The Marriage Agreement

Jonathon had come to her rescue, offering her the opportunity to manage the registration desk at his Chicago hotel. She’d leaped at the chance to leave town. Or rather, to escape the gossip.

Fanny wasn’t particularly proud of her cowardice, but some good had come from her attempt to run away from the problem. She’d spent a lot of hours in her rented room in Chicago. After much prayer and soul-searching, she’d come to the realization that she was more than a pretty face, more than what others expected her to be.

Now, back in Denver once again, she would like to think she’d found where she belonged. At the Hotel Dupree. She knew better, of course. She loved her job, but...

Something was missing. Her very own happy-ever-after that four of her six siblings had already found and were living out on a daily basis.

Gazing up into Jonathon’s remarkable blue eyes, she felt a hopeless sense of longing spread through her. He’s not for you, she reminded herself. He doesn’t want what you want.

If only...

She knew better than to finish that thought.

As an uncharacteristic awkwardness spread between them, Fanny tried to think of something to say. She blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Philomena looked rather lovely today, don’t you agree?”

He cocked his head in a look of masculine confusion. “Mrs. Singletary always ensures her companion looks lovely.”

So, he hadn’t been especially taken by Philomena’s considerable charms. Inappropriately pleased by the revelation, Fanny resumed walking, her steps considerably lighter.

They turned at the end of the block and retraced their route. In the past, this was usually when Jonathon revealed whatever was bothering him.

True to form, he blew out a slow hiss of air. “It confounds me how someone can just show up, unannounced, and expect to be given whatever he wants without consequences.”

At the fire in his words, Fanny belatedly remembered the additional name on Mrs. Singletary’s guest list. “Did Judge Greene contact you directly?”

Jonathon’s face tightened at the question. “Are you saying he showed up at the hotel today, too?”

“No, I just assumed...” She shot a covert glance in his direction. “It’s obvious something is troubling you. I thought it might be because Mrs. Singletary added your father to the guest list.”

Jonathon stopped abruptly. “She what?”

Fanny sighed. “You didn’t know.”

“I did not.”

She sighed again. She knew about Jonathon’s personal connection to Joshua Greene only because the judge himself had told her. He’d misunderstood their relationship. Thinking they were more than business associates, he’d approached Fanny about setting up a meeting with his son. When Fanny had gotten over her shock and told Jonathon about the brazen request, he’d been furious. Not with her, with his father.

Her stomach dipped at the memory. “Would you like me to speak with Mrs. Singletary? I could explain the situation, you know, without actually explaining it.”

For a moment, Jonathon’s guard dropped and she saw the vulnerability that belonged to the boy he’d once been—the one who’d been summarily dismissed by his own father.

She thought he might share some of his pain with her, but his eyes became cool and distant. “Leave it alone,” he said at last. “Mrs. Singletary is allowed to invite whomever she pleases to her charity ball.”

They finished the rest of their walk in silence.

At the hotel entrance, Jonathon stopped Fanny from entering by moving directly in front of her. “Before we go in, I have a request.”

She blinked up at him. “You know you can ask me anything.”

“Have you secured an escort for Mrs. Singletary’s ball?”

“I...no.” She shook her head in confusion. “I have not.”

“Good, don’t.”

“Is...” She cleared her throat, twice. “Is there a reason you wish for me to attend the ball alone?”

His lips curved into a sweet, almost tender smile. “You misunderstand. I don’t wish for you to attend alone.”

Oh. Oh, my. Her breath backed up in her lungs. “No?”

“I would like for you to attend with me.” The intensity in his eyes made her legs wobble. “What do you say, Fanny? Will you allow me to escort you to the ball Friday evening?”

Her head told her to refuse. This man was her employer. He’d vowed never to marry. He didn’t want children. No good would come from forgetting those very significant points of contention between them.

But then he took her hand.

She felt dizzy, too dizzy to think clearly. Surely that explained why she ignored caution. “Yes, Jonathon, I would very much like to attend the ball with you.”

