His Christmas Bride

by Lara Van Hulzen

  “I don’t know. What I do know is that she’s all wrong for you.”

  Lucas ran a hand through his hair and hung his head. What a freaking mess. His family thought he lived his life not thinking things through. In trying to prove them wrong, he’d walked into a situation where he’d proven them right, down to every last detail.

  Chapter Eighteen

  In the four days since they’d all come to Tanner Ranch to ride, Erin had done nothing but think about what she’d heard Vanessa say. No matter how hard she worked, how much she tried to rid her mind of it all, it consumed her thoughts. Who was she to judge the situation based on an overhead conversation? Maybe Vanessa really did love Lucas and the money was a mere side note of help. She shook her head at the irony. If she were to admit her feelings for Lucas, others would most likely see things the same way. Every time she had the same conversation with herself and, every time, it ended with her believing the best course of action was not to say anything.

  But not saying anything was killing her.

  It helped she hadn’t seen or heard from Lucas, or any other person involved with the wedding, so she didn’t have to worry about masking how she felt. In all honesty, she wasn’t sure how she felt. Her emotions were so out of whack over the whole thing.

  She’d be facing them today though. Annalise had invited her to come and watch her perform in The Nutcracker. All of the students at Noelle’s dance studio were a part of it and Erin couldn’t say no. Not to Annalise. The adults in the little girl’s world might be caught in a… well, Erin didn’t even know what to call what was happening with Lucas. But she could hide her feelings for an afternoon for Annalise’s sake.

  The program was at three o’clock, which meant Erin had time to meet with Cynthia before. She’d asked Cynthia to come by the house, not wanting anyone to overhear their conversation. Her dad had gone into town with Wendell so the house was empty, and it wouldn’t look odd for Cynthia to be there since she was planning the St. Claire wedding. For all anyone knew, she was merely checking up on things. Erin was overthinking things, yes, but the last thing she wanted to have happen was the rumor mill of Marietta being what revealed the truth to Lucas.

  Erin poured water in the coffee pot and measured out fresh grounds. She turned it on and placed two mugs on the counter. In her countless hours of questioning what to do, she’d decided talking to Cynthia about it wouldn’t hurt. Maybe she could help, or maybe she had proof of Vanessa’s schemes.

  Erin shook her head and looked out the window. The whole scenario had the potential to make her seem like a gossipy teen that spread rumors to break up another couple. It was crazy. And yet, it was a grown-up situation on many levels. She didn’t want Lucas in a loveless marriage that had no future, and she didn’t want the mess for him and his family that would surely follow.

  But her hands were tied. She couldn’t be the one to tell him, and she didn’t want to be manipulative or conniving about having him find out. Honest to goodness, she had zero clue what to do.

  Cynthia’s car pulled into the drive and her friend got out. Erin met her at the door and let her in.

  “Hey, you.”

  “Hey.”

  They hugged and Erin took Cynthia’s coat and hung it on the hook for her. “I’m making coffee.”

  “Perfect.” Cynthia made herself at home at the table while Erin doctored their drinks.

  She settled into the chair across from Cynthia and took a sip. “Hmmm. That hits the spot.”

  Cynthia sipped from her own mug. “I’m guessing you didn’t ask me to come by to talk about our mutual love for coffee.”

  Erin laughed. She was at the point where she didn’t know what else to do. Why not chuckle over the whole thing?

  “You have to promise me you won’t share this with anyone.”

  Cynthia’s eyebrows lifted. “Gossip, huh? That’s not your MO.” She leaned forward to put her hand on Erin’s. “Hey. You look pretty upset. Is it Eric?” Having grown up in Marietta, Cynthia was aware of Erin’s family history, of the stories that floated around.

  “No. He came around after Thanksgiving asking for money, but he went back to Bozeman.”

  “If it’s not about Eric, what’s up then?”

  Now that Cynthia sat with her, blurting it out seemed wrong. As if saying the words would make it real. However, it was real. Erin had heard Vanessa say it.

