Shadow of Regret (Shadow #3) by Barbara Goss

Author:Barbara Goss [Goss, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-06-06T04:00:00+00:00

Quinn wasn’t surprised to see the small group appear in his room that afternoon. His soon-to-be mother-in-law, Jonas, Ivy, Rose, and the man who'd appeared in his room earlier, whom he'd assumed was the new minister. Jonas had been rushing around all morning getting the license, having Quinn sign it, and returning to the courthouse to have it recorded.

Jonas had to support Quinn so he could stand before the group. He took Rose’s hand. The minister began to read the vows—the very same vows—that had been read the last time he tied the knot. He thought about how different it would be if he were marrying now for the first time, and was oblivious to the dangers an intimate relationship might bring. If only he and Rose could look forward to a playful and memorable honeymoon—but there would be none of that for them. Even so, he felt nothing but love for Rose, and he squeezed her hand tightly, to make her feel less frightened.

His Rose looked pale when she repeated the vows. At seventeen, he could only imagine how frightening this situation must be. She still wore black because she was in mourning, but someone had put a white-laced collar around her neck to break up the monotony of her black clothes.

When his turn came, he repeated his vows, looking deeply into Rose’s eyes. Since the vows didn’t make him say he promised to be intimate, he meant every word of them.

He noticed that the minister had skipped the part about him kissing the bride. He shrugged. He’d get his kiss later, in private, instead of in front of everyone.

Two shotgun weddings in one lifetime had left him numb, but he smiled at Rose, all the same. He’d try to make the marriage a good one, for her sake. He’d do almost anything for Rose.

When everyone had left—he knew there would be no celebration dinner—he was left alone with his bride.

“Well, Mrs. Iverson, what do we do now?” he asked.

“You have to heal some before we can leave here,” she answered.

“Pray tell, where will we go? I’ve lost everything.”

“What?”

“No one told you? The couple who shot me stole everything I had, including livery stock.”

“What about your apartment in town?”

“It’s small, but it will have to do,” he said. “Will you mind?”

“Not as long as I’m with you.”

“I didn’t get my ‘now you may kiss the bride’ kiss," he said with a wink.

“Mother had Martin remove it from the vows. She said she couldn’t bear to see you kiss me.”

“She hates me that much?”

“I don’t think she hates you; she just hates what you’ve become.”

He studied her carefully. Her mother was right. He had messed up his life. It was his loose living that gave “Daisy” the opportunity to ruin him in the first place. He did love Rose, and maybe something good would eventually come of this. Maybe she would be the one to bring him some semblance of a life he wasn’t ashamed of.

Quinn started to feel tired. He sat in the chair and patted his lap.

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