Camille smiled and kissed the captain on the cheek. “Not at all. Thank you, Captain, that was very sweet.”
With that, she turned back to Jesse and Beau, and left. But in the back of her mind she knew that the worst part of their trip was just beginning.
* * * *
“Ms. Du Peret, in view of the fact that you have no prior offenses, and the jewels you stole were returned, I am inclined to be lenient with you. I’m particularly impressed with your desire to put this all behind you and live a decent life. This attitude is refreshing and will serve you well. I am putting you in temporary custody of Jesse and Beau Bannock for as long as it takes for you to find work and be able to take care of yourself.” He picked up his gavel and gave a quick rap. “So ordered. Court is adjourned.”
Camille jumped up and turned to Jesse and Beau. “Oh, Jesse, isn’t it wonderful? I don’t have to go to jail.” She turned to Beau. “What do you think, Beau?”
“Well,” he said, casting a knowing look at Jesse. “I have a feeling we’d better keep a close eye on you. This stealing thing might be addictive. Who knows when you might be tempted again? Right, Jesse?”
“Oh, right,” Jesse said, a twitch to his lips as he suppressed a smile.
“Oh, no, not that again. You’re going to lock me away somewhere, aren’t you?” she said, looking at one then the other.
“We had something else in mind,” Jesse said. “We have a ranch not far from here called the Double M. Fresh air, sunshine, good food. A good place to rehabilitate someone.” He looked down at her. “How about it?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Any locks on the doors?”
“Will we need them?” he answered, a touch of reprimand in his voice.
She smiled. “I guess not.” When she got outside, she started toward the livery, but the brothers began walking in the opposite direction. “Hey, you’re going the wrong way,” she said, pointing ahead of her. “The livery is down this way.”
“Yeah, but we have something to do first.”
“Okay,” she said, and with one on each side of her, they walked down the dusty street to a small chapel. “A church?” Camille said as she stopped in her tracks. “You’re taking me to church?”
“Not a bad idea, really.”
“I know what you’re up to,” she said, pulling back. “You’re going to give me over to the reverend and have him lock me in one of those bare rooms with nothing but a bed and a cross.”
“It could be worse.”
“Oh, no!” she shouted, and turned back. “I’m not going anywhere near there!”
“Camille,” Beau said as he and Jesse dragged her with them up the walk, “just trust us. We know what’s best for you.”
When they had finally got her into the church and down the aisle, she looked up and saw the reverend.
“Ah, here you are,” he said.
She looked over at Jesse, and whispered, “He was expecting us?”
“Of course.”
The reverend looked at the three of them, and then said to Jesse, “Jesse, is this for you and the young lady?”
“No, Reverend. It’ll be all three.”
“Oh,” he said with confusion clouding his eyes. “I see. Well, it’s a bit unusual, but if that’s the way you want it.”
Reaching inside his robes, he took out a little black book. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Jesse Bannock, Beau Bannock, and Camille Du Peret in holy wedlock—”
“What?” Camille cried out. “We’re getting married?”
“Of course,” Jesse said. “We promised the judge to make an honest woman of you…in every way.”
“Without a ring, without a proposal, without a courtship?”
“I believe we’ve had our courtship,” Jesse said, his face coloring just a little. Patting his pockets as if he were looking for something, he finally reached into his vest pocket and brought out a ring. He looked at Beau. “Beau, would you please do the honors?”
“Of course,” he said and took her hands in his. “Camille, will you please marry…us?”
“You’re crazy,” she said as she backed away. “Both of you.”
“Not crazy,” Jesse said, “just in love.”
“But three of us? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Everything’s been done at least once,” Jesse said. “Don’t be such a prude.”
All at once she began laughing and looked up to a place beyond the ceiling. “Lord, are you ready for this one?” She hesitated a moment, listening for something and then looked over at the reverend. “Well, the world didn’t come to an end, so fire away, Reverend. My answer is yes!”
The reverend looked at them for a moment, thinking. Then he said, “I’m satisfied that God might approve, but I have to be honest with you, Jesse. I can say the words and sign the marriage certificate, but there’s still Natchez to consider. I’ll admit it’s a very liberal town, but it’s just possible they might not recognize it as legal and throw it back in my face.”
“He’s right, you know,” Camille said, looking at each one. “Are you sure about this?”
“You bet,” the two men said eagerly.
She looked back at the reverend and saw his concern. With a thoughtful pat on his hand, she said, “That’s okay, Reverend. If they don’t accept it, then we’ll just do the only thing left to us.”
“And what would that be, my child?”
She smiled at the reverend, winked saucily, and said, “I think the church calls it…living in sin.”
The End
Publisher’s Note
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About Temple Madison
Temple Madison is quickly rising into the ranks of hottest erotica writer around today. She slowly evolved from the mundane boy meets girl plotline, to the sexy bad boys who leave a trail of erotic fire wherever they go. Even though she tried to focus on her heroines, she somehow couldn't keep from wrapping her whole story around the gorgeous guys. Finally, she gave in to it and prowled the streets of her imagination in search of her next super idea and gorgeous hunk. Her passion is the big, swarthy type that fits into the big city nighttime scene. These alpha males might be vampires, werewolves spirit beings, or they may be completely normal. But one thing they all are, is sexy as hell.
Temple has had her days in the sun, when she was the life of the party, a laugh a minute kind of gal, and outrageously cool, but writing is her passion today. Today she’s one of those boring ex-civil service workers that has a penchant for bookstores and sappy love songs. She prefers quiet dinners with friends over maddening crowds. Her favorite pastime is writing a truly exciting suspenseful novel with strong, stand-alone characters, and an exciting, anything-can-happen plotline. After several years, her love of writing hasn’t left her, so look for more of her dark romance novels that will give you a chill one minute and a hot flash the next.
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Other Titles by Temple Madison
That Sweet Burn
Back Alley Cop
Rogues and Riverboats Page 9