Saving the Mail Order Bride

by Linda Broday

  “Sorry.” He winced and touched his bandaged thigh. “How did I get snakebit?”

  Dr. Mary leaned over him and looked in his eyes. “Glad to see you back with us, Bowdre. Gave us a quite a scare. Get some rest and quit nagging your poor wife. She’s barely left your side since she and Ridge brought you in.”

  His eyes searched Nora’s face. “I got me a keeper, Doc.”

  After the doctor left the room, he pulled her next to him on the small bed. Nora smiled and laid her head on his chest and told him all about her encounter with Flynn and the snakes.

  “Glad you found the courage when you needed it. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to kill the bastard with my bare hands.”

  “It took all the strength I could muster and then some, but I wasn’t going to cower in front of him ever again.” She drew circles along Jack’s ribs with a finger. “Snakes don’t scare me anymore. I guess seeing you lying there so helpless toughened me up. I might go hunt them and skin each one I find.”

  His chuckle was a bit raspy. “That’s a tall order, lady. I think you’ll turn out to be one hell of an outlaw’s wife.”

  “Skeet Malloy got back with news. Travis is in jail in Canadian and awaiting sentencing.”

  A stillness came over him along with a frown. “I don’t think we can get him out. The walls of that jail are a foot thick and have no windows.”

  “Ridge knows that judge and thinks Travis will get a fair trial.”

  “It’s the best we can hope for. But I damn sure hate it.”

  Nora slipped her hand inside the nightshirt Dr. Mary had put on Jack, loving the feel of his broad chest.

  “Jack, Dr. Mary wants to operate and remove that bullet in your thigh.”

  “Hell!” Jack glanced down at her and tightened his hold. “Maybe it’ll be good to get rid of that damn pain though. As long as you’ll be my nurse.”

  “That’s a deal.”

  O’Brien’s last words kept rolling around her in her head like marbles. Filthy, pathetic tramp, was she? Her eyes locked with Jack’s and the love she saw there made her feel like the most beautiful, desirable woman on earth.

  Thirty-five

  “I’m going to operate on your leg, Jack,” Dr. Mary announced cheerfully a week later.

  A growl rumbled in his throat. He glanced down at Willow, lying asleep in the crook of his arm. Other than the babe, he saw little to be cheerful about. Although a lot of the swelling in his thigh had gone down, the snakebite still hurt like hell. He’d like to empty his gun in O’Brien. “What’s the hurry? I’ve lived with it this way for five years.”

  Her bullet necklace tinkled as she leaned over to adjust his covers, reminding him of the misery a lot of other men had endured so she could make that damn piece of jewelry.

  “Why drag it out, Jack? The snake bite is going to pain you awhile longer, so you might as well get everything over at once while you’re laid up.”

  Jack didn’t know her age, but he’d guess somewhere in her thirties. The rich brown hair that she kept in a knot at the nape of her neck had a few silver streaks in it but not many. He liked her gumption and the fact that she didn’t take any crap from anyone. Not a bad-looking woman either. Slender, standing not more than five feet. But God almighty tough. Good Lord!

  Nora stepped through the door, looking like the ray of sunshine she was. The way the light caught on her hair put him in mind of an angel.

  “I’m back,” she announced. “Is he giving you trouble, Doctor?”

  “No, I’m not giving her trouble.” Jack’s sour mood was amplified by the sugary sweetness surrounding him. “Just asking questions, as is only my right, seeing that she wants to cut me open.”

  “Well?” Nora bent to give him a kiss.

  Her fresh fragrance calmed him, a reminder that he’d been unable to hold her or make love in ages, and he was getting an itch he couldn’t scratch.

  “The jury’s still out. Dammit, I want to be up and around. Before I know it, I’ll have bedsores oozing pus. A man needs some fresh air, to feel the breeze on his face and blow the stink off him.”

  “You will soon, Mr. Grumpy.”

  “How’s Tait?”

  “He’s out of here and staying at the hotel now.” Dr. Mary stuck an unlit cigar stub in her mouth. Waiting like a vulture. She shifted her cigar. Still silent.

