Shotgun Bridegroom

by Day Leclaire

  “Hello, old girl,” he greeted her affectionately. “What have you done to yourself?”

  Myrtle thumped her cane in annoyance. “It’s just a bump. Barely a scratch. But from all the hoopla, you’d think I was at death’s door.”

  “Bertie certainly thought so.”

  “Bertie’s an idiot,” Myrtle opined with a snort.

  “Though I’ll confess, it was my own foolishness that caused the problem.”

  Sam inclined his head. “Most problems are caused by foolishness. Or in some cases I know, pigheadedness.” He leveled a gaze on Annie, ignoring her attempts to shush him. “Tell her, sweetheart. Tell her what you told me.”

  “It’s nothing important,” she insisted pointedly. “Nothing we need to trouble Myrtle about”

  He released his breath in a gusty sigh. “She thinks she’s a Beaumont, not a Delacorte.”

  “Sam!”

  The shock on Myrtle’s face was unmistakable. “What did you say?”

  “Sam, please,” Annie begged. “Don’t.”

  “And she knows you’re her mother, Myrtle.”

  Myrtle glanced at Annie, then back to Sam. Her cane wobbled violently. “How? Joe would never have told—”

  “Not only did he tell her,” Sam contradicted in no uncertain terms, “he threatened to tell the rest of Delacorte Island if she eloped with me.”

  “I didn’t know.” Myrtle lifted shaking hands to her mouth, her apprehensive gaze returning to Annie. “He swore when he and Martha took you in that he’d never reveal the truth.”

  Annie gently wrapped an arm around Myrtle’s shoulders. “Why didn’t you tell me? Were you ashamed?”

  “No! Dear heaven, child, I’d have given anything to claim you as mine, to have raised you.”

  Annie visibly swallowed. “Why didn’t you?”

  Tears glazed Myrtle’s eyes. “Joe didn’t explain what happened?”

  Annie shook her head. “Only that I was a Beaumont and you were my mother and that he’d publically disgrace you if I married Sam.”

  “Instead, you moved in with me.”

  “You were my mother,” Annie whispered. “I wanted to be with you.”

  “Despite being a dreaded Beaumont?”

  Annie lifted her chin in a defiant gesture. “I’m a Beaumont by birth and by marriage.”

  “Yes, you are that,” Myrtle confirmed. “But you’re also a Delacorte.”

  Annie clenched her hands together. “Joe?”

  “No, sweetheart. I’d never have had an affair with a married man. It was Joe’s brother, William. It was a story not unlike yours and Sam’s. A Beaumont falling in love with a Delacorte. The families wouldn’t have stood for it, despite our both being of an age.” A smile flitted across her mouth. “At thirty-five, I guess you could say we were of an age and then some. Still, we met in secret. The difference from your situation is...we did elope. The ring I gave you at your wedding was the one Will would have given me had we married. It’s all I have left of hum.”

  “I’ll always treasure it,” Annie whispered, sliding her thumb across the wedding band.

  Sam wrapped an arm around Annie, understanding the emotions that must be rioting through his new bride. This couldn’t be easy for her, or for Myrtle. He glanced at the older woman.

  “That’s when you had your car accident,” Sam guessed, connecting the pieces.

  Myrtle nodded. “It shattered my legs and killed William. I woke up in the hospital pregnant, unwed and without the man I loved.” She closed her eyes, rocking back and forth from the pain of her memories. “They didn’t expect me to live, and quite frankly, I didn’t want to. Only one thing kept me going.”

  “Me?” Annie asked softly.

  “Yes, you, dear heart.” It took Myrtle a moment to compose herself. “Joe was in the Coast Guard at the time, stationed not far from the hospital. He and Martha came to visit me in order to find out why Will and I were together in the car. When they learned of my condition, they suggested a solution.”

  “Adoption?”

  Myrtle nodded. “They’d been married for years without Martha conceiving. They said they’d claim the child as theirs. Since they weren’t living on the island then, no one would be the wiser.” Her mouth twisted. “They thought it was such a perfect solution. My reputation would be protected, Will’s child legitimized and that wild Beaumont blood kept a deep, dark secret. No one would know.”

