Bounty Hunter Proposal by Alix West Page A

dismay.
    “Why wouldn’t she be?” Seth asked, frowning. “Mr. Hudson is really, really nice, and he brought a puppy for us.”
    “How long has he been here?” Savannah asked.
    “He’s been her two days,” Seth replied. “His name’s Hudson just like Belle’s, but guess what? He’s not her brother. He’s her husband!”
    Violet gave a small murmur of dismay and shook her head in disbelief.
    Matt returned carrying part of a bed frame, and the other men trailed behind carrying the rest.
    “I got us a bigger bed, sweetheart. The carpenter’s shop had one just the right size for both of us.” His face was solemn as he passed, but she could see the spark of amusement in his eye.
    Violet coughed and gave Savannah a pointed look. Isabelle could feel heat creep up her neck and spread over her cheeks.
    “You need to bring Mr. Hudson to the Christening this evening,” Savannah said.
    Isabelle felt her blush deepen. “Well, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I’m not certain how long Mr. Hudson, I mean, Matthias, will be staying…” She drew a tremulous breath. “With me.”
    Violet snorted. “The man just bought a bed big enough for the two of--”
    Savannah drew a deep breath. “A little discretion, Violet. We have children at the table.”
    “I want you to bring him this evening. I have enough food to feed Colter Canyon two times over, and we’ll have music and dancing. Bring him, and leave Seth and Luke with us for a day or more.”
    Matt’s footsteps echoed down the hall, and when he appeared, he filled the doorway. “We’d love to come, Mrs. Sutton. And that’s a fine offer to keep the children. I’d very much like to dance with my wife.”
    Violet beamed. “Good. It’s settled.”

Chapter Twelve
    The festivities at the Suttons’ home were accompanied by more varieties of dishes than Matt had ever seen in one sitting. This sort of party was a common occurrence, one of the Sutton men explained. Ben, Violet’s husband, said they had a pavilion built so that bad weather would never threaten one of the family’s celebrations.
    The men and women had eaten at separate tables, but now tables and chairs were being cleared to make way for dancing. Lanterns cast shadows. An evening breeze blew. Matthias instinctively searched for Isabelle and the boys.
    Luke and Seth sat in a circle with other children, playing a game of jacks. Women stood in small groups, talking and laughing, but Isabelle was not among them. He scanned the crowd. Where was she?
    The thready note of a violin hung in the air, above the hum of conversation. The old fellow who everyone called Shorty tuned his instrument. Why they called him Shorty had to be a joke. He was tall and gangly. During the baby’s christening, he’d sniffled and wiped tears from his eyes, and so it was clear Shorty had a tender heart.
    He pushed through the crowd until he found Violet Sutton. “Have you seen Isabelle?”
    Violet’s lips quirked. “Missing your bride , Mr. Hudson.”
    Matt sighed. Over dinner, Ben and Cameron Sutton had given him enough good-natured ribbing about his marriage and instant family. He wasn’t sure how much the men knew about the arrangement, but he was certain Violet and Savannah knew. He’d seen the shock come over their faces and reveled in it.
    “Yes, ma’am,” Matt replied. It was true, he realized with some degree of surprise. He hadn’t spoken to her in an hour or more and only caught a few glimpses of her over dinner. She wore a dress the color of a robin’s egg, and anytime he looked at her, the sight stole his breath. Now he wanted to see her, talk to her, take her into his arms and dance.
    “Maybe Isabelle will be the woman to get you to settle down.” Violet tilted her head towards a chair in the corner of the hall. “You could take Sheriff Reid’s job.”
    The sheriff sat in the chair, but he slumped over the table, snoring loudly.
    Violet rolled her eyes. “He insisted on being invited. At least