“Maybe she’s
hungry?” the man asked.
“No, she ate at the
last stop. She hasn’t slept well, and I think this is the result.”
“What’s her name?”
“Peg and I’m Addy.”
She moved the fretful child from one arm to another.
“I’m Shane O’Conner.
I’m one of five kids. The oldest to be exact.” He grinned. “Let me try.” He
held out his hands, ready to take the child.
Addy hesitated,
sighed and nodded. “I’m ready to try anything.” She placed Peg into his arms.
Instantly, Peg stopped screaming and smiled at the stranger.
“Hey!” Peg gave him
one of her winsome smiles.
“Hey, yourself.”
Peg giggled and
rubbed her eyes with her little fists. She gazed at Shane for a bit, and then she
slowly her eyes closed and snored little baby snores.
“How on earth?”
Addy’s jaw dropped. “She’s always been a fussy baby, and lately it’s gotten worse.”
“Probably the
traveling.” Shane leaned back and cuddled Peg against his large chest.
“Going to Asherville
or further West?”
“I’m the new sheriff
of Asherville. You?”
Gazing at Peg, Addy tried
to even her breathing. Her heart pounded so loud she was certain the sheriff
could hear it. “Yes. I’m getting married.”
“You’re a widow,
then. My condolences.”
Her hands clasped
and unclasped. Finally, she folded her hands to keep them still. A widow? She
hadn’t thought that far ahead when she grabbed Peg and fled. “Thank you. Yes a
widow. I… I couldn’t make ends meet by
myself, so here I am,” she said peering at his face for any sign of suspicion. Seeing
none, she leaned back against the wooden bench. “I can take her now.”
“If it’s all the
same, I think if we move her, we’ll be pelted with screams again.” His smile
was wide showing off his dimples.
She gave him a nod
of appreciation and closed her eyes. She couldn’t sleep with Peg in his arms,
but she couldn’t make conversation with him either. If they continued to talk
he’d see right through her lies. Of all the luck why did she have to ride in the
same stagecoach as a sheriff? It was bad enough she hadn’t told her groom she
was bringing a child with her. It couldn’t be helped. Normal people would
understand. Normal people were not like the Boston elite. Normal people were
lucky.
Opening her eyes,
she watched Peg. She had the coloring of her father, but the rest of her was
all Sondra, her mother. Addy’s heart hurt thinking about the loss of
her sister, and her pride raged at the bargain her parents had made with her
brother-in-law. Marrying him was something she would never do. He was a wife
beater, and her parents had turned a blind eye to all of Sondra’s bruises.
“She’s sweet. You’re
lucky to have such an angel.”
He bought her lie. “Thank
you. I do cherish her.”
“Will your intended
be there to meet you?”
Her heart sped up
again. “That’s what his letter said. He just started building his ranch, and I’m
both nervous and excited to be a part of it all.”
“You’ll do fine.
We’re slowing down. We must be in town.”
Addy lifted the
window shades and nodded. Reaching up she tried to straighten her hat.
“You look fine. He’s
one lucky fella. What did you say his name was?”
“Keegan, Keegan
Quinn.”
The coach stopped
with a jerk and Peg opened her eyes. She eyed Shane for a minute, sighed and
went back to sleep.
The door opened and
the driver offered his hand to her.
“I’ll carry Peg
out,” Shane offered.
“Thanks.” She took
the offered hand and stepped out onto the dirt road. She’d made it, and
hopefully they would both be safe.
****
Keegan stopped
pacing when he spotted the stagecoach. He’d second guessed his decision to take
a mail order bride a hundred times since he’d sent her the proposal letter.
Maybe he wasn’t cut out to make a good husband. He had too many secrets to be
responsible for another person. What if he had to cut and run?
He stood to one side
waiting for the passengers to exit. A lovely blond-haired, blue-eyed woman stepped down
first. Her curves were in all the right places. His hopes dimmed a bit as she
looked back into the coach. A tall man climbed out with a child in his arms.
Then he handed the child to the woman. A married couple.
The stage coach
driver took down a few bags and climbed back up ready to go.
“Wait! Isn’t there
another passenger? A woman? Her name is Adeline Johnson.”
The driver shrugged
his shoulders. “I don’t know names, but I think that gal over yonder is supposed
to meet her groom here. Ya!” He flicked the reins and was off.
Keegan scanned the
wooden walk and noticed the woman stood there without her husband. Perhaps
she’d know where his bride was. He admired the way she lovingly gazed at her
child. Once again, the pangs of doubt came back. He’d be fine as long as his
past never showed up to haunt him.
He walked toward the
woman and tipped his hat at her. “Ma’am, I’m looking for a woman named Adeline
Johnson. I thought she’d be on the coach with y’all. Did you happen to see her
in your travels?
She swallowed hard
and nodded. “I’m Addy. You must be, Keegan.” Her smile was wobbly and her eyes
reflected fear. He was a sucker for a woman in distress.
“Well now, you have
a young one.”
“Yes,” she replied,
her voice barely a whisper.
“Let’s get you out
of the sun. We can have something to eat over at Eats. Best place in town for a
meal.” He smiled and nodded to her.
Tears filled her
eyes. “I didn’t know what you’d do when we both showed up.”
“You’re here now.
It’ll be fine. Here let me take her.” He eased the baby out of Addy’s arms and
held her close. “What’s her name?”
“Peg.”
A terrible shriek
filled the air as Peg woke up. Startled he almost dropped her. She looked
wildly around until she saw the man from the stagecoach. She pointed and
yelled, “Daddy!”
The world slowed as
Keegan turned toward the man, only to have Peg shriek yet again. Something
wasn’t right and he wasn’t about to be fleeced of all his hard earned money.
“Hey, Mister, come get your child.” He put Peg back into Addy’s arms and walked
away. He hurried best he could to his horse, mounted and headed out of town. He
didn’t look back.
The longer he rode,
the madder he got. He pulled lightly on the reins and slowed his horse, Strike
to a stop. It would be one thing if only the woman was involved in cheating him,
but the man with her needed to take a few lumps for his part. Keegan had worked
too long and too hard to allow anyone to cheat him. Damn! What was he supposed to do now?
“The hell with it!”
he yelled into the hot, dry Texas wind. He didn’t need complications. Right now
he had cattle to take care of and it wasn’t easy starting a ranch alone. He’d been on his own too long.
