Winnie Griggs - A Tailor-Made Husband

His throat constricted but he nodded. “She was. And now she’s gone.” Bethany’s casket was aboard the train two cars back—he was escorting her remains back to Turnabout to lay her to rest beside their parents. He was finally bringing his sister home. Just not in the way he’d wanted.

Did the little girl understand the concept of death?

But Meg nodded solemnly. “My momma and poppa are gone too. It’s just me and Chessie and Freddie now.” She gave her doll a tight squeeze. Then she looked at the dog. “What’s his name?”

“Pugs.”

She smiled. “That’s a good name for a doggie.” The child’s smile turned hopeful. “Can I pet him?”

Ward shrugged. “Sure.”

The child turned at once to her companion. “Freddie, can I pet the puppy? Please?”

Freddie, who appeared to be about sixteen, turned to stare at Ward, obviously reluctant. Ward didn’t take offense. In fact, he approved of the young man’s caution.

Then the youth glanced back at Meg. “You shouldn’t be bothering folks. Turn around and play with Chessie.”

Ward frowned. The youth didn’t sound so much protective as irritated. He’d gathered from earlier chatter that the two were siblings, and he would have expected a more caring attitude. Then again, he knew from personal experience what it was like to be thrust into the role of parent at that age. Twelve years ago, he and Bethany had become orphans as well. He’d been sixteen at the time and Bethany almost thirteen. And though he’d tried to be a parent to his little sister, he’d failed her, with tragic results.

Which was why he itched to give Meg’s brother a lecture about just how precious a little sister was and how he should cherish her while he had her. Maybe he would say something to him at some point if he could do so without Meg overhearing.

But now was not that time.

A moment later he realized the train was slowing. They must be approaching Kittering. After this stop, there were only two more before the train would pull into the Turnabout station. It would be good to get home.

Would Hazel be waiting for him at the depot?

Hazel Andrews, Turnabout’s seamstress, had been Bethany’s best friend when they were children and the only other person who had visited her from time to time these past twelve years. She’d been a true friend to his sister.

And to him.

Hazel had been the only person he’d been comfortable discussing his sister with since Bethany had been installed in that private asylum—his worries and concerns over Bethany’s mental state and care, his memories of happier times.

The only things he didn’t discuss with Hazel were his feelings of guilt.

Ward pulled his thoughts back to the present as Meg’s brother leaned forward to speak to the passenger in the seat in front of him, a matron who was trying to watch over two fussy children. One of the children chose that moment to let out a loud, petulant whine. Whatever Freddie had been saying to the child’s mother was met with a firm no as the harried woman tried to quiet her little one.

Freddie plopped back against his seat as if in defeat.

“Please, can I pet the puppy?” Meg asked again.

Freddie glanced back at Ward, an assessing gleam in his eye. “Are you sure it’s okay with you, Mister?”

Ward shrugged. “Pugs would probably be glad to get some attention and I certainly don’t mind.”

Freddie stood. “The thing is, I need to get off to send a telegram. Would you mind watching Meg till I get back?”

Ward hesitated, not sure he wanted that responsibility. Then again, it was just for a few minutes and they were in a confined space—it wasn’t as if the child could run off or get into trouble. “I suppose I can do that.”

With a relieved smile, Freddie turned to Meg. “You behave yourself and do what this man says, you hear?”

The little girl nodded, obviously more interested in the dog than her brother’s departure.

Without another word, Freddie quickly headed for the exit.

Ward gave the girl a smile. “Meg, why don’t you sit here with me and Pugs until Freddie comes back.”

The child eagerly scrambled from her seat to join him.

Meg and Pugs took to one another immediately. Before long the little girl was the giggling recipient of canine kisses and face licks.

Ten minutes later, the flow of passengers exiting and boarding had finally trickled to nothing and still there was no sign of Freddie. He thought about going in search of the youth, but thoughts of having to drag Meg and Pugs along gave him pause.

For the first time Ward wondered if he should have taken Hazel up on her offer to make this trip with him.

But if they’d taken this trip together, she might have read more into it than he intended. Hazel had been making it obvious for a while now that she had more than a casual interest in him, though he’d done nothing to encourage her. He didn’t have any interest in forming that kind of relationship with any woman, not so long as he was sheriff. A man couldn’t be responsible for the welfare of an entire town and also give a wife the attention she deserved.

Though, to be honest, on the rare occasions when he allowed himself to think about it, if he ever did want to find himself a wife, Hazel would likely be his first choice. Not that he’d ever let her know that.

So instead of inviting her along, he’d asked her to take care of the things that needed to be done in preparation for the funeral. And she’d graciously agreed. As she always did when he asked a favor of her.

The whistle sounded, bringing him back to the present. The train would be pulling out of the station soon and Meg’s brother still hadn’t returned.

Ward stood. He picked up Pugs and reached for Meg’s hand with his free one. “What do you say we go get some fresh air?”

She nodded and trustingly took his hand.

As they stepped out on the loading platform, Ward scanned the area for any sign of Meg’s brother, but the youth was nowhere to be seen. What could be keeping him?

The conductor yelled a long, drawn-out all aboard. Ward immediately marched over to him.

“You can’t leave yet, you’re missing a passenger.”

The conductor frowned. “We have a timetable to keep to. Whoever’s missing had better hurry.”

Ward nodded toward Meg. “It’s her brother.” He kept his voice pitched for the conductor’s ears only.

The man looked down at Meg and his expression lost some of its officiousness. Then he grimaced. “I can give you ten extra minutes, but that’s the best I can do.”

Ten minutes—that wasn’t much time. “Do you know where the telegraph office is?”

The conductor nodded to his left. “Inside the depot.”

At least he didn’t have far to go. “Come on, Half-pint, we’re going for a little walk.”

He managed to get the three of them inside the depot, then looked around. Freddie was nowhere to be seen. His feeling that something was seriously wrong deepened.

Ward marched to the counter and got the clerk’s attention. “A young man came in a little while ago to send a telegram. Did you see where he went afterward?”

The balding man didn’t bother glancing up. “Can’t help you. Hadn’t been anyone send a telegram all afternoon.”

The train whistle sounded again and Ward’s pulse kicked up a notch. What would he do if Meg’s brother didn’t return before the train departed? He couldn’t abandon Meg but he couldn’t take her with him either.

His best option was to stay behind with Meg until they located her brother. Which meant sending Bethany’s casket on without him, the mere thought of which set a silent howl of protest pulsing through him.

But he had to tamp that down. He was a lawman and his duty to help others had to override his personal desires.