  “Oh all right,” Jack spewed. “If you’re going to do it, get it over with.”

  “Wise choice.” Dr. Mary turned to Nora. “Will you assist me?”

  “Sure, but I don’t know anything about surgery.”

  “I’ll tell you what to hand or fetch me.” Dr. Mary scurried around, assembling everything she’d need.

  Jack watched with the knots in his stomach getting tighter. Why had he agreed to this? But Nora sat with him, telling him about the children. Willow had gurgled at her. Imagine that? And Sawyer had taken charge of the kitchen, either helping her or making things by himself.

  “He’s really diving into cooking, Jack. It’s not just something he was curious about. And as you saw before, he’s pretty darn good.”

  “If we had money, I’d open up a café.”

  “I know. Maybe someone will put in one soon and he can work for them.”

  Jack took her hand. “Darlin’, when I’m healed up from this, I want to take you to meet my mother. I think you’ll hit it off.”

  “I’m sure we will. I’d love to get acquainted. But isn’t it dangerous to leave Hope’s Crossing? You could run into Sheriff Baxter again.”

  “He won’t know me with my new hair. Hell, I don’t even recognize myself anymore.”

  Dr. Mary came in with a tray of bottles and silver instruments. “Ready?”

  Jack swallowed hard and gazed into Nora’s beautiful eyes. “Go easy on me, Doc. I have a lot of reasons to live.”

  * * *

  Nora stilled her trembling hand and held a cloth soaked with ether over Jack’s mouth and nose, praying for a good outcome. It would be wonderful if Jack could live pain free.

  She almost gagged when Dr. Mary made the incision on Jack’s hip, but she held herself together by sheer will. She handed the lady doctor everything she asked for.

  “I’m having trouble seeing the bullet.” Dr. Mary probed inside Jack with a silver instrument. “It’s been in there so long the muscle has grown around it.”

  The clock in the room ticked off the minutes one by one.

  Tension squeezed Nora’s chest and doubts crept in. What if this didn’t work? Would the surgery leave Jack worse off than he’d been before?

  Finally, Dr. Mary exclaimed, “Found it.”

  “Thank God.” Nora let out the breath she’d been holding.

  “How’s Jack doing?”

  “He’s still asleep. His eyes aren’t fluttering at all.”

  “Perfect. I’ll clean away the blood and sew him up now.”

  “You’re an amazing doctor. Some would call you a healer. This town is very grateful you gave up your practice in Indian Territory and came to Texas.”

  “I like it here. Always wanted to live in Texas.”

  They finished, and in no time, Jack woke up. “Is it over?”

  Nora took his hand and smiled. “All done. It’s out and hopefully you should be able to walk without pain.”

  “Imagine that. Come here, woman.” He pulled her down for a kiss.

  She braced herself with a palm on his chest and found pleasure in the love winding through her.

  “Now, that’s the sorriest sight I’ve ever seen,” Clay said from the doorway. “Here Ridge and I have ridden all over Texas, dodging bullets with no sleep and little food. And here you are laying up in bed with pretty women waiting at your every beck and call.”

  “I think you’re a sight for sore eyes.” Jack pulled himself to a sitting position
with Nora’s help. “Maybe you’ll help me get shed of here.”

  Tall and lean, coated with trail dust, Clay looked every bit the outlaw. He took off his hat. “Too busy.”

  Jack narrowed his eyes. “Doing what, for God’s sake?”

  “Making sure O’Brien is dead for one thing. Which he is. Not much left after the wild animals got through with him.”

  “Good.” Nora found that immensely satisfying and probably so would his victims.

  Clay propped himself against the door facing. “But this place is crawling with lawmen led by the sheriff of Saint’s Roost. They’re still looking high and low for you, Jack.”

  Ridge moved to the foot of the bed. He lifted his hat and poked a finger through a bullet hole in the side. “They chased us awhile, shooting. Came near to parting my hair.”

  Nora let out a cry. Baxter wasn’t going to let this go. “Will they mount a raid here?”

