The Accidental Mrs. Mackenzie by Bonnie K. Winn Read Free Book Online Page A

cleared her throat “—I’ll send you a real wedding gift, but this is for you. You’re part of the MacKenzie family now, so you’re part of the community, too. And a new friend.”
    Brynn felt tears threatening, and she couldn’t control a slight quivering of her lips. “This is so very...kind of you.”
    “Now don’t you go all maudlin on me,” Wilma warned, but without much conviction. “We’ll have a regular waterworks going.” She turned to Ruth. “Sure can see why Gregory woke up and got some sense when he met this girl.”
    Seeing how shaken Brynn was, Ruth took her arm. “I hate to break this up, but we have lottery tickets to buy.”
    “I already told you, I’m going to win Power Ball,” Wilma retorted, seeing through Ruth’s words. “You bring your new daughter-in-law around often, you hear?”
    Ruth nodded, steering Brynn outside. “Let’s go get some coffee.”
    Brynn sniffed. “I thought we were going to get lottery tickets.”
    Ruth smiled. “They have coffee in Idaho.”
    Brynn laughed in spite of herself. “You do know how to chase away the maudlin moments.”
    “Every woman’s entitled to them.” They walked a few feet closer to the Bronco, then Ruth stopped suddenly. there’s not a special reason you’re feeling particularly sentimental?”
    It took Brynn a moment to catch her meaning. No, that would be too much. “There’s not any special news, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
    “I didn’t mean to pry. And, heavens, I’m sure you two want to be married awhile before you start your family. I just couldn’t help asking...in case Gregory...”
    “He’s going to come home,” Brynn assured her fiercely, knowing how unfair it would be to his family for him to not return.
    Ruth smiled again. “With all your faith in him, how could he dare do anything else? They say that special love often brings a man through a terrible crisis, when otherwise... wen, let’s just say I’m awfully glad he found you.”
    Brynn swallowed the truth as Ruth hugged her tightly.
    Then Ruth opened the door to the Bronco. After they were buckled in, she turned the key and pointed the four-by-four northward. “Now...we’re doubling our chances. We’ve got lottery tickets to buy.”

Chapter Four
    M att watched the newest MacKenzie with interest. From his vantage point, he could observe Brynn without her knowledge. Not that he’d planned to study her. He had climbed up onto the ledge to check the footing along the path. While he was still there, Brynn had walked out on the huge rear deck that wound around the back of the lodge. Behind her trailed her faithful companions—the neurotic dog and nearly blind cat.
    Staring at her, Matt doubted he could have imagined anyone more different from the kind of woman he thought Gregory would have chosen. He still found it hard to believe. Gregory had always gone for slick and sophisticated—the kind of woman who was an asset; one who could do something for Gregory.
    Matt loved his brother, but he also knew him. And Gregory was no bleeding heart. He didn’t go for waifish women who looked as though they might bolt at the sight of their own shadows.
    Like Brynn.
    Although now, alone with her pets, she didn’t look so skittish. Still, it didn’t seem likely that she traveled in the same circles his brother did. Maybe, being a cartoonist, she was accepted on the A-list as an eccentric.
    Her oversize tuniclike blouse, pullover sweater, and long, flowing skirt hid any clue as to her body. He suspected she had one, but you wouldn’t know it under those clothes. And Greyory was definitely a body man. In fact, his initial appraisal of women started below the neck. It would be hard to even find Brynn’s neck.
    She laughed—a light silvery sound that danced around her as she played with the dog. What did she call him? Lancelot? What kind of name was that for a dog? Matt hoped she didn’t plan to give her children weird names like that. Might as well pin