The Lawman Claims His Bride

“No.” Logan shook his head fiercely. “I’m not going to leave you locked up like a common criminal. I went to Mattie’s this morning. I have proof of your innocence.”

“You…you do?”

“Yes.” But he didn’t expand, which made her wonder if he really had proof or if he was still basing his assumption on what he thought he knew about her.

Before she could press him for more information, for anything to give her a sense of the truth hidden deep within her mind, he steered the conversation in a different direction. “As soon as I make the arrangements I’m going to take you home.”

Home? No. No. They couldn’t take that risk. “I can’t go to Charity House,” she said in a panicked voice. “We can’t put the children in danger.”

“That’s not what I meant. I’m taking you to my home, where I grew up.”

His words took a moment to settle over her. “You want to take me to your family’s ranch?” Pure joy spread through her. Logan came from a large, happy family with a mother. And a father. And lots of siblings.

“It’s the best solution,” he said. “The only one.”

Glory.

“Will that be all right with you?” he asked.

She wanted to jump off the cot and fling herself into his arms. She wanted to tell him, yes, yes, yes.

But reality held her back. She was the daughter of a prostitute, raised in an orphanage with children from similar backgrounds as hers.

His family might never accept her.

Then again, surely the people who’d raised this wonderful, kind, godly man would have equally gracious hearts.

“I…” Not sure what to say, she lifted her arms in the air and he immediately tugged her into his embrace.

She rested her cheek against his hard, muscular chest and breathed in his scent.

For the first time since she’d walked into Mattie’s brothel yesterday Megan felt at peace. “Yes, Logan, I want to go home with you.”

“Good.” He blew out a long breath then set her away from him. “We’ll leave immediately. We’ll—”

“Logan, no.” Sheriff Scott slammed into the jail cell, his lips twisting at a furious angle. “You can’t take her away.”

At the sound of those five angry words, spoken with such conviction, Megan’s hope shattered.

Sheriff Scott wasn’t going to let her leave with Logan.

That meant she would have to spend another night in jail, alone, with no relief in sight.

How would she ever bear the torment?

Chapter Six

Logan had been shot once. In his leg. The bullet had seared through his flesh with a burning agony he’d never experienced before that moment. Yet compared to the pain sweeping through him now as he stared at the anguish on Megan’s face, the bullet wound seemed a mere pinprick.