by Seton, Cora
“I know. I don’t blame you.”
Colt tensed as her barb hit home, but she didn’t care. He had to know how badly this turn of events hurt her. When they reached the front hall and he took her arm it was all she could do not to pull away from him. She didn’t want him to touch her.
She wanted to be alone.
“I never meant for this to happen. You have to know that,” he said when they reached the entryway.
She pulled on her coat and boots. “Did you even actually send that e-mail canceling your deal with Melanie?”
“Of course I did.”
“When? In the last couple of days?” That hurt the most; knowing he must have wanted to keep his options open.
“I only started talking to you a few days ago!”
“She obviously didn’t answer you,” she went on, ignoring him. “Didn’t that raise some alarms?”
“I was too busy thinking about you.” He stopped her when she reached for the door. “Damn it, Heather. I love you. I. Love. You.” He cupped her face in both hands and leaned down to kiss her. Heather struggled at first, but this was Colt. She didn’t know how to resist him, even now, but her acquiescence only lasted a moment. “No.” She ripped herself away from him. “Not until she’s gone.” She opened the door before he could recover and ran down the front steps. When she got into her truck, Richard was already belted in.
“I hate him.”
She started the engine, blinking hard against tears. “It’s not his fault.”
“Then whose is it?”
“Heloise’s. All of ours.”
“Then I hate Heloise.”
She knew she should lecture him about forgiveness and tolerance, but she found she couldn’t form the words. “I think right now I hate her, too.”
Chapter Thirteen
‡
When Colt returned to the living room, Melanie sat on the sofa and Regan sat next to her, a consoling hand on her arm. “This isn’t your fault,” she was saying.
“That’s right; it’s my fault. I should have followed up to make sure you got my message.” Colt couldn’t sit. Instead he paced across the room, then turned to cross it again.
“I still wouldn’t have gotten your e-mail,” Melanie said. “Not with a broken phone. It’s my fault for not finding a computer and checking in one last time before I came.”
“What’s done is done,” Zane said. “Now we have to make the best of it. Colt, is Heather on board?”
“For now. She’s not happy, though. And Richard hates my guts.”
“He doesn’t hate you,” Ella said.
“Of course he hates me. I just ditched his mom!” He scanned the worried faces looking back at him. “I shouldn’t have let them leave like that, either. Whatever happens, they need to keep living here so I can keep close to Richard. I don’t want to lose him over this.”
“Of course not,” Storm said.
“They should definitely keep living here,” Regan echoed. “It’s not like Melanie is trying to break you two up, right? We’ll do everything we can to make this as easy as possible. We’ll keep Richard busy and entertain Melanie and make sure she has fun while she’s here. It will be like a vacation for you, Melanie.”
“A really awkward vacation.” Melanie twisted her fingers together in her lap. “Heather must despise me.”
“No,” Colt said. “I don’t think so. If anything she’s pissed at me.”
“Are you sure I should stay? Because I think you should tell your aunt the truth about us—”
“No!” Several voices rang out together.
“You don’t know Heloise,” Zane said. “Although if there’s any issue between you and Heather, Colt, then you have to do what’s right for the two of you. None of us want to win the ranch if it’s going to break you up.”
There was an uncomfortable silence that stretched out just a bit too long before Colt said, “It’s not going to break us up. Not if I can have time alone with Heather and Richard along the way.”
“We’ll all help with that,” Storm said. The others nodded.
“I hate to bring it up, but we’ve got to be practical. You and Melanie better go buy a ring,” Mason said. “Zane says Heloise thought it was weird you hadn’t done that already.”
Colt rubbed his neck. He’d already bought a ring for the woman he loved, but Mason was right; Melanie would need one, too. “We’ll do that later today,” he said. “All right, Melanie?”
Melanie looked like she would object, but she took in the concerned faces surrounding her and her shoulders slumped. “Okay.”
