The Kissing Bridge: Cassie's Story (Hearts of Hays Series #3) Read online

  “Do they have tongue sandwiches?” he asked.

  “Yes, they do.”

  “Then, let’s head to Cattleman’s Café. He winked. "I'm starving.”

  Cassie could not believe he'd winked at her. Did it mean anything, or was it simply a friendly gesture?

  Cassie sat in Cattleman’s Café, across the table from Reverend Carter, who ordered for them, then drank half his water in a single gulp.

  “You must have been thirsty, Reverend Carter,” Cassie said.

  “Oh, please, when we aren’t in church call me Alex.”

  “Alex? Are you sure?”

  “Yes, now that we are friends. Being a minister gives people the impression we aren’t human, but we're human as anyone else. The only difference between a layman and myself is that I have a degree in theology. I live a clean life, but not a perfect one; only Jesus had that distinction.“

  Cassie laughed. “You’re right. I do tend to look at ministers as being superior.”

  “That gives me too much to live up to. I eat, drink, and have fun, just like everyone else.”

  “Do you have a family who'll be joining you, um…Alex?” Cassie asked

  “I have parents, a sister and a brother in Missouri, but they won't be joining me. How about you?”

  “You've already met my whole family—Jesse, Laura, and my mother, and now Carl.”

  “Do you like Carl?” he asked.

  “Yes, I do. He's a respectable man.”

  Their sandwiches were served, and Alex devoured his tongue sandwich heartily, while Cassie nibbled on her chicken sandwich.

  “That was an excellent lunch,” he said when he was done. “Good restaurant choice, Cassie.”

  Cassie merely smiled.

  “Jesse and Laura look like a loving couple. Have they been married long?”

  “No, just a few years,” she answered, still eating her sandwich.

  “How about you?” he asked. “Anyone special in your life?”

  Cassie stopped chewing and tried to swallow her last bite without choking. “At present, no,” she said.

  “That being the case,” he said boldly, “would you consider taking a buggy ride with me after church tomorrow?” He added quickly, “To see the area sights.”

  “Of course, but you said you didn't own a buggy.”

  “I don’t—yet. I plan to buy one, but for now, I’ll rent one from the livery. Which of the two liveries would you recommend?”

  “Martin’s,” she said. “The owner is a family friend. Carl is presently running it for the owner.”

  “Perfect. Come with me to rent one?” he asked, as he stood and pulled out her chair.

  “Of course. Carl’s not there today, since he just got married, but his son will help you select one and he’ll give you a good price.”

  Silas soon tired of the jailhouse walls and became restless, so he paced, and he talked to God. He prayed that somehow this case would be solved and he’d be set free. Cassie was waiting for him. He’d asked repeatedly for paper to write a letter, but was ignored. Every night before he fell asleep, he closed his eyes and imagined kissing Cassie on the little bridge over the creek. That and his prayers were the only things that kept him sane.

  Cassie dressed in her best Sunday outfit, a light green, silk dress, splattered with tiny pink flowers, sat with her family in the church, anticipating of Reverend Carter’s first sermon. When he stepped in front of the pulpit, he glanced at Cassie and sent her a fleeting smile, before opening his Bible and beginning his sermon. Cassie was thrilled at the smile, but disappointed at his message. Though he'd spoken well at the welcoming dinner, his sermon lacked flair, and his facts didn’t tie together. He’d start going in one direction, and then end in another. He didn’t back up his words with Bible references, the way McCarty always had. Maybe it was because it was his first week, and he needed some time to get used to the church. Perhaps he was nervous.

  After church, as promised, Alex showed up in his newly rented buggy. They rode through the countryside at an easy pace. “What did you think of my sermon this morning?” he asked.

  To lie or not to lie, was bouncing back and forth in Cassie’s head. She was known for her bold truthfulness, but if the truth would hurt someone’s feelings, she tried to curb that tendency, if possible. “I found it interesting,” she said. She hoped he wouldn’t ask for more detail because there was no way she could expound on it.

  He parked the buggy beneath a shade tree and asked, “Would you like to walk for a bit?”

