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"Colleen, leave Justin and the girl alone. You should be pleased not to have to pay for the train ticket. Let that be enough."
"Don't you tell me what to do," Colleen said coldly. She started toward the door. When she reached it, she paused and looked back. "You'd better take care, Megan. You're just an old maid and your good reputation is all you have. If people find out you're associating with this man and that
brat, they'll take their business elsewhere rather than deal with someone of loose moral character."
"I have the only store in this town. Where would they go?"
"This isn't the only town, though, is it?"
Megan stared at her sister. At her expensive clothes and fancy coiffure. She didn't know this woman at all.
"Oh, and Justin, don't bother trying to find someone else to take in the child. I'll make sure none of the decent women in town will have anything to do with her. If you get tired of playing nursemaid, my offer of a ticket to the orphanage still stands. If not, there's always the saloon. Perhaps you can find her relatives among the whores. After all, that's where you found her mother." Colleen laughed.
"Get out!" Megan said loudly.
Colleen sobered. "Don't push me, Megan. I can destroy you." With that, the door slammed shut behind her.
Chapter Six
JVLegan stared at the closed door and wondered when she would stop shaking. It wasn't anger as much as shock that made her tremble. Justin Kincaid had been back exactly three days and already her life had been completely disrupted.
She glanced around the store. Neither of the customers were paying any attention to her, but she doubted that they could have missed the argument. It could have been worse, she told herself. At least neither Cameron nor old Zeke were likely to spread rumors. Imagine what would have happened if Mrs. Dobson had been here to listen. By noon, the entire town would know Megan's business.
"Are you all right?"
She looked up at Justin. He'd moved next to her. His hand rested on her arm much as Cameron Forbes's had done moments before. The question was the same, as well. Only her reaction was different. Justin's words soothed her and his touch warmed her clear down to her toes, giving her much-needed strength.
"I'm fine," she said, then wondered if he'd heard the quaver in her voice.
"I'd like you to meet a friend of mine." He smiled down at the girl. "Megan Bartlett, this is Bonnie Smith."
Bonnie looked up at her. "You're as pretty as my mama."
Justin's fingers tightened on her arm. She knew he thought the comparison might make her angry. She shrugged him away impatiently, then crouched. "Hello, Bonnie." Megan reached forward and gently touched the
Justin's Bride 89
child's unmarked cheek. "I didn't know your mama, but I thank you for the compliment. You're so pretty yourself, she must have been very beautiful."
"She's dead. Mrs. Jarvis says she went to hell."
Megan glanced up at Justin, then turned back to the girl. "Who is Mrs. Jarvis?"
"She's the lady who takes care of me. She doesn't like my mama."
Megan touched the very edge of the bruise on Bonnie's cheek. "Is she the one who hit you?"
Bonnie nodded. "It doesn't hurt anymore. I told Mama once what she did. She yelled at Mrs. Jarvis, but it didn't matter. When Mama left, Mrs. Jarvis hit me again." Her small dark eyebrows drew together. "Am I going to get a whippin' now?"
Megan's eyes burned from threatening tears. Still, she forced herself to smile. "No. Justin and I don't believe in hitting little girls." She pointed to the far counter. "Do you see that big jar there?"
"Uh-huh."
"There's some candy inside. If you're real careful, you can use the step stool and get yourself a piece. Would you like that?"
Bonnie nodded vigorously. "I had candy before, and it was good."
"All right. Be careful on the stool."
The little girl ran off, her dark hair swaying with her movements. Megan had never seen Laurie Smith, but the young woman must have been stunning. No wonder Justin had preferred her bed to the chaste kisses Megan had offered.
"You surprise me," Justin said, holding out his hand to assist her to her feet. "I didn't think you would ever stand up to your sister."
