The Cowboy Takes a Bride

by Kristi Rose

  This would be the first time, their brief reception aside, that they were among the town folk. They’d talked about going into town for dinner several times but never made it. If something needed to be picked up in town, Meredith and mom went in but never lingered. He got the feeling that Meredith liked to stay on the ranch. When he’d asked her about it, she’d said she’d spent enough time mingling with people to hold her over for a while and she’d let him know when the urge to start back up kicked in. If it ever did.

  He had one pressing question that he couldn’t hold back any longer. Only he didn’t know how to ask, afraid it would rock the boat too much.

  “You all sure put together a nice feast.” He stood back, looking at the covered dishes on the table she’d just set out. He hoped he wasn’t starting something that could ruin the evening.

  “It was fun. Exhausting, but still fun.” She moved to the next table and began moving covered dished from the cart they’d bought in town a few weeks back, proclaiming it would save them work. Not that he wanted to lug each dish from the house to the barn, so he wasn’t about to disagree.

  “Listen, Mer, I have an awkward question I need to ask.” He stepped next to her, sliding an arm around her waist, hoping she would see it as a casual yet concerned question and not take offense.

  She narrowed her eyes, but her smile didn’t fade. “Okay. I guess I’m ready.”

  He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “I like when you make your ‘this isn’t going to be good’ face. Your nose crinkles up.”

  “Are you stalling?”

  “Yes.”

  “Jace.” She laughed. “Just ask.”

  He huffed out a sigh. “It’s no big deal really.”

  “You make it seem like one.”

  “A lot of people will be here tonight and in your business. They’ll wonder why you haven’t come to town much, and some might even speculate that you’re hiding out here.”

  Her smile dropped. “Some or you?”

  “I only want to know if that’s really why you stay away from town. Are you afraid of something? I know I should have asked this earlier, but—”

  “It’s true that I don’t want my father to find me. I want time here to know where—” She bit her lip.

  “You want to be.” He nodded. Some days he felt like there was no chance she’d ever leave. That their arrangement didn’t make any difference because she knew she belonged here. The question "what next" was always the elephant in the room. They'd become skilled in avoiding it. Instead they'd make love, laugh like fools in the rain at target practice, and he'd slap her ass every day in the kitchen while she made dinner, but none of that meant she was going to stay.

  She wrapped her arms around him. “There is always the chance my father will find me, but right now there is no place I want to be but here. There is nothing I need in town. That’s why I don’t go. Not because I’m scared to go into town, but because I don’t want to go.”

  “And how will you do tonight with all the people?”

  She’d told him about how her father used her to eavesdrop and report. She’d told him about how the migraines had escalated and about the night she decided to take Sabrina up on her offer.

  “I’ll make sure to get some fresh air if I feel the slightest one coming on. I don’t see it happening. The few times I’ve been into town with Marjory haven’t caused any, and I’m excited about tonight. It sounds fun.”

  No matter how hard she tried to reassure him, he couldn’t help but feel like something bad was waiting in the wings.

  “Stop worrying, Jace. Really.” She kissed his chin. “Did I ever tell you Dirty Dancing was my favorite movie? I used to sneak watch it when I was younger. My mom said it was inappropriate for me. Maybe we can try out some of those moves later after the dance. In the privacy of our room.” She wagged her brows.

  “I’d like to claim that I’ve never seen it, but Willow’s watched it a ton, and Sabrina talked about it in college so…” He rolled his hips into hers then dipped her back. Her laughter floated across the room.

  When she came back up, he pulled her close and began to slow dance, humming an old country tune. She wrapped her arms around his neck and fit herself perfectly against him.

  This is what Sabrina had asked him to do. Take a chance. To let himself go, and with Meredith, he found that easy enough these days. Sure, he worried about the day her father would show up, but her interest in the ranch appeared genuine, and that had to count for something.

  Right?

  They danced for a while, enjoying the quiet and time alone. Occasionally he’d drop a kiss on her neck or shoulder and laugh at the goose bumps that followed.

