Montana Cowboy Family

by Linda Ford

  “Keep my store?” Awareness flickered through the shock in his eyes. His face went taut. “No. That’s impossible now. There are only four days remaining before—” He clamped his lips shut, turned away.

  “Before you must marry.” How cruel that sounded.

  Blake stiffened, spun back around and walked to her, anger in every line of his body. “I appreciate you coming all this way to deliver the news of Linda’s betrayal in person, Audrey. But, as you’ve experienced betrayal yourself, I’m sure you’ll understand that I’m in no mood for polite commiseration—no matter how sincere.” A muscle along his jaw twitched. His hands clenched. “As I said earlier, a train headed east comes through in about an hour. It’s the last one today. As there is as yet no restaurant in town where you can wait in comfort, I’m afraid the bench at the station will have to do. I have to go tell Pastor Karl there will be no wedding. He will have heard the train arrive and will be expecting—” Pain flashed in his eyes. His lips clamped tight again. He bent and picked up her satchel. “I’ll walk you back to the depot.”

  She shook her head, his reference to her ex-beau John Barker bringing the pain of being a second-best castoff surging forth and strengthening her resolve to spare Blake as much pain as possible. “I’m not going home, Blake. At least, not unless you tell me to.” He jerked away from the door and stared at her. She looked at his tight mouth, at the pulsing vein at his left temple and blurted out her plan before he dragged her out the door. “I came to marry you.”

  *

  Audrey’s words slammed against the shock of Linda’s betrayal with stunning force. His mind reeled. Blake drew breath to speak, but no sound came. He gave his head a quick shake, struggling to grasp the incomprehensible thought. “I’m sorry, Audrey, but—” He gave his head another shake and stared down into her hazel eyes. Surely, he’d heard her wrong. “Did you say, you came to marry me?”

  “Not for real!”

  The skin over her cheekbones turned redder than her hair. He rubbed at his throbbing temple, tried to make sense of what she was saying. “I don’t understand. How—”

  “The marriage would be real. But you and I wouldn’t—” Her gaze jerked from his, focused on the floor. “That is to say, the marriage would be…”

  Her embarrassment brought the word springing forth—“Impersonal?”

  “Yes.”

  The color on her cheeks flared. He gaped at her, his mind numbed by the shock upon shock. She burst into speech.

  “When Linda left, I opened your last letter to answer it and tell you what had happened, but the railroad ticket and money were there, and that’s when I learned that you had signed a contract that states if you do not marry within thirty days of opening your business all that you have invested will revert to the founder of Whisper Creek. And that you had signed that contract because of Linda’s promise to marry you as soon as you had your store and living quarters built.”

  “And so you came here to marry me.” It was so preposterous he could hardly credit it, let alone relate the idea to the young woman standing before him. Audrey had always been quiet…reserved…sensible.

  “It wasn’t like that.” Her chin lifted. “The letter had lain unopened for over two weeks. Had I responded in kind to explain what had happened, by the time you received my missive there would have been no time left for you to do anything to save your store and all you have invested.” Her shoulders squared. “So I’ve come to honor my sister’s promise.”

  “To marry me.”

  “Yes. And, as you just stated, there are only four days left for us to do so.”

  Four days. “Audrey, I—”

  “—think I’m insane.” She stepped closer. “I know it sounds mad, Blake. But I’ve thought it over quite carefully, and it’s the only way I can think of to save your store. The contract states that you must marry—not how you must conduct that marriage. Correct?”

  The pain of Linda’s betrayal hit afresh. Bitter gall rose in his throat. “And how long would this pretense of a marriage go on?”

  “Until you find another solution to your problem.”

  “Until—That could take some time.”

  Her gaze lowered to her satchel gripped in his hand. “I’m prepared to wait.”

  His mind jolted backward, pulled up an image of her trunks sitting on the station platform. She was serious. She’d come prepared to stay. What sort of man did she think he was? She should have known he wouldn’t consider letting her do such a thing! He set his jaw, shook his head. “That’s generous of you, Audrey. But… Linda’s…behavior is not your responsibility.” His throat tightened at the taste of his beloved’s name on his tongue. “Nor is saving my store. That is my problem. I’m the one who signed the contract.”