“You can’t let Colt marry someone else!” Camila sat across from Heather at Linda’s Diner later that afternoon. Heather kept an eye on the time. She wanted be there to pick Richard up from school as soon as the bell rang. He’d refused to talk to her when they drove into town this morning, and she knew that his anger masked a world of hurt. This situation required delicate handling.
She’d gone to work and done the best she could to keep up with her to-do list, but when Camila texted to say she was taking her afternoon break, Heather had jumped at the chance to meet her for coffee.
“What else can I do? If he doesn’t marry her now, they’ll lose the ranch.”
“So let them lose the ranch! This is getting out of control.”
Heather had to agree, but there was nothing for it. “What’s done is done. We just have to get through the next few months and everything will be fine.” Maybe if she told herself that enough times it would come true.
“Somebody needs to sort Heloise out. She’s messed up.”
“I agree.”
“She—”
“Oh no.” Heather fought the urge to drop her head in her hands when she saw who had just walked through the door.
“What?” Camila turned around. “Is that the fake fiancée?”
“Yep.”
Colt paused in the doorway with Melanie, spotted them and led Melanie their way. Heather couldn’t believe it; surely he didn’t mean to join them.
Apparently he did. He gestured for Melanie to sit next to Heather and moved to sit by Camila. Camila glared at him for a long minute before she finally rolled her eyes and moved over.
“I’m glad we found you.” Colt reached for Heather’s hand, then pulled back at the last second. “Look, I know how awkward this is but I want you and Richard to keep staying at the Hall.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Besides, it’s impractical. I can’t leave my house empty for long and it’s too hard to live out of a suitcase.”
“You didn’t mind that before.”
“Things were different before.”
“Then come and go, but if you move home now, Richard’s going to feel like I’ve abandoned him.” Colt’s handsome face was tight with worry. Despite herself, Heather’s anger decreased. She could see how much he had grown to love Richard and how it was killing him to let his son down.
“I’ve explained everything to him.”
“That doesn’t fix it, though, does it? He and I were just starting to be comfortable. I don’t want to lose him again.”
“What will Heloise say?”
“She’ll think it’s crazy, but she won’t be able to prove we’re lying about my marriage to Melanie.”
She could feel Camila willing her to say no, but Colt was right; Richard would pull back from him if they weren’t in contact. “Won’t it be hard for Melanie to have us around?”
Melanie shook her head vigorously. “Of course not! I want to do anything I can to help. Colt told me everything that’s happened and I feel like such a fool for messing it all up. You three should live together. Richard needs to get to know his father and I’ll explain the whole situation to him again if you think it will help.”
A quick glance across the table told her Melanie’s eagerness to please had undermined even Camila’s ability to stay angry at her.
“Okay,” Heather said reluctantly. She expected Colt to be
relieved, but instead he frowned. He took her hand and lifted it up.
“Where is it?”
“Where’s what?” But Heather already knew what he meant. She tugged her hand away. She’d taken off her engagement ring before she came in to work, unwilling to wear it if they weren’t actually going to marry.
“Your ring? Where’s your ring?”
“You’re marrying Melanie. Maybe… maybe she should have it.”
“Like hell!” Colt glanced at Melanie and lowered his voice. “I mean—we’re going to go get her one to wear for show, but it won’t be real and we sure as hell won’t use yours. You’re acting like—ow!”
Heather kicked Colt when she spotted Heloise.
“Well, isn’t this cozy!” Heloise made her way down the aisle toward them. Thank goodness Heather had seen her early enough, or who knew what Heloise might have overheard.
Colt turned and surveyed her grimly. “Isn’t this a surprise.”
“Maybe for you it is. I come for a slice of pie every week.” Heloise scanned the occupants of the booth and her eyes narrowed when she focused on Heather’s hand. “Heather Ward, where’s your ring? Have you lost that fiancé of yours already? You’re not very good at holding onto your men.”
