Read Online Missy Meets the Marshal (Lone Star Love Book 2) by Amelia Smarts - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Amelia Smarts
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enough.
Grover gave her a nod to indicate his approval of her response and scrutinized Henry to see whether he bought it. He appeared to be considering the apology.
Then Missy felt compelled to add in a growly voice, "I lied about who I am and my reason for selling the brooch, but that brooch is mine, mister. You were flat-out wrong about me stealing it. I'm no thief."
Grover noticed the mood in the shop change immediately. Henry's cold expression returned. "I know you're hiding something, lady," he said. "It seems the marshal here believes your taradiddles, but I don't. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. Honest work," he added, glowering at Missy for a moment before turning his back to them.
Grover forced his tone to be level and casual. "I hope you'll join us for supper one of these days, Henry, so we can make it up to you. My new bride is better at cooking than hobbling her lip." Henry didn't respond.
Grover walked outside. He took long strides in the direction of the house, and Missy walked quickly behind him holding the baby, occasionally breaking into a jog to keep up. He didn't say a word to her until he heard her sniffling. He stopped and spun around so suddenly that he had to catch her to prevent her from ramming into him.
He held her arms and spoke quietly. "Don't you dare blubber here in the streets. Keep it together, Missy."
She stared at him with wet eyes. "I messed up back there, didn't I?"
"We'll talk about it when we get home. For now, I need to you to be brave and hold back your tears. Can you do that for me?"
She blinked and nodded. Grover resumed walking but slowed his stride, realizing he also needed to adjust how he appeared in public. He put an arm around Missy's shoulders and guided her to walk by his side.
Once safely inside the house, Grover took a deep breath and sank onto the sofa. He felt worn out and worried. Henry's response to their visit troubled him. He considered what lengths the man might go to in order to learn about the new woman in town. He didn't know for sure, but he had a bad feeling about it.
Missy emerged from the bedroom after putting Hannah Lou down to sleep. She looked forlorn and as weary as he felt.
"Come here, honey. Let's have a chat."
Missy walked to him and he pulled her onto his lap and encircled her in his arms.
"I'm sorry, Grover. I know I disappointed you."
"Nah, Missy. It's not about disappointing me. It's about making sure this plan works. You've got to bite back the first words that come to mind. It's that way with just about everything now. The first thought of your daughter's name, for instance, is now wrong. And the first thought you had of defending yourself against Henry, that was wrong too. It's the second thoughts that come to your mind, those are the words you must speak, and never the first. I know it's hard, especially for someone not used to deception, but you've got to give it a whole lot more effort, honey."
"I know, and I will. I'm so very grateful to you, Grover. You're risking so much for me. The least I can do is ignore my pride."
He stretched his arms up, laced his hands together, and placed them behind his head. Leaning back, he said in a teasing voice, "Why don't you perform your wifely duty, since you're feeling so grateful to me?"
Her eyes widened and she glanced down at his trousers. "You mean—? Well, okay. Yes, yes, of course." She licked her lips, reached for his belt buckle, hesitated, retreated, and then reached for it again.
He tried not to grin. "I meant go cook supper. I'm starving."
She burst out laughing. After she collected herself, she asked, "Are you going to punish me for sassing Henry?"
"No. I should, perhaps, but it's your wedding day and I want you to have good memories."
She focused her big blue eyes on him and said with sincerity, "It would still be the happiest, luckiest day of my life, even if you punished me."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Hmm. Sounds to me like you're asking for a spanking.
Grover gave her a nod to indicate his approval of her response and scrutinized Henry to see whether he bought it. He appeared to be considering the apology.
Then Missy felt compelled to add in a growly voice, "I lied about who I am and my reason for selling the brooch, but that brooch is mine, mister. You were flat-out wrong about me stealing it. I'm no thief."
Grover noticed the mood in the shop change immediately. Henry's cold expression returned. "I know you're hiding something, lady," he said. "It seems the marshal here believes your taradiddles, but I don't. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. Honest work," he added, glowering at Missy for a moment before turning his back to them.
Grover forced his tone to be level and casual. "I hope you'll join us for supper one of these days, Henry, so we can make it up to you. My new bride is better at cooking than hobbling her lip." Henry didn't respond.
Grover walked outside. He took long strides in the direction of the house, and Missy walked quickly behind him holding the baby, occasionally breaking into a jog to keep up. He didn't say a word to her until he heard her sniffling. He stopped and spun around so suddenly that he had to catch her to prevent her from ramming into him.
He held her arms and spoke quietly. "Don't you dare blubber here in the streets. Keep it together, Missy."
She stared at him with wet eyes. "I messed up back there, didn't I?"
"We'll talk about it when we get home. For now, I need to you to be brave and hold back your tears. Can you do that for me?"
She blinked and nodded. Grover resumed walking but slowed his stride, realizing he also needed to adjust how he appeared in public. He put an arm around Missy's shoulders and guided her to walk by his side.
Once safely inside the house, Grover took a deep breath and sank onto the sofa. He felt worn out and worried. Henry's response to their visit troubled him. He considered what lengths the man might go to in order to learn about the new woman in town. He didn't know for sure, but he had a bad feeling about it.
Missy emerged from the bedroom after putting Hannah Lou down to sleep. She looked forlorn and as weary as he felt.
"Come here, honey. Let's have a chat."
Missy walked to him and he pulled her onto his lap and encircled her in his arms.
"I'm sorry, Grover. I know I disappointed you."
"Nah, Missy. It's not about disappointing me. It's about making sure this plan works. You've got to bite back the first words that come to mind. It's that way with just about everything now. The first thought of your daughter's name, for instance, is now wrong. And the first thought you had of defending yourself against Henry, that was wrong too. It's the second thoughts that come to your mind, those are the words you must speak, and never the first. I know it's hard, especially for someone not used to deception, but you've got to give it a whole lot more effort, honey."
"I know, and I will. I'm so very grateful to you, Grover. You're risking so much for me. The least I can do is ignore my pride."
He stretched his arms up, laced his hands together, and placed them behind his head. Leaning back, he said in a teasing voice, "Why don't you perform your wifely duty, since you're feeling so grateful to me?"
Her eyes widened and she glanced down at his trousers. "You mean—? Well, okay. Yes, yes, of course." She licked her lips, reached for his belt buckle, hesitated, retreated, and then reached for it again.
He tried not to grin. "I meant go cook supper. I'm starving."
She burst out laughing. After she collected herself, she asked, "Are you going to punish me for sassing Henry?"
"No. I should, perhaps, but it's your wedding day and I want you to have good memories."
She focused her big blue eyes on him and said with sincerity, "It would still be the happiest, luckiest day of my life, even if you punished me."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Hmm. Sounds to me like you're asking for a spanking.
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