Winning The Deputy's Heart (Mail-Order Brides of Salvation 1) Page 4

  “Thank you, but it’s nothing.” Abigail could feel the color rise in her face.

  “What else did you do?”

  She knew that she was leaving out an important part of her day, but Abigail decided that it would be better if Jacob did not know about her meeting with Sarah. There was something frightening about the way that young woman was bent on destroying her marriage. Abigail was afraid that if she voiced her fears they would become real. She couldn’t bear the thought that Jacob might express fondness for Sarah.

  “Walked around town, getting to know where everything is.”

  “Glad to hear that,” Jacob sighed. “I hope that you will find a home here, a home where you can be happy.”

  Abigail smiled at his words and continued to eat her dinner, silently wishing she could tell him that she believed that she had already found her happy home, which made the doubts that haunted her thoughts that much more painful.

  “I…,” Jacob stuttered after a while. “I am sorry that… we haven’t had a proper wedding night.” Abigail could tell that he felt uneasy talking about it.

  The awkward silence that followed Jacob’s words continued for long minutes, during which Abigail wondered if Jacob was finding her unattractive. Had he compared her with Sarah and found her wanting? They had slept in the same bed last night, but he had never even tried to touch her. Her thoughts returned to Joan and her advice of always speaking with her husband in a straightforward manner, but Abigail was too embarrassed to ask him about it. Aunt Cecilia had explained her wifely responsibilities, but having that same discussion with Jacob was a completely different matter. Especially when she couldn’t help but worry that Sarah wanted to take on those responsibilities.

  Then she caught sight of Jacob’s expression. He looked…nervous. Like he was afraid of what Abigail was going to say.

  Maybe he felt just as awkward as she did.

  She smiled demurely. “I have faith that we will have a proper wedding night once the robbers are caught. And I’m sure it will be worth waiting for.”

  He smiled back, looking relieved, and cleared his throat.

  “We think we’ve found where the robbers are hiding,” he said, successfully changing the subject. “Tonight, we plan to surprise them.”

  “That’ll be dangerous, won’t it?” Abigail asked, glad for the change of subject, but also sorry that the opportunity to talk about their relationship had passed.

  “Don’t worry, we know what we’re doing,” he said lightly. “The robbers are tired and hungry by now. They’ve been hiding for the better part of the last two days, with very little food.”

  “I’ll pray for everything to go well,” Abigail offered the only thing she could think of. A new fear seized her heart. She’d been so worried about Sarah stealing her husband that she had forgotten to worry that outlaws could do the same.

  “Thank you,” Jacob smiled at his wife. “I’ll be out late tonight, so you should not wait up for me.”

  “I don’t mind,” she responded. “And, anyway, I don’t think I would be able to sleep.”

  “I don’t want you to worry. I’m in God’s hands.” Jacob stood up from the table. “I have to go now, but once the robbers are behind bars, we can talk more about... everything.”

  Abigail accompanied him to the door, just like she did this morning, and felt another pang of jealousy at the memory of Sarah. Jacob had said that he wanted to talk. And she did want to know how he felt about the saloon girl. But the idea of expressing her fears to him was not something Abigail was looking forward to. Jealousy was an ugly emotion, and she didn’t want Jacob to see it in her.

  Lost in these thoughts, Abigail was surprised to suddenly realize that Jacob had already gone out the door. Had he spoken to her? Had she said goodbye? She thought so, but she wasn’t sure. She looked out the window and saw him turn back and wave back at her from down the street.

  Even though some irrational part of her was still unsure if Jacob was really truthful with her, but she was starting to realize that their future happiness depended on her trusting Jacob to do the right thing.

  Chapter Nine

  Abigail sat at home alone for a long hour, thinking and rethinking all that had happened in the last two days. There was no chance she’d sleep while Jacob was out. So she read her mother’s Bible, one of her few valuables. Then she prayed. When her throat was too dry to continue, she got up to make some tea, and spied lamplight coming from Helen’s kitchen window across the street.

