by Annie Boone
“I can’t marry him.”
Clayton didn’t doubt that she meant that and he didn’t think any of the other two listening doubted it too.
“I don’t know where I’ll go or what I’ll do, but I won’t go back. I’ve never had a man beat me before, and I certainly don’t intend to start making a habit of it now.”
Nodding furiously, Amy agreed.
“Oh, yes, Elizabeth. You must not go back to him. You must never speak to that scoundrel again.”
“I agree. He’s certainly not the type of man you need to be spending time with, let alone marrying. Any man who would beat a woman isn’t much of a man at all,” Bart added.
“That isn’t all,” Elizabeth told them. Her blue eyes flicked toward Clayton, seeking permission so she could continue. Clayton nodded gently.
“I’m sure that Mason is involved in some kind of illegal activity. I think he’s the one who’s stealing livestock in the area. There’s a barn on the property he didn’t tell me about. I found it by accident and went to check what was hidden in it. It was empty, but it had obviously been the holding spot for horses in the past. Mason never mentioned raising horses, so I can only guess he’s stealing them.”
While Clayton had always suspected that Mason Reeve was a thief, the information Elizabeth provided was not nearly enough to convict him of any crimes. Her suspicions were just that—suspicions and not proof.
“Elizabeth,” Amy said sounding uncertain as she glanced at the men in the room.
“I know Mason has been horrible to you, but I just have to wonder about him stealing horses.”
Speaking up to defend Elizabeth, Clayton raised a hand calmly. “I’ve had my concerns about Mason Reeve for a long time now. I’ve long been worried he’s been involved with the animals that are disappearing.”
Lowering his voice as if he was afraid that Mason might be able to hear them, he added, “Amy, Bart—I don’t want to worry you too much, but you need to understand that Mason might be a very dangerous man. In fact, I believe he might be guilty of murder.”
Watching the expressions of both his sister and her husband change from confusion to shock and then doubt, Clayton could see that they were having a difficult time accepting the news he was presenting. For so long, they had been convinced that Mason was a pillar of the town. It had to be hard for them to accept he could be guilty of such horrific crimes.
“Clayton.”
Amy was certainly disturbed as she called out and sat up in her chair, her eyes wide with fear.
“I’ve long known that you had something against Mason, but can you really believe he’s a murderer? What evidence is there?”
Bart reached out a hand to place over his wife’s, an obvious attempt to calm her. When she turned to look at him, he spoke in a hushed tone.
“Amy, I think that we need to let Clayton handle this. The less we know, the safer we may be. I’ve known your brother for a long time and he’s never been one to simply jump to conclusions.”
Amy nodded in agreement, silently admitting her husband was right. Clayton felt relieved to have the support of his family. Looking back to Elizabeth, he had to wonder exactly what he would do with the beautiful young woman now. He certainly couldn’t send her back to Mason Reeve and it would seem hideously improper to house her in his own quarters.
Almost as if his brother-in-law could see his concern, Bart leaned forward before speaking.
“Until you two can get something better figured out, Amy and I” – he glanced toward his wife to see if they were on the same page – “would be happy to keep Elizabeth here. She looks like she could use a good bath and a warm place to sleep.”
Looking up to study his sister, Clayton was happy to see that she was nodding her head as well, her infectious smile once again returning to her face as she clapped her hands together.
“Oh, yes! Of course, Elizabeth, you simply must stay. I’ll help you draw a bath and we can put you up in the spare bedroom where Clayton sleeps when he stays the night.”
Hopping to her feet, Amy extended a hand to her friend. Clayton could see her optimism was spreading to the injured girl and Elizabeth smiled softly.
“Thank you so much, Amy. I feel that God surely put you in my life to help me through this. I appreciate it more than you will ever know.”
As the two women made their way into the kitchen so that they could work on warming water for a bath, it felt like some semblance of peace and sanity had returned to the world. Clayton pulled himself to his feet, glad to have a minute alone with his brother-in-law. Extending his hand, he took Bart’s hand in his own.
