Free The Convenient Mail Order Bride by Ruth Ann Nordin

no idea that was going to happen,”
Abe said. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have left you alone. I’m sorry.
I know they don’t like me, but I thought you were safe because
you’re white. None of the other white women have to worry about
that kind of thing around here.”
    “Why didn’t you have Enoch and Benny
arrested?” Phoebe demanded.
    “I’m a half-breed. That makes me less than
human. Enoch and Benny are white. It doesn’t matter what they do.
The sheriff wouldn’t have done anything. Not when it’s two white
men’s word against mine.”
    “What if I back up your story? We can go
back and hold them responsible for what they did.” She gestured
back to the town.
    “It’s not that simple. I didn’t realize your
association with me would make you vulnerable. If I’d known, I
never would have agreed to take you and your mother in. I would
have insisted Eric do it. But apparently, they all assume you’re
spending time in my bed. We’re not married, and I’m a half-breed. I
should have known that was a bad combination. They think you’re no
better than I am.” He shook his head. “Look, Phoebe, you have to
get out of here when the stagecoach comes. You can’t live this kind
of life. I’ll give you and your mother money and send you back to
Ohio. I doubt you’ll end up with another half-breed. Chances are,
you’ll find a good, white man who’ll take care of you and your
mother, and next time, he’ll be the one who actually posts the ad.
If we do this now, you can get back before the weather turns bad
and travel is impossible.”
    She didn’t know how to respond to that. What
he said made sense. It was the logical thing to do. Maybe she
should do it. Her mother had survived the trip out here. She could
survive the one back to Ohio. Then next year when they tried again,
maybe that one would work out.
    If she couldn’t venture into town without
someone trying to hurt her, how could she ever be safe? How could
her mother be safe? She closed her eyes and tried to block out all
the bad from her mind, even if it was a temporary reprieve. She’d
think better once the emotions weren’t so fresh.

Chapter Eight

    T hat evening as Abe was tending to the animals, he heard
horse’s hooves hitting the dirt road leading to his property. He
dropped the pitchfork and grabbed his gun. He rounded the edge of
the barn and peered around the side that gave him the best view of
the road. He didn’t think anyone would come onto his land to hurt
him or Phoebe while it was light out, but who knew what to
expect?
    The last thing he’d thought that lowlife
Enoch would do was try to force himself upon her—and right there in
the general store where anyone could see him. His grip tightened on
his gun. If it was either Enoch or Benny, he’d put a bullet right
between their eyes. He had every right to defend his home and the
people who lived here.
    But as it turned out, the visitor was Eric
Johnson. Breathing a sigh of relief, he tucked the gun into the
holster and came out of hiding. “Over here,” he called out.
    Eric turned in his direction and headed over
to him. “I heard what happened in town,” Eric said as he got down
from his horse.
    “Don’t tell me you came to arrest me for
defending Phoebe,” Abe replied. “Enoch got lucky. I could have done
worse than kick him.”
    “I didn’t come to arrest you. I came to ask
why you didn’t bring the matter to my attention. Don’t you think I
want to know if someone tries to rape a woman?”
    Abe shook his head. “It’s not that
easy.”
    “No?”
    “No. It was my word against Enoch’s and
Benny’s. They would have both denied what happened.”
    “It doesn’t matter what they would have
said. I would’ve believed you.”
    “Maybe, but I didn’t want you to risk your
reputation by siding with a half-breed. The others in town wouldn’t
like it.”
    “I keep telling you I don’t care what they
think,” Eric said. “I’m the sheriff in this