He liked the little home the town had provided for him. It was one of the perks of being sheriff in a small town like this one. The residence came with the job. It might not have been like that in other small towns, but Knox was glad Shady Forks did things that way. He hadn’t worried about anything except making sure his clothes made it into the right dresser drawers.
The icebox even had freshly made juice, tea, and lemonade in it when he arrived. Those drinks were gone now, and he still had yet to find out who had provided them for him. Along with the beverages, he’d been given sliced ham, sliced cheese, two loaves of bread, and a roast that was cooked and only needed to be warmed up in a hot oven.
As soon as he stepped into the house, he noticed a chill. It was late spring, and the days were warm, but the nights were chilly and breezy. He immediately lit the lantern on the table by the door on the inside. Once he could see, he set about making a fire. While the house warmed up, he planned to sit on the porch and look at the starry sky with a coffee and whiskey. The coffee was to clear his head; the whiskey was to muddle it. They were the perfect combination.
Fifteen minutes later, he was seated on the porch in the provided white iron chair with a blue and yellow-flowered cushion on it, his drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other.
The memory of talking with Melissa that day floated through his mind. He had spent a week getting to know people in Shady Forks. Mayor Schneider was a strong character, vibrant, warm, amusing. The members of the town council had been friendly to him. He hadn’t met anyone he hadn’t liked right away except the men in his jail cell, and he couldn’t really say whether he liked or disliked them. They’d done something stupid, and they were out to do something stupid almost immediately after being taken to jail.
Out of all the people he’d met in the last week, Melissa had made the strongest impression. He was at a loss as to why the beautiful woman would have anything to do with Jonah, who was clearly not in a good state of mind or place in his life.
Not to mention the fact that he was a giant next to the petite little woman. What could they possibly have in common? She looked like the type to enjoy a good play or a good book, maybe the reading of poems while floating down the river in a boat. Jonah was a huge lumberjack who would probably topple any boat he tried to get in. And Knox couldn’t see him reciting poetry.
He chuckled to himself. He’d never considered himself to be a shallow man, but he couldn’t help wondering if it was just Melissa’s outer beauty that had caught his attention so completely.
He pictured her stomping to the back of the jailhouse, her ire seeping from every pore in her body. She was fiery and confident. That didn’t necessarily mean she wasn’t skirting the law like her betrothed.
But Knox didn’t want to believe that. He wanted to believe she was as honest as she seemed, that her brothers weren’t part of the upper class with their noses in the air, thinking they can get away with anything because they have more money than people should have.
Knox had known a lot of struggle during his childhood. His uncle hadn’t made a lot of money as a sheriff and hadn’t done good things with the money he did make. He was a good man, good enough to raise Knox with strong moral values and a great deal of confidence. But he’d been a flawed man, and it was those flaws that Knox had vowed not to have. He’d actively pursued different ways to investigate and interrogate because of the extreme approach his uncle had taken to the job.
Sutton had required a firm hand, and his uncle had provided that. He’d hired deputies that reflected his methods and didn’t have a problem employing them. Because of that, Knox hadn’t joined right away and only spent two years as a deputy before his uncle retired, and he was made sheriff.
During the nine years he’d spent as sheriff after his uncle’s retirement and before his death, Knox had deflected the jabs and tirades his uncle leveled at him as the older man saw him making changes to the methods employed by the sheriff and deputies.
It wasn’t in Knox’s nature to be aggressive. He liked to be smart. He preferred piecing puzzles together to beating a confession out of someone.
It had taken him fifteen minutes of constant talking to Jonah earlier that day to get the man to shut up after Melissa left. Whatever she’d said to him, he was hopping angry. Buddy hadn’t said a word, even when Knox questioned him about what Melissa had said.
He’d shrugged his shoulders and said none of it was his business. He “hadn’t heard a word.”
Knox could hear sounds coming from the rest of the town as people continued their evenings. It hadn’t yet reached nine o’clock, and he could see the sky reflecting the light of the houses and shops in town that were still open.
For a moment, he contemplated going to the saloon and seeing how things went on a weekday night. He could hear the piano music from his cottage, which was down the street from the jailhouse and set back from the road a nice distance. The Dancing Bull was also near the jailhouse. There was another saloon on the other side of town, but Knox couldn’t hear anything from that far off. That side of town was in the jurisdiction of the other jailhouse, which was looked over by Deputy Barstock. He might as well have been a second sheriff, according to Baxter, though nothing really happened that would warrant the sheriff being called. If there was ever to be a large incident, Baxter said, the criminals would just be brought to the main jailhouse, where there were more cells and more deputies.
He sat in silence, opening his ears to the sounds around him. The city hadn’t allowed him to hear anything like this. The crickets sometimes chirped in rhythm with the piano music playing in the distance, which was amusing to Knox.
It was an hour later before he decided it was time to go in. He leaned forward and was about to stand up when he saw a shadow in his front yard. He squinted, staring into the darkness. It wasn’t a human. Too small to be human, even a child.
He stood up and went to the edge of the porch, standing there for a moment before reaching up to take down the lantern that hung from a hook on the pole. He held it out in front of him, directing it toward the yard. There were several bushes planted haphazardly through the grass, making him wonder if there had been more that were just removed.
