Conner's Contrary Bride

by Barbara Goss

  Frank shoved her into Conner’s bedroom. It was the first time Elsie had been in the room, but she couldn’t take the time to view it, as she was struggling hard to get out of Frank’s powerful grip.

  He took a sock from the bureau, shoved it into her mouth, and threw her onto the four-poster bed.

  Elsie struggled as if her life depended on it because she knew it did, but he was stronger, and he gave her no chance to kick him where she had last time.

  Frank held her down as he tied her wrists to the bedposts on the headboard and her still kicking ankles to the bedposts on the footboard. When he had finished, she lay spread-eagle across the bed, and feeling horribly vulnerable while he remained at the foot of the bed laughing.

  “Not so smart now, are you?” He called her a foul name.

  Thankfully, he hadn’t raised her skirt yet or tried to attack her, preferring, instead, to enjoy gazing at her lying there. She knew it was only a matter of minutes before he dove in for the attack.

  God is our refuge and strength and very present help in trouble. God is our refuge and strength and very present help in trouble. God is our refuge and strength and very present help in trouble. She prayed, over and over.

  The speakers at the convention were boring, and they didn’t tell him anything he didn’t already know. He yawned several times as he hadn’t been sleeping well. All he could see when he closed his eyes was his little wife, standing on the train platform, waving goodbye. He was glad he’d gone back to kiss her. Conner missed her. He knew, for sure, he was in love, and he couldn’t wait to get back home to tell her so. It didn’t matter if they didn’t agree on things, they’d figure out a way to compromise.

  There was one more day of the convention left. Not only was it boring, but he was alone. He thought he might run into some of his college friends, but none were there. After the meeting, all the doctors met at the Mad Dog Saloon, but he wasn’t a drinker, and he wasn’t hungry, so he just went up to his hotel room.

  Conner opened his suitcase to change for bed, admiring the way Elsie had packed his things so neatly. He picked up a clean pair of long johns, and a piece of paper fell out. Conner retrieved it from the floor and read it: “A lonely heart is waiting for you to return home.” He smiled and brought the paper to his lips. A moment later, he slammed the suitcase shut, left the room with it, signed out of the hotel, and went to the train depot. He didn’t belong in Kansas City, and certainly not with these stuffy old doctors. He was going home to his wife to start his new life.

  The next train west wasn’t scheduled to leave until one in the morning, and it wouldn’t arrive in Hays City until six o’clock in the evening. He didn’t know why, but he wanted to be home quicker than that—it had to be love. Conner paced the depot until his train finally arrived.

  It was a long train ride, and they stopped at every large city to pick up or drop off passengers and mail. He supposed he should be thankful that there were trains now, otherwise he’d be stuck in a stuffy stagecoach, and he wouldn’t get home for days. Each minute that passed seemed like an hour. He was eager to see Elsie, take her into his arms, and tell her he loved her. Conner no longer had any doubts. Maybe he could make her his wife for real that very night.

  He pulled out his watch. It was only two in the afternoon. He had four hours to go, and it seemed like an eternity.

  Conner also couldn’t wait to tell her the construction of their house would begin the following week. He looked forward to watching it going up together. His heart pounded with love for Elsie and the life they’d have. Why hadn’t he realized it sooner? He was a love-sick man.

  He sat with his eyes closed as the train raced toward Hays City, planning what he’d do or say first after walking into the house.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Finally, the train turned the bend, and the depot was in sight. Hays City never looked so good to Conner. Of course, there was no one waiting for him since he wasn’t expected until the day after tomorrow. He would surprise Elsie.

  Conner walked the short distance to the house. He noticed the “closed” sign on the window and knew they’d be eating dinner about then. Conner was starving, but eating could wait. He wanted to see Elsie alone first.

  He found the clinic door locked, which wasn’t unusual since it was closed. Conner could have knocked, but he thought he could best surprise her if he entered through the back door. He went through the laundry room and into the kitchen where he dropped his suitcase when he saw Bertie tied to the stove! What was going on?

  Conner ran over to her and pulled the towel out of her mouth.

