The Kidnapped Christmas Bride (Taming of the Sheenans Book 3) by Jane Porter Read Free Book Online

could drive her to Jessica’s for a sleep over.
    Her parents and three youngest siblings were slain within a half hour of her leaving. Fifteen year old Quinn—the only one at the house who survived—had been bludgeoned like the others, and left to die.
    Quinn wasn’t supposed to survive. It was a miracle he had. But that night changed everything. That night taught her that life was short, and fate was capricious, and there was only now. There was only the present. You couldn’t go back. You couldn’t live in the future. Instead there was today, and today was too important to waste with anger, hatred, or regret.
    Far better to live fully. Far better to love completely. Far better to forgive and forget and count one’s blessings.
    This was the philosophy that had allowed her to love Trey all these years.
    Forgiving, forgetting. Counting one’s blessings.
    But after fifteen years of forgiving and forgetting she was tapped out. Her patience and her emotional reserves were gone. She had nothing left to give Trey. Nothing left at all, she repeated, watching the purple sky darken until the truck’s head beams were just pale circles of light piercing the night.
    Unable to bite her tongue a moment longer, McKenna blurted, “This is crazy, Trey.”
    He didn’t even hesitate. “Yeah.”
    She heard the disappointment in his voice and it made her ache, and the fact that she could still care about his feelings just made her angrier.
    She shouldn’t care for him. She shouldn’t care at all. He deserved what he got. He did.
    He did.
    She swallowed hard, fighting the lump in her throat. “So what are you doing?”
    This time he took a moment to answer. His big shoulders shifted. “Buying time to be with my son.”
    “Wrong way to go about it.”
    He laughed low, the sound mocking. “When have I ever gone about anything the right way?”
    “It’s one thing at eighteen, Trey, another at thirty-something!”
    “Yeah. I know.” He shot her a swift glance, his profile hard in the dim light of the dash. “On the bright side, at least I’m giving you the chance to reconsider your decisions, and maybe you’ll come to your senses and realize that Lawrence isn’t the right guy—”
    “And you are?”
    “No. Not saying that. Couldn’t say that, especially not now, after doing this, but there has to be someone else in Marietta for you. Marrying Lawrence would be a mistake, and you know it.”
    “Falling in love with you was the mistake!”
    “Probably, so let me do you a favor. Help you out before you compound your mistakes. You don’t want Lawrence. He won’t make you happy. You and TJ both deserve better.”
    “How can you say that? You don’t even know him!”
    “I might not win any debate competitions, but I’m a pretty good judge of character.”
    “Huh!”
    “And Lawrence is weak. He has no back bone.”
    “You think he should have wrestled you to the ground?”
    “I think he needs to be a better role model for TJ.”
    “ What ?” She shot TJ a swift glance and saw from his expression he was listening. She dropped her voice, trying to sound less agitated and confrontational. “He’s a perfect role model for TJ. He doesn’t drink or speed or stay out late or fight—”
    “He probably pays all his taxes on time, too.”
    “Yes, he does. And he donates money to lots of local charities.”
    “What a great guy. Next thing you’ll tell me he volunteers to serve up meals at a homeless shelter on Thanksgiving morning.”
    “He has in Bozeman, yes.”
    “Wow, Mac. You lucked out. Larry Boy’s a real Prince Charming.”
    “Yes. He is. And his name is Lawrence, not Larry, so knock off the attitude, turn this truck around now, and take us back. I love him—”
    “ Please .”
    “You’re so childish.”
    “I’m not saying you need to love me, but honestly Mac, he’s too soft for you. And TJ will run all over him. Lawrence won’t have a clue how to manage our son.”
    She looked away, staring