The Lawman Claims His Bride. Renee Ryan

of Megan. No dwelling on what had happened to her in this room.

      “Give me another ten minutes to look around,” he said through a tight jaw. “Then send in the first girl.”

      “Whatever you wish.” She turned to go.

      “And Mattie?” he called after her retreating back. “I’ll need the names of last night’s clients, as well. All their names.”

      She stiffened at the request, but didn’t turn around. “Are you sure this is the route you wish to take, Marshal?”

      The woman was warning him off? A huge mistake on her part, especially if Logan found out she had a personal connection to the killer.

      “One way or another I will find out who murdered Kincaid,” Logan said in the kind of ruthless tone a woman like Mattie understood. “I know that doesn’t mean anything to you, but it could mean life or death for Megan.”

      Mattie lowered her head and sighed. “I’ll draw up a complete list of names later today.”

      “Thank you.”

      Normally, those two simple words would earn him a snide remark. But when Mattie spun around to face him, her eyes were filled with gratitude. And genuine sincerity.

      “It’s good you’re home, Logan. Megan needs you, now more than ever.”

      Caught off guard by the woman’s heartfelt words, Logan didn’t have a ready response. What the woman didn’t realize, what he hadn’t fully understood himself until last night, was how much he needed Megan in return.

      And no matter who tried to stand in his way this time, he would never desert Megan again.

      Chapter Five

      Megan burrowed deeper under the blanket and forced her mind to relax. But no matter what position she attempted, peace eluded her. Too tired to sit up, she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to capture a few moments of sleep.

      Every part of her body hurt, resulting in an allover ache that went far beyond the physical. The pain brought an odd sense of relief, a bold reminder she was alive.

      Alive was good. That meant God still had a plan for her life. Megan clung to that hope, even as dark thoughts tried to surface.

      Shivering from a sudden burst of cold air, she pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders and took a slow, steady breath. The smell of blood and death hung in the air. She didn’t want to know why that scent was so strong. Why it seemed so real, so tangible.

      Best to forget, a voice whispered in her head. Yes.

      Yes. She let her mind go blank, let her sense of time and place garble in her head. The nothingness soothed her.

      Distant, hollow voices buzzed around her, like an annoying mosquito.

      She took another, slower breath.

      At last, sleep began to claim her, promising a temporary respite, if only she could give in to the blessed darkness. She reached out to the void. But then the watery sounds in her head began to form into clear, distinct words.

      “You must allow me to wake her.” The urgent request came from somewhere close by. “It’s not good for her to sleep this long.”

      A low, menacing growl followed. “I said, leave…her…alone.” There was a deadly calm in the carefully spoken words. And an unmistakable threat. “I mean it, Shane.”

      Dr. Shane was here?

      “You have to trust I know what I’m doing, Logan.”

      Logan, too?

      Megan wanted to see him for herself, wanted to know he was real and not a dream like she feared. But opening her eyes required too much effort so she tucked the blanket under her chin and prayed for sleep to return.

      “Step back, Logan. Or I’ll have the sheriff personally escort you out of here until I’m through examining her.”

      A brief moment of silence filled the room.

      “All right. Wake her.” Another pause. “But do it slowly. Don’t scare her.”

      A masculine sigh accompanied the sound of footsteps. Very loud footsteps. Like hammers to nails, pounding relentlessly in her head.

      She shied away from the noise.

      “Megan.” A gentle hand touched her shoulder. “Megan, you need to wake up now.”

      She moaned in protest, even as her mind placed the familiar voice. It did indeed belong to Shane Bartlett, the doctor from the clinic connected to Charity House. She knew the man well. Trusted him implicitly. Not only because he was married to her good friend Bella, but because he was an exceptional doctor. Compassionate and thorough.

      “Megan.” The hand shook her again, a little more firmly this time.

      “Sleep,” she mumbled.

      “No. No more sleep.”

      She tried to protest again, but her mind drifted over a dark void of shifting images, images she couldn’t quite capture.

      Best to forget…

      If only her head didn’t hurt so badly.

      Eyes still firmly shut, she lifted a hand to touch the tender spot above her temple. The movement sent unspeakable pain spearing behind her eyes.

      Another moan slipped through her lips.

      “Megan. You need to open your eyes.” Dr. Shane’s voice came at her stronger this time. More insistent. Closer.

      Too close.

      She snapped awake and sat up with a jerk.

      A burst of light flashed before her, momentarily blinding her. She breathed in a quick gasp, blinked past the grit in her eyes, but the room remained hazy. The sickly odor of mold and something else filled her nose. What was that other smell?

      She didn’t want to know.

      “Sleep,” she muttered again, then squeezed her eyelids shut and started to lie back down.

      “No.” The doctor’s hands caught her by the shoulders before her head connected with the pillow. “Stay with us.” He urged her back to a sitting position.

      She managed a squint. The sun spread golden fingers of light across the floor, chasing shadows to the outer edges of the room. She opened her eyes fully and connected her gaze with a long row of iron bars. She’d spent an entire night in jail.

      Her eyes filled with tears.

      “Megan, darling, don’t cry.” The words washed over her like a soft plea.

      She turned her gaze in the direction of the voice. “Logan,” she breathed.

      He moved toward her slowly, his steps relaxed, careful, as though he didn’t want to scare her with any sudden movement.

      The dear, dear man.

      “Logan, wait just a moment.” Dr. Shane stopped his progress with an outstretched hand.

      Ignoring the command, Logan continued toward her. No hesitation. No hitch in his step. Just bold purpose.

      Dr. Shane muttered something about “arrogant, single-minded lawmen.” Megan didn’t listen to the rest of the words. She was too busy watching Logan’s approach.

      He crouched down in front of her and placed his palms on her knees.

      His movements were still slow, but the fierce angles of his face and the severe expression in his eyes said he was anything but calm.

      At the sight of all the intensity directed at her, a quick jolt of fear slithered down her spine.

      Megan instinctively leaned back. Away from Logan.

      There was a flicker of hurt in his eyes but