  “Lucas came over with Vanessa the other day. McKenna and Annalise did, too. They all rode horses. It was fun, actually.” Visions of racing Lucas across the meadow made her smile. She wrapped her hands around her coffee mug and stared into the dark liquid. “But when I was putting the horses away in the stables, I overhead Vanessa on the phone, talking to her dad. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but she wasn’t quiet.”

  Cynthia leaned forward, her elbows on the table. “What did she say?”

  “In a nutshell, that she was marrying Lucas for his money.”

  Cynthia’s mouth fell open and she shook her head. “What? Are you sure you heard her right?”

  “Believe me, what I heard has played over and over again in my head for days. I just don’t know what to do about it.”

  “But wait. This doesn’t make sense. Vanessa’s family is loaded. Not St. Claire loaded, but close. She doesn’t need his money.”

  Erin shook her head as well. “She said something about a bankruptcy and keeping it out of the press until after the wedding.”

  Cynthia took a sip of her coffee and swallowed hard. “You know, I’d love to say I’m surprised, but there was something about that woman that rubbed me wrong from minute one. I just assumed it was her snotty demeanor and how she looks down at everyone.”

  Erin ran her fingers through her hair then rested her chin on her hand. The other toyed with the handle of her coffee mug. Her impression of Vanessa had been pretty much the same. As much as she wanted to try and give the woman the benefit of the doubt in the beginning, she had no sympathy for her now. She was wrong for Lucas, in so many ways, and there wasn’t a damn thing Erin could do about it.

  “What are you gonna do?”

  Erin sat back in her chair again. “That’s just it. What can I do? At this point it’s my word against hers.”

  “And you think Lucas will believe her over you?”

  “Why wouldn’t he? She’s his fiancée. I’m just some girl from his past. His distant past.” She scoffed. “I didn’t even matter to him then. Why would he believe me now?”

  “You sell yourself way too short, my friend. There are sparks between you two that could start a raging forest fire. I mean, honestly, at this point in the game, would you have that much to lose by telling him how you feel?”

  “Cynthia, think about it. Lucas, not to mention the entire town, knows about my money troubles. If I come barging in, claiming I love him and that his fiancée is just after his money, won’t it look like I’m after the same thing? No one will believe me.”

  “Lucas might.”

  Erin shook her head. “No. It can’t come from me.”

  Cynthia took a deep breath in and let it out. “I’m surprised, with Wes’s connections, that he hasn’t heard of her family’s money troubles.”

  “I thought that as well. But I’m guessing by the way Vanessa sounded on the phone with her father, they didn’t get to the level of success they have by not being cunning when they need to be.”

  “Sheesh. What a mess.”

  “Tell me about it. I wanted to talk to you and get your advice. Has she said or done anything during the wedding planning that seems off to you?”

  “Well, besides staying at the Graff Hotel the whole time instead of with Lucas, she’s basically just been a typical bridezilla.”

  Erin had thought that detail odd as well, but now it made more sense. If Vanessa wasn’t in love with Lucas, she was using excuses to not be with him. That was something Erin couldn’t wrap her head around. She wanted to be with Lucas every minute she possibly could. If he were hers, she�
�d make excuses to see him, not the other way around.

  “I’m glad you told me, Erin. There’s still time for him to figure out the truth. Maybe I can help plant some doubt in his mind. And I’ll keep my eyes and ears open for anything that would prove what Vanessa has planned.”

  “Thank you. I hate involving you this way. It feels so deceitful. But if Vanessa doesn’t love him, he’ll be miserable. I couldn’t stand that.”

  “You’re trying to protect him. And yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s Vanessa’s deceit that needs to be made known.”

  The two friends chatted a while longer then Cynthia left. Erin changed into black pants, her favorite black boots and a dressy red top and drove into town to watch Annalise in The Nutcracker. Cynthia was right. There was still time. Not much, but enough to pray Lucas would find out what was really going on with his fiancée.

