Their Scandalous Bride Read online

  There was an instant attraction to the men and she didn’t know which one she would choose, but either one of them was quite enticing.

  This morning, she’d enjoyed their flirtatious good looks and beautiful sparkling eyes and lips that were full, ripe, and ready to be kissed. Maybe they were the answer to her prayers.

  Strolling across the dance floor, she weaved in and out of the dancers. “Hello, gentlemen. Would you care to dance?”

  Yes, she was being bold and brazen, and frankly, she didn’t give a damn. It was time to show Phillip that he would never win her hand in marriage, regardless of whatever bullshit lies he told about her.

  A little shiver trickled down her spine as the rugged and handsome, Keegan took her hand. “Yes, ma’am. Let’s dance.”

  “I wasn’t certain you would be here tonight,” she said, glancing up into his earth brown eyes. His long dark lashes were gorgeous and she could feel the strength of his embrace. Her breath seemed to hitch in her lungs and she had the urge to reach up and touch his full lips but resisted.

  “Nothing could have stopped us from attending this dance. Not even some cowboy who claimed you were his fiancée,” he said.

  What? When had Phillip spoken to them.

  “What?”

  “Some man stopped us on our way out of your place and told us you were promised to him. Not to buy anymore horses from you.”

  That cad. He’d been watching her ranch? Could he be the one who was stealing her cattle?

  “He’s lying,” she said. “He’s spreading rumors about me and none of them are true. We’ll never marry,” she said. “What about you? Why hasn’t some cowgirl claimed you? A big strong handsome man like yourself.”

  “Thank you, but I’ve been too busy working my ranch and have no time for women. But I think that’s about to change.”

  She grinned. Maybe her luck was headed for the better.

  “Only thing is I’m a Bridgewater man,” he said low into her ear.

  Bridgewater, that mysterious town not far from Helena where every woman had two husbands. She’d often wondered about that place and the people who lived there. When she saw the women in town with their families, their husbands were attentive, and she could see the love between them.

  Was it wrong to want that kind of relationship with your husband? Even if you had more than one? All she wanted was a man to cherish her and love her and give her a family. But two husbands?

  That was different. She thought of her own family and it couldn’t be any worse than what she’d witnessed between her parents.

  The song ended and Keegan escorted her over to his friend. “Alastair, she’s a dream on the dance floor. Take a whirl.”

  She could see that the man was reluctant, but she wanted to experience each man. For some reason, she felt drawn to both. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him out on the makeshift wooden floor.

  “Why don’t you like me?”

  “Who said I didn’t like you?” he asked her.

  “Don’t you think I can tell?”

  A smile spread across his face. “It’s not that I don’t like you, but I’m cautious when it comes to women. Especially women with a reputation.”

  She gave a little laugh. “Honey, if you think I have a reputation, you’re sadly right, I do. Because I don’t put up with any lying bullshit. And that man across the way over there thinks he can con me into becoming his wife. Now if you want to believe all the gossip, I suggest you go join those old biddies in the corner. I’ve become the center of their world since Phillip started spreading lies.”

  God, how she was beginning to hate Phillip. And yet, Charley seemed to be pushing her toward him. That had to end tonight.

  “He met us right outside your ranch and told us you were engaged and expecting his baby.”

  It was almost funny, except it wasn’t.

  “Sweetheart, a man can lie about being a virgin, but a woman can’t. And frankly, none of you men will ever learn the truth about me until there’s a ring on my finger.”

  The expression on his face was almost comical as she watched him try to determine if she was lying or telling him the truth. The man didn’t seem to want to trust her and that made her a little uneasy. Maybe this wasn’t the solution to her problems. But he was so handsome that when he glanced at her, she just wanted to remove her clothes. A heat seemed to be building inside her.

  Suddenly, Phillip, jerked her away from Alastair. “Didn’t I tell you that she was my woman? That we were engaged? Why are you dancing with her?”

  “Because I asked him,” she said, noticing that everyone was staring at them.

  Phillip grabbed her by the arm. “Get off the dance floor, now. While I take care of business.”

  “No, we’re not engaged and never will be,” she told him.

  Alastair took a step back and shook his head. “I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but I want no part of it.”

  Whirling around, he walked toward the barn door.

  “Alastair,” she cried as she tried to run after him, but Phillip grabbed her arm.

  “You’re not going anywhere.”

  With a sigh, she watched Alastair grab his hat and coat and with Keegan, the two of them walked out the door.

  There went her only chance at trying to find herself a husband. Someone that wasn’t afraid of Phillip. Every other man in town believed the liar and had stayed clear of her.

  Phillip laughed and tried to pull her into his embrace.

  “Don’t touch me,” she said, jerking from his hold, and walked away.

  The rest of the night, she leaned against the wall, but no other man had the courage to ask her to dance. Phillip had frightened them all away.

  Finally, she gathered her things, disappointed. When she stepped outside into the dim light from the barn, a hand reached out and grab her. Another hand came across her mouth as she tried to scream.

