The Sheriff's Rebellious Bride (Historical Western Romance) Read online

  It wasn’t just that she still had so much work on her hands. She didn't simply feel tired but completely prostrate. Perhaps one of the reasons she rode home slowly was to postpone her chores a bit longer. Not too much, since she would feel guilty, yet enough to catch her breath and just be.

  Of course, there was another reason. Even though the cart was empty apart from the baskets and the precious books, she did not want to tire Whitey; he wasn't in his prime anymore. Once upon a time, he was a true menace, but Elsa Potter, Mother's best friend, managed to tame him. He was actually a gift from Elsa to Geraldine for her thirteenth birthday.

  Geraldine's father disappeared when she was twelve, and she was almost as distraught as her mother was, but she tried to hide it. Somehow Elsa knew, and when her next birthday came, she gifted Geraldine Whitey in hopes to cheer her up. Geraldine fell in love with him at first sight; Whitey responded much the same, and they were inseparable ever since. She couldn't imagine her life without him in it.

  When Whitey was younger, Geraldine rode him all the time, and all the way up to the Rocky Mountains that surrounded their small town, especially when Geraldine needed some time for herself. She had a favorite place where she would try to calm her racing mind or to cry for a while. It was a small meadow, completely surrounded by trees from all sides. Geraldine liked it because it was so hidden, and easily overlooked. Geraldine stumbled upon it by accident and returned many times with Whitey.

  At that time, he did not want to overexert him with such adventures and simply used him to pull her small cart, with products she had to sell, to and from the market. Sometimes, she thought he was resenting her for keeping him at a slower pace, but she was doing that for his own good. Geraldine loved her horse too much and wanted to keep him in her life a bit longer.

  Geraldine would look wistfully at the mountains. I do not want to go home, I want to be a normal girl doing normal things. Susannah's face, with her perfect hair and immaculate attire, came to mind, and she grimaced. Geraldine wanted to be perfect in her own way.

  For example, the town's annual fair was approaching, and there would be a dance later in the evening. Geraldine never went. Jeremy often begged for her company, but she was always too exhausted to even contemplate such a notion. A part of her justified her refusals because she didn’t have a nice dress to wear. Another part wanted to go and see what all the fuss was about because people were talking about it for weeks in advance. And since Geraldine spent her days in the market, she heard it all. There was no point in thinking about those silly things since they were not possible for her with a mother and a farm to take care of. Geraldine realized Jeremy's words about marriage and having someone to take care of her rattled her more than she cared to admit, even to herself.

  Sure, marriage would solve all of my problems.

  Immediately she felt guilty for having such thoughts. She would not trade her life for someone else's, because it made her who she was—independent with a feeling of self-worth.

  While she mused about her life, she felt Whitey go over a bump on the road. It was an old dirt road that changed its shape with each hard rain. She wasn't paying that close attention, and the cart went straight over it and one of the wheels fell off. Unfortunately, that scared Whitey to go faster. “Ow!”

  Geraldine lost all of her breath from the rumble that followed and as the cart tilted, she nearly fell down on the ground. Somehow she managed to stay in the seat, but barely. “Whoa, Whitey,” she commanded the spooked horse; luckily, he complied immediately. Taking a moment to compose herself with a deep breath, reassured that this whole incident left them both unharmed, Geraldine jumped down to assess the damage.

  What else will go wrong today? First her mother, then Susannah, and now this. This kept getting better and better as the day progressed, so Geraldine really looked forward to seeing what misfortune would befall her next. Naturally, that was the wrong thing to say to the heavens; apparently, her guardian angel had a peculiar sense of humor.

  First, she petted Whitey for a bit, making sure he was quite all right and calm. Then she refocused on the cart. Luckily, the axle wasn't broken, so there was hope she could fix this.

  I just have to find the wheel, she thought to herself, looking about. Praise the heavens, she sighed in relief discovering it a few yards away; it, too, was unbroken. “Of course,” she grumbled to herself while trying to pull out the big wheel from the pool of mud. There was only one wet piece of land on that entire road, the single remnant of the rain that fell a couple of days past, and the wheel somehow managed to fall exactly into it.

  Just my luck!

  Taking the wheel back to the cart, she was covered in mud, yet determined. Making sure Whitey wouldn't try to go off out of boredom, she was glad to find him munching on some grass. Geraldine started musing how to fix this problem. It wasn't like she’d never mended her cart before, but usually she was on her farm at the time and had Elsa’s help.

  This situation was slightly more difficult, since she was currently on a road hardly used apart from her and Elsa; it led to their ranches. The chances of someone stumbling upon her were pretty nonexistent, if not laughable.

  It's all up to me, then, she thought to herself without despair. Without further delay, she got to work. Using herself instead of a lever, Geraldine lifted the cart upright with her back. She let out a sound of distress since the cart was pretty heavy, and with a lot of effort, she jabbed the wheel back onto the axle.

