“They sounded relatively young, but I would have no way to know for certain. His face was covered by a bandana, but there was no mistaking the look in his eye. He probably wouldn’t have even pulled the trigger, but I didn’t want to take that chance,” Charlie added, rubbing the back of his head.
“I imagine that would be rather hard to have to explain to a future employer,” Peter said dryly, his fingers brushing against something cold and metallic. When he picked the object up, he realized he was looking at a pocket watch. “What have we here?”
“What did you find, Peter?” Chris asked as he rode up on horseback, coming to a halt on the road beside where the carriage was stopped. The brown stallion beneath him whinnied softly, quieting when the deputy leaned forward and held a carrot out for him. “Is it a clue?”
“Looks like someone dropped their watch,” Peter said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Initials of D.W.J. on it, and I don’t know many people with those initials that live in this area, do you?
“I sure don’t,” Chris said with a small smile. “In fact, I think I only know one person whose initials match those, and that would be old Donald Johnson.”
“He has a son, doesn’t he? Just turned fifteen a few months ago?” Peter asked, clicking open the watch and checking the inside for anything that might help pinpoint who it belonged to. He could make out an engraving on the inside of the cover that said, “Happy fifteenth birthday, son.”
“I think this might be his.”
“What makes you think that?” Chris asked, watching as Peter walked to his horse and quickly leaped up onto the saddle.
“Call it a hunch,” Peter said, glancing over at where Charlie and his young assistant, Daniel, were sitting. “You two can head back to town and get yourselves situated somewhere. My deputy and I are going to go have a chat with a possible suspect.”
The two men rode down the dusty road side by side, the gentle clopping of their horses’ hooves the only sound they heard. Don Johnson and his family lived in a brand-new house that had been built on the plot of land he’d acquired four years prior in a card game. He was a nasty individual, and his son was shaping up to be a chip right off the old block. When they rode up to the house and the front porch came into view, Peter was unsurprised to find it covered in stolen goods.
“Why’d you do it, boy?” Peter roared, spooking the group of young men that were sitting around Donald Johnson’s front porch. One of the boys tried to run, but Peter tossed a bola at him, which wrapped around his legs and tripped him up, putting an end to his escape attempt right there. The rest of the youths all eyed him warily as he dismounted his horse, his gun belt clanking quietly against his side with every step. “You fellas think it is funny to hold up honest people and take their things?”
“It was just some innocent fun against some out-of-towner, Sheriff,” a blond-haired boy said from the front of the group.
“That out-of-towner happens to be the new schoolteacher,” Peter snarled, closing the distance between him and the other boys and pressing his finger into the blond boy’s chest. “Where is Donald Junior?”
“I am Donald Junior,” the blond he was poking replied, causing Peter’s eyes to blaze brighter. “How did you know that it was us who did it, anyway? There could have been any number of folks who would have been willing to rob that coach. What sort of rich person travels with just an old man and a teenager to guard their things?”
“They weren’t hired guns; they were just drivers,” Peter said, cuffing the boy upside the head. “And she isn’t rich. Even if she was, that doesn’t make you robbing her any better. Now, you boys have exactly ten minutes to bring all the things that you stole in front of me pronto. Otherwise I am hauling every last one of you down to the station until all your fathers come to collect you, and I’ll turn a blind eye while they beat each of your hides raw!”
The boys quickly scattered, and soon Peter was looking at the majority of the items that he’d received complaints about in the last few months. He sent Chris back to the station to grab a few more deputies to help return the stolen goods while he chose to drive the cart. I’d love to see someone try to hold me up for this stuff. I wouldn’t be nearly as passive as that old man was.
“I knew you’d be able to sort it out quickly,” John said as he came out of his house, Melanie running out not far behind him. “I kept telling this young lady that if anyone could find her things, it would be you.”
God, she is beautiful, even when she looks embarrassed. “I do hope that this makes up for the bit of unpleasantness, Miss Thompson. I will, of course, need you to go through your belongings to ensure that everything is accounted for,” Peter said, doing his best to give her his most winning smile.
“I just can’t believe that you got it all back,” Melanie replied quietly, turning her back deliberately on Peter so that she could address Mr. Broughs. “Can you help me carry my things inside?”
“I’d be happy to help,” John said, winking in Peter’s direction. “Just point out what is yours, and I’ll start hauling it in.”
Peter figured there was no harm in helping, and within five minutes, they had managed to haul all her belongings up to the small guest bedroom near the back of the house. When they were finished, Melanie and Peter slowly walked to the door together.
“Well, Miss Thompson, I do hope that this helps to smooth things over between us. I may not come across the best at first glance, but I am a man of action. That’s why the people of Santa Fe count on me,” Peter said, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll get out of your hair now, hard as it may be,” he added with a grin, stepping forward to take his leave.