  *

  Lucas watched as little girls dressed in white tutus made their way across the stage. Annalise had been almost out of her skin all morning she was so excited. Lucas was glad to see her so happy. Having struggled, understandably, after her mother’s death, Annalise was beginning to behave like the precocious, loving, fearless little thing she’d always been. The family was aware they had Franchesca and Noelle to thank for that, the two women being a welcomed female influence in Annalise’s life.

  He’d sensed Erin’s presence before he even saw her. They’d been in the foyer of the theater, he and Vanessa, talking to Franchesca. Lucas had turned to find Erin in the doorway, looking around. She’d spotted him and their eyes met, her red-lipped smile making his insides tingle.

  They were all told to move inside to their seats before he could say anything to her and she’d ended up down the row, sitting beside Mike and Franchesca. Lucas and Vanessa were on the end. As the music played and the sugar plum fairies emerged, Lucas’s father tapped him and said, “There she is.”

  The whole family sat forward, Mike taping every move Annalise made. Lucas looked down to see each person’s face light up, soaking in the joy that Annalise brought to their family. His gaze fixed on Erin. Her face glowed as she giggled over how cute the kids were, one hand in front of her mouth for a moment to hide her laughter. She would think of that, wouldn’t she? That if a child saw her laughing they might think she was making fun. But no, she wasn’t. She would never. Her heart was too good for that.

  Lucas looked once more at the stage. Annalise reveled in the attention, as if everyone in the room was there to see only her. He glanced at Vanessa beside him, her face buried in her phone. He’d hoped at some point she’d make a connection with Annalise. Hell, with anyone in his family, but she’d been so obsessed with the wedding, so concerned about how it would all look to the outside world, she could barely spend one minute caring about their world.

  Annalise and the sugar plum fairies danced off stage to the audience clapping, the loudest applause coming from the row of St. Claires.

  When the performance was over, the family stood in the back of the theater, waiting to see their tiny dancer. Lucas was glad Erin had stayed with them.

  Noelle came up the aisle, Annalise’s hand in hers. They both wore white from head to toe, though Noelle wore a grown-up skirt instead of the tutu that stuck straight out from Annalise’s middle.

  “Did you see me, Daddy? Did you see my sugar-plume dance?” Annalise let go of Noelle’s hand and raced into Mike’s open arms.

  “I did! You were amazing!” Mike spun her around and planted a big kiss on her little cheek. Franchesca leaned into them and kissed the other cheek.

  Noelle stepped beside Wes who pulled her to him and kissed her. Not on the cheek, but rather a tender one on the lips. “Everything went perfect, babe. You did a fantastic job, as always.”

  “It really was wonderful, Noelle.” Erin stood a step back from the group not far from Lucas’s father who was chatting with a friend.

  “Thank you.” Noelle smiled at her.

  She looked relieved to have the night over. Lucas could only imagine how much work went into something like that.

  “Did you see me, Airwin?”

  “I did! You were wonderful, Annalise. I don’t think you missed a single step.”

  Annalise glowed with pride at Erin’s praise. Lucas felt as if he damn near glowed himself just from looking at her.

  Vanessa took his hand a moment. He’d almost forgotten she was beside him. “I need to step out to take a call. I’ll meet you outside.”

  He nodded but didn’t think Vanessa even saw, she’d turned to leave without waiting for his response. He was aware she had a lot on her plate with the wedding, as well as her normal workload, but it was as if she was more distracted than ever these days.

  Lucas turned his attention to the group, pretty distracted himself by the blue-eyed blonde who stood talking to Noelle.

  In that moment, Lucas knew deep down what he wanted. Hell, he’d known it all along. Or at least since he saw Erin standing in the doorway of the main hall of the Graff Hotel. He missed her. Missed the honesty, how easy it was to be around her.

  Noelle turned to talk to a parent of one of her students. He saw his chance and made his way to her.

