Free Mail-Order Bride Ink: Dear Mr. Turner by Kit Morgan Page A

her with a hankie.
    Much to Eli’s surprise, it worked. Her eyes began to flutter open, and he sighed in relief. It wouldn’t do to have his future bride expire on him her first day in town. He felt so helpless when it came to things like this. A fainting woman, in his book, was best left to other females to deal with.
    “What happened?” she asked as Sadie helped her up. “Did I faint?”
    “You did,” Belle said matter-of-factly. “Though I can’t say I blame you.” She raised an eyebrow at Eli, who cringed in return. Clearly women from the South weren’t used to hearing about outlaws being shot. But he was a lawman – it was part of his job. He certainly hoped she toughened up quickly – he didn’t know if he could tend to a fainting woman every day of the week …
    “I think for now, Eli, you’d better keep those sorts of things to yourself,” Sadie whispered. “At least until the two of you get to know each other better.”
    He nodded. Not a bad idea. “Colin, can I talk to ya for a minute?”
    “Certainly.” He glanced at Harrison.
    Eli caught the exchange. “You too, Harrison, if’n ya don’t mind.”
    “Not at all.” The three men went out to the front porch. “I think I know what you’re going to ask.”
    “I know what he’s going to,” Colin quipped. “You want to know if Miss Comfort can stay here so the two of you can court a bit.”
    Eli nodded. “Yep.”
    “But why?” asked Harrison. “She’s beautiful, charming, spirited. A mite prone to shocks, but that should pass in time.”
    “What if I marry her and she cain’t adjust to life out here?” Eli asked in all seriousness. “Ya saw what just happened.”
    Colin stood, hands on hips. “He has a point, brother. We’ve not had anyone from the gentle South grace our town before.”
    “Oh yes we have,” Harrison was quick to correct. “The Dunnigans are from … Alabama, was it?”
    “The gentle South,” Colin emphasized. “The plantations and all that.”
    “Ah, I see what you mean. Well, there was Thaddeus Slade …”
    “Egads,” Colin retorted. “Granted, he wasn’t the fainting sort …”
    “Who?” Eli asked, confused.
    “Thaddeus Slade was originally from New Orleans,” Colin explained. “He came to work on the hotel when Mr. Van Cleet was first building it. A horrible lecher – Harrison’s wife can explain in depth if you have the stomach for it.”
    Eli looked at the brothers in shock. “How come Tom never told me none of this? Did ya shoot him?”
    The brothers laughed. “No,” Harrison managed through his chuckles. “Sadie curbed his ardor by hitting him with a hot frying pan.”
    Eli cringed. Sadie had gumption and lots of it. “That explains a lot. But … I don’t think Miss Comfort in there’s of the same mind should somethin’ like that happen.”
    “Then you’ll just have to defend your lady fair,” Colin said. “Simple.”
    “Not when I’m gone all day deputyin’. Ya cain’t expect me to take her along.”
    “Of course not,” Harrison said. “You do what we did with our wives.”
    Eli glanced between them. “What was that?”
    “We taught them how to defend themselves,” Colin said with a shrug. “After all the things that have happened around here over the years, we weren’t about to leave them defenseless while we were out working.”
    Eli nodded. Clear Creek had seen its fair share of unsavory characters over the years. Most everyone was able to take on a little trouble, more if they banded together. He’d been so used to it that he figured everyone was of a like mind. But maybe folks from the South were different – or was it just his bride-to-be? “So what do ya suggest I do?”
    “You teach her how,” Colin said as if suggesting he teach her to bake cookies.
    Eli ran a hand over his face. “What happens if she’s terrible at it?” After all, did he really want to put a gun into his future wife’s hands?
    “Given enough time and effort, she’ll get as