An Unexpected Bride for the Widowed Sheriff (Preview)


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Chapter One

Though Eliza Harper was looking forward to a life spent at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, the thought of marrying a man she had only sent a couple of letters to was more than a little intimidating.

Eliza winced as the train rolled to a harsh stop at the last station before she reached Cedar Creek.

She took a ragged breath as she looked out the window, watching more people filter from the platform and onto the train. On her journey from Boston to the Rocky Mountains, she thought that there would be more to see.

A woman shuffled onto the seat across from her, keeping her bag close. She looked hesitant as she offered Eliza a small smile. “I’m Mary.”

“Eliza.”

Mary nodded, her lips pressed together in a thin line. “I’m lost as to what I’m doing. I never thought that I would journey west and start a new life for myself.”

Eliza ran her fingers over the pile of letters in her lap. “Where will you settle?”

“A town about a day’s ride north of a place called Cedar Creek.” Mary glanced at the letters in Eliza’s lap. “Are those from your family?”

“No.” Eliza flipped them onto the seat beside her. “They’re from the man I’m supposed to marry.”

Mary let out a shaky breath. “So, you’ve chosen a husband from one of those advertisements?”

“Yes.” Eliza glanced out the window again, looking out at the plain, flat land just beyond the station. Everything was a dull shade of beige that made her long for the vibrance of the city. She didn’t think that there was anything capable of making her miss the place she once called home, and yet, wherever they were right now did.

“Where do you hail from?” Mary loosened her grip on her bag, leaning forward to tuck it beneath the seat. “I’m from around five miles east. Little town. Riverbend. I was staying with my aunt for a while, but then I saw those notices from the men out West.”

Eliza studied the young woman. She couldn’t have been more than nineteen, the same age as Eliza. It was a shame that they would live in different towns. It would be nice to have a friend who was close to her own age when she arrived in her new life.

“Boston.” Eliza shifted in the wooden seat as the train jolted forward. “Cedar Creek’s the place I’ll be settling.”

“That’s nice,” Mary said, the corner of her mouth curling up. “I wish I got to stay in a town with a train station. At least then, I wouldn’t feel so out in the middle of nowhere.”

“I like quiet towns, I think. The city’s too loud. There are people and carriages everywhere. And then there are so many buildings. It feels like you can’t breathe at times.”

And the memories. There were so many that cut deep. Those memories were more likely to leave her bleeding in the streets than they ever were to make her feel good about staying in Boston.

Marrying was as much about escaping her old life as it was about looking for a new adventure.

With a sigh, Mary leaned her head on the window before pulling it away once the rattling grew louder. “I’m going to miss my aunt. I don’t know how to be there without her. To think of starting my own life without a family makes me sick.”

“I doubt that there is much you need to be worried about. You are still moving to a town, and in that town, there will be people to care for.” Eliza reached across the small space and took the other woman’s hand, giving it a light squeeze. “We can write to each other as well.”

Mary lit up. “I think I would like that.”

“I’d like that as well. There’s some comfort in knowing I’m not the only one stepping into the unknown.” Eliza leaned back in her seat, her toe tapping against the floor in time with the chugging of the train.

“Now, tell me everything about the man you’re going to marry.”

As Mary grinned and rambled, Eliza tried to relax.

“He’s a rancher. He says that he doesn’t like to be in town much because of the people, so I don’t know how the two of us will get along.” Mary took the pins from her hair, letting it tumble down over her shoulder.

“You do have a small town near his home, don’t you?”

Mary nodded. “His letters are short, but I’d have to admit that they’re descriptive. If he hasn’t described every little detail of the tiny town to me then I will be thoroughly surprised.”

“Could be worse.” Eliza smiled and took her letters, stuffing them into the bag she stowed beneath the seat. “Does he seem like a man you could love?”

“In some ways.” Mary braided her hair, twisting the strands together. “I’ve thought and thought about that though. He isn’t much of a talker. His letters are brief regarding himself and his life, and I must ask a thousand different questions to get any answers out of him. Yet, he takes no issue with describing a town in detail. It hardly makes any sense at all, but I suppose there is time to learn about each other. But it makes me feel like the marriage might be doomed before it begins, even though I know it’s wrong to think like that.”

“I’d give him grace. People are seldom what they appear on the first impression.”

The corner of Mary’s mouth twitched. “You sound like my aunt when I told her that there would be nothing for me and my future husband to talk about.”

