Mara McBain Read Online Free

unsteady on her feet. “You should have eaten something this morning,” he grumbled. “Sit down before you fall down.”
    “No I shouldn’t have. I’m fine.”
    He frowned as she stepped away from him, rubbing her arms.
    “You’re about to take a vow to obey. You might want to get some practice in.” 
    Her wide grey eyes swung back to him, and he caught a tremble in her bottom lip. He tried to rein in his temper. The last thing he needed right now was waterworks. She stepped back when he reached for her. His jaw set.
    “Come here.”
    She hesitated, staring at his finger that pointed to a spot a foot in front of his boots. Her chest rose and fell in a flutter and she shot a glance toward the door.
    “Don’t even think about it. I’m not going to hurt you. I told you to come here, and I’m not saying it again.”
    “You’re scaring her,” Cole said.
    Trey shot him a look that should’ve dropped and buried him. Gen was looking at Cole now, or possibly the door again.
    “Gen.”
    Her eyes darted back to him at the sound of her name. He stretched the pointing hand out palm up, meeting her part way. She took a shaky step and placed her hand palm down in his. He backed up slowly, tugging her with him. Sitting down in the front pew, he pulled her to sit on his knee.
    “All swagger aside, darlin', we’re both about to make vows that I take seriously and you better as well. In the letters we wrote, we both made promises. I keep my word. When we walk out of here you will be my wife. If that’s not what you want, say the word now and I’ll put you back on the train,” he said, keeping his gaze locked on hers.
    Her long slender fingers laced with his. Her hand was still shaking, but she held tight. A dusting of freckles stood out across the bridge of her pert nose, but her expression was determined. It was all the answer he needed. He nodded, and she nodded back at him. He smiled as the pastor returned with his wife and daughter and nudged Gen to her feet. She didn’t let go of his hand.
     
    The sun was going down as they headed home. Cole had chosen to ride in the back, but Gen still sat in the middle, her hand on his thigh. After the ceremony they had shared a light lunch with the pastor’s family and then knowing there were a lot of daylight hours left, he’d treated her to a movie. It was an extravagance he rarely indulged in these days, but the delight on her face had been more than worth it. The stares hadn’t been as welcome, but he had learned to ignore them. They had finished the day with another nice dinner, though Gen had eaten little of hers.
    He parked the truck near the house and shut off the ignition. Cole leapt from the back and disappeared toward the barn. Trey looked down at his new wife. She was fussing with the crease in his pant leg and seemed reluctant to meet his gaze.
    “I’m going to help Cole with the animals and make sure everything is done for the night, and then I will be in.” 
    She nodded but still didn’t look up. He got out of the truck and reached back in to help her out. Setting her on her feet in front of him, he used the tip of his finger to raise her chin.
    “Are you okay?”
    She blushed, but smiled and nodded.
    “I’m fine. I was just thinking about the day. I don’t want to forget a moment of it. Adrienne will want to hear every detail when I write to her.”
    “Who is Adrienne?”
    “She was my friend back in New York. She’s a performer. She sings like an angel and dances, well…not so much like an angel,” Gen said with a naughty little giggle.
    The comment broke the tension that had started to creep back between them and Trey laughed.
    “She sounds like a good friend.”
    “She is. There were times she was the difference between me starving and not.”
    “That’s something you won’t need to worry about again.”
    She tilted her face into his palm as he stroked her cheek. He didn’t want to see that sadness touch her eyes again. Draping his suit