The Christmas Mail Order Bride (Holiday Mail Order Brides, Book One) (13 page)

She sniffed a few more times to keep the tears at bay as Charlotte pulled the buggy up in front of the Sheriff’s office. 

“I can help you down, or I can go in first and see if he’s here,” she sweetly offered.

“I’ll get down.” Summer said and immediately began to maneuver herself to do just that.  She didn’t care if she hurt her foot.  She had to talk to Clayton!

Charlotte helped her, and Summer was beginning to believe the woman was being truthful at last.  That she really had let bygones, be bygones and was trying to help. 

She clung to the thought as they
went up the steps, crossed the boardwalk and stepped to the door of the Sheriff’s office.  Charlotte tried the knob but it wouldn’t open.  “Oh dear,” she said.

“It’s locked?” Summer asked in shock.

“Try it yourself.”

Summer tried the door.  It was indeed locked.  “Where could they be?”

“They might have rode out already to start another search.  I’m sorry we didn’t catch Clayton before they left.”

Summer’s heart sank.  “So am I.  I really needed to speak with him before…”

“Before you leave?  Oh Miss James I am sorry!”

Summer glanced at Charlotte who stood there looking quite empathetic.  But how real was it?  She still didn’t trust her fully.  “I suppose I should have you take me back to the farm.  I’m sorry you drove me all the way into town like this, but it was ever so kind of you.”

“Oh now don’t you worry about it.  I’ll tell you what, why don’t you come sit a spell at my house, I’m sure Abbey would love to see you.  She’s been dying to meet you and we’d love the company this afternoon.  Mother and daddy have gone over to our uncle’s house to look at a horse.  They won’t be back until supper time.”

Summer sighed and noted
how Charlotte mentioned Mrs. Davis wouldn’t be there.  In other words, she would be safe from the woman’s comments about how unfitting she was to be Clayton’s wife.  Even if it appeared Charlotte had turned over a new leaf, apparently her mother hadn’t.

“I suppose it would be all right
. You are closer to town than the farm …”

“Oh and Mrs. Riley won’t mind. After all, she didn’t say anything when we left and I’m sure she saw us.”

Summer hadn’t thought of that. In fact, she wondered why Clayton’s mother hadn’t come out of the barn at all.

“L
ets get out of the cold and have some nice hot tea with Abbey,” Charlotte said as she took her arm and pulled her away from the door.  Summer hopped down the steps of the boardwalk and back to the buggy.  Charlotte helped her up then turned back to the Sheriff’s office.  “Let’s leave Clayton a note and let him know where you are,” she suggested.

Now why hadn’t she thought of it?  Summer roll
ed her eyes at her having overlooked something so simple. “Good idea.”

“I have a piece of paper in my reticule and
a pencil, I’ll just write him a note and slip it under the door.” Charlotte went to the door, her reticule in hand and pulled out what she needed.  She then wrote the note and slipped it under the door just as she said she would.  She then came back to the buggy and climbed in.  “There, all done!  Now, let’s go to my house and have some tea and biscuits.”

Summer felt a pang of guilt.  The woman was being so incredibly helpful. Maybe she shouldn’t be so distrustful of her at this point.  Maybe she really was trying to help.

She let go a weary sigh. “Tea sounds wonderful.  Thank you, Charlotte. For everything.”

Charlotte let go a sweet smile. “Don’t mention it.”

Thirteen

It was near dusk by the time Clayton finally made it to town.  He rode straight to the Sheriff’s office, dismounted, and trudged up the steps to the boardwalk.  Nowhere was quiet. Most folks were probably done with whatever errands brought them to town and were heading home to supper.  Clayton wished he was, he missed Summer, and he was going to have to explain his earlier behavior to her when he got home.  But first things first, he had work to do.

He made to enter his office but the door was locked.  Billy must still be making rounds, letting folks know of the danger nearby.  It also meant Spencer was still back at the farm.  Poor Spence, he’d taken a nasty fall and got quite the bump on the head.  Their mother was going to go crazy with worry when she saw it.  He meant to
stop by Doc’s and have him go out to take a look at it.  If he was lucky Doc had already gone to check on not only his brother, but Summer’s injury as well.  Unfortunately, Clayton wasn't sure and made a mental note to stop by Doc’s house before going home.

Clayton unlocked the door and went inside.  The office was full of shadow at this time of day an
d he had to light a lamp to have enough light to write out his reports and letters.  He wearily sat at the desk and worked for the next several hours.  By the time he was done, it was an effort to get up out of his chair.  Just as he stepped away from the desk Billy entered. 

“You look like something a cat drug in!” Billy exclaimed when he saw him.

“I feel like it too,” was all Clayton managed.  He leaned against the desk, folded his arms over his chest, and heaved a weary sigh. “I don’t know when I’ve been as tired.”

“Not too tired I hope!  Not with that pretty little thing you got waitin’ at home for ya!”

Clayton smiled
as he let his head drop to his chest, his eyes closed.  They were dry and felt like someone had thrown sand in them.  When he opened them he noticed something on the floor. He squinted and cocked his head to one side as if that would help him see any better. 

