Read Online Keegan's Bride (Mail Order Brides of Texas 2) by Kathleen Ball - Free Book Online Page A

and he used his fists on those around him.”
    “Including you and Peg.”
    She stared at her clasped hands not sure what to say. Finally, after a lengthy silence, she gazed at him. “Yes, including me and Peg.”
    “Why didn’t you leave? Did you tell your parents? What about the authorities?”
    “It’s hard to explain. My family is much wealthier than I let on. We moved in the best of circles and were very well respected. William was not a choice of mine; he was a choice of my parents. I had no say. He married me for my money. My father refused to buy us a place of our own. He gave us a wing of the house to live in and that didn’t sit well with William. You see, William was supposedly wealthy but in reality, he owed money to everyone in Boston. He was a gambler. Notorious, or so I’ve been told, but somehow he fooled my father.”
    She took a deep breath. “He took his frustrations out on the staff, me, and sometimes Peg. I tried to tell my parents. They saw the bruises, but they didn’t want to hear about it.”
    Keegan reached across the table and covered her shaking hands with his hand. “I’m not blaming you, Addy. He sounds like a monster. He should have appreciated both you and Peg. I do.”
    “Peg has been like a different child here. She runs, laughs, and smiles. She hasn’t shrieked in at least a day. I hope you don’t mind her calling you Daddy.”
    “Damn near made me cry. It was one of the most special moments in my life. I just hope I can live up to the honor.”
    “Keegan, you already have.”
    “So, you’re planning on stayin’?”
    “Of course I am.”
    “Good. I’m starting to get all these feeling for you, and I want you to stay.”
    She hoped her smile was bright. Inside, her heart dropped and ached. In for a penny, in for a pound. There was no going back. Did he have feelings for her or for Addy, the poor abused woman? Either way, shame filled her. Keegan didn’t deserve lies. At the time all she wanted was to get out of Boston but now, she was falling for this handsome rancher.
    He gave her hand a squeeze before he stood. “I’ll give you some privacy to get changed. I’ll check on the livestock, and then I’ll be back.”
    “Thank you.” She watched him leave with tears in her eyes. They could have had something so special. Perhaps real love. With the back of her hand she dashed the tears away and stood. She was doing this for Peg. She needed to remember her goal and keep her feelings out of it. The worst part was keeping track of her lies. She’d told Shane her husband died before Peg was born. Hopefully they’d never compare notes about her. Her stomach dropped. No matter what she did, it only made things worse.
     
    ****
     
    The next day Addy woefully gathered all the pieces of Keegan’s shirts and her dress. There was no way they could be repaired. She set the pieces of cloth on the table. Shannon should be by soon. It would be nice to get to know her.
    Breakfast actually went fine. Hardboiled eggs and hard biscuits was the offered fare and Keegan didn’t complain. She’d have to ask Shannon about making biscuits. She had obviously done something wrong. But Peg ate them dipped in milk.
    Peg’s voice carried from outside. Keegan was building some sort of temporary shelter for the animals, and Peg was following him around, chattering. Addy’s heart felt lighter this morning. She had spent most of the night convincing herself her lies were for a good cause. It was the only way she could live with herself.
    She’d fretted about having nothing to serve her guest, but Keegan told her it wasn’t expected. Back home she would have bathed and put on a clean dress. There would have been tea and all kinds of cakes and finger sandwiches. All she had to offer was water or coffee.
    Strolling outside she put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing as Keegan and Peg talked.
    “Kooky Two is not a good name for a cow,” Keegan said.
    “Yes, Kooky Two,” Peg