The Marshal and the Bride on the Run Read online

  The Marshal and the Bride on the Run

  Hands and Hearts Mail Order Bride Agency

  Indiana Wake

  Belle Fiffer

  Fair Havens Books

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Epilogue

  Breaking the Chains of the Past – Preview

  Also by Indiana Wake

  About the Authors

  Introduction

  The Marshal and the Bride on the Run

  Hearts and Hands Mail Order Bride Agency

  The tradition of mail order bride’s dates back to 1620 but most of us are more familiar with the 1800s.

  The first mail order bride adverts appeared following the gold rush. Men went West and became prosperous but without the possibility of family they soon became morose. They drank too much, caused trouble, and so the first matrimonial adverts began.

  At first men wrote to their churches, in the hope of finding moral ladies who would take on such an adventure and travel West to become their wives.

  Often the men would offer their hand in marriage in return for the lady coming West. Offers of petticoats, shoes, and caps were also made.

  In time, women began to place their own adverts hoping to attract a prosperous man.

  That is where the idea of this series began. Each of the books is a complete story and they can be read in any order.

  In the first book a young woman is offered a man’s Heart and Hand and from this an idea emerges in her mind.

  Just like the brave pioneers Mary begins a new life and a hope to bring order and civilization to a land that needed love and family to make it complete

  I hope you will enjoy these books as much as we have writing them.

  Blessings.

  Each of these books can be read alone but if you wish to read them all find them here:

  ©Copyright 2019 Indiana Wake

  All Rights Reserved

  Indiana Wake

  License Notes

  This e-Book is licensed for personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold. Your continued respect for author's rights is appreciated.

  This story is a work of fiction any resemblance to people is purely coincidence. All places, names, events, businesses, etc. are used in a fictional manner. All characters are from the imagination of the author.

  Created with Vellum

  Chapter One

  Simon had been to weddings before, but they had been fairly restrained, dour, sad affairs compared to the weddings in San Francisco. It was like the people were more relaxed, they could be who they really were, like they were enjoying themselves. The East Coast residents felt strict and stiff when they got married. The West Coast residents, on the other hand…

  It was an experience Simon was still getting used to.

  Maybe his wedding, one day, would be like that. A proper celebration with laughter and fun. But that wedding would never happen if he couldn’t sort out the situation in front of him.

  While the festivities of Rebecca and Craig’s wedding were still going on in the big field behind the church, Simon left early with Sheriff Philip Anthony. His wife, Amy, was having a bad bout of sickness, which wasn’t great for the baby. Philip was concerned about being near her side. Simon couldn’t blame him for that.

  If only his parents had been more caring instead of dumping him in Coleman’s orphanage when he was a baby. In many ways it was a surprise that he had managed to reach adulthood at all.

  Simon followed the sheriff into his house, Philip dropping his Stetson on the table before going to the drinks cabinet.

  “Well, another successful marriage,” he declared as he poured out two glasses of whiskey. “And another notch to Mary Stanier’s belt.”

  Simon grunted. He placed his own Stetson beside Philip’s, slumping into a chair by the roaring fire. Amy had been busy in spite of the fact she that she was supposed to be on bed rest. The fire was freshly made.

  And it was welcome.

  Simon took the glass from Philip before the other man folded himself onto the couch, stretching his long legs out.

  “Does Mary Stanier actually match people to each other?” he asked. “Or does she just bring the girls here and let nature take its course?”

  “A bit of both, I think. She took one look at San Francisco when she first arrived here and decided that the lack of women was a problem. That there was a market for a matchmaker.” Philip sipped his whiskey. “The girls come out here with help from the mission, and Mary has a list of men who have written to her looking for brides. Then she makes sure their paths cross with a girl she thinks would be the most suitable.”

  “I thought she would make the introductions?”

  “From what Amy has said, Mary prefers it if the girls think they’ve made the choice themselves.” Philip chuckled. “Amy had tried a few dinner dates with Mary matching her, but with no success. So, Mary lets them get on with it, merely pushing the girls in the right direction.”

  “Is that what happened to you?”

  Philip’s face went red. He cleared his throat.

  “No, not really. I wasn’t looking to marry at all. Being the sheriff, it’s a precarious job… and it’s dangerous. But Amy changed my mind on that.”

  Simon smirked. He liked Amy, and he could see why she would be able to change even the stubbornest of men’s minds about marriage.

  Philip looked at Simon over the rim of his glass.

  “You never thought of getting married, Simon?” he asked.

  Simon’s good mood dissipated. This wasn’t something he wanted to discuss. But Philip was much like him; he wouldn’t give up until he got what he wanted. And Simon knew how persistent the sheriff was.

  “Who’d want a messed up old guy like me?”

  “I didn’t say anything about you being messed up.” Philip sat forward. “Besides, you survived the Coleman orphanage. I’d say you were more of a miracle.”

