Her Fearless Love_Seeing Ranch Mail Order Bride

by Florence Linnington

  “What other things?” she asked.

  Again, he hesitated. “Never mind.”

  Her inhale hurt. “No. Please do not tell me ‘never mind.’ What are you really worried about?”

  Steve looked at his boots. “About your safety, Bonnie. That’s all.”

  “But you said ‘other things.’ Meaning something other than the dangerous men.”

  “I’m worried about you in general, all right?” Steve lifted his face, but she couldn’t see his eyes in the poor light. “I worry about you getting lost in the woods while you’re looking for kindling or whatnot. I worry about you getting ill and the doctor not getting here in time. I just… worry.”

  “Oh.” Bonnie’s shoulders relaxed, and her arms hung down at her sides. It was a touching monologue, but Bonnie did not completely believe it.

  Was Steve hiding something from her?

  Bonnie turned swiftly away, choosing to look at the first twinkling of stars instead of at him. She did not want to believe that the man she would soon marry kept any secrets.

  “Bonnie?”

  “I am fine,” she said, not turning around. “I worry as well. The whole time you were gone, I thought I would faint from anxiety.”

  “I suppose that’s just…” Steve cleared his throat. “Well, I suppose that’s just what love does to people.”

  Bonnie smiled, and her heart did a flip. When she turned back around, Steve’s silhouette against the rock face made her smile even wider.

  “Yes,” she agreed, “That is what love does.”

  “Come here.” Steve reached his arms out to Bonnie, and she went right into them, burying her face in his shoulder.

  “This Sunday, right?” Bonnie asked Steve. That day was only a few days away.

  “Yes,” he answered. “This Sunday, we’ll marry.”

  Bonnie closed her eyes, losing herself in his embrace.

  17

  17. Bonnie

  Chapter seventeen

  Bonnie looked at Steve as they entered Whiteridge, and he gave her what seemed to be an encouraging smile, though she wasn’t sure what it was for. He’d been quiet that morning at breakfast, and after the miners were dismissed early from work for the meeting with the sheriff. He’d arrived home and had scarcely said more than three words.

  Something weighed on him, she was sure, but when she had asked if all was well, he’d quickly answered in the affirmative. She’d press more later perhaps, but right now they had a meeting to attend.

  From one quick glance at the crowd gathered in the church’s yard, Bonnie guessed that more people had come to hear Sheriff Ross speak than who showed up to church on any given Sunday. Nervous energy filled the space, and as Bonnie moved along the edge of the group, she caught snippets of conversations.

  “...could have been anyone…”

  “What can you expect, all these men clumped together in one place? We need a sheriff of our own.”

  “Jimmy won’t be walking to school on his own.”

  Near the church, Thea and Jenny stood together, their three children in the grass nearby. The older two children played a game of jacks while Aria ripped apart a leaf.

  “I am going to speak with the women,” Bonnie told Steve, inclining her head in her friends’ direction.

  He nodded. “I’ll be about.”

  “Bonnie,” Jenny called, catching sight of her and waving her over.

  “Good afternoon,” Bonnie said as she approached and swept her gaze around the women. She had wondered if Margaret would come to the meeting, and it appeared she had not.

  “Does anyone know how Margaret is doing?” Bonnie asked them in a low voice.

  Thea sighed. “About the same, from what I heard.”

  Jenny clucked and shook her head. “She is free now, in some ways. And in others…”

  “Not?” Bonnie asked.

  “This bandit situation,” Jenny said, casting a look at the children to make sure they weren’t listening, “is about to make me pull my hair out.”

  “There now,” Thea said. “It will all be sorted out. Perhaps Sheriff Ross has some new information that he’ll be sharing today.”

  Jenny shook her head. “I guarantee, he knows about as much as we do. Look at how quick that hunt for the bandits was over.”

  Thea pursed her lips, having run out of things to say.

  “I’m going to take the children into the shop,” Jenny said. “As much as I’d like to stay, I don’t want them hearing any of this. Farrow would have nightmares for days. Tell me what happens?”

  “I’ll give you an update,” Thea promised, “soon as the meeting is over.”

  “Thank you.” Jenny raised her voice. “Peter. Farrow. Let’s go visit Pa at the shop.”

  The children jumped up immediately, and the three of them headed for the general store. Thea scooped Aria up and studied Bonnie.

  “And how are you?” she asked.

  “I am…” Bonnie did not know how to go on. “Not sure.”

  Thea nodded. “It is a trying time. Have you talked any more about when you are marrying?”

  “This Sunday, if all goes according to plan. I mean, if the reverend still visits this week.”

  Thea smoothed some of Aria’s hair. “If it’s not one thing here, it’s always another. I declare, the excitement never stops.”

  “Mm-hmm,” Bonnie murmured.

  Thea’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What is it?”

  “Oh.” Bonnie forced a smile. “Nothing.”

