Free Miracle Jones by Nancy Bush Page A

own; her future sister-in-law was too quick, too skillful to be tricked by anyone as single-minded and predictable as Jace.
    “He’s not coming, is he?” Kelsey said.
    Lexie didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “Yes, he is. Harrison’s a man of his word.”
    Kelsey knew how close Lexie was to her younger brother. Harrison and Lexie were only one year apart. They worked together and shared the same passion for their profession; they were loyal to each other, to their family, and to anyone else they called a friend. Lexie would never believe Harrison would ignore his obligations.
    “He never wanted to marry me,” Kelsey said slowly. “He only agreed because he wanted to please his family.”
    Lexie snorted. “Harrison never does anything just to please someone else! He asked you to marry him because he wants you to be his wife.”
    Kelsey smiled faintly. She knew Eliza Danner, Harrison’s mother, had wanted this wedding more than anyone. She’d wanted to put an end to Danner-Garrett feuding. That was Harrison’s main reason for marrying her. That and the fact that Isabella Weatherby had ruined Harrison’s trust in women, and now he wanted Kelsey – because he did at least still trust her – by default.
    “He’ll be here,” Lexie said determinedly, high points of color heightening her cheekbones. At thirty she was still a beautiful woman, with sparkling green eyes, thick blond hair, and a sharp, spirited tongue and manner that were the horror of every well-bred lady in town.
    “He may not have run out on purpose,” Kelsey said uncomfortably. “I just hope something hasn’t happened to him.”
    Lexie’s satin skirts ruffled. “He was with Jace last night,” she said perceptively. “There was no trouble.” To Kelsey’s continued silence, she asked sharply, “Was there?”
    “I don’t really know.”
    “Damn that brother of yours!” Lexie declared, committing a blasphemy that made even Kelsey stare at her in surprise. Profanity in the house of the Lord? What would the Ladies Aid Society think of that?
    But Lexie was working herself into a fulminating fury. “Is he responsible for this? The black-hearted scoundrel! If I find out he’s purposely made Harrison late for his own wedding, I swear I’ll make the rest of his days a living hell!” She stalked to the door, twisted the handle, then pulled herself up short. “You don’t think he’s hurt, do you?” she asked in a sudden change of voice.
    “No. Jace would never hurt him!”
    “Wouldn’t he?” Lexie slid a cool look at her future sister-in-law. “You certainly have more faith in him than I do.”
    “He almost likes Harrison.”
    Lexie laughed, a sound so vital that Kelsey smiled. “Jace can’t abide any of us. Just don’t tell Tremaine our suspicions. If he believed Jace had something to do with Harrison’s disappearance…”
    She left the thought unfinished as she swept out the door, but Kelsey knew what she meant. Lexie’s husband, Tremaine, would find a way to get the truth out of Jace by fair means or foul. For the moment, neither Lexie nor Kelsey wanted to resort to such drastic measures.
    Where was Harrison? Kelsey wondered, rubbing her perspiring palms together. She thought of the barn that had burned during the night. Several people had died. Fear tightened in her chest. She hoped one of them hadn’t been Harrison.
    Swallowing, she closed her eyes. In her heart of hearts she knew she didn’t love him. Not with the grand passion she should have. But she liked him, and wasn’t that enough for a marriage?
    Though there was no clock in the dimly lit room, she heard the ticking of time passing within her head. Kelsey knew Harrison wasn’t going to show. She waited in silence while her bridesmaids, girls Kelsey had known from school, fluttered in and out, their expressions doleful. In her mind she heard the future whispers.
    “Kelsey Garrett was left at the altar!”
    “Harrison never even showed! Think he ran off with