“You have no idea how much I appreciate you taking care of her for the night. I’ll try to figure something out, some place to take her tomorrow. Even if I have to send her back to Georgia, at this point, I’d be happy to pay her way for her.”
Bart studied him intently, making Clayton feel somewhat nervous. Opting to ignore his brother-in-law’s stare, Clayton gave him a warning.
“Watch out for yourself, Bart. Mason won’t know where Elizabeth is, but I’m sure he’ll remember that she’s friends with Amy. I left the horse she took from his ranch at the livery in town, so he can pick it up there, but I wouldn’t put it past him to track her down. That man treats her a piece of property.”
As the words left Clayton’s lips, he felt even more turned off at the thought of all that Elizabeth had endured at her fiancé’s hand.
“Clayton,” Bart said as he put an assuring hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. Elizabeth will be safe. If you don’t remember, I’m a pretty good shot, and I won’t aim to miss.”
Clayton smiled and gave Bart a slap on the back before heading out into the night.
His opinion of Mason Reeve was worse than ever now, and Clayton was determined that he would do whatever it took to put that man behind bars!
Chapter Twelve
Elizabeth found herself startled awake at the sound of a rooster crowing outside her window. Sitting up in the bed, she took long intentional breaths to calm herself down. Even though she had finally experienced a good night’s rest, Elizabeth couldn’t help but be assaulted by a torrent of fears as soon as she opened her eyes.
Looking around the room, she slowly recollected how she had come to be at Bart and Amy’s ranch home. Elizabeth was glad to finally be away from her abusing fiancé but, at the same time, the reality of her escape from his home weighed heavily on her mind. How likely was it that she could truly hide out for more than a few hours before he found her?
She knew that Mason was angry when she left the night before and he was probably furious by now. Swallowing hard, Elizabeth tried to still her galloping heart. Surely Mason would be looking for her at this point. How long until his search led him to Amy’s home?
Pulling herself out of bed, Elizabeth winced as she put weight on her sore ankle. As she made the bed, she remembered Amy mentioning that Clayton had used the room as his own when he was spending the night with his sister and her husband. As much as she hated to admit it, Elizabeth had to recognize that Clayton Ward was a very attractive man. He had done so much for her, and she appreciated all of it. His kindness was something she couldn’t forget, and she found that it made her heart feel much kinder toward him.
Shaking her head, she tried to distract herself from thoughts of the handsome sheriff and instead focused on the job of cleaning up the bedroom. She didn’t want to leave the guest room looking a mess with her dirty clothes spread across the floor.
Elizabeth considered everything she had been forced to leave behind at the Reeve Ranch. All of her clothing and personal items had been abandoned when she made her escape. Now, she wondered if she’d ever see her things again.
“Knock, knock!”
Amy’s cheerful voice called out as she pushed the door open to reveal her smiling face. Just as quickly, her smile was replaced with a frown when she saw Elizabeth working to make the bed.
“Elizabeth Brown! What do you
think you’re doing? You’re supposed to be resting.”
To her friend’s chagrin, Elizabeth giggled and shook her head before answering.
“I’m not used to sitting around, and I’ll hate to leave your home a mess after all you’ve done for me.”
Hurrying forward, Amy presented a pink dress she was holding in her hands to Elizabeth.
“I want you to have this. I’d say you’re about the same size as me and you’re going to need something to wear until I can get those clothes from last night washed.”
Taking the clothing in her hands and holding it up to examine, a sob caught in her throat as she considered all her friend was doing for her.
“Amy, I just can’t…”
“Yes, you can.” Amy assured her, reaching out to give her a hug around the shoulders.
“I never wear this dress, and you deserve to have something pretty.”
Almost as if she could read her guest’s fears, she added, “Don’t worry, dear. We’re going to get you through this rough patch. Now, hurry and get dressed because we’re going to make a trip into town.”
