Protecting The Colton Bride

by Elle James

  A hand slid into her lap and squeezed her knee. Even with the disappointing news, he was there to reassure her that all would be well. More tears welled up in her eyes.

  Mr. Young pushed a box of tissues under her nose.

  “Thank you.” Megan grabbed a tissue and pressed it to her face.

  “Your grandmother loved you very much and wanted to protect you against fortune hunters.” Mr. Young held up a hand. “Not that I think your new husband will take advantage of you.”

  Daniel’s hand stilled on her knee. Megan slid hers over his. “My husband doesn’t want my money.”

  Daniel pulled a sheet of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Mr. Young. “Although it hasn’t been filed with the courts, I wrote out a prenuptial agreement and had it witnessed by one of the hotel staff in Vegas before our wedding.”

  Megan frowned. “When did you do that?”

  “While you were getting dressed for the ceremony.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Yes. I did.” He cupped her cheek. “I didn’t want anyone, including you, to think that I wanted anything other than the pleasure of having you as my wife.”

  She gave him a watery smile and swallowed hard to dislodge the lump in her throat. If only his words were true.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to make a copy of it for our records.” Mr. Young took the paper from Daniel and stepped out of the office for a moment, leaving Megan alone with Daniel.

  Still reeling from Daniel’s words and the fact that she wouldn’t have access to all the money in her grandmother’s trust fund, Megan stared at the papers in front of her. “One hundred thousand dollars might not be enough to buy all of the horses if they go for auction to other breeders.”

  “If he plans to sell them to a glue factory, it will be more than enough.”

  Mr. Young returned, handed the prenuptial agreement to Daniel and turned to Megan. “It will take a couple days to get these documents through the system. Where will you be in the meantime?”

  “If her parents will have us, we’ll stay at the Triple Diamond Ranch.”

  “Good. I’ll let you know when you can access the money.”

  Megan stood and held out her hand to the attorney. “My grandmother had a lot of faith in you. Thank you for taking care of her and her assets.”

  “She was a good woman, and she only wanted the best for you.” Mr. Young held out his hand to Daniel. “Take care of her. Her family cares a great deal for her.”

  “I’ll do my very best,” Daniel answered, shaking the man’s hand.

  As Megan stepped out into the sunshine, she drew in a deep breath and let it out. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “I’d forgotten about the six-month stipulation. I didn’t pay much attention at the reading four years ago.”

  “I’m sure you were still grieving for your grandmother.”

  Megan smiled. “She encouraged me to be the person I wanted to be. Not the person my parents thought I should be. It was because of her that I finally moved away from California.”

  “She sounds like a wonderful woman.”

  “Just so you know, I don’t expect you to stay married to me for six months. If I can make the money last long enough to purchase my horses and move them somewhere safe, that will be enough for me.”

  “We’ll worry about the six months later. Right now, let’s concentrate on getting your horses from your father.”

  “Are you ready to meet my parents?” She glanced up at him, trying to read his face for any sign that he’d had enough of playing charades.

  “I’m ready. I think the real question is, are you ready?” He held out his hand.

  She laughed and took his. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s go to the Triple Diamond Ranch.”

  Chapter 12

  Daniel followed the GPS on his smartphone to the address Megan gave him. Forty-five minutes later, he pulled up to a large stone-and-iron gate with an arched sign over the top indicating the Triple Diamond Ranch.

  In the seat beside him, Megan stiffened, her hands clenched in her lap. She gave him the code for the keypad without turning toward him.

  After entering the code, Daniel waited as the gate swung open.

  Megan leaned forward, her gaze sweeping the pastures to the left and right of the long drive. “I don’t see any of the horses.”

  “Perhaps they have them in another pasture.”

  “Perhaps.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and continued to scan the fields between the stands of trees blocking visibility from the SUV’s windows.

  The drive curved and angled up an incline lined with tall trees. When they emerged from the forest, a huge, sprawling mansion spread out before them.

  “Home, sweet home,” Megan muttered, looking anything but excited about the prospect of visiting the beautiful house with the French-vanilla stucco, arched entrance and Roman columns. Surrounded by lush landscaping and bright blue skies, the home was something most people only dreamed of.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “My mother had a hand in the design. They built it when I was a toddler.”

  Daniel mentally compared the mansion to the singlewide mobile home he and his mother lived in for the first ten years of his life. He had nothing in common with this lifestyle, which made anything permanent between him and Megan even more impossible.

  “Did you call ahead to let your parents know what time to expect us?”

  “No. They just know it’s today. Maybe they will have a prior commitment and we can let ourselves in.”

  The front door opened, and a woman stepped through. She wore a tailored dress and high heels, and her red hair was twisted into an elegant knot at the back of her head.

  She was followed by a man with a shock of neatly combed white hair and smoothly tanned skin.

  “Your parents?” Daniel asked.

  “That’s them.”

  “You look a lot like your mother.”

  “I’ve been told that.” Megan glanced around the circular drive. “You can leave the vehicle here. Someone will move it to the garage.”

  Daniel shifted the SUV into Park, climbed out of the vehicle and rounded the hood to the other side. Thankfully Megan waited for him to open the door. He held out his arm and she accepted it, letting him help her out of the SUV.

