by Natalie Dean
“You don’t know how much it means to me that you stood up for me like that,” she said quietly. He chuckled.
“It’s my job,” he said. Barbara shook her head.
“That’s not what I mean. I know how hard it was for you to find all the evidence that you did in just a few days, and I can’t believe you were able to pull that off. I owe you so much – I owe you my life!” She had tears in her eyes, and he stopped her, brushing them away with his hand. He put his finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to look him in the eyes.
“I love you, Barbara. Like I said in there, I loved you from the moment I first saw you. I knew that you were the person I wanted to grow old with. You are the person I want to spend each and every day of my life with, and you are the person I want to have a family with. I can’t imagine another day of my life without you in it, and I would do anything to make sure that happens.” He smiled at her, but the tears were only coming faster.
Barbara opened her mouth to answer, but he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, interrupting her. It was the first time they kissed, and to Barbara’s surprise, she felt as much passion as he did. They stood in the middle of the street, sharing their first kiss in the fading sunlight. She didn’t know how long she stood there, but Barbara wished that the moment would go on forever. When she finally did pull back, she smiled up at him, ignoring the tears that were now drying on her cheeks.
“Barbara Hill, I love you with all my heart,” Jake said. Barbara, touched by his gesture, smiled and put her hand up against the side of his face.
“It’s Barbara Cowell now, Jake Cowell, and I want you to know that I love you with all my heart as well.” She looked lovingly into his eyes and closed hers as he bent forward to give her another kiss.
Barbara knew she had made the right decision, and now that she was free to live her life once more, she wanted to live it with all the passion and vigor she’d had before.
And she knew she was going to be happy with Jake for the rest of her life.
THE END
CLARA: BRIDES ON THE RUN BOOK 3
Book Description
CLARA
Brides on the Run Book 3
A Western Romance Short Story
Clara Swanson is a beautiful young woman married to the sheriff of Buffalo, New York. Though she worries about his position, she knows that it is something he feels strongly about, and doesn’t say anything to her husband about her worries.
When her husband is mysteriously murdered in the line of duty, Clara can’t help but suspect there was more going on than what appeared. When her suspicions are confirmed, she takes what little she has and heads West.
Feeling guilty about marrying so soon after her husband’s death, Clara is reluctant to get close to her new husband. But, when the danger that tore her family apart threatens to do so once again, she must act.
Will Clara find the courage to stand up for her family? Will she end the threat that followed her once and for all? Can she ever find love again?
Away From it All
“Come down from there before you hurt yourself!” Clara Swanson said with a laugh. Her husband, Cody, was doing his best to free their kite from the tree in which it had become entangled while Clara looked up at him from below. He looked down at her and smiled.
“I can’t very well just leave it up here now, can I?” he said with a wink. Clara looked away and shook her head, though she didn’t make any effort to hide the smile that had formed on her lips. It wasn’t at all unlike her husband to do things like this, and it always made her laugh. He acted more like a child than an adult when he was with her, and she found it a charming and endearing trait.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t be serious – after all, Cody Swanson was the sheriff of Buffalo, New York, and there wasn’t a criminal in the area that didn’t shudder at the sound of his name. Everyone knew when Cody was on the case, it was only a matter of time before the guilty party ended up behind bars.
“Got it!” he said with triumph in his tone. Leaping down from the tree, he landed with a small hop directly in front of her. He made a show of handing the kite over, and Clara couldn’t help but roll her eyes and shake her head.
“Now, let’s see if you can manage to keep it out of the tree this time, shall we?” he teased as he reached for her hand. They walked back to the other side of the field and settled in on top of their picnic blanket once more.
“I think I’ll give it a rest for a while. I’d rather just lay here with you and enjoy the sunshine.” Cody had laid down on the blanket and closed his eyes, and Clara now lowered herself next to him. She leaned her head on his chest and took a deep breath in.
Clara was greatly enjoying their day. It was a rare event for her to have Cody all to herself – his demanding job often kept him at the jail rather than at home, and a jail was no place for a lady to spend much time. Of course, Clara had known that she wasn’t going to get to see him often when she married him, but knowing it in advance didn’t make living it out any easier.
She felt him shift so he could rub his hand gently up and down her back and she smiled. Clara felt like she could lay in the sunshine with him for hours and never grow tired of it. Spending time with Cody – even when they weren’t doing anything at all – was her favorite thing to do.
“Darling, what do you think we ought to do with the inheritance money?” she asked suddenly. Cody’s father had recently passed away, and as his mother had died when he was very young. Since he was an only child, the entire sum went to him.
He’d placed it in a drawer in their bedroom, and they kept intending to talk about what to do with it, but it was difficult for them to find the time. Cody didn’t say anything for a moment, then he replied, “We should probably set it aside for a while, we might need it for something later.”
Clara remained silent as she laid on his chest, wondering what they could possibly need it for. Of course, she knew he was right – it was smart to hold onto it for a rainy day, but she also trusted God to be in control, and she believed if anything bad did happen, God would provide a way for them to get through it.
