Once Upon a Mail Order Bride

by Linda Broday

  What was the shouter doing? Ridge strained to look and finally realized he was holding someone under the water. He was drowning someone.

  It had to be Addie! Gripping his Colt, he stepped into the water. No one noticed him.

  Before he could go deeper, the woman raised a rifle that had been hidden by the fabric of her skirt. “Rules be damned! God knows I’ve suffered long enough and remained silent while you hurt my children. Then that innocent girl and her child…that was the end of you and me.”

  Was that Addie’s mother? It seemed so.

  Ridge stared, frozen as the woman put the man in her sights. Fear strangled him. She could miss and hit Addie. “No! Wait!” Ridge ran toward her, waving his arms.

  “I hate you with every bone in my body, Ezekiel Jancy! Say hello to the devil! If he’ll even have you” With those words, she pulled the trigger.

  Ridge watched in horror as Ezekiel’s head exploded. Slinging his Colt aside, Ridge dove into the water and took long, sweeping strokes toward the center of the pond. Addie!

  She hadn’t floated to the top. She should have if she was alive.

  No! She couldn’t be dead.

  He dove deep but the murky water blinded him. Desperate, he felt his way through the muck, searching for any sign of Addie. His lungs hurt with the need to fill them and he finally had to rise to the surface to gulp in more air before going back down. She hadn’t given up on him, and he would never give up on her.

  Frantic fear gripped him. She’d been down so long—who knew how long before he’d even arrived on the scene. He’d seen no thrashing or movement of any kind, but Ridge refused to listen to reason.

  She might still be alive—if he could only find her.

  It seemed like an eternity had passed by the time his fingers brushed fabric on the bottom of the pond. With a firm arm around her, he pulled her up and swam for shore.

  “I have her.” Mrs. Jancy helped get Addie onto the bank where Ridge untied her hands. The sight of the deep lacerations around both her wrists sickened him. Her white face terrified him, froth thick around her mouth. She lay deathly still.

  Everything had been in vain.

  Ridge let out an ear-piercing scream and pounded the ground. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She couldn’t leave him. They’d barely begun to love.

  Tears rolling down his face, he began to say the long-forgotten words of a prayer.

  A reply sounded in his ear. “And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”

  The same God that put breath in each person could make Addie live.

  Something he’d once seen penetrated the horror, and a voice inside told him what to do.

  Ridge rolled her onto her side and pounded her back. “Come on. Breathe, Addie.” Nothing. Though he knew it might be too late, he clung to hope for a miracle.

  Just one miracle. Please.

  Panic rose and swamped him. Time worked against them, ticking off each second.

  Tears rolled down Mrs. Jancy’s face. She squatted and vigorously rubbed Addie’s arm and patted her hand.

  Returning Addie to her back, Ridge gently opened her mouth, pinched her nose, and placed his lips to hers, creating a seal of sorts. He softly blew into her mouth. Her chest rose. He gave her three puffs.

  Then three more.

  Again and again, he repeated the process.

  He was about to give up in despair when she suddenly coughed. Ridge rolled her to her side so she wouldn’t choke, and water gushed from her mouth. When it stopped, he laid her back.

  Her eyes fluttered and opened. She stared up at him for long seconds before she spoke. “You came.”

  “I got a late start, but I rode as hard as I could.” He smoothed back wet strands of hair from her face. “I didn’t know if I’d get here soon enough. You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry. I tried so hard to live.”

  “Thank God for your stubborn determination.”

  Addie gripped his arm, her eyes clouding with raw fear. “Ezekiel?”

  “Dead. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

  Addie put a weak hand on his jaw. “Oh, Ridge. You were trying so hard to get the charges dropped, and now this.”

  “I wasn’t the one to pull the trigger this time.”

  Mrs. Jancy moved to sit beside Ridge. “It was me. I killed him. He had to be stopped, so I did it.”

  “Mama, I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You were right. No one was safe with him alive.”

