The Kincaid Bride

by Jackie Merritt

  Melanie was speechless. Unless Eli could think of a way out of this, they were going to be married!

  Clearing his throat, Eli rose from his chair. “Garrett, I accept full responsibility for—”

  “As you should.”

  “Well…I do…and, uh, I don’t think Melanie wants to, uh, get married.”

  “Nonsense.” Garrett started for the door. “Come along. We’ll take the car so we can all ride together.”

  Melanie was so stupefied by what was happening that it never occurred to her to fix her hair and makeup, and she followed her grandfather out to the car like a mindless windup toy. It was still raining, but she barely noticed.

  Eli felt dazed, too, but he wasn’t nearly as overcome as Melanie seemed to be. He wished she would say something to him and he sidled up next to her just before they reached the car. “Melanie, is this what you want?” he asked in an undertone.

  Collin ran up before she could even register the question, let alone answer it. “You two are getting married? Pretty fast work, Eli,” he teased with a friendly grin.

  “Everyone get in the car,” Garrett said forcefully. “Collin, you please do the driving. Melanie, you and Eli sit in back.”

  Eli was relieved by the seating arrangement. It would give him a chance to speak quietly to Melanie, find out if she was in favor of this hasty, shotgun marriage. But she sat so close to the door, almost hugging it, that there were several feet of space between them. Garrett kept looking back at them while Collin curiously checked them out in the rearview mirror. To Eli’s frustration, it was impossible for him to say anything that wouldn’t be heard by the other two men.

  Finally, he inched his hand along the seat and touched her arm. She jumped as though burned and turned her face to the rain-covered side window. “Melanie,” he whispered. She ignored him so completely that he wondered if she’d heard him say her name. “Melanie,” he whispered again, “look at me.”

  Without turning around, she shook her head. Frowning, Eli drew his hand back and tried to make sense of this whole thing. Did Melanie want to get married? She couldn’t possibly be in love with him, any more than he was in love with her. Love simply didn’t happen that fast.

  But if she was having those kinds of thoughts, why not share them with him? Now, in his case, marrying into the Kincaid family wasn’t that bad of an idea. Not to get his hands on any of Garrett’s wealth, for heaven’s sake. If money was important, he could go back to Baltimore and claim his own. It was being related to Garrett that made this marriage palatable, and, of course, he and Melanie did have one thing in common. Eli suppressed a smile over that rather lusty thought, because there was an emotional tension in the car that made even a smile seem sacrilegious.

  Melanie felt the tension, too, but her mind wasn’t working nearly as well as Eli’s. In fact, it was difficult for her to think beyond the disappointment she’d seen on her grandfather’s face when he’d stood in the living-room doorway and realized what she’d been doing during his absence.

  What in God’s name had gotten into her in Montana? She’d always enjoyed a good laugh with a man, but she had never been promiscuous before, and promiscuous was the perfect word for her behavior with Eli. Still, even though she might deserve a dressing-down for behaving so wantonly, wasn’t a hurry-up, forced marriage going too far? Why couldn’t she find the gumption to stand up to her grandfather and say that she was not marrying a man just because she’d had sex with him?

  And then, in the next heartbeat, her brain did start functioning. A marriage with no preliminaries whatsoever might not be completely legal. Didn’t one have to be a resident of a state to get married without some sort of waiting period? Perhaps not in Montana, she thought with a sigh, but there had to be something wrong with such a hasty ceremony in a judge’s personal residence yet. But don’t forget Granddad saying that Judge Joseph Briggs was a longtime friend. Maybe Judge Joseph is such a good friend that he would bend the law just a little for his old pal.

  I’ll have it annulled, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll go through the ceremony to appease Granddad, but when I get back to San Diego, I’ll see a lawyer about an annulment. Which means, of course, that Eli and I cannot consummate the marriage.

  Well, I can handle that. He’s not so irresistible that I can’t say no if he should try something, and when I explain my plan, he’ll probably be eager to cooperate. After all, why on earth would he want to stay married to me?

