Once Upon a Mail Order Bride - Linda Broday Page 0,106

loved every minute here. You have a great bunch of kids and a special town in which to raise them. Good luck finding my replacement. I know you’ll choose wisely.” He stepped away from the musicians and was besieged, everyone wanting to wish him well.

The music, the laughter, all the new developments made the night truly magical. Addie felt as if everything was changing. But maybe it was she who’d changed—from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. She sighed and rested her head on Ridge’s chest. All those terrible nights in prison seemed like a distant bad memory. She’d fit into Hope’s Crossing like a foot into a slipper and had become one of them now.

Here on the high plains of Texas, in the last outlaw sanctuary, she’d found love and the man of her dreams. She gazed up into his eyes. “Thank you for giving me this life, Ridge Steele.”

Twenty-Nine

Ridge strolled toward the barn early the next morning, whistling as the sky turned from dark gray to pink. He felt unusually happy, considering his former moods. The days and nights with Addie had made him a changed man.

Yet he knew not to get too comfortable. Life could turn and bite a man.

The wait to hear the judge’s decision on his reprieve was killing him. If this didn’t work, he’d have to go on the run—now that the law officially knew where he was. As much as it would destroy him to do so, he’d have to leave Addie behind. He wouldn’t drag her along and put her in danger.

Ridge didn’t know how he’d live without her now. She’d saved him from utter despair and loneliness.

His mind on Addie, he didn’t see the lurking figure until the man stepped away from the side of the house, a gun in his hand.

“I finally found you,” Tom Calder grated out. The big rancher’s eyes were sunken and glittered with hate. “I followed Shiloh Duke but lost her trail a week ago. She’d told me she was coming to find you.”

Ridge’s heart clenched, and he was glad he’d strapped on his gun belt. “You should know she gave a sworn statement about that night, and my lawyer has already taken it to a judge in Mobeetie. I didn’t kill Beau, and now everyone knows that. I wouldn’t have shot Wes either if you both hadn’t come hunting me. His death is on you.”

“You took my boys, and don’t deny it,” Calder yelled. “You ain’t nothing but scum, pretended to be a big preacher, all the while nothing but the devil. You forced yourself on Shiloh and made out my son to be the violator.”

Bodie stumbled from the barn with no shirt, barefoot, and tugging on his trousers.

“Go back inside, Bodie,” Ridge barked. “This is between me and Calder.”

“I’m finally going to get some justice for my boys!” Calder yelled. “And it’s going to be mighty satisfying to see you lying on the ground like they’re lying cold in their graves.”

“You won’t find me the inexperienced man I was back then.” Ridge kept his voice as even as he could, but it dripped with sadness. It had been only a matter of time before the devil would demand his due. “I don’t want to fight you, Tom.”

“Too yellow?” the man snarled, obviously not in any mood to listen.

“I don’t intend to draw unless you force me. But if you do, know that one of us is going to go down. I really don’t want to die on such a fine morning, and I doubt you do either.”

“You don’t know anything about me. Don’t pretend you do.”

“Of course I don’t. It’s just that we have this special sunrise to enjoy. The birds are singing, and the air carries a hint of fall. I appreciate being able to see it.”

Fury flashed in Calder’s eyes. “I have nothing left. You took it all.”

“You still have your land, that fine ranch. I hear you have the finest cattle in all of Texas.” Ridge looked for some sign that the man heard anything he was saying but saw none.

Except Calder hadn’t shot yet. What was he waiting on?

“Wes left a wife and child behind, a little son without a father, but I don’t suppose that matters to you.”

Behind him, Ridge heard Addie rattling around in the kitchen. He had to resolve this. She’d be out in a moment to feed her chickens that were scratching around in the dirt.

“You hungry, Calder? Let’s go inside and eat. I already