Despite herself, Heather felt her cheeks warm and it took all her will not to hide her hand. “I haven’t lost anyone, Heloise. My ring is… at the jewelers. I’m going to pick it up when I’m done here.”
“I notice you still don’t have a ring, either,” Heloise said to Melanie.
“That’s our next stop,” Colt said with forced cheer.
“It’s your lucky day. I’m on my way to the jewelers, too. I feel the need for a new brooch. I’ll back you up, young lady. Make sure that cowboy of yours doesn’t act like a cheapskate when you pick out your ring.”
“Oh, I don’t want anything fancy,” Melanie said.
Heloise chuckled. “That’s what they all say until they get to the jewelry counter, eh, Colt? Let’s get a move on. You too, Heather.”
Heather exchanged a helpless glance with Colt. “What about your pie, Heloise?”
“That can wait. First things first. Or maybe you don’t want to go. Maybe you don’t have a fiancé. Maybe everything the three of you have told me is a lie, and those developers are going to get Crescent Hall for a song.”
Colt’s gaze met hers and Heather knew the old woman had won again.
“Okay, let’s go,” she said and got up. Melanie stood as well. With a sigh, Colt got to his feet. “I’m not sure this is a group activity, Heloise.” Camila kept to her seat, but shook her head slowly. Heather knew what she meant. They were all stark raving mad.
“It is now,” Heloise said.
As Colt held open the door to Thayer’s Jewelers, he wondered how best to survive this little field trip. Heather walked into the store first, shoulders stiff and head held high. Melanie hung back as if she wanted to hide. Heloise had a thin-lipped smile that spelled more trouble ahead. The jewelry store had changed since he was young. Back then Thayer ran it in a far more traditional manner, but a year or so ago, Rose Johnson had teamed up with Mia Matheson to purchase the place and run their businesses together. Rose ran the jewelry store and used one large wall as a gallery to display the landscapes she painted. Mia ran her wedding planning business from a small office off to the side.
Colt had no idea how this encounter would play out. Rose would certainly know about his engagement to Heather. Could he somehow signal to her that things had changed? He’d heard Rose had a special kind of intuition, but he doubted that meant she’d be able to read his mind. According to Mason, when she touched a couple’s engagement ring, she got a hunch about their future prospects. It had pleased his brother when she pronounced that he and Regan would go the distance, but that wasn’t any help to Colt now.
Rose came to meet them before he could think of a better method to fill her in on what was happening. “Hello, Heloise. Colt, Heather—congratulations, Mia told me your news!” She looked expectantly at Melanie.
Colt knew he had to work fast. He touched Melanie’s arm and spoke clearly, hoping to make Rose understand how important it was to go along with what he said. “Hi Rose, I’d like to introduce you to Melanie Munroe—my fiancée.”
Rose’s brows furrowed. “Your… but… isn’t..?” She looked from Heather back to Colt and worked to get herself under control. “Of course. Are… you two looking for a ring today?”
He admired her professionalism and the way she caught on so fast. “That’s right. The prettiest ring you’ve got,” he improvised.
“Why don’t you start looking through the cases over there?” Rose pointed across the room. “So… ah… Heather. What can I do for you today?”
As Colt steered Melanie over toward the rings, he listened for Heather’s answer.
“I’m here to pick up my ring. You know, the one you were resizing for me?” She too over-enunciated her words.
Rose opened her mouth, shut it again. Cocked her head and said, “Of course. The ring. Could you remind me again what it looks like? I swear I’ve done a passel of them this week.”
Colt didn’t think he’d ever heard Rose sound so countrified, but then this situation would scour the varnish off anyone. He was happy she’d had the presence of mind to go along with their charade without tripping any of them up so far.
“Sure.” Heather drifted toward the cases that held the rings, scanned them quickly and said, “Just like that one!”
Rose nodded. “Okay. I know exactly where it is. Heloise, is there anything I can do for you?”
“I have it in mind to buy me a new brooch. An expensive one. I have a feeling I’m going to come into some money soon.”
