The Sheriff and the Troubled Bride

by Indiana Wake

  “He should have looked where he was going,” he grumbled as he reached the porch.

  “And you should not walk out in front of horses,” Keith shot back. “You were lucky you didn’t get trampled underfoot.” He nodded towards the back, where the cells were housed. “Everything’s ready for you. Get going.”

  Luke was still grumbling under his breath, but he did as he was told. Keith glanced at one of his deputies, one of the men who was going to keep an eye on Luke as he worked. Then he retreated into his office. There was no point standing over the boy; that wouldn’t make him work faster.

  And seeing Luke had Keith thinking about Simone Cartwright again. The woman had got under his skin and she hadn’t even been trying. That frustrated him. And yet Keith couldn’t bring himself to walk away.

  He was in trouble, that much was certain.

  “I’ve finished.”

  Keith started. He then realized he had been sitting at his desk staring at a report he should have written days ago without doing anything to it. And from the time on the clock, almost an hour and a half had gone by. Keith focused on Luke, who was standing in the doorway. His shirt sleeves were above his elbows, his shirt front was wet, and he was grimy and sweaty. But his eyes were bright.

  “All right.” Keith managed to get to his feet. He still had no idea how that much time had managed to pass. “Let’s go and have a look.”

  Luke grumbled, but he led Keith back into the cells. It wasn’t looking too bad. Better than Keith or any of his men would have done. For all his grumblings, Luke was a hard worker. Keith looked around and nodded.

  “Not bad,” he commented. “For your first go.”

  “You’re not going to make me go over it again, are you?”

  “No. But next time, make it a little more thorough.” Keith took Luke’s arm. “Come with me, son.”

  They went back to the office, Keith closing the door behind them. Then he left Luke in the middle of the room while he went behind the desk, settling in his chair. He waved at the chair opposite for Luke to sit on.

  “It won’t bite, Luke. You can sit.”

  Luke hesitated a moment before he slid into the chair. For twelve years of age, he was rapidly growing upwards and outwards. The boy was already carrying a lot of muscle. He would be growing into a strong young man, that much was certain.

  Keith sat back, lacing his fingers over his stomach.

  “Your aunt does love you, you know.”

  “I know.” Luke scowled. “She’s just so different to Ma. Stricter. Ma never shouted at me. Neither did Pa. They could be harsh, but they never shouted.”

  “You do have to remember that your aunt doesn’t have children of her own. She became a mother overnight, and this is all new to her.” Keith tilted his head to the side. “Just like it’s new to you.”

  “I just wish she would calm down. Relax.”

  Keith could see it from both sides. On the one side, Luke was fighting back as he had been passed from pillar to post, when all he wanted was to be back with his parents. And on the other, Simone was struggling to come to terms with being a parent. She had no idea how to react to it or how to treat a child. They were floundering and neither seemed to be holding the other up.

  “How did your parents die, Luke?” Keith asked.

  Luke swallowed hard. He looked down at his hands.

  “Smallpox. It took them very quickly, and they couldn’t afford the doctor. I was lucky not to get it. Ma made Aunt Simone promise to look after me if anything happened to her. Aunt Simone said she would, but I’m sure she’s regretting it now.”

  “I don’t believe that.” Keith paused. “She does love you.”

  “I know she does.” Luke jabbed a finger at his head. “She does my head in a lot of the time.”

  “So, you decide doing bad things and hanging around with the wrong people is the way to sort it out?”

  “You could say that.”

  Luke was lashing out, just in the wrong way. Keith sat forward.

  “Maybe you should take things one step at a time. You’re becoming a man, Luke, and you need to look after your aunt as well as yourself. She’s caring for you, but who’s looking out for her? She needs you more than she wants to admit.”

  Luke nodded silently. Then he brightened up.

  “You could look out for her,” he said earnestly. “You have done since we came here.”

  Keith coughed. He knew his face was going red. He hadn’t realized his actions had been that noticeable.

  “It’s my job to look out for people here,” he said gruffly.

  “Not everyone like you have,” Luke insisted. “It’s not part of your job to look after one solitary person, and that’s what you’re doing with Aunt Simone.”

  Keith could see this was getting into a dangerous part of a conversation that he didn’t want to discuss, much less with a twelve-year-old boy. He cleared his throat and shifted in his chair, aware that Luke was watching him.

  “I like to think of myself as a friend. But I’m not family. You are. You lost your parents, but Simone lost family as well. Your mother was her sister. And I highly doubt she’s actually been able to mourn their passing because she’s been focused on you. You need to support each other and mourn together.”

  Luke’s expression had changed as he spoke. A realization had come into his eyes and his shoulders slumped. He looked at the floor.

  “I guess,” he mumbled.

  “Do you think you can do that?”

  “I…I’ll try.” Luke shrugged. “I just don’t think I’ll be successful.”

  Once you got past his defenses, Luke was simply a scared child. He didn’t want to let anyone down, and he was just coming to the knowledge that this was all he had been doing all along. Keith felt some sympathy for him; there had been a time when he had been in the same position not long ago.

