Jodi Thomas by The Texans Wager Read Free Book Online

creature away in the night. He’d have no idea how to comfort her. And if the women were frail and died on him, folks in this town would only talk more.
    But before he could reach the sheriff, Riley called another name.
    Carter hung back. He’d never be able to withdraw his name in time, but two men had been called. One more and Carter could go home without having to say a word. His chances of not being chosen were good. There had to be at least forty names still in the hat.
    An old man, with a bowed back, limped through the crowd toward the porch. Even in the rain, Carter could see that his hands were knotted and twisted. When several of the waiting commented, the man turned around to face the gathering. “I put my son’s name in the hat!” he shouted. “If the lady agrees, she’ll marry him by proxy tonight. He’s fighting with McKinsey in the Indian Wars, but when the trouble is over he’ll have a wife to come home to.”
    If the men in the crowd thought the old man’s statement strange, none commented. A few had fought in the War Between the States, others as Rangers along the border, and someone to come home to, even a wife a man had never met, might be a reason for staying alive.
    The old man followed Riley into the office. Again the crowd waited in silence, as though on church pews at a wedding. They might not be able to see or hear anything, but they all knew what went on inside. A woman was agreeing to marry.
    A young girl finally appeared in the doorway. She didn’t look frightened as the angel had. She smiled and nodded at the men as she lifted her left hand. The gold band might forever be the only part of a real marriage she’d have.
    Her new father-in-law joined her. He offered her his arm as he tried his best to straighten slightly. With a trembling hand, he held a lantern before him.
    The girl placed her hand on his arm, then turned back to the doorway. “I’ll be living in my own apartment over the print shop until my husband comes home. Promise you’ll come see me, Bailee.”
    A tall woman appeared in the doorway. “I promise.” She waved until they disappeared into the crowd.
    Carter didn’t watch the girl and the old man. He couldn’t take his eyes off the woman at the door. She was tall, very tall for a woman. But then he’d only seen a few dozen of the creatures in his entire life. Her black hair was tied behind her head in a knot, and her eyes were the green of full summer.
    While the other men waved good luck to the girl, the woman in the doorway stared directly at Carter. He saw no fear in her eyes, and wondered if she saw none in his. If the angel and the girl worried him, this one sent panic dancing along his spine.
    He should have pulled his name. He wouldn’t have known how to treat the angel, or what to do with the girl, but this one ... this one was no child or mouse. This one was old enough and smart enough to know what she wanted in a man. And judging from the strength he saw in her eyes, she’d settle for nothing less.
    “Miss Bailee?” The sheriff pulled her back to her duty. “Will you draw?”
    Without hesitation, Bailee reached into the hat and pulled out a paper. Without opening it, she handed her choice to the Riley.
    Carter noticed the sheriff glance his direction a fraction of a second before he unfolded the slip of paper. Riley didn’t turn toward the light to read the name, which surprised Carter, but no one else seemed to notice.
    Riley thumbed through the letters and handed Bailee a brown paper sack.
    Carter knew. His fingers moved silently, nervously at his side.
    As everyone waited, Bailee turned toward the light and read his note.
    The men were silent. Waiting. Fearing. Reconsidering.
    Bailee nodded once at the sheriff.
    “Carter McKoy!” Riley shouted loud enough to be heard over the rain.
    Carter didn’t move. He didn’t even breathe while every other man standing around him went wild. Some shouted, a few swore. Most let out a long-held sigh as if