Just the thought of heading into town made a shiver go up Elizabeth’s spine.
“Why do we need to do that?”
Shrugging as she responded, Amy took a few steps back toward the door.
“Bart worries that this will be the first place that Mason will come to look for you. There’s a woman in town, the dress maker, who is known for helping girls out when they get into situations like this. You and I are going to ride into town and see her. She’ll know what to do next.”
The prospect of having another woman she could trust gave Elizabeth a new surge of hope. She hurried to get dressed, hoping her friend was right and that the dress maker truly could help her.
By the time Elizabeth and Amy reached the dress shop, Elizabeth was a nervous wreck. She found herself looking around suspiciously, always on the high alert for a sign of Mason. She practically ran into the dress shop, with her eyes looking all around in case Mason was hiding close by.
Mrs. Jennings, the dress shop owner and seamstress, was sitting at her sewing machine, sewing a bright yellow skirt.
“Mrs. Jennings.” Amy called out, her voice sounding cheerful and carefree.
“Mrs. Jennings, good morning. I’ve got someone here who needs your help.”
Turning around in her seat, Mrs. Jennings looked Elizabeth over as recognition filled her eyes. Nodding a greeting, she got off the wooden stool and stood up.
Blunt and to the point, the woman asked, “Is this a business call or a more serious issue?”
Looking down at her feet, Elizabeth could feel the elderly woman examining her face. Rather than reply, she and Amy both stood silent, neither one willing to admit the terrible story of what had happened with Mason Reeve.
“By the looks of you, I’d guess that you’ve been beaten by someone. Your fiancé?” Her question sounded much like a statement, and Elizabeth found herself nodding her head in shame.
To her surprise, the elderly woman reached out and put a gentle hand on her arms, smiling sadly as she whispered, “It’s all right, dear. I understand.”
Hurrying over to the door, she quickly locked it and turned the sign so that it read “Closed.”
“Let’s go to the backroom,” Mrs. Jennings suggested. “I have a little sitting area where we can talk.”
As she followed the thin and wiry woman through a curtain that separated the front of the house from the back, there was something about the entire situation that gave Elizabeth courage. Although Mrs. Jennings had initially seemed cold and a bit harsh the day before, her blunt mannerism was now welcome. Elizabeth realized she had nothing to hide from the older woman and immediately valued her as a friend.
Sitting down on the sofa, Elizabeth’s hands shook as she took the tea and cookies that Mrs. Jennings offered. She hadn’t realized how frightened she was until she was hidden away in the safety of the dress shop’s back room.
“Now,” Mrs. Jennings said as she lowered herself into the chair across from them and began with her questions.
“Who was it that left that shiner on your eye and busted open that lip? I’m guessing it’s the same ‘charming’ man who had you in here with you the other day ordering a wedding dress?”
Letting out a knowing grunt, Mrs. Jennings continued without giving Elizabeth chance for a response.
“Mason Reeve, he’s always full of talk and charm. I never did like that man. I had him pegged from the beginning.”
Elizabeth hurried to explain the situation, telling how Mason’s abuse had escalated from the time she met him until the night before when she had escaped his ranch.
As Elizabeth let the story unfold, tears ran down her cheeks. Struggling to maintain her composure, she muttered her deepest fears aloud as she wiped the tears away.
“I don’t know what to think at this point or what to do. I will not marry Mason Reeve. That is definitely true. But, on the other hand, I don’t know where I’ll go, either. I have no home left and my uncle certainly wouldn’t let me go back there.”
Lifting a hand, Mrs. Jennings came up with an immediately solution.
“No worries at all, dear. I’ve hidden several girls here when they were having trouble with men. I’ve got a spare bedroom where you can stay and then you can help me with the sewing in the evenings.”
Elizabeth couldn’t believe her ears. Mrs. Jennings didn’t know her. Why had she offered her accommodation?
“You don’t think Mason will find me?” Elizabeth whispered, her tears of fear turning into those of joy at the prospect of being safe.
