Rhett's Make-Believe Marriage

by Liz Isaacson

  In fact, she was already sliding in that direction, and she didn’t even need the lucky curtains that had Texas stars on them.

  So it was with some measure of excitement that she finished packing, zipped her suitcase, and hauled it downstairs. Jeremiah took it from her with the words, “Let me, Evelyn,” and continued outside.

  She watched him go, those broad shoulders and big muscles easy for her to see. It was what Jeremiah kept hidden on the inside she hadn’t known about.

  “Ready?” Liam asked, pausing with a box in his arms. “This is the last of Rhett’s stuff, and I think we’re going.”

  “Yeah.” She looked at him, really looked. She’d known all the Walker men for a year now, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever really paid that close of attention to anyone but Rhett. Liam had nice strong features, and he hadn’t shaved that morning. Anyone with two X-chromosomes who saw him that day would surely swoon, what with those dark eyes and that dimple in his right cheek.

  “Why don’t you date?” she asked.

  Surprise crossed Liam’s face. “Rhett hasn’t told you?”

  “He has not.”

  “Ah, it’s a boring story.” Liam flashed her a smile with plenty of pain around the edges. “I’ll save it for another time. Today’s an exciting day. You and Rhett are moving into a place of your own.” He nodded toward the front door. “Go on, I think I hear Jeremiah’s disgruntled muttering from in here.”

  Evelyn giggled, glad some of Rhett’s brothers didn’t seem to have a problem with her. He’d called his parents in Grand Cayman, and they’d been surprised and curious about her. The three Walker brothers who didn’t live on the ranch didn’t seem to have an opinion one way or another.

  And none of that mattered anymore anyway. She and Rhett had a place of their own now, and they could do what they wanted.

  Problem was, Evelyn didn’t know the exact rules on what those things were. She got in Rhett’s truck, the engine already idling while he and Tripp strapped everything down.

  “We’ll see you over there,” Jeremiah said, knocking on the door as he went past. He and Liam piled into the big red pickup truck Evelyn had ridden to church in dozens and dozens of times. Hundreds of times.

  A pang of sadness hit her as Callie rumbled down the road, the four of them smashed inside the old pickup. Rhett finally got behind the wheel while Tripp went to start his truck too.

  “All set?” Rhett asked.

  She turned and looked at him, letting the entire future bloom before her. In one single breath, she could see them experiencing life together, making memories, struggling through tough times, and prevailing in the end.

  “Yes,” she said. “I’m all set.”

  “So this is Three Rivers Ranch,” Rhett said a few hours later. They’d left Callie and Simone at their new house to finish unpacking everything. Liam and Tripp had gone into town to buy lunch for everyone, and Jeremiah had taken Tripp’s truck back to Seven Sons to do his own ranch chores.

  Evelyn was glad she’d escaped the fray, though she was incredibly grateful for all the help. She’d return tonight after a relaxing afternoon of horseback riding to dinner and a house ready to live in. Any furniture they didn’t have, Rhett had bought, and it would get delivered that afternoon.

  He’d purchased all the beds in the homestead, and Evelyn had asked him for one exactly like the mattress she’d been sleeping on. He’d looked at her for a long moment, and then he’d said, “Of course, sugar. I’m glad you like that bed.”

  They had not discussed sleeping arrangements, a topic that had been weighing on Evelyn’s mind.

  “Evvy?”

  She turned toward him as if she didn’t realize they were in the truck together. “Sorry.”

  “What are you thinking about?” he asked.

  She wanted to tell him, but fear flickered inside her like a flame. It danced and it burned, and she couldn’t say it out loud. “Nothing.” She put a smile on her face. “Let’s go in before we’re late for our appointment.”

  Rhett gave her a dubious look but didn’t press the issue. He took her hand in his as they went inside the glass-fronted building of Courage Reins, a place familiar and comfortable for Evelyn. She loved coming to this ranch, which housed this therapy riding facility.

  Reese looked up from behind the counter, a whoop coming out of his mouth the very next moment.

