The Marine's E-Mail Order Bride (Heroes of Chance Creek Book 3)

by Seton, Cora

  Darren stepped forward again. His steel-blue-eyed gaze caught hers and held her in place. “You tell her to keep away from Belinda’s shop. You tell her to go back home where she came from.”

  Zane strong-armed Darren right out the door. The other men followed and the shouting became indistinct, but she could see Darren striding toward a black pickup parked askew in the drive. He climbed in, slammed his door and made a U-turn over the lawn before zooming away down the road. Her heart pounded in her chest as Mason returned inside, followed quickly by Zane and Austin. They spotted her on the stairs.

  “Hell,” Zane said, coming toward her. “I wish you hadn’t heard all of that.”

  “Who was that?”

  “Cousin Darren,” Mason said. “Black sheep of the family.”

  Storm came down the rest of the steps just as Regan and Ella came in from the back of the house. “What was that all about?” Ella asked.

  “Darren,” Mason said again. “Maybe we’d better go sit down and have a talk. All of us.” When they were seated at the dining room table, he went on. “Storm, Darren’s dad took over this ranch when our father died twelve years ago, and kicked us off of it. He ran it into the ground and then started to dismantle it. The only good thing he did was probably an accident. He never changed his will. Instead of leaving the ranch to Darren, the old will he had in place since before he married left it to Heloise in the case of his passing.”

  “When he died, Heloise offered it to us with the conditions you know about.” Zane took up the thread. “Obviously, that pissed Darren off. I’ve been wondering when he’d come around and start trouble. I’m sorry he picked today to do so.”

  Storm swallowed. “It’s because of the store. Because Heloise gave it to me.” She hadn’t dreamed she was accepting something that belonged to someone else.

  “She promised it to Belinda?” Ella asked.

  “It’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Storm told her. “I’ll talk to Heloise and tell her if that’s the case, then I’ll back off.” As much as it killed her to think about doing that. She’d wanted so badly to have one thing of her own.

  And she would. Someday.

  Maybe.

  “I bet you’ll find that Heloise promised her no such thing,” Austin said.

  “Still, I don’t want to be the cause of a family rift.”

  All three Hall boys chuckled. “This particular rift has gone on for ages. You’re just collateral damage.” Mason checked his watch. “The game’s almost over. I want to catch the end. You coming?” he asked Zane.

  “Nah. Storm’s tired,” Zane said, winking at her. “We’ll see the rest of you tomorrow.”

  Chapter Nine

  ‡

  The following morning, Zane slipped out early to tend to his chores, the memory of his night with Storm keeping him from noticing the chill in the air. After he’d convinced her not to worry about Darren’s threats, they’d made love again, this time in bed, and he’d taken the time to explore every beautiful inch of her. Darren’s accusations had left a sour taste in his mouth, however, that all those delightful memories couldn’t dislodge. He’d better talk to Heloise today and sort things out. It wasn’t like Storm needed a store to keep her busy, between her climbing excursions and the fact she was supposed to leave right after Thanksgiving, but he had a feeling the store could act as a tie between her and Chance Creek. Something about Mandy’s Emporium had captured her interest. He couldn’t help but want to capitalize on that.

  He’d decided he needed to show Storm more of what life on the ranch could offer, as well, and teaching her to ride was the logical way to start. Riding was something fun they could do together, and it would give him a way to show her all the best parts of the ranch.

  As for Darren… Heloise had promised that store to Storm, and her strategy had worked—Storm had liked the idea of the challenge of bringing it back to life. It made it more likely she’d stay in Chance Creek, at least until Thanksgiving. He wasn’t going to let Darren ruin that.

  But wasn’t that what his cousin’s family was put on this earth to do? He felt no pity for Darren. Zeke had turned into a right old bastard when Zane’s father had died. Darren wasn’t any better. Zane would never forget standing just where Storm had this afternoon on the stairs, clutching the bannister while his uncle had stolen his home away. The pain he’d felt from the betrayal was still fresh in his heart. This time he’d do whatever it took to keep his family safe, together and living on the ranch. That included Storm, too.