“I’m sure the two of you’ll have much more to talk about once you’re there.”

Mary shrugged and twisted her braid into a knot at the nape of her neck, pinning it into place. “I hope you’re right.”

Eliza’s stomach fluttered with butterflies. “Humans were created by God to be adaptable. We change to the situations put in front of us, and we overcome the obstacles He sets in our way.”

It was the same thing her teachers at the orphanage told her when she was growing up before shoving another young child her way. And though Eliza struggled with her faith at times, the ability to adapt and overcome was one of the few things she wholeheartedly believed in, even after everything that she had been through.

Eliza searched for something to make the other woman feel some comfort. “I’m afraid I’m not going to be who my husband hopes for.”

“Why not?”

“I’m an orphan. The only family I knew was the one I raised from a young age.” Eliza forced a smile, hating the way her thoughts swirled at the memories of that place. “Sometimes, I think that the only family I’ll ever be able to form is a broken one.”

Mary reached over and took both of her hands, holding them tight. “If you don’t have faith that you will have a beautiful and healthy family, then I’ll have it for you, and I shall include you in my prayers every night. If God will listen to me, then you will have a happy and long life, and you shall live to tell me all about it in letters we share.”

Tears gathered in Eliza’s eyes. Her mouth ran dry, and a lump rose in her throat. The more she thought about her future family, the more she wanted to cry.

Please, God, make this marriage a successful one.

With another squeeze of Eliza’s hands, Mary smiled. “You will be a great wife and an even better mother.”

At least there was one person in the world who believed in her, even when she felt like she couldn’t believe in herself.

Maybe in the time it took them to reach Cedar Creek, she could convince herself that there was nothing terrifying about marrying a man she barely knew.

***

It was early the next morning when the train rolled to a stop in Cedar Creek. Eliza got to her feet and patted her skirts into place before glancing over to Mary. The other woman slung her small bag over her shoulder before reaching out to loop her arm through Eliza’s.

“This is the start of our next great adventure,” she said, leaning closer to Eliza. “Would it be wrong to say that I’m scared?”

Eliza picked up her own bag, her letters peeking out of the front pocket. “I think we’d be fools if we weren’t afraid of everything to come.”

They walked off the train together, and Eliza took a deep breath. The train station smelled mainly of the coal it burned to keep the train running. A fine layer of black soot covered the building, but there were men waiting with mops at the ready to clean.

Mary held Eliza’s arm tighter when she saw the line of wagons waiting to depart. “I suppose that’s where I’m to go. I’ll write to you when I arrive at my new home.”

“Visit town when you can as well.” Eliza turned and gave the woman a tight hug. “You don’t have a trunk to wait for?”

“No.” Mary clutched the strap of the bag on her back a little tighter. “Everything I own is here.”

Eliza stuffed down the tight feeling in her chest. “Then I wish you the best travels, and I hope you like your new home.”

Mary forced a smile, but there was a quiver to her bottom lip. “I’m sure that I will like it as good as any other. I wish you the best with your marriage.”

“I hope so.”

“You’ll do well here.” Mary hugged her tighter one last time before the women parted.

Eliza stood outside the train, watching her new friend climb into a wagon. When Mary was gone from sight, Eliza shuffled along with the other people to where the trunks were being unloaded.

She took a deep breath and tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear as the breeze blew. More people gathered and waited for their bags, but soon the crowds thinned. The morning turned into afternoon as she sat on her trunk.

Perhaps Darren is simply late.

Eliza took a novel from her bag, flipping through the pages to the one she had last left off on. From what she knew, the ranch was only an hour’s ride away, but there was a chance something had gone wrong, preventing Darren from meeting with her.

Though the day was getting closer to its end, she would give him the benefit of the doubt.

Even if this was a sign that her marriage would begin terribly.

Chapter Two

Samuel peeked through the crack in the doorway, wishing that he could stay and spend more time with the twins.

They were only six and work kept him away from home far too often for his liking. He wished he could be with them more, but between the farm and being the sheriff, there were only so many hours in the day.

Clara Andrews cleared her throat as Samuel eased the door shut. “How is the town today?”

The unexpected sound of her voice made him jump a little, a small wave of shame crossing over him. He wouldn’t have to rely on his neighbor to watch his children in the early hours of the morning if he arranged his schedule better.

