Halie's Arizona Love
Written by Holly Custer
Copyright © 1999
 

I stepped from the stagecoach on to the dusty street.  My skirts swept the ground raising small clouds of dust as I turned and gazed around the small town of Tucson, Arizona.  People were hurrying around me taking care of the business that occupied their minds at that moment.  I watched this activity with awe until the stagecoach driver called out to me.  I turned and saw that he was holding my small bag.  He was waiting for me to claim it.  I took it from him with an apologetic smile.

He kindly offered to leave my cumbersome trunk at the postal office until I found a  place to transport it.  I thanked him and readily agreed.  I followed him to the postal  office as he and another man lugged my trunk between them.  I talked to the man in  charge of the mail.  He was willing to hold my trunk for me. 

“Sure, Miss. You can leave it here for as long as you need.”  I smiled gratefully,  then asked him about a respectable boardinghouse.  He recommended a place just down  the main street.  I thanked him and walked out of the building.  My reception to this small,  but growing town had, so far, been pleasant.

I stopped in front of the house that had been pointed out to me.  It was a huge  house that had been painted white.  Even though the paint was peeling, the house exuded warmth and comfort.  I felt right at home and hadn’t even seen the inside yet!

Suddenly, doubts started to assail me.  I stood for a long moment staring at the house.  I wondered what I was doing in a town that boasted little more than a main dirt street with a few houses, stores and saloons scattered along its length. 

Shaking off the doubts and with a resolve to start a new life, I knocked on the wooden door firmly.  I stepped back as the door opened.  I was greeted by an older woman.  She had a gentle, kind face and sparkling blue eyes.  She opened the door wider and ushered me into the parlor.

“Ma’am, my name is Halie Lockerbie.  I was recommended to your boardinghouse by the gentleman at the post office.  I do hope you have a room available.”  I said.  I sat  down carefully in the chair she offered me.  It looked a bit unsteady.

“My name is Emma Thorne and that would have been Carl Harrison.  He is a gem, but he desperately needs a wife.  He can’t cook or clean.  He is a hopeless case.  Yes, I have a room that would suit you very well.  The rent is twenty dollars a month and that is a real bargain, you know.”  Emma Thorne showed me to the room that could end up being my new home.

I was surprised to see that there were two rooms instead of one.  I turned to Mrs. Thorne with a happy smile on my face.

“I’ll take the rooms.”  I said.  I looked around again liking what I saw.  The front room had a used desk and chair in one corner.  A divan stood against the wall under the window.  A small, ornate table stood next to the divan.  A kerosene lamp decorated with yellow roses stood on the table.

The bedroom had a single bed covered with a lovely, handmade quilt.  A wooden stand with a pitcher and bowl sat next to the bed.  A rocking chair was in the opposite corner of the room.

I walked to the window and brushed aside the neat, but faded, yellow curtains.  The window looked out on to the Arizona Desert.  I noted happily that I would have a marvelous view of the sunset from this very window. 

I opened my small bag and pulled out four crisp, ten dollar bills.  I turned to Mrs. Thorne and handed her the two months’ rent.  She looked at it in surprise.  I don’t think she expected all of it at once.

As she turned to leave, I stopped her and asked if she knew of anyone who could pick up my trunk for me from the post office.  She said she knew of the person who would willingly do that.  She patted me gently on the shoulder and left me in my new home.

Wearily, I sat down in my chair and leaned back.  I closed my eyes.  My mind wandered back to home and how I ended up in No-Man’s Land.  The first reason was obvious, I was young and strong and wanting adventure.  Secondly, finding my sister and  fiancee’ locked in a passionate embrace had a great deal to help my decision to come to Tucson.  I had been so humiliated that I had left immediately leaving a note behind me.  On the long trip to Tucson, I had plenty of time to think.  I had come to the conclusion that I had never really loved my fiancee’, Edward.  I was going to marry him because that was what was expected of me.  Personally, I would marry a man for love and only love. 

