The Preacher's Outlaw Bride

by Mildred Colvin

  Her eyes widened as she looked at his plate. Then she lifted her chin. “I can do that.”

  “Good.” His voice softened. “I’m not asking you to clean your plate, but you won’t be going back to the clinic until most of it’s gone. You need to eat, KodyAnne. You can’t go without food. No wonder you’re such a runt.”

  “I am not a runt.” Fire sparkled from her eyes before she lifted an offering of chicken and carried it to her mouth. “I’m just not hungry right now.”

  He chuckled and watched her slip food in her mouth one forkful at a time. Of course, each time her fork could’ve held twice as much, but at least she was eating.

  Finally, she spread her hand over her middle and frowned at him. “You always were mean to me.”

  He laid his fork down and stared at her. “How can you say such a thing? I always did what was best for you. I rescued you off the street and taught you everything I knew. I took care of you, KodyAnne, in the only way a ten or eleven-year-old boy knew how.”

  He’d always been as good to her as he knew to be because she brought what little good there was in him out. Their relationship hadn’t been one way. She’d been good for him, too. He looked down at his plate and spoke without thinking. “What you don’t know is that you rescued me, too.”

  Her eyebrows lifted. “How could I have? You were always so big and strong. You didn’t need anything or anyone.”

  “Ha.” He made a sound of disagreement and picked up his fork to continue eating. “Go ahead and eat what you can. I plan to clean my plate.”

  KodyAnne held up her hand. “Wait. You have to tell me. How did I save you?”

  He shook his head. “Nope, not now. You need to finish eating so I can show you around the town, and you can’t eat if you’re talking.”

  She let out a huge sigh but took another tiny bite.

  He grinned.

  ~*~

  KodyAnne smiled her thanks as Michael held the diner’s door for her. She swept through and stepped out on the boardwalk. She pressed her stomach. It held more than she could remember since Mama died. They’d run into some hard times since then. Truth was, Mama kept the farm going even when Papa and Tyler did the heavy work. Without her knowledge of when and how to plant and care for the animals, their farm didn’t have much of a chance. Papa might’ve run a store and been a success, but he wasn’t a farmer. And he wasn’t an outlaw. Two months ago, he’d gone to see Uncle Mark and found him on his deathbed. Uncle Mark didn’t ask him to join the gang, but he gave him the keys to his safety deposit box.

  “Do you want to stop in here and look around?”

  KodyAnne looked up and saw they’d crossed the street and stood in front of the Willow Springs Emporium. She shook her head. “Maybe later. I’d like to see your church first if we have the time.”

  “There’s plenty of time. Even slow as you eat, we have another hour before you can see your father.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and made a jingling sound. Papa always did that when he had coins in his pockets. Maybe all men did. She liked it.

  “Mike, will you talk to Papa?” She searched his face. “Will you pray with him to be sure he’s ready for heaven?”

  “Yes, of course. Do you think he’ll listen?” Michael frowned. “Everyone has a choice, you know. I can’t make him accept God’s gift of salvation.”

  “He’ll listen.” KodyAnne shook her head. “You don’t understand, though. He’s a good man. Things have been hard since Mama died. He got discouraged and thought he had to do this to take care of us.”

  Papa had to make things right with the Lord because she didn’t think he’d live long enough to go to jail.

  Michael took KodyAnne’s arm and turned her in the opposite direction. “This isn’t the way to the church. It’s behind us. I was heading back to the clinic.”

  KodyAnne fell into step with him. As they walked past the bank, she glanced at it. Such an innocent looking building, yet so much had happened since this morning when she stepped through its doors. If she never went inside again, she wouldn’t mind.

  Michael walked without speaking until they reached the street. He stopped until a wagon rolled past then spoke as they crossed. “You say your father’s a Christian?”

  KodyAnne watched her step as she avoided the shallow ruts in the road so she wouldn’t have to see Michael’s eyes and read the condemnation in them. “He’s no outlaw. I know that. He’s always taken us to church and taught us right. He made a mistake today. He needs forgiven.”

