Regina Scott - Instant Frontier Family

Little Matchmakers

Maddie O’Rourke’s orphaned half brother and half sister have arrived safely in Seattle—with a man they hope she’ll wed! Though Michael Haggerty’s not the escort she planned for, Maddie allows him to work off his passage by assisting in her bakery…and helping care for her siblings. But she’ll never risk her newfound independence by marrying the strapping Irishman—or anyone else.

In New York, Michael ran afoul of a notorious gang. Traveling west was a necessity, not a choice. The longshoreman grew fond of his young charges, and now he’s quickly becoming partial to their beautiful sister, too. So when danger follows him, threatening Maddie and the children, he’ll do anything to protect them—and the future he hopes to build.

When was the last time someone had cared enough to listen to her fears, offer support?

“I just want the best for Ciara and Aiden,” Maddie said. “They deserve more than I had—a roof that doesn’t leak when it rains. A family that isn’t falling apart from work and weariness. Am I selfish for hoping I won’t have to go into debt for all that?”

“No,” Michael answered. “There’s nothing selfish about you, Maddie. You work harder than anyone I’ve ever met, and you’re being clever about it, if you ask me. You’re building a business to support you and Ciara and Aiden. That’s something to be proud of.” As if to prove it, he bent and kissed her on her forehead.

A warning rose inside her, insistent, demanding. She had a future all planned, and it didn’t include falling in love. That way led to sorrow. She knew that.

Why then had she offered Michael a chance to stake a claim on her heart?

REGINA SCOTT has always wanted to be a writer. Since her first book was published in 1998, her stories have traveled the globe, with translations in many languages. Fascinated by history, she learned to fence and sail a tall ship. She and her husband reside in Washington State with their overactive Irish terrier. You can find her online blogging at nineteenteen.com. Learn more about her at reginascott.comor connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/authorreginascott.

Instant Frontier Family

Regina Scott

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been

born of God and knows God.

—1 John 4:7

To Kris, who knew where Maddie needed to live and that she needed a cat; and to the Lord, who gives me friends and family, both two-footed and four-footed, to love.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Little Matchmakers Maddie O’Rourke’s orphaned half brother and half sister have arrived safely in Seattle—with a man they hope she’ll wed! Though Michael Haggerty’s not the escort she planned for, Maddie allows him to work off his passage by assisting in her bakery…and helping care for her siblings. But she’ll never risk her newfound independence by marrying the strapping Irishman—or anyone else. In New York, Michael ran afoul of a notorious gang. Traveling west was a necessity, not a choice. The longshoreman grew fond of his young charges, and now he’s quickly becoming partial to their beautiful sister, too. So when danger follows him, threatening Maddie and the children, he’ll do anything to protect them—and the future he hopes to build.

Introduction When was the last time someone had cared enough to listen to her fears, offer support? “I just want the best for Ciara and Aiden,” Maddie said. “They deserve more than I had—a roof that doesn’t leak when it rains. A family that isn’t falling apart from work and weariness. Am I selfish for hoping I won’t have to go into debt for all that?” “No,” Michael answered. “There’s nothing selfish about you, Maddie. You work harder than anyone I’ve ever met, and you’re being clever about it, if you ask me. You’re building a business to support you and Ciara and Aiden. That’s something to be proud of.” As if to prove it, he bent and kissed her on her forehead. A warning rose inside her, insistent, demanding. She had a future all planned, and it didn’t include falling in love. That way led to sorrow. She knew that. Why then had she offered Michael a chance to stake a claim on her heart?

About the Author REGINA SCOTT has always wanted to be a writer. Since her first book was published in 1998, her stories have traveled the globe, with translations in many languages. Fascinated by history, she learned to fence and sail a tall ship. She and her husband reside in Washington State with their overactive Irish terrier. You can find her online blogging at nineteenteen.com . Learn more about her at reginascott.com or connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/authorreginascott .

Title Page Instant Frontier Family Regina Scott www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. —1 John 4:7

Dedication To Kris, who knew where Maddie needed to live and that she needed a cat; and to the Lord, who gives me friends and family, both two-footed and four-footed, to love.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Seattle, Washington Territory

October 1866

Maddie O’Rourke stood on the pier beside Mr. Yesler’s mill, waiting for the ship to come in. Every inch of her tingled, from her carefully braided red hair under her green velvet hat to her toes inside the leather boots. After nearly a year of working and striving, she was about to reunite with her little brother and sister.

She shifted on the scarred wooden planks, the bell of her wide russet skirts swinging in the cool fall sunlight. She could hear the whine of saws from the mill, the hammering that told of new buildings going up behind her. Gentlemen crowded around her, ready to receive the passengers and cargo from the sailing ship that had swept into Elliott Bay an hour ago. Among those about to disembark would be Ciara and Aiden. Maddie could only pray, as she had for months, that her brother and sister had forgiven her for abandoning them in New York.

But what else could she have done? Her income then as a laundress had barely been enough to pay her room and board, let alone support two others. She and her half siblings had struggled along for months after Da and her stepmother had been killed in that horrible tenement fire. It had been a dark time for them all, one she’d prefer to forget.

Only the advertisement in the paper, announcing the need for teachers, seamstresses and laundresses in far-off Washington Territory, at exorbitant salaries, had given her hope. She’d managed to scrape together enough money to join the Mercer expedition to Seattle and find a safe place for Ciara and Aiden to stay until she could send for them. But though she had plenty of work here, the costs were high, and she hadn’t been able to bring her family to her or pay for a lady to accompany them on the ship.

Until now.

The brine-scented breeze off the blue waters brushed her cheek, setting her net veil to fluttering and tugging a strand of hair free of her coronet braid. So much had changed in the past few months since her friend Rina Fosgrave had suggested a different future to Maddie. No more was Maddie a nameless laundress lugging pounds of dirty linens up three flights of stairs to labor over a steaming tub as she had in New York. Now she was Miss Madeleine O’Rourke, owner of Seattle’s finest bakery, upstanding, respected, admired...