Teddy had arrived in Texas with his former commander, Dan Gaines, now Mayor of Needful, and had made the place his home. War-weary and jaded by all that he had seen, the young man, though youthful in appearance, was old of soul.
Teddy wanted nothing more than a few head of cattle, a decent horse under him, and someone to love. So far, Olive and Peri, the local matchmakers, had failed to bring him the desire of his heart, but today the Good Lord had seen fit to lay her right in his lap. Maybe he wasn’t the best cowpuncher, the brightest mind, or the best looking man in Needful, but Teddy knew he would make a wonderful husband and provider if given half the chance.
Flicking his dark eyes to the light burden resting across his knees, Teddy smiled. “You wait and see,” he said. “You’ll find I’m just what you were lookin’ for here in Needful. I have a lot of love to give, a nice little place, and faith that everything will be alright in the end.”
***
“Did you ever see someone put up such a fuss?” Olive sighed, stumbling into the boarding house, hours later, through the back door with Orville on her heels.
“Now, Olive, Pete was in a good deal of pain,” the tall old man with the shock of white hair ran a hand over his face.
“I’m not talking about Pete,” Olive snapped. “I’m talking about the other men that were there to help put his shoulder back. They cringed like mice, every time we told them to hold Pete, that arm would have been set much sooner if everyone wouldn’t have worried so about hurting the man.”
“Well, Pete is their friend.” Orville’s voice was reasonable, but Olive still shot him a stern look.
“A moment of pain to set things right is better than suffering for weeks. It’s a good thing you men aren’t the ones having babies,” she added with a grin. “The human race would disappear.”
Orville chuckled, spinning Olive toward him as he grasped her hand and kissing her on the lips. “You’re a wonder, Olive Hampton,” he grinned, heading to the kitchen to wash up. “I hope supper’s ready. I’m starved.”
“Arabela?” Olive walked toward the outer kitchen, looking for her daughter-in-law. “Girls, where are you? What have you done with Amanda?”
“Hello, Mother Hampton," the tall, black-haired beauty greeted. “Who is Amanda?”
“The new bride who arrived on the stage today,” Olive said, peering into the dining room of the boarding house. “I told her to come to one of you girls, and you’d get her settled. Teddy was there when she arrived.”
“We have no new guests.” Arabela raised a brow. The woman could appear cold at first glance but was a good and loving wife to her husband and family.
“Guests?” Ellen Hampton walked into the kitchen, an empty serving tray in her hands, and looked questioningly at her mother-in-law. “We don’t have any new guests. The stage delivered the mail and was gone.”
“I was on the porch when the girl stepped off the stage,” Olive grumbled. “I saw her with my own two eyes. She can’t have simply disappeared.”
“She didn’t come in here.” Ellen slipped her long blonde braid over her shoulder. “You don’t think she wandered off, do you? It’s still barely safe for a decent woman to walk through town on her own. Why just this morning, Sheriff Gaines arrested a group of cowboys for shooting their way through Needful.”
“I’ll check the rooms,” Olive offered wearily, “you send one of the children to the sawmill and ask my sons if they’ve seen a stranger.” The older woman tapped her lip with her index finger. “I’ll send for the preacher as well.”
“The preacher?” Shililaih, Olive’s third daughter-in-law, stepped into the now crowded kitchen, a pitcher in hand. “Why do we need the preacher?" the pretty strawberry-blonde grinned. “Who’s getting’ married?”
“Olive lost a bride,” Arbela’s face was passive, but her blue eyes sparkled with delight. “She swears a young woman got off the stage, but none of us have seen her.”
“What if she was kidnapped?” Shililaih asked excitedly. “Do you want me to fetch Sheriff Spencer?”
“Shi, don’t be dramatic, “Olive scolded, running a hand over weary eyes. “The girl has probably just wandered off.” Her face grew still as her eyes widened. “No, I don’t think so.” Olive’s dark eyes sparked with realization. “I remember now. Teddy Lewis rode in to tell me Daliah needed my help at the ranch. Amanda, that’s the girl’s name,” she snapped her fingers. “She fainted when those cowboys came whooping through town. Teddy said he’d take care of her.”
“Then where is she?” Ellen sighed, shaking her head.
“Exactly!”
Chapter 2
Amanda opened her eyes, blinking to bring the room into focus. She had been shot, with an anguished cry she sat bolt upright running her hands over her body to find the bullet hole.
“Easy there now,” a warm, rich voice washed over her, and Amanda looked up into a man’s strong, handsome, and youthful face.
“I’ve been shot!” she screeched.
“No, no, you’re all right. You ain’t been shot. It was just some rowdy cowboys havin’ some fun.” The man smiled, flashing even, white teeth as he knelt before her. “I’m Teddy,” he grinned. “Teddy Lewis.”
Amanda felt her heart rate begin to slow as she clutched her middle, feeling the nervous jitter in her stomach. “Where am I?”
“You’re safe.”
Amanda relaxed a bit at the man’s words. He seemed a nice sort of fellow, though dusty and rather rugged in attire.
“I was supposed to meet Olive Hampton.” Amanda looked around her again, this time, her brain taking in the simple hut around her. She was sitting on a bench covered in cowhide with the hair still on. “Is this the boarding house?” She looked down into the man’s face as he squatted before her.
“No, no. Not exactly,” Teddy rose to his feet, abruptly pacing
