Butler, Reece - 1 Bed, 2 Weddings, 3 Husbands [Bride Train 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Reece Butler

Author:Reece Butler [Butler, Reece]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Siren-BookStrand, Inc.
Published: 2012-02-13T17:42:02+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

“There! That’s the last of them.”

Miss Victoria Edison set the sadiron on the stove. All the linens were now washed, ironed, and folded. The windows were washed, floors scrubbed, furniture waxed, pantry filled, and everything else that should be done to complete her contract.

If only she were doing it in her own home, on the J Bar C, as Mrs. Jed Adams. Instead she was setting up Mr. Smythe’s home, in town. She didn’t know what she was. Not a maid, since she was no longer a virgin. Not a wife or widow, and certainly not a mistress. A spurned woman? No, she was the one who refused to stay.

What does one call oneself when, after two weeks of wedded bliss, one is told no marriage had taken place?

Benjamin Elliott had already sent a telegram on her behalf to the men who appointed the new judge. Even if Judge Thatcher’s powers weren’t returned, they might rule she was still considered married. The argument would be stronger if she was with child. In that case, the marriage could stand until she gave birth, to give the child legitimacy. Immediately after the birth, she could get divorced.

It was better if there was no child. Then, if Jed still wanted to marry her, he would do it for the right reasons. For themselves, not because there was a baby. She knew he’d do anything he could to save a baby the shame of illegitimacy. So would she.

She carefully draped the crisp tablecloth over a dowel in the linen closet. She made sure there were no wrinkles. Then she slammed the door shut so hard it bounced open again.

How dare a man wave his hand and declare the signed contract invalid? A judge was a judge, there was nothing wrong with the contract, and she was still married!

“Damn!”

She slapped her hands over her mouth. Nothing happened. The sky didn’t open up and smite her with a lightning bolt. No bony hand reached up from hell to drag her down.

Victoria giggled nervously. She was alone, but someone could walk past and hear her. “Damn,” she whispered. It wasn’t good enough. “Damn, damn, damn!”

She laughed at the silliness of it all. The word didn’t have any power. It was the meaning behind the word that counted. She didn’t want to damn anyone. Well, perhaps the trio who plagued her, Smythe, Jennet, and Rivers. Plus Judge Stickley, or Stinky, as Mary called him.

There was another word which was given far too much power.

Love.

She loved it when Jed, and Clint, and Riley touched her. But that could be called mere lust. Lust was good. So good, that she already regretted her hasty decision to leave with the sheriff and his wife. But all she could think of was ending up unmarried and unwanted by good men, and pursued by the avaricious users who preyed on the women with few choices. She would not be seduced by promises and then shamed and humiliated.

If the sheriff had given her time to think things over and talk with her men, she would have done things differently.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.