Saving the Mail Order Bride

by Linda Broday

  Nora slipped her palm inside his hand.

  The second the doctor touched the cotton to the wound, fire raced through him and burned as though she’d stuck a lit match to him. Jack hissed through his teeth and silently cussed a blue streak. But once the initial pain subsided, it became bearable. Nora made the enduring possible. Her soft touch soothed him.

  “I’ll stitch it and you can go.” The doctor reached for a needle and catgut.

  Jack gritted his teeth and murmured a few choice cusswords while she sewed him up.

  Halfway through, Clay stuck his head in the door. “You were right, Jack. We found the rope Belew used to lower himself down the wall of the canyon. He left his horse tied up top and one of the men is bringing it inside.”

  “Any sign of anyone with him?”

  “Looks like he came alone, but I’ve no idea why.”

  “Revenge was too strong, and he wanted me all to himself.”

  “I guess.”

  “Clay, I noticed Fargo standing over to the side, glaring at me when you and the men raced up. Made the hair rise on my neck, the way he was looking at me. Then the next time I glanced over, he was gone.”

  “I should have a little chat with him.” Clay turned his attention to Nora. “Take good care of this ol’ buzzard.”

  “Lord knows it’s a full-time job.”

  Clay chuckled and left.

  In no time, Jack and Nora made their way home. Sawyer and Scout met them at the door, worry in the kid’s eyes. “I’m fine, son. Nothing to fret about. Go back to bed.”

  “Willow’s still asleep.” Sawyer yawned and stumbled up the stairs.

  Jack dropped to the sofa and pulled Nora into his lap. “I want to apologize for my tone. I wasn’t angry at you, just at the situation. My nerves were on edge. Belew finding a way into our town, the fight, and him trying to kill me, then seeing Fargo was all more than a little jarring.”

  “No, the apology is not yours to make.” She sighed and laid her hand on his shoulder. “I should’ve known to hold my tongue, should’ve known how that would affect you. I’m still learning how to be a wife and I promise to do better. It embarrassed me that you spoke to me that way in front of your friends though.”

  “We’re both learning. I’m sorry most of all for your embarrassment. If I could take it back, I would.” The kiss he gave her stirred sleeping embers, bringing them to life. He yearned to carry her to bed. But first, he had to tell her of Belew’s last words.

  Nora snuggled against him and rested a palm on his jaw. Her fragrance swirled around him like a mind-numbing drug of some kind. He couldn’t get enough of her and had no desire to see what would happen if he tried to live without her. Heaven help him.

  He broke the kiss, nibbling along the seam of her lips.

  She clutched his new leather vest. “I hate having cross words but, oh, I do love the making up part.”

  Jack rested his chin on her head. “Darlin’, I have something to tell you.”

  “Belew?”

  “Lucky guess. Nora, his last words were a taunt. He said Flynn O’Brien is coming.”

  She gave a cry, her eyes meeting his. “When?”

  “I don’t know. That was all he said.” He took her hand. “It could’ve meant nothing more than trying to hit a raw nerve. One last jab.”

  “Or it could’ve been that he knew for sure.” Her words were quiet.

  “We have no way of knowing.”

  “I’ve had a feeling for days. I know Flynn, and I know in my heart that he’ll come to take care of me himself. That’s his way.”

  Jack didn’t hesitate. “We could be back with the book long before he shows. It’ll take a while to travel from Buffalo.”

  “I think so too.” She kissed the hollow of his throat. “I’d feel a lot better with it in my possession. And once we get back, I’ll take it to someone we can trust.”

  “Any of the Legend family would do, but I think Sam Legend, Stoker’s youngest son, would be the best choice. He’s sheriff in Lost Point and a former Texas Ranger.”

  “If the rest of the family are like Luke, I know they’re trustworthy.”

  “And now that we have that settled, Mrs. Nora B. Long, I have an appointment with you upstairs in the privacy of our bedroom.” He stood and swept her up, making long strides to the stairs.