  Simon snorted.

  “Well, that upbringing didn’t exactly make me prime marriage material. And my job is just as dangerous as yours, if not more so.”

  “Maybe you just need a special someone to help you settle down.”

  “Maybe.” Simon knew exactly who that would be… but that possibility was dwindling fast. He rubbed his eyes. “I did have someone in mind. But she disappeared. I have no idea where she is, and I have no idea if we have a future.”

  “Ah.” Philip didn’t look surprised. “You mean you and Katy.”

  “What?” Simon almost choked on his whiskey. Coughing his airway clear, he stared at Philip. “How did you know that?”

  “It’s the way you react whenever her name is mentioned.” The sheriff shrugged as he sat back. “I’m a lawman, Simon. I do have a brain and I’m not blind to the fact that you’re in love with her.”

  Simon winced. He hadn’t realized he was that obvious. Katy was younger than him. She had barely been into her teens when Simon finally left the orphanage at eighteen. But he kept going back, just to make sure the people he had grown up with were all right. Coleman and his wife backed down a little on their abuse when they had realized a lawman was on the side of their charges. That was something.

  He had watched Katy grow up. She had something about her that Simon couldn’t walk away from. He wanted to protect her, to shield her from everything. Katy was such a sweet girl, strong in character but suppressed. The Colemans had made sure she couldn’t progress in life, that s
he would be dependent on them.

  But they hadn’t been able to suppress her spirit completely. It was that part of her that Simon had fallen in love with. He had been planning to get her out of there, to give her an option to leave. Then Katy had disappeared, and Simon believed his worst fears would come true; that he couldn’t protect her.

  If only Katy would come out to talk to him. Simon knew she was close by, and he didn’t want to spook her. The girl needed to come to him.

  Simon shuffled in his seat, he hated waiting.

  He put his glass aside and buried his head in his hands.

  “I don’t know what to do, Philip. Self-defense isn’t an easy thing to prove, and the Coleman family are out for blood. The youngest brother, Jerry, sent a telegram saying he was coming out here himself. He’s determined to find the one responsible.”

  “You think he’s going to turn into a vigilante?”

  “I know he is. Jerry’s as sadistic as Hugh, if not more so.”

  “You’re not going to let him do that, are you?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  Nothing would happen to Katy, if Simon could help it.

  There was a sudden shout outside, and a loud banging on the door. Philip and Simon jumped to their feet. Simon’s gun was already in his hand as Philip headed towards his rifle leaning against the wall.

  The door burst open and a thickset, middle-aged man charged in. It was just starting to rain, and his coat and hat were dripping with water. The intruder took off his hat, revealing thinning brown hair and a square, rugged face, shaking the water off his hat he scowled at the two men.

  “Which one’s Huckerby?” he snapped.

  Philip glanced at Simon.

  “Speak of the devil,” Simon muttered. He lowered his gun but didn’t put it away.

  “I didn’t realize you were already out here, Coleman.”

  Jerry Coleman snorted.

  “Clearly not. You’ve been avoiding the telegrams my family has been sending you. We’ve heard nothing from you since you arrived here.”

  There was a reason for that. The Coleman family were out for blood. Simon wasn’t about to tell them the ins and outs of his investigation; that would put the girls in danger.

  Katy would be in danger.

  “I have been too busy to do any correspondences,” Simon said stiffly. “My job is hunting fugitives, not being a secretary.”

  “So I see.” Coleman sneered. “Drinking with the locals. You clearly haven’t made any progress.”

  Philip spoke up. The rifle was now in his hand and he looked as though he wanted to use it. Simon wasn’t about to stop him.

  “Actually, Deputy Huckerby has made a lot of progress.” Philip didn’t blink as the bigger man rounded on him. “We’ve eliminated almost all the suspects. You don’t want us to hang the wrong person and face repercussions for it, do you?”

  Coleman snorted.

  “They can all hang, as far as I’m concerned. Hugh and Annie are dead because of those ungrateful little brats.”

  Simon bared his teeth in a snarl.

  “And if your brother and sister-in-law weren’t so cruel to the children they had been entrusted to look after, they wouldn’t be dead in the first place.”

  It had been years since Simon had last slept at the orphanage as one of the charges. And he still had nightmares about the place. Coleman growled and advanced on Simon, jabbing him in the chest with a fat finger.

  “You don’t know anything about my brother, Huckerby,” he snapped. “They did everything they could for those spoiled brats. And what did they get in return? They got their brains bashed in.”

  Simon slapped his hand away.

  “Orphans are hardly spoiled,” he shot back. “Besides, I know exactly what your brother is like. I was one of those charges, and to say he did everything for us is a massive overstatement.”

  Simon still had the scars from the beatings. Even now, the ones on his back were starting to itch. Coleman had been very handy with the belt, only stopping his attacks on Simon when he was big enough to fight back. Then he was left alone.

