A Bride for Cameron by Barbara Goss (read novels website .txt) 📗

asleep, and I believe her.  If my carriage had gone down that road, it had to have stopped at the Monroe place.

So, I rode out that way, but my horse threw a shoe.  I was three-quarters of the way there, so I walked my horse.  As I approached from a distance, I saw the sheriff kissing Myra Monroe in the doorway.”

“What?” Cameron and Hannah said in unison.

“Yes.” Joe continued, “So putting together the pieces, here’s what I think happened:  Myra Monroe and Sheriff Stafford were having an affair.  Either Silas Monroe found out about it, or one of them killed him to get him out of the way.  If the sheriff worked with Ruby to get me to bring my carriage to Lilah’s, then this was premeditated murder.  They stole my carriage and transferred the body to the Wilsons’ home, since the sheriff knew Charles was out of town but expected back that evening.

“So,” Joe said, slowing as if to make sure he had their undivided attention, “they quietly dumped a body with the ax still in its head in Chloe’s bedroom, knowing that Charles was due home and would be the number one suspect—very cleverly planned, I might add.

"So, I decided that going to the sheriff would be dangerous, and I wired the federal. marshal’s headquarters.  I think we should let them handle it.”

“I agree.” Cameron looked at Hannah.  “What do you think?”

“Yes, I also agree.  Poor Silas Monroe.”

“It seems the sheriff had been seeing Myra regularly at Lilah’s, and he was… I don’t know... in love or infatuated, but Myra chose Silas because he had a prosperous farm, and we all know the sheriff’s pay is low.  Even though she married Silas, the two of them were still carrying on behind his back.”

Cameron shook his head.  “And now the sheriff and Myra have it all—the ranch, his money, and an open affair.”

Joe stood.  “I have to get back to my office.  I’m expecting a federal marshal to arrive at any time now.  I’ll tell him what I told you and let him handle it.”

“Let us know,” Hannah said as he mounted his horse.

Joe waved and rode toward town.

While Hannah and Cameron were waving goodbye to Joe they heard a screech that caused them to turn toward the side yard.

“Papa, Mama!” Annabelle yelled.  “Georgie’s hurt.”

Cameron reached Georgie first to find him face down on the ground.  Hannah followed and grabbed Annabelle to hold her back so Cameron could check for injuries.

Cameron picked Georgie up and Hannah gasped when she saw his face. He was bleeding profusely and bawling his eyes out.  “Take him to a doctor,” she cried.

“We have no doctor here,” Cameron said, trying to soothe Georgie, “I’ll take him to the barber.”

“Please hurry,” Hannah cried.

Cameron thanked God the carriage was still hitched in front of the house—he’d planned a romantic evening ride with Hannah.  “I’ll need your help.  Someone needs to hold Georgie while I drive.”

Hannah grabbed Annabelle and put her in the rear seat, and she sat beside Cameron cradling a frightened and crying Georgie.

Hannah had never seen Cameron’s face so tense and worried.  He really did love the children.  His knuckles on the reins were white, and he kept looking over at Georgie.  Hannah was worried, too, but being a teacher, she’d seen many playground accidents, and this one didn’t look serious...unless he had a concussion.  That worried her.

When they reached the barber’s shop, Cameron hit his head with his palm.  “Of course, the shop is closed.  It’s Sunday.”  Cameron sighed before saying to Hannah, “We need to pray.”

They bowed their heads and each of them prayed for help.  They hadn’t finished praying before someone called out,  “If yer lookin’ fer the barber, he lives upstairs.”  To Hannah, the man looked as if he’d spent the night sleeping in the street.  His clothing was soiled and wrinkled, and he had an unruly beard and a whiskey bottle in his hand. Nevertheless, he was their answer to prayers.

Cameron jumped from the wagon, thanked the man, and took Georgie from Hannah’s arms.  “Can you tie the horse?” he asked as he ran with Georgie.

Hannah watched him go into a side door that most likely led to the upstairs flat.  She got out of the carriage, secured the horse,  took Annabelle by the hand, and followed Cameron.

When she reached the top landing, the door to the apartment was wide open, so they walked inside.  The barber had Georgie lying on the kitchen table while his wife was digging into his bag of medical supplies.

Georgie was not only still crying, but he was being uncooperative, so she helped to hold him still while the barber cleaned off his face to see the damage.

“It doesn’t look too bad,” the barber said,  “but I keep urging the town council to get us a proper doctor.”

As the barber worked on Georgie, a thought occurred to Hannah: her brother was studying to become a doctor—wouldn’t it be wonderful if he could come to Hunter’s Grove?  She let the thought drop from her mind.  After an education abroad, surely he would not want to work in a small town like Hunter’s Grove.  For the first time, she realized why Joe had wanted the railroad to come through Hunter’s Grove.

Georgie calmed down when the barber’s wife gave him a cookie.

Hannah walked over to her fretting husband and put her arm around his waist.  “He’ll be fine, Cam, relax.”

She felt Cameron’s tense body relax a bit.  He turned and smiled at her.  “I was so scared.  We were so wrapped up listening to Joe we failed to keep our eyes on the children.  I feel to blame.”

Hannah turned to Annabelle, “What happened?”

“The rope broke,” she said.  “It wasn’t my fault.”

“Of course, it wasn’t.” Hannah hugged her.  “Things like