The Runaway Bride. Noelle Marchand

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      Chapter Five

      The door to the sheriff’s office flew open, banging against the inside wall and allowing a burst of sunlight to paint the room. Sean’s hand hopped to his gun. He rose so quickly from behind his desk that he sent his chair toppling to the floor. The door swung closed behind the man who scanned the otherwise empty room. After seeming to establish they were alone, Richard focused on Sean with narrowed eyes.

      “Mr. Wilkins, what can I do for you today?”

      Richard strode toward him with fire in his eyes. “Sean O’Brien, I ought to tear you limb from limb. No, I ought to lock you up in your own jail cell, scoundrel that you are.”

      “Hold on just a minute, sir. Those are some pretty strong words.” He righted the chair without taking his gaze from the advancing man.

      Richard pressed his fist on the top of Sean’s desk. The man paused to catch his breath, then his blue eyes locked with Sean’s in anger. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out? She is my only child. I trusted you. I put her well-being in your hands. You were supposed to protect her but all you did was expose her to slander.”

      A chill crept down Sean’s spine. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

      Richard’s eyes narrowed as his voice turned steely, and he tossed a piece of paper on the desk. “Don’t lie to me. You can read it for yourself.”

      “A letter?”

      “Yes, it’s from a Mrs. Drake. She writes in stunning detail how the two of you arrived alone and unchaperoned at her boardinghouse.” He glanced down at the letter. “She says she tried to discover the reasons for this moral gaffe but you were hostile toward her while telling an incredibly dubious and conveniently difficult to disprove tale of being abandoned by your chaperone at some point during your five-day journey to town. She insinuates that you and Lorelei…that you… Well, it is quite obvious what she believes had been going on between you two. I want to believe it isn’t true but if it is, so help me…”

      “It isn’t true.” He wavered. “Well, not entirely.”

      “What does that mean?” Richard took a deep breath and seemed to calm down a bit, though his grim expression didn’t change. “Can you prove this woman wrong?”

      “Yes. No.” Sean swallowed. “Not completely and not immediately. Listen, this can all be explained, but first I think it would be best if Lorelei were present during this conversation.”

      Richard held Sean’s gaze for a long moment, then with a short nod he agreed, “Then send for Lorelei.”

      * * *

      Lorelei hurried down the raised wooden planks of Peppin’s sidewalk at a pace polite society would frown on. She could already feel herself starting to perspire. She would arrive at the sheriff’s office looking flushed and wrung out. Not that she was trying to impress anyone at a time like this. Surely, something must be dreadfully wrong for her father to summon her through a messenger. His tone in the note had been abrupt, almost harsh. It was so unlike him that she was worried that something was seriously amiss. Had he been robbed? Threatened? Attacked? What disaster could have struck that required him to turn to Sean?

      Her anxious thoughts hastened her steps the last few feet into the sheriff’s office. Surveying the room, she noticed Sean sitting at his desk with her father seated comfortably across from him. Both men stood as she entered but remained oddly silent.

      Obviously nothing was wrong with her father’s constitution. He even had a bit of color in his cheeks. She paused a moment to catch her breath before venturing farther into the silent room. “Papa, whatever is the matter? I thought something must have happened.”