Their Tempting Bride by Lacey Davis
13
Terror gripped Martin as he hurried out the door needing to face his fear that he couldn’t protect those he loved. When he stepped outside, he saw Mr. Bartlett and five hired guns waiting.
“Where is she? We were engaged. No one makes Virgil Bartlett look like a fool,” the man sneered
“Good afternoon, Mr. Bartlett. I don’t think she wanted to marry you.”
“She had no choice,” he spat.
Hiding his nerves, he calmly spoke to the sinister man. How could any father engage his daughter to someone like this? What was wrong with the man?
“Last time I checked, we were still a free country.”
Just then Daniel walked out the door with a rifle in his hand. “Mr. Bartlett. What brings you to Bridgewater?”
The man all but growled. “Bring out my woman.”
“No, she’s my wife. She’s not going anywhere.”
“You did this on purpose. Maybe I should make her a widow.”
At the same time, their rifles rose and they pointed them at the man to counter his threats. In the distance, a bell toiled on the wind. Someone had sounded the alarm. Though they lived on the edge of Bridgewater, men with rifles rode up to them. Now Virgil and his band of ruffians were outnumbered.
“Trouble, Daniel?” Whitmore asked. “We saw these men ride through town and thought we’d see where they were headed.”
“No, I think Mr. Bartlett just needed to see for himself that I will defend and protect my wife. That she’s not going anywhere.”
The man gazed at the mine owner. “In Bridgewater, we will defend and protect our families to the death.”
The older man all but snarled as he realized he was outgunned. “This is not done. I want her. You tell her I’ll soon be back for her.”
Daniel growled. “You need to accept she’s my wife now. She’s not going anywhere.”
The older man abruptly turned his horse and the others followed him as they rode away. The men watched them disappear over the horizon.
“You were right,” Daniel said to Whitmore. “He came after her.”
For a moment, Martin wished he would have shot and killed Virgil Bartlett. He still worried that he could protect Georgia and their family.
“We’ll set up extra watchmen out here, and if he returns, we’ll be prepared.”
“Thank you,” Daniel said
Martin felt a tremor of anxiety go through him. Men like Virgil Bartlett did not give up once they set their eyes on something they wanted. And he wanted Georgia.