Suddenly, a faint voice called out to them. At first, Clara ignored it, thinking it was merely her imagination. But, it quickly grew louder, and Cody sat up, nearly knocking her off him in the process.
“I’m sorry, Honey,” he said gently as he scrambled to his feet. Clara assured him she was quite alright and rose, brushing the grass off the front of her skirt. There was a man she didn’t recognize riding up to them, shouting for Cody to come at once.
“There’s been a robbery!” he shouted as he drew nearer to them.
“I can’t even spend a single afternoon with my wife without something going wrong!” Cody muttered under his breath as he picked up his hat. The man yanked the reins on his horse, turning the animal to the side.
“Where?” Cody asked, looking up at the rider while Clara quickly gathered the picnic items and shoved them back inside the basket.
“Mason’s general store. Two men showed up with guns drawn and had him empty the registers for them. They were wearing masks, but he thinks he can provide a decently accurate description of what they looked like.” The man looked from Cody to Clara. “I take it this interrupts you taking a day off?”
“I was hoping John would be able to handle things for an afternoon, but it doesn’t appear so now, does it?” Cody gave Clara an apologetic look, then glanced back toward the wagon. “I’ll drop you off at the house on my way into town. I’m sorry, Honey.”
“If John is your deputy, then he’s there – but he feels that this is a big enough event that you should also respond as soon as possible. No one’s been hurt, thankfully, but who knows how many shops they intend to rob.”
Cody thanked the man who gave a slight nod then turned his horse back toward town. The animal kicked up dust as it galloped away, and Clara shook her head.
“Don’t worry about it, I’m disappointed, but not too upset. I knew
when I married you that you might get pulled away from time to time. I don’t mind it, really I don’t.” Clara smiled as she put her hands on Cody’s shoulders and gave him a light shake. He smiled at her and offered her his hand, then the two of them walked back to the wagon.
Clara set the picnic basket in the back of the wagon, then she took his hand as he helped her climb up into the seat. She silently placed both her hands around his arm when he picked up the reins and slapped them on the backs of the horses. The wagon jolted as it made its way down the hill, and both husband and wife sat lost in their own thoughts.
Cody was driving the horses at a slightly faster pace than usual, though it was clear to Clara he wasn’t making a large effort to be home very quickly. She knew it had to be hard for him as well. He loved his job as a sheriff, and he’d done the town a lot of services. But, it did cut into the time he had to spend with her, and no job could make up for that.
He dropped her off at their house on the edge of town, and Clara stood on the porch as she watched him turn the wagon into town and urge the horses to pick up the pace. Now that he had to leave her behind, he would get to the store as quickly as possible to begin working on the case.
She lingered for a moment after he had disappeared from view, fighting the sadness that started to swell in her heart. She told herself she was proud to be a sheriff’s wife, and that the sacrifices she was making were important in their own way, too. After all, she was happy to be with Cody, and though she wished she could just have him to herself for a day, she knew it would forever just be a wish she had.
Finally, she turned and went inside the house.
The Accident
“You’re heading out early today,” Clara commented as Cody pulled on his jacket. He took his hat off the peg by the door and held it in his hand as he sighed.
“That general store robbery has generated a lot of paperwork to do, and John just doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing when it comes to filing,” Cody looked rather irritated as he spoke, and Clara smiled.
“Not everyone has the blessing of an education, Sweetheart,” she said gently. Clara didn’t particularly care for John, but she did feel sorry for him, knowing that the man had come from poverty. From what he had shared with them, his parents had done what they could to send him to school, but he had to drop out before he made it far to help with the farm.
Through a lot of hard work and dedication, he managed to learn to read and write well enough to get a position as a deputy, but it was clear that he preferred to be working with the public directly rather than take care of the files and paperwork that went along with the job. A light smile passed across Cody’s lips for a brief moment, and he held out his arm to his wife.
Clara walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning her head against his chest. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, enjoying her husband’s rich scent. “You be careful today, okay?”
He gave her a light squeeze before pulling away and looking down into her eyes. “You know I will be.”
He gave her another gentle pat before walking out the door, and Clara watched him push his hat onto his head as he rounded the corner, heading for the jail. She sighed as she pushed the door closed and turned her attention back to the breakfast table. It was rare for him to leave without eating breakfast, and she wished he had taken something with him, but Clara knew he made his own decisions, and she would just have to save the leftover food for later.
She filled the washbasin with water and set to work, scrubbing the scrambled eggs off the plates, but as she worked, she couldn’t help but think of Cody. Though she didn’t know why, she had an unsettled feeling in the back of her mind. Clara shook her head.
It’s nothing. He’s just been busy, that’s all.
Clara rocked back and forth in her chair, staring at the book in her hand but unable to focus on the words. She kept looking up and glancing out the window, wondering if Cody was having a good day. There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t miss him, but there was something about today that made her miss him more than usual.
