The Bartender's Mail Order Bride by Cindy Caldwell

leave you alone for only two days. I believe you said she’s only staying a week, Sam?”
    “Yes, that’s right. That’s what she said. So if we can all just survive for a week, I suppose that won’t be too bad.”
    “There, Sam, see? It’s all going to work out perfectly.” Sam turned to Meg, not appearing to be convinced at all that it would work out—perfectly or otherwise.
    “Thank you, James and Suzanne. I am truly grateful and will find a way to repay your kindness sometime.”
    “Think nothing of it.” James clapped Sam on the back as he led him out into the main room. “If you two have some time now, I can show you around the store and Suzanne can go over the books with Meg. It seems to be pretty quiet today.”
    “That’s a fine idea, James.” Suzanne moved a chair over to the desk and motioned for Meg to sit down. “Just for a couple of hours.”
    “Are you sure?” Meg whispered to Suzanne once the men were out of earshot.
    “I am, truly. James and I always like to help, and as I said, I trust you. You could run the store on your own, if needed, you’ve been coming here for so long. What I don’t quite understand, and no one’s been willing to ask, is why it matters so much that he not disappoint his mother. He’s never struck me as someone who’d worry too much about that. He’s always been confident, his own man.”
    Meg peered through the doorway at Sam, who was paying rapt attention to James’s explanation of the small boxes of hardware.
    She turned back to Suzanne and patted her pockets, feeling the paper that might hold some answers to that question. Or at least an inkling.
    “I don’t know yet, but trust me. If there’s a way to find out, I will.”
    Meg’s smile faded as Suzanne stood and looked past her, over her shoulder and her eyes grew wide. “Meg, I don’t know how to tell you this…”
    Suzanne’s voice trailed off, and Meg’s heart thudded in her chest as she turned around and looked straight into the eyes of her father.

Chapter 15
    M eg had been completely positive that she was making the right decision when she wrote to Sam, so her reaction now was disconcerting to her. Her palms began to sweat and her heart just wouldn’t go back to a normal rhythm.
    “Hello, Nutmeg,” her father said. He’d taken off his hat and held it in front of his chest, his dark hair with gray at his temples combed neatly.
    “Hello, Papa,” she said, encouraged that his tone was calm and that she saw no fire in his eyes—at the moment, anyway.
    “Good afternoon, Suzanne.” Beau nodded to Suzanne, who smiled in return, but kept glancing at Sam and James across the room.
    Beau followed her eyes. “Ah, I see your…Mr. Allen is here.”
    Sam looked up from the array of hardware James was describing and his eyes moved from Meg to Suzanne and rested on Beau. Meg felt a sense of relief as he excused himself from James and came to her side. She knew her father had a huge heart and was just big and blustery when things confused him, but she was glad she wouldn’t have to face it alone.
    “Hello, Sam.” He held out his hand for Sam to shake. Sam took a quick look at Meg and reached out, giving his new father-in-law’s hand a hearty shake.
    Meg felt a little spark of hope in her chest and she smiled. “Papa, what brings you here?”
    “Oh, I saw Sam’s buggy outside and was hoping that you were here. Haven’t talked to you since the…well, since yesterday. Seems like it’s been much longer. I’ve missed you. We’ve all missed you.”
    “Oh, Papa, I—”
    Beau held up his hand, quieting her. “Please, Nutmeg, I really came just to speak with you for a moment. Sam, might it be all right if I take my daughter next door to the Occidental? Maybe for a cup of tea?”
    “You don’t need to ask my permiss—” Sam started, but Beau cut him off as well.
    “It would be proper, as you’re her husband.”
    Sam appeared incredibly uncomfortable and turned to Meg for an answer to