Cinders' Bride: Mail Order Brides of Texas Read Free

his gaze trained on John Hardy as if daring him to challenge the order.
    John glared at Cinders and laughed scornfully. His stance widened and his right hand hovered over the pistol in his gun belt. “I said she belongs to me.”
    A lump formed in her throat as her heart beat wildly. She didn’t know much about men and guns but she did know the expression of hate on John Hardy’s face meant he wouldn't hesitate to use it.
    “Thank you, Mr. Cinders, for coming to my aid but I’m not worth getting shot over. The fact is, I do owe him his money back, and truly, who would hire me now?” Her fingers gingerly touched her bandage.
    Cinders didn’t glance in her direction. He kept his gaze fixed on John. “I’ll hire you. Now get in the wagon.” His voice was low and steady as though he anticipated more trouble.
    “Not until I get my money,” John snarled.
    A tall, older gentleman clad in a crisp white shirt and wool pants stepped into the street. He stood between the two men while shaking his head. “I’m warning you, I haven’t had my breakfast yet. What seems to be the problem?”
    “Cinders here is trying to steal my wife.”
    The man turned and faced Cinders. “Is that true? You know a wife belongs to her husband. I can’t get into the middle of this. Now if the town would open its tight purses we’d have a sheriff here to take care of these matters and I’d be eating my breakfast.”
    “Judge Gleason, I’m sorry about your breakfast, but the fact is they aren’t married.”
    “Yet!” John shouted
    The judge turned. “Damn it, John, I’m right here. There is no need to yell in my ear.” He scanned the gathering crowd and rested his gaze on her.
    Shannon quickly adverted her eyes as she tried to be inconspicuous, however it was impossible with the huge strip of gauze hugging her cheek. Slowly she lifted her gaze and met the judge’s stare.
    The judge smiled. “Well I can see what all the fuss is about. We don’t often have such a fine woman come to our town.”
    John coughed loudly as he stepped toward her. “I’m still willing to take her even if she is hideous.”
    “You’re too gracious, Mr. Hardy, considering you were the one who cut me.
    Judge Gleason tipped his flat-brimmed hat. “Ma’am, would you like to join me for breakfast? I'd like you to tell me what this is all about.” He walked toward her, extended his arm and waited for her to place her hand on it. The crowd parted as he escorted her in the direction of Eats Café. The judge he called over his shoulder, “Cinders, I want to talk to you too.”
    “What about my story?” John asked.
    The judge shrugged his shoulders and kept walking.
    “Well?”
    When they reached the door to the eatery, Cinders’ opened the door and held it for them.
    “I already know your story, Hardy.” Judge Gleason huffed and ushered her through the open door.
     
    ****
     
    Cinders had never in his life seen eyes as grand as the chocolate pools Shannon possessed. Her sun-kissed brown hair hung braided down her back to her waist. Her hands trembled as she sat down, but he knew her to be a brave woman. How could a woman who traveled across the territories to marry an unknown man and survive tangling with Hardy be anything but brave?
    “Cinders, have a seat,” the judge instructed.
    When he pulled out his chairthe wooden leg scraped against the dirty wood floor . It looked like the entire town wanted to dine at Eats, for the restaurant filled within minutes of their arrival. But nobody ordered any food, they just milled about and gawked at the three of them.
    “I’m Judge Gleason, Miss…?”
    “I’m Shannon McMurphy, sir.” The effort to speaking took reflected in her eyes.
    Cinders took off his hate and ran his fingers through his hair. “John Hardy sliced her face. I drove the wagon in yesterday and Hardy was instructing two of his thugs to grab Miss McMurphy and bring her back into the saloon. I put a stop to it and Edith allowed me to