  The rain was only a fine drizzle in Missoula though the clouds over the city looked low enough to touch. A dreary, gloomy day—my wedding day, Melanie thought cynically.

  Collin had obviously been to the judge’s home before because he drove the streets of Missoula without instructions from Garrett. In fact, Melanie realized, her grandfather had hardly said a word since they’d left the ranch.

  But then, no one had. So what was Garrett thinking about? How differently young people behaved today from when he was a young man? Or that his granddaughter was a lot more like her father than he could have guessed?

  Melanie stiffened at that thought. Was she like her dad? A person completely without morals or scruples? A person who could make babies and then forget they’d ever been born?

  That wasn’t totally the case with Larry, however. The contents of his safety-deposit box were proof that he had some conscience. And so did she, dammit! She could never abandon a child, never!

  Collin pulled into the driveway of a large, imposing brick house. Turning off the engine, he said quietly, “We’re here.”

  Garrett drew a deep breath. “So we are. Well, let’s not dawdle. Joe’s waiting for us.”

  Melanie’s mouth went dry. She should say now, “No, Granddad, I am not doing this.” Why couldn’t she? Her heart was pounding with trepidation. She’d always thought of marriage as a monumental step in a person’s life, and here she was letting someone else make that decision for her. But for the life of her she could not defy her grandfather. Meekly, she got out of the car when he opened her door. Eli and Collin got out on the other side, and it was Garrett’s hand on her arm that steadied her during the short walk between driveway and house.

  Collin and Eli lagged behind, a slowing of steps because of Collin’s hand on Eli’s arm and the plea in Collin’s eyes. “Eli, what in hell is going on? You and Melanie sure aren’t acting like a couple who’s dying to tie the knot.”

  “Garrett didn’t tell you?”

  “All he said was that we were driving you and Mel to Missoula to get married. What brought this on so suddenly?”

  Eli shook his head. “You’d do better to question Garrett, Collin. Sorry.” He felt badly about leaving Collin in the dark, but he couldn’t tell Melanie’s brother about the uncontrollable passion between Melanie and himself. It was just too personal, too private, and obviously Garrett thought so, too, or he would’ve already told Collin what he’d seen in the living room.

  What an awful scene for a grandfather to stumble upon. Eli’s arousal had to have been visible even though he’d managed to pull up his jeans. Then there was Melanie, hiding her nudity behind her skirt and looking as though she wished the earth would open up and swallow them both. And the personally painful part of it for Eli was that he’d just been on the verge of an explosive orgasm when Melanie had stopped everything by announcing that someone was in the house. Eli would be willing to bet that she’d been right there with him, too, and wondered if she was also feeling the aftereffects of stopping too soon.

  The front door of the house opened before they could ring the doorbell, and a stern-faced man of Garrett’s vintage told them to come in. He introduced his wife, Mrs. Briggs, who, Melanie saw, had merry eyes with a devilish twinkle in spite of the gravity conveyed by the rest of her expression. Melanie gave her a small, rather shaky smile.

  The judge whisked them all to his den, told everyone where to stand and got right to it. In three minutes flat, he said, “By the authority vested in me by the State of Montana, I now pronounc
e you husband and wife. Eli, you may kiss your bride.”

  Melanie turned her head and Eli’s kiss landed on her cheek. She stepped back from him immediately and took another peek at the ring on her finger. Garrett had produced it, announcing rather formally, “This is the ring I put on your grandmother’s finger almost fifty years ago. I hope it brings you and Eli the happiness it brought to Laura and me.”

  And then it was over. Goodbyes were said, and Mrs. Briggs took Melanie’s hands in her own and wished her well. “Ah, to be your age again for just one night.”

  Melanie surprised herself by blushing, for it was perfectly obvious to what Mrs. Briggs was referring. A night of wedded bliss. A long night of lovemaking, of a husband and wife adoring each other’s body and of saying all the beautiful, wonderful things that a couple in love said to each other.

  Sorry, Mrs. Briggs, you’re a kind, sweet lady, but what you’re thinking is simply not going to happen.

