The Preacher's Outlaw Bride

by Mildred Colvin

  She shrugged. “I suppose here in town. But I miss riding Pistol. We used to go on long rides, just the two of us. He probably misses me, too.”

  “Do you use a saddle when you ride?” The odd question brought her eyes to examine his.

  She’d ridden bareback the night she took his horse. Did he suspect her? But how could he unless he’d seen her when she rode past that farm. That was him with the doctor standing in the yard, and Mike had run up to the road. Had he remembered? Did he know?

  She looked away. “I usually do. I’ve ridden bareback before. Why?”

  He shrugged and stared straight ahead. “No reason. Just wondering.”

  He knew. Mike somehow knew it was her. Would he tell the sheriff? No, she didn’t think so. Mike would protect her first. Her breath calmed. She needed to tell him. As soon as she could, she would. It wasn’t right to keep secrets from Mike. He might not be her “for real” husband, but he was the closest to a husband she’d ever have.

  ~*~

  KodyAnne set her saddlebags on the floor behind the door and turned to survey her new home. “Well, that’s that. Who would’ve thought we’d end up in town after all these years on the farm?”

  Charlotte sank to the bed as a sigh rushed out. She looked so vulnerable with her hands clasped together, her head bowed, and her shoulders slumped.

  “Oh, Char.” KodyAnne hurried to sit beside her. She slipped one arm around her sister’s shoulders. “Don’t look so sad. Papa wouldn’t have you this way. You know that.”

  “I know, but it hurts.” Charlotte lifted her head. “It’s like we’ve come in a circle from the city, to the farm, and now back to town. What’s next?”

  The blue in Charlotte’s eyes dimmed with her fears. She was too young to worry. KodyAnne injected a lilt to her voice. “You and I are going to live and work right here. Melanie and her sister are true Christians to take us in this way, don’t you think?”

  Charlotte looked away. “Yes, but I don’t like charity. I feel like an orphan all over again.”

  KodyAnne couldn’t stop the sigh that slipped out. “We are orphans, Charlotte. No getting around that, but we’ll be all right. This time we’re not children. We have jobs and a place to stay.” She swept out her hand, taking in the room’s furnishings. “Look at all this. A comfy bed, a dresser for our clothes, and even a place to hang our dresses.”

  She scuffed her feet on the floor. “See this rug? Now your toes won’t freeze on cold mornings.”

  A faint smile touched Charlotte’s lips. “This is May, Kody. It isn’t cold.”

  “And we can be thankful for that, too.” KodyAnne scooted back on the bed. “Charlotte, Papa gave me the key to Uncle Mark’s safety-deposit box right after he was shot. I plan to use it.”

  Charlotte turned and stared at her sister. “How? They won’t let you near that box now for sure.”

  “I know.” KodyAnne shrugged. “That’s why I’ll have to open it after they all go home.”

  “You can’t just walk into a locked bank, Kody.” Charlotte’s eyes grew round and wide. She covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, no. What if you get caught?”

  “I’m not going to take anything that isn’t already mine. They can’t hang me for that.” KodyAnne lifted her chin. “Besides, they already think I’m an outlaw. I just need to finish what Papa couldn’t. It was important to him to provide for us. That’s why he gave me the key.”

  “I don’t think you should do this. You could get caught and put in jail. Think how Tyler and I would feel if that happened.” A crease appeared between Charlotte’s eyes. “Please, KodyAnne, think about what could happen. At least think it over really good before you try anything like that.”

  KodyAnne lips curves upward, and she nodded. “Okay, I will.” She’d think about it all right. She’d watch and figure out the best time to slip across the street and around back. The bank had a back door. It would be locked, but Michael had taught her well. He gave up picking locks when they went into the orphanage, and almost threw his tools away. He never could say no to her, so now his tools were in her purse ready to go to work one more time.

  She placed her hand over her heart and felt the outline of his ring. When she asked for the tools, she hadn’t known he would give her his mother’s ring, too. He wanted her to have it though, and she’d worn it ever since that day in the orphanage basement when Keirra tied it on her hair ribbon and told him to put it around her neck. So she had Mike’s ring and her best friend’s ribbon, and she’d never part with either. She hadn’t had anything to give Mike other than her love, but she’d given Keirra her pretty rock. Did Keirra still have her rock? Did Michael remember giving her the ring? She shook her head. No sense in wondering about it. After a deep breath, she let the air out and stood.

