Eleanor's Dilemma

by Cheryl Wright

  “This is good, really good, Missus,” Floyd said when he’d emptied his mouth. “I haven’t had such good food for quite a while.”

  Eleanor blushed at the compliment. It was cute. The pink in her cheeks suited her, and the fact she blushed at praise reinforced Glen’s belief that her haughty behavior was all for show.

  “It most certainly is,” Glen echoed. “You are a wonderful cook, sweetheart.”

  She blushed again, this time trying to hide it by putting her hands to her cheeks. “I, I made apple and rhubarb pie for dessert,” she said, obviously trying to divert attention away from herself.

  “My goodness,” Floyd blurted out. “I cannot believe my luck, landing a job here.”

  Glen glanced across at him. “We’re the lucky ones, Floyd. Finding someone as hard working and conscientious as yourself.”

  Now it was Floyd’s turn to blush. Trying to cover up, he lifted his coffee mug. If he didn’t know better, Glen would have thought there were tears in the other man’s eyes.

  “You’re already like part of the family,” Eleanor told him, and Glen could see she genuinely meant it.

  “Speaking of family, when I was out getting the chickens today, I heard there’s a dance coming up in Belle.”

  Glen glanced across at Eleanor. There was panic in her eyes. “Sounds good, but I’m not sure if we’ll go.”

  “That’s a shame,” the other man said. “They’re only on every couple of months. You’d get to meet the other residents of Belle.”

  Eleanor shook her head. She was determined not to go.

  “It’s a church event.” Floyd continued to tuck into his stew and biscuits.

  Eleanor’s head shot up. “We probably should go then,” she said, and Glen knew how hard that must have been for her. “I, I’m not good with people though, so probably won’t.”

  As was his norm, Floyd didn’t judge. “That’s a shame,” he said, and took another mouthful of food.

  Glen was thoughtful. Should they risk going out in public to learn who was living in Belle? If the killers were here somewhere, this event might bring them out.

  On the other hand, he didn’t want to risk Eleanor’s life. This could be a way to draw the killer’s out, and let her finally get on with her life.

  It could also mean an annulment of their marriage and the parting of ways. He wasn’t sure he was willing to take that risk.

  With the sheriff on side, the decision was made to attend the dance.

  Deputy Will would also be there, so that made three of them looking out for Eleanor. Floyd came along for the ride, and Glen knew he would help if needed.

  Eleanor was still far from convinced it was a good idea. She was more concerned about the welfare of the rest of the town folks than for her own life. None of which surprised Glen.

  For someone who came from money, she was a most unselfish woman.

  She’d been baking for most of the day, and Glen breathed in the aromas. “It’s a long time since I’ve enjoyed a job so much,” he whispered as he came up behind her.

  She startled, and he wrapped his arms around her. Despite the fact they’d married, except for snuggling into him when Floyd was around, she didn’t act like they were married.

  She kept her distance in the bed, preferring to move to the far side. Sometimes he wondered if she would fall out. Despite that, they awoke each morning wrapped in each other’s arms.

  He wasn’t complaining.

  Waking up to her each morning was something he could certainly get used to. In fact, he had already gotten used to it, and didn’t want it to end.

  He’d spent most of his adult life chasing criminals and protecting damsels in distress. The latter had been his lot for the last few years, since he decided to quit his job at Pinkertons. As much as he’d enjoyed his job, he didn’t like the constant travel. He also didn’t like being shot at on a regular basis.

  Living out here on a ranch in Belle, suited him perfectly. He could happily live out the rest of his days here, on one proviso. That Eleanor was by his side.

  She was beautiful, caring, and if she’d let herself, he knew she could be very loving.

  He didn’t care about her money. Glen had plenty of his own. His work had always included all expenses paid, so he’d squirreled away the rest. He had enough money to buy this ranch one hundred times over.

  “Mmmmm.”