* * *

The following morning, Jonathon stood outside his office and tracked his gaze over the crowded hotel lobby. No matter what tactic he employed, he couldn’t seem to concentrate on the scene in front of him. His mind kept returning to his conversation with Fanny after their walk.

He should not have asked her to Mrs. Singletary’s ball. He knew that, but couldn’t seem to regret doing so.

He enjoyed Fanny’s company. Probably more than he should. Certainly more than their business association warranted. From very early on in their acquaintance, she’d made it clear what she wanted out of life—a satisfying job, marriage, children, a home of her own. Jonathon could give her only one of those things, the job.

But there were plenty of men who could give her the rest, some of whom would be in attendance at the ball tomorrow evening.

Fanny, with her luminous smile and stunning face, would enchant each and every one of those potential suitors. She was unique. Special. The kind of woman a man wanted to cherish and protect, always.

Something unpleasant unfurled in Jonathon’s chest at the thought of her sharing even one dance with someone, anyone, other than him.

Shifting his stance, he ground his back molars together so hard his neck ached. He forcibly relaxed his jaw and once again attempted to focus his attention on the hotel.

Again, his mind wandered back to Fanny and how badly he wanted her by his side tomorrow night. Facing his father would be...well, if not easier, certainly less challenging.

Guilt immediately reared up, producing a dull, burning pain in the back of his throat. Jonathon would not use Fanny as a shield between him and his father.

He should let her attend the ball alone. Yet he could not withdraw his invitation at this late date. He’d gotten himself in quite the quandary, with no simple way out.

He was spared from further reflection when his assistant, Burke Galloway, shouldered his way through the milling crowd.

“Mr. Hawkins, you’ll be pleased to know we’re nearly at 100 percent occupancy.”

Jonathon pulled out his watch and checked the time. Not yet noon. He allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. “Mrs. Singletary will be delighted so many of her party guests have taken rooms in the hotel.”

“The discounted rate was a strong incentive.”

“Indeed.” The cut in price had been Fanny’s idea, a way to show off the newly renovated hotel to the locals. He made a mental note to increase her wages yet again.

“I have a few items we need to discuss.” Burke eyed him with a questioning glance. “I trust now is a good time.”

Jonathon nodded.

Burke retrieved a small notepad from an inside pocket of his jacket and proceeded to run through a series of problems that had arisen. When he’d finished, and Jonathon had given his decision on each matter, Burke flipped the page and addressed the final item scribbled in his book.

“As per your request, I’ve prepared the conference room on the second floor for your meeting with the Mitchell brothers this afternoon.” He tapped the page absently with his fingertip. “Your attorney has already sent over five copies of the agreement, one for each person involved in the transaction and an additional copy to file with the county clerk’s office once the sale goes through.”

If the sale goes through.

Hunter, Logan and Garrett Mitchell still had to agree to sell Jonathon the parcel of land they jointly owned north of their family’s ranch. He would pay whatever they asked, no matter how outrageous the price.

Turning the run-down train depot into a premier stop on the busy Union Pacific line wasn’t just another business venture for him. It was a chance to set a new course for his future, a sort of redemption for the mistakes of his past.

Operating on the notion that the Mitchell brothers would be tough negotiators, he made one last request of his assistant. “Clear my calendar for the rest of the day, in case our meeting runs long.”

“Of course.” Burke made a notation on his notepad, then looked up. “We’ve covered everything on my list. Is there anything else you wish to review?”

“That’s all for now.”

“Very good.” Burke left a few seconds later.

Jonathon returned his gaze to the lobby, his thoughts as disordered as the scene in front of him.

People came and went. Some hurried, others meandered. There was no pattern to their movement, yet the scene was a familiar one, replicated in every one of Jonathon’s hotels, on any given day of the week.

After years of traveling from hotel to hotel, room to room, living out of a trunk or suitcase, Jonathon was ready to put down roots, deep and strong and lasting. His family would be the men and women he hired to work at the train depot, their changed lives his legacy.

If he happened to find himself lonely at times, it was the price he was willing to pay to break the chain of sin that plagued his family.

