Once Upon a Mail Order Bride - Linda Broday Page 0,21

her breath. She knew who they were and who had sent them, and that was the most terrifying part. Often during the day, she had to stop and remind herself that she was safe, her hiding place near.

But nights were spent with Ridge in the parlor, her in the rocker, and he in his comfortable chair. Their first time together like that, he’d pulled a book titled Oliver Twist from the shelf, a riveting story about a poor child born in a workhouse. She loved the sound of his voice as he read to her. Ever since then, it had become a nightly ritual. Sometimes, she studied his face as he concentrated on the page—especially his nicely shaped mouth—and remembered their wedding kiss.

A part of her wished she was the bride he wanted out of all the other women in the world. Only he hadn’t truly chosen her, not in that way. Nor she him. They hadn’t met and fallen in love like most couples, hadn’t been neighbors or childhood friends. He’d known nothing and still knew very little about her, other than the fact that she was being hunted. She prayed he would never come to regret making her part of his life.

Even so, she knew her silence had to drag on him and she hated that.

He was a good man. A kind man. She often found herself studying him from under lowered lashes and admired his ability to keep occasional irritation in check and his voice calm even when he probably wanted to yell.

His hands and long fingers also fascinated her. They, too, seemed perfectly formed. Luke and Josie had told her that he had a lightning-fast draw, rarely missing his target, assuring that he would be her secret weapon. Yet at the same time, he was gentle and never complained when Miss Kitty or the wee one jumped into his lap. The first time it happened, he’d sloshed coffee on his shirt, and she’d braced herself, waiting for an explosion. But none came. After that, he seemed to enjoy running his long fingers across the kitten’s soft fur.

Maybe the cats calmed him as much as they did her.

Midafternoon one day, a knock sounded on the front door. Fear raced through Addie, and she instinctively bolted for her safe room. A baby’s cry halted her before she could close herself in, and she moved to the window to look out. A pretty, black-haired woman stood on the porch, a baby in her arms, a wagon nearby. But what shocked Addie more than the unexpected visitor were the denim trousers the visitor wore that showed off her hips and legs.

The woman didn’t seem to pose much of a threat, so Addie opened the door.

“Hi, I’m Rebel Lassiter, your neighbor.” The woman, somewhere around her late twenties, smiled and held out her hand. “Pleased to meet you. I’m sorry I missed your wedding. Little Rafe was puny, and Travis was in Tascosa on business.”

Oh! This was the woman Josie had talked about who could fix hair. Adeline returned the smile and waved Rebel inside. How she wished she could speak, but all she could do was stand there like a stupid stump.

Rebel seemed unfazed by her silence and thrust the child into her arms. “Please hold him for a moment. I have a hot peach cobbler waiting in the wagon.” Then she was gone in a flash.

Rafe, no more than one year old, judging by the two tiny bottom teeth, stared at Adeline with a look of complete shock. He puckered up to cry.

The boy wasn’t alone in his state of confusion. Adeline blinked and tried to think of what to do. Although she hadn’t held a child this small in years, she jiggled him up and down and made silly faces at him. He switched gears and laughed—then promptly tried to stick a finger up her nose. That part was familiar. Her littlest sister used to do the same.

A shadow darkened the open doorway, and Rebel rushed in. “I’m back.” She carried a luscious-smelling cobbler straight to the kitchen and set it down on the table. Adeline followed with Rafe, her gaze on those practical denim trousers.

How she’d love to own a pair! But whatever would Ridge think?

A wide smile graced Rebel’s face and made her dark eyes sparkle. “This is just my way of saying welcome to Hope’s Crossing. I hope you’ll be as happy here as I am.” Rafe reached for his mother, and she took him