Pretending to Wed

by Melissa Jagears

  “No.”

  “Yes.” Mrs. Ellis looked out the side of her eye as if he were a child caught in a lie.

  “No. It’s not.”

  “Not if he takes care of it,” Doc said.

  “Thanks, Doc.” Nolan gave a sharp nod to Mrs. Ellis.

  “Which is not what your husband is doing.” The doctor pointed at his leg. “When he’s in pain, put your foot down and tell him to rest.”

  Corinne looked to him with surprise, then scanned him from head to toe. “What signs and symptoms am I to look for? How much rest does he need?”

  “Any pain’s too much. Discomfort is to be expected, not pain. This open sore…” He pushed back the end of Nolan’s drawers over his thigh.

  Nolan forced himself not to yank his leg away or tell them both to get out. How could they talk about him like he wasn’t there?

  “I shouldn’t ever see an abrasion this raw. Before it gets like this, he needs to be off his leg.”

  She picked up his artificial one.

  Nolan looked away. As if he didn’t feel emasculated already, having Corinne hold up his lifeless limb certainly made him wish he wasn’t in the room.

  “Is his leg causing it? Is he wearing it incorrectly?” She ran her hand inside the shell that cupped the end of his leg as if fascinated.

  “I’ve added more padding to the interior but what was there should’ve been sufficient. No amount of padding will keep him from getting abrasions if he wears it too long. Sitting around doesn’t matter as much as standing and moving, of course.”

  Doc turned to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Lie back, Nolan.”

  Figuring it would make him look like a petulant schoolboy not to, he lay back, keeping his protest swallowed since they both seemed intent on dismissing him from this conversation.

  “He needs his muscles stretched to keep them from permanently contracting. Like so. Without his leg…”

  Doc had certainly gotten his wish. He would never again let his leg get this bad. He’d not endure this humiliation a second time.

  After the two of them left the room discussing how the padding was secured inside his leg, Nolan yanked on his trousers.

  How could Corinne take Doc’s side and leave him to hobble through town with an empty pant leg?

  She was his wife, not the doc’s nurse. Well, more business partner, but partners didn’t force personal decisions on the other. She should’ve asked him what he wanted.

  He slid off the bed, grabbed the crutches, and forged into the waiting room.

  “Wait, Nolan.”

  Ignoring Corinne, he kept going.

  “Thanks, Doctor Ellis. I’ll make sure Nolan rests.”

  He struggled to get out the door, but thankfully got through before Corinne opened it for him. He stabbed his crutches into the boardwalk and swung forward at a quick clip.

  She rushed up to him. “Why don’t you stay here and I get the wagon?”

  “I don’t need the wagon.” He kept thumping forward, refusing to look up at anyone passing.

  Maddeningly, she kept pace beside him in silence.

  A few moments later, she leaned toward him and whispered, “People are staring.”

  “Of course they are. I’ve never come into town without my leg. Since you and the doc took it from me—”

  “It’s not that. I think it’s because I’m carrying your leg, and it’s glaringly obvious you’re refusing my help.”

  He stopped and huffed. “Sorry. You’re not the reason I’m stomping through town one-legged. I shouldn’t have let it get this bad.”

  “How often does this happen?”

  Tilting his head up to the sky, he neatly avoided anyone’s pitiful gazes. “Not often. It hasn’t been like this since I was young.”

  “What caused it this time?”

  “Don’t worry about it. It won’t happen again.”

  Him and his blasted desire to keep his new wife from outshining him. Maybe he shouldn’t have married such a hard worker. His ego evidently couldn’t handle letting a woman outperform him.

  And yet, why was he so compelled to be sure Corinne didn’t think him a weakling when he knew full well he wasn’t?

  Chapter Twenty

  “More coffee, please.”

  Corinne frowned at the top of Matt’s head. He hadn’t even looked up from his reading, only pushed his mug toward her.

  Though he had said please.