  “But you did so because of Linda’s promise.”

  Of course I will marry you, Blake darling. I love you. Go to Wyoming. I will join you when you build our home. Our home. How wonderful that sounds! Pain constricted his chest at the memory of Linda’s words. He squeezed the satchel’s handle, fought down the urge to throw the case across the room.

  “I can do nothing to ease your hurt over my sister’s betrayal, Blake. But I can do something to stop it from costing you your inheritance. I hope you will let me.”

  The desperation in Audrey’s voice caught at him. He yanked his thoughts from the painful memory and fastened his gaze on her. “I’m sorry, Audrey. I can’t—”

  “Please don’t refuse me! My plan will work, Blake.” She stepped close and peered up at him, her eyes imploring. “Surely you can see it is the only way to save your store! And it will only be for a short time.”

  “You can’t know that.”

  “I know that you are an intelligent, resourceful man. You will find a solution.”

  He put down her satchel and scrubbed his hand across his eyes trying to think through the cloud of shock. “Your faith is misplaced, Audrey. I have no idea what that solution might be. I can’t think…” He drew in a ragged breath, swept his gaze around the store. “Perhaps, given some time, I might think of something, but… I don’t know…” He turned and stared out the window, jamming his hands into his suit jacket pockets. Pain jolted him at the touch of the ring. It was over. His love had chosen another. What did anything else matter? He might as well let Audrey have her way—whatever her reason. He pulled air into his aching chest and motioned for her to join him. “Do you see that small church, down a ways across the road?”

  “Yes.”

  He fingered the ring, forced out words. “That’s where Pastor Karl lives. He’s waiting to perform the ceremony that would have made your sister and me man and wife.” Bitterness swelled, drove him on. He pulled his hand from his pocket and looked down at her. “There is no place you can stay in Whisper Creek but upstairs in the living quarters with me, so be absolutely certain you want to do this, Audrey. We will have to marry immediately. There will be no opportunity for you to change your mind.” Like your sister. He waited for her answer, his jaw set, the vein at his temple drumming.

  “I’ve had days to think about this plan, Blake. I’ve thought of nothing else since I read your letter and boarded the train in New York. I’ll not change my mind.”

  Her voice was soft and steady. There was determination in the lift of her chin. He dipped his head in curt acceptance. “There’s one thing more. We will have to play the part of loving newlyweds in front of others. If Mr. Ferndale were to discover that the marriage is a pretense it might void the contract and your…kindness will have been in vain.” Her eyes widened, her posture stiffened. Clearly, she had not realized what her offer entailed. But he understood. He reached for her satchel to walk her back to the station.

  “I understand. I shall do my best.”

  He straightened, looked at her. It should have been Linda standing there—rushing into his arms… “Look, Audrey—”

  “I’m not going home, Blake.” Her hazel eyes bored straight into his. “Not until you have solved the
problem Linda has caused you with the store.”

  The resolve in her eyes, her stiff posture—everything said she meant it. Well, he’d given her every chance to stop this foolish plan and go home. And she was right—marrying her was the only way to save his investment and not walk away from the store penniless. At least he would salvage something from the ruins of his hopes and plans for the future. And what did the marriage matter? The farce would be over soon enough. He’d think of something. “Very well, then.” He ignored the sickening ache in his chest, pushed her satchel aside and opened the door. “Let’s go. I don’t want to keep Pastor Karl waiting. And, remember…we’re supposed to be in love.”

  *

  May the Lord bless your union with many years of health and happiness.

  The pastor’s parting words echoed in her mind with every step she took back to the store. Audrey stole a quick glance at Blake through her lowered lashes and wished she could say or do something that would ease his tension. But that was unlikely as she was the cause of that tension. She took a breath and glanced down at his hand holding her elbow, grateful for its support as she forced her shaky legs to climb the steps to the porch.

