Renee Ryan - The Marshal Takes a Bride

With renewed determination, Katherine marched down the stairs, then pushed through the door leading into the kitchen.

The sight of Mrs. Smythe washing dishes at the sink improved Katherine’s mood considerably. Tall, broad-shouldered and gray-haired, Mrs. Smythe was the perfect adopted grandmother for forty orphans—and one grown woman in need of a friendly face. Arranging a smile on her lips, Katherine greeted the other woman. “Good evening, Mrs. Smythe.”

The older woman turned, her smoke-gray eyes sparkling with pleasure. “Hello, dear.”

The housekeeper’s affectionate reception warmed Katherine’s heart, but after the events of the day, she found she wasn’t in the mood for company, after all. “Why don’t you go on home? I can finish the washing.”

Mrs. Smythe’s face cracked into a wide smile. “Are you sure? I certainly don’t mind staying until I’m through.”

Katherine nodded. “I feel like cleaning tonight.”

Wiping her hands on the front of her skirt, the older woman let out a hearty chuckle. “Well, then, I won’t ask again.”

Mrs. Smythe hurried around the chopping block in the center of the kitchen, then gathered her belongings out of the supply closet. “I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”

“Night,” Katherine said.

Just as the door shut with a bang, Laney waddled into the kitchen, carrying an armload of dishes. Avoiding her friend’s eyes, Katherine took the stack of plates and set them in the soapy water. “I sent Mrs. Smythe home.”

“I see that.”

“Why don’t you go rest, enjoy some time alone with Marc?”

Laney blew out a sigh of gratitude. “My feet are hurting, and I certainly won’t turn down a quiet moment with my husband. I’ll just bring in the rest of the dishes before I head upstairs.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to.”

All argued out, Katherine relented. “That would be a great help, thank you.”

As Laney trudged back to the dining room, Katherine picked up a plate from the soapy water, grabbed a rag and began scrubbing. She tried to empty her mind of all thought, but images of Trey’s stricken expression when he’d realized how frightened she was of him kept flashing through her mind.

Just thinking of the genuine remorse flickering in his eyes made her feel so…so…guilty.

Why did she feel as though she’d hurt him when she’d flinched from his touch?

“You’re going to wipe the pattern right off that china.”

Katherine jerked at the sound of Laney’s voice. Looking over her shoulder, she let her gaze unite with her friend’s worried expression.

“Are you all right?” Laney asked.

Sniffing, Katherine flicked the water off her fingers. “Perfect.”

“You don’t look perfect,” Laney said, her gaze sharp and assessing.

Katherine took the stack of dirty dishes, then set them on the counter next to the sink, with a thud. “I’ve never been better.”

Returning to work, she yanked another dish out of the water, spraying soapsuds into the air.

Laney wiped a bubble off Katherine’s cheek, then laid a hand on her arm. “Did you argue with Trey again?”

Katherine increased the vigor of her scrubbing, her erratic movements sloshing water and bubbles onto the floor. “Trey and I always argue.”

“Over Molly?”

“I told him to stay away from her.”

Sliding a look from beneath her lashes, Laney fiddled with the dishes, stacking them largest to smallest. “He’s good with her, you know. And with the rest of the children, for that matter.”

Perhaps. Maybe. Okay, yes, he was good with the orphans.

It changed nothing. “Ever since he started hanging around here, he’s disrupted my, I mean, our lives. Molly never defied me before today.”

“It was bound to happen sooner or later. She’s a child, after all.”

Katherine knew Laney was right—to a point—but she also knew that her concerns over Trey’s impact on her sister’s well-being were valid as well. “He’s too bitter. And his anger at God is tangible. I don’t want the man’s influence to result in Molly’s unbelief.”

Laney abandoned all pretense of helping and turned her full attention to Katherine. “I’ll admit Trey can seem hard on the surface, but deep down he’s a good man. And none of his anger shows when he’s with the children.”

Katherine swung around to glare at her friend. “Are you defending him?”

Throwing a palm in the air between them, Laney shook her head. “No. No. It’s just that he’s—”

“A U.S. marshal.”

“Yes, that’s right. And although he’s not exactly godly, he is a man of high morals, sworn to protect the citizens of this country. All things considered, he’s an acceptable example for the children, including Molly.”

Katherine dismissed the notion with a flick of her wrist. “You know what I mean.”

“Yes, I’m afraid I do.” Laney lowered her hand, sighed. “It’s his job to hunt down criminals, Katherine, including the men who murdered his wife and child. Maybe instead of condemning him, you could try understanding him better.”

Clenching tense fingers around a plate, Katherine set her jaw. “Let’s say I do find compassion for his lethal quest. What if he’s killed in the process?”

“Oh, honey.” Laney’s eyes softened. “Not every lawman dies.”

Katherine shook her head, refusing to let her mind go in that direction. “Trey Scott is the embodiment of instability. I don’t want Molly getting attached to him.”

“In case you hadn’t noticed, she already is.”

Katherine cringed over the statement, seriously concerned Molly wasn’t the only one growing attached to the man. “Well, it’s not too late to prevent any further harm. As long as he stays away from her, everything will be fine.”

“Aren’t you being a bit overprotective?”

Trey had used similar words against her. The accusation hadn’t sat well with Katherine then, and it didn’t sit well with her now. “Isn’t that the role of a big sister?”

Laney gently pried the plate out of Katherine’s grip. Steering her to a stool, she forced her to sit. “I’m worried about you. You’ve been on edge a lot lately, and I think it has more to do with a certain U.S. marshal than your struggle to find your way as Molly’s guardian.”

Katherine tried to rise, but Laney placed a restraining hand on her shoulder. “It’s time we talked about what’s really bothering you.”

“Nothing’s bothering me except my concern over Marshal Scott’s damaging influence over Molly’s life.”

Laney pressed her nose inches from Katherine’s. “Why don’t we get to the real problem? Shall we?”

“And here I thought we had.”

A shrewd look filled Laney’s gaze. “I think you should admit you have strong feelings for Trey Scott, ones that have nothing to do with your little sister.”

Katherine shot off the stool. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Correction.” Laney pointed a finger at her. “Very strong feelings.”

The next morning, Katherine exited Charity House with the notion of using work to alleviate her restlessness from the night before. Unfortunately, the crisp mountain air did nothing to shake her melancholy. Perched on the top step of the wraparound porch, she looked to the heavens and sighed. Large puffs of cottony white clouds drifted aimlessly against the deep blue sky.

If only she could be that carefree. But Laney’s accusation about her feelings toward Marshal Scott had put dangerous thoughts into Katherine’s head, making her want to cast off the chains of her past. To start a new life free of fear.

If only I deserved a second chance.