“What is it?” Billy asked.

“Move your foot,” he instructed.

Billy did and looked down.  “Hey, what’s that?”

“A note, hand it to me will ya?”

Billy snatched up the note and handed it to him.  Clayton’s name was written in a neat script on the folded piece of paper.  He opened the note and began to read.  His eyes immediately widened at the first two words. In fact, they were the
only
two words!

I’m leaving.

Clayton looked up from the note in his hand, his mouth wide open in shock.  He blinked a few times and looked to the note again.

I’m leaving.

Sincerely,

Miss James

Clayton’s heart stopped.
He knew he should have explained himself before he left the house but he was still in shock, still too bent on protecting his family and farm.  He’d lit out of the barn and went straight to the Johnson’s. He wanted to let Mr. Johnson know he was ready to get back to farming and that he would let him go from the lease or, if Mr. Johnson wanted, he could finish out the year.  He’d then ridden into town to write the necessary letters to let his superiors know he was retiring from the office of Sheriff and going back to farming.  He was done with chasing outlaws, seeing bodies strung out like a trail of blood across the wilderness.  How could he continue to put his life in danger day in and day out with a wife?  No, he would make sure he could be with her, be at home to protect his family.  Red Ned had terrorized too many folks of late and Clayton realized that while he was out protecting Nowhere and it’s townsfolk from such outlaws, he himself was neglecting to protect his own. 

It was time to make a change, go back to where he belonged, and to finally let go of the past. 
To let go of Sarah’s death. 

But now this
…

Clayton folded the note and shoved it into his shirt p
ocket.  “Was there a stage coming into town today?”

“I reckon so.”

Clayton stopped breathing.  “What time did it leave?”

Billy scratched his head.  “The usual time I would thi
nk.  Two o’clock or there about.”

“
Good God!” Clayton grabbed his hat and shoved it onto his head.  “It’s after seven!  I’ll never catch her!”

“You Okay, boss?”

  Clayton grabbed Billy by the shoulders and shook him. “Did you see Miss James in town today?”

“No, I
done just got back to town myself.”

“Did you go to my farm?”

“Well no, why would I when I knew you were already out there?  Besides, Spencer’s home ain’t he?”

“He’s wounded.  Oh my God, I need to … to…”

Clayton’s face took on a sudden look of determination as he headed for the door.  “Tell Doc to head out to my place, have him check on Spencer.”

“Where are you going?”

“To see if Miss James is on that stage!”

“What?”

“She’s gone, Billy!  She’s left!  There’s no good reason for it!  No good reason at all!”  And with that he stormed out of the Sheriff’s office.

Billy watched as Clayton mounted his big black, kicked him into a gallop, and headed down the street.  “Wooo wheee,” he mumbled to himself as he watched his boss ride out of sight.  “Now that there’s a man in love.”  He chuckled, closed the door to the Sheriff’s office, and whistling, headed for his horse.

* * *

“How did you like your chicken, Mi
ss James?”  Mr. Davis asked.

Summer stared at her plate, the dinner was delicious but the company wasn’t.  Mr. and Mrs. Davis had returned
home over two hours ago and Summer was still trying to fathom how she went from putting on her coat at the sight of them to sitting down to fried chicken and mashed potatoes. She looked at him and forced a smile.  “Delicious.”

“Glad to hear it!” Mr. Davis said as he slapped a hand on the table.  “If you think that was good, wait until you try the cake Abbey made!  She’s quite the cook our little Abbey!”

Summer’s eyes widened.  Mr. Davis was a balding, portly fellow with fat cheeks and twinkling blue eyes. How could this jovial, pleasant man be married to such a shrew of a wife?  Summer had been pondering it all evening.  But that wasn’t the only thing she’d been pondering.  She’d also been puzzling over why Mrs. Davis was suddenly so cordial and polite.  In fact, Summer could even go so far as to say Nellie Davis was being
nice.

“
I think I’ll go put the coffee on.  Miss James, have you had enough?”  Mrs. Davis asked sweetly.

Summer forced herself not to audibly gulp at the woman’s syrupy tone.  Something
had
to be wrong! Her eyes darted about the table.  Abbey and Charlotte were giggling as they talked about something Milly Brown said to their father while Mrs. Davis continued to look at her with a silly smile plastered across her usually pinched face.  Summer knew a fake smile when she saw one.  None of the evening seemed real, and she began to seriously wonder if any of it was.

But then, this wasn’t Winslow, and it wasn’t New Orleans.  Maybe folks out here got over things quickly.  Like venomous snakes
that suddenly decided they no longer liked the taste of plump little mice. 

Summer finally gulped.

“Is something wrong, Miss James?”  Mrs. Davis asked.

Summer forced a
nother smile.  “No, nothing’s wrong.  But I really do need to be going…”

“Nonsense!  You can’t travel at night in your condition!” Mr. Davis huffed.
  “What if something happened?  You’d never make it back to town on foot.”

“I … well I…” Summer began.

