Opals and Orphans

His ego is injured when the beautiful schoolteacher shuns him. She doesn’t want the rugged cowboy to give her affection, only because she doesn’t feel worthy.

When Charlene Harris’ family died in a house fire years ago, she learned to rely on herself and no one else. Trust doesn’t come easily. But when she travels to a different town to begin a new position as the orphanage’s schoolteacher, the new people she meets happily welcome her. However, someone wants her to leave and is threatening her life. Can she allow the handsome U.S. Territorial Marshal, Garrett Masterson, to protect her?

Garrett has been tinkering with the idea of finding a different job where he can settle down in one place, fall in love and marry, and raise children. When he meets the new schoolteacher, he’s smitten. But Charley avoids him like the plague. Yet he is determined to save her from the person trying to ruin her life.

Will they trust each other long enough to fit the puzzle pieces together and find out who is trying to kill her for her opal heirloom ring?

Charlene Harris’ hands trembled as she read the threatening message for the hundredth time since boarding the train.

Although she tried to convince herself this insane person wouldn’t make good on their threat, it still unnerved her that someone didn’t want her arriving at her new job in Salt Lake County. Hadn’t she suffered enough from working with people who were a little crazy? She switched professions because she was tired of keeping a close eye on her former employer, Mrs. Caldwell, for fear the woman would become jealous and poison another woman.

A few months after the schoolteacher in Box Elder County had been arrested, Charlene substituted at the school, teaching the children until a new teacher arrived. She had returned to working at the restaurant with Mrs. Caldwell, which made her miserable. That was when she realized she had had enough of monitoring the widow, who was half out of her mind.

Now Charley had deeper issues to worry about… like saving her own life.

She dropped her gaze to the note clutched in her cold hands. The dim lighting in the railcar wouldn’t allow her to see the words, but she had them memorized, so it didn’t matter that she couldn’t read the threat at the moment.

Miss Harris. Stay away from Salt Lake County’s orphanage. If you don’t heed this warning, people you love will die. Mark my words. You will be next.

Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply and forced herself to calm down. She didn’t have any family or anyone she loved in her life, which meant she would indeed be next to die.

Soon the train would stop at the station in Salt Lake County. When she accepted the position at the orphanage, she was told the director of the orphanage—or one of the teachers—would be there to greet her and take her to the place that would be her new home.

After the death of her family in a house fire, Charley hadn’t found a place to settle down. For a few years, she thought Box Elder County would be where she would plant her feet. Not long ago, in a dream, she had gotten the call.

Every so often, she would dream of the fire that took her family, which only left burn scars on her legs and one arm. One month ago, when she had fallen asleep, she dreamed of being sent to an orphanage after her family died. When she awakened, the thought stayed with her for the rest of the week, prompting her to find an orphanage and offer her services as not only a cook but a teacher. The director of the orphanage in Salt Lake County snatched her up immediately.

The warmth of satisfaction filled her, letting Charley know she had made the right decision. She would relate well to these poor children who didn’t have families, and hopefully, she would make them feel important and needed because God knew she hadn’t felt that way since losing her parents and siblings. She became excited to begin this chapter of her new life.

That is, until she received the message minutes before boarding the train.

Taking in deep breaths, she glanced out the window. The sun was setting quickly, and shadows formed on the ground. The train gradually slowed as people hurried to get out of the cool dusky evening and to their homes. Some pushed fruit and vegetable carts and a few women held onto the hands of their children. A good dozen men moseyed down the road as if they didn’t have a care on their minds. Three street runners were lighting the outdoor lamps along the road to help brighten the way for people—like Charley—to get from point A to point B.

The train’s whistle announced them as it inched its way into the station. Her heart jumped to her throat. Was someone waiting at the station for her to step off the train? Sadly, since she didn’t know who made the threat, she didn’t have a clue if the person was a man or a woman.

Charley closed her eyes and took deep breaths for courage, hoping to make it safely to the orphanage where she could be protected. But until then, she would have to be brave and do all she could to not allow the insane person to follow through with their threat. Always looking over her shoulder in fear wasn’t the type of life she wanted.

The moment the train came to a complete stop, her heart thumped crazily against her ribs. She grasped the handles of her only luggage—two carpetbags that held all she owned—and scooted toward the aisle, but her legs refused to stand. Fear immobilized her. She couldn’t possibly get off the train knowing what awaited her.

