Rhonda Gibson - The Marshal's Promise

It was the most words she’d ever heard Hannah speak. Were these ladies to become lifelong friends who would love her no matter what? Rebecca feared to believe it, and yet, deep down prayed it would be so.

“Yes, please forgive us. I’m not sure why we jumped to the wrong conclusion.” Eliza’s cheeks held pink coloring and her neck had turned red.

Humbled by their sincerity, Rebecca blushed. “Thank you both. Maybe I should have told you I will be going to his house in the mornings, fixing his breakfast, and while he is away during the day, I will be cleaning his house, doing his laundry and then cooking his dinner. Once he arrives back home in the evening, I will be returning to the Millers’. Yes, that’s how I should have told you.”

Silence filled the room.

Then Eliza came alive again. “Do you have to stay at the Millers’? Or can you live wherever you want? Because, I’d love it if you would move in with me. Where is his house? Is it close to here?”

Hannah shook her head and then picked up her tea. Did Hannah wonder how Eliza could rush from one thought to the next, like she did?

“Well?”

Rebecca laughed. “No, I don’t have to live with the Millers. Yes, I can live wherever I desire. And, yes, the marshal’s house is one street over and back from here.”

“Then you can live here with me! I have two bedrooms. Yours would be small, but you would have your own space. Come on, I’ll show you.” Eliza was out of her chair and through the door before either Rebecca or Hannah realized that she planned on leaving.

Hannah stood first. “You might as well humor her.” She followed Eliza from the room.

Rebecca took a deep breath before standing. Lord, will everyone judge my decision to work with the marshal like Hannah and Eliza just did? And, Lord, You better step in quick if I’m not meant to move in here with Eliza.

Chapter Five

Seth strolled out of the Millers’ store with a frown on his face. Mrs. Miller had been happy to inform him that Rebecca had moved from their residence and into Mrs. Kelly’s. She’d also given him the bill for the supplies Rebecca had had delivered to his house two hours earlier. He shook his head. Miss Ramsey had been busy, but what had he expected?

His boots kicked up dust as he walked toward his new home. That she’d be looking for the remainder of the stolen money and diamonds? He pushed the thought of stolen money and diamonds from his mind.

Would she be waiting for him when he got there? Seth’s emotions warred with his reasoning. He wanted her to be there waiting with a hot meal, and then again he didn’t want her to be there. The thought of her cooking at his stove, setting his table and smiling across it at him tugged at his heart. He reminded himself that he couldn’t get romantically involved with her. Besides, he’d killed Jesse and when she learned that she’d never forgive him.

In a quiet, firm voice, Seth spoke to himself. “I am a U.S. Marshal. I have no business thinking about her that way.” Maybe speaking the words out loud would convince his heart it was true.

He slowly climbed the steps to his house. Seth took a deep breath and opened the door. The smell of green chili stew filled his nostrils and his stomach growled its appreciation of the welcoming aroma. Expecting to find Rebecca at the stove, he squared his shoulders and entered the kitchen. Only, she wasn’t there.

Disappointment and relief washed through him. He released the air in his lungs and turned to look in the bedrooms for her. After a quick inspection, Seth realized he was alone in the small house. He followed his nose back to the kitchen.

His gaze moved around the room. She’d moved things around. A white cabinet with two drawers now sat beside the stove. A washtub sat on top of it. She’d hung a small shelf above the cabinet and several bottles containing spices set on top of that. The large cupboard now stood against the wall and held all his new dishes. The kitchen table and four chairs sat in the center of the room and in front of the cupboard. The potato bin stood beside the window on the other side of the room. Sheer curtains covered the window and the table had a crisp, clean cloth draped over the dark wood that matched the curtains. How had she done it? In just a few short hours she’d turned his kitchen into a cozy place to eat.

He picked up a bowl and walked to the stove, where a pot of stew, a skillet with a stack of homemade tortillas and a coffeepot were warming. Instinctively Seth reached to the closest drawer in the white cabinet and pulled it open. His gaze landed on a large ladle. He grabbed its handle and dipped the cupped end into the stew. The aroma of meat and green chili teased his nose.

Seth located more utensils in the cabinet and then carried his meal back to the table. He pulled out a chair and was almost seated when a knock sounded on the front door. His gaze went to the door and then back to his bowl. The desire to ignore the summons tugged at him. The knock came again. He sighed and walked to the door.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Seth, but I was wondering if I might have a few minutes of your time.”

He pulled the door open wider. “Well, sure, Reverend Griffin. Please do come in.” Seth stepped farther back into the room. It was amazing how fast the reverend had located him. “I didn’t realize you were in town.”

“Only been here a few hours.” The reverend smoothed his mustache over his top lip.

“Would you like some supper?” Seth asked, leading the way to the kitchen.

“No, thank you. I just ate over at the diner.”

Seth stopped and turned to face him. “Oh, would you rather sit in the sitting room to talk?”

“No, I don’t want to keep you from your supper. We can chat at the table.”

Seth nodded and continued on to the kitchen. He poured each of them a cup of coffee and then sat. “What brings you here?”

Reverend Griffin pulled out a chair across from him. He cleared his throat. “Why don’t you tell me about you and Miss Ramsey?” He picked up his cup and held it his hands.

“There’s nothing to tell. She needed a job and I gave her one.”

The reverend looked him straight in the eyes and demanded, “Doing what?”

He took a deep breath and folded a tortilla in half. If it were any other man, he’d tell him it was none of his business, but since James Griffin was a man of God, Seth decided it would be best just to answer. “She cooks and cleans for me.”

“That’s all?” He arched an eyebrow and studied Seth over the rim of his cup.

Savory stew and spicy flavors coated Seth’s tongue. He had to swallow before answering the minister. “No, she also agreed to do my laundry once a week. Why all the questions, Reverend?”

James set his cup down. “It’s like this, son. The ladies think it isn’t decent for a young woman to be here with you alone.”

Seth sighed. “Reverend, Miss Ramsey isn’t living here with me. She’s coming in every morning, while I’m working, to cook and clean. She wasn’t here this evening when I came home. So I don’t see what they are upset about. And, if it bothers them so much, why didn’t one of them offer to be her chaperone?”

James laughed. “You better be careful what you ask for, Marshal. I can just see Mrs. Walker and her group of friends doing just that. Now, let me get this straight. You won’t be home when she’s here?”

Seth pushed his bowl back. All his interest in food was gone. “I can’t guarantee that, Reverend. There may be times we are both here.”

James frowned. “I see.”

“But I give you my word, on those occasions Miss Ramsey will be safe with me.”

The two men studied each other. Finally the minister smiled and pushed back his chair. “Then that’s good enough for me.” He walked to the door and Seth followed.