Mail Order Brides Western Romance Collection ~ 3-Book Bundle (Brides of Virtue Series 1)
Page 16
“Sheriff McCabe!” Grace and Emmett swiveled their heads in surprise as a seemingly angry man burst through the church doors and began marching down the aisle. “I need to talk to you! You have failed in your job as sheriff, and I need an explanation!” Emmett stepped hastily from his place next to Grace and met the man in the aisle.
Chapter 15
Grace stared between Emmett and the man in complete bewilderment as Emmett squeezed his bride’s dainty hands before striding down the aisle. He approached the man who had so suddenly and rudely interrupted his wedding.
“Welcome to my wedding sir,” Emmett said as graciously as he could. “Let’s step outside so you can tell me what the trouble is.” Emmett escorted the man outside, away from the gawking faces of his friends.
“What seems to be the trouble, partner?” Emmett asked, hoping this interview would be short and that this man wasn’t about to call him away from his own wedding.
“There was another woman on that train, the one that crashed, and she was coming to Whistle Stop to be my bride!” The man spouted angrily as he paced back and forth. “Her name is Hope and she has been missing since the train derailed. Your lawmen have barely searched for her and you, as Sherriff, haven’t done a thing about it. I guess you rescued one woman for yourself and decided that was enough?”
Emmett was stung by the man’s words and realized that they were, in a sense, true. Emmett had not done his job thoroughly that day, or in the days following the wreck. He had found Grace and Noah and been so busy caring for them, that he had not continued his search.
“Well sir,” Emmett cleared his throat. “While I did instruct my deputies to survey the crash and search for any other survivors, I personally did not do as much as I could have. I apologize and as soon as I am married, I gie you my word that I’ll help you find your bride.”
“No, you come now. You’ve wasted enough time. She could be out there dying for all I know. You have to find her.”
The man pounded the air with his fist as Emmett ran his own fingers through his hair and paced alongside the panicked man. More than anything right now he wanted to marry Grace and begin their life together but on the other hand, Emmett had given his life to his duties as sheriff and he took his responsibilities very seriously. He had already let this man and his bride down once, he would prove to be a negligent sheriff if he didn’t respond to this man’s demands immediately, not to mention the needs of the missing woman.
“Listen,” Emmett turned to the man and stopped pacing. “I am getting married right now, to a wonderful woman, a woman who has been hurt by a man before, badly. I cannot let her down right now. I have to go through with this wedding. I would do anything to see that my new bride is never hurt again. If I walk away right now, it might crush her and I can’t let that happen. But I promise, as soon as we’re married, I will go back out to the wreck site and look for any clues as to where your bride might be.”
The man shook his head emphatically, his anger obviously unappeased. Just then the church door swung open and Emmett looked up to see his glowing bride step outside. Instinctively, Emmett stepped closer to Grace, blocking her from the man in his anger.
“Emmett, I overheard everything. Please, go,” Grace pleaded breathlessly as she stepped into the sunlight. Her heart felt full as she looked at Emmett, her groom. She knew now that she could trust Emmett completely and her heart was safe in his hands. She met Emmett’s curious gaze. “Emmett, go find Hope. She’s the same girl I met on the train. If she has been lost for this long, there is no time to lose. She could be anywhere, anything could have happened to her.”
Grace became nearly hysterical at the thought of the beautiful young woman, probably alone, perhaps injured.
“Grace, are you sure?” Emmett faced Grace and took her hands. The look he gave her nearly broke her resolve, and her heart. She could see the longing in his eyes, his longing to marry her.
“Yes, I’m sure Emmett. She needs you now, and this man needs your help.” Grace looked down at their intertwined hands then back up into Emmett’s eyes. “I guess, as the sheriff’s wife, I will have to get used to you running off at inconvenient times to protect the people.”
Emmett gently pulled her away from the man to offer more privacy with Grace. “Grace, I – I have to tell you this before I go. I love you, I do. I have grown to love you deeply and I want only to protect you and start our life together. I promise that we will be wed the minute I return. I hate to leave you now but, you’re right, I must go.” Emmett raised Grace’s hands and pressed his lips to her fingers. Grace’s heart beat fast and the air felt thin around her. Emmett turned from her then and motioned to the man to follow him.
“Let’s go,” he said gruffly. Emmett mounted his horse and the man joined him on his own horse. Emmett tipped his hat to Grace and hesitated only a moment before galloping away to follow the train tracks out of town.
Grace folded her arms around her middle and watched him go. She knew, without a doubt and without fear that she had finally found the man whom she could love with her whole heart for the rest of her days. And the next time she stood at the altar with Emmett, she knew she could make those solemn vows in honesty before God, Mr. Baker, and all their friends.
The End
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Guarding Grace
Copyright 2016 © Jill Maguire
Prairie Wind Publishing
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