Convenient Christmas Bride (9781460389034) Read online

  “You need to go to the doctor,” she protested, wanting to pull him into her arms and give him comfort from the pain.

  “Do as I say!” he growled.

  Levi knelt down to look into her tearstained face. “I’ll make sure he goes, Anna Mae. Please, do as he says.”

  She jerked awkwardly to her feet, then spoke in a suffocated whisper. “But how will I know you are all right?”

  His voice softened. “Annie, it’s only a shoulder wound. I’m fine. Please, get out of town. I don’t know where the rest of the James gang is and I want you and the girls home safe.” Pain-filled blue eyes slowly rose and met hers. “Please.”

  Anna Mae nodded. She stumbled and a desperate sob escaped before she managed to walk away with stiff dignity. She paused just inside the door and looked back. Josiah stared after her, an unusual play of emotions on his face.

  Thankfully, everyone had followed Mr. Anderson’s orders and left. She turned in the direction of the general store and ducked around the building. Holding her breath, Anna Mae waited for her husband and Levi to come out of the bank. She wanted to make sure Josiah could walk on his own.

  Both men exited the bank, and though Josiah bent forward slightly, he walked without assistance. His face appeared pale in the bright sunlight. He pulled his hat down low and turned in the opposite direction from Anna Mae, straight toward the doctor’s office. When they were out of sight, she returned to the boardwalk and headed to the general store.

  She’d come to get the girls hair ribbons and penny candy for Christmas, and that’s what she planned to do. The boots would have to wait for another time. Anna Mae still refused to buy Josiah’s Christmas gift with his own money.

  The pleasure of the morning had been poisoned by ugly events. She ached with an inner pain.

  As soon as she walked inside, Carolyn exclaimed, “Please tell me you weren’t in the bank.”

  Anna Mae couldn’t speak for the lump in her throat, so she nodded.

  “Is everyone all right?”

  A small crowd of men stood at the back of the store. They inched forward, waiting for her answer. “One of the bank robbers was killed and the other was injured. Mr. Lupan is with Mr. Anderson, who’s giving him a full report. You’ll all get to read it in this week’s paper, I’m sure.”

  She didn’t want to talk about the attempted robbery. Anna Mae hurried to the ribbons, chose two spools that matched Rose’s and Ruby’s dresses, and carried it to the counter.

  “Praise the Lord,” Carolyn said, taking the ribbon.

  “I’d like half a yard of both of those.” Anna Mae tried to smile, but knew her lips wobbled too much for a genuine one.

  Carolyn nodded. “Are you all right?” she asked as she cut the ribbon.

  “Yes, just a little shaken up. Can I also get three peppermint sticks, a small bag of lemon drops, three apples, three oranges and three of those sweet potatoes?” She’d make a sweet potato pie for Christmas. The potatoes were huge and knobbed, and might even be enough for two pies. Anna Mae kept her mind on mundane things in an effort not to break down.

  She paid for her purchases, left the store and ran to the side of the building. Her stomach roiled and she lost her breakfast. With one arm clasping the bag and the other hand propped securely against the wall she stumbled along till she found the steps at the back of the store and sank down wearily.

  Anna Mae rocked back and forth, weeping hot cleansing tears until she captured her composure. She saw with abrupt clarity that she had fallen in love with Josiah Miller. She thought she should feel sorry about that, but instead it felt right.

  A sense of strength came to her and serene peace wove its way into her heart. Her husband lived. God had protected him. She was grateful.

  She gathered her purchases and walked calmly to Emily Jane’s house. Her friend pulled her quickly through the door, exclaiming with fear, “You’re hurt.”

  Anna Mae looked at the front of her dress and saw spots of Josiah’s blood where she’d held him close for those few seconds before he’d shoved her behind him. She wrung her hands. “I’m not hurt. That’s Josiah’s blood.” Why hadn’t Carolyn mentioned the blood? Maybe she hadn’t noticed.

  Emily Jane’s hands went to her cheeks. “Oh, no.”