  “Stick with me, Luke. I’ll help wherever I can. If you want to get yourself a part-time job here to help your aunt out, I’d be more than happy to let you have it.”

  Luke brightened up.

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  Now Luke was looking more animated. Perhaps just giving him responsibility, something to focus his energy on, was what he needed. Then Luke made a face.

  “As long as I don’t have to clean out the cells all the time.”

  Keith grinned.

  “I can’t promise that. But you’ll see the good side of it eventually.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.”

  Chapter Three

  Simone noticed the change in Luke pretty quickly. Within two days of Sheriff Dickinson offering to take him under his wing, Luke was beginning to calm down. He wasn’t snapping at her or being sullen. If anything, he actually sat with her and they talked. Simone couldn’t remember the last time she had had a conversation with her nephew that hadn’t ended in an argument.

  They had talked about his parents, their life, anything. And Luke started crying. Then, for the first time, Simone was crying as well. They held each other as they sobbed, huddled in the warmth from the fire. After a while, they were too exhausted to do anything except slump on the couch. Luke had fallen asleep, and Simone found herself holding the boy for the first time since he was a toddler.

  She was beginning to feel the weight of being a guardian heavily.

  Once that had got out of their system, Luke began to turn back into the little boy Simone remembered. He concentrated on his schoolwork and helped out around the boarding house. His friends tried to come by and urge him to come out, but Luke always turned them away. Simone could tell he was tempted, but then he squared his shoulders and walked away with sneers and catcalls behind him.

  He was growing up fast. And Simone couldn’t help but feel proud of him.

  The next two weeks passed without issue. Luke went to school and then to the sheriff’s office, where he worked for a few hours before coming back with some pennies in his pocket. He pressed them
on Simone, who felt guilty about taking money he had earned for himself. But Luke was insistent.

  Simone had almost cried at that. She had got so used to being on her own and looking after herself that receiving help from others was a foreign concept.

  Whatever Keith had said to him seemed to be registering in the boy’s head.

  Simone was still wondering about that one evening when Luke went to bed, but not before he gave her a hug and said that he loved her. That had brought tears to Simone’s eyes. She sat by the fire, Beth sitting across from her sewing, her head bowed over the dress she was fixing. It was a warm, comfortable scene that Simone enjoyed. She didn’t need to talk to enjoy herself, and Beth seemed to realize that.

  She hadn’t realized that she had fallen asleep until someone touched her shoulder. Simone started awake, almost falling off the armchair. Strong arms went around her and stopped her from crashing to the ground. Simone looked up and found her face inches away from Sheriff Dickinson’s. Her heart stuttered before starting again. Never in her life had she been this close to any man.

  “Sheriff,” she squeaked.

  “Sorry for waking you like this.” Keith eased her slowly back onto her chair, kneeling before her. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

  “Well, you did.” Simone looked around. Then she was aware they were alone. “Where’s Beth?”

  “She let me in and then headed to bed.” Keith gave her a lopsided smile. “Claimed she had a headache.”

  “She didn’t have a headache a short while ago.”

  “I’m not one to guess what might have been going on there.”

  Simone, however, did know what was going on. Beth had been dropping hints lately about the way she and Keith seemed to be spending a lot of time together. Simone didn’t find it amusing and was grateful to have a friend. But she couldn’t deny that having Keith around had her pulse racing and she didn’t want him to leave whenever the sheriff stepped outside.

  From the way he kept coming back and then spent hours into the night talking to her, Keith seemed to be of the same thought.

  Simone pressed her fingers to her temples. Her head was starting to throb.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I came by to see how you were. And to find out how Luke is.”

  “You saw him earlier today, didn’t you?”

  Keith shrugged.

  “Even then.” His expression softened. “How are things?”

  Simone smiled. She sat back in the chair.

  “Better. I don’t know what you said to him, but Luke’s getting better. He’s kinder, and there’s much less arguing. I barely recognize the boy I arrived here with. Whatever you’ve been doing with him, it seems to be working.” She sighed. “I just hope it lasts longer than a few weeks.”

  “It should do.” Keith tossed his Stetson onto the nearby couch and turned back to her. “He’s a good lad really, Simone. He’s just struggling to cope with losing both his parents so quickly.”

  “I know.”

  There was something Simone had been wanting to ask for a long time. She had been nervous about it. Keith showed an affection towards Luke and seemed to be turning into a father figure for him. Luke appeared to be grasping onto that. That did make Simone wonder about Keith’s own past.

  She watched Keith’s expression.

  “When did you lose your children?”

  Keith started, blinking in surprise. Then his eyes narrowed.

  “What makes you think I’ve lost mine?”

  “Because when I asked before if you were a father, you said you had been.” Simone began to flounder as she saw Keith’s jaw tighten. “I…I assumed that they were dead, that’s all. I…”

  “No, they’re not dead,” Keith said abruptly. “Just…”

  He broke off, his eyes dropping to the floor. Simone wanted to move, but Keith was blocking her in, his hands on the arms of her chair. He was silent for so long that Simone was getting nervous. She shifted, which had Keith standing abruptly. He strode towards the fireplace and stood in front of the hearth, his hands shoved in his pockets as he stared into the flames.

