The Salvation 0f A Runaway Bride (Historical Western Romance)

by Cassidy Hanton

  And with that, he stood up and headed out of the stall. Laura felt like she might be sick. She held onto her half-eaten apple, unable to take another bite.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Abe arrived at the jailhouse just as the sun was starting to peek above the horizon. The town was silent, still quietly sleeping or just now starting to begin the morning routines. Ottie rode up minutes later and unlocked the jailhouse. Once inside, Ottie unlocked the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a shiny badge with “Deputy” engraved on it. He handed it to Abe.

  “Like I promised, now it’s official,” he said.

  Abe pinned it to his jacket. “Feels strange. I never wanted to be a law man myself. Too official.”

  “You’ll get used to it,” Ottie said. He walked over to a safe and began to spin the large dial on it, slowly entering the combination until the heavy bolt released. He opened the safe and revealed the large stash of rifles. He handed one to Abe.

  “Far more accurate than that antique you been carrying around. Can put a bullet right between the eyes at more than fifty yards,” Ottie said proudly.

  “Thanks, hopefully, won’t need to use it,” Abe said.

  “Hope so.” Ottie nodded in agreement.

  “So where do we start here?” Abe asked.

  “Well, she was supposed to be picking up some things at the general store. I say we go talk to Mr. Mason, see if he noticed anything peculiar.”

  “Alright, lead the way, Sheriff,” Abe said.

  They walked down the street toward the general store. As they arrived, Mr. Mason was just unlocking the front doors.

  “Good morning Sheriff! And Mr. Mavor! What brings you over here so early?” Mr. Mason said, with his signature smile.

  “Morning Jack, we have a couple questions for you if you don’t mind,” Ottie said.

  Mr. Mason looked a bit confused and concerned. “Well of course, come on inside out of the cold, I’ll be happy to answer whatever you got for me.”

  They stepped inside the store and Mr. Mason grabbed a broom and began sweeping the floor. “I hope you don’t mind, I’d like to get the chores out of the way before the ladies get here.”

  “No, not at all, this shouldn’t take but a few minutes. First, did Laura Edmonds come in your store at all yesterday?” Ottie asked.

  “She did indeed. Bought some coffee and flour. Oh, and I gave her a little satchel of potpourri that I just got in from Paris! Moving up in the world I am, Sheriff!” Mr. Mason said enthusiastically.

  “Good for you. Now, when she was in here, did she seem strange at all to you?” Ottie asked, beginning to write in his notepad.

  “No, not at all, seemed like the same sweet Laura. I do adore that girl, such a kind presence. Been so lovely what she’s been doing for her aunt.” Mr. Mason paused for a second, suddenly pondering the question. “Why, has something happened to Miss Laura?” His cheery demeanor melted away with concern.

  Ottie and Abe both hesitated.

  If the gossips in this town start talking about this…

  As if Ottie read Abe’s thoughts, he cleared his throat.

  “Can’t say for sure, Jack. Did she say anything out of the ordinary, anything that seemed unusual to you?” Ottie pressed.

  “No, nothing of the kind. She seemed exactly like herself. Please, I’d be so upset if something happened to Miss Laura near my shop. She’s such a sweet girl.” Mr. Mason’s face was fraught with worry, his hands wringing the broom handle.

  “Appreciate the help. Jack, as a favor, I’d also appreciate if you didn’t tell anyone about our conversation. Would like to keep the busybodies out of this matter as long as we can,” Ottie said, with a tip of his hat.

  “Of course…of course. If I can help in any other way, please let me know,” Mr. Mason said weakly.

  “Will do Jack, you take care,” Ottie and Abe both tipped their hats to him as they headed outside.

  “Well, that wasn’t helpful at all,” Abe said.

  “Don’t be so quick to think so. Normal means that when she was here, she might not have been thinking of running. Also means she might not have run at all. We might for certain be looking at a kidnapping,” Ottie said, as he finished writing in his notebook.

  Who would kidnap Laura? And why?

  “I don’t know, Abe. I really don’t know,” Ottie said, responding to his thoughts again.

  “You have to stop doing that, Ottie,” Abe said flatly.

  “Can’t help it, you wear your thoughts all over that mug of yours,” Ottie said with a chuckle. “You’d be a terrible detective.”

  “So, why’d you deputize me?” Abe asked.

  “Because I trust you, because you know Miss Laura better than most, and because if you’re with me, I know you’re not out there looking for her on your own and doing something stupid,” Ottie replied.

  He knows me too well.

  Ottie just flashed him a sly smile. “Alright, she was supposed to pick up some meat at the butcher. I’d say that’s our next stop.”

  They walked up the street to the butcher and stepped inside the shop. Mr. Reynolds was behind the counter cutting up a leg of lamb.

  “Morning Charles, how’s business?” Ottie said, with an outstretched hand.

  Mr. Reynolds wiped his hands clean and shook Ottie’s hand. “Good as ever. I’m trying to make sure I’ve got enough in for the jubilee feasts. What can I help you with today?”

