His Tempting Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch - Spicy Version Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

quickly that Miriam couldn’t help but smile.
    She also couldn’t help but talk about herself. She was only human, after all.
    “It’s been a difficult winter,” she sighed, sitting back in her chair. “Miles has done his very best to book us into music halls and theaters across the West, but it’s a tricky time of year for entertainment. The last show we performed was in Salt Lake City almost a week ago. Our receipts were reasonable, but the theater that booked us took more than sixty percent, claiming our show was too short. Alas, we only have a handful of performers these days, and Madame Kopanari is more of a fortune-teller than a performer, so…” She ended with a shrug.
    “A fortune-teller.” Libby brightened in surprise. “How intriguing.”
    “Yes, isn’t it?” Miriam leaned forward, filled with energy. “She’s a real, live gypsy. Miles is too, technically. Although, perhaps not technically.” She tilted her head to the side. “Miles’s father was an American sailor who made port in Greece while Madame Kopanari’s family was resting there. Well, when Miles came along, Madame Kopanari wanted to marry his father. Her family forbid it, so Madame Kopanari ran away with him. Madame and Miles stayed in Europe while Miles’s father was at sea, and they tried to join up with another band of Romani, but it was tough. Her family disowned her, and when Miles was three, his father was lost at sea. It wasn’t until Miles was an adolescent that they had the money to come to America to search for Miles’s father’s family, but even after they located them, that family rejected them. Since then, they have been forced to wander the United States, attempting to earn enough money for Miles to take Madame Kopanari back to her homeland. Isn’t that romantic?”
    Libby arched an eyebrow doubtfully. “That isn’t precisely the word I would use.”
    “Anyhow.” Miriam waved away her friend’s lack of romantic imagination and leaned back again. “There were more performers in Miles’s troupe, but we lost several to a grander troupe that was on its way to a tour of the Orient. Only Miles and Madame Kopanari, Juan Bertran, myself, and the Chinese twins are left.”
    “Chinese twins?”
    Miriam nodded enthusiastically. “They’re acrobats. They’ve been trained with the finest performers in all of China. They’re identical too. You should see some of the shapes they can twist and fold themselves into.”
    “I should see.” Libby blinked, then shifted forward. “You should perform here in Haskell.”
    “That’s what I told Miles when I realized the train we were on would pass through here,” Miriam replied, then let out a defeated breath. “But I forgot that Haskell doesn’t have a theater.”
    “And yet, you thought to stop here anyhow?” Libby eyed her suspiciously.
    Miriam was struck with instant guilt under that look. “Well, I knew you would be here,” she rushed to make an excuse. “And you insisted that Haskell was a good, kind place during our conversation on the train.”
    “And is that the only reason you wanted to stop here?” Libby’s lips tipped up into a sly grin.
    “I can’t imagine what you mean,” Miriam said, though she couldn’t look Libby in the eye.
    Fortunately, she was spared the need to try when a plump and cheerful young woman in a hotel uniform wheeled a cart containing a tea set and plates of goodies over to their table.
    “Thank you, Olga.” Libby smiled at the girl as she finished transferring the small, dainty feast to the table.
    “You’re welcome,” Olga replied with a faint accent, curtsied, then rushed off to greet Miles, Madame Kopanari, and Meizhen and Meiying as they entered the restaurant.
    “Oh. Those must be your friends.” Libby twisted in her chair to smile at them. “You’re right, the twins are identical. And what beautiful clothing they have on.”
    Meizhen and Meiying were dressed in the traditional costume of their homeland. But that