Colin's Quest (35 page)
Authors: Shirleen Davies
Even with the MacLarens and the majority of townsfolk accepting her actions, Coral couldn’t seem to move on. Each night, she’d thrash about, then awaken covered in perspiration, pushing those away who tried to help. Instead of receding as the days and weeks passed, her nightmares increased.
Coral refused to confide in anyone, tucking into herself as if holding all her emotions inside would solve the guilt she felt at taking a man’s life—no matter how justified.
Pearl had been the one person to help the adults understand some of Coral’s fear, believing her sister felt certain the MacLarens would send them away after what she’d done. No amount of assurances to the contrary could calm their fears, especially Coral’s.
“I have a thought,” Blaine offered one afternoon while the men were riding fences. “Why don’t we adopt them? Maybe that will ease their minds and rid Coral of her nightmares.”
“I think it’s a great idea, Blaine.” Quinn rode next to him, wondering why no one had thought of it before.
“Have you ever known a family to adopt someone? I sure don’t know what needs to be done.” Colin liked the idea, too, and believed his ma and their uncles would approve.
“Do you think it’s what the girls want? No matter how much they hated their uncle, it’s still their family name.” Brodie had no idea what would need to be done, but as long as the girls wanted it, he’d make it happen.
“Yes!” Opal’s and Pearl’s voices melded together when Colin and Sarah took them aside later that week and explained what the MacLarens proposed. Coral’s face brightened for a moment at the news before slipping behind the mask she preferred to hide behind.
“What do you think, Coral? It isn’t hard to do. We simply sign documents with our attorney stating you’re taking the name MacLaren and relinquishing the name Coffman. We’d make you, Opal, and Pearl full members of the family, but only if it’s what you want.” Kyla sat next to her, reaching out a hand to touch Coral’s arm. In truth, there wasn’t any formal requirement for adopting them in California, but the uncles wanted to make it all official so no one could later claim they weren’t legally MacLarens. It seemed the best course for everyone.
Coral caught her bottom lip between her teeth, glancing at her sisters, who nodded at her hesitancy.
“I want to be a MacLaren, Coral. Don’t you?” Pearl stood before her oldest sister, her gaze solemn, her voice almost a whisper.
Looking up, Coral’s mouth curved into a rare smile. “Yes, Pearl. I think I’d like that.”
“All right everyone,” Uncle Ewan interrupted the different conversations around the table, getting their attention. “We’re here for our regular Sunday supper, except today we welcome three new MacLarens into the family. Coral, Opal, and Pearl are now officially part of our clan.” He held up his glass, tilting it toward the girls. “Welcome, lassies. We’re pleased to have you.”
Following a few minutes of cheers and hugs, they settled into their normal Sunday banter, talking of chores for the following week until Ian mentioned the sudden resignation of Sheriff Yost.
“Ewan and I attended a meeting of the town leaders a few days ago. They made the decision to remove Yost and look for a new sheriff. I think it may have been the first decision having everyone’s approval.”
“What was Yost’s reaction?” Colin asked, glad for the decision to rid the town of his incompetence.
“Strangely enough, he turned in his resignation the morning after our meeting. Seems someone must have warned him.” Ian pushed his plate away and leaned back. “All I care about is he’s gone.”
“Any word on a replacement?” Quinn asked.
Ian shook his head. “Not that I’ve heard.”
The table grew silent for a few moments before Brodie cleared his throat.
“I have one other announcement to make.” He pushed away from the table, resting his hands on his thighs. “Seems a few of the town leaders
did
ask someone to take Yost’s place. They offered him the position and he accepted.”
“That so?” his father asked, his brows arching at the news. “Who is it?”
“Me.”
Epilogue
Three weeks later…
“I doubt how you and Quinn feel about his decision will change his mind, Colin. Brodie is a grown man and he has his reasons for what he did.”
Sarah and Colin had ridden into town the day before, taking a room at the Gold Dust Hotel for two nights to make up for the interruption the rustlers had caused in their honeymoon. So far, they hadn’t seen Brodie. While Sarah shopped at the general store, Colin had stopped at the jail, leaving a message inviting Brodie to join them for supper tonight. So far, he hadn’t responded.
“He shouldn’t have done it the way he did. Uncle Ewan didn’t have any idea of what he’d decided. I’ll never forget the look on his face when Brodie made the announcement. In this family, we’ve always talked about decisions such as this first. It wasn’t right.” Colin had stated the same complaint since Brodie made his announcement, shocking the entire family. Sarah had grown used to his grumbling, figuring the reality of Brodie’s new life would settle in after time.
“Let’s go to breakfast, then see if we can find him,” Sarah suggested as Colin escorted her downstairs to the dining room.
A small town by most standards, Conviction boasted two hotels. Both offered meals, although the quality had always been suspect in the one across the street. It had been added as an afterthought when the proprietor realized the Gold Dust made good money on the meals they served. A widowed rancher’s wife had been hired to do the cooking, and her food had always been popular with the locals and visitors.
This morning, though, Colin found it hard to enjoy his eggs, bacon, and biscuits. His mind kept returning to Brodie and how much he missed him at the ranch. Perhaps his cousin would listen to reason after a while and return home. He couldn’t imagine running the ranch without him.
“Look there.” Sarah stared out the window at the jail.
Turning in his chair and following her gaze, he saw Brodie ride up on Hunter and swing to the ground. Looking around, he tipped his hat at a passing couple, then disappeared inside the jail.
“At least we know he’s in town.” Colin finished eating, pushing his plate away, noticing Sarah watching him. “What?”
“You don’t plan to charge over there and demand he come home, do you?”
“As much as I’d like to, no. We’ll invite him to supper, find out if he’s met the new neighbor south of us, and that’s all. No matter how much I don’t like or understand it, I know it’s his decision.”
Walking across the street, Colin noticed a couple more stores than he’d seen on his last trip to town, and there was building going on at one end. The hotel clerk said another saloon and a couple more shops would be going up, as well as a newspaper. The growth made him realize how much Conviction needed a strong sheriff. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he knew Brodie would make an exceptional lawman, better than anyone Colin could think of.
Opening the door to the jail, they spotted Brodie walking from the back where the cells were located. “I wondered when you’d be coming to pay me a visit.” Brodie set the keys on his desk, looking around Colin. “Quinn didn’t come with you?”
“Not today. Sarah and I rode in alone. We’re hoping you can take time to join us for supper tonight.”
“Morning, Sarah.” He sent her a broad smile, unlike the wary welcome he’d offered Colin. “I’d like to meet you for supper, as long as you don’t try to change my mind about taking the sheriff’s job.” He nodded toward a couple chairs.
“You keeping busy?” Colin asked, pulling out a chair for Sarah.
“You’d be surprised—”
Brodie’s head snapped around as the door burst open and a woman he’d never seen dashed inside. Taking deep breaths, she looked out the window, then turned toward Brodie, gasping for air.
“Can I help you, ma’am?”
“Are you the sheriff?” She turned to glance out the window once again.
“Aye.”
Shifting back toward him, she wrapped her arms around her waist, eyes wide. “I hope you can help me. I think I killed my husband.”
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About the Author
Shirleen Davies
writes romance—historical, contemporary, and romantic suspense. She grew up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.
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Other Books by Shirleen Davies
http://www.shirleendavies.com/books.html
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