Lorraine Heath Read Online Free PDF Page A

subtle tightening of the woman’s fingers on her brother’s hand. The thick veil hid her features from him, but he thought she might have dark eyes. He could live with a woman who had dark eyes. He could tell by the slight jutting of the veil that her father had carved her a tiny nose. He wondered if it melted in summer when the stifling heat dried the land. Maybe he’d whittle her a nose of wood, small like the one she had of wax.
    Dallas swept off his hat. “Miss McQueen, it’s a pleasure to have you here.”
    “I hope it will be, Mr. Leigh.”
    Her voice was as soft as falling snow.
    “I’ll do all in my power to see that it is, Miss McQueen. Give you my word on that.”
    It was impossible to tell with the veil covering her eyes, but he had a feeling in his gut that she was staring at him.
    “Stay here, Cordelia,” Boyd said as he dismounted. “We need a few minutes alone with your future husband.”
    Turning, Dallas glared at Boyd. Of all the McQueens, Dallas had taken an instant dislike to Boyd the moment their paths had first crossed. “I imagine what you have to say concerns her, so she’ll come with us.”
    “Fine,” Boyd said through gritted teeth. “We’ll need the preacher as a witness.”
    Dallas crooked his arm and tilted his head toward Cordelia. “Shall we go inside?”
    She glanced at Cameron who gave her a smile and a nod. Then she released her hold on her brother and wrapped her fingers around Dallas’s forearm. He wished he couldn’t feel through the sleeve of his jacket that she was shaking worse than a leaf in the wind.
    Cordelia had never seen a house with such cavernous rooms. Their footsteps had echoed over the stone floors as they walked to Dallas Leigh’s office.
    She wondered if he would allow her to spend time in this room. She was in awe of the floor-to-ceiling shelves that lined three of the walls. Empty shelves—save one—but shelves all the same. She imagined all her books could have found a home in here.
    Cameron had convinced her to bring only a few of her belongings in the event she decided not to stay. As though she would have a choice in the matter. Watching the man sitting behind the large mahogany desk, she had a feeling that leaving him would not be an option for her once she became his wife.
    Just as leaving had not been an option for her mother.
    When Dallas Leigh had removed his hat and the shadows had retreated, she had been unprepared for the perfection of his chiseled features. She tried not to stare at him now, but she seemed unable to stop herself. A thick black mustache framed lips that looked too soft to belong to a man.
    Over the years, the wind and sun had carved lines into a face that reflected pride and confidence. And possession. Dallas Leigh was a man who not only owned all that surrounded him, but he owned himself as well.
    Soon he would own her, just as her father had owned her mother.
    His brothers sat at the back of the room as though none of this arrangement concerned them, and yet, she was left with the distinct impression that they were poised to change their minds in the blink of an eye.
    Boyd stood before the desk, Cameron and Duncan standing just a little behind him. She had always found her brothers a trifle intimidating. It looked as though Dallas Leigh only found them irritating.
    Reverend Preston Tucker had kindly introduced himself before they’d entered the room. Appearing amused, he stood near the windows that lined the remaining wall.
    Boyd withdrew a sheet of paper from inside his jacket. “Before Cordelia signs the marriage certificate, we want your signature on this contract we’ve had drawn up. It spells out the two conditions under which my father agreed to give you permission to marry his daughter. We’ve added a third condition.”
    Dallas lifted an eyebrow, and she was reminded of a raven’s wing in flight. “And that condition would be?”
    “If fate should be kind enough to make her a widow, she inherits all you