Husband By Arrangement

Booklist (#u4c231ce6-1198-525b-920a-54b841d1e767)

Title Page (#u71739f5d-29fc-57d0-821f-945918f1ae55)

Copyright (#u141bd4e6-04d9-57f0-b90e-7f2cd64f8d67)

Introduction (#u659ada73-a649-554c-98bc-53288decb54c)

Dear Reader (#u1b4d684c-8e3c-5c5b-90f5-63701e398241)

Bible Verse (#u881df0f4-1709-5a52-9643-036fd296817f)

Dedication (#ubc425a96-660d-5f23-b3f8-da72ba709979)

Chapter One (#u448f3b13-abd8-54de-8a5a-0e824bed74f4)

Chapter Two (#u8636aaf2-631c-58b4-ac73-4522f8bb5131)

Chapter Three (#ub04799fa-d0f9-576a-953e-879789b35023)

Chapter Four (#ud24c2ad2-8537-5a11-8ff9-09459851ed51)

Chapter Five (#uc820bce1-c460-5057-a7f1-e1f3039a3e17)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#u0789b8b7-a1fc-5ec8-af7e-31e46775ef59)

Gran Colina, Texas

December 1881

Rena Livingston hung her head. She couldn’t look at Sheriff Scott Braden. Not while her father was asking him to marry her and give her unborn child a name.

“I’d be beholden to you for the rest of my days if you do this for my Rena.” Her father’s voice wasn’t boisterous or bold like when he gave speeches as the mayor of Gran Colina. It was heavy with sorrow. And it was her fault.

“Oscar, you know I’d do anything in the world for you. I owe you my life, but this is too much.” Rena could feel the sheriff’s eyes on her now. She saw his hand as he swept it in her direction. “Why, Rena doesn’t even like me.”

She cringed. Scott Braden had become one of her father’s closest friends right after he’d moved to Gran Colina two years ago. She’d never forget the day they’d met. Bank robbers had burst into the Gran Colina Bank and Trust. Scott had shoved her under a desk to keep her out of harm’s way. Only she hadn’t realized what was happening. Her outburst at his actions had distracted him and nearly cost Scott his life. When he’d tried to quieten her, one of the robbers had put a pistol to his head. The man would have pulled the trigger if her father hadn’t knocked the gun away. Scott and her father had subdued the robbers in the struggle that followed. The events of that day got Scott the job as sheriff and sealed the friendship between the two men.

But Rena always bristled in Scott’s presence. Something about the man was unsettling. It wasn’t his strong good looks. Blue eyes so clear the sky should be jealous. His full bottom lip lifted on one side as it made its way to the corner of his mouth. To some it would appear as a defect, but on Scott, it was as if he’d been created with so much perfection that the one little offset prevented him from being flawless. Those looks gave him trouble of a different kind from the single ladies in town. They were always bringing him pies or dinner, hoping to win his attention. To no avail.

No. Her discomfort around him was relentless. If she were honest with herself, she’d admit that the times he’d suggested she should attend church with her father had made her feel judged by him. If he’d thought poorly of her character before, her situation would validate those thoughts.

Even in her current state of humiliation, she was compelled to speak. “I told you this wouldn’t work, Papa.”

“Be silent, Rena. You have forfeited your right to have a say in these matters.” Her father never spoke to her so harshly, but she’d broken his heart. If possible, the events of today had wounded him more than when she’d stopped attending church with him after her mother had died four years ago. She’d felt so alone without Momma. The pain she endured now was like then. Oh, how she missed the comfort and wisdom of her mother in difficult times.

“Now, Oscar, the girl oughta have a say in her future.” Scott’s defense of her was unexpected. So much so that she lifted her face to meet his eyes. “I know you’re dealing with a serious situation, but it is Rena’s life.” She swallowed when his words made her want to smile in gratitude.

But Papa was right. She had no reason to speak against anything he tried to do to help her.

“It’s not just about her. If word of her—” her father cleared his throat “—condition gets out, there will be a scandal. The likes of which we haven’t seen in the leadership of Gran Colina since you and I worked so hard to get crime under control and make this town a safe place for people to settle.” He shook his head. “And with the election coming up in just three months, we could both lose our jobs.”

This sentence caused Scott to drop onto the edge of the settee. He’d jumped to his feet at her father’s initial request. She could see the fight drain out of him as he considered the possibility of losing his badge.

“I’m truly sorry, Papa.” She wouldn’t cry. Not in front of Scott.

Her father didn’t look at her. He’d barely looked at her since she’d told him what happened. “Sorrow is good for your soul, but it won’t fix your future. We have to act now.”

Scott turned to her. “Are you certain?”

She couldn’t pretend she didn’t know he was asking about the child. She lowered her gaze and nodded. Nothing could force her to vocalize the truth again today. Within an hour of telling her father at breakfast, he’d summoned the sheriff and put his plan in motion. Only the plan had stalled with Scott’s resistance.

Her father spoke again. “I’ll need your promise that you won’t share a word of what we’ve discussed. I’m not sure who I’ll find to step up at this point.” He shook his head. “If only I had more time. But there’s just no one else I’d trust to know this.”

Rena had waited to tell her father until she was certain Eugene Rodgers wasn’t coming back. A postcard had arrived the day before. A pretty drawing of a big city in California covered one side. The other side held a bold, scribbled note. It was the only time she’d heard from him in the two months since he’d left her and Gran Colina.

Signed on as a seaman leaving for Alaska tonight. I wish you a happy life. My short time in Gran Colina will always be a fond memory, but the world is big, and I wish to explore it.

Her hope that he would return and make an honest woman of her was gone. It was sailing across the Pacific to places unknown.

Scott asked, “Is there no aunt in the East or cousin in Florida to give you a home?”

“There is not.” Rena forced the words out with torturous effort. “I’d have preferred that to imposing on you, but Papa is my only living relative.”

“Is there no chance that the father will do his duty by you?”