  “Hey,” Willow called out. “You two gonna do that all night, or can we finish setting up? Folks will be coming soon.”

  “Go away, Willow. I’m dancing with my wife.” He liked how easily the word rolled from his tongue.

  “To no music?”

  “That’s how we roll,” Jace said, still guiding her around the room, though this time in an exaggerated waltz.

  “Looks like those dance lessons mom made you do are paying off,” Willow said.

  He twirled Meredith before bringing her to a stop in front of his sister. “You sure know how to kill a good time, Willow.”

  “You’re married. I thought good times were supposed to be over for you.” She punched him in the shoulder then left.

  Jace pointed off toward the driveway. “Looks like the party is about to start.”

  Meredith followed the direction of his finger and saw several cars headed their way. She sprang into action. “I have to get the rest of the food.”

  She dashed from the barn, her pretty, dark green skirt waving around her legs. He liked that she had chosen cowboy boots for her footwear. She wasn’t polished-looking like she had been when she arrived, and he thought she was beautiful then. Seeing her now, she stole his breath; his heart stuttered in his chest then swelled with pride. Sabrina was getting an awesome Christmas gift this year.

  Life with a wife had been an easier adjustment than he thought. He attributed that to Meredith. It was because of who she was at her core. She may not have known who she was when she arrived, but maybe she knew now.

  Unless she was going from one imposed identity to another. This was his greatest fear, a recurring doubt that sometimes woke him from an exhausted sleep. It kept him from taking the next step, not that he was sure what that should be. Regardless, Jace believed time would tease it all out.

  He stepped out of the barn and walked toward the front of the house to direct traffic. Pops leaned against a post on the porch, a big shit-eating grin on his face. Mom, Meredith, and Willow scurried out of the house with arms full of fixings. The sun was setting over the mountains, the breeze dipping into temps that required a lined hoodie. The band, members of the volunteer fire department, struck up their first of several jaunty tunes, and dancing was quick to follow.

  Meredith found herself twirled around the floor by several of the older local ranchers. Jace would manage to get in a few strolls around the hay-strewn floor before they’d get interrupted, but Meredith didn’t mind. Marjory and Pops were having fun, everyone was laughing, and it was nothing liked she’d endured with her father. It was so much better, friendlier. It suited her.

  She was dancing with Pops, a slow small shuffle step sort of dance when Tuck cut in. Glancing around the room, she found Jace dancing with Tuck’s wife, Mandy, a nice woman Meredith wanted to get to know better. A few times she mentioned Meredith joining her book club, and that appealed to Meredith. Now that things were slowing down on the ranch, she felt comfortable taking time away. The feeling of being a guest, a newcomer, had faded, but showed up occasionally when she and Jace experienced something new together. Like tonight. Sure, she was comfortable, but acutely aware that she was a stranger to these people. They talked about someone’s new baby, and she had no idea who that person was, but she was slowly putting the pieces togethe
r and looking forward to next year when she could participate in the conversation.

  Meredith smiled at Tuck and thanked him for the dance when it ended.

  “Aw, hell Meredith. We're all real glad you're here and I'm looking forward to getting to knowing you better.” He tipped his hat and shuffled off to his wife. Wrapping herself in a hug, Meredith embraced the moment hoping to imprint it on her memory bank. It had been a gamble to trust Sabrina, but oh, so very worth it.

  She scanned the room for Jace and saw him sitting on a bale of hay next to his parents, a plate balanced on his knee, his head tossed back in laughter, and Meredith knew. Her awareness of how she felt about him slammed into her like a horse kick to the chest, only it didn't hurt. It was amazing, rippling through her until it encompassed her much like being wrapped in a warm blanket. She felt lucky, happy, and… She searched for the best word to describe what she felt, but it was too new and foreign for her to quickly assign a label.

  A tall man, name unknown, rushed by and jumped on a haystack next to her. He gave an ear-ringing whistle and, instantly, the band stopped playing, the dancers a second behind.

