Justin's Bride (11 page)

* * *

“Well, you can imagine how shocked I was.” Colleen pulled off her gloves and set them on the counter.

It was early yet. Not many customers were in the store. Megan stared at her sister and tried to remember the last time she'd seen Colleen up and dressed at this time of day. Her dark brown cloak, matching hat and gloves were of the latest style. Megan had ordered them and knew exactly how much they cost. If not for the inheritance left them by their father, Colleen would be hard-pressed to buy her expensive clothes. Megan wondered how her brother-in-law felt about his wife spending so much money on what he would no doubt consider frivolities. Not that he would tell Colleen to stop. Not many people were willing to stand up to her sister's temper and vicious tongue.

“Why were you surprised?” Megan asked. “It
is
a church. People have brought you orphans before.”

“I know. It's a burden.” Colleen grimaced. “This one was worse than all of them combined. She was filthy and smelled.” She waved her hand in front of her face. “I don't know why people allow themselves to sink to such a state.”

Megan stared down at the box of buttons. For almost a month now, she'd been promising herself she would sort them by size and price. She drew in a deep breath and prayed for patience. Once Colleen told her story, she would be gone. Casually, Megan glanced at the clock and wondered how long it would take.

“Children don't usually have a choice about keeping themselves clean,” Megan said curtly. “You can't blame the little girl if her mother didn't bathe her.”

Colleen leaned over the counter. Her thick cloak completely covered the box of buttons and scattered the piles Megan had already sorted. “But the woman wasn't her mother.”

Colleen glanced at the two other people in the store. Both were men. One was old Zeke from the livery stable. He couldn't hear too well. The other was Cameron Forbes, a handsome widower with a large farm just south of town. Cameron was at the far end, looking at some gardening tools Megan kept along the back wall. Even so, Colleen lowered her voice to a whisper.

“Yesterday, our new sheriff—” she said the last word with a sniff of contempt “—was going all around town asking about that dead prostitute.”

“I know.” She was still smarting from his accusations. It didn't matter that she'd tried to explain. Justin hadn't cared. Megan wondered why he was always so quick to judge her.

“It was her child.”

“Who was?”

Colleen glared at her. “Will you please pay attention. I'm trying to tell you. A horrible woman, her name was Mrs. Travis, or Jarvis, something like that. Anyway, she came to the church with the dirty, disgusting girl and told me she'd been paid to take care of her. The prostitute died, there's no more money and she wanted to thrust the child off on me.” Colleen touched her pale white hand to her chest. “I was shocked. Gene was gone, of course. That man picks the most inconvenient times to visit sick people. I had to deal with this woman myself.”

Megan pulled the box out from under Colleen's cape and started sorting the buttons again. “What happened?”

“I told her the truth. That I wasn't interested in the bastard child of some whore.” Colleen smiled. “I told her a few other things, too, and sent her packing.”

Megan stared at her sister. At times she found it hard to believe they'd had the same parents, grown up in the same house and lived similar lives. “You turned away the child?”

“Not
just
a child. I told you. A bastard. And her mother is—”

“Yes, I know what you said. You seem to enjoy saying those bad words, Colleen. Do you find it exciting?”

Her sister drew herself up to her full height, only an inch above her own, Megan told herself, refusing to be intimidated. “Don't you speak to me in that tone.”

“I'll speak to you any way I like. You're not my mother.”

Colleen's small hazel eyes narrowed. “I am married to the minister. You'd best keep that in mind.”

The threat wasn't a new one. Megan knew she should be used to it by now, but every time her sister made it, she got a tight feeling in the bottom of her stomach. “You turned her away. But she's just a little girl. Where is she going to go?”

“Why should I care about that? My heavens, Gene forces me to do charity work, as it is. That's enough for anyone. You can't expect me to take in a bastard.”

Megan scooped up the loose buttons and dumped them back in the box. She reached for the lid, then fitted it in place. “She's just a little girl,” she repeated. “It's not her fault who her parents are. Why are you so cruel?” She started toward the back of the store.