Who could have possibly sent the threat? And how did someone in Salt Lake County even know her at all? The missive had her name on it, and when she had made it to the station to collect her ticket, the message had been attached to the ticket. Nothing made sense, and the confusion filling her head made her skull throb.

It didn’t matter if this person knew her or not. If she arrived at the orphanage, they would realize she hadn’t heeded their warning.

She blinked away the tears quickly filling her eyes and forced herself to stand. As one of the last passengers to leave, she still took her time exiting the train. Although her limbs quaked, she held her head high and shoulders back, trying to display the courage she needed but sorely lacked. No matter what happened, she must not show weakness. She had survived a house fire. She vowed to survive this complication in her life.

As she stepped off the train, she scanned the crowd gathered at the station to greet their friends and loved ones. She had no idea who was coming to get her, but she hoped they were here already. Being by herself at a time like this was not good on her nerves.

Not knowing anything about this territory, Charley must find someone who could help her before the sun completely disappeared. She moved her gaze from face to face, wondering if she would notice someone watching her. Yet, she didn’t need to see a face to feel the eerie sensation crawling up her arms and over her back. Someone watched her. If she couldn’t locate a kind person in this crowd who would give her assistance, she would die.

Not far from her stood a man by himself. The very handsome man wore dark brown trousers, a cream-colored shirt, and a black vest. His black shoulder-length hair matched the color of his thick mustache. Hanging low on his hips was a leather gun belt, which looked like what most men around here wore, but on him it looked better, as if he was made to appear so rugged. He removed his brown cowboy hat, pushed his fingers through his hair once, and placed the hat back on his head.

He nodded greetings and smiled at several people who passed by, and Charley realized he was well-known around these parts. Her heart let her know he was a friendly fellow. As she studied him, she received the distinct impression that he was someone she could trust.
She glanced around the area again, hoping to see the person watching her, but there were just too many shadowed faces. Yet, the eerie feeling inside her only became worse. She must do something to take the watcher’s focus off of her vulnerable state.

Charley continued to believe the person didn’t know her. Not until she walked into the orphanage and introduced herself as their new teacher. So, she must do something to distract the watcher, just until she could find a lawman to help her.

The tall man with the kind face sighed heavily as a look of hopelessness filled his expression. Had he been waiting for a loved one on the train, and they hadn’t arrived? Regardless of the man’s current situation, she needed his help desperately.

Taking a deep breath, she tightened her fingers around the handles of the carpetbags and walked toward him. As she came closer, her gaze dropped to his left hand. There was no ring. Although many married men didn’t wear rings, she still hoped he wasn’t married, only because the distraction she would create would be very scandalous if word ever got back to his wife.

Charley hurried to his side and stopped in front of him. When his deep azure eyes met hers, his lips pulled back into a wide smile. Heavens, he was one very handsome man. But she couldn’t think this way. She needed his protection, and that was all.

“Sir, I know we have never met, but I beg you for some assistance if you don’t mind.” She kept her voice soft, not wanting anyone else to hear.

His forehead creased with worry. “Why, of course, pretty lady. What do you need?”

Lifting on tiptoes, Charley pressed against him and brought her mouth to his ear. “Please, go with me on this. Pretend we know each other well.”

When she withdrew, his eyes were wide. Even his cheeks appeared to have more color than before. She should be extremely embarrassed right now, but there was no time for that emotion. Being bold wasn’t one of her strong suits, but she would do anything to keep herself safe, even if it were out of character for her.

Without giving him time to process her plea, Charley wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her mouth against his. The man hitched a surprised breath, and his body stiffened. But thankfully, he didn’t move away.

Encouraged, she cuddled closer, continuing the pretend kiss. She hoped that her watcher would give up on her and move elsewhere, believing she was not his target.

The longer she pecked small kisses on the handsome man’s lips, the more he relaxed. Soon, his arms slid around her waist, pulling her closer. Before she knew what was happening, the man took control of the situation and deepened the kiss.

She sucked in a quick breath. Great balls of fire! Those words completely described the burning sensation inside her belly right now. What had just happened, and why couldn’t she feel her feet touching the ground? All sounds around her disappeared, except for the hammering of her heartbeat pounding like a drum.

Strange tingles danced over her skin, and her body grew warm with satisfaction. The urge to sigh aloud became difficult to keep from erupting. But at this moment, she never wanted to leave the protectiveness of his strong arms or move away from his muscular chest. Giddy was the emotion filling her, and although she had never been a capricious woman, for the time being, she didn’t mind one bit.