The Preacher's Outlaw Bride

by Mildred Colvin

  “I wouldn’t know.” KodyAnne opened the door. “I’m usually in the diner working before you get up.”

  “Ha.”

  When Charlotte didn’t say anything else, KodyAnne stepped out and closed the door. Already her little sister’s attention had shifted to the characters in her latest adventure story.

  Michael stood inside with his hand still on the doorknob when she stepped into the front parlor. Had he only now come in? She met his gaze and smiled. “I see you’re right on time. I thought I might need to wait a few minutes.”

  His lips curved and his eyes sparkled. “I wouldn’t keep you waiting. I’d be afraid you’d back out.”

  She laughed. “I might have.”

  When he offered his arm, she slipped her hand around it and they went out together. They crossed a deserted street to the other side. KodyAnne’s breath caught as they turned on the boardwalk in front of the bank. As always when she saw the building, she thought of Papa and how he wanted them to have whatever was in Uncle Mark’s safety deposit box. As soon as possible, she needed to get it from the bank. It shouldn’t be hard to get inside through the back door. Was there a vault? She couldn’t remember. Maybe the boxes were kept behind a locked door. That would be easier. She’d just have to get inside and look around.

  “Is something wrong?” Michael’s voice startled her.

  She swung back to look at him. “No, why?”

  “You were staring at the bank.”

  “Oh.” She lowered her face. “I was thinking about Papa.”

  She had been thinking about Papa. About how much he’d wanted that box.

  He shifted his arm and took her hand in his. “I’m sorry, Andy. I know you miss him, but I’m glad you had a good father.”

  “I had the best.” She looked up into his blue eyes dark with concern for her. Did he even know what he’d called her? All the years they were separated, he must have thought of her as Andy. She never told anyone else about his special name for her. If he wasn’t around to call her that, she didn’t want anyone else to, either.

  “We’re supposed to go around back.” Michael turned to walk alongside the general store to the back alley.

  Before they went behind the store, KodyAnne glanced over her shoulder at the back of the bank—and the door. She smiled. All right, she could get inside. After that, she’d just have to wait and see.

  “I see you made it.” The sheriff opened the door almost as soon as Michael knocked.

  “Sure did.” Michael sniffed the air. “Is that roast beef I smell?”

  The sheriff laughed. “Yep. Come on upstairs. Mary Sue’s waiting.”

  KodyAnne went up the stairs ahead of the men.

  Mary Sue turned from the table with a wide smile in place. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She swept out her hand. “Please, have a seat at the table. My helper is getting the silverware now. Everything else is ready.”

  KodyAnne sat while Michael held her chair. The sheriff did the same for Mary Sue then the men sat. When the little girl carefully placed a spoon and fork beside KodyAnne’s place, she smiled at her. “Hi, you did that very well.”

  The little girl ducked her head, but KodyAnne saw her smile.

  “Emma, can you tell the lady thank you?” Her mother prompted.

  “Thank you.” She mumbled and slipped into the only empty chair right between KodyAnne and the sheriff.

  Her brother didn’t seem as shy. He grinned across the table when KodyAnne turned her smile on him.

  “Brother Wellington, would you mind asking the blessing?” Mary Sue looked at Michael

  He nodded and bowed his head. “Lord Jesus, we thank you for all You have provided and ask a special blessing on the one who prepared our food as well as those who partake. Bless our time together in Your holy name. Amen.”

  KodyAnne lifted her head to meet Michael’s gaze. Love for him swelled inside her heart surprising her. His lips curved, and she almost forgot where she was until Mary Sue spoke.

  “Pastor, if you’ll start the roast beef, we’ll begin.”

  After that, conversation flowed around the table while meat, fluffy mashed potatoes smothered in gravy, and carrots and peas seasoned with butter disappeared. Mary Sue served moist chocolate cake with thick frosting to each plate.

  KodyAnne spread her hand across her middle. “Oh my, I’m not sure I have room. Would you mind cutting that piece you’re about to give me in half?”