  It required some additional adjustment, still, she managed to push the wheel to its place. By the time she was finished, she was not only completely dirty but sweaty and utterly exhausted. At least I wouldn't have to walk home, she thought to herself while stretching, trying to relieve some of the pain from her back.

  Of course, she would have to examine the wheel much closer once she returned to the farm, to make sure everything was as it should be. She sighed. That was just another thing added on her ever-growing list of chores. Praying she did a fine job, she climbed on the seat and urged Whitey to start walking again. So far so good. Geraldine held her breath as they journeyed at a snail's pace; she did not want any more surprises.

  Finally getting home, she took care of her darling, making sure Whitey had enough water and hay until the morning, then went into the house. Geraldine was cross at herself for dirtying her dress, and now she would have to wash it that evening, or she wouldn't have anything else to wear in the morning. All her other attires were soiled as well, unfortunately.

  I believe that means laundry day is today. Dirty dress meant laundry went up on her to do list. “Mother?” Geraldine called out once she entered the house, but no one greeted her back. She must be sleeping. She tried again. “Mom?”

  Walking upstairs, she checked her mother's bedroom, and the bed was empty. That pleased Geraldine, even though that meant she did not know where her mother was. At least she isn't still in bed. Checking the rest or the house, she discovered it was also empty. The breakfast she laid out for her mother was finished, and Geraldine took that as another good sign of her mother's state of mind.

  Deciding to change into one of her mother's skirts, Geraldine washed her face and hands vigorously before going outside in search of her mother. “Mom?” Visiting the gardens, Geraldine saw that her mother was not there either. She was nowhere to be seen, but Geraldine was not worried, yet. Her mother probably took her advice and went to visit Elsa. That was nothing unusual after all. Τhey liked to drink tea together almost every day.

  Good for her, to be out of bed and about. Geraldine was pleased.

  Looking about the vegetable garden, Geraldine paused for a second, taking a deep breath. She needed to prioritize her tasks before actually starting one, to be sure she did not forget something.

  * * *

  Geraldine was humming some catchy tune she heard at the market all the while crouching close to the ground picking out weeds from her plot of potatoes. She heard a screech so fierce and loud, it made her lose her foo
ting and fall on her backside.

  Oh, no. She immediately jumped back up on her feet and without a thought started running toward the source because the sound did not end. Reaching the house, Geraldine discovered it was just as she feared. Her mother was the one screaming, and she looked bewildered and shaking from head to toe. “Mom?” Geraldine called out trying to get her attention. Luckily, her mother was home. Her crying profusely alarmed Geraldine even more than not finding her.

  Is she hurt? What happened? A million thoughts swirled inside her head; she needed to focus. “What on earth happened to you?” Geraldine demanded.

  Her mother started shaking her head, then turned away. She looked completely lost, just staring at the distance.

  Geraldine approached her. “Mother, what happened?” She appeared too lost inside her own head to hear anything.

  Oh dear, what am I to do? She asked herself in concern. “Please speak to me,” she begged.

  Geraldine's mother hugged herself, continued to cry and was shaking her head every now and then, probably having some silent conversation with herself.

  I need to snap her out of this.

  Geraldine stood in front of her mother and grabbing her by the shoulders started to shake her. “Mother?” She shook her even more vigorously when nothing happened, actually contemplating if she should slap her. The notion frightened Geraldine enough to need a way to reach her mother.

  She did not know what caused this state, nevertheless, she still had to learn why. “Mother! Look at me and start speaking,” Geraldine practically yelled, and miraculously that did the trick. Her mother focused on her face.

  Finally! Praise the Lord. Looking at Geraldine, she appeared to be seeing her daughter for the first time. She must be in great shock, Geraldine guessed. “Geraldine!” She cried out and started sobbing again. Geraldine embraced her.

  Geraldine used her calm voice, speaking softly as she would to a child. “Mother, please, tell me what is the matter? Are you hurt? Did something happen to you?” She showered her mother with questions.

  As far as Geraldine could observe, her mother looked unharmed, apart from being petrified. Once her mother calmed a bit, she took a step back so she could look at her mother's face. “Where have you been?” Geraldine decided to start with something simple, hoping to not agitate her mother further.

  “Elsa,” her mother stammered back.

  Good, this was clear progress in the right direction. “Did something happen at Elsa's?”

  Her mother nodded her head yes. Geraldine's stomach started to protest with uneasiness, yet she needed to press forward and hear the whole story. Maybe they quarreled, and Mother got upset. “Did you two have a fight?” Geraldine pressed. They were best friends for ages, and sometimes even best friends fought.

  Her mother started to breathe heavily once again, and her eyes widened. “I just wanted a cup of tea, and she was there,” she started to ramble without making any sense.

  “You are not making any sense. Please speak with me more plainly.”

