“Very well, but if you aren’t at the café within fifteen minutes, we’ll come looking for you.”
• • •
“Madame Duval’s returning to New Orleans?” Kiera was amazed at the tale Edith told of how she went to San Francisco to find Kiera then found a peck of trouble and a husband instead.
Edith nodded and swallowed some coffee. “We’re also certain that all charges against you will be dropped, since Madame Duval left a signed document clearing you of any involvement in the murder of that man.”
Kiera’s eyes went wide. “You mean she confessed? Why did the authorities allow her to leave?”
“She didn’t exactly confess, but she made clear that you are not the blonde woman the authorities are seeking.”
Kiera sat back on her bench, leaning against Ev. His arm circled her shoulders. “Well that’s one less complication we need to worry about.”
Edith and Dutch looked from Kiera to Ev and back.
“Are there other complications?” asked Edith. “We need to leave for Boston with all possible speed. Grandfather is gravely ill—in a coma—due to a carriage accident. Mae and I were searching his desk for money to pay the doctor and I came across information about you being in San Francisco. He’d hired Pinkertons to follow you and never told us. What Mae doesn’t know is that I found a copy of his will. He’s leaving his entire estate to the Boston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals unless one of us has a child in the next two years.”
“That’s absurd, and horrifying, and just like Grandfather.”
“If he’s in a coma, what’s the hurry in returning?” asked Ev.
“Edith left Boston at the end of June. It’s nearly August,” responded Dutch. “Some patients remain in comas for years, and some die quickly. No one knows if Carlton Alden will die or wake up.”
“I want to get back to Boston before either event can happen. We need to have that will changed, and the best chance of doing that is while Grandfather is alive but unable to oppose us. However, our only hope of success is to have all three of us present and united in the effort.”
“I understand the urgency now, but there is a small problem,” Kiera looked at Ev.
He saw a plea for understanding in her expression; a plea that had him worried she’d refuse his proposal. He wanted her to be his wife, but whatever her decision, he’d support her. He squeezed her shoulder and nodded.
She smiled. “Ev’s asked me to marry him, and I’ve accepted.”
Edith’s mouth thinned. “You can’t just go marrying the first stranger you meet. Dying or not, Grandfather will never change his will if we both defy his choices for us.”
Dutch laughed. “Didn’t realize I was a gesture of defiance.”
Edith cast him a fulminating glance. “You know better. However, I won’t have that old man … ”
Ev saw that Kiera would have intervened before Edith’s temper lit off, but Trahern enveloped the elder sister in a tight embrace and kissed her to silence.
Edith’ face was bright red when Dutch finally released her.
“Ev isn’t exactly a stranger, and I don’t need Grandfather’s money.”
“You don’t?”
“No, she doesn’t,” interjected Ev. “She happens to own a sizable chunk of Wyoming Territory, a chunk that sits smack on top of a gold field.”
“You own a gold mine?”
“No mine yet, just placer gold, but enough to settle my sisters there in comfort and security and restore the town that a fire in Smoke Valley destroyed.”
Edith laughed out loud. “That’s hilarious. Wait until Mae finds out? You will come with us to Boston, won’t you?”
“We’d be happy to, as soon as Ev can get someone to take over his marshal’s duties here.” She looked at Ev, who nodded agreement.
“That’s wonderful. However, as for moving to this Smoke Valley of yours,” Dutch cleared his throat and looked at Edith. “We’ve got ties to San Francisco, Edith. We can’t just up and move to Wyoming.”
She studied him. “We can work that out later. Right now we have to arrange a wedding.”
“It’s already arranged.”
All eyes turned on Ev.
He looked at Kiera. “Just in case you said yes when I proposed, I had Muh’Weda ride to Fort Sanders and bring the Colonel back here to perform the ceremony this morning.”
Kiera kissed him. “I do love you, Evrett Quinn. Let’s go get married.”
Acknowledgments
I’d like to acknowledge the significant contribution of several people. First, I wish to thank my editor. Her insights and skill have made One Night’s Desire the best book it could possibly be. I also thank Ashley Myers and the Crimson Romance Publishing team. The team’s passion for a good story is well known, and I am humbled to have this book chosen for publication. Without Ashley and Crimson Romance Publishing’s interest, Kiera and Evrett’s story would have languished for much longer than One Night’s Desire. As always, I wish to acknowledge the contribution of my readers. Your support and encouragement throughout the years means the world to me. I hope I get to thank you all personally.
About the Author
Author of historical, contemporary, and erotic romances, Rue Allyn fell in love with happily ever after the day she heard her first story. She is deliriously married to her sweetheart of many years and loves to hear from readers about their favorite books and real life adventures. Learn more about Rue at http://RueAllyn.com.
FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RueAllyn/220219031338619
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RueAllyn
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5031290.Rue_Allyn
Blog: http://rueallynauthorblog.com/
This edition published by
Crimson Romance
an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street
Avon, MA 02322
www.crimsonromance.com
Copyright © 2013 by Rue Allyn.
ISBN 10: 1-4405-6717-4
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-6717-9
eISBN 10: 1-4405-6718-2
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-6718-6
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.
Cover art © 123rf.com
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Loving the Lawmen Page 86