Maybe I could find a good-looking, hard-working man to love me for me and not my wealth (Yes, I was very wealthy, but it was there in Chicago, not here with me in Tucson).

Finally, I got up from my chair and turned my thoughts from the past to the future.  I checked my appearance in the mirror.  I paused for a moment.  I saw a moderately pretty face with dark blue eyes that sparkled with anticipation of the unknown.  My face was framed by thick, shiny, auburn hair that was coiled into a coronet of thick braids.  I smiled at my reflection with straight, white teeth and straightened my hat.  I wanted to do a little exploring of my new hometown.

Outside, on the porch, I looked both ways trying to decide which way to go.  Finally, I walked towards the middle of town.  Everything was so busy for such a small town.  In fact, I was so absorbed in watching the people that I didn’t notice that I ended up standing in the middle of the dirt street. 

Suddenly, the sound of shouting voices attracted my attention.  I looked up and saw a driverless wagon and two wild-eyed horses running as if the devil were after them.  I gasped in alarm.  The runaways were heading straight for me!  I couldn’t move.  I was frozen with fear.  The next moment I felt a strong arm go around my waist.  I was flying through the air!  I landed with a jolting thud on the back of a fast-moving horse.  The horse slowed and I was lowered to the ground out of danger’s way.

I looked up at the man who had rescued me.  I wanted to thank him, but my voice caught in my throat.  I was stunned.  Dressed all in black was the handsomest man I had ever seen!  His dark, wavy hair hung to his collar.  His dark green  eyes whispered of mystery and intrigue.  I was stunned by this handsome, virile man.  My eyes shamelessly traveled his face and body.  I was surprised to see a silver star shining brilliantly on his black vest.  He was the town sheriff.

“Ma’am, you need to be careful around here.  This town can be a dangerous place to be wandering around.  You could have got yourself killed just now.  Besides, I have more important things to do than rescuing reckless, beautiful, young women.”  He lifted his hat politely and rode away.  I followed his departure with wonder.

Slowly, I brushed the dust from my skirt. I needed to calm my rapidly beating heart.  I couldn’t decide if my reaction was from the narrow escape I just had or if it was because of the gorgeous man who had just rescued me.

I looked up as I heard hurried footsteps coming my way.  Mr. Harrison approached me with a concerned expression on his weathered, but kindly face.

“You all right, Miss Lockerbie?  I saw the whole thing from my office window!  You could have been run over by them horses!”

“I’m fine, thank you.”  Hesitantly, I turned to the postmaster.  “Who was that man who rescued me?  I saw his badge, so I assume he’s the sheriff.”

“You’re right about that.  His name is Chad Rogue-----”  I turned to him with a startled look.
   
“You’re joking!”  I said incredulous.

“No ma’am.”  Mr. Harrison said with a firm shake of his head.  “That is his name, believe it or not.  It kind of fits him, don’t you think?  Good man, that.  He does tend to keep to himself especially since his wife was murdered over three years ago.”

“How was she killed?”  I asked quietly.  I wanted to learn as much as I could about the man who had just swept me off my feet...literally.

“Ma’am, if you want to find out more about Sheriff Rogue and his dead missus, you need to speak to him about it.  I don’t carry gossip about the people in this town.  It just isn’t done.”  He said brusquely.  He turned to leave, then turned back with a grin.  “Your trunk was picked up just a moment ago that’s how I know who you are.”

“Thank you, Mr. Harrison.  My landlady told me who you were.”  I answered with a smile.  He grinned back.  I knew I had found another friend in Tucson.

I turned and walked down the street.  I wanted to get back to my rooms so that I could begin to get settled.  I had enough of exploring Tucson for the day.  I also needed to sit down. My knees were still shaking from my narrow escape-----or was it the effect that Chad Rogue had on me?  I just couldn’t decide.  Maybe it was a little of both. 

