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Six Months Later
Las Platas Nuevas, Arizona Territory
“Lauren, would you please pass the biscuits?” Miriam asked her sister for the second time. Months ago, Miriam and Abe got hitched, and ever since, she and Lauren had come to live with him at his house. Despite what Miriam imagined would be the case, Lauren hadn’t given her any grief over marrying Abe or even living in the sheriff’s abode. These last few months, Lauren hadn’t put up much fuss over anything at all. She went to church on Sundays, did any chores Miriam asked of her, and even started working again for Mr. Lance over at the mercantile five days a week during the mid-morning hours. But when it came meal time, instead of engaging in lively conversation, Lauren became a useless turnip who just sat there, mechanically eating her food and stolidly ignoring Abe and Miriam.
“I’ll get ‘em,” Abe said as he stretched his long arms across the table and pulled the bread basket right out from underneath Lauren’s nose.
“Thank you,” Miriam whispered as she cast a loving look at her husband.
“You want some jam, too?” Abe asked. Lauren shook her head and gazed up at Miriam.
“Did somebody say something?” She questioned. Her eyes were glazed over, and her lips were slightly parted, as if she were confused by this whole mundane interaction.
“Would you mind passin’ the raspberry preserves?” Miriam asked politely. Lauren rigidly picked up the jar and held it out to her older sister.
“So, what are you up to today?” Abe posed the question to both ladies. He had a special way of doing this, which Miriam appreciated. Even though she was often the only one who answered him, he still thought it necessary to include Lauren in the conversation.
“I can’t tell you that,” Miriam said as she fought to hold inside her giggles. “You know Christmas is right around the corner, and if I tell you what I’m doin’ all day, you’ll know what kind of presents you’re getting.”
“Alright,” Abe chuckled, “so you’re gonna spend your day makin’ presents. That sounds nice. What about you, Lauren?”
“I’ll probably just eat lunch with Mr. Lance at the store,” she answered with an absentminded air. “You don’t have to make me anythin’, Miriam.”
“Oh,” Miriam said quickly, trying to re-route the conversation so they could work with what Lauren had just given them. “Then you plan to spend all day with Mr. Lance?”
“Don’t have anything else to do,” Lauren said glumly as she used the tines of her fork to poke at her wobbly scrambled eggs.
“You could always help me make presents,” Miriam said cheerfully, hoping she could enliven her sister a little. “I may need your help with what I’m plannin’ for Sue and Patrick—”
Knock!
“Did you hear somethin’?” Abe asked as he shot to his feet.
“I think it was just somebody at the door,” Miriam assured him as she rose too. She supposed it was a hazard related to his job, but Abe was excessively attentive to any strange noises. It didn’t matter if he was lying in bed or out back chopping wood. If he heard a sound he didn’t recognize right away, he popped up like a prairie dog coming out of its hidey-hole. “Why don’t you let me get it?” she suggested. Abe nodded, but followed right behind her just the same. “It’s probably Sue comin’ over. She told me she had some dried flowers I could borrow for, well, I don’t want to say and give away the surprise, but…”
When Miriam swung open the door, there was a person standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers, but it wasn’t her cousin, Sue.
“Willis?” Miriam whispered his name as she stared at him. He was carrying a bundle of wildflowers. They were the kinds that grew almost like weeds throughout the early winter months along the sides of the roads.
“Ma’am,” Willis said as he laid a finger to the brim of his hat and nodded at her. “Sheriff,” he added as he locked eyes with Abe. Miriam could feel Abe tense behind her. She recognized the precariousness of this situation. For all intents and purposes, Wild Willis Buckland was a wanted man. He was still directly connected to the robbery and the beating of Joshua over at the jail. It was Abe’s duty to seize him and haul him into town at once, but he didn’t do that. He just stood there, breathing so loudly Miriam could hear him, but also exhibiting the patience he never would have been capable of displaying before they were married.
