The Mail Order Midwife's Secret (Wanted: Wives In The West 2) by Trinity Ford Page A

wasn’t seriously wounded, but he’d need a stich or two when Doc arrived. John acted like his goal was to keep the man calm in the street, but he really just wanted to be on the lookout for Millie to arrive.
    Fifteen minutes later, Doc’s carriage pulled up. He hopped out and came around to the other side. “He the one who’s hurt?” Doc asked, visibly annoyed that another good night’s sleep was interrupted by a group whose tempers got the best of them.
    John looked in the carriage to see if Millie was there, but she wasn’t. “No, he’s inside,” John replied. “Millie stay home tonight?” His heart sank at the realization that he probably wouldn’t be seeing her on tonight’s watch. He hoped she hadn’t requested off to avoid him after he was so forward with her earlier in the day.
    “Nope,” answered Doc. “Has a baby to deliver over at Samuel and Hannah’s. Baby’s come a bit early. I’m heading over there myself to help out after this, so if you need me anymore tonight, that’s where I’ll be.”
    John was relieved that Millie wasn’t avoiding him. But it sure made the night drag out in the Acre. Now that he’d met her, he didn’t want to be away from her. But he knew he had to take it slow—that she was skittish about something, and he didn’t want to add to her uneasiness.
    Over the next several weeks, Millie and John saw each other almost every night. Sometimes, when a baby was being born, Millie would be noticeably absent from the Acre, and John took some ribbing about it from the regulars. Everyone knew he was smitten, and he didn’t care. She was worth it.
    He wasn’t sure she felt the same way. Every time they were alone and he started to let her know how he felt, she quickly changed the subject or ended the conversation. Even at last Sunday’s potluck dinner, she volunteered to serve the line right as he asked her to take a walk with him. The only time she seemed to feel truly comfortable was when they were around other people.
    Tonight, the air felt different in the Acre. Everyone seemed to be on edge. It was common when the cattle drivers returned from a long trip. They were weary, irritable, and just looking to unwind. Sheriff Lockhart rode into town and hadn’t been there five minutes before a fight broke out in the Peacock Saloon. Millie and Doc arrived to tend to the wounded, while the sheriff tried to separate the groups. Just as he was about to take one of them outside, he saw the man Millie was helping grab her head and try to force her to kiss him. “Come on now,” he slurred. “Don’t save all your lovin’ for the sheriff!”
    Millie struggled backward and John bolted across the room, grabbed the man by his shirt and pushed him backwards onto the pool table. “I think you’ve overstayed your welcome, Bart,” he said. “Time for you to leave town.”
    The man was flattened onto the table, unable to move with the sheriff’s hands on his chest. “But I live here!” he pleaded.
    “Not anymore you don’t,” the sheriff ordered. “You’d best be gone within twenty-four hours or I’ll personally escort you out.” The man looked around the room as everyone stared on at the exchange. Sheriff Lockhart slowly lifted him upright, onto his feet. “And I think you owe this lady an apology.”
    Bart took his hat off and nodded toward Millie. “Ma’am,” he said sheepishly. “I’m right sorry I acted like that with you. Please accept my apology.”
    Millie didn’t have a chance to answer. She just stood there, trembling, watching John handle the situation. “Let’s go,” the sheriff said, shoving him toward the door. Sending Bart packing may have been extreme, but nobody would lay a hand on the woman he loved ever again.

 
    Chapter Ten
     
    The room slowly returned to its usual rowdy climate, and Doc, Millie and John all walked over to the calaboose to regroup.
    “Millie,” Doc said. “You want to go on home?”
    “No, Doc,” she answered. “Thank