Distant Lovers - 4 [Sad Memories]

Well Miss Poppy we had dreams. Dreams that never came true and when we reached out for some happiness....(Mace sobs) he slips in like a low down snake and takes her life. 1

I have been in these hills and the mountains for the over a year now. Tell me what it is that you can do to help. If he get a hankering your up to something he just might snuff you out as well. 2

"Now I have some confessing to do, but mind you its not in his behalf. Well some 15 years ago I was in love with Trace. His full name is Trace Reed and he's the same age as you." said Poppy. "Then why didn't you marry up with him?" asked Mace.3

"Some of my Paw's old fashioned ways that the oldest marries first, and he believe he should do the pickin'. So he promised Trace his daughter. His parents & my Ma all thought it was me that he was wedding. Paw threw a big BBQ and announced his daughter was marring. That night his heart, my heart broke and I see now Lilys' heart was broken too." "Never mind my heart being shattered," spoke Mace softly. 4

"We never disobey our paw, so Lily ended up married and was going to make the best of it...until the wedding night. She told him about you then; He announced to paw she had been fooling around and was no virgin. He stay by her but never touched her so he told me."
"Why didn't somebody just tell ya Paw the truth? I would of still married her" Mace said, as he hung his head down looking so sad.5

"I know Lily was afraid of him. Stayed out his way. Oh she cooked, cleaned, ironed, washed, but she never loved him. You see after they stayed in that sham of a marriage, I became a missionary of the church and left. Trace wrote me and told me he had met another woman, he name was Eve. So he tried to scare Lily off by telling her he was going to kill her."
"Do you have those letters? asked Mace. "Yes I do" Poppy spoke now in tears. 6

"You see Mr. Mace he never harmed her..alot of fussing, pushing. What does that tell you?" a sniffling Poppy asked.7

Mace sat there then like a brain storm; it hit him. "How strong was his relationship with Eve?" " Mr. Mace they have 3 children together. I'm wondering if she done something to my sister. She wanted him to divorce her. Marry her and make her a honest woman." Poppy said.8

"I have her picture, we need to ask question at the borden house my sister stayed at. See if she came in on the train
and ask the same about him."9

"Well killing is cheaper then a divorce, dividing the land,
cattle, and everything up" said Mace. "So I guess we better start digging up some information on the both of them" and fast said Poppy.10

"Now in the morning I want you to ride out of town with me to Lily's resting place. It's time for me place some fresh flowers on her headstone." 11

They looked at each other with tear rolling down their faces, and he said, "I see you then Miss Poppy." 12

13