  She hooked her hand through his elbow and pasted a smile on her face.

  Daniel could see the strain in her expression as she faced her parents.

  “Megan.” Her mother moved forward, her face wreathed in smiles. She engulfed her daughter in a fierce hug. “I’m so glad you decided to come home.”

  Her father stood on the top step, his brows angling downward in a V. He was a big man, but not quite as tall as Daniel. His face was lined with experience. Permanent creases were engraved in his brow, probably from years of frowning. Though tanned, his skin had a slightly gray tint to it, and the whites of his eyes were tinged yellow.

  Megan hugged her mother and glanced up at her father. “Father.”

  He nodded. “I shouldn’t have to threaten you to get you to return to where you belong.”

  Megan’s frown equaled her father’s. “I’m here for now. Can’t you be happy?”

  The man’s scowl deepened. “Your mother has been beside herself.”

  “Oh, don’t let him scare you, dear. I’m just happy you’re here.” Josephine Talbot clasped her daughter’s hand and tugged her toward the house. “Come inside and get unpacked. You must be exhausted.”

  “No, Mother.” Megan pulled her arm from her mother’s grasp and leaned into Daniel. “This is Daniel Colton.”

  “Daniel Colton.” Mrs. Talbot’s brows wrinkled. “Megan’s boss, right?”
>
  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She pressed her hand to her chest. “How nice of you to see Megan safely home.”

  “Mother, he’s not just my boss anymore.” Megan’s cheeks reddened.

  Daniel felt sorry for her and stepped forward. “What she’s trying to tell you is that Megan and I got married two days ago. We’re husband and wife.” He lifted Megan’s hand and pressed a kiss to the backs of her knuckles.

  “What the hell do you mean? Married?” Daniel’s announcement made Frank Talbot leave his position towering over the rest of them and march down the stairs to confront Daniel and Megan. “Is this true?”

  Megan nodded and held up her left hand with the simple ring Daniel had slid onto her finger. Standing in front of a multimillion-dollar mansion, Daniel figured the ring appeared cheap, despite how rich it was in memories and the love his grandmother had shared with his grandfather.

  Mrs. Talbot’s eyes widened. “You got married?”

  Megan nodded. “We did.”

  “I had such plans for a beautiful wedding for you.”

  “A wedding with someone we knew,” her father grumbled, glaring at Daniel. “Someone suitable.”

  Megan’s back stiffened and she took a step, placing her body between her father and Daniel. “Daniel is more than suitable. He loves me, and I love him. That’s all that matters.”

  “I’m sure he loves you, and every cent you stand to inherit.” Her father’s face turned ruddy. “I won’t stand for this.”

  Megan threw back her shoulders, her green eyes flashing. “You don’t have to stand for it. It was my choice, and I chose Daniel. Besides, he doesn’t want my money or yours.”

  Daniel chuckled at the fierceness of her defense. “Sweetheart, I can stand up for myself.” He gripped her shoulders and moved her back to his side. Daniel stuck out his hand. “Mr. Talbot, I’m Daniel Colton, and I’m happy to make your acquaintance as the father of my bride. If we aren’t welcome here, we will be on our way.” He stood for a long moment, his hand held out, waiting.

  “Frank,” Mrs. Talbot said sharply.

  Megan’s father finally took Daniel’s hand and squeezed it with a bone-crunching grip.

  Daniel was used to sturdy handshakes, but Frank Talbot was making a point. Pasting a smile on his face, Daniel squeezed back.

  Despite the man’s recent sickness, he had a killer grip, and he was letting Daniel know he wasn’t a wimp.

  Though he could swear his bones were breaking, Daniel refused to be the first to release. He bit down on his tongue to keep from yelling out.

  Josephine Talbot clucked her tongue. “Come, Megan. Let me help you carry our bags into the house, while those two strut.” She rolled her eyes and stepped around her husband. “Men.”

  Megan cleared her throat. “Father, Daniel. Are you two going to let us carry our things into the house?”

  Frank’s gaze met Daniel’s. “Of course not.”

  Daniel stared at the man a moment longer and then loosened his grip at the same time as Frank.

  He wanted to shake the blood back into his fingers, but he didn’t dare show a single sign of weakness in front of Megan’s father. Instead, he used his left hand to click the release on the back of the vehicle and unloaded his and Megan’s bags.

  “You didn’t bring much with you,” Mrs. Talbot said.

  “We’re not staying long,” Megan announced. “We only stopped by to check on how you and Father are doing. And we wanted to let you know of our marriage.”

  Her father crossed his arms over his chest. “I haven’t approved this union.”

  “Father, I’m twenty-eight, I don’t need your approval to marry whom I want.”

  Her father’s chest puffed out. “As a Talbot, you have certain obligations.”

  “Well, I’m not a Talbot anymore, now, am I?” She pushed her shoulders back and lifted her chin. “My last name is Colton.”

  Her father opened his mouth and then snapped it shut, his lips thinning into a straight line. “We’ll see.”

  “Father—” Megan said with a warning frown.

