The Detective Bride

by Sylvia Damsell

  “Oh? Was there a reason for that?”

  Miss Stevenage shrugged. “A man. Isn’t it always? He was obviously more important than her children. She’ll probably have more with him and abandon them also.”

  “Do you have any details of the man? Any address or a description of what he looks like?”

  “He came with her to bring the children. He’s about five feet eight tall, has straggly black hair and walks with a limp. He was none too clean. I can never understand how a woman would let a man like that near them.”

  “No. Some females can be very gullible. No address?”

  “They said they would be moving around but I did get something because he dropped his wallet and some of the things dropped out. I bent to help him retrieve them and there were two tickets with his name on one of them which I couldn’t make out. There was also a tiny photograph of him which I kept and showed the police afterwards in case of anything irregular. They said they could do nothing because lots of women went off with men other than their husbands and it was not their job to interfere. They weren’t really interested.”

  “Can I see the photograph?”

  Mrs. Stevenage opened a drawer and took it out. Susannah looked at it before passing it to Hazel. “Where was the ticket for?” she asked.

  “Phoenix.”

  “That’s nearly four hundred miles from here,” Hazel said. “Has Mrs. Stanton contacted you at all?”

  “No. We’ve heard nothing. I’m sorry I have no more but obviously she doesn’t want the children.”

  “Obviously. Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.”

  At least they now knew where they’d gone, Susannah said, but they might not still be in Phoenix. Surely Mrs. Stanton wouldn’t give up her children voluntarily.

  “I don’t think she would,” Hazel replied. “For some reason she’s been abducted. If only Blair would contact us because we need to give him this information. However, we cannot wait hoping he will. When I was doing my lawyer course I met someone who came from Phoenix. She was going to start a law practice with her husband. I’ll send her a telegram.”

  “That would be helpful,” Susannah said. “But if she can come up with something I must go.”

  “You can’t go on your own.”

  Susannah smiled. “Says someone who has successfully done a lot on her own.”

  “See if Noah will go with you.”

  “He wants to start his ranch.”

  “I’m sure he would go,” Samantha said.

  “I’m sure also but it’s not fair on him. I want all of you to go back to Lower Pine when you’re ready but I’m staying here for a while. Now let’s go back to Santa Barbara because it’s unfair to leave the men for long. I’ll come back here when you leave for Lower Pine.”

  The men were obviously pleased to see them when they arrived at the hotel the following day. Hazel had sent the telegram to her lawyer friend and they would wait for a reply before they returned to Lower Pine, she said. Which came a couple of days later. She had located the lady, Hazel’s friend said, but her name wasn’t Mrs. Stanton anymore. She appeared to be happy and said her family would be joining her soon. She could find no evidence of abuse and everything seemed to be above board.

  How Susannah hoped everything was as simple as that and that she would turn up soon. But there was nothing more she could do and it was now time to leave Lower Pine, get back to New York and carry on with her life as a detective there.

  She wouldn’t stay in her childhood home, she told Hazel, because she had got used to living away. She would see her parents often when they were home but they were frequently away and she was used to that. Maybe one day she would return to Lower Pine for a holiday.

  “I’ll really miss you,” Hazel said as they sat sipping hot milk on the evening before Susannah planned to leave. “Everyone will, which includes the children. Please don’t forget that the offer to provide offices for you is still open. We’ve decided to build in Lower Pine itself on that vacant plot near the mercantile. I need to be more visible as a lawyer and I can take Amos to work. When I have staff I’ll employ someone to care for any children of ladies who work for me, even of men. I’ll make a nominal charge to parents to cover the salary of the person I employ.”

  “It sounds tempting,” Susannah said. “Maybe one day?”

  “I shall keep writing to remind you. I haven’t seen Noah today.”

  “He was going to look at the plot of land he’s interested in. I might see him later. I don’t know.”

  “Yes.” Hazel stood. “Well, I’ll see you in the morning and I’ll bring loads of handkerchiefs into which to cry when you leave. Do you want any?”

  Susannah smiled weakly. “I’ll bring my own. I really have loved it here and I’m going to miss everyone at the church. They’ve all been so kind.”

  “You’ve cheered the place and brought adventure and intrigue.”

  “I do hope Dan and Becky’s mother was serious when she said she’ll come soon.”

  “So do I though we’ll miss them.” Hazel put her arms round Susannah and hugged her briefly. “Goodnight, darling.”

  “Goodnight and thank you for being such a good friend.”

  “Ditto.”

  Hazel left and Susannah made for the stairs, her expression bleak. Hazel and the people here had been such good friends. She had become a Christian through Vivien. Blair had become a Christian. She didn’t want to leave.

  Mostly she didn’t want to leave Noah. But he definitely wasn’t interested in her romantically and he had been short with her a few times within the last few days. The thing was, it was over the most stupid things which were inconsequential.

  Whether she should use trunks or carpet bags. It was ridiculous discarding perfectly good trunks, he said, and she wouldn’t have to carry them, anyway, because he would put them on the stagecoach. Then when she got to San Francisco she could pay for someone to do it with all the wealth she had accrued.