  But from the look on Coleman’s face, he wasn’t about to be swayed. He was still in deep denial about what his brother was really up to.

  “Don’t talk drivel, Marshal,” he scolded. It was like he was talking to a child who had been caught lying. “My brother has never laid a hand on a child.”

  “Not when they could fight back, he didn’t. He was a coward like that.”

  Coleman looked as though he was about to take a swing at Simon when Philip drew Simon back and placed himself between the two, the rifle held across his chest in preparation. It was like he was spoiling for a fight.

  “Ignore him, Simon.” The sheriff glared at Coleman. “He clearly wouldn’t know the truth if it jumped up and smacked him in the face.”

  “What did you say?”

  Coleman started squaring up to Philip. Simon nudged Philip.

  “Philip, enough. Listen, Jerry, I am doing my job here. I will be the one to find whoever was responsible. And if I hear about you interfering or harming one of the suspects without any proof, I will be arresting you.”

  “What?” Coleman bellowed. His eyes bulged. “One of those little chits murdered my brother!”

  “Don’t get me started on that.” Simon stared the bigger man down. “Let me do my job, or the only one being arrested will be you.”

  And he meant it. Simon was going to find Katy and Emma first, and find out the truth. While Rebecca may have said Katy was the killer, there was something that didn’t ring true. And Simon wasn’t sure if Rebecca knew about it. He needed to find out from the last two women what had really happened. Both of them were involved somehow, he knew it in his gut.

  Simon stepped past Coleman, purposefully bumping the man’s shoulder.

  “Find yourself some lodgings, Coleman, and wait for me. I will arrest you, believe me on that, if you try to get involved.”

  “You can’t tell me what to do.”

  Simon smirked, snatching up his Stetson as he headed toward the door.

  “Oh, yes, I can. I suggest you don’t hang around to find out.”

  Chapter Two

  Simon had planned to go back to his lodgings and try to gather his thoughts. But there was a message waiting for him from Mary Stanier. Katy wanted to speak to him.

  This was what Simon had been waiting for. Katy wanted to talk to him. He had been patient, allowing the women to come to him. Now he didn’t have that option, not with Coleman hanging around. That man was out for blood.

  Simon wasn’t about to let Katy and Emma become his victims. Coleman was just as mean as his brother, if not more so.

  Simon found himself sprinting over to the mission station, the wind and rain battering against him but he hardly felt a thing. He was on a mission. As he passed the church, Simon could see that it was deserted in the field. Thankfully, the festivities had finished before the rain, or they had moved inside. There was still the sound of music in the air over the thunder.

  The door to the mission was unlocked, and Simon ducked inside. His Stetson was soaked, and he tried to shake the water off it. That didn’t help, and his Stetson was now floppy. As the warm air surrounded him he realized he was chilled to the bone.

  Simon had experienced many sudden weather changes, but San Francisco was topping them all. Lately, rain was appearing at the drop of a hat. Simon hated rain.

  “Deputy.”

  Mary came hurrying into the foyer. Simon greeted her with a kiss to her cheek.

  “I came as soon as I got your message, Mary.”

  “I’m so sorry to bother you when the weather has taken a sudden turn, but this couldn’t wait.”

  “Don’t worry about bothering me. It’s part of the job.” Simon could see that the matchmaker, normally calm and collected, was decidedly nervous. “You mentioned that Katy wanted to speak to me?”

  “Yes. She said she wanted me as an unbiased person s
itting in while she told you everything.”

  “Everything? You mean about the murders?”

  “I think so.” Mary chewed at her lower lip. “Katy spoke with such clarity, and then she started to not make any sense. I don’t know exactly what’s happening, but she’s clearly scared.”

  “She’s not the only one.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Coleman’s brother is here in San Francisco,” Simon said grimly. “He’s determined to deal out his own justice. If I don’t find out what really happened, Katy and Emma could end up dead.”

  Mary’s face paled. Her hand went to her mouth.

  “Let’s hope Katy tells you the truth, then. I don’t want to see anything bad happen to her. She’s a sweet girl.”

  “I don’t want anything to happen to her, either.” Then Simon realized what Mary had said. He stared at her. “What did you say? You don’t think Katy’s telling the truth?”

  “I don’t know. Katy believes she’s telling the truth, but something’s not quite right. Something doesn’t completely fit.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know exactly, but you’ll understand when you talk to her.” Mary beckoned Simon to follow her. “Come with me. I put her in one of the guest bedrooms, away from everyone else. I thought it would be the best place for us to be undisturbed.”

  Simon wasn’t about to argue with that. He followed Mary through the maze of hallways, where he had been staying until a few weeks before, to a door at the end of the hall. A door to the courtyard was right beside it, partially open and swinging in the wind. Mary shut the door to the outside as Simon rapped on Katy’s door.