Elise looked at Devlin. He wore a very sharp and well pressed suit. She had to admit he looked every inch a gentleman. For a moment she was pleased that she'd be walking down the aisle with such a man, even if he was almost a total stranger.
How much did she really know about him anyway? Not a great deal. But it wouldn't matter in the long run. This was a marriage in name only and she was determined to keep it like that.
Elise stepped into the church. She was taken aback for a moment by how empty it felt. Weddings usually meant a full church with smiling relatives and friends. This felt cold and unemotional.
Devlin stuck out an arm. "Let me lead you to the altar," he said.
Elise smiled and hooked her arm into his. The Reverend made his way up to the altar and turned. He watched Elise and Devlin walk toward him. As they made their way to him a broad smile stretched across his face. It was an expression of acceptance and understanding. Elise felt a calm descend upon her.
Devlin and Elise took their place in front of the Reverend.
Elise took her arm out of Devlin's. For a moment she had a sudden impulse to turn and run. This was going to be an awful mistake, she told herself. Why did she have to do this anyway? Couldn't people just leave her alone to live her life and make her own decisions?
Then the Reverend was saying the all important words, and all the anxiety seemed to fade away as she listened to his firm, sonorous voice.
She glanced at Devlin. His gaze was fixed on the Reverend. There was a look of complete concentration. His blue eyes were steady and serious, his full lips a tight, firm line.
Elise and Devlin said their respective vows. Then, to her complete surprise, Devlin took out a ring. Where could he have gotten a ring at such short notice? She looked at it as he offered it toward her. It was beautiful. She stretched out a finger to accept the simple gold band. The sensation of it sliding onto her finger made her hand shake for the briefest of moments. Devlin saw her fingers moving and he looked at her, his mouth creasing into a reassuring smile.
The Reverend pronounced them man and wife. Elise reeled at the sound of the words. Man and wife!
"You may kiss the bride," Reverend Elgin said.
Devlin leaned in and placed his warm lips on Elise's mouth. Her heart began to race almost instantly. His scent was at once familiar and intoxicating. Then the brief and all to sudden kiss was over. Elise caught the look in Devlin's blue eyes. She saw a curious happiness there, briefly, and then he seemed to gain control of himself, restoring his composure.
"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Cooper," the Reverend said and extended a hand to Devlin and then to Elise.
How those words sounded to Elise! She was a married woman now. Not only that, she was a rancher's wife. The wife of a handsome, wealthy rancher. She chided herself for having such a thought, here in this place, at this moment.
The Reverend gestured toward the church door. "Your new life awaits you," he announced.
Devlin extended an elbow and Elise hooked her arm through his.
The Reverend led them to the door and pushed it open. The early evening sunlight flooded in and Elise had to squint to see outside.
When she saw what was outside the happiness which was coursing through her after the wedding ceremony evaporated in an instant.
How could they have found out?
Why were they here?
Elise looked at Devlin. His look was stern and fixed on the two men and one woman who stood at the door.
Outside, on the boardwalk, were Bart Caulfield and her parents.
CHAPTER SIX
"What in tarnation do you think you're doing?" demanded Bart Caulfield.
Elise gripped tight onto Devlin's arm. They were all there, standing outside the church, blocking the way out. The people who had tried to ruin her life.
Her mother and father stood arm in arm, a look of shocked disbelief on their faces.
Caulfield's bulk threatened to block out the sun and destroy every vestige of happiness that had existed inside Elise only moments before.
Devlin pulled Elise tight and close to him. "It's too late Caulfield. Elise is my wife now."
Bart's eyes widened and he took in a deep breath. Elise noticed that Caulfield was armed. A menacing looking revolver hung by his side. She could not even begin to imagine what would happen if he started to use it.
Ruth and Jedediah stepped forward. Ruth pushed past Caulfield and seized Elise by the arms. "What have you done, Elise?"
Elise peered into her mother's eyes. There was pain there and Elise's heart sank at the sight of it. "I just got married mama. That's what I've done."
Ruth's mouth opened in wordless shock.
