Read The Lawman's Agreement (Entangled Scandalous) Online

Authors: Nancy Fraser,Patti Shenberger

Tags: #historical romance, #post civil-war, #cowboy, #Patti Shenberger, #doctor, #fake engagement, #U.S. Marshal, #Nancy Fraser, #McCade Legacy

The Lawman's Agreement (Entangled Scandalous) (3 page)

BOOK: The Lawman's Agreement (Entangled Scandalous)
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“I hadn’t thought about them,” he admitted. “It definitely wouldn’t be fair to lead them on.”

“I agree. I’ve become very close with both Felicity and Jake. I’d feel horrible misleading them.”

“Jake and Felicity are having a big family dinner a week from Sunday. Why don’t you join us? We’ll tell them of our plan then.”

“Okay, but no courting until after we’ve told them the truth.”

“If that’s what you want,
cher
, I’ll do my best to wait it out.”

“What I’d really like is for you to stop calling me
cher
.”

“Suzie, then?” he teased, his dark gaze sparkling with amusement, his grin as tempting as sin.

“No.”

“Well, at least we can progress to a first name basis, can’t we?” Pausing, he added, “After all, we’re about to become engaged.”

Rather than respond, Suzanne stood and took hold of Zack’s hand as he’d done to hers before. Pulling him to his feet, she made her way to the front of the clinic and opened the door.

“If you leave now,” she told him, “I’ll give serious consideration to allowing Suzanne. Not
cher
; and definitely not Suzie.”

About to step out onto the wooden walkway in front of the office, Zack stopped short in order to avoid bumping into two elderly ladies standing just outside the door. Then, turning back in her direction, he pulled Suzanne into his arms and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“Goodbye, darling,” he whispered, his voice just loud enough for the two women to overhear, “I’ll be back to walk you home at six.”

Without missing a beat, he stepped out onto the sidewalk, tipped his hat to the women, and started off toward his office.

Suzanne closed the door and leaned back against the frame, the frantic racing of her pulse further enhancing the flush of embarrassment warming her cheeks, both reactions surprising her. No doubt the gossip mill would be active tonight fueled by rumors she’d had no intention of starting so soon.

Chapter Four

“Come in, Zachary; Doctor Martindale.” Zack’s Aunt Virginia opened the door and graciously beckoned them forward. As always, Suzanne was struck by the elegance of the older woman. If there were ever the perfect portrait of a gracious southern belle, it would be Zack’s Aunt Virginia.

In spite of Zack’s attempt at providing fodder for the local gossips, Suzanne had managed to keep the marshal at arm’s length for the past week. They’d crossed paths on a few occasions, most often because of a saloon brawl, or an injury to a mill worker.

Fortunately, in each instance, they’d been surrounded by people, and Suzanne had been able to control the situation and keep the gist of their unusual agreement quiet.

Up until today, that was.

Today they faced the task of telling Zack’s family of their intended plan. Suzanne wished she felt as certain of their agreement as Zack did.

“Thank you so much for having me,” Suzanne said in return. “And, please, Mrs. McCade, call me Suzanne.”

“I will my dear, as long as you call me either Virginia or, even Aunt Ginnie. I answer to either.”

Suzanne smiled at the woman, readily agreeing. “Virginia, it is.”

Jake stepped into the foyer as well, and always the southern gentleman and host, he took Suzanne’s cloak and then raised her fingertips to his lips for a kiss. “Welcome to our home, Suzanne. Felicity, Matt, and Miri are in the parlor.”

“Is that pecan pie I smell, Aunt Ginnie?” Zack asked, entering the house on Suzanne’s heels and drawing his aunt into a gentle hug.

Suzanne stepped away from Zack’s unnerving presence, doing her best to ignore the marshal’s undeniable charm. Yet, as she was quickly finding out, all the McCade men seemed to be charming and irresistible.

As if to prove her point, Matt joined them in the entranceway and offered Suzanne his arm, ushering her smoothly into the elegantly appointed parlor where the others waited. No wonder the ladies of Greenville chased after Zack. What sane woman wouldn’t want to be part of such a charming family? Fortunately for her, women who pursued a lifelong career in medicine were rarely thought of as sane.

Suzanne sat back and took in the utter chaos of the after-dinner table. So far, the evening had been delightful with good food, fine wine, boisterous and engaging conversation, followed by, as Zack had hoped, Virginia’s prize-winning pecan pie.