  Gingerly, she picked up the pot and poured him another cup. Her hands had been getting better, but packing at the laundry yesterday had taken its toll. Nolan had balked at how much she’d done, but with the doctor telling him to keep his leg off for a week or more, he hadn’t been able to help.

  Last night, she’d fallen asleep before he’d come up, so she hadn’t massaged his leg as the doctor ordered.

  How effective could she be though, if her hands seized up? Yet, it had to be done.

  After putting down the coffee, she walked to the stairwell and listened. When would Nolan stir? Or should she abandon Matt, go upstairs, and take care of things?

  She’d been embarrassed at the doctor’s yesterday—less because of Nolan’s state of undress, and more because she’d felt like a fool. The doctor had told her when she saw Nolan hurting that badly, she should put her foot down and make sure he stayed off his leg.

  But she’d not noticed. Not until the doctor had forced Nolan to lie back, and in that unguarded moment, she’d caught a glimpse of pain in his eyes.

  Perhaps she should insist he rest whenever he snapped at someone. He’d certainly been testy at the doctor’s office when he wasn’t bothering to cover up the pain, and there’d been that dull look in his eyes. She’d have to peer into his eyes more often—or start anyway. It wasn’t as if they’d taken up gazing at each other like lovers.

  “Nolan still sleeping?” The paper rustled behind her.

  She turned but decided not to answer. She didn’t want Matt interrogating her about their morning routine—which by silent agreement was done as separately as possible.

  Matt reached for the sugar bowl and doctored his coffee. “He’s working too hard. I don’t recall him ever sleeping as late as he has this week. It’s a shame this ranch has become too much for him to handle.”

  “I think he handles it well.” She dried the last of the ranch hands’ breakfast dishes—they’d been in for breakfast and back to their chores an hour ago.

  “You know, maybe you should convince him to give this place up for his own good—for your good, too.”

  “Right.” She couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

  “I’m not as bad as Nolan has made me seem. He squawks when I come to visit, yes, but I’m a good rancher. His father thought so.” Matt sighed. “I understand Nolan’s dislike for me—I was his dad’s favorite. Nolan has had a hard time seeing me as anything other than the enemy.”

  She started putting away the dishes. Nolan’s father had willed his place to Matt.

  Yet, even if Nolan were wrong about Matt’s inability to ranch, it didn’t mean her husband was incapable.

  “Though the will states the place isn’t mine if Nolan’s married, it can still change hands. You could convince him he doesn’t need to keep up the bravado. I saw him hobble in yesterday.” He tsked before taking a leisurely sip of his coffee.

  “He won’t give it up.”

  “I realize he’s got a lot of money in it. But if you convince him to relinquish it to me, I can offer you a nice parting gift—I have loads of cash, you know.”

  She kept her back turned so she could roll her eyes with as much exaggeration as she wished.

  “I could give you enough to live on for a year or two. You should consider moving to Denver or another big city where he can use that head of his for mathematics. That’s why this place is doing well.” Matt’s voice held less haughtiness than usual. “But the manual labor he’s doing to make up for his father’s absence will catch up to him. My father could talk t
o a dean at the University of Denver, maybe get Nolan a break in tuition. You see, Nolan’s dad might have preferred me, but my father has always preferred him…” Matt’s voice caught, and she glanced over her shoulder.

  He was staring into his coffee, looking genuinely gloomy.

  She shook her head. “I don’t think he’ll ever give the ranch up. He’s attached.”

  “As am I.” He looked up and gave her a wan smile. “I know it’s hard for Nolan to admit I’m better than him at something. But it’s as if we were switched at birth—our fathers and the vocations we were raised to take over were meant for each other. If he needs help going in a direction that better suits him, know that my father will do whatever he can to help.”

  Even if this whole spiel was just an attempt by Matt to get the ranch back, it was somewhat nice—in a condescending sort of way. “I’ll let Nolan know.”

  “Be sure you don’t mention I advised it. It’s best when advice doesn’t come from someone you dislike.”

  “I’ll take that into consideration.” She scanned the table. “How much cream is left?”