As if to test his resolve, he caught sight of Fanny out of the corner of his eye. Beautiful. That was the first thought that came to mind as Jonathon watched her move out from behind the registration desk.

She scanned the immediate area with a slightly narrowed gaze, probably looking for something out of place. Her earnest, blue-green eyes, starred with heavy, dark lashes, swept across the lobby, over the marble flooring, up to the glass atrium above her head.

The sunlight streaming through the windows slid over her in washes of yellow and gold, highlighting the variegated strands of blond hair piled atop her head.

Jonathon remembered the first time he’d seen her, standing in much the same place as she was now. He’d sensed the moment their gazes met that she was going to pose a problem for him. Not on a business level, but on a personal one.

He hadn’t been wrong.

She caught him watching her. Smiling, she immediately changed direction. When she stopped beside him, his heart actually stuttered.

Up close, she was even more spectacular.

Her skin was flawless, her features almost doll-like. Pieces of hair had fallen free from her tidy coiffure. Since Jonathon rather liked the effect, he deemed it best not to point this out. No doubt she would reach up and tuck the wayward curls back in place.

“We have a busy few days ahead of us.” She’d barely uttered the statement before a bellman, juggling several large pieces of luggage, staggered toward her. Deftly moving aside to let him pass, she added, “We’re booked solid through Monday morning.”

Not sure what he heard in her voice—worry, tension, mild agitation?—Jonathon raked his gaze over her face. She was definitely anxious about something. “Any concerns I should know about?”

She answered without hesitation. “No, of course not.”

Highly unlikely, with every room booked for the next four nights. “None?” He lifted a single eyebrow. “Not one?”

Laughing softly, she shook her head. “Let me rephrase. Have problems presented themselves this morning? Yes, absolutely. Anything I, or my staff, can’t handle? No.”

“Good answer.”

She flashed a smug grin. “I know.”

He chuckled. She joined in.

A moment later her smile slipped, just a little, but enough that Jonathon noticed. He wondered at the cause but thought he probably knew. Her mother and father had arrived earlier this morning. “I trust your parents are settled in their room?”

“They are, yes.” She angled her head to gaze up at him. “Thank you, Jonathon, for giving them the finest suite in the hotel. You have no idea how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity.”

Something about her expression, so grateful, so overcome with emotion, made him stand a bit taller. He had a sudden urge to shield this woman from all the evil in this world, to slay every one of her dragons, real or perceived.

The need to protect Fanny, stronger than he’d felt for anyone before, wasn’t entirely unexpected. Nor was it new. The sensation had been with him from the start of their association.

If she were a different woman, he a different man...

He shoved the thought aside. Fanny wanted marriage, children. Family. Jonathon knew nothing of those things. But he wanted her to have them. He wanted her to find happiness. With some other man?

No.

His mouth went dry as dust. He cleared his throat with a low growl. “How is your mother feeling?”

“She seemed well enough when I left her. Her color was good and she was breathing easily, but...”

Fanny’s words trailed off and she snapped her mouth firmly shut.

“But...?” he prompted.

“But the ten-mile journey into town wore her out. She’s putting up a brave front. I’m not in the least fooled by her false smiles. Thankfully, Dr. Shane is upstairs with her now, administering a breathing treatment.” Gratitude returned to Fanny’s gaze. “Thank you for making sure he was already here when she arrived.”

Something that looked like affection, perhaps even admiration, replaced the gratitude.

How he wanted to be the man he saw in her eyes right now.

He cleared his throat again.

“I was happy to send for the doctor.” Of course, Shane Bartlett wasn’t just any doctor. He was the best in Denver. His connection to Charity House and his willingness to see patients regardless of their past—or current—lifestyles made him one of the few men Jonathon trusted. “I know how much your mother means to you.”

Another, heavier sigh leaked out of Fanny’s very pretty mouth. “I don’t know what I’d do if one of her attacks becomes so severe she isn’t able to recover.”

The anguish in Fanny’s voice was a sharp, tangible thing.

Jonathon was reminded of the day his own mother had taken ill. How well he understood the fear and pain Fanny fought to control.