  “Evelyn,” he said, adding, “Carly, they’re here,” over his shoulder as he braced himself to stand. He used a single crutch to come around the counter, his awkward gait so lovable that Evelyn wanted to squish him.

  But she knew Reese didn’t want to be squished. He still commanded respect though he wasn’t as tall as he once was. “Reese.” She laughed as she let go of Rhett’s hand and hugged the war veteran. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “You haven’t been out forever,” he said. “Peony’s not going to know what to do with herself.”

  A blonde woman came out of the hallway, a bright smile on her face and a baby on her hip. “It’s Auntie Evvy,” she cooed to the little girl. They hugged too, and Evelyn took the dark-haired, dark-skinned girl from Carly.

  “This is Rhett Walker,” she said, looking from him to her friends. “My husband.”

  Carly had started to take a step forward, but she froze. “Your what? Evelyn.” She searched Evelyn’s face, and Evelyn didn’t like the scrutiny.

  “Wow,” Reese said, laughing. “I wasn’t expecting that.” He shook Rhett’s hand and said, “You’re a lucky one to get Evelyn, even if she said she’d never get married.”

  “Is that what she said?” Rhett asked, a perfect smile on his face. His eyes said something different, but Evelyn hid behind the infant in her arms and dodged his look.

  “It’s not a big deal,” she told Carly. “It was sudden, that’s all.”

  “When you know, you know,” Rhett said, and it wasn’t the first time she’d heard him say that. Heck, she’d used it too, because it got people off her back.

  “And I never said I would never get married,” she said, throwing a look at Reese. She probably should’ve prepped her friends better. “I said it was unlikely that anyone would want to marry me.”

  She met Rhett’s eyes then, the explanation more for him than anyone else. They breathed in together, and then he swept his arm around her and said, “That’s just crazy. Who wouldn’t want to marry you?” before he kissed her cheek.

  “So, we’re riding horses today,” Reese said, clearly ready to move the conversation to something else. Evelyn had always had a strong bond with Reese Sanders, and she put her hand on his arm as she went by, a silent touch to say thank you.

  He took them outside to the open pasture, away from the indoor arena. “We’ve got a couple of new horses for you,” he said. “These guys are still trying to earn their way into the program, but they’re perfect for riders like you two.”

  Evelyn knew he meant riders that weren’t physically or mentally disabled. “Names?” she asked, handing the baby back to Carly.

  “The dark one is Chocolate Licorice,” Reese said, opening the gate and going inside. Evelyn followed him, with Rhett and Carly right behind. “And this tall girl is Black Lace.”

  “But she’s white,” Rhett said.

  “And so majestic,” Reese said, stroking the horse’s neck. “All right, Lacey. You do things right. I’m watching you.”

  “I want her,” Evelyn said, moving to stand right in front of the horse. She really was tall—taller than any horse Evelyn had ridden in a while. But something in the horse’s soul spoke to hers, and she pressed her nose right against Evelyn’s palm.

  “Oh, you’re ready for this program, aren’t you?” She looked at Reese, who just shook his head. “She pulls. Until she stops doing that, she can’t be in the rotation.”

  Evelyn looked back at the horse, noticing someone had braided deep blue ribbons into her mane. “Well, let’s show him you don’t pull. Okay, girl?” She moved to the horse’s side,
but there was no way she could swing up into the saddle without a step.

  “Clyde’ll bring a stool,” Reese said, waving behind him. Sure enough, another cowboy brought over a step-stool for her, and she was able to get on the horse easily then.

  Everything suddenly became right in the world, and Evelyn tested the weight of the reins in her hands, felt the majestic beast beneath her body. She leaned down and hugged Black Lace. “Oh, you’re beautiful.”

  The horse didn’t move a muscle, and Evelyn said, “Look, Reese. She’s not pulling.”

  He rolled his eyes and waited until Rhett had swung into his saddle too. Evelyn simply stared at him. She’d been attracted to him from the moment she laid eyes on him in that storm shelter. But seeing him atop a horse, reins held just-so, and a smile gracing that handsome face?

  She couldn’t even breathe.

