Chapter 1
"Got a nice, tight California collar for that damned fool Jenson. He's got two pinches of ground left before he stomps right off the edge of my nerves."
That deep drawl just about ground out the man's teeth as he huffed and puffed up the stairs of the saloon. Juliana sighed; her tall frame leaned back against one of the wooden pillars. It wasn't a normal day without a threat or two of a hanging. In her time on earth, she had witnessed enough to understand that a balance was needed in all walks of life. Freedom and rules went hand in hand if chaos wasn't the desired end result.
Tipping up her hat she looked sideways to meet the frustrated man's gaze. Those dark green eyes always seemed to catch her by surprise, making her chest tighten in a way that was almost uncomfortable. It would be a wonder why the man was single, if she didn't already know of his playboy ways.
"We agreed you'd let him alone, Ellwood."
The man huffed once more as he came to stand shoulder to shoulder with her. He was only a few inches above her head, but that didn't mean he was short. Nah, she just happened to be as tall as the average man around these parts. Her father had been a rather tall beast, and her mother wasn't far behind him. She didn't have a chance in hell of coming out like the dainty fillies' mothers prayed for and fathers spoiled.
It didn't matter much anyway. When she was only a few years away from leaving home their journey out west started. Her father had promised a new life for them, with wealth and high society ahead. Her mother had been timid and worried over her children's health and safety. Though daddy dearest swore it was the right decision, mama had been right to fear the unknown.
After years of traveling and struggling to survive, her whole family was wiped away overnight. Daddy, mama, her two sisters, and her baby brother who had been thrust into this world on the trail. It was avoidable, that's what hurt Juliana the most. They could've lived, but pride was a mighty scythe to hold over one's own head without expecting to be struck.
They were robbed while camping under the stars, but instead of letting the men go her father fought. The dirty thieves promised they would let them go as long as they gave everything up without an argument.
It would've been a prolonged death sentence; it was reasonable to assume so. Without supplies they would've died eventually. Still, there had been a glimmer of hope. Then her daddy charged them and all hell broke loose. When he was shot mama lost her mind and went after the group with a pitchfork.
Watching both her parent's die hadn't been the worst of it, but it was the start of the nightmares. Herself and all her siblings were shot down next, left for dead out in the sun. If it hadn't been for the man beside her, she would've perished.
Ellwood, her friend for a decade now. He happened upon her family a few days after the incident. Her wound wasn't deadly, but she was on the brink of dying from lack of drink and food. It looked like he might ignore them, his horse trotting on past the horrific mass grave.
She had given up hope then, her eyes closing against the painful rays of the sun. By the silence around her she was sure the rest of her kin were long gone from this world. In truth, she didn't want to survive. How could she go on knowing she was the oldest child and yet the only survivor? She couldn't protect any of them.
Ellwood had other plans. He checked out the area before circling back to the bodies. With every footstep he felt his heart grow heavier. They were killed without remorse, it had seemed. Violent, bloody, and without even a shroud over their face for peace. He thought, due to how quiet it was, that there were no survivors. Still, he couldn't leave with a clear mind until he checked them all.
Two little girls, twins it seemed, held hands side by side. Each were put down like rabid dogs, one bullet to the head. Next came a little bit of a human, a baby that was probably born on this family's journey out here in no man's land. He was covered in blood and barely recognizable. How anyone could commit such a sin and live on made his stomach churn.
The image of the last girl stuck with him. She was older, marrying age at least, but that's not what stole his mind for a moment. The body was clothed in pants, a button up blouse, and a leather vest. It was like she had borrowed a man's clothes. Ellwood was certain it was a woman's body, but if so, she was a tall tree of a girl. Her skin was burned under the sun, unlike the others who had paled in the wake of Death.
"Miss?"
Her chest rose shakily, then fell. By the heavens above he couldn't help but fall to a knee in the face of a miracle. She was alive. Her clothes were stained red and crusted brown, but she was breathing. How long had they been out here? Did she have a chance?
That day her old friend took care of her, protected her as best he could. Before she could come to fully, he had taken her by horseback far away from her deceased family. In some ways she was grateful to not have to face such a grizzly scene, but her heart still broke. She was alone. They were all dead.
Clearing his throat, Ellwood bumped her shoulder with his.
"Ain't no use fallin' into the past, Juli."
She blinked, coming back to the present as they stood in front of the only drinking hole in town. Looking away from his eyes she nodded, her gaze moving over the dirt road that ran through their quiet settlement before speaking.
"You're right. Sometimes looking in your eyes takes me back so quick I forget we're not there anymore."
He smiled sadly, leaning against the same beam of roughly cut wood she was. They had been close for so long he could practically read her mind, but it wasn't a place she easily shared. He had seen his own horrors surviving this new land, and it wasn't anything he could write home about. They were in the same boat, but if he could take the weight she carried he would without question.
"Doesn't feel like it's been more than a day, yet it's been goin' on ten years with you."
