How Little We Know - M J Marlow (top 10 novels .TXT) 📗

in. “That hit the spot.” He got to his feet. “You know I could always move in hereand provide a male presence…” “Noted, counselor,” Lillian smiled up at him. She shook her head. “You do more behind the scenes.” She saw his disappointment. “Maybe after this has all settled down, I’ll let you court me again.” “Promise you’ll be careful, Lil,” Stanley said as he left. “He’s the type of man who would come at your niece through the people she cares for.” His hand went up to Lillian’s cheek. “I’d die if anything happened to you.” Eric looked at the paper Robert served him with at his real estate officeand hissed. His brother stood next to the Sheriff eyeing him carefully. Eric crumpled it in his hand and dialed a number. His anger only mounted as his lawyer told him that the order was valid. He had hoped she would see reasonand his brother had blind-sided him. Eric looked at the new Sheriffand saw that the man was quite willing to hurt him to enforce the order. So he focused his anger on his brother. “Visitation in the presence of his auntand his court-appointed guardian,” Eric read. He looked at Sean coldly. “Don’t you think this is low, brother?” He was on his feet. “This your way of getting into her bed, isn’t it, Sean? Every single man in town has tried but she’s shot them all down. Think gratitude is going to do the trick?” “You know Mary as well as I do, Eric,” Sean said his voice deadly calmand filled with warning. “Do you really think she’d let a legal document sway her?” He turned to goand then stoppedand looked back. “You so much as wink at her or say ‘boo’ to your boyand I will have the Sheriff put you in a celland lose the key. Are we clear on that?” “Crystal, brother,” Eric spat. He watched the men leaveand he sank back with a frown. Sean thanked Robert for his assistanceand went to his car. He had hated to do that to his brother, but the boy needed to be with people who wouldn’t use him as a punching bag. Their father had done that to himand Eric growing up, Sean was not going to let Eric continue that tradition. He drove towards Mary’s house so he could assure her he would not interfereand his phone rang. “Tonight is the Founder’s Day Dance,” the man on the other end told him. “If she isn’t your wife in the next three days, Mary Warner is going to be declared a target.” “Jonah,” Sean said tightly as he called the man heand Eric both used as an errand runner. “It’s Sean. You’re going to bring Mary to me tonight. I’ll be at the house near the old mines doing an inspection. Get her to your truck with a story about having a suitcase of Bobby’s thingsand bring her to me.” He frowned as the man asked him something. “Don’t hurt her unless she gives you a fight.” Mary was not certain going to the dance was a good idea, but she had to admit she could use a little fun. When Robert had asked if he could be her escort, she had been thrilled; now she was growing increasingly anxious. She twirled in front of the mirrorand smiled as she heard a whistle. Bobby was standing there with her shawl in his hands. “You look beautiful, Mary,” he said honestly. “I can see why Dad wants to marry you.” He frowned. “I don’t want you to,” he continued fiercely. “No matter what he says.” “Don’t worry, Bobby,” Lillian said from behind him. “His hands are tied. You belong here with us nowand he has no other weapon he can use against our Mary.” She looked at her niece. “He’s right, Mary. You do look beautiful.” “You should come with me,” Mary protested their decision to let her go alone. “What if…” “You need a night out having fun without worrying about what ifs,” Lillian said as she put her hands on Bobby’s shoulder. “This young manand I will be fine here with the lump of dog.” She turned Bobby away. “Come on, Bobby. You’re going to help me make dinner.” Mary smiled at the joy on the boy’s faceand picked up the shawl. She left the house feeling more confident than she had in days. Bobby was her legal ward nowand Eric couldn’t do anything to change that. She had an uneasy feeling suddenly that he was going to try. Robert pulled up in his fancy convertibleand came around to open the door for her. “Your chariot, Mary,” he smiled as he took in the sight of her in the dress. He had only seen her in pantsand he had to admit she had really nice legs. They drove to the school gymnasiumand he helped her out. “Mary Warner!” Sue Ellen, a plump round-faced woman with a perpetual smile on her face, called from the landing. Her black hair gleamed in the overhead lamp. “Leave you to land the most eligible bachelor in town.” “It’s not like that, Sue Ellen,” Mary blushedand let her friend lead her in. “Sheriff MacGregor is just being a friend.” Robert found himself wishing he could be more than a friend to that girl. But he knew she wasn’t ready for a man to make a move on her. She’s lost two childrenand been widowed only a few months ago. She needed time to healand he was too busy learning how things worked around Evansville to dive into an unwise relationship. He danced with every girl that looked in the need of a partnerand kept his eyes on Mary. Every single man in the place was lined up to have a turn with herand he felt jealousy rear its ugly head in him. “Mighty fine girl,” the parson, Eli Wagner, smiled as he came to stand next to Robert. “You