“My hair is not tangled!” Melanie practically snarled the words, a hand moving self-consciously to her hair. Before Peter had a chance to correct the misunderstanding, she stormed off, leaving him standing there, perplexed.
“Yikes, and I thought I was bad. It is a wonder that you are still single,” John said, laughing from where he stood on the front porch.
“I was just trying to compliment her,” Peter said wearily, shaking his head with wonder. “If anything, I really like her hair.”
“I don’t think that is the only part of her that you like, Sheriff. Not that I blame you. She’s a special kind of woman with the heart of a wild mustang. It is going to take a lot of time and a lot of developed trust before she is even willing to come within range. Those are the kinds of things you can’t rush,” John added, glancing back into the house through the kitchen window.
“I’ll take your word for it. After all, if any man in Santa Fe County knows how to keep a woman, it’s you. How is Iris doing with the baby?” Peter asked, leaning against the porch rail briefly.
“She says she has less energy than she did when she was pregnant with the others, but I reckon that after going through it this many times, I would be tired from it too,” John replied good-naturedly. “I’ve been keeping an eye on her, so she should be alright.”
“You are a good man, John. I appreciate you putting Miss Thompson up. Let me know if there is anything you need, and I’ll be happy to pitch in for it,” Peter said, climbing back into the wagon and snapping the reins gently. The horse let out a loud snort of protest before plodding forward, the cart slowly beginning to trundle on its way.
Chapter 5
Iris turned out to be the best friend Melanie hadn’t known she needed in her life. Though she was only ten years older than Melanie was, the pregnant woman was rapidly proving to be a vast fountain of information. It had been too late for Iris to show Melanie the school by the time the sheriff had managed to reclaim her belongings, so they’d put it off until the next morning.
After a dinner of stewed lamb and thick-cut potatoes, Melanie was feeling more content than she had been in the entire trip that she’d just undertaken. It had been so lonely on the road.
Iris proved to be wonderful company. The pregnant woman apparently had a fondness for trivia due to how e
ducated John was, so the two women had been able to spend long hours into the night sharing tidbits about their lives and their history.
Melanie even shared a couple stories from her childhood with Iris. She found herself getting misty-eyed as she recalled the fond times back when both her parents were alive and her life had been so much more stable.
“I reckon you miss your life back in Kansas, but believe me when I say that the people around here will help you get settled in no time,” Iris said with a laugh, taking Melanie’s hand gently in hers and giving it a soft squeeze.
“Between you and me, things weren’t all that great back home,” Melanie admitted reluctantly. “Things were alright when I first moved in with my aunt Victoria, but then she started trying to marry me off to a bunch of random suitors.”
“Now, Melanie, I’m sure that wasn’t her intention. You know how the times are. If you aren’t married off or have kids by the time you are in your mid-twenties, people start spreading rumors about you or assume there is something wrong with you. I know that this kind of life isn’t for everyone,” Iris commented casually.
“It wouldn’t have been so bad if she’d chosen men I could converse with, rather than the multitude of self-important dullards that she paraded in front of me,” Melanie replied dryly.
“Surely, there was at least one gentleman caller who didn’t seem so petty?” Iris prodded, the older woman clearly able to tell that Melanie was keeping something from her. “Or did he turn out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing?”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Melanie replied quickly, not wanting to invite Iris to interrogate her about her previous romantic life. “I don’t know what it was, but none of them seemed right.”
Iris nodded gently. “They just want a wife who will smile and nod and do as they ask. I found it was especially that way the richer one got. That was why I settled with John; he makes just enough to support us and have a little left over. He doesn’t hoard the extra away; he offers it freely to those around him. His generosity and his selflessness have kept me falling in love with him for the eight years we’ve been together.”
“Eight years. That feels like a lifetime,” Melanie breathed, gazing silently into the distance for a moment. A single tear managed to roll down her cheek before she realized it was there, hastily reaching up with her hand to wipe it away.
“Did I say something to upset you?” Iris asked, looking at her with blatant concern.
“No, it isn’t your fault, Iris. It’s just been a long couple of years since my father passed away, and it is still really hard to come to grips with,” Melanie said, taking a deep breath. “Do you think that we might go take a tour of the school in the morning?”
“Oh, of course we may! That had been my intention, though you’ll have to forgive me if the tour is a bit slow. I’m not able to do much more than a heartfelt waddle in my current state,” Iris laughed, her hand stroking over her rounded belly affectionately.
Melanie smiled widely, already feeling her familiar eagerness welling up inside of her. “Fantastic.”
True to her word, the next day Iris and Melanie rode with John into town. The school building was an interesting combination of wood and brick, Iris telling her proudly that John had been part of the group of townsmen that had rebuilt the school three years ago when it had been burned down by bandits. Iris was absolutely glowing as she recounted to Melanie how the sheriff had dealt with the bandits singlehandedly.
