by Cyndi Raye
“Two dead outlaws and this here is Uncle Kenneth. Sophie says it’s her Pa’s brother and he’s the reason her Pa is dead. Figure since we don’t have a secure jail in Mill’s Ridge yet, I’ll bring him here where he’ll never escape from your steel bars over yonder.”
“Right you are, Salem. Leave everything sit and go get that shoulder fixed up. I’ll take care here.”
Salem didn’t realize how much he bled over the past few hours. His vision had begun to get a little blurry but he had been determined to finish this mission. It was what made a good sheriff and he took his job seriously.
He missed Sophie. Wanting to get back to her, he trampled over to the animal doctor, hoping the man was there instead of out on someone’s homestead. He needed a stitch or two before heading back home. Luck was with him, the old man was still in his barn. When Salem entered, the older gentleman motioned for him to sit. “Time to get a real doctor here,” he mumbled.
Salem agreed. He knew the old man didn’t like to be away from his animals for long. Every time someone needed stitched up or a tonic for an ailment, they came to him. “We’re working on that but no one wants to live out here in the wild it seems. Daniel put something in the paper weeks ago. No one even bit at the advertisement.”
“That’s a shame. I’m soon going to leave here myself, going to go fishing by the river. Got me a cabin upstream that’s just itching for me to retire in. Ain’t too far away from Mill’s Ridge either. Sits along the quiet part of the river, right before the rapids. I’ll come to town now and again to refurbish my supplies but that’s it. Gonna live off the land like my ancestors did.”
Salem let the old man go on and on. It’d be interesting to see if he kept his word. Salem had heard in the saloon that the old man kept threatening for years to retire and here he was, still taking care of the animals. “I’m anxious to be on my way, can you hurry those stitches up?”
The old man kept right on flapping his jaw. “You just have patience, young man. I’m getting to it as fast as I can.”
Not fast enough for Salem. He wanted to get home. He wanted to hold Sophie in his arms and tell her how much he loved her.
<><>
As daylight lit up the sky, Sophie opened her eyes. Her nails were broken from clinging to the rock, her fingertips blue from the cold. Even though the sun was beginning to warm up the cold, clammy rock she was lying on, her body was so stiff from being out in the elements all night. Towards dawn she had dozed for a few minutes until the sun had begun to bake her skin. Either way, she had to get up and get some help to get off the boulder.
Sophie worked herself around, careful not to slide off. When she was in a sitting position, she looked at the riverbank and began to cry. Loud, bursting sobs poured from her chest. “I don’t believe it!” she croaked, her voice barely audible.
The riverbank was right there, butted up against the rock. All this time she was clinging to the rock for dear life thinking she was surrounded by the rapids and all she had to do was slide towards the bank. Which she immediately did, finding herself lying in the warm prairie grass. It felt so good. Her shoulders shook with laughter at first until she began to cry again.
She shivered. Even though the sun had dried her under clothes, she felt so cold inside. Rising to her feet, at first she wobbled until her feet steadied. Lifting one booted foot over the other, Sophie made her way further along the prairie, determined to stay away from the river’s edge once and for all. Her Pa had been right. The river was nothing to take for granted. She was glad she had taken heed to his warning when she was a child.
If only she had stayed in the mercantile, instead of going in to the dark night. Now she had no clue what happened to Salem. All she knew was she needed to get back home. Looking around, all she saw was the prairie and the river. How long would she walk before spotting someone? A town? Her home?
How long would her legs carry her before giving way to exhaustion? Depleted of energy, Sophie found herself stopping every fifteen minutes to sit down. She wanted to lie down, to let her body rest but knew that would be a mistake. Her lips were parched, she was so thirsty. If only she had the nerve to go back to the river but didn’t know if she was strong enough to get close enough to take a drink without falling in.
It seemed like she had walked forever when she came upon a small cabin along the riverbank. The rapids behind her now, she got closer, the gentle stream of the river defying the fact she had such a harrowing experience before. Hoping someone was home, Sophie tried to make some noise so she didn’t scare the inhabitants but her throat wa so dry, the sounds were like a faraway whisper.
The place looked deserted. Sophie lifted a booted foot up the one wooden step to the porch. She tried to twist he knob on the door to no avail. Knocking on the door took all her energy. She staggered back and forth several times before noticing the pump. She needed to get closer, her throat was so thirsty.
Sophie forced herself back down the step and stumbled to the well. She lifted the pump handle up, forcing it back down but nothing emerged from the pump. With all the strength left in her, she pumped four more times before water gushed out. Falling to her knees, Sophie stuck her face in the water, crying, laughing so much she almost choked.
It gave her the revival she needed to go back to the cabin’s porch. Her belly ached from hunger so she hoped the water would take that feeling away.
She shivered. Sliding down, her back against the door, Sophie no longer had the warm sun on her back. Her body began a slight shiver. She felt so warm, even though she was in the shade. She would sleep for awhile until her strength renewed.
Then she would find Salem, the man she loved.
<><>
“What do you mean she isn’t here?” Salem stood in the parlor of the boarding house, not believing what he had just heard.