  Anna Mae held up her trembling palm. “He’s alive. He was shot in the shoulder by a bank robber. He will be fine.” Lord, please let him be fine.

  She managed to give Emily Jane the shortened version of the robbery. Remembering her promise to leave town, Anna Mae announced, “We have to go.” She started gathering the girls’ coats, blankets and toys. “Thank you, Emily Jane, for watching them this morning. I was able to get their Christmas gifts bought and a few groceries for special holiday dishes.”

  They said their goodbyes and she headed out of town.

  “Mrs. Miller!”

  Anna Mae pulled the wagon to a stop and looked over her shoulder. Amos, the delivery boy for Carolyn, came running up to the wagon.

  Breathlessly, he panted, “Mrs. Moore asked me to give this to you.” He handed her a letter.

  “Oh, thank you, Amos.”

  “You’re welcome.” He turned and ran back the way he’d come.

  Anna Mae turned the envelope over and immediately recognized her mother’s penmanship. She tucked the letter into her bag and continued on home.

  When she pulled into the yard a cry of relief broke from her lips. She’d never before been so glad to see the place. Rose and Ruby clapped their little hands and laughed. They, too, seemed to be glad to be home.

  Once the girls were down for their afternoon nap, Anna Mae pulled the letter out of her bag and opened it. For weeks she’d wondered what her mother thought about her marriage, and now she’d find out. With trembling fingers, she pulled the letter out and began to read.

  My dear, sweet Anna Mae,

  I know you say you recently got married, and I respect that. Your father and I have to wonder why you married so quickly. We know how devastated you were when Mark left and then when that dreadful Mr. Westland chose another over you. We hope you didn’t get married for the mere sake of being married. But I fear the worse.

  I spoke with my dear friend Grace Hardy, and she tells me that a teaching position has come up at the school and she’d love to have you back. You were one of her best teachers, after all. I told her I’d let you know as soon as possible. She would like for you to be here to start after the Christmas break.

  Honey, I know you are married, but are you happy? If not, this is the perfect opportunity for you to come home and start anew. No one has to know you were married.

  Please write me back as soon as possible so that I can give Grace your answer.

  We love you,

  Mother and Father

  So that was it. After months of humiliation, now the school board wanted her to return to her old job as if nothing had happened. As if they hadn’t rejected her when she’d asked for her job back after Mark had left her standing at the altar. She laid the letter down and began making a fresh pot of coffee.

  Anna Mae knew she’d never be able to leave Josiah and the girls. She no longer thought about Mark and even wondered if she’d ever really loved him. Her feelings for Josiah were so much stronger than they’d ever been for her old fiancé. Anna Mae closed her eyes and tried to pull up Mark’s handsome image. For a moment she felt confused. She remembered him, but his face no longer appealed to her.

  Josiah’s laughing blue eyes and handsome features eased forward in her mind’s eye. She loved him. She’d never loved like this before. And if he didn’t ever return those feelings, at least she knew what it meant to be head over heels. She exhaled a long sigh of contentment.

  In comparison, Josiah was the better man. He treated her like an equal, not a thing that belonged to him. Her opinions
mattered to Josiah; Mark had never consulted her on anything. Josiah never talked of money and Mark lived for the almighty dollar. The more she compared the two men, the more Anna Mae realized that she’d never loved Mark, and it really hadn’t been her heart that had been broken, but her pride.

  Josiah had given her back her self-esteem without either of them realizing it. He might never love her as he had Mary, but Anna Mae knew that she loved him. Her husband was a good man and he’d made her feel worthy and confident.

  Although, at the bank he’d been angry. Angrier than she’d ever seen a man. Was that anger at her? The robbers? Maybe after the robbery he’d want her to leave.

  A knock sounded on the door, pulling Anna Mae from her thoughts. Her heart soaring with her newfound knowledge, she swung the door wide, then fought to keep the disappointment from showing on her face.

  For the second time in less than a month, Grady filled the entryway. “Woman, have you lost your mind? What if I’d been one of the James gang?” He growled down at her like a concerned father.

