An Unexpected Husband (The Colorado Brides Series) by Carré White Page A

this.”
    “I’m not afraid of your sister.”
    “You should be.”
    “Why?”
    “Firstly, she’s rather harsh on employees. She has an abrupt and grating manner, which I can only tolerate for short periods of time. She’s bossy and pigheaded and—”
    “I think I understand.”
    “If we were married before her arrival, it would ensure our united front. There would be nothing that she could say or do to affect us.”
    “Words can still be hurtful.”
    “Yes, but…I can tell her to jump off a cliff. I can tell her to mind her own business.”
    “Why can’t you do that now?”
    “Because she thinks me in need of a wife. She wants to throw her damnable friends at me. It’s why I left Virginia when I did. I couldn’t stomach it a moment longer.”
    “Then we’ll just endure the best we can, and you shall remain firm in your convictions. You shouldn’t let anyone dictate your life, sir.” Would he be angry that I had spoken in such a way?
    His look was pained, yet humor lingered. “I had hoped for an easy way out. I hate conflict. I’d rather everyone get along.”
    “I’m that way too, but what can we do? There will always be irritating people. Given enough time, you’ll find some of them in my family as well.”
    “Your family was delightful. They were at ease and at peace with each other. I remember gatherings where things would deteriorate into shouting matches and fisticuffs.”
    “Truly?”
    “Someone was always at war with someone. I’ve uncles I refuse to see, and my sister is dangerously close to making that list.”
    “Then, if I marry you immediately, I’m saving you from unpleasant scenes?”
    “Many.” He nodded.
    “It would…be…shocking.” Goodness, I found him attractive. I shouldn’t agree to such a thing for a number of reasons, but…he was so like me. “I…”
    “Yes?” He looked hopeful.
    “I’ll be lectured by Jane and Hannah and everyone, if I agree to marry you on such short notice.” I hadn’t had a proper proposal. “You’ve not gotten down on one knee either.”
    He slid from the sofa, dropping to the floor. “I shall remedy that immediately.” He took my hand, kissing the fingers. “Mary Hampton? Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
    “But you haven’t asked my stepfather for permission.”
    “Tarnation!”
    “Oh, Brandon.” I shivered with pleasure, while hugging him. “We’ve not even done the proposal right.”
    “I’ll ride out in the morning and ask him. Will that make you happy?”
    This was all too much. “Oh, my stars. I can’t do this.”
    “Why not?”
    “I don’t have a dress, and we haven’t reserved the church. There are so many things that need to be done before I can marry you.”
    He grasped a pillow, tossing it to the floor. Then he took another. “Come sit with me. Let’s talk about things. I’ll help you in anyway I can.”
    I snatched a pillow, dropping it at my feet. He’d sat back, crossing his legs before him, while I scooted nearer. I stared at the flickering embers, seeing hints of blue among the gold. His arm went around me suddenly, pulling me near. If Megan were to enter, she would see us this way.
    “You’re so wonderful with Rosalind,” he murmured. “That first day, the first time I saw you, I knew there was something special about you. Then you took the baby, and she stopped crying immediately. She liked you from the start.”
    “She’s a good baby.”
    “You’re an excellent mother.”
    “It’s easy, sir. There’s nothing to it.”
    “Some women are cold when it comes to children. I was passed off on nannies and then abandoned in the schoolroom. My sister was as well. My mother was not affectionate, but, if you misbehaved, she’d take a switch to you.”
    “I don’t like that. If anything, I’m too permissive. You might find that annoying. I should warn you about such things.”
    “Why must children be beaten? There are better methods of exacting punishments and things of