Free Faith (Goldwater Creek Mail-Order Brides 1) by Leighann Dobbs

likely hidden it somewhere else or destroyed the book.
    So, the only way she would be able to discover its whereabouts was either by someone telling her or by following Jax on one of his nightly excursions. And it wouldn’t be prudent for a woman to be out at night alone in this wild territory.
    She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. She had spent precious little time in his presence since her arrival, but tonight he had been a kind, attentive husband. Was it all an act? Maybe he was warming up before the party where he would have to make it look like they were a ‘real’ husband and wife?
    That must be it, Faith decided. She didn’t want to think of him as a kind husband, the ‘Prince Charming’ she’d thought Charles had been. She’d fallen for that before, and look where it had gotten her.
    The buggy pulled up in front of a large wooden house. Unlike Wild Heart Ranch, which was on one level, this house had three floors. Lanterns were set on the stones on either side of the front door. The windows glowed with welcoming yellow light and laughter bubbled out from inside.
    Robertson eased Buttercup to a stop. Jax jumped out of the buggy and came to her side to help her down.
    “We’ll be a few hours,” Jax said. Did his hands linger on her waist a little longer than necessary, or was Faith imagining it? But then he’d tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and started toward the house, talking over his shoulder to Robertson. “Go ahead and get some supper if you want.”
    Robertson nodded and clicked his tongue, a signal that Buttercup knew well. They pulled away just as a plump woman came running out the front door.
    “Jackson Blackburn! Why, is this your bride?” She stuck her hand out toward Faith. “Welcome. It’s so lovely to meet you. I’m Emily Eastham.”
    Faith shook the woman’s hand. “Faith Blackburn. Nice to meet you as well.”
    Emily’s eyes shifted toward the retreating buggy. “You came in the buggy? Why, I never thought … well, never mind.” She squeezed Jax’s face between her palms and kissed him on the cheek, then turned to Faith. “I’ve known your husband since he was a little boy. He’s a good man, no matter what they say about him.”
    “Now, Emmy,” Jax started, but Emily just laughed, linked her arms through theirs and started toward the house. “Come in, come in. I think the whole town is here.”
    She swept them toward the house and within seconds, Faith was inside, listening to the clinking of glasses and the din of conversation. The main room was large, and nicely decorated. She could tell the Easthams had money. Probably one of the people Jax was trying to impress for his business venture.
    The room was crowded. Faith could see couples, single men and even if a few single women mingling, talking and laughing. Their outfits ranged from expensive to lovingly worn.
    The furniture had been cleared from the middle of the room and a row of hard pine chairs sat against one wall. Tables lined the length of the wall and she could see they were filled with trays and dishes overflowing with food. On the far wall, the doors were thrown open revealing the sky, lighter in blue where the sun was setting behind the mountains and darker up above where two bright stars had already made their appearance.
    The smell of meat and beans spiced the air. In the corner, two men with fiddles started warming up. Would there be music? Faith was surprised. There were many places to listen to music in Boston, but she hadn’t expected anything so civilized out here. Maybe Colorado wasn’t so bad after all.
    “Herbert!” Emily yelled through the crowd, gesturing to a tall man with a salt-and-pepper beard, waving him over. She leaned in towards Jax. “Herbert has been eager to meet your new wife. He seems more … agreeable about—” She cast a glance around the room and then lowered her voice. “You know.”
    Faith gave Jax a curious glance. Was the woman talking about something