by Cyndi Raye
She poured two cups of tea, setting them on the table, along with a porcelain bowl filled with sugar and a fresh cup of cream. After serving, she sat down to wait for Miss Addie to begin. She knew it was fruitless to ask the older woman any questions until they had their tea. Her curiosity was piqued.
“How is Sophie adjusting to married life with our new sheriff, Salem Nightingale?” Miss Addie didn’t seem to be in a hurry now that she was settled in at the table.
Elizabeth took a sip of tea. She had replaced Sophie, who managed the boarding house up until she married a law man. “Wonderful, she spent the first few weeks after her honeymoon teaching me the ropes about match-making and running this place. So far I’ve matched a farmer with one of our wonderful ladies. Jocelyn is so happy with Fred Williams. Then there is Nanette, she’s the quiet one in the crowd, she married Jonathan Myers, one of the workers at the mill. I’m very happy you are allowing me to be a matchmaker, Miss Addie, although I’ll never be quite as good as you when it comes to this position.”
Miss Addie shook her head. “Oh don’t be prudent. You do a fine job, everyone tells me so. I’m sure you will have every chance to match up every single man in this town and beyond.”
Elizabeth smiled. “If I did that, I would be out of a job.”
“Nonsense, you will be married off by then to a wonderful man. When you took this position to help get the boarding house and matchmaking service started here in Mill Ridge, I promised to fulfil your original request to find you a wonderful husband, and I will.”
“You are right. Miss Addie. Thank you for the kind words. I believe our Rose is sweet on one of our boarders. And, Reverend Pope feels the same way about her. She is next in line for a husband, but it may turn out I won’t have to do any matchmaking after all. If you would like, please send over two more ladies for me to work with. I will begin my work with them immediately. Perhaps we will wait to see what happens between Rose and the Reverend.”
“I’m impressed, Elizabeth. When we rescued all of the women from that horrible man awhile back, I had no idea so many would still be here. I was certain all of the girls would go back to their prospective homes. I’m happy to say nine of you stayed. Which is a wonderful thing since there are so many single men that need a good wife. We will build this town up just like we did Wichita Falls.”
“There isn’t too many women here and it can be lonely for some of us. If it weren’t for Rose and Sophie, and the two ladies we just matched up, this town would be all men. We have to fix it soon, Miss Addie. Can you send me two more mail order brides? I have two extra rooms at the moment. I can place two ladies in one room and rent the other spare room out.”
“Of course, if you feel ready to take on more, I’ll send them over tomorrow. I think I know which two are ready to become brides. My boarding house is filled up and the five ladies left have to share rooms, making it difficult to keep tempers in check at times. Now, the reason I am truly here is to see Sheriff Nightingale. It seems a man rode in to our town last night asking to be directed to Mill Ridge. I was hoping I beat him here since he wasn’t up and about when I left this morning.”
“I’ve been up since daylight and haven’t seen or heard anyone trek through,” Elizabeth answered. “Why the concern?”
“He had the looks of an outlaw. I don’t want to alarm anyone but I got the impression he was on a serious quest. He was looking for someone specific. He was asking questions and showing a photo of a woman.”
Elizabeth smiled. “No worries then, there are only a few women here. Sophie is happily married, tucked away in the Sheriff’s cottage and Rose and I are the only two other women in town. Jocelyn and Nanette live outside of town. I wonder who he is looking for?”
“Perhaps he is here to stir up trouble and yet I don’t get that awful feeling about him I usually do when someone bad passes through.”
“Well, you go on and see the Sheriff. I’ll need to get breakfast started. It’s been a pleasure to have you here.”
The moment she spoke the words, Rose came tumbling down the steps. The girl was so clumsy, she almost fell down the last three. She came in to the kitchen like a whirlwind, all smiles and tucking strands of hair in her bun. Elizabeth had sent her up to tidy the empty rooms earlier in case a guest arrived without notice, which almost always happened.
“Miss Addie! So nice to see you.” Rose gave her mentor a hug, while Elizabeth looked on in amusement. The girl was simply a mess.
“Good day, ladies,” Miss Addie told them before rushing out to find the sheriff.
Elizabeth turned to Rose. “Really, young lady, can you please go and straighten your hair. It looks as if you haven’t combed it.”
Rose giggled. “I haven’t. I woke up late and pushed it back out of the way. Reverend Pope seems to think I am adorable.”
“He told you that?” Elizabeth was shocked. When had the reverend been talking like that to Rose? She would need to keep a better eye on the two. After all, Elizabeth took it upon herself to mentor Rose and get her ready for her stint as a mail-order bride. If Reverend Pope wanted to marry her, he’d have to say so before Elizabeth put any time or effort into finding Rose a husband.