“It was the kind of gunplay that you only ever read about in dime novels,” Iris said, waving her hand emphatically. “Every time he raised that pistol and lowered it again, a man fell dead to the ground.”
“You were there when it happened?” Melanie asked aghast, looking at Iris with wide eyes.
“Unfortunately. I happened to be in the bank when they came in to rob it. They tried to hold me hostage, but I screamed when they grabbed me, and the sheriff charged in shortly afterward.”
“Were you scared?” Melanie noticed that John was looking uncomfortable where he sat driving the wagon. “What about you, John? Where were you when this all happened?”
“I was at home taking care of the kids,” he said, obviously sulking. “You can bet that situation would have never happened had I been there.”
“Of course, it wouldn’t have, Papa Bear,” Iris said affectionately, leaning over and kissing her husband. “There is no need to be so angry about it. I’m still safe and here with you, and that’s all that matters.”
“We can meet up at the tavern when you ladies are all finished with your tour. I’m going to go to the general store and talk to Tom about whether he can help me arrange a shipment of meat. I figure the kids would like to eat something other than chicken or fish,” he said, offering a wink to his wife before urging the wagon forward once more.
“When it comes to the requirements for the schoolmarm around here, the job isn’t too difficult,” Iris said dismissively. “I have some of my old lesson books that you can use, and I’m always happy to offer pointers. I typically start classes around ten o’clock, and we let out at roughly three o’clock.”
Melanie nodded gently, following Iris as they made their way into the front of the school. There were already youths of many different ages sitting in their various seats, a rather harried looking older woman sitting at the front of the class. Upon seeing Melanie and Iris, the old woman rose from her seat and smiled. “You must be Miss Thompson, our new teacher. My name is Glenwys Close, and I am the headmistress here. You would think a simple school like ours wouldn’t need one, and the position is admittedly more ceremonial than anything else, but I take my duties very seriously. I am assuming that your presence here means that you are preparing to take on the responsibilities that Miss Iris previously managed?”
“That is correct. I am pleased to meet you face-to-face; I believe you should have long since received my letter of intention,” Melanie replied, reaching out and gently shaking Glenwys’ hand. The older woman’s grip was a lot stronger than Melanie had assumed it would be. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“I do have to thank you for coming out here so expediently. I am afraid that I won’t be able to offer you much in terms of reimbursement for your travel expenses, but I can assure you that the payment for the work is fair. We will prepare a small house of your very own, and that will be yours so long as you continue your duties here. You will also receive a stipend of five dollars every two weeks to spend at your leisure,” Glenwys said, smiling softly. “I’m afraid that there is not much more I can offer you than that.”
“It already sounds perfect,” Melanie said quickly, looking around at the class. “Hello everyone, my name is Miss Thompson. I’ll be taking over your instruction soon.”
“Hello, Miss Thompson,” the class replied in unison, warranting a small smile from her. A smile that soon vanished when she glanced down at a piece of paper that had fallen from one of the kids’ desks. She reached down and plucked it up from the ground, eyes widening slightly as she saw that it contained plans for another stagecoach robbery. She said nothing, merely excusing herself and walking out of the school with Iris in tow.
“I have to go see Sheriff Matherson,” she said immediately, glancing over and blinking in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to be nearby. “Sheriff! I need to talk to you immediately! It is important!”
She watched him visibly grimace as he walked over. “What is it, Miss Thompson? I have a lot of things that I need to get to,” he said, taking the piece of paper from her when she wordlessly offered it. He scowled as he read it, shaking his head. “Just perfect,” he muttered under his breath. “I’ll look into it, Miss Thompson.”
“Do you want me to bring you the boy who I got it from?” Melanie asked, wanting to be helpful.
“That won’t be necessary. These things are a dime a dozen these days,” he said, slowly crumpling the piece of paper up in his hands.
Melanie couldn’t even bring herself to re
ply, disbelief etched clearly on her face. Was this guy seriously the sheriff?
A Thank You Note to Starfall Publications
Dearest Reader,
Writing a book is harder than I thought and more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the valuable help of Starfall Publications.
I am eternally grateful to this Publishing House for believing in my ability of creating beautiful stories for you.
Therefore, with the most sincere sentiments, a special Thank you to Starfall Publications.
With Love & Respect,
Melynda Carlyle.
About Melynda Carlyle
Melynda Carlyle grew up in Billings and studied Sociology at Montana University.
Her studies and love of communicating with people led her straight into writing! She delights in creating heroines who found love through hardships in the Wild West.
A mother of three, Melynda spends her days managing her loving little monsters and her nights writing. Thankfully, her cowboy husband is a great support.
The Path To Tame a Wild Heart: A Historical Western Romance Novel Page 22
