A Lethal Lady
Chapter 32

-'m an old man now, and I've lived my years. But not you, you deserve another chance.

Don't do this, Joy." he says, standing up. If leave, that sheriff will follow me to the end of the world.

That may well be, but if you do it now, you'll have a chance to get away from all this. Tom's no fool, I could never shoot those fellows out there, that'll sink you deeper. You listen to me, and go.

-But... -But...

“In that chest, theres money for you to leave. -Take it, and go. Take it, and get out of here.

She looks at the chest, and it was like seeing her freedom at the door; she had the facility to run away, to escape Tom an Rouse blinks and takes a step towards the chest, then stops and thinks again.

The blonde looks at her boots and swallows...

- can’t... I can’t leave him alone.

I've been alone for so many years, it doesn’t matter if I end my years like this, I'm asking you, I want you to leave,’ She looks up, and looks out of the window of the room.

I'm sorry, I won't leave.

-Girl, what are you trying to do?

She herself didn't know what she was doing, but what she did know was that, if she left, she was going to get that old ma into a lot of trouble. He could be hanged if it was proved that he had helped her escape, and he was already compromise just by giving her lodging at his ranch.

I'll stay," she turns and looks at him kindly. “No matter what happens to me, I'll stay and face the problems. I'll own what I've done.

“You can't do that.

Rouse’s heart fluttered, damn it, she hated feeling so vulnerable... this man was protecting her and she didn't deserve it. still, she intended to stay on that ranch.

Don't see me like you did your daughter, I don't want you to. I don't deserve any of that, and you know it.

“Your bravery is equal to hers, and I regret very much that I didn’t convince her to leave here. For that reason, I want you 1 go, don't stay, please.

At that moment, the blonde remembered the story Joy had told him. His daughter was the one who helped him run the ranch, take care of his land and protect it from anyone trying to steal anything.

But she was just a girl, as far as she understood, almost the same age as her... but they were so different, the only thing they both had in common was the courage to carry on. Joy had a hard time telling her the story of how her only daughter died; those damned outlaws came into her land at night to steal her cattle, and her daughter tried to stop them, but in tf end she couldn't. Those savages murdered the girl, and the girl was killed.

Those savages murdered the girl cruelly, and all for a few cattle... Joy was alone with her daughter on the ranch, and ther was no way to get the doctor to attend to her and try to save her.

Her only daughter died in her arms... and there was nothing she could do to stop it, it was a sad story to tell and a sad story to hear. At that time, Tom was not the town sheriff, a month later he became one, but he never managed to catch th guy who took that girls life.

joy told him that the two of them were very good friends, since Tom's ranch was not far from the old man’s house. When Tom arrived at the house hours later, he was confronted with the fatal finding.

The old man told him that certain feelings were growing between him and his daughter. And that once, Tom had spoken t him about wanting to take his precious daughter as his wife. For that reason, the sheriff was constantly visiting the old man's ranch, one; to help both daughter and Joy, and two; to share more with the girl.

Ym an old man now, and I've lived my years. But not you, you deserve another chance.

And that was why Tom Wesley ran for sheriff of the town of Coloma. That's why he always visited the old man, and supported him in everything. From then on, he swore to Joy that he would not rest until he caught the murderer of Joy's daughter. That's why outsiders were not welcome in the town, the sheriff distrusted everyone.

The death of that girl left a deep void inside the sheriff, the blonde had believed that he had something with Hilary; but after knowing that story, he knew that they had nothing. That man shut down completely, as the old man told him, he never met another woman in his life.

Until he had been with her the night before, she was the first woman he had been with after his fiancée had been murdered.

However, Rouse wondered if he still harboured feelings for the deceased. He wondered if he missed her, if he thought about her, if he loved her?

For a strange reason, his heart clenched at the uncertainty. And in that instant, she felt the whole of her filled with sadne perhaps she was not made for anyone to fall in love with her.

Tom is a good man, but he's become cold since Victoria's death. He hasn't been the same, I just hope he'll go back to.” She looks up. I hope he'll be happy again, like he was when my daughter was alive.

Joy, understand that I don’t...

Don't make the mistake of my daughter, for wanting to help me, she died. I have Tom here, he will watch over me. You need to go, if that man who escaped is still alive, I assure you he'll be back for revenge.

