by Chloe Carley
“Well, Sheriff, I’m taking the evening off, if that’s all right,” John Hoskins announced later that afternoon.
“You’ve earned it. I’ll take the night duties, there’re a few things I need to see to,” Thomas replied.
“Thanks. I said I’d take Susan to dinner at the Anaconda. They serve these giant T-bone steaks on a Thursday,” the deputy said, smiling.
“You go enjoy yourself. You can go now, if you like,” Thomas replied.
The deputy didn’t need telling twice and he was soon out of the door, in high spirits at the prospect of seeing Susan Ford. Thomas sat for a while, pondering over what was to come. He loved Aline, that much was certain. He loved her enough to tell her the truth if it prevented her from falling into the dangerous trap she was walking blindly towards.
As darkness fell that night, he knew for certain that there was no option but to tell Aline everything. He’d go out to Lampeter Ranch and explain the whole situation. He’d protect her from Harrison or die trying—either way, Thomas knew he couldn’t just sit there and do nothing.
Outside, the oil lamps had been lit in the windows and the street was quiet. Fear of bandits and outlaws had sent folks early to bed in the past weeks, door locked and bolted for fear of what might be. It was cool and Thomas was glad of his overcoat as he made his way around the back of the sheriff’s office to where the horses were tethered.
He missed Scout, but if he was successful tonight then he’d soon be riding her again—with Aline’s permission, of course. For a moment, he paused, knowing he was about to dive head first into a viper’s nest. Harrison wouldn’t take kindly to his affairs being interfered with, and his half-brother’s threats still rang in his ears. But Thomas knew there was no other choice, and he climbed onto the horse’s back, ready to ride off toward Lampeter Ranch.
***
The moon was high in the sky above, casting its pale light across the prairies. Thomas was wary as he rode, knowing that an encounter with Harrison wouldn’t end well. His half-brother would show no mercy if he discovered Thomas interfering, and with half the outlaws in the county in Harrison’s pay, Thomas knew to keep his wits about him.
But the trail was quiet and he soon came in sight of Lampeter Ranch, lying on the prairie below. He reined in the horse, dismounting and tying it to the branch of a solitary tree. To ride any further was too risky. He’d be heard by Clarence and Hector, who were no doubt under orders to shoot first and ask questions later.
Thomas patted the horse’s nose, whispering that he’d be back soon, before making his way quietly down the hill. There were no lights coming from at the ranch and he kept low, approaching from the east side, well away from the barns.
If Harrison finds me here, I’m dead. Sheriff or no sheriff, he reminded himself.
To cross the ranch yard was suicide, but Thomas made his way around to the rear of the house, hoping to attract Aline’s attention before that of anyone else. He had his pistol in its holster on his belt and placed his finger reassuringly on the trigger. Thomas was a good shot and he had no qualms about using it if he came up against unwanted attention.
But all was quiet and there was no sign of life, not even in the ranch house. For a moment, Thomas wondered if Aline was even there. It would be just like Harrison to take her someplace else. Lord knows how many hideouts and out-of-the-way places Harrison had at his disposal.
I’ve come this far, he told himself, cautiously stepping up to the window.
He knew that Aline slept at the back of the house and very gently he tapped, straining his ear to listen to any noise inside. There was nothing, and Thomas tapped again, this time a little more loudly. Now, he heard movement—a creaking sound, as though someone had just turned over in bed. He knocked again and now, he heard footsteps coming cautiously toward the window.
“Aline,” he hissed, “it’s me… it’s Thomas.”
Suddenly, the curtain was drawn back and Aline’s face appeared at the window. She looked startled to see him, a look of fear upon her face, as though she knew what his presence could mean for them both.
“What do you want?” she said, her voice muffled by the glass.
“Open the window, let me in. Please, I’ve got something I need to tell you,” he said, pointing at the window latch.
It seemed she was of two minds as to whether or not she’d let him in but just then, Sammy came bounding to her side. He put his paws up on the window and started to meow, tapping at the glass as though desperate to get at Thomas on the other side.
Aline shook her head, reaching down and undoing the clasps before pulling up the window and sliding back the curtain. Thomas glanced around, lest anyone else be watching, then climbed nimbly through, as Sammy leapt up into his arms.
“It’s dangerous for you to come here,” Aline said, pulling the curtain across the window.
She struck a match and lit the oil lamp, pointing to a chair at the side of the room.
“I had to come, Aline. I’m sorry, but I had to,” Thomas said, sitting down.
Sammy curled himself up on Thomas’ lap and began to purr contentedly, and Aline sat on the side of the bed. She looked worried, as though she’d not slept properly that night, and Thomas couldn’t help but feel a tenderness toward her, guilt weighing down on him at the thought of soon shattering her dreams.
“But why? Why now? You could’ve told me earlier on. Why come here now?” she asked, a curious expression on her face.