  “Why did you agree?” Sam asked.

  “The doctors said I’d never walk again, that I’d be confined to a wheelchair. I was a schoolteacher, a position I’d undoubtedly have lost when my condition became apparent.”

  “They could fire you for being a single mother?” Annie asked in shock.

  “Twenty-five years ago? I suspect they could. More likely they’d have drummed up an excuse for letting me go, but the end result would have been the same. With no means of support, how was I to raise a child?” She rested her chin on the back of the hand holding her cane. “To be honest, I could give you all the excuses in the world. But it boils down to one thing. I was afraid. Not of ruining my reputation. But of ruining yours, dear girl.”

  Annie tried a laugh, one that fell flat. “Everyone’s been so worried about my reputation.”

  “Including Joe and Martha.” Myrtle slipped her hand in Annie’s. “Your father did a terrible wrong. But he loved you, Annie. I know he did. As far as I could tell, he never treated you differently from Pansy or Trish. If he was a little overzealous in trying to keep you away from Beaumonts, perhaps you can understand why and forgive him.”

  “What about Pansy and Trish? Are they—”

  “Adopted, too?” Myrtle shook her head. “A few months after taking you home, Martha discovered she was pregnant. Sometimes it happens like that.”

  “So what now?” Sam asked. “Does this stay our secret or...”

  Myrtle fixed her eyes on the horizon, setting her chin as though in anticipation of a blow. “I’d be honored to claim Annie as my daughter. But I won’t do anything to embarrass or shame her.”

  “You could never do that,” Annie assured her. “The only reason I never said anything was because it wasn’t my secret to reveal. I figured if you’d kept it quiet all those years, you had a good reason. I guess while you were busy protecting my reputation, I was trying to protect yours.”

  Myrtle laughed through her tears. “We’re a couple of fools, aren’t we?”

  “Like mother, like daughter,” Annie said, swiping at her own eyes.

  “Is it settled, then?” Sam asked.

  “Somehow I doubt that.” Myrtle gave Annie a little push. “I think you two have some final matters to settle between you.”

  Sam grinned. “I think you’re right.” Catching Annie’s hand in his, he drew her off to one side.

  Bertie rushed past them. “Stay calm, folks! There are emergency personnel on the scene with experience delivering babies. Stay calm!”

  “Pansy? She’s having her baby now?” Just as Annie was about to start after her brother-in-law, Sam stopped her the only way possible. He wrapped his arms around her and distracted her with a kiss.

  “Well?” he asked several pleasurable minutes later. “Is everything out in the open now?”

  “Just about.” She peeked up at him. “I guess you’re relieved that Myrtle isn’t really your aunt.-or any other close relative, aren’t you?”

  “More than you’ll ever know.”

  She toyed with the top button of his shirt for a moment, speaking in a rush. “I owe you an apology or two.”

  “For what?”

  “For not eloping with you seven years ago.”

  “Would you have if it hadn’t been for Myrtle?”

  She glanced at him, then quickly away. “I’d at least have given you the choice of whether you still wanted to marry me or not.”

  He pulled back slightly, frowning. “Do you think I’d have changed my mind?”

  “Don’t you get it? I’m i
llegitimate. Like...like your mother.”

  He swore beneath his breath. “And you thought I wouldn’t marry you because of it?”

  She compressed her lips to keep them from trembling. “You used to say that you’d never allow your children to go through what you did. That’s why we never made love, because you didn’t want your sons and daughters to suffer for the sins of their parents. But that’s precisely what would have happened if we’d married.” Tears started to her eyes. “What will happen.”

  “Are you worried about our children, Annie?” he demanded. “Are you concerned they’ll suffer because of you?”

  The tears spilled over. “Yes,” she whispered.

  “No, love. That won’t happen. You and my mother are two different people. She was...” He sighed. “Let’s just say she was the sweetest woman in the world, but she wasn’t the town saint and never tried to be.”

