Read Finally a Bride for Free Online

friends.”
    “Have no fear. Jenny took advantage of something Billy said when I was on that roof, but there’s no backbone to it. He never actually asked me to marry him, and I would never agree if he did. I don’t care what Tessa says about him.”
    Luke relaxed. “Good. God has a special man out there for you. It’s worth waiting until he comes along.”
    Jack snorted a laugh. “I’ll probably be an old spinster by then.”
    “I didn’t realize you were in a hurry to wed.”
    “I’m not, really. I just see how happy you and Ma are, and part of me hopes I can find that for myself. But the other part fears getting close to a man. What if he turns out like my first father?”
    Luke pursed his lips and glanced at the ceiling. “There are good men and bad in this world; you know that. Trust God to bring you the man He has for you when the time is right. And pray about it.”
    “I will, but don’t think this talk of marriage is going to make me forget what I really want to know. Will you talk Ma into letting me come down for supper?”
    He narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure you’re not just wanting to eat downstairs because the new minister will be there?”
    All manner of thoughts dashed through her mind. The memory of that brief connection she felt when their gazes had locked buzzed in her mind. He was so tall and good looking. So young. She’d expected an older man to replace Reverend Taylor, not someone just a few years older than she. How could he have enough life experience to be a decent pastor?
    Luke’s brows lifted when she didn’t respond to his questions. A knowing smirk twisted his lips.
    She leaned heavily on her crutches, her knee ranting at her for being on her feet, and lifted a hand. “It’s not what you’re thinking. Tessa has already claimed him, and Penny is besotted, although I don’t see how they both can have the same man. We might have to have another bride contest.” She grinned, hoping the reminder of Luke’s mail-order bride fiasco before he married her mother would lighten him up.
    “Now who’s changing the subject?” Luke’s penetrating brown eyes stared into hers. He pushed away from the door and crossed his arms over his chest. “I was a soldier for a decade, and I’ve been a marshal and your stepfather for another ten years. You can’t pull the wool over my eyes. What are you up to, Half Bit?”
    She resisted the urge to squirm and instead focused her attention on backing up and sitting down. Her leg was beginning to throb. There was no point in trying to fool her perceptive pa. She exhaled loudly. “Jenny Evans came to visit this afternoon. She knows I’m chafing at the bit to get back to work and suggested that I do a story on the new minister, being as how he’s staying here and all.”
    Luke lifted his chin, and she knew then he believed her. “That’s not a half-bad idea, just so long as you don’t push yourself too hard. A concussion is something to take seriously, not to mention your knee injury. With all the antics you’ve pulled over the years, I can’t believe you’ve never broken a bone.” He shook his head. “And I hope you learned your lesson.” His chin went down again as he stared at her. “No more rooftops.”
    “I’ve already decided that. I know what I did was stupid, but I was desperate, and it was the only way I could think to listen in on the mayor’s meeting.”
    “And why was that so important? All he and the town leaders ever talk about from what I hear is town stuff.”
    Jack shrugged. “Jenny seemed to think Mayor Burke is up to something. Besides, he was talking to two well-dressed strangers, not the town board.”
    Luke leaned back against the wall. “I saw those men and wondered why they weren’t staying at the boardinghouse. I know Burke’s been trying to bring more businesses to town, but that’s no secret.”
    “Jenny said something about a gambling hall.”
    “Has she got evidence?” Luke straightened.