Conner's Contrary Bride by Barbara Goss (accelerated reader books .txt) 📗

to tell her so. It didn’t matter if they didn’t agree on things, they’d figure out a way to compromise.

There was one more day of the convention left. Not only was it boring, but he was alone. He thought he might run into some of his college friends, but none were there. After the meeting, all the doctors met at the Mad Dog Saloon, but he wasn’t a drinker, and he wasn’t hungry, so he just went up to his hotel room.

Conner opened his suitcase to change for bed, admiring the way Elsie had packed his things so neatly. He picked up a clean pair of long johns, and a piece of paper fell out. Conner retrieved it from the floor and read it: “A lonely heart is waiting for you to return home.” He smiled and brought the paper to his lips. A moment later, he slammed the suitcase shut, left the room with it, signed out of the hotel, and went to the train depot. He didn’t belong in Kansas City, and certainly not with these stuffy old doctors. He was going home to his wife to start his new life.

The next train west wasn’t scheduled to leave until one in the morning, and it wouldn’t arrive in Hays City until six o’clock in the evening. He didn’t know why, but he wanted to be home quicker than that—it had to be love. Conner paced the depot until his train finally arrived.

It was a long train ride, and they stopped at every large city to pick up or drop off passengers and mail. He supposed he should be thankful that there were trains now, otherwise he’d be stuck in a stuffy stagecoach, and he wouldn’t get home for days. Each minute that passed seemed like an hour. He was eager to see Elsie, take her into his arms, and tell her he loved her. Conner no longer had any doubts. Maybe he could make her his wife for real that very night.

He pulled out his watch. It was only two in the afternoon. He had four hours to go, and it seemed like an eternity.

Conner also couldn’t wait to tell her the construction of their house would begin the following week. He looked forward to watching it going up together. His heart pounded with love for Elsie and the life they’d have. Why hadn’t he realized it sooner? He was a love-sick man.

He sat with his eyes closed as the train raced toward Hays City, planning what he’d do or say first after walking into the house.

Chapter Fifteen

Finally, the train turned the bend, and the depot was in sight. Hays City never looked so good to Conner. Of course, there was no one waiting for him since he wasn’t expected until the day after tomorrow. He would surprise Elsie.

Conner walked the short distance to the house. He noticed the “closed” sign on the window and knew they’d be eating dinner about then. Conner was starving, but eating could wait. He wanted to see Elsie alone first.

He found the clinic door locked, which wasn’t unusual since it was closed. Conner could have knocked, but he thought he could best surprise her if he entered through the back door. He went through the laundry room and into the kitchen where he dropped his suitcase when he saw Bertie tied to the stove! What was going on?

Conner ran over to her and pulled the towel out of her mouth.

Bertie brought a finger to her lips and whispered, “It’s Frank, the stepfather. He took Elsie into your bedroom. And he’s going to... he’s going to... ” she broke down in tears before she could finish the sentence.

Conner wanted to console her, but he had to get to Elsie. He untied her, patted her on the shoulder, went to the hall closet, quietly opened the door, took out his gun belt, and put it on before making his way down the hall.

Conner heard her muffled screams coming from his room. He wanted to barge in, but as frantic as he felt, he knew he had to be cautious, so he turned the doorknob slowly, and opened the door a crack as quietly as he could to peer inside.

He saw Elsie lying on the bed on her back and the big, hairy man—whom he assumed was Frank—tying one of her ankles to the bedpost, having tied the other ankle to the other bedpost. Conner figured he had tied her hands like he had her ankles.

Poor Elsie. He had to think of the best way to handle the situation. Frank still had his gun belt on, but if he planned a physical attack on Elsie, he’d have to drop the belt before he could drop his britches. Conner would wait until he dropped his belt and britches before he stormed in with both of his guns aimed at the beast. He prayed to God for help to control his temper so he wouldn’t kill the man.

Conner waited nervously. If Frank saw him, his plan would fail.

Sure enough, Frank’s anxiousness to attack Elsie made him careless. After securing her foot, Frank laughed. “You won’t kick me in the groin this time. Now, it’s my turn to torture you.”

Elsie’s squeal sounded muffled, as if Frank had stuffed something in her mouth. From his viewpoint, he could only see the foot of the bed. Elsie strained to free her feet, but they wouldn’t budge.

Just as Conner had suspected, Frank wasted no time dropping his gun belt, and his britches followed. Conner chose that moment to bust into the room.

He kicked the door open with his foot, a Colt 45 in each of his hands. “Stop right there!”

Frank froze with his pants down around his ankles and his mouth hanging wide open. “Who the blazes are you?”

“Her husband. Put your hands up and move