The next several days, I put my things away and made a home out of my two little rooms.  One afternoon, I went to the mercantile and bought some fabric in bright colors.  I made bright cushions to put on my bed and chairs. 

It seemed that every time I went out, I always ran into Sheriff Rogue.  I saw him in the mercantile.  he was looking at guns when I entered the store.  I could feel his eyes on me as Imade my purchases.  I turned and saw that he was watching me intently..  It made me a bit nervous.  Whenever I walked down the street, he was there.  He was always a gentleman and lifted his hat politely.  At church on Sundays, he sat across the aisle from  me.  I caught him looking at me occasionally.  Eventually, I just smiled to myself and hoped that he was showing an interest in me.  I was definitely interested in him.

One Sunday evening, I was in the kitchen helping Mrs. Thorne with the supper preparations when all the boarders entered the dining room.  When they had been seated, I walked into the large dining area to place a platter of hot rolls on the table.  I almost dropped the fragrant rolls when my eyes collided with the Sheriff’s jungle green gaze.  I also just happened to notice that the only empty chair was next to the handsome sheriff.  Apparently, he also noticed that one small fact.  He grinned and winked at me.  The rolls again were almost lost.  With some hesitation, I made my way to my chair.  Sheriff Rogue stood to his feet as did all of the gentlemen when I took my place at the table.

That Sunday evening meal turned out to be a real challenge.  Sheriff Rogue was affecting me in very strange ways.  He didn’t speak to me as we ate, but his very presence was a powerful force.  I could hardly eat the delicious meal that was in front of me.  My mind kept wandering to the handsome lawman next to me.

Finally, I feigned a headache and excused myself.  I went up to my rooms and rearranged things that were already in their proper places.  Absent-mindedly, I picked things up and put them back in the same spot.  I soon realized that I wasn’t accomplishing anything. I went outside and relaxed on the porch for a while.

Several evenings later, as part of my daily routine, I slipped through the front door making sure that I closed it behind me.  I looked around and breathed in the night air.  I sat down on the step and looked up at the night sky.  It was so clear that millions of twinkling stars could be seen.  I enjoyed the feeling of being on my own.  I loved my new home. “Lovely evening, isn’t it?”  I jumped in surprise and hit my head on the porch rail.  I let out a startled cry.  My hand flew to the back of my head.  I rubbed it gently.  I looked up and saw Chad Rogue staring down at me with concern in his green eyes.     “Are you all right, Miss Lockerbie?” 

“I’m fine, thank you.  You just startled me.  It was only a glancing blow.  I’m sure I’ll make it.”  I answered with a rueful smile.  I dropped my hand to my lap.  I tried to look anywhere but at Chad Rogue.  I found that it was impossible. 

“So, how did a beautiful, young woman come to live in a place like Tucson, Arizona?”  Chad drawled leaning back against the railing.  He looked totally relaxed.

As he stared out towards the town, I took the opportunity to study him.  I figured that he was over six foot tall.  He had a muscular physique that showed power and strength.  He lean, handsome face was tanned from being constantly in the sun.  His eyes were a brilliant, deep green.  His nose was straight.  His lips were full and I wondered what itwould be like to kiss him.  I was jerked from my reverie with that last thought.  I turned my thoughts to the question that he had asked.

“I guess you could say that I got out of a dangerous situation that would have only humiliated and embarrassed me and my family.”  I could feel Chad’s eyes on me.  I felt compelled to tell him more, but I controlled the urge...temporarily.

“Where are you from?”  Was his next question.

“I lived in Chicago with my parents and younger sister.”  He sure was curious, but as I looked up into his eyes, I felt drawn to him.

“Nice place, Chicago.”  He murmured.

“I walked in on my sister and fiancee’ kissing...passionately.”  Abruptly, I clamped my lips shut.  I had said way more than I intended.  Angry at myself, I stood to my feet.  “Good-night, Sheriff.”

