Read Online WESTERN ROMANCE: A Settler’s Wife’s Dreams (Contemporary Westerns Historical Romance, Cowboy Romance) by Melodie Grace - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Melodie Grace
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Frank.
Slowly Lisa got up off the bed and sat down at the table. For a long time she just sat there and thought about what had happened that day - the good and the bad. All the adventure and heartache that had come with a trip to the city for a horseshoe and a few nails to put it on. Who would have thought any of that was even possible?
It just seemed like a dream that she needed to wake up from, or some kind of fantasy that went horribly wrong and she needed to escape. She put her head down in her arms in the hope that when she raised her head back up, there wouldn't be anything like there was now. When she lifted her head again, she wanted it to all be back to normal.
Chapter 6
The day was beautiful. Lisa sat on top of Ted's shop, on the roof, sipping a cocktail and waiting for him to bring up their lunch. She had been living with him for a few weeks now. It had been that long since she had ridden back into town covered in blood with her tale of woe. She had been in a state of shock that made it hard for her to communicate with anyone. After awhile a doctor had gotten the story out of her. Then Ted had shown up and taken her in.
For all this time Lisa had been sleeping in a different bed than Ted. He hadn't just assumed that they would be sleeping together because her husband had died and there was nowhere else for her to go. Lisa appreciated this more than she knew how to express to Ted. But now she was afraid of losing even Ted.
Just before Ted had closed the shop so they could eat lunch together the sheriff had come in to tell Lisa that the town was forming up a kind of militia that was going to go out and get justice for Frank. Lisa had said she didn't know why that was necessary, considering that the Indian that had killed Frank had already died by Frank's hand. The sheriff hadn't wanted to hear anything like that though. He'd looked at her strangely and walked out.
“Ted,” Lisa said. “Have you heard the talk around town about the men going out to hunt Indians down to avenge Frank?”
Ted paused before he set their food down on the table.
“I have,” Ted said. “But I don't agree with it. I think it's foolish to risk more lives. Nothing will bring Frank back. Like you, I was quick to tell that sheriff, that the Indian that killed Frank is already dead.”
Lisa nodded in agreement.
“You know how I feel about it,” she said. “I just don't understand why everyone is acting like they cared about Frank so much now that he's dead. No one cared when he slaved away all day and night on fields that weren't growing the crops we needed. No one cared when we went hungry. Until an Indian killed him, not a single person in this city cared about my husband.”
Ted nodded sympathetically.
“The sheriff talked to me on his way out,” Ted said. “I'll be taking part in the search for any Indians who are stationed around the woods surrounding the city. I know that will be hard on you, but try not to worry about me. I don't think there are any Indians to find out there, to be honest. I think this was a singular event that happened to Frank.”
“What do you mean? Are you helping?” Lisa said in horror.
“I have to,” Ted said. “I don't have a choice. When posies form up, all the able bodied men of the town are expected to come together and do what needs to be done. This time we need to look for Indians. Besides, I think I'd rather be there if some are found so I can be a voice of reason and hopefully spare their lives.”
Lisa didn't know what to say. First she had lost her husband and now she might lose the other man in her life. She started weeping at the table. Ted got up and ran over to her.
“Please don't be upset,” He said. “I promise that I'll be all right.”
Lisa held Ted close and listened to his heartbeat. She hoped she never had to hear it stop beating.
“I don't understand all of this business about getting up in arms over Indians who might not even be there. It was only one
Slowly Lisa got up off the bed and sat down at the table. For a long time she just sat there and thought about what had happened that day - the good and the bad. All the adventure and heartache that had come with a trip to the city for a horseshoe and a few nails to put it on. Who would have thought any of that was even possible?
It just seemed like a dream that she needed to wake up from, or some kind of fantasy that went horribly wrong and she needed to escape. She put her head down in her arms in the hope that when she raised her head back up, there wouldn't be anything like there was now. When she lifted her head again, she wanted it to all be back to normal.
Chapter 6
The day was beautiful. Lisa sat on top of Ted's shop, on the roof, sipping a cocktail and waiting for him to bring up their lunch. She had been living with him for a few weeks now. It had been that long since she had ridden back into town covered in blood with her tale of woe. She had been in a state of shock that made it hard for her to communicate with anyone. After awhile a doctor had gotten the story out of her. Then Ted had shown up and taken her in.
For all this time Lisa had been sleeping in a different bed than Ted. He hadn't just assumed that they would be sleeping together because her husband had died and there was nowhere else for her to go. Lisa appreciated this more than she knew how to express to Ted. But now she was afraid of losing even Ted.
Just before Ted had closed the shop so they could eat lunch together the sheriff had come in to tell Lisa that the town was forming up a kind of militia that was going to go out and get justice for Frank. Lisa had said she didn't know why that was necessary, considering that the Indian that had killed Frank had already died by Frank's hand. The sheriff hadn't wanted to hear anything like that though. He'd looked at her strangely and walked out.
“Ted,” Lisa said. “Have you heard the talk around town about the men going out to hunt Indians down to avenge Frank?”
Ted paused before he set their food down on the table.
“I have,” Ted said. “But I don't agree with it. I think it's foolish to risk more lives. Nothing will bring Frank back. Like you, I was quick to tell that sheriff, that the Indian that killed Frank is already dead.”
Lisa nodded in agreement.
“You know how I feel about it,” she said. “I just don't understand why everyone is acting like they cared about Frank so much now that he's dead. No one cared when he slaved away all day and night on fields that weren't growing the crops we needed. No one cared when we went hungry. Until an Indian killed him, not a single person in this city cared about my husband.”
Ted nodded sympathetically.
“The sheriff talked to me on his way out,” Ted said. “I'll be taking part in the search for any Indians who are stationed around the woods surrounding the city. I know that will be hard on you, but try not to worry about me. I don't think there are any Indians to find out there, to be honest. I think this was a singular event that happened to Frank.”
“What do you mean? Are you helping?” Lisa said in horror.
“I have to,” Ted said. “I don't have a choice. When posies form up, all the able bodied men of the town are expected to come together and do what needs to be done. This time we need to look for Indians. Besides, I think I'd rather be there if some are found so I can be a voice of reason and hopefully spare their lives.”
Lisa didn't know what to say. First she had lost her husband and now she might lose the other man in her life. She started weeping at the table. Ted got up and ran over to her.
“Please don't be upset,” He said. “I promise that I'll be all right.”
Lisa held Ted close and listened to his heartbeat. She hoped she never had to hear it stop beating.
“I don't understand all of this business about getting up in arms over Indians who might not even be there. It was only one
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