Justin's Bride (12 page)

“Don't you tell me what to do,” Colleen said coldly. She started toward the door. When she reached it, she paused and looked back. “You'd better take care, Megan. You're just an old maid and your good reputation is all you have. If people find out you're associating with this man and that brat, they'll take their business elsewhere rather than deal with someone of loose moral character.”

“I have the only store in this town. Where would they go?”

“This isn't the only town, though, is it?”

Megan stared at her sister. At her expensive clothes and fancy coiffure. She didn't know this woman at all.

“Oh, and Justin, don't bother trying to find someone else to take in the child. I'll make sure none of the decent women in town will have anything to do with her. If you get tired of playing nursemaid, my offer of a ticket to the orphanage still stands. If not, there's always the saloon. Perhaps you can find her relatives among the whores. After all, that's where you found her mother.” Colleen laughed.

“Get out!” Megan said loudly.

Colleen sobered. “Don't push me, Megan. I can destroy you.” With that, the door slammed shut behind her.

M
egan stared at the closed door and wondered when she would stop shaking. It wasn't anger as much as shock that made her tremble. Justin Kincaid had been back exactly three days and already her life had been completely disrupted.

She glanced around the store. Neither of the customers were paying any attention to her, but she doubted that they could have missed the argument. It could have been worse, she told herself. At least neither Cameron nor old Zeke were likely to spread rumors. Imagine what would have happened if Mrs. Dobson had been here to listen. By noon, the entire town would know Megan's business.

“Are you all right?”

She looked up at Justin. He'd moved next to her. His hand rested on her arm much as Cameron Forbes's had done moments before. The question was the same, as well. Only her reaction was different. Justin's words soothed her and his touch warmed her clear down to her toes, giving her much-needed strength.

“I'm fine,” she said, then wondered if he'd heard the quaver in her voice.

“I'd like you to meet a friend of mine.” He smiled down at the girl. “Megan Bartlett, this is Bonnie Smith.”

Bonnie looked up at her. “You're as pretty as my mama.”

Justin's fingers tightened on her arm. She knew he thought the comparison might make her angry. She shrugged him away impatiently, then crouched. “Hello, Bonnie.” Megan reached forward and gently touched the child's unmarked cheek. “I didn't know your mama, but I thank you for the compliment. You're so pretty yourself, she must have been very beautiful.”

“She's dead. Mrs. Jarvis says she went to hell.”

Megan glanced up at Justin, then turned back to the girl. “Who is Mrs. Jarvis?”

“She's the lady who takes care of me. She doesn't like my mama.”

Megan touched the very edge of the bruise on Bonnie's cheek. “Is she the one who hit you?”

Bonnie nodded. “It doesn't hurt anymore. I told Mama once what she did. She yelled at Mrs. Jarvis, but it didn't matter. When Mama left, Mrs. Jarvis hit me again.” Her small dark eyebrows drew together. “Am I going to get a whippin' now?”

Megan's eyes burned from threatening tears. Still, she forced herself to smile. “No. Justin and I don't believe in hitting little girls.” She pointed to the far counter. “Do you see that big jar there?”

“Uh-huh.”

“There's some candy inside. If you're real careful, you can use the step stool and get yourself a piece. Would you like that?”

Bonnie nodded vigorously. “I had candy before, and it was good.”

“All right. Be careful on the stool.”

The little girl ran off, her dark hair swaying with her movements. Megan had never seen Laurie Smith, but the young woman must have been stunning. No wonder Justin had preferred her bed to the chaste kisses Megan had offered.

“You surprise me,” Justin said, holding out his hand to assist her to her feet. “I didn't think you would ever stand up to your sister.”

She shrugged off the compliment as she tried to ignore the feel of his strong fingers against hers. When he didn't release her instantly, she found herself wanting to stand there forever.

