“How?”
“I have hit him, metaphorically speaking, where he was most vulnerable.”
Geraldine needed to hear more. “Where?”
“I went after his money, of course.” Then he proceeded to tell her everything that transpired between them behind closed doors. Geraldine knew she shouldn't gloat, alas, she was happy the Sheriff did that for her. “I am telling you, he is hiding something, and I will find out what.”
“What about Elsa?” She inquired after he finished his tale.
“He insists he didn't do it.”
Geraldine made a face. “They all said that.”
“I know. He was away on some business with a few associates.”
Geraldine sighed, loudly. “What are we to do now, since they all claim innocence?”
“You just said it yourself,” he countered. “They all claim but that simply means one of them lied.”
Geraldine could see his point. “What if they are innocent?”
“Then we will widen the net. We still have to discover who wrote that fifth letter,” he replied.
Oh, yes. Geraldine completely forgot about that, which was strange since that letter rather moved her. She also found it quite familiar for some reason. She just couldn't say why. So, she didn't share her thoughts with the Sheriff. “For now,” the Sheriff continued, unaware of her musings. “We will act as if all men are in play.”
“Yes, but what are we going to do?” She was certain neither of them would simply have a change of heart and confess the murder on their own.
The Sheriff chuckled. “We will shake the hornet's nest and wait to see who will come to bite us.”
Geraldine didn't quite like the sound of that. Nevertheless, she was determined to hold tight and stay for this ride to wherever it may take them.
* * *
Robert was beyond furious, despite acting all calm in front of Geraldine. The nerve of that insolent brat! He would never harm a lady. However, he was very much tempted to unleash his wrath on Fergus Johnson for not doing a proper job of raising his daughter the right way, teaching her the importance of respecting and caring for others, teaching her to be more like Geraldine.
No one is like Geraldine, he corrected himself.
As Geraldine said earlier, like father like daughter. The only reason Robert didn't turn around and march right back to that house was because of Geraldine. He didn't want to cause her additional distress, and once she calmed, she wished to leave, which was understandable. So, despite his feelings, he did as she wished, because Geraldine was his only concern at the moment. He also needed to find a way for her to forget this whole unfortunate incident.
That didn't mean he would forget. Robert planned on evening-out the score in some fashion some later time. That was a given. First things first, he wanted Geraldine calm. He wanted her to be her joyous self once again, so he could tease her anew.
And how are you going to achieve that?
He had a couple of suggestions. They all involved him kissing her. His resolve to stay away and focus solely on his job vanished the moment he put his arms around her. And from that moment forward, he knew he would be completely helpless to stop himself from showing his true feelings, one way or the other.
She sighed deeply, which brought him back to reality. “What is it?” He inquired.
It took her a moment to answer. That drove him mad since he felt like he needed to know everything that was going on inside her head. So, he could help her, guard her, more efficiently.
You are in deep trouble, Robert. So much so, it wasn't even funny. “I do not wish to go home,” she confessed, reluctantly.
That's it? Robert felt like that was something that could be easily fixed. “Where do you wish to go then?” He asked, prepared to take her anywhere she wished. Even to the moon and back sounded quite manageable at the moment.
She contemplated her reply for a bit. “There is a place I like to visit,” she said slowly, carefully.
“Lead the way,” he replied with confidence.
She somewhat turned to look at him. “Don't you want to know where it is?” She asked in wonder. She was amused by his vehemence as well.
“I do not care,” as long as I'm with you, “since I have complete trust in you.”
Even though she did not reply, she simply accepted the reins from him. Robert knew his answer pleased her. And he was pleased to please her.
Really, Robert?
Geraldine's demeanor completely changed, and she took charge of Duke with confidence. She slightly changed their course and they started riding toward the mountains. Once they reached the woods, Robert was certain she was going to stop. She pressed forward.
He was just about to start to worry they got lost in all that greenery when they broke into a small clearing. One minute they were in deep woods, in the next, he could see the blue skies above him and some mountain tops. The scenery around him was breathtaking. “This is my thinking place,” Geraldine explained, sweeping with her hand around them.
Robert dismounted and really looked around. “How did you find this place?” He had to ask since it was rather remote and hidden.
Geraldine followed suit without waiting for him to offer assistance and he frowned; not because he feared she could hurt herself, rather because he wanted an excuse to touch her again. “By accident,” she started answering him, tying Duke to the nearby tree so he wouldn't wander off. “I was roaming about one day and stumbled upon it on my way home.”
“It's really perfect.” Robert said, and Geraldine beamed. “My sentiment exactly.”
“Thank you for bringing me here,” Robert was humbled she included him and allowed him to see her special place.
