The Right Wife Read Online Free PDF Page A

good many years,” Maggie said. “We could hardly go off and leave her.”
    Wesley’s huge, round eyes glared at the servant girl. He rubbed his chin, cleared his throat, and grunted. “I see. I see. I’m sure Mama can make use of her. We can bed her down with Auntie Gem.”
    Judith watched the busy activity at the station as people went about their routines. Fascinated by the fancy railroad coach at the end of the train, she noticed two tall, well-dressed men disembarking, their laughter filling the air. The big blond threw down his cigar, crushing it with his boot heel.
    “There’s Mr. Stone,” Judith cried. “I’m going to run over and say good-bye, and thank him again for the chicken.”
    “No, Jude,” Maggie said, but too late. Her young sister was halfway to her destination.
    “Mr. Stone?” Wesley asked. “Not Aaron Stone? My dear Margaret, surely this is not the type of person with whom you would associate?”
    “No, of course not,” she told her stunned relative. “I’ll just go fetch Judith, and we can be on our way.”
    “Perhaps I should,” Micah said.
    “No,” Maggie told her brother. “You help Daisy get our things in Cousin Wesley’s buggy while I get Jude.”
    Aaron saw the flash of honey-red hair as the running child neared him. Slightly winded when she stopped in front of him, Judith Campbell took a deep breath and smiled up at the laughing man.
    “My, my, Miss Judith, hasn’t your sister told you that young ladies do not run through a crowd of people?”
    Judith knew he was teasing her, so she responded in kind. “And gentlemen never correct ladies in the presence of others.”
    “This must be the baby sister,” Thayer Coleman said.
    Judith took notice of the dark stranger standing beside Aaron Stone. He was not quite as big as the golden-haired giant, but he was very muscular and beautifully handsome.
    “Miss Judith Campbell, may I present Mr. Thayer Coleman.”
    “How do you do?” Jude knew her polite response would have done her sister proud.
    “Jude, you come back here, right now.” Maggie’s hushed voice could not disguise her anger.
    At the exact moment Maggie Campbell waddled between her sister and Aaron Stone, a gun fired. The sound alerted everyone of the happening, but Maggie was the first to realize that the blond rogue beside her had been hit. He slumped against her when the bullet entered his chest and blood began oozing from the wound. He was far too heavy for Maggie to hold, so she went to the ground with him in her arms.
    “My God!” Thayer said.
    “Get help.” Maggie cradled Aaron against her, her hands trembling as she touched him. “Get a doctor. He’s been shot!”

Chapter 2
    M aggie, totally unaware of what was happening around her, held Aaron tightly. Her farm-girl strong arms clutched him with a tenacious grip. He could not die. She would not let him die!
    “Maggie . . .” Aaron’s voice echoed in her ears. “What . . .”
    “Hush now,” she crooned as if to a hurt child. “You’re going to be all right.”
    “Cousin Margaret!” Wesley Peterson gasped when he made his way through the throng of curious bystanders and saw his relative on her knees, the wounded man in her arms.
    Micah moved up behind Judith, placing a protective arm around her. She turned into his arms as he lifted her.
    “Oh, Micah, Mr. Stone’s been shot,” Jude said. “Who would do such a terrible thing?”
    “I don’t know who he is, Jude,” Micah said, soothing her with tender strokes on her back. “But some men caught him before he could run away. He’s a big ugly fellow with a long beard.”
    “Miss Campbell.” Thayer Coleman placed his large hand on Maggie’s shoulder. “If you’ll let go, these men will carry him up the street to the Parshall House.”
    Maggie raised her head. Her topaz eyes, filled with fear, met Thayer’s, and they shared a sense of mutual concern. Maggie liked and trusted this young man immediately. She knew he was Aaron’s