His Heartbroken Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch - Spicy Version Book 4) by Merry Farmer Page A

alone with my thoughts for a moment.”
    “Oh.” A sage look came over Muriel’s adolescent features. “I see.” She skipped across the room and kissed Libby’s cheek.
    In spite of it all, Libby was tempted to laugh. She’d thought she knew it all at that age too.
    Still, it was a relief to bustle her way out of the house and onto the streets of Haskell. A fair amount of people were already up and about, walking to work or opening their businesses. She nodded to Mr. Theophilus Gunn as she passed The Cattleman Hotel.
    “Good morning, Mrs. Sims.” The tall, white-haired man in his impeccable hotel uniform waved. “Felicitations on your happy day.”
    Libby waved back, but kept her lips pressed shut. What would a fine, sophisticated man like Mr. Gunn think of the shameful thing she’d done?
    No, she couldn’t continue to think that way about ever new person she saw. Wallowing in self-pity never helped anything. She had to pull herself up by her bootstraps and think about her children.
    All of them.
    She pressed a hand to her stomach as it twisted inside of her. But what if she couldn’t? What if…
    “Is everything all right, ma’am?”
    Libby glanced up to find the attractive, dark-skinned banker, Mr. Templesmith, standing on the front steps of the town hall. He’d been checking his watch against the clock embedded above the town hall’s door, but his concern was on her now.
    “Good morning, Mr. Templesmith.” Libby forced herself to smile. “Nothing’s wrong.”
    “Nothing indeed. She’s getting married today.”
    An odd rush of relief softened Libby’s shoulders at the sound of Mason’s voice. She turned to find him striding up behind her. He was dressed in what must have been his finest suit, his hair slicked back, his face freshly shaved. Her heart jumped against her ribs. How had she forgotten how handsome Mason Montrose was? A joyful smile filled her.
    A moment later, it crashed. He was a fool to take her when she carried another man’s child.
    Mason saw her reaction. “No, no.” He rushed the last few steps toward her. “None of that.”
    He marched right up to her, taking her in his arms. Libby’s skin prickled with the need to sink into his embrace. Mr. Templesmith smiled and nodded to them before hurrying on his way with a grin that said he knew Libby was in good hands and didn’t want to interfere.
    “How did Haskell end up with a black banker?” Libby asked as Mason released her from his hug and walked on with her.
    “Uh-uh.” Mason shook his head. “You’re not allowed to distract me with questions like that when you looked so happy one second and so distressed the next.”
    A train whistle sounded in the distance, as if to underscore the scolding.
    Libby sighed. “Are you sure we’re not making a mistake?”
    They reached the far end of the road near the baseball field, where it began to curve away toward the road leading to the school and to the church. Libby stepped to the side of the road, rubbing her arms to ward off the chill as she faced Mason.
    “We’re not making a mistake.” Mason spoke with more authority than she’d ever heard in him. “I’m not making a mistake,” he clarified, stepping closer to her.
    Libby winced and met his stern gaze. “Are you certain you want to shackle yourself to a woman with two boys? A woman who is carrying another man’s child?” she whispered. It wouldn’t take that much to tell him the whole truth, would it?
    Yes, she answered herself. Yes it would.
    To her surprise, Mason laughed. “Not to sound awkward about it, sweet pea, but Teddy’s children—all of them—are part of the reason I want to marry you. Those kids, that baby, deserve a father.”
    Libby’s cheeks went bright red, and she looked away. Teddy’s baby deserved a father, but did Hector’s?
    “But that’s not the only reason I want to marry you,” he went on, brushing his gloved hand over her cheek with a smile. “I like you, Libby. I’ve always liked