Chapter Two
Fort Davis, Texas
Seth wiped his hands on his worn pants and looked out over the horizon toward the town.
Fort Davis. It was almost a day’s ride to town from his ranch, and now he was close enough that he could’ve sworn he heard the town drunk and his dog, and that was certainly close enough for his liking. He was in his own world at his ranch, and that was the way he liked it.
He shifted uneasily in his saddle, staring at the dusty road ahead. He’d rather be anywhere else than going back to that godforsaken town.
But duty is duty.
His best friend, Henry Landry, had sent word that morning, and when a man’s best friend—who was also the town sheriff—called for a meeting, it was best not to ignore that.
Seth sighed, urging his horse Skip forward.
Even if it was at the request of his friend, the thought of leaving the ranch and heading back into town after all this time didn’t sit well with him.
He had left Fort Davis for a reason, and from what he’d heard, things in town were getting worse.
Gang activity was on the rise, and Thomas Turner, the saloon owner, seemed to be at the heart of it.
At least, that’s what the rumors said that had made it all the way out to the ranch. Turner had always been a thorn in everyone’s side, especially Seth’s, so it wouldn’t have surprised him in the least. But it still made him angry.
The rest of the ride into town was mercifully short, and although he was irritated, he knew better than to show it.
By the time he reached Henry’s office, his irritation had almost subsided, but as soon as he dismounted Skip and began tying him to the sheriff’s hitching post, he was riled up all over again by an all-too-familiar voice.
“Afternoon, Seth,” drawled Billy Fredricks.
Of course, Fredricks would be the first to show up. He sauntered over as if he owned the whole street, like he always did.
Seth wouldn’t have replied at all, but when Fredricks repeated, “I said afternoon, Seth,” he knew that ignoring the man wasn’t going to do the trick.
“What do you want, Fredricks?” Seth replied with an exasperated breath as he looked up just long enough to see Fredricks’ grin. He already wanted to wipe the smile right off that smug, oily, disgusting face.
“Oh, nothing much. Just saw you here and thought I’d say hello. Mighty rare to see you in town these days.”
“Must be my lucky day, then,” Seth shot back sarcastically. Hopefully the younger man would take the hint and leave.
But it was Fredricks. Of course he wouldn’t take the hint.
“You here to see Henry?” he asked, his brow raised. “Or maybe…” He trailed off, his grin widening. “Maybe you’re waiting on someone.”
Seth froze, his jaw tightening. “What are you talking about?”
Fredricks chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. “Oh, sorry, Seth. I guess I figured you’d care. After all, a mail-order bride’s just about the only way you’ll escape bachelorhood.”
Seth glared at him, fists clenching at his sides. “I don’t know what you’re getting at, Fredricks, but you’d do well to keep walking.”
He was bluffing. He knew exactly what Fredricks was trying to say.
Fredricks’ grin didn’t falter. Instead, he laughed. “Who knows? Maybe if more women come out this way, you’ll finally replace what left you hanging high and dry.”
Seth took a step toward him. “Watch your mouth,” he warned with a low hiss.
Fredricks held up his hands in mock surrender, but his eyes gleamed with mischief. “Alright, alright. No need to get riled up. I’ll leave you to your business.” He turned to go, but not before tossing one last comment over his shoulder. “I’m off to see Hazel, anyway. She’s always happy to see me.”
The name hit Seth like a punch to the gut. His breath hitched, and his nails dug into the palms of his hands. He wanted nothing more than to launch a solid right at Fredricks’ smart mouth.
Fredricks turned around and grinned, noticing Seth’s unease. “Something wrong?” he laughed.
Seth could have kicked himself for letting the man notice his irritation. He didn’t answer. He didn’t want to give Fredricks the satisfaction. He knew exactly what he was doing. Fredricks smirked. “Didn’t think so.”
Before Seth could respond—before he could even process the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm him—Henry’s voice rang out.
“Fredricks!” The sheriff strode out of his office, his hand resting casually on the revolver at his hip. Fredricks froze, his smirk fading slightly under Henry’s stern gaze.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Henry asked firmly.
