Free The Kidnapped Christmas Bride (Taming of the Sheenans Book 3) by Jane Porter Page A

McKenna wondered where everyone was, and what they were doing. She prayed no one was out searching for her and TJ.
    Prayed that everyone was calm and pragmatic. But if she wanted everyone calm, then she needed to let people know what was going on. How could she do that, though, when even she didn’t know what was happening?
    “Hey Paige, it’s McKenna,” she said, getting Paige’s voice mail. “I’m with TJ and Trey and we’re fine. I’m calling from a restaurant phone, where we’re having dinner. Trey and TJ are eating and talking and doing some bonding. Please tell everyone that we’re all good and no one needs to worry. We’ll be back soon and I’ll explain everything then. Could you please let my brothers and Aunt Karen know I called? Love you. Bye,”
    McKenna hung up, and taking a breath for courage, she dialed Lawrence’s number again.
    She really needed him to answer. She really needed to tell him what was happening. But once more she went to his voice mail, and this time she didn’t hang up but listened to his entire greeting, which was very lengthy as he gave his office hours and address, but then the beep sounded and she had to speak.
    “Hi, Lawrence, it’s me. It’s about six thirty or seven I think, and I’m outside White Sulphur Springs, calling from the restaurant phone. TJ and I are fine. I’m so sorry about this afternoon. . .” Her voice trailed off and for a moment she didn’t know what to say.
    It was ending, wasn’t it?
    She couldn’t imagine how she and Lawrence would ever recover from this. And suddenly she wasn’t sure she wanted them to recover.
    Trey and Lawrence would never see eye to eye and she couldn’t bear for TJ to grow up, caught in the middle. And he would be caught in the middle.
    She’d be trapped, too.
    McKenna tugged on the phone cord and drew a quick breath. “I won’t be back for a few days, probably not until Christmas. TJ and Trey have really missed each other and need to spend some time together. I want them to have this time. You’ve always said TJ was too much like Trey, and now that I see them together, you’re right. They are alike and they need each other…they need a chance to be a family together…”
    Her voice trailed off as she struggled to think of a way to end the call. “I hate doing this over the phone. Hate doing this in a message, but I don’t want you wondering and worrying about us so I just want you to know that we’re okay, and safe. I hope you’re okay, too.”
    “And I’m sorry,” she added softly. “I’m sorry for disappointing you, but we’re not the right family for you. We’re not the ones who will make you happy. There’s someone else for you, I’m sure of it. I hope one day you’ll understand and hopefully forgive me.”
    She gently set the receiver down, ending the call.
    For a long moment she just stared at the phone.
    She’d just ended it with Lawrence. It was over. They were done.

Chapter Nine
    ‡
    F rom their table at the diner, Trey could see McKenna on the phone, but he couldn’t hear what she was saying. She dialed three different times, and each call was short. From the brevity of the calls he suspected she was leaving messages. It’d be interesting to know who she’d called and what those messages were.
    TJ’s voice caught his attention. “What’s that, son?”
    “Why didn’t you apologize?” TJ repeated. “If you didn’t mean to kill that man. Why didn’t you say it was an accident and you were sorry?”
    Trey glanced from McKenna, who was heading back to their table, to TJ. “It doesn’t work that way,” he answered. “An apology doesn’t change some things.”
    “But you didn’t want to kill him.”
    “No.”
    “Did you want to hurt him?”
    “No.”
    “What did you want to do then?”
    He hesitated. “I wanted him to stop hurting someone else.”
    TJ put his fork down. “Who was he hurting?”
    “We shouldn’t talk about this.”
    “Why?”
    “It’s just going