His Substitute Mail-Order Bride. Sherri Shackelford

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СКАЧАТЬ wearing on my nerves,” the mayor grumbled. “No need to rush Mrs. Linford. I’ll clean up the worst of the mess.”

      “Appreciate that,” Russ replied. “Start with the outlaws. The lady’s stomach isn’t strong at the moment.”

      A flush of heat swept over her face. What an awful time for a relapse of her influenza. She’d been feeling much stronger earlier in the week, and the timing of Susannah’s ticket had been too fortuitous to ignore.

      “Understood,” the mayor said. “You might want to clean up yourself. You don’t look so good.”

      “You wanted a distraction, and I gave you one.”

      Anna touched her cheek. Russ had put himself in danger for her. No, that wasn’t exactly the truth. He’d been looking for Susannah. He hadn’t known that someone else would be delivering a letter in his intended’s place.

      Anna wasn’t special. He’d have done the same thing for anyone else.

      The mayor grumbled. “I don’t want to lose my replacement.”

      Replacement? What did he mean by that? Not that Russ’s future was any of her concern.

      How odd that circumstances had conspired to bring them together once more after all this time. The other brides on the train had been so optimistic, so eager to meet the men of Cowboy Creek—their prospective bridegrooms—that Anna had kept her opinions to herself. Following the war, men were scarce back east, and the choices limited. Unlike Susannah, none of the other prospective brides had corresponded with the bachelors of Cowboy Creek beyond arranging their travels.

      Anna had been out of place amongst their cheerful ranks. Not only because she was traveling under false pretenses, but because she couldn’t share their enthusiasm for marriage. Her brief time as someone’s wife had left her soured on the institution. She didn’t begrudge them their optimism; she only worried their dreams might not match reality.

      The mayor muttered something she couldn’t quite discern before saying, “That wallop saved the day. Gave Daniel and me time to get in place.”

      Anna pivoted toward the creek. Russ’s suggestion of a little refreshing water splashed on her face was the perfect excuse for a delay. If she appeared now, they’d know she’d been listening, albeit unintentionally.

      She located a large, flat rock and knelt on the hard surface. After tugging off her gloves, she dipped her hands in the cool water.

      Footsteps sounded, and she glanced up. Canteen in hand, Russ made his way down the embankment once more. Her stomach dipped, and she whipped around. Everything had seemed so simple back in Philadelphia. Given the unexpected turn of events, her justifications for taking Susannah’s ticket were rapidly evaporating. She’d painted Russ a villain, but he wasn’t living down to her expectations.

      “Here.” Russ extended the canteen. “Water will help.”

      Though her life might have turned out drastically different had Russ married her sister, she couldn’t use the past as an excuse to defend her current questionable behavior.

      Anna offered a weak smile. “Thank you.”

      He dipped his handkerchief in the clear water and knelt beside her. “You’ve got some, um, dirt on your face.”

      Her hands trembling, she accepted the cloth and wiped her cheek.

      “Your arm.” His eyes widened. “You’ve been cut. You’re bleeding.”

      “It’s nothing.”

      He took her hand and gently turned her arm until her palm was facing up. The scratch was several inches long, though not deep, and the bleeding had slowed. With everything else happening, the sting barely rose above the rest of her aches and pains.

      “We’d best wrap this,” he said.

      Confused by his actions, Anna remained passive as he carefully wound the handkerchief around the gash. Why was he being kind?

      Her carefully practiced speech hinged on diffusing his anger. First, she’d planned on appealing to their past connection. If that didn’t work, she’d appeal to his conscience and hope the man her sister had initially fallen in love with was still present in the man who’d eventually jilted her.

      What Anna hadn’t expected was Russ’s immediate compassion, and she didn’t know what to make of him. Trust did not come effortlessly these days.

      She caught his eyes, and her breath hitched. “You don’t have to do that.”

      “I insist.” He knotted the length of material and leaned back. “Can you stand?”

      Perhaps he was merely acting this way because the mayor was near. Her late husband had been adept at playing different roles based on the company he kept. Only when they were alone did he show his true character.

      “Yes,” she said. “I’m fine now.”

      She pushed off and stood, then wobbled.

      “Let me help you, Anna.”

      She instinctively backed away, and he followed.

      “I can manage.”

      “Please. I can’t have you tumbling into the creek.” He softened his words with an engaging smile. “I’ll ruin my new shoes wading in after you.”

      “All right,” she reluctantly conceded.

      Let him put on a show for the mayor. She needed his help, and distancing herself served no purpose. She’d made it as far as Kansas alone, but her meager funds were swiftly depleting. Finding work wasn’t easy for a woman, and she desperately needed a job.

      She allowed Russ to take her elbow as they ascended the hill but stepped away immediately once they reached the top. A tarp covered a body on the side of the road, and the scene bustled with people and activity. A man wearing a tin star pinned to his barrel chest glanced at her and quickly looked away, a blush staining his ruddy cheeks. Anna frowned and glanced behind her. She wasn’t the sort of person who turned heads. Another man tipped his hat her way.

      Russ placed his hand on the small of her back in a proprietary gesture. “I’m afraid you’ll have to get used to the attention. The arrival of the bride train is always cause for hope.”

      “They’re interested in courting me?” She scoffed. Times must be truly desperate in Cowboy Creek if the men were casting glances her way. “How should I correct the assumption?”

      Russ frowned. “If you didn’t want to become a bride, why take Susannah’s ticket? Cowboy Creek isn’t the usual place for widows to relocate.”

      “It’s a long story.”

      “Give it time, then. Will and I will do our best to staunch any speculation.”

      His authority and importance were evident in the deference the men paid to him. She’d known Russ held a notable position in Cowboy Creek, but she’d thought Susanna had exaggerated his reputation.

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