Shot Gun Grooms: Lucas's Convenient Bride / Jackson's Mail Order Bride
Now, thanks to their cagey uncle's ironclad will, saloonkeeper Lucas MacIntyre was forced to find himself a bride. So he proposed a chaste businesslike "merger" to Miss Emily Smythe, a uniquely enterprising schoolmarm. But how could he keep them wed in name only when all he wanted to do was bed down with his bride in her brand-new inn?And as for his brother….The fur would fly sure enough when his bear of a brother, Jackson, woke up to find himself hitched to Miss Molly Malone. He'd thought surely she was mistaken. But delirious with fever, he'd unknowingly consummated their marriage. And the Irish firebrand was determined that their union stick "'til death did them part"! Well, now he was guaranteed his inheritance, but what was the miner to do with a wife?
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SHOTGUN GROOMS by Susan Mallery and Maureen Child
Lucas’s Convenient Bride
When loner Jackson MacIntyre wakes up from a delirious fever, it’s to find that he’s not only wedded Miss Molly Malone, but he’s bedded her, too! Yes, he’ll get his inheritance now that he’s fulfilled the terms of his father’s will by getting married, but how can he enjoy it when an Irish spitfire’s determined to complicate his life? It certainly doesn’t help that he can’t resist her no matter how hard he tries…
Jackson’s Mail-Order Bride
Lucas MacIntyre stands to inherit half of a saloon, gold mine, and ranch, but there’s just one problem: his uncle created a clause in his will, stipulating that he and his brother must marry if they want to claim their property. So Lucas proposes that Emily Smythe, the hard-edged newcomer, become his wife so that she can manage his saloon and he can inherit. But Lucas never counted on falling for Emily…
Praise for the authors of SHOTGUN GROOMS
SUSAN MALLERY
“Susan Mallery is warmth and wit personified. Always a fabulous read.”
—New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd
“Ms. Mallery’s unique writing style shines via vivid characters, layered disharmony and plenty of spice.”
—Romantic Times Magazine
MAUREEN CHILD
“Maureen Child is one of the foremost names in Americana romance.”
—Romantic Times Magazine
“…unique, endearing characters grab hold of your heartstrings and never let go…”
—Rendezvous
Shotgun Grooms
Susan Mallery & Maureen Child
Harlequin Historical #575
Join the fun with
Susan Mallery
and
Maureen Child
as they bring you
SHOTGUN GROOMS
** an exciting Western historical featuring 2 stories in 1 **
Lucas and Jackson MacIntyre are forced to marry in order to claim their inheritance!
But will these brothers find everlasting love?
AND DON’T MISS THESE OTHER TITLES FROM HARLEQUIN HISTORICALS AVAILABLE NOW:
#576 THE MACKINTOSH BRIDE
Debra Lee Brown
#577 THE GUNSLINGER’S BRIDE
Cheryl St. John
#578 THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
Jacqueline Navin
CONTENTS
Lucas’s Convenient Bride
Booklist
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
Jackson’s Mail-Order Bride
Booklist
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
Susan Mallery
Other novels available from SUSAN MALLERY:
Harlequin Historicals
Wild West Wife #419
Silhouette Special Edition
Their Little Princess #1298
The Sheik’s Kidnapped Bride #1316
The Sheik’s Arranged Marriage #1324
The Sheik’s Secret Bride #1331
The Rancher Next Door #1358
Unexpectedly Expecting! #1370
Wife in Disguise #1383
Shelter in a Soldier’s Arms #1400
Silhouette Intimate Moments
Cinderella for a Night #1029
Defiance, Colorado, 1875
Emily Smythe was more than ready to dance with the devil—if only he weren’t so large. Still, walking away now would be nigh on to shirking and she’d never once shirked in her life. She squared her thin shoulders, raised her chin and told herself that she had righteousness on her side. Righteousness and a plan. With the right plan, a person could take on the devil himself and win.
Ignoring the trembling of her limbs and the way her stomach seemed to be jumping around inside her, she pushed through the swinging doors of the Silver Slipper saloon and stepped into a smoky world.
She had a brief impression of a much larger crowd than she’d expected for a midweek afternoon. There were at least two dozen tables spread out around the main part of the room, nearly all of them occupied. On the far side of the saloon, men sat playing cards. Gambling, she thought with both distaste and shock. Gambling in the middle of the day. Who could imagine such a thing?
Her gaze drifted right and she saw the long, wide bar that stretched the length of the room. It was polished wood, nearly chest high and crowded with men. Behind the bar she saw mirrors, dozens of bottles of liquor and a big bear of man. Lucas MacIntyre, the devil himself.
Emily pursed her lips together in disapproval as she took in the tall, muscular man dressed in black trousers, a white shirt and fancy red vest. Lucas MacIntyre didn’t wear a coat like a respectable man, but considering he operated a saloon, allowed gambling and sold spirits, she doubted the lack of formal attire would be noticed on his very long, very serious list of transgressions.
A voice in her head screamed at her to turn around and leave before anyone noticed her. She didn’t belong here—she couldn’t possibly do this. Yet she knew she didn’t have a choice. Lucas MacIntyre was her only hope for success and she didn’t allow herself to think of failure. She had right on her side. She was a hard worker and she had her plan. She would make him listen, then she would make him agree. All without giving in to the very real temptation to turn on her heel and run.
Emily raised her chin one more notch, sucked in a breath and made her way to the bar. She knew the exact moment that the men in the saloon noticed her presence. There was a heartbeat of excruciating silence followed by an explosion of voices. The crowd in front of the bar parted to allow her access. She marched directly forward, looking neither left nor right, until she could press her hands against the arm rail, then cleared her throat.
