Claiming Their Nanny: A Cowboy Ménage Romance (Montana Ménage Book 1)

by Lily Reynard

  Anger rose inside her, pushing aside the panic.

  After dragging my name through the mud back home, why is Arthur is trying to ruin my life here too?

  I won't just surrender this time and lose everything again. I have to at least try to defend myself from his lies.

  "Yes, Arthur was my fiancé," Abby said, each word clipped and precise. "He broke off the engagement when he discovered that I was barren. He was…very angry when I told him the truth about my condition."

  How much else should I tell Emma? What exactly had Arthur written in that letter?

  Everything, most likely. The whole sordid, awful, slanderous mess.

  The flames of Abby's anger surged higher. How dare he! How dare Arthur pass judgment on me when he's the one who sinned by believing all those lies and then breaking our engagement?

  She wanted to tell Emma everything, in hope that her friend would believe her side of the story, but it was difficult to begin.

  Abby took a sip of tea to moisten her dry throat and forced herself to begin speaking about the worst time in her life. "A few days after our engagement party, two men approached Arthur and his friends with the most monstrous lies about me. They said—they said that I'd given my favors to both of them, and to several other men, besides."

  Emma's beautiful gray eyes widened. To Abby's relief, her friend reached for her hand and took it in her warm grasp.

  Abby continued, "I—I swear to you that they were utter strangers to me. I never met them, never spoke to them, never did anything else! I don't know why they said those vile things about me!" Her eyes stung and her vision began to blur with tears at the remembered pain and humiliation of it. "None of it was true! But—but Arthur immediately broke off our engagement on the grounds that I had tried to trap him into marriage by pretending to be pure. Everyone blamed me for what happened, even though no one had ever seen or heard of those two men before. Even my parents…"

  Tears rose, stinging Abby's eyes and blurring her vision, as the pain and humiliation of that day returned in full force. This was why she hadn't wanted to talk about it, ever again. The intervening months had done little to dull the knife that still twisted in her heart.

  And here I am, and now I've actually done most of those things that Arthur accused me of, the voice of her conscience reminded her.

  But this is different. The world might condemn her for her wanton actions over these past few weeks with Jim and Dan. But with them, it didn't feel wrong or sordid in any way. She hadn't tried to deceive them, and in turn, they seemed to be sincere in their highly unconventional courtship.

  "What happened then?" Emma asked softly.

  "My father tried making inquiries to find out where and when I might have encountered the men who were slandering me so foully. As soon as he tried to contact them, those two men disappeared. But it was too late. My reputation was ruined, especially after Arthur told his friends that I'd let him have his way with me, too. I couldn't stay in Philadelphia, not after that," Abby finished.

  She sat tensely upright, waiting for Emma's condemnation.

  Emma's fingers tightened around Abby's.

  To Abby's astonishment, she said, in a crisp tone, "Well, how very convenient for these two men to appear at the very same moment that Mr. Van Dyke wished to break his engagement to you. And how fortuitous for them to vanish again once the job was done."

  "Job?" Abby stared at Emma. "You think that someone hired those men to spread lies about me? But who would do such an awful thing?"

  "Well, there's one person who benefited from their actions. Didn't it ever cross your mind?" Emma asked.

  Abby blinked. She had not expected Emma to doubt Arthur's account and defend her. After all, none of her friends and acquaintances back home had done so. "You believe me? That Arthur was the only one that I'd given myself to?"

  "Of course." Emma hugged her again. "Oh, my dear, it seems you have been more greatly wronged than you first thought! And why shouldn't I believe you, my friend, over the sort of man who would presume to write the vile things he did to a complete stranger?"

  Emma leaned forward and extended the letter towards the flame of the candle stub that was warming the teapot. "No matter the real reasons you came here to Twin Forks, no matter what you're running from, I've seen for myself what kind of person you are, Abby. You are someone who possesses a generous capacity for love and kindness." Her tone sharpened. "You would have been wasted on someone as mean-spirited and petty as Mr. Arthur Van Dyke. And like me, you deserve a second chance for a good life."

  The fire licked at the edge of the paper and began to devour it. Emma let the envelope burn to ashes until only a bare half-inch of uncharred paper remained. Then she dropped it onto a plate and let it burn out.

  Abby watched with disbelief. Just when she thought she'd once again lost everything important to her, she had received a miraculous reprieve.

  But her close call was a stark reminder about what she might lose if Emma ever found out that not only was she again having sexual relations before marriage, but that she was sleeping with both Jim and Dan!

  She'd be branded as a fallen woman…and worse, Emma would be forced to break off their friendship in the name of propriety.

  "So, now that we've dispensed with that bit of unpleasantness," Emma said with grim satisfaction, "Is there happier news that you might want to share?" She looked over to the paddock. "Perhaps something about your two employers?"

  "I—I have feelings for both of them!" Abby blurted. "What should I do?"