  Blake released her elbow, led her inside and picked up her satchel. “This way.”

  His voice sounded as if his throat had gravel in it. Her heart squeezed. How horrible for him to have had to endure that marriage ceremony with her when he’d just learned the woman he loved had wed another. She remembered the raw hurt when John had cast her aside to make an advantageous marriage. She bit back words of apology and commiseration and followed Blake into the dark interior. Sympathy would do no good. Words could not ease the pain of an aching heart.

  She stole another glance at Blake, but the store was too dark and shadowed to see clearly. He led her through a door at the back into another, smaller room, his footsteps and the rustle of her skirt loud in the silence. How much effort it must have cost him to pretend to be a happy bridegroom when he was suffering from her sister’s betrayal. What inner strength he had! Even she hadn’t detected his hidden emotions until the pastor pronounced them man and wife, and he’d kissed her.

  She raised her hand and touched her fingertips to her tender lips. Thankfully, the pastor had interpreted Blake’s vehemence as love, not anger. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. How he must have hated being forced to kiss her, to pretend—

  “Wait a moment until I light the lamp, Audrey. It’s not safe for you to climb the stairs in this dim light.”

  She blinked the tears away and squared her shoulders. A match flared. Blake lifted the globe of a hanging lamp and touched the match to its wick. Light spread over the area and highlighted the taut features of his face. She looked up the open stairs into a soft circle of light at the top. The home he’d meant to share with Linda was up there. Her breath shortened. Oh, Lord, what have I done? This is madness! I can’t—

  “Do you want me to go first?”

  Blake’s strained voice snapped her thoughts back to him. Her discomfort was nothing compared to the turmoil of emotions he had to be experiencing. She shook her head, gripped the railing and started to climb.

  The stairs led to a U-shaped interior hall lit by a pewter oil lamp sitting on a shelf centered between two doorways in the wall they faced. Blake gestured toward the door on the left. “That’s the sitting room. You’ll find it sparsely furnished. I thought—” He stopped, stood beside the door for her to precede him.

  He’s thinking about what was to have been. Talk about things! Distract him. She stepped into the dark room and swept her gaze over the furnishings: lamp stands, a chest, two armchairs with cushions facing a settee. Light from the hall lamp shone on the padded arm. Blue damask. Linda’s favorite color. She looked at Blake and forced out words. “It’s lovely. And more than sufficient.”

  He nodded, and she followed him back out into the hall, glanced toward a door he indicated on their right. “That’s my office.” He swept his hand toward a door at the end of the short hallway. “And a bedroom.”

  She drew a breath, found a bit of courage and spoke before it fled. “Is that where I—”

  “No. The room is empty but for a cot. I’ll sleep there.”

  She started to protest, noticed his taut face and kept quiet.

  Lamplight gleamed on Blake’s dark hair and broad shoulders as he walked past the stairwell and gestured toward that second open doorway now on their left. “That’s the kitchen.”

  She glanced into the dark room. The light from the hall gleamed on the polished wood of a dining table surrounded by Hitchcock chairs. It was all she could see in the quick glimpse. She stifled a wish to look around the kitchen and hurried after Blake, almost bumping into his back when he stopped at the door centered in the short hall at the right of the stairs that formed the second arm of the U.

  “This is the dressing room. You’ll find everything you need in it—piped-in water, a bathing tub…” That muscle along his jaw jumped. “Towels and other necessities—soaps and creams and such—are in a cupboard.”

  All bought for Linda. Her stomach flopped. She couldn’t—

  “I’ll light the lamp.” He did so quickly then stepped back out into the hall and opened the door across from the kitchen at the end of the short hall. “This is where you will sleep. You can hang your gowns in here.” He yanked open a door on a cavernous wardrobe, set her satchel down, strode to a nightstand beside a four-poster and lit the lamp. Golden light glittered on a small heart-shaped silver box, spilled onto a beautiful blue-and-white woven coverlet on the bed.

