The Sheriff’s Tender-Hearted Bride: A Christian Historical Romance Novel

by Chloe Carley

  A moment later, there came a knock at the door and Aline was pleased to hear the now familiar sound of Thomas Redmond outside, tentatively calling to her.

  “Aline, I’m ready with the horse and trap when you are. There’s no rush, though. Mrs. Morrell has cooked you a fine breakfast,” he called.

  Sammy jumped down from his place on the windowsill and let out a long meow, pawing at the door. Aline laughed, picking up her case and opening it to find Thomas stood outside with a smile on his face.

  “Well, someone’s eager to get going,” he said, reaching down to pet Sammy, who snaked himself around the sheriff’s legs.

  “He sure likes you,” Aline remarked and Thomas blushed.

  “I guess I’ve got a thing for animals,” he replied, holding out his hand for her bag. “I’m guessing you told Knox you’d take the job?”

  Aline nodded, following downstairs toward the source of the cooking smells wafting up to them.

  “I’ve no choice, really, but it’s a choice I’m happy to make. Everyone here is so kind, including Mr. Knox. I don’t know why folks are so against him—he was delighted when I agreed, he had a smile from here to Oregon across his face,” Aline replied.

  “Well, so long as you’re happy. I’m sure his motives are… honorable,” Thomas replied, as Lita Morrell came bustling out of the dining room.

  “Oh, I was just getting used to having you, Mrs. Hale. It’s been a pleasure. There’s breakfast for you here, or perhaps you just want to get going and get settled in,” she said, a pan of eggs in one hand.

  “Oh, I think we’ve time for breakfast,” Aline replied and, with a broad smile, Lita ushered them into the dining room.

  Aline and Thomas enjoyed a pleasant breakfast and it was around ten o’clock when they stepped out into the morning sun for their ride out to Lampeter Ranch. Several of the townsfolk greeted Thomas, including Pastor Warren, who wished Aline a good day and promised to visit her out on the ranch just as soon as she was settled.

  “Does any news stay secret for long around here?” Aline asked, as Thomas helped her up into the trap.

  “This is Lakestone, Aline, you only need to think something and it’ll be discussed over tea and sewing at the Ladies Guild that afternoon,” Thomas replied, handing up Sammy in her basket.

  “Well, I guess that’s a good thing, sometimes,” she said, stroking Sammy through the holes in his basket.

  But not all the time, she added to herself, wondering what other gossip was hot-footing itself around Lakestone at that moment.

  What would be made of her lunch with the sheriff? Would there be scandal when it was known that a ‘Mrs. Hale’ had had lunch with a man who was not her husband.

  That’s the problem with rumors and gossip, you only get half a story and then half of that, she thought as Thomas clicked on the horse and the trap rode out of town.

  But Aline had more important things to think of than the idle gossip of the townsfolk. She had determined to stand no nonsense from anyone and if folks wished to talk then they could talk—she didn’t need them and besides, so far, everyone had been nicer than nice.

  Except the mayor, she concluded, as the trap rode across the prairie.

  Thomas was in a talkative mood, and Aline listened as he explained more about the town and the folks that inhabited the county thereabouts. It was certainly an interesting place and the more she heard about it, the more Aline realized it was the right place for her to settle.

  “I’m just pleased I made the decision to come here,” she said, and Thomas nodded.

  “I’m pleased you came here too, Aline. You’re like a breath of fresh air,” he told her.

  “Don’t you get many women arriving unannounced on the station?” she asked, turning to him.

  Thomas blushed a little, shaking the horse’s reins and glancing at her in embarrassment. “I didn’t mean it like that, it’s just… well, I’m glad to have made your acquaintance.”

  “And I’m glad to have made yours, you’ve been nothing but kind to me ever since I arrived,” she replied.

  It wasn’t long before they came in sight of Lampeter Ranch and Thomas reined in the horse, coming to a stop at the top of the track which led down to the ranch yard below.

  “Well, there it is: Lampeter Ranch and your new home,” he said.

  There was something in his voice which still sounded wary and Aline wished he’d just spit it out and say what was wrong.

  What is it they all have against Mr. Knox? she thought, for it all seemed a very strange business indeed.

  “I’m sure I’ll be very happy there—and you’ll be a regular visitor, of course,” Aline said and Thomas nodded.

  “I will be, I certainly will be,” he agreed, clicking at the horse and riding into the ranch yard.

  It was much the same as it had been yesterday, though several sheets hung drying on a makeshift line and a couple of horses were tethered up to the posts by the barn door. Aline looked around her in delight, for she was filled with a sense of having arrived home. She pictured her father and mother there, imagining what life might have been like had they moved to Montana, rather than remaining in Massachusetts.

  We’d have been far better off, she thought as Thomas drew the trap to a halt outside the ranch house door.

  “There, now,” she said, as much to Sammy as to Thomas, “we’re home.” And she clambered down from the trap and looked around with a sense of satisfaction.

