by Chloe Carley
Eventually, she knew she’d never get to sleep and, causing great consternation to Sammy, she got up and lit the oil lamp. The clock in the parlor had just struck midnight and she made her way to the stove, stoking up the embers of the fire to boil water for some cocoa. Her mind was awash with thoughts and she knew she couldn’t possibly sleep until it was settled.
She took out a sheet of writing paper and sat down with a quill and ink to pen a letter to her aunt back home. In it, she told Aunt Miranda of everything that had happened since last she’d written and about all her adventures with Thomas and Mr. Knox.
But it was not just the narrative of events which she wished to explain to her aunt. Rather, she used the letter to explain her feelings, as confused as they were. She’d felt guilty for giving in to a romantic attachment, given how soon it had been since Damon’s funeral.
But she could no longer deny the feelings of her heart, nor the increasing realization that it was Thomas with whom she was falling in love. She confided in her aunt the details of Mr. Knox’s kindness, and that she felt conflicted by his seeming advances towards her.
But it is Thomas that I have come to love and I beg you, Aunt Miranda, to offer me some of your sage advice. You always know just what to say and when to say it, she concluded and signed the letter your dearest Aline, begging her aunt to pay her a visit very soon.
Having sealed the envelope, she at last felt her mind at ease and returned to bed, disturbing Sammy once again. But she felt better having explained everything to her aunt. She missed her terribly, even though it had been her Aunt Miranda who’d so encouraged her to come to Lakestone in the first place. What would she say? And what advice would she offer when she read of Aline’s feelings towards the handsome sheriff?
I just want to see him, that’s all, she told to herself as her eyelids became heavy and at last sleep overcame her.
Chapter Nineteen
Aline awoke late the next morning, as Sammy let out a meow for his sardines. She rolled over, remembering the events of the day before and wondering if today she’d hear any further news about Thomas.
Having made herself a simple breakfast of porridge and honey, she was just getting ready to ride into town with the letter for her aunt when the sounds of a horse and trap could be heard out in the ranch yard. She crossed to the window, her bonnet in hand, and was surprised to see Mr. Knox hurrying towards the ranch house. It was unusual for him to appear so early, and there was no sign of Clarence or Hector at their jobs.
He didn’t even knock, flinging open the door with an excitable look upon his face.
“Mrs. Hale, I’ve some good news for you. Sheriff Redmond is returned to us, alive,” he said, laughing as he spoke the final word.
“Oh, what an answer to prayer, Mr. Knox,” Aline said, clutching her hands and offering up a silent prayer of thanks.
“I thought you’d want to know just as soon as I did. I’ve just come from Lakestone now. He’s with Doc Hanson and his wife. They’re taking good care of him,” Mr. Knox assured her.
“What wonderful news, do you think they’d mind if I went to see him?” Aline asked, keen to leave as soon as possible, for she’d thought of little else but Thomas ever since she’d been told he was missing.
“I think he’d be very happy to see you, Mrs. Hale, but you should be warned,” Mr. Knox replied, shaking his head sadly. “Those bandits certainly roughed him up. He’s in a sorry way, he was attacked by a gang of outlaws on the way back from Westfort. As I understand it, they beat him up pretty badly. He won’t be a pretty sight.”
Aline gasped, how awful to think of Thomas being set upon like that. She hated to think of him suffering so badly at the hands of those wicked men. Tears filled her eyes and she turned away, dabbing her handkerchief to her face as Mr. Knox reached out and placed a gentle hand upon her arm.
“It’s all right, Mrs. Hale. Sheriff Redmond is made of stern stuff. He’ll be just fine, I’m sure. Shall I ride with you into town?” he asked.
“Oh. No thank you, Mr. Knox. I’ll be quite all right. But I should get going, I need to see him,” Aline replied, putting on her bonnet and hurrying to the door.
“Then I wish you a good day, Mrs. Hale, a very good day indeed,” Mr. Knox called after her.
But Aline wasn’t listening, she only wanted to get to Thomas and to see how he was. It terrified her to think of him injured like that and she knew he was lucky to be alive at all. She untethered Scout and was soon on riding the trail toward Lakestone.
Now it’s my turn to show him some kindness, she told herself, anxious to see what she’d find when she arrived at the home of Doc Hanson and his wife.
***
“Now, no one said medicine should taste nice and I’m telling you that this is about as unpleasant as they get. But take a deep breath and drink it down. You’ll feel better for it,” Doc Hanson said, as he poured out a spoon of thick brown liquid from a large bottle.
Thomas balked as the smell filled his nostrils, and he held his breath when the doctor brought the spoon toward his mouth.
“Ergh, that is foul,” he agreed, wrenching as he gulped down the sickly potion.
“And that’s why it’ll do you good, son. You’ve had a nasty shock,” the doctor said, placing the bottle back on the bedside cabinet.
Thomas was lying under crisp, starched sheets in the upper bedroom of Doc Hanson’s house, which served as an infirmary for the town. His wife was bustling around, bringing in a hot water bottle for Thomas, who had a fever and was shivering.
