A Treasure Brought by Fate: A Historical Western Romance Book

by Lorelei Brogan

  “He’s…nice,” Lyla admitted with a little smile. She couldn’t remember the last time she had petted a dog.

  “Is Sam bothering you?” James’ loud voice made Lyla jump and pull her hand away from the dog’s head.

  “He’s not bothering her. I was just showing her how to pet him. Sam likes her.” Joey proudly patted the dog the entire time he explained the situation to James.

  “Is that so? Lyla, what do you think of dogs? Do you like pets?” James was wiping his hands on a rag and looked as if he’d just run a couple of miles.

  “I haven’t had a lot of pets, but your dog is quite nice. Thank you, Joey, for introducing me.” Lyla forced a smile.

  For a moment, it looked as if the little boy might like her, but then he must have remembered she was going to take him away from James, Bonnie, and Sam because the untrusting frown took over again.

  “I’m gonna go and do my chores now,” Joey announced, then walked away with the dog close on his heels.

  “Well, it looks like he’s made friends around here, and he doesn’t seem to like strangers much.” Lyla wasn’t sure how she felt about Joey’s cold shoulder towards her.

  On one hand, she didn’t want the child to give her a second thought. But on the other hand, every single show of rejection brought up fears from the past and solidified everything she had thought would happen.

  “He’s not too bad about strangers. I think he’s just worried you’re going to take him away at any moment. That’s what I want you to see. He’s happy here. He’s made a new family for himself here. And we love him.”

  Lyla struggled to keep her face neutral. How could she argue with this man? Maybe he was right. Joey did look as if he were well cared-for and very happy.

  Lyla shook her head. She needed to take Joey back home. Besides, would Keith forgive her if she showed up without him? He might think she lied just to go out west on an adventure or something.

  “I am trying to keep an open mind, but you know that I can’t promise anything. I-My sister would want him to be with family.”

  James nodded, but he looked anything but understanding. “With a little time, I’m hoping to change your mind, Miss Lyla.”

  Lyla smiled a little. If she’d had a different past, she might have found James charming. He was a strong and very handsome man.

  “Speaking of Joey’s family, can I ask where my sister and her husband…were buried?” The words sounded so unreal as they left Lyla’s mouth, but she knew they had to talk about it at some point.

  She wanted to pay proper respects to her sister’s grave. She wanted to at least be close to her sister’s physical body, even if she was no longer alive. She wanted to say goodbye and tell Mary that she was sorry and that she loved her.

  “Certainly, we can go this afternoon after lunch, if you’d like.” James took his hat off and turned it in his hands. “I’m really sorry about your sister. I never really offered you proper condolences since you arrived. And I have their belongings in the house,” he added.

  Lyla nodded, her throat constricting as she thought of dear Mary dying in the west. It was her fault. Maybe, if Mary had never gone west, she would still be alive and well.

  “Did she die alone?” Lyla’s voice broke as she asked the question. It wasn’t something she wanted to talk about, but she had to know.

  “No…actually, I was there. Her last words were for me to look for you, and to take care of Joey. All she was able to tell me was that you lived in Merrill, Illinois.”

  Lyla wiped a tear from her eye and turned towards the little house that James had lent her. She needed a few moments alone.

  She ignored James, who was calling after her, raced into the wooden room that already seemed so familiar, closing the door behind her and sliding to the floor.

  She let sobs shake her body in remembrance of her sister, in remembrance of her family and everything else she had lost.

  Chapter 13

  “What did you say to her? More rude questions?” Bonnie came walking up to James, her tone admonishing.

  James shook his head and ran a hand over his chin. “I’m sorry, Ma, I actually started talking about her sister. I didn’t mean to, it just happened.”

  “The poor dear. Imagine finding out you lost your sibling that way and being so far away you couldn’t do anything to help.” Bonnie shook her head as she spoke and then held up an empty pail in her hand. “I just fed the chickens, but we’re nearly out of feed.”

  James nodded. A trip into town would be necessary soon. He had talked with Merrick and Daniel about handling things at the jailhouse so he could have some time at the ranch with Joey and to hopefully convince Lyla to leave the boy behind.

  So far, it didn’t seem as though his plan was working.

  “Should I go talk to her? Do you think she’ll want to talk to me?”

