~ The Locktender's Daughter ~

by

Marguerite Arotin

Bethany was quite surprised to find Ed standing outside the Bronson home. She greeted him with a smile. Have you come to walk me and my mother home?” she asked.

“No Bethany,” He shook his head. He wasn’t wearing his usual love struck smile and looked whiter than a ghost.

“What is it, then? Why are you here?” she asked.

He took her arm and whispered something so unbelievable that Bethany nearly dropped the newly made baby quilt. She gasped.

“I never thought you’d resort to lying to win my heart, Edwin Walsh. There is no way Tyler is related to the evil man who took my Hagan from me.”

“I just spoke with Hagan’s Uncle Liam, Bethany.” he whispered, “I wanted you to know the truth because I care so much about you.”

She put her fingers to her lips. A man who can kiss me sweet like that can’t be related to a cold-hearted murderer. She did have a shooting lesson to attend so she’d ask Mr. O’Neal. If Hagan’s uncle really had spoken to Ed, there was a good chance he’d spoken to Mr. O’Neal as well.

“I’ll believe it when I get some proof. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Edwin, I must get home immediately.”

When Bethany knocked on the door of the Boston Township Jail an hour later, she heard Mr. O’Neal call out from the other side. “Come on in, my dear. I’m just putting up some new wanted posters.”

“Now’s my chance to prove Edwin wrong,” she whispered.

Mr. O’Neal was just unfurling a new poster as she walked through the door.

“Need any help with the new posters?” she asked, forcing her voice to sound chipper and helpful.

“Sure,” he replied. “There’s one more poster on top of my desk. Could you please bring it to me?”

Bethany grabbed the poster and, curious to see who was on it, she unfurled it. She put her hand her to her mouth in shock when she saw the drawing of Tyler on it. Beneath the picture it read:

Wanted, Tyler Brown. Nephew of the infamous counterfeiter, Josiah Black. Wanted in connection with an attempted robbery at the Bauer Farm on July 18th. $200 Reward.

“Mr. O’Neal, I have to go,” she quickly said, “Can I borrow this poster?”

“Of course, Bethany. Just as long as you return it.”

She found Tyler walking out of the mill. She watched as he waved farewell to his new co-workers and tried not to think about how his long fingers felt as they gently stroked her hair. After he was alone, she looked around to make sure no one watched and crept behind him. In a matter of seconds, she had the cold steel of the pistol’s barrel pressed against the tan skin of his neck.

“I know who you are, you lying bastard,” she whispered. She unfurled the poster with her left and held it in front of his face. “Now you’re going to pay for betraying me.”

“Bethany, please put down the gun. It’s not me you want to kill. We both know I’m not the one who killed your fiancé. Uncle Josiah did it. Shooting me will do you no good whatsoever.”

She folded the wanted poster up and clenched it tightly in her hand. “Oh, it will do plenty good. Your uncle killed someone I loved and now I can kill someone he loves. Well, at least, slightly cares about. I highly doubt that a murderer is capable of love.”

“I’m sorry I lied to you. I had no other choice; however, maybe I can make it up to you by leading you to my uncle. He’s the one you want to shoot, not me.”

Bethany lowered the gun and wrapped her arms around his waist, trying to ignore how decadent the tight muscular ridges felt beneath his shirt. Although her breathing became labored, she still had to hold him close, even if the spicy scent of his shaving soap made her knees weak.

She swallowed hard and tried to make her voice sound firm. “Tell me where you’re uncle is and I’ll let you go.”

“I don’t know for sure,” he admitted. “He has several hiding places. We can go search for him together though. We both want something from my uncle. You want revenge and I need him to help me clear my name. I had nothing to do with the robbery and he’s the only one who could prove it.”

She thought it over for a moment. There’s no denying, I want justice for my Hagan. I hope Tyler’s telling the truth. How do I know if I can trust this arrogant, striking man?

She released him from her tight clutch. “How do I know you’re not lying? You could be in on robbery with your uncle. I mean, you did lie about being related to him.”

He turned around to face her. Why did his eyes have to be so blue? How could she concentrate on anything when those cobalt irises entranced her? He placed his hand on her shoulder and his touch heated through her calico dress.

“I never lied to you, Bethany. I just forgot to mention it. And if things don’t work out and we can’t find my uncle, you’re free to go back home.” He smiled at her and pointed to the gun. “Besides, you’ll have a weapon. I’m not armed so you have the advantage over me.”

Your charms can count as a weapon. I’m not sure if I trust him or not but I can’t let Josiah get away. Oh, what the hell. I can shoot him if he gives me any problems.

“All right, How long will it take to track him down?”

“I don’t know for sure, it could be a few days or it could be months.”

“I’ll need to go back home and pack. I can get a few horses for us from Rosie and Gil. Can I trust you to wait for me here?”

Tyler turned around and smiled. She nearly dropped the pistol as she gazed at his perfectly white teeth and watched the sunlight dance upon the strands of dark blonde hair sticking out from his brown suede hat. Lord, above, she thought. Does he have to be so good looking?

“You can trust me, Bethany. As I said, I need to find my uncle as much as you do.”

“Good, I’ll be right back. Just to let you know, I plan on bringing Hagan’s gun with me on our little journey. If you think about kissing me like you did yesterday, I won’t hesitate to use it!”

Tyler laughed, “You can trust me, Bethany. I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

His charming smile and mischievous blue eyes told her otherwise. Yet, she needed him to get her revenge on Josiah. Like it or not, she was stuck with Tyler Brown, the man who made her body quiver.

“I’ll be back in a little bit,” she stated and then turned and walked away.