  “Was Laura Edmonds in here yesterday by chance?” Ottie asked.

  “Laura Edmonds…let me think…pretty blonde girl that lives with Ethel, right?” Mr. Reynolds asked.

  “That’s the one,” Abe piped up.

  “Yeah, she was in yesterday. She picked up a few things,” Mr. Reynolds said.

  “Did she seem unusual to you at all? Was she acting out of character in any way?” Ottie asked.

  “No, not that I can remember,” Mr. Reynolds replied.

  “You notice anything unusual yesterday at all? Anything or anyone out of the ordinary?” Ottie asked.

  “Actually, there was a strange gentleman in yesterday. I was meaning to mention him to ya; he gave me a strange feeling. Never seen him before. He came in and looked around for a few minutes, asked where the post office was and then just left, right before Miss Edmonds came in actually.”

  “You remember what this man looked like?” Abe quickly asked.

  “Rough sort of fella, big black beard and had that road-worn look to him. Don’t remember much else about him though,” Mr. Reynolds looked at Abe apologetically.

  “That’s alright, that’s helpful. Thank you, Charles,” Ottie said.

  “Something going on, Ottie?” Mr. Reynolds asked

  “Hard to say Charles. If you see that man again, or you remember anything else about him, you give me a shout right away, alright?” Ottie said.

  “Of course, happy to help any way I can,” Charles said.

  Ottie and Abe headed back outside and Ottie finished writing in his notebook yet again.

  “So, some strange man shows up in town the same day Laura disappears? No way that’s unrelated,” Abe says.

  “Hard to say, could be, might not be, gonna need to know a lot more before we can make that decision,” Ottie said.

  “So how do we do that? I’m ready to knock on every door in town till I find her,” Abe said, frustrated.

  “Which is why I’m not letting you off on your own. We’re going to have to be smart about this if we’re gonna find her and spreading it around town that she’s missing ain’t being smart,” Ottie said. “Let’s check the post office and see if our strange friend made it over there.”

  I love Ottie but we’re moving so slowly, she could be miles away by now. She could be starving, scared, who knows what. In the meantime, we’re plodding around main street following threads.

  He dutifully followed Ottie over to the post office where the old man behind the counter sat reading a newspaper.

  “Morning Harold, ho
w are things?” Ottie asked.

  “Oh, same as always Sheriff, these old bones have their routine down pretty solid,” Harold replied.

  “So, tell me Harold, anyone unusual come in here lately?” Ottie asked.

  Harold seemed to sit and think for a very long time.

  “Hmm, nothing…too unusual I’d think. There was that fancy dressed gentleman, Mr. Fisher, he was in here a couple times. Seemed a bit out of sorts,” Harold said.

  “Out of sorts how?” Abe asked.

  “In a hurry, quite bothered, sent two separate telegrams over the space of the day,” Harold replied.

  Abe and Ottie looked at each other.

  “Anyone else out of the ordinary?” Ottie asked.

  “No, everything else was business as usual,” Harold said.

  “Thank you. I appreciate the help Harold,” Ottie said.

  Once they were outside, Abe grabbed Ottie’s arm. “You can’t tell me that’s not suspicious. Her fiancé is in and out of the post office, acting strange, the day she disappears?”

  “Hm,” Ottie replied. “Let’s go back to the jailhouse and regroup.”

  “Regroup? Ottie, let’s go talk to him,” Abe insisted.

  “We need to think on this. For all we know, Mr. Fisher was just out of sorts about some business matter. There’s no need to go bursting in on that worried family until we’ve collected our thoughts and run through what we know so far,” Ottie said.

  You’re being way too cautious, Ottie. We need to move; we need to find her.

  Abe followed Ottie back to the jailhouse, where Ottie sank down in his chair and pulled his notebook out. Abe paced restlessly.

  “Way I see it, looks like no one has seen Laura Edmonds since she left the butcher shop. Her father said they found Ethel’s horse still tied to the post outside the general store with coffee, flour, and parcels of meat all packed inside the saddlebag. There were no stagecoaches that departed yesterday, I already checked that. So, with no horse and no stagecoach, doesn’t seem likely she would have run. Looks like we may be looking at a kidnapping,” Ottie said.

  “Who would kidnap Laura?” Abe asked.

  “Maybe a bandit, though that seems a bit unlikely this close to town. Of course, all this seems a bit unlikely, so I really don’t know, Abe. If it is a kidnapping, I expect they’ll be asking for ransom soon,” Ottie said.

  “So, her family pays, they bring her back?” Abe asked.

  “That’s the idea,” Ottie said.

  “What if her family doesn’t have the money?” Abe asked darkly.

  “Let’s hope we don’t get there,” Ottie replied.

  “So, what do we do, just wait?” Abe asked.

  Ottie thought for a beat.