  Zane found his hands had balled into fists. He forced himself to straighten his fingers and shake off the past. The Hall was theirs again and there was nothing Darren could do to take it away. He wasn’t going to take Storm’s store, either.

  When his chores were over, he went back upstairs in the Hall and woke Storm with a kiss.

  “Morning,” she said as she stretched. She lifted her head and glanced at the clock. “You should have woken me earlier.”

  “You got a date?”

  “I need to start work on the store,” she said, sitting up. “If it really is my store. I guess I’d better start with a call to Heloise.”

  “Later. First things first. I’m going to teach you to ride.”

  “Oh, really?” She shot him an arch look. “I thought I proved last night I was pretty good at that.”

  “Oh, you are good. Really, really good.” He kissed her until she fell over. “Another quickie?” he asked when she began to fumble with his belt.

  “Quickie, slowie, whatever you’ve got in you, cowboy.”

  He showed her what he had and she seemed to appreciate it. In fact, she rolled him over, crouched above him and took him inside her mouth, teasing and tempting him with her tongue and hands until he couldn’t wait to be inside of her.

  He lifted her up to straddle him, then stopped with a groan and fumbled in the bedside table for a condom. “I can’t wait until we don’t need these anymore. I know I’m clean. What about you?”

  “That’s not the issue. The problem is I’m not on the pill right now.” She shrugged at his quizzical expression. “I haven’t had a serious boyfriend in a long time, and I have a mother who’s a worry-wart about any kind of medication. Seemed silly to be on it when I didn’t need it.”

  Zane had no idea why the thought of her not being on birth control was such a turn on. Usually it was the other way around, but then again he’d never been with a woman he loved before—not like this.

  He stopped. Stared at Storm perched above him, glorious in her nakedness. Did he love her—already? How was that even possible?

  “What?” Storm asked.

  “You take my breath away,” he said, deciding to think about love later. “And it doesn’t make a lick of sense, but I’d love to toss this condom away, too.”

  Her brow furrowed as if she was trying to puzzle out his meaning. “You want… a baby?” she said finally, sitting back on her haunches.

  Her bottom pressed against him had him on fire all over again and he barely suppressed a groan. “With you? Hell, yeah, I do. Told you it makes no sense. I’ve always thought I’d be a family man, though. Now that I’m out of the service, it’s on my mind.”

  She lifted up on her knees, took the condom from his hand, tore open the wrapper and popped it out. She sheathed him with light fingers that drove him wild, then positioned him so she could take him inside. Braced against him, sighing as she sank down on top of him, she said, “If I was going to have kids with anyone, I’d want it to be with someone like you.”

  He caught her wrists in his hand. “Someone like me?”

  “Someone not afraid of commitment and responsibility.”

  “Do you want children?”

  “Someday.”

  “How many?” He swallowed as she raised herself on her knees and sank down again. Damn, she felt good.

  “I don’t know. Two. Maybe three.”

  “How about a half-dozen?”

  She laughed and the se
nsation of it pulsed through him. “I don’t know about that.”

  “Even if I did this?” He began to pump into her and her expression changed into one of bliss as she moved with him, rising and falling until she was bouncing on top of him. The lift and fall of her breasts entranced him, as did her obvious pleasure. They spoke no more until Storm cried out and he came, too, crashing against her until both of them were drained and panting for breath.

  She slid off of him and he pulled her close. “Is there room for me in your life for real?” he asked, wrapping his arms tight around her.

  “I want there to be.”

  By the time Storm stumbled downstairs, Zane having gone back to his chores, breakfast was long over. Regan was writing up a shopping list and Ella folding laundry.

  “There’s no washer and dryer in the bunkhouse,” she explained to Storm. “I guess I’m here more than I’m home some days. Besides, it’s fun to have company.”

  Storm nodded. “What else do you two do around here?” she asked as she prepared her breakfast.