  Bertie brought a finger to her lips and whispered, “It’s Frank, the stepfather. He took Elsie into your bedroom. And he’s going to... he’s going to... ” she broke down in tears before she could finish the sentence.

  Conner wanted to console her, but he had to get to Elsie. He untied her, patted her on the shoulder, went to the hall closet, quietly opened the door, took out his gun belt, and put it on before making his way down the hall.

  Conner heard her muffled screams coming from his room. He wanted to barge in, but as frantic as he felt, he knew he had to be cautious, so he turned the doorknob slowly, and opened the door a crack as quietly as he could to peer inside.

  He saw Elsie lying on the bed on her back and the big, hairy man—whom he assumed was Frank—tying one of her ankles to the bedpost, having tied the other ankle to the other bedpost. Conner figured he had tied her hands like he had her ankles.

  Poor Elsie. He had to think of the best way to handle the situation. Frank still had his gun belt on, but if he planned a physical attack on Elsie, he’d have to drop the belt before he could drop his britches. Conner would wait until he dropped his belt and britches before he stormed in with both of his guns aimed at the beast. He prayed to God for help to control his temper so he wouldn’t kill the man.

  Conner waited nervously. If Frank saw him, his plan would fail.

  Sure enough, Frank’s anxiousness to attack Elsie made him careless. After securing her foot, Frank laughed. “You won’t kick me in the groin this time. Now, it’s my turn to torture you.”

  Elsie’s squeal sounded muffled, as if Frank had stuffed something in her mouth. From his viewpoint, he could only see the foot of the bed. Elsie strained to free her feet, but they wouldn’t budge.

  Just as Conner had suspected, Frank wasted no time dropping his gun belt, and his britches followed. Conner chose that moment to bust into the room.

  He kicked the door open with his foot, a Colt 45 in each of his hands. “Stop right there!”

  Frank froze with his pants down around his ankles and his mouth hanging wide open. “Who the blazes are you?”

  “Her husband. Put your hands up and move over to the window.” Conner wanted to separate Frank from his guns. “Pull up your trousers.”

  When Frank had pulled them up, Conner yelled, “Now, untie Elsie.” When Frank failed to move, Conner said, “I’m not afraid to shoot. I have the right to shoot anyone who comes into my home and threatens my family. Untie her… now.” Conner cocked one of his guns, hoping the click of it would be loud enough to let Frank know just how serious he was.

  As Frank untied Elsie’s feet, Conner holstered one gun but kept his other still cocked and aimed at Frank. He moved to Elsie’s head and removed the sock from her mouth.

  “Conner!” was all she said. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “God has answered my prayer.”

  He stroked her cheek. “Of course, He did. He gave me a powerful urge to hurry home. Don’t worry anymore.”

  Conner yelled loudly, “Bertie!”

  Of course, she was right behind the door, watching. She poked her head inside the room. “Yes?”

  “Run down and get the sheriff. If you hear a gunshot coming from our house, stop and get the undertaker, too.”

  His words made Bertie race from the room, and Frank untied Elsie faster.

  “Listen,” Frank said, “let me go right now, and I promise
I’ll never come back. I’ll go to Mexico and never bother Elsie again, I swear.”

  “I think not, Frank. You aren’t just guilty of attacking my wife—again—but also of tying up my housekeeper and killing my wife’s mother.”

  Conner’s voice cracked with emotion. “If I hadn’t felt moved to come home early, I’d be coming home a widower.” He kept the cocked gun on Frank and caressed Elsie’s cheek to relax the pulse in her neck that throbbed wildly.

  “It’s all right, Elsie. I’m here.”

  Frank finished untying Elsie’s feet, and Conner grabbed one of the ropes. “Turn around and face the window,” he told him.

  Frank obeyed. Conner set the gun on the bed while he tied Frank’s hands behind his back and then pushed him into a chair. Conner picked up the cocked gun and kept it aimed on him as he untied Elsie’s wrists from the bedposts.

  Elsie rubbed her wrists and gave him a weak smile.

