Page 30 of The Preacher's Bride

“Ready?” Mia asked.

Shane rose from the floor without a word and headed down the hallway.

“Stay with me, Shane.” Mia led Hailey down the hallway, holding her hand. “Shane come back here right now!” She didn’t want to take a chance of being asked to leave the hotel. But then again, would it have made a difference? They were getting ready to check out, anyway. But after their performance in the restaurant the night before, she was sure the management would be more than happy to see them go.

After a moment, Mia gave up, scooped Hailey up into her arms, and ran as quickly as the long skirt of her dress would allow to catch up with him. At the top of the stairs, she stopped short. Shane was standing at the bottom, smirking at her.

“Oh, no you don’t, buster,” Mia called down to the bottom of the stairs, attracting the attention of everyone in the room.

The desk clerk’s shoulder’s slumped, but he looked up at her and plastered on a smile.

“Stop right there and don’t you move!” Mia lifted her skirts and marched down the stairs headed toward him.

A sly smile lit Shane’s lips, but when he turned, he ran into someone. When he looked up, he had run smack dab into Colton Hill.

“And where do you think you’re going, little mister?” Colton looked down at him, grinning.

“I… I was just….”

Colton laughed. “There’s nothing to worry about.” Colton swung him up and onto his right shoulder as Shane laughed.

“Thank you so much for catching him for me.” Mia was a bit breathless from having to practically run down the stairs, afraid that Shane might run out the door.

Colton looked up at him. “You were running away from Mia?”

Shane nodded, hanging his head.

“Don’t do that. Mia is a good person who cares about you very much.” He set him down on his feet and then knelt down at his level. “Can I tell you something, man to man?”

Mia bit her lower lip, suppressing a smile. Shane nodded vigorously, his eyes wide.

Colton propped his elbows on his knees. “Gentlemen always treat a lady like a lady. Gentlemen protect ladies and keep them safe, too. So, now that Mia has joined your family and since you are a man in the house, it’s your job to protect her and your sister, and to always treat them like ladies. That means you say ‘yes, ma’am’ and ‘no, ma’am,’ too. Okay?”

Shane let out a deep breath as he smiled, obviously liked having been referred to as a man.

“Can you do that?” Colton’s eyebrows rose, awaiting an answer.

“Yes, sir,” Shane replied, hanging his head.

But Colton placed a finger under his chin and lifted it up until his eyes met his. “Also, a man is always strong. And if he always tries to do what’s right, he has nothing to be ashamed of. Okay?”

Shane nodded.

“Thanks, Colton.” Mia tried to adjust Hailey on her hip, but the little girl was reaching for Colton.

He scooped Hailey into his arms and nuzzled her neck. “It’s my pleasure.”

“So, how’s Ella doing?” Mia smiled, relieved that Colton happened to be there. She just wished that Caleb had been the one to give his son that speech.

A broad grin spread across Colton’s face. “She’s fine. Just hungry as all get out. That’s why I’m here.”

“And the babies?” Mia asked.

Colton grinned. “The same. Poor Ella’s exhausted and the babies are hungry every few hours.”

Mia chuckled. “I don’t think either of you will be getting a lot of rest any time soon.”

“I’m counting on it.” Then he handed Hailey back to her. “Well, if you’ll excuse me. I have to take Ella some breakfast before she threatens to eat the bed and everything in the hospital.”

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