The Widow's Touch (A Whimsical Select Romance Novella) Read Free Page B

she reckoned Mister Dithers probably lost that honor when Jack Finley moved into their town.
    Although needing to go in side the general store, Eloda entwined her arm tighter inside the crook of his and began walking further down the platform.  She passed several shops that she needed their wares but she enjoyed the sheriff’s company too much to make the stops. 
    “Where are you from, Sheriff?” she asked.
    “I lived in Ohio before here, but I was born in Maryland.”
    “And were you a lawman back in Ohio?”
    He nodded his head . “My father was a sheriff and his father as well.  And his before that was a judge.  I hail from a long line of peacemakers,” he said, proudly.
    “And what brought about your leaving Ohio to come to our little town?”
    He paused a moment before he spoke.  “My wife passed away during childbirth, and as there was nothing beholding me to stay behind, I moved along.”
    “I’m very sorry a bout your wife, Sheriff Finley,” she said with smiling sympathy, and deeply felt for his pain when the dark shades of sadness in his voice nearly brought a tear to her eye.  “And your child?” she asked.  “Did he or she survive?”
    Sheriff Finley shook his head. 
    “I’m very sorry to hear that as well. That is dreadfully sad.”
    They reached the crossroads of the walking plank and Andy, a young boy about town, came rounding the corner like Hell had been chasing after him.  He ran into Eloda and it knocked him to the floor of the walkway.  If not for Jack’s interference, she’d had been pitched to the boards as well, but the sheriff claimed her into his arms and saved her the humiliation.
    When the boy saw that it was Eloda that he had struck, his eyes widened and he scurried like a startled crab across the wooden planks.  Andy visibly swallowed hard, but slowly rose to his feet and addressed her. 
    “ I didn’t mean it, Mrs. Timmons,” he rushed out, breathless, and he nearl y convulsed in anguish.  “I swear, I didn’t mean it!” he exclaimed.
    “Apparently you terrify even the youngest of men in this town,” Jack said, and a lopsided smile bent at his lips.
    Eloda looked at the sheriff and back to the boy.  Taking the boy by the shoulders, Eloda leaned slightly down, as his height wasn’t far beneath her own.  Her eyes fastened themselves on him and she gave him a slight shake.  “Andy, quit fretting,” she ordered.  “I’ll hear no more about it.  It was just a mishap, is all,” she pressed.  The boy finally nodded and relief washed over his face.  “You go on and get back home and take care of your mother, you hear?”
    The boy looked at the sheriff and back to her and he was hesitant to leave.
    “Truly, all is well ,” Eloda repeated, and then she smiled and soothed the child’s uneasiness.
    Again, h e looked at the sheriff and then back to her.  With a slight nod, he turned around and ran as fast as his legs would take him towards his home.
    “That’s the first time since I’ve arrived that I heard someone use his given name,” Jack stated.  “I’ve noticed the whole of the town just calls him The Bastard, even to the poor youth’s face.”
    “Yes, I’m aware,” she sighed.  She straightened her veil and skirt that which was misaligned after the boy bumped into her.  “This town isn’t overly abundant with compassion for the sake he and his mother are of the lowly sort.  Yet there’s not a shopkeeper in this town who’ll hire his mother so she can earn a decent wage,” she said angrily.  “I suspect it’ll be much the same for the boy once he becomes full grown,” she added.  She looked up at the sheriff and excitedly grasped his arm.  “I think if you decide not to send me to the gallows, I shall see to it that he and his mother are placed under my employ at the ranch.  I’m sure I can figure out some task they can do, especially now that Mister Timmons is no longer there.”
    Jack Finley looked down into her eyes