In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

Bethany had been kissed before. When she had gone with Gran to visit Iris's grandparents, several men had tried, because despite her outspokenness, she was St. Vyr's daughter and would inherit a considerable amount of property and money when he died, and she was more than passably good looking. She had been little impressed by the procedure. Emory Johnson had attempted to kiss her as well, but his attempt had been brutal. This was different. McCaffey's hold was firm, but she could have released herself if she had tried. His mouth was warm and tasted faintly of brandy and the mint tea she had served after dinner. Without realizing it, she found herself relaxing into his arms. When he sensed her response, the kiss deepened. He coaxed her lips apart with his tongue and his arms came around her, one hand sliding down over her buttocks, pressing her up against him so she could feel the hard bulge of his arousal. Like everyone who grew up on St. Antoni, Bethany had spent a lot of her growing up years around animals; she knew what pressed against her. It startled her to feel an answering heat between her thighs. When she found herself lifting against him so she could feel more, she came back to herself with gasp of shock.

McCaffey let her go, smiling down at her.

"Good night," she gasped, and fled upstairs, leaving the tea tray behind for Margo.

McCaffey stood in the doorway and watched her run up the stairs. She had felt good against him, he realized, and it was obvious her response to him hadn't been planned. He whistled to himself as he gathered up the loaded tray and took it out to the kitchen.

It wasn’t until he was undressing for bed that it occurred to him that the interview with Bethany had not gone according to plan. He had intended to gently explain to her that he would accept the job, but not the marriage unless some real feelings developed between them. He scratched his head. How he had ended up engaged to her with a wedding planned for next Sunday? Furthermore, that sweet faced girl had virtually told her own father to mind his own business. What's more, Michael St. Vyr had obeyed her.

Hellcat

BETHANY ACCEPTED ALEC’S edict of not leaving the ranch without an escort the following morning with good grace. Jeanne was furious. Since it had been left to Bethany to impart this good news to her sisters, her father and McCaffey having retreated to the den to look at maps, Jeanne directed her wrath at her sister.

"Jeanne, be sensible," Bethany begged. "It's not forever, only until—"

She ducked as a full coffee cup sailed past her head to smash itself against the wall. The rest of her argument drowned in Jeanne's shriek of outrage. The cup hit the wall just as McCaffey opened the door to investigate the commotion, splashing his sleeve with hot coffee.

"Don't you try to give me orders! You're not my mother! I don't give a damn—"

"That's enough." McCaffey's voice was quiet, but he had intimidated men who killed for hire. Unfortunately for him, Jeanne was made of sterner stuff.

"Who are you to be giving me orders?" her voice dripped venom, and her blue eyes snapped fire.

McCaffey calmly pulled off his bandana and wiped coffee off his sleeve. He stuck the handkerchief in his pocket before he answered her. "I'm the man who gave those orders you're objecting to. I am the man who will marry your sister. I would appreciate it if you would not throw things at my wife."

"And just how do you think you can keep me from riding when and where I please?" Jeanne hissed.

McCaffey shrugged. "I could lock you in your room, but since I don't want to tie up a man to keep you from sneaking out, I figure the easiest way to keep you from riding is to spank you hard enough you can't sit a tricorn."

Jeanne stared him. He meant it. She had found that if she cried or yelled enough, most people gave in just so she would shut up. This man was different. Only one other man had ever stood up to her this way, and with him, she had a weapon she sensed would do her no good with her new brother-in-law. It was apparent that McCaffey was unmoved by blue eyes and honey colored curls. Oblivious to these attributes, he was continuing in a reasonable voice.

"Capturing you or one of your sisters would be a high card in Johnson hand. A man who'd shoot another man in the back wouldn't stop at kidnapping a woman."

Jeanne tossed her head. "I can take care of myself!"

"Under most circumstances, I'm sure you can. These aren't most circumstances."

"Oh, all right! I guess I can stand it for a few days, anyway." She sat down in her chair with an ill-tempered thump.

"You can also," McCaffey continued, "apologize to your sister for throwing hot coffee at her."

"In for a penny, in for a pound, is that it?" Jeanne inquired. She gave Bethany a rueful smile. "Sorry, Sis."

Jeanne insisted on riding into town with Bethany and McCaffey this morning when they went to see Pastor Mayer. Since he had restricted her from going on her own, she informed Alec, he couldn't object to acting as escort. They dropped her off at the general store to do her shopping on their way to the Parson's house. She did, in fact, go into the store and buy a hair ribbon, but as soon as her sister and McCaffey had disappeared around the corner, she came back outside and mounted her tricorn.

Nestled at the foot of the mountains with easy access to Black River, River Crossing was a town divided. On one side of the wide river was the older part of town, a general store, a blacksmith shop, a seamstress, a courthouse, two small cafes, six