Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) Read Free Page A

church. He found John inside. “John,” he said, winded from his run, “It’s Clara. At the bank. She’s been shot. Luke wants you to come pray for her. It looks bad, John. Is Grace in the house?” John nodded as he stood. Jed said, “I’ll tell her. You go.” He ran out the back door to the Carruthers’ house and relayed the same message. Grace turned to one of the ladies with her and said, “Will you watch Rebecca? I’m going to Clara.”
     
    With Jed holding her arm, they ran back to the bank, where John had gone on inside. Sarah was standing by the door, unable to gain admittance. Jed pounded on the door. The bank president opened the door. Pushing Sarah and Grace ahead of him, he reentered the bank. “Did the doctor get in?” he demanded.
     
    “He’s with Miz Hastings now,” said the harried man, fearful of Jed. He had seen Jed pull his gun outside and was afraid of a similar action in his bank.
     
    The doctor looked at Luke. He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Luke. She’s gone.”
     
    “Gone? She can’t be gone. She was alive a few minutes ago. She can’t be gone, Doc. Do something. You’ve got to do something.”
     
    “The bullet penetrated her heart, Luke. She didn’t have a chance.”
     
    Heedless of the blood, Luke pulled the lifeless body of his wife to him. “Don’t leave me Clara. I can’t make it without you. Don’t leave me, please, Clara.”
     
    To the Doctor, Jed said quietly, “What do we need to do now, Doctor?”
     
    “I think it will make less of a scene if we take her to my office,” the doctor said.
     
    “No! You’re not taking her anywhere. I’m taking her home. She’s going to be all right, when I get her home,” Luke said.
     
    “Can we do that, Doc?” asked Jed.
     
    “I don’t see why not,” the Doctor said. “I don’t think he will bury her here in town.”
     
    “Luke? I’m going to get the wagon. We’ll take her home, okay?” Jed asked.
     
    Raising his head, tears still pouring from his eyes, Luke nodded. “Thanks, Jed.”
     
    “I’ll bring the wagon to the back,” Jed said.
     
    Luke simply nodded.
     
    Jed pulled John aside. “We’re going to take Clara home. I’m going to get the wagon and get a coffin from the undertaker. Can you and Grace come?”
     
    “Of course, Jed.”
     
    Running once more to the livery stable where they had left the horse and wagon, Jed paid the stable hand, hitched the wagon and drove to the undertaker’s place. Rousing the owner from his nap, he said, “I’m in a hurry. I want the best coffin you have and I want it now.”
     
    “Who’s going to pay for it?” the man asked. “It costs $100.”
     
    “My best friend’s wife just got shot. Now you either get me the coffin now and I’ll pay you next time I’m in town or you pick one out for yourself because you’re going to need it in about five minutes.”
     
    “Okay,” the man whined. “Okay.”
     
    When it was loaded on the wagon, Jed drove back to the rear door of the bank and knocked. The door was opened, and Jed went to Luke. “I’ve got the wagon out back. We can take her home now,” he said.
     
    His eyes red and swollen from crying, Luke gently lifted his wife and carried her through the back door to the wagon. “I have a coffin for her Luke. It will make for an easier ride.”
     
    “No,” Luke said fiercely. “I’ll hold her.”
     
    He held her in his arms, crying softly through the ninety minute ride home. No one said anything during the long ride to the Twin Bar H.

Chapter Four   Luke Brings Clara Home
    When they arrived at the Twin Bar H after the somber ride home, Luke carried Clara’s body into their bedroom and put her in their bed. Jed and Sarah went in with them. “Luke, what about the boys?” Sarah asked.
     
    “What about them? What do you mean,” he asked, his voice raspy and his eyes red.
     
    “Aren’t they here in the house?” she asked.
     
    “Hetty probably has them at her house.”