5 The truth

Luke went inside the coach and checked for injuries and casualty luckily there was none, there was heated discussion going on all passengers converged around the lady whose quick wittiness helped them in this ordeal. Luke himself wanted to thank her but it was impossible to bypass the crowd, letting the matter go he went to the driver to start the train back in the journey.

Finally train arrived at the station where Shine was treated as a celebrity and other two ladies were applauded as well later she found out they were mother daughter pair that were returning after visiting their relative, younger one was same age as Shine her name was Gwen and her mother is Lady Aldwin. Gwen and Shine became fast friend talking all the way.

Finally Shine came down the platform accepting thanks and congratulations from fellow passengers she stood at the platform to wait for her to be husband, but there was no one, it was already one hour and there was no news. Now the fellow passengers were waiting with her to meet her new husband but their eyes carried pity for her as there was no one to receive her.

Mrs Aldwin finally offered her to come home with her which she accepted finding no other way. Gwen was happy her new friend was coming home with her. Finally they sat at the buggy leaving her information at the station master about her and giving Mrs Aldwin's address they finally left.

Luke after submitting the report of captured robbers and cremating the dead ones Luke finally was free to pick up Shine the supposed bride of his dead brother. He knew he was late feeling anxious he searched whole platform but found no one meeting the description after asking the station master about Shine he finally got the address to Mrs Aldwin's home.

Shine was waiting inside with Gwen talking with her about random topics information about the town and Leo, while her heart was anxious when Mr Aldwin heard the name Leo he became silent indicating his wife to come outside when Mrs Aldwin went out to talk with her husband she found out about the matter and saddened deeply for the poor child.

Luke went to his horse and ran to the provided address after reaching the destination he knocked on the door politely. Old Mr Aldwin opened the door seeing the young man he understood the situation he welcomed him inside. Luke was a famous person in the town as he was the only Marshal within the 20 kilometres range.

Mrs Aldwin brought Shine outside the room. Shine looked at Luke and found him the same person who saved them in the robbery. She went to him smiling politely " Mr Marshall are you perhaps here for the purpose of robbery, I do have to thank you for saving us at that moment".

Luke didn't reply and looked at his brother's to be bride and his heart felt heavy looking at her smiling face. His brother had informed him how Shine lived with her sister and brother in law and how her sister and she was orphaned in young age and her sister did menial work to survive together, whereas Shine being very young at that time also helped her however she could.

looking at her bright smile his heart had weird scratchy feeling and with hoarse voice he replied " hello Miss, I am Luke brother of Leo and I am very sorry to inform you my brother expired last week in a robbery accident".

Shine's smile stiffened and sharp stabbing pain felt in her heart she felt darkness in her future and everything went black.