  Michael stopped by the side of the road, touched her chin with the tip of his finger, and lifted. When her gaze met his, he dropped his hand. “Did your father ever ride with your uncle’s gang?”

  “No, but he intended to.” KodyAnne met Michael’s gaze without wavering. “Papa went to the hideout and found Uncle Mark dying. He’d been shot. I don’t know how. During a job or by one of his men. Papa didn’t say for sure. Uncle Mark made him promise not to ride with his gang. That’s when he gave him the key and told him to get the box.”

  Michael looked into her eyes. “So you’re saying your father isn’t an outlaw and never has been?”

  KodyAnne let out a big huff of air. “No, he isn’t. He wouldn’t do that, Mike. I don’t know why he pulled his gun today. He made a mistake.” Her eyes burned from the tears she didn’t want to release. She’d cried more today than she wanted to.

  “Okay.” Michael took her arm. “Let’s go see the church.”

  What was he thinking? Did he believe what she’d told him about her father? She couldn’t read his expression. He turned north on the side Street and stopped before a white frame building with a small steeple on top. “This is Willow Creek Community Church. The only church in town.”

  KodyAnne looked back at the lone house sitting on the corner of the two cross streets. “Is that where you live?”

  “No, some nice people named Jackson live there. They’re my next-door neighbors.” He pointed to the east of the Jackson’s house. “See that large two-story house with the big, red barn in back? That’s the parsonage.”

  KodyAnne cupped her hands over her mouth. “Don’t tell me you live alone in that big house?”

  “All by myself.” He grinned at her as if he figured he knew what she was thinking.

  “Now I know why you became a preacher.” She giggled. “You wanted the house that came with the job.”

  He snorted. “Not hardly.

  “Don’t tell me that, Mike. I remember how you were crammed into a room with three other boys, and you said one day you’d have a big two-story house all to yourself.” She wiped tears from her eyes. Her emotions were a mess. One minute she wanted to laugh and the next she felt like crying. “Who would’ve thought you’d get it by preaching? Our pastor always said God had a sense of humor. Do you think that’s true?”

  “Yes, I think so.” He kicked a pebble. “Now if you’re finished laughing at me, maybe we could head back to the clinic.”

  Michael acted offended, but he wasn’t really. She knew him better than that. She gave him her sweetest smile and took his arm. “I’m ready, and don’t forget you promised to talk to Papa.”

  ~*~

  Michael held the clinic door open for KodyAnne. She stumbled over the threshold, and he caught her with a hand on her arm. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, I’m fine.”

  But she wasn’t. In their brief contact, tension in her body reached his hand. Lord, be with her. Sustain her if her father is worse. He’d been praying the same prayer since they left, not knowing what they’d find when they returned.

  “Is he awake yet?” KodyAnne rushed to the desk in the corner where Mrs. Harper sat writing in a ledger.

  The doctor’s wife looked up with a smile. “Yes, I believe he is. Why don’t we go back and see?”

  Michael put a restraining hand on KodyAnne’s shoulder until the nurse came around her desk.

  As Mrs. Harper led them down a hall, she glanced back. “Did you have a
good lunch?”

  KodyAnna nodded. “Yes, your preacher made me eat way too much, though.”

  She laughed. “Good for him.”

  The doctor’s wife stopped in front of a door and turned to face them. “Now remember, dear, your father’s been through a lot the last few hours. He should be able to talk, but don’t expect much from him. He’s very weak and tires easily. You won’t be able to stay long. Let’s have no hysterics.”

  KodyAnne seemed to be fighting for control. A sweet smile won over the tears that had to be close to the surface. Michael’s heart swelled with pride for the woman she’d become and the strength she showed.

  She nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

  Michael followed her into the small bedroom that held a dresser, a cart with bottles of medicine on it, and two chairs placed beside the bed. What would they find? A man ready to meet his Lord or a hardened criminal.

  “Papa.” KodyAnne rushed to his side, sat on the edge of his bed, and covered his hand with hers.

  “Kody girl.” His lips stretched at the sight of her. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine, Papa. So is Tyler. It’s you we’re worried about.”