  He looked down into her face as she groaned in her sleep. Her lips looked so delicious, so enticing. He slowly moved toward them, ready to kiss her.

  Her eyes fluttered open.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, obviously startled.

  He stayed exactly where he was, still hovering over her mouth. “I was about to kiss you,” he said, his voice husky.

  “Well don’t.” She slid sideways and out of the bed. “That wasn’t part of our agreement.”

  Her words stung, but he knew it was true. He glanced across to her, and was surprised to see the disappointment on her face.

  Was she beginning to have feelings for him? Glen shook that thought away. Surely that wasn’t true? She was adamant he not touch her when Floyd wasn’t around, but it hadn’t deterred him so far.

  He quickly jumped out of bed, and she stared at his bare chest. He stood in front of her wearing only his drawers. She stared, but didn’t say a word.

  Instead she pulled her robe around herself. Despite his agreement, he longed to hold her like any virile man would want to hold his wife.

  But Eleanor was having none of it when they were alone. He desperately wanted to break down her defenses.

  He fully understood her reckoning. She’d already lost one husband, and so wanted to keep her distance. When he’d suggested they marry, he hadn’t done it purely to keep her safe. He’d hoped it would eventually break down the barriers between them.

  So far that hadn’t worked. Well, maybe a little, but not enough for his liking.

  “Don’t just stand there,” she said abruptly. “We have work to do. A ranch doesn’t run itself, you know.”

  She suddenly looked shocked.

  “What are you thinking,” he asked gently.

  Her chin quivered. “About my mother. That’s what she used to say.”

  He stepped toward her and she wrapped her arms around him, leaning her head on his bare chest. Warm tears fell against his skin.

  His hands went up her back and he rubbed them in circles, attempting to comfort her.

  “This isn’t only about your mother, is it?” he asked gently. “It’s about everything that’s happened in the past few months.”

  She glanced up at him, her chin still quivering. “I’m scared,” she said. It was the first time she’d admitted her true feelings to him.

  She was at her most vulnerable right now. He felt bad, because that was on him. “I know you are,” he said, touching her lips with his fingers. “I promise, we will keep you safe.”

  He continued to rub his hands over her back, until she looked up at him with those pleading brown eyes and asked him to kiss her.

  And so he did.

  Chapter Seven

  Eleanor had only been fooling herself.

  All this time she’d denied her feelings for Glen. For her husband.

  There was one reason, and one reason only – she didn’t want to tarnish Nathaniel’s memory. They’d had a good life together, but their marriage had been short. Little more than a year.

  When she thought about it, Eleanor realized she hadn’t really known him.

  She stood staring out the kitchen window, enjoying watching the horses prance across the paddock. She’d still not enticed Glen onto a horse, but she was working on it. She loved to ride – it was freeing to her, and she missed it.

  Back in Great Falls she rode almost daily. Sometimes bareback – her most favorite way to ride. Nathaniel insisted she didn’t ride when he wasn’t there, in case she fell he always said, but refused to rid
e with her. If she wasn’t back by a certain time, he would come looking for her.

  When she wanted to go shopping, he accompanied her. And he demanded she stay at home when he was at work. She also had to keep the doors locked - for her safety, he said.

  He was always looking out for her.

  Or was he? She was beginning to think their marriage may not have been all she thought it was. Glen didn’t place restrictions on her, except to stay close, but that was for her protection.

  She was collecting eggs for the day’s baking when she heard horses out the front. They never had visitors.

  Glen and Floyd were at the worker’s hut doing repairs.

  Glen had forbidden her to open the door, even if she thought she knew who was there. She called out to him and he came running.

  Floyd gave her a strange look, and her thoughts went to what he must think of her unusual behavior.

  “I heard horses out the front,” she said in a panic when he got closer.

  He held her by the shoulders to reassure her, and kissed her gently on the cheek.

  They went inside the house, leaving Floyd out the back to continue his work. Glen moved the curtains slightly to check who was there. It was the sheriff and deputy.

