Here's a brief sample
Chapter 1
Sheriff Levi Smith stuffed the worn letter in his
pocket while at the same time trying to shove away the regret that haunted him.
The letter was the reason he’d come to Shirleyville over a year ago, and even
then, he’d been too late. He reminded himself that the past was usually best
left behind especially when the reason he’d come was already dead.
Levi stepped out of the jail and wiped sweat from
his brow. With a wary eye, he looked up and down the dusty street of the small
Montana town to get a feel for what the day would bring. The weather was warm
and promising to get hotter.
A look at The Gilded Lady Saloon and seeing the
Murphy’s wagon outside signaled trouble was possible. The good news was he
didn’t see Bridgette Howard anywhere. He hoped she’d stay in the dress shop and
leave him alone. She was the one pushing his past into the future. Sooner or
later, he was going to have to tell the judge the real reason for his coming to
Shirleyville.
Fending off Bridgette’s advances was taking too
much time, but right now, his business of the day was to meet the train that
carried Judge Taggart and his wife Rachel. They were returning from their
honeymoon in Europe. Levi was glad that they had finally taken the trip as they
had postponed it for nearly a year to get the ten children settled in their new
home. That Shirleyville now had a train depot made things convenient.
Unfortunately, gold seekers were flooding in and
causing more trouble. Men on the raw edge of despair flocked to the area in
search of gold while never considering it might take hard work. Some would go
to the mines to work for the big companies and eke an existence from the rock.
Many gave up looking for gold honestly and took up with the outlaws hiding in
the canyons south of town.
Levi pulled out his pocket watch and flipped the
lid just as the train blasted a whistle. He ran to the station and hoped
Bridgette wouldn’t find him. Now that the feud between the Howards and the
Murphys had settled down, Bridgette was the one causing trouble. Levi wasn’t sure
who to be sorrier for, the girl or the Murphys. According to her, they treated
her like a slave, but when he asked Ben Murphy, he reported that she acted like
a queen, and they were the ones waiting on her. Levi figured the truth played
out somewhere between the two drastic views.
He turned the corner to the depot and ran up the
stairs just as the train pulled into the station and stopped. The train continued
to chug spewing smoke and steam as the conductor stepped down and helped the passengers
disembark.
A couple of men in business suits left the train.
Farther down the tracks, two rough-looking cowboys jumped from a freight car.
By the furtive looks they gave him, he’d have to keep an eye on their
whereabouts and who, if anyone, they met with.
Since arriving, Levi had worked to make
Shirleyville a peaceful town. But there were rumblings of trouble brewing among
the store owners. Nothing specific, but enough that Levi kept a sharp eye on
newcomers.
Levi stepped aside as a few families disembarked.
He tipped his hat and nodded. Their faces shone fresh with the hope for a new
life. He hoped it worked out for them. And then he hoped they weren’t those
looking to come and pick gold nuggets off the ground. Montana was a good place,
but it required hard work to make a living here.
Finally, the distinguished-looking Judge exited,
waited, and helped Rachel step down to the platform. She was dressed in a
frilly kind of hat, fancy dress, and shoes. She even had a parasol that matched
her hat. The trip and being married to the judge had done her good. When Levi
had first come to Shirleyville, she’d looked tired and worn. Now, she looked
fresh and vibrant.
Levi held out his hand. “Glad to see you, Judge. You
two look like you enjoyed the trip.” He hoped they had as he had news to give
them that might not make them all too happy to be back.
Shaking his hand, the judge nodded. “Excellent
trip. Wouldn’t you say, Rachel?”
She hugged his arm as she looked endearingly up at
him. “The trip of a lifetime, dear.” She turned her gaze to Levi. “Everything
is all right, isn’t it, Sheriff?”
“I rode out to the ranch this morning to make
sure.” He scraped his boots on the wood platform. “There are a few things you
need to be aware of.”
Judge Taggart narrowed his eyes. “Oh?”
“Will has been spending time at the Howards. I
only know because Matt was complaining to me about it. Seems Will had chores he
wasn’t doing. I’m not sure what arrangements you made with him, but you know he
can be short-tempered.”
~~~~
Patricia PacJac Carroll~ I am a writer, Christian first, and blessed beyond my imagination. I live in the Dallas-Ft Worth area of Texas with my wonderful treasure of a husband, my spoiled dog, Jacs, and my awesome son, Josh. Did I say I was blessed? The PacJac is from my initials and my husbands. I wouldn't be able to write if it weren't for him. I love adventure and the open road. The stories of the western era have always been a favorite of mine. I enjoy writing, and my goal is to write stories readers will enjoy.
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Psalm 26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