“Good-night, Halie...”  He answered softly.  I stopped and turned at the sound of my name falling from his full, sensual lips.  I walked slowly towards him as if I were in a trance.  I halted within arm’s reach of the handsome lawman.

We stared at each other for a long moment.  Chad had a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.  I swayed towards him silently begging him to kiss me.  He caught me gently by the shoulders.  He smiled a sexy grin.  He pulled me against him.  My breath caught in my throat.  He bent his head towards me.  My heart began to beat faster.  I thought he was going to kiss me.  Instead, he whispered in my ear.  “Be careful who you entice to kiss you, my lovely vixen, especially men you don’t really know.”  I gasped and jerked away from him.  I knew my face was red with embarrassment.  I turned and marched into the house leaving the handsome, spiteful sheriff laughing at me.

In my room, I leaned back against the door and closed my eyes.  I didn’t think that I would ever be able to face him or anyone else again.  What a fool I was to think that we could start a relationship that could mean something.  I couldn’t believe how bold I had been.

The next morning, I had gotten over most of my embarrassment.  I went downstairs and ate my breakfast none of which I tasted.  When the meal was over, I helped Mrs. Thorne with the dishes.  Afterwards, I went to the local livery and rented a beautiful sorrel mare.  I wanted to go riding.  It had been way too long.

Back at the boardinghouse, I changed into a tan blouse with a dark brown vest and a matching split riding skirt.  On my feet, I wore a pair of riding boots.

Mrs. Thorne insisted on packing me a lunch that would feed an army.  I took the lunch with a grateful smile and went outside to my rented horse.  I put the lunch in the saddlebags and looped the canteen over the saddle horn.  I jumped into the saddle and turned the frisky mare away from town. 

 As I rode out of town, I heard a shout from behind me.  I pulled up the mare.  I turned and saw Chad racing towards me at breakneck speed.  I waited patiently as he pulled up his big, black stallion.

“Where in blazes do you think you’re going? “  Chad was absolutely livid.  I couldn’t understand why he was so angry with me.  The ordeal last night couldn’t have been that alarming to him.  I didn’t think I had done anything else wrong. 

“I just wanted to go for a ride and have a quiet picnic in the foothills.  Is there something wrong with that?”  I picked up the reins and started the mare forward not waiting for his answer. 
   
“Yes, there is.  You won’t be going without someone with you.”  Chad ordered.  He leaned forward and placed a firm hand on Charlie’s (my mare) reins.

“Are you suggesting that you go with me?”  I shot back at him.  I was starting to get angry. 

“No, I’m suggesting that you go back to town and forget the whole idea.”  Chad started pulling on the reins to turn Charlie back towards town.

“Why can’t I go riding?  Is there a law against it or something?”  I retorted trying to pull Charlie away from his iron grip.  I gritted my teeth in frustration when he refused to release my horse.

“There are Indians in those hills, Miss Lockerbie, who would give anything to have a beautiful woman like you in their possession.  You can’t just ride off alone.  They’ve been cruelly treated by our government and will take revenge when and where they can.”  Abruptly, he let go of my horse, but I didn’t make a move.

“Halie, my wife was killed by those Indians because she wanted to go on a picnic and wouldn’t wait for when I had a chance to take her.  I promised myself it would never happen to anyone in my town again.”  Chad stopped.  He looked into my eyes seeing fear, I am sure.  He took a deep breath and smiled sadly.  “Go back to town, Halie.  It’s really for the best.”

I turned Charlie around and kicked her into a full gallop.  I was taking no chances of having any Indians catching me.  In town, I took Charlie to the livery and then ran home.  I ran inside and to my rooms.  I closed the door and locked it after me.  I lay down on my bed and did some heavy thinking about a naive, inexperienced city girl being in a rough and wild wilderness.  I finally decided that I would have to go home to Chicago.  I had no business being in a country about which I knew absolutely nothing.

