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      SOON TO BE BRIDES

      The Marrying MacAllister

      JOAN ELLIOTT PICKART

      That Blackhawk Bride

      BARBARA MCCAULEY

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      The Marrying MacAllister

      JOAN ELLIOTT PICKART

       JOAN ELLIOTT PICKART

      When she isn’t writing, Joan enjoys reading, gardening and attending craft shows with her young daughter, Autumn. Joan has three grown-up daughters and three fantastic grandchildren.

      Dear Reader,

      You are about to go on a trip to the enchanting land of China and you don’t even have to worry about attempting to pack everything into one suitcase.

      I hope you enjoy reading Matt and Caitlin’s story as much as I did writing it. It gave me the opportunity to relive all the wonderful memories of my own trip to Hong Kong, Nanjing and Guangzhou when I adopted my three-month-old daughter Autumn in 1995.

      As writers we sometimes wiggle facts around a bit to enable our characters to have their dreams come true. I wish to make it clear that Elizabeth’s solution to Caitlin and Matt’s dilemma and Henry’s agreeing to take part in it would never have taken place.

      But this book is fiction, where fairy tales are allowed to come true.

      So sit back, put your feet up and travel the sometimes bumpy road to eternal love with Caitlin, Matt and two little China dolls who will hopefully steal your heart.

      Warmest regards,

       Joan Elliott Pickart

      For my nifty niece

      ALIDA ELIZABETH HUNT

      Chapter One

      “I warned you, MacAllister, but you refused to listen. Now? I’m going to punch your ticket.”

      Matt MacAllister glared at his longtime friend, Bud Mathis, who sat behind the desk in a masculinely decorated office. Matt was opposite the desk in a comfortable chair, one ankle propped on his other knee.

      “Come on, Bud. Give me a break. Cut me some slack here.”

      “It’s Dr. Mathis to you at the moment,” Bud said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I already gave you a second chance. I told you a month ago that I’d hold off on faxing my report on your yearly physical to the board of directors at the hospital for thirty days to give you an opportunity to quit working such long hours, get proper rest, eat decently and on the list goes.

      “Did you utilize that month to your advantage? Nope. You still have high blood pressure that is the cause of your frequent headaches, you’re suffering from exhaustion and your ulcer is on the warpath.”

      “Being the public-relations director at Mercy Hospital is not a lightweight position, Bud,” Matt said, dropping his foot to the floor. “Situations occur that simply can’t be postponed because my doctor says I need to go home and take a nap.”

      “I heard this spiel a month ago. So cork it. I’m not giving you a clean bill of health so you can continue as you are. I am, in fact, going to inform the board that you’re to take a medical leave for a minimum of a month and perhaps even longer.”

      Matt lunged to his feet. “Now wait just a damn minute.”

      “Sit,” Bud said, meeting Matt glare for glare.

      Matt muttered an earthy expletive, then slouched back onto the chair, his eyebrows knitted in a frown.

      “I’ll give you one week,” Bud went on, “to bring the attorney the hospital keeps on retainer up to date on pending files, and you can use those same days to find a replacement to attend the fund-raising events that you said are scheduled on your calendar. After that, you’re not to put one foot inside the hospital until you’ve cleared it through me.”

      “Ah, man,” Matt said, dragging one hand through his thick, auburn hair. “Some friend you are. I’ll go nuts just sitting around. And if you tell me to go fishing or take up bridge I’ll deck you.”

      “I don’t want you to even be here in Ventura,” Bud said, “because you’ll cheat, be on the phone every other minute to the attorney covering your spot.

      “Marsha and I were talking about you last night, Matt. I told her it would be a very safe bet that you’d flunk your physical today. We came up with what we feel is a terrific solution to your situation.”

      “I bet you have,” Matt said, rolling his eyes heavenward.

      “Just listen…and keep an open mind. You know that Marsha and I have spent months completing the paperwork to adopt a baby girl from China.”

      “Of course I know that. I’m going to be her godfather.”

      “Yes, you are.” Bud nodded. “Well, the adoption agency says the match pictures are on the way. It’s finally happening, Matt. We’re going to fly to the other side of the world and bring home our little miracle.”

      Matt smiled. “No joke? That’s great. I’m really happy for you and Marsha.” He paused and frowned again. “But I don’t have a clue as to what this has to do with your not allowing me to work at the hospital for the next month.”

      “It’s very simple. Marsha and I want you to come with us on the trip to China.”

      “What?”

      “It’s perfect, don’t you see?” Bud said, flinging out his arms. “If you’re in China you sure can’t pop into Mercy Hospital when no one is looking, nor pick up the phone to check on things every two seconds.

      “You won’t be under any stress during the trip because you’re not the one who will be tending to a new member of the family. That awesome task is delegated to those of us in our group who are adopting the little ones.”

      “But…”

      “Hear me out.” Bud raised one hand. “We’ll be over there for about two weeks as there are legal matters to attend to. However, the Chinese government schedules one meeting a day, leaving foreign visitors plenty of time to tour and spend money. To top it off, you’ll be traveling with your own physician…me…and I intend to keep an eagle eye on you. Like I said…it’s perfect.”

      “It’s nuts, that’s what it is. You plan to just inform the adoption agency that a friend of yours is going to tag along for the ride? Yeah, right.”

      “Yeah, you are right,” Bud said, appearing extremely pleased with himself. “That’s exactly what Marsha and I would do. One of the couples of the five families in our group is bringing the new grandparents along, and the one single mom has been advised to have a friend with her to help with luggage and what have you because there are no bellhops or redcaps in China.

      “All

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