Then I'll be waiting for him.

The blonde looked up, she wasn't going to be intimidated by anyone, much less by that gang of delinquents.

That fact made her shudder, she didn’t want to look like anyone else, she wanted to be her, and only her.

She would hate it if Tom saw her as Joy's daughter, she didn't want it. And it wasn't that she felt hatred for the girl, but sh was no longer between them, instead she was.

Rouse looked up and looked at Joy, her gaze was like that of a father... “a father” she had never enjoyed anything like wh Victoria had, a father, a family, even the affection of a good man...

The blonde began to breathe hard, she hated those feelings, because she knew well that she didn't deserve any of that. Neither the protection of that old man, nor the attention of that damned sheriff.

joy was right, she should get out of that house....

She runs out of the room without saying a word to Joy.

Rouse! She shouts at him, but the old man doesn't follow her. He only sees her running. Rouse,” he whispers.

She ran as fast as her feet would let her, and when she got outside the ranch she went straight to the corral where the horses were kept. Immediately, she grabs a saddle and mounts it on the first horse that came in front of her.

She was agitated, and quite confused, but still she did not stop saddling the mare. Her hands were shaking a little, but once she had finished with the saddle, she made a show of mounting her...

Rouse? she pauses, and mentally says to herself...

-Is she leaving? She gets off the horse and turns around, and there's Lauren with that hopeful look on her face.

“What are you doing here?

“The sheriff sent me, he told me I had to come. And now I see why he asked me, are you leaving?

You shouldn't be here, you can get in a lot of trouble with your mother.

Take me with you, please, if you go, don't leave me here.

The blonde widens her eyes, but what the hell was that girl asking for? How come he's taking her?

“What are you saying? That doesn’t make sense, your life is in Coloma.

1 don't want to go on living there, I don’t want to be with my mother.

But you can't be with me either, I wouldn't give you a good life, 1..” Silence her words- “I can't take you anywhere with you're too young, and you have a life ahead of you.

-But I don't want to stay in Coloma,” That was rather strange to the blonde.

“What about Harry? I thought you guys could...

-Please...

Rouse clenches her jaw, what the hell was she going to do with that girlz She couldn't carry her around, shed end up dea if she made the trip with her, or worse...she'd be a....

-Go home, Lauren. You'll be safe there, I assure you. I'll only bring you trouble, and believe me you don't want that in you life, you don't want to lead my life.

Rouse mounts the horse, and with the same urging, he urges the animal to walk. Quickly, it gains speed and heads off int the mountains, away from the city and away from the surrounding villages.

The young blonde girl watches the Rouse ride off, tears streaming down her cheeks. Lauren thought she could count on h as a friend, but she was wrong. Rouse didn't care about anyone but herself.

She wipes away her tears, and takes the reins of her horse to return to the hotel...

ic].

1 need you to go to Joy's ranch and tend to him, he’s hurt.

“What happened? -asks the doctor, hastily gathering his things.

They've attacked him, for the same reason as always, they want to steal his cattle.

That old man! -He says, walking towards the door, but Tom stops him.

There's a guest in his house, and I want you to keep it a secret, understand?

Guest? -Jesey frowns. He was hiding there, I think I'l take the opportunity to check his wounds.

-I think I'l take the opportunity to check his wounds.

Tom, that lady." The sheriff looked at the doctor. “You shouldn't, she's a fugitive. You'll be in trouble if you...

Ill manage...

The doctor nodded, and left. Tom let out his breath, what was coming was not good. He could feel it, but he still didn't pl to leave her.

[.]

In the afternoon, the sheriff finished up the town’s business. The fair that the mayor presented did not end badly after al and most of the outsiders had already left Coloma.

He was trying to get everything done before it got too late, he didn't quite trust Rouse. He was able to get away for the night, Jesey told him he would stop by the police station to let him know how they were doing, but it was getting late and he wasn't showing up.

Fed up with waiting, the sheriff got up to go to the doctors house and then back to the ranch to make sure everything wa in order, when suddenly Lauren walked into the station.

Miss Miller, what brings you here?

Sheriff, Miss.... She's gone!

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