Strong Enough by Donise Sheppard

Nellie dabbed her teary eyes and sniffled. The past twenty-four hours had been the hardest of her life, hearing about Luke’s gunfight and death, then burying him. Her son, Austin, seemed to think life would get easier with time, but Nellie wasn’t sure any amount of time would ease the pain of losing her husband of eighteen years.

“You’re stronger than you think,” Luke had told her a few days before he was shot. “You’re tougher’n me, that’s for sure.”

But she didn’t feel tough. She felt weak and vulnerable—like her heart had been ripped from her chest and buried with her husband.

She glanced away from the grave at the stranger standing ten yards away.

Austin took her hand and gently squeezed it. “Come on, Ma. We should get home.”

She let him lead her away from the grave, and the strange man watched them go.

There was a knock on the door, and Nellie rose to her feet. She opened the door and saw the stranger from Luke’s funeral standing there, hat in hand.

“Good evening, Miss Bennett. I was hoping I could have a word with you?”

Nellie looked the strange man up and down. “I’m sorry, Mister...?

“Cassidy.”

“Mister Cassidy. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

He glanced over her shoulder at Austin, then back at Nellie. “May I come in?”

Nellie’s heart raced. There was something about the man that unnerved her, but she stayed calm. “It’s late, Mister Cassidy. We can talk right here.”

“What can I do for ya, Mister Cassidy?”

He nodded but didn’t look pleased with her refusal.

“First, I’d like to say I’m sorry for your loss. Mister Bennett was a fine man.”

Nellie dropped her gaze for a moment, her eyes stinging with the threat of tears.

“I know this isn’t the best time, but before he died, your husband sold me this land.”

Nellie stiffened and narrowed her eyes at him. He seemed to squirm under her gaze.

“Now, Miss Bennett, I think you’d be far more comfortable in something a little smaller. If you’d like, I can talk to an associate and get you and your boy settled in a home not five miles from here. I can even keep your boy on as a ranch hand, if he so wishes.”

She felt Austin step up behind her, but Nellie held up a hand to stop him.

“Who do you think you are?” Austin seethed.

“It’s okay, Austin. There’s no need to be rude. Thank you for your offer, Mister Cassidy, but Austin and I are just fine here.”

A dark smile spread across his face. “Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear, Miss Bennett—”

“It’s Missus Bennett.”

Cassidy inclined his head slightly. “I only came out of courtesy. Mister Cassidy and I already came to the agreement. Money has exchanged hands. You and your son are officially trespassing.”

Nellie’s lips trembled. She opened her mouth to argue, but no words came.

“Pa wouldn’t have done that!” Austin yelled. “You’re a liar!”

Mr. Cassidy sucked his teeth. “Well, I’m afraid he did, son.”

Nellie’s mind reeled. Why would Luke do such a thing without telling her?

“Miss Bennett, if moving out is a problem, perhaps you and I could come to some sort of arrangement?”

His calloused hand stroked hers, and she pulled away. “Mister Cassidy, you’ve made some sort of mistake. My husband wouldn’t sell this ranch.”

“But he did.”

“Do you have the bill of sale? The deed?”

His eyes flashed. “Listen to me, woman!” he snarled. “Your husband sold me this land!”

“I don’t believe you… and my husband is no longer here, sir.”

He gritted his teeth, his lips pulling tight.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mister Cassidy, I have chores to do around my ranch.

Cassidy lunged forward and grabbed her by the wrist. “Do you take me for a fool? I want you and your son off my property by tomorrow, or I’ll be forced to treat you as squatters and take matters into my own hands. And I promise you, tomorrow I won’t be as courteous.”

Nellie snatched her hand away. “Get away from here, you... you....”

Cassidy put his hat on. “So be it. You’ve brought this on yourself. I’ll be back tomorrow with my men.” He turned on his heel, his boot grinding the wooden porch, then stalked away.

Nellie stared after him, the threat ringing in her ears. She grabbed Luke’s hunting rifle from beside the door and took aim. “Mister Cassidy!”

Cassidy turned, his eyes widening, and Nellie pulled the trigger. The shot hit him in the chest, and he fell to the ground. Nellie panted, staring at Cassidy’s body lying in the dirt. She barely registered Austin yanking the gun away from her.

“You shot him!”

Nellie stared at him like she didn’t know him.

“Ma!”

She blinked, and everything came into focus.

“We need to get rid of the body,” Austin said, his voice high with worry.

Nellie nodded and sucked in a deep breath. Now wasn’t the time for a conscience.

TWO WEEKS LATER, while Nellie set wildflowers on Luke’s grave, a man watched her, but this time, instead of ignoring the stranger, Nellie approached him.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“I’m looking for an associate of mine. Mister Sean Cassidy. Have you seen him?”

Nellie resisted smiling and shook her head.

“’Fraid I don’t know anyone by that name.”

The man stared at her for a moment. “I must be mistaken, then.”

“Seems so,” she agreed, holding his gaze until he tipped his hat and walked away.

Luke had been right. She was much stronger than she thought. He’d been gone for a fortnight, and she was surviving. Perhaps she was tougher than him, after all, because she didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger, and wouldn’t when this second gentleman came calling, either.

—DONISE SHEPPARD is a multi-genre author residing in southern West Virginia with her husband and four children. Donise found her passion for books at an early age and has been chasing stories ever since. She is an author, editor, and co-owner of Pixie Forest Publishing.