Water caught in her throat and Isabel coughed, sputtering while attempting to catch her breath. Blake reached over and pounded her between the shoulder blades while her father motioned for her to breathe, demonstrating with deep breaths.
“I--I’m fine,” she finally said giving Blake a sharp look. “I think you dislodged my shoulders.”
Instead of looking remorseful, Blake smiled. Her insides melted and Isabel was grateful that her face was probably already an alarming shade of red.
“Thank you Father, but I do not need to be looked after. I’m a grown woman and can take care of myself.” She looked to the sheriff. “I appreciate it, but I’ll be fine.”
The men exchanged looks and Blake turned to her with brows lifted. “It is because you are a woman, a beauty at that, why your father would ask that someone keep an eye out.”
Her eyes widened and she looked to her father. “Really Father? The sheriff can look all he wants, but I will do what I wish.”
“I will see you at home. Good evening sheriff.” With that, she stood and walked out.
She wasn’t certain, but thought to have heard chuckles.
“Can you believe Father did such a thing? I am mortified,” Isabel explained to the group of women gathered at the seamstress shop the following day.
Isabel was glad for the group of women she’d become friends with.
“I’m sure your father has no idea how you feel about Sheriff Blake,” Gemina said with a light giggle. “My goodness, can you imagine if he did?”
Scarlett, her new friend gave her a knowing look. She’d shared her infatuation with Colton Blake. “You know, this could be the perfect opportunity for you to get him to see you in a different light. Perhaps we can help.”
The women began to plan different scenarios, each becoming more outlandish until they could barely sit straight from laughing so hard.
Chapter Fifteen
The boy who’d just delivered a letter remained for a few minutes asking different questions about his instruments and such. It was obvious the boy was intelligent and Emmett considered taking him on as an understudy. Once the boy got older, perhaps sixteen, he’d make a good helper and hopefully one day a doctor.
The letter remained untouched. He’d only glanced at it to see if it was from Lady Price. She no doubt was writing to ask how things with marriage faired.
With a cup of coffee in hand, he finally tore the dainty envelope open and read over the first lines.
The letter was not addressed to him. Pulling the envelope from under the precisely folded paper, it was then he read “Mrs. Jones” and not Mr. as he’d assumed.
The boy had brought it to him by mistake.
He’d read enough that Emmett had to continue. Lady Price was offering sympathies to Scarlett for a failed marriage and offering to pay for passage to return to Philadelphia. In addition it seemed the woman would be more than happy to have Scarlett live with her again, citing she missed her company.
The fact Scarlett had written a letter shouldn’t have surprised him. They had not gotten along well at all. However, they’d made progress and had grown closer as of late.
At least that’s what he hoped. If Scarlett decided to leave, he would not stop her. It was his fault that she’d planned to do so. Bringing the past into a current relationship was not a smart thing to do. Instead of a fresh start, he’d used the past to ruin things. Lack of trust was a good way to devastate a situation.
For her part, she’d tried, at least at first.
A tightening of his chest made him cringe at the realization that he cared for his wife. Despite the barriers he’d erected and the toughness he continuously displayed, he’d been rendered helpless but to fall for the beautiful woman from the first moment.
The day she’d entered his bedroom upon first arriving, Emmett lost his heart. He’d fought it, too fearful of another heartbreak. It had been cowardly, and yet a man could not be blamed for protecting himself.
Placing the letter carefully back into the envelope, Emmett decided to see Scarlett and discuss things. If nothing else, she’d leave knowing he was in love with her.
Upon entering the main room, it was apparent Scarlett was not home. She was no doubt at one of her gatherings. He was glad she’d found a group of friends who she could spend time with. The women often complimented him on how delightful Scarlett was and he had to agree.
The house was quiet when Scarlett returned after leaving the seamstress shop. However, it was not empty. Emmett stood by the fireplace. He turned, his gaze drilling into hers.
“You plan to leave me.” It was a statement, not a question. His voice was hollow, almost as if on the verge of breaking.
“No. Why would you say that?”
He held up a paper, it looked to be a letter. “I saw this letter from Lady Price and assumed it was for me. I opened it. She’s offering you sympathy and enough money to return to Pennsylvania.”
“I had considered leaving. Our marriage was so...” Scarlett stopped and let out a breath. “I wrote a letter one day. Right after my birthday. It was such a sad day and I didn’t think I could bare to continue to stay here.”
Head bent, he listened, nodding. “I understand. Do you still want to leave?” His darkened eyes met hers and for the first time she saw deep emotion. He swallowed and blinked away moisture.
“No, not any longer.”
Loud bangs at the door interrupted them and Emmett stalked past, handing her the letter.
A red-faced man stood in the doorframe when he pulled it open. “Doctor Jones, there’s been a shooting out near the saloon, a young boy was shot.”
“I’m coming.” He ran from the doorway toward the clinic and Scarlett decided to follow. Her heart thudded at the thought of a child being injured. What could have happened that someone would shoot an innocent?
Emmett emerged with his bag and took off at a run down the street, toward the saloon. Knowing she’d not be able to keep up, Scarlett followed at a slower pace on the walkway.