Wanting to comfort her, he opened his mouth to say something, not precisely sure what, but a minor event playing out at the hotel’s entrance captured his attention.

An expectant hush fell over the lobby as a stunning couple walked in with their sizable brood, plus one former, notorious madam Jonathon knew a bit too well. After all, she’d once owned the brothel where his mother had worked.

He had a lot of memories connected to Mattie Silks, not all of them good. But her appearance in his hotel wasn’t the reason every muscle in his back knotted with tension.

Hunter Mitchell, the oldest of the Mitchell siblings, had arrived ahead of his brothers.

One down, two more yet to show.

Jonathon managed, just barely, to keep the anticipation from showing on his face. Unfortunately, none of his outward calm could temper his impatience to begin negotiations with the Mitchell brothers.

Soon, he told himself. If all went according to plan, his future would take a dramatic turn very soon.

Chapter Four

Fanny knew a moment of quiet desperation as she watched her brother herd his family deeper into the hotel lobby. That’s what I want, Lord. That joy, that sense of belonging, a family of my own.

She had to believe her time would come. For now, she would take a moment to enjoy the show. Hunter had brought his entire household to town, including his wife, all four of their children and, of course, his wife’s mother, the incomparable Mattie Silks.

Laughter abounded among the group, while an entire team of bellmen wrestled the family’s luggage onto a cart. Fanny’s sister-in-law, Annabeth, attempted to oversee the process. Unfortunately, her mother added her own, very vocal “suggestions” on how to speed along the process. Mattie’s input caused more mayhem, not less.

Hunter’s oldest daughter, Sarah, skillfully pulled her younger siblings out of the fray. Unfortunately, Mattie added her assistance there as well, and pandemonium soon followed. The children quite literally ran circles around their grandmother.

Fanny thought she saw a brief twinkle of amusement dance in her brother’s eyes before he quickly restored order with the gentle strength that had always defined him. Hunter looked good, she decided. His hair was a sun-kissed, sandy blond from the hours he spent outdoors on his ranch. His long-legged, leanly muscular cowboy swagger was replicated in all the Mitchell men.

Hunter had experienced some difficult years, including two spent in prison for manslaughter, but he’d overcome his past and was stronger for the challenges he’d once faced. She was proud to call him brother.

“Now, that’s what I call an entrance,” Jonathon muttered.

The look of amused horror on his face made her smile. “I should have warned you, the Mitchells never do anything by half measure.”

“I was speaking about Mattie.” His voice was infused with a touch of irony. “Watch. She’s about to strike a pose. Ah, yes, there she goes.”

As predicted, Mattie sauntered to a spot in the middle of the hotel lobby. With exaggerated slowness, she lifted her chin, thrust out a hip and then planted a fist on her waist.

The pose was so...completely Mattie. A snort of laughter erupted before Fanny could call it back. “You know the woman well.”

“Too well,” Jonathon muttered, his mouth now a little grim. “She’s managed to draw almost every eye to her.”

Gazes were, indeed, riveted in Mattie’s direction. But Fanny suspected much of the interest was for the extraordinary-looking group as a whole. Even Hunter’s children were beautiful.

A range of emotions swept through her. Fanny was excited to spend time with her family, but also determined to make the next few days count. When Mrs. Singletary’s ball was over, all of Denver would see her differently. She would no longer be defined as that pretty Mitchell girl. Or that poor, misguided woman who’d jilted a prominent man in town.

She would prove she was a competent woman, capable of handling great responsibilities. When she walked through town next week, the whispers following in her wake would be not only accurate, but also complimentary.

Catching sight of her from across the room, Annabeth squealed in delight and waved enthusiastically.

The entire group changed direction, Annabeth leading the way with a waddle that bespoke her current condition. Judging by the size of her belly, Hunter’s fifth child would be making an appearance in a few short months.

As Annabeth approached, smiling broadly, Fanny noticed that her sister-in-law glowed with good health and happiness. She was so very beautiful. The rich, caramel-colored skin and sleek dark hair she’d inherited from her Mexican father were the perfect foil for the pale blue eyes she’d gotten from Mattie.

