Read Online Mail Order Baron (The Brides of Tombstone Book 3) by Cynthia Woolf - Free Book Online

Goodbye, Hazel.”
    The thread would be perfect for decorating new linens stitched with her and Ben’s initials surrounded by roses. Head down looking into her sack, she bumped into someone as she went out the door.
    “Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
    “That’s all right Molly,” said a deep gravelly voice.
    Molly’s head snapped up and she gasped. She knew that voice.
    “Tom? What are you doing here? Why aren’t you in Mexico or someplace other than Tombstone?”
    His eyes narrowed and even with his beard, she saw his nostrils flare. She looked down and saw his hands fisted.
    “I came to see you, my pretty, little Molly. I couldn’t go to Mexico without settling things between us.”
    Molly’s heart pounded in her chest and in her ears. She was sure Tom Marlow could hear it and know how much he frightened her.
    “There is nothing to settle. I did what I had to. You should still be in jail. Aren’t you afraid I’ll go to the marshal? There’s got to be a wanted poster out for you.”
    Tom advanced on Molly, leaving only inches between them.
    “Not all the way here from New York. I’ve been here for a while and so far no one has recognized me. Not even your precious husband.”
    A knot formed in her stomach. “You stay away from Ben. You hear me, Tom? He’s done nothing to you.”
    “Oh, but I do owe him. Someday you’ll find out how much. For now, I’ll be watching you. I’ll make you pay for every day of the sixteen months I spent in jail. Have no fear about that. You will pay, my pretty Molly.”
    He turned and walked up the street disappearing into a crowd of people.
    Molly shook all over and her sweating hands left marks on the paper bag she held.
    Ben will know what to do. But if I tell him, what if he thinks I duped him into marrying me. No. I need to handle this on my own. But what can I do?
    * * *
    Hope stayed with Ben and Molly for a week while Matt, Julia and baby Walt, settled in together. After they returned Hope to her parents, the suite felt empty. Hope added so much life to their lives. She was busy all the time and constantly had to be watched. She crawled everywhere and pulled herself up on the coffee table and the sofa. Soon she would be taking her first steps.
    Molly wanted to go visit the house Ben was building on a prime spot just outside the city limits. Their house. No, their home. She was more excited about it than any other part of her marriage since Ben had been clear that he wouldn’t love her. As horrible as that thought was, she did her best to accept it. The problem she had was not falling in love with him, but she was afraid she already had.
    They had just finished breakfast and were walking back to the suite. “Ben, can we go see the house today?” Two weeks had passed since their wedding and she still hadn’t seen the house. “Please.”
    He laughed and patted her hand tucked in his elbow. “You sound like a little girl, when you say ‘please’ like that.”
    “If I jump up and down and throw a tantrum will that help my cause?”
    “Goodness, no. I’ll take you soon.”
    “If I learned how to drive a buggy, I could go by myself. Well, after you show me where it is.”
    “I’ll take you tomorrow and we’ll discuss teaching you to drive the buggy.”
    “I could go see Lizzie that way, too.” She liked Lizzie Brandon. Ben had taken her out with him when he needed to talk business with Mal. Molly got to visit with Lizzie and had grown attached to baby Roy almost as much as she was to Hope.
    “Why don’t you go visit with Julia?”
    The question was asked nonchalantly but Molly knew he was concerned about Julia.
    “I…uh…I figured she’d be too busy with the new baby. They probably need their time alone.”
    He cocked his head. “Are you sure that’s the only reason? I don’t want to come between you. The two of you could be very good friends.”
    It was strange, him pushing Julia on her as a friend, but she decided to