  “Watch out for your arm, Jack. You’ll bust the stitches and I don’t want to have to explain that to Dr. Mary. And be careful of your leg. I’m sure it’s killing you.”

  He silenced her with a long kiss.

  Thirty-one

  Two days later in the predawn hours, Nora bent to kiss Willow in her crib. The black-haired infant looked straight into her eyes and smiled for the very first time. “Jack, come here. She smiled at me. And I think she knows who I am.”

  He peered over her shoulder. “Well, would you look at that!”

  “I think she’s getting prettier every day.” Nora picked her up, cuddling the small body. “I’m glad she did it today before we left. We’re going to miss so many of these first moments.”

  “Darlin’, she’s not going to start walking and talking for a long while.” He brushed a finger across Willow’s cheek.

  “No, but she’ll smile more. Maybe laugh.”

  Jack reached for Willow. “You can’t catch every single instance, even if you’re right here. She’ll do things while we’re asleep or at all times during the day. It’s not about the first smile; it’s all the ones down the road that count.”

  “Why do you always have to be right?”

  “Just lucky, I guess.”

  A loud noise from the kitchen drew them downstairs. Sawyer was banging pans around like some Salvation Army soldier.

  “What are you doing?” Nora asked.

  “I gotta figure out how to cook for myself. You said I could stay here in the house.”

  Nora calmly took a saucepan from him. “Yes, we did, but Mr. Clay and Miss Tally are going to feed you while we’re gone.”

  “What if I want an egg in between meals?”

  “Then you need a skillet, not a saucepan. Stand right here and watch me.” She pulled an apron over her head. Step by step, she showed him how hot to make the fire, how to judge the heat of the skillet, how to ease eggs into the grease without breaking the yolk, and how to turn them. “Now, you do it.”

  To her pride, he didn’t make too big a mess. Both children were doing first things on the day she and Jack were leaving, and she tried to swallow the lump in her throat, praying for a short trip.

  Jack lifted an eyebrow and gave her a smile. “Sawyer, why don’t you make me some eggs too while you’re at it?”

  The boy beamed and shortly carried a plate of eggs to the table.

  “You know, you keep this up, and you can go to work in a café when we open one.” Jack lifted a forkful to his mouth and chewed. “These are some of the best I’ve eaten.” Most of the yolks were broken but Nora liked how Jack heaped praise on the boy.

  Too soon, it was time to leave. Outside, Nora held back a sob and turned Willow over to Rebel’s care. The woman had turned a corner and said the baby would help occupy her. Hope now shimmered in Rebel’s green eyes, replacing the deep sadness.

  Nora gave her what she prayed was a smile. “I know you’ll take good care of her, but my heart is breaking.”

  It was all Nora could do to loosen her hold of the baby and not make a scene.

  “Please try not to worry, Nora. I’ll treat her as my own.” Rebel cooed to the infant and nuzzled her cheek. “I’ll keep an eye on Sawyer too. We’ll all look out for him.”

  Jack shook the boy’s hand, then pulled him close for a hug. “Nothing’s going to happen to us. We’re going to be back. Repeat that until you believe it.”

  “Yes, sir.” Sawyer tried to smile but failed.
“I won’t burn down the house or nothing.”

  Jack chuckled. “I know.”

  He could laugh because Nora had overheard him tell Clay and Dallas to look after the kid. She had to admit that Sawyer looked so grown-up standing there, though. He might be only nine, but he was going on thirty-five.

  Ridge brought the saddled horses. Nora gave Sawyer a long hug, then Jack helped her onto her mare. Barely holding herself together, she didn’t look back as they rode away. The dogs tried to follow, but Clay and Sawyer grabbed them.

  “They’ll be fine,” Nora whispered into the wind. Jack maneuvered his horse closer and took her hand. She held on and squeezed for all she was worth. They said nothing, but his hand in hers seemed to promise that he would always be there when she needed him.

  They rode all day, stopping only to let the horses rest, and made camp that night by a pretty little creek. Tomorrow, they’d reach the sheepherder’s house. She was glad Ridge had come along. They might need his gun.