  She already had plans for the place and intended to work hard to make Lampeter Ranch a place her father would’ve been proud of. She would plant vegetables and an orchard, there’d be all manner of crops and she’d keep hens, too, for a ranch must have hens. The buildings were in good order but they needed a woman’s touch about the place, someone with some organization and an eye for detail. Aline knew little of farming but she knew a lot about organization, and she was keen to get started just as soon as possible.

  “It looks like it’s all yours,” Thomas said.

  “And I intend to make it the very best it can be,” she replied, smiling, as she looked around at her new home.

  ***

  Thomas had no appreciation for Lampeter Ranch. Perhaps it was the fact his half-brother was in possession of it or perhaps it had something to do with the outlaws. Either way, Thomas felt far from happy in leaving Aline out here alone and returning to Lakestone. He’d already made up his mind to keep a close eye on her and call regularly at the ranch to see that she was all right. But it seemed that Aline Hale was made of sterner stuff than first appearances suggested, and she seemed more than happy to finally be realizing her dream.

  It was as he was taking down the last of Aline’s bags that the door to the ranch house opened and his half-brother appeared. Harrison had that unpleasant smile on his face, and he was smoking some foul-smelling pipe that had the effect of wreathing him in a greenish haze, which looked most peculiar in the sunlight. He glanced at Thomas before turning to Aline and welcoming her like a long-lost friend.

  “Well, aren’t I glad you made it, Mrs. Hale. And I see you’ve got all your belongings with you too, how good to see,” Harrison said, as Thomas stood silently watching.

  “I’m pleased to be here, Mr. Knox. I feel just how I imagine my father would do, as though this is the beginning of a grand adventure. I’m so grateful to you for your generosity in letting me come to Lampeter Ranch, I just know I’m going to be happy here in Lakestone with all of you,” Aline said, turning from Harrison to Thomas and back.

  “And Lakestone is truly blessed by your presence, isn’t it, Sheriff?” Harrison said, his face still set in that strange smile as his tongue played over his teeth.

  “It is, Mr. Knox,” Thomas replied and Harrison laughed.

  “Do you know something, Mrs. Hale? The sheriff and I have known each other these many a year past and still he insists upon maintaining that old fashioned formality. It’s like we’re in the deep south or something,” Harrison said, and Aline smile
d.

  “There’s a place for formality, I suppose,” she replied.

  “I’ll take your bags inside, Aline,” Thomas said, not wishing to endure further jibes from his half-brother.

  He picked up the bags and made his way inside, through the cloud of pipe smoke enveloping Harrison, who gave him a withering look as he passed by.

  Inside, though there lingered an unpleasant smell of tobacco, the ranch house was in good order. Harrison had had the sense to send for supplies and the larder was well stocked. He put the bags down on the table and stepped through into the bedroom. Harrison had clearly been sleeping there, for the bed was unmade, but if he was expecting to find some evidence of foul play, there was nothing incriminating to be seen.

  Well, he’s not exactly going to leave a trail of clues now, is he? Thomas thought, stepping back out into the parlor.

  Despite the heat of the day, a fire had been kindled in the hearth and there was a stew of some sort bubbling in a cooking pot suspended above. The place felt cared for, homely even—a stark contrast to what Thomas knew his half-brother had been used to.

  Once a snake, always a snake, Thomas reminded himself, for he’d no trust for Harrison and was even more convinced that somewhere at the bottom of this would be the hand of his half-brother.

  He sighed, but it seemed he’d no choice. Aline would stay here at Lampeter Ranch and there was absolutely nothing in evidence to suggest that Harrison was being anything but uncharacteristically kind and generous towards her.

  Thomas stepped back outside, where he found Aline and Harrison deep in conversation. His brother turned to him with just the merest hint of suspicion upon his face, as though he’d noticed Thomas’ lingering in the ranch house.

  “Thank you, Thomas,” Aline said. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, it’s so very kind of you both to make me feel so welcome.”

  “It’s my pleasure, Aline. If I can be of any assistance to you at all then you need only send word. I must say, I don’t like the thought of you being up here alone,” Thomas said.

  “Do you know something, Sheriff, those were my thoughts exactly,” Harrison said, his face returning to its toothy smile.

  “Oh, I’m sure I’ll be quite all right,” Aline replied, and Sammy meowed from inside his basket.

  “With all due respect, Mrs. Hale, you can’t be too careful when it comes to cattle rustlers. Now, you might’ve heard some ugly talk in these parts about the goings-on lately. The sheriff has done his best, but these men are still at large,” Harrison began.

  Thomas wanted to call him out, for he knew his half-brother was baiting him and looking for a reaction. But instead he simply rolled his eyes, as Aline casted a furtive look towards him.

  “Well, I… yes, the sheriff did mention it, but I’m sure I’ll be all right,” Aline said, though Thomas could hear something like fear in her voice.

  Despite her bravado and her words about not giving in to bullies, the fact of the matter remained that Aline Hale was a woman somewhat out of her depth. She’d no idea what life was really like on the prairie, and if she was to stay in Lakestone County for any length of time, then Thomas had to make sure that she was well protected. He was surprised how quickly she’d captured his affections, but there was something about her which he found wholly endearing and he’d no intention of allowing anything to happen to her.

