office to find shelves of books lined the wall while a large mahogany desk stood in the middle of the floor.
“Sit right down there,” the man said before sitting behind the desk. “What can I help you with?”
Nathan sat, placing his hat on his knee. “I’d like to receive an—” His throat closed as he tried to get the word out. Clearing his throat, he tried again, “I’d like to find out how to receive an annul—annulment.”
The man sat up in his chair. “Do you mean a marriage annulment?”
Nathan’s affirmation was low.
The man took off his spectacles to clean them on his shirt. “Well, how about that? I don’t remember the last time someone asked for one of those.”
Nathan shifted his hat to his other knee.
Placing his spectacles back on his nose, the man peered over them. “I sure hope you aren’t leaving some little lady high and dry.”
He smiled ruefully. “No, it’s kind of the opposite.”
The man laughed in an almost cackling sort of way. “Well, how about that? Run you off, did she?”
He cleared his throat nervously. “Well, not exactly.”
“I wouldn’t take that from my little woman,” the man said between laughs, then, taking a gasping breath, continued. “You shouldn’t give up on one of those little spitfires. I’ve heard tell they’re mighty fun to tame.”
Nathan shifted in his chair, causing his hat to fall to the ground. He picked it up and placed it back on his knee. “So do you think you can give me one?”
“One what? Annulment?”
He began to grow impatient. Isn’t that what this whole conversation is about? “Yes, an annulment.”
The man removed his spectacles to wipe away his tears of laughter. “No. I don’t think I can.”
Nathan shot to his feet, then wished he hadn’t when a searing pain ran across his back. Had he just broken the cut open? “What do you mean you can’t? Why can’t you?”
“Sit down, sit down. No use getting all excited about it.”
Eyes narrowed, he carefully sat in the chair, ignoring the pain.
“I told you it’s been a while since we’ve had to give one.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’ve plumb forgot how it’s done.”
Nathan looked at him incredulously. “You’ve what?”
The man shrugged carelessly. “I can’t remember for the life of me.”
“But you’re a judge. You can’t forget things like that,” Nathan protested.
“I’m no judge. I’m just his assistant.” The man leaned forward conspiratorially. “I mostly hand out forms and tell folks to come back later.”
“His assistant?”
“I declare, there’s an echo in here.”
“If you’re his assistant then where’s the judge?”
“He’s seeing to a case north of here, then he’ll visit his family near Abilene. He has a pretty little daughter who had twins, can you imagine? Then his older son settled about ten miles from there—”
Nathan held up his hand to still the flow of words. “So how do I get my annulment?”
“Well, I don’t rightly know. You see, even if I could trouble myself to remember how to do it, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to make it legal. I suppose the only thing you can do is wait for Judge Hendricks.”
“How long will that be?”
“Not sure.”
“Any guesses?”
“I’d say about a month. He may decide to go an extra thirty miles and see his cousin. Then you’re looking at two months, easy.”
Nathan’s jaw slackened. “Two months?”
“Maybe more. You see, there is always a chance someone else will call for a judge. There aren’t many in these parts so he does a lot of traveling.”
Nathan sighed. “So no one really knows when the man will be back.”
“Oh, I know he’ll come back. I just don’t know when.”
“That’s what I just s—never mind. I don’t suppose there a chance another judge might travel this way?”
The man paused thoughtfully, then shook his head adamantly. “Probably not, seeing as this town has a judge.”
Nathan frowned as he stood. “I guess you’re right. I have no choice but to wait.”
“It was a pleasure doing business with you.” The man shook his hand.
Nathan walked out the door, barely hearing the small man call out, “Who’s next?”
What was he going to do? Two months. Two long months!
After Kate’s refusal he’d been able to put aside … well, to put aside Kate. After all, this was just one part in a long string of things that had gone terribly wrong. He’d dusted himself off from the latest fall in the dirt, literally; he fingered the sore spot on his head, and he’d told himself he’d just have to find something else.
For two whole months he would be reminded of everything that he’d thought he’d have. Every time he looked into Kate’s eyes he’d have to remind himself that there must be something better or brighter waiting for him. There must be some reason that yet another dream, another hope had been deferred and had become only that—a dream.
“Rutledge, wait!”
Nathan paused and turned to find the sheriff hurrying toward him as fast as he could amble. “Sheriff Hawkins,” he acknowledged in greeting.
“Rutledge, I have an idea,” the man said eagerly. “Come with me.”
The sheriff turned and headed toward the jail. Not again, Nathan thought as he followed the sheriff into the stone building. Upon entering it, his gaze was immediately drawn to the jail cells in the back of the room. He swallowed, then quickly glanced away. His eyes landed on the little thief from a few days ago, prompting a wry smile. It was almost as though the child had never moved because he sat in the same off-to-the-side chair. He still wore the same sullen look of disinterest that unsuccessfully hid his obvious curiosity about what was going on around him.
The sheriff sank into the wooden chair behind the desk and motioned Nathan to sit down. “I’ve been bringing the boy here during the day and home with me at night but it unnerves the missus some. I was thinking on what I could do for the boy
