Sylvia's Spirit: Oregon Sky, #5

By Kay P. Dawson

It was his job...

Luke Hamilton has spent years drifting around the country, but after being hired as the new sheriff in Bethany, Oregon, he is finally ready to put down some roots. He's not prepared however for his first big job to come in the form of a woman who is being accused of murdering her husband.

 

It was her life...

Sylvia is determined to prove her innocence, but it won't be easy when she's behind bars and no one believes her. Can she convince Luke to help her? And, what will happen when he is forced to choose between following the law or following his heart?

Guilty or innocent, lives will forever be changed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kay P. Dawson
• Release date: Feb 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386507130

Book preview

Chapter 1

N o! Duncan, wake up! Sylvia fell to her knees beside the man she’d married only a few short hours ago, even though she already knew he wasn’t waking up. She tried to shake him, not letting her eyes move to the puddle of blood around the back of his head. You can’t just leave me here like this. I don’t know anyone, and I have nowhere to go. Please, wake up!

She fought against the hysteria that was building as her eyes darted all around her to see what she could use to help him. There had to be something she could do.

Her gaze was pulled to the large rock lying on the other side of Duncan. Was that blood on it?

Reaching out, she lifted it and brought her hand to her mouth to cover the sob that escaped. Her hand shook as she held it, knowing somehow her husband must have tripped and fallen, hitting his head on this rock.

Even in her rattled mind, she couldn’t help wondering how he could have possibly gone down hard enough to be killed from the fall. Surely if he’d called out for help she would have heard him.

Guilt ate at her as she sat back on the ground, still firmly gripping the rock. She wouldn’t have heard him. He could have been lying here for the past two hours calling for help. But she’d fallen asleep and had only woken up a few minutes ago. As soon as she’d noticed Duncan wasn’t in the house, she’d come out looking for him.

The trip west had played her out, and when she’d finally had a moment to sit on a bed and relax, she’d succumbed to her tired body. She was only going to close her eyes for a quick rest, but once she’d fallen asleep, she was gone, and she was certain nothing would have woken her up.

What have you done?

A man’s voice shouted from behind her, and the sudden wailing of a woman’s voice joined in. Sylvia leaped to her feet, spinning around to face whoever had joined her. She assumed it would be the brother and stepmother Duncan had told her lived in a small cabin on the property. Her heart was racing as she tried to sort through everything that was happening.

He…he must have fallen and hit his head. I can’t get him to wake up. Her voice shook as she spoke, so she swallowed hard to try getting herself under control. The woman had flung herself on the ground beside Duncan while the man pushed her to the side to reach his brother. He crouched down and held his hand on Duncan’s chest, then dropped his head and shook it.

The woman started crying harder, grabbing Duncan’s hand in hers. No, not my boy. Duncan, no!

Sylvia’s eyes filled with tears again as the pain in the woman’s voice tore at her heart.

I’m so sorry, Mrs. Coulter. I just came out to find him and he was on the ground…

"Liar!" The woman had lifted her head and yelled the word so quickly Sylvia didn’t even have time to react.

The brother stood up and faced her, looking down at the rock she still held in her hand. Do you expect us to believe you didn’t do this? Even while you stand there holding the very thing that just killed my brother? he hissed the words out angrily and shook his head. No. You killed him because you only came out here to marry him for the money. I warned him about doing this, but he wouldn’t listen. Now look where that’s got him. He thrust his hand toward Duncan lying on the ground.

He was slowly walking toward her, sneering in anger.

No! I didn’t kill him, I swear! I fell asleep when he came outside to do the chores, and when I woke up he still wasn’t in the house, so I came looking for him. I found him like this. The world around her was starting to spin as she looked down at Duncan, then to the woman who was now glaring at her with hatred, and back to his brother in front of her. They were devastated and angry at what they’d just found. Surely, they’d listen to her once they’d had time for the shock to wear off.

But even as she thought it, she somehow knew they were beyond listening to reason. When Duncan’s brother reached out to grab her arm, instinctively she pulled away, stepping back.

Please, just listen to me. I would never have hurt Duncan. I’d barely even had a chance to know him.

I don’t believe you. You can tell it to the judge and see what he thinks, although after witnessing what both my mother and I walked into, I have no doubt the law will agree with us. You came out here to marry my brother, then killed him as soon as you had what you wanted. He started moving toward her again. But you won’t get away with it. I won’t rest until I see you hang.

Her breath caught in her throat as she realized just how serious this man was. He believed she’d killed his brother and he wanted her to pay. She had no way to prove otherwise.

He grabbed at the rock in her hand. And I’m sure the judge will want to see exactly what you used to do it.

Her eyes moved to the blood-stained rock he now held in front of him. Her chin quivered as she tried not to think about the fact that it was her husband’s blood she was looking at. Only a few short hours ago she’d met the man she’d been corresponding with and had been married in the small church in town as soon as she’d stepped off the stagecoach.

She’d had a chance to see promise for her future, and the belief that perhaps someone could grow to love and care for her in time. She was finally going to have a home and a family of her own.

And now, those chances had been ripped from her grasp.

Instead, she was going to have to defend herself against a crime she never committed, in a town where no one knew her or cared who she was, and with no way of proving her innocence.

Life hadn’t always been good for her, but this was the first time she’d ever felt truly alone and without hope. Without thinking, she turned to run. She had to get away to give herself a chance. Maybe she could just get far enough away and start a new life where no one could find her.

Her heart pounding in her ears, she tried to run but her legs were like lead. She realized with a sad twist in her heart that she was still wearing the simple white blouse she’d put on to be married in.

It seemed like nothing wanted to work properly in her body and before she knew what was happening, a heavy weight slammed into her, knocking her to the ground. You’re not getting away. And as far as anyone knows, you and my brother weren’t even married. So you can forget about getting any of his money or possessions.

As she’d fallen, her cheek had struck a hard branch poking from the ground and she could feel a warm trickle slowly making its way over her skin. She twisted to try getting the man’s heavy weight off her body. I don’t want anything from him. You can have all of it. I would never have killed someone just for their money. She tried moving again, his heavy weight starting to hurt her legs.

We’ll let the judge, and the good citizens of Bethany, decide whether that’s true or not. For now, you’ll be spending your first night in town with the new sheriff. I’m not letting you get away with what you’ve done.

He moved off her to stand up, and she was finally able to breathe again. But he wasn’t letting go of her arms and he yanked her up to stand beside him. She winced as pain shot through her shoulder. Her hair had fallen down around her face and she struggled to see through the tears that were filling