  Supper was relaxing. Nora enjoyed listening to Jack and Ridge talk about old times and the narrow scrapes they’d had. Although Ridge remained a mystery, little details revealed quite a bit about him. He was loyal to a fault and had once stayed behind with Jack only to be pinned down by some Texas Rangers. They’d badly wounded Jack, but Ridge refused to leave. Time after time, Ridge had huddled by his friend’s side instead of riding on and saving his own hide. He never bragged, even though he’d once rescued a group of women and children in the clutches of ruthless outlaws. And through Jack, she learned Ridge regularly sent money to an orphanage, keeping the children in shoes.

  The sadness in his voice made Nora want to cry. He’d suffered some great loss in his past that had fueled his need for justice. One thing she knew, Ridge Steele wasn’t the turn-your-other-cheek kind of man. He seemed driven to make things right whenever he could.

  A quality he shared with Jack, it seemed.

  Nora slid her arm through Jack’s and laid her head on his arm, admiring how the flickering firelight shone on his light-blond hair. The shock of the change had finally worn off, and she found the new color growing on her.

  Later, the sounds of the night drifted around her as she lay facing Jack on his bedroll. She snuggled against his chest, under the blanket covering them. “This is familiar, isn’t it?”

  “Yep. I wish we’d had this bedroll when we were on the run.” His voice vibrated through his clothing.

  Ridge’s light snores came from his spot on the other side of the fire.

  “How is your wound?”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Jack Bowdre, I’m going to wipe that word from your vocabulary. I know it is not fine.”

  “Did you come along just to pick a fight?”

  “Of course not, but act human. Admit when something hurts.”

  “Okay, it hurts. Are you happy?”

  “No. I don’t want you to hurt.”

  Jack muttered something under his breath that she didn’t catch. She was making him crazy again, and if he wasn’t silently counting, he was about to start.

  “I’m sorry.” She sighed. “I only want to fix whatever is causing you pain.”

  “You can’t. This has to heal on its own. I brought the salve Dr. Mary gave me, and I coated the cut good. Does that settle the question?”

  “Yes.” She snuggled happily against her husband and inhaled his scent. It seemed nothing and no one could touch them here.

  She ran her palm over his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his soft breath under her hand. She loved the little rumble in his throat before he spoke and even his counting—it meant he cared about the other person’s feelings and would tamp down his anger before he spoke. He cared about people, the ones in Hope’s Crossing and ones who were downtrodden. He especially loved the ones growing up under his roof.

  “I snuck in a fishing line and hook this time,” she whispered. “Just in case we need to fish, you won’t have to freeze your arm off.”

  “I’m touched.” He unbuttoned her dress and slid his warm hand inside against her skin, curving it around her breast. “We got acquainted fast and in a most unusual way. Our fight for survival kind of sped things along. Do you know what I first thought when I saw you sitting across from me on that stage?”

  “No.” This should be good. She’d always wondered what first impression she’d made on him.

  “You spoke with refinement, seemed too perfect. Better than me. A little snooty.”

  “Snooty? Good heavens, Jack. I was just trying to figure out this strange country, and everyone I met was scary.” Nora giggled. When she ran a teasing finger across his lips, he nipped at her. She continued across a jaw and down his throat. “What about now?”

  He let out a low chuckle. “You’re refined, too perfect, and better than me. Lots better. No contest kind of better.”

  “I don’t think so.” She pressed her lips to the hollow of his throat. “Do you know what I saw?”

  “A scarred-up outlaw dumb enough to get caught?”

  “I wanted to cry. Your face seemed made of carved stone and you had frightening storms in your eyes. I felt your heavy heart, tasted your bitterness. I wanted to wrap my arms around you and hold you.”

  “All of that while I was trying everything I could think of to get a rise out of you?”

  “Yes. You didn’t have that hardness about you I was used to seeing in Flynn and his group. I saw deep down where you tried to curl up away from the world. I saw a softness that you tried desperately to hide, and I wasn’t scared of you. Not one bit.”