They settled on a log which she clearly dragged from the woods for such purpose and sat in silence for a while, enjoying the peace nature brought. “Do you wish to speak about it?” He inquired eventually. Geraldine shrugged, and he didn't like the look on her face one bit. “There's no point, really.” He disagreed. “I should be used to it by now.”
Her words infuriated him. “You most certainly should not. I cannot let anyone treat you in such a manner.”
“In theory, I agree, however…” And then it dawned on him. “You owe Mr. Johnson money and because of that you feel the need to watch your temper regarding that brat.”
She chuckled, hearing his description of Susannah. “I suppose that is true,” she allowed with a shrug.
Once again, Robert felt tempted to tell her about the inheritance she was about to receive. If she knew about it, then she wouldn't have to stay placated and could stand up for herself as he knew she would if the circumstances were any different.
His reason won over at the end. He couldn't do such a thing, even for her. Robert would simply have to find another way to save her from future torment. “I used to have a place like this one,” Robert said instead of what was on his mind.
“Excuse me?”
“I had my own thinking spot when I was little,” he explained.
“Truly?” She was intrigued.
“Yes.” He used to run away all the time to the river bank. It drove his father mad.
“Tell me about it,” Geraldine prompted, so he did. And then he simply continued speaking.
Robert told Geraldine about his childhood, what it was like to grow up without a mother and all the mischief he did, the beatings he received in return and she laughed so hard a flock of birds decided to seek rest on some other treetop. Robert adored that laugh and knew he would do anything to hear it more and as often as possible.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Geraldine felt much better on their way back to the farm. Her thinking spot managed to calm her every time. This time, it was even more than that. Despite everything that transpired that day, she spent some pleasant time with the Sheriff.
One thing kept pestering her, though. What now? So far, they successfully ignored that moment when he was holding her. Something definitely happened between them in those mom
ents. She felt it and was certain he felt it as well. What now? Should they continue to act as if nothing occurred? Geraldine wished to breach the subject. The question that remained was, did she dare? Or what was she even hoping to achieve with such behavior?
What would be the point anyway, she thought, glumly. Geraldine was certain that the Sheriff acted the way he did because he was a gentleman, and she was in distress. Certainly, he would act in the same fashion if some other girl was standing in front of him, needing him at the moment. She didn't like that image one bit, so she banished it immediately.
That embrace felt pretty special to her but maybe she was over-thinking things. And he did look slightly uncomfortable when they parted much like being caught doing something he shouldn't and was feeling embarrassed. There was a moment where she felt the same way. Maybe she still did, remembering her behavior. Granted, she was furious with Susannah, but the girl didn’t have to slap me. Perhaps she could have handled the situation better.
Anyway, Geraldine reached the conclusion it would be for the best to simply stop thinking about everything that happened, so she could try and preserve some peace of mind. That was easier said than done, of course, especially since they were sitting so close to one another as Duke took them home at a very slow pace. Maybe the animal, as well, wanted this ride to last as long as possible.
Don't be ridiculous, Geraldine, she chastised herself. Now, you are obviously reaching.
To say Geraldine had mixed feelings as they reached her home would be an understatement. She wanted to thank him again for being there for her and refrained from it not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable. As far as she could tell the Sheriff was a person who didn't like to be praised for his actions, despite the fact he deserved it.
She wanted to let him know she appreciated everything. Unfortunately, she suddenly felt tongue-tied.
Why are you acting like this? She fumed, cross at herself. She was always so free and outgoing. Geraldine needed to keep it together since she didn't want to lose that precious connection she had with him. How to go back to that? To that easy banter when she felt like everything changed between them.
She felt like suddenly weeping, which was lunacy. Snap out of it, Geraldine. You are acting as if it is the end of the world. You are being rather silly without reason. Giving herself that little speech actually helped, and Geraldine dismounted without uttering one word to the Sheriff. Geraldine walked into the house as the Sheriff took Duke to the stable for rest, and then she recoiled.
What on earth happened here?
The whole house looked as if a tornado passed through it, everything was tumbled down. All their belongings scattered everywhere. It was an utter mess. “Mother!” She started calling out in panic, as she ran from one room to the next.
Did we get robbed? Her mind raced. “Mother? Where are you?”
Who would possibly want to rob them? They didn't have anything. “Mother,” she exclaimed in exasperation. Where is she? Please God, let her be all right, she prayed with all her might and then wanted to smack herself across the forehead. Her mother was probably in her room as always.
“What is the matt—” The Sheriff came running, demanding to know. The question died out as he looked around himself.
“I found it like this,” Geraldine felt the need to explain as if that wasn't self-explanatory already. She rushed upstairs with the Sheriff close by.