  And then there was the cake she made specially for him and his reaction to that. He wasn’t a pig and didn’t need such a large piece, or did she regard him as such? She hadn’t known how to answer and laughed as if it was a joke. But no joke to him, she knew, because he just glared at her and declined to play a game of chance when she asked him. He had better things to do with his time, he said, and stormed off.

  So it was time to go from every angle and she was glad it was soon. He could get on with his stupid ranch and see where that would get him. He had no idea about such things and when she suggested buying books on the subject he told her it was common sense and he wasn’t stupid, or did she think he was?

  She sighed and there was a knock on the door. The children? Maybe Linda and she would love to see her. But it was Noah, tall, incredibly good looking and she felt as if her heart was doing a gallop. She also felt incredibly sad with a sadness she could not recall experiencing to date and which threatened to consume her.

  “I bought you a couple of books and magazines for the journey,” he said, holding them out.

  “Thank you. Come in.”

  “No, thank you. I have some paperwork to do concerning the house which Hazel gave me. I hope your journey goes well.”

  “I won’t see you tomorrow morning?”

  “No. I have to finalise details for the land. I’m also going to buy a couple of my own horses though I’ll look after Blair’s until he arrives, if he ever arrives. I would have thought he’d want his wagon at least. The man is....”

  He paused. “Is what?” Susannah asked.

  “Rather scatty.”

  “To say the least. Thank you, Noah, for everything you’ve done. I couldn’t have done it on my own. Do you really want to be a rancher?”

  “Yes. I like it here and that’s the obvious thing to do.”

  “Yes. I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll tell Blair where you are. I’m sure he’ll follow you soon.”

  “Blair?” She looked bemused.

&
nbsp; “Yes.” Noah bent to kiss her lightly on the cheek. “Goodbye, Susannah.”

  “Goodbye, Noah. Have a good life.”

  “I will. You have a good life too.”

  He turned, ran down the path and leapt over the gate before racing across the field towards his house. She watched him until he disappeared out of sight and felt as if the heaviness on her chest would choke her.

  Chapter 27

  A large crowd of people gathered to see Susannah off and she was finding it difficult to keep a control of her emotions. Linda and Jonathon stood with David and Seth in their arms and the older children beside them who had just given her a large parcel from the church. Bruce, Hazel and the children were nearby with Joel and Samantha not far away. Michael and Vivien were also close while everyone else surrounded the coach. Arena had just brought those who went to them for refreshments back to travel onwards and Benjamin was beside her.

  But no Noah and Susannah had hoped he would change his mind and come and see her off. Did nothing of what they did together mean anything to him? Wouldn’t he miss her at all, even as a friend? Arena put her arms round her and hugged her.

  “With you goes all the excitement,” she said.

  Susannah held on a bit desperately for a few moments before stepping back and smiling brightly. “I would think it would be a relief.”

  “Never!”

  “I’ll miss you,” Dan said, looking up at her with mournful eyes. “Do you have to go? We could live with you if you like.”

  “Darling, I’ll miss you too but you like being with Bruce and Hazel and the boys, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “And they will look after you very well and you’re going to be really happy. I love you and Becky so much.”

  “Sooz,” Amos said, holding his arms out to her.

  She took him and it was getting even harder to hide her emotions. That was the first time he said her name and they were all so adorable. “Look after everyone, Amos, and make sure they behave.”

  He bounced on her arm as the children giggled and the next group to say her farewells to were Jonathon, Linda and their children. She hugged everyone one by one, went towards the steps of the stagecoach and Noah rode into view.

  “I brought you a bracelet to go with that ring you have,” he said as everyone stepped back though not far enough not to hear them.

  She looked at it and held out her arm. “Put it on. It’s beautiful.”

  “Did Blair ever buy you anything like that?”

  She looked at him in some surprise. “No. Why would he?”

  “If a man loves a woman he does that kind of thing.”

  “Blair doesn’t love me. Why would you think that?”

  “I’m sorry. That must be difficult for you.”

  She giggled and both of them had forgotten their audience. “Noah. Be serious. It was like looking after a child. No, worse. Children are beautiful and worth looking after.” She paused as it sank in what he had said. “If a man loves a woman?”

  “I love you,” he said simply.

  She turned towards the stagecoach and put her foot on one of the steps. “Well, it’s a bit late to tell me that. I’m not sure, anyway, that I would want to be with a man who keeps snapping at me in the way you’ve been doing the last few days. Goodbye, Noah, and have a nice life.”

  The driver of the coach shook the reins, the stagecoach pulled away and Hazel bent her head to dab at her eyes before turning away with the children. Noah stood looking at the departing coach with a frown creasing his forehead.

  Bruce walked over to him and lay his hand on his arm. “Are you alright?”

  “I haven’t signed any papers yet. Am I legally bound?”

  “No. You’re not legally bound. If you were Hazel would get you out of it.”

  “I think I’m more cut out to be a bodyguard.”

  Bruce smiled. “If that’s what it takes, you definitely are.”

  “Just give my stuff away. I’ll send you a month’s rent because I didn’t give you notice.”