  “Once people find out the truth about me, I might not be the town saint, either.”

  He smiled tenderly. “I think you’ll find your sainthood intact.”

  “But you won’t be respectable, not married to me.”

  “To hell with respectability. It’s not nearly as fun as being disreputable. Besides, I’d rather have you.”

  “Are you sure? Really sure?”

  He cupped her face, brushing away her tears with his thumbs. “Annie Beaumont, just for the record, I love you. I loved you when I thought you were Joe Delacorte’s daughter, which is saying a hell of a lot And I love you even more, if that’s possible, knowing Myrtle Beaumont’s your mother. You are the most generous, kindhearted woman I know. I fell in love with you when I was all of twelve and I expect I’ll love you when I’m a hundred and twelve. I promise you. Our children will be proud to have you for their mother. And their friends will envy them their good fortune.”

  Her laughter was the sweetest sound he’d heard in a long time. “I love you, too, Sam.” Her eyes glittered with mischief. “Despite your being a wicked Beaumont.”

  “I’ve got news for you. You’re now a wicked Beaumont, as well.” A sudden thought struck him. “Is that why you sold the Delacorte land your grandmother gave you?”

  She nodded. “I didn’t realize I was also a Delacorte since Pops neglected to tell me that part. I thought I was just a Beaumont. It didn’t seem right somehow to own the property.”

  “Sweetheart, with your coloring and appearance, how could you doubt you were anything but a Delacorte?”

  “I don’t know.” She shot him a telling look. “Maybe the Beaumont pride and stubbornness got in between me and the mirror.”

  “Hmm.” He tucked her close. “I think we’ll have to work on those particular character traits. You don’t seem to quite have the hang of being outtageous.”

  “Give it time. I’ll learn.”

  “I have every confidence in you. But promise me one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Absolutely no spikes.”

  “Fair enough.” She wrinkled her nose in thought. “How do you feel about nipple rings?”

  “Do you mean to tell me that after that belly scar, you’d even consider—”

  “Not for me!” She grinned. “I was thinking for you.” He drove that thought clean out of her head with a kiss that left her as breathless as it did hungry for more. “Can we go home so I can show you how much I love you?” she asked. “Are we done here? No more secrets?”

  No more secrets? He glanced toward Bertie and grinned. “Well...no secrets worth mentioning!”

  EPILOGUE

  “WELL, boys? What do you think? We did a fair to middlin’ job, wouldn’t you say?”

  “We saved Annie, which is the important thing,” Ben concurred.

  Rolly snorted. “Even if she did end up stuck with that Beaumont boy.”

  “Maybe that’s not so bad,” the mayor ventured. “After all, she is half Beaumont herself.”

  “Don’t know why we didn’t recognize that right off. She’s a bit of a wild thing.”

  “Yes sirree,” Rolly agreed. “Has those wicked Beaumont eyes, even if they are blue. You’d have thought we’d have seen that.”

  “And no wonder she’s a saint. Look who her momma is.”

  The mayor chuckled. “Good blood will show.”

  Rolly ran a hand along his jawline. “You know ... maybe Miss Annie will end up naming her babies after us.”

  “Have you lost your ever-blessed mind?” Mayor Pike demanded. “Why in tarnation would she do that?”

  “Because she’s so dang grateful for all we did matching her up with that Beaumont boy.” The sheriff tugged the pistol from his holster and gave it a quick rub with his handkerchief. “Rolly Beaumont. Has a ring, don’t you think?”

  “I think we’re going to have our hands full with those babies. Especially if they’re as wild as the parents.”

  Ben’s eyes widened in alarm. “I hadn’t thought about that.”

  “Yes, sir,” the mayor said. “They’re going to need a very special sort of help.”

  Rolly surged to his feet. “All for one!” he shouted.

  “And one for all!” the others chorused.

  ISBN : 978-1-4592-5278-3

  SHOTGUN BRIDEGROOM

  First North American Publication 1999.

  Copyright © 1999 by Day Totton Smith.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprise Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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