  “I can tell something is the matter.”

  Bonnie sighed and looked around to make sure the rest of the townsfolk were still out of hearing range. “I believe something is bothering Steve, but when I asked, he said it was nothing.”

  “That’s normal. Men have their secrets. Their moods. Just like women.” Thea shrugged. “Sometimes, they aren’t as open about them, though. They like to manage their inner thoughts on their own.”

  Bonnie tugged on her dress sleeves, feeling antsy. “I understand what you are saying, but it does not feel like a typical mood. I fear he is hiding something from me.”

  “What kind of something?” Thea asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

  “I do not know. Perhaps… perhaps something to do with Mr. Hawkins or the bandits.”

  Thea’s lashes fluttered as her gaze fell to the ground. “What makes you think that?”

  “Before all this happened, he was happy. And this has… I don’t know… Changed something.”

  “He did find Mr. Hawkins’ body. That must have shaken him something awful.”

  Bonnie nodded grudgingly. How could she properly explain Steve’s changed demeanor? The man he was while they were alone had to be so different from the person he was when around others.

  “I imagine he needs some time to come to terms with what he saw,” Thea said. “And, like the rest of us, make peace with losing a man who was… not our favorite person. It’s hard to know how to grieve in such a situation.”

  “He wanted to tell me something last night. Something that felt big, but he held back.”

  Thea shrugged. “It could have been about what I mentioned.”

  “I suppose.”

  Thea nodded over Bonnie’s shoulder, and Bonnie turned to find Sheriff Ross standing on the top of church’s steps. On the ground near him, Daniel Zimmerman leaned on his cane.

  From her short time in Whiteridge, Bonnie had gathered that Mr. Zimmerman was something of the town’s unofficial leader. Just as it had no sheriff, Whiteridge still had no mayor. Mr. Zimmerman had been the one to start the town, opening up the mine and enlisting others’ to establish businesses there.

  Sheriff Ross stood where he was, his presence enough to cause the talk in the yard to gradually peter out. When all was quiet, he spoke.

  “Afternoon everyone, and thank you for coming into town today. If you don’t know me, I’m Sheriff Cyrus Ross from Shallow Springs. I’ve already spoken to the settlers in town there, and
in Pathways as well. As you probably know, there was a crime committed here. A man was found shot dead. We’re looking for the perpetrator now, and if anyone has any valuable information, please don’t hesitate to come see me.”

  He paused for effect, and many in the yard looked around, waiting to see if someone might speak up.

  The sheriff went on. “The second matter is that of bandits that have been roving the countryside recently. The group I rounded up to hunt these criminals down, while it did not end in any arrests, gave us some idea of their movements. In a week or two, I’ll be getting together another posse, and we’ll be riding west. This will be a longer trip, and we’ll be meeting up with officials out there. I’ll be taking names for any men who can join. If you can help, I’d much appreciate it.”

  He paused another time and looked around the crowd, then nodded. “I suppose that’s all for now. I’ll be in town for another hour or two if you need to speak with me.”

  Sheriff Ross took a step down the stairs, and a man’s shout stopped him. “That’s it, then? You have no leads on Hawkins’ killer?”

  The sheriff lifted his chin, inspecting the man who had spoken. “Hawkins was robbed and shot. There were no clues that we could find. That’s why I’m asking for folks to come forward if they have any information.”

  There was a tightness in Sheriff Ross’ voice, probably due to annoyance at having to repeat himself. Leaning around a man in front of her, Bonnie caught a look at the man who had spoken up. She thought he looked familiar, but she could not say from where.

  “Do you have any information for us, Mr…?” Sheriff Ross let his sentence hang.

  “Ezra Sonneborn,” the man replied, lifted his chin.

  “Mr. Sonneborn. Please come see me if you have any--”

  “Right,” Mr. Sonneborn interrupted. “I have something to say. And I know there are others who can back me up. It’s about Huebner. I saw him threatening Hawkins. He said he’d make Hawkins pay. Have you looked into that at all?”

  Anger laced Mr. Sonneborn’s words, and by the time he had finished speaking, Bonnie’s chest was so tight she could barely breathe. She swallowed hard, her gaze desperately searching the yard for Steve. She found him standing near Neil, both of them wearing scowls.

  Bonnie’s attention jumped back to Sheriff Ross.

  The sheriff frowned. “Threatening him?”

  “Right in this yard,” Mr. Sonneborn said.

  “That’s right,” a man standing next to Mr. Sonneborn chimed in. “A good lot of us saw him do it.”

  “It was over Mrs. Hawkins,” Wakefield spat loudly. His face was red. “Hawkins was choking the woman. Don’t you act like—”

  “That don’t change the fact that he threatened him,” Mr. Sonneborn yelled at Wakefield.

  An excited murmur went through the crowd, and Bonnie’s heartbeat filled her ears.