  “We’re going to talk and you’re going to agree to marry me,” Phillip whispered in her ear. “I’m not going to put up with you flirting with other men. Do you understand?”

  He pinched her arm hard and slapped her bare shoulders.

  “Stop,” she cried, realizing he intended to beat her into submission. But she wasn’t going down without a fight.

  One thing her worthless father had taught her was how to protect herself and she took his thumb and pulled back on it until it snapped. With a scream, he let go of her and she shoved him with all her might.

  Phillip stumbled back and fell, his head smashing against a large rock. In the light, she could see blood spurting from his skull as he lay there unconscious.

  Oh my God, she’d killed the man. She’d killed Phillip and no one would ever believe it was an accident.

  Terrified, she fled to her wagon. She had to get home. Charley would help her. Charley would protect her.

  3

  That night when Catriona arrived home, Charley was sound asleep and she didn’t have the heart to wake him.

  All night long, she tossed and turned and worried she would soon find herself in jail for Phillip’s murder.

  The next morning, when she dragged herself out to the barn, Charley was getting ready to take the foals to Bridgewater.

  “Did you have a good time last night?”

  “No,” she said. “Phillip told everyone I was expecting his baby and that we would soon marry. I don’t like liars.”

  Charley frowned and stared at her. “The boy is smitten with you. While that’s not a way to win a woman’s affection, you should at least give him a chance.”

  Stunned, she stared at the man. Did he not see what she saw? Phillip was a bully. Since his father’s death, his own ranch had gone downhill and there was an evilness about him that frightened her.

  She knew he wanted O’Reilly’s Folly, but she wasn’t going to marry him. But why was Charley in favor of this man?

  “It’s hard to give a man a chance when he embarrasses you and then he tried to manhan
dle me when I went to leave.”

  She’d planned on telling Charley she might’ve killed Phillip, but something held her back.

  Maybe it had been a bad dream and hadn’t really happened. No, she’d seen the blood spurting from his head where he hit a rock when she pushed him. But maybe he wasn’t dead. She hadn’t checked his pulse.

  Should she turn herself in?

  “That’s not right,” Charley said. “Women don’t like to be forced or manhandled in any way.”

  “No,” she said, biting her lip.

  The man frowned. “I was about to take these foals over to Bridgewater. But something has come up. I’m going to be busy today.”

  It was the excuse she needed.

  “Let me take them for you,” she said. “I’ll make it back before dark.”

  A frown drew his forehead together. “You sure?”

  “Yes,” she said, fearing he would back out.

  If she had killed Phillip, the sheriff would be arriving anytime now. This way, she could get away and maybe put off going to jail just a little longer.

  Maybe Keegan and Alastair would help her. Maybe they would save her. Maybe they could take her somewhere where the law would not hang her.

  “All right,” he said. “Just be careful.”

  A smile crossed her face and she ran into the house to pack just a few things. Maybe they would let her stay.

  4

  Early the next morning, Alastair covered their campfire as Keegan saddled up their horses. Neither man said a word, disappointment heavy in the air.

  “I thought she was the one,” Keegan said. Even if she had been pregnant, he would have married her. He would protect her and the baby with his dying breath. If he could, he would save every orphan in the world, but knew that was impossible.

  “No, I told you there was too much scandal involved with that woman. Look at the scene we were a part of because of her. Maybe she’s pregnant, maybe she’s not, but I don’t want to get involved with Catriona.”

  A sigh filled Keegan as he climbed up on his horse. “Shouldn’t take us too long to get home now. An empty house with no one to greet us at the door.”

  Alastair shook his head. “How do you know of these things? You were raised in an orphanage. Did you have people who greeted you at the door?”

  Laughter came from Keegan at the absurdity of his comment. “Oh yeah, with cookies in hand,” he said. “The only time we were greeted at the door was when something was wrong. Then we were gathered together until someone confessed that they had been bad. And we were all punished.”

  The days had been harsh and the nights long and Keegan would never let any child of his suffer that way. If he were killed, he knew Alastair would make certain his wife and children were cared for. It was one reason he liked the Bridgewater way.

  The odds of both of them being killed at the same time was almost zero.

  “One of the reasons I ran away at twelve was because I was tired of being beaten once a week. I didn’t have much when I left, but I knew my life would be better from that day forward. And it has been. Especially after I joined the Mohamir army and met all my friends. You men have made me into a great person who now wants a wife and family of my own.”

  They rode along the established path to Bridgewater, each man swaying in his saddle, each deep in thought.

  “Damn, she was so pretty and I loved her spirit,” Keegan said out loud not really talking to Alastair, but knowing he’d never wanted a woman so badly.

  When they danced, her body had fit perfectly with his and her curves had been a pleasure to watch. The woman had everything he wanted, including a smart, sassy full mouth that would be perfect for kissing.

