ROMANCE: Mail Order Bride: A Sheriff's Bride (A Clean Christian Inspirational Historical Western Romance) (New Adult Short Stories) by Nathan Adams Page B
Authors: Nathan Adams
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have two angels that we can focus on.” I said.
There was a sudden knock at the door, but then before I could say a word, it burst open. In bounced the most gaudily dressed woman I had ever seen. She was somewhat heavyset, with thick makeup on her face, and ostentatiously dressed. “Oh my! I’ve seen your face around before sugar, I’m sure of it!” she said.
I was very startled by her, but tried to remain polite. I was certain she was Brandon’s sister, which was hard to believe even though I knew it was true.
“You must be Jocelyn.” I said with a smile.
“Sure am…And you’re that Cromwell woman they’re talking about all in the papers today.” She said. “Honey, have you seen the paper?”
I looked confused. This town, separated by acres and acres of land between neighbors, certainly couldn’t have found out much about me. Why was I in the paper? I shook my head incredulously, “Well…No.” I said, “Are you certain it’s me?” I asked the robust woman.
She looked me over closer and then nodded her head, “Yes darling. It’s definitely you. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.” She said. “You should go check it. It’s national news.”
I looked at her worriedly before skirting off down the stairs to the foyer where sure enough, a paper laid menacingly atop the console table.
When I opened it up, I immediately spotted my face. The paper read, “Widowed and Pregnant Wife Runs to Texas for Love.”
I was immediately hurt. How had anyone found out about this? How did anyone know that was what I had done? As frustration, anger, and hurt settled in, I realized it could only be one person. My blood ran cold just thinking about it. “Emily.” I stated.
Olivia walked up behind me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, “She was envious…She didn’t understand how a widowed woman with child could find a husband a second time while she had yet to find even one. She wrote to Mr. Hynes and didn’t hear back.” Olivia explained.
I turned to her quickly, “When did you know of this!?” I asked shocked.
“It is only recent knowledge. She came to me drunk one night in my own home. She said that you didn’t deserve love, and that was why she would slander you across the country. She was drunk, so I didn’t think she would go through with it. I’m sorry for not telling you.” Olivia said. She had a look of deep regret on her face, “I only wished not to hurt you.”
I sighed despite my fury at my friend, and the annoyance I had with Olivia for not going ahead and letting me know, “It is unreasonable for one to think that someone drunk isn’t just spewing crock out the side of their neck.” I stated after some contemplation.
“T-there is one other thing…” she said quietly, as she pointed to the paper.
I looked where she was pointing to and noticed more damning language, “It was alleged that Mrs. Cromwell’s husband was having an affair with a close family friend, and the jealous rage prompted her to kill her husband. The alleged murderer may not be mentally well or stable…?” I read aloud in disbelief. Emily was subtly trying to tell me she’d had an affair with my late husband…I couldn’t believe the nerve of the girl, and it took every ounce of me to regain my composure and not give in to her. She wanted this to go poorly for me all along! How had I not noticed?
I felt another presence behind me, and this time it was Jocelyn and Brandon. Both had somber expressions on their faces.
“Please tell us none of this stuff is true sweetie. I haven’t even known you for a split second, and all of this…” Jocelyn said. “I only worry about your safety.”
I looked at Jocelyn, then Brandon, and finally Olivia’s sullen expression. I couldn’t do this again. If I was going to have to leave behind what I had just found, so be it. I supposed I would just be alone forever, left to be some old croon who had no one, potentially not even my own child. I ran off
There was a sudden knock at the door, but then before I could say a word, it burst open. In bounced the most gaudily dressed woman I had ever seen. She was somewhat heavyset, with thick makeup on her face, and ostentatiously dressed. “Oh my! I’ve seen your face around before sugar, I’m sure of it!” she said.
I was very startled by her, but tried to remain polite. I was certain she was Brandon’s sister, which was hard to believe even though I knew it was true.
“You must be Jocelyn.” I said with a smile.
“Sure am…And you’re that Cromwell woman they’re talking about all in the papers today.” She said. “Honey, have you seen the paper?”
I looked confused. This town, separated by acres and acres of land between neighbors, certainly couldn’t have found out much about me. Why was I in the paper? I shook my head incredulously, “Well…No.” I said, “Are you certain it’s me?” I asked the robust woman.
She looked me over closer and then nodded her head, “Yes darling. It’s definitely you. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.” She said. “You should go check it. It’s national news.”
I looked at her worriedly before skirting off down the stairs to the foyer where sure enough, a paper laid menacingly atop the console table.
When I opened it up, I immediately spotted my face. The paper read, “Widowed and Pregnant Wife Runs to Texas for Love.”
I was immediately hurt. How had anyone found out about this? How did anyone know that was what I had done? As frustration, anger, and hurt settled in, I realized it could only be one person. My blood ran cold just thinking about it. “Emily.” I stated.
Olivia walked up behind me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, “She was envious…She didn’t understand how a widowed woman with child could find a husband a second time while she had yet to find even one. She wrote to Mr. Hynes and didn’t hear back.” Olivia explained.
I turned to her quickly, “When did you know of this!?” I asked shocked.
“It is only recent knowledge. She came to me drunk one night in my own home. She said that you didn’t deserve love, and that was why she would slander you across the country. She was drunk, so I didn’t think she would go through with it. I’m sorry for not telling you.” Olivia said. She had a look of deep regret on her face, “I only wished not to hurt you.”
I sighed despite my fury at my friend, and the annoyance I had with Olivia for not going ahead and letting me know, “It is unreasonable for one to think that someone drunk isn’t just spewing crock out the side of their neck.” I stated after some contemplation.
“T-there is one other thing…” she said quietly, as she pointed to the paper.
I looked where she was pointing to and noticed more damning language, “It was alleged that Mrs. Cromwell’s husband was having an affair with a close family friend, and the jealous rage prompted her to kill her husband. The alleged murderer may not be mentally well or stable…?” I read aloud in disbelief. Emily was subtly trying to tell me she’d had an affair with my late husband…I couldn’t believe the nerve of the girl, and it took every ounce of me to regain my composure and not give in to her. She wanted this to go poorly for me all along! How had I not noticed?
I felt another presence behind me, and this time it was Jocelyn and Brandon. Both had somber expressions on their faces.
“Please tell us none of this stuff is true sweetie. I haven’t even known you for a split second, and all of this…” Jocelyn said. “I only worry about your safety.”
I looked at Jocelyn, then Brandon, and finally Olivia’s sullen expression. I couldn’t do this again. If I was going to have to leave behind what I had just found, so be it. I supposed I would just be alone forever, left to be some old croon who had no one, potentially not even my own child. I ran off
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