  “I don’t know, son. That’s up to you. You know, Lyla strikes me as the type of young woman who’s been through a lot. Sometimes, they just need patience and a lot of loving care to come around.”

  James groaned inwardly. There were times when he had no idea what his mother was trying to say, and this was one of them.

  “It was partly your idea to bring her here.” James threw his hands up in frustration.

  “I know, and I still stand by that. I’m just saying that instead of rushing to make her make a decision, you should slow down and ask yourself why she’s so hasty to leave in the first place.”

  “That’s what I’ve been trying to do since she got here, but she’s not exactly forthcoming about her past, or what she’s thinking or feeling—or anything, really.”

  Bonnie smiled and shook her head with a knowledgeable look in her eye. “Women can be hard to figure out. I know this because I am one.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll try to slow down a bit. It’s just…whenever I see Joey, I just want to know that he’s not going to be leaving anytime soon.”

  Bonnie nodded and James knew she understood what he was feeling. With a sigh and a little wave to his mother, he took off at a jog towards the little guest cabin.

  He paused at the door, suddenly uncertain about knocking. Maybe Lyla just needed time to herself to think.

  But then, he didn’t have a lot of time to give her. He knew how fast a month would pass, and then he would be watching Lyla and Joey ride off in a stagecoach, wishing he had taken advantage of this moment.

  Making up his mind, he knocked firmly on the door. He heard someone moving about inside and, after a few moments, Lyla opened the door.

  Her eyes looked puffy and red, and she looked as sad as he’d seen anyone since tragedy had struck his own life.

  “I’m sorry, I just wanted to make sure you were alright,” James said as he shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.

  “Oh, um, thank you. I’m fine. It’s just…talking about Mary, it brings back so many memories. I’m sorry for rushing away like that.”

  “Can I come in?” James wasn’t sure what made him ask.

  Lyla nodded and held the door wide so he could enter. He crossed the room and sat down in one of the chairs by the table, waiting until Lyla joined him.

  “So, tell me, why did your sister move so far out west?”

  By Lyla’s nervous look, James could tell that his questions weren’t welcome. He had meant to come across as friendly and give her someone to talk to, but he was pretty sure he was having the opposite effect.

  “There were many different reasons she came to the west. I can’t say that there was one in particular.”

  James was an expert at spotting a liar. He certainly had plenty of experience with the criminals and liars that passed through the jailhouse.

  He cringed at Lyla’s response. It was very easy to see that she knew she wasn’t telling the whole truth.

  “Didn’t you miss her? It must have been hard for you two to be so far apart. Do you have other siblings?”

  “Do you always have so many questions for your guests?”
Lyla fixed him with a steady gaze. Her eyes were neutral, as if she had put up a wall to block him from her emotions.

  “I’m only curious about Joey’s family and his relationship with you. And I’m bad at making good conversation.”

  Surprisingly, Lyla nodded as if she understood and sighed, looking at the ceiling and running a hand through her hair. “I don’t have any more siblings. It was just Mary and me. And I missed her every day. We all did. I suppose it was my fault she came out west; I encouraged her to go. If I could go back in time, I would beg her not to. Maybe she’d still be alive, then.”

  Her voice cracked and tears squeezed out of her eyes again, making little wet trails down her cheeks and dripping off her chin to the tabletop. She quickly wiped her face with her sleeve and sniffed.

  “It’s not your fault that your sister died. Things like that can happen anywhere.” James looked down at the rough table beneath his hands and began to silently count the little cracks in its surface.

  The conversation had made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

  “What about you, Sheriff? What are you doing out here in the west?”

  “I came with my family, nearly a decade ago. My father died a few years ago, which is why my mother lives with me.” James wanted Lyla to ask him questions. Maybe if she knew more about him, she would take him into more consideration as Joey’s new father.

  “And why haven’t you married? Aren’t there plenty of young women around these parts?”

  James drew in a breath of surprise; he hadn’t expected her to ask about Alice. His face felt hot and he forced down the pain that always surfaced when he thought of his late wife.

  After several minutes, Lyla gave an amused smile. “It’s not too comfortable to be on the side of the questions, is it, Sheriff?”

  James clenched his jaw and cleared his throat, trying to keep his emotions in check. “I did have a special someone. We were only married a year. She got sick a few months after we were married and after a long illness, she passed away.”