He nestled his hat back on his head. “We’re holding up just fine, but word has it Luke Morris has been robbing banks as he heads west.”

Yet another problem to deal with another day—maybe a day when I have time to think about how we’re going to stop a bank robber if he comes close to town.

Clara’s thin eyebrows pinched together. “You don’t think he’ll make his way to Cedar Creek, do you?”

“Don’t think there’s reason to fret, not for now anyhow.” Samuel paused long enough to grab a bit of salt pork from his cupboard. “Reckon he’ll be heading south if he gets anywhere near the mountains.”

She nodded and sat down at the table, picking up her embroidery while her own children wrote out their letters on little pieces of slate. “Any luck finding someone to care for Marie and Jack?”

He bit off the end of the salt pork. “Not much. There are several women in town who would be willing to take them on, but they cannot watch them for the hours I require.”

“Have you considered that it may be time to allow another man to become sheriff?”

“Do you remember what happened with the last man who wore this badge?” Samuel shook his head and rapped his knuckles on her table. “I appreciate you looking after them for me. You’re a good neighbor.”

Lord knows I couldn’t do this on my own.

“And you have been trying to do the impossible for far too long.” She gave him a smile before tipping her chin toward the door. “Go on, back to town with you. I’ll watch over them until you come home.”

He tipped his hat to her and headed out the door, striding back to his waiting horse. After easing himself into the saddle, he turned and rode back to town. His mind spun with possibilities of who to ask to care for his children. It didn’t help that they were only six and could be terrors in their own right.

Samuel sighed and tried to focus on the lush green pastures surrounding the road. Cattle dotted his own property, grazing and relaxing beneath the early morning sun. He longed to spend the day in the fields with them. Raising cattle had been the only thing that made sense about the last five years.

Losing Dahlia nearly broke him. Raising the twins on his own was doing his head in.

Cattle didn’t need him like the town needed him. They didn’t demand attention but never seemed to receive enough of it like Jack and Marie.

A pit opened in his heart, making his chest ache. He did everything he could for them, but it never felt like it was enough. There was always something more he could be doing. Something that would make the long days at work and the late nights with the cattle worth it. There wasn’t anything more he could do, though. At least, nothing that was apparent to him.

He rode into town, listening to the whistle of the train as it pulled into the station. There would be a new batch of people moving through Cedar Creek, and with that would come a new set of challenges.

With a sigh, he rode to the small stable at the back of the sheriff’s office. He got down from his horse and led it to the stall, taking his time unsaddling the creature and brushing it out. He took care filling the water and hay.

When there was no more time to waste, he strode inside the office, only to be met with his deputy wearing a large grin.

“New people in town today,” James said as he followed Samuel to the office at the back, past the empty cells. “Do you think this will be the train that carries your future wife?”

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—I’m not taking another wife. I can’t stomach the idea of going through that kind of pain twice.” Samuel pushed open the door to his office and took a seat behind the desk. “Maybe you should be the one looking for a wife.”

“I like the bachelor life.” James sat down in the chair closest to the door, taking his hat off and putting it on the corner of Samuel’s desk. “You have children.”

“And I’m managing just fine without a wife.”

Samuel sat down behind his desk, rummaging through sheets of paper in the top drawer until he found the list of complaints several townspeople had filed with him the day before. A couple were from the closest town to them as well, since the town lacked a sheriff of its own.

“Have Roger and Percy gone to deal with these?” Samuel asked, tapping his pen beside the first two items on the list from the other town.

James nodded. “They set out this morning, and we should expect them back in two days.”

“Which means that you and I are going to have more work to do until they return.” Samuel took off his hat and tossed it onto the wooden filing cabinet behind him. “I’ll have to send word to Clara and see if she can keep the children for the night.”

“And this is yet another reason why you need a wife. You wouldn’t have to send word to her if you had a wife at home takin’ care of the children.”

Samuel clenched his jaw tight. “Dahlia was the love of my life.”

“I know that she was. She was a good woman, and she’s missed dearly.” James paused as if he was unsure whether to continue. “I don’t believe that you’re only meant to love one person in your life, though. I know that movin’ on without her must be difficult, but I think you should consider it. If nothing else, then it would be for the sake of the children.”

“The children won’t take well to a new person in our lives.” Samuel scowled at his friend.

