The Widow of Papina

by Katie Hamstead

  He strolled out, his hands in his pockets as his glare shot between the two of us. When he’d gone, Paul rushed toward me and kissed me. He pulled back and lifted Jackson out of the stroller. “I haven’t seen you in days.”

  “I know.” I sighed, relieved that he seemed to have a good explanation.

  “There’s a wolf pack that’s been pestering some of the farmers. I’ve been trying to get rid of them without killing the pack. A sort of coaxing them to move on, kind of thing.”

  I smiled. “I hoped it was something like that and not something I said.”

  His eyes widened with alarm. “Oh! Ah, no.” He set Jackson down. “Are we still up for this Friday?”

  I grinned, butterflies filling my belly. “Yes.”

  He caressed my face and leaned in. “Good.” He softly kissed me.

  The door burst open and we both jumped. The detective marched in with two officers and pointed at Paul. They rushed forward and grabbed him.

  “What . . . ?”

  “Sheriff Davis.” The detective stood in front of him with her arms folded. “We’ve received an anonymous call saying you had motive to kill Mr. Miller.”

  Paul flinched, confused. “What?”

  “You have been pursuing Mrs. Miller for quite some time, haven’t you?”

  “Ahh.” He looked at me. “Not until after Forrest died.”

  “She looks like your ex, doesn’t she? We need to take you in.”

  He glanced at me. “It’ll be okay.”

  “What?” I gasped. “No.”

  “Mrs. Miller, we appreciate all your cooperation.” She touched my arm. “We’ll be in touch.”

  Clint rushed out. “What’s going on?”

  Paul glanced back at him. “Something’s come up with the case. I’ll be in Bearville for a while. Hold the fort for me.”

  They tugged him out the door and Clint spun on me, glaring down with his hands on his hips. “What’s going on?”

  I flushed and plucked Jackson off the floor. “They got an anonymous tip that he killed Forrest.”

  “What?” He roared. He pointed at me viciously. “Why would someone say that?”

  I hung my head.

  “Because of you.” He sneered. “I knew you were bad news.”

  “I didn’t mean for this to happen!” I turned to the stroller. “I’m nothing like this Hannah everyone is obsessed with, so why do you keep blaming me?”

  “At least she never caused him to be dragged off for murder.”

  I gasped. I set Jackson in the stroller and rushed to the door, a fierce pain burning at my heart.

  “You’re bad for him,” he called.

  I rushed down the street, holding my tears back. I had to go to Paul. I needed to know why they could possibly think someone as gentle as him could possibly hurt Forrest.

  I burst into the house and glanced around. “Nova? Nova where are you?”

  Her head appeared around the corner up the stairs, and by her wet hair and the towel around her, I knew she’d just finished in the shower.

  “I need you to watch Jackson.”

  She gave me a confused look.

  “The detective just took Paul. I need to—”

  She rolled her eyes and disappeared.

  “Nova, please! They think he killed Forrest! Someone called up and said he did it because of me.”

  I ran up the stairs and found her standing by her bedroom door with her mouth hanging open.

  “Please, Nova. I need to know what’s happening.”

  Her expression turned cold as her mouth closed.

  “Please! I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep riding this rollercoaster.”

  I collapsed to my knees as sobs tore from deep inside me. So much pain broke free as I cried into my hands. “I already lost Forrest.”

  Several moments passed before she knelt in front of me and slipped a note into my hand.

  I wiped my eyes so I could read it. This is why you can’t date him. He hurts you. He hurts everyone. Your love was Forrest, not him. I’ll watch Jackson if you end it with him.

  I stared at it, completely stunned. I felt quite the opposite. Paul made me happy. After months of loneliness and a broken heart, he’d given me something to place some hope in. “Nova . . . ”

  She pursed her lips and stared firmly into my eyes.

  I sighed, tears streaming down my face. “Why?”

  She pointed at her scar.

  “That’s all? He shot you because you wouldn’t put your gun down?”

  Her eyes darkened as her brows lowered.

  “Is there something else?”

  She snatched the note from me and marched to her room.

  “Nova! Please. How can I help you if—”

  She slammed the door shut.

  I grabbed my hair in frustration. I couldn’t get anything right.

  Jackson wailed for me from his stroller, letting me know he didn’t like being stuck there. I rushed down and unbuckled him, but hurried him out to the car. I needed to find out what they thought Paul did.

  The whole way into Bearville, I thought about Nova and what she said. Maybe it was too soon to be involved with Paul. Maybe I was so desperate for human affection I confused my feelings.

  I did know I needed to look out for Nova, and if she couldn’t accept him into our lives, then I couldn’t be with him. The very thought made me cry again. I felt as if my heart was being torn from my body, but she had no one else but me.

  I burst into the police station with Jackson on my hip, gazing around confused. I approached the desk and stared down at the policeman. “You know who I am, so I bet you know what I want.”

  He shot to his feet. “Mrs. Miller.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll call the detective.”

  A few moments later she appeared. “Mrs. Miller.”