Elizabeth and Rose were ringing their hands. “We thought she had gone to Wichita Falls with you! Where in the world could she be?”
Salem had thought she was here, safe in the boarding house. Turns out she wasn’t there all night. The ladies assumed after all the ruckus, she had gone to Wichita Falls with him. “Didn’t Mr. Dunleavy from the store stop by to speak to Sophie?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “We don’t know. We were all at the café, waiting with everyone else. He may have stopped by while we were there. They kept coffee on all night while everyone was out searching for the outlaws.”
Salem abruptly left the boarding house, making his way to the mercantile. He tried to keep his anger at bay. “Dunleavy! Did you see Sophie?”
Dunleavy was helping a customer fill an order. He pushed his glasses closer to his face with his knuckles. “I came here first because this is where I left her. She was ordered to guard the shop but when I got here, my gun and Miss Sophie were gone. I went to the boarding house but no one answered so I came home.”
“She’s gone.”
“What do you mean she’s gone? She was here, in my shop last night.”
Salem grabbed the lapel of the older man’s shirt. “You left her with a gun!” Now he had a better idea what happened. Fear so deep ran through his veins.
“What did I do?” Dunleavy backed away from Salem, not understanding the man’s disposition.
“She most likely came after me, thinking she’d be some help. She’s lost out on the prairie!”
Salem flew from the mercantile, saddling up a horse, filling up with a supply of water before racing to the café for food. He tied the sack of food on his saddle bag and left the town, heading straight towards the river.
Salem was familiar with the prairie and also knew about the raging rapids a ways down from her property. If she got lost and fell into the rapids there wasn’t much of a chance she made it out. Despair and foreboding filled his mind until he completely emptied it of any negative thoughts.
He would find her. She couldn’t be too far, although if she were going in circles, then she could be anywhere. It would be best to stick to the riverba
nk. As Salem rode the banks of the river, the rapids began to swirl and splash the horse’s hoofs.
He closed his eyes, looking up to the sky, hoping God in heaven would hear him. Lord, I ain’t much of a praying man but I will be if you spare Sophie. I love her. Thank you and amen.
It was the longest fifteen minutes ever. The rapids seemed to go on and on until they fell over a small natural made dam that settled the river once again. Salem kept on, looking along the riverbank then out over the prairie, desperate for a sign.
A small cabin came in to his view. It sat along the river. He wondered if it was the one the old animal doc spoke of.
Then he saw her. Salem jumped from his horse and ran towards the porch. By the time he pulled her into his arms, he was out of breath, his chest heaving up and down. She was sitting up, her head flung to one side, her skin pale and hot to the touch.
Fever.
Teeth chattering, her skin flushed, Salem knew the signs. He picked her up and kicked open the cabin door in one large swoop. It hadn’t been locked but he was prepared to knock it down if it was. There wasn’t much to the cabin, a cook stove and a bed in the corner, along with one rocking chair by the window.
Salem sat on the bed, placing her on his lap until he could unbutton her dress. He pulled what was left of it over her head, throwing the material on the floor.
Flinging the woollen blanket back, Salem placed Sophie under the covers, wrapping the blanket tight around her. He lifted the bottom of the blanket and took off her shoes. He needed to get her warm.
Salem quickly fired up the cook stove with the little bit of wood in the iron pot beside it then went outside to find more. Along the side of the cabin there was some precut wood, so he gathered as much as he could in his arms to take inside. Even though it was spring, it didn’t matter. Sophie needed warmth. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear she had been lying in the river all night.
Sweat gathered on Salem’s brow. He tried to ignore how warm it was in the cabin. Finding a pot, he took some cool water from the well outside and dipped a rag he found in the water. Placing it on Sophie’s forehead, he hoped it would bring her temperature down. She was shivering so much even though he had done all he could to warm her up.
Fifteen minutes later, her lips still quivered. Salem stood, stripping his shirt off, sliding his boots off first then his pants. He slid in beside her, gathering her shivering body in his arms. Her undergarments were a barrier between them and he didn’t care what anyone thought. All he knew was he had to help rid her of the deadly fever.
Delirium came next. Salem held on to her as she slashed at the air, gnawing her teeth, striking out at him, pounding on his back. Salem took it all, giving her no space, his arms around her and whispering while she raged.
A few hours later it got quiet. The steady rhythm of her breathing told Salem she had made it through.
He settle deeper in the bed, keeping his arms around her, not willing to let her go.
His eyelids got heavy as he drifted off to sleep, the woman he loved in his arms.
<><>
“I don’t believe this is proper,” Sophie whispered. Even though it wasn’t, she wasn’t making a move to leave his arms. She had realized a few hours ago what Salem had done for her.
After all she had been through, Sophie had thought she was safe when she got to the cabin. All along the door hadn’t been locked but if she had been inside, would Salem have gone by, leaving her to die of fever?
“I don’t imagine it is proper. I suppose we’ll have to marry now.”
Sophie smiled, her eyes still closed. “No one knows we’re here, do they?”
“Not exactly, although I suppose if anyone came through that door and saw us like this, our goose would be cooked.”
