Free The Lawman Claims His Bride (Love Inspired Historical) by Renee Ryan

Bartlett was the most beautiful woman Megan had ever met. She was also a ferocious and loyal friend. Exactly the person Megan needed right now.
    Arms full of what looked like expensive dresses made of shiny silk and lace, Bella half glided, half waddled into the jail cell. Despite being eight months with child, she was all grace and style. No longer touted as the international opera sensation of her generation, the woman still knew how to make an entrance.
    “Oh, Megan, my dear,” Bella said in her breathy, British accent. “I’ve been beside myself with worry. It’s just not right, you, all alone and trapped in this hideous jail cell.” She drew in a dramatic pull of air. “Well, I’m here now. We’ll get you changed and feeling like new in no time. I’ve brought several dresses with me. You can choose the one you like best.”
    Barely glancing in Logan’s direction, she shoved the bundle of silk and lace at him. Ignoring how he fumbled to keep one of the dresses from falling to the floor, Bella tugged Megan into a fierce hug.
    “Shane told me what happened last night at Mattie’s.” She rubbed Megan’s back as if she were one of the smaller children at Charity House. “What an ordeal you’ve suffered.”
    Megan relaxed under her friend’s sympathetic care, then glanced over at Logan. He stared back at her, wide-eyed, blinking rapidly and so adorably handsome in his confusion. Clearly, he had no idea what to make of Shane’s wife. Bella had that particular impact on people.
    He bobbled the dresses in his arms again, crumpling the bulk of them against his broad chest in an effort to secure his hold. He should look ridiculous, standing there with all that silk and lace tumbling around him.
    He stole her breath away. This man, this dear, dear man, would soon be her husband.
    Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. Megan sighed in satisfaction.
    Bella let out an answering sound deep in her throat, then stepped back. “Let’s have a look at you.” She gripped Megan’s shoulders, scowled at the wound on her throat, then searched her face for...what?
    Megan shifted under her friend’s scrutiny, putting far too much weight on her tender ankle. She gasped at the sharp pain shooting up her leg.
    Logan was instantly by her side, but the dresses in his arms made it impossible for him to reach out to her.
    No matter. The fact that he’d moved that quickly was enough to tell her how deeply he cared. Maybe it wouldn’t be so terrible to rely on him. Just a little.
    Megan had to fight to keep from bursting into tears, whether from happiness or confusion she couldn’t say. Her emotions were so raw, so close to the surface. One moment she was happy, the next she was confused. Would she ever feel like herself again?
    She didn’t have long to ponder the question before Bella released her and moved to stand directly in front of Logan. “You must be Megan’s fiancé, Logan.”
    He blinked several more times, obviously thrown off by the censure in her tone. “Yes. I’m Logan Mitchell. And you—” he cleared his throat “—must be Shane’s wife, Bella. He said you were coming to help Megan change her clothing.”
    “And here I am,” she said, continuing to eye Logan with her face bunched into an uncharacteristic glare.
    At the sight of the two squaring off, a moment of desperation spread through Megan. What was her friend about to say to Logan? Bella had never pretended to agree with Megan’s decision to wait for his return. She’d gone so far as to encourage Megan to leave Denver altogether and travel abroad so she could study her art.
    Megan had resisted.
    What was wrong with not wanting to leave Denver? What was wrong with desiring a simple life with Logan, and producing a handful of children together?
    “You know, Logan,” Bella said, jamming her fists on either side of her waist. “I don’t mind saying, we’ve been