Read All for the Heiress for Free Online

Lachlan should feel protective toward her, but on the other hand, she was completely over explaining it.
    “You needn’t worry about my virtue. I’ve known that lad since birth. He’s all right.”
    “Yeah, Shane’s all right,” Piper quickly added. She waved her notebook in front of his face. “Ugh, this wedding will kill me for sure. Can you just pick a votive holder style for me please? Silver scrolls or these cherub ones?”
    He pointed at one with barely a glance, and it showed how little Piper cared anymore that she nodded and checked it off her list. It made Mellie sad that it seemed neither Piper nor Evie were getting any joy out of the wedding planning. She thought if she said anything her head would be the one to roll, so she left it alone. When it was all over, hopefully they’d laugh about it. She idly wondered what color dress she’d end up wearing. If she got to go at all. Who knew how long it would take to help Shane find Catie again. And what if a certain someone enticed her to stay as well?
    Mellie realized with a start that if she actually followed through with the mad plan, she might end up living out her days in the eighteenth century whether she chose to stay or not. If they got there, there was no guarantee they’d be able to get back, or survive.
    Could she really go through with it? Never see her parents again, never get to visit America? She thought about her part in getting Catie to return to her own time, and Shane’s subsequent heartbreak. It was almost as if she had to go, to make things right. At least, that was what she was going to keep telling herself.

    ***

    She tossed and turned all night, finally giving up shortly before dawn and fretfully throwing on her running gear to take a mind cleansing run in the cold air.
    A tall ghostly figure holding a box stepped out of the foggy path in front of her and she clamped her lips around a shriek as she realized it was only Shane making his way to the barn.
    “What are you doing here so early?” she asked, pressing her hand to her chest to still her heart. “You scared me half to death.”
    He nodded an apology and lifted the box to show her. “I’m still covering for Danny,” he reminded her. “But come with me into the barn for a minute, and look at everything I got at the historical camp yesterday. Ye can stash it in your room.”
    The fact that he went to the camp without her was just another pin in her already deflated mood. “I thought we were going out there together,” she whined.
    “Ah, Mel, I’m so sorry,” he said, stopping in his tracks. “I somehow managed to finish early yesterday and just went. I totally forgot your thing for Archie. He did ask after ye, though.”
    Dear Jesus, did everyone know about her unfortunate and mostly waning crush on Archie? “It’s not that,” she said, but he snickered.
    “It’s all right, I totally get it. With his searing eyes and mocha skin, ye’d have lovely babies for sure. I’d want a bit of that too, if I— ouch! Fine, I’ll shut up,” he said, rubbing his arm where she jabbed him.
    She couldn’t help but admit her mood lightened a little, and she wasn’t sure if it was from letting him have it or the good-natured teasing, but when he led her into the barn and snapped on one of the overhead lights, she was smiling.
    A couple of the horses curiously lifted their heads over their stall doors to greet them and Shane told them amiably they’d have to wait a few more minutes. He took the lid off the filing box and waved her over for a look.
    It was crammed with things and he held each one up to show her and wait for her nod of approval. Besides two sturdy cloth bags that looked like a cross between backpacks and baby slings, there was a small hatchet, leather canteens, a battered copper cup, a few more knives with leather holders, and a good sized pile of dinged up coins. Best of all was a printed copy of an old map of the area.
    “And I didna forget your wee glass