  Of course, Helen would be up waiting for her own husband to arrive. Perhaps they could pass the time together.

  Outside it was almost dark, and the street was empty. Most of the houses on the main street had their doors and windows closed, with soft beams of light coming from behind the curtains. The alleys between houses were filled with dark and mysterious shadows. A shudder ran through her. Abigail quickened her steps.

  She saw dark shadows moving in the alley near the jail house. The jail was right next to the bank. Abigail walked closer to get a better view. When she was close enough, Abigail recognized Sarah and a tall man that she could not identify. He was about Jacob’s height.

  The old jealousy awakened inside her. “Oh, God, what if it is Jacob there with her?”

  The constant doubting was taking its toll; she needed to know the truth, once and forever. Abigail didn’t know what she do if it really turned to be Jacob.

  Abigail approached the building from behind, careful not to make any noises. Hidden well behind some old barrels, she prepared to eavesdrop upon what Sarah and the man were saying.

  “I stole the jail house key from Charlie,” Sarah was saying to the man. “Here it is.”

  “Are you sure there’s no one inside?” The man asked, and Abigail let out a breath she hadn’t realized that she was holding. The man with Sarah wasn’t Jacob. She felt guilty for ever doubting him. But her relief was short-lived. Whatever the mysterious man planned to do with the stolen key, it wouldn’t be good. It might even endanger Jacob. Was this man one of the robbers?

  “I’m sure,” Sarah answered the man’s question, impatience audible in the tone of her voice. “All the deputies are with the sheriff, searching for you and the others. If you want to break your friend out of jail, you better hurry up.”

  “Fine, wait for me here,” the robber said. “If someone comes this way, let me know.” She heard his footsteps as he retreated around the side of the building, circling around towards the front door.

  A jailbreak! Had the posse already left town, or was it possible Sarah could find Jacob before they departed?

  Abigail tried to sneak away slowly, walking backwards and looking towards the place where Sarah was hiding near the jail door. It was completely dark outside now and she did not see the pile of boards behind her. She backed into the pile, toppling it over with a crash.

  Sarah ran toward Abigail as she stumbled, trying to get clear of the debris. Abigail’s skirt caught on one of the boards. She yanked it free, but she was too late.

  “Don’t move,” Sarah ordered. “Oh, it’s you!”

  In the dim light from the street she saw that Sarah was holding a pistol. Abigail pretended not to notice it.

  “Oh dear, I’m lost—I was looking for the boarding house, I left a few things there I need to get. I think I know my way now, though.” She turned to leave the alley.

  “Stop right there. Don’t you even think about it,” Sarah laughed at her. “I know you heard us. Now you’re going to stay here until my friends are free. Then we’ll decide what we’re going to do with you.”

  “Sarah,” Abigail tried to speak, but Sarah interrupted her.

  “From the moment you arrived here, you have been a pain in my backside. I was on my way to winning Jacob’s heart when you showed up. But don’t worry, thanks to your snooping, I have a solution.” She raised the pistol for emphasis. “Such a sad story, the newlywed bride killed by bandits. Once you’re out of the picture, nothing will stop me f
rom winning Jacob’s love.”

  In that moment, something changed deep within Abigail. Despite the fact that her life was at stake—or perhaps because of it—she suddenly was able to really see Sarah for who she was. Here was a woman terrified of never being loved. Confused about how to be loved.

  Abigail realized that her jealousy of Sarah arose from her own fear of never being loved. Abigail and Sarah were the same. But Abigail had Aunt Cecilia and Jacob and Helen, and all of her new friends in town.

  Sarah had no one. Poor Sarah. She had actually helped outlaws rob the very saloon she worked in because she was desperate to be loved.

  Abigail felt compassion for the other woman, a woman who because she was frightened and confused had been eaten up by jealousy and unrequited love —so heartsick was she that she was even willing to commit murder.

  “It’s not too late to do the right thing,” she tried to reason with the girl. “Let’s go find Jacob together. He’ll respect you for turning the robbers in.”