  “You’re right. She had a strong, willful spirit that would have been a pleasure to tame in bed, but she’s nothing but trouble. And I’m not going to be associated with any woman who has scandal on her hands. Even if Phillip was lying, that will follow her the rest of her days. I’ve had enough of that in my life.”

  Keegan knew his friend had suffered much when his family was driven from the village where they lived in Scotland.

  “We’ll search for another woman,” Alastair said. “One that will not bring shame on our children. One that will not harm us in such a way that we want to run to escape the reality of what she’s done.”

  Keegan bristled. “I’m not running from anything. Those days are behind me and if scandal were to be brought on us, I’m staying and fighting. Even if the truth were to hurt us, I’d rather face it head on.”

  Alastair didn’t reply and Keegan knew he was thinking of his father. The man had a troubled past. Keegan was an orphan and Alastair’s family was riddled with disgrace.

  “I know you want a woman with a good reputation, but I would have married Catriona without a moment’s hesitation. Even if she were pregnant with another man’s child. All children need love and I plan on being the best father possible to any child that needs love.”

  There was a boy he took food to every time he went into town. If he ever settled down, he would love to bring him to their home and let him work for them.

  Alastair nodded. “Your roots are showing.”

  “And so are yours,” Keegan admonished. Both of them had been hurt and even damaged in some way by their parents. His, for leaving him on a street corner at the age of three. Alastair’s for letting his mother destroy their lives.

  Apparently, Alastair had enough of that topic when he asked, “Why did you let me forget to ask Charley about the rustlers?”

  “Because we were both blinded by the beauty of Catriona,” he said. “Once she rode into the yard, it was like my brain turned to mush and my dick took over. Nothing mattered but her.”

  “I can’t deny she took my breath away.”

  They pulled up to their fence line and Keegan frowned. The herd count was down again. Once the new foals arrived, they would gather the men of Bridgewater and catch this thief and find out why he was stealing from them.

  “More are missing,” he said out loud.

  “Yes, that sweet little heifer with the star on her chest is gone,” Alastair said. “Damn, that makes me mad.”

  “Me too. We work hard and don’t deserve to be stolen from.”

  It had taken Keegan years before he’d felt like he had put poverty behind him and he had no plans on ever returning to living on the streets ever again.

  Turning their horses, they rode into the bustling town of Bridgewater. A sense of homecoming came over Keegan and he knew he would live here until his dying day. It felt good to be home. Back to the place where they loved the people who lived here.

  “When Charley brings our new horses, you can ask him about the rustlers then,” Keegan said.

  “Good idea. He should be here later today,” Alastair said.

  “Let’s put our horses in the barn, rub them down and give them a bag of oats. Then we can see if one of the wives has room for two more at her table,” Keegan said. “I’m ready for some good food and I know our women always prepare a delicious meal.”

  Alastair turned and stared at him. “If it’s not sex you’re thinking about, it’s food.”

  “Aye, you’re right. I’m hungry all the time and if I can’t have the beautiful woman I want, then give me a good meal to satisfy my urgings.”

  “We may need to go to the whorehouse in Helena if you keep on this way,” Alastair said as they rode their horses into the barn.

  Thirty minutes later, they carried their saddle bags with them as they walked out into afternoon sun.

  “Let’s go find something to eat,” Keegan replied.

  Suddenly Alastair stopped and shielded his eyes from the sun. “My oh my, look who is coming to visit.”

  Keegan jerked his head in the direction they had just come. “Catriona.”

  “She’s bringing our new foals,” Alastair said, shaking his head. “Here comes trouble.”

  5

  Alastair walked up to her horse and help
ed her alight. “What are you doing here, woman?”

  She licked her lips nervously as she stared at the man before her. The way he called her woman sent a trickle of some unknown desire skittering down her spine to her center. And she knew he didn’t even really like her.

  “I brought you your foals,” she said, not wanting to spill her problems to them just yet. What if they didn’t want her? What if they sent her back to Helena? What if they turned her over to the law?

  “Why didn’t Charley bring them?”

  She didn’t want to tell them the truth.

  “He was busy and asked me to.”

  And she hoped and prayed that her home would still be standing when she returned. There were horror stories of how entire towns came after someone for a killing and destroyed their homes. It was all she had left and while her memories were not pleasant there, it was still a roof over her head.

  “It’s getting late,” Keegan said as he walked up to her. “You can’t return to your ranch tonight.”

  She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to return to her home. She wanted to stay with these men. She wanted to remain here in Bridgewater and accept this lifestyle, but how did she know if they wanted her?

  Alastair had not welcomed her and stood off to the side glaring at her like she had done something wrong, which she had. The man stared at her like he wanted to undress her one moment and like he hated her the next.

  What had she done to cause his dislike?

  “Can we talk somewhere private?”

  The people in the small town were glancing at her with curious stares and she didn’t want to spill her problems right here in the street.

  Keegan took the foals and put them in the barn and then he tied her horse to a hitching post outside.

  Alastair stood on one side of her and Keegan on another as they walked her to a house in the distance.

  “Is this your home?”