  Ridge finally got a good look at Mrs. Jancy. Her black eye, battered face and hands told a story of horrible abuse. No one would blame her for putting a bullet in the man who’d done all that.

  “Help me up, dear. I can’t lay here all day when we have to get ready to leave.” Addie glanced at her mother. “Where will you go, Mama?”

  “I’ll go get your sisters, then I don’t know. We can’t stay in New Zion.”

  Addie sat up with Ridge’s help. “Live in Hope’s Crossing with us. It’s a good, decent place where you can start over fresh, no questions asked.”

  “We’ll see.” Her mother rose and trudged toward their camp.

  Ridge lifted Addie. She let out a sigh and snuggled against his chest. He tightened his arms around her, his heart overflowing with gratitude. They’d been granted another chance.

  While Addie helped her mother prepare a quick meal from the limited supply of food, Ridge unhitched the poor horses from the wagon and led them to the stream to drink. He fished Ezekiel Jancy’s body from the pool so it wouldn’t taint the water and covered the despicable man with rocks. Two hours later, they were on their way home.

  Ridge tied Cob to the back of the wagon and everyone rode together. Addie and her mother had quite a lot to say to each other, and Ridge stayed quiet, happy they could repair their relationship.

  It was late afternoon when they reached the farm. Bodie ran out, worry on his face, throwing his arms around like they belonged to a floppy doll. “What happened? I came back an’ everyone was gone!”

  “A long story.” Ridge set the brake and climbed down. “Addie’s father took her, and I went after them. Say hello to Mrs. Jancy, Addie’s mother. She’ll stay with us as long she wants.”

  “Welcome, ma’am. Do you know how to cook? I’m starving flat to death.”

  Ridge died laughing. Trust Bodie to get right to the heart of the matter in two seconds flat. But laughter was welcome after the harrowing ordeal. He would never again take anything for granted—especially Addie. By all rights, she should be lying in a grave. They’d cheated death by such a slim margin and that reality brought a chill up his spine.

  Bodie helped him unhitch the wagon. “Is Addie okay? She’s bruised and cut up bad and looks horrible. Her ma too.”

  “It’ll take some time, but I think she’ll be as good as new.”

  “She didn’t say anything to me. Has she lost her voice again?”

  “No. She’s just had a rough time. Give her a little extra help until she’s recovered. All right?”

  “Sure.”

  In hindsight, Ridge wished he hadn’t said anything to the kid, as Bodie immediately made a pest out of himself, insisting on doing everything, and just getting in everyone’s way.

  Ridge’s gaze never left Addie. She seemed hollow inside, her eyes haunted. Without a word, she staggered up the stairs and lay on their bed, staring into nothingness.

  Mrs. Jancy wiped her eyes, then pulled herself together and set about cooking supper. Addie had always said her mother was weak, but without Ezekiel, she appeared to get much stronger and surer of herself. Maybe it was being away from her husband that’d done it.

  Finally getting tired of tripping over Bodie, Mrs. Jancy took him asid
e. “Thank you for being so kind and helpful. I wonder if you could fetch me some onions and turnips from that garden over there. I can’t bend over that well, and my old knees are pretty creaky. Then when you get back, you can sit at the kitchen table and cut up the turnips for me. I’d dearly like to hear all about your parents that you miss so much.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I can surely do that.”

  “Bless you, boy. You’re a godsend.”

  Right then, Ridge knew that Mrs. Jancy—Ingrid—was a saint. Though she had no sons, she seemed to know exactly how to care for a half-grown man who grieved for his parents and home.

  * * *

  Addie lay low for a week. Ridge didn’t know how to help her recover except to give her some space and time to heal, but it killed him to feel so helpless. He held her in his arms at night and let her cry, then watched her during the days, careful not to hover like a brood hen.

  Friday came, and Ridge saddled the horses. King would give her the comfort he couldn’t.