  “No. They don’t have enough men. It would be suicide on their part.” Clay pushed away from the door facing. “I’m going to take a long bath, kiss my wife, and play with my kids.”

  “Clay?” Jack called.

  “Yeah.”

  “Dr. Mary took that bullet from my hip. You always regretted not being able to get it out. Now you don’t have to anymore.”

  Clay’s dark eyes seemed to smile. “Best news I’ve heard in a month of Sundays.”

  “I’m glad, Jack.” Ridge straightened. “I need to go too. Rest up and get out of that bed soon, brother.”

  The door closed behind the two friends, leaving the room quiet. Nora thought about Flynn O’Brien and the ledger she still had. It wasn’t of use now, with Flynn dead.

  Or was it? An idea came to mind, but she wasn’t ready to share it with anyone yet.

  “Why so serious, darlin’?” Jack made little circles on the inside of her wrist. “The monsters are gone. You don’t have to be afraid of the shadows.”

  “I’m just wondering what to do with the ledger now. I hate to just throw it away after the trouble I had getting it here.”

  A commotion outside drew Nora to the window. The dogs were barking at two men in a covered wagon pulled by oxen with bells around their necks. One arrival stood on the wagon seat. He was tall and lanky, wearing eyeglasses and a dark suit. When he turned, she noticed a white clerical collar around his neck.

  Brother Paul. He came.

  He was clean-shaven, whereas the other traveler had a nicely trimmed reddish-brown beard and mustache and sported a jaunty bow tie. He wasn’t as tall as Brother Paul.

  “What the devil is all that racket about?” Jack leaned, trying to see out.

  “Stop that, Jack Bowdre. You’ll tear your stitches out. It’s the minister I told you about from Saint’s Roost, the one I helped out that day while waiting for night to fall. He’s in a covered wagon with a stranger.” She pushed him back onto the pillow. “I can see you’re determined to be a horrible patient.”

  “Let me put you in this bed and see how you like it.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back. “I need to see what’s happening, to see trouble coming. I might as well be locked in a prison, bedfast like this.”

  Nora chuckled at the longing in his voice. He sounded like Sawyer. “You’re not in any prison. My stars! This is only for a few days and you’ll be up and around. But if you don’t behave yourself, you’ll only prolong everything. If you’ll lie here and be good, I’ll go welcome Brother Paul and his friend.”

  “When you come back, bring my gun and holster.”

  “Why, so you can shoot them?”

  “So I can defend myself if I need to. You forget I’m a wanted man.”

  “So are half of the men in town.”

  “My point exactly. Lawmen could ride in at any moment.” His eyes darkened. “I’m a wanted man with a price on my head, and there is no escaping that fact.”

  She didn’t need the reminder. She was terrified enough. “I’ll bring your gun.”

  She hurried out and pushed through the crowd that had gathered around the covered wagon.

  The eyeglass-wearing preacher stood in the wagon box, where everyone could see him. “Hello, I’m Brother Paul and I heard you had no church here. If you’ll have me, I’d like to build one and preach the word of God.” He turned to his partner. “This is Todd Denver. He’s a schoolmaster. Perhaps you’re in need of someone to teach your kids.”

  Ridge climbed up into the wagon box with them and shook hands, introducing himself as the mayor. “We welcome you both to Hope’s Crossing. We’ll help you build a church and school. The town is new, so we don’t have much to commend it except a bunch of hardworking people with big hearts.”

  After the clapping died down, a young voice hollered, “I don’t want to go to school!”

  Nora swiveled to find Ely Carver with his fists on his hips.

  “Tough,” Rebel Avery answered. “I’m not going to let you grow up to be a heathen, young man. Do you understand?”

  Ely wilted. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Nora’s gaze went to Sawyer, leaning against one of the oxen. He stared up at the schoolmaster, a big grin on his face. “I only got to go to second grade before my ma and pa died. Can you teach me to read and sign my name?”

  Todd Denver jumped down from the wagon. “I’ll have you doing both in no time, son. We’ll start with classes under a tree until we’ve got a roof over our heads.”

