Kissless in Kansas by Elissa Strati

Author:Elissa Strati [Strati, Elissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-21T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10 – Melody

As her mind cleared of the fog of grief and exhausted sleep, Melody cursed herself for the hours she had let slip by, giving into the fear that had overcome her. After taking several deep breaths she went over to her washstand and splashed her face liberally with water trying to cool her eyes. She was no good to Jeremy if she wasn't any good to herself. Firmly under control now she put on her riding clothes and headed for the kitchen. She would need her water bags and some food for the trail, plus something to sustain her dog, Rosie, beyond what she could forage.

The house seemed surprisingly quiet and still, as if no one else were here. Then she became aware of the low hum of voices coming from the front porch. Slipping quietly to a window she peered out and saw her mother talking with a stranger. A heavy rain was falling, almost silently, muffling what they were saying. Melody bit her lip.

While her first impulse had been to just go racing into the dawn after her missing beau, she realized having two missing persons was not going to help anything. So she went back into the kitchen. She would start by talking with her mother.

Dorothy walked in and simply opened her arms and Melody rushed into them. Determined to cry no longer, her chest still shook with a sob which she rapidly got under control. She had done enough crying for a lifetime. Now was the time for action.

“Nobody believes he deserted you, baby,” her mother said. “Every single one of your friends knows how much he loves you and was looking forward to your wedding. A man does not weave ribbons into a bridle to go riding off into the sunset on his own.”

Although Melody had known this in her heart, hearing it from her mother's lips was deeply reassuring. Her voice a little rusty and scratchy from abuse, she asked, “So, what is going on now? I saw that man at the door.”

“That was Seth Stottlemeyer. He and his wife are trying to prove up that rocky patch between the creek and the river, beyond the Weaver place. They are planning to raise goats, too. He found Mac and the buggy near the water last night. Mac had a rock in his shoe and lamed himself getting over to the water, dragging the buggy, which has a broken wheel. But the ribbons are still in the reins.”

Melody raised a hand to stifle another sob. She’d cried enough! But the ribbons . . . He was such a romantic!

“Seth backtracked to where the wheel broke and found some blood and marks on the ground, but it is so rocky there, there was not much sign.” She paused and looked her daughter in the eye. “The blood could be from the horse. Mac is pretty scratched up and that is rough terrain there. Your father sent Seth here to let us know what he had found.

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