  “I just got a call from the fire department. A bear mauled old man Beasley. His foreman found him. He’s not sure if he’ll make it. The ambulance is thirty minutes out.” He pointed to Jace and Tuck. “You riding with me?”

  Jace nodded once, handed his plate to his mother, then hustled out of the barn, Tuck in the rear. Others followed behind. Willow came up next to Meredith and took her hand.

  “What’s happening?” Meredith whispered.

  “Leo is the physician’s assistant. He used to be an EMT. They’re going up to Beasley’s place to do what they can until the ambulance gets there. Jace and Tuck are going to provide cover in case the bear is hanging around. If it was a grizzly, they like to come back for their kill.”

  Meredith shuddered and gripped Willow’s hand. “The others? Surely, they aren’t going to hunt for the bear in the dark?”

  Willow shook her head. “No, but they’ll go up and do a look around the property. Other’s will go home and get sleep so the search can start early tomorrow.”

  A million questions needed to be asked.

  “Let’s start packing up food.” Willow tugged her toward the tables where people were making quick work of cleaning up.

  Unable to focus on anything but Jace, Meredith found herself drawn to the front of the barn. Jace was getting into his pickup, a shotgun over his shoulder. He glanced her way, gave a brief nod, then climbed in the truck and was gone.

  Later that night, she laid in bed, alone, waiting for Jace to return, fading into sleep, only to jerk awake as she repeated the nightmare of a giant bear attacking Jace. Sometime in the deep night, exhaustion finally claimed her. It had provided a fitful rest that was later interrupted with the rooster’s crow. His side of the bed was empty, the sheets tucked under his pillow and the spot cold.

  Chapter 24

  After breakfast was made and the kitchen cleaned, Meredith sat on the porch next to Pops, who was rocking slowly in his chair, a shotgun resting against the wall beside him.

  Meredith picked at her fingernails, occasionally biting one. The day was beautiful, cool with a crystal clear sky, but it was quiet. More so than Meredith liked. Maybe the ranch had always been this way during work hours, she couldn’t say, but it seemed as if even the chickens weren't up to their normal clucking. All she knew was that it felt different. Unsettling, like hidden within the wind was a badness blowing across the land.

  Marjory was sweeping the porch of the cabin, Willow feeding the horses in the barn. Meredith was losing her mind on the porch. She had no experience with bears. Her brief Internet search after breakfast had shown pages of information about attacks and how difficult it was to kill a grizzly. She’d walked away from the computer unable to get the images washed from her mind.

  Pops sighed, slapped his hand on the arm of the chair, then let out a expletive heavy with bitterness.

  “Pops?”

  “I should be out there,” he mumbled.

  “I don’t understand how they think they can find him, or if they find a bear how they’ll know it’s him.”

  Pops gave a wane smile. “They try and track the bear, but mostly wait and see if he comes back. Jace said we’ve been having problems with a bear, and my guess it’s the same one.”

  “Do they hunt people?” The pages of bear attacks she’d seen flashed before her.

  “Ah, grizzlies are different. Hard to say. My guess is last night old man Beasley surprised the bear, and that’s why it happened.”

  “Have you heard if he’s going to be okay?” Meredith held her breath.

  “He was airlifted to the city hospital. Still waiting to hear.” Pop stared out toward the road and then leaned forward. “Looks like Jace is coming home.”

  Meredith squinted and saw the dark fleck, Jace’s truck she supposed, coming toward them. She wanted to jump from her chair, so when Pops stood, so did she, twisting her hands in anticipation as they waited for him to draw closer. He parked near the house, and when he got out, Meredith gasped. His shirt was covered in blood.

  “It’s old man Beasley’s.” He pulled the shotgun from the truck before walking slowly to the porch.

  “Did it come back?” Pops stepped toward Jace and put out his hand, taking the shotgun.

  “Nah, not that we saw. Lost the trail in the woods, but looks like he was headed toward the herd. Ours or Beasley’s. Hard to say.”