  Emma looked momentarily shocked, and Abby instantly began to worry that she had said too much.

  Then Emma's face broke into a radiant smile. "You should follow your heart. Both of the Brodys are good men, and I'm confident that no matter which one you choose, you will end up with a fine husband."

  The advice, while well-meant, didn't actually address Abby's true dilemma. I don't want to choose. I want them both.

  After Emma took her leave a short while later, with Huritt volunteering to escort her back to town, Abby cleared the porch table before walking upstairs to put Christopher in his crib for his afternoon nap.

  As had become her habit, she stood and sang to him as his eyelids drooped. Will I ever have my own baby? I would love to adopt an orphan who needs a home, but would Dan or Jim really be as accepting as they have told me?

  How can I be sure that they aren't just having their fun with me now? What if they repudiate me the way Arthur did?

  Then another, even more horrible thought struck her.

  What if Arthur sends one of those awful letters to Jim or Dan?

  ◆◆◆

  "What the hell?" muttered Dan, looking down at the envelope in his hand.

  It was postmarked Philadelphia and addressed to Daniel and James Brody, Pronghorn Springs Ranch, Twin Forks, Montana Territory.

  The return address indicated that the sender was a Mr. Arthur Van Dyke.

  "Didn't realize you knew anyone in Philly, Dan," Silas Green commented, leaning over the general store's polished wood counter. In addition to owning the Twin Forks Dry Goods and General Store, he also served as the town's postmaster.

  "I don't," Dan said, puzzled. Arthur Van Dyke? The same man who threw Abby over?

  "Or are you advertising for another nanny?" He winked broadly at Dan. "Hopefully the next one'll be as pretty as Miss Rose."

  Silas was a grizzled man in his fifties, with a balding head and a permanently reddened nose and cheeks. He'd arrived in town as a miner and quickly decided that there was better money in selling supplies to miners rather than working as a miner himself.

  Dan shook his head. "Nope, sorry, Silas." He glanced back down at the envelope.

  And if this is from the same Arthur who broke Abby's heart, then I'm not sure if I want him to stay the hell away from here, or get close enough for me to take a swing at him.

  In any case, he didn't intend to open the letter until he had a private moment.

  H
e still had the remainder of his errands to run, so he tucked the envelope inside his coat for later.

  Silas looked disappointed. Of course, he's disappointed. He's the town's biggest gossip.

  "Anyhow, while I’m here, I wanted to pick up another sack of sugar, along with coffee, flour, potatoes—" From memory, Dan continued reeling off the shopping list that Isaiah had given him.

  All the while, he wondered why on earth Abby's cad of a former betrothed had sent him and Jim a letter out of the blue.

  Could it have anything to do with the fact that Abby's been as jumpy as a barn cat and stewing about something since Mrs. Kottinger came out for lunch the day before yesterday?

  Dan didn't get a chance to open the envelope until he had loaded up the wagon with his purchases and was about to drive home.

  He slid his thumb under the sealed flap and tore it open.

  The letter was a single page of closely written text. Dan felt bile rising in his throat as he read it, and he had to fight the urge to crumple it in a ball and throw it away.

  But he couldn't risk anyone else finding the letter with its poisonous contents. So he stuffed it back into its envelope and shoved it into one of his coat pockets.

  I need to talk to Abby about this as soon as I get back to the ranch.

  ◆◆◆

  After Dan had unloaded and unhitched the wagon, he entered the house in search of Abby.

  He found her downstairs in the dining room. She had Chris on her lap and was feeding him from a bowl of rice gruel.

  Dan dropped into a chair next to her.

  "Abby, how are things going?" he began, not sure where to start.

  He was acutely aware of the letter inside his coat.

  "Chris is doing fine," she answered, without meeting his eyes.

  As she continued spooning up gruel and offering it to his nephew, she wore the same sad and remote expression that he'd gotten used to seeing over the past few days.

  "I can see that," he said, making an effort to gentle his tone. "I was actually wondering about you."

  Her head flew up, and he saw fear and worry in her expression. It triggered a surge of protectiveness. What's she so scared about?

  "You talked to Emma, didn't you?" Abby's shoulders slumped. She dropped the spoon back into the bowl like she didn't have the strength to hold it anymore.

  Chris made a noise of protest and tried to reach for it.

  Before Dan could reply, Abby continued, "I really thought that coming to Montana would help. But I can't seem to escape from my past. Arthur seems bent on destroying every bit of my happiness." Her face twisted in misery. "I’ve been waiting on tenterhooks, wondering what he'll try next." She finally looked up. "At least give me a chance to tell my side of the story before you send me away."

  "No one's sending you away," he said instantly. "And I haven't spoken to Mrs. Kottinger. I've just noticed that you haven't been acting the same since she came to visit."

  "Oh." Abby looked down again.

  "What happened when she came out here?" Dan asked, though he had a pretty good guess.