  “I’m divorced.” His voice was gruff as he spoke. “That’s a rarity around here, I know. But Megan, she…she was fed up with my work. She didn’t like the fact it was a dangerous job, and that there was a chance that I could be killed. She wanted me to have a safer job, like at the bank, but I refused. It was not me, and she knew it.” He closed his eyes, and Simone saw the pain flash across his face. “Two years ago, Megan decided she had had enough and just left. Took Toby and Lucy with her.”

  Simone felt the pang of sadness hit her. She wanted to cry for him.

  “And you haven’t seen them in two years?”

  “No. I didn’t contest the divorce, but Megan made it difficult for me to see Toby and Lucy. I had no idea where they were, and her family wouldn’t say a word. I didn’t want to give up on them, but everyone made sure that I didn’t see them again.”

  Simone blinked back the tears. A woman shouldn’t keep children from their father unless for a very good reason. And being in a dangerous job wasn’t a good reason. Keith wasn’t a danger to his children or to his former wife. Keith clearly didn’t like it, but he had to put up with it.

  Simone wished he didn’t have to. She rose to her feet and approached him. She wanted to touch him, give him some reassurance, but Simone kept her hands to herself.

  “That’s why you’ve become attached to Luke, isn’t it?” She asked.

  Keith snapped his head around at her.

  “What makes you think I’m attached?”

  “Well, you wouldn’t be helping us, otherwise.”

  Keith was silent. He turned to her, and Simone was very much aware of how close he was. She was almost pressed up against his chest. She stuck her hands behind her back, resisting the urge to reach out and touch him. Even then, Simone could feel the heat from his body. Keith peered down at her, his eyes searching her face.

  “Hasn’t it occurred to you I might be doing this for another reason entirely?” he stated softly.

  Simone snorted.

  “Well, you certainly wouldn’t be doing it for me. Nobody’s ever done anything for me.”

  Keith shook his head. Then his hand came up and he cupped Simone’s jaw in his roughened palm. Simone was so stunned she couldn’t move. His eyes were rooting her to the spot as he bent his head.

  “You’re far too hard on yourself, Simone,” he whispered, his mouth inches from hers.

  Simone had thought he was going to kiss her. The look in his eyes said he wanted to. But then he kissed her cheek, his lips very close to her mouth. Simone closed her eyes with a sigh. She wished she was brave enough to kiss him properly, to lean into him.

  Keith drew back a little, nuzzling her cheek before he raised his head.

  “I’d better head home,” he said gruffly. “It’s getting late.”

  Simone didn’t want him to go. This was pushing boundaries of etiquette, but she didn’t care.

  “Keith…”

  “Get some sleep.” Keith pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Goodnight, Simone.”

  He moved away from her, leaving Simone swaying. He picked up his Stetson and put it on as he walked to the door, not looking behind him. Simone could only stare after him as the door closed behind the sheriff.

  Chapter Four

  James Waters stood back and took the stethoscope out of his ears. He nodded approvingly.

  “Everything sounds good right now, Sheriff. You’re fit and healthy as before.”

  “Good.” Keith reached for his shirt and slipped it on. “At least that chest infection didn’t knock me flat like I thought it would.”

  “How long ago did you have it?”

  “Two months ago.” Keith coughed, and then winced. “And that still hurts.”

  “It’s nothing to be worried about. Your chest sounds clear and the coughing has reduced.” James went to his desk, dropping his steth
oscope into his bag. “From what I heard about it from my predecessor, it was a wonder you weren’t killed by it. And it was the worst he had seen.”

  “That’s what he said to me as well.”

  “And yet you still went out and arrested people.” James shook his head. “What possessed you to go to work when you were close to death’s door?”

  Keith shrugged as he finished buttoning his shirt.

  “I needed to do my job.”

  “You have deputies. It’s called delegation.”

  “I may have them, but nothing beats doing the job myself.”

  Then Keith was aware of the doctor looking at him curiously. He respected the new doctor, but he was far too astute for Keith’s liking. And James seemed to be trying his hand at matchmaking the women he had brought with him. Simone was one of those women, and Keith wasn’t about to have James pair him off with Simone Cartwright.

  Even if everything in Keith’s being said he wouldn’t object to it at all.

  “You just don’t want to be at home on your own, do you, Keith?” James asked quietly.

  Keith groaned and hopped off the surgery’s bed.

  “Don’t start that again, James. I’ve already had to deal with telling my secrets to Simone without having to tell you to buzz off.”

  “Simone? Simone Cartwright?”

  “Do you know another Simone around here?”

  James was looking at Keith like he had never seen him before.

  “You told her about Megan, Toby and Lucy?”

  “Yes, I did.” Keith narrowed his eyes at the doctor. “Don’t you start matching me up with her, Doctor Waters. I’m not interested.”

  That sounded more like a lie the more he said it. James arched an eyebrow, leaning back against his desk with his arms folded.

  “Well, you wouldn’t have told Simone about your ex-wife if you weren’t interested in having something with her.”