  Anna Mae gasped. He was right. She should have realized that the gang might come after Josiah’s family. But then again, Josiah wouldn’t have sent her and the girls to the farm if he hadn’t thought it was safe.

  “Are you going to let me in or continue staring at me as if I’ve grown horns on my head?” The lawman placed both large arms on the door frame.

  A feminine voice sounded and two small hands pushed him from behind. “John Grady Meeker, get out of the way. Can’t you tell she’s in shock?”

  “Susanna?”

  “Yep, it’s me.” She poked her head under Grady’s arm and smiled. “Do me a favor and invite this mountain of a man in so I can give you a hug.”

  Anna Mae opened the door wider. “Of course, come in. Both of you.”

  Grady cleared the doorway and Susanna shot around him. She grabbed Anna Mae in a tight hug. The sweet scent of roses filled her nostrils.

  “When I heard from Carolyn what had happened and that you had blood on your dress, I just had to come. You poor dear. Are you hurt anywhere?” Susanna pulled back and searched Anna Mae for injuries.

  “No, I’m fine. The blood Carolyn saw is Josiah’s, but he’s all right, too.”

  “Oh, good.” Susanna pulled her toward the couch. “Sit down and tell me all about it.”

  “Sure, you do that. I’ll shut the door,” Grady said in a disgruntled tone.

  Anna Mae turned to him. “I’m sorry, Mr. Meeker. Did Josiah send you out? Is he all right?”

  “Nobody sends me anyplace, young lady,” he grumped, and then sat in Josiah’s rocker. “But yes.”

  Susanna continued to rub Anna Mae’s back as one would a small child. “You really should change dresses so we can try to get the blood out of that one.”

  Anna Mae inched away from her friend. “I will, Susanna, but let me find out about Josiah first.” She turned her attention back to Grady. “Have you seen him? What did the doctor say?”

  The big man leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. “Yes, I saw him. Josiah’s shoulder is going to hurt for a while, but the doctor says he’ll heal.”

  She heaved a sigh of relief. It had pained Anna Mae to leave him in town, but she’d seen for herself that he could walk to the doctor. “I’m glad.” If he was fine, then why had he asked Grady to come out to the farm?

  Susanna sat forward. “So if Josiah didn’t send you out here, what are you doing here?” she asked in her no-nonsense way.

  The lawman leaned back in his chair. “Young lady, there are still four bank robbers running loose. I came to check on Anna Mae and the girls. Josiah wasn’t thinking straight when he sent them out here alone.”

  Grady propped his fingers in a steeple and stared at her with steely green eyes. “I’d thought to persuade Anna Mae into returning to town, where she belongs.”

  Anna Mae shook her head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Meeker, but I have animals out here that need tending to. I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be fine.”

  Grady stood. “He said you’d say something like that. Mrs. Marsh, are you going to stay out here for a while?”

  For the first time ever, Anna Mae saw a serious, determined side of Susanna. “I brought a bag with me. I didn’t like the idea of them being alone out here, either.”

  The two exchanged a look of understanding and respect. Anna Mae stared at her friend.

  Susanna Marsh had been one of four mail-order brides who had arrived to marry Levi Westland months ago. She was the oldest and the only one who had been married before. When they’d arrived, Susanna had seemed the most determined to marry Levi, but was also the first to give up on him. She had seemed bossy, arrogant and a little flighty.

  But the woman sitting beside her now seemed more mature, in control and caring. Anna Mae realized at that moment that she had developed close friendships here in Granite, another reason not to return to her parents.

  “Well, then, I’ll be going. We still have four men to catch.” Grady walked to the door.

  Anna Mae hurried to catch up with him. “Mr. Meeker, is Josiah heading home?” She didn’t like the idea of him being injured and out chasing outlaws.

  “No, ma’am. He’s planning on catching those other men. When I left town, he was in the process of questioning the prisoner to find the location of their hideout. If I know Josiah, he won’t rest until he has all five of them behind bars.” Grady looked down at her with kind eyes.

  She nodded. Tears felt close to the surface once more.

