The Outlaw Finds a Bride by Blythe Carver

Author:Blythe Carver [Carver, Blythe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BCP

16

Rose watched as Landon cleared his throat, gazing at Anna, clearing seeking a boost of confidence. She wasn’t jealous, but she would have given her eye teeth to be the one sitting there next to him right then.

She hadn’t realized that she, Emma and Daniel had focused on Landon that strongly.

When Anna stood, taking Conrad from Landon’s arms, Rose took the opportunity to take her place, smiling at Landon.

“I’m so sorry if we scared you. Please, we do want to know what you need. We love to help people. We…” She turned her head to take in her brother and sister’s smiles. “We love an adventure. We enjoy quests to make things right for people whenever we can. Please. Tell us what’s going on with you so we can see if we can help.”

Landon looked on the verge of bursting. When he finally spoke, she felt a chill run over her skin. It left an uncomfortable feeling in her chest.

“I have been accused of the murder of my wife, Mary Ellen, but I swear to you, I didn’t do it.” He looked at each one of them purposefully. “I didn’t kill her. I–I came home midday after a hard morning with the intention of washing up, eating, taking a nap and going back out. That’s not something I do. In fact, I can’t tell you the last time I went home midday. But I woke up to noise downstairs and I went to investigate. There was a man there and he was wrestling with my wife. Mary Ellen—she was a strong fighter. I–I think she knew the man, though. I just… got that feeling, you know?”

He looked at Rose when he asked the question and though she knew it was rhetorical, she responded with a nod.

He covered his face with one hand, lowering his head. “I didn’t let that stand and I went over and attacked him. I tackled him but good.” He looked back up at them, his eyes flashing.

Rose could feel his anger as his body reacted to the memory.

“And we fought. Next thing I know Mary Ellen is hitting’ him on the head with a cast iron pan. He was knocked out cold on the ground. I know he was. He might have been dead.”

Rose wanted to put her arms around him but she felt that would be too forward. Instead, she rested one soft hand on his hard shoulder. She could feel his tense muscles through his shirt. He seemed to relax just a little after she touched him.

“So I grabbed Mary Ellen and was— I was holding her and suddenly I got hit on the head just like that prowler. Knocked me out cold, too. I wake up Mary Ellen is gone, the two men are gone, Mary Ellen, she was— I found her outside in the back. In the field. She was dead.” Landon’s shoulders jerked as he fought against his tears. “She was dead. Dead. I couldn’t save her.”

When Landon broke down, covering his face with both hands, dropping his hat to the floor, Rose couldn’t resist any longer.

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