She stared at the swept wooden floor of the store, then at the front door and finally at the buttons of Justin's white shirt. His fingers tugged her closer. She took a single step, but didn't look any higher than the third button from his collar. She could see the rise and fall of his broad chest, and the open collar of his shirt. She could inhale the clean scent of him and almost feel his heat. She should be furious about Bonnie, about Laurie Smith and the time he'd spent with the woman. She should be terrified about what Colleen had threatened. She should throw Justin out of her store. But she found the only throwing she wanted to do was herself—into his arms.

“Colleen was wrong,” she said at last. “Bonnie isn't responsible for who her parents are or what circumstances she finds herself in.”

“Colleen is a—”

“Don't.” Megan raised her eyebrows. “I know she can be difficult, but I'll thank you to remember she's still my sister.”

“You're nothing alike, thank God.”

She risked glancing at him and was rewarded by his most devastating smile. The one that made her forget things like her name and where she was. The flash of white teeth against his tanned face, the deeper lines beside his eyes, the flicker of appreciation as his gaze swept over her. This was the Justin she remembered. The young man she'd never been able to forget.

The front door opened. Two women came in. Megan instantly stepped back from him and walked toward the candy aisle. Bonnie had taken her treat and was now exploring the store. Megan stepped behind the counter and began rearranging glass bottles.

“I remember when Colleen was young,” Megan said. “She was wild, always getting into trouble. Papa used to despair of ever getting her to understand about manners and acting like a lady.”

“Something got through to her. She's turned into a—” Megan threw him a sharp glance at him. He took off his hat. “I won't say it, just for you.”

“Thank you.” Megan glanced at the girl gazing at a display of rings. “How did you end up with her?”

“After your gentle sister threw Bonnie off church property, Mrs. Jarvis brought her to me. She told me in no uncertain terms that if she wasn't going to continue to get paid, she wasn't going to take care of Bonnie.”

His hands lay on the counter. As he spoke, he curled his fingers toward his palms until he'd made tight fists. She could feel the anger radiating from him. Without thinking, she reached forward and covered his hands with hers.

“I'm sorry, Justin.”

He looked at her. Those stunning dark eyes, eyes that she'd dreamed about for the last seven years, seemed to see past her exterior self and down into her soul. She was afraid then, afraid of the old feelings, afraid of what he might make her feel. She couldn't be what he needed her to be. The failing had always been hers. She knew that in her most secret self. Frightened and ashamed, she withdrew her hands and turned away.

“Bonnie is very thin,” she said, to change the subject.

“I don't think she was fed much. She's got bruises on her legs to match that one on her face. Her clothes are filthy. I had one of the maids at the hotel give her a bath and then do what she could with the child's clothes, but Bonnie doesn't even have a decent pair of shoes, let alone a spare anything else.”

“I can fix that,” she said and started toward the other side of the store. The two women shoppers smiled a greeting. They glanced from her to Justin, but Megan simply nodded as she walked past them to the shelf of ready-made garments.

“There should be several things here,” she said, pulling down a pile from a high shelf. “She'll need a couple of dresses, a coat, underthings, a nightgown. What else?”

She sorted through the clothes, finding two items, putting the rest back. The smallest nightgowns were up on the top shelf. They didn't sell many of those. Most women simply made over already worn larger gowns for their children. She grabbed a step stool and brought it back to where she needed it, then climbed up. The pile was still almost out of reach. She stretched high.

“You could take her in, Megan. You have that big house all to yourself.”

Justin's words shocked her. Take in Bonnie? Herself?

She got a hold of the nightgowns and drew them down. Still staring at the full shelves, she turned the idea over in her mind. Colleen's threats presented the first obstacle. She wasn't worried exactly, but her sister could be a problem. There was also the question of work. Bonnie would have to stay in the store all day since the town didn't have a school. Megan wasn't sure a little girl would enjoy that much. Of course, the general store had to be better for her than Mrs. Jarvis's house. Megan stepped off the stool and moved to the counter.

“Never mind.” Justin's voice was low and angry.

Startled, she looked at him. “What do you mean?”