  “I would, thank you. There's a small stream over there, to our left.”

  As the couple walked, Alex first held on to her elbow, as if to assure her balance, although Cassie definitely didn’t need assistance, then he reached for her hand. Cassie wanted to object, for it felt too soon, and she knew little about him. Then she remembered kissing Silas before she'd known him very well at all, and she allowed the handholding. Who could she trust if not a minister, after all?

  “I understand the church is redecorating the minister’s residence," she said. "Where will you live while the work's is in progress?” she asked.

  “The renovations are already underway. I’m staying at the Royal Hotel in town.”

  That made Cassie wonder—if he was staying at the hotel, then why had he needed her to show him around town? She smiled to herself when she thought of the answer to her question: he'd needed an excuse to get to know her.

  “It’s very pleasant there,” he said, “and the church is paying for it.” He stopped before the narrow stream. “Look, a frog!” he exclaimed, pointing.

  “I love frogs!” Cassie cried, as she watched the green amphibian jump from the bank into the water and swiftly disappear under the water.

  Alex turned to her, “I hear that you practically run the ranch single-handedly.”

  “Yes, my brother Jesse and I worked the ranch together for years. Ma and I work it alone now, but she hasn’t been around much lately, but it's okay because I really love the work.” She backed up a few steps, to put some space between them, but he edged closer to her, closing the distance.

  He continued to inch even closer to her and then, to Cassie’s surprise, he gave her a quick hug. “I just wanted to thank you for showing me around and for keeping a lonely man company.”

  A bit flustered, Cassie replied, “That isn’t necessary. It was my pleasure.” She backed slightly away again, hoping he wouldn't notice. Though he was good-looking, the man didn’t inspire the same trust and security as had Silas, despite his being a man of God. She’d have to give it some time. After all, Silas was gone and hadn’t even written her. She decided to give Alex a chance. It would do not good holding on to hopes that Silas would return. She may never see Silas again.

  “Why are you lonely?” she asked as they walked back to the buggy.

  “I don’t know many people here, and my family lives miles away. You are the first person to trigger a spark in me—for friendship,” he quickly added. "I like you, Cassie. I hope we can become even better friends.”

  “As do I, Alex,” she replied.

  Silas saw Oliver once a week when he dropped off clean clothes for him. He spoke little, but one day he casually mentioned that the sheriff had spoken of hanging him. Silas thanked him for that particular tidbit of gossip. So far, no one had spoken to him at all about either a trial, or a hanging. They'd fed him, gave him water to wash in, and cleaned his sanitary pots. While there was little love between the brothers, it hurt Silas, knowing that Oliver believed he could kill someone.

  Silas was preparing for another boring day, when the jailor announced he had a visitor. Silas, who'd been lulling about in a lazy stupor, jumped to attention. He knew it couldn’t be Oliver, because the jailor never bothered to announce him, letting him simply stroll right in. Silas stood there, nervously, awaiting a glimpse of his visitor. In his heart, he hoped it would somehow be Cassie.

  “Hello, Silas,” the visitor said.

  “Mrs.
Rogers?” Silas couldn’t believe Belinda’s mother was his visitor. She was dressed all in black, and her face, beneath a thin veil, reflected her pain, and sorrow. Had she come here to rebuke him?

  Unsure of the visit’s tone, he sat back down and waited for her to speak.

  “Rumor has it you killed my daughter,” she began.

  Chapter 4

  When Silas tried to speak, Mrs. Rogers held up her hand to silence him. “No, she said. “There’s no need to defend yourself, because I know you’re innocent.”

  “You do? Then, you’re the only one,” Silas said.

  “Oh, you’ve been framed, and that's a fact. I know who killed her and my husband, for that matter.”

  Silas jumped up and walked to the cell bars where she stood, “Joe’s dead too?” I suppose they think I killed him as well.”

  “No, his death was ruled a suicide,” she said bitterly, “but it wasn’t; he loved himself too much.”

  “Please,” Silas begged. “Tell me all you know. I can’t hang for a crime I didn’t commit.”