Sophie laughed out loud. “Thank you, Salem. Thanks for taking care of me. I thought I was safe once I reached the cabin. Then I didn’t have the strength to open the door. I though it was locked. I am so grateful you came along when you did.”
“I’d never stop looking for you, Sophie. Ever.”
“I think you proved that. We better get back. We have a wedding to get to.”
Salem sat up, bringing her with him. “Whose wedding are you talking about?”
“Ours.”
“Don’t you want to go buy yourself a fancy dress.”
“No. I want us to be married the moment we get to Mill’s Ridge. I won’t spend another night without being Mrs. Salem Nightingale.”
A grin spread across Salem’s mouth until his eyes stared so deeply into her own. “I love you, Sophie. I’m sorry for trying to fool you. I thought if you got the idea I was going to go ahead and marry one of those mail order brides then you’d admit you loved me and stop trying to martyr yourself.”
“Oh, Salem. I knew the moment you and Miss Addie tried to fool me. I’m Cindy Weaver.”
“I know. I was in the river watching while you wrote the letter.”
Sophie laughed. “We both knew what we were doing and yet continued to do so. Forgive me, Salem. I do love you.”
He kissed her lips, keeping it tender. Wanting more than anything to make her his bride, he got up and pulled her up with him. “Sophie, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife today?”
Sophie sighed. “The honor is mine. Yes, I will be your bride.”
Chapter 9
Salem stood on the grassy ledge by the river, watching while his bride came to meet him at the alter. It had taken a bit of work on both their parts, but here she came, walking towards him in a lovely gown of alabaster.
Folks from Wichita Falls had scrambled to make it to the wedding, since it was an hours ride away. The two towns were gathered together by the river bank, stepping back to make a path for his new bride to walk down.
Sophie held a bunch of spring flowers in her hand, a veil hiding her beautiful face from him. The moment she stood before him, he lifted the veil to a shocked audience.
Her eyes were filled with love. “That’s what I want to see,” he told her, talking softly enough only she could hear.
She handed the makeshift bouquet to the preacher, who stood between them. He had no choice but to take the flowers. “This is odd,” Salem heard him say before he dropped a kiss on his soon to be wife’s cheek.
They took each others hand and faced the preacher. Reverend Pope, his face flushed, handed the flowers back. “Uh, since this will be my first wedding, I’d like to thank the good folks of Wichita Falls for coming all this way for the service. There will be plenty of food on the tables set up yonder, and if you would like to leave a donation for our new church, we have a donation box set up by the food tables.”
“Don’t forget to announce the brand new doctor in Wichita Falls! We finally got us a real doctor!”
Salem turned his head. “Do you mind saving your announcements until after the wedding?”
The crowd got quiet enough so the reverend could perform the nuptials. Afterwards, the quiet crowd clapped and shouted while the newly married couple shook hands with everyone.
Miss Addie gave Sophie a hug. “I’m sorry, my dear, but I knew from the start Salem would become your husband.”
Sophie smiled. “You do have a knack for sizing people up. All I can say is thank you.”
“Your welcome. Now go enjoy your husband. I’m off to speak to the good doctor of Wichita Falls. I’m thinking he is in need of a mail order bride.”
Salem picked up Sophie and swung her around. She yelped and giggled as he began to walk towards the buggy with her in his arms. “We’re going on our honeymoon!” he announced.
Sophie thought he’d turn the buggy towards the town of Mill’s Ridge but he kept driving along the riverbank. “Where are you going, husband?”
“We can’t rightly go to the boarding house for our wedding night, now, can we?”
“I suppose you are right.”
“We definitely can’t stay on the second floor of the saloon and the sheriff’s new house isn’
t ready for a few days, Mrs. Nightingale.”
“Well, then, where do you propose we spend our honeymoon.”
He didn’t need to answer. She knew. It would under the millions of stars and a sky filled with moonlight by the special cabin where he had found her.
<><>
Thank you for reading Sophie. I kept trying to end their story but some stories have a mind of their own. When I started out, there was nowhere in my plans to have Sophie get lost in the middle of the prairie, but it basically wrote itself.
I wonder what Miss Addie will do with the new handsome doctor? How will she convince him to order a mail order bride?
Ellie is now live on Amazon. Get your copy here.
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Keep reading for some excerpts of other mail order brides
Other Books by Cyndi
Meet Dawson & Grace in book #2
Grace: Mail Order Bride of Wichita Falls
Dawson pulled the rickety high-back wooden chair away from the desk, slinging a leg over the seat and sat down. He flung his arms over the back, pressing his forehead against the wood. It had been another long, hellish night. So bad, in fact, the dreams were so livid, he had tossed and turned so much it felt as if he was still in the horrible nightmare.
All he could hope is one day they would be gone. What he would do for a decent nights sleep. A heavy sighed left him. If they never ceased, then he would certainly suffer the rest of his life for what had happened. Either way, he figured he deserved to be tormented by the screams of the innocent family he practically had a hand in slaughtering. He knew in his heart he was innocent of the crime but if it hadn’t been for him, they may still be alive.