  Settled in the car again—the same seating arrangement—Melanie huddled on her side of the seat and maintained as much distance from Eli as was physically possible. Staring out the window, she turned the gold ring around and around on her finger. Her grandmother’s ring; she had not foreseen her grandfather’s parting with something so dear to his heart.

  But how could she foresee anything Granddad might do? She still hardly knew him. He’d spent precious little time with her—instead running here and there with Collin to conduct business—so why had he gone out of his way to phone her long distance and invite her to the ranch?

  Garrett glanced back at the happy couple and was stunned that they weren’t at least holding hands. Surely they cared for one another. Had he made a dreadful mistake by arranging their wedding?

  But neither had said a word against it, which was really all it would have taken. Perhaps he’d inhibited them with his stern reaction, even though what he’d walked in on in his own living room was hardly conducive to smiles and jocularity. Truth was, he was so weary of licentious, careless behavior. Larry’s gambling had been bad enough, but his womanizing had been downright scandalous.

  And now he had to make some very serious decisions about Larry’s illegitimate sons. Larry hadn’t expected to die at age fifty-four, but why hadn’t he done something about those boys before it was too late? If he hadn’t planned to do something about those six sons, why had he kept the evidence?

  “Thunderation,” Garrett muttered under his breath. He’d made mistakes with Larry—for one, permitting him far too much freedom by giving him a steady paycheck that he hadn’t deserved—and now, this very night, he’d forced a wedding that perhaps should not have taken place.

  “What’d you say?” Collin asked.

  “Nothing. I was just thinking out loud,” Garrett responded.

  “You sound tired, Granddad.”

  “I’m exhausted, Collin. It’s been a long day.”

  In the back seat, Melanie furtively wiped away a tear. It had to have been the most awful wedding any woman had ever suffered through.

  When they finally got back to the ranch, the sky was clear, promising a bright, rainless tomorrow. The second Melanie was out of the car, she headed for the house. Collin ran to catch up with her. “Mel, you’ve got to tell me what’s going on. I asked Eli, and he said to ask Granddad. But you’ll tell me, won’t you?”

  “Yes, I’ll tell you,” she said flatly, without emotion. “When you and Granddad got home today, he caught Eli and me in the living room, literally with our pants down.”

  “You’re kidding! You knew we were coming home today. Doggone it, Mel, why’d you take that kind of chance?”

  “Because I’m a stupid, brainless idiot who obviously thinks with her hormones.”

  “You are not! You must be in love, right?”

  Melanie sent her brother a sympathetic look. “Thank you for that, but no, I’m not in love. Neither is Eli.”

  “Then why—I mean—how come you let Granddad force you to get married?”

  “Because along with suffering a lack of brain cells, I’m also a spineless wimp. Please, Collin, no more questions tonight. I’m heading straight for a hot shower and bed. Good night.”

  Garrett had stopped Eli by the car. “You and Melanie are married now, so it’s only fitting that you share the same bedroom. Bring your things in from the bunkhouse. Her room is the last one on the south end of the second floor. You’ll find it just fine, I’m sure.” He offered his hand, which Eli shook. “And God bless you, son. Welcome to the family. I think Melanie made a fine choice.”

  “Thank you,” Eli managed to croak. Melanie made a fine choice? Melanie hadn’t made a choice at all, other than the lustful decision to sleep with him. Or rather, to badger and tease him into sleeping with her.

  Eli started walking toward the bunkhouse and in a few seconds caught himself whistling softly. It amazed him that he felt pretty darn good about the day. Actually, he felt pretty darn good about being married. In fact, he chuckled a bit because now, tonight, he and Melanie could finish what they’d started in the living room. And they could make love now whenever the mood struck—in the middle of the night, in the morning when they first woke up, any damned time they felt like it.

  Melanie entered her bedroom, shut the door and heaved a sigh of relief because she was finally alone. I just might stay in this room until I go home! That notion gave her pause. Should she leave right away? Her reasons for coming to Montana hadn’t changed. She hadn’t yet spent any quality time with her grandfather, and maybe she should be angry and resentful over what he’d done today, but she still loved him and wanted him to love her, too. If she left now and he died…?