If this were a conversation with anyone else, he would kick them out of his office. There wouldn’t even be a moment where he entertained what they were saying.

“I’ve been your friend since you moved to Cedar Creek seven years ago. I knew Dahlia well, and I know that she would want you to go out and live your life. She would want you to find happiness again.”

And that’s the part that hurts me the most.

James rolled his bottom lip between his teeth. “The twins may have only been a year old when she passed, but they’re older now. You could teach them to honor her and be there for them without throwing yourself into work every waking hour of the day.”

“I don’t do it every hour of the day.”

James gave him a flat look. “There’s more to life than sittin’ in this office and dealin’ with other people’s problems to avoid your own.

“I’m not avoiding anything.”

One day, if I tell myself that enough times, it’s going to be true.

James sighed and took the list. “I can deal with most of these. You should take the day to be with your children.”

“With a train full of new people in town?” Samuel scoffed. “You know that there’s bound to be trouble. There always is, to some degree, when a new train comes to town.”

“I know, but it’s nothing that I can’t take care of while you take a day off.”

Samuel shook his head. “I don’t need to take a day off. What I need is to find someone who can take care of Jack and Marie while I’m working and dealing with the farm.”

“You have ten cattle and two fields of vegetables. A couple of horses. How much dealin’ with the farm is there really?” James tossed the list back onto the desk and leaned back in his seat. “I think you’re avoidin’ the fact that you need to settle down again, whether you like it or not.”

“Even if I were, I’m not in a position to offer a woman love. I have too much to deal with. Not enough hours in the day to deal with it all. And believe what you want about having more than one love, but Dahlia was the only woman for me.”

James blew out a slow exhale. “You need to give more thought to this. You’re going to run yourself into the ground tryin’ to be everything to everyone. Something in your life has to give, and that’s made easier if you have someone capable you can fall back on.”

“And what happens if I tell a woman I’ll never love her?”

James’ gaze hardened. “I think you owe it to yourself and to Dahlia to try. She wouldn’t want you to spend the rest of your life unhappy.”

“I’m not unhappy.”

His friend snorted. “If this is you happy, then I pity you.”

“I’m comfortable with my life. I manage.”

“You’re losing control over every single aspect. The town needs you, especially with the threats of robbers growing every day. Your children need you, but they are little heathens who only bring you more stress, no matter how much you love them. Your farm seems to be the only thing that keeps you sane.”

Samuel groaned and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his hands down his face. “Look, if I agree to consider this insanity about getting a wife, will you leave me alone?”

“Unlikely, but I think you should consider it, regardless.”

“And I think the day I made you my deputy was one of the worst days of my life.” Samuel looked at his friend, the corner of his mouth tipping into a small smile. “I couldn’t manage to keep myself going without you.”

“Touchin’.” James grinned and grabbed his hat, settling it on his head. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have an old woman to see about bear scat.”

“Mrs. Whitby is having problems with the bear again?”

James nodded. “Hunters still haven’t been able to find it, though the last two times I’ve been out there, I haven’t seen any scat either. I’m starting to think that the bear is long gone, but she just wants someone to visit with her.”

Samuel sighed. “She’s lonely.”

“I think so.”

His chest tightened a little. Samuel knew the feeling of being lonely all too well. It had taken up residence in every fiber of his being since Dahlia passed. Each corner of his home contained memories of her and the life they built together, and each one was yet another reminder that he would never hear her voice again.

Samuel got up from his desk and settled his hat back on his head. “While you’re at it, I’ll have a word with the baker. He’s convinced the mill’s been shorting his flour delivery.”

“Which means that everyone else in town may be shorted as well.” James tucked his hands in the pockets of his trousers. “I don’t envy you. Old Mr. Miller is cranky. Last week I had to speak to him about threatenin’ children to stay away from the mill.”

“They should. It’s dangerous.”

“Yes, but he threatened to capture them all in a net and toss them in the river.”

Samuel smothered a smile. He shouldn’t find it funny, but he had a hard time picturing Mr. Miller with his gnarled hands and stooped back, picking up the children, let alone having the strength to toss them into the river. He couldn’t even run the mill on his own anymore.

“Make sure he doesn’t toss them in.” Samuel tucked his chair back beneath his desk, the legs squeaking against the floor. “I’m going to head down to the train station and greet some of the people there.”

“Cedar Creek’s own welcome party.”