  “What’s happening?”

  “We only started a few minutes ago.”

  “I want to know why you’d think he could possibly kill someone. He’s the sheriff.”

  She sighed. “Come with me.”

  She led me through to the same room I’d watched Nova be questioned in. Paul sat on a chair leaning over the desk with his hand in his hair. He was being questioned, and he answered with a hint of agitation.

  Finally, he huffed and said, “Can you send someone to check on Bray? She doesn’t need this extra worry.”

  I smiled, but my heart broke, knowing I couldn’t be with him.

  “How long have you been seeing Mrs. Miller?” the man asked.

  He shrugged. “Not long. A few days.”

  “But, you’ve been interested in her for a while.”

  He sighed. “Yes.”

  “Is it true she looks like your previous girlfriend, Miss Hannah Garland?”

  He ruffled his hair. “A little. Just the hair . . . ”

  The man set a photo of a glamorous model on the table. “I can see more of a resemblance than the hair.”

  Paul’s hand froze on his head. He clutched his hair as his eyes widened on the photograph. “I’d forgotten . . . ”

  “Apart from being taller and much skinnier than Mrs. Miller, they look about identical.”

  Paul shook his head and folded his arms. “No. Braydon is much prettier.”

  I smiled, but bit my lip to hide it.

  “So, Sheriff, when you first saw Mrs. Miller it must have shocked you.”

  Paul chuckled. “That’s an understatement. I thought maybe they were sisters or cousins. I avoided her as much as I could.”

  “Several witnesses say you followed her outside during the welcome party for her and her husband.”

 
He nodded. “I did. I saw she looked uncomfortable, and I was right. She was having contractions and had the baby that night.”

  “What did you think as you looked at the woman who looked so similar to your ex?”

  Paul shrugged. “It was weird. She was very different to Hannah, but very similar, too. At the time, I’d become friends with Forrest and I felt concerned for him because I couldn’t get past her similarity to Hannah, and I was convinced she’d run out on him.”

  “There were several occasions where you were alone with Mrs. Miller before her husband’s death. What did you think and feel at these times?”

  Paul raised his eyebrow. “There weren’t many occasions we were alone. I can only think of one, and that was after a bunch of punk kids had made racist comments about her mix blood baby, so I walked her home.”

  “And, what happened?”

  He shrugged. “I walked her home, she went inside, and I went back to work.”

  “How about the times you stared at her in church?”

  Paul leaned back. “Excuse me?”

  “You were seen staring at her in church while she was still with Mr. Miller.”

  “Ahh.” Paul rubbed his hair. “I don’t remember that.”

  “Apparently, you did it every Sunday.”

  My stomach tightened. How long had Paul had feelings for me? I’d always thought the early few months of our relationship were strained and tense.

  “Hmm.” Paul rubbed his chin. “I may have been trying to figure her out. She and Forrest were so happy, but as I said, she was so like Hannah in many ways.”

  “You weren’t even slightly attracted to her?”

  His eyebrow twitched. “Then? No.”

  “Why not? You obviously find her very attractive now.”

  He huffed. “She was married, wasn’t she?”

  “So, Mr. Miller was in your way.”

  Paul’s eyes widened. “No. She was his wife. I don’t look at other men’s wives.”

  “But, according to witnesses, you were keen on her before his body was even found. When he was still just missing.”

  I held my breath.

  Paul rubbed his neck. “Yeah. But, it had been months by then. There was no way he could be alive. The winters out here are so severe.”

  “Good cover for you, isn’t it?” The man pointed at the picture. “You saw a chance to get her back, the woman you wanted to marry, so you took it.”

  Paul glared at him. “No. I thought Braydon was a pain in the ass until I got to know her.”

  “And, when was that?”

  “When she gave me dinners in exchange for fixing up her house because her husband was dead and she had no one else.”

  “So, you rode in on your white horse—”

  “This is ridiculous.” Paul threw his hands in the air. “I didn’t kill Forrest. Why don’t you focus on finding who raped Nova because that’s when you’ll find the killer.”

  The word “raped” lingered in my ears and I spun away, covering my mouth. Everyone kept saying “sexually assaulted” but the abruptness of “raped” sent chills through me.

  The detective caught my arm and helped me into a chair. “Do you need something to drink?”

  I shook my head. “It was . . . Nova, I never heard anyone call it rape before. Poor Nova. That’s what happened to Forrest’s sisters. He’d be devastated if he knew.”

  The man in the room’s voice cut through. “Why is Nova so angry at you, Sheriff?”

  “I shot her in a standoff,” he answered simply.

  “Wasn’t that several years ago?”

  Paul ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah. I think she blames me for her mom running off and leaving her, too.”

  “Do you think she’s a pretty girl?”

  Paul swore. “No. I didn’t touch her. Don’t you dare try to pin that on me.”

  “She’s quite adamant to keep you away from her and Mrs. Miller.”

  “Yeah, because she’s probably afraid I’ll take her new mom away from her.”