“Because… because Harrison can’t know I’m here. He’d kill us both if he did,” Thomas said, but Aline just laughed.
“Harrison’s a good man and you’re not going to sit there and persuade me otherwise. I’m marrying him, and that’s that. Why don’t you tell me why you behaved so strangely with me? Why you cut me off like you did? That hurt, Thomas, and I don’t think my heart can take any more hurt. I’m done hurting, I just want to be happy,” Aline said, shaking her head.
He hated to see her like this, but he knew that if he didn’t speak up there’d be a lot more hurt to come.
“Harrison’s not the man you think he is,” Thomas explained, drawing a deep breath.
“And what do you mean by that? What is it between you two? Ever since I arrived here, all I’ve heard is folks bad-mouthing him. He’s only ever been a good and decent man toward me,” Aline said, fixing him with a look of anger.
“All right, I’ll tell you,” Thomas said, taking another deep breath. “Harrison is… my half-brother.”
Aline’s face turned from anger to amazement in a moment. She let out a cry of disbelief, stammering her words as she staggered to her feet.
“What…?” was all she could manage.
“You heard right. Harrison is my half-brother, and there’s more. A lot more,” Thomas replied.
“But…” she began.
“Just listen, there’s a lot to tell you. Harrison isn’t the respectable businessman he’d like you to believe. He’s an outlaw, a bandit, a ruffian—call him what you want, but he’s bad news. Before the two of us came to Lakestone, we lived a very different life. Our father was a career criminal, leader of an outfit that terrorized the trail from here to the state border. We were both part of it, something I’m far from proud of.”
“When we came here I left that old life behind me. Or so I thought. But when our father died, Harrison though he could take up the mantle, and he’s been involved in just about every criminal act within a fifty-mile radius ever since he arrived here. I’ve done my best to contain it. but this cattle rustling is out of hand,” Thomas said, pausing as Aline continued to stare at him in amazement.
“You mean… Harrison is the…?” she murmured, tears welling up in her eyes.
“That’s right—Harrison, Clarence, Hector, they’re behind it. Didn’t you think it odd that no one ever targeted Lampeter Ranch? It’s the obvious target, but somehow you managed to sit pretty here, while all around you chaos reigned. That’s Harrison, too cocky and forthright for his
own good,” Thomas said.
“Then why don’t you just arrest him? You’re the sheriff, aren’t you?” she said, a hint of anger in her voice as she found her composure.
“Because of you, Aline. When I discovered that it was Harrison who was behind all this, I had every intention of arresting him. That’s when he threatened you, after he attacked me. He told me that if I did anything to disrupt his activities, then you’d be the one he took his revenge on—and what’s more, I was to stay away from you. That’s why I had to pretend like I didn’t want to see you anymore. It nearly broke my heart to do it, but I… I did it for you,” he said.
Aline looked astonished at this revelation. She shook her head as though in disbelief, rising from her place on the bed and pacing up and down the room.
“But… how… how can you expect me to believe that when Mr. Knox has only ever been kind to me? He gave me a home, he gave me an income, he wants to marry me. Now you’re saying that he only wanted to hurt me?” she said, looking up at Thomas with a tear-stained face.
“It’s the truth, Aline. Harrison only sees you as a trophy, he’s always wanted one up on me and he’s held my past over me ever since I became sheriff. When I went missing, it was Harrison who’d attacked me. That’s when I knew for sure who was behind the cattle rustling. He threatened me, and I know he’d have carried out those threats. He’s a man of his word if nothing else,” Thomas said.
“But I… I can’t believe you were once an outlaw, or Harrison. You’re both such good men…” she said.
“Why would I lie to you, Aline? I’m hardly going to do my reputation any good by telling you I used to be an outlaw. But I had to tell you, I can’t allow you to marry Harrison, not when you know the truth about him,” Thomas said.
He knew he’d taken a huge risk in telling Aline of his and Harrison’s past. She’d every right to throw him out there and then. Perhaps she’d tell Harrison everything he’d said, and Thomas would find himself run out of town. But in telling her the truth, Thomas knew he’d done the right thing. And now, all he could do was wait for her response.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Aline was astonished by this revelation. It had sent her mind reeling into confusion. She thought she knew Harrison, she thought she knew Thomas, but it seemed she knew neither of them. Not in the way she’d thought, at least. The realization that Harrison was behind the cattle rustling, and that he’d threatened Thomas and her if the sheriff so much as breathed a word of it, sent a shiver of fear running through her.
Could she believe Thomas over Harrison? Could she really accept that the man who’d earlier that day asked her to marry him was really a cold blooded murderer, an outlaw with a shady past and even shadier future? It was all far too close to home.
Her mind returned to Damon Hale. She’d thought that she’d known him, too. There was his outward appearance, the claims he made to love her and the way he spoke and talked. But behind the façade, there lurked something far different.