The next evening, I sat on the porch.  I wasn’t really taking in the scenery around me.  I was just thinking.  I heard the front door open from behind me.  I knew who it was without looking.  I glanced up at him as he came and sat down beside me.  I waited for him to speak.  There was nothing I could or would say at this point.  Chad needed to make the first move.

“I want to apologize for the way I treated you the other day.  I was overreacting.”  Chad paused for a long moment.  When he spoke again his voice was strained.  “My wife was a very foolish woman.  She didn’t take the precaution to take a gun with her or anything.  I didn’t want to see the same thing happen to you that happened to her.  You have your whole life to live. Don’t let ignorance deny you that.”  Hesitantly, I placed my hand on his.  Chad looked down, then up at my face.  Chad turned his hand over and clasped my hand in the warmth of his.

“You have no reason to apologize, Chad.  I was being stupid in not finding out about the area and its inhabitants.  You had every right to yell at me and I’m glad you did.  I was too impulsive in my decision to come out West.  I didn’t know what kind of situation I would find out here..  I should have stayed in Chicago.”  I gently pulled my hand from his.  I got up and walked over to the porch railing and leaned on it. 

“I didn’t mean that, Halie.  We need women like you.  You add culture and beauty to our rough, male society.”  Chad answered moving to stand next to me.  His presence was comforting and so were his words.

“I feel as if I’ve done nothing,. but get into trouble since I’ve been here.  I haven’t even thought of what kind of job I could get to make a living.  I need to be busy.  I want to be able to give a little to Tucson.  I don’t want to just take from it.”  I declared. 

“Well, Tucson does need a schoolteacher.  I don’t know if you can teach or not, but our children have a great need for learning.”  I turned to the sheriff with a huge smile on my face.

“They really need a teacher?  Honest?  I have teaching credentials.  I would love to teach again!”  I exclaimed being very unladylike.  “This could be the answer to everything!”

Without thought, I threw my arms around Chad’s neck and hugged him tight (could I get any bolder?).  The intimate contact stopped both of us.  Green eyes met with blue ones and locked.  Chad’s strong arms slid around my waist and pulled me close to him.  He lowered his dark head and pressed his lips to mine.  It was a gentle kiss.  Warm and sweet.  It would be a wonderful memory that would last forever. 

We stepped apart self-consciously.  I was unsure of what to say or do.  I turned from him and tried to gain my composure.  I knew deep down in my heart that I was falling in love with this ruggedly handsome sheriff.

“Who would I need to speak to about the teaching position?”  I asked.  My voice was shaking from suppressed emotion. 

“Let me speak to the school committee for you.  I’ll have the chairman come and talk to you...if that’s all right with you.”  Chad answered.  There was apparent strain in his deep voice.  He must have been affected by the kiss as I had been.

“That would be fine, thank you.”  I turned to the handsome sheriff.  Suddenly, I felt very bold.  Quickly, I reached up and kissed him on the cheek.  I spun around, ran into the house and up to my rooms.

The next morning about ten o’clock there was a knock on my door.  It was Mrs. Thorne.  She informed me that I had a gentleman caller downstairs in the parlor.  I freshened up a bit and hurried to the parlor.  I didn’t recognize the gentleman so I assumed that he was the chairman from the school committee.  He stood as I entered the room.

“Good morning, Miss Lockerbie.”  He said politely as he stood and shook my hand.

“Please sit down, Mr.-----I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”  I said seating myself on a straight-backed chair.  I folded my hands in my lap and waited for him to speak.

“Please excuse me.  My name is William Cooke.  I’m here to represent the school committee.  I understand from our illustrious sheriff that you may be interested in teaching the young people of our small, but growing town-----”  The meeting with Mr. Cooke was successful.  He hired me after checking through my references.  Classes would commence in two weeks.  I had many preparations to attend to before then.

I made sure that I thanked Chad profusely for his influence with the townsmen on the committee.  He shrugged it off with a gracious, but shy, smile.  After that, it seemed that we found more time to talk to each other.  We watched the sunsets in the evenings and took walks in the cool of the mornings.