By the time she got there, a small crowd had gathered.
Someone screamed and Scarlett hurried closer. It was a woman cradling a young boy who by the looks of it was either dead or close to it. His face colored a pasty white and he didn’t look to be breathing. On the right side of his chest a bloodstain grew. Just a few yards up men were scuffling and another shot rang out sending the crowd to scurry in different directions followed by more screams.
Scarlett threw herself over the injured boy, Emmett and the woman, not thinking of nothing more than protecting them.
In the few seconds after the shot, a man was wrestled to the ground and the sheriff held a gun to the still struggling man’s temple.
Two men helped the sheriff get the man to his feet, while another dragged an injured man closer to where Emmett and Scarlett were.
“He’s been shot.” The man stated the obvious.
Emmett took Scarlett by the shoulders. “Gladys is coming, help her see about the man’s injury. I’ll take care of things here.”
Glad to be of help, Scarlett hurried to the man just as Gladys reached him. The woman looked to her. “Hold this over the injury on his left side while I look at the one up here.” The woman tore open the man’s shirt to reveal a gunshot to his upper right chest area.
The smell of blood and gunpowder filled Scarlett’s nostrils and a part of her wanted to pull away. However at the man’s grimace, she was determined he would not die.
Gladys worked steadily, instructing men to bring a wagon so the injured man could be taken to the clinic. Emmett was already headed back in a separate wagon with the boy and his mother.
Curiosity filled Scarlett as she watched the town come together, grim faced and determined. The people seemed to each know their role in the situation. Some cleared pathways, others accompanied the sheriff, while women came together splitting into groups to either pray or go to assist with the injured boy’s mother.
Gladys motioned with her h
ead to a young boy who neared. “Go see about letting his wife know to come to the clinic. Tell her, he’s been shot, but should be fine. Take someone with you to stay with their youngin’s.”
As the young man raced off, several came and helped lift the injured man onto the wagon they’d procured.
When they arrived at the clinic, it was another burst of activity as people were already there waiting to help.
A few minutes later, only Scarlett, Gladys, another man and Emmett saw to the injured. The boy’s mother sat on a chair with a young girl, who Scarlett assumed was her daughter.
Several people came and went asking what they could do to help. No one seemed at all put off by Emmett’s gruff responses, as a matter of fact some even smiled widely when he told them to fetch this or that.
The boy’s father arrived, his ashen face filled with concern. He hurried to the bed where Emmett saw about his son. “How’s he doing Doc? Tell me please.”
“He’s stopped bleeding and once I finish stitching, I’ll talk to you. For now please go over there with your wife.” Emmett motioned with his head as he washed out the boy’s wound.
Scarlett was fascinated, as Gladys didn’t pay the interaction any mind. She deftly held the man down while probing the wound for the bullet.
The man groaned and Gladys looked over her shoulder. “I’ll need a couple of you to come help hold him down.”
Men rushed in from the porch as if they’d been expecting such a call.
An hour later, things finally quieted down.
Despite their efforts, the young boy died and Scarlett cried along with the parents. Men had to subdue the father who wanted to go to the sheriff’s office to shoot the man who’d killed his son.
Emmett pulled the man aside and sat with him for a long time talking as the mother grieved over the boy’s body.
The man who’d been shot twice would live. His wife arrived, her face etched with worry. “He was working out at the mill,” the woman explained. “Came to town to run a quick errand. How could this happen?”
Although unconscious, the man had regained coloring and would in all probability recover. However with a gunshot to the hip, he’d probably limp and not be able to work for a while. Not good news once winter set in.
A group of people came to take the dead boy’s family away. Everyone including the town preacher offered help. The family would not be left alone, but cared for by the community.
Gladys washed up the blood and Scarlett helped. She was bone tired, but satisfied at doing what had to be done.
Emmett neared the injured man’s wife and placed a hand on her shoulder. “How are you feeling Mrs. Abernathy? You can remain here for the night. The cot is comfortable. The stove keeps the place plenty warm. I sent for food to be brought from the restaurant for you.”
The woman nodded and wiped her face. “I’ll be fine. Thank you Doctor Jones, you are a blessing to our town.”
“Thank Gladys,” Emmett said. “She’s the one who saw to him today.”
“Let’s go get something to eat,” Emmett told Scarlett, who couldn’t imagine cooking after a day like they’d had.
She walked with him out the door, surprised when he guided her down the walkway away from the house. “Where are we going?”
“To the restaurant,” he explained. “I can’t expect you to cook after such a long day. I know you have to be as exhausted as I am.”
Scarlett studied him for a long moment. “I’m willing to bet you have me beat. How you handled everything... it’s admirable.”
“Thank you.” He looked down for a moment. “Hated losing that boy. I can’t imagine how his parents feel. All because of a stupid drunk man.”
They continued on until reaching the restaurant. Although Scarlett would have sworn she wasn’t hungry, the minute the smell of food hit, she began salivating.
The food was devoured quickly, both she and Emmett too hungry to talk between bites. Several people stopped by to slap him on the shoulder and others to offer their sympathies about the boy. Seemed news of the death traveled quickly.