“I roast the pecans myself,” Virginia explained, “I use a special blend of spices to enhance the flavor.”

“Whatever you use,” Suzanne said, pushing her empty plate away, “this has to be the best pecan pie I’ve ever tasted.”

“She soaks the pecans in rum,” Matt said, his tone serious, his teasing only evident by the twinkle in his eye.

“I do not soak them,” Virginia insisted, “I gently bathe them.”

Jake raised his half-empty plate in the air. “If I remember correctly, that ‘bath’ lasts at least overnight if not longer.”

Virginia raised her hand and wagged a finger in his direction. “Jackson Bellamy McCade, I’d appreciate it if you’d not give away all my secrets!”

Laughter rang out around the table, and Suzanne welcomed the sound, relaxing among her friends. This teasing, the family camaraderie was nothing like her rather stilted Boston upbringing, and she reveled in the relaxed differences. Would it be so bad to have these wonderful people as impending family, even if hers and Zack’s engagement was only one of convenience?

Suzanne raised her head and met Zack’s gaze. She smiled at him and nodded, his return smile telling her he understood that she’d decided in favor of his proposed agreement.

However, before either she or Zack could raise the subject of their intended ruse, Jake motioned toward where Suzanne and Zack sat and said, “Now that we’ve got dinner out of the way, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask the both of you. There’s a rumor going around town the two of you are courting.”

Suzanne could have sworn she saw both Felicity and Miri stifle an outright laugh behind their hands. Virginia, on the other hand, seemed incredibly interested in Zack’s answer.

“We intended to tell you this evening,” Zack said.

“It’s not what you think,” Suzanne added, quickly wanting to stifle any misconception.

“It’s not?” Matt asked.

Zack sighed deeply and then turned to face Virginia. Obviously, Suzanne realized, it was his aunt’s approval he sought the most.

“Both Suzanne and I are being hounded by unwanted suitors. I can barely leave my office without tripping over some young woman bringing me cookies or wanting to mend my socks.”

“Mend your socks?” Miri said in what Suzanne suspected was honest disbelief.

“What can I say,
cher
? They’re desperate. I had no idea there were so many unattached females in this small town.”

“It’s the same for me,” Suzanne added. “I had a man actually walk into the exam room during a consultation with a pregnant woman just to bring me a hand carved gift.”

“In order to avoid all these unwanted entanglements,” Zack explained, “Suzanne and I have come to an agreement.”

“An agreement?” Virginia repeated in question, her frown not boding well for their plan.

“We’ve decided to court. Not truly, of course,” Suzanne explained, “just for appearances. Then, after an acceptable time, we’ll announce our engagement. We both feel certain, once our ruse is in place, neither of us will have to worry about unwanted advances.”

Felicity and Miri shared yet another glance among themselves and, for a second time, Suzanne noticed that her two friends were fighting back the urge to laugh.

Over coffee in the parlor, both Zack and Suzanne took turns laying out the plan for their agreement, fending question after question from the ladies and outright bewilderment from both Jake and Matt.

When Matt went upstairs to tend to little Molly, Zack stood and drew Suzanne to her feet. “We’d better be going,” he said. “We’ve both got an early morning.”

“Thank you again for a lovely dinner,” Suzanne said, as Zack laid her cloak across her shoulders.

“It was our pleasure,” Felicity told them. “You two be careful driving back into town.”


“How do you think they took to the idea?” Zack asked, once he turned the buggy onto the road leading to town.

“Felicity and Miri seemed quite amused. I’m not so certain about your Aunt Virginia.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have to remember, your aunt is from a different generation. When she was our age women married either for love or for convenience, or even by pre-arrangement. Either way, there was no subterfuge, no lengthy engagement, just marriage.”

“Jake and Matt seemed to be onboard with the whole plan.”

“Well, of course they are. I’m sure they see this as a grand solution, just as you do. Men think about courting with their heads, women with their hearts.”

“So, does that mean you’re in this agreement with your heart,
cher
?”

“I’m not your typical woman, Marshal.”

Zack slapped the reins down, urging the horse to a faster pace before agreeing with her self-assessment. “You can say that again.”