“They’re more likely to be respectable citizens of the town if they know someone is watching over them.”

James snorted and strode out of the office while Samuel followed. “So, I should take that to mean that you aren’t goin’ to spend the day at home?”

The door to the sheriff’s office opened, and a young girl rushed in with rosy cheeks and tears streaming down her face.

Samuel crouched down in front of her. “Lissy, what’s wrong?”

She sniffled, trying to get the tears to stop. “There’s been an accident.”

Chapter Three

Eliza, 

I was delighted to hear from you. To be honest, I thought it was unlikely that my advertisement had been run in the paper. To imagine one might agree to marry without prior acquaintance is as peculiar to me as it must be to you.

My friend was the one to first suggest it, but the more I thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. After all, there are far too many men in the West and not enough women, but a woman wouldn’t move out here without a place to go. 

And that’s what I’d like to offer you. A place to go. 

Though we will marry immediately, I would like to take some time to get to know each other after. I shall have a second bedroom made up for you in my home. It’ll be modest, to be sure, but it will be entirely yours to arrange as you see fit.

My ranch isn’t too far from town. An hour’s ride. If you wanted to spend your days in town while I worked, you would be more than welcome to. I know the women in town are ever eager for new companionship, though I trust you will find your own way in time.

I’ve enclosed your train ticket and shall be at the station to meet you upon your arrival.

Darren Westport

Eliza read the letter a second time since sitting down on her trunk outside the train station. Initially, she was sure that she missed some instruction from Mr. Westport. There was no other reason for how late he was.

The wind whistled through the trees as a light drizzle of rain began. Though it was still sunny, the patches of gray clouds moving across the sky were heavy with rain.

Eliza stood and opened her trunk, taking out her jacket and slipping it on. She flipped up the hood and sat back down on the lid of her trunk, watching as people rushed from one building to another, doing their best to avoid getting wet.

“You alright there, miss?” a man asked, stopping in front of her and tipping his hat back. His smile was warm and friendly as he crouched in front of her. “Did you just get off the train?”

“I did.” She glanced around. “I’m waiting for someone, though.”

The man hummed. “I could help you if I knew his name.”

His coat shifted to the side as he spoke. The sheriff’s badge on his chest glinted in the last few rays of sunshine. She felt a little more relaxed, stuffing her hands in the pockets of her jacket.

“Darren Westport.”

“He lives outside town. How long ago was he supposed to be here for you?”

Eliza shrugged, glancing up as the clouds covered the last little edge of the sun. “A few hours, I think. He said he’d be here when the train got in.”

The man shifted and stood. “Well, you can’t stay out here in the rain while you wait for him. I’ll help you carry your trunk to the sheriff’s office, and you can wait there.”

“Are you sure the sheriff won’t mind?” Eliza took her bottom lip between her teeth. She didn’t want to be a bother.

“I’m Daniel Andrews, one of the sheriff’s deputies,” the man said with a lopsided smile. “He’s not goin’ to mind. He’d rather you in his office than out here in the rain where you’re liable to get sick.”

Eliza stood and hoisted her bag up onto her shoulder before stooping and taking one end of the trunk. Daniel grabbed the other end, and they lifted it together, walking down the road.

“Who’re you?” he asked as they navigated around a puddle starting to form.

“Eliza Harper.”

“Well, Eliza, it’s a good thin’ you’re here. I reckon we needed another few people in town. And Darren is awful lonely out on that ranch. He comes into town often enough, but there’re days he goes without seein’ a person other than his ranch hands. And Lissy. She’s a young girl. His neighbor’s daughter, but she spends a lot of time trainin’ his barn cats to do tricks.”

Eliza laughed. “He has a little girl teaching his barn cats tricks?”

Daniel nodded, chuckling to himself. “It’s somethin’ to see. I was up there a couple of days ago. He’s tryin’ to convince Lissy to learn to ride a pony, but she’s terrified of ’em. She’s only five, mind you, but somethin’ about those gentle beasts terrify her.”

“I had never been on a horse until I was fifteen.” Eliza paused, taking a deep breath and adjusting her grip on her trunk as sweat beaded on her forehead. “How long have you been a deputy?”

“Nearly ten years now. My wife and I moved to Cedar Creek when we were seventeen. Married young, eager to move to a new town. Thought it sounded like startin’ our own lives without the pryin’ eyes of our parents.”

“And you’ve been here since?”