  Her gaze froze on the heart-shaped silver box and the thumb of her left hand turned inward, touched the ring on her finger—Linda’s ring. She lifted her gaze to Blake’s rigid back, remembered the tremor that had shook his hand when he’d pulled the ring from his suit coat pocket and put it on her finger. She slipped the ring off and cupped it in her hand.

  Blake scrubbed his hand over his eyes and turned, his face as fixed as stone. “I’ll go to the station and get your trunks. You’ll be wanting to settle in.” He strode out into the hall and walked down the stairs.

  She lifted her hand, stared down at the circle of gold on her palm and thought of all it stood for—of what it meant to Blake. Tears blurred her vision. She blinked them away, walked to the nightstand and put the ring in the box. It was difficult enough to live with the knowledge that your betrothed rejected the love you carried in your heart for them without seeing a reminder all day. She might stand in Linda’s place, but she’d not wear the symbol of Blake’s love for her.

  *

  Blake threw a blanket over the cot he’d slept on while his store was being built, then turned away before he broke the folding bed into pieces. The quiet sounds from the other bedroom stabbed into him like knives. He wished Audrey would put off unpacking the trunks he’d brought from the depot until tomorrow when he was downstairs at the store. But he had no good reason to ask her to do so. He couldn’t tell her the truth—that every rustle of movement reminded him of Linda’s betrayal, of what should have been. That she was sleeping on the bed that had arrived only yesterday. His and Linda’s wedding bed.

  He clenched his fists wanting to smash something the way his dream had been shattered. But there was only the cot. Or the walls. He stared at the wood partition separating him from his bride and jerked his mouth into a bitter smile. If he started punching the wall, he’d likely frighten Audrey into a faint. And how would he explain his bruised and bloodied hands to any customers tomorrow—to Mr. and Mrs. Ferndale, who were certain to come around to wish them well?

  His stomach curdled at the thought of the town founder and his wife. They would want to meet his bride. How would Audrey handle that? How would he? He’d best do better than he had at the wedding! His face tightened at the memory of his agony during the ceremony. He’d been so angry over Linda’s betrayal, he was shaking. Still, he shouldn’t have kissed Audrey like that. Remorse washed over him. Audrey had come all the way out to Wy
oming to help him keep his store, but there had been nothing of gratitude in that kiss—only anger and frustration. She didn’t deserve that.

  What a mess his life was! All of his hopes and careful plans were brought to ruin by Linda’s fickleness. A strangled moan burst from his throat. He shoved his hands through his hair and looked around the empty room that was meant for the children he’d hoped to have someday. His gut twisted into a painful knot. If only he could get out of here and go for a walk, but the moon was too bright. He couldn’t take the chance that one of the few people in town would see him striding down the road. Men didn’t go for solitary walks on their wedding night. At least he could get some air to breathe! He strode to the door leading to the porch that roofed the store’s loading dock and grasped the knob.

  A floorboard in the next room creaked. The sound shot through him like an arrow from a warrior’s bow. He froze. There was a door onto the porch from the other bedroom as well. If he went out there and Audrey heard him and came outside… He released his grip on the doorknob. It wasn’t worth the risk. He couldn’t bear to see her again tonight.

  Linda… Oh, my heart’s desire…

  Memories exploded. Images of his beloved laughing up at him, her blue eyes glowing, her soft, full lips enticing him to kiss her. The silky feel of her blond curls beneath his hands, the warmth of her arms sliding around his neck, the ardor of her return kiss. Pain ripped through him. How could you betray me like this, Linda? How could you turn your back on our love?

  He leaned against the door, shaken, ill, furious, fighting for control.

  Dear God, what have I done? How will I get through this sham of a marriage?

  He paced around the empty room, his steps keeping time with his tumbling thoughts. There were only three things he knew for certain: he owed Audrey an apology for that angry kiss, he would never trust a woman again and there would be no sleep for him tonight. And one more—he had to find a solution to the problem with the store so he could free Audrey from her commitment and get out of this farce!