Authors: Autumn Vanderbilt
Two weeks later, Emma woke to her wedding day. She was so in love with Henry and they had grown closer in the intervening period. Mrs. Giles helped her to get ready and Henry arrived at the door.
“Is my wife to be ready?”
“It’s not time yet Henry. I don’t want you to see me until the church. You go there and I’ll be along shortly. Mrs. Giles, will you make sure my fiancé leaves.” Emma laughed as she spoke. She had been so relieved to no longer have a secret and to be able to use her own name.
“Very well my love. I’ll see you at the church.” Henry shouted in the door as Mrs. Giles pulled him away.
Alone, Emma looked at herself in the mirror. She had bought a new dress for the special day. Her heart full of love and joy. She was just disappointed that Leah wasn’t present but it was too much of a risk to contact her. Just as she was getting ready to leave, there was a tap at her door.
“Henry, you can’t see me until the church,” she sang out as she opened the door. She stayed behind it, not wishing him to see her just yet. She looked down as a foot appeared to stop her from closing the door. They were snakeskin boots, the type Lenny wore. She opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out as Lenny barged his way in.
“My little one, this is where you are. Why did you run off on me?” Lenny ran his hand down her face.
“What, no hello for your fiancé. No matter. Now pack your bags, you’re coming with me.”
“No, Lenny, I’m not. I’m getting married today and you’re not going to stop me.” Emma stood up straight. It was the first time she had stood up to Lenny. She saw a look of disgust cross his face. She wasn’t going to be as easy to deal with as he thought.
“Your friend Leah thought she could stop me but yet I found you, Emma. It took some persuasion but you know what I’m capable of.” Emma gasped at the thought of Leah being killed to keep her secret. Poor Leah. She should have come out with here with Emma.
“Emma, come quietly or I will shoot all those lovely people you’ve met, starting with the hotel owners and any guests that get in my way. In any case, you stole some jewelry from me and if you give me any trouble, I’ll tell the Sheriff about your stolen possessions. You know I’m not one to bluff, don’t you my love?”
Emma nodded. She couldn’t overpower Lenny in this room. She could only pray that Henry would notice her delay and come to her rescue.
“Very well, Lenny, you win. But I didn’t steal any jewelry. You gave me the bracelet that I took with me. I don’t want anyone hurt on my behalf. But please tell me you didn’t kill Leah?” She pleaded with him for information.
“First things first, where’s the jewelry you stole?”
Lenny emptied a bag of jewels into Emma’s bag.
“Now about your friend Leah. She’s not exactly dead but she’s of no use to anyone. Now pack and let’s go. Our train leaves shortly.” Lenny watched her as she packed her belongings.
They walked down the stairs and as Mrs. Giles came to meet her, Lenny jabbed Emma in the ribs as a caution to act normal.
“Mrs. Giles, this is a friend of mine from the city,” Emma said. She hoped the tension in her voice would alert Mrs. Giles but it seemed she wasn’t observant.
“Isn’t that lovely to have someone to witness your wedding. Enjoy yourself.” Mrs. Giles was gone.
“Good girl, Emma. Keep it that way and no one gets hurt.”
As they walked in the direction of the hotel, Henry had become agitated at Emma’s delay. Something in his gut was telling him something was wrong. He headed towards the hotel and was surprised to see his Emma walking with a man who had his arm around her. She carried her suitcase and they were going towards the train station.
He followed them and as he passed the jailhouse, the Sheriff came out to him.
“Henry, I just got a wire from the city from a Leah Russell, another one, to say that Emma Cooper was in danger because a Lenny Gibson had found out where she had gone.” Henry pointed towards Emma and Lenny.
“Lenny Gibson, stop where you are and release Emma Cooper.” The Sheriff shouted out but Lenny wasn’t afraid of any police authority and he just turned shooting the Sheriff, who fell dropping his gun. Henry’s instinct to protect his Emma kicked in and he grabbed the gun. Emma watched Henry as he raised the gun and she pretended to faint to distract Lenny. It worked as Henry fired shooting Lenny squarely in the chest. Emma was dropped to the ground as Lenny fell.
Henry ran towards Emma.
“Henry, you saved me from Lenny. But the Sheriff, is he…?”
They ran back to where the Sheriff was lying but he was coming to. He had a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
“Henry, I’m so afraid he’s killed Leah. I need to send a wire.”
As people had tumbled out of the saloon and hotel to see what was going on, the Sheriff was attended to and Lenny’s body was being taken away. Emma sent a wire but couldn’t settle until a reply was received.
“Am alive. Will come on next train. Leah.”
Emma was so relieved.
“Is it okay Henry if Leah lives with us. I have no doubt that Lenny’s cronies will threaten her?”
“Of course, it is, my love. It’s not just my home now, it’s our home. You were so brave. It’s like you knew what I wanted you to do when you dropped down. It was the only way to take a clear shot.”
“You know Henry I’ve never been brave. But when I saw you reach for the gun and take aim, I just knew I had to help you. You gave me the strength to do that. Now that Leah’s okay and on her way, shall we get married? I don’t want to spend another night in the hotel alone.” Emma’s blushed as she spoke and Henry’s eyes lit up. He wanted nothing more than to take his wife home to be man and wife in all ways. They were better together than apart and the Lord had made sure they found each other.
Epilogue
It was six months later and Henry and Joel stood nervously in the church. Joel smiled as he saw Leah enter with a pregnant Emma by her side. As Leah and Joel took their vows, Henry and Emma smiled at each other. When Joel leaned over to kiss his new bride, Henry cheered.
In the weeks after Lenny’s death, Leah had come to live with Emma and Henry. They feared for her safety from Lenny’s cronies and as she missed her friend, it was an easy decision to make. Leah found work as a nurse with Doctor Adams.
Wanting her friend to find the same happiness as she had, Emma turned matchmaker between Joel and Leah. Leah was just the type of woman Joel needed, strong and independent. He fell head over heels with her from the moment he laid eyes on her.
“Can you believe it, Emma, I’m married? Who would have thought that seven months ago our lives could have changed so much? There you are, five months pregnant and your strong man by your side.” Guests were invited to the hotel to dine on sandwiches and cake and Mrs. Giles had remained a mother figure to Emma.
“I know Leah. To think there was a time that I thought trinkets and compliments were all I needed. As I think about it, I realize I was a very silly girl. My time here has taught me to be strong within myself. I’ve learned how to take care of myself. But I’m glad you’ve ended up here. Hopefully, you will get pregnant soon and our children can grow up like siblings.” Emma rubbed her swollen abdomen and looked upon Henry with a look of love. He was talking to another guest but she had caught his eye and he smiled at his pregnant wife as though they were the only two people in the room.
Every morning and night, Henry thanked the Lord for bringing Emma into his life. From their wedding day, they had known nothing but happiness. It amused them how Leah had turned Joel into a lovestruck teenager. They would be happy too.
“I love you.” Henry mouthed over to Emma and she giggled.
“Leah, to think we’ve got to all of this just because I saw Lenny Gibson kill a man. Isn’t life strange how it works?” Emma said dreamily as she watched the man who had stolen her heart. Emma could not be happier.
*****
THE END
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