Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
They ate early, as was their custom, so Jesse could make his rounds about town and Gram could go to bed whenever she wanted to.
As soon as they were done with supper, he pushed back. “Gram, I’m going to take Emily and Mikey for a walk.”
“Excellent.” Gram turned to Emily. “Now, don’t you fuss about helping with the dishes. I can manage quite fine. You run along and enjoy yourselves.”
Emily demurred a moment. Jesse thought she might refuse, but then she nodded. “Thank you. You are most generous.”
Gram leaned to Emily giving her a hug about her shoulders. “It’s a pleasure to have your company.” She straightened and nodded at Jesse. “You take good care of the both of them.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He did his best to sound as if she’d scolded him even though he had every intention of keeping them safe.
Emily chuckled. “I can see she raised you right.”
He was at Gram’s side. “She surely did.” He kissed her soft cheek.
“Oh, go away with you.” Gram tried to sound annoyed, but her pleasure at his compliment brought a pleased look to her eyes.
“Mikey come?” The little boy bounced on the balls of his feet.
“Yes, Mikey can come.” Jesse reached for his hand, pleased that the boy was so trusting of him. It made him feel tall and strong and refreshed his intention of taking care of both of them until their future was decided.
When they reached the sidewalk, Mikey dropped Jesse’s hand to bend and examine a ladybug.
Jesse pulled Emily’s arm around his elbow.
He was not letting this young woman out of his sight.
Not until someone came to claim her. “I sent messages back along the line. Someone sold you a ticket. They’ll know something about you, if only where you bought the ticket. ”
“It will take time to hear back.”
“In the meantime, you are safe here.”
She stiffened.
Why had he used the word safe? It wasn’t what he meant. But he decided to let it go, lest anything he said only make her more worried about her circumstances.
“How are you feeling?” He expected she’d be stiff and sore after her accident, but that wasn’t all he meant. He wondered how she felt about being back in Bella Creek.
“I have bruises all over, but nothing serious.”
“Do you want to see the doctor again? He said your bruises weren’t of any concern, but maybe he can check the bump on your head.”
She slowed to face him. “Do you think he could help me remember?”
Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything. He only thought the doctor might offer some suggestions. Perhaps look again at the lump on her head.
Her shoulders drooped. “He can’t help my memory return, can he?”
“He said it would come back. Be patient.” He thought of the evening ahead of them and wondered how he could help her.
He didn’t have to guard his heart because this was a temporary situation.
Would she even remember him once her memory returned?
Emily was glad when Jesse dropped the subject of visiting the doctor. She would gladly seek medical help if there was any hope of it fixing her memory. But they’d both heard the doctor. Her memory would return in its own good time.
Jesse seemed in no hurry as they walked down the street.
Emily understood that he was letting her take in the sights and sounds of the town, hoping something would make her remember.
She inhaled the lingering heat of the day, laden with the scent of suppers cooking.
The sound of wagons and horses trotting along a street out of sight warned her of activity in that direction.
“Howdy, Sheriff.” A woman with a baby in her arms called from the yard they passed.
“How are you, Mrs. Beech? How’s the little one?”
“Good. Good. You have a new friend?”
Emily understood he had no choice but to introduce her and Mikey, but she wished they could have avoided it. Mikey barely slowed enough to say hi to the woman. Everything on the ground grabbed his attention.
They exchanged greetings and then moved on.
“Meeting that woman made you uncomfortable?” Jesse said.
“It’s awkward to be introduced when I don’t know who I am.”
“But perhaps someone will arrive who recognizes you.”
“So long as it’s someone kind.”
Their slow pace allowed him time to study her. She tried not to wonder what he looked for and what he saw.
“Are you worried about the robbers?” he asked. “I know everyone around here. I’ll know if a stranger rides in. Until then, relax and trust me.”
She held his gaze. It was easy to trust him. Even if he hadn’t been the sheriff, there was something about him that made her instinctively think she was safe with him.
But then, what did she know? She didn’t even know her own name. Perhaps her trust was misplaced just like it had been when—
She caught her breath and held on to the thought. Had she trusted someone who had proven false? But who and what? She shook her head.
Jesse spoke. “What is it?”
“I don’t know. But I feel like I almost remembered something, and it wasn’t a happy memory.” She explained what she felt.
