The Hired Husband

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Prologue

Los Angeles, 1897

“I now pronounce you man and wife.” The minister closed his Bible. “You may kiss the bride.”

Rachel Branford glared up at her new husband. “If you even think about kissing me, Mitch Kincade, I swear I’ll bite your lip off.”

She stomped away.

Mitch stood at the altar watching his bride storm past the rows of empty pews, her quick footsteps echoing through the silent church. Back stiff, dark hair drawn in a severe knot beneath her hat, she wore her least favorite dress—she’d made a point of telling him so, the one time she’d spoken to him this morning.

The woman could throw a blanket of frost over everything around her, no doubt about it.

And still, he wanted her.

Even if she couldn’t stand him.

Not that he blamed her, Mitch conceded, as he watched her bustle bobbing down the aisle. Not after the disaster her father had caused and her brother had compounded, the mess that she’d been left to fix…with her body.

But she’d given her word and she’d stuck by it. She’d gone through with the wedding. Why wouldn’t she? Rachel had as much at stake in this marriage as he did.

Now, through that series of unfortunate circumstances, Mitch stood on the verge of having the one thing he’d fought for, sweated blood over and dreamed of for years. So close he could taste it.

“Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord,” Mitch mumbled.

“Excuse me?” the minister asked.

Mitch glanced back at him. “Nothing. Never mind,” he said.

The minister shifted uncomfortably. “Well, uh, congratulations.” He cleared his throat. “And…good luck.”

You’ll need it, his tone implied.

Mitch didn’t disagree.

Drawing in a breath, he popped on his bowler and headed down the aisle after his bride. He’d have what he wanted from Rachel Branford.

One way or the other.

Chapter One

Three weeks earlier

“A nother problem?” Rachel whispered. “No, Uncle Stuart, that can’t be.”

Stuart Parker shook his graying head kindly and leaned closer. “Please, Rachel, we must talk. Privately.” He bobbed his wiry eyebrows toward the other side of the room.

Across the large bedchamber Rachel’s father, Edward Branford, lay in bed, the nurses who attended him huddled nearby.

Her father. The man who’d told her bedtime stories, hugged away her adolescent broken heart and supported her at her mother’s funeral just months ago, now lay propped against his pillows, eyes closed, pale, drawn…dying? Rachel’s heart broke anew each time she looked at him.

“Rachel, please?” Uncle Stuart said.

She led the way out of the bedchamber and down one side of the twin staircases that wrapped the marble foyer. The house, located in the most fashionable district of the city, normally bustled with people and the sounds of life, yet had been like a tomb for weeks. The servants crept about silently, visitors stayed just long enough to inquire about Edward Branford’s health, then quickly departed. Her younger sister and brother rarely ventured out of their bedchambers.

In her father’s study, Rachel closed the door behind Stuart Parker. He was her father’s oldest, closest and most trusted friend. “Uncle” was an honorary title.

The scent of her father’s cigars, the smell of the leather furniture nearly overwhelmed Rachel, and for a moment she wished she’d taken Uncle Stuart to one of the sitting rooms. But she sensed this “problem” he wanted to talk about was important, and here in her father’s study seemed the best place for such a discussion.

Uncle Stuart drew in a breath. “I’m afraid I have bad news.”

“More bad news?” Rachel asked. “Is that possible?”

She didn’t see how it could be. Nor how her family—what was left of it—could bear up under any more troubles.

Not quite a year ago Edward had gone into semiretirement and turned over the day-to-day operation of his massive business holdings to Rachel’s older brother, George. Then came the train accident that had taken Rachel’s mother—and so much more. But thank goodness George was at the helm of the family empire.

Or so Rachel had thought at the time.

A new fear pierced her heart. “Is this about Georgie? Did the investigators learn anything about him?”

“No,” Uncle Stuart replied, “I’m afraid not.”

Rachel’s shoulders slumped. Now when she needed her brother the most, he was nowhere to be found. A few weeks ago George had disappeared. Simply vanished. The police and private detectives continued to investigate, yet had uncovered no information. At times, Rachel feared the worst.

She turned to Uncle Stuart. “What’s your bad news?”

“I received a visit from Mr. Rayburn today.”

“From the bank?” Rachel asked. “What did that pompous old windbag want?”

“He came by as a courtesy to tell me…” Stuart paused. “To tell me that your father’s bank accounts are all nearly…empty.”