  Shuddering over that depressing thought, Melanie undressed, threw every garment into the laundry hamper and walked into the bathroom stark naked. Positive that she had never needed a shower and shampoo more than she did at that moment, she turned on the water full blast. After setting the temperature, she stepped into the shower stall.

  Eli had already cleaned up when he quietly rapped on Melanie’s door. He’d taken a quick shower in the bunkhouse and put on fresh clothes. He had his shaving gear and toothbrush with him, but he would bring his other things to the house in the morning. He was about to knock again when he heard water running. “Of course,” he murmured, and tried the knob. The door wasn’t locked, so he opened it and walked in. Just as he’d thought, Melanie was in the bathroom taking a shower, and it pleased him that she’d left the bathroom door ajar.

  Setting his small leather case of personal items on a bureau, he undressed and crawled into bed. Locking his hands behind his head, he stared into space and thought about being married. It was a different feeling, no doubt about it. He was now connected to just one woman. To a very beautiful, very sensuous woman. It didn’t matter that they weren’t crazy in love with each other. In truth, he wasn’t sure what “crazy in love” even meant. If it meant that a man got breathless and sexually aroused around a woman, then maybe he was in love.

  Hearing the shower go off, Eli shut his eyes and pictured Melanie standing there naked and wet. “Ahh,” he sighed, recalling the delectable curves of her remarkable body.

  Melanie toweled her hair dry, then patted the rest of herself with a fresh towel. As she stood before the mirror, the flash of gold on her finger was a constant reminder of the farce of her marriage, and when she couldn’t stand it a second longer, she slid off the ring and put it in her cosmetic case.

  Then she applied moisturizer to her entire body, poked at the curls in her still-damp hair, eventually gave it a final fluffing and, switching off the bathroom light, walked into her bedroom.

  Eli nearly choked when he saw her come in wearing nothing, not even a towel. She didn’t immediately look at him, and he wondered if she was going to tease him a little by pretending not to know he was there. She was, after all, an accomplished tease, an incredibly beautiful temptress, and she must have some idea of the impact she had on him.

  She opened the bureau dr
awer and took out a nightgown, which she started to put on.

  “Hey,” Eli said softly, “you don’t need that, sweetheart.”

  Melanie gasped, whirled around and gaped at him openmouthed, but only for a moment. Recovering quickly, she yanked on her nightgown, flashed daggers at him through fury-laden eyes and said with enough frost in her voice to destroy Florida’s entire citrus crop, “What in hell are you doing in my bed?”

  Confused by such a vicious attack, Eli propped himself up on his elbow. “We’re married. Where else should I sleep?”

  “Sleep in the barn! Sleep in…in the horse trough! Do I give a damn where you sleep? What’s wrong with your usual bed? Just get your fanny out of mine!”

  “Garrett told me to move my things into your room.”

  “Well, I’m telling you to move them back to the bunkhouse!” Melanie looked around. “Where are they?” She marched to the closet. “Did you dare to hang your clothes next to mine? I swear I’ll throw every damn thing you own out the window!” Her gaze fell on the neatly folded clothes he’d laid on a chair.

  Eli’s mellow mood vanished more quickly than a snowball in July. “Don’t even think it,” he warned. “Other than what I wore over here, I didn’t bring any clothes. I’ll do that in the morning,” he said, speaking every bit as icily as she had.

  “You most certainly will not!”

  Pulling the covers up to his shoulders, Eli turned on his side, showing her his back. “If you’re planning to scream all night, please go to another room. I’d like to get some sleep.”

  “Go to another room! This is my room, you arrogant jackass!”

  “Just shut the hell up,” Eli muttered.

  Melanie’s fury suddenly disintegrated. He intended to stay right where he was, no matter what she said. This wasn’t happening to her. It wasn’t!

  “What are you trying to do, make Granddad think you and I are a match made in heaven?” she asked scornfully.

  “Fat chance of convincing anyone of that with you screeching all night.”