Page 31 of The Drifter's Bride
“You don’t understand. I don’t have a home to go back to.” Lolly reached into the folds of her dress and pulled a small derringer gun, pointing it at the couple. “You took everything away from me.”
“Lolly, put the gun down and let’s talk about this. I’m sure we can find you some help.”
Lolly raised the gun and poked it in the air. Addy gave a little yelp of fright.
“I don’t want help. I want you to marry me. You were supposed to marry me.”
“Lolly, I would never marry you. I don’t love you.”
“Stop saying that. My baby needs a father, and you are going to be it.”
“Let’s talk to my Aunt Ingrid.” Addison said, rising to her feet. “She can find you a husband. A good man to take care of you and your child.”
“I will not let you take my man, you little tart.”
If it wasn’t so sad, Addison would have laughed. “Lukas has been back in town for over a year. I don’t think he is your man.”
“Stop talking to me.” Lolly pointed the gun at Lukas. “Tell her to stop talking to me, Lukas.”
Addison looked over Lolly’s shoulder and noticed a buggy approaching. Lolly was so focused on the couple in front of her she didn’t hear the gig over the sound of the creek. It was Sam and he had Justine and Hope with him.
Addy’s eyes opened wide. She didn’t want Lolly to do something stupid like turn the pistol on the little girl.
“Addison, please,” Lukas said softly.
Sam stopped the buggy and Addy saw him climb down to approach Lolly from behind.
“You can’t tell me what to do, Lukas,” Addy hissed. “We aren’t married yet.”
Lukas’s eyes flew open, then narrowed. “What kind of game are you playing, Addy?”
“Yet?” Lolly screeched. “You can’t marry her. I won’t let you.” She raised the gun level at Lukas. “If I can’t have you, no one can have you.”
As Addy saw Sam running towards Lolly, she was afraid it might be too late. With a strength she didn’t know she had, Addison pushed Lukas aside as she felt a burning tear through her shoulder.
It was as if everything around her was going extremely slowly. She saw Lukas’s face contort in pain, his mouth moving as if yelling, but no noise was coming out. He reached his arms out to catch her, but she couldn’t feel them.
Her arms felt so heavy. She tried to lift them, but she couldn’t. She tried to move forward, but her knees gave out and she felt herself fall to the ground with a thud. Small clouds of dirt rose in front of her face, and she saw two pairs of boots scraping the dirt beside her.
Is this what dying feels like?
Her mouth felt dry, and she longed for a drink of water.
Somewhere in the distance, she heard a baby cry.
God, please,she thought.
Her eyes were so heavy. All she wanted to do was close them.
A slap against her cheek snapped her eyes open.
Lukas!
He was kneeling next to her. Tears were running down his face.
Why was he crying?Don’t cry,she thought. She tried to reach out to touch his face with her fingers, but her arm didn’t respond. Lifting her other hand, she could cup his cheek. He grabbed her hand with both of his and pressed a kiss into her palm.
His mouth was moving, but she still didn’t understand the words. She needed to tell him how she felt. If she didn’t tell him now, she knew she’d never get an opportunity.
