Page 33 of The Drifter's Bride
“I’ll drive the buggy,” Owen said, dismounting his horse. He handed the reins to his brother Caleb, who was sitting next to him. “Caleb, you ride to get Marmee. Pa will need her at the house. Lukas, why don’t you hold her on the back bench. Ma’am.” He climbed up in the wagon next to Justine and Hope. “I hope you weren’t traumatized.”
“It was horrible,” Justine said.
Lukas gently lifted Addison and she groaned as he adjusted her in his arms.It was good that she was making noise,he thought.Please, God. Don’t take her from me.
Owen must have pushed the horses; it only appeared to take a minute to get from the creek to the Chapman’s front porch. Lukas slid from the back bench, careful not to jostle his precious cargo.
“What’s this all about?” Weston Chapman asked. A little boy of about ten years old followed behind him.
“Addison was shot,” Owen said. “Rich went to town to fetch Doc. Caleb went to get Marmee.
“Shot?”
“Sam already has the person in custody,” Lukas said. “I am so sorry, Weston.”
“We trusted her with you. You said you were going to take care of her.”
“Pa, let him carry her to the bedroom. The doc will be here soon.”
“Get Marmee’s bag and let’s take a look at what we are dealing with.” Lukas followed Weston down a small hallway and into a back room. “Put her on the bed.”
Lukas gently placed Addison on the bed. He didn’t want to let her go, but he knew he must. Removing his arms, he allowed his fingers to trace her eyes and cheeks. His voice was hoarse as he described the turn of events to Weston. Finally, he turned to the man he called partner and friend. “There was nothing I could do to stop it. Lolly had a gun and then Addison just jumped in front of me.” He ran his hand down his face wiping the tears away.
“We’ll get her fixed, son,” Weston reassured him. “Owen was a medic in the Army. He can take care of her until Doc arrives. Let’s go get you some coffee.”
“I don’t want to leave her.”
“I wasn’t asking, Lukas.”
Owen rushed in with a leather doctor bag, as Weston led Lukas from the room and down the hall.
“I was fixing to propose to her right before it happened.”
“I figured as much.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do now.”
“Well, we are going to pray. And then when she’s better, you are going to marry her.”
Lukas’s eyes flew open. “You are giving me permission to marry her?”
“When you realize how short life is, you want to spend it with someone you love. Ingrid’s parents didn’t approve of me until I was leaving. Then I think they only approved of me because I was leaving. I was planning on sending for her, but it didn’t work out that way. Honestly, I was miserable without her. I didn’t realize how much until we were separated. I thank God for every day he allows her to be in my life, and I will love her for as long as He lets me. So, I know that even if I only have a short time with Ingrid here on Earth, it is better than no time at all.”
“I appreciate that, Weston. I really do.”
“It won’t be me though, that you have to worry about.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Addy’s parents are arriving on the stage in two days. I don’t think Leon will be too happy to hear his little girl was shot.”
“What do you think I should do?”
Weston went and picked up a thick leather-bound Bible from close to the fireplace. “We are going to make coffee and we are going to pray.”
Addison slowly opened her eyes. Why did everything hurt?
“She’s awake,” she heard someone yell.