“Yes. Started workin’ as a deputy nearly as soon as I got here. We’ve a small farm, but it’s more for Clara’s vegetables than anything else. Though, if you’re lookin’ for a good jar of preserves, she makes some of the best in town. And if you need good salt pork, you should speak to Percy Scott. He’s another deputy. Owns a pig farm.”

Eliza nodded, trying to commit the names to memory. She wasn’t sure that all these people would take too kindly to a stranger asking things of them, but maybe Daniel’s wife would be willing to teach her a thing or two about helping around a ranch.

Lord knew she would need it.

Even after she left the orphanage, she had a home in the city to stay in. She worked as a nanny for a wealthy family. They had been wealthy enough that Eliza hadn’t needed to learn anything beyond the basics of cooking—all of which she figured out while she was in the orphanage.

As they approached the sheriff’s office, a man stepped outside. He was tall with deep blue eyes and neatly groomed dark hair. Eliza stared at him for a moment, her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t seen any man so attractive back in Boston.

When his gaze locked on hers, her mouth went dry.

“Eliza, this is Sheriff Samuel Blake.”

The sheriff studied her like he was waiting for her to be trouble. She could see the judgment in his narrowed eyes.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Eliza said, setting the trunk down to hold out her hand. “Eliza Harper.”

He took her hand, though his grip was loose in hers. It was the kind of handshake one gave when they were looking to avoid getting to know you to any degree. Cold and impersonal.

Sheriff Blake glanced at his deputy. “Daniel, what’re you doing?”

“Well, Eliza is lookin’ for Darren Westport. He’s supposed to pick her up at the train station, and it’s been hours, so I was thinkin’ she could stay in the office with the fire where it’s warm and wait for him there.”

Something on the sheriff’s face shifted, the judgment turning to sympathy. Eliza’s brow furrowed as she looked at him, a small pit opening in the bottom of her stomach.

Whatever was on the sheriff’s mind could hardly be good with an expression like that.

“You’re looking for Darren?” Sheriff Blake asked, swallowing hard. He took his hat off, sweeping his dark hair back, and held his hat down low by his thigh. “Are you family?”

“His fiancée.” Her heart slammed against her ribcage.

“Daniel, will you watch the office please?” Sheriff Blake nodded to one of the empty rooms to the right. “Miss Harper, if you would come with me, please?”

“What’s going on? Is there a problem?” Her voice rose in pitch as her eyes darted between the two men. The sinking feeling in her stomach only grew worse.

She wanted to believe that everything was going to be all right, but with the depth of the sheriff’s frown and asking her to come with him, her mind was sent racing through all the possibilities.

The sheriff stood to the side, waiting for her to step through the door. She did so, her hands clasped tight in front of her. She didn’t bother taking a seat in one of the wooden chairs, instead turning to face him as he shut the door. Sheriff Blake looked as though he was Atlas, with the weight of the world balanced on his shoulders.

“Miss Harper, I knew Darren Westport for years, and he was a good man. If I had known that you were going to be at the station, I would’ve sought you out there to deliver the news, but he was a rather private person.”

Eliza bit the inside of her cheek. “Sheriff Blake, I’d appreciate it if you’d tell me plain what’s going on. I’m no stranger to hard truths.”

“Darren was found deceased. It was a carriage accident.”

Her eyes watered, though the depths of her sadness didn’t reach her bones. While Darren had been a wonderful man to write letters to, he hadn’t been the love of her life. She hadn’t known him body, mind, and soul.

She would mourn his loss more than she would that of a stranger, but there was no need to fall to her knees and beg God to return Darren, despite how the sheriff was looking at her.

Eliza wiped her tears. “Thank you for letting me know.”

The sheriff twisted his hat in his hands before settling it back on his head. “Do you have anywhere to stay for the night? Family that we might take you to, perhaps?”

“No. I don’t have any family.” Her blood ran cold just thinking about what to do for the night. She would be alone and mourning a man who had become like a friend to her. She would have to find a place to stay in town, and in the morning, she would have to pick up the pieces of her broken life once more.

“Come with me,” Sheriff Blake said, leading the way out of the room and back into the main office. “I’ll get you down to the hotel—it’s only a few buildings down.”

“Thank you,” she said, her voice wavering slightly as the panic climbed in her chest. “Truly, that’s kind of you.”

What do I do now?


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