  “You still don’t understand, do you?” Sarah laughed at her. “You’re not getting out of here alive.”

  Abigail watched Sarah raising the gun and pointing it right at her. Her whole life passed in front of her eyes in those few moments before Sarah pressed the trigger. She saw her deceased parents, her aunt, and finally there was Jacob and his kind smile.

  More than anything, she wanted to live for Jacob.

  Chapter Ten

  The gunshot was like a cry for help in the night. Abigail wasn’t sure what made her move, but she managed to duck down as the gun went off. The bullet missed her. Sarah shouted in frustration, giving Abigail the chance to lunge for her and grab the gun from her hand. It was heavy, but she clutched it in her left hand and while she used the right to ward Sarah off.

  Sarah finally realized that the noise would attract attention, and she stopped fighting, turning to flee. But the townsfolk had already come running in their direction. Abigail could see windows and doors opening up and down the street. Some of Salvation’s citizens carried lanterns. Others carried shotguns, rifles, or pistols.

  Jacob came around the corner, his revolver raised. He looked shocked to see her standing there. He didn’t look nearly as shocked to see Sarah, frozen in horror, tears streaming down her face.

  “Abigail! What happened here?”

  “I was heading to visit Helen, when I saw someone hiding in the shadows behind the jail. There was a man—”

  “We caught him, with a stolen key to the jail cells.” Jacob looked at Sarah sternly. The poor girl covered her face and began to sob. One of the other deputies took her arm gently and led her toward the front of the jail.

  Abigail handed the gun she’d taken from Sarah to Jacob, who examined it quickly, then returned his attention to her. “Are you hurt?”

  “No. But Sarah, she might have been forced into—”

  “We’ll figure out what to do with Sarah tomorrow.” Jacob’s expression softened. “I know someone who runs a home for wayward girls in Dallas. Now that Sarah’s been caught up in this, it won’t be hard to get Judge Clemens to send her there instead of jail.”

  Sheriff Eisley called to Jacob for help. “Stay here, I’ll be right back.”

  Abigail lost sight of her husband for a while as townspeople crowded around her, asking questions, making sure she was all right. She was, she realized. She was more all right than she’d ever been in her life.

  Suddenly, Jacob was by her side again. “You are a very brave woman, Abigail Anderson. I am very proud to be your husband.”

  Abigail turned to him, saw him smiling down at her in lantern light coming from a nearby window.

  He went on. “You did what no one of us could do. You stopped the jailbreak, found the inside woman and surely saved a few men’s lives.”

  “I was so afraid,” she confessed. Jacob took her hand in his.

  Jacob explained that Sarah has been the one who had told the robbers what they needed to know to rob the saloon. She had played her role of the inside woman so well that she even managed to steal the prison’s key and bring the robber in the middle of the town. Charlie, the young deputy, had been fooled by her sweet talk and was now very sorry for ever looking at the woman.

  “When I married you, I did not realize that I was gaining a wife, but the town was also gaining another deputy.”

  Jacob was acting very much like the loving husband that she wanted so much. He touched and talked to her, as if they had some intimate secrets that only a husband and wife should have. It surprised her, in a wonderful, wonderful way.

  When everything had been put right, the sheriff thanked Abigail for her help and told Jacob to take the next few days off, so that he could spend some time with his young wife. Sheriff Eisley smiled at the young couple one last time before turning around and returning to his own home and wife.

  Jacob and Abigail walked to their house in a comfortable silence, with Jacob’s hand on the small of her back. Once inside the house some of the awkwardness returned. Abigail removed her jacket with her eyes cast downwards.

  “Were you jealous of Sarah?” Jacob asked.

  Abigail was surprised by his question, but his kind smile told her that he understood her feelings and that it was finally time for them to talk.

  “I can say honestly that now I feel sorry for Sarah,” she answered him. “But, yes, at first, when she approached me, jealousy was worrying at my heart. I should have seen that there could be nothing between you and Sarah.”

