Member-only story
Dilemma At Goodheart Ranch
A western
-1881-
It was Monday. Sheriff Clarence Creed was riding out to the Goodheart ranch. He knew he shouldn’t. It was torture, seeing the woman he loved married to another man, but he couldn’t help himself. He looked forward to their time together. Even if it was just sharing a slice of apple pie and conversation.
Clarence had loved Sarah Weston since he was a boy and they played together after school, although he was too reserved to let her know how he felt. When Jedediah Goodheart rode into town on Sarah’s 17th birthday, tall and handsome, and just shy of his 21st birthday, he saw a look in her eye he hadn’t seen before.
Jedediah noticed Sarah right away also. She was a striking young woman with raven-black hair, dressed in a new Sunday dress, and possessing the as-yet untarnished beauty of youth. Six months later, they were married. It was the worst day of Clarence’s life.
But life rolled on as it always does, and by age 23, Clarence had become the sheriff of Rockhill. The youngest they ever had. His calm nature served him well as sheriff. Folks appreciated a sheriff who wasn’t easily agitated.
Every Sunday after church, Sarah baked an apple pie. Being neighborly, like the Good Book says to be, she regularly invited folks over after service for dinner and…
