why she married him?”

  “He is a jealous hornswoggler. I don’t think he really loves Cynthia at all. He is often very mean to her.”

  “I see. Why do you think he’s jealous? Is she unfaithful to him? Or is he unfaithful to her?”

  Joshua watched Laura frown. “I don’t know. I don’t think Cynthia has been unfaithful.” She tilted her head toward Joshua and spoke softly, as if Cynthia would hear her. “What other man would put up with that?”

  Joshua had to laugh.

  “As for him. I don’t know about that either. He’s a… strong man. Handsome, I suppose. But I don’t think he has the temperament to deal with two women. He’d probably be afraid to end up with another Cynthia.”

  Joshua laughed again. “For being her closest friend, you don’t speak too highly of her.”

  Laura raised her eyebrows. “I love that woman. But she can be hard headed and he’s got a short temper.”

  “I was wondering if he might be responsible for your husband’s death. Do you think he’s capable of that?”

  Laura looked up at him in surprise. “Samuel may not be the most pleasant of men, a drunken rat bag, actually, but I can’t see him taking a life. What would be the moti
ve? They always got along well when we were all together.”

  “They were friends?”

  “If Samuel has any friends, I don’t know who they are. He has a terrible personality. But… my husband tolerated him. That’s all he could do.”

  Joshua nodded. “I noticed that Samuel is not the most pleasant of men.”

  “I don’t know of any reason he would want to harm James... James is… was a patient man. He was everyone’s friend. He was generous to a fault. A very kind and gentle husband, but strong and brave. I was always safe when he was with me, no matter where I was. I worried about nothing. I was never stressed. He was a faithful, loving husband. I’ll never find another man who can love me like he did.”

  Joshua didn’t respond to that. He wanted to offer her another option, but it was the furthest thing from appropriate. He placed one hand over the one she had wrapped around his elbow and patted it softly. “Have you given any thought to who might be responsible?”

  The thought came to mind that the poison may have been ingested on purpose, but from what he was being told, suicide was not something James would have considered. He was happy with his beautiful wife and home.

  “James had no enemies,” Laura said bluntly, squeezing his arm roughly. He wanted to pull his arm away, but knew that would not be wise. She was a woman in pain and he wanted to give her comfort. A tight squeeze wasn’t going to damage him permanently.

  “Well, Cynthia’s unhappy union with Samuel could have had something to do with it. I know Samuel was jealous of James. At least a little.”

  Laura looked up at him. “Jealous? I never thought he acted jealous.”

  “He hid it well.”

  Laura shook her head.

  “Why do you suppose she chose a man like him?” Joshua asked.

  “It was an arrangement made by their parents when they were just babies. She didn’t meet Samuel until a week before he came for the wedding.”