Judith Stacy - The Heart Of A Hero

She wasn’t wearing a mourning dress, so at least a year had passed. Time meant nothing, though, when it came to losing your loved ones. He’d learned that the hard way when he was only twelve years old. For an instant Jess was tempted to follow her inside the schoolhouse, but didn’t. The farther he kept from everybody in Walker, the better off he’d be. And that sure as hell included Sarah Wakefield.

“Thank you for inviting me, Reverend Sullivan.”

Sarah stepped into the warm parlor of the preacher’s home next door to the church, more grateful for the invitation to supper at the Sullivans’ than anyone could know. She smiled at Emory Sullivan as he took her cloak. How wonderful not to eat another meal alone, in that horrible house she called home.

Emory nodded, lamplight reflecting off his balding head. “We’re just so pleased to have you in our town, Sarah, just so pleased. Thank God for bringing you to us. Isn’t that so, Fiona?”

His wife clasped her hands together. “We were all worried silly about getting another teacher out here. We ran newspaper advertisements everywhere. Walker isn’t exactly St. Louis.”

Thank God for that, too, Sarah thought. “Good evening, Kirby, Nate.”

She’d met the Sullivans’ daughter and Nate Tompkins, the deputy sheriff, at church on Sunday and they’d seemed close, displaying some of the same signs she’d seen in her students, on occasion, so she wasn’t surprised to find Nate here for supper. Tall, broad-shouldered with a head full of black wavy hair, Nate looked comfortable, as if he’d spent many an evening in the Sullivans’ parlor. But the other man rising from the settee was a stranger, and a feeling of foreboding crept up her spine.

Fiona smiled brightly. “Sarah, I’d like to present Dwight Rutledge. Dwight is one of our most prominent businessmen. He owns Walker Feed and Grain on the other side of town.”

A tall, older man with a round chest and thinning hair, Dwight took her hand delicately in his. “Glad to make your acquaintance.”

A flash of light glinted in his eye. She’d seen that look before. She offered a silent prayer, hoping it would carry more weight emanating from the preacher’s home, but Dwight’s hand clung to hers a trifle longer than necessary.

“Shall we all go in for supper?” Dwight looped his arm through hers, then followed Fiona into the dining room. Sarah ended up seated at Dwight’s elbow; she was certain it was by design and not chance.

“How are things going at the school?” Kirby asked from across the table where she sat beside Nate. The dining room was cozy, like the rest of the house, the table set with nice dishes and a lace cloth. Apparently, the congregation in Walker was a generous one.

“Quite well, actually.” Sarah passed a bowl of potatoes on to Emory. “The students and I are adjusting to each other, getting to know one another. It’s all gone very well, actually.”

“At least you don’t have any of the Gibb boys in class.” Fiona shook her head. “A more disreputable family I’ve never known.”

“You’ve got Zack Gibb working for you, don’t you, Dwight?” Nate asked as he spooned peas onto his plate.

“I was reluctant to take him on. Bad blood in that family.” Dwight leaned closer to Sarah. “Inbreeders. Keep marrying their cousins, the lot of them.”

Sticky heat rolled off him; Sarah blushed.

Fiona gasped. “Mr. Rutledge, really.”

“It’s the truth. And the Lord knows it.” He glanced at Emory at the head of the table. “Zack’s not so bad. He’s the youngest, twenty years old now. Seems to have a good head on his shoulders, despite his upbringing. Of course, you never know.”

“Got word at the jail the other day that Zack’s brother, Gil, was in a gunfight down in Laramie. Heard Gil’s quite the shot. And not too particular about who he shoots at. Wouldn’t be surprised if I saw a Wanted poster come in on him.”

Sarah felt her stomach flip over. She’d known Walker would be different from St. Louis, but this different?

“There, there, now. Don’t be frightened.” Dwight covered her hand with his. “You’ve nothing to fear.”

Kirby smiled proudly at Nate. “We have very competent lawmen here in Walker.”

Dwight laughed suddenly. “Yeah, with Leyton Lawrence on the job.”

Everyone laughed but Sarah.

“The Legendary Lawman,” Dwight explained. “In the dime novels.”

Sarah nodded. “Oh, yes, I’ve heard of him. Those books are quite the rage. I recall reading in the newspaper that sales have set records.”

“Surely you read that before you got to Walker,” Kirby said. “Our little newspaper hardly carries any news from back East.”

Fiona smiled. “That’s why it’s so good to have new people in town.”

“I don’t think many people are saying that about our other newcomer.” Dwight reared back in his chair and sucked his gums. “That Logan fella is causing a stir, the way I hear it.”

The name sent a tingle racing up Sarah’s spine. She’d heard a few comments here and there about Jess, but didn’t allow herself to be drawn into gossiping.

Fiona dipped her head wisely. “I understand he was quite the troublemaker here in Walker.”

“Now, Fiona, that was years ago when he was just a boy, and we didn’t even live here then.” Emory waved away her comments. “It’s not our place to be spreading rumors and gossip.”

“I’ve heard the talk,” Dwight said. “And it doesn’t sound like rumors to me.”

Kirby turned to Nate. “You know what really happened. You grew up here. Jess was a good friend of yours, wasn’t he?”

Despite herself, Sarah’s ears perked up.

Nate put down his fork and chuckled. “I can’t say it was all Jess’s doing. We were both pretty wild back then. But we were just kids.”

“So it’s true?” Sarah asked. “The stories about the shooting and drinking and...other things.”

“Yeah, they were all true.” Nate laughed again.

“I say it’s disgraceful,” Fiona said.

Dwight thumped his fist on the table. “For all the joking we do about Buck Neville, at least we don’t have those problems in town now. It’s safe for decent, law-abiding people.” He cast a sidelong glance at Sarah. “Of course, a man would still want to protect his woman himself.”

Sarah turned away, avoiding his eyes.

“Alma Garrette told me Jess Logan was into all kinds of trouble even after he left Walker.” Fiona pursed her lips. “And to think, someone like him is raising Cassie Hayden’s children.”

“Fiona,” Emory cautioned. “The Lord stands in judgement, not we ourselves.”

“Of course.” She dipped her eyes contritely. “But, look at how well Cassie did for herself after her husband ran off. Teaching, caring for those children, always helping out any neighbor who needed it. She even bought that nice house and kept it up herself. And don’t you think it would have been easier for her if Jess Logan had been here to help? Where was he when his sister needed him?”

Dwight nodded. “You do have to wonder about a man like him raising those two children all alone. A man with his past.”

“I heard he turned his back on Walker and everybody in it years ago,” Fiona said. “Took off. And hadn’t been heard from until Cassie passed on. Now, I ask you. Is that the right thing to do?”

“There’s something you should know about Jess.” Nate wiped his mouth and laid his napkin aside. “Back when we were kids, Jess lost almost his whole family in a fire. His ma and pa, his two sisters and little brother. He was only twelve years old. Just he and Cassie got out of the house alive. His pa picked him up, threw him out the window. He’s got a scar on his arm where the glass cut him. Must be pretty hard, looking at a thing like that every day of your life, remembering the screaming and the flames.”