  “I’ve been writing,” Ella said and shrugged. “I don’t know if anything will come of it.”

  “I help the men out all I can,” Regan said. “When I first arrived it was just Mason and me, and I liked the work. Now that I’m pregnant, I stay away from the more dangerous jobs, but I still like being outdoors, getting dirty and working with my hands. Ella and I split the inside chores, so there’s plenty of time to do both.”

  “Sounds nice.” But Storm wondered how she fit in. Maybe she’d spend all her time at her store—if it turned out to be her store. Zane had promised to check into that today.

  She ate her breakfast swiftly, then hurried to wash up her dishes. She cast an eye over the kitchen. “Is there anything else that needs to be washed?”

  “Nope, we got everything earlier.”

  “I’ll sweep up next.”

  “Did that already,” Regan said.

  “I could check on the laundry.”

  “This is the last load,” Ella said, laughing. “We’ve got a system going.”

  “A daily list,” Regan added, pointing to a piece of paper on the refrigerator where jobs were divided between the two women.

  “Let me pick a few things off of there to help you two out.”

  The women exchanged a glance. “You’ll have to be up pretty early if you want to do that,” Regan explained with a shrug. “The men get up before dawn and we’ve both gotten in the habit of doing most of the inside chores then.”

  “Okay.” An awkward silence descended until Ella said, “I know—let’s talk over your wedding plans. Did you get in touch with Mia yet?”

  The wedding? It took her a moment to remember that Ella and Regan didn’t know she’d gotten married by the Justice of the Peace, and they expected her to be looking forward to the church affair she was supposed to be planning. She might have looked forward to it if it didn’t signal the end of her time here. She still hadn’t called Mia, and she didn’t wish to discuss the details with Ella and Regan either.

  The other women were waiting for her answer, though. “Um… I’m supposed to have a riding lesson. I’ll call her afterward.”

  “Oh, right. Zane mentioned that. You’ll find him out in the stables with the others,” Regan said, nodding.

  Storm escaped out the back door, and as the autumn sunshine and fresh air swept the cobwebs from her brain, she let her worries fall away. Time enough to think about the wedding later. Right now she was going to enjoy her time with Zane. She couldn’t believe the way he’d brought up having children as if talking about raising a family was the most natural thing in the world. She remembered bringing up the topic of children with Todd once—and only once. He hadn’t been able to hide his horror at the idea of that kind of responsibility.

  Zane wasn’t afraid of responsibility, though. Instead, he seemed to embrace it. Up hours before her, but cheerful when he came to wake her up, he appeared to relish the chores that faced him on the ranch.

  He obviously liked the idea of being a father, too. Zane would make an incredibly sexy father.

  Too bad she wouldn’t get to see it, she reminded herself. She couldn’t get caught up in thinking about the future, when the future she was dreaming about didn’t belong to her.

  She found Zane leading a horse out to a corral. He gestured for her to follow him and when he’d shut the gate behind them, urged her to come closer to the horse.

  “This is Jasper.” He smoothed a hand down Jasper’s neck. “He’s very patient. You’ll do fine with him.”

  “Hello, Jasper.” Storm touched the horse hesitantly, finding it hard not to stare at Zane. Dressed in work clothes, he was every inch the cowboy today, down to his hat and boots. She wished she’d been able to see him in his uniform, but she found it hard to believe he could look any more handsome than he did right now.

  “Let him smell you.”

  She stood as ordered while the horse snuffled a few times, evidently getting a sense of her scent. Zane coached her patiently—almost tenderly—and as the lesson proceeded, Storm relaxed. When Zane lifted her into the saddle, exhilaration swooped through her, taking her off guard. Zane led the horse around the corral in a circle and she felt wonder that such a magnificent creature would let her ride him.

  “It’s fun, huh?”

  She shrugged. “If I’m going to live on a ranch, I guess it’s practical for me to know how to ride.”

  His grin told her she wasn’t fooling him one bit. “Sure. And… it’s fun.”