  His eyes dulled at her change of topic, but he turned to glance over at the wall clock. “Enough for two. Is Nolan coming down at all?”

  Nine-thirty was extremely late for him. Matt still lounging about wasn’t surprising, but Nolan hadn’t left the house later than eight since she’d been around.

  She dried her hands on a towel. “Doc said he should stay off his leg for a few days, so maybe he’s following orders for once.”

  Matt tsked again and stood. “As I mentioned, there’s no shame in admitting when you’re in over your head. If your husband didn’t practically seethe whenever I’m around, I’d have proposed a partnership, but some men can’t be reasoned with.” He grabbed his hat and overcoat. “Be wise, Corinne. If you need to liquidate this place, you’ll have to figure that out before I buy my own. I don’t need two ranches.”

  She watched Matt head outdoors, whistling.

  Matt couldn’t really be putting Nolan’s desires above his own, but did that mean nothing he’d said had merit?

  Regardless, what was best for Nolan right now was to get his leg back into shape.

  After sweeping the floor, she headed upstairs. At his room, she pushed the door open slowly as not to wake him if he were asleep.

  Nolan was sitting up in bed, reading his Bible, fully dressed.

  “Oh, I hadn’t heard you stir. Were you waiting for Matt to leave before coming down?”

  Truth be told, it had been a much more pleasant morning without the two men together.

  “No, just resting like I’m supposed to. Told Sal yesterday what I wanted done. They’re working already, I assume?”

  “Yes, they were in and out quickly. I don’t think they enjoy Matt’s company any more than you do.”

  “I don’t doubt it.”

  “But maybe we shouldn’t disregard everything he says.”

  Nolan stilled, his eyebrows rose as if she’d just frozen him in place by tossing a bucket of ice on him.

  “I mean, though he rubs you wrong, maybe he isn’t out to get you.”

  Nolan relaxed a little. “I don’t believe he’s out to get me, but I do believe he’s out to get whatever he can for himself. If that hurts me, well, he just might convince himself it wouldn’t.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip. Did Matt have no redeeming qualities deep down?

  “Did you need something?”

  She stepped into the room. “Yes, or well, you do. I’m here to do the massaging—”

  He lifted his hand to stop her. “Not necessary.”

  “Huh? But I thought…”

  He looked out the window. “Doc’s high-handed. Treats me like a child in need of a nose wiping just because I don’t follow his every order.”

  “I know that’s true.” She stretched out her aching fingers and frowned at them. “But considering how he was talking about your leg, it seemed serious.”

  “Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll take care of myself like the doctor wants.”

  “Promise?”

  He shrugged, but then nodded.

  Her chest lost its tension. “All right. If you’re going to be up here today, do you mind if I go into Armelle and get the last of my things?”

  He shifted on the bed. “I don’t need the wagon, so that’s fine.”

  “Good, I’ll finish my chores, then—”

  “No need. My men can handle your chores. So if you need to stay in town all day, feel free to do so.”

  “Oh, well, all right.” She tried not to let his words make her feel worthless. Had none of the work she’d done this past week been helpful?

  “I’ll be on my way then.”

  Nolan dragged his open Bible back onto his lap. “Say hi to Leah for me.”

  “Of course.” She backed out of the room.

  After heading outside and getting Timothy to hitch up the horse, Corinne took her time driving into town.

  The little pit that had started forming when Nolan said he didn’t need her help grew as empty as the wide open space surrounding her. Which was ridiculous. She knew he didn’t need her. He’d initially offered her the freedom to do nothing.

  Though it wouldn’t hurt to feel a bit appreciated.

  But if they really didn’t need her, maybe she could go back to tinkering.

  The swirl of thoughts she’d had at the doctor’s office bombarded her again. Ways to make the hinge of Nolan’s fake knee work more efficiently, give him a smoother gait. Ways to better pad the socket of his false leg so he wouldn’t get an open sore again. Ways to make the leg less heavy.

