Second Chance Brides by Vickie Mcdonough Page B

Garrett’s horses jerked his head up and snorted. The wagon creaked down Bluebonnet Lane, then veered left onto Oak Street. They passed a number of houses before reaching the end of the road, where they made two quick left turns and ended up on Main Street. The boardinghouse rose up in front of her at the far end of the street. It surely was a lovely building with its soft green color and white trim. The porch practically begged people to stop and sit in the matching white rockers. Perhaps later she could do that very thing, but now she had to concentrate on learning her new job.
    “Whoaaa.” Garrett pulled the wagon to a stop and set the brake. He hopped down, patted each horse on the forehead, and muttered something before coming around to help her down.
    Shannon’s stomach swirled. She’d never worked in an office before. Aye, she could keep it clean and tidy once her ankle healed, but Garrett had said something about helping Mark with the recordkeeping. How would she know what to do? Was Mark even agreeable to teaching her or letting her work with him?
    Surely if he’d not been, Garrett wouldn’t have hired her. Yet she had a hard time believing Mark would assent. Even though he’d come to her rescue during the storm, he didn’t seem to favor her for some reason.
    Garrett lifted her down and held her steady. “Guess I should haul you on inside.”
    Balancing her weight mostly on her good leg, she broke from his gaze and looked around. The marshal had left the boardinghouse and now stood outside his office, talking to several men. Two ladies exited Dolly’s Dress Shop and walked toward them, talking and laughing.
    “Perhaps you could walk on my weak side and offer support.” She eyed the women, who’d suddenly taken note of her and Garrett.
    “Mornin’, Mrs. Mann. Mrs. Jenkins.” Garrett tipped his hat to them. “Nice day, isn’t it?”
    Both women smiled at the handsome rogue, then turned suspicious glances in Shannon’s direction. Fortunately, they continued on past the newspaper office and turned in to the bank.
    “Curious ol’ biddies. You know they’re just fit to be tied wondering why you’re here with me.”
    Shannon’s mouth turned up in a grin. Aye, she could imagine. She knew the two ladies were quite the busybodies, from their visits with Rachel at the boardinghouse.
    “Shall we?” Garrett’s brow lifted.
    Shannon gently put weight on her twisted ankle and grimaced, not so much from the pain but from the fear that it would hurt. Garrett wasted no time, and hauled her up in his arms. He grunted as he carried her up the stairs from the street to the boardwalk, and Shannon was sure she’d never regain her dignity.
    Garrett fumbled with the door handle, then shoved it open, and stepped into the freight office. She glanced around and noticed right off that one desk was immaculate while the other was quite the mess. The tidy one had to be Mark’s. He always took time to dress nicely and combed his hair, whereas Garrett seemed like a ragamuffin, with his mussed hair and his clothing often wrinkled.
    Mark entered from a side room. His eyes went wide, and his mouth dropped open. Shannon realized Garrett still held her.
    Mark’s gaze narrowed as he took in his brother holding her. “Please tell me you didn’t run off and marry her’“

C HAPTER 7
     

     
    J ack baited her hook, tossed it into the water, then sat back against a tree and waited for a bite. She plucked a strand of grass and leaned to her left, where her good friend Jonesy had fallen asleep in the warmth of the August sun. Holding back a laugh, she stuck the stem under Jonesy’s nose and tickled him. His loud snores shifted to a series of grunts and gurgles, and he reached up and rubbed his nose without even opening his eyes.
    Jack giggled and sat back.
    “Why do you continue to pester him? His pa probably worked him like a plow mule since sunup.” Ricky, her other best friend, picked up a rock and tossed it to the far