Colleen came after her. “I have a duty to this town and to the church. As the minister's wife, I must set an example.”

“Exactly.” Megan came to a stop and spun toward her sister. “An example of charity and caring.”

“If you could have seen her. It was disgusting. And her father. He could have been anyone.”

“I don't care if her father was the devil himself. How could you turn her away?”

“Don't you lecture me, Megan,” Colleen said, her voice shrill. “I know my place in this town. We have a position to uphold. A family name. It's bad enough that you're a spinster and running this business on your own. Don't forget that my acceptance means the town's acceptance. The lines are very clear, so you make sure which side you stay on. I do more than my share. I know my duty.”

Megan stared at her, noting the rapid rise and fall of her sister's chest as she got carried away by indignation. The knot in her belly didn't seem so tight all of a sudden. Instead of worry or fear, she tasted sadness. She thought about their mother and her fate. Something that Colleen never wanted to discuss.

“Are you always so sure you're right?” Megan asked quietly.

Colleen opened her mouth, then shut it. “Of course.”

“I'm not.”

“Sure that I'm right, or sure about yourself?”

“Both.” Before she could continue, she felt a light touch on her arm. She turned and saw Cameron Forbes staring down at her. He wore a thick, lined winter jacket and his hat pushed back so she could see his face.

“Are you all right, Miss Bartlett?” he asked.

His voice was so low it should have sent shivers racing down her spine. With his dark-haired good looks and tall, well-muscled frame, he was any maiden's dream. When his perfect smile was combined with the faint sadness in his eyes, he should have been as irresistible to her as a brightly colored ribbon was to her new kitten. He'd been in Landing almost five years. They'd spoken after church services, had even danced together twice last year at the Fourth of July celebration. He should have made her heart race. But he didn't.

“I'm fine, Mr. Forbes.”

“Why wouldn't she be?” Colleen asked. “I
am
her sister.”

Cameron ignored the interruption. Cool gray eyes met her own. “You're sure?”

“Yes.”

Colleen sniffed. “Well, I never heard such nonsense.”

“I'll be right here in the store if you need me.” He touched his hat brim. “Ladies.”

Cameron returned to his study of the gardening equipment.

“Who does that man think he is?” Colleen asked, turning her head so that her voice was sure to carry to the handsome farmer.

“A good customer,” Megan said, watching Cameron pick up one hoe, then disregard it in favor of another. “With his experimental crops and new ideas, he's always ordering special from back East. And he's a friend.”

Colleen raised her eyebrows. “You watch who you're friends with, Megan. You're a single woman and Landing is a very small town.”

She looked at her sister, wondering when they'd stopped being friends. “I know.”

Colleen began tugging on her gloves. Her mouth got that pinched look, as if she'd tasted something sour. “Despite your low and very misplaced opinion about me, I do have that bastard child's best interests at heart. There are places for a girl like her.”

“What does that mean?”

“An orphanage. The church will pay for her train ticket.”

It was probably better for the child, Megan thought. If the little girl stayed here, Colleen would make her life miserable. She watched as her sister adjusted her brown hat, and checked the angle of the dyed feather. At one time, they had been so much alike. When had all that changed? When had Colleen become meanspirited? Was it after her marriage to Gene or before?

Megan tried to remember. It suddenly seemed important to know. There was a time when she'd confided everything to her sister. Once they'd almost looked like twins. Although younger by almost two years, Colleen now looked much older. Her hair had darkened to a mousy brown and there were lines around her eyes. Discontent pulled at her sister's face making it—

The front door opened. Megan took a step back so she could see around Colleen. Before she could focus on the customer who had just entered the store, her breath caught in her throat. She didn't have to look. She knew.

She must have made some sound, for Colleen turned slowly.

“Ah, Sheriff Kincaid.” Colleen said the words as if they left a bad taste in her mouth. “I believe you spoke with that dreadful woman yesterday and her bastard brat. I've given the situation some thought.”