Shaking her head, Mrs. Jennings replied, “No. I tend to think that Mason Reeve will sink his ship sooner than later if he’s really into the illegal activity you suspect. I believe he will get arrested. If not, we’ll soon have to figure out a plan for getting you moved somewhere else, a place where you’ll have a bright future waiting.”
“A bright future,” Elizabeth whispered the words and shook her head.
“I hardly believe in the possibility of a bright future anymore. When I came to Plainsville, I thought making this move was the answer to all my prayers. I believed that Mason was going to be the perfect husband and that he could give me a home. Now I don’t believe in anything where men are concerned.”
Amy put her hand on Elizabeth’s arm, in an attempt to give her support.
“Don’t feel that way, Elizabeth. There is still a lot of hope for you to have a future and a family with a man who loves you.”
“There certainly is,” Mrs. Jennings said in support.
“I had my share of foul suitors before I found my Tom. Tom and I shared a good fifty years of marriage and then he died. I couldn’t have asked for a better man.”
Although their encouraging words were kind, Elizabeth’s heart was hurt so badly she didn’t imagine she’d ever experience true love. She had been injured by men one too many times, and she wasn’t going to let herself get hurt again.
Shaking her head, Elizabeth admitted her fears aloud.
“After all that’s happened with Mason, I’m afraid there is no hope. I am so crushed I don’t think I can ever trust any man again. Mason seemed so kind and thoughtful initially, but then he completely turned into someone else. I don’t know how I could ever trust another man, to be honest. They are probably all just putting on a show until they have a chance to take advantage of me.”
Crossing her hands on her lap, Mrs. Jennings gave a sympathetic frown.
“I understand how you would feel that way but, the truth of the matter is, once you’ve had some time to heal, you may discover that you will feel different. For now, though, we just need to focus on making you at home here. Why don’t I show you to your room so you can get settled?”
Turning to Amy, Mrs. Jennings said, “And you should go on and head home. There’s nothing else you can do here, and your wagon will only draw attention if Mason Reeve comes through the town
looking for Elizabeth.”
Giving her friend a goodbye hug, Elizabeth worried that it might be the last time that they would ever be together. Who was to say that Mason wouldn’t find her and kill her before she had a chance to see Amy again?
Following Mrs. Jennings into the back bedroom, she set about making herself at home in the small bedroom. When she was alone, she found herself staring into the mirror hanging on the wall beside the bed. Lifting a hand, she gingerly touched her swollen lip. She was such a sight. Never in her life had Elizabeth imagined that a man would inflict such damage on her, let alone a man that was supposed to love her.
Squaring her shoulders, Elizabeth promised herself that she’d never allow another man to put a hand on her again. She also wasn’t going to stay hidden in Mrs. Jennings’ backroom forever. As soon as she had the chance, she’d continue to do whatever was necessary to bring Mason Reeve to justice. He’d think twice before he ever touched another woman.
Chapter Thirteen
Clayton Ward sat slumped over his desk in the sheriff’s office, trying his best to review a report he had written the day before. Reaching up to run a hand through his dark hair, he tried hard to concentrate on the work at hand. But, try as he might, his thoughts kept returning to Elizabeth Brown.
There was simply something about her that tugged at Clayton’s heartstrings. She had looked innocent as she stood in that very room the night before, her lip busted open, a limp to her walk and yet, at the same time, Elizabeth still seemed brave and determined.
Amy had already stopped by the office that morning to tell Clayton where Elizabeth was staying. He was so glad to know that the young woman was safe in the backroom of the dress shop. While Clayton knew that his sister and Bart could take care of themselves, he felt better knowing that Elizabeth was close enough for him to keep an eye on her well-being.
The door of the sheriff’s office opened with a loud whine, and a slam before a pair of boots thudded across the floor. Looking up from his work, Clayton found himself staring directly into the eyes of Mason Reeve.