A Bride's Dilemma: Shady Forks Brides, #2

By Blythe Carver

Melissa Winchester's happily engaged to Jonah Bell. Life should be perfect for this youngest of the Winchester Clan of Shady Forks, Wyoming, shouldn't it?

 

Until Jonah starts acting weird. Then gets into public fighting. Then gets arrested. Then gets killed. Of course, Melissa's seen his downhill trend over the last few months and things have changed drastically between her and her betrothed.

 

Now Melissa's the number one suspect in his murder. The handsome new sheriff in town believes she's responsible for killing Jonah. Her? Her! Melissa Winchester's no murderer. What's it going to take to convince this sheriff otherwise?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BCP
• Release date: Aug 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201797713

Book preview

1

Melissa Winchester shifted in her seat in the church pew, for the first time restless that the sermon would be over. She’d awakened that morning with a terrible feeling and just wanted the day to end. Normally Sunday was her favorite day of the week. The whole family ate lunch together, which on a normal basis was strictly dinnertime.

Melissa lived on the Winchester Ranch with her brothers, their wives, and their children. She was the only one of the three not married, but she was betrothed, at least. At twenty-three, she would be bordering on spinsterhood if she wasn’t.

She and Jonah Bell had been courting for almost a year. Her brother had gotten married in the meantime, and truth be told, it made her wonder why Jonah was dragging his feet.

The sermon had to be coming to a close soon. She wasn’t paying a lick of attention and felt really bad about it. She knew God would understand that it was a rarity. Her mind was elsewhere, and there was nothing she could do about it.

When she and Jonah had started talking more exclusively to one another than anyone else, they had been almost a perfect fit. Jonah was outgoing, like she was, a hard-working man, a huge lumberjack with a heart of gold. He stood 6’5 and was built like a small building.

Melissa, on the other hand, wasn’t any bigger than the other women in town. She stood almost a foot shorter and leaned toward petite rather than hefty. Despite the odd couple they presented, Melissa and Jonah got along famously. She had fond memories of laughing and having fun with him at festivals and parties, a delightful tingle when she thought of him or anticipated seeing him soon.

That feeling was gone now. She hated to admit it, but she couldn’t deny it was a fact. Every time she looked at him now, she wondered what he was up to, what he was thinking. She was suspicious of him. Her intuition told her something was wrong.

She’d shared her suspicion with her sister-in-law Theresa, and Aileen the nanny, asking them if she was overreacting to something non-existent. Unfortunately, both the ladies were not encouraging, telling her they’d seen a change as well.

All Melissa could think about was the night before. Late into Saturday evening, her dinner was interrupted by a loud knock at the door. The Winchester Ranch didn’t employ a butler, and the housekeeper did not live on the property, so Melissa’s brother Nate, the one who had recently married, got up to answer it.

They had all turned in their seats and looked to see who could be disturbing them on a Saturday night. Melissa had heard Nate’s greeting, a scuffle, and then a ragged-looking man she didn’t recognize came stomping into the dining room where they had all been seated.

He had demanded to see Jonah. It took a lot of talking and eventually threats from both her brothers, Richard and Nate, to convince the man that Jonah didn’t live there. It was obvious he’d never seen Jonah before because he kept accusing the brothers of being the man.

Jonah had shown up to church late and was sitting in a seat in the far back. At least, he had been the last time Melissa turned to look for him. When their eyes met, he had shaken his head, indicating he was going to keep the seat he had. It was up to her at that point whether she wanted to leave her brothers and sisters-in-law to sit with him. She decided against it. She was angry, and it would come through her demeanor all the way through church.

Not that her anxiety was making the experience any better.

Melissa had a message to relay to her betrothed. And a lot of questions to go along with it. The man who had invaded their home somehow knew Jonah was connected to Melissa. Before her brothers tossed the man out, he yelled back the words she would never forget. The message echoed in her mind and would bother her until she was able to talk to Jonah about it.

Service was over, and Melissa shot to her feet, relief flooding her. She prayed for forgiveness as she weaved through the people filtering out through the front of the church.

Jonah, she called out, not caring if anyone around heard her. They all knew who she was and knew the two were courting. Jonah, wait.

One of her neighbors turned as she was leaving, talking over her shoulder to Melissa. I don’t think he heard you. He just went through the door. I’m sure if you hurry, you can catch up to him.

Irritation slipped through Melissa. She suspected he had heard her and just pretended not to. She tried hard to keep the look from showing in her expression.

Thank you, Betty, she said quickly, matching her tone with her step and slipping in between the remaining people to the front door. She went through unabated and stopped at the end of the small porch, looking first toward the lot where people left their horses. The buggies and wagons were to the right, but Jonah was typically alone and didn’t need to drive a buggy to church.

Melissa’s eyes widened, and rage filled her chest when she saw Jonah mounting his horse, seemingly in a hurry. He kicked the animal’s flanks, and off it raced, carrying him away from the church.