  He looked exhausted, and Meredith wanted to…needed to do something more than be idle. “Are you hungry? Did you sleep?”

  “I slept some in the truck. I could eat, though.” When he smiled at her, she sighed with relief. He was okay. He was okay. She had to keep telling herself that. He was okay, and he was home.

  “I’m going back out. I want to move the herd closer, but I'd like to shower and get fresh clothes.” He stretched, his arms lifting over his head, and yawned.

  Her knees wobbled. Going back out?

  “Maybe you should get some sleep first.” Her hope was that the bear would be found while Jace was napping. It became her prayer. She felt it was a reasonable request.

  Marjory came to the porch. “Give me those clothes. I’ll try and get the blood out of them. Go on inside and get cleaned up. We’ll get you some food while you shower.”

  “Wait,” Pops said. “You going back out with Tuck?”

  Jace shook his head. “He split off with Beasley’s foreman to start checking the herd up in the foothills. I’m gonna cover the lower pasture and work my way toward Beasley’s. I'll push them all down this way.”

  Pops shook his head. “Not alone.”

  Jace put one foot on the stairs and his hand on his hips. “It’s not ideal, I’ll admit, but it’s going to have to be on horse, Pops, and—”

  “I’m not saying to take me. I know that would cause more stress than help. Take Meredith or Willow. Someone to watch your back.”

  When Jace glanced at her, she tried to school her face, hoping the sudden escalation of fear she felt wasn’t showing. The thought of going out there with a bear terrified her, but the thought of Jace going out alone scared her more. Would she really be a help or a hindrance? Like with the cattle, would she make a mistake that could have terrible consequences? She hadn’t been afraid of the herd coming in, just being caught in it. This was different. This was a bear. A bear! What were the odds of surviving an attack?

  Jace shook his head. “I dunno—”

  “Come on, let’s get you fed and cleaned up.” Marjory gave him a push up the stairs.

  After Marjory and Jace went into the house, Meredith collapsed in the chair and swallowed hard.

  “You can do it,” Pops said sitting beside her. “Chances of seeing a bear are slim. He needs someone to keep an eye on the area around him. He’s tired—”

  “We’re all tired. Which is why no one should go out.” She shook her head. Didn’t they see thi
s was foolish?

  “Meredith, this bear is close. He’s hungry, probably sick because he's hunting the herd and knows it's easy. He’s trying to fatten up before hibernation. Jace needs to drive as much of the herd as he can closer to home.”

  “But what if we see a bear? My instincts aren’t what they should be for a place like this. When the herd came in, my instincts were all wrong. I did all the wrong things. I might be more harmful than—”

  “That’s fear talking. To live out here means life isn’t always cushy. Now go get changed.” Turning away, Pops dismissed her with a flick of his hand.

  There was no way she’d be able to cope if Jace went out alone. No way. Sitting on the porch worrying was far less helpful than actually watching his back. Meredith rose and went into the house.

  Two hours later she was on Coco, a twelve-gauge shotgun in a saddle holster at her knee, and Jace beside her, clearly not happy she was going by the grumbling he was doing. He adjusted the pistol on his side then resituated the rope hanging from the lariat holder. Willow had saddled up as well and rode halfway with them, splitting off when they’d met up with another party who needed an extra person. Most of the town was out helping their neighbor to bring herds in and look out for the bear.

  Word was old man Beasley was in critical condition, but the prognosis was optimistic.

  They rode in silence along the wood line until they came to the first herd.

  “Is this his or ours?” She looked at the cattle; it was a small herd with no calves.

  “Ours, the tags in the ear are yellow. That’s us. Beasley is green.” Jace rode up next to her, took her reins, and pulled her to a stop.

  “What’s going on?” She looked in every direction, even rising in her seat to scan for something awful like a giant bear.

  “Meredith, you need to breathe, babe. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I’d feel better if you were safely at home but—”

  “So would I. I’d love it if you were safe at home, too. I want everyone out here to be safe at home.” She swallowed back the tears that threatened to fall.