  “It won’t do much good, Silas,” she spoke softly. “We have no proof and Oliver scares me.”

  “Oliver?”

  “He killed her, and Joe too,” she said simply.

  “So you think there were two murders? You have got to tell me all you know.” Silas pleaded.

  “I’ll tell you, but I need to get us both an attorney first, for our protection. If Oliver hears I visited you, he might kill me as well. As it happens, Will Smith is the deputy on duty today, and he is a cousin of mine, and won’t tell a soul I visited you. Please keep this between us.”

  Silas nodded. “You have my word.” Silas blinked and by the time he'd opened his eyes, Edna Rogers had vanished.

  It was mid-July and Cassie, Laura and Meg were sitting on the front porch, sipping lemonade and fanning themselves.

  “So,” Laura said, “what’s this I hear about you and the new reverend?”

  Cassie swung her head around to look at Laura, “What did you hear?”

  “Well,” Laura drew out the word. “I heard that the two of you went for a ride in his rented buggy after church Sunday.”

  Cassie sighed. “I can’t keep any secrets in this town.”

  Meg cut in, “About time you got on with your life. Silas wasted your time. Have you even heard from him?”

  Cassie sighed again. “No, but I still love him, Mom. I miss him terribly, but as you say, I have to get on with life. Alex is a friend, that’s all.”

  “Alex?” Meg and Laura said in unison.

  “When we aren’t in church.” Cassie smiled slyly. She enjoyed shocking her much-loved mother and sister-in-law.

  “He's not a bad catch,” Meg said. “As long as he doesn’t take you away from Kansas.”

  “Preachers do travel around, sometimes,” Laura added.

  “Don’t worry. I don’t feel for him what I felt for Silas. Maybe it takes time.” Cassie stood and placed her empty glass on the tray. “He’s coming here this afternoon to see the ranch.”

  “What’s there to see?” Meg asked.

  “Well, the cattle and land. I’ll show him our horses and Jezebel.”

  “Jezebel!” exclaimed Laura. “I haven’t seen her lately.”

  “She’s hiding,” Meg said. “She trampled our cabbage patch, and I had to chase her with a broom yesterday.”

  “Jesse said Jezebel would make a delicious goat stew," Laura quipped.

  “Never, I—” The sound of someone galloping down the path drew her attention from the conversation. “Is that your reverend barreling up the lane?”

  “It is,” Cassie said. She ran down the steps to greet him as he slid off his horse.

  Alex waved to the ladies on the porch, and then Cassie took his arm and led him on the grand tour of the ranch.

  Cassie showed Alex the grazing cattle, the horses, and of course, their goat, Jezebel. As they made their way back to the house, they passed the bridge that crossed the creek.

  “Who built the bridge?” Alex asked.

  “Jesse. You see the creek is too wide to jump across, so we needed a bridge.”

  “He did a fine job. Can we cross it?” He walked toward it without waiting for her to answer.

  Cassie, felt reluctant to stand on the bridge with him, since it was a favorite place for her and Silas, and so many memories were attached to that bridge. She scurried across it without stopping, but Alex stopped midway and leaned over the railing.

  “This is relaxing,” he said. “I love to watch the water stream over the rocks. Can you hear the babbling sound it makes? It’s really very soothing.”

  Cassie answered from the other side of the bridge. “It’s one of my favorite sounds.”

  “Come stand here and experience this with me,” he urged.

  Alex was standing right where Silas had kissed her before he'd left town. She told herself not to be silly, that it was just a bridge, made for crossing. If that were the case, why was she reluctant to stand on the bridge with Alex?

  Yet, Cassie refused to stand on the bridge with Alex. She wasn’t sure why, but just the same; she quickly crossed to the opposite side calling over her shoulder, “It’s time we headed back.”

  When they reached the old elder tree, Alex stopped. “This is ideal. A shady place that's perfect for a picnic. Maybe one day we could do that.”