“I’m sorry someone was like that.” He watched her a moment.
“I understand how hurtful it can be. My mother was my first experience in discovering you can’t always count on people.
Then, there was a girl I let myself grow fond of.
Agnes Breckenridge.” He shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but she sensed a deep hurt.
She listened carefully for him to say what he’d learned.
Whatever he said would be something she should pay attention to.
“Let’s just say she taught me a valuable lesson, and it’s that you can’t count on people. I learned to trust people only if they can prove to be one hundred percent reliable. Accept no excuses or half-truths.”
She managed to hide her shiver. He’d left no doubt about how he’d look at her if she learned she had a disturbing past. She must keep her distance from him, keep her heart from turning toward him, and she pulled her arm from his and put six inches between them.
He quirked an eyebrow, but she wouldn’t try and explain.
The hoofbeats of an approaching horse jerked her gaze to the street. A man was riding toward them. Who was he? Did he know her? Did he pose a danger?
She forgot all her reasons for the distance between her and Jesse and grabbed his arm. She looked about for Mikey. Saw he squatted away from the road, watching something.
Jesse tucked her close to his side. “Howdy, Terence.” He called to the man.
“How do, Sheriff.” The man and horse sauntered by.
“It’s okay,” Jesse said. “He’s from around here.”
She kept her attention on Mikey, who followed a worm along the edge of the road.
She despised her weakness. Ahead of them, the street widened to a square with trees and flowers.
Benches stood at all four corners, inviting residents to sit and visit or simply enjoy watching people go about their business.
She drew back when she saw the number of wagons and horses lining the street and the people clustered about.
Jesse stayed at her side, quietly offering encouragement. “It’s Saturday, so it's a busy day in town.”
“I don’t think I want to confront so many people yet.”
He studied her face and must have seen how unsettled she felt. “Maybe it is too soon. I’ll take you to visit Annie. Would you like that?”
“I honestly don’t know what I’d like. I feel rudderless.”
He caught her hand. “Come on. I know something you might enjoy.”
His idea of enjoyment might not be the same as hers. But her pulse quickened at his eagerness, and she allowed him to tug her along, Mikey holding her other hand. He turned down the alley.
“The church.” He pointed. “The manse where Annie and Hugh live, and Hugh’s son, Evan.”
“Hugh’s son?”
“Yes, Annie started by looking after Evan and she and Hugh ended up married.” He stopped them past the churchyard. “You can see my office and the jail through here.” He held her shoulders and turned her the right way. “If you ever need me for anything, you’ll find me there. Except...”
“Except where you’re out hunting bad guys or rescuing helpless maidens.”
He grinned at her. “I doubt very much that you’re helpless.” He looked at Mikey, who ran back and forth, trying to catch a butterfly. “Any woman who has traveled the country from...” He shrugged. “From somewhere with an energetic little boy with her is far from helpless.”
She held his gaze for several heartbeats. Was it true? Was she normally strong and self-sufficient? It was nice to think so. “Thank you for saying that.”
“Come on, let’s keep going before Annie sees us.” He pulled her to his side, and they hurried onward.
“What would Annie do?”
“Let me tell you about Annie. Her mother died when she was fourteen, maybe fifteen, I don’t rightly remember. She took over running the household which, at that time, consisted of three older brothers, her father, her grandfather—”
“That’s the Grandfather Marshall that you told me about?”
“That’s right. Most people see the Marshall men as—how do I say this without sounding harsh—”
“Big, tall?” She’d seen how tall Annie was and guessed her brothers might be as well.
He shrugged. “It’s more than their size. They’re—”
“Wait. Let me guess.”
He grabbed Mikey’s hand as they crossed a side street, ducking out of the way of a wagon. Jesse waved in response to the greeting of the occupants but hurried on, drawing to a halt behind a shed sheltered by a tree. “You want to guess? Go ahead.” He leaned back, grinning as he watched her.
“They’re strong?”
He nodded.
“Both physically and in their attitude?”
“Yes, they have strong opinions.”
She considered the little bit of information she’d learned about the Marshall family. Grandfather had not only started the town but kept it organized according to his directives. “I’d guess they were used to being in control. Having things done their way.”