Angel and the Texan From County Cork (The Brides of Texas Code Series Book 3) by Carra Copelin Read Free Book Online Page B

but Calliope isn’t welcome in certain town circles and her reputation transcended to me.”
    “Ah.” Jamey raised his chin in understanding. “Miss Thorne is a lady of the evening.”
    “Yes, but not only that, she’s a smart business woman, too. She owns the business and the café.”
    “Angel, you don’t have to sell me. She helped you and that’s enough.”
    “Oh . . . well, it wasn’t long before Calliope introduced me to Will.” She looked him squarely in the eye. “I guess that brings you up to date. I’m afraid, Jamey O’Donnell, you’ve stepped into a sticky situation but you’re at least prepared if Mrs. Krutchmeyer goes through with her threat to expose my reputation to you.”
    “I wondered what she was sayin’ to ye when I walked up beside ye.”
    She wrapped her hands around the cup and examined the contents. “I’ll understand if you want me to leave.”
    He stood and moved his cup to the drain board. “There’ll be no talk of leavin’, Colleen. I don’t put much stock in other’s opinions.”
    Then he did something that took her by surprise. He came to her, pulled her out of her chair and into his arms. He simply held her in a tight embrace. She was hard pressed to remember the last time she’d been held like this. Her arms settled around his waist and she drew comfort and strength from his warmth.
    Easing his hold on her, he looked down at her and asked, “Do you need anything before I turn in?”
    More of this. Afraid to say the words out loud, she answered, “No, I don't.”
    “I'll be seein' ye in the mornin', then.” He kissed her forehead then sat, pulled off his boots and laid down on his make-shift bed, giving her his back. “I'll keep the fire goin’, but leave yer door open so the room will stay warm.”
    “I will, good night.” He was snoring almost before the words were out of her mouth. It seemed the past days’ happenings were taking a toll on him, too. Hopefully tomorrow would be less eventful because she needed to think about making a plan for the future. Her future. Her new husband had his own plan and a life that probably wouldn’t include her. And, for some reason she couldn’t understand, the thought was devastating.
    Too tired to change into her nightdress, she slid beneath the covers and closed her eyes. A couple of ideas for her future survival sparked in her imagination. She couldn’t muster enough gumption to get her wooden box that held her stationery and pen. She’d just have to write them down tomorrow.   
    Sometime before daylight Angel awoke to a great howling wind and sleet hitting the bedroom window. She wanted to burrow deeper under the blankets, but the slap of the barn door startled her. When she looked out the window, huge clouds of snow swirled over the already covered ground. The sight was beautiful but held deadly potential. As she strained to see anything through the flurries, the blustery weather blew open the front door.
    Still dressed in her clothes from last night, she started for the main room and found Jamey standing in the entrance.
    He shouted to be heard over the roar, “Angel! Get dressed, I need yer help.”
     
    * * *
     
    Jamey hated to ask her, but he couldn’t do alone what needed to be done. The stock had to be taken care of. He’d looked in on them before dinner and thought they’d be warm enough but, when the wind woke him up, he realized the temperature had dropped significantly.
    He warmed his hands by the fire and called out to her, “Put on as many layers as ye can. I can't have ye freezin' to death.”
    “How cold do you think it is out there?” Angel came into the room wearing a woolen shirt, the boots she’d worn the day they’d first met and a pair of men’s pants. After she finished cinching them in at the waist, she pulled on a knitted cap and handed one to him. “Here, this will help keep your head warm.”
    “The thermometer on the barn wall read nine degrees.” He held up the cap.