  “We saw Mr. Fisher yesterday before our ride, I remember that. He look a little…unsteady to you?” Ottie asked.

  “Yeah, he did a bit,” Abe replied.

  “I say we swing over and see Charlie for a drink, maybe see if Mr. Fisher happened in there yesterday at all,” Ottie said as he stood up.

  The two men headed over to the saloon, which was filled with its usual suspects. They sat down at the bar and Charlie immediately came over to them.

  “The usual, boys?”

  “Please, thank you Charlie,” Ottie replied.

  Charlie returned moments later with the drinks. Abe and Ottie both took a sip.

  “So, how are things going?” Charlie asked.

  “Been a little busier than usual,” Ottie said, as he took another sip. “Say Charlie was that Jacob Fisher fella in here yesterday?”

  Charlie let out an amused grunt. “Yep, and every other day he’s been here, usually sets up and plays cards with those boys over there till he can barely stand, or his wallet runs out,” Charlie said, motioning to the group of men over at one of the tables.

  “Hm,” Ottie grunted.

  “Between you and me, I don’t care much for the fella, he in some sort of trouble?” Charlie asked.

  “Hard to say,” Ottie said.

  “Well, Belle is one of his favorite girls, you need to know something, you could try asking her. Between you and me, I believe she was with him last night,” Charlie said, motioning to Belle sitting in the corner. “Though, don’t know how much you’ll get out of her.”

  Abe felt his blood pressure rising again. What a snake.

  “Thanks, Charlie,” Ottie said.

  Charlie nodded and moved down to another patron at the bar.

  “Can we go talk to him now, Ottie?” Abe pressed.

  “Gambling and buying whores doesn’t mean he’s a kidnapper. Charlie said he was here and with Belle yesterday, doesn’t leave much time for kidnapping now does it? I know you don’t like him, but that don’t mean he’s guilty of anything.”

  Abe sat there, fuming over his drink. He doesn’t deserve her. We’re out here looking for her, and when we find her, that despicable excuse for a man still gets to marry her. Where’s the justice in that?

  “I don’t know Ottie, I still think there may be something there,” Abe said solemnly.

  “That’s your anger talking, Abe. C’mon now, let’s go talk to the family, see if maybe a ransom note has come in,” Ottie said.

  Abe finished his drink and stood up to follow Ottie out.

  Laura, when we find you, you’re not going back to him. That much I promise you.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Aunt Ethel and Dorothy sat by the fire, knitting to try to stave the worry off. Xavier and Jacob were both smoking pipes silently. The air was thick with worry.

  “Do you think they found her yet?” Dorothy asked wearily.

  Aunt Ethel leaned over and patted Dorothy’s hand. “If they do, I’m sure they’ll rush her right here.”

  “I just can’t stand the thought of her out there all on her own,” Dorothy said, her eyes welling with tears.

  “She’s a strong girl Dorothy, I’ve seen it. Wherever she is, I’m sure she’s holding her own,” Aunt Ethel said, as she held Dorothy’s hand.

  “I wish that Sheriff would come by with something though. It’s ridiculous that we’re all just sitting around waiting. There should be a search party or something happening!” Xavier exclaimed.

  “That so-called Sheriff is probably off helping Mr. Mavor run away with my bride,” Jacob growled.

  “Now that’s enough of that, boys!” Aunt Ethel said sternly. “I’m sure we’ll hear some news soon, and I’m sure the Sheriff is doing absolutely everything in his power to find her.”

  The two men retreated to silently puffing on their pipes again. Suddenly, Jacob stood up.

  “I’m going down to the station to talk to them. We deserve some sort of an answer,” he stated, as he grabbed his hat.

  Before he could reach the door, there was a knock at it. Jacob opened the door to find Ottie and Abe standing there.

  “What is he doing here?” Jacob asked, stunned.

  “This is my new deputy. He’s been helping me interview folks around town,” Ottie said calmly. “May we come in?”

  “Of course, Sheriff,” Aunt Ethel replied from her chair. “Do you have any news?”

  Ottie and Abe stepped inside. Abe attempted not to look at Jacob, who was glowering at him with every step. Ottie removed his hat and went over the details slowly and deliberately.

  “Well folks, given what we’ve seen so far and folks we’ve spoken to, it seems like we may be looking at a kidnapping. No one’s seen Miss Laura since she was at the butcher shop and there haven’t been any reports that she was acting strangely. I also checked the stagecoach schedule, nothing out of town yesterday, so unless she struck off with someone or on foot, no way she could have gotten out of town without her horse.”

  Dorothy began to cry. Jacob’s fists balled up.

  “So, what’s next?” Xavier asked.

  “Well, I’d like to ask you folks a few questions if you don’t mind, try to see if there may be any reason she might have been taken.”


  “Surely you can’t think that anyone here may have caused this?” Jacob said vengefully.

  “Well, no one directly, but maybe there’s someone ya’ll know that might be holding ill feelings toward the family?” Ottie tried.