  “Ty’s here?” His breathing sounded rough.

  “No, he got away. He’s fine.” She turned and drew Michael forward. “This is my husband.” She giggled. “Sort of. You remember me always looking for Mike? This is Michael Wellington. He’s the pastor of the church here. Imagine that.”

  “Pastor?” The man’s eyes brightened as he looked up at Michael.

  Michael nodded. “Hello, sir.”

  “I been prayin’.” He lifted his hand, winced, and let it fall back to the bed.

  Michael saw sincerity in his eyes. He touched the older man’s hand. “Would you like for me to pray with you? Do you have any questions?”

  He nodded. “I’m goin’ home.”

  KodyAnne’s quick intake of air meant she understood her father’s meaning.

  “You know the only way to heaven is through—”

  “I’m a Christian. No outlawin’. Sorry.”

  “That’s wonderful. Why don’t we pray now?” Michael barely caught the slight movement of Mr. Delmont’s nod.

  He took the older man’s hand between both of his and bowed his head. “Father God, we come to you rejoicing because Your child desires to make things right with You. Although his intention was to provide a living for his children, he is convicted for going against Your law to do so. We pray You will accept his repentance and renew a right spirit within him. Cleanse his soul. In Jesus’ name, we pray.”

  “Jesus, sorry.” Mr. Delmont sucked in a wheezing breath. “Please forgive.” Moisture slipped from the corner of his eye.

  KodyAnne brushed the tear from her father’s cheek.

  “I’m His now.” His muscles relaxed.

  Michael’s answering smile stretched his face as he gave the man’s hand a gentle squeeze. “The angels in heaven rejoice when a soul makes things right with the Lord.”

  The older man looked from Michael to KodyAnne, then speared Michael with his gaze as if he had something important to say. “Marry. Take care of her. And hers. Promise?”

  Mary? The poor man must be thinking of his wife. With his heart full of the blessing of helping a man find his way to the Lord, Michael smiled and nodded. “Of course, I promise.”

  Take care of her? Why not? Taking care of KodyAnne had always been his job. He’d already promised Clint he would.

  Chapter 5

  Michael’s heart jerked when KodyAnne swung toward him with her eyes wide and her lips parted as if she wanted to speak but was afraid to.

  Something was wrong. What had her father said? He ran the words through his mind and came up blank. Mary, take care of KodyAnne. What was wrong with that? Of course, he wasn’t Mary, but he figured the man had a right to be a little confused. Mr. Delmont’s eyes were closed and his mouth curved in a peaceful smile. Besides receiving forgiveness from his heavenly Father, he was probably glad to know his daughter would be taken care of. It was time for them to let him rest.

  Michael stood and touched KodyAnne’s shoulder. He leaned close and whispered. “Come on.”

  She rose, kissed her father’s cheek, and led the way from the room. She turned twice before they stepped out the front door of the clinic and looked up at him as if searching his face. For what? He walked beside her into the street, going over the words her father had spoken. Mary, take care of her and hers. Promise?

  And hers. Okay, that hadn’t settled in his brain real well at first. So what did hers mean? Was that the problem? And why’d he call him Mary? What was his wife’s name? He’d assumed he was thinking of her. Michael felt like a fog had settled in his mind. Nothing made sense.

  “KodyAnne, what was your mother’s name?”

  She looked up at him with searching eyes. “Sarah.”

  Sarah? He stopped as if he’d hit a wall of bricks. Sarah couldn’t be mistaken for Mary.

  The man had said marry not Mary. A death-bed promise. He was a sap. An ignorant sap. He’d trapped himself with his own ignorance. Now, what could he do?

  Warm, gentle fingers curled around his arm. “Come on, Mike. You can’t stop in the middle of the street. A wagon could run over you.”

  She tugged on his arm, and he forced his feet to move. The scent of lilacs teased his nose. The same hint of spring he’d been smelling all morning. He turned toward KodyAnne and breathed deep. Mmm. He filled his eyes with her beauty. Thought of her sweetness. So what was he fighting? The idea of marriage to her wouldn’t be all bad. In fact, it wouldn’t be bad at all. If it’d been his own idea.