  “Let’s go see Pistol and Snowball.”

  Charlotte followed her from the room with a little more enthusiasm. “I hope they’re treating them good.”

  “I’m sure they are. Michael works at the livery sometimes. He seems to think they’re good to the animals. Better than their prisoners, I guess. The county is paying for Pistol’s keep, but they wouldn’t pay for mine. If not for Melanie, I don’t know what I’d be doing.”

  “Should you tell her you’re leaving the boardinghouse?” Charlotte stopped outside Melanie’s door. “After all, she’s supposed to keep watch over you, isn’t she?”

  KodyAnne giggled. “You’re right, she is. I forgot. Of course, Mike is my day guard, she’s my night guard.”

  Melanie opened the door at KodyAnne’s knock. “Hey, coming for a visit so soon? I knew you’d miss me.”

  “Actually, I’m here to tell you where I’m going.” KodyAnne glanced at Charlotte. “We want to check on our horses, see if they’re being taken care of.”

  “Oh, Devin will take care of them.” Melanie opened the door wider. “Are you coming in?”

  “No, but you’re welcome to come with us.”

  Melanie looked back into her room as if someone were hiding in it. “I’d love to, but I want to write some letters. Sunday’s my only day off and I . . .”

  When her voice trailed away, leaving moisture sparkling in her eyes, KodyAnne’s heart constricted. Had something happened? “Melanie, what’s wrong? Is there anything I can do?”

  A quick laugh came out before Melanie shook her head. “There’s nothing you can do. I’m just being maudlin, I guess. That’s what my sister, Irene, calls it. She says what’s done is done, and there’s nothing anyone can do.”

  “But—”

  “It’s fine.” Melanie brushed at her eyes. “I’m just trying to find someone—a special person I lost track of. It’s a long story.”

  “I’m a good listener.”

  “Maybe I’ll tell you about him some time.” Melanie smiled in spite of the tears she again had to wipe away. “You go see about your horses.”

  When Melanie closed the door, KodyAnne stepped back and went with Charlotte toward the stairway. They shared a look before Charlotte spoke. “That’s sad. She had a lover and has lost him. How could that happen?”

  “I don’t know.” KodyAnne ran down the stairs while her thoughts meandered across time. So many years had passed while Mike was lost to her. The first month in her new home, she’d cried for him almost every night. Gradually, the pain of loss became easier to bear as she learned to love the people who had taken her in. Mama and Papa were patient with her, loving her until she loved them in return. Tyler told her she could leave anytime she felt like it. The first time he caught her in his room without invitation, he offered to take her to the train station himself.

  “I ought to take you to the train and leave you.” He’d growled at her. “How’d you get in here, anyhow?”

  His fierce scowl scared her, but she stood her ground like Mike taught her. She lifted her chin. “Through the door. How else?”

  “It was locked.”

  “Not when I came in, it wasn’t.” She slipped her lock pick in
her pocket and fisted her hand against her hip in one quick move. “If you don’t want me in your old room, just say so.”

  “I done said so, and if you come in again, I’ll put you on the next train out of here.” He whispered the words in a mean voice. He knew as well as she did, if Mama and Papa heard them yelling, they’d come running.

  “Well, I never heard you say so until just now.” She tossed her head and brushed past him out the door. Before he slammed it in her face, she swung back. “I guess you know, I won’t be comin’ back to see you anymore.”

  “Good.”

  She let him have the last word.

  The following week, on the playground at school, he’d gotten a black eye defending her honor when a big boy shoved her out of his way. After that, she showed him her tools and tried to teach him how to use them. He never could get the hang of picking locks. Now he was in trouble, and she’d do anything she could to help him.

  “Come on, Kody. You’re dragging your feet.” Charlotte stopped two steps ahead until KodyAnne caught up.