  They breathed a collective sigh of relief, then let them in.

  Sheriff Knight looked excited. Then he glanced at Eleanor and his excitement seemed to evaporate. “I have news,” he said, then glanced at Eleanor again.

  They waited expectantly but nothing more came.

  “Whatever you have to say, Sheriff, you can say in front of me.” She was in a huff, that much was evident.

  She waved them over to the sitting room chairs, and offered them coffee, then left the room. Still annoyed the sheriff didn’t want to share his news with her.

  She could hear voices coming from the other room, but couldn’t make out the words. What were they saying? What was the news the sheriff was so excited about?

  Eleanor returned with a tray of coffee-filled mugs and a plate of cookies.

  All eyes turned to her, and dread filled her.

  She handed out the drinks, fulfilling her obligation as hostess before sitting down and asking the obvious question. “So what is the news,” she asked, her voice even, ensuring her emotions didn’t trip her up.

  Both their guests turned to Glen, silently begging him to be the bearer of the bad news. It was bad news, she was certain. Otherwise, why were they so reluctant to tell her?

  “For goodness sakes,” she said, quite annoyed at the silence in the room. “Someone spit it out.”

  She looked from one to the other. Why were they so reluctant to speak to her? “Glen?”

  He rubbed his hand across his stubbled chin. “It’s about Nathaniel.” He stared at her as though he was sizing her up. “It appears he may have been complicit in a planned robbery at his bank. The sheriff in Great Falls believes he backed out at the last minute, which is why he was murdered.”

  Her heart thumped in her chest. Surely that wasn’t true? Nathaniel wouldn’t do such a thing. Would he?

  She quietly placed her mug on a side table with shaky hands, then stood. “Excuse me,” she said, voice shaking and her head spinning. Eleanor walked toward the kitchen to go outside and get some air. The last thing she remembered was Glen catching her as she fainted.

  No matter how many times he tried to discuss what had happened, Eleanor found a way around it. She didn’t want to know her former husband may have been involved in a planned bank robbery.

  Glen wasn’t a cruel man, but he needed his wife to understand the implications. Nathaniel had apparently backed out, and was killed for his troubles.

  Eleanor was extremely lucky to be alive. At least that was his opinion.

  Since the revelations about her former husband, she hadn’t mentioned him. Not even once. Glen already had a lot of empathy for her, but now it was ten-fold. He couldn’t begin to imagine how dreadful she must feel.

  She’d kept herself busy baking, cleaning the house, and doing laundry. She also spent a lot of time watching the horses from the fence of the paddock.

  She almost constantly annoyed Glen to go riding, but he’d resisted. It wasn’t his favorite past-time. Besides he wasn’t sure how safe she would be.

  Glen came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “Want to go riding?” He wanted to draw her out of her misery, and as much as he hated riding, he wanted to see her happy.

  She spun around in his arms. “Can we? That would be marvelous!” She seemed more excited than she’d been in a very long time.

  She hugged him, and he reveled in her nearness. In the days since the sheriff had visited, she’d kept her distance. He knew it wasn’t him – it was Eleanor dwelling on the past.

  He hoped this would be a turning point. She looked up at him with those big brown eyes. “About Nathanial,” she said, her eyes glistening.

  Glen leaned into her and kissed her cheek. “We don’t have to talk about him if you don’t want to.” She nodded then held him tight.

  “Then let’s not.” She stayed there for a few minutes, which he reveled in, then pushed out of his arms and headed for the house. He knew well what she’d be doing – cutting up apples and carrots for the horses. Fury in particular had become very used to being spoiled.

  Glen sent Floyd to collect Fury and another horse for Glen. He didn’t like Eleanor going into the paddock. They had no idea how the horses would react, but Floyd had dealt with them before, so knew them reasonably well.

  He entered the paddock with two sets of reins, and soon had them ready to be dressed. Glen helped him once they were back in the stables.

