Read Online Three Brides, No Groom by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online Page A

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anxiety. Refused to be intimidated.
    It shouldn’t be that difficult, she realized, forcing herself
to think positively. After all, she’d watched him start the thing any number of
times.
    She twisted the key.
    The engine didn’t catch.
    She tried a second and a third time with the same result.
    Breathing hard, she closed her eyes and reminded herself of
everything that was at stake. One more time, she decided, and this time, by
heaven, the bike would start.
    She turned the key. When the engine roared, the Harley vibrated
with such force it nearly toppled her.
    Releasing a shout of triumph, Gretchen thrust her arms into the
air, feeling like an Olympic champion. She glanced over her shoulder to be sure
the road was clear, then managed to head down the highway and into town.
    Her speed increasing, it surprised her how easily she managed
to drive the Harley. Anyone looking at her dressed as she was would assume she
was a motorcycle mama. Let them! One thing was certain: she wasn’t about to let
anyone or anything intimidate her again.
    For another, her father and brother were going to hear about
this. Two of San Francisco’s finest attorneys, they would make mincemeat of the
charge against Josh. By the time the dust had settled, Josh Morrow would own
this two-bit town.
    Rejuvenated, fire in her blood, Gretchen parked the Harley in
the county courthouse lot. Head high and shoulders squared, she was determined
to make an entrance that rivaled John Wayne in his finest.
    “I’d like to see Judge Joseph Logan,” she announced to the
receptionist. She didn’t have a clue who Judge Logan was, but if he insisted on
having his name listed in the front of the courthouse, then he should expect to
take appointments.
    “I’m sorry, but Judge Logan died fifty years ago,” the
receptionist replied in a polished tone without cracking a smile. “We named the
courthouse after him.”
    “Oh. Then who else is there?” Gretchen demanded, although much
of her bravado had evaporated.
    The woman looked sympathetic. “No one, I’m afraid.”
    “OK. I guess what I really need is a good attorney.”
    The receptionist’s face brightened. “I can help you with that.
Janet Mercer’s office is across the street. You tell her Maggie sent you, OK?
Whatever the problem is, Janet can help you.”
    Gretchen was so grateful she could have hugged the
receptionist. “Thank you,” she said.
    “No problem. Listen, I hope everything works out.”
    Heeding the woman’s advice, Gretchen hurried across the street
and found Janet Mercer’s name listed, along with three others, on the door
outside a small brick office complex.
    Apparently Janet didn’t have a large enough clientele to
warrant a secretary. Her office was simply a single room, with a desk, computer
and one guest chair. A woman who didn’t look much older than Gretchen herself
glanced up when she entered the room.
    “Hello,” she greeted cheerfully. “I’m Janet Mercer. Can I help
you?”
    “Yes.” Without waiting for an invitation, Gretchen lowered
herself into the guest chair. She spoke nonstop for five minutes, hardly pausing
long enough to breathe as she told Janet everything.
    “They took him to the jail?” Janet asked.
    “That’s right,” Gretchen said.
    “Well, in that case, I better get over there.” Janet stood and
reached for her purse.
    The attorney led the way to the jail, asking a question now and
then as they moved along the flower-lined sidewalk. Gretchen found the woman so
warm and personable, she wondered if the receptionist had steered her wrong.
What she needed was a legal warrior who would fight for Josh, not Mother
Teresa!
    Janet soon proved she was everything Josh needed. The
mild-mannered attorney turned into a tigress the moment they entered the
jailhouse. She announced herself as Josh Morrow’s attorney, and as for Officer
O’Malley’s “probable cause,” she laughed in the man’s face.
    Gretchen attempted to follow Janet into the