Thank you all for the overwhelming support of the first chapter! Here's the latest installment of Marshalward. Big love to Team AGW on this one: Maplestyle, Driving Edward, BitterHarpy, and the lady with the red pen: LaMomo.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 2
Edward saw Embry about Shadow, then carried his saddlebags back to the marshal's office. Emmett was sitting at the desk, reading the paper.
"I'm glad you're working hard," Edward said.
"It's been a quiet day. No garbage in the streets, Alistair is behaving, so I've been sitting here waiting for my fearless leader to return with news. Whatever it is, it must be big for you to have been delayed another day."
"Marshal Marcus deputized us. So if they ever need help with a larger issue, we're already federal marshals. Then we'd just get paid for the work we do for him."
"Yowza. That's big. And Mama C will not be pleased when she comes back. Which should be soon."
"What makes you think she'll be back soon?" Edward asked.
"She has been here every hour on the hour looking for you. You know your mama is a worrier and you're a day late."
"Edward Anthony Cullen," Esme scolded from the doorway.
"Well, I'm gonna head home to Rosie. You're good for the rest of the night?" Emmett asked.
"I'll be fine. Run before you get pulled into this."
"Mrs. Esme, thank you for keeping me awake this morning, but I'm off now the boss is back."
Esme turned her green eyes on the young man who was Edward's right hand with a warm smile. "Give Rosie my best, Emmett, and we'll see you on Sunday."
"Yes, ma'am."
Edward waited until Emmett left before he sat at his desk. "Good afternoon, Mother."
"Boy, I don't care that you're twenty-four, I'll tan your hide if you sass me."
"That wasn't sass, I was wishing you a good afternoon. But obviously something has you in an uproar."
"You should have been home yesterday, and here you are a day late and you don't stop by the house for dinner. What was so important that you had to go all the way to Denver?"
"The US Marshal for the Territory of Colorado called us up to Denver to deputize us into the federal marshal service."
"What?" Esme gasped. "But you're already a town marshal and a deputy sheriff, isn't that enough?"
"It isn't that different from what I do now, but if I was needed to help with something they handle, it would be quicker since I'm already a member. It wouldn't be a regular duty, just when something arises. Ma, sit down before you make yourself sick with worry. Jasper was right beside me and you know he wouldn't do anything that would endanger being an old man beside Miss Brandon."
"You should have become a doctor, like your father," she muttered.
"It wasn't ever an interest of mine, Ma. I love what I do."
"Fine, what's done is done. But was that what delayed your return to town?"
"No. I was approached by a stagecoach driver who was transporting Mrs. Yorkie's sister. He wanted a hired gun and since I was in town, he asked."
"Angela Yorkie's sister? What is Miss Swan like?"
"It's Mrs. Black. She is a polite and loving person from the reunion I witnessed walking her and her belongings to the Yorkie house. Angela insisted I stay for dinner."
Esme smiled softly. "That was nice of her. Now, how was Mr. Black? Did he seem like a nice fellow?"
"Mrs. Black traveled alone, and before you ask, I have no idea why that was the case."
"Well, we'll see her again at church on Sunday, if not before. I'll have to speak with Jessie about how we'll welcome this new resident."
"You do that. I'm going to stop by Mr. Newton's myself and speak to him about the news from Denver City."
"I'll go with you and start planning the welcome wagon. We want this dear girl to feel at home after all."
"Yes, we do," Edward agreed.
With his mother mollified for the moment, he walked her over. While she spoke with the Mayor's wife, he caught the mayor up on the events from the big city. He was done far earlier than his mother, so Edward returned to his office to tidy up and unpack from his trip.
Supper that evening was filled with talk of Mrs. Black and the circumstances of her arrival. Edward relayed what he'd heard and his mother was happy for the new information. The idea of waiting four days until Sunday services didn't sit well with Esme, but she also didn't want to come off as too forward. This woman was from New York after all, and knowing Angela as they did, she'd come from money. Though she was better suited for her new life in Colorado, there was no guarantee her sister would be as well.
The days passed for Edward as they often did, filled with the duties of his job. Edward explained to his excited deputies, Emmett McCarty and Samuel Uley, about the new position and the added responsibilities that would come with it. More work meant more money, as many of these things were supplemental income, and both men had families to support.
For Edward, it was an opportunity to save for his future. Even if he didn't know where it would lead him yet.
