To Love a Stranger by Mason Connie

Author:Mason, Connie [Mason, Connie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 0505525119
Publisher: Ten Talents Press
Published: 2011-10-07T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Zoey yearned for a private word with Pierce before Riley Reed locked him in the airless little shed that served as a jailhouse. But things moved fast after Hal Doolittle learned that Pierce was already married. Cora Lee’s scheming brother was livid with rage, directed at both Pierce and Zoey. Then the crowd got ugly and Chad and Ryan tossed her into her saddle and led her away from the chaos Doolittle was creating. She was still in shock when she reached the Delaney ranch.

Zoey had no idea feelings would turn violent against Pierce. What had the Delaney boys done in their wild youth to alienate themselves from so many people? she wondered. Returning to Dry Gulch as a married man hadn’t helped Pierce’s cause any. Hal Doolittle had worked the townspeople into a wild frenzy. Had Pierce returned to Dry Gulch, meekly admitted impregnating Cora Lee, and married her, in time he would have been forgiven. But Pierce had committed the unforgivable, and the general consensus was to lynch him.

Zoey was grateful to Chad and Ryan for organizing the Delaney hands to provide around-the-clock protection for Pierce. It seemed the only way to prevent an illegal hanging before the judge came through town on his regular circuit. With so much to worry about, Zoey’s sleep that night was sporodic and fitful.

Zoey wandered into the kitchen the next morning and helped herself to a cup of coffee, carrying it to the table where she could continue her silent musings while she drank.

Chad walked into the kitchen, saw Zoey, and asked, “What do you think of the ranch?”

Zoey had been too exhausted the day of her arrival to do more than eat the excellent dinner the Delaney cook had prepared and go to bed. This morning she’d had time to really look at Pierce’s home. In some ways it was grander than the Circle F and in other ways it couldn’t compare.

“It’s impressive,” Zoey admitted, gazing out the window at the snow-topped mountain peaks rising in the distance. “Your house is bigger than mine but missing a woman’s touch.”

“We have a housekeeper who comes in daily, but the only woman who’s lived here since our mother left was Pierce’s first wife, and she didn’t last three months. This has been an entirely male household for as long as I can remember.”

Fearing she had resurrected painful memories, Zoey said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply …”

“Don’t apologize,” Chad said harshly. “My brothers and I don’t need pity. I’d rather hear how you and Pierce came to be married. I know my brother, Zoey, and he isn’t the marrying kind.”

“I meant it when I said I’d prefer to have Pierce tell you.”

“Since he’s not able to do so at this time, I’d like to hear it from you.”

“What’s going on?” Ryan entered the room through the back door, saw Chad and Zoey sitting at the table, and wandered over to them.

“Sit down,” Chad invited. “Zoey was just about to tell me how she convinced Pierce to marry her.

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