Mary glanced at Will. Was it her, or had she been inserted into one of those novels Polly liked to pick up in the bookshop?
Though the words were directed at Emma Jane, Mr. Logan’s attention was on Jasper. “You must marry her to blot this horrible stain on my precious daughter’s reputation.”
Will gave Mary a look as if to tell her to stay out of it. He was right, of course, but it seemed so utterly wrong that poor Emma Jane had to suffer her parents’ schemes when nothing untoward had happened.
“Sir, I can assure you—” Jasper looked as pathetic as he sounded. He knew as well as everyone else in the room that, although he had not taken advantage of Emma Jane, she would never be able to hold up her head as a respectable woman again. Unless Jasper married her.
“I’ve already spoken with your father,” Mr. Logan said shortly. “He has agreed to make reparations.”
Jasper’s lips moved, as though he was swearing under his breath. Mary didn’t condone such language, of course, but she didn’t blame him for being upset. He hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Father, no.” Emma Jane tried to stand, but her mother blocked her path. “We did nothing wrong. I got lost in the woods, and Jasper saved me. If it weren’t for Jasper, I’d be—”
“Your reputation would at least be intact,” Mrs. Logan snapped.
Did her parents really think Emma Jane better off dead than having spent a night in the wilderness with a man?
Emma Jane began to sob quietly. Mary had heard Emma Jane cry before, but never like this. A wailing Emma Jane was an awful sight indeed, but this defeated woman whose whole body shook with the weight of her parents’ disdain was too much.
Mary stood. “Nothing improper happened. Jasper wasn’t the least interested in Emma Jane, nor Emma Jane in him. They shouldn’t be forced to marry when they did nothing wrong.”
Mrs. Logan peered at her. “And who might you be, that you would argue with your elders?”
Mary tried not to shake. “Mary Stone. I’ve been with Emma Jane the entire time.”
The intensity of Mrs. Logan’s stare deepened. Her lips curled with greater unpleasantness. “That name does little to recommend yourself to me. Not with the scandal your family is involved in. I can hardly fathom why you’d think yourself an appropriate companion to my daughter. If anything, your influence further necessitates my daughter’s marriage.”
“The Stones are a well-respected family in Leadville. They own some of the most productive mines in the area.” Will’s voice held an edge to it that startled Mary.
Mrs. Logan’s gaze didn’t leave Mary’s face. “Then you haven’t heard.”
If Mary could have described the look on Mrs. Logan’s face, it would have been that of someone absolutely smug and self-righteous, worse than anything she’d ever seen on anyone before. How could someone be so positively evil?
“Heard what?” Please, don’t be Daniel again, she prayed, knowing that her prayers couldn’t change anything that had already happened, yet she couldn’t help wanting to defend her poor little brother.
A smile twisted the edges of Mrs. Logan’s lips. “Why, your sister has run off with some man. And they’re staying in one of those—” she mouthed the words “—houses of ill repute.”
“That’s not possible.” Mary glared at Mrs. Logan. “I’m sure you’ve gotten the story wrong. My family helps with Pastor Lassiter’s charitable works, and it often involves visiting those places, to give aid to the women.”
If Emma Jane wanted to be rid of such a horrible family that would spread such foul words, Mary would do everything in her power to help, including giving the poor girl some of her own fortune to find a new place to settle and start over.
“It’s true,” Mr. Logan said, his voice just as smug as his wife’s. “I saw Pastor Lassiter there myself, begging someone named Rose to please come home.”
Rose. Mary’s heart shattered, and she sank back into her chair. She’d hurt her sister with her selfish desire to find love for herself. They hadn’t parted on the best of terms, true, but surely Rose wouldn’t have preferred one of those places to their family. Rose was a good girl.
“It had to be a misunderstanding,” Mary said quietly. Rose simply wouldn’t do something so rash.
“I heard tell that the man Rose was with is a notorious criminal.” The smile remained firmly at Mrs. Logan’s lips.
Which was when Mary knew it was true. Ben. It had to be Ben. That man could talk a woman into just about anything. He’d talked Mary into violating so many principles. Except giving up her virtue, of course. But Rose... Mary had often scolded her sister for being too flirtatious. And if Ben had stopped by the house with Rose there and Mary gone, Rose’s flirtations could have easily turned into something Ben took advantage of.
A tear trickled down Mary’s cheek. If only she’d been honest with her sister. If only she hadn’t been so afraid of getting in trouble with the law that she’d been willing to tell her family and Frank what Ben was about.
“Ah,” Mrs. Logan said with some satisfaction. “See there? She knows it’s true.”
“Enough!” Jasper’s voice echoed through the room. “Mary and her family are innocent here. Mary has been nothing but kind and a good friend. Both to Emma Jane and me. You will malign them no further. I’ll marry Emma Jane.”
Mary looked up at him, barely able to see through the tears that threatened to spill in earnest. “Jasper, you—”
“It’s the right thing to do. Emma Jane and I know the truth. But if I don’t marry her, these people and their pernicious tongues will only ruin more lives.”
He stepped forward and handed Mary a handkerchief. Then he turned to the Logans. “The Stones are dear friends of mine. I’m marrying your daughter. I will not tolerate further evil talk of my friends
