Once Upon a Mail Order Bride - Linda Broday Page 0,136

envelope in a trembling hand. “Thank you, Your Honor.”

“Court’s adjourned.” Greely banged the gavel again.

Ridge turned, and Addie flew into his arms. “We did it, Ridge. You’re free.”

The kiss was long and deep. They could go home now and live their lives without fear of the price hanging over Ridge’s head.

When he released her, she placed her mouth to his ear. “I have a secret.”

“Do you mind telling me?”

Her smile stretched from ear to ear. “You’re going to be a father.”

The shock seemed to have stolen every word from his head. He couldn’t get his mouth to work for several long heartbeats. Finally, he managed, “Me? A father?”

She nodded. “Probably next June. Are you ready for this?”

“More than ready, my love.” He could already picture their house brimming with kids of all ages and sizes. This was a dream come true. He blinked back the tears and kissed the little mama again.

Gradually, he became aware of others waiting to congratulate him, and they broke apart.

Bodie shook his hand, grinning. “I think that judge liked you.”

“What makes you say that, son?”

Bodie raised his shoulders. “He didn’t put you in jail.”

“Nope, he didn’t.” Ridge turned to Jack. “Thanks doesn’t seem a strong enough word for giving me back my life. I owe you. Anytime you need anything, I’ll be there.”

“I know. That’s the mark of a true friend.” Jack laughed. “Better get ready, though. Nora’s going to throw you a big shindig when we get back.”

“We can always stand to have a party.” Ridge drew Addie close, and she slid an arm around his waist in turn. “Are you ready to go home, Mrs. Steele?”

“I can’t wait to sleep in our own bed.” Her hand dropped to his butt and squeezed. The twinkle in her pretty green eyes told Ridge that he’d be getting very little shut-eye. But then, he figured sleep was overrated anyway.

He was surprised he didn’t float from the courtroom, as light as he felt with the weight lifted from his shoulders. He was a free man, had good friends, a kid to finish raising, a babe on the way, and the prettiest wife in the whole state of Texas to love.

The dice he’d rolled had come up double sixes, and a man couldn’t beat that.

Epilogue

Two months later

The November air brought the kind of cool day that warned of a blue norther perched on their doorstep. Clay Colby buttoned his coat, pulled the collar up around his ears, and tugged his Stetson low on his forehead. He turned to his two best friends, the men who’d been there with him from the beginning. “Let’s take a walk.”

Ridge glanced at Jack and lifted an eyebrow. “Reckon we have time to spare.”

Dodging children on their way to school, they climbed the bluff overlooking Hope’s Crossing and stared down at the folks milling about the busy main street. A month ago, they’d blasted away the narrow entrance to town, which, combined with the open back road, threw aside what now felt like a thick, black curtain. They were respectable, law-abiding people and took pride in announcing that to the world.

Now, with the obstructions gone, the growing community had spilled out from its confines in the canyon. Angus O’Connor was constructing a second fancy saloon that he’d already named the Midnight Star and an opera house mere yards from where the narrow entrance once stood. The man’s big dreams were going to put them on the map one day.

Wet paint still glistened on a population sign—their first—that read 95. Damn, it looked real nice from up here.

Clay took a big gulp of air into his lungs. All this had sprung from three wanted men with a vision of what could happen if they worked their fingers to the bone and kept looking to the future.

“What’s on your mind, Clay?” Jack rubbed his hands together and blew on them.

“I guess you might say I’m getting a bit maudlin and want to take stock as I do from time to time.” Clay fought back a thick wave of emotion that settled in his throat, choking him. “Only four short years ago, I stood up here, looked down at a dusty, dingy outlaw hideout, and saw a town. A dream formed.” He blinked hard, and his voice got raspy. “Now, look at that. What do you see?”

“A thriving group of misfits banding together to eke out a living,” Ridge answered. “When you told me your plans for this place, I immediately wanted in but had doubts