  And she couldn’t believe he was hers—even if it was only on paper.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Rhett let Evelyn lead them out of the pasture, as she’d been out to this ranch before, and he had not. In fact, he hadn’t seen much of Three Rivers at all, and he was beginning to realize what a mistake that had been. The town had charm, that was for sure, and everyone who lived here seemed to take care of each other.

  Just like Evelyn and her sisters had helped Rhett and his brothers after the tornado. Like he was helping Callie now. He may not be a born and bred cowboy like Jeremiah, but even Rhett could see when a ranch was in trouble. And the Shining Star was a few hay fields away from ruin.

  When Rhett had asked Callie why she didn’t hire help, she’d said they couldn’t afford it. She’d still tried to pay him yesterday, but he’d steadfastly refused.

  “You can’t work for free,” she’d said.

  “Yes, I can,” he said. “I don’t have much of a job anymore, and you need the help.”

  “Don’t tell Evelyn,” she’d said, and Rhett had agreed.

  He wanted to tell her, but his heart wouldn’t let him. She’d signed a few new clients since they’d been married, and he was grateful for that. He’d bought the house on Quail Creek Road, and he hadn’t told her that either. It felt like the secrets between them were piling up, and they’d only been married for a couple of weeks.

  Out under the clear blue sky and the heavy heat of a near-summer day in Texas, Rhett finally felt like he’d found somewhere he could just be himself. A sigh slipped out of his mouth, drawing Evelyn’s attention.

  “It’s great, isn’t it?” she asked.

  “I can’t believe you can just come here and do this.”

  “Well, it’s not free for everyone,” she said. “But if you’re a veteran or have a special need, Courage Reins does have a grant that pays for equine therapy.”

  “It’s amazing,” Rhett said. “I saw some horses in there kicking balls and stuff.”

  “Yeah,” she said. “That’s why these two aren’t in the program yet. They have to have the right temperament and abilities to work with people who need the calmest of the calm.” She smiled at him, and Rhett thought she was the most beautiful thing in the world.

  “I have a confession,” he said.

  Evelyn watched him. “How many minutes does this conversation get?”

  “I only need one,” he said with a chuckle. “But I want you to think about it for oh, I don’t know. Thirty seconds before you react.”

  “Wow, thirty seconds. That’s a long time if you think about it.”

  “I’ll count for you.” He looked away, the waving prairie grasses so beautiful when he’d never found them all that awesome on his own ranch. He’d never felt quite at home at Seven Sons, though he knew God had directed him there.

  But Three Rivers Ranch really did possess a wonder and spirit all its own. “I bought the house,” he said. “I didn’t just rent it. I bought it.”

  “Rhett.”

  “Thirty seconds.” He cut a look at her, though he’d seen her reaction with his excellent peripheral vision. She didn’t seem happy. “Starting now.” He didn’t really count, but simply let the clomping of Chocolate Licorice’s hooves keep the time.

  “Okay,” he finally said.

  “It’s fine,” she said.

  “Oh, boy.”

  “No, really,” she said. “It doesn’t make any sense for you to rent it, and since I can’t help pay for it, you should just buy it.”

  He looked at her, fully confident this horse wouldn’t get them off-track. He barely held the reins in his hands. “You really think that?”

  “Yes,” she said. “It’s a great house, on a great property. I’m glad you bought it.”

  He didn’t think she was thinking quite as long-term as he was, which was fine. Honestly, it was. Just like he believed this horse wouldn’t take him somewhere dangerous, he believed he and Evelyn would find their way toward lasting happiness, despite this strange path they’d stepped onto.

  “Maybe you should write a grant for your ranch,” he said. “It could be on the National Historic list, and then you ladies would have the funds you need to keep it running.”

  “We’re doing okay,” Evelyn said. “But it’s an idea.”

  They rode in silence for a few minutes, until Evelyn said, “Rhett, do you want a family?”

  The question nearly unseated him, and his fingers tightened around the reins. He’d never given much thought to having a family, because he’d never had much luck with women. “Yeah,” he said slowly. “I think I’d like a family one day.”