She’d been deceived then and she wasn’t about to be deceived again. But what to do? Thomas had been truthful with her. He’d no reason to lie, she knew that. He could’ve let her marry Harrison with no regard, left her to be the victim of some terrible future wickedness and a trophy on the arm of an outlaw.
“I never wanted to be an outlaw and, if truth be told, I don’t think Harrison did either. But we didn’t have a choice. As kids, that was our way of life. We were on the trail with our father and our father was an outlaw, among the worst kind of outlaws. A man with few morals and few scruples. I can’t say I shed a tear when he died. Back then, I thought we could make a new start—coming here to Lakestone was my way of doing just that. But Harrison wasn’t interested in a new way of life. He was quite happy with the old one and here we are…” Thomas told her, shaking his head sadly.
Aline sat back down on the bed and put her head in her hands. Everything had seemed so simple the day before, and she’d begun to believe that, at last, she was truly leaving her old life behind. But this changed everything.
“I just… I just don’t understand why he had to lie to me. He beat you black and blue and left you for dead on the trail? Men have died, families have lost their livelihoods and this whole county is gripped by fear, and all because of him?” Aline said, anger rising in her voice.
“All because of him, Aline, and whatever you do next is up to you. But I had to tell you the truth. I couldn’t bear to see you go through with marrying Harrison when you didn’t know all this,” Thomas said.
“I… I don’t know what to believe,” she replied, beginning to cry.
But Thomas rose from his chair, with Sammy still clinging to him, and came to kneel at Aline’s side.
“There’s more I need to say. And I hope it’ll prove to you that everything I’ve told you is true,” he said, looking up at her imploringly.
“I… I don’t understand,” she said, but he shook his head.
“You do, and let me help you to understand more. I love you Aline, I love you with all my heart. I’ve fallen so deeply in love with you that nothing else matters but you. You’re… you’re all I want. I know I should have been truthful with you from that start but…” His words trailed off.
“But… but how can I trust you, Thomas? You’ve lied to me, you’ve kept so much from me,” she said.
“Then listen to what your heart is telling you. Please, Aline, I’ve risked everything to tell you this. Can’t you see how much I love you?” he said.
She looked at him for a moment, his wide eyes staring up at her. There was sincerity in them, a sense that what he was saying was true. She couldn’t hide her feelings for him, they’d been there all along—despite her best attempts to push them away and forget them.
Now, she could no longer hide anything and the emotions seemed to rise within her, as though a mist was clearing and clarity returning. She’d been blinded by Mr. Knox’s offer, failing to see his faults or question the sincerity of his actions. Now, as she looked at Thomas, her heart was filled with longing for him. She recognized the familiar feeling she’d tried so hard to forget but which now filled her with the sense that it was with him that she should place her trust.
She looked at Thomas and at Sammy, who seemed so content in Thomas’ arms. She thought back to the many times her faithful cat had run from Mr. Knox and all the times he’d run straight for Thomas. Sammy was always such an excellent judge of character, she knew that—and now, looking down at the two of them, she saw the family she’d always longed for. Taking a deep breath, she nodded, reaching over and taking his hand.
“So, what do we do now?” she asked, smiling at him, and he breathed a deep sigh of relief.
***
Aline made some cocoa on the stove, careful to keep the oil lamp shrouded lest Clarence and Hector wonder why she was up at such a late hour. The curtains were drawn and the house felt snug and safe, despite the impending threat all around.
Thomas sat with Sammy by the stove and Aline offered him a slice of cold apple pie. There was no doubt in her mind as to the sincerity of his words, despite the incredible story he’d told her. It showed her how simple it was to misjudge a man’s character, and she scolded herself for being so easily led.
“You must think me terribly naïve,” she said, handing Thomas a steaming mug of cocoa.
“Naïve? No, why?” he said, as she settled herself down opposite him.
“Well, my first husband stole all my money and the potential second was about to steal far more,” she said, shaking her head.
“You’re trusting, kind, generous, and naturally good. You’re not naïve, you’ve just been taken advantage of,” he replied.
“I feel like a fool,” she sighed, but he just shook his head.
“Well, third time lucky,” he pointed out, and she smiled.
“You’re not like them, not at all,” she said, “that’s why it hurt so much when you cut me off.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.
It hurt me just as much. But I didn’t know what else to do,” he admitted, and she shook her head.
“You did what you thought was best, you did it to protect me. I just can’t believe Harrison duped me so easily. I should have seen the signs, they were all there. This must be the only ranch in the county that hasn’t been hit by the bandits, but I was so… so blinded by being here. I wanted to live the life my father intended, and I guess I just didn’t see past that…” she said.
Despite his kind words, Aline couldn’t help but blame herself for being such a fool. She’d ignored the signs and chose to believe Mr. Knox over her own instincts. She’d been deeply upset by Thomas’s behavior, but now it made perfect sense and she felt so grateful to him for trying to protect her. They were in it together now and Aline was determined to do all she could to help Thomas, even if it meant risking everything in the process.