All the rooms looked the same. Everything from the closets was now scattered on the floor. Geraldine didn't even get a chance to feel embarrassed; the Sheriff saw all her personal belongings on such display. She was too worried. “What in Heaven's name happened here?” She asked rhetorically. On top of all that, her mother was nowhere to be seen, and Geraldine really started to panic then.
Did someone take her? Her heart felt like it was about to burst from her chest. She placed a hand over it in hopes that would prevent it from actually coming out. Geraldine could feel the Sheriff's hand on her shoulder. “We will find her,” he assured her, easily guessing her thoughts.
They went back downstairs, and Geraldine nervously bit her lower lip as the Sheriff went into his room. “My room looks intact,” he announced, returning to her side. That surprised her yet she didn't have time to dwell on that fact, or what that could possibly mean since all her thoughts were focused on finding her mother.
“Maybe she went for a walk,” Geraldine tried to rationalize, fully knowing how ridiculous that sounded. Geraldine ran outside toward the gardens. “Mother,” she breathed a sigh of relief, finally seeing her. She looked completely fine while she was pruning her roses. Geraldine's Mom hasn't done that in a long time. A part of Geraldine was quite irked. The other, bigger part was simply relieved her mother was safe and sound.
“Geraldine,” her Mom greeted her back.
“Here you are,” Geraldine approached her with a smile.
Her mother looked at her in confusion. “Where would I be?”
“I was afraid something might have happened to you.”
While she talked with her mother, the Sheriff remained at a distance. Because he wanted them to have their private moment or because he was on high guard since they didn't know what happened, she couldn't say. Geraldine was simply glad he was there by her side in the first place.
Her mother frowned, stopping with her labor. “Why?” She wanted to know.
That rendered Geraldine speechless for a heartbeat or two. What does she mean ‘why? “Mother, what happened in the house?” Geraldine asked a question of her own, coming to a sad realization. Stephanie Laurel looked at her as if she was speaking in riddles. “Everything is turned upside down. The whole place is a complete mess as if we were robbed,” Geraldine explained, looking at her mother.
“Oh, that,” her mother replied as if she did not have a care in the world. “I was just looking for something,” she explained, as a matter of fact, before continuing with her work.
Geraldine could only stare at her mother. Unbelievable. And here she was, worried sick something might have happened when in reality it was all her mother's doing. “Looking for something?” Geraldine parroted, incredulously.
“Yes,” her Mom replied without even raising her head to look at her. “Everything is all right now, I found it.”
Well, lucky for us, Geraldine felt like shouting. Who cares about the mess that was left behind for me to clean up? She found what she was looking for and all is well. “What was so important for you to find that you had to destroy the entire house?” Geraldine snapped. Her mother gave her the look that said she thought Geraldine was highly exaggerating. “On second thought,” Geraldine continued instantly. “I do not care to know.” With her mother, it was going to be the silliest thing possible which would only additionally enrage Geraldine, and Geraldine simply did not have the nerves to deal with it. Especially today of all days. So, she simply turned on her heels and marched back inside for a cleanup.
On her way, she paused ever so slightly to say to the Sheriff. “All is well, mother was simply looking for something,” and continued to walk without waiting for a reply.
Geraldine wasn't that surprised to see that he followed her inside. She started rubbing her forehead looking at the mess created; she didn't even know where to start. The Sheriff had a similar expression on his face. “I am so terribly—” she started to say but he stopped her, speaking over her.
“I know, you are sorry.” He moved to stand closer to her, closer than he usually would. After that embrace, she started noticing such things, and her pulse quickened for a completely different reason now. She was not worried at the moment. “The thing is, I don't want to hear it.”
And then she focused on his words. “Excuse me?”
“Just let me help you,” he said softly.
Geraldine wanted to refuse him. Eventually, she simply nodded. “Put me to work, then,” he said with that beautiful smile of his.
Focus. “Right.” Geraldine thought about it, then decided it would
be best to work together, one room at a time, and he agreed.
The Sheriff helped her tidy up the entire house. She should have been exhausted and wasn't since he was with her. So, this is what it feels like to actually have help, she thought in wonder. It felt nice. And then something even nicer happened. Once everything was put in order, Geraldine announced it was time for her to cook them dinner.
“No, no,” the Sheriff rebelled. “You worked so hard. Let me cook something for you, for once,” he offered, and she could only stare. Nobody ever offered to cook her dinner before. Especially not a man she liked, and once again she had that urge to refuse and do everything by herself. Luckily that voice inside of her was easily ignored this time.
“Thank you,” she replied simply and then settled down and watched him cook for her.
The Sheriff's Rebellious Bride (Historical Western Romance) Page 24