“What are you doing here?” Miriam blurted. She knew that wasn’t the politest way to say such a thing, but she also figured those were the words her husband wanted to say, so she helped him the best she could.
Willis shuffled the flower arrangement from one hand to the other. “I came to see Miss Lauren.”
At the sound of her name being spoken by the man she loved, Lauren appeared. She let out a tiny squeak, then rushed forward. Abe and Miriam barely had the chance to step aside before she flung herself into Willis’ arms. He dropped the flowers right there in the doorway and held Lauren like he never meant to let go. Miriam took another step back, wanting to give her sister some privacy, but when Lauren started peppering Willis with questions and he answered her, Miriam couldn’t resist the urge to listen to their conversation.
“Where have you been?” Lauren demanded.
“I had to get away from Val and his gang before I could come back, Lauren. After that whole debacle, it took a long time for things to get straightened out. Val thought I’d set him up and, well, I don’t want to get into all that now, but let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.”
“I don’t care about Val,” Lauren cried as she clung to his neck. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
“I would’ve come back sooner,” Willis replied, “but I couldn’t take the risk. Because Val said he couldn’t trust me anymore, he kept Roy on me day and night. I wasn’t allowed to step one foot out of the house without havin’ Roy on my tail.”
Miriam felt Abe bristle once more at the mention of Val’s hideout. She reached behind herself and took hold of his hand, hoping that she might be able to calm him marginally.
“Then how did you get away now?” Lauren asked as she loosened her grip on Willis and took a step backward so she could look him fully in the face. “If Val’s been so keen to watch over ya, what’re you doin’ here at the sheriff’s house?”
“I couldn’t wait any longer,” Willis explained hastily. “With each day that passed, I thought you mighta took up with someone else and…”
“You thought I’d just forget about you and marry somebody new?” Lauren asked, disbelievingly.
Willis gave an awkward shrug. “I don’t know. It’s been six months. You mighta thought I wasn’t comin’ for ya and allowed yourself to fall for some other fella around town.”
“I could never,” Lauren protested. “I told ya I loved you, Willis.”
“Aww, Lauren, I love you, too.” They hugged once more and Miriam felt the pieces of her heart that had broken on her sister’s behalf slowly meld back together. She had not suffered as Lauren had done, but it did something to a person to see someone they loved so dearly in such acute pain. But now, having Willis back had done everyone a world of good. Everyone except Abe, that is. Miriam could almost feel the way he was poised and ready to spring on Willis.
“Willis,” Miriam said, hoping to break the tension further, “why don’t you join us for some breakfast?”
“Oh yes,” Lauren agreed, as she backed away from the hug. “We’ve got eggs aplenty and so many biscuits you could eat for days and never be full.” Miriam hadn’t heard Lauren say so much and be in such good spirits in a very long time. It felt nice to see Lauren return to her exuberant self.
Willis darted a quick glance at Abe over Miriam’s head. “I’d like to sit down with ya, sweetheart. Really, I would. But I’ve got business with the sheriff that can’t wait.”
“No,” Lauren whispered. “You can’t…”
Willis took a step forward and kept looking right at Abe. “I know I’ve done ya wrong in the past, Sheriff Kruger, but I’m hopin’ you’ll let me make amends. If you’re interested, I can tell you exactly where to find Violet Val and the rest of the gang. I’ll even lead you there myself and help ya take ‘em down.”
Miriam turned so she could look at her husband. His eyes were narrowed, and his lips were scrunched at the corner of his mouth. He gazed at Willis with a skeptical look on his face. “How do I know this isn’t just an act, Willis?”
“An act, sir?” Willis questioned.
“For all I know, you could’ve been sent here by Val. He might be hankerin’ to get some revenge on me for puttin’ a bullet in him and made you come here so you could lead me directly into a trap.”
“I won’t pretend Val ain’t madder than a hornet’s nest about that bullet wound,” Willis replied, “but he don’t know I’m here. I just managed to sneak away by plying Roy with cactus wine all night. Soon as he passed out, I made my way back to Las Platas Nuevas so I could come see my gal, and I’m aimin’ to help you, of course.”