  “Megan? Is that you?” a voice called out from the front door. A woman with light blond hair and blue eyes ran down the steps and hugged Megan. “I haven’t seen you in forever.” She hugged her again and stepped back to examine her. “You look good. Oklahoma sunshine must agree with you.”

  “Hey, Christine. I didn’t know you were here.” She looked to Daniel. “This is my cousin.”

  “Christine has been living at the Triple Diamond for the past month. She apparently cares what happens to us,” Frank said.

  Megan’s green eyes flared. “I care about you, Father. I love you very much, but I won’t let you live my life for me.”

  “Obviously. You moved to Oklahoma without so much as a goodbye, and now this.” He waved his hand at Daniel.

  “This is my husband. I would hope you’d treat him with some respect.”

  Daniel almost smiled at how natural the word husband rolled off Megan’s lips, and he had the sudden urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her.

  “Frank,” Mrs. Talbot’s entreaty pierced the anger in Frank’s attack.

  A muscle ticked in the older man’s jaw. “My apologies.”

  “Husband?” Christine’s eyes widened. “You got married?”

  Megan nodded. “We did.”

  “Let me see the ring.” Christine grabbed her hand and lifted it to the light. “Oh, the ring is so pretty and old-fashioned. I simply love it. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your hunky husband?”

  Megan turned to Daniel. “Daniel Colton, meet my cousin, Christine. She’s my father’s niece. Christine and I are the last of the Talbots, since our fathers only had one daughter each.”

  “Oh, don’t be so stuffy. All this heritage stuff is silly, anyway.” Christine held out her hand and Daniel took it.

  “My thoughts exactly,” Megan muttered.

  “It’s just like you to beat me to the draw.” Christine laughed. “I thought for sure I’d be next to the altar and here you go and get married.” Her cousin raised her left hand, flashing a large marquis diamond. “I’m engaged!”

  Daniel’s chest tightened at yet another reminder of the difference between his and Megan’s worlds.

  Megan’s smile was tight, but she managed to say, “That’s wonderful, Christine. Who is he?”

  “Josh Townsend. He’s a real estate agent in LA. You’ll get to meet him. He’ll be here late this afternoon.”

  “Let’s go inside out of the hot sun,” Mrs. Talbot said, ushering the group into the cool interior of the mansion.

  He’d thought the outside of the house was ostentatious, but the inside outdid the exterior in luxury. White marble floors stretched across the immense foyer. Two carved staircases rose up on either side to the second floor with dark mahogany railings and richly carpeted steps.

  The ceiling rose high overhead with bright skylights letting in ample sunlight.

  “Where do you want us to put our things?” Megan asked her mother.

  “Why, in your old room, of course.” Mrs. Talbot waved to a servant. “Let Manny carry them up for you. I’ll have our housekeeper, Maggie, bring tea into the sitting room.”

  “I’d like to wash my hands first,” Megan said.

  “Me, too.” Daniel smiled at Mrs. Talbot. “Thank you.”

  “You can show Daniel to your room.”

  Frank Talbot growled beneath his breath.

  Mrs. Talbot turned on her husband. “If you can’t be nice, go fiddle with your horses or something. I want to spend time with my daughter, even if you don’t.” She softened her demand with, “But don’t push yourself. You’re still recovering.”

  “I’m perfectly fine,” Frank insisted
.

  “For a man who had prostate surgery less than a month ago.”

  Frank Talbot left the house, grumbling, “Woman has no right to throw my illness around like a weapon.”

  Mrs. Talbot turned to Daniel and Megan. “Now, you two go on. I’ll have something cold to drink waiting for you when you come down.”

  “If you don’t mind, we’ve been cooped up for a long time in an airplane. After tea, we’d like to stretch our legs.”

  “Oh, by all means. We can catch up more at supper.” Mrs. Talbot smiled. “You can walk in the garden if you like.”

  “Daniel and I would prefer to go down to the barn and see the horses,” Megan said, her gaze following her father out the door. “That is, if they haven’t been sold off yet.”

  Josephine Talbot shook her head. “Your father is all bark.”

  Megan’s lips thinned. “I never know when he will actually bite.”

  Her mother touched her arm. “Darling, not as often as you think.”

  Megan turned to face her mother. “Are you saying he was bluffing about selling my horses?”

  “Yes and no.” Her mother sighed. “He is determined to sell them eventually, and I want him to.”

  “Mother!” Megan shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. “I love those horses.”

  “And your father loves you and me. He would do anything to have you closer.” Mrs. Talbot touched her daughter’s arm. “Please don’t hate him.”

  Daniel’s belly tightened. He could see the love and concern in her mother’s eyes. The woman was caught between two very independent and stubborn people and was trying to play mediator to keep her family together.

  “Go upstairs and wash up. We’ll talk in a few minutes.” Mrs. Talbot laid a hand on Daniel’s shoulder as he walked by. “I promise we’re not always this difficult.”

  Daniel smiled at the woman, liking her in that instant. “I’ll reserve judgment.”

  “That’s all I ask.” The older Talbot woman nodded and walked away.

  Megan paused, halfway up the stairs, her gaze moved from her mother to Daniel. “Are you coming?”