At last, she gave up on her book and decided to start dinner. It was earlier in the day than usual for her to start cooking, but at least it was something to do to pass the time. If she didn’t rush cleaning the game hen, it would be about time for Cody to come home by the time she pulled it out of the little cook stove. About halfway through cleaning the hen, a knock on the door interrupted her.
Clara wiped her hands on her apron as she glanced out the window, curious to see who it was. Two men stood outside her door, but she didn’t recognize either one of them.
Clara opened the door and smiled, though her stomach fluttered as she did. One of the men removed his top hat and held it in his hand as he gave her a weak smile. There was a look of gravity in his eyes, and her heart sank.
“Ma’am? My name is Judge Travis, and I’m afraid I need to speak with you. May we come in?” Clara looked from one of the men to the other as a lump formed in the pit of her stomach.
“Why? What’s happened?” she asked without moving from the door. The man cleared his throat and glanced at the other, who now also removed his hat and took a step forward.
“My name is Judge Franklin, I work with Judge Travis over at the court. We’re afraid there’s been something of an accident, and feel it would be best for you to hear the information sitting down,” he spoke kindly, though his words only served to make her feel even sicker.
“You tell me what’s happened!” she snapped. Both men hesitated for a moment, then with a reluctant sigh, Judge Travis answered.
“I am afraid Sheriff Swanson has been shot,” he said quietly. Immediately, Clara’s knees buckled beneath her, and she screamed as she fell to the ground. Judge Travis stepped in and caught her before she completely collapsed, and did his best to lift her back to her feet.
“Come on then, let’s get you back inside,” he said in a soothing tone. Clara’s body wracked with sobs, and she fought the lump that had filled her throat. Her chest felt so tight, she didn’t feel as though she could breathe. Though she continued to wail, no tears would come. She was in such shock, all she could do was scream.
“Easy does it, I’m sorry. I know this is a real blow to you, and I regret that there is no easy to way to share the news,” Judge Travis did his best to soothe her, but to no avail. At last, Clara was able to gain some control over herself, and she quickly dabbed a kerchief at the corners of her eyes.
“Wh- What happened?” she asked. Judge Travis and Judge Franklin both sat down at the table, and Clara immediately rose. “Let me get you some tea.”
“It was an unfortunate accident that we are all appalled to think happened. A robbery at the bank that went wrong – shots were fired on both sides, and both the thieves were killed. Both Sheriff Swanson as well as deputies John Hanks and Harold Jones were also present. Jones reports Hanks’ gun misfired and unfortunately hit Sheriff Swanson,” Judge Travis shook his head and thanked Clara for the tea as she set it down in front of him.
“John killed him?” she breathed in disbelief. Judge Travis quickly raised his hand.
“Please don’t misunderstand, Mrs. Swanson, we have no reason to believe that it was anything more than an unfortunate accident. Trust me, Mr. Hanks is terribly ripped up about this – so much so that I sent him directly home after some brief questioning.”
Clara shook her head in disbelief. The overwhelming grief had turned into a numb shock, and she knew the pain was soon to return. She sat in her seat and looked directly in front of her, ignoring the two men.
“Mrs. Swanson? Are you alright?” Judge Franklin quietly asked. Clara sat in silence for a moment longer, then she looked at both men with a grim look.
“I suppose I’m going to have to be now, aren’t I?” she asked. They looked at each other for a moment, but neither said anything. Judge Travis quickly finished his tea and set the cup down with a rattle on the table, and Franklin quickly followed his l
ead. Clara did her best to answer the few remaining questions they had for her, though her mind was only on one thing.
She saw the two men out of the house, thanking them for letting her know the news. But, as soon as she closed the door, she ran to the bedroom and flung herself onto the bed, allowing the sobs to completely take over.
The Intruder
In the next two weeks to follow, Clara felt that her entire life had been turned upside down. Every morning she woke with a heavy feeling in her chest, and she couldn’t imagine even getting out of bed to face the day. But, every morning she forced herself to put one foot on the floor followed by the other and to press onward.
With the help of Judge Travis and her close friend Janice, Clara managed to get through the painful process of planning the funeral. Sheriff Swanson was well-respected, and she knew there were going to be a lot of people who would come, though Clara honestly just wanted his closest friends to be present. Still, she did her best to put on a happy face and thank those who offered their condolences, and to brave the afternoon with all the courage she could muster.
Deputy John Hanks had been at the funeral, and Clara was both surprised and relieved that he didn’t say anything to her about the accident. He walked through the line of people hugging her and shaking her hand, but when it came his time to say something, all he did was offer his hand and give her a slight nod. Clara returned the gesture, though seeing him made her want to scream.
She had never cared for Deputy Hanks, and the thought of her beloved Cody dying at his hand made her hate him more than she thought she could hate any other human being. Clara didn’t care that it had been an accident. All she could think of was Cody, bravely doing his best to capture two men who were committing a crime, and being shot in the back by the person he trusted most in his work.