could do worse, but you couldn’t do better.” “I don’t think Mary is ready for a full blown relationship, Parson,” Robert replied. “I’m new in townand probably only here temporarily. She needs a man who is going to stick around.” He frowned as he saw a large man with white hair approaching Mary. “Who’s that?” “Jonah White,” Wagner frowned. “The Evans’ family hound. If he’s talking to her, it’s at one of the brother’s instigation.” Robert noddedand moved across the gym. He was waylaid several times on the way so that when he got where Mary had been she was gone. So was the man, he noted as he looked around the room. He hurried outside to see the man getting into a pickup truck with a topper over the backand driving away. There was no sign of Mary anywhere. “What’s your hurry, Sheriff,” a soft voice spoke up behind him. Robert turned to see Melanie Franklin standing there. She worked for Eric Evans. “Lose something?” “You haven’t seen Mary Evans out here,” he asked the long-legged brunette who was poured into the emerald green dress she was wearing. “I needed to talk to her about her nephew.” “Sorry,” Melanie frowned. “I just got here.” She stepped up to himand put her hand on his chest. He could see the invitation in her deep green eyes. “Care to share the moonlight with me, Sheriff?” “I have to get back to work,” Robert said as he backed up. “I’m sure there’s someone in the gym who will take you up on that invite.” Sean was pacing the floor of the old mine owner’s living room as he waited. The phone rangeand he quietedand smiled. He thanked his spyand went out on the porch to see Jonah’s truck coming. He stoppedand opened the back of the topper to pull Mary out. There was an ugly bruise along her jaw. Sean looked at Jonah. “She put up a fight, Sean,” Jonah shrugged. “You said…” “Yes, I did,” Sean nodded. He grabbed Mary’s armand forced her inside. “You can go, Jonah. I’ll take her back.” He looked at Mary sadly as he closed the doorand locked it. “We didn’t get to finish our talk the other day, Mary…” “You have nothing to say,” Mary snapped at him, “that I am interested in hearing.” “You have to marry me, Mary,” Sean laughed as he pulled something out of his pocket. He grabbed her left hand and slid the ring on her finger. Then he kissed her while she struggled to get loose. “It wish it could be a church wedding,” he told her as he stroked her breast, his eyes warming with lust almost immediately, “but time is running out.” “Sean, please…” “I want you, Mary,” Sean broke in. “I have wanted you since we were kids.” His eyes went dark with remembered angerand pain. “I never meant to hurt you that night, Mary. I wanted you so badly that when you said ‘no’, I lost it.” His hand cupped her cheek. “I’ve tried to make it up to you ever since.” “Thank you for that, Sean,” Mary told him honestly. “But that doesn’t give you any claim to me. I don’t want to marry you!” “I wish I could let it go, Mary,” Sean told her, “but some very nasty men tell me they will murder you if I don’t marry you.” He saw her go whiteand wished he could spare her. “This is the only way you’ll be safe.” There was a knock on the doorand he went to open it. Judge Lassiter stood there with his wifeand daughter. They came inand Mary watched as the Judge pulled out his book. He really meant to do this to her? She shook her headand tried to leaveand he held on tight. “I’m not going to insist,” he promised her as he leaned close, “on a true marriage, Mary. I’ll move in with youand the boy,” he told her, “but I’ll take the guest room. I won’t touch you until you want me to.” “Damn you, Sean,” Mary whimpered in protest. “Why are you doing this?” “I told you, Mary,” Sean replied, the regret in his eyes quite evident. “It’s the only way you’ll be safe. I would die if anything happened to you.” He turned her to the Judge. “Bobby needs you to stay alive, Mary,” he added. Mary had no choice, so she noddedand his relief was plain. “All right, Judge. We’re ready.” What followed was the oddest wedding ceremony Mary had ever imagined. Judge Lassiter nodded when they signed their names in his registerand on the certificateand congratulated them with a smile. His wifeand daughter, Mary knew, would have the news spread all over town by the end of the night. “We’re alone now, Mary,” he said as he closed the door behind the Judgeand his family. He locked itand saw her standing there looking very uncertain. “I was going to keep my distance,” he said as he picked her up in his arms, “but its impossible. I’ve waited four years to have you in my arms again.” His lips brushed hers as he carried her up the stairs, teasingand gentle. It was as if the four years were swept awayand they were teenagers again, exploring their attraction to each other. She sighedand his tongue plunged into her mouth making her moan with pleasure. “I want this time to be everything our first time wasn’t,” Sean said as he lowered the straps on her dressand kissed her bared shoulders. The dress slid down her bodyand pooled at her feet. His eyes went warm. “You are so beautiful, Mary.” The moon was high in the sky when they finally left the old mining manager’s home. Sean led her to his carand they drove to her house. They pulled up in frontand he could not stop himself. He kissed her roughly. “It’s what is best for youand the boy, Mary,” he said as he got out