I learned a lot about this handsome man.  We had many things in common.  We both loved to read (this really surprised me about this rugged outdoorsman).  We also loved horses and children.  It seemed that every time we talked I was taken by surprise.  I was truly intrigued by this man. 

As the days went by, we drew closer and closer.  Our friendship blossomed into a more caring and lasting relationship.  I was pleasantly pleased by this subtle turn of events.

One afternoon while I was reading a book, someone knocked on my door.  I got up and opened the door.  There was Chad Rogue, the love in my life, leaning against the doorjamb.  I smiled happily at the mere sight of his tall, lanky, handsome frame.

“I have a surprise for you, love.”  Chad said in that deep, sexy voice of his.  He had a wonderfully arrogant look on his face.  I wondered what his surprise could be.  Trying to show nonchalance, I shrugged my shoulders and asked what it was in a, I hope, disinterested tone of voice.

“Change into some riding clothes.  We have places to go, my dear.”  He leaned over and kissed me.  “Meet me down at the corral.”  I nodded unable to speak.  His kisses always did that to me.

A few minutes later, I stepped out into the sunshine.  Chad was standing by the corral with his big black stallion and the little sorrel I had come to love.

I walked over to Chad and touched his unshaven cheek with gentle fingertips.  He looked down at me and smiled.  I smiled back, my whole heart in my eyes.

We mounted our horses.  I let Chad lead the way.  Very soon, I realized that we were heading for the forbidden foothills.  I followed close and mused over what my surprise would be. 

We finally reached our destination.  I was awestruck by the beauty that surrounded me.  There was a beautiful valley spread out before me.  A bubbling creek meandered throughout the green valley.  Tall, green trees stood proudly along the shores of the crystal clear creek.  Acres and acres of lush, green grass covered the floor of the valley.  I felt I had found an oasis in the midst of a dry, barren desert.

I looked up at Chad who had come to stand next to me.  He was watching me intently with his gorgeous green eyes.  I smiled with pleasure.

“Oh, Chad!  It’s absolutely breathtaking!  It’s the most beautiful place I have ever seen.  It’s so peaceful and relaxing.”

After our first perusal of our valley, Chad and I had a lovely picnic lunch.  We found a wonderful, shade tree and sat down to enjoy our serene surroundings.  I leaned back against Chad’s broad shoulder.  He put his arm around me and we stayed that way.  After a while of quiet solitude, Chad stirred and I sat up next to him.

“Halie, I brought you because I knew you would love it, but I also had another reason.”  Chad said softly.  I turned to face him when I heard the serious note in his voice.

“Is there something wrong?”  I asked anxiously.

“Oh, no!  Not at all!”  Chad replied.  “It’s something I hope you will welcome.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“I’m not too good with words or courting-----”

“Courting?  Who said we were courting?”  I jumped to my feet.  I wasn’t sure if I should be angry or happy.  I had learned to care deeply for this handsome man and I hoped he wasn’t trifling with my feelings for him.

“Well, we are, aren’t we?”  Chad asked with a twinkle in his eye. 

I sat down and relaxed. “Of course we are.”

“Well, what I want to ask you is-----Will you be my wife?”

“Y-your wife?”  It took a few minutes, but I suddenly realized that Chad Rogue was asking me to marry him.  I was stunned.  I was thrilled.  I said yes!  Chad stood up and gave a wild Indian yell.  I laughed from sheer happiness.

Chad pulled me to my feet and we stood looking at each other for a long moment.  Being as I had become so bold in the last few months, I reached up and pulled Chad’s head down to mine.  I pressed my lips to his in a warm, passionate kiss.  I wasn’t too experienced in the art of kissing, but Chad was.  He pulled me up against him and kissed me even more deeply and passionately. I finally knew what had been missing in my heart and life.  It had been the love of this wonderful man who held me so gently and treasured me so greatly.

 THE END