He grimaced. “I should have remembered that nothing is more important to you than your reputation. Colleen's threats really bothered you, didn't they? Don't worry, Bonnie and I don't need you.”

“Justin, no. You're not being fair.” She saw the two women across the store glance toward her. She spoke more softly. “I was thinking about all that's involved with taking in a child.”

“You didn't have to think about taking in the kitten.”

“They're hardly the same thing.”

He placed his forearms on the counter and leaned toward her. “You know what I mean. No one cares about a damn cat, so that's safe. But when it gets a little dangerous, you back off. You're so frightened of not doing exactly what everyone expects. Fine, then. If that's all that matters to you, keep your reputation.”

She set down the nightgowns and glared at him. “Don't be ridiculous. Are you planning to take her back to the hotel with you? She's just a little girl. She needs more than that.”

“She's a damn sight better off with me than she was yesterday.”

“I agree with that. But you can't keep her. You're a single man.”

“You're not married, either.”

“At least I'm a woman.”

“I care about Bonnie, and you don't.”

“Of course I care. You're being completely unreasonable, Justin. I'll take her home with me.”

He stretched forward until their noses were less than six inches apart. “No.”

She did her best to hang on to her temper, but he was trying her patience. If truth be told, there was a small amount of guilt fueling her argument. She
had
thought about what Colleen would think. She hated that. She didn't want to be tied down by others' opinions, but she couldn't seem to help herself. If only she didn't know the dangers of flouting convention.

“You didn't even give me a chance to think about it,” she told him. “So if I don't instantly say yes, without considering the consequences that just might have more to do with Bonnie than with me, you assume the worst. I don't get a second chance.”

“You haven't changed, Megan,” he said, straightening.

That hurt more than almost anything he could have said. She glanced down at the counter so he wouldn't see the flash of pain in her eyes. “You're wrong.”

“Am I? It doesn't matter. Bonnie will stay with me. She has her own room. She seems happy enough.”

An excited squeal made her look up. Bonnie came running toward them from the back of the store. She clutched something in her hand.

“Look,” she said, her mouth quivering with excitement. “Look what that man gave me. Look.” She held out a small corn-husk doll. The facial features had been drawn with charcoal, the clothes made from scraps. But from the expression on Bonnie's face, the child had been given a gift more precious than gold.

“Isn't she beautiful?” she asked reverently, then smiled shyly. “He said she's for me.”

Cameron strolled up behind the child. He cleared his throat, then shrugged uncomfortably. “Please put it on my account, Miss Bartlett,” he said.

Justin was still staring at Bonnie.

“What's wrong?” Megan asked him.

He shook his head. “I've never seen her smile before.” He glanced at the other man. “Thanks.”

“Every little girl needs a doll.” Cameron shuffled his feet. “I'm going to take two more hoes,” he said to Megan. “They'll need to go on the bill, as well.”

“I'll take care of it,” she said.

Cameron's dark hair was in need of trimming and his shirt was a little ragged around the collar. It wasn't lack of money that had Cameron Forbes looking a little shabby. He was the most successful farmer in any of the nearby counties. He needed to get married. The women around town whispered that he'd lost his wife and daughter a few years before and had never recovered. Megan vaguely remembered a pretty blond woman who'd loved to dance and who'd made everyone around her smile.

“I'd best be going,” Cameron said. He tipped his hat, then walked toward the front door.

Megan turned to Justin and saw him watching her with the most peculiar look on his face. There was an angry, knowing glint in his eyes.

She wanted to throw her hands up in frustration. She settled on taking the clothes Bonnie would need and stacking them into a pile. First Justin judged her because she didn't instantly beg him to let her take in Bonnie. Now he was obviously wondering if there was something between her and Cameron Forbes. Men. She would never understand them.

She shoved the pile of clothing at him. “This should solve Bonnie's immediate clothing problems,” she said curtly. “I have some shoes in the storeroom. I'll go see if there's a pair that will fit her.”