Abe snorted. “I’m not sure I like any of this. What’s to stop you from takin’ Lauren, then high tailing it right back to Val’s hideaway?”
“I probably could do all that,” Willis agreed, “but I don’t want to run with Val anymore.” He gave a quick look around the house. “This might sound crazy, but I think I’d like to start a family of my own. Can’t have no kids while I’m runnin’ around with a bunch of heathens.”
“You mean you’re willing to give up bein’ ‘Wild Willis Buckland’?” Abe asked tersely.
“I’m willin’ to do whatever it takes to spend the rest of my days with Lauren by my side,” Willis answered. Miriam could see that Abe was struggling to process everything. It was obvious Willis was being honest with them, but Abe was showing his prudent side by not just buying into it all so readily.
“So why not just take Lauren and go elsewhere?” Abe pressed. “Why help me take Violet Val and the rest of the gang captive?”
“’Cause if Val figures out I left him, he’ll come after me,” Willis explained, giving the most practical reason. “He already wasn’t in a trustin’ mood and just as soon as he finds out I skedaddled, he’ll either be out huntin’ me himself or sendin’ a pack of boys after me. The way I reckon, the only way any of us are ever gonna have a peaceful life, is to finish this with Val once and for all and put him and the rest of ‘em behind bars.”
“I don’t—” Abe started, but Miriam tightened the grip she had on his hand. He stopped talking and looked at her curiously.
“Can we talk this over for just a second, please?” she asked as she tipped her head to the side, motioning for him to walk with her into the living room. Abe nodded, but she could see his bafflement at her behavior reflected in his eyes.
“Miriam, please don’t say what I think you’re gonna say,” Abe whispered just as soon as they were out of earshot of the others.
“I have no idea what you think I’m about to say, Abe, but I’ve gotta tell ya; I think you should trust Willis.”
Abe groaned. “That’s it. That’s what I was sure you had in mind.”
“I really do, though,” Miriam persisted. “You and I know just how much bein’ in love can change a person.” She was still holding his hand, so she lifted it and placed his palm over the silver cross necklace he’d given her that she never took off. “If you believe that you and I were capable of changing our ways, why can’t you see Willis in the same light?”
“You think I can trust him?” Abe whispered as he took a step toward her.
She nodded. “I think we’ve got to. If he wants to start a new life with Lauren, that means he’s goin’ to be our family, and you know how I feel about family.”
Abe snorted. “I do recollect somethin’ about you bein’ determinedly faithful.”
“Ride with Willis. Take some men with ya,” Miriam coaxed. “Let’s end this thing with Val and just, I don’t know, live out the rest of our days peacefully.”
“Miriam,” Abe said gently, “Even if things do go well and I’m able to capture Violet Val, I can’t promise you that everything’s going to be sunshine and daisies goin’ forward.”
“I don’t need all that,” Miriam reminded him. “I just need my family to be safe and happy.” She flung a quick look at Lauren. “I’ve already got all I could possibly want or need, but you’ve got it in your power to help my sister too. Won’t you do it, Abe?”
Abe nodded. “Wait for me here?”
“Where else would I go?” Miriam replied. She held his hand over her heart for a long moment and stared deeply into his eyes, praying that God would wrap His loving arms around Abe one more time and bring him home safely again. Then, Abe dipped his head and kissed Miriam lightly.
“I’ll be home soon,” he promised.
“I’ll be right here,” she vowed, and then Abe did the valiant thing, the thing he was born to do. He grabbed his hat off the peg by the door and set out to protect the citizens of Las Platas Nuevas by being a just, righteous, and extraordinarily courageous sheriff.