  Addie was sitting in the parlor, Squeakers in her lap, staring out the window when Ridge entered. “How about a ride with me? The horses are champing at the bit for exercise, and I can’t stand much more of King’s moping around. Those sad eyes are getting to me and I think you could cheer him up.”

  “I suppose.” She sighed and rose. “I’m sorry I haven’t been much good lately. I don’t know why I can’t get on with life. I’m scared.”

  Ridge folded her in an embrace. “What happened to you was beyond understanding. You endured torture and pain that few others could. Your brain has to heal as much as your poor body. It’s something you can’t rush. But you’ll get there.”

  She leaned back to look up at him. “I don’t deserve you. You’re so patient.”

  “Don’t make me out to be a saint, because I’m not.” He covered her bruised lips with his and let the tender kiss do his talking.

  Addie broke the kiss. “I thought the whole ordeal was a test of faith—faith that you’d arrive to save me. Faith that God wouldn’t let evil win. Faith that good would triumph over hate. But I discovered it was a test of strength. I had to be stronger than him, keep looking for a way to escape, never giving up even when it seemed impossible. Does that make sense?”

  “Perfect sense.” Ridge breathed easier and his worry lifted. She’d started to examine what had happened and put everything in compartments. She wasn’t back to herself yet, but she was getting closer. “You’re the strongest lady I know.”

  “Thank you for letting me work through this. I have to do it by myself.”

  “I know.”

  They walked through the house arm in arm and out the kitchen door. Addie went to King and laid her face against his neck, taking deep breaths. Ridge kept silent, unmoving, watching the blankness fade and love paint itself across her features. Long moments passed until she lifted her head. She rubbed the space between King’s dark eyes, caressing, massaging. “Hello, boy,” she crooned softly. “I’ve missed you.”

  King snuffled and nuzzled her shoulder. It appeared to Ridge that the bond between horse and woman was healing both.

  When she was ready, he lifted Addie into the saddle. Together, they rode toward their secret place.

  The green oasis seemed even more beautiful and serene than ever. No swimming this time. Instead, they rested and soaked up the peace it offered. Addie sat with her back against Ridge, her fingers making unseen designs on his wrist. With the blue sky arcing overhead and the horses nibbling on the grass, it seemed almost perfect. Ridge moved her hair aside and kissed the sensitive skin of her neck.

  “I never thought I could love anyone as much as I do you, Addie. But I’m finding that feeling grows stronger each day.” He chuckled softly. “I can’t imagine what it will be like when I’m old and gray. Hopefully, I won’t explode into a huge bonfire.”

  “You won’t.”

  “And what makes you so sure, pretty lady?”

  “Because I’ll hold you so close, it’ll keep everything all inside.”

  He smiled. “You’d do that for me?”

  “I’d change the world for you.” She swiveled to face him. “There is nothing on this earth I wouldn’t do for you. We’re a matched set, Ridge Steele, and you’ve already given me more happiness than my heart can hold.”

  “I owe you an apology.” Emotion roughened his voice. “I was trying so hard to get to you, and everything worked against me—the black night, losing the trail, dozing off and almost falling from the saddle. Good Lord! I could’ve spared you so much torment had I found you sooner.” He kissed the healing wound around her wrist. “I failed to keep my promise.”

  “Shush! Stop. You got there in time, Ridge. That’s what counts. You pulled me from the bottom of that water and blew life back into me. Don’t look back. We have to move forward.”

  “You’re a wise lady.” He stretched out in the grass and Addie laid her head on his stomach.

  He told her about the voice in his ear as he worked feverishly to save her. “I can’t explain fully what that was, but I trusted in the scripture and prayer, knowing how God leads us. Sometimes, at the end of the day, trust is all we have left.”

  Addie propped herself on an elbow, studying him. “Do you want to resume your ministry?”

  “No.” He wound a strand of her hair around his finger. “Nothing like that. But I do feel called to help the youth so they won’t make the same mistakes I did.”

  “That’s wonderful, Ridge.” She lay back on his stomach. “I’m glad.”