Rose giggled again, placing a pan on the stove. She began to crack the eggs in to the pan, one by one. “He always tells me how beautiful I am, and that I have an inspiring smile.”
“He shouldn’t be telling you those things in private, Rose. He needs to say if he wants to court you.”
Rose sighed. “Oh, how wonderful that would be. I am afraid I’m falling for the good reverend.”
“The reverend is here in the boarding house until his sanctuary is ready. The church is being re-built and the sanctuary will be done shortly. No flirting with the good man, Rose. In the meantime, Miss Addie said there is a stranger coming to town. He was in Wichita Falls last night and is looking for a woman. Steer clear of any strangers, Rose.”
“I will, Elizabeth.” The younger Rose turned to Elizabeth. “Please don’t worry. The reverend hasn’t done anything damaging. He’s a man of God and his kind words were always spoken on the porch in public.”
“I’m relieved to hear this, Rose. I’m afraid we may be short on eggs this morning. I see the good doctor is in town so I’m going to go over to see if I can buy some from his stock he keeps in the back yard. I shall only be about twenty minutes at the most.”
“Take the empty basket and fill it up, please. We may need a few more this morning as I plan to bake a cake this afternoon.”
Elizabeth took the basket, swinging the handle as she left the boarding house. Rose was going to bake a cake for the reverend after he had mentioned his love of chocolate cake. She smiled to herself. Oh, how wonderful it would be to have the growing excitement of a new love.
She didn’t think she’d ever fall in love again. Perhaps Elizabeth was cursed. She had been engaged to a wonderful man. They had grown up together in the same town. Their families spent time together, they all went everywhere together.
When the outlaw gang came to their small town in Kansas, they began to torment the residents. They would rob townsfolk right off the street and no one was able to stand up to them. At first it was mild but when the gang robbed the bank and killed everyone inside, Elizabeth’s whole world had changed.
Her mother, father and two younger brothers had been in the bank that day. Her fiancé brother, who owned the bank, was killed, along with his parents and grandmother.
Her fiancé had been out of town, looking over a plot of land he planned to buy. He had saved for two years to buy the land and he had promised her it would be theirs. When he had returned to find his brother and parents dead, along with the others, he had changed overnight.
His behavior had changed as he began sending telegrams to places far away. He spent less time with Elizabeth even though she needed him more than ever. Her whole family was wiped out. She had no one and yet he began to pull away from her no matter what she said or did.
Hi
s whole world revolved around waiting for each telegram, then leaving town on his horse for days at a time. His clothing began to get sloppy as if he didn’t care what he looked like. Hair that was short and clipped, was now long and choppy, hiding under a wide-brimmed cowboy hat.
Elizabeth became more worried day after day. She watched his looks turn in to one like the outlaws he swore he hated.
Then one day he simply rode out of town. She had watched from her family home as he mounted his horse, knowing deep in her heart it would be the last time she’d ever see him.
The hurt that day was too immense to relive. When she had realized what he was going to do, she ran out the front door, lifting her skirts and striking up dust as she ran as fast as she could to stop him from leaving. “Wait! What are you doing?” She had cried out but he didn’t look her in the eye.
“I’m a lost soul, Elizabeth. It’s better this way. Go on with your life.”
She stood there, willing him to look at her but he kept the brim of his hat low over his eyes. “I love you,” she told him. “Doesn’t that account for anything?”
A strange man she didn’t recognize strolled from the saloon, dusting his hat and placing it on his head. He got on his horse and rode over to the two of them. “Ready?”
Her fiancé nodded. He directed his next words to her. “Love someone else. I’m done with this town and everyone in it.”
She charged at him, reaching up to grab his leg. She tried to look up at him but he kept avoiding her eyes. “Why, my love, why? We can get through this together.”
“Forget about me, Elizabeth Sheldon. I’m not your kind of man. I don’t love you any more.”
Shock filled her from the top of her head down to the tips of her boots. Her skirts went flying as she ran back to the haven of her family home, unable to watch the man she loved leave town. I don’t love you any more! She’d never, ever forget those words as long as she lived.
Elizabeth stumbled as she crossed the street, realizing she was revisiting a part of her past she had shoved under the porch mat over a year ago. Was this job as match-maker causing her to relive her past? Perhaps she should tell Miss Addie to hurry and find her a husband. She closed her eyes for a moment, unsure how to move on. If she married someone else, was it fair to them knowing she’d never be able to love anyone else ever again? Her first attempt at love went horribly wrong, then the mail order bride fiasco fell through when that awful man tried to sell them as slaves. Perhaps it wasn’t in the cards for her to be happy.
