Once Upon a Mail Order Bride - Linda Broday Page 0,135
undo the lie she’d told years previous. Her conscience had bothered her.”
“Is that opinion or fact, Mr. Bowdre?”
A tinge of anger showed in Jack’s answer. “Both. Your Honor, I have two witnesses here in the courtroom right now who’ll vouch for that and be more than happy to testify how Miss Duke came to be at the Steele house.”
“Where is Miss Duke now? Why isn’t she here?”
Ridge’s heart sank even further.
“We don’t know her whereabouts at present,” Jack answered. “She came through Hope’s Crossing on her way west. She’s starting a new life. Her father forced her to do horrible things and used her to settle gambling debts. Now she’s free to live as she wants.”
“I would like to have spoken to her.” Greely swatted a fly that landed on his desk. “Steele, what was your former profession, and what were you doing in the woods that night?”
Jack whispered, “Relax, don’t let him intimidate you.” Ridge had news for Jack. Greely already scared him into the middle of next week.
“A preacher, sir. I had a church in a nearby town and was on my way home after visiting a parishioner’s sick child.” Ridge didn’t flinch from the judge’s sharp, dark eyes. “I heard Shiloh—Miss Duke—cry out in what sounded like pain and went to see if I could help.”
“How long did you preach?”
“Two years, sir.”
“Quite a few outlaws claim to be preachers to get their crimes erased. Is that what you’re doing?”
“No, absolutely not.”
“Are you preaching the Good Book now?”
Ridge forced himself to remain still under Greely’s skeptical stare. The sheriff took a step toward him from his post. “I lost my faith in God, Your Honor. I gave up the pulpit and haven’t preached a word since that night. I couldn’t see how the good Lord would let someone frame me for such unspeakable crimes. I was just riding by, minding my own business, stopped to help someone in need, and found myself with a noose around my neck and a hostile crowd wanting me dead. I am not using religion to get the slate cleared.” Ridge inhaled a quick breath. “No, Your Honor.”
Jack seized a moment of quiet. “Ridge Steele has committed no crimes since coming to live in Hope’s Crossing.” His voice rang out with clear conviction. “I don’t know a finer man to ride with, and I consider him head and shoulders above the best.”
“I’ll take that into consideration, Bowdre. Steele, tell me about the rancher, Calder. The father of that dead boy. It says here he and an older son came after you.”
Ridge winced, wishing he didn’t have to answer. “Yes, they did.”
“What was that? I didn’t hear you.”
“I said yes, Your Honor. They came hunting me with a vengeance.”
“What happened?”
“I shot and killed his older boy after they attacked me. I defended myself.”
“Did you kill the father?”
“No, he gathered his dead son and went home to bury him.”
Greely grunted and swatted another fly. Ridge gave Jack a sideways glance, wondering what it all meant. Jack shrugged helplessly. Great. Ridge inhaled a worried breath. He wanted to turn to Addie and bolster her with a smile at least, but he stared straight ahead, his shoulders squared, spine stiff. Hanging Horace probably didn’t like slouchers.
The silence dragged on. Someone coughed. A bead of sweat trickled down one side of Ridge’s face. He wiped it away and let his arms fall to his sides.
Greely motioned for the sheriff to step to the bench, and the two conferred in whispers. The sheriff stepped away, and the judge spoke again. “I reviewed everything, and we contacted the sheriff’s office and others in Silver Valley who gave you glowing recommendations. The law in the neighboring town has been newly elected, but he was well versed on the case. He spoke of unprecedented corruption of his predecessor at every level.”
He reached for a piece of paper and stamped it. “Therefore, I will wipe out your conviction and give you a clear name. However, I don’t want to ever see you back in a prisoner’s dock. Break the law, and I’ll throw the book at you.”
Ridge’s legs tried to buckle. They did it. He was no longer wanted.
Addie’s happy cry and Bodie’s shrill whistle sounded behind him.
“Order!” The judge banged the gavel. He signed a paper and handed it to the bailiff. “Here’s proof of the proceedings today, Steele. Better keep it handy until word gets out that you no longer have a bounty on your head.”