  She looked up at him with those wide eyes, again searching his face. Now he knew what she was looking for. He stretched his lips into what he hoped was a smile. They stepped up to the boardwalk in front of the jail. Where were they going? He took in the empty front porch where Clint often sat watching the town. Where was he? When the man was needed, he up and disappeared.

  What had he been thinking, anyway? A man should never agree to anything until he understood what was being asked. All he’d heard was, Take care of her. He’d always taken care of her.

  Marry. How’d he know it was the one with the extra “r” in it? He’d thought the man was out of his head or something calling him Mary. Well, he’d agreed to take care of her. Yeah, and as far as KodyAnne and Mr. Delmont was concerned, he’d agreed to marry her. A real wedding with a real preacher this time.

  The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became. His stomach rolled and he swallowed. Maybe he should sit down. He needed to talk to Clint. See if there was some way out of this predicament. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. “KodyAnne, we need to get you a place to stay for the night.”

  “Yes, Michael.” Her smile was the sweetest he’d ever seen as she tugged him to a stop. “I assumed this is where we were going. It’s the boardinghouse you wanted, isn’t it?”

  The sudden urge to run possessed Michael. He glanced at the door to the boarding house then back toward the jail. “Maybe Clint should be in on this.”

  KodyAnne’s brows drew together. “Are you afraid of Mrs. Clemants?”

  “Afraid? No.” What could he do? He felt as befuddled as if he’d been knocked cold. Maybe he had. Maybe he’d dreamed the last few minutes.

  “Then why do we need the sheriff?”

  To get me out of this jam. Michael shook his head. “We don’t, except someone will have to pay for your board. I figured that’d be Clint’s problem since he’s the one keeping you here. But don’t worry. If he doesn’t, I will.”

  KodyAnne rolled her eyes and twirled toward the door. “In the first place, the sheriff isn’t keeping me here. How many times do I have to tell you, I’m not going anywhere until I know how Papa is? In the second place, I’ll figure out how to pay my own way.”

  She hadn’t said until Papa’s ready to go home like she’d said before. Had she given up on him getting well? Micha
el took a deep breath and let it out. Maybe it was for the best. He reached for the door when Melanie flew out of the diner.

  “Hey, what are you two up to?” She motioned them toward her and zeroed in on KodyAnne. “You need a place to stay, don’t you?”

  ~*~

  KodyAnne left Michael standing with one hand on the boardinghouse door handle while she moved toward Melanie. She glanced at him as he followed her. A frown marred his handsome face and he looked over his shoulder as if he expected someone to jump out at him. He’d been acting strange ever since Papa asked him to marry her. As if she’d ever hold him to such a promise.

  She smiled at the lady from the diner. “Yes, we were just about to rent a room from your sister.”

  “I happen to know she’s full up. But I have an idea.” Melanie crossed her arms and nodded as if the problem was solved. “You can stay with me.”

  “With you?” Michael stepped closer. “Won’t you be crowded or do you have more than a room?”

  Melanie laughed. “Now Reverend, if I had two rooms, my big sister would be out the rent that second room might bring in. Of course, I only have one room, but I’ve got a big double bed and plenty of dresser space. Even got a wardrobe for your clothes if you’ve got any extras with you.”

  KodyAnne shook her head. “No, all I have is what I’m wearing.”

  “Well, how about it? Would you like the space?” Melanie looked through the door into the diner. “I don’t have all day. Got some beans cooking for supper. I wouldn’t mind the company, though. Might be nice for a change.”

  KodyAnne smiled. Melanie seemed real nice. What she’d said about company made sense. She wasn’t much older, maybe three or four years. It’d be nice to have someone to talk to. “Okay, I can’t pay much, but I’ve got to have a place. Your offer sounds like a God-send.”

  Melanie laughed. “I wouldn’t know about that, but the offer isn’t for pay. You’ll stay as my guest. My sister won’t have anything to say about that. Come on inside. Let me check those beans then we’ll go upstairs, and I’ll show you where you’ll be.”