Once Upon a Mail Order Bride - Linda Broday Page 0,122
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