Realizing it was probably better this way, she decided to tell Miss Addie not to find her a husband. She would stay here, make this home. There was no reason she couldn’t run the boarding house and live her life the same as Miss Addie.
“Good morning, Elizabeth. Are you here for some eggs?”
Elizabeth hadn’t realized she was standing on the porch of the doctor’s office. A few folks were staring. “Good morning, Nurse Ellie. May I buy some please? We’re running short.”
“Help yourself, Elizabeth. It’s busy here today, so just put your money on the counter as you leave. I’m afraid I don’t have time to have tea with you.”
The good doctor and Nurse Ellie spent two days a week in Mill Ridge to help out until a doctor became available. Miss Addie donated the house and office for the doctor’s use since she owned four or five different establishments in Mill Ridge, too. The doctor and his nurse-wife were trying to see all of the patients possible in the two days they had available.
So, Elizabeth was glad Nurse Ellie was too busy to talk. She didn’t feel like holding a conversation with anyone today. Bringing up the past even in her mind was too distressing. She fumbled at the door to the back yard, stepping in chicken poop one too many times. After a struggle, Elizabeth collected the eggs she needed, placed the money on the counter and quickly left the doctors office without speaking to any of the patrons waiting on the porch.
“Good day, Elizabeth,” Nurse Ellie told her as she came out to gather the next patient.
Elizabeth turned to wave to Nurse Ellie who was staring down the street, a look of awe all over her face. It wasn’t normal for the nurse to show her emotions. She heard Ellie speaking to one of the townsfolk. “Do you know who that is?”
Elizabeth watched the exchange, wondering why the look of adoration appeared on everyone’s face when they began to stare.
Slowly, some townsfolk stood. “It is him! I saw it in yesterdays paper.”
“Who?” Elizabeth asked, confused.
“Why, it’s all over the news. The Mill Ridge Journal put the story out yesterday. Didn’t you read the paper, Elizabeth?”
“I, uh, no.” She was ashamed to admit she bought the paper for her renters but was usually too busy to take time to read. Day old paper made good starter for the cook stove.
“You missed it then,” Ellie noted. “I can’t believe we are fortunate to have in our town the Texas Ranger who single-handedly took down the Riley Gang.”
“Texas Ranger? Impressive.” Even though she wasn’t impressed. Where was the law when those outlaws wiped out everyone she had loved in her small Kansas town? She almost hated law men as much as she hated outlaws. Elizabeth should be ashamed of feeling so awful. The bitterness would eat her alive if she didn’t keep it in check. No matter, she had to get back to help Rose with breakfast. The renters would be up and ready to be served by now.
“Have a good day, Nurse Ellie. Stop in for tea soon.”
Nurse Ellie nodded, still staring at the stranger. Elizabeth shook her head, swinging around to see what the big deal was.
The horse was about two feet away. She noticed the Ranger’s clothing first, as the horse was so tall she came face to face with the man’s thigh. She needed him to move on so she could cross the street. When he stayed right there, she tried to keep her temper in check. “Oh for Pete sake, mister. Would you mind, I’m trying to cross the street.”
Elizabeth’s patience was running out. She hadn’t realized she had dallied so long, it was important for her to do her job and make sure her guests were fed and on their way. She pulled the egg basket closer, gathered up her skirts with her free hand and stepped on to the street.
“Elizabeth,” the raspy sound came from the man on the horse, its familiar lull causing her to raise her head in utter surprise.
Her head began to pound, the sound of his voice the only thing she understood. Voices in the background faded out. All Elizabeth saw was a pair of blue-gray eyes staring down at her.
His eyes.
The man she had loved with all her heart and soul.
She let the basket of eggs slide from her fingers. Some rolled from the basket, cracking as they hit the dirt ground.
Her heart felt as if it were pounding a mile a minute, her throat so tight she didn’t have the capacity to speak. Shock overcame reality. She knew he was speaking to her, saw the motion of his mouth but had no clue how to make out the words he was saying. He began to slide from the big stallion, and yet she kept her eyes on his, like a magnet, as if she didn’t dare break contact.
If she did, this would be a dream and she knew she’d wake up to realize it wasn’t real.
Her throat became dry, her nostrils flared. She reached out, wanting to touch him so bad. Her body felt as if it were floating away from him instead of towards him, so she tried to grab him as he came closer. It didn’t work, the clouds gathered around and pulled her away. “Noah,” she whispered, his name on her lips as she fell into the darkness.
Download An Outlaw’s Honor here
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