  Her mother grabbed her by the arms. “She was just there. I did nothing wrong, she was just there.” Geraldine’s mother’s eyes widened even further, a trait Geraldine would not believe was physically possible to do up until this moment. What on Earth happened to my mother? Geraldine was prepared to jump out of her own skin from worry, yet did not know how to make her mother tell her everything in a reasonable fashion.

  The problem was that she wasn't reasonable at the moment, which could only mean something bad had happened. Good Lord, please help us all, Geraldine panicked.

  “All right, please calm down. Who was there?” She was at Elsa's. Did someone break in and try to harm them? And then a simple yet terrifying truth occurred to Geraldine. “Mother, did something happen to Elsa?” She barely managed to choke out the words.

  Her mother pursed her lips as if she did not want to speak with her anymore. This is madness! “Mother, please answer me.” It was very hard to keep her temper in check. Geraldine would much rather try to shake the truth out of her mother, yet she feared that would lead her to zero progress at the moment. “Did something happen to Elsa?”

  “Yes,” her mother cried out, closing her eyes and shaking her head as if she could not bear to face Geraldine's next question.

  Dear Lord. “Mom?” Geraldine was about to try and coax her further. Her heart hammered inside her chest like a galloping herd of wild horses when she continued.

  “Something terrible happened to Elsa,” she stammered as the tears fell down her face.

  Geraldine felt like running and hiding under the bed hearing her mother say that. The same way she did when she was a small child. Geraldine still did not know what her mother would be running and hiding from.

  “Is Elsa alright?”

  Maybe we should call for help? Alas, there was a new set of problems. Their two farms were the only ones in this part of the land; others were on the outskirts of Oatman, but on the other side. The wasn’t a sheriff in town that could help either. Never in her life before did Geraldine felt so powerless, not even when her father disappeared and the care of the farm became her responsibility.

  “She is not all right,” her mother finally decided to speak. “She was lying on the floor—” she paused, choking too hard on her tears.

  On the floor? Dear Lord. “Did she hurt herself?”

  Geraldine wondered if she should go over there and see if she needed some assistance. Mother could have said something from the beginning. Geraldine wasted too much time with pulling the truth out of her. It was maddening.

  Finally, Geraldine's mother opened her eyes and looked at her daughter. “You do not understand, there was something around her neck, and I, I—”

  “What, Mother?”

  “She was not moving. I think she is dead.”

  Geraldine felt lightheaded. Elsa is dead? Oh no, please no. That cannot be.

  Chapter Five

  Elsa is dead? Mom said she was on the floor with something wrapped around her neck. The images invading her mind were simply too horrible. No, that can't be. Geraldine couldn't quite believe what she just heard. Her mother was highly agitated and must have seen it wrong.

  Dead. On the floor. Not moving. Words kept repeating inside her mind. No, I heard it wrong, or Mother made a mistake. Elsa can't be dead.

  This was Elsa they were speaking about. She was one of the strongest, toughest women, no, people Geraldine knew, which meant Elsa could not be dead just like that. Here one moment, gone the next.

  Yet, isn't that the definition of death? another part of her rebelled, yet Geraldine decided to ignore it. She felt like shaking her head in order to clear it.

  Geraldine tried to make sense of her mother's words as she continued to sob and ramble. “She was just there in the kitchen, and then there was a rope and her face...”

  I need to get to the bottom of this. “Tell me everything, from the beginning, please,” she urged her mother to focus to the best of her abilities. Despite everything, Geraldine was still in denial although the evidence was obvious in the behavior of her mother.

  Her mother was crying, big tears were streaming down her face, and she was shaking so violently, so profusely, Geraldine started to worry she would have another nervous breakdown.

  Another one would definitely ruin her for good, Geraldine spiraled as her panic reached new heights. On the outside, she was a perfect picture of calmness. On the inside, a storm was raging, and she really wished she didn't have to be a grown up at this moment. She started thinking about what she was to do, about her mother and Elsa alike.

  “Elsa is dead,” her mother repeated stubbornly, over and over again.

  “Are you quite sure?”

  Geraldine's mother glazed over for a moment, and Geraldine worried she lost her. Luckily, she refocused on Geraldine and started talking again. “She was just there—” Geraldine heard as much, yet that did not tell her anything. “I came and she was just there,” she star
ted gesticulating while rambling. “And I, and I—” She started to stammer, clearly struggling with something. “And she was not moving. Dead! She is dead.”

  “Are you sure, mother?” Geraldine needed to go to Elsa's ranch, right now, and see for herself.

  Her mother looked at her wide-eyed. There was something else in those eyes as well, besides fear. She didn't appreciate being doubted.

  How could I not? “She wasn't moving, she is dead,” she insisted, covering her face with both hands. “Poor Elsa,” she sobbed. Geraldine gave in to the impulse to go to Elsa's ranch to confirm the truth. It wasn't that she did not believe her mother; Geraldine was quite certain something did happen. The real question was what? No matter how hard Geraldine tried to get answers, she was unsuccessful.