  Once again, Frank pleaded for Conner to let him go. “I didn’t harm your wife any. Let me go now, and you’ll never see me again.”

  “No, Frank,” Conner said. “You need to pay for killing Elsie’s mother.”

  Frank was sweating. “It was an accident, I swear.”

  “You’ll get a fair trial. Elsie, here, will testify as to what she saw. She can do that in an attorney’s office and sign a legal affidavit without ever returning to Gobbler’s Snob or whatever the town’s name is.”

  Elsie sat up and smiled. “Gobbler’s Knob.”

  There was a commotion at the front door. It moved inside, and before he knew it, in walked Sheriff Babcock, pointing his gun. He put it back in his holster once he’d assessed the situation.

  “Ah, Conner—nice work.” Babcock went over to Frank and yanked him to his feet. “You are under arrest for the assault of Conner’s wife, his housekeeper, and his doctor friend, as well as for the murder of your late wife.”

  “The doctor?” Conner asked.

  “Bertie’s untying him now,” the sheriff said. He’s all right.”

  “Now, let’s go!” Babcock yelled at Frank and gave him a shove to get him moving. On his way out, he winked at Elsie. “Now, you can relax.”

  Conner sat on the bed, took Elsie into his arms, and kissed her forehead. “I’m so glad I listened to my instincts and came home. I’m sure the push to do so came from God.”

  Elsie’s heart had slowed to normal, and she leaned closer. “I thought I would die today.”

  “No, sweetheart—I plan on us growing old together. I realized something while I was gone.”

  She looked up at him expectantly.

  “I love you with all my heart.”

  Elsie stroked his face. “I knew that.”

  Conner chuckled. “How could you know it when I didn’t know it myself?”

  “I saw it in your eyes.”

  He hugged her. “With your permission, I’d like to make this a proper marriage. I want you to move into this bedroom tomorrow. What do you say?”

  Elsie nodded shyly. “All I want to do tonight is curl up and sleep.”

  “I’ll carry you to your room.”

  “No—stay with me.”

  Conner gave her a doubtful look. “You’ve been through enough—”

  “I just want you beside me, is all. So I’ll feel safe and protected. Tomorrow is soon enough for us to become a genuine husband and wife. I’ve been through too much today, but I need you near me.”

  Conner nodded. “You got it. I just need to take care of one thing first.” He sat up on the bed and yelled, “Bertie!”

  When she came into the room, he asked, “Did Dr. Wadsworth go back to his hotel room?”

  Bertie nodded.

  “Good. Then you can close up the house for the night. I’m staying here with Elsie.”

  “Is she all right?”

  “Yes, thanks to God. She just needs comforting. I’ll stay with her tonight.”

  “Goodnight to you both.” Bertie shut the door quietly, and they heard her steps as she walked away.

  Elsie touched something with her foot, and she bent down and picked up Conner’s gun gingerly. “Conner, take this thing before it goes off!”

  He smiled and took the gun from her. “I didn’t have time to load it—there are no bullets inside.” Conner took the gun from her and threw it on the floor. After removing his gun belt, he laid back down beside his wife and took her into his arms. “Goodnight, my love.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Elsie was first to awaken. She still had her head on Conner’s chest, but his hold on her had loosened. Elsie looked up at him. He was still asleep. Her prince looked so handsome and peaceful. She moved her leg from under his, and his eyes opened, his arm tightened around her, and he blinked. “I must be dreaming.”

  “I think you’re awake, Sir Charming.”

  “No, it must be a dream because I’m holding my beautiful wife in my arms.”

  Elsie giggled. “It must be a dream for no one has ever called me beautiful.”

  “Oh, but you are. I love you, Elsie Van Gates. Tonight I’ll make you my wife in every way.”

  “No need to flatter me.” She reached up and caressed his cheek. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  He pulled her closer and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Then shall we get up before it happens now?”

  Elsie popped up. “Oh, no. I have so many things to do first. I want it to be perfect.”

  Conner stroked her hair. “It will be.”