The walk back to Westfort has almost finished him off, and by the time he’d reached the sheriff’s office he’d almost collapsed. It was John Hoskins who’d found him and he’d brought him straight to Doc Hanson, who’d ordered him up to bed.
Now, Thomas lay beneath the sheets, with Doc Hanson standing over him and tutting at the extent of his injuries.
“Is it bad, doctor?” Thomas asked, and Doc Hanson looked serious.
“Well, you’re as strong as an ox, Thomas, but you couldn’t have taken much more. You’re in a bad way, your injuries and the fact you’ve been out all night and caught the sun on you. A few days’ rest should sort you out though, but you’re going to ache something pretty,” he replied.
Mrs. Hanson had brought up a tray with soup and bread, which Thomas sat up eagerly for. He’d hardly eaten since setting out for Westfort, and all that business seemed like a lifetime away. His mind was filled with all sorts of terrible thoughts, chief amongst them being Harrison’s threats toward Aline. If he told anyone about what had happened, then her life wouldn’t be worth living and neither would his. But could he stand idly by and let Harrison get away with this?
“I need to get back to my duties,” Thomas announced, taking a spoonful of soup, which tasted like nectar after the hunger he’d experienced on the trail.
“You won’t be going anywhere for a while, Thomas. I’m sure John Hoskins can see to things whilst you rest up. What happened to you?” the doctor asked.
“I… I got set on, by bandits. They ambushed me, I was foolish. They cried out for help and I fell for it. I walked straight into their trap,” Thomas replied.
“And they stole your horse too, huh?” the doctor said.
“That’s right, they’d enough about them to know they’d face a murder charge if they left me out there with nothing. I guess I should be grateful they tossed me a canteen of water and a pack of crackers,” Thomas said, tearing apart the bread.
“You were lucky. Did you get a good look at them?” the doctor asked.
For a moment, Harrison’s face flashed before Thomas’ eyes. That leering grin, the threatening tone and the wicked words he spoke. But Thomas shook his head, heeding his half-brother’s words.
“No, I didn’t. It all happened so fast, I didn’t see a thing,” he replied.
“Well, you get some rest, we’ll look after you,” the doctor replied, just as a loud knocking came echoing up the stairs. “Now, who could
that be? Celia, can you get the door?”
Doc Hanson left Thomas alone, muttering to himself about every person in the town wanting his attention that day, and Thomas lay back with a sigh. What a truly awful ordeal he’d suffered at the hands of Harrison and the others. He could hardly believe his half-brother would be so cruel, but Harrison had never been known for his compassionate nature. He was a cruel and ruthless man, with little regard for anything or anyone but himself.
Thomas closed his eyes, pushing aside his tray, as sleep began to come over him. He was exhausted, his injuries causing his whole body to ache and his head to feel heavy and sore. But at that moment, the door burst open and he opened his eyes, startled by the sight of Aline standing before him.
For a moment, she looked at him in shock, tears running down her face. Then, she rushed forward, clutching him by the hand and kneeling at his bedside.
“Oh. Thomas. I came just as soon as Mr. Knox told me what had happened. You poor thing, you poor dear thing,” she said, her eyes wide and fearful, as tears ran down her cheeks.
Have nothing to do with Aline Hale, you hear me, Harrison’s words ran through Thomas’ mind, and the threats he made against Aline’s life reverberated in his ears.
“I… I’ll be all right, Aline. It was… kind of you to come, but there was no need,” Thomas replied, lying back on the pillow.
He pulled his hand away from hers and closed his eyes, not wishing to see the look of disappointment on her face. But what else could he do? How he longed to take her in his arms and feel her gentle touch and comforting presence, but Harrison was a man of deeds, not idle threats. He’d promised to harm Aline if Thomas continued in his affections for her and it would be best to heed his warning.
Thomas knew that his injuries were only a warning. Harrison could’ve killed him as soon as look at him, but he’d spared his life and for that Thomas needed to sit up and pay attention. This business was bigger than he’d ever imagined and if he continued to show affection for Aline, even in secret, then Harrison was bound to find out.
“I… I came just as soon as I heard,” she said, the sadness in her voice evident. “I bought you some mints from the grocer’s, I remember you saying liked them.”
Thomas did like them. He liked everything about Aline, her sweet, kind ways. Her gentle demeanor, that underlying determination and her pretty smile. But he loved her enough to know that even her being here at his side wasn’t safe, and the last thing Thomas wanted was for Aline to get embroiled further in his quest to bring Harrison to justice.
“That’s kind of you, Aline,” he replied, “but I think… I think I just need to rest up for a few days. I’ll see you at some point soon, I’m sure of it,” he replied, not meeting her gaze, but knowing surely how much he was hurting her inside.
“I… I just want you to be all right, Thomas. Sammy says ‘hello,’ and I’ve been practicing my seed cake for the next time you come over,” she said, her voice sounding exaggerated in its optimism.