  “You don’t need to worry, Mrs. Hale. You’ve a ranch hand here, but I’ve decided to err on the side of caution. I told you that I’d not be living out here and it’s true, I’ll come and go as I please, but I’ll be around—and when I’m not, I’ve got two more ranch hands to keep an eye on things,” Harrison said and he hollered toward the barns out of which two men now appeared.

  Thomas was astonished at the sight of the two men who now came ambling towards them. He hadn’t seen either of them in nearly five years and he’d have been glad if it had been fifty. It was fortunate that Aline was looking at them rather than him, for the expression upon his face would surely have given him away.

  “Oh, thank you, Mr. Knox,” Aline said, as the two men now came to stand before them.

  “Mrs. Hale, may I introduce Clarence Lester and Hector Perez, some of the finest ranch hands in the state. They’ll see to the day-to-day running of the ranch, won’t you, men?” Harrison said.

  The two men nodded, smiling at Aline and then to one another. Thomas shot a glance at Harrison, who met his eye for a moment, the merest hint of delight playing across his face.

  The men had been part of their father’s gang of outlaws, and Clarence Lester was just about as nasty as they come. Thomas had often been on the receiving end of his short temper and he’d once seen the man shoot dead another outlaw just for looking at him funnily.

  “You see, Sheriff… Thomas,” Aline said, turning to him, “I’ll be quite all right—and if you come out to see me, too, then I’ll have more protection than Fort Knox.”

  “I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of being introduced, Sheriff,” Hector Perez said, stepping forward and extending his hand.

  “A pleasure, I’m sure,” Thomas replied, looking straight through Perez to Harrison, who was grinning from ear to ear.

  “Mrs. Hale’ll be quite safe out here with us, Sheriff. Now, you can go on your way and get back to looking for those bandits. If we see anything of them, we’ll be straight into Lakestone to find you,” Harrison said, still grinning at his brother. “Won’t we, men?” And the other two nodded, smiling at Thomas, who made no reply.

  He’d heard and seen enough. It was one thing for his brother to deny involvement in the cattle rustling, but to now be confronted by two of the most notorious men that had ever ridden in his father’s posse was too much. He wanted to order Aline straight back onto the trap and take her back to Lakestone, but to do so would be to reveal his suspicions. Suspicions he, so far, had no evidence to support.

  “You’ll come back out and see us soon, though, won’t you, Thomas?” Aline said and Thomas nodded.

  “I will do, just as soon as I can. Mr. Knox here is right, though, and I’d best be looking out for those bandits. They could be right under my nose, couldn’t they,” Thomas said, his words lingering in the air, as the other three men smiled.

  “They could indeed, Sheriff, they could indeed,” Harrison agreed, placing his arm on Thomas’ shoulder and walking him back toward the horse and trap.

  “I’m warning you, Harrison. You lay one finger on her and I’ll…” Thomas began.

  “You’ll what? I’m a law-abiding citizen, Mrs. Hale is here as my guest; it’s all above board. Nice and legal. You’ve turned over a new leaf, so why can’t I?” Harrison said, as Thomas climbed into the trap, watching as Aline made pleasant small talk with Clarence and Hector.

  “And what’s with getting those two here? Huh? You know what they’re like. I’m surprised the two of them aren’t hanging from some gibbet someplace—they must be wanted every state from here to Alabama,” Thomas hissed.

  “They were down on their luck, they needed some money, and here they are. Now, that’s all you need to know. So why don’t you just get on your merry way, Sheriff Redmond, and I’ll be sure to come running if I catch any sight or sound of those nasty bandits,” Harrison said, and he slapped his hand onto the horse’s rump, sending the trap jolting off across the ranch yard.

  “Goodbye, Thomas, and thank you. I’ll see you soon, maybe tomorrow if I make the ride into town,” Aline shouted, running across the yard with Sammy’s basket still in hand.

  “I’ll come out and see you, Aline. Just be careful, all right?” Thomas called, waving to her as Harrison and the other men stood watching from the veranda.

  He drove out of the ranch yard and he looked back, sighing to himself. He didn’t like leaving her there alone. There were far too many unanswered questions and the appearance of Clarence and Hector was bad news, very bad news indeed. But Harrison was right, there was no evidence to connect him to any of this—o
nly a hunch, a hunch which was growing bigger every day.

  Why would he want to go back to rustling? And why get those two wicked men involved in it all? Thomas thought as he rode back into town.

  He couldn’t get the thought of Aline out of his mind, nor the thought that he’d been a fool to leave her.

  But what else was I supposed to do? I’ve known her barely a day, I couldn’t just order her to come back with me because I don’t like my half-brother, he assured himself, leading the horse back over to Jim Conway’s at the farrier’s shop.

  His own horse, Scout, was tethered up next to the sheriff’s office, and she whinnied, giving him a disdainful look as if to chastise him for riding out with a different horse.

  “I had the trap to take. You hate pulling,” he pointed out, as he returned and patted the horse on its mane.