  “I am glad that you have overcome your suspicions, Abigail,” Jacob looked pleased with her answer. “I want us to trust one another other. I married you because I was looking for a mature wife. A wife with some wisdom in her.”

  He took her hand and tugged her towards the living room.

  “Jacob,” Abigail said gently, not wanting to disturb the beauty of the moment.

  “Yes,” he responded, looking at her warmly. She realized that this was the first time she had called him by his first name. Her cheeks heated. But it felt right.

  “I wanted to tell you that I am happy to be here with you,” she said, looking him in the eye.

  Jacob slowly approached her, taking her hands in his and bending his head down to give Abigail a featherlike kiss on the lips. The touch was so gentle that Abigail thought that she was dreaming, but this time instead of drifting into a flurry of thoughts she stayed with the moment and really felt that kiss. It said everything she needed to hear in that moment.

  He caressed her cheek with his right hand. “I waited a long time for the woman that would make me the happiest man on the earth. And now that I have found her, it is time to start our life together.”

  Abigail realized that she had made the right choice marrying Jacob, and already imagined the happy future in front of them. Abigail knew that nothing would prevent them from being happy together.

  God had answered her prayers, giving her an honest, kind-hearted man with whom she would gladly spend the rest of her life.

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  A Preview of Winning the Rancher’s Heart

  Mail-Order Brides of Salvation, Book 2

  Chapter One

  The dark wood of the casket gleamed as Elizabeth Saunders hovered near her late husband’s body, still numb with disbelief. She couldn’t believe she’d sat across the breakfast table from him a mere two days ago. He’d been hungover, puffy and a little bit green, the veins in his nose an ugly purple-red. He looked much better now, thanks to the undertaker’s efforts.

  She covered her mouth as another sob threatened to force its way out.

  Although her marriage to Richard had been an arrangement of convenience rather than love, he’d never treated her badly. More ignored her, really, except when it suited him to remember he was married. Especially at the end, when she’d begged him to for
ego the card tables for the sake of preserving what money they had left.

  Now he was dead, and she was a penniless widow.

  She should regret losing him, she knew. But mostly, she regretted that they’d never had a child.

  Dragging herself back to the present, Elizabeth trembled a little in her black dress as she looked down at Richard’s pallid face. She felt a presence at her elbow and turned slightly to see Richard’s mother, Margaret, glaring up at her. Large tears rolled down the older woman’s red, blotchy cheeks as she waved a lace-edged handkerchief in Elizabeth’s face.

  “You! How can you show your face at my poor boy’s funeral? You’re glad he’s gone! My Richard was a good man. Everyone loved him. Everyone but you.”

  “He was my husband.” But deep inside, she knew it was true. She’d liked Richard when he was sober. She’d worried about him when he was out carousing. She’d cared for him when he needed it. But she’d never loved him.

  “Mama.” Richard’s sister bustled over. “You’re making a scene.”

  “My boy’s dead! You – you wouldn’t even give him children! You drove him to – to take his own life!” A fresh wave of sobs cut off the rest of Margaret’s words.

  Elizabeth’s cheeks heated, stung by the unfairness of the accusation. Richard had never wanted children, but Margaret had been sure that he’d settle down as soon as he married Elizabeth. For some reason, she’d expected Elizabeth to transform Richard from a hard-drinking, card-dealing rake into a responsible family man.

  But this wasn’t the place to explain to Margaret that her own son had killed himself because he couldn’t face the realization that he was bankrupt.

  The other mourners gave the casket a wide berth, but Elizabeth could hear them whispering. She took another deep breath, pushing her own humiliation aside for now. “Margaret, please. Don’t turn his funeral into a spectacle. Let him be buried in dignity.”

  Richard’s aunt and cousin came alongside Margaret, to usher the sobbing woman away before she regained control and continued her tirade. Elizabeth looked to them with a grateful half-smile, but was shaken to see contempt and disdain in their eyes.