The arrogant young man smirked again and threw a mocking salute. “Sure thing, Sheriff. Just saying hi to our friend Seth here.”
“Move along,” Henry said.
Fredricks shrugged, casting one final smirk at Seth before strolling away.
Seth’s blood was on fire. If he hadn’t been standing right next to Henry, he had half a mind to yank the fool’s collar back and show him what-for.
“Sorry about that,” Henry said as he walked up beside Seth.
Seth shook his head. “It’s fine.” This is exactly why I didn’t want to come back here. Situations like that always made him want to turn to his fists much sooner than he should.
“You alright?”
“Yeah.”
Henry studied him for a moment, clearly unconvinced, but he didn’t press the issue. “Come on inside. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
Seth followed him into the office, grateful for a little time inside and away from the heat of the day.
Henry sighed heavily, his broad chest lifting so dramatically that the buttons on his blue shirt practically pulled apart.
Immediately, he gestured for Seth to sit down before leaning against the edge of his desk, crossing large arms in front of his chest.
“Fredricks has been running his mouth again,” he said.
“Nothing new there,” Seth muttered.
“He’s been spending more and more time with Thomas Turner lately, and that’s got me worried.”
Seth nodded. “Turner is trouble. Always has been. Fredricks is no angel, either.”
But he had a difficult time looking his best friend in the face. Henry had to have asked him back for a reason.
“It’s worse than that,” Henry said. “He’s not just causing trouble in town anymore. He’s reaching out to gangs from San Antonio, trying to build some kind of crime network or something. He thinks if he can control enough people, he’ll control the town.”
Seth frowned. “And what’s he doing to get that control?”
“Intimidation, mostly. Threatening store owners, roughing up anyone who doesn’t fall in line. He’s even got some of the younger men—like Fredricks—doing his dirty work for him. Did you notice how a lot of the businesses have closed up shop?”
The thought made Seth’s stomach turn. He’d seen enough violence during the war to last a lifetime, but it didn’t surprise him that Turner had his hand in the cookie jar.
He ruined my life without losing sleep over it. No surprise he’d do it to anyone else. The idea of Turner taking over Fort Davis wasn’t surprising, but it certainly wasn’t something Seth wanted to hear.
That man’s liable to ruin a whole lot more lives than just mine.
“And what do you want me to do about it?” he asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
Henry hesitated, scratching the back of his neck almost anxiously. “That’s not really what I brought you here for,” he said faintly. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Henry sighed. “Mayor Klein’s decided to bring in mail-order brides.”
Seth stiffened. Fredricks had already said something about that. “Mail-order brides?”
“Yeah. We lost too many men to the war, and too many women passed from illness. The town’s population is falling, and a lot of people are afraid we’ll be a thing of the past. We need to re-build, and Klein thinks bringing in more women is a solution.
He had some of us write letters to some eligible women and mention some of the men in town. Some of the eligible men…”
Apprehension sank like a stone in Seth’s gut. He didn’t respond right away.
Henry was right. The war had changed everyone, and Seth wasn’t spared. He couldn’t even bear the thought of being home, even this many years later, knowing how much he lost when he’d been gone.
Of course, a lot of people felt that way, and he was sure a lot of men were ready to fill those voids the war had left behind—but the idea of women being brought into town like livestock didn’t sit well with him.
And the thought of being expected to take a bride himself?
After everything he’d been through since the war?
Henry was looking at him, that annoying inquisitive look with its animatedly arched eyebrows—without actually asking anything.
“I’m not interested,” Seth said finally.
“You might not have a choice,” Henry said. “Mayor Klein’s making it clear that every eligible man in town is expected to participate if he doesn’t have a woman.”
Seth clenched his jaw. Memories he’d tried so hard to bury began to surface unbidden—memories of the war, all the loss, all the pain. Ever since he’d come back, he’d built his life around avoiding people, avoiding attachments.
Being forced into marriage just wasn’t going to happen.
“I can’t,” he said quietly.
Henry didn’t push him. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, I guess—”
“They’ve arrived!” somebody bellowed from outside the office. “Three of the women! They’re here!”
The two men looked at one another, and Seth grimaced.
Looks like that bridge is here, whether I want to cross it or not.