  They lay like that for a good while, and he even dozed a little, but it soon came time to head back. Ridge helped her onto King’s back and mounted Cob.

  “Thank you for making me ride, Ridge. I needed this to clear my head.”

  He winked. “I thought you might.”

  “I won’t say anything to Dr. Mary, or she’ll think you tried to horn in on her business.”

  Ridge threw back his head in hoots of laughter. His joy wasn’t about what Addie had said, but that she felt up to teasing him at all. She joined in, and the sound of her happiness swelled up inside him.

  Maybe soon she’d want to do more at night than be held. He missed running his hands over her body, kissing every inch of her.

  “Well, Mrs. Steele, I’m pleased to see you up to teasing.”

  “Me too.”

  “Do you know what your mother’s plans are? Her bruises are healing, and she seems to be feeling better.”

  “She doesn’t know what to do, Ridge. Mama isn’t up to traveling back home by herself, and she wants to stay here, but she also needs to get my sisters. Any suggestions?”

  “Sending money for them to ride the stagecoach would be best and I’ll be happy to arrange that. Or I suppose I could go after them. That would mean I’d have to leave you for two weeks or longer. Depending on what I’d have to do once I got there, it could be closer to a month. I prefer to send funds, but I’ll do whatever you wish.”

  “No, I don’t want to be separated. I think sending for them would be best. Let’s do that tomorrow. I’d like to see them settled before winter sets in.”

  “Then we’ll do that in the morning. Anything else? I still see worry lines on your face.”

  “I’m really concerned that I haven’t heard from Zelda Law. Something’s happened. The arrangement was supposed to be that she’d bring the boy to me when I got released from prison.”

  “We’ll send a telegram to her brother at Seven Mile Crossing while we’re in town in the morning. Anything else bothering you? I’ll be glad to fix all your problems.”

  “No, that’s about it.”

  Her beautiful smile blinded Ridge. Without that dark cloud of her past hanging over her, he would bet that things were going to be even better than before.

  Thirty-Five

  Addie hummed as she rode bes
ide Ridge in the wagon the next morning. Her mother had stayed behind at the property, unable to face people. Addie’s face was also a mass of bruises and cuts, but it didn’t bother her now. She saw her wounds as a badge of survival.

  She smoothed the green dress she’d worn at her wedding. It seemed fitting to wear this one today. This was a new beginning as well, one free of her mad father. The slight breeze ruffled her hair, left down in curls the way Ridge liked it.

  He leaned back and propped one boot on the high, wooden wagon box. “I’d better stay close by, or someone might make off with my pretty wife. You look especially beautiful.”

  “Thank you for saying so, but I don’t think you have to worry.”

  “No?”

  She waved her ring finger. The morning sun’s rays caught on the silver band. “I’m spoken for.”

  “Indeed you are, Mrs. Steele, and everyone had best take heed.”

  Addie inched closer, and he put his arm across the back of the seat. She never tired of this game they played. Teasing and flirting had been sins all her life, and she’d never known why or the pleasure it gave. This man she’d married had taught her a lot about life and love and happily-ever-afters.

  Although the day was just getting started, plenty of folks milled about the town. Addie and Ridge went straight to the telegraph office, sending a wire first to Addie’s sisters, telling them to get packed and ready to come. Then another to Zelda Law’s brother, inquiring about her and the boy. Addie prayed they’d get a reply soon.

  “While we wait for the bank to open, why don’t we get some coffee?” Ridge suggested.

  Addie laughed and wagged her finger. “You don’t fool me. You know if there’s any gossip, you’ll find it there.”

  Ridge gripped his chest in mock horror. “I’m hurt. I just want to keep my finger on the pulse of the town. As mayor.”

  When they opened the door, the racket inside the Blue Goose Café almost knocked Addie down. Everyone in town seemed to be at the eatery and excited about something. All the tables were filled, and they had turned to leave when Angus O’Connor waved them over. “Come and join us.”