That must have bothered him, for he looked away quickly, swallowed, so that his Adam’s apple bobbed hard, and settled his attention on Sasha. He was fond of the girl, that was clear, but not fond enough to marry Charlotte.
She swallowed the faint hope that had arisen. Thirteen years ago, she’d buried her dreams of love to fill her stomach. That marriage had been loveless yet kind. Perhaps Mr. Droll wouldn’t be that bad.
Sasha giggled and held up a handful of chicken bits. “Moh.”
“I don’t think Mr. Reed wants any more of your dinner,” she chided, “when he can get his own.”
This time when his gaze met hers it had gentled, and a smile teased his lips. “I think maybe you’d better call me Wyatt if we’re going to get married.”
It took a second for his words to register. She stared at him. She pressed a hand to her mouth to hold in the gasp of surprise, but nothing could stop the trembling that took over her limbs.
“M-m-m—” She couldn’t even say it. “You will? We are?” Tears rose with the words, threatening to spill.
“That is what you wanted, isn’t it?”
Seeing as her throat had completely closed, she nodded vigorously.
“Purely a business transaction. No sentiment.”
Again, she nodded, relief pouring through her so much that she felt giddy.
His gaze sharpened. “One thing I want to make clear. I won’t take a penny more than Baxter offered me, understand?”
She nodded, barely hearing his words. He would marry her. She could keep Sasha.
“And I’m free to leave once—” he glanced at Sasha “—once things are settled.”
Inexplicably, Charlotte felt a sinking in her stomach. What had she expected? It was the deal she’d offered. Marriage in name alone, and he could leave the moment the adoption was final. Again, she nodded.
“Then the only question is when.”
“Before Monday,” she blurted out. “It has to be before the judge arrives.”
The hard planes of his face didn’t soften. “Then we’d best do it now.”
* * *
“We want to get married,” Charlotte blurted out to Reverend Turner. He and his wife sat at the bridal table with Mayor Evans and Mr. Brooks, to the left of Holly and Mason. Wyatt stood behind Charlotte, a strong, silent force that gave her strength.
“We?” The minister blinked as he attempted to grasp her statement.
“Wyatt—Mr. Reed—and I.”
Jaws dropped. Reverend Turner frowned.
She felt foolish. What woman approaches a minister with such an announcement? Wyatt should have done the honors, but this was no ordinary wedding. She bit her lip and looked to Wyatt, hoping he would add his agreement.
The man stood silent except for a brief nod, Sasha in his arms.
“Papa.” The dear girl giggled with delight, her hands cupping Wyatt’s stubbled cheeks.
Though Holly had initially gasped and covered her mouth, she now found her voice. “Of course you do.” She skirted the table to clasp Charlotte’s hands. Her eyes shone with joy. “How perfect.”
Mr. Brooks leaned back, his calm eye assessing Wyatt and her. “Well, well. I wouldn’t have picked this one.”
Reverend Turner’s frown never eased. “Marriage is not to be entered into lightly, Widow Miller.”
Charlotte hoped Beatrice Ward wasn’t close enough to hear his admonition, or the woman would find some way to sabotage this. Desperation squeezed her throat shut. She was so close to keeping Sasha. She couldn’t lose her now.
“We’re not taking this lightly, Reverend,” Wyatt stated in his authoritative baritone.
Bless him, Lord. Charlotte cast Wyatt a smile of gratitude for stepping in when she couldn’t. Her heart quickened at the sight of his strong features, the set of his jaw. My, he was handsome. She remembered the way the women had reacted to him the first time he walked into the town hall. She’d felt that, too, still felt it.
“We’ve discussed it and feel it’s best for everyone.” His statement left no room for questioning.
The man’s focus impressed her. Once set on a course of action, he could not be easily moved from it. She was so thankful she’d been able to persuade him. Or maybe Sasha had done the persuading.
“We did suggest this solution,” Mr. Brooks told the minister, “and it sounds to me that these two adults have discussed it thoroughly and soberly. I see no reason to impede their future.” He smiled at Sasha. “They will be making their vows before God, after all.”
