Searching for Anna, Jenifer Carll-Tong [cheapest way to read ebooks TXT] 📗

first-letter-o">One day passed, then another and another with no word from Will. Phoebe wanted desperately to check on him, but short of barging into the barracks and demanding to see him, she had no way of doing so. Besides, her last visit to the constabulary had been humiliating enough to last a lifetime.

She took many walks around the center of town, hoping to see him sitting outside, getting fresh air or maybe going for a short walk, but no matter how many excuses she made to visit Mary at the store, she saw no sign of Will.

Although she saw nothing of Will, there was no lack of Michigan State Troopers around Iron Falls. Every time she left her house, she saw a different officer, most of whom she had never seen before. With no familiar faces near, she wasn't even able to ask another officer about Will. So, it was to her great relief when on the third day she did in fact see a familiar face. She waved at Jesse Moore as he rode by the church.

Moore guided his horse toward her. "Good afternoon, Pastor. What can I do for you?"

"I was just wondering if you had any news about Officer Caffey – about his health?"

Moore looked confused. "He hasn't been in contact with you?"

Phoebe felt her cheeks grow warm. "No, he hasn't."

"Well, I'm sure he will be soon. He's been real busy with all of the state officials in town."

"I had noticed a lot of new officers. They're here for Will?"

"Yep, that's right ma'am. Anyone who is anyone has come here this week. You saw for yourself that Vandercook was here and I'll tell you, that was pretty exciting. That beau of yours – he's being hailed as a hero across the entire state!"

"A hero? Yes, that is exactly what he is," Phoebe said. "And all of these people are here, just to congratulate him?"

"No, not exactly. I mean, yes, there's been a lot of accolades, to be sure, but they're actually all meeting here to go over the crime scene. There was plenty of incriminating evidence to link those men with a gang that's been giving our troopers in Detroit a run for their money. And our men have been setting up traps all around this area for other runners based on that evidence as well. Our jail is jam-packed with offenders right now."

"Do you mean to say that Will has been out in the field already? He has healed that much?"

"No ma'am, I'm sorry. Getting ahead of myself. No, the other officers you have seen around town, them along with me and Officer Little. But your original question was about Caffey's health. He's mending up quite well, but he's still in a lot of pain. The doctor still has him on bed rest, although he's snuck out a few times in the evening for a walk. I believe he's getting a little stir crazy being cooped up like that."

"I'm sure he is," Phoebe said. "Officer Moore, can I bother you with one more question?"

"Of course, Pastor. Anything."

"That night, the night that Officer Caffey," she swallowed hard. "The night he saved my life. The next morning, I overheard one of the men mention that Will volunteered for the post here in Iron Falls. Is that true?"

"Yes ma'am. It was a big deal at the time. You knew that he was the top of his class, right?"

"I hadn't, until it was mentioned the other day."

"Yep, and highly respected there in Lansing. He's not only real smart, but very skilled, but I guess you got to see his skills firsthand."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, that night, I mean. I've never met another man alive that can do what he did, facing three armed men with a hostage, dropping all three of them with one clean shot each, and surviving with only a scar on his shoulder as proof. And in the dark, no less! It's downright amazing."

Phoebe hadn't thought about the skill level needed to accomplish what Will had done.

"Well, if he had his pick of posts, why on earth did he choose Iron Falls?"

"That's what none of us could ever figure out. To be honest, I wasn't very happy about his arrival. I expected him to be an arrogant son of a — pardon me, ma'am. Let's just say, I was a bit jealous of him. But I gotta admit that he was the right man for the job. None of us realized how much liquor was running through the woods surrounding this area. But somehow Caffey figured it out."

There was a sound behind Phoebe, and both she and Moore looked up to see Mary come out of the store.

"Well, I must be going," said Jesse Moore. "Good day Mrs. Simmons. Good day Pastor Albright. And I'll be sure to let Caffey know you were wondering about him."

Phoebe tried to protest, but he had already ridden off. She sighed and dropped her shoulders. How would Will react if he knew she was speaking to other State Troopers about him? She heard Mary laughing behind her.

"What's the matter? Why don't you want your Will to know that he fills your every thought?" Mary teased.

Phoebe looked up at her friend. With tears forming in her eyes, she said quietly, "Oh, Mary. I've been so wrong. And I think I have damaged Will's feelings for me beyond repair."

Mary's eyes grew wide. She stuck her head back through the door.

"Jack, mind the store please. I'll be back in an hour or so," she said and rushed down the stairs. They walked to the parsonage, arm in arm, Phoebe crying and lamenting her story of turning down Will's declaration of love and of all that had happened since, Mary listening and consoling her. Once inside, Mary made a pot of tea.

"And then we kissed…"

"What? Did you say you kissed?" she said, seating herself next to Phoebe at the table.

"Yes. Well, I kissed him."

"You kissed him?" Mary's eyes were wide. "Did he kiss you back?"

"Yes," Phoebe said, looking straight at Mary. "Very much so."

"Well, then, it can't be as bad as you say. He must still have feelings for you if he kissed you."

"That's what I thought at first, but he still left. And he wouldn't look at me. He was so cold."

"Oh Phoebe, I wish I knew what to tell you. I can't begin to understand what Will is thinking. There are still times that I don't understand my own husband's mind. But what I do know is that if a man makes himself vulnerable to a woman like Will did to you, and is rejected, it can be very devastating to his heart. It may take a long time to heal. But dear, isn't it better that it happened now so that Will can move on and learn to forget about you. That is, unless you have discovered what I've thought all along – that you actually do have feelings for Will Caffey?"

At this, Phoebe's tears turned to sobs. Mary pulled her chair close and hugged her friend.

"That's what I was afraid of. Oh my, you are in a difficult spot, aren't you?"