“Who’s there?” he said, knowing whatever it was wouldn’t be able to respond. Animals didn’t respond to questions. He chuckled to himself. “Come here. Come here, boy. Or girl. Come on.” He whistled, sure it was a small dog. He moved down the five steps to the ground and crossed to the first bush, holding up the lantern. He whistled again, keeping it low and smooth so as not to be frightening.
He moved to the second bush and looked around it. His assumption had been correct. He was looking at a small dog with long, fine hair and a thin nose. He crouched and held out one hand.
“I bet you’re hungry,” he murmured. “Looks like you haven’t eaten in a while. Come here and let me take care of you. Come on.” He brushed his fingers together and spoke gently until the dog scooted with its belly against the ground until the animal’s nose was in his palm.
14
Melissa was trembling when she returned home that day, sure that Jonah would show up at the ranch as soon as he was let go. Rich told her when he came out that he’d instructed Knox not to let Jonah out until they had left the area. At least they were able to get away.
She couldn’t believe it when, by nightfall, the man still hadn’t shown up. It should have comforted her, but instead, it only made her feel worse. She expected him any minute. And since he hadn’t shown up during the day, what if he was waiting for the night to come and get her, wreak havoc, possibly hurt others or himself?
Melissa decided while sitting in the window seat in her room to take a walk. It was dark, but there were lanterns all around the garden area, especially where there were benches so visitors could sit and admire the pretty landscaping and the flower beds. She needed some time to clear her head. She didn’t really want to be alone, but her brothers were spending time with their wives.
/> Melissa didn’t usually feel like an odd man out, but that evening she did.
She was just about to leave the house when she thought of Aileen. Maybe the nanny wouldn’t be too busy and would like to come for a walk. Melissa turned and headed down the hallway to the left that would take her to the rooms they’d given Aileen. Theresa and Nate lived in a house on the ranch property not far from the main house. They spent most of their free time at the ranch and all of their private time at their house.
She came to a large wooden door with leaves sculpted up the sides and across the top and bottom. In the middle of the door burned into the wood with fancy letters read the words “East Wing.” It wasn’t technically a whole new wing to the house, but they’d provided plumbing and other amenities to make it more like an additional private residence.
Melissa knocked and listened with her ear pressed against the door. She tried the knob and found it unlocked. She went into the hallway the door opened up to, calling for Aileen.
“Aileen, are you here? It’s Melissa.”
Just a few seconds later, Aileen came around the corner, peering curiously at Melissa.
“Well, good evening, Melissa. What brings you around?”
“I thought maybe about going for a walk. I don’t really want to be alone. I’d like to talk to someone. Would you like to come with me?”
“That would be very nice, thank you for inviting me. Let me get my shawl and my shoes on.”
Ten minutes later, the two ladies were walking side by side to the front of the house. Melissa opened the door for Aileen, and they proceeded out onto the porch.
“Do you know anything that’s going on with me and Jonah?” Melissa asked, starting the conversation. She was dying to talk to someone about what had happened that day. Someone other than Geraldine.
Aileen nodded. “I know a little. I’m observant. But I will be honest, most of my time is spent with the children. They are what I’m here for.” She gave Melissa a brilliant smile, which could be seen even in the dim light of the lanterns and the moon above their heads.
Melissa nodded back. “Yes, and I know how dedicated you are to them. You do a wonderful job with them. I hope when I have children, you will help with them, too. You are so much more experienced than me.”
Aileen laughed softly. “You know I will take care of any child that is presented to me. And I am still hopeful that I’ll have my own someday. I’m still young. I should probably start thinking about finding a husband in the next few years, though. I’m already starting late.” She gave another soft chuckle and added, “But you wanted to talk about you and Jonah. I do know that things have not been so good lately.”
“What have you noticed?”
Aileen was quiet for a moment as they walked. Melissa was momentarily taken aback by a light breeze that filled her nose with the sweet scents of the flowers around her. She closed her eyes briefly and enjoyed the moment.
“When I first got here with Theresa, you seemed very much in love with Jonah. And he with you. That’s the first impression I got. We’ve been here almost two years, and things have changed between you.”
Melissa’s chest tightened with anxiety. “What do you think changed? Do you have any idea?”
Aileen gave her an inquisitive look. “I’m as much of an outsider as you’re going to find, Melissa. I’m not there on a daily basis to observe what you two do together. And I don’t think my time here is enough to qualify me to say what has changed.”
Melissa was a little disappointed but not surprised by Aileen’s blunt response. The woman’s red hair and green eyes gave away her Irish roots, and Melissa had always respected the Irish she’d met as being honest to a point. Sometimes tactfully, sometimes not.
“I will tell you this, though,” Aileen continued. They had just about reached the bench where Melissa wanted to sit and talk, and she directed the nanny toward it. “I haven’t really seen much about you that’s changed. I think you’ve reacted in response to the way he’s treated you since the beginning of the year. I don’t know what happened, but it seems to me that’s when he started being… that’s when he started not coming around as much. I did notice that.”