Oddly, as Hunter and his family drew closer, Jonathon seemed to grow tenser. He shifted his stance slightly, then repositioned himself once again.

Interesting that while he appeared outwardly loose-limbed and relaxed, the lines around his mouth gave him away.

Fanny was given no more time to contemplate his strange behavior before she was hauled into her brother’s strong arms and swung in fast, dizzying circles.

“Put me down, you big oaf.”

He obliged, but only after two more heart-pounding spins.

Then, hands on her shoulders, Hunter studied her face with the narrow-eyed focus that had kept him alive during his rebellious years. She tried not to fidget under the inspection.

At last, he gave a quick nod of approval. “You look well, Fanny. Happy.”

“I am well and happy.” Mostly.

Angling his head, he paused, as if about to say something, then abruptly refocused his attention onto Jonathon.

They shook hands in a very businesslike manner.

“Have my brothers arrived?” Hunter asked.

“Not yet.”

As Fanny watched the formal exchange between the two men, she had the distinct impression she’d missed something, something important. She opened her mouth to inquire, but they moved a few steps away and began speaking in low, hushed tones.

She couldn’t quite make out what they said. She stepped closer. At the mention of a meeting—what meeting?—she leaned in a smidgen closer. She thought she caught Jonathon say her brother Garrett’s name, but then Annabeth swooped in for a hug and that was the end of Fanny’s eavesdropping.

She spent the next few minutes greeting the rest of Hunter’s family. “Mattie, I do believe you look ten years younger than the last time I saw you.”

The former madam responded to the compliment with a nonchalant wave of her hand. “It’s all that fresh air.”

The harried tone implied that fresh air was something to be avoided at all costs. Fanny wasn’t fooled. The former madam was delighted with her decision to sell her brothel and move onto the ranch with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.

Who would have thought Mattie Silks would turn into a doting grandmother?

“Hello, Aunt Fanny.”

Fanny spun around at the sound of her name. “Sarah, look at you. You’re all grown up.”

The girl beamed. “I turn sixteen in four months, one week and five days. But who’s counting?”

Fanny laughed. The sweet, pretty child with the dark hair and tawny eyes had become a confident, striking young woman. “Tell me how you’ve been.”

Sarah did, in great detail, barely taking a breath. When she finally paused, Fanny took the opportunity to steer the conversation in a slightly different direction than the latest fashion for hats. “Are you excited about attending school in Boston next year?”

“I am. Very much. I thought Pa would never agree to let me go.” She rolled her eyes in her father’s direction. “He only relented when I promised to carry on your legacy at Miss Sinclair’s Prestigious School for Girls.”

Though she was flattered, and really quite touched, the last thing Fanny wanted was for her niece to follow in her footsteps. She’d been a model student at Miss Sinclair’s, uncommonly obedient. That had been a mistake. When a young girl went away to school, she was supposed to spread her wings a little, to test her boundaries, to make mistakes and then learn from them.

Wanting to offer what advice she could on the matter, she touched her niece’s arm, then decided it wasn’t her place. Sarah should be allowed to find her own way, on her own terms. But still. “Let’s talk more later, just the two of us.”

Sarah’s smile turned radiant. “I’d like that.”

Fanny switched her attention to her sister-in-law’s rounded belly. “How are you feeling?”

“Excited, impatient.” Annabeth leaned in close. “Your brother hovers like an old woman. Honestly, you’d think I’d never birthed a child before.”

Despite her slightly miffed tone, Annabeth glanced over at Hunter. The way she looked at him, all dreamy-eyed and in love, told Fanny her sister-in-law adored every bit of the attention her husband bestowed on her.

A tinge of melancholy struck without warning. Would Fanny ever find that kind of love?

She certainly hoped so. And yet she wondered...

Was she even capable of having deep feelings for a man? She certainly hadn’t felt anything more than friendship for Reese. What did that say about her?

Breaking away from the group, Hunter’s youngest child toddled toward her. Happy for the distraction, she reached down to pick up her nephew. But the eighteen-month-old miniature copy of his father had a different plan in mind.