  She gave in. “It is fun.”

  They looped around the corral several more times before Zane opened the gate.

  “What are you doing?” Storm asked in alarm.

  “Taking you on a real ride.” Before she could protest, he leaped up into the saddle behind her, encircled her in his arms and took the reins. Jasper seemed used to such treatment and responded to Zane’s slightest cues. Soon they were trotting down the track toward Chance Creek. Storm clung to the pommel for dear life until Zane chuckled. “I won’t let you fall.” He snugged his thighs against hers and with his strong chest to lean against and his arms cradling her, Storm realized she was perfectly safe.

  Safe from falling off the horse, anyway.

  She wasn’t safe from getting her heart broken, though. All the talk about the wedding had reminded Storm that she was living in a fool’s paradise. It didn’t matter if she fell in love with Zane or if he loved her back—at the end of the day, she’d have to leave him. His marriage was to Kenna, not to her. She had a feeling he wouldn’t be too pleased when he discovered how he’d been duped.

  Chapter Ten

  ‡

  Zane loved having Storm in his arms like this, but she had grown tense and he wasn’t sure if she was still afraid of the horse, or if something else had upset her.

  “I won’t let you fall,” he assured her.

  “I know. It’s just… I’m going to miss this when I go.”

  Zane saw his opening. “Then don’t go.”

  “We can’t make plans for the future like that yet. We don’t know each other—not really,” she added when he chuckled.

  “I feel like I know you better than almost anyone else I’ve ever met.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s my favorite color?”

  He remembered the skirt she’d worn when he’d first met her. “Green.”

  “Hmph. Lucky guess.”

  He eased the horse to a stop and leaned forward to try to see her face. “I don’t want you to leave after Thanksgiving. Stay here with me. We’ll get to know each other even better.”

  She made a face he couldn’t decipher. “I have responsibilities,” she said. “I can’t let my climbing team down, for one thing. A lot of people depend on me.”

  He understood that all too well. “Then go on this next climb, but come right back afterward. And don’t hurry away again anytime soon. We can figure this out.”

  “I don’t think so,” she said softl
y.

  A chill raked down his spine. He hadn’t expected that answer. “Why not?”

  “Because I can’t be what you want. A full-time wife. The mother to your children. That’s not who I am.” She seemed to struggle with that last sentence.

  Zane understood. She felt torn between conflicting desires. She defined herself as a mountaineer and she didn’t want to lose what must be a wonderful part of her life, but when they’d spoken of children last night there’d been a yearning in her eyes he was sure meant that motherhood was important to her, too.

  He probably shouldn’t have jumped the gun like he had, either. They were speeding through relationship stages like there was no tomorrow. That was Heloise’s fault though. With her deadline looming over him, he felt like he had to rush things.

  It was easy to talk to Storm, too. About kids, the ranch, sex…

  “You don’t have to choose between me and mountain climbing. I’d never ask for that.”

  “You say that now,” she told him sadly, “but what would you feel if I got pregnant? Would you be content to let me leave for months on end when we had a newborn?”

  “Would you be content with that?” He couldn’t believe that of her. He could fully understand her not wanting to give up her career, but she wouldn’t leave a newborn…

  “I think you’d better take me home.” Storm turned forward, and he felt the distance between them increase again.

  He pressed his cheek against her hair. “We’re going to find a way through this.”

  When she didn’t answer, he reluctantly turned Jasper around.

  Pretending to be Kenna was getting harder by the minute, Storm thought as she strode back toward the Hall a few minutes later. She would never leave a baby at home while she traveled for months. That wasn’t her at all. Every time she was with Zane she wanted to blurt out the truth of who she really was, but she couldn’t do that. She had to keep up the pretense of being Kenna. For one thing, she had no idea how he’d react when he found out what she’d done. For another, she still needed the bonus Kenna had promised her to help get her family current on its bills. Married or not, she couldn’t—wouldn’t—ask Zane for help with that matter. The cottage was a money trap that could suck both of them under.