  Sheriff Ross took his hat off and pushed his fingers through his hair. “Steve?”

  “That’s not the whole story,” Neil said, taking an angry step forward.

  Suddenly, multiple people were talking at once, their words all mixing together. Bonnie stared at Steve, and her breath came out too fast. What was going on? She knew he had gotten into a scuffle with Mr. Hawkins, but it was as Wakefield said: he was defending Margaret!

  “Enough!” Sheriff Ross shouted, raising his palms for silence. Everyone fell quiet.

  “Steve,” Sheriff Ross said, “I’ll need a word.”

  18

  18. Steve

  Chapter eighteen

  Steve’s body buzzed. His mind buzzed. He held his hands close to his sides while he walked to the hotel, trying to stop them from shaking.

  He should have told the sheriff about the fight from the beginning. Now that the truth was about to come out, he knew how bad it looked.

  Sheriff Ross led the way across the street and to the hotel’s side yard. Right around the corner was the shed, the spot where Steve had found Hawkins’ body. He couldn’t see it, but if he were just to take a few steps more, he would be able to.

  Sheriff Ross turned to look at Steve, his hands on his hips.

  “Sheriff.” It was Wakefield. He’d followed Steve and the sheriff across the street.

  “Give us a few minutes, Briggs,” Sheriff Ross told Wakefield, giving him an even look.

  There was a pregnant pause. Wakefield looked like he would argue, but then he only nodded and went back across the street.

  Steve could feel the eyes of dozens of people on him, but he did his best to ignore their gazes. Instead, he turned his back to them and faced Sheriff Ross. Bonnie was across the street too, no doubt also watching him. What was she thinking? Was she disappointed in him for not sharing this story with the sheriff earlier?

  “What’s this that they’re saying?” Sheriff Ross asked.

  “It’s true.” Steve took a deep breath and nodded. He figured he might as well come out with it all at once. “I saw Hawkins yelling and being rough with his wife while Neil and I were walking back from the general store. He had his hand on her throat, so I did what I hope anyone would have done in that situation and intervened.”

  “And you told him you would make him pay for what he did?”

  Steve’s mouth went dry. He licked his lips, but it didn’t do any good. “I told him that I would make him pay if he hurt Mrs. Hawkins again.”

  Sheriff Ross nodded, his eyes briefly flicking over Steve’s shoulder. Steve didn’t dare turn around. He didn’t want to see all the nosy townspeople who were no doubt casting glances or outright staring.

  “I can’t blame you for what you did,” Sheriff Ross said. “I commend it. And you’re right. Anyone should have done what you did. A marriage is private until it crosses a certain line and people start getting hurt.”

  Sheriff Ross ran his palm over his mouth and sighed. “But, here’s the thing. It just don’t look good. You see that, right? It’s poor timing.”

  “I do see that,” Steve agreed, his gut churning.

  “I don’t have any other suspects.”

  Anger suddenly rose in Steve. “Is that what I am now? A suspect, sheriff?”

  Sheriff Ross’ jaw ticked. “Don’t get all worked up, Steve,” he hissed. “I’m not hauling you in, am I?”

  Steve worked to control his breathing. “Those people across the street... My neighbors… friends. They see you over here with me, and they think you think I did it.”

  “I understand your concern over your reputation. Trust me, I do. Half of Shallow Springs disagrees with whatever I do. Let’s focus on what’s important, though. You want to find this killer, I imagine.”

  “Of course I do,” Steve said, shame taking the place of the anger. He’d exploded without giving any proper thought to what he was saying, and now he regretted that.

  “What were you doing in the shed?” Sheriff Ross asked.

  Steve had told him the night of the murder, but he held back on pointing that out. “Looking for nails to build my fiancée a rocking chair . The general store was closed, and I knew Wakefield wouldn’t mind if I took some from the hotel’s supply.”

  “All right,” he said with a nod.

  A quiet followed, and the sheriff stared at the hotel’s wall, thinking about something.

  “Sheriff?”

  “I’m going to need you to stay in town until we get this all sorted out.”

  Steve balked. “You mean until you find the killer? That might never happen.”

  Sheriff Ross sighed. “Just for a few weeks, all right? Give me that.”

  “You think I did it?”

  “I don’t think anything for sure, Steve. Don’t put words in my mouth, you hear? All I know is that, right now, you’re the only person who has information pertinent to this case. That’s it. So don’t be heading off.”

  Steve considered that. In one night, he’d stumbled across a body, and everything in his life had been thrown into turmoil.

  “I’m supposed to get ma
rried this weekend,” Steve said.

  Sheriff Ross’ face fell. “Lord, Steve, I’m real sorry about that.”

  Steve nodded tersely. They’d have to postpone the ceremony. He couldn’t marry Bonnie at a time like this. Such a start to their marriage would be a curse. Years in the future, he would want to look back and remember the time they got married as a happy one.