“Of course! Take a look around. I’ll come help you in a minute, after I fetch Heather’s ring. Colt and Melanie, are you two doing all right?”
“Just fine,” Colt hurried to say. Rose disappeared into the back room and he said a silent prayer of thanks that so far things had gone this well.
“About this fiancé of yours,” Heloise said to Heather, “does he realize how intimate you plan to be with Colt?”
Heather’s eyebrows shot up. “I… don’t know what you mean.”
“Colt’s the father of your child,” Heloise elaborated. “I assume you’ll see him frequently—when he spends time with Richard.”
“Oh… of course!”
“Heather and Richard are living at the Hall for now,” Colt said. “I want to see my son every day.”
It was Heloise’s turn to blink. “Very enlightened of you,” she said. She turned to Melanie. “And you’re all right with this, young lady? Living with your stepson’s mother?”
Melanie nodded quickly. “Of course. A child should be with both his parents.”
“Well, when I said you’d be intimate before, I had no idea, did I?” Heloise turned back to Heather. “And your fiancé? He’ll move into the Hall, too?”
“Um…” Heather looked to Colt.
“Sure. Why not?” he said.
“I’d better meet this paragon,” Heloise said. “In my day the two of you’d be more likely to kill each other than live together under one roof. But they don’t make men like they used to, that’s for sure.”
“I’m sure my fiancé would be very happy to meet you.” But when Heloise turned away, Heather sent Colt an imploring look.
“He’s a very busy man, though,” Colt said.
“I’ll see him tomorrow night for dinner,” Heloise proclaimed, bending to look at a case full of necklaces. “At the Hall. Tell Regan to make those potatoes that I like.”
“I don’t think—” Heather began.
“Tomorrow,” Heloise reiterated. “The man has to eat, doesn’t he? No matter how busy he is.”
To Colt’s relief, Rose reappeared. “Here’s your ring, Heather.”
Heather took it from her and slid it on her finger. From what Colt could see, it was a passable double for the one he’d b
ought her in Billings. He hoped it would fool Heloise. He was still scrambling to think of what to say to deflect his aunt from her dinner plan. “I doubt George will be able to make it on such short notice.”
“And I doubt George exists,” Heloise said promptly. “So we’ll eat dinner and when George doesn’t show, you’ll admit you all are lying and I’ll sell the ranch to the highest bidder.”
“What do you think of this brooch, Heloise,” Rose blurted, pulling a large one out of the nearest case. “It’s pretty expensive.”
“I’m sure George will do what he can to make dinner if it’s so important to you, Heloise,” Heather said suddenly. “Tomorrow, it is.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She examined the piece of jewelry in Rose’s hand and sniffed. “I’ll be going now. You youngsters have tired me out with your newfangled notions. And that brooch is dreadful.” Heloise left without another word.
“Is someone going to tell me what the hell is going on?” Rose said.
The door opened again before anyone could speak, and Mason walked into the jewelry store. He navigated his way around the glass cases. “I saw your vehicles outside,” he said, “and I saw Heloise leaving. Just wanted to make sure everything is okay.”
“It won’t be okay until someone tells me what’s happening.” Rose looked from Heather to Colt. “Weren’t you two engaged?”
“It’s a long story,” Heather said. “It involves Heloise. That should pretty much sum it up.”
“I have to marry Melanie first before I can marry Heather,” Colt said. “That’s why we need a ring.”
“First? Polygamy wasn’t legal in Montana the last time I checked.”
“It’s not like that,” Heather said. “It’s because of the ranch. I’ll explain it later, Rose, but right now I’d better go.” She handed the ring back to her. “As long as I don’t see Heloise between here and home I won’t need this.”
“You can bring it back tomorrow if you want it overnight,” Rose said. “But I still don’t under—wait a minute.” She pointed to the large front display window. “Isn’t that Richard outside? Shouldn’t he be in school?”
