investigating and see what I can turn up. You take care now.”
“Right, Sheriff. I’ll be right as rain by tomorrow.”
Cole left the bunkhouse and marched up to the house. After sharing a tall glass of iced tea and some blueberry pie with Ely’s family, both men rode out to the spot where the thievery was committed. They followed a trail up to the river. Cole’s lead went coldfrom there, but he wasn’t going to give up. He’d spend the rest of the afternoon riding to the surrounding ranches, investigating and warning the ranchers. The last thing he wanted in his county was more violence.
Cole knelt down beside his brother’s grave, wiping away dry leaves that had accumulated there. He’d picked a batch of poppies from alongside the path leading back to town and set them between Jeb and Lydia’s headstones. “Got me a lead today on the last rotten Sloan brother. I’m gonna find him, Jeb, I swear.”
A soft wind blew by, lifting Cole’s hat a bit, reminding him to take the dang thing off. “Okay, I got the message,” he said, looking toward the heavens. He pulled his hat from his head and set it down near the flowers. “Didn’t mean no disrespect.”
Cole chuckled, more from bitter pain than amusement, the harsh sound echoing in the deserted cemetery. “You always were one for doing the smart thing, weren’t you, Jeb?”
Cole sighed, thinking back on Jeb’s influence over him when they’d been younger. He’d always looked out for Cole, always wanted what was best. Jeb didn’t have it easy back then, being just four years older than Cole and assuming all the responsibility of raising him. He’d done right by him, guiding him the best way he could.
He’d convinced Cole in his teen years to get ingood and tight with Patricia Wesley, because he’d need every darn advantage he could get to make sheriff. And Jeb had been right. Edward Wesley had helped Cole get elected.
The man had great influence in Crystal Creek.
Cole knew what Jeb would say today. He’d encourage Cole to marry Patricia. It’d be the smart thing to do. “Hell, Jeb, I know it in my head. And I want to do right by Meggie, too. She needs a mother to raise her proper and all. Patricia’s a fine woman, well mannered and schooled. But I’ve got to be sure. And right now, nothing’s for sure. ’Cept, Meggie’s a sweet young girl. I love her like my own. You and Lydia…well, you’d be proud. I won’t let you down on this, Jeb. It’s a promise.”
Cole stayed a while longer, needing to somehow connect with his brother. They’d been more than brothers, they’d been friends. Being orphaned so early had brought them closer than most brothers. Cole never believed he’d lose Jeb at such a young age. His death still caused an ache in his heart.
At least he had Meggie.
Thank the dear Lord for Meggie.
Cole glanced at his pocket watch. It was time he headed to town. It’d been a long day and he still had to check in with his deputy before going home. Cole mounted his horse and left the cemetery in a cloud of dust, all the while wishing he had a wife waiting for him at home. He’d take her into his arms and she’dhelp ease the pain that life all too often offered up on a platter made of cold and hard stone.
That afternoon, Kate walked with Nora toward the livery after spending hours working on velvet curtains. It was good that Nora had come over this morning. Being with her and getting busy with the sewing had taken Kate’s mind off Cole and the terrible way they’d parted last night. Kate hadn’t slept a wink, but she’d stopped her crying quickly. One thing Kate knew without a doubt was that crying never solved anybody’s problems. Her mama had taught her that at a very young age. “Fix what needs fixing,” she would say. “And if it’s not fixable, don’t dwell, just move on.”
That’s what they’d done when the saloon had burned down. Louisa had tried her best to “fix” the problem, and when she had
“Right, Sheriff. I’ll be right as rain by tomorrow.”
Cole left the bunkhouse and marched up to the house. After sharing a tall glass of iced tea and some blueberry pie with Ely’s family, both men rode out to the spot where the thievery was committed. They followed a trail up to the river. Cole’s lead went coldfrom there, but he wasn’t going to give up. He’d spend the rest of the afternoon riding to the surrounding ranches, investigating and warning the ranchers. The last thing he wanted in his county was more violence.
Cole knelt down beside his brother’s grave, wiping away dry leaves that had accumulated there. He’d picked a batch of poppies from alongside the path leading back to town and set them between Jeb and Lydia’s headstones. “Got me a lead today on the last rotten Sloan brother. I’m gonna find him, Jeb, I swear.”
A soft wind blew by, lifting Cole’s hat a bit, reminding him to take the dang thing off. “Okay, I got the message,” he said, looking toward the heavens. He pulled his hat from his head and set it down near the flowers. “Didn’t mean no disrespect.”
Cole chuckled, more from bitter pain than amusement, the harsh sound echoing in the deserted cemetery. “You always were one for doing the smart thing, weren’t you, Jeb?”
Cole sighed, thinking back on Jeb’s influence over him when they’d been younger. He’d always looked out for Cole, always wanted what was best. Jeb didn’t have it easy back then, being just four years older than Cole and assuming all the responsibility of raising him. He’d done right by him, guiding him the best way he could.
He’d convinced Cole in his teen years to get ingood and tight with Patricia Wesley, because he’d need every darn advantage he could get to make sheriff. And Jeb had been right. Edward Wesley had helped Cole get elected.
The man had great influence in Crystal Creek.
Cole knew what Jeb would say today. He’d encourage Cole to marry Patricia. It’d be the smart thing to do. “Hell, Jeb, I know it in my head. And I want to do right by Meggie, too. She needs a mother to raise her proper and all. Patricia’s a fine woman, well mannered and schooled. But I’ve got to be sure. And right now, nothing’s for sure. ’Cept, Meggie’s a sweet young girl. I love her like my own. You and Lydia…well, you’d be proud. I won’t let you down on this, Jeb. It’s a promise.”
Cole stayed a while longer, needing to somehow connect with his brother. They’d been more than brothers, they’d been friends. Being orphaned so early had brought them closer than most brothers. Cole never believed he’d lose Jeb at such a young age. His death still caused an ache in his heart.
At least he had Meggie.
Thank the dear Lord for Meggie.
Cole glanced at his pocket watch. It was time he headed to town. It’d been a long day and he still had to check in with his deputy before going home. Cole mounted his horse and left the cemetery in a cloud of dust, all the while wishing he had a wife waiting for him at home. He’d take her into his arms and she’dhelp ease the pain that life all too often offered up on a platter made of cold and hard stone.
That afternoon, Kate walked with Nora toward the livery after spending hours working on velvet curtains. It was good that Nora had come over this morning. Being with her and getting busy with the sewing had taken Kate’s mind off Cole and the terrible way they’d parted last night. Kate hadn’t slept a wink, but she’d stopped her crying quickly. One thing Kate knew without a doubt was that crying never solved anybody’s problems. Her mama had taught her that at a very young age. “Fix what needs fixing,” she would say. “And if it’s not fixable, don’t dwell, just move on.”
That’s what they’d done when the saloon had burned down. Louisa had tried her best to “fix” the problem, and when she had
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