Justin stared at her. Morning light shone through the freshly washed windows, surrounding him with a golden glow. Megan knew she was being fanciful, but at that moment he looked as invincible as a warrior. He stood tall and strong, his feet spread slightly, his hands hanging loosely at his sides. His dark beaver-felt hat hid his eyes, but she knew they would be burning with an angry fire. She clutched the box of buttons close to her chest and smiled. Colleen had met her match.

“I don't want to listen to anything you have to say, madam,” he said curtly.

“You will listen,” Colleen told him, walking toward him. “The church is prepared to—”

There was a slight movement behind Justin. A small girl stepped out from behind the tall man. She was thin, with big eyes and beautiful dark hair. Her coat and dress were worn, her shoes in tatters. Even from halfway across the store, Megan could see the bruise on the little girl's face.

Her heart went out to the child. She looked about six or seven, with the most solemn expression, as if she'd never had a reason to smile. Megan had only been a few years older when she'd lost her own mother. She remembered how alone she'd felt, and she'd still had her sister and father. This girl had no one.

The child bit her lower lip and pointed. “That's the church lady. The one who said my mama was a postute.”

Justin place his large hand on the girl's shoulder. “I know, honey. Don't worry. I won't let her hurt you.” He looked at Colleen. “You've already done enough. I'll take care of the girl.”

“You?” Colleen shuddered as if she'd just seen a mouse. “That's hardly appropriate.”

“It's a damn sight more appropriate than anything you've got planned. I wouldn't trust you to take care of a stalk of corn, let alone a child.”

Colleen puffed up, her chin thrusting forward defiantly, her hands clutching together in agitation. “Don't you dare swear in front of me.”

“Colleen, you're making this more than it has to be,” Megan said, stepping closer to her sister. “If Justin doesn't want your assistance, then don't give it to him.”

“I don't need you to fight my battles.” Colleen glared at the child. “I will do my Christian duty, despite your interference, Justin Kincaid. As I was saying, the church is willing to buy her a train ticket East, so she can go to an orphanage. We simply don't have the facilities in Landing to take care of a child like her.”

The little girl had been following the conversation, turning her head from one adult to another. At Colleen's pronouncement, she froze in place. Her face went pale and her big eyes filled with tears. “Don't let her send me to an orphanage.”

“I won't,” he said, never taking his gaze from Colleen.

“I suppose
you
plan to keep her yourself?”

“If I have to.”

Colleen laughed. The harsh, brittle sound echoed in the store like a sharp explosion of shattered glass. “In your hotel room? What will you do with her while you visit your—”

“Don't say it,” he growled. “I won't be responsible for my actions if you do.”

“Justin?” The girl tugged on his pant leg. “Promise me I don't have to go to the orphanage.” Her voice shook so much, she barely got the word out.

He crouched down beside her. “I promise, Bonnie.”

A single tear rolled down the child's cheek. He brushed it away with his thumb. Megan set her box of buttons on the glass counter and moved over to the girl.

The child looked up at her. The fear in the little girl's eyes hit her square in the midsection. She forced herself to smile. “If Justin says he's going to keep you safe, then you can believe him.”

The girl sniffed. “I don't wanna go. Mrs. Jarvis said they beat children there.” Another tear fell.

Justin smoothed his fingers over her cheek. The tender gesture should have been awkward and out of character, Megan thought, but he had always been good at doing the unexpected.

“A pretty story,” Colleen said. “Very touching, I'm sure. However, the town doesn't have any room to keep her.”

Justin stood up. “I said she's staying with me. I want to help Bonnie find her family.”

“You really think she has any? If her father cared about her, he would have married her mother. But then, that's probably why the two of you get along,” Colleen continued. “You're a bastard, too, aren't you, Justin? Like meets like.”

“Colleen, leave Justin and the girl alone. You should be pleased not to have to pay for the train ticket. Let that be enough.”