  “This horse, Fury,” Glen said, matter of factly. “Can he be trusted?”

  Floyd glanced at him. “One of the best. Hasn’t been ridden a lot from what I remember, but if anyone can handle him, it’s the Missus.”

  “What about this one?” He indicated the second horse Floyd had led into the stables.

  “The Missus calls this one Winston - he’s pretty calm. Probably what you need since you’re not so experienced.” Glen glared at him, then felt guilty. What Floyd said was true. He only rode when he absolutely had to.

  Eleanor rejoined them, and Floyd helped her up onto the saddle. Glen managed by himself.

  “Don’t get lost,” Floyd told them. “Are you certain you’ll be alright? You don’t know these parts.”

  Glen glanced across at his wife. She chewed on her bottom lip. She only did that when she was anxious.

  “On second thoughts, perhaps you should come along.”

  Floyd rounded up another horse, this one called Temper, and saddled it. Then they set off across their property.

  Glen glanced across at Eleanor. She was in her element.

  She sat tall on Fury, her hands relaxed in the reins. She’d yanked her skirts up around her legs like she’d done it a thousand times before, and she probably had. She didn’t seem to care that Floyd could see her bare legs, let alone her ankles.

  Glen was enjoying it, but would prefer the other man didn’t.

  They started out at a slow walk, but Eleanor was quickly impatient and moved into a trot. The ranch property was large, much larger than Glen had originally anticipated. As they got further away from the house, Eleanor reached up and pulled the clip out of her hair, letting it flow freely across her back and shoulders.

  Something inside Glen shimmied, and he couldn’t help but stare. This beautiful woman was his wife.

  He tried to forget it was just for show.

  He watched mesmerized as the wind blew her hair in the air and across her face. She shook her head to let it run free. He wished he was close enough to run his hands through it – then he remembered Floyd.

  The ranch hand hung back at a big enough distance to give them privacy, and Glen moved closer to Eleanor and Fury. As he got closer, she began to canter, and Glen urged his horse to do the same. P
retty soon she was galloping, and was too far ahead for his liking.

  “Eleanor,” he called loudly. “Slow down.” But she totally ignored him.

  They soon came to a stand of trees and she slowed, then entered the forest-like area. “Seriously Eleanor, you need to stop.”

  He was getting frustrated with her now, because she would soon be out of sight, and he would not be in control if something happened. Floyd came up beside him, and they continued on together.

  “I don’t think the Missus realizes there could be rattlers in there,” he said, looking decidedly worried.

  “Damn it,” Glen said, urging his horse forward.

  When they found her a few minutes later, Eleanor was no longer in the saddle. She was standing in front of Fury, one hand to the horse’s face and the other feeding him pieces of carrot.

  It was a sight to behold, and Glen’s heart did a little skip. The love between rider and horse was evident. He dearly wanted to enjoy that same sort of relationship with his wife.

  They arrived at the dance early, before practically anyone else.

  Glen wanted to see the layout of the place in case some catastrophe occurred and he needed to know his way around.

  Floyd came with them on the wagon – they couldn’t deny him this night. He was one of the family now.

  Eleanor packed up all her baked goods, their contribution to the night. He was certain she’d gone overboard, but she was having none of it.

  Apple pie, raspberry jam slice, and a batch of blueberry muffins. She’d made two lots of each – one each for the dance, and another to leave at home. He wasn’t complaining.

  He’d come to realize baking was Eleanor’s way of reducing stress. If that’s what made her feel more calm, then he was all for it.

  She’d put on her Sunday best gown, which she usually reserved for church. She’d insisted she needed to look her best for the dance.

  If that’s what made her happy, then so be it.

  When this was all over, no doubt she’d order more gowns from her favorite boutique. Right now though, it was simply too dangerous.

  He’d watched as she brushed her brown locks and tied her hair back. No matter what she did with it, she always looked beautiful. And refined. His Eleanor was an elegant lady and that could never be disputed.