  Everyone pressed forward to welcome the two, obviously excited they would soon have a church to attend, where they could have weddings, and a school for the children. Happiness bubbled over inside Nora as well. They would be a real town now.

  Nora hung back until the crowd dispersed, then went to welcome the kindly minister. “I’m glad you came, Brother Paul. I was afraid you’d changed your mind.”

  Brother Paul grinned. “I had a few things to wrap up first. I’m impressed with Hope’s Crossing. It’s a friendly place with a nice feel. Let me introduce Todd Denver.”

  “Welcome, Mr. Denver.” She liked the young, red-haired schoolmaster’s handshake. “You’re a godsend—you both are. You’re very much needed.”

  “I’m happy to be here and in on the ground floor of building a town,” Denver said.

  “I talked him into coming.” The minister chuckled, his eyes twinkling behind his spectacles. “A week ago, I didn’t know Todd. He was passing through Saint’s Roost, dejected that they already had a schoolmaster. When he said he needed a new direction in his life, I asked him to come along.”

  “I’m glad you did.”

  Ridge returned to get the travelers settled, and Nora hurried to retrieve Jack’s gun from the house and tell him about the interesting developments. Life seemed to be looking up.

  Soon, she’d meet his mother and possibly his sisters. Maybe they’d make her part of their family. Yearning filled her heart to have a family again—even if it was borrowed.

  Thirty-six

  Despite Nora’s best efforts to stop him, Jack threw back the covers and got out of bed the next morning. He met her shocked glare with one of his own. “I’ve had all of this I want. Any more coddling and hovering and I’ll turn into a worthless derelict. I’m going home. I need to hold my daughter and see Sawyer.”

  Anyone thinking to stop him had best get out of the way. He didn’t care what anyone thought. He was going home. He’d been missing out on far too much. He needed his wife.

  “Fine.” She pitched him his clothes. “Go right ahead and pull out your stitches.”

  “I will.” Glaring, he pulled on his trousers and shirt. But when he put his full weight on his leg, he gave a cry and almost went down. He gave her a sheepish glance. “Do you think maybe you can find me a cane?”

  Her smile seemed to gloat. She reached around the outside of the door and held out a roughly hewn cane. “I knew y
ou were going to try this, so I was prepared. Sawyer made it.”

  “He did a great job for a nine-year-old. I’ll be sure to thank him.” When he finished admiring it, Jack pulled himself to his feet. His first tentative steps were shaky, but he draped an arm around Nora’s shoulders and they headed for home.

  Sawyer spied him and broke into a sprint, a wide grin on his face. “You’re getting well, Jack.”

  “I certainly hope so. Thank you for making this handy cane.” Jack released his hold on Nora and pulled Sawyer close. He could feel the kid’s wild heartbeat. He’d hadn’t been the center of a child’s world in a long while, and the realization brought a lump to his throat.

  The boy glanced up, tears in his eyes. “I missed you.”

  “Missed you and Willow too.” Jack swallowed and steadied his voice. “I hear you’re a pretty good cook.”

  “Nora’s teaching me lots. She doesn’t even yell when I burn stuff.”

  Jack met Nora’s gaze and winked. “Maybe that’s because she’s too busy yelling at me.”

  She gasped. “I do not, Jack Bowdre!”

  Sawyer paid them no mind and went on, “We got a schoolmaster named Mr. Denver. We haven’t started yet, but he’s gonna teach me to read books. Shoot, by the time Willow gets big enough, I’ll be reading newspapers.”

  “An education is important. Don’t forget that when the fishing hole is calling you.”

  “I won’t.” Sawyer paused. “Jack, I’m glad you didn’t die.”

  “Makes two of us, son.”

  Ely Carver came from Rebel’s sod house. “Wanna play marbles, Sawyer?”

  “Yeah.” The boy hurried to his friend.

  Nora lifted Jack’s arm and put it across her shoulder. “Now, I guess you feel properly appreciated. He worries about you.”

  “The boy’s going to get white hair before his time.” Jack lowered his head and dropped a kiss on her tilted mouth.

  Fresh air that didn’t smell like medicine, the sunshine, and his family was all he needed to make a full recovery.