Reverend Turner grudgingly allowed him that point, though he still looked skeptical. “When do you wish to marry, Mr. Reed?”
Charlotte felt a little disappointed that the minister spoke only to Wyatt, but she supposed that’s the way it should be. Charles must have spoken to the minister before they married. She remembered nothing of the preparations beyond the overwhelming sense of dread. Odd that this time she didn’t have the same cloying fear. Oh, her stomach fluttered with nerves and she couldn’t keep the heat from her cheeks, but she definitely felt no dread.
“June is a lovely month,” the minister continued. “I believe the church is available the second Saturday of the month.”
“June!” Charlotte exclaimed. They couldn’t wait until June.
But the minister didn’t seem to hear her. His attention was focused on Wyatt. She held her breath, hoping Wyatt would remember the urgency.
“Today,” he stated bluntly.
“Today?” Reverend Turner stared and then turned to Mayor Evans and Mr. Brooks for support. “No one marries that quickly.”
“We came to you yesterday,” Holly pointed out.
“But that was different,” the reverend sputtered. “You and Mason were already engaged.”
“Now, James.” Mrs. Turner attempted to appeal to her husband’s sympathy. “You know the situation.”
Sheriff Mason Wright joined the growing chorus. “It’s a reasonable solution in difficult times, Reverend.” He nodded toward Sasha.
The minister’s frown faded as he understood.
Wyatt’s height cast a long shadow over Reverend Turner. “We only have today and tomorrow, and it wouldn’t be right to marry on the Sabbath.”
Brooks nodded thoughtfully. “The man has a point.”
Once Mayor Evans added her blessing, Reverend Turner capitulated. “How much time do you need to prepare?”
“Let’s do it now,” Wyatt stated.
Charlotte agreed. She couldn’t risk Wyatt backing out of the agreement.
“But you can’t wear black for your wedding,” Holly cried. “Even practical old me wouldn’t stand for that. You should wear that pretty green dress of yours.”
Charlotte adored that dress. She’d spent long hours stitching the slippery silk taffeta. Even Charles had approved of the final gown and had taken her to Newfield to see a concert, an extremely rare treat.
She glanced at Wyatt and sensed impatience. “I don’t think what I wear matters.”
Mayor Evans patted Charlotte on the arm. “Of course it does. You want to look your best for your new husband.”
Her words brought another flush of heat to Charlotte’s cheeks. Would Wyatt even notice her or would he be groaning with impatience, eager to see this job over and done?
As always, Pauline took charge. “If the new Mrs. Wright can postpone her wedded life for an hour to help you dress, I’ll see to Sasha. Perhaps Mason can stand up with Mr. Reed?”
Sheriff Wright and Holly readily agreed to their roles. Hopefully, Wyatt accepted this change of plans. She glanced at him and saw his expression had turned to stone. He hated this. If she didn’t do something now, he might back out of the agreement.
Charlotte grasped the mayor’s arm. “Please, we don’t want anything fancy. This is Mason and Holly’s special day. They deserve all the attention. Wyatt and I want a private wedding with no fuss.”
She saw Wyatt’s expression ease.
“But—” Paul
ine started to protest.
“We are adamant about this.”
Seeing Charlotte’s determination, Pauline relented. “How generous of you to place Holly and Mason ahead of yourselves. We’ll keep this between us.” A maternal smile curved her lips. “But you do need to change your gown, dear. I agree with Holly. That green one would turn any man’s head.”
Charlotte ducked her head to hide the blushes that wouldn’t stop. She doubted she could entice Wyatt Reed with a mere dress. He’d made it quite clear that their marriage would be only a business transaction.
And nothing more.
Chapter Eight
“I hope you never have to wear mourning clothes again,” Holly said as she buttoned Charlotte’s emerald-green gown.
Charlotte had to admit it felt good to shed the dreary crepe in favor of the rustling silk taffeta, though she was unaccustomed to the bustle the dress required. She and Holly had struggled to get that on properly.
