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Book One]
    by Lauri Robinson
    "No, no, I think that about covers it." Sheriff Turley shook his head. "The Reverend and I are going to head home now." He looked toward the brothers. "Go get a wagon hitched up, we'll ride as far as Kid's house with you." The brothers scrambled out the door in such a flurry they left it wide open. Cool, night air filled the room. Jessie took a deep breath, hoping it would clear her confused mind and calm her jumbled nerves. Was she really married? That's all it took—a few words from a preacher and a kiss on the cheek?
    She'd never dreamed of falling in love and living happily ever after, knew that wasn't a reality in the harsh, vast land of the west, but she'd always held a slight longing of finding someone she could care for, some one who'd care for her as they fought to survive their lot in life.
    "There's no need for you to ride over to my place. It's out of your way. I assure you, I'm not going to harm them," Kid Quinter said.
    The sheriff let out a low chuckle and walked across the room. "You must be forgetting how well I know you." He tipped the brim of his wide hat her way, then pulled the door shut as he walked out.
    Blood pounded in her ears. She'd hoped Kid was the good brother, while Skeeter was the bad. But from what the sheriff implied, it appeared to be the other way around. Her gaze went to Russell. Eyes closed, his head rested on the back of the chair. He didn't appear to be at all concerned for her welfare. Many times over the past ten years she'd felt alone, but she'd never felt as lonely as she did at this moment. Tears pricked at her eyes again. She tried to buck up, to face 44
    Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
    by Lauri Robinson
    this new adversity with courage, but her shoulders drooped, even valor had deserted her.
    The door behind her flew open. Skeeter and Hog, or maybe it was Snake, the two looked a lot a like, walked in.
    "Ma, we'll bring your chair back," Skeeter said as they picked Kid up, chair and all, and carried him through the open door. Stephanie Quinter walked over to the table. "You don't have anything to worry about, sweetie. Kid will be good to you. He's a good man, the best of the bunch." The woman's voice sounded soft and sincere.
    Jessie didn't know how to respond. He may be the best of the bunch, but it was a very rough bunch. Stephanie reached out and grasped her elbows, helping her rise. "You'll see," she said. At that moment, Jessie wanted to lay her head on Stephanie Quinter's shoulder and cry her eyes out, but she couldn't. It would do little more than show how very vulnerable she felt. She blinked, hoping the woman didn't see the tears, and forced her head to nod in agreement.
    "If you need anything, you just holler, and I'll be right there. I always wanted a daughter and feel right proud to be your ma," Stephanie said as she fluffed the long, tangled tresses falling over Jessie's shoulders. "Come on now, they're waiting for you."
    Jessie told her feet to move, and with Stephanie's arm around her shoulder, she walked to the door. She wanted to turn to Russell and beg him to stand up for her, make it all go away, but that wasn't about to happen either. He didn't so much as whisper a good-bye as she left the house. 45
    Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
    by Lauri Robinson
    The rains had ended, leaving the air fresh and clean and the darkness of the night had lifted a touch. Faint streaks of light shimmered on the distant horizon. If only hope could rise with the morning sun, she might have something to look forward to.
    Stephanie helped her climb into the back of the wagon. Kid, tied in the chair, sat near the front of the bed. The brothers had once again been thinking, not wanting him to tip over, they'd tied the chair to the seat of the wagon with another rope. Jessie sat down, then scooted a touch closer to his feet as Bug and either Hog or Snake, climbed in after her. Even tied up, his big frame oozed with authority and gave