The owner of the restaurant, Sharon Ellis, refused payment thanking them both for what they’d done. “I can’t imagine this town without you Doctor Jones. You and your brother have always put the people first. We are thankful for you.”
Emmett accepted her comments in silence, only nodding in acquiescence.
When they finished their meal, Emmett took Scarlett by the elbow and guided her out the door. They walked for a few minutes in silence.
Then he stopped walking and took her by the arms turning Scarlett to face him. “Thank you. You were great today. I appreciated you being there. It was good to see that you jumped right in to help.”
Uncomfortable at his words, Scarlett looked from him past his shoulder and then back. “You don’t have to thank me. It was the right thing to do.”
He kissed her then and the action in itself was shocking. The warmth of his mouth over hers made her knees weaken and she grasped the front of his shirt to keep from wobbling.
When Emmett straightened, he met her gaze. “Please don’t leave me.”
In that moment, Scarlett knew she could never leave. Her heart melted a bit over the last few days until she was certain it would be hard to keep from caring for her husband more and more.
“I didn’t plan to leave Emmett. Not anymore. I wrote the letter to Lady Price on a day when I was distraught and felt defeated.”
The corners of his lips lifted just a bit. “I’m glad to hear it. I care...more than care for you Scarlett. I have been an idiot to you, but it’s because the idea of falling in love again...” A blush colored his cheeks. “Well, I wasn’t prepared for it.”
Someone whistled loudly, it was followed by a chuckle as Evan neared on horseback. “I see I may not be needed any longer.”
Emmett scowled at his brother. “Yeah, you’re needed. My wife and I need to rest up so you can spend the night looking after the patient.”
“See you at the clinic.” Evan galloped toward the clinic as Emmett took Scarlett’s hand and placed it into the crook of his arm. “My brothers are annoying.”
Scarlett chuckled. “I love them.”
He slid a sideways glance at her. “Hope that one day you’ll feel that way about me.”
“We’ll see.” Scarlett nudged him with her shoulder and he laughed.
That night, Scarlett sat in bed braiding her hair. Emmett entered with a parcel. “I bought you something.”
“It’s not my birthday again is it?” Scarlett teased.
He handed her the parcel and remained waiting for her to open it. So that was how he expressed himself. Scarlett realized. Emmett preferred to give and provide to show he cared. He was never going to be the type of man that would tell her how he felt about her. Instead, he would gift her with items to show his affection.
“I can’t wait to see what this is,” Scarlett said with a wide smile. Eagerly, she tore open the paper to find a set of embroidered handkerchiefs. Each one edged with soft lace. “Oh my goodness.” She looked to Emmett. “They are beautiful.”
He leaned over and pressed a kiss to the side of her face. “Do you really like them?”
Their eyes locked for a long moment and Scarlett nodded. “I do. I love them.”
When Emmett slipped into the bed next to her, Scarlett automatically snuggled against him loving the feel of his warm body. He pulled her into his arms and sighed.
Looking up at him, Scarlett smiled. “Interesting that we’ve always been so close when in bed.”
“Um hmm,” he replied with a lazy kiss to her temple. “That’s because I fell for you the moment I saw you.”
Instantly awake, Scarlett sat up and stared down at him. “What? Then why did you act like a...a bear?”
He shrugged and yawned. “I don’t know.”
“You know,” Scarlett poked him in the chest. “Why?”
Emmett pulled her down across him and wrapped his arms arou
nd Scarlett. “Because it scared me to death.”
It was understandable. A strong stubborn man like him would not like the idea of losing control over his emotions.
Scarlett chuckled and wiggled until once again snug against his side.
“What?” Emmett’s voice was groggy. “You think it’s funny I was so attracted to you I was terrified?”
“No, because I’ve always found you attractive, even when I didn’t like you. To know I have a certain power over you. It’s...it’s nice.”
He groaned, but kissed the top of her head. “Don’t think you can take advantage because of that.”
“Really?” She pressed a kiss to his neck. “I would never.”
“Good night,” Emmett grumbled only to inhale sharply when her hand traveled down his chest past his stomach.
“I am not sleepy,” Scarlett whispered and then giggled when Emmett rolled atop her.
“Neither am I.”
Have you read all the Brides?
BRIDES FOR ALL SEASONS- MONTANA
Wilhelmina, A Winter Bride
Aurora, A Romantic Bride
Lucille, A Lucky Bride
Esther, An Easter Bride
Scarlett, A Summer Bride
Isabel, An Independent Bride
BRIDES FOR ALL SEASONS - WYOMING
Sarah, A Festive Bride
Christina, A Bride for Christmas
Amelia, An Autumn Bride
About the Author
Being a full-time writer is no joke, the co-workers are dogs, no one cleans the office and the only human contact is usually carrying a package and in a hurry to leave.
USA Today Bestselling author Hildie McQueen loves unusual situations and getting into interesting adventures, which is what her characters do as well. She writes romance because she is in love with love! Author of western historical and contemporary, as well as some highlander romances, she writes something every reader can enjoy.
Scarlett, a Summer Bride Page 11