  “We’ve had many here,” Cassie said. “This was also Laura’s favorite spot. She used to sit under the tree and read her Bible every day when she lived with us.” Cassie smoothed the bark of the tree gently. “We love this tree. I believe it’s ancient.”

  “Speaking of Laura, isn’t she the ex-nun who finds homes for the orphans?” he asked.

  “Yes, an ex-novice nun, and she is also an organizer for the Orphan Train Project here in Hays.”

  “I have a great idea. Why don’t we have a fund-raiser to help with the expenses of her orphan project?"

  “She doesn’t need money—”she started to tell him, thinking of the large inheritance Laura received from her father.

  “Nonsense. It’s what churches do. Let’s plan something.”

  Cassie shrugged. “All right, fine.”

  Alex stood beside her and held her hand. “Cassie,” he said, “someone in town told me you’d dated a man for three years. Is that true?”

  “Yes, it is,” she answered.

  Alex pulled her toward him with the hand he was holding until her body was pressed lightly against his. He bent down, and kissed her gently. When she didn’t resist, he kissed her more passionately.

  When he broke the kiss, he murmured, “I do like you, Cassie. Your lips taste like—”

  “Lemonade?” she laughed, trying to mask the fact that she’d felt nothing from his kiss.

  Alex licked his lips. “As a matter of fact, they do.” They both laughed as they walked back to the house.

  Though his lips had felt warm, his kiss didn't curl her toes as Silas’s kisses did. Instead, the kiss had felt strange, out of place, and not at all comfortable. Disappointed, that his kiss had little effect on her at all, she led him to his horse.

  Cassie had a hard time convincing herself that preachers had romantic lives. She’d never thought of them having love affairs or kissing, and surely it would go no further than a casual kiss before marriage, as he would naturally obey God’s Word about fornication. This fact alone was enough to keep her calm while in his company.

  Alex rode home with a smile on his face. If he played his cards right, he’d be able to grab as much money as he could before the real Alex Carter showed up. He wasn’t sure how long Ben could keep the minister locked up in Dodge City. He had to finish this job quickly because he found sermon writing nearly impossible. People would catch on to him soon. If he could arrange that fundraiser in a short time, and add in the take from two Sundays of collections, he’d be satisfied with the haul. This was so much easier than robbing banks, and he got to mess with a pretty cowgirl, be
sides. Joe Healy at the bank mentioned her previous relationship, and he doubted she could possibly be a virgin if she'd had a three-year courtship with another man. Having her would be like taking a bone from a toothless dog.

  In the morning, Cassie rode through the fields to Jesse and Laura’s house. She felt in the mood to spoil her nephew a bit and give Laura the fund-raising news. When she arrived, Laura was hanging bed sheets on a clothesline, and Baby Jake was on a blanket under a tree, sound asleep. Nellie was sitting beneath the eaves of the barn, fondling several kittens.

  After the greetings, Cassie got right to her purpose. “Reverend Carter wants to hold a fund-raiser for the orphan project.”

  “We don’t need the money," Laura said, giving her bed sheet a final pat.

  “I know, but it’s something he is excited about doing as his first fund-raiser.” Cassie lifted the next sheet to be hung and handed it to Laura. “It will be a bake goods sale, on Saturday.”

  “Saturday?” Laura gasped. “That’s in three days!”

  “We’re spreading the word. I’m on my way to town to put up posters.”

  “All right," Laura said. She stooped to pick Jake up gently. "I’m not much of a baker, but I could make that raisin bread Ma showed me how to make.” She placed Jake inside the empty basket. “I may as well let him nap there.”

  Cassie waved to Nellie, and then opened the door to the house for Laura. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

  Laura raised her eyebrows.

  “It’s alright to tell Jesse our confidences. It’s not fair of me to hold you to keeping secrets from him.” Cassie said.

  “Thank you!” Laura said, sounding relieved. “I hate keeping things from him, too. I don’t take confidences lightly, but, as it happens…” she looked at Cassie sheepishly, “I’ve already told him. We agreed to not keep secrets from each other and he promised he wouldn’t let on he knew.” She laughed. “Now, we can both relax. You aren’t angry, are you?”