Chapter 4
Joshua Bolt stepped off the train in a little town in Montana. He had not been there for quite some time and was unsure of where to start. He gathered his bag and started to walk towards the town. He wanted to see the sheriff's office and find out what happened to the property that he and Sheila had before the traumatic events that took place all that time ago. He walked down the main street noticing that there had not been much change in the town. In fact, several of the stores and businesses that had been there had folded. The saloon was still there along with the small dry goods store and the post office. The hotel was still open but was not full. He decided to stop there and clean up then go to the Sheriff's office. He went to the desk and was about to sign in when the clerk saw him and panicked. The clerk left the desk immediately and ran across the street to the sheriff's office. Joshua was stunned, the sheriff came and recognized who Joshua was.
"Mr. Bolt, I need you to come with me to the office!" He said sternly. Joshua looked at the clerk and then looked at the sheriff.
"Before I go with you Sheriff, can you tell me why?" Joshua said as he looked around to see that there were about two or three other men nearby ready to pounce on him if he resisted.
"I can but I cannot say anything here in public!" said the Sheriff. "Are you coming peacefully? Or do I have to use force?"
Joshua picked up his bag and followed the sheriff. The other men watched waiting and hoping there would be a fight. Things were kind of dull around town. As soon as Joshua was inside the office, the sheriff had him sit at the table in the center of the room.
"Mr. Bolt, may I get you a cup of coffee?" Joshua looked at him and said okay, he was kind of thirsty. The sheriff poured the cup and gave it to him and then sat down across the table from him.
"Now, Joshua, may I call you Joshua?" the sheriff asked.
"yes, what is your name sheriff?" Josh asked politely.
"I am sheriff Thomson, but you can call me Len, short for Leonard."
"Thank you, Len. Why are we here?" Joshua asked.
"I was about to tell you that, Joshua. There are a few things that happened after you and your family left this town. One, your wife, Sheila, survived. She is gone now, she died in childbirth. Two, you have a daughter, her name is Michelle Marie, and we call her Shellie. My wife and I have been caring for her, wondering if you would ever return. She is almost 3 and has no memory of her mother." The sheriff stopped talking because he saw Joshua with a look as if he was in a state of shock.
"Take your time to let it sink in. You will be staying with me and Maggie for a while. You need to take care of the property as well as let us know what your plans for your daughter will be." The sheriff said slowly. Josh had questions and he started to ask them:
"Sheila did not die from a gunshot? I thought I shot her, or someone else may have. I came back here to make peace with the past. I came back to make peace with Sheila's memory, I did not think that I would come back to a child?" Josh said angrily.
The sheriff, Leonard Thompson, watched Joshua. He had met the family the last time they were there. They seemed as if they were a warm loving family, that an extra child would not be a bother. But he was worried that Joshua may not be able to care for Shellie because of what happened to him.
"Sir, Len, may I go rest awhile? This is an awful lot to take in. I am not sure what to think right now. I guess traveling made me tired, and I am hungry." Josh asked. He wanted to get out of the office, he wanted to run away, but he knew that he had to stay there and take care of things.
"Sure, let's go over to my house. Maggie will get you something to eat and I will show you to your room. You can meet Shellie later when you have rested." Len said as he escorted Josh over to his home.
He was shown to his room and he went in and lay down on the bed. He did not realize how tired he was. He fell asleep and slept the rest of the day and into the night. When he woke, it was dark outside. He got up and put on some clean clothes, he had fallen asleep in his traveling clothes which were now wrinkled. He went down the stairs to find something to eat. Maggie had left sandwich makings out for him and water. He started to make his snack when he heard small scuffling. It sounded like they had a little cat or dog. He continued making his sandwich and as he just finished and was taking it up to his mouth, he saw a small, little creature, with blonde hair and bright blue eyes, in a little flower nightgown.
"Water please?" the little one said. Josh poured a small glass of water and helped her to sit on the chair at the table. She sat and drank her water and stared at him. He was chewing his sandwich and sitting at the table as well. He too was staring at her. She was so pretty; he almost fell in love with her. There was not much light, only the lamp that he had carried downstairs. He decided to see what she would say so he asked her:
"What's your name?"
"Shewee" she had a hard time saying her name. Josh nodded and took another bite and then asked:
"How many?" he held up his hand and put two fingers then three fingers. She smiled shyly and pointed to the three fingers. Her smile was enough to melt his heart.
"I am this many!" He said as he held up his both hands and closed and opened them together twice then added 4 fingers. She tried to do the same but was frustrated because her fingers would not do that.
Maggie came in with more light and said:
"Well, I see you have met Shellie?" she said and Josh nodded because he had a mouthful of food. "She tends to wake up in the middle of the night and wander through the house. She has sometimes wandered out the barn. One night we could not find her and in the morning, we were looking all over for her and she was out sleeping with the cows!" Maggie said, Shellie giggled and ran behind Maggie's skirt.
Josh finished his snack and said good night to Maggie then bent down and said goodnight to Shellie. Who gave him a big hug and kiss. He pondered that hug and kiss as he went back upstairs.