Free Iris (Suitors of Seattle Book 8) by Kirsten Osbourne Page A

her shoulders and hurried out the door.  Francis stood up and followed her.  Iris rolled her eyes and started to clear the table with the two younger girls. 
    Mallie looked down at her arm with frustration.  "I wish I could help."
    Iris laughed softly.  "I'm sure you'll do your share of dishes when your arm is healed.  Don't worry."
    Francis looked at the younger man in the wagon.  "I'm Francis Harvey."
    Samuel got down and rushed to the house, holding his hand out.  "I'm Samuel Garrity.  It's nice to meet you, sir."
    "What are your intentions toward my niece?" Francis asked, his voice harsh.
    "Tonight, I intend to take her for a drive along the river.  When I have enough money saved to buy my own spread and build her a house, I intend to make her my bride, if she'll have me."
    Edith rushed to Samuel's side, taking his arm.  "You know I'll have you, Samuel."
    Francis sighed.  His intention to drive them apart seemed to be backfiring. "Have her home not a minute later than nine.  You hear me?"
    "Yes, sir.  I'd never do anything to hurt her reputation."  Samuel helped Edith into the wagon.  "We'll be back soon.  I'll take good care of her."
    Francis watched as they drove off before stomping into the house.  He couldn't believe his brother was letting his baby girl go out with men that way.  What was he thinking?
    Iris was sitting at the table talking quietly to Mallie while his younger girls were taking care of the dishes.  Ettie was washing while Katie dried. 
    He walked to the table and sat beside Iris, gripping her hand under the table where his girls couldn't see. 
    Mallie quit talking as soon as he sat down.  She looked down at her lap.
    "Is something wrong?" Francis asked, looking between Mallie and Iris.
    Iris smiled, shaking her head.  "Just girl talk."  Mallie had asked her about a boy she had a crush on at school, listening intently to Iris's advice to just keep playing together at recess.
    "What kind of girl talk?" he asked, frowning.  Had Mallie been hiding something from him?  "What did you ladies talk about while I was out on the porch trying to frighten Mr. Garrity?"
    Mallie's eyes were wide as she looked at her pa.  "Why were you trying to scare Edith's beau, Pa?"
    Francis shrugged.  "Why won't you tell me what you were talking about?"
    Mallie frowned, looking down. 
    Iris shook her head at Francis.  "I can't tell you.  I was having a private discussion with my patient.  I can't betray her trust in me."
    Francis looked between his oldest daughter and Iris.  What kind of secret could a ten year old girl be having that she was afraid for her father to know?  Was Iris teaching her to use her feminine wiles?  "Would you tell me if it was something I needed to know?"
    Iris nodded.  "If I thought she could be hurt in any way, I would tell you immediately."
    He was fortunate to have Iris as the woman his daughter confided in, and he knew it.  She was a good friend to his daughter and a good...lady friend to him.  He knew he wanted her in his life for as long as he could have her.  He couldn't say that he loved her, because he'd known her for such a short time, but she was definitely good for him and his children.
    "I trust you," he finally said, making it clear that he wasn't suspicious of her.  He didn't want her to think that she had to be careful to guard her words around him.
    Iris squeezed the hand that held hers under the table.  "I'm glad."
    Mallie's eyes lit up as she watched them.  "Pa, shouldn't you have brought flowers to Dr. Iris?  Isn't that what a man does when he courts a woman?"
    Iris hid her grin, looking at Francis and waiting for his answer.  She knew Mallie was making him uncomfortable, but she didn't care.  She wanted to know his answer.
    "Well, um, I don't know what her favorite flower is," Francis said, running a hand along the back of his neck.  Courting was hard enough when it was just a man and a woman.  How was he going to be able to make it work