Fate's Intervention by Barbara Woster Read Free Book Online

she truly wished she could scare him off, back to Pinedale.
    Brian Walker said that ’ s where he lived. Six or seven counties to the north of where they lived. She wasn ’ t exactly certain how her father had found this one, but she wished he hadn ’ t. From what little information she ’ d been able to gather from their extremely brief periods of conversation, Walker was a wealthy man as owner of a local bank.
    When Brian stood a moment later, Marcelle inadvertently breathed an audible sigh of relief. Her father ’ s eyes narrowed disapprovingly, but it was obvious Brian didn ’ t hear, which gave Marcelle pause. He was standing a lot closer to her than her father was which could only mean that his hearing was deteriorating as fast as his body.
    Her father was eyeing Brian strangely as well, so he was apparently thinking something similar.
    Marcelle eagerly stood and escorted her caller to the front door.
    “ Well, my dear, ” Walker said, “ it ’ s been a pleasure making your acquaintance. I ’ m sorry I have to leave so soon, but it is a long ride home. I do hope we ’ ll have the opportunity of entertaining one another again in future. ”
    Marcelle only smiled in response, not trusting herself to speak. She didn ’ t think she ’ d have to worry that Brian would come to call on her again. She would be very surprised if he could recall her name , much less where she lived. He seem ed quite inattentive . What would surprise her even more would be if he lived long enough for a proper courting period. His health seemed frail. Perhaps that ’ s why her father approved. If she married him then he would die shortly thereafter, most likely, leaving her widowed – and rich. Then neither he nor she would have to worry about finances again. The thought was so absurd that she giggled slightly. Fortunately, her caller took her smile as approval for continued courtship. He took her hand and placed a light kiss on the back, then bowed low.
    “ I look forward to returning soon. Until then, I ’ ll bid you good night. ”
    Marcelle sighed when he boarded his carriage. She closed the door and laid her head against the wooden frame, sighing loudly . When she turned, her father was standing in the foyer watching her.
    “ Wherever you dug that skeleton up, I ’ d suggest you bury him again , ” Marcelle said. “ You can ’ t seriously think that I ’ d prefer that scarecrow any more than I did Clifford Tub of Lard, do you? ”
    Her father raised a hand to silence her objections.
    “ I ’ m weary, dearest, ” he said, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. “ I think I ’ ll retire early for the night. You go and read or something. ”
    “ Father . . .  , ”
    “ I cannot argue with you, Marcelle, so let the subject alone until another day. At least know that our upcoming trip to the horse auction next week will postpone my matchmaking. ”
    “ A re you sure you ’ ll be able to travel all the way to Lander? ” Marcelle asked, noticing the pronounced circles of tiredness under her father ’ s normally alert emerald gaze.
    “ I think I have a cold, so I ’ m feeling a bit drained, but I ’ m certain that next week will see me spry again. Besides, I still have several clients that Stanharbor hasn ’ t managed to steal that rely on me to provide them with quality horseflesh . I mustn ’ t let them down or Stanharbor will snatch them away as well. Then we will have nothing. ”
    “ If Stanharbor is such a threat to our well-being, why did you want me to marry him? ”
    “ If you ’ re married to him, he ’ d hardly remain a threat to your financial well-being, now would he? Since I wouldn ’ t have to concern myself with your care, then I could retire comfortably and not have to fret about whether my clients stayed with me or not. Stanharbor could take them all to blue blazes for all I care. ”
    “ Oh, Father , ” Marcelle said, wrapping her arms about his waist, and hugging him close,