Read Online The Scoundrel's Bride by Geralyn Dawson - Free Book Online
Authors: Geralyn Dawson
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agreement with the widow’s assertion. She had to bite her tongue to stop herself from entering the fray. Really, Mr. Burkett was not a sin. These ladies were the sinners, gossiping in such a way.
Good thing too or she wouldn’t learn a thing.
The woman named Permelia observed, “It casts a shadow over Cottonwood Creek’s most influential family, doesn’t it? Why, the congressman can’t be happy about this, with the election right around the corner.”
“Zach Burkett is Joshua’s scandal, not E.J.’s,” Mr. Nichols protested. “Congressman Marston shouldn’t be affected by his brother’s folly.”
The widow snorted. “Scandal bleeds over anyone nearby, Walter Nichols. You know that as well as your own name.” The women all nodded in agreement, viewing the mercantile owner with disdain.
“It doesn’t reflect well on the family business,” the gangly Mrs. Hart observed, her frown plowing furrows in her brow. “It’s amazing he got Marston Shipping off the ground, much less built it into the business it is today, with such a scandal hanging over him. We are religious folk here in East Texas; we don’t take kindly to those who flaunt their sins in a vine-covered cottage just outside of town.”
“Well, if you remember,” the widow commented, “Marston Shipping didn’t take off until after Joshua sent Sarah Burkett away.”
“That’s right, Eulalie.” Permelia’s poke bonnet bobbed. “The business almost failed before E.J. moved here from Virginia and helped his brother run it. Remember how it was said that Joshua couldn’t keep his mind on business with that hussy around?”
The women all nodded solemnly, then glanced up as a newcomer rushed into the store, her voice tingling with excitement as she patted the back of the infant held against her shoulder. “Ladies, do I have news! Guess who knocked on my door first thing this morning!”
The women spoke as one. “The Burkett Bastard.”
The young mother’s face drooped like a poorly pinned diaper. The widow patted her arm and said, “He showed up at the revival meeting last night, Emily. That’s how we all knew. Now, tell us. Why did Zachary Burkett stop by your house?”
Recovering from her disappointment, Emily’s eyes glittered as she said, “He plunked money down on George’s breakfast table, right beside his ham and eggs. He wanted…”—she paused, making certain she had everyone’s attention before continuing—”to rent office space . On Main Street!”
The mercantile grew as quiet as the buttons on a cotton dress.
Morality barely noticed. The newcomer’s baby had opened his eyes and the round blue eyes stared at her, blinking once, then twice. They called to mind another pair of blue eyes that had twinkled with a devilish light. Absently, she wondered if a child of Mr. Burkett s would inherit his father’s roguish nature.
A child of Mr. Burkett’s . Morality’s own eyes rounded and her heart began to pound. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. But it surely would happen. Married people shared a bed.
And lying with a man made a baby.
Morality licked her suddenly dry lips. A baby. Perhaps one of her dreams might come true after all.
“Zachary Burkett renting office space?” the widow asked. “Are you certain, Emily? Couldn’t you have misunderstood?”
Emily nodded her head. “I heard him plain as day, Mrs. Peabody.”
Morality stared at Emily’s child. A baby . It was something her uncle had been warning her about for years, ever since her body had grown curves. Time and again she’d heard the dire consequences she would suffer were she to repeat Her Mother’s Sin .
Of course, once she married, the getting of a baby would not be a sin. It was a woman’s duty to give her husband children, which brought to mind a point that had long given Morality trouble. With the taking of a vow, something that had been wicked and evil automatically became good and proper. Why? Were words that powerful? If so, how
Good thing too or she wouldn’t learn a thing.
The woman named Permelia observed, “It casts a shadow over Cottonwood Creek’s most influential family, doesn’t it? Why, the congressman can’t be happy about this, with the election right around the corner.”
“Zach Burkett is Joshua’s scandal, not E.J.’s,” Mr. Nichols protested. “Congressman Marston shouldn’t be affected by his brother’s folly.”
The widow snorted. “Scandal bleeds over anyone nearby, Walter Nichols. You know that as well as your own name.” The women all nodded in agreement, viewing the mercantile owner with disdain.
“It doesn’t reflect well on the family business,” the gangly Mrs. Hart observed, her frown plowing furrows in her brow. “It’s amazing he got Marston Shipping off the ground, much less built it into the business it is today, with such a scandal hanging over him. We are religious folk here in East Texas; we don’t take kindly to those who flaunt their sins in a vine-covered cottage just outside of town.”
“Well, if you remember,” the widow commented, “Marston Shipping didn’t take off until after Joshua sent Sarah Burkett away.”
“That’s right, Eulalie.” Permelia’s poke bonnet bobbed. “The business almost failed before E.J. moved here from Virginia and helped his brother run it. Remember how it was said that Joshua couldn’t keep his mind on business with that hussy around?”
The women all nodded solemnly, then glanced up as a newcomer rushed into the store, her voice tingling with excitement as she patted the back of the infant held against her shoulder. “Ladies, do I have news! Guess who knocked on my door first thing this morning!”
The women spoke as one. “The Burkett Bastard.”
The young mother’s face drooped like a poorly pinned diaper. The widow patted her arm and said, “He showed up at the revival meeting last night, Emily. That’s how we all knew. Now, tell us. Why did Zachary Burkett stop by your house?”
Recovering from her disappointment, Emily’s eyes glittered as she said, “He plunked money down on George’s breakfast table, right beside his ham and eggs. He wanted…”—she paused, making certain she had everyone’s attention before continuing—”to rent office space . On Main Street!”
The mercantile grew as quiet as the buttons on a cotton dress.
Morality barely noticed. The newcomer’s baby had opened his eyes and the round blue eyes stared at her, blinking once, then twice. They called to mind another pair of blue eyes that had twinkled with a devilish light. Absently, she wondered if a child of Mr. Burkett s would inherit his father’s roguish nature.
A child of Mr. Burkett’s . Morality’s own eyes rounded and her heart began to pound. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. But it surely would happen. Married people shared a bed.
And lying with a man made a baby.
Morality licked her suddenly dry lips. A baby. Perhaps one of her dreams might come true after all.
“Zachary Burkett renting office space?” the widow asked. “Are you certain, Emily? Couldn’t you have misunderstood?”
Emily nodded her head. “I heard him plain as day, Mrs. Peabody.”
Morality stared at Emily’s child. A baby . It was something her uncle had been warning her about for years, ever since her body had grown curves. Time and again she’d heard the dire consequences she would suffer were she to repeat Her Mother’s Sin .
Of course, once she married, the getting of a baby would not be a sin. It was a woman’s duty to give her husband children, which brought to mind a point that had long given Morality trouble. With the taking of a vow, something that had been wicked and evil automatically became good and proper. Why? Were words that powerful? If so, how
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