Melissa thought about what the woman was saying. As much as she’d thought about it, she hadn’t noticed a particular point in time when Jonah had started acting differently. She stared out in front of her, moving her eyes over the shadows on the horizon.
“Did something happen at the beginning of the year, Melissa?” Aileen asked, her voice so quiet it was almost inaudible. “Do you remember anything?”
Melissa swept her eyes over to look at Aileen’s face. She took herself back to the New Year’s celebration, the party they’d had at the ranch, and the people who had been there.
Something that she remembered made her gasp and took her breath away. A face had flashed through her mind, a guest at the party that she didn’t recognize.
She recognized him now. It was the man who had threatened her.
He’d been at the New Year’s party.
Chills ran over her skin. Her eyes opened wide.
“Something did happen.” Melissa would have sworn she heard excitement in the nanny’s voice. “Tell me what you’ve remembered. I’m dying to know.”
“Do you remember that man who came around asking for Jonah that night at Saturday dinner?”
Aileen nodded.
“He’s not the only stranger who’s been lurking around Jonah. A man stopped me and told me I needed to be careful because Jonah was going to get me in trouble. The company I keep is putting me in danger. That man… he was at our New Year’s party. I can’t believe I didn’t remember that until now.”
“I’m glad I was able to help. What are you going to do? Tell the sheriff?”
Melissa nodded. She’d been so upset about the situation with Jonah, she hadn’t thought about the new sheriff nearly as much as she wanted to. “Yes. I’ll go talk to him tomorrow maybe. Or not. I’m not sure yet. Maybe I should just leave things alone. I’ve already told Jonah I don’t want to marry him.”
“I’ll bet he was pretty angry about that, wasn’t he?”
Melissa snorted. “He wasn’t pleased. But he hasn’t really even talked to me for over a week. He’s been avoiding me. I don’t know why he would think I’d still want to be with him. I’m not going to marry a man who can ignore me for a week on purpose. That doesn’t sound like a good marriage in the making.”
“I think you might find yourself to be very lonely, Miss Melissa,” Aileen replied.
Melissa nodded. “I agree. I’m so glad you came out on this walk with me. If you hadn’t, I might not have remembered seeing those men. He really scared Jonah a lot. I wonder what he’s holding over his head?”
Aileen lifted one side of her lips. “Do you really want to know?”
That was a good question. Melissa wasn’t sure she did.
15
A week passed before Knox had a reason to see Jonah Bell again. A complaint had come in from the lumberjack’s coworkers, saying that he had stolen equipment from the shop. The only reason the men didn’t take care of it themselves was that Jonah couldn’t be found.
Knox took his hat from the rack and plopped it on his head, looking at Baxter, who was seated at his desk.
“Wanna go with me to pick up Jonah Bell?”
Baxter pushed himself to his feet, reaching for his own hat. “Might as well. Nothin’ else goin’ on around here.”
The two men headed out into the bright sunlight, mounting their horses and setting off for Jonah’s place in silence.
Knox had never been to Jonah’s cottage. When the two men got close, he frowned.
“Is that it?” he asked, squinting to see if what he was seeing was real.
“Yep. That’s it.”
“Surely, he hasn’t always lived here.”
“It used to be a lot nicer,” Baxter answered. “He was living with his aunt for a long time but moved out of there about a
year or two ago, I think. Not really sure when. Haven’t kept up on Bell’s movement, to be real honest with ya.”
“So he has an aunt,” Knox remarked offhandedly.
Baxter only nodded as the two men rode up to the front of the worn-down cottage. Knox couldn’t believe the state of the place. If no one lived there and hadn’t for years, maybe he would understand. But the way it looked—there was no excuse in the world Jonah could give that could justify what Knox was seeing.
Vines, shrubs, and foliage had grown so wild, they just looked like a tangled mess in the small front yard and even going up the exterior walls to the roof. Paint was peeling from the wooden boards the cottage was made of. Knox wouldn’t be at all surprised if there were holes in the walls that let in the weather without regard. Not to mention the roof. His eyes flicked up, but he couldn’t see its true condition from where he was.
The men dismounted and walked up the small path to the front door. Knox lifted one hand to knock, and when he did so, the door moved slightly. He noticed it wasn’t latched and glanced over his shoulder at Baxter, who raised his eyebrows questioningly.
They slowly walked into the small house, which was dark and dusty from the get-go. It looked like it hadn’t been occupied for months. A thick layer of dust covered every surface, and Knox could see it floating through the air when he opened the door.
“Jonah?” he called out. “Jonah Bell? Sheriff Knox. Are you here?”
He pushed away a feeling of dread. The man had been getting into bad situations for what seemed like six months or more, according to those Knox had talked to. Now he was stealing. Why was he stealing? Knox could only assume Jonah owed someone and had to find a way to pay it back.
“Ya know, he’d have to leave town to sell any equipment he stole,” Baxter murmured from behind him. Knox glanced back and noticed Baxter was turning his head this way and that, running his eyes all over the interior of the cottage. The front door gave way to the living room immediately. There was no foyer. To the left was a small kitchen area with a table, a stove, and a sink with a pumping faucet. An icebox sat in the corner, as well.
A Bride's Dilemma Page 6