A Night Without End. Susan Kearney

didn’t believe she would stay with him willingly. And he needed to keep her identity secret, even from his friends in this small town where rumor spread faster than bear grease.

      An idea suddenly popped into his mind. “I was hoping you all would give the lady—”

      “She ain’t no lady,” Marvin protested.

      Tyler turned on Marvin. “Let the man finish his sentence, will you?”

      Sean stood and hooked his fingers into his belt. “We’ll give her our protection until we find out the truth. Jackson’s killer might be after her, too.”

      “That’s some story you’re expecting us to swallow,” Roger muttered.

      “There’s something I haven’t told you boys,” Sean said, lowering his voice to appear as if he was taking them into his confidence.

      “Well, don’t keep us in the dark. Tell us.” Tyler’s tone rose, revealing his eagerness to hear a secret.

      While Sean glanced out of the corner of his eye at Carlie, he did his best to keep his voice steady. “I want you to give her the benefit of the doubt.”

      “But why?” Roger prodded.

      “Because on my last trip into the city, we married. The lady’s my wife.”