Calico Read Online Free Page A

like the fancy goods
your
ladies wear.”
    Leaning down to caress the dog’s head, Maggie whispered her praise. “Good, good girl.” And to him, “How many times do you need to be reminded of her name? Much as it irks me to be admittin’ it, you’re right. She does hate you. Almost as much as me an’ with less reason. Since you won’t tell me where Quincy is hid, I’ll go lookin’ for him meself.”
    Standing straight again, Maggie glared at him. “I’ll give you a last warnin’. Nothin’ you do will stop me from marryin’ him. I’m gonna have the money I need to open those mines.”
    “Maggie, you can’t. The claims belong to me.”
    “Don’t be startin’ with your lies again. Me uncle wouldn’t gamble one claim away, much less all of them. And if he did, the only way you won was to cheat him.”
    Shaking his head, needing the abrupt motion to clear his thoughts, McCready drawled, “Maggie mine, not again. You’ve left me no choice. I’ve tried to tell you since Pete died that the claims belong to me. Not only the claims—but you do, too.”
    “What devil’s tale are you stirrin’ up now?”
    Her reaction was less than he hoped for. Struck with lightning inspiration, McCready reached inside his vest pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Holding it to the side by two fingers, in case Maggie took it in mind to shoot at it, he nevertheless waved the paper. “This is no tale.”
    Firmly then, he stated his case. “You forced my hand by pushing for this marriage when you learned that the circuit preacher would pass through. You can’t marry Quincy Kessnick. You, Maggie mine, can’t marry anyone.”
    The wicked laughter was long gone from his eyes, and his gaze was most certainly focused. On her. Only her. Maggie squinted at him through the smoky haze drifting down from the overhead fixtures. She couldn’t utter a sound. There was a rising lump in her throat that wouldn’t allow her to swallow, and her breath seemed twisted inside, unable to get out. Now it was McCready who stood with his legs spread, sure and arrogant that he held a winning hand.
    “Did you understand me, Maggie? You can’t get married today or any other day.”
    “The hell I can’t!”
    Shooting a look at the blackened ceiling, McCready asked for guidance. Looking back at Maggie, he whispered, “I’m trying my best to prevent you from committing a sin.”
    “Sin?” she repeated softly, sensing that he was taunting her but unable to walk away until he showed his full hand.
    “Bigamy, Maggie. That’s what sin I’m talking about. I had to save you. Someone did, and the good Lord and Pete chose me. I had to get rid of Quincy before you did something that would make you burn in hell. Seeing you now makes the mere thought a sin of its own. And,” he added, grinning, “we have to come to an understanding.”
    “Understandin’?” she parroted, swallowing past the thick lump that was choking her.
    “Yeah, Maggie. Between you and me. This most valuable and treasured piece of paper, duly signed and recorded in the county records, is for a proxy marriage between one Mary Margaret O’Roarke and C. V. McCready.”

Chapter 2
    “Liar!”
    “Not about this, Maggie mine.”
    “Give it to me.”
    McCready glanced at the paper he held as if giving consideration to her demand, then glanced back to Maggie’s blanching face. “Don’t take offense, lass, but I’d be a fool to trust you near this. Besides, Maggie, you can’t read it, can you?”
    Brazenly she tossed her head. “No. I can’t read. But Pete wouldn’t—” Maggie stopped. Her uncle’s last words to her when he had left for his diggings burst vividly from her memory. “
Don’t worry, girl. I fixed everything for you
.”
    “Maggie?” Concerned for her continuing pallor, McCready started for her.
    “Don’t take another step. I don’t want the likes of you near me.”
    “Admit it, then. Your uncle lost his claims fairly to me. No matter what