Keegan's Bride (Mail Order Brides of Texas 2) by Kathleen Ball

badly to my wife. You’re not getting Peg. You might as well head back to Boston and your circle of friends.”
    “Get your dirty cowhands off me.”
    Keegan furrowed his brow. “First of all cowhands are not hands. They are—” He shook his head. “I’m not going to waste my breath on you. If you have a problem take it up with the judge. He’s waiting on a few telegrams from Boston before he makes a decision.”
    The color drained from William’s face. “Telegrams?”
    Shane stood up. “Yes. He sent them to the police and to the family lawyer. He should hear back today.”
    “Well I certainly have better things to do than spend time in this dingy hovel you call a jail. Good day.” William slammed the door behind him.
    “Keegan, go help Shannon and tell her to get a tarp for the back of the wagon,” Shane instructed. “You’d better take Peg. No one will wonder what Shannon buys if Peg is there. Now that she’s stopped shrieking, she’s charming people. I’ll have Ilene ready to get into the wagon when you stop it in front of the jail.”
    The sheet came down, and Peg had herself wrapped around Addy. It hurt Keegan’s heart every time he had to take her away. Addy’s lies still stung, but he was beginning to understand the reason for them.
    “Come on, honey, time to go. There’s a new colt over at Shannon’s and I know you’d love to see him.”
    “A colt?”
    “A baby horse,” he explained as he unlocked the door.
    “Bye, Mama.” She ran out of the cell and flung herself at him. She always seemed to trust he’d catch her.
    The wistful expression on Addy’s face ate at him. “Aw, Addy, I wish—”
    She tried to smile. “Go have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Bye, Mama!” Peg waved.
     
    ****
     
    It was a busy day at the jailhouse. Keegan and Shane managed to get Ilene into Shannon’s wagon unnoticed. Addy hoped they were all at Cinders’ ranch by now. Judge Gleason stopped in and let her know the authorities were looking into the deaths of her parents. They, too, thought something wasn’t right, but they couldn’t figure out what it was.
    Edith stopped in and brought her a bar of rose-scented soap to wash with. Edith’s kindness almost made her cry. She brought fried chicken and wonderful flakey biscuits for the noon meal. Addy was determined to learn her secret to cooking.
    Shane wiped his hands and mouth with his napkin. “Edith is a great cook. I have to make the rounds. I’ll be back in a bit.”
    “It was good. Enjoy the fresh air.” Addy smiled but she didn’t feel the smile within her. She had somehow thought she’d be in jail a day at most and had forgotten to ask for something to read. She paced in her cell then finally sat down. When the door opened, she hoped it wasn’t William.
    “Well, well, well. I heard tell there was a woman in here. I could bail you out. You could pay me back.” John Hardy told her with a sarcastic smile.
    “No, thank you. I’d rather stay in jail.”
    “I thought as much, but a man has to try. You haven’t seen a girl with dark hair have you?” He stared at her as though he could read her mind.
    “The only girl I’ve seen is my daughter, Peg.”
    “Oh, that little brat? She’s going to be a looker when she grows up.”
    Addy gasped and her hand went to her throat. “It’s time for you to leave.”
    “No law sayin’ I can’t be here. Maybe there’s an extra key around here and I could lock us both in.”
    Her face heated, and she huddled in the corner of the cell. “Shane should be here soon. He won’t like you being here.”
    “It’s Shane, is it? Cozy how you’re on a first name basis with the sheriff. Says a lot about your character. I do believe I need you working for me.” He wrapped his pudgy fingers around the bars. “We could make us some real good money.”
    “I’m married!”
    “Not according to that Boston gent. He says you belong to him. I wonder how much he’d take for you. I get the feelin’ he