Page 42 of Scarlett

Chapter Fifteen

The boywho’d just delivered a letter remained for a few minutes asking different questions about his instruments and such. It was obvious the boy was intelligent and Emmett considered taking him on as an understudy. Once the boy got older, perhaps sixteen, he’d make a good helper and hopefully one day a doctor.

The letter remained untouched. He’d only glanced at it to see if it was from Lady Price. She no doubt was writing to ask how things with marriage faired.

With a cup of coffee in hand, he finally tore the dainty envelope open and read over the first lines.

The letter was not addressed to him. Pulling the envelope from under the precisely folded paper, it was then he read “Mrs. Jones” and not Mr. as he’d assumed.

The boy had brought it to him by mistake.

He’d read enough that Emmett had to continue. Lady Price was offering sympathies to Scarlett for a failed marriage and offering to pay for passage to return to Philadelphia. In addition it seemed the woman would be more than happy to have Scarlett live with her again, citing she missed her company.

The fact Scarlett had written a letter shouldn’t have surprised him. They had not gotten along well at all. However, they’d made progress and had grown closer as of late.

At least that’s what he hoped. If Scarlett decided to leave, he would not stop her. It was his fault that she’d planned to do so. Bringing the past into a current relationship was not a smart thing to do. Instead of a fresh start, he’d used the past to ruin things. Lack of trust was a good way to devastate a situation.

For her part, she’d tried, at least at first.

A tightening of his chest made him cringe at the realization that he cared for his wife. Despite the barriers he’d erected and the toughness he continuously displayed, he’d been rendered helpless but to fall for the beautiful woman from the first moment.

The day she’d entered his bedroom upon first arriving, Emmett lost his heart. He’d fought it, too fearful of another heartbreak. It had been cowardly, and yet a man could not be blamed for protecting himself.

Placing the letter carefully back into the envelope, Emmett decided to see Scarlett and discuss things. If nothing else, she’d leave knowing he was in love with her.

Upon entering the main room, it was apparent Scarlett was not home. She was no doubt at one of her gatherings. He was glad she’d found a group of friends who she could spend time with. The women often complimented him on how delightful Scarlett was and he had to agree.

* * *

The house wasquiet when Scarlett returned after leaving the seamstress shop. However, it was not empty. Emmett stood by the fireplace. He turned, his gaze drilling into hers.

“You plan to leave me.” It was a statement, not a question. His voice was hollow, almost as if on the verge of breaking.

“No. Why would you say that?”

He held up a paper, it looked to be a letter. “I saw this letter from Lady Price and assumed it was for me. I opened it. She’s offering you sympathy and enough money to return to Pennsylvania.”

“I had considered leaving. Our marriage was so...” Scarlett stopped and let out a breath. “I wrote a letter one day. Right after my birthday. It was such a sad day and I didn’t think I could bare to continue to stay here.”

Head bent, he listened, nodding. “I understand. Do you still want to leave?” His darkened eyes met hers and for the first time she saw deep emotion. He swallowed and blinked away moisture.

“No, not any longer.”

Loud bangs at the door interrupted them and Emmett stalked past, handing her the letter.

A red-faced man stood in the doorframe when he pulled it open. “Doctor Jones, there’s been a shooting out near the saloon, a young boy was shot.”

“I’m coming.” He ran from the doorway toward the clinic and Scarlett decided to follow. Her heart thudded at the thought of a child being injured. What could have happened that someone would shoot an innocent?

Emmett emerged with his bag and took off at a run down the street, toward the saloon. Knowing she’d not be able to keep up, Scarlett followed at a slower pace on the walkway.

By the time she got there, a small crowd had gathered.

Someone screamed and Scarlett hurried closer. It was a woman cradling a young boy who by the looks of it was either dead or close to it. His face colored a pasty white and he didn’t look to be breathing. On the right side of his chest a bloodstain grew. Just a few yards up men were scuffling and another shot rang out sending the crowd to scurry in different directions followed by more screams.

Scarlett threw herself over the injured boy, Emmett and the woman, not thinking of nothing more than protecting them.

In the few seconds after the shot, a man was wrestled to the ground and the sheriff held a gun to the still struggling man’s temple.