The Right Wife Read Online Free PDF

true friend.
    “I’ve sent a boy to fetch the doctor,” Thayer told her when he noticed she had not loosened her hold. “I’ve sent for Dr. Cooper. He’s a fine physician.”
    “He’ll be all right,” Maggie said.
    “Of course I’ll be all right,” Aaron said. “I wish . . . oh, hell . . .”
    “You are in pain,” she said with tears in her eyes.
    “Margaret, I’m afraid I must insist you remove yourself from that man at once,” Wesley said. “Whatever must people be thinking?”
    “I’ve been hurt worse,” Aaron told her, trying to smile. His right hand jerked, clutching at his chest, his finger inching inside his vest pocket to stroke the gold watch nestled there. “You go with your folks and come and see me when I can appreciate being in your arms.” Even though dazed by the pain, he could make out the bulky silhouette of the man speaking to Maggie. Who the hell was he? Surely not a would-be husband. “Get her away,” he told Thayer.
    “Come on, Miss Campbell,” Thayer said, gently prizing her arms from Aaron’s body. “These men are going to take him now.”
    Thayer helped Maggie to her feet, his strong arms steadying her as she stumbled. Three big men moved quickly, lifting Aaron. Maggie gasped and reached out for him when she saw his blood-soaked clothing. Her fingers touched his once-white linen shirt, the crimson stain leaving its mark on her white skin. The men walked on, hurrying up the street.
    As Thayer walked away, Wesley stepped forward, taking both of Maggie’s shaking hands into his meaty ones. “Let me get you to the buggy, Margaret.”
    “I want to go see about Mr. Stone,” Judith said from her perch in her brother’s arms. “Please, Maggie. We can’t leave him now.”
    “I’m all right,” Maggie told Wesley. “I’ve never fainted in my life.”
    “Maggie!” Judith claimed attention as her brother set her on her feet. “Let’s get on over to that hotel.”
    “Nonsense, child,” Wesley said, already tugging Maggie away from the station, prompting the other Campbells to follow. “I’ll send someone later to inquire about Mr. Stone’s health. This entire incident has been totally improper.”
    “Maggie, please,” Judith pleaded.
    Maggie was torn between necessity and desire. She wanted to go worry and pray in secret. This was not something that could be kept from Aunt Tilly, and she was sure to demand an explanation.
    “Cousin Wesley is right,” she told her little sister. “We hardly know Mr. Stone.”
    “But—”
    “Hush now.”
    “We do know Mr. Stone. He helped us in Chattanooga.”
    “I said hush. We’ll talk about all this later.”
    When they got to the buggy, Micah and Daisy loaded their meager belongings. Wesley reached out to assist Maggie, but stopped suddenly, his cool gray eyes inspecting the front of her pale blue dress.
    “My dear girl,” Wesley said, hesitating to touch her. “I’m afraid your dress is ruined. Mother will be quite displeased. Perhaps you should change at the store before I present you at home.”
    “Oh.” Maggie looked down at her bloodstained dress, her hand smoothing the damp bodice. She opened her palms, staring at the mixture of dark dried and moist red blood covering them. How much blood did he lose? she wondered. Too much? How long will it take for the doctor to arrive?
    A rather loud ruckus near the station gained Judith’s attention as she settled into her seat on the buggy, Daisy beside her. Jude jumped to her feet, climbed on the seat, and stood gazing toward the group of men struggling with a burly, gray-bearded ruffian.
    “What are they doing to that man?” she asked. “Who is he? Did he shoot Mr. Stone?”
    Micah, stepping into the carryall, turned to the questioning child. “I don’t know who he is, but he’s the one who did the shooting. They must be holding him till the law comes.”
    Maggie raised her foot, braced herself, and climbed into the buggy without waiting for Wesley’s