He dropped Suzanne off twenty minutes later, seeing her to the door. With nobody else in sight, he had no excuse to press a kiss to her cheek and, quite truthfully, was disappointed at the lost opportunity. Zack returned the horse and carriage to the livery and then walked the short distance to Miss Purdy’s boarding house. Withdrawing the room key from his pocket, he opened the door and slipped quietly inside.He removed his boots, fancy dress shirt and trousers and lay down on his bed. Immediately, Suzanne’s image popped into his head. She’d looked even lovelier than usual tonight, out of her neatly starched dresses with their functional pockets, and into a beautiful evening dress of palest blue. She’d even loosened the tight knot of her upswept hairdo and let wisps of spun gold hang loosely across her shoulders.

More than once, he’d caught himself reaching out to lift the silky strands and run them through his fingers, stopping short of actually following through with the unconscious desire. On one such occasion, he could have sworn he caught Felicity watching him, a demure smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

He’d have to be careful where his family was concerned. If there was one thing he didn’t want to do, it was to draw them any farther into their ruse than necessary. His and Suzanne’s agreement was between them and the townspeople they were doing their best to discourage. No one else need be involved.

Zack began to drift off to sleep. Behind his closed eyelids, he pictured himself releasing the pins holding Suzanne’s blond tresses in place. He’d draw his hands through the curls and set them loose against the creamy soft skin of her bare shoulders. She’d look up at him and smile just before he took her mouth in a deep and thoroughly enticing kiss. The image did little to aid his quest for sleep, but rather had him stirring restlessly on the narrow bed. He punched the feather pillow into submission and turned onto his side.

His deputy’s words ten days earlier came back to him in a rush.

“You know what you need, Zack. You need a wife.”

Zack didn’t want a wife. What he wanted was an agreement, a fake fiancée, and Suzanne Martindale fit the bill quite well. If only this ache in his body would go away and leave them to their ruse.


“Where are we going for this pretend picnic you were so adamant in planning?” Suzanne asked, once Zack set the buggy in motion.

“The picnic is not pretend, there’s real food in this basket.”

“Sorry,” she teased, amused by his hurt tone. “Where are we going for our real picnic, but fake courtship?”

“I thought we’d head just south of town. There’s some nice waterfront land there where we can sit along the river’s edge and enjoy our lunch.”

As reluctant as Suzanne was to admit it, the idea of a relaxing picnic sounded heavenly given the busy morning she’d had.

As if he could read her thoughts, Zack asked, “How’s your day been so far?”

“Mr. McLeary brought in another of his workers. I’m sorely tempted to ask you to inspect his operation. I know it was inspected after the accident, but I’m still getting far too many minor breaks and sprains for it to be considered safe.”

“I can take a ride over there this afternoon once I’ve dropped you back at the clinic if you’d like.”

“I’d appreciate it,” she told him honestly, a bit surprised at how pleased she was to have him offer his assistance.

Zack stopped the buggy just shy of a small stand of trees and jumped to the ground. Raising his arms, he lifted Suzanne down until they stood toe-to-toe. She held her breath, rather than inhale the scent of his aftershave. A faint flutter skittered through her middle, leaving a persistent tingle in its wake.

“I’ll get the basket if you’d like to take the blanket and find a spot to sit,” Zack offered.

Suzanne grabbed at the chance to escape his close presence with both hands, drawing the blanket to her chest and turning away from the temptation of the marshal’s broad shoulders and engaging smile. Walking a good twenty feet from where they’d left the buggy, she spread the blanket beneath an old elm tree.

Zack offered Suzanne his hand to lower her onto the blanket and followed her, coming to rest at her side. Barely more than three feet separated them and Suzanne’s heart skipped a beat when their hands brushed, each reaching for the picnic basket at the same time.

Zack cleared his throat and she realized this was as uncomfortable for him as it was for her. She leaned back and let Zack unpack the basket, choosing instead to study their surroundings.

An abandoned barn sat forlornly against the afternoon sky, its days all but numbered before it totally collapsed under the strain of a good rain. In front of them was the Mississippi River, hidden by a small stand of bushes.

Suzanne turned and stared back toward where they’d left the horse and buggy, the docile animal and rig the only thing apparent on the narrow and empty road on which they’d arrived. They were well and truly secluded, without hope of anyone witnessing their picnic, or their supposed courtship.

She thought to protest the waste of time, to question Zack as to why he’d chosen this particular spot. Yet, when she turned to do so, she found herself caught up in the heat of his gaze. Zack lifted his hand and cupped her chin, tilting her head so he could press his mouth to hers.

The moment their lips touched, Suzanne realized the impending disaster she’d worried about had well and truly arrived.

BOOK: The Lawman's Agreement (Entangled Scandalous)
7.71Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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