A Heart's Blessing - Linda Ford Page 0,56
when I get out and come after you.”
“You won’t be getting out,” Corporal Andrews said. “Now march.”
Ryder watched them cross the street and go into the NWMP outpost. When the door closed behind them, he collapsed onto the nearest stool. The danger wouldn’t be truly past until Alonzo was delivered to Fort Macleod, where he would be tried and receive the punishment his deeds deserved.
But he could tell Delcie that Alonzo had been arrested. She and the children would never have to fear him again. He’d do that just as soon as some strength returned to his limbs.
Out the window, he saw the corporal drive a wagon to the outpost. A man was with him mounted on a black horse. A big burly man built like Big Sam. In fact, they could have been brothers. He carried a rifle and had two handguns at his side. Looked like an old gunfighter.
Where had the Mountie found such a man?
The corporal led Alonzo out and chained him to a ring in the wagon box. He did the same with the other two while the big man watched, his rifle at the ready in case one of them tried to escape. The Mountie climbed to the wagon seat and they rumbled down the dusty street with the mounted man following.
Ryder drew in a satisfying breath. They wouldn’t be escaping on the trip to the fort. It bothered him not at all to think they might get uncomfortable riding that way on the three-hour trip.
Feeling considerably better at seeing them depart, he strode over to the café.
Mrs. Meyer and Miss Fisher were at the window. They stepped back at his entrance.
“They are gone,” he said. “They will be tried.” He didn’t add they would be hung. Seemed a bit crude to say in front of the ladies.
He looked beyond them to the kitchen. The children and Delcie must be there. But all he saw was the preacher sitting at the table.
“Where are they?”
“Who?” Miss Fisher asked, though he thought she didn’t truly sound as if she didn’t know who he meant.
“Delcie and the children.”
“So, it’s Delcie now, is it?” Mrs. Meyer said.
“Yes, it is.”
“And vhy would that be?” The woman looked ready to defend her friend against his freshness at using her given name.
He was relieved to note she didn’t hold a rolling pin or a butcher knife. “I guess you could say that being tied up together and running for our lives and the lives of the children has made us…” He wasn’t sure what to say. Friends didn’t cover what he felt yet he wasn’t free to say it was more. He didn’t know if she felt the same way. “Well, suffice it to say that we’ve grown closer.”
Both women studied him.
“I need to find her and tell her that horrible man will no longer be a danger.”
Mrs. Meyer sniffed. “I think anyvone can tell her that.”
“Maybe so. But can anyone else tell her that he cares about her?”
“Cares?” Miss Fisher glanced at Mrs. Meyer. “There are many ways of caring.”
He couldn’t keep arguing with them. He had to see Delcie and assure himself as much as her that danger to the children had been eliminated. “I have feelings for her.”
Mrs. Meyer smiled. And quickly grew serious. “Is that so? How does she feel about you?”
“I don’t know. But if you tell me where she is, I’ll do my best to court her and hope she learns to care for me as much as I care for her.”
Mrs. Meyer tapped Ryder on the chest. “You see that you court her good.”
Miss Fisher nodded. “And never give her a reason not to trust you.”
“You have my word.”
“Then go find them. Mr. Holmen has taken them to his place.”
Mrs. Meyer gave him directions as Miss Fisher packed a lunch for him. He gratefully accepted both.
The preacher shook hands with him. “May God bless you and grant you the desires of your heart.”
“Thank you. It’s good to see you looking so well.”
“Indeed, God is good.”
Ryder hurried from the place and raced to the livery barn to get his horse. Every task seemed to take forever but eventually he was on his way, forcing himself not to gallop his horse at top speed.
The trip took long enough to give him time to second-guess what he was doing. Would she be glad to see him or think him crazy for chasing after her?
Audrey welcomed the visitors as if she hadn’t seen anyone for days even though Hilda