  Mary Sue laughed. “No, I don’t mind because I was thinking about doing the same thing for myself.”

  “Women.” The sheriff shook his head. “No wonder you’re the weaker half of the population.”

  Mary Sue smacked his arm before sliding a large slice of cake on his plate. “Our strength shows up in other ways than yours does. You’d be smart to remember that.”

  “Is that so?” He grinned across the table at Michael.

  Michael glanced toward KodyAnne with a grin. “She’s got a point, Clint. You might want to listen and learn.”

  KodyAnne didn’t pay a lot of attention to their banter. She was too busy studying the sheriff. His eyes were closer set than Mike’s. His face was narrower, his chin more pointed. He was nice looking, but not handsome like Mike. He kept his beard cut close with his mustache connecting to it so his appearance was clean and probably appealing to Mary Sue.

  He glanced at KodyAnne as if he sensed her interest. She turned away, but not before their eyes met. Something about the way he looked at her suggested he saw more than he let on. His eyes held intelligence and depth with an almost piercing look that went beneath the surface. But if that were true, he’d know she wasn’t an outlaw. If he could see her heart, he’d know she was innocent. Maybe he did, and she held too much resentment toward him to accept his offer of friendship. She wanted to forgive him. Maybe she just needed to do some more praying.

  By the time Michael suggested they leave, KodyAnne was ready. She finished drying the last plate and placed it in Mary Sue’s cabinet.

  “Thank you for helping. I should have been stronger and said no when you insisted.” Mary Sue laughed and her blue eyes danced. A tendril of long hair had come free from the twist at the back of her head. She brushed it over her shoulder as if she couldn’t be bothered with it.

  “I didn’t mind. I’m not much of a checker player.” KodyAnne turned as Michael walked toward her while the sheriff put their game away. She looked at Mary Sue. “Thank you again for dinner. Everything was very good.”

  “You are welcome. I’m glad you came.”

  KodyAnne went out as Michael opened the door for her and said his good-byes. The sun had set, and the alley was dark when they stepped outside. KodyAnne looked down at her mourning clothing with satisfaction. She wouldn’t have to find dark clothes to blend into the dark alley. With no moon shining, tonight would be the perfect time to visit the bank.

  Chapter 12

  A lone man rode a horse down the center of the street and barely glanced their way as KodyAnne walked beside Michael on the boardwalk. The rider turned the corner and disappeared from sight before they crossed to the opposite side.

  “It must be getting late.” KodyAnne glanced both directions as her shoe crunched against a rock. “There’s no one out and very few lights on.”

  “I imagine it’s at least nine if not later. How are you and Charlotte doing with your jobs?” Michael’s gentle smile let her know he cared.

  KodyAnne giggled. “I think Mrs. Clemmons has a soft heart, but don’t tell her I said so. She’d bite my head off if she knew I thought such a thing.”

  Mike chuckled. “What makes you say that?”

  “She lets Charlotte sweep the back porch and out front, too, all because my little sister likes seeing what’s going on.”

  “Charlotte?” Michael’s eyebrows shot up. “I thought she was shy.”

  KodyAnne shook her head. “Not shy exactly. She’s very reserved. After she gets acquainted, she’s not the least bit shy, and she warms
up to women quicker than she does men. She’s afraid of them because of her past. We all carried baggage on the Orphan Train that would’ve been better left behind.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Mike shook his head. “I hope she wasn’t hurt so bad she can’t live a normal life.”

  “I don’t think so.” Maybe someday she’d tell Michael Charlotte’s story, that it was more what she saw than what happened to her that frightened her. She took his hand as they stepped on the boardwalk and held it close, glad for his gentle nature.

  “Did you pray about your mother?”

  She felt him tense and wished she could take back her words. He needed to forgive his mother, though. Just as she needed to forgive the sheriff. She sighed. “I’m sorry, Mike. That isn’t my business. But how does one go about forgiving someone who’s wronged them? How can I forgive the sheriff for killing my papa?”

