Free A Love All Her Own by Janet Lee Barton

given her friends much thought. When she did, she could just imagine them discussing her broken engagement, and that wasn’t something she wanted to think about.
    “Actually, my life had become very busy, but I’m not sure any of it counted for much. I do miss my parents, though.” More than she’d thought she would. Each day, she appreciated them a little more.
    “I can imagine. I’m married, but I see my mother nearly every day. Are you planning on going home after you finish the business for your father?”
    “No. I. . .” She liked Sally, and there was really no reason not to tell the truth. “I was planning on getting married. . .and it was called off. My fiancé is marrying someone else, and I just don’t—”
    “Oh, my dear. I am so sorry. I am just too nosy sometimes.”
    “You aren’t nosy. It is all right. Actually, it feels good to tell someone about it. I just couldn’t stay there.”
    “Well, I’m glad you are here. I would have wanted to do the very same thing,” Sally said, endearing herself to Abigail.
    Abigail found she could actually chuckle. “I just kept thinking that everyone in town would be talking about me behind my back, and I just couldn’t face it. I don’t think I’m a very brave person.”
    “I know I’m certainly not. Don’t you worry. We’ll find all kinds of things to keep you busy until you feel at home here. Why don’t we go shopping soon? You can tell me how we compare to your hometown.”
    “Perhaps we can go on Monday?” Abigail had the rest of her week planned out, and she was sure Sally would want to spend Saturday with her husband; it would be nice to look forward to the next week, though.
    “I’d like that. Just let me know what time is good for you.”
    “Let’s plan on around ten, and then we can have lunch while we’re out and keep shopping after or not.”
    “That sounds wonderful.” Abigail was sure that since Marcus knew Sally, they’d be able to shop alone. . .well, except for whatever agent he’d have watching them from a distance.
    ❧
    Marcus felt all right about leaving Abigail with Sally. He had his man in the hotel and knew they’d be watched well. But he found himself thinking about her all the way back to his office. He could get quite used to being with Abigail Connors on a regular basis. He had to keep reminding himself that the only reason he was seeing so much of her was because of her father. Otherwise, she would most likely rather be left to herself.
    He was glad she wasn’t planning on leaving once her work for her father was done. Jacob had told him that she was coming for an extended stay, and he hoped she didn’t get homesick and decide to return anytime soon. Not because he’d been hired by her father. Marcus would be watching after Abigail Connors even if Jacob hadn’t asked him to.
    Arriving at his office, he called his mother to let her know that Abigail had accepted her invitation.
    “Good. Did you tell her that it was a party in her honor?”
    “Well, no. I didn’t.”
    “Marcus!”
    “Mother, it will be fine. She’ll be pleased. She said she was looking forward to seeing you and Father.”
    “I think you’d better tell her when you pick her up, then.”
    “I will.” Marcus could hear his mother’s sigh on the other end of the line.
    “You be sure to. We’ll see you later, then.”
    He heard the click on the end and had a feeling she was a little put out with him. He probably should have told Abigail it was a party, but he’d not thought it was that important at the time. He turned his attention to the mail he’d picked up earlier. Shuffling through the letters, he pulled out the one that interested him the most. The agent he’d sent to Eureka Springs to look into Abigail’s background, other than what Jacob had told him, had some information for him.
    Marcus scanned the letter quickly, but there wasn’t really anything there he didn’t already know—except that the man Abigail had been