The Preacher's Outlaw Bride by Mildred Colvin

Author:Mildred Colvin
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 1479189952
Published: 2012-09-11T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

A lone man rode a horse down the center of the street and barely glanced their way as KodyAnne walked beside Michael on the boardwalk. The rider turned the corner and disappeared from sight before they crossed to the opposite side.

“It must be getting late.” KodyAnne glanced both directions as her shoe crunched against a rock. “There’s no one out and very few lights on.”

“I imagine it’s at least nine if not later. How are you and Charlotte doing with your jobs?” Michael’s gentle smile let her know he cared.

KodyAnne giggled. “I think Mrs. Clemmons has a soft heart, but don’t tell her I said so. She’d bite my head off if she knew I thought such a thing.”

Mike chuckled. “What makes you say that?”

“She lets Charlotte sweep the back porch and out front, too, all because my little sister likes seeing what’s going on.”

“Charlotte?” Michael’s eyebrows shot up. “I thought she was shy.”

KodyAnne shook her head. “Not shy exactly. She’s very reserved. After she gets acquainted, she’s not the least bit shy, and she warms up to women quicker than she does men. She’s afraid of them because of her past. We all carried baggage on the Orphan Train that would’ve been better left behind.”

“Yeah, I know.” Mike shook his head. “I hope she wasn’t hurt so bad she can’t live a normal life.”

“I don’t think so.” Maybe someday she’d tell Michael Charlotte’s story, that it was more what she saw than what happened to her that frightened her. She took his hand as they stepped on the boardwalk and held it close, glad for his gentle nature.

“Did you pray about your mother?”

She felt him tense and wished she could take back her words. He needed to forgive his mother, though. Just as she needed to forgive the sheriff. She sighed. “I’m sorry, Mike. That isn’t my business. But how does one go about forgiving someone who’s wronged them? How can I forgive the sheriff for killing my papa?”

He walked beside her on the boardwalk that ran in front of the boarding house without speaking. Maybe he hadn’t heard her question. When he stopped before the door, she turned to look at him. She opened her mouth, but he spoke first.

“You need to decide to forgive. Act on it first. Trust God and the rest will come later.” He looked over her head while he talked as if he wasn’t really talking to her. Maybe he was reminding himself.

“You don’t need to come in. I’ll go on upstairs. Charlotte said she’d probably be asleep. Our work gets us up before daylight most mornings.”

“When you get a day off, maybe we can go riding again.” Mike’s gaze moved over her face and settled on her lips.

KodyAnne looked up at him. His eyes moved up to meet hers, and he leaned closer. Her heart pounded as if she’d swallowed a drum. She swayed toward him with her eyes looking into his.

A dog barked down the street, and a woman’s shrill voice yelled out, “Hush up that racket.

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