“No,” Blake argued. “I think they would be proud of me for standing up to you and protecting the woman I love.”
“Love?” Aunt Hortense said and snorted in a most unladylike fashion. “You can’t possibly love that little slip of a girl when Constance loves you and came all the way here to be your wife. She is the type of woman you need.”
“I wouldn’t marry Constance if I was still unmarried, and she was the only woman in the territory.”
Blake turned to the Sheriff, “I don’t think Constance can ride without a side-saddle, and I don’t own one. You can take my carriage, and Ray can follow you and bring it back.”
The Sheriff nodded, “That’s a good idea. I don’t like this Blake, but I can’t leave her here or at the hotel with your aunt. We both know she has to wait in jail until a judge can determine if she needs to face a trial.”
“I know, and I have no argument with it. When Ray returns with the carriage, he can take my aunt to town. I think she will become your problem when visiting Constance.”
“Perhaps the preacher can talk some sense into both Constance and your aunt. I’ve never jailed a lady before. A couple of soiled doves for a few hours and that wife of Old Claude who likes to throw knives at him when she’s been drinking, but never a lady like this,” the Sheriff confided.
“I don’t envy you the job. Take care. I have to see what Doc has to say about Eliza,” Blake said before leaving the room.
Ray slipped his gun back in its holster and said to the Sheriff, “I’ll bring the carriage around the front in a few minutes, and I’ll follow you to town.”
The Sheriff nodded his agreement and said, “Miss Constance, you have to come with me now.”
Constance shook her head and began to wail.
“How dare you treat that child that way,” Aunt Hortense yelled, trying to keep the Sheriff from escorting Constance out of the house.
“Ma’am,” the Sheriff growled. “I don’t care if you’re Blake’s aunt, you can’t interfere with a lawman. If you don’t allow me to remove Miss Constance from the house right now, I’ll arrest you, and you can ride back to town with me in shackles. I’m doing my best to be respectful to both you and Miss Constance by not shackling her now, but if this doesn’t stop, you will both wear them.”
“Please don’t take me away,” Constance pleaded.
The Sheriff wiped his hand down his face and took Constance by the elbow. “You don’t have a choice, young lady.”
“Not without Miss Hortense,” Constance cried louder.
“Stop this,” Aunt Hortense yelled, matching Constance’s volume.
“Enough,” shouted the Sheriff quieting both women.
The doctor, who had just entered the room, cleared his throat. “If you will allow me to be of assistance, Miss Hortense can ride to town with me and be available if Miss Constance needs her. Blake can send their things later.”
The Sheriff shrugged. “That might work. How is Eliza?”
“Fortunately, the bullet passed through and didn’t cause any major damage. She has a few stitches and will be sore and black and blue for a while but should recover nicely.”
“Now,” Aunt Hortense said. “You don’t have to take Constance with you. That girl is going to be all right.”
The Sheriff removed the shackles from his belt and said, “Do I need these?”
Aunt Hortense shook her head.
Blake walked into the parlor and asked, “What is going on? Eliza is trying to rest.”
“Did you know the sheriff threatened to arrest me?” Aunt Hortense informed Blake.
Blake ignored her, and she continued, “Blake Montgomery, you disappoint me. You will not inherit any of my estate when I leave this earth.”
Blake looked directly at his aunt and said, “I don’t want or need your inheritance. I never did. Even if I did, I would never accept it after the way you’ve treated Eliza. She’s my wife, and you have been cruel and disrespectful your entire visit. Give it all to charity. I don’t care.”
Aunt Hortense glared at Blake, but she and the Doc followed the Sheriff and Constance out to the waiting buggies.
Chapter 15
Doc wasn’t sure what he could say to the angry woman sitting next to him and decided to allow her time to simmer down before speaking. Aunt Hortense held the scowl on her face all the way into town, and Doc never did say anything to her. When Aunt Hortense insisted on being taken to the telegraph office before Doc dropped her at the Sheriff’s office, Doc did so with a simple nod of his head.
Aunt Hortense pushed open the door and stormed up to the counter. “I need to send a telegram immediately.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” came the reply from the thin man in spectacles behind the counter. “I am closed for the evening. Come back in the morning, please.”
“Closed,” Aunt Hortense screeched. “A telegraph office can’t be closed. What if an important message arrives in the middle of the night or an emergency occurs, and you have to send one?”
He drew in a deep breath remembering his last encounter with the difficult woman. “In that case, ma’am, the Sheriff will inform me of any outgoing telegrams that need to be sent, and the incoming key is always live. Please, I’m late for my supper.”
“You’ll be late for everything if you don’t send my telegram right now,” Aunt Hortense insisted with an intensity in her eyes that made the telegrapher honor her request.
After the message was sent, Aunt Hortense informed the telegrapher that she could be found at the hotel or sheriff’s office when an answer arrived. He merely nodded, and she spun on her heels and left the office.
Doc assisted her back into his carriage for the short drive to the Sheriff’s office and asked if she needed any more assistance.”
“No, thank you,” Aunt Hortense replied, “and thank you for the ride