  Throughout breakfast, the winks and smiles between Elsie and Conner were so clear that when Bertie came to refill their cups she said, “I hope you don’t mind if I skip out after dinner. Hazel’s not feeling well, and she has asked me to spend the night with her. Her handyman brought the note from her this morning. I promise to be back in time for tomorrow’s breakfast.”

  Conner looked at Elsie. “Well, dear, you’re the lady of the house—what do you think? Should we let Bertie go for the night?”

  Elsie blushed, knowing what was to happen that night. “Of course you may, Bertie. If Hazel continues to be ill, send a note, and we’ll get along here, somehow.”

  “It’s so thoughtful of you to take such good care of Hazel, Bertie,” Conner said.

  “I feel so badly for her being blind and all alone out there on Creek Road. She has her handyman, but though he’s in good shape, he’s almost eighty.”

  Bertie picked up their plates. “I’ll make your dinner and put it in the oven, so the two of you can eat whenever you want. Just be sure to put the dirty dishes in the sink.”

  After Bertie had disappeared into the laundry room, Elsie and Conner exchanged smiles. Conner whispered, “We’ll have the house all to ourselves.”

  Elsie spent the day in the clinic with Conner, treating more patients with measles.

  Conner felt unusually exhausted. Between patients, Conner helped Elsie with the clean-up. He sighed. “I’d hoped the epidemic would be over by the time I’d returned from Kansas City.”

  “Especially with the schools closed for the summer,” Elsie said. “Most kids are working out in the fields, but at church, I heard Mrs. Miller telling Mrs. McDougal that Mrs. Johnson’s maiden daughter is holding a daily Bible lesson club for the whole month of August. The children meet at her home, and they play games and learn the Bible.”

  Elsie bit her lower lip. “I should have told you, but with so much going on... well, each day while you were gone at least one child that was brought in had been attending her group.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea, but I’ll have to pay her a call. It has to stop.

  “Can you handle things while I take a quick ride out there?”

  Elsie nodded. “Are you feeling all right yourself? You look pale, and your eyes are kind of red.”

  “I’m fine. I just didn’t get my usual eight or nine hours of sleep last night.” He winked.

  Conner felt even worse as he rode to the Johnson place, which was about a mile from town. He hope
d there’d be time to take a nap before dinner. He had slept, but with Elsie in his arms, he’d awakened quite a few times through the night. Though he enjoyed having her in his arms, it wasn’t the most comfortable way to sleep, and he supposed that was why he was so unusually tired.

  Elsie locked the clinic’s door. If any more patients came, they could knock. She had to prepare for the most memorable night of her life. Bertie seemed to know about it, but Elsie wondered how she could—she ran to her room to find that Bertie had put the tub in the corner of the room, and she’d brought up some buckets of steaming hot water, which she’d set beside it.

  Bertie poked her head through the doorway. “Your dinner is in the oven. I’ll mind the clinic if someone comes in. Enjoy your bath.” She pulled something from her pocket. “I almost forgot—this is a special soap. Hazel makes it. Her handyman helps. I think this one is lilac scented.”

  Elsie took the bar. “How can I ever thank you, Bertie?”

  Bertie winked. “Enjoy your evening. See you at breakfast.” She closed the door.

  Elsie wasted no time bathing and washing her hair. She wished she had a fancy nightgown, her winter flannel ones would never do, so she selected a mint green cotton one. While it wasn’t the typical wedding night apparel, she didn’t think Conner would mind.

  After she’d toweled herself off, she put her day dress back on. First, they had to have dinner.

  She heard the clinic door open and Conner talking to Bertie. She came out of her room to find Bertie struggling to keep Conner upright.

  “What happened?” she cried, running to them.

  Bertie walked him down the hall, and Elsie ran to help by supporting him on his other side. They finally got him onto his bed.

  Bertie sighed. “He’s burning up with fever.”

  “Oh, no! I’ll run to the hotel to see if Wadsworth is still in town.” Elsie scurried out of the room, through the house and clinic, and to the street. She made it to the hotel just as Wadsworth was descending the large curved staircase with his suitcase.