The Prospect: The Malloy Family, Book 10 Read Online Free PDF

her guts out.”
    “I’m calling it like I see it. You do with it what you want. I’ll go ahead and find out how much everything will cost and get things settled for you.” Drummond ambled away.  
    Declan couldn’t explain it, but there was something about the older man that rang off-key. He didn’t trust people easily and for good reason. The medic might have promised to help Jo, but that didn’t mean he had good intentions. Now there was a new wrinkle—an unmarried couple would be ostracized and potentially booted from the fort. He would think about that later. For now, Declan would watch Drummond and wouldn’t hesitate to protect Jo Chastain, no matter what he had to do. She needed him and he would not let her down.
    Mrs. Chastain walked toward him, her arms laden with bundles of what appeared to be blankets and quilts. Guilt coated her features and her steps faltered as she drew close to the shack. She sucked in what he assumed was a steadying breath before she continued.
    “Monsieur Callahan, where is she?”
    “Inside. Ah, she wasn’t feeling good.” He knew what she was doing but still couldn’t bring himself to actually discuss it, even with her mother.
    “I do not make this decision with an easy conscience and I do not wish to leave her.” She held his gaze, her stare sharper than the knife in his boot. “I particularly don’t want to leave her with you. Your presence in my family’s life has not been good, oui ?”
    His face felt hot at her bald speaking. “I know that, ma’am, and I can’t erase what I did. All I can tell ye is I will take care of her and protect her with everything I’ve got, including my life.”
    Her chin trembled. “I do not know if I can trust you, but I also cannot endanger my other children or my husband. Mr. Avery leaves in the morning and we have to choose to leave my daughter in your care or give up our land in Oregon and our future.” Her eyes filled with tears but not a single one fell. “It is an impossible choice to make. One child for two others.”
    Declan’s mother had been a good person, someone who helped others every day, until someone took her life. A great sleeping beast inside him awoke at the mother’s love he witnessed in Mrs. Chastain’s voice. He remembered hugs and kisses, being tucked in at night and feeling as though he was a lucky boy to have such a loving mother. It had been so long, and the feelings were buried deep in caverns of his black heart.
    He swallowed and cleared his throat before he spoke. “I give you my word on my mother’s grave I will keep her safe and return her to you.”
    She looked into his eyes, making him want to squirm, and after a minute she seemed satisfied by what she saw. “I think you have taken a few wrong turns on your path in life, monsieur . Your mother would be proud of what you do for my family.”
    Declan averted his gaze, unwilling to be drawn into the emotional maelstrom Mrs. Chastain brought with her. He was doing what had to be done, not necessarily because it was the right thing, but because no one else could do it. He’d never promised on his mother’s grave before and he meant to keep true to his word.
    “There’s something else. Something Mr. Drummond said.” He had to change the subject.
    “What is it? Is it money? We have a little, but—”
    “No, it’s not that.” Declan would take care of the required funds. “He mentioned because we aren’t married, people would have a problem with us being here together.”
    Mrs. Chastain absorbed that information before responding. “Are you saying she will be shunned or removed from the fort?”
    “I don’t rightly know what will happen. I thought you should know and have an idea what to do.” He sure as hell didn’t know the right choice.
    “She cannot marry you.”
    Declan was stung by her quick response. “I don’t think that’s what’s necessary.”
    “Perhaps if Mr. Drummond tells people you are married, it will assist.”