  He walked beside her on the boardwalk that ran in front of the boarding house without speaking. Maybe he hadn’t heard her question. When he stopped before the door, she turned to look at him. She opened her mouth, but he spoke first.

  “You need to decide to forgive. Act on it first. Trust God and the rest will come later.” He looked over her head while he talked as if he wasn’t really talking to her. Maybe he was reminding himself.

  “You don’t need to come in. I’ll go on upstairs. Charlotte said she’d probably be asleep. Our work gets us up before daylight most mornings.”

  “When you get a day off, maybe we can go riding again.” Mike’s gaze moved over her face and settled on her lips.

  KodyAnne looked up at him. His eyes moved up to meet hers, and he leaned closer. Her heart pounded as if she’d swallowed a drum. She swayed toward him with her eyes looking into his.

  A dog barked down the street, and a woman’s shrill voice yelled out, “Hush up that racket.”

  Michael blinked, turned toward the sound, and stepped back. He cleared his throat. “Sure you don’t want me to at least see you inside?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He gave a brisk nod and opened the door.

  When she moved forward, he stopped her with a hand on her arm. “KodyAnne, when you get tired of this, let me know. I still think we should get married.”

  His words left her shriveled inside. He didn’t want to marry her. His honor and protective nature made him offer. Papa shouldn’t have said anything to him because now he thought he had to marry her to take care of her and Charlotte. Neither of them needed a caretaker. Michael might be stubborn and think he had to keep offering, but she was stubborn, too.

  She shook her head. “Papa was very ill when he asked that of you. He didn’t know what he was doing. I won’t marry you, Mike. It wouldn’t be right. Now if you don’t mind, it’s late and I need to go in. Thank you for tonight. I like Mary Sue, and I enjoyed our visit with her. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  KodyAnne stepped inside and turned to watch him pull the door closed, a frown drawing his eyebrows together. She stood barely breathing until he disappeared from her sight. He’d almost kissed her before he ruined everything by saying they should get married. She spread her fingers against her heart and held his ring in her hand while she leaned her forehead against the wooden door. Maybe she should give it back to him. If she could part with it. She’d wanted his kiss so much. The way she’d moved closer to him and stared into his eyes she might as well have come right out and asked him to kiss her. She let his image take form in her mind. Mike. Her protector. Her friend. Her husband. If only he really could be. She shook her head and straightened. She would never ask him to marry her again. Papa shouldn’t have either. Poor Mike. He’d done enough for her already. She wouldn’t allow him to give up the rest of his life for her.

  She pushed away from the door and walked through the dimly lit parlor to the stairs. As she tiptoed up, she willed her heart to settle down. Listening at the door to her room, she heard nothing. She opened it and slipped inside, closing it without a sound. Charlotte made a ridge in the bed, her breathing soft and even. KodyAnne smiled. She would get away without anyone the wiser. God was with her.

  She crossed the room to the window and looked out on the street below. Was that a shadow leaving the side of the mercantile? A man crossed the street, heading toward the sheriff’s office. It was probably the sheriff. Did he live in the jail? Maybe he slept in one of the cells there when there weren’t any prisoners. She smiled, thinking of the door accidentally closing on the cell while he slept. He’d be locked inside. No, he probably kept his keys with him all the time. Besides, she really needed to get over this resentment toward the sheriff. Lord, help me find forgiveness in my heart for that man. He was only doing his job. Papa was in the wrong, but it’s still hard, especially when he wants to arrest Tyler. Mike says I just have to decide to, so I guess that’s what I’m doing right now. With Your help, maybe we can get it done.

  She let out a soft sigh and turned from the window. Charlotte hadn’t moved. Across the room, she took her purse from the dresser drawer and checked to be sure her tools were inside. They were. With another glance at her sleeping sister, KodyAnne slipped back out into the hall, closed the door, and moved swiftly out of the boardinghouse. This should take no more than twenty minutes, less if everything fell into place as easily as it had so far.