What is going on with him? she murmured, heading down the front steps and crossing to the family buggy to the right. No matter what, he should have said something to her.

He was supposed to be marrying her.

2

Two days later, on a bright Tuesday afternoon, Melissa, her sisters-in-law, and the nanny, plus all four children, were taking a casual stroll down the main street where all the shops and businesses were located.

It was a typical June day in Shady Forks, Wyoming. Melissa tilted her head to the side, admiring a new dress being displayed in the window of the dress repair shop. She glanced at Theresa, who came up beside her.

Do you like this one? she asked, indicating the dress. Do you think it’s here for repair or it’s for sale? Does she sell clothes?

Theresa lifted her eyes to the dress and scanned the interior of the building through the window.

I see other ones on display back there. I guess she makes dresses, too. It must be new. I don’t think I’ve bought a dress from her or even thought she had them to sell.

It is new, Annie, Rich’s wife, appeared between and behind both of the ladies. They turned toward each other to look back at her. It’s actually because she’s hired this new woman, Ruth. She was supposed to be a repair girl, but apparently, she makes dresses, too, and she’s supposed to be really good. So Diana decided to let her sell her dresses from here, too.

Well, that’s awful nice of her, Melissa said. She was wondering if Diana was taking any of Ruth’s profits in return for letting her sell the dresses there. It seemed fair if she was. How much was the question.

These thoughts ran through Melissa’s mind, and then she felt a bit of embarrassment because of them. It really wasn’t any of her business at all. The Winchester family was one of the richest in Wyoming that year of 1890, but most of the businesses being run in Shady Forks were individually owned and operated.

Feeling like she should mind her own business, Melissa examined the dress again and turned to go in to ask the price. In the reflection of the glass, she saw something that stopped her in her tracks. She froze, her hand on the door handle.

Annie almost bumped into her.

Oh. Are you going in, Melissa?

Melissa stiffened and stepped back to make way for them if they wanted to go in. Actually, I’m not going in. Now, I don’t want you two to react or anything, but Jonah is over there, and I want to find out who that is he’s talking to. There are too many coincidences with people coming in town that I don’t know, and it relates to Jonah. That man showing up at our house and now him over there talking to another stranger? I’m going to follow him. Right now, I’m going to see if I can get close enough to not be seen but be able to hear what they are talking about.

You don’t want to be doing something like that on your own, Theresa said in a hurried voice. Let me come with you. Two women won’t look as suspicious to him, especially if we’re talking.

I don’t even want him to know I’m there.

Theresa nodded and gave her a smile. That’s fine. I’m bigger than you. I’ll shield you.

Melissa couldn’t help feeling a little amused by that statement. But her ire at the way Jonah had been treating her lately was enough to fuel her reaction. She nodded vehemently, and the two women stepped away from the other two.

Keep an eye on the kids, won’t you, Aileen? Theresa instructed.

Aileen grinned wide. You’re asking me to do my job, then?

Theresa laughed. Yes, yes. I mean no. Oh, you know what I mean.

Come on, Theresa, Melissa urged her, tugging on her sleeve. I want to know what they’re talking about.

Okay, let’s go.

The two women crossed the street. Did you ever get to tell him what that man said to us? Theresa asked.

Melissa shook her head. No. He hasn’t spoken to me since that Saturday during the day before the man came demanding to see him.

I’m sorry you’ve had this burden of carrying that around with you every day, Theresa replied, sympathy in her voice. That must be an uncomfortable feeling. I know you have questions.

Melissa turned her head to look at the taller woman. Of course, I do. How could I not?

It didn’t take long to cross the street. Melissa was relieved when Theresa murmured, Okay, we got past him easily, and he didn’t recognize you or see you. I suppose not anyway.

Were you able to hear anything of relevance when we passed them? Melissa asked. Because I didn’t. I will be honest, I was interested in our conversation too much to be listening.

Theresa grinned. I did hear what they were talking about, but just a snippet. And it sounded like Jonah said the name Luke.

The two ladies stepped up in front of the postmaster’s office and turned around. Melissa made sure to stand at an angle where she could peek around her bonnet and see Jonah with the strange man. They looked like they were having an intense conversation. She glanced back at Theresa. So, what were they talking about?

Money. Like I said, I didn’t hear much, but I got the impression he owes the man. Jonah owes him. Has he been gambling lately?

Melissa felt momentary confusion. This behavior was so different from the man she fell in love with. What happened? What could possibly have driven Jonah to gamble or go deep in debt or any of that? He was a hard-working lumberjack who might kick it up in the saloon every now and then but generally stuck to his normal routine of work and woman. He’d never made her feel rejected before. Something happened six months ago, and everything had changed, including nearly every aspect of his personality.

Melissa looked around again and saw that he had parted from the man and was now walking in their direction. He didn’t stop, though. He continued to hurry down the road. Eventually, they saw him get on his horse and ride in the direction of his house.

Frowning