man, no more than seventy sto od behind the counter, operating a telegraph machin e. As she surveyed the tiny room, she recalled Lena’s pennywise account of Sundown. It came as no surprise the post office and tel egraph office were the same. Crossing the room, she stood before the counter, and waited patiently as the old codger decip hered his message. When he finished, he slowly turned and smiled at her apologetically.
“Howdy, Miss Gentry.” He rasped. With one hand supporting his back, he hobbled toward the counter and cackled. “Damnable rheumatism is acting up again.”
Arabella smiled. She thought the old man pleasant enough. Holding a letter, she nodded.
“I’ll need a stamp please.”
“That’ll be one cent.”
Arabella handed the man a penny. She watched as he attached the stamp to the envelope, and then dropped the letter into a mailbag. Leaning forward, he nodded his head.
“I have a letter for you.”
“For me?” She returned. With mouth slightly apart, she stood erect and then shook her head. “But … no one know s my whereabouts, how could this be?”
“The missive is postmarked Denver with no return address.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hauffmeyer.” She murmured, staring down at the letter pensively. Perhaps Ida and Ined Bump had thought to write. After the terrible hold up, she was sure the two old dears felt the need to console her.
Bitten with curiosity, she zigzagged out the front door. With careful hands, she opened the letter. Sunlight poured over the missive, illuminating exceptional handwriting, not the eclectic hen-scratch of an old woman. Scanning the salutation, she suddenly felt her heart constrict.
How i n God’s name did he find her?
She scanned the boardwalk with careful scrutiny , making sure she had not caused any undue attention.
Nothing had changed.
Across the street, Emeril Hartley stood outside his mercantile with hands perched on hips. His son James hobbled dangerously at the top of a latter, trying to move a sign as two young women walked by, seeking the young man’s attention. In return, his portly father barked at the young man , berating him for no t paying attention.
On the other end of the street, Edward Martin, the only banker of Sundown, stepped outside his depository, lock ing the establishment doors, he turned on his heel and marched straight for the local Saloon.
Everything seemed normal, yet she could not shake the wary feeling someone was watching her closely. With heart racing , she turned on her heel, picked up her pace and within minutes, she was finally home.
Arabella harried up the stairwell not even bothering to greet Lena. Once inside the privacy of her bedroom, she shut the door and crossed the room, slumping onto her bed. In her hand , she held the letter, her only precious link to Luke Shelton.
Dearest Bella,
By divine intervention, I have found you. Do not question yourself, how or why. Please just know this. You have my heart and soul it is yours to keep.
Always,
LS
Arabella closed her eyes.
If she died at that very moment the n surely the feeling she felt was most certainly heaven. A sudden knock at the door made her heart skip a double beat. Like an enamored schoolgirl , she shoved the letter beneath her pillow before the door opened.
“There yo u are.” Lena popped her head . “Didn’t you hear me calling you?”
“I’m sorry, Lena.” Arabella rose to her feet. Reaching behind her neck, she worked quickly to releas e each button while glancing with an apologetic smile. “I was in such a hurry to get home and out of this infernal dress I didn’t hear you. It’s dreadfully hot, and I’m not used to this stifling heat.”
“All right, my dear. ” Lena smiled with understanding . “ I’m running a little late and gonna need some help with yo ur Poppa’s dinner .”
“I’ll be right there.”
As
“Howdy, Miss Gentry.” He rasped. With one hand supporting his back, he hobbled toward the counter and cackled. “Damnable rheumatism is acting up again.”
Arabella smiled. She thought the old man pleasant enough. Holding a letter, she nodded.
“I’ll need a stamp please.”
“That’ll be one cent.”
Arabella handed the man a penny. She watched as he attached the stamp to the envelope, and then dropped the letter into a mailbag. Leaning forward, he nodded his head.
“I have a letter for you.”
“For me?” She returned. With mouth slightly apart, she stood erect and then shook her head. “But … no one know s my whereabouts, how could this be?”
“The missive is postmarked Denver with no return address.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hauffmeyer.” She murmured, staring down at the letter pensively. Perhaps Ida and Ined Bump had thought to write. After the terrible hold up, she was sure the two old dears felt the need to console her.
Bitten with curiosity, she zigzagged out the front door. With careful hands, she opened the letter. Sunlight poured over the missive, illuminating exceptional handwriting, not the eclectic hen-scratch of an old woman. Scanning the salutation, she suddenly felt her heart constrict.
How i n God’s name did he find her?
She scanned the boardwalk with careful scrutiny , making sure she had not caused any undue attention.
Nothing had changed.
Across the street, Emeril Hartley stood outside his mercantile with hands perched on hips. His son James hobbled dangerously at the top of a latter, trying to move a sign as two young women walked by, seeking the young man’s attention. In return, his portly father barked at the young man , berating him for no t paying attention.
On the other end of the street, Edward Martin, the only banker of Sundown, stepped outside his depository, lock ing the establishment doors, he turned on his heel and marched straight for the local Saloon.
Everything seemed normal, yet she could not shake the wary feeling someone was watching her closely. With heart racing , she turned on her heel, picked up her pace and within minutes, she was finally home.
Arabella harried up the stairwell not even bothering to greet Lena. Once inside the privacy of her bedroom, she shut the door and crossed the room, slumping onto her bed. In her hand , she held the letter, her only precious link to Luke Shelton.
Dearest Bella,
By divine intervention, I have found you. Do not question yourself, how or why. Please just know this. You have my heart and soul it is yours to keep.
Always,
LS
Arabella closed her eyes.
If she died at that very moment the n surely the feeling she felt was most certainly heaven. A sudden knock at the door made her heart skip a double beat. Like an enamored schoolgirl , she shoved the letter beneath her pillow before the door opened.
“There yo u are.” Lena popped her head . “Didn’t you hear me calling you?”
“I’m sorry, Lena.” Arabella rose to her feet. Reaching behind her neck, she worked quickly to releas e each button while glancing with an apologetic smile. “I was in such a hurry to get home and out of this infernal dress I didn’t hear you. It’s dreadfully hot, and I’m not used to this stifling heat.”
“All right, my dear. ” Lena smiled with understanding . “ I’m running a little late and gonna need some help with yo ur Poppa’s dinner .”
“I’ll be right there.”
As
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