A Wife by Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page A

forehead and he mentally shook himself.
    “This way.” He stepped in front of Dennis and led the way to two empty seats next to Miss Henderson. He motioned for Dennis to sit next to her, and he took the seat after. Max cleared his throat. “Miss Henderson.”
    She turned, her smile faltering. Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened as if to say something, closed abruptly, then opened again. “Mr. Colbert?”
    “What the devil happened to your eye?” He leaned across Dennis to examine the yellow and purple skin.
    “An accident.” She touched her eye briefly. “What are you doing here?”
    He glared at her. “What sort of accident could a lady have that would involve a black eye?”
    “A man hit me in the eye with his elbow.”
    Max jumped from his seat. “Who? Who hit you? I demand to know who struck you, Miss Henderson.”
    Dennis and Miss Henderson starred at him, eyes wide, mouths open. She turned and looked at the audience they had attracted. “Mr. Colbert, please, sit down, you’re causing a scene.”
    He sat and adjusted his tie and coat. She might put him off, but he would get to the bottom of this. After a few deep breaths, he turned to her again. “Miss Henderson?”
    “Yes, Mr. Colbert.”
    “I would like to introduce you to Mr. Dennis Hoover, an acquaintance of mine. Dennis, “he nodded in the man’s direction—“this is Miss Ellie Henderson, one of the teachers at Logan County High School.”
    Dennis blushed a bright red and put out his hand. “How do you do, Miss Henderson?”
    She ignored his hand. “I’m fine, thank you, Mr. Hoover.” She leaned across him and looked Max in the eye. “Why are you here, Mr. Colbert?”
    “Is this not an open meeting?”
    She bristled. “Of course it’s open, but we prefer supporters.”
    Dennis eased his chair back as Max and Ellie shot remarks at each other, his head moving back and forth. Within minutes, the woman at the podium smacked the gavel and announced the beginning of the meeting.
    Max sat back and continued to fume. A black eye! Whoever gave her that injury would answer to him. Since Miss Henderson’s uncle had been derelict in his duty toward his niece, he would have to take up the slack. An accident! He turned toward her again, and leaned over Dennis. “I expect a full report on that accident on my desk first thing tomorrow morning. Names, Miss Henderson, I expect names.”

    “Are you crazy? I told you it was an accident. It happened Saturday with all the crowds Christmas shopping. I have no idea who the man was.” She bit back furiously.
    “Saturday? You mean the day you ran around town dressed as a man?”
    Two women in front of them turned and frowned. Ellie mumbled, “sorry,” and sat back, chewing her lip, her face flushed. After a couple minutes, she leaned over Dennis again and whispered furiously. “I’m sure Christmas is not one of your favorite holidays anyway, since you like to play Scrooge.”
    “What do you mean, play Scrooge?” he whispered back.
    “You shut down my Christmas project. We’re helping the poor have a nice Christmas.”
    Dennis glanced around the room, his gaze settling on the exit. He tugged at his collar.
    “And I was correct to shut it down. You ended up soaking wet in the center of town wearing trousers! I hope you realize I know that bag you carried were items donated from the stores, even though I ordered you not to do it.”
    “Ordered! How dare you!”
    “Ellie?” The woman at the podium looked in her direction, while everyone else had turned in their seats. Ellie sat back in her seat again and faced the woman. “Yes, Dorothy?”
    “I said, are you ready to give us the financial report?” She eyed Max and Ellie curiously.
    Ellie stood, smoothing her skirts. A flurry of papers slid from her lap. “I am. I’m sorry. I have it right here.” She grabbed the papers from the floor and edged past Dennis. She glowered at Max, and stiffened her back. “Excuse me, sir.” Max stood to let her