“If you need anything… well, any problems… you can drop by the sheriff’s office,” he said.
“Have I done something wrong, Thomas? I’m sorry, I didn’t know where you were. I was worried, I went to your office and John Hoskins told me …” she began, her lip beginning to tremble.
“No… you haven’t, Aline. It’s just that… I need to rest,” he said.
It broke his heart to treat her that way, but what choice did he have? Harrison had threatened to kill her, and he’d seen his half-brother follow through on enough threats to know that what he said was true.
A tear ran down her cheek and she nodded. Patting his hand and turning to leave. At the door, she turned to him, a forced smile on her face.
“Well, I’m always here for you, Thomas,” she said, and with a nod she left the room, closing the door behind her, as Thomas lay back sadly on the bed and sighed.
I had to, she’d be dead otherwise, he reminded himself, but that knowledge did nothing to assuage his guilt and the deep feeling of sadness he felt, knowing he’d lost Aline, the only woman he’d ever truly come to love.
***
Aline didn’t even pause to thank Doc Hanson for allowing her to see the patient. Instead, she hurried out onto the street, clutching her handkerchief to her face, as tears ran down her cheeks. She felt confused, hurt, dumbfounded by what had just transpired at Thomas’ bedside. Where had his feelings gone? Or was she as bad a judge of character as she’d suspected she was?
Just like Damon, she thought to herself, lamenting how quickly she’d come to trust a man she barely knew.
It seemed no man could be trusted. She’d opened her heart to Thomas and placed her fragile emotions in his hands. Now it seemed he’d thrown them all back at her, discarding her feelings in favour of his own.
Is there another woman? Or did the bump on his head just bring him to his senses and make him decide that a penniless widow wasn’t worth the effort? Such cruelty, she thought to her herself, looking angrily towards the post office.
Only half an hour previously, she’d posted the letter to her aunt, full of hope and optimism for the future. The words she’d expressed now seemed empty and hollow. Devoid of any truth, given Thomas’ words. How easily her fragile state had been shattered, like the glass ornaments she dusted at Lampeter Ranch. She felt trapped, suffocated even by the web in which she’d become entangled.
I was a fool to trust so easily. Men are all the same. After everything he did for me, every kind word and after I gave him my trust. He knew how fragile I was, he knew that, she fumed to herself, cursing the day she’d trusted Sheriff Thomas Redmond.
She hurried toward where Scout was tethered up, even feeling resentment against the horse and pained at having to ride her back to Lampeter Ranch.
Anger was building inside her, anger for her own foolishness and anger that she’d allowed Thomas to capture her heart. How unfair life now seemed, and it was as though a light had gone out, the light of hope in a better future. One in which she put the cares of the past behind her and found new life and love with Thomas.
She’d truly believed that he was the one with whom she could fall in love and find happiness. But now it seemed that a storm cloud had arisen over the prairies and it had one ray of sunlight coming through.
I guess the one person’s who’s been true in all of this is Mr. Knox, she thought to herself.
For despite what everyone else seemed to think of him, he’d been nothing but kind and generous toward her. As she rode back to Lampeter Ranch that afternoon, she felt betrayed and angry, feeling herself a fool for having trusted Thomas, whom everyone spoke so highly of.
Well, they can say what they like about Mr. Knox. I know who I’ll side with, she told herself, as she rode out of Lakestone, putting Thomas firmly behind her.
Chapter Twenty
Lita Morrell insisted upon bringing Thomas his breakfast in bed each morning, after his return to the boarding house from Doc Hanson’s. His wounds had quickly healed and the fever subsided, so that after three days of bed rest and the administration of the foul-tasting medicine, he was back on his feet.
Thomas had never been one for idleness and, being little inclined to read or partake in similarly sedate activities, he’d soon been itching to get back to work. But between them, Doc Hanson and Lita Morrell were a formidable pair. Thomas had been placed under orders to remain in bed, lest he find himself permanently signed off his duties.
“You don’t give John Hoskins enough credit,” Lita Morrell had said, when she caught Thomas watching the deputy through his bedroom window one morning.
“He’s still got a lot to learn,” Thomas had replied.
“And he won’t do that by holding onto your apron strings his whole life. From what I’ve heard, he’s doing a good job. Now, sit down and eat your breakfast,” she’d said, placing the tray forcefully on his bedside table.
Thomas had soon learned that Lita Morrell would not take no for an answer and grudging
ly he’d allowed himself to be taken care of. After a couple of weeks, he’d found his strength almost entirely returned, a good thing indeed, given that the deputy had come bearing bad news.
There’d been reports of three new outlaw attacks on outlying ranches. It was an epidemic and John Hoskins was overwhelmed.
***
“Now, what are you out of bed for, sheriff?” Lita Morrell said, as she brought in a plate of eggs and sausage for Thomas, in the second week of his incarceration.
“I’m better now, I don’t need another day in bed, Mrs. Morrell. Besides, things are getting worse out there,” Thomas replied.