Alistair spent most of Saturday drying out in one of the two cells, his sleep far from sound. It made Edward wonder what had led to his descent into drink, but as Alistair was from farther south, no one knew his story.
Sunday rolled around and with it a newfound excitement from the residents of Rosewood. Word had spread about their newest resident, and from the look of her Sunday best, she was everything they'd built her up to be.
Pastor Webber stood at the lectern, expounding on the epiphany and how it related to the lives of his congregation, but even the most devout among them was having a hard time focusing on his words. When the service ended, Pastor Webber held up his hands.
"We have a new member among us. Mrs. Bella Black, sister to Mr. and Mrs. Eric Yorkie, has come to live in Rosewood. We thank the Lord for her safe journey here and I urge you all to make her feel welcome."
With that, Pastor Webber marched down the aisle to greet his congregation at the door as they followed behind him. As they'd been sitting near the front of the church, the Yorkies and Mrs. Black were some of the first to reach him as the front pews emptied first to continue the procession down the aisle, creating a loggerhead as others stopped to say hello. Not wanting to overwhelm her anymore than she seemed, Edward planned to pass by for now and pay a visit later, but Mrs. Black would have none of that.
"Marshal Cullen, please wait one moment," she called to him.
Edward stopped as she turned to Angela and accepted a wrapped package from her.
"I wanted to thank you again for your assistance with my trip from Denver." She held out the parcel and Edward took it willingly.
"You're very welcome, Bella. Now, I'll leave you with our townsfolk and I will see you soon. My mother in particular is very eager to meet you."
Esme slid in beside him and after that introduction, Edward extricated himself from the church and returned to his office. Sunday was usually a light day for work, so Edward climbed the stairs that led to his living quarters.
He unwrapped the linen from around a pound cake, some type of jam marbled through it. Edward cut off a slice and indulged in the sweet treat before he rewrapped the confection to eat a little at a time.
Sunday supper was filled with talk of the sweet young woman who had captured Esme's heart in their brief conversation that afternoon. Edward feared his mother would frighten Bella with this enthusiasm, but she assured him she was well received.
"What was the parcel she gave you, son?"
"A marble pound cake. Some mixed berry jam was added to it, making it quite enjoyable."
"That was a sweet gesture of appreciation."
"Indeed it was. But I'm afraid I must be off. Mother, I will see you soon. Father, good evening."
Carlisle stood to shake his son's hand, pulling him close for a quiet moment. "Thank you, for indulging your mother. I know she can be a handful at times, but she is passionate, and she loves nothing more than her only child."
"I know, and once the excitement wears off, she'll be back to the sensible woman we both love."
With a kiss to his mother's cheek, Edward left. Monday was usually a morning spent cleaning the streets, quite literally, so he knew an early night was best.
The following day saw Edward doing exactly what he expected. Sam was working on cleaning the more prominent streets, while Emmett took to the mills and industrial side of town, leaving the main drag for Edward to maintain.
He'd just reached the General Store when the door swung open and Mrs. Black exited, her brother-in-law right behind her. She was so caught up in her escape she ran right into Edward, his cleaning abandoned as he caught her by the shoulders.
"Marshal Cullen, please excuse me."
"You're excused, Mrs. Black, but are you well?"
"Edward, I need your help explaining something to my dear wife's sister," Eric implored Edward to assist him, his expression exasperated.
"What seems to be the issue?" Edward asked.
"Bella has it in her head that she can set up her own household and live alone. I've tried to explain that this is the wilds of Colorado and not Manhattan. Unattached women of high standing don't live by themselves."
"He's right, Bella. Rosewood may be safer than some other towns, but if word got out and the wrong sort of person came to town looking for trouble, you'd be defenseless. A rogue criminal could spell disaster for not only you, but those who care about you."
"What about the apartment over the store? That would give me the freedom of my own space while still being in the center of town and within sight of the Marshal's Office. Even though I believe this is all ridiculous. I lived alone for the year and a half since I first donned black and if I'd been widowed out here instead of New York I wouldn't have been foisted out of my house because there was no longer a man in it. I spent those eighteen months preparing for this move and it was not my intention to be put up in my sister's home like some wayward child."
Edward paled slightly at Mrs. Black's divulged past. He'd wondered about her name and the lack of a Mr. Black traveling with her, and now he had his answer. He also remembered two occasions when the Yorkies had worn mourning clothes, the first time had been for an unknown relative back in New York. One he now knew to be Bella's husband. Edward excused himself from the conversation, returning to his task on the opposite side of the street.