Free Angel and the Texan From County Cork (The Brides of Texas Code Series Book 3) by Carra Copelin Page A

the precious words in detail. She stopped on the last paragraph and drew in a quick breath. It couldn’t be true.
    “Jamey!” she squealed. Jumping up, she ran into the main room leaving the other missives scattered on the floor.
    He entered, closing the door firmly behind him. Rubbing his hands together, he said, “It’s still freezin’ but not quite as cold as yesterday.” When he removed his coat, he looked her way. His brows drew together in apparent concern. “Colleen? What’s wrong?”
    She realized she stood in the middle of the room bouncing up and down with the pages fisted in her hands and clutched to her chest. Tears were streaming down her face. “You’ll never guess the news.”
    “No, but it would be good if you could explain it to me. What’ve ye got?”
    Twirling in place one more time, she stopped, and smiled wide. “My best friend is coming from Ohio. I can’t believe it.”
    “The girl ye told me about?”
    “Yes.” She hadn’t read past the sentence that said they were coming. She didn’t yet know why or when. Straightening the crinkled stationary, she read the particulars out loud. “Let’s see, she says, if all goes well, they’ll be here a day or two after Christmas to visit and to look for a place to live.
    “It seems her husband has a desire to live in Texas.” She swiped at the joyful tears and smiled. “I can’t believe it.”
    “They could be here at any time then.”
    “Yes, they could. I’ll get busy in the morning getting ready.” Her mind was spinning in too many directions to think properly. There were so many things to do. She had to put the clothes away that she’d washed, switch the furniture back to its original place, and cook enough food to last a couple of days.
    “Now that Marshal Handley and Doc have been here to examine Will, we need to get him buried as soon as possible. I’m sure ye’d like to have that done before yer friend gets here.” After a few seconds, he asked, “Do ye still want him under the trees out front?”
    “Yes, I do. That was his choice.”
    “Good, then I’ll get started early in the mornin’ diggin’ the grave.”
    Angel’s happy mood deflated. Suddenly, her giddy light-hearted mood for her friend’s arrival disappeared with talk of her husband’s funeral. And no matter how upset she was with Jamey, he was right, of course. Will should be laid to rest before too much longer.
    Suddenly exhausted again, she folded the letter and placed it back into the envelope. She slid it into the pocket of her skirt and walked quietly to the bedroom. At the door, she turned and said, “I haven’t forgiven you, but I can help you tomorrow if you need me. Good night.” 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER TEN
     
    Jamey leaned against the handle of the shovel to stretch and rest his back. It had taken him the better part of the morning to fashion a casket from the walls of an empty stall in the barn and to dig the spot of ground under the oak tree for his friend's final resting place. He hated to ask but he was just about at the point where he needed Angel’s help.
    He’d left her sleeping soundly when he’d come out after sun up. She hadn’t popped her head out of the cabin all morning so he figured, aside from cleaning, she must still be angry with him over his choosing to keep information from her. He didn’t hold out much hope that talking would change her mind either. She wasn’t going to understand he’d wanted to protect her as much as he could. That was the problem with an independent, stubborn woman.
    A horse and rider caught his attention. As they neared, he recognized the man he’d come to like and respect in the short time he’d been here. He set the shovel against the tree.
    “Marshal, I didn’t expect to see ye back here so soon. Is everythin’ all right?”
    Handley dismounted and glanced around. “Hard to say, but I wanted to stop on my way back to town to