  Outside, she searched the street for any sign of movement and found none. Every shadow seemed to hide the sheriff, but she didn’t believe it for a minute. Her imagination after seeing him cross the street had her seeing what wasn’t there. Uncle Mark’s box belonged to Tyler, Charlotte, and her. She was only going to take what rightfully belonged to them. If it wasn’t for that banker and the sheriff, she wouldn’t have to creep across the street hiding in the dark behind her black garments. Of course, if it weren’t for them, she wouldn’t be wearing black.

  She closed her mind to the endless accusations that would creep in. Forgive and it shall be forgiven you. I say unto you, you shall not forgive seven times, but seventy times seven. KodyAnne shook her head to dislodge the scriptures she’d learned as a child. They might not be word perfect, but she knew them and believed them—every one of them. She didn’t want to think about forgiveness right now. She only wanted to retrieve the box for Papa and for her brother and sister. I’ll get it, Papa, I promise.

  With another quick sweep over the dark street and buildings, KodyAnne stepped off the boardwalk and walked with quick steps across the street. The mercantile appeared dark. Mary Sue had probably already put her children to bed. Mike might not be asleep, but he’d likely be settling in for the night all alone in his big two-story house. She smiled at the thought of him enjoying every inch of his home. If anyone deserved to have a dream come true, Mike did.

  KodyAnne followed the steps she and Michael had taken earlier as she turned beside the mercantile to the dark alley. In the shadow of the store, she stopped and looked across the street. Was that the flicker of a light in the sheriff’s office? Yes. Her heart picked up speed. Then she shook her head. What did she expect? Either the sheriff or one of his deputies would be on duty tonight just as they were every night. Just because one of them was leaning back in his chair with his feet on his desk snoozing, didn’t mean he’d see her. He might look outside every hour or so, but she’d be asleep upstairs in the boardinghouse by then.

  She carefully picked her way so she didn’t make a sound. When she finally reached the back of the bank, she paused to let her heartbeat return to normal. A quick look around proved no one had followed her. Not even a cat or stray dog roamed the alley tonight.

  The crunching sound of a step against rock startled her, and she flattened against the back door of the bank. Her heart pounded at the base of her throat as if getting ready to jump out. She swallowed, willing it to slow. Scarcely breathing, she waited and searched in the direction of the sound but saw nothing. Had it been her imagination?

  A black streak raced past tearing a squeal from h
er before she slapped a hand over her mouth. Oh, please don’t let anyone have heard that.

  She’d been wrong. The cat she’d hoped she wouldn’t encounter darted in front of her. Now all she needed was a stray dog or maybe a sheriff. Still pressed against the door, she took slow, deep breaths until she gained strength and courage to step away from the door. Now to get out her tools and get to work. The lock looked old and easy to pick. This wouldn’t take long. She set to work.

  “Do you need help?”

  This time KodyAnne did scream. A large hand covered her mouth and pulled her back against a hard chest.

  “Shh, do you want to wake up the entire town?” Michael’s voice rumbled in her ear.

  He moved his hand, and she swung around to face him. “What are you doing here?”

  “What am I doing here?” He lifted his eyebrows. “You’re asking the wrong person that question. Why don’t you tell me what you’re doing?”

  “Why should I?” The look on his face sent an irrational stubborn streak to straighten her back. She wasn’t doing anything wrong, nothing really wrong. But he speared her with his gaze as if she was.

  He shrugged. “Looks to me like you’re trying to break into the bank. You know that’s against the law, don’t you?”

  “Only if I’m caught.” She thrust out her chin and lifted her shoulders. “It isn’t as if I’m going to steal anything.”

  “You want to tell the sheriff that one?” He glanced back down the alley.

  Her heart quickened, but she didn’t see anyone else. This was Mike. He wouldn’t turn her in. How many times had he helped her pick locks? He’d taught her how and given her the tools to do it. “You wouldn’t tell him, Mike. I know better.”

  “I’m not a thief anymore, KodyAnne. I’m a minister, and I believe in upholding the law, same as the sheriff does. Looks like I came along tonight at just the right time. I really should turn you over to the sheriff.”