  The detective rested her hand on my shoulder. “Do you believe Nova see’s you like a mother?”

  I paused to think about it. Then, I slowly nodded. “Maybe. She was very upset when she was told she couldn’t sleep in my bed with me, and she’s very protective of me, but I thought maybe she saw me as a sister, not a mother.”

  Jackson pointed from my lap. “Paul.”

  I stroked his head. “Yes, it’s Paul.”

  He looked up at me. “Paul.”

  “You can’t see him right now. He’s busy.”

  He pouted and climbed off my lap, rushing to the window. “Paul.”

  I rubbed my temples.

  “Mrs. Miller, maybe you should go home.”

  I looked up at the detective. “What about Paul?”

  She leaned against the wall. “We need to look into this lead. From everything I’ve seen, I doubt he did it. But, we need to check.”

  I moaned and ran my fingers through my hair. “My life is so screwed up and I feel like there’s really nothing I can do about it.” I sighed. “Except one thing.”

  I looked across at Paul as he defended himself from being accused of attacking Nova. “I need to take care of Nova, which means . . . which means . . . can I do that though? Can I end things with Paul? Would it be the right thing to do?”

  She touched my shoulder. “I cannot give you answers for questions like that.”

  I huffed. “I know.”

  I stood and scooped up Jackson. “I’ll wait until he’s done. I need to do this quick or I’ll back out.”

  She nodded. “He won’t be much longer.”

  She took me into a quiet waiting room where I let Jackson roam and explore. About half an hour later, Paul was led into the room and the door shut behind him. The look of relief on his face stung.

  “Bray, are you all right?” He rushed over and sat beside me. “I can’t believe someone would blame me for that. I could have lost my job, and . . . ”

  He trailed off and grabbed my hand. “What’s wrong?”

  I rubbed my eyes as tears threatened to push free. “We can’t be together.”

  His hand tightened around mine. “What?”

  “I don’t want to see you anymore.”

  He caressed my face. “Why?”

  “Paul!” Jackson bustled over and climbed onto his lap.

  I snatched up Jackson. “It’s too complicated. I just can’t deal with all this.”

  I stood and hurried out the door.

  He rushed after me. “I told you, let me do the fighting.”

  I shook my head as we stepped outside. “I can’t, Paul.”

  “Why?” He grabbed my arm and pulled me around. “Less than two hours ago everything was fine. You were excited to go out with me again this Friday. You can’t seriously tell me that this changed everything.”

  My lip quivered. How could I push him away? He needed something powerful or he’d keep after me. A thought came to me. I met his eyes. “Stop trying to use me to replace Hannah.”

  He flinched away, horrified.

  I hurried to buckle in Jackson while he stood stunned. As I hurried around to the driver’s seat, he stopped me. “I’m not. You’re so different.”

  I pulled away. “I saw that picture. Now I know why everyone calls me the short, fat version.”

  He swore loudly. “You’re not replacing her. Who would say that about you anyway? Sarah, because she’s jealous?”

  I pulled open my door. “I’m going home.”

  He caught my arm. “Let me ride with you so we can talk.”

  My heart screamed yes, but my head yelled no louder. “Call Clint.”


  I sank into the seat and pulled the door shut.

  He swore again and knocked on the window. “Bray, come on.”

  I started the car.

  “Braydon! I’ll keep fighting for you. I don’t know why you suddenly changed your mind, but I’m going to fix it.”

  I opened the window, my heart pounding as I yelled, “No one wants us to be together. Everything keeps pulling us apart. So just give up, Paul. We’re not meant to be.”

  I reversed out of the parking space, and drove away, tears streaming down my face again. No one wanted us to be together, except us, and the pain of letting him go hurt almost as much as losing Forrest.

  Chapter 27

  Several days passed and I couldn’t get out of my slump. Even though Nova seemed happier than ever, I couldn’t seem to find any cheer, and the endless snowing didn’t seem to help.

  By the time the snow stopped, I emerged to find a four-foot blanket surrounding my house.

  “Nova!” I called.

  She rushed out to me.

  “We need to get rid of all this snow so we can get out.”

  She snorted and went back inside.

  I spun. “Are you kidding me?”

  She ran up the stairs and slammed her door shut.

  “Oh Nova! You better be putting snow boots on.” I hurried out the back to grab wood for the fire.

  Several hours later, I’d finished what I needed to do around the house and with my work, and marched out the front, knowing Nova hadn’t left her room. As I threw the door open ready to yell at her for not clearing the path, I gasped.

  Megan paused her ascent of the stairs and stared at me wide eyed. “I didn’t mean to surprise you . . . ”

  I pointed at my clear path and driveway. “Who did that?”

  She looked around before setting Donny down in front of Jackson. “Ahh, it was like this when I arrived.”

  I scowled. “Is the sheriff on duty?”

  She scowled too, and put her hand on her hips. “About the sheriff. We need to talk.”

  She grabbed my arm and used her legs to push Donny and Jackson back inside.