  “Sorry, I was thinking about things. Tyler for one. And Melanie, too. I don’t think she’s been married, so she must be looking for her fiancé.” They rounded the corner toward the street that went behind the diner and boardinghouse.

  “Uh oh. Who’s that?” Charlotte slowed to a crawl. “He’s coming this way.”

  “It’s okay, Char. We’ll walk on past.” KodyAnne took her sister’s hand. “He’s the newspaper man. Mike said he’s the bank president’s son. He won’t hurt us.”

  “Yeah, well, he’s lookin’ at us like he’s wanting something.”

  “A story’s all he wants. Just let me talk.” As if Charlotte would talk to a strange man. She’d been closed-mouthed around strangers—especially men—ever since Mama and Papa took her from the Orphan Train eight years ago.

  KodyAnne veered to the left, hoping to bypass Mr. Grubby, Gritty, Grimy, or something-like-that. He altered his steps and pasted a wide, fake grin across his face. Maybe his name didn’t sound like dirt. Maybe it was Nosey or Snoopy or meddlesome. There was no way around him, and they couldn’t turn back now.

  “Miss Delmont, hello.” He stopped in front of them, too close. “May I have a word with you and your lovely sister?”

  Charlotte trembled beside her. KodyAnne refused to step back as she swept the street with her gaze. Where was Michael when she needed him? Wasn’t he supposed to be watching her? Now she needed a guard, and he wasn’t here. In fact, not another soul was in sight. Lord, please send Michael.

  Chapter 11

  “Don’t worry, there’s no one within sight or hearing. Anything you say is strictly confidential.” The man’s dimpled grin reminded KodyAnne of Wrangler’s just before he set off after a rabbit.

  She planted her hand that wasn’t holding Charlotte’s on her hip and thrust her chin out. “Confidential, ha! Your paper must not get much of a reading then.”

  His eyes widened, and he shuffled back.

  It wasn’t much, but maybe she could breathe now.

  “I’ll have you know Willow Springs Gazette has a good following.” There were no dimples flashing now. A crease between his eyes took their place. “It’s my duty, and yours, to inform the public. Why don’t we start with the reason you and your father rode into town on that fateful morning last week?”

  Charlotte pressed against KodyAnne’s arm.

  Papa always said to never back down from a dangerous animal unless shelter was closer than the animal. KodyAnne glanced about the deserted street and lifted her chin so she could look one dangerous and nosy newsman in the eyes. “Seems you’re wasting your time trying to talk to me. Papa took all the answers to his grave.”

  She swept her hand across her dark shirtwaist. “As you can well see, we’re in mourning for the best papa two girls could ever have. An innocent man, whether you believe it or not. Now, excuse us while we get on with our business.”

  KodyAnne tugged Charlotte’s hand, and together they swept past the startled man.

  Only he didn’t stay startled long enough. “Hey, wait just a minute. Did you come into town with the intention of robbing the bank?”

  When his hand closed around KodyAnne’s arm, she stopped, turned, and glared at his hand. He was a big man, almost twice her size, and she couldn’t do a thing to get away from him if he decided to keep her there, but that’d never stopped her before.

  She slowly lifted her gaze until she met his smirking face. “Listen carefully, Mr. Grimey, and I will tell you something. You’re touching my shootin’ arm, but I can shoot left-handed or right. Doesn’t matter to me. Charlotte, hand me my gun.”

  Grimes jerked his hand away as if it’d been burned. His smirk vanished as his eyes widened and he stepped back. He looked to the left and then the right at the same deserted street she’d been watching. “Now, Miss Delmont, there’s no need for violence.”

  KodyAnne smiled. “I didn’t think there was any need of you grabbing my arm, either. I’ve told you all I intend to. I suggest you leave me alone—and my sister, too. Good day, Mr. Grimey.”

  She turned away, her heart pounding so hard she wondered if she’d have a heart attack. Her hand came up to cover her heart and held onto Michael’s ring instead. She almost didn’t hear him call after them. “My name is Grimes for your information.”

  KodyAnne didn’t bother to look back. She always had a hard time remembering names, but this time it didn’t bother her.