  “You don’t have to. Goodbye, Noah.”

  Noah leapt on his horse, charged down the road and Tara looked at her mother. “Am I old enough to lay bets?” she asked.

  “With whom?” Vivien asked.

  “You or papa or anyone else who wants to do so.”

  Vivien smiled. “I would never encourage gambling. What are the alternatives?”

  “I’ll bet you,” Michael said. “If I win what would I get?”

  “I’ll clean the barn for a week. If I win you give me a new bicycle.”

  “Those are really high stakes. I say they won’t come back.”

  “I say they will.”

  “Just a few cents?” said a man and within minutes everyone was giving money as he wrote down names in two columns.

  Vivien smiled as she started towards the school. “Come on, children. You’re all already late.”

  “I want to see what happens,” Tara said.

  “Fifteen minutes then.”

  And down the road Noah galloped at speed after the coach, his expression determined. She wasn’t getting away from him unless he was absolutely sure she didn’t love him. She said she didn’t love Blair but he couldn’t be sure of that. The horse thundered out of the town, turned a corner and as he rounded it he pulled at the reins so hard that he nearly went flying over the horse’s head as it came to an abrupt halt.

  He leapt off the horse and bent towards Susannah. “I love you,” she said simply, looking up at him.

  He put his arms round her. “I was going to go with you to New York. I can’t live without you.”

  “I can’t live without you either. My luggage is in a pile over there.” She pointed. “Did you bring the wagon into Lower Pine?”

  “Yes. We’ll get it and pick up the luggage.” He leaned down to put his face against hers and his voice was a bit muffled. “I love you. I love you. I love you. I....”

  The rest of his words were muffled as she started to kiss him and he never wanted to let her go. He never would let her go and he didn’t care where they lived. New York, Lower Pine, anywhere in the world she might want to go as a detective. It was a few minutes before he lifted her and set her on the horse.

  “We’ll get the wagon,” he said. “Then we’ll get married.”

  “I want my family to be here.”

  “As soon as they arrive then. Can you tell them to hurry?”

  “The church gave me a present. I feel guilty about taking it.”

  “It can be their wedding present to us, whatever it is.”

  “I didn’t look. Do you really love me?”

  “With all my heart. Do you really love me?”

  “Oh, yes.” Her answer was enthusiastic.

  “It’s why I snapped, because I thought you loved Blair and you were leaving. But then I just couldn’t let you go without telling you. We’re here and everyone is still in front of the mercantile.”

  There was a cheer and Tara jumped up and down in obvious excitement as she looked at her parents in turn and then at Noah and Susannah. “I won! I won!” The man who had taken the bets handed out money.

  “What did you win? Anything worthwhile” Susannah asked Tara, sliding from the horse.

  “I said you’d come back. Papa said you wouldn’t, so I won.”

  “We only bet cents,” said a lady. “I should have bet more because I thought you’d come back.”

  “School,” Vivien said. “When’s the wedding, Noah and Susannah?”

  “When my parents come,” Susannah said. “I’m going to send them a telegram now.”

  Hazel put her arms round her. “What a relief. Will you stay here now or both of you go to New York?”

  Susannah looked at Noah where he stood grinning. “We have to discuss it. If he’d told me before that he loved me we could have come to a decision earlier.”

  “True love never, ever seems to go very smoothly,” Tara said, turning from where the
y were walking towards the school. “Does it, mama?”

  “It appears not. Congratulations, Noah and Susannah.”

  Susannah slid her arm round Noah’s waist where he stood with his on her shoulders. “Thank you.” She looked at Linda. “I’m sorry about the present.”

  “It will be a wedding gift,” Linda smiled. “It’s happened before. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you. We have to go and pick up my luggage. It’s down the road where I asked the stagecoach to leave it.”

  “I think it may rain soon,” Jonathon said. “It might be a good idea to get it immediately. The sky is getting very grey. Come and see me, both of you, and we’ll arrange things.”

  “What about the banns?” Susannah asked.

  “We’ll do something about that. It’s not a legal requirement.”

  Noah and Susannah made for the wagon as everyone started to disperse and by the time they got to the luggage it was pouring with rain. Noah leapt down, threw everything inside and jumped up again to land beside Susannah. Surrounding her with his long arms he started to kiss her.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you.” She came up for air and stroked his hair. “You’re wet.”

  “So are you.”

  “We should go home and get the horses out of the rain.”

  “Horses are used to rain.”

  “It doesn’t mean they like it. Ride on, sir. Where are we going to live until you get your ranch? In the house or the apartment?”

  “Anywhere you like.” He moved to the front after pulling the canvas over where he would be sitting. “But I’m not sure about the ranch. We’ll have to discuss the pros and cons. If you want to go back to New York it will be alright with me.”

  “I want to stay here. I could maybe offer a partnership with Albert or something to start with and then go out on my own afterwards.”

  He groaned. “More mines or banks?”

  “Could be. Do you mind me being a detective?”

  “No, as long as you let me work with you.”

  “I want that. We work well together. If you decide not to be a rancher you could be one of the first male detectives. In fact, we would co-own the agency. What do you think?”