Bride of the Wild Read Online Free PDF Page A

appeared even whiter now. “You should come inside.” She held open the door, refusing to look at me.
    “Oh, my word, this can’t be good. You look like you might be ill.” My heart hammered in my chest. “What’s happened, Amelia?”
    Pa appeared in the doorway. “You best sit down, girls. I’ve something to tell you.” Lucy and Tom approached, their expressions somber. “Everyone, sit, please.” Pa indicated the chairs around the table. “I’ve something to say to Saffron.”
    “Is it Silas? Is he well? Has something happened?” I slid onto a wooden chair. “What’s happening? Why are you all so troubled?”
    “Wilber and Sky had been in town by all accounts. I spoke to Sheriff Palmer this morning. They were seen leaving the saloon sometime after midnight.”
    My hand went to my throat. “Has something happened to them?” I knew the answer. I could see it on my father’s face.
    “Their bodies have been discovered not far from here,” he said softly. “It’s … I’ve gone to see them. They’re with the undertaker now.”
    “Was it the creature?”
    He nodded. “It appears that way.”
    “It’s just too awful to contemplate,” said Lucy, with tears in her eyes. “I almost can’t believe it. We didn’t hear a thing.”
    “Weren’t they told to stay indoors?” asked Amelia. “They shouldn’t have been wandering around in the dark.”
    “Pa, are you certain?” I gazed at him, searching for any sign that he might retract his words, words too horrible to believe.
    “The sheriff brought the doctor, who confirmed the cause of death. The markings were the same as what happened to Dudley and Megan and the Goldmans. I suspect there’ll be a meeting after the funeral today. Everyone will be there. Something must be done about this now. We cannot wait another day.” He placed a hat on his head. “I’ll prepare the wagon. We need to leave within ten minutes, girls. Go ready yourselves. You’re coming as well, Lucy.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Our ranch hands had perished. They had been eaten alive in the night, not far from where we were, and we had heard nothing, not one shout, not one scream, not one cry for help. It seemed the devil himself had come to Fern Valley and taken up residence, lurking in the shadows and waiting to harm us. We were under attack. No one was safe.

Chapter Four
     
     
    “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Pastor Boyd read these words to us, as we stood by the graves of Dudley and Megan. The Goldmans would be buried too shortly, their simple pine caskets lined up one after another, the entire family having been slaughtered.
    I gripped Amelia’s hand, feeling as if I might faint on my feet, the enormity of the situation weighing heavily on me. The proof could not be denied. All those bodies … arranged one after another … it was too horrible to look at. I lowered my eyes to the grass beneath my feet. Everyone had gathered, even the drunks in the saloon and the whores from the brothel. We stood in solidarity, in grief, shocked by what had occurred in our peaceful, quiet town.
    While the preacher spoke, the McAllisters held one another and cried, their cheeks glistening wet. My beau, Silas Hefferman, stood with his family, his mother rocking on her feet. He supported her on one side, while his father held her arm on the other. We would stand for an hour, listening to the words of our pastor and the Bible readings that should have eased our pain, but the suffering continued, because the danger remained in our hearts and minds. We had yet to bury Wilber and Sky. That would have to wait for another day … another funeral ….
    Once the service had concluded and the caskets had been lowered into the ground, we said