This green dress had been her one extravagance during her thirteen years of marriage, one that had managed to put a flicker of approval in Charles’s eyes. He’d escorted her to the concert like a queen, eager to accept the admiring nods from the men of quality in Newfield. She’d been a prize that night, but once they returned home, nothing had changed. He still retreated to his sanctuary in the loft without giving her so much as a kiss.
How would Wyatt behave?
Charlotte gasped and put her hands to her cheeks as the full impact of her upcoming marriage hit her.
“What’s wrong?” Holly asked. “Did I pinch you?”
“No. Not at all.” But her cheeks blazed at the thought of the wedding night. What would Wyatt expect? Fear mingled with anticipation. How could she explain her feelings and her fears? Yet if anyone could understand, it would be Holly. She looked around the house that Charles had built. “I—I hadn’t quite realized Wyatt would live here.”
Holly’s fingers stilled as a nervous giggle escaped her. “That is what husbands and wives do.”
“It’s your wedding night, too. Are you afraid?”
“Not a bit.” Holly quickly finished the buttons. “With Mason, it’s as if we’ve been meant for each other our entire lives. I can’t explain it, but being with him is like going home.”
Home. What was home? Charlotte longed for that feeling of security. Between being uprooted from her childhood home in upstate New York, traveling across the country, losing her parents and moving into Charles’s house, she’d never felt secure enough to call a place home.
“How wonderful that must be,” she whispered, realizing at the same time that her plans had sent Holly’s into a tumult. “Thank you for taking time away from Mason on your wedding day.”
Holly chuckled. “That’s all right. The house would have been busy anyway with Liam and his friends running in and out. It’s going to be tight fitting three of us into the teacherage, but we’ll get by.”
Charlotte embraced her. “You’ll be perfect parents.”
“Maybe not perfect, but with God’s help, we’ll do our best.” Holly surveyed her critically. “Time for the hat and gloves, but first you’ll need to take off that wedding band.”
Charlotte stared at her hand. She’d worn the ring Charles gave her for so long that she’d forgotten she had it on. She wrestled with it and finally managed to pull the band off, leaving behind a pale imprint around her finger.
“Do you feel different with it off?” Holly asked.
Charlotte shook her head. “I suppose I miss Charles in a way, but that’s the past. Now I need to focus on the future.”
“That’s a good way to look at it.”
Both of them knew Charlotte’s marriage hadn’t come close to the ideal. If anything, she was stepping into the same situation she’d known with Charles, with one exception. Wyatt stirred her emotions in ways Charles never had. His touch, the way his eyes changed intensity, the slight lifting of the corner of his mouth when he was pleased—all of those sent her reeling. But it was his kindness with Sasha that meant the most to her.
“All done.” Holly clapped her hands as if she’d finished preparing the last of her students for a recital. “Are you ready to get married?”
Ready? Charlotte’s heart nearly stopped. The word married hit her with a finality that she hadn’t anticipated. Within the hour she’d be Mrs. Wyatt Reed. He would follow her back to this house. He would live with her.
Charlotte trembled. What had she been thinking? This would never work, not when his mere presence sent her into such a fit of nerves. She couldn’t think straight around him. She couldn’t stop blushing. If she was honest, part of her wanted him to touch her, to kiss her, to cherish her. But he was a loner. He’d insisted there be no emotional attachment. Could she do it? Could she cook for him and launder his clothes and wake up to him first thing in the morning without any emotion at all? She had to try, for as soon as Sasha was legally hers, he would leave.
She wrapped her arms around her queasy midsection. “I must be out of my mind.”
Holly laughed. “Don’t worry. You just have the jitters. Most brides do.”
“Did you?”
“No, but that’s different. I liked Mason for ages.”
“Unlike me, who’s marrying a man I barely know.” The truth of how little Charlotte knew about Wyatt hit her hard. She didn’t even know if his parents were alive or if he had any family. For that matter, she didn’t know where he hailed from. Maybe ignorance was best since he was only going to leave, perhaps in a matter of days if the judge ruled the orphans could stay in Evans Grove and approved her adoption petition in a timely manner. The less she knew about Wyatt Reed, the less likely her heart would get broken.
