Renee Ryan - The Marriage Agreement

“They are, yes.” She angled her head to gaze up at him. “Thank you, Jonathon, for giving them the finest suite in the hotel. You have no idea how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity.”

Something about her expression, so grateful, so overcome with emotion, made him stand a bit taller. He had a sudden urge to shield this woman from all the evil in this world, to slay every one of her dragons, real or perceived.

The need to protect Fanny, stronger than he’d felt for anyone before, wasn’t entirely unexpected. Nor was it new. The sensation had been with him from the start of their association.

If she were a different woman, he a different man...

He shoved the thought aside. Fanny wanted marriage, children. Family. Jonathon knew nothing of those things. But he wanted her to have them. He wanted her to find happiness. With some other man?

No .

His mouth went dry as dust. He cleared his throat with a low growl. “How is your mother feeling?”

“She seemed well enough when I left her. Her color was good and she was breathing easily, but...”

Fanny’s words trailed off and she snapped her mouth firmly shut.

“But...?” he prompted.

“But the ten-mile journey into town wore her out. She’s putting up a brave front. I’m not in the least fooled by her false smiles. Thankfully, Dr. Shane is upstairs with her now, administering a breathing treatment.” Gratitude returned to Fanny’s gaze. “Thank you for making sure he was already here when she arrived.”

Something that looked like affection, perhaps even admiration, replaced the gratitude.

How he wanted to be the man he saw in her eyes right now.

He cleared his throat again.

“I was happy to send for the doctor.” Of course, Shane Bartlett wasn’t just any doctor. He was the best in Denver. His connection to Charity House and his willingness to see patients regardless of their past—or current—lifestyles made him one of the few men Jonathon trusted. “I know how much your mother means to you.”

Another, heavier sigh leaked out of Fanny’s very pretty mouth. “I don’t know what I’d do if one of her attacks becomes so severe she isn’t able to recover.”

The anguish in Fanny’s voice was a sharp, tangible thing.

Jonathon was reminded of the day his own mother had taken ill. How well he understood the fear and pain Fanny fought to control.

Wanting to comfort her, he opened his mouth to say something, not precisely sure what, but a minor event playing out at the hotel’s entrance captured his attention.

An expectant hush fell over the lobby as a stunning couple walked in with their sizable brood, plus one former, notorious madam Jonathon knew a bit too well. After all, she’d once owned the brothel where his mother had worked.

He had a lot of memories connected to Mattie Silks, not all of them good. But her appearance in his hotel wasn’t the reason every muscle in his back knotted with tension.

Hunter Mitchell, the oldest of the Mitchell siblings, had arrived ahead of his brothers.

One down, two more yet to show .

Jonathon managed, just barely, to keep the anticipation from showing on his face. Unfortunately, none of his outward calm could temper his impatience to begin negotiations with the Mitchell brothers.

Soon , he told himself. If all went according to plan, his future would take a dramatic turn very soon .

Chapter Four

Fanny knew a moment of quiet desperation as she watched her brother herd his family deeper into the hotel lobby. That’s what I want, Lord. That joy, that sense of belonging, a family of my own.

She had to believe her time would come. For now, she would take a moment to enjoy the show. Hunter had brought his entire household to town, including his wife, all four of their children and, of course, his wife’s mother, the incomparable Mattie Silks.

Laughter abounded among the group, while an entire team of bellmen wrestled the family’s luggage onto a cart. Fanny’s sister-in-law, Annabeth, attempted to oversee the process. Unfortunately, her mother added her own, very vocal “suggestions” on how to speed along the process. Mattie’s input caused more mayhem, not less.

Hunter’s oldest daughter, Sarah, skillfully pulled her younger siblings out of the fray. Unfortunately, Mattie added her assistance there as well, and pandemonium soon followed. The children quite literally ran circles around their grandmother.

Fanny thought she saw a brief twinkle of amusement dance in her brother’s eyes before he quickly restored order with the gentle strength that had always defined him. Hunter looked good, she decided. His hair was a sun-kissed, sandy blond from the hours he spent outdoors on his ranch. His long-legged, leanly muscular cowboy swagger was replicated in all the Mitchell men.

Hunter had experienced some difficult years, including two spent in prison for manslaughter, but he’d overcome his past and was stronger for the challenges he’d once faced. She was proud to call him brother.

“Now, that’s what I call an entrance,” Jonathon muttered.

The look of amused horror on his face made her smile. “I should have warned you, the Mitchells never do anything by half measure.”

“I was speaking about Mattie.” His voice was infused with a touch of irony. “Watch. She’s about to strike a pose. Ah, yes, there she goes.”

As predicted, Mattie sauntered to a spot in the middle of the hotel lobby. With exaggerated slowness, she lifted her chin, thrust out a hip and then planted a fist on her waist.

The pose was so...completely Mattie. A snort of laughter erupted before Fanny could call it back. “You know the woman well.”

“Too well,” Jonathon muttered, his mouth now a little grim. “She’s managed to draw almost every eye to her.”

Gazes were, indeed, riveted in Mattie’s direction. But Fanny suspected much of the interest was for the extraordinary-looking group as a whole. Even Hunter’s children were beautiful.

A range of emotions swept through her. Fanny was excited to spend time with her family, but also determined to make the next few days count. When Mrs. Singletary’s ball was over, all of Denver would see her differently. She would no longer be defined as that pretty Mitchell girl. Or that poor, misguided woman who’d jilted a prominent man in town.

She would prove she was a competent woman, capable of handling great responsibilities. When she walked through town next week, the whispers following in her wake would be not only accurate, but also complimentary.

Catching sight of her from across the room, Annabeth squealed in delight and waved enthusiastically.

The entire group changed direction, Annabeth leading the way with a waddle that bespoke her current condition. Judging by the size of her belly, Hunter’s fifth child would be making an appearance in a few short months.

As Annabeth approached, smiling broadly, Fanny noticed that her sister-in-law glowed with good health and happiness. She was so very beautiful. The rich, caramel-colored skin and sleek dark hair she’d inherited from her Mexican father were the perfect foil for the pale blue eyes she’d gotten from Mattie.

Oddly, as Hunter and his family drew closer, Jonathon seemed to grow tenser. He shifted his stance slightly, then repositioned himself once again.

Interesting that while he appeared outwardly loose-limbed and relaxed, the lines around his mouth gave him away.

Fanny was given no more time to contemplate his strange behavior before she was hauled into her brother’s strong arms and swung in fast, dizzying circles.

“Put me down, you big oaf.”

He obliged, but only after two more heart-pounding spins.