“You can stay here!"  Mr. Davis chortled.  "Folks in these parts do it all the time.  Your ma … I mean, your soon to be ma… she knows you’re here.  Let that Clayton come fetch you in the morning. It’s too cold for any of us to be out this late.  Besides, you know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder!” He slapped the table again and burst into laughter.

Summer tried not to grimace.  The thought of spending the night with the Davis family made her head swim.
Pain shot straight to her temples and she closed her eyes against it as Mrs. Davis disappeared into the kitchen. In between dinner and dessert Mr. Davis continued to smack the table every time he talked, his dutiful daughters both laughing along with any thing he said. 

Oh Clayton
, Summer inwardly sighed to herself as Mrs. Davis finally returned to the kitchen with cake and coffee. 
Where are you?

* * *

Clayton raced down the street to the stage and telegraph office to see if Sam Olsen, who ran the office, was still there.  Unfortunately the office was closed.  He groaned, turned his horse and headed back the other way, slowing only enough to turn down another street that would take him to the main road out of town and home.

How could she leave?  Had Spencer driven her to town?  But how could he? Clayton wondered if Spencer could even get out of bed!  He was still sleeping when Clayton got up and didn’t look so good when he’d gone in to check on him.  He meant to ride straight to Doc and Milly’s as soon as h
e got to town, but the moment Clayton saw Summer sitting at the kitchen table peeling apples everything changed.

The brutality of what he saw the last
few weeks flooded his mind.  Two entire families slaughtered and not fifty miles from Nowhere.  The women, the children … what sort of evil possesses a man to do such things?  Now he knew how Red Ned got his name.  He left a trail of blood where ever he went and all for a few horses and supplies.  Why didn’t the man just take what he needed and leave the settlers alone?  But no, Red Ned liked to leave his mark behind.

Clayton vowed that before he retired as S
heriff and went back to farming he’d make sure Red Ned was brought to justice.  He didn’t have to go out with every posse and could make do in town not to mention wire a few U.S. Marshalls to widen the search.  From the looks of it, Red Ned had headed south.  Clayton decided he’d better wire his Uncle Harlan in Clear Creek, it being the largest town south of Nowhere.  Besides, Uncle Harlan would have his hide if he didn’t give him the heads up the murdering varmint was heading back his way.

By the
time Clayton made it home it started to snow.  He put his horse in the barn but didn’t unsaddle him in case he needed to leave right away.  He wondered if Doc was coming as he headed into the house to find his mother and see what she knew about Summer.

S
he was at the kitchen table, eyes red from crying, her face puffy.  “Ma?  What happened?”

His mother looked up at him.  “Clayton!  Oh Clayton is
Summer with you?”

“No, I was hoping she was with you…”

“I can’t find her anywhere!  And Spencer, he’s been sick all day!  I’ve been so afraid to leave him!”

Clayton glanced about before he stormed across the kitchen to the
small office Summer used as her bedroom.  Nothing seemed out of place except the fact she wasn’t in it.  But as he looked around he noticed some of her things were no longer there.  The hair ribbons he’d bought for her, the book of poetry she liked.  Even that rag of a dress she wore was gone.  He’d seen it hung up on a hook near the window at night after she'd put her night dress on.  

Clayton closed his eyes as his hands balled into fist.  “Summer …”

“I looked everywhere for her.  The barn, the orchards, I found no trace,” his mother said from behind him. “And what’s worse, her satchel’s gone.  I know she kept it under the bed, and it’s gone, Clayton!  Gone!”

He turned to his mother and quickly took her into his arms as
she wept anew.  How could that girl have done such a thing?  What could have possibly happened to make her leave so suddenly?  Surely his behavior that morning hadn’t been enough to drive her away?  Or was it?  She was an orphan and he knew what her biggest fear was.  Rejection, abandonment.  Had Summer misinterpreted his actions?  Did she think he didn’t want to marry her any more?  He and Spencer
had
been gone for a spell but the job called for it.  In fact, it was one of the reasons he decided to quit being a lawman and go back to apple farming.

“Clayton, what are we going to do?” his mother cried.

“First thing I’m gonna do is figure out how she got herself off this farm.  Someone had to have helped her.”

His mother sniffed back her te
ars, looked up and studied him a moment.  “Yes, you’re right.  None of the other horses are missing and the wagon’s still here.  Someone had to have helped her.  But who?”

“You didn’t hear anything? See anyone?”

She shook her head as she sniffed back more tears.  “I was in the barn for quite a while after you left, you upset me so.”

He drew her back into his chest and held her there.  “Ah ma, I’m sorry.  But
during this last search me and the posse found things no man ought to lay eyes on, not even a lawman.  It made me think and decide to make some changes.  I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about them before I left in such a hurry.  Old man Johnson’s agreed to give the orchards back once the lease is up.  Be good for the both of us.  It’s become too much for him and I’m ready to get back to farming.  But I don’t have time to explain now, I’ve got to find Summer!  If she left on the two o’clock stage then she’s got half a day’s head start on me.”