  James immediately saw the change in Lyla’s face. She gave him a look full of sympathy and reached across the table, placing her hand over his and squeezing his fingers gently. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

  “No, it’s all right. I haven’t really talked about her for a long time. I was actually out at her grave when your sister and her husband came by in their wagon; I was just heading back when the horses came running down the road.”

  Lyla’s eyes widened. “You saw them before they died?”

  James nodded as old shame washed over him. If only he had been quicker, if only he had thought of some way to pull them off of that wagon, maybe things would have turned out differently.

  “The horses were out of control. I tried to stop them. I really did, but I wasn’t fast enough. I couldn’t reach the reins and the horses wouldn’t stop.” James closed his eyes and felt the horrific scene wash over him once again.

  “And then, as the corner came, they went over the edge. When I got to the bottom of that cliff, your sister was still alive. I called for help and I tried to get the wagon off of her, but I wasn’t strong enough.”

  “But she was still alive?” Lyla looked at him hopefully.

  “Yes, she took my hand and she told me the name of your town and to find her sister. She asked me to take care of her son. Before she could say your name…” James shook his head. “I kept Joey with me because she asked me to look after him. It felt wrong to hand him off to an orphanage or something. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop the horses.”

  He stared at the tabletop, breathing in short, shallow breaths, and struggled with his emotions. James could hear the chickens outside and a cow mooing somewhere. Lyla didn’t say anything and neither did he.

  They sat there, Lyla’s smaller hand on top of his, just enjoying each other’s company.

  “Thank you, for watching over Joey. I know it would have meant the world to Mary.”

  James nodded. “Oh, actually, I wanted to tell you—earlier, when you asked if we could visit their graves, I forgot there was a meeting at the church this afternoon. Would it be okay if we went tomorrow?”

  Lyla hesitated.

  “If not, I can tell my mother we can’t go, and we can miss it,” headed hastily.

  “No, that’s fine. I don’t mind coming to church with you. Maybe it will do me good.” Lyla gave a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “All right. Lunch should be ready in a bit and straight afterward, we’ll leave for the church.”

  Lyla nodded and stood. “Thank you for coming and checking up on me. Also, thank you for telling me what happened. It makes things just a little bit better.”

  James nodded and slipped out of the small cabin.

  The cool air hit his face and the sun beat down on his back. He should get on with his chores before lunch.

  Despite his greatest effort, he wasn’t able to get Lyla or their conversation out of his mind. There had been something about why Lyla’s sister had come west that bothered him. Why did Lyla think it was her fault her sister had come here?

  It didn’t make sense. James sighed and walked over to where Joey was working on filling the wood box. He took half of the boy’s load and walked beside him.

  “Is Miss Lyla all right?” Joey asked, looking up at him. James was surprised to see worry in the boy’s eyes.

  As far as he had known, Joey didn’t care much for Lyla.

  “She’s gonna be fine. She just had a moment where she remembered something sad.” James dumped his two logs into the wood box and Joey did the same before they turned and headed back to the woodpile.

  “Do you think that Mama is watching over her, too?” Joey reached up and slipped his hand into James’.

  There may have been a time when James would have pulled away, but now he just squeezed the little fingers within his own.

  He had no choice now but to enjoy every single moment with Joey as if it were his last.

  “I do think that your mama is watching over Lyla. After all, she was her sister.”

  “Lyla and Mama were sisters?” Joey’s eyes were wide, and his lips formed the shape of an O, as if he couldn’t quite believe it. “I always wanted a sister, and Mama and Papa always said that maybe one day we’d find one, but we never did.”

  James chuckled. “I’m sure your parents had their reasons, but being an only child has its benefits.”

  Joey shook his head. “I don’t think so. Besides, Mama always said that she would like to have a little sister or brother for me. Where do brothers and sisters come from, James?”

  Joey’s face was intent as if he were pondering the answer, but it was just beyond his grasp.

  James felt his cheeks fill with heat. “That, Joey, is a good question. Maybe you should ask my mother, or maybe even better, you should ask the reverend at church this afternoon.”

  James laughed as he thought of the reverend’s possible reaction when the little boy came up to him and asked him where little children came from.

  Joey picked up another load of wood and this time, James picked up a load worthy of his ability. Then, the two were off towards the wood box.

  James was looking forward to church that day. He had a feeling it was going to be an interesting afternoon.