  He walked back to her and turned her to face him. “Josiah is a good lawman. He knows how to take care of himself.”

  Through a tight throat she managed to say, “And yet today he got shot.”

  “Yes, ma’am, he did.” Grady lifted her face to look up at him. “But I believe he was distracted by a pretty lady. That won’t happen again.” Grady winked at her and then turned to leave.

  As soon as the door closed, Susanna said, “You know, I’d like for a man to find me distracting.” She sighed dramatically and patted her lips with her pointer finger. “I think I’m going to do some advertising of my own.”

  Anna Mae turned to face her. “What?”

  A comical expression crossed Susanna’s face. “Wouldn’t it be fun to place an ad in Mr. Lupan’s paper? Something like ‘Husband wanted: See Mrs. Marsh for details.’”

  Anna Mae giggled. Now there was the friend she recognized. She felt grateful for the company, but she knew she wouldn’t relax until her husband was home safe.

  * * *

  Josiah slid from his horse but hung on to the saddle horn while he gained his balance. His body felt too weary to stand, let alone walk the distance from the barn to the house. His shoulder felt as if it were on fire. It had been two days since he’d been home and the relief he felt walking up to the porch knew no bounds. How he had missed Anna Mae and the girls, but thanks to the help of Grady and Wade, all the remaining James gang members were in the paddy wagon headed to Austin.

  Grady would travel with the prisoners there and then return to Denver. Saying goodbye had been hard, but he knew his old friend and mentor needed to get home to his own community. Before he’d left, Grady had pressed him once more to move his family to town.

  Josiah twisted the door handle and pushed lightly. To his utter surprise the door swung open. He quietly closed it behind him. The fact that Anna Mae hadn’t dropped the bar into place across it proved Grady was correct. Josiah shook his head in disbelief. It was way past the midnight hour and she’d left the door open. What was wrong with her? Anyone could have come in.

  The click of a hammer being cocked froze him in his tracks. He raised his hands out to the side and slowly turned to face his attacker. The glint of metal eased from the shadows. The scent of roses wafted toward him, and had he not
been about to crumble to the floor he would have laughed.

  “Either shoot me or lower the gun, Mrs. Marsh.”

  “Sheriff?” Her voice sounded sleepy.

  “Yes, it’s me.” He moved into the light from the fireplace so that she could see him better.

  Susanna eased the hammer off, lowered the gun and joined him in the firelight. “I’m glad you’re home.” She yawned.

  “Where is Annie?” He looked about the room for his wife.

  “Sleeping.” Susanna sat on the couch and yawned again. “Midnight to six is my night-watch time. Hers is bedtime to midnight. It works better that way, since she has to get up with the girls in the mornings.”

  “Whose idea was this?” he asked, as he sank into his rocker. What a blessed relief to be off his feet.

  “Anna Mae’s. She didn’t want to lock you out and she didn’t want to invite outlaws in.” Susanna pushed herself up from the couch. “Since you’re home, I’m going to bed.” Just before she walked away, she whispered, “Did you catch them all?”

  He grinned. “Yes, they are on their way to Austin.”

  “Good, a body can rest now. Night, Josiah.” Susanna walked to the girls’ playroom.

  Josiah leaned back and closed his eyes. So his Annie hadn’t been foolish. She’d thought of a way to keep them safe and also make sure that he felt welcomed home. Which surprised him, considering the treatment she’d received at his hand the day of the robbery. He’d been downright mean to her. He figured he had a lot of explaining to do.

  One thing he was certain of—he’d died a slow death when he saw Annie with her arms spread wide, trying to protect the other bank customers. He’d felt gutted. Weak. He began to shake as his mind spiraled to what could have happened. Could have happened, but didn’t. His mouth suddenly felt dry.

  Josiah walked to the kitchen for a sip of water. He was bone tired. Drinking from the dipper, he sat down at the table, happy to be home.

  His gaze fell upon a piece of paper. It was open for anyone to read, so he did. His heart clinched in his chest as he read Anna Mae’s mother’s words. Just to be certain of what he’d read, Josiah went through it again.