She nodded, watching as a man trotted up on a dark brown horse. He was wearing what every other man wore, buckskin outer clothing and a flax undershirt. Nothing fancy, with a pistol holstered to his hip. After tying the animal to the rail in front of the saloon he nodded her way and headed inside.
"That's the third hunter I've seen empty handed today. The sun's a settin' and it looks like we might be low on meat at Holly's market if they don't pick up a scent soon."
Ellwood sighed, looking out toward the horizon.
"With so many new families in town it was bound to happen. Everyone needs to ration what they hunt and eat, otherwise things will go rotten quick."
It was true that a few more groups had decided to call this place home, but was it really their fault for the sudden drop in the animal population? It seemed a bit off, but Juliana wasn't about to argue the details out in the open. Questioning the sheriff around other people would only put them in hot water.
"Care for a drink before you head home?"
Looking toward the small jailhouse they had built for themselves; she shook her head. If he pulled his old trick again, she was guaranteed to stomp his baby toe.
"I've got night duty tonight, remember? You're the one who should head home and rest."
A large, rough hand gently patted her shoulder as he turned toward the entrance to the barroom.
"Not tonight."
That was the final word, she knew from past experiences. Following him in she held back her words, knowing full well her stubbornness was no match for his bullheaded behavior. There would be no point in pushing him on the subject. Whatever was going on in that thick head of his, he had settled on taking the night for himself this time.
Grabbing two glasses of bourbon from the barkeep he led her to a corner table. Their usual spot when he was looking for a quiet time without many interruptions. When they were settled in, she leaned her elbows onto the tabletop and locked onto his gaze. She spoke in a whisper.
"You've been off today, Ell. Tell me what you're thinking."
Her senior by a few years, the man looked at her as if he was seeing someone else in her eyes. A ghost, in some way. When he didn't speak, she frowned and reached a hand under the table to pat his knee. What was he thinking of?
"Ell, you're worryin' me."
Blinking, he quickly looked down into his glass. Her hand fell away from his leg as he threw the drink back as if it could wash away his thoughts. Motioning for another, he refused to look her way until the barkeep had filled his glass and left. When their eyes met again, he motioned to her bourbon.
"Drink. We'll talk at the jailhouse before you head for home."
Ellwood, her friend and partner, looked a bit lost. They had built this town together and pledged to preserve it in the same manner. With a metal badge on both of their vests, they hadn't taken their vows lightly. To be a sheriff was to lead and protect everyone under their wings.
After a few more drinks she followed him out of the saloon and across the way. Buildings lined the street, businesses and homes alike. It was nice to have everyone so close together, but it was also worrisome if something bad went down. Besides the townsfolk, they had many farmers who lived on plots of land nearby. The distance was better traversed on horseback or drawn wagon, due to the woods and river in between.
Her home sat toward the end of town, far past the saloon and jailhouse which were positioned right across from each other on purpose. Ellwood stayed at the local lodging establishment. Standing three floors high it had been one of their larger builds, but it was a prideful endeavor in the end.
The man never cared for family life or settling down. It was something he recited to her over and over again after saving her life. He would never stop for more than a night, preferring to travel instead. If she ever wanted to find a place of her own, she was welcome to leave his side without any ill will. That's what he had told her from day one.
Still, they stopped here. They made a home in a spot that had originally been woods and darkness. Staying with her in this place had been contradictory toward his character, but she never pointed that out for fear of losing him. Whatever happened to change his mind, she was grateful.
Inside the jailhouse he took his hat off, setting it on a table. Built from wood, they had opted out of having more than one window in case someone decided to pick a lock and break free from their cell. The barred rooms were two in total, dusty and full of webs. The rare usage came from a well needed overnight stay due to a few drinks too many across the way.
"Ell, you're really settin' me on edge here. Is everything right with you?"
He nodded; eyes glued to hers. That look, it was one she hadn't seen before. With her heart beating in her ears, she began to fear every possible outcome. Was he sick? Was he leaving? No, he wouldn't. Would he?
He spoke as he closed the distance between them, the building empty save for them.
"We've known each other for too long, Juli."
She scoffed, smiling and shaking her head. Was he just in a reminiscing mood? It wasn't unlike either one of them to get into a rut and fall into the past over a few drinks. They had known each other for many years, enough time to really see one another past the skin on the outside.
"Now don't go making me feel old. It hasn't been a lifetime yet."
His large feet, clad in boots, had eaten up the space between them quick enough. Gently, he removed her hat and watched as ash brown curls fell over her shoulders and down her back. Light brown eyes looked at him as if he must've lost his marbles, but he was deadly serious in his heart.
"Juliana, I have to let this off my chest before it gets too heavy to carry."
Her eyes, rimmed with a dark brown lash, widened. Soft, plump pink lips opened as if she might try to speak but nothing came out. Dropping her hat onto the same table his occupied, he reached up to softly hold her chin still.
"Juli, I'm goin' mad."
