{"id":7117,"date":"2022-11-14T10:32:39","date_gmt":"2022-11-14T15:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whitefire-publishing.com\/read\/?p=7117"},"modified":"2022-11-14T10:32:39","modified_gmt":"2022-11-14T15:32:39","slug":"julianne-and-the-judge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whitefire-publishing.com\/read\/julianne-and-the-judge\/","title":{"rendered":"Julianne and the Judge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Melody Carlson<\/a> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fresh out of finishing school, Julianne Blackstone is eager to return to her sister\u2019s ranch in Colorado, but her parents have other plans. Plans that involve money, matrimony\u2026and mayhem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While helping in her mother\u2019s chic dress shop, Julianne rekindles an old friendship with young attorney Levi Stanfield and his father Judge Stanfield. But when she discovers her father\u2019s self-serving plans are at odds with the law, her own life is placed in peril.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Torn between her parents and a strong sense of justice, can Julianne find her place in this new western world?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chapter 1<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Early June 1890<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colorado Springs<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julianne Blackstone was nobody\u2019s fool. Except perhaps when it came to her parents. But after two years of finishing school, she planned to outsmart them. So when she got back into Colorado Springs, instead of returning to their fancy new home like they fully expected, Julianne hired a wagon at the train station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want you to take me to the Double W Ranch,\u201d she told the young man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Double W?\u201d He tilted his cowboy hat back to give her a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s only a few miles outside of\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, I know the Double W Ranch all right, and I\u2019m more\u2019n happy to take you there.\u201d He grinned. \u201cOr anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naturally that offer made her uncomfortable, but she was desperate. Despite coming home a day sooner than expected, her fear was that her father would show up and escort her home. Well, to his home anyway. It sure wasn\u2019t hers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She gave the young man a stiff nod. \u201cThank you, but I only need to get to the Double W, and I will reimburse you for your time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo need to pay me, I\u2019m headed that direction anyway.\u201d He grinned again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She rewarded him with a polite smile, and he jerked his thumb to where porters were loading a crate onto a boxcar. \u201cI just brung in a heap of cowhides for the east bound then I\u2019m headed home. Got an empty wagon and no one to keep me company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s mine.\u201d She pointed to her trunk just unloaded from the baggage car. \u201cIf it\u2019s not too much trouble, I hope we can leave directly.\u201d She attempted nonchalance as she coolly glanced around the train station. Hopefully no one had tipped off her parents about her early arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The young wagon driver, with the help of a porter, got her heavy trunk onto the wagon bed, then, removing his hat to display a messy head of poorly cut tawny hair, he introduced himself as Ned Greer. \u201cAnd don\u2019t you worry none, Miss, cuz the Double W is right on my way home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He helped her onto the buckboard then clucked his tongue, snapped the reins, and they were on their way\u2014straight through town. She hoped he wouldn\u2019t notice her hunkered down slightly, using her hat\u2019s wide brim to shield her face as his wagon rumbled down Main Street. She wanted to sneak a glance at her mother\u2019s dress shop up ahead but feared she might be spotted. And so she turned away, fixing her full attention on the driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was so fortuitous that you happened along right when you did,\u201d she said in an overly bright tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d His brow creased as if confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was very lucky you were at the train station,\u201d she interpreted. \u201cJust when I needed a ride too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, yeah. That was lucky. For me too.\u201d He beamed at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She smiled back at him, not because she wanted to lead him on, but because they were now passing the dress shop and she could imagine her mother gazing out the plate glass window in front. \u201cI haven\u2019t been home in so long. I\u2019m very eager to see the beautiful countryside again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou mean the Double W is your home?\u201d He cocked his head to one side. \u201cYou related to the Davises or something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDelia Davis is my older sister.\u201d She almost added half sister but didn\u2019t think it necessary. By now she recognized Ned. They\u2019d probably met at a church picnic or barbecue or something. He was several years older and from a neighboring ranch. But he obviously was unable to place her. Probably because she\u2019d still been in pigtails and pinafores at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As they left town behind them, he chattered away about local goings on, but she only half listened as she soaked in the rolling hills of the Colorado countryside, the red rock formations contrasting against the intensely blue sky. June was such a pretty time. And the rain must\u2019ve been abundant this year because the hillsides looked lush and green. Hopefully there\u2019d be no water rights battles going on this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re Mrs. Davis\u2019s little sister?\u201d Ned drawled out for what must\u2019ve been the third time as he finally turned into the long drive that led directly to her sister\u2019s gracious ranch house. It all looked as lovely and inviting as ever. Roses were even blooming on the trellis next to the wide front porch. \u201cBut I know you\u2019re not Miranda. That\u2019s just as plain as the nose on your face.