  If she could make things better for him that way, she could prove she wasn’t just a warm body bearing his name and eating his food.

  Behind the laundry, she unhitched the horse. But before she could walk her over to the sole patch of grass in the dirt yard, the sound of a wail pierced the muggy air.

  Dropping the reins, Corinne rushed inside. “Leah?”

  “No, no, no!” A muffled sob and then a groan.

  In the washroom, Leah stood with her head bowed, with most of her brunette hair fallen out of her bun. Her hands gripped the side of the tin tub as if she’d fall in if she let go.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Leah didn’t look up, but pulled wet fabric out of the water and plopped it on the counter next to several other soggy lumps.

  Corinne glanced at them and frowned—too much bluing. “It’ll likely come out. But it’s best to work on it right away. The longer you let it set, the harder it is to remove.”

  “I don’t know what I was thinking.” She frantically gestured at the wet clothing. “Mrs. Turner wants all this done by the time her husband arrives on the train, but I went and ruined them all.”

  With a hand to Leah’s shoulder, Corinne gave her a reassuring squeeze. “They can be fixed.”

  “Not in time. They live so far out of town, it’s not as if she can return for them soon—and that’s not taking into account everything else that has come in.” She gestured to the bags against the wall.

  Yesterday, Leah had been close to catching up. “It’s normal to make mistakes when you’re rushing. Mrs. Turner will understand.”

  “I don’t have time for mistakes.” Leah sniffed.

  If it wasn’t for the fact that bluing was difficult to get out, she’d have told Leah to go home and rest.

  She completely sympathized with wanting to curl up under the covers and cry but having to tackle piles of work instead. “The two of us can do it.”

  Leah looked toward her with sad eyes. “Are you sure? You gave me this job so you wouldn’t have to do it anymore. I know how to do laundry, I promise, but I was woolgathering. I should’ve—”

  “I know you know what you’re doing.” She started pulling out the rest of the clothing Leah had ruined, bracing herself so Leah wouldn’t see her grimace when she wrung the water out. “What happened, happened. But now’s th
e time to make something else happen.”

  “I’m sorry you’re having to help me instead of whatever you came in for.” Leah sniffed, but pulled out more wet fabric. “But I appreciate it.”

  “Don’t mention it. I wasn’t needed at home.” She could come back tomorrow for her remaining items.

  Doctor Ellis walked in and frowned at the two of them, stopping midstride. “I thought you were putting laundry behind you, Mrs. Key—and becoming a wife.”

  When would the man realize marriage didn’t mean a woman could shun difficult chores? “Mrs. Whitsett needed my help today, but don’t worry. Once I finish helping, and then packing the last of my things, I’ll go back to regular ol’ household laundry.”

  The doctor looked around. “Who’s going to help you load your wagon? If Nolan’s here, I told him—”

  “No, he’s at home resting like you ordered. I came alone.”

  Frowning, the doctor clicked his tongue. “You two are quite the pair, never asking for help, suffering like martyrs instead of obeying doctor’s orders.”

  “That’s not—” Well, maybe it was true. When was the last time she’d sought help?

  The man sighed and leaned his wiry frame against the counter. “Spencer’s supposed to clean my office today, but I don’t have much for him to do, so I’ll send him over once he takes out the trash.”

  “I can’t—” Well, even if Nolan hadn’t much ready cash, Spencer might accept something from the ranch in exchange, like a carton of eggs—though what nine-year-old boy wanted that? “I guess if Leah can’t pay him, I could.”

  “You don’t have to pay anyone for me.” Leah turned to the doctor and gave him a nod. “I could use him.”

  “Good.” The doctor pulled out his money clip. “I came for my suit coat. Is it done?”

  “Yes.” Leah shook the water from her hands and crossed to the clothing rack.

  “How did working on Nolan’s leg go last night?” The doctor turned to Corinne, awaiting an answer.

  She quit wringing the shirt she was washing, afraid Doc Ellis might notice how stiff her hands were and order her to stop. “He went to bed too late to do anything last night.”