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OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 5 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Brides of the Untamed Frontier", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello my dears, I hope you enjoyed the book and the Extended Epilogue! I will be waiting for your comments here. Thank you 🙂
This book was just confusing I know Merriam loved her sister but I felt like smacking Merriam in the head to knock some sense in her she just couldn’t see her sister for who she was a silly girl not caring who she hurt, and Merriam couldn’t see how she was hurting Abe. At least in the end everything turned out right and they finally got married, but I would have like to know if they got Val arrested in the end.
Thanks for your feedback, Marie!
I mean how naive could she be about her sister really it took enough time for the minister to get through to her. Thank you for the epilogue to find out the end of the story look forward to your other books to read.
This is the strangest western I have ever read -Totally unreal western when the sheriff never tries to shoot to kill that gang of bank robbers; especially after they stole the town’s money. Maybe a criminal had been shot & killed, then Lauren would have realized just how dangerous it was being with Willis and his group.
This book is about love and love overcoming – but I still think Lauren should have received a good spanking -no matter how old she is.
I see what you mean, Bets!
This is a good story about love and forgiveness but I think Miriam was too pious and because he loved her he let his sister off without punishment A enjoyable read
Totally agree, Gwen! Thank you.
It was interesting, but I wanted to know what was going to happen with the next encounter with Val. Also, it doesn’t make sense that Lauren & Willis would ever be satisfied with settling down.
I see what you mean, Karie! I’ll take it into consideration.
This is not the ‘great read’ that Aurora usually writes. Parts of it was good but I think Miriam was more religious than a true relationship with God. Pure relationship with God also help you have a love relationship with proper compromise but not selfish. The love or obsession for her sister was stronger than that for God and Abe Kruger, the Sheriff she eventually fell in love with.
Thanks for the honest feedback,Patricia!
I really enjoy reading your stories. Your characters are wonderful.Please keep writing, and thanks for sharing your talent with me.
It kept me on my toes . I thought it was great!! Keep up the awesome writing!!
Thanks, Anita!
I couldn’t believe a Sherriff would leave a bunch of bank robbers without arresting them. Neither of the main characters were believable. I did, however, like that more of relying on God was included than usual in this book.
Thanks, Hilda! That is a good point. I’ll have to take it into account in future stories.
Did anyone else want to strangle Miriam? Lauren was being a brat, she was an adult not a child and she knew right from wrong. She didn’t need a bible to tell her that and if they were so knowledgeable of the bible then surely the ten commandments were the rock their faith was built on. I felt sorry for poor Abe , he couldn’t do right for doing wrong. Miriam knew he was a lawman then set about trying to change him by stealth. Quite frankly I was furious with her and her brat of a sister who by their actions put people in harms way. I’m not against second chances but I am against using religious teachings as a way of excusing bad behaviour . Lauren still hadn’t repented instead she behaved like a petulant toddler who’d been denied their favourite toy. This tale affected me negatively and I’m afraid I didn’t like Lauren or Miriam very much at all. Even my husband knew I was getting mad and told me to stop scowling ( as a policeman he knows the signs) A wee typo in main story when Abe rescue’s the brat he’s addressing her as Miriam instead of Lauren
I need some calming tea after this one so I guess you did a good job of stirring my emotions
I appreciate your feedback, Carol Ann! I’ll make sorry to never write such an annoying character again.
This story was ridiculous! No town would allow a sheriff to just ignore a bank robbery because of love or for any other reason. Lauren needs discipline and Marium needs some common sense! I was very frustrated during most of this book and will look for another author….
So sorry to hear that, Charlene. I really wish you would give me another chance.
While I enjoyed the story I was ready to slap Miriam silly. Seriously she was way to easy on her sister and awful to poor Abe.
Love must be blind because she didn’t treat the people she said she loves with the respect they deserved. Her relationship with God seems superficial ,more about religion than relationship
I really can’t see the sheriff putting up with her disrespect of him and interfering with his job.
Not your best story but I did finish it.
Not sure just how I feel about this story. I haven’t read any others where the good guys can’t do their jobs and get the bad guys. I’ve always had the impression that the law was pretty tough in the early days of the west. I sure hope Abe gets his man.