  “Carly and Reese have adopted a couple of kids,” she said.

  “Do you want kids?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said. “I’ve always wanted one boy and one girl.” She threw him a grin. “Silly, I know. You don’t get to pick what sex they are.”

  “No, you don’t,” he said, feeling his happiness expand and show on his face. She had seemed awfully comfortable with a baby on her hip, and Rhett suddenly wanted that to be his baby.

  And they were married now, so why couldn’t it be?

  Maybe because she asked you to order her a separate bed, he thought, turning away from her again. He didn’t want to rush Evelyn. He wouldn’t pressure her. But one of the reasons he’d wanted to get out of the homestead on the ranch was so they could have some privacy for private things.

  The ride ended, and Rhett waited in the truck while Evelyn chatted with her friends about a man named Bennett. When she finally came out, the sun was starting to set, painting the sky with golds and navies and purples.

  “It’s so pretty here,” he said as they started back toward town. The drive seemed to happen in the blink of an eye, though the clock said almost an hour had gone by. But before he knew it, he’d parked and was walking up the back steps into his new house.

  His and Evelyn’s new house.

  And his exhaustion testified that it was time for bed.

  The silence in their house was suddenly so loud, and Rhett cringed when he dropped his keys on the built-in desk in the kitchen. “What a day,” he said.

  Evelyn agreed as she started opening cupboards. “We have everything,” she said. “How is it possible that we have everything?” She took out a bowl with a pretty blue line around the rim. “Was this yours?”

  “I bought that,” he said coolly, hoping she wouldn’t ask what else he’d purchased.

  But he knew Evelyn better than that, and she pinned him with a look. “Rhett,” she said, her voice clearly warning him to start talking, and fast.

  “You said to buy what we didn’t have. I did. They delivered it today, and our siblings unpacked it for us.” He put his arms around her and held her close to him, still a little surprised he could do that whenever he wanted. “It’s fine. Don’t be mad.”

  “This must have taken all day.”

  “I’m sure it did.”

  “Simone has work on the ranch.”

  “Jeremiah took care of it.” Rhett gazed down at her. “I took care of all of it, sugar.” He’d wanted moving da
y to be as easy as possible for Evelyn, and it had been. Mission accomplished.

  “You’re a little too perfect,” she said, frowning at him. “You know that, right?”

  He laughed, tipping his head back. “Oh, you need to talk to my brothers more often. I’m definitely not perfect.” But she was, and he bent down to kiss her. He moved slowly, so she could stop him if she wanted to. But she didn’t, and his blood raced through his body as he explored her mouth and touched his lips to her throat.

  “Maybe we should take a tour,” she said breathlessly, her head still leaned back. “And you can show me all the stuff you bought.”

  “Mm.” He kept kissing her, sliding his mouth up to her ear. “If you want,” he whispered, holding still for a moment.

  She didn’t move, and Rhett’s hopes shot toward the sky. He kissed her again, his hands moving up her back and into her hair. He didn’t allow himself to move too fast or get too out of control. He felt her tense up, and he broke their connection.

  “A tour,” he said, his voice a little bit too low. He stepped back and looked around the kitchen. “I bought the table and chairs. Ours at the ranch belonged to our mother, and I thought my brothers would want to keep those.”

  Turning toward the living room, he said, “I showed you the couches when I bought them. TV’s new, obviously. That recliner.” It wasn’t like the house had come furnished, and they both lived with family. Why she thought he had a secret storage shed with a house-full of furniture in it, he didn’t know.

  The hallway went down to the master suite, and he didn’t go that way. “I bought the bed down there for you. Shower curtains, all of that kind of stuff.” Her office sat right off the front door, and he said, “All of this came from your place.”

  She moved over to her desk and ran her fingers along the top of it. After a quick touch on the curtains, she turned back to him. “This is great.”

  “Right?” The steps led up to the second floor, where there were two more bedrooms and a bathroom. He’d furnished those too, with beds in each one for guests—and himself, if he were being honest. They hadn’t talked about who would sleep where, but he had just told her he’d put her bed in the master suite.