  “I knew that and thought you must have courage in spades.” He moved a hand along her curves. “Do you remember telling me about Flynn giving you that baby boy and ordering you to get rid of it?”

  “It took all my strength to tell you that. I was so ashamed for not turning Flynn in.”

  “I have a secret too, one that’s tormented me for years.” Jack closed his eyes, tightened his arms around her, and told her about the despicable outlaw Gus Franklin. “I’ll go to my grave remembering the blood, the stench of death, knowing that family died because of my mistake.”

  “You didn’t know Franklin would do that.”

  “I should have. I wasn’t green behind the ears. I’d been riding the outlaw trail for years.”

  “Listen to me, Jack. We do the best we can in each situation. No one expects you to be a mind reader.” She took his face between her hands. “We’re not perfect and you took care of Franklin. You made him pay and that’s important.”

  “Yeah, too little, too late.”

  “Stop beating yourself up. You’ve done plenty of good and don’t say you haven’t. I’ve listened to you men sit around the campfire and talk. They like and admire you so much.”

  “I love you, Nora. Never doubt that for a second.”

  “Me too.” She lay there staring up at the stars after he went to sleep, thinking how glad she was that Flynn was nowhere near. Hopefully, she’d never have to see him again. She never wanted to feel the kind of terror she’d been struck with time and again when he threatened her with his bag of snakes.

  She softly kissed Jack and felt his arm tighten around her. Even in his sleep, he was protecting her.

  For one moment, one heartbeat, one unforgettable love in an imperfect world, life was pretty close to perfect.

  * * *

  The sheepherder’s soddy was silent and still in the early morning sun. It appeared even shabbier than before. The breeze ruffled the tall grass and the branches of the trees. Jack dismounted in a stand of cedar and took a pair of binoculars from his saddlebag. Nora and Ridge also climbed from the saddle.

  No one spoke as Jack checked the tiny house and the land around it. The goats and sheep he’d freed were gone. He hoped wild animals hadn’t gotten them.

  The front door slamm
ed back against the house, standing wide open. Jack jumped, and it took him a second to realize the wind had caught it. The door slammed shut again a second later.

  “Seems deserted.” Jack handed the binoculars to Ridge, then took Nora’s hand and found it icy. “I think we need to watch a bit longer. I’ll keep you out of danger or die trying.”

  “I know,” she whispered. “I’m going to believe that we beat him.”

  Jack lightly squeezed her fingers and kissed her forehead. “Even if he’s in Texas, he’ll have to meet up with Guthrie first.”

  “True.” Some of the tension left her. “But I know Flynn, and he’ll retrace every step I’ve made.”

  “From what I can tell, it looks clear.” Ridge handed the binoculars back to Jack. “I’m going to make a slow turn around the perimeter on foot, look for tracks. But there’s a million places a man can hide down there with all the brush and gullies. My gut’s warning me.”

  “I’ll go with you and take the opposite direction. We can’t do a thorough search, but maybe it’ll be enough.” He gave Nora a stern glance. “Be as still as possible and don’t move from this spot.”

  She managed a smile and nodded. “Will do.”

  Jack took the west and kept in the low brush, moving slow, easy, his eyes scanning the ground for any sign of visitors. He saw nothing. He met Ridge back where Nora waited.

  Ridge pushed back his worn black Stetson and wiped his forehead. “I don’t like this one damn bit. Let’s get the book and out of here fast.”

  “The hair is standing up on my neck. This is not good,” Jack agreed. “It’s ripe for an ambush.”

  “Yep,” Ridge agreed.

  “Then I’ll hurry inside and get the ledger. I don’t want to stay here any longer than necessary either.” Nora shivered. “This place makes my skin crawl. It reeks of death.”

  “Hold on.” Jack took her arm. “Slow down. We’re coming with you.”

  When they reached the house, Ridge broke away into some nearby trees. Jack and Nora went on.