  “KodyAnne, are you all right?” Charlotte looked over her shoulder. “He’s gone now. Do you think he’ll tell the sheriff you threatened to shoot him?”

  “He didn’t see a gun, did he?” KodyAnne’s legs felt about as substantial as the paper doll’s she’d cut from a magazine once. She took a deep breath, hoping to ease her heart’s pounding.

  “No, but he believed you had one.” Charlotte gave her a searching look. “You do still have that little gun Uncle Mark gave you, don’t you?”

  KodyAnne patted her purse hanging from her arm. “Got it right here. Maybe I should hide it. Just in case.”

  “Maybe you should.” Charlotte shuddered. “I don’t like guns.”

  KodyAnne gave her a grin. “That’s why Uncle Mark gave the derringer to me instead of you.”

  By the time they reached the livery, she felt better. The door stood ajar, so KodyAnne pushed it wider and looked inside. The man Melanie called Devin limped toward them. “Hello there, ladies. Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “You have our horses here.” KodyAnne gave him a sweet smile. Surely that sheriff hadn’t given him instruction to keep them from their own horses. “We’d like to see them, please.”

  “Well, sure.” A light flickered in his eyes. “Ah yes, you must be the Delmont girls. I was told to expect you.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “I did.” Michael’s voice came from behind her.

  KodyAnne swung toward the sound. “Where have you been? I thought you were supposed to guard me during the day. Some guard you turned out to be.”

  Michael’s eyes grew wide as his eyebrows lifted. “You’re yelling at me for giving you a little elbow room?”

  “Oh, is that what you call it when we’re accosted by a man on the way here?”

  Michael’s jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed. He looked down the street. “What man? What exactly did he do?”

  KodyAnne shrugged. “He tried to force us to give him . . . What’d he call that, Char?”

  Charlotte shook her head. “He didn’t say.”

  KodyAnne frowned as if she were thinking. “You know, I think you’re right. He didn’t put a name on what he wanted.”

  “KodyAnne.” Michael’s voice held a definite threat.

  “What?” She gave him a sweet smile. “Oh well, I knew perfectly well what he wanted. Something juicy to put in his old newspaper about the Delmont gang, only we don’t know anything about any gang or any outlaws, either.”

  KodyAnne cro
ssed her arms and frowned. “It doesn’t matter what he wanted, Mike. He scared us. I had to threaten him to make him leave us alone. I could’ve used a good guard right about then.”

  Michael visibly relaxed. “You mean Oliver Grimes from the newspaper.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I believe they call that a statement. What am I going to do with you, Andy?”

  “He grabbed my arm.”

  Michael sighed. “I’ll talk to him, I promise. But right now, let’s get your horses.”

  KodyAnne’s heart seemed to stop as she stared at Michael. “Are you going to let us go for a ride?”

  He grinned. “Yep.”

  A familiar whinny kept KodyAnne from voicing her approval. She swung toward Pistol as Devin led him and Snowball through the back door. Charlotte was already hurrying toward her horse so KodyAnne followed. She turned and called over her shoulder. “Thanks, Mike.”

  He chuckled and ambled toward her.

  They saddled the horses and led them down the street. Michael walked with KodyAnne. “We’ll go around the corner here to my house and get Fireball. He’s probably itching for a good run. I try to take him out every day I can, but I haven’t felt like it the last couple of days. Seems I bumped my head somehow.”

  KodyAnne met Michael’s eyes. Yep, he knew something. Maybe everything. She sighed. Looked like she’d have to confess.

  “I’ll get the gate.” Michael lengthened his stride and the moment was lost. He whistled, and the horse she’d borrowed Thursday night raced across the pasture toward them.

  Fireball. KodyAnne smiled. Mike picked a good name for his mustang. Pistol was fast, but she’d felt the energy in Mike’s horse and figured he was even faster. He sure did like to run, anyway.

  Man and horse met as if they’d been separated for weeks. Fireball whinnied and bobbed his head against Michael’s shoulder. Michael laughed and rubbed the horse’s neck in a sort of hug.

  KodyAnne shared a smile with Charlotte. Michael’s love for his horse was something Char would understand. Maybe she’d decide he wasn’t so bad after all.