  Did that bastard send Mrs. Kottinger a letter too? That would explain why she came all the way out to the ranch the other day…

  "Remember how I told you how my former fiancé broke off our engagement? Well, he—he sent Emma a letter detailing all the awful rumors about me back home!" Abby looked like she was about to burst into tears.

  Dammit. I was right, though Dan. He felt sick at the thought of a man so consumed with bitterness and malice that he'd go through all that trouble to hurt a sweet, loving woman like Abby.

  "That bastard," he said vehemently. He reached over and put his hand on her shoulder as she resumed feeding Chris. "What rumors? Do you want to tell me about what really happened in Philadelphia?"

  Abby turned white as a sheet. "Arthur sent you a letter too?"

  Dammit. I didn’t want to tell her. "Yeah."

  Abby sighed. "So you already know the whole sordid story."

  "Do I? Because I want to hear your side."

  "Why would you believe me? No one else did," she replied bitterly.

  "Because I know you, and the things he wrote about you don't seem like anything you'd do," Dan replied. "The only thing I know about Arthur is that I don't like him one bit. So, care to take a wager as to whom I'll believe?"

  Her expression of relief and gratitude made Dan want to take her in his arms and kiss her until she forgot about that weasel in Philly. He hated to see the woman he loved so upset and obviously terrified of his reaction to the events she described.

  "After Arthur asked for my hand in marriage, everything seemed to be going so well," Abby began.

  As she told him her side of the story, Dan noticed that her account matched the basics outlined in Arthur's letter.

  As she spoke, tears began spilling down her cheeks. The sight of them filled him with the desire to go hunt Arthur down and skin the bastard alive.

  "…I swear to you, up until that point, Arthur was the only man I had ever kissed, much less done anything else with," Abby said.

  "I figured as much," Dan said.

  It was true. Given what he knew about his sweet Abby, her version of the story sounded a hundred times more believable than the horse puckey in that letter.

  "You mean you actually believe me?" She sounded genuinely shocked. "I mean, I thought that after all the…things…I've done with you and Jim, you would—that you'd believe I had—with those two men." She blushed, going red from the high neck of her shirtwaist to the roots of her hair.

  Dan was entranced by this proof that talking about sex, even indirectly, still made her blush even after all of their passionate encounters over the past few weeks.

  "I believe that you were still pretty much innocent before Jim and I got our filthy paws on you." He smiled at her. "So what happened next?"

  She drew in a shaking breath. "I wasn't aware that anything was wrong until Arthur stormed into my father's practice while there were patients in the waiting room, and shouted at him, accusing him…and me…of trying to trap him into marriage. He broke off the engagement right there and then, in front of all those people who knew us. I wanted to die of shame when I heard about it. It was the lowest point of my life."

  "What did your Dad do?" Dan demanded. I'd have shot that son of a bitch in the face.

  "Father was so shocked he was speechless until Arthur had stormed out again. Of course, I denied everything, but it didn't help. By the next day, everyone had heard the story. All of our invitations were canceled, no one would receive my mother or me. Arthur sent me a letter in the morning post breaking off our engagement on the grounds that I had misled him regarding my virtue and reputation, and that he considered himself the wronged party."

  The details of her ordeal at the hands of the man who should have cherished and protected her, not to mention all those folks who had claimed to be her friends, made Dan's jaw clench in rage.

  Abby sighed and wiped rice gruel off Chris's chin. "My parents were so thrilled when Arthur proposed. After he broke off our engagement, they said they trusted that I'd never done any of the things I was being accused of, but I could sense their doubts. Then, when my father tried to find those two men so that he could sue them for slander, they disappeared." Abby's shoulders slumped. "But by then, it was too late to salvage my reputation. Arthur was busy telling everyone that I was a shameless gold-digging whore and that he'd barely escaped being trapped into marriage."

  "That bastard," Dan growled. "That lowdown, no-good son of a bitch. I'll bet a twenty-dollar gold coin that he had something to do with those two strangers suddenly popping up with a cock-and-bull story."

  "That's what Emma said too." Abby sounded surprised. "She thought it was awfully convenient that Arthur found the perfect excuse to break off the engagement as soon as he found out that I was barren."

  "And Mrs. Kottinger's a damned fine judge of character," he said fiercely. He forced himself to smile at her. "B
esides, Abby, you're a terrible liar. If you were fibbing right now, I'd be able to tell." He raised her hand to his lips and tenderly kissed it. "Someone's lying about what really happened back in Philadelphia, all right, but it's not you."

  "Thank you." She clasped his hand tightly, holding Chris close to her bosom with her other arm. "I was so worried that you, of all people, would think…"

  "What?" Dan demanded, hurt that she had doubted him. "Why?"

  Her blush returned. "Because of you and Jim. And the three of us together. All those things we've been doing…Well, it seemed natural you'd be having second thoughts about wanting someone like me as your wife," she finished, sounding apologetic.