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right. I\u2019m Delia\u2019s youngest sister.\u201d Julianne reached for her satchel, which she\u2019d stowed at her feet. Eager to escape this overly friendly fellow and his endless chitchat, she spoke quickly. \u201cMiranda married Jackson O\u2019Neil. And now they have two children and live over at the mine\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, yeah, yeah, I know Jackson. He\u2019s a good man. But I don\u2019t recall Mrs. Davis having another full growed sister.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julianne forced a smile. \u201cWell, she does. And I\u2019m her.\u201d She pointed to where the drive curved in front of the house. \u201cJust stop there. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told the team to whoa then looked up at the tall white house then over to the barn and outbuildings. \u201cI always thought this was the prettiest ranch I ever seen. Sure was a shame when Winston Williams got killed like he did. Shot by his own foreman too. People still talk about it sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She nodded as she tossed out her satchel, ready to depart her talkative driver. \u201cYes, I wasn\u2019t here then, but I heard the story. Very sad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He hurried around to help her down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust put my trunk there,\u201d Julianne instructed. \u201cOne of the hands will take it up to the house.\u201d She thanked him again, reaching for her satchel, but he grabbed it first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo Mrs. Davis has got two full growed sisters? One that\u2019s married and one that\u2019s not?\u201d Leaning against the sideboard, he peered curiously down at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI realize it\u2019s a little confusing.\u201d Julianne never enjoyed trying to explain their slightly fractured family<\/a>. \u201cYou see, Delia\u2014Mrs. Davis\u2014came out here from the East Coast to see her father, Winston Williams. As you know, this was his ranch. His second wife was Miranda\u2019s mother, which makes Miranda his stepdaughter, and Delia\u2019s stepsister, but no actual relation to me.\u201d She reached for her satchel, but he held it ransom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He scratched his head. \u201cSo how\u2019re ya related to the Double W?\u201d
\u201cDelia is my half-sister. We have the same mother.\u201d She couldn\u2019t hide her exasperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo your last name ain\u2019t Williams?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo. My brother Julius and I have a different father than Delia. We are both Blackstone\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs Jefferson Blackstone your <\/em>pa?\u201d Ned\u2019s brows shot up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julianne cringed then nodded. She knew her father had acquired quite a reputation as a politician in the fast-growing mining town. She also knew from Delia\u2019s letters that his progressive politics weren\u2019t popular with everyone. Particularly ranchers. But nothing surprising about that since Julianne didn\u2019t get along too well with her father either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSorry to say my pa don\u2019t cotton up to Jefferson Blackstone much.\u201d Ned grimly shook his head as he leaned back against the buckboard. \u201cDon\u2019t like outsiders coming in and trying to change things. Specially things they don\u2019t know nothin\u2019 about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure your father is not alone in his opinions about, uh, Mr. Blackstone.\u201d She tried to be patient as she waited for Ned to unload her trunk from the back of his wagon, but knew she was at his mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re little Julianne Blackstone.\u201d He nodded like some kind of light had gone on. \u201cDelia\u2019s little sister. I remember you now. You were just a kid last time I saw you.\u201d He set down her satchel to reach for the trunk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUh-huh.\u201d She snatched her satchel and stepped away, hoping Ned might take the hint, but he was still just standing there gawking at her with way too much interest. \u201cI\u2019m very eager to see my sister.\u201d She peered over toward the bunkhouse, wishing one of the hands would notice her and come over to help with the trunk, which Ned seemed to have completely forgotten, but no one else was around just now. So she reached for a handle herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, no,\u201d he told her. \u201cI\u2019ll get that.\u201d He tugged the heavy trunk to the edge of the wagon bed then muscled it down to the ground. \u201cThere you go.\u201d He grinned at her, standing tall and squaring his shoulders, as if she\u2019d be impressed by his manly strength. She was not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thank you very much for the lift,\u201d she told him. \u201cVery neighborly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, yeah, I can be right neighborly, Miss Julianne. Our ranch is just a few miles thataway. I s\u2019pect I\u2019ll be seeing lots more of you now that you\u2019re home from that fancy school you was talking about during on our nice little ride.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As eager to escape Ned\u2019s overly accommodating company as she\u2019d been to escape finishing school, she thanked him for what she hoped was the last time. Then clutching her satchel, hurried up to the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t so much that Ned Greer was an uncivilized, unsophisticated, rough-hewn, clodhopping cowboy, although he was. Julianne wasn\u2019t a snob\u2014at least she hoped she wasn\u2019t. After all, she\u2019d always had great respect for the hands that worked her sister\u2019s ranch. But something about Ned Greer\u2019s interest in her made her very uneasy. Probably because it was a stark reminder of what her parents had in store for her. According to her mother\u2019s last letter, Julianne was prime marriage material now, and they already had a number of influential prospects all lined up for her.<\/p>\n\n\n