Free The Cowboy's Tempestuous Irish Bride by Emma Ashwood Page A

the town’s population. Unfortunately, that same respect wasn’t forthcoming from his only daughter. In truth Braden was the most hopeless recruit in the bank, if his own father wasn’t the doctor then Braden would have been shown the door months ago. But Conner was desperate. Anyone would do, anything to get his daughter out of his house. He had been paicent enough, anyone else in the town would have simply shown their daughters the door if they behaved in the manner of Siobhan, but as the bank manager, it wouldn’t be seen as proper. He needed to get her married off. As soon as possible.  

    Siobhan risked a glance at Braden. Thin, with cruel eyes and a pointy nose that was currently being wiped with a handkerchief the colour of coal. Her stomach retched at the thought of marrying him. Conner knew there was no point in forcing any of these suitors upon her. She would simply refuse to complete the oaths in church. He couldn’t risk the shame.  

    “Do you like daffodils Miss Siobhan?” Braden asked again with a hopeful smile.  

    “For goodness sake Mr Butler, stop the prattle,” she said in a voice loud enough for half the church to hear, “I don’t know what my father has told you. But I am not interested. Understand?”  

    Conner slunk lower in the pew trying to ignore the mummer that had just gone round the church and the heads that had turned to see the source of the commotion. Braden’s face went scarlet and he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole. Siobhan’s head looked at both Braden and her father and then back again. Finally she let out a large sigh and rose to her feet and made to push past her father into the safety of the aisle.  

    “Sit down girl,” Conner demanded under his breath. “Everyone is looking.”  

    “Let them look,” Siobhan retorted staring around the church. “Maybe they will see what I see.”  

    The bell began its slow steady chime and the townsfolk were forced to divert their attention from the family drama playing in front of them. Slowly they got to their feet. Siobhan took the opportunity to push past her father and she marched straight down the aisle past the choir and a very shocked looking priest who was heading the other way.  

    As Connor rose slowly to his feet he vowed that this would be the last time his daughter humiliate him. The very last time.  

CHAPTER TWO
Wise Women and Drink
    “Drink it,” Mary said indicating towards the amber liquid in the glass. “It’ll calm your nerves.”  

    Siobhan looked at Mary who made encouraging glances towards the glass. Mary, the old landlady of the Anchor Inn, was the only person on the face of the earth that Siobhan listened to.   In recent years, since she had starting working there, she had become like a second mother to her. Of course, her father didn’t know that she worked there during the dinner time trade, the sheer thought of it would drive him mad. The daughter of bank manager employed in a common tavern being lusted over by sailors and merchants alike. He thought that she was still at home, looking after the household tasks, like she had always done since her mother died. Over the years Siobhan had managed to organize herself so that the running of their own household took minimal time. Now with this little job for a few hours each day Siobhan could actually save her own money. Plus, by managing to save at least twenty percent of the household budget for herself, Siobhan had worked out it wouldn’t be long before she could leave her father’s house without a husband to take her on. She could then take on more work elsewhere, she just needed enough to see her through the first year. Escape from her father’s clutches was just what she needed.  

    “Go on,” Mary insisted.   Siobhan grasped the glass and threw the liquid down the back of her throat. She felt it burn all the way down and then give her stomach a comforting warm glow. “Good girl,” Mary continued, “you’ll