Holly handed Charlotte her gloves. “Did you get the jitters with Charles?”
Jitters couldn’t describe the terror that had seized her that day. She’d vomited until her stomach was empty and nearly fainted during the vows.
“Yes,” she admitted, “but this is different.”
“How?” Holly stood on a stool to tuck a few stray strands into Charlotte’s upswept hair before pinning on the matching hat that blossomed with white satin roses and emerald-green ribbon.
How, indeed? To anyone else, the two marriages bore a striking resemblance, but Charles had never sent a single blush to her cheeks. Charles didn’t inspire a fluttery feeling in her stomach every time he spoke. Charles’s voice grated on her nerves whereas Wyatt’s rich baritone made her... What? Swoon? Goodness, she was acting like a foolish girl.
“I guess I want Wyatt to like me a little.”
“Oh, Charlotte.” Holly hopped off the stool and engulfed her in a hug. “How could he not like you? You’re beautiful.”
That hadn’t meant anything to Charles.
“I’m such a goose.” She tried to smile through the tears. “Here I am fretting over a man when the only person that matters is Sasha. She adores him.” Charlotte dabbed at her eyes. “She already calls him Papa. I can’t imagine why. Maybe he looks like her father.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter why. Wyatt cares for her, and she trusts him.”
Holly squeezed her arm. “That’s important. Children have an uncanny ability to sense a person’s true character.”
Charlotte hoped her friend was right. Otherwise, Sasha’s little heart would shatter when Wyatt Reed walked out of their lives. Hers would too.
Holly stepped back and surveyed her. “You look gorgeous. Wyatt Reed would have to be a fool not to fall in love with you.”
Charlotte knew better than to think beauty could inspire love. She tugged on her gloves. “I’m ready.”
As ready as a woman could be to marry a hired husband.
* * *
“Marriage is a solemn state, not to be entered lightly.” Reverend Turner eyed Wyatt over his spectacles.
The meaning of the pause that followed wasn’t lost on Charlotte, but thankfully Wyatt stood stoically by her side.
She couldn’t calm her n
erves. They buzzed like houseflies, reminding her of the terrible step she was taking. These were sacred vows, and she was not entering into them with the straightforward honesty that they demanded.
If truth be told, she’d hoped Wyatt would smile when she walked up the aisle, but his sober expression showed no joy or delight at her change of attire. The disappointment had led to doubt and the doubt to nerves. Only thoughts of Sasha kept her focused.
Reverend Turner didn’t help. His downturned lips conveyed his opposition to this wedding. If Holly hadn’t stood with her, she might have crumbled. Her friend smiled encouragingly and sent a spark of hope into Charlotte’s heart, but Mason masked his feelings with the same taut expression as Wyatt. The men looked like they were headed into a battle they didn’t expect to survive.
Reverend Turner’s words echoed in the empty church. Only Mrs. Turner, Pauline and Mr. Brooks sat in the pews. True to their word, they’d kept the news of this ceremony quiet. The mayor had also suggested Sasha join the orphans and Miss Sterling at the schoolhouse until after the ceremony. Though Charlotte had initially protested, Pauline convinced her that the child would not understand what was going on.
Of course she wouldn’t. Charlotte barely understood how she’d come to such a juncture. When Charles died, she’d vowed never again to tie herself to a man she didn’t love, but she was about to do just that.
Her knees shook, so she straightened them. Her hands trembled, so she knotted them together. Her ears buzzed, but she didn’t dare faint. Land sakes, she was hopping from the skillet into the fire. What was she thinking?
Then she reminded herself of Sasha’s plight, and for a moment, her pulse slowed and all became clear again.
“Repeat after me,” the reverend said. “I, Wyatt Earl Reed, take this woman to be my lawfully wedded wife...”
She held her breath. Would Wyatt say the vows?
When his voice rang out clear and firm, she looked up in surprise. How could he be so certain? He stretched out a hand, palm up, and she tentatively placed her small, pale hand in his large, rough one.
Christine Johnson Page 9