  “Thanks for coming. It means a lot to Annalise.”

  “It was my pleasure. She’s too cute for her own good.”

  They both laughed.

  “Will you be around tomorrow? I was hoping to come by the ranch.”

  “Sure. It’s getting close. I’m sure you have a lot of last minute things to do for the wedding.”

  “Yeah. Sure.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him for a second. He thought for sure she’d press him about why he was asking to visit but she didn’t. “I need to get going. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

  “Tomorrow it is.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Erin moved around the kitchen, cleaning up the breakfast dishes. It was Sunday and she was always grateful for a slower day. With running the ranch, there was never really a day off, but the pace was slower, more relaxed. And she appreciated that.

  With only a week until Christmas, she looked forward to an afternoon of shopping. Not that she had all that many presents to buy. She got her dad something and her brother, even if he didn’t show up Christmas morning. But she enjoyed strolling through shops in town, soaking in the decorations and Christmas spirit that seemed to be floating in the air.

  She was usually done with her shopping by now, but with the wedding being at Tanner Ranch and all that had come with it, her mind had been elsewhere. And although Vanessa had hired people to do the work around the ranch, there was still a lot for Erin to do. Daily chores plus whatever was needed to keep the wedding plans going.

  The wedding plans. She shook her head as she put detergent into the dishwasher and pushed the button to start it. Before, her gut had churned at the thought of the wedding because her heart was breaking over Lucas marrying someone else. But now, she was sick to her stomach for a whole other reason.

  Unsure of why Lucas wanted to come by, she went over again and again in her mind whether or not to say anything to him about Vanessa. If Lucas were to decide to walk away, it couldn’t be because of something Erin said or did. It had to be his decision alone. Of course, he was making a decision without all the facts.

  “Hey, Girl Child.” Her dad wheeled into the kitchen, Gauge not far behind. He’d gone to take a shower after breakfast, his dark hair wet and combed back. He was a handsome man. A good man. And deserved more than the hand he’d been dealt.

  “Hey, Dad.”

  “What are you up to today?”

  “Lucas said he needs to come by. I’m sure he’s doing some last-minute checking on wedding stuff.”

  “Hmmm, I’m sure that’s what it is.”

  Erin leaned against the counter and crossed her arms in front of her. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Sweet daughter of mine. Just because I’m a father doesn’t mean I’m clueless. In fact
, I think I’m more in tune with you because I’m your dad. You’re my daughter. It’s my job to pay attention, to protect you.”

  “Protect me from what?”

  “A broken heart.”

  Erin looked at her feet. “I’m afraid you can’t do that, Dad.”

  “I know. I know he broke your heart once already. I just hate watching him do it again.”

  She snapped her head up and stared into her father’s eyes.

  “I live here, Erin. You think I didn’t know how you looked forward to the days the St. Claires came to the ranch when you were young, especially the days that Lucas came over? You think I didn’t clue into the sadness that clouded your eyes in the years he didn’t visit anymore?”

  A tear slid down Erin’s cheek. She didn’t move to swipe it away.

  Her dad rolled his chair closer to her. Gauge nudged her leg with his nose, sensing her sadness and wanting to comfort. She unfolded her arms and scratched his soft head.

  “I’ll be honest. I was surprised when you agreed to let him have his wedding here.”

  “We need the money.”

  “Not more than your happiness.”

  She smiled. “He would marry her anyway, Dad, whether the ceremony was held here or not.”

  “Yes, but you agreed to it, allowing all of it to be right here in front of you. That takes guts if you ask me.”

  “Guts or stupidity. I still haven’t decided which one.”

  They laughed.

  He took her hands in his. “You’re far from stupid, sweetheart. We wouldn’t still be here if it weren’t for all your smarts and hard work.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate that. But we’re a team. We’ve kept things going together.”

  He nodded then wheeled over to the coffee pot and poured himself a mug. “As much as I love us being a team, I don’t want this to be your whole life, Erin.”