Page 31 of The Marshal's Bride
“Hope?”
“Quack!”
“She’s over here!” Sam pushed through the grass and found the edge, peering over. The ravine was only four feet deep. He could see where one of the men must have slid down the side and scrambled back up, but it was too high for Hope to climb.
He slid down the muddy wall to the bottom where Hope ran to grab his leg. Her face was covered in mud and her dress was ruined, but she otherwise appeared unharmed.
“Papa!” she cried.
He lifted her up in his arms, sighing deeply while the others rushed forward. “Oh, Hope.” He held her close while she patted his cheeks. “Let’s go see Mama.”
“Quack. Mama.” She poked his nose.
“Yep, we’re going to go see your mama.”
“Need a hand?” Whit asked, poking his head over the side.
“Take her, and I could use some help getting out.” Sam lifted Hope up to the sheriff.
Once Hope was out of the ravine, Ranger reached down and hoisted Sam up to level ground.
“Did you find the men?” Sam asked.
“Yeah,” Whitney responded. “Turns out they were new hires on this ranch, looking to make an easy buck. Met the old lady in Lincoln. Two of the Chapman boys are holding them in a line cabin. I need to go get them and take them back to jail. Good thing the judge is coming.”
Hope held her arms out for Sam, and he gladly took her back. “I thought you told me Flat River was a quiet town when you wrote me.”
“Normally it is. Have you made up your mind?”
“What for?” Ranger interrupted.
“He has to decide where he’s going to put the new marshal office.”
Bouncing Hope on his hip, Sam started walking back towards his horse. “My wife and child are here. Why would I go anywhere else. I’m headed home to make sure Justine is all right; and this little one needs a bath.” He stopped and looked at the men who had helped him find his little girl. The burning in his eyes caused him to blink several times.
“You aren’t going to go all sentimental on us now, are you?” Ranger teased.
Sam shrugged one shoulder. “I just might. I don’t know how I’m ever going to thank you. When Whit told me that this town made friends feel like family he wasn’t kidding. I’m blessed to call you friends…and family now.”
“We love you too, brother,” Whitney said. “But I’ll never admit that again in public. Hear me?”
The men laughed. Whitney clapped him on the back as he walked next to him.
“Let’s get you home before Mrs. Davis decides she’s not opening that new diner in town.”
The sound of hooves hitting the ground came through the open window. Justine was sitting in what June called the tearoom. It gave her the perfect view of the street. June had come with a sandwich and a jar of lemonade and offered to keep her company for a bit, but Justine wanted to be alone. The sounds of the boys playing down below was enough company for the time being. She tried not to focus on how Hope used to have fun playing with Heath and Colton, because then the tears would start again.
Instead, she pulled out her Bible and read from Acts as she ate her sandwich.
But now the horses were coming.
“Justine!” Rose called from across the street. She was standing next to the porch at the sheriff’s office.
“I’ll be right down!” Justine called and shut the window. Racing to grab her shawl, she draped it around her shoulders and jogged down the stairs. She didn’t recall if she pulled the door tightly. Her stomach churned, and bile rose in her throat. She felt like she was going to be sick, but she swallowed the bile rising in the back of her throat.She had to be strong.The noise was getting louder. Picking up her skirt, she ran across the street and jumped on the wooden porch.
Standing next to Rose and Dillon, she smoothed her skirts and brushed the hair from her face.
“They’re coming back.” Rose appeared beside her, a motherly hand running down her back. Justine nodded. “It’s been a very long day for you; marriage, mayhem, and high emotions. Remember that nothing needs to be sorted tonight. You hug your family, and you go to bed. Everything else can wait until the morning.”