Jedediah stepped closer. "Now see here Cooper. You can't go doing this. You know that Elise was betrothed to Caulfield..." Jedediah glanced at Caulfield and corrected himself on seeing the blazing look in the rancher's eyes. "I mean Bart. She was supposed to marry him. Not you."
Devlin smiled. "Well it's too late. The Reverend very kindly agreed to our union. It's official now. Isn't that right Reverend?"
The minister nodded, his lips tight, his gaze at Caulfield and Elise's parents disapproving. "May I remind you people that this is a house of God. It is not my custom to allow any kind of unpleasantness at the doors of my church."
Caulfield stepped back and Elise's parents made an effort to compose themselves.
"And it is indeed the case that I have just married this fine couple. The union has been made before God and may not be broken except by death," he said with a finality that took Elise by surprise.
Until death do you part? He'd said that in the church but it hadn't sunk home. Until now. The potential for death hung in the air. Was her marriage to be the shortest one imaginable?
"I challenge the legitimacy of this union," shrieked Caulfield, the veins popping on his neck. Elise thought Caulfield looked like he was going to faint dead away on the boardwalk.
"You have no right sir," replied the Reverend. "That's my final word on it. Now I appeal to you people to allow peace into your hearts and celebrate this union in the correct manner."
With that he turned and went back inside the church, closing the doors behind him.
There was the rumble of wheels and two buckboards rolled up to the church. Two men sat on each of them. They looked like ranch workers.
"My men. We'll be fine now," Devlin said quietly to Elise.
The four men stepped down off the buckboards and strode up to the church doors.
One of the men tipped his hat. "Everything alright boss?"
"It's all okay, Evan," Devlin said to the man. "These here people are just leaving."
"No we're not," said Caulfield turning to Evan.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Caulfield," warned Devlin.
All four of Devlin's employees let their hands hang loose by their sides. The guns were in their holsters but if things didn't go the way they should those guns wouldn't be staying there much longer.
"I'm claiming your wife as my own," Caulfield said.
"That's ridiculous," Devlin answered.
Caulfield straightened and cocked his head. "I don't think so. You're not going to get the best of me, Devlin."
Ruth stepped forward and laid a hand on Caulfield's arm. "There now Bart. There's nothing going to happen here today. I have my daughter to think of. I don't want you doing anything stupid."
Caulfield shook her arm away and Ruth staggered back.
"Now see here, Caulfield," Jedediah shrieked. "Don't you go handling my wife like that."
Jedediah stepped up to Caulfield and fixed him with a look. Caulfield looked down at Elise's father as if he were nothing. "I don't owe you anything Macleod. In fact it's the other way around now," he said.
Elise pulled herself away from Devlin's safe grasp. "You leave my pa alone, Caulfield," she said striding up to him.
Caulfield looked at Elise. "You don't know what you're talking about. You'll find out soon enough,"
he said firmly.
Devlin appeared at Elise's side. "This is over Caulfield. We're leaving and I know you won't do anything to stop us."
Behind them Devlin's men shuffled on the wooden boardwalk, ready for action.
Elise went to her mother and father. "Mama. Papa. I did what I had to do. It's for the best. Trust me," she said softly.
There were tears in her mother's eyes. Elise felt her heart sink at the sight of them. Her father looked at his daughter with a blank expression. "Papa forgive me. I had no choice," she said to him. He lowered his head and did not reply.
"How touching," Caulfield said with a scowl.
Devlin took Elise's elbow. "Come Elise. We're going home now," he said.
Home?
She was leaving her parents for the last time and going to a new life, a new home. The momentous nature of the change she had wrought in her life struck her in that moment with all the force of a hammer blow.
Elise glanced at her parents and turned, following Devlin toward the buckboard. The ranchers stood like a protective guard, keeping a close eye on Caulfield.
Devlin helped Elise up onto the buckboard and stepped up, taking the reins. "Boys? You follow us back to the ranch," Devlin said to his men.
Devlin tipped his hat at Caulfield. "Bart. Mr. and Mrs. Macleod? I'm sorry we couldn't get off to a better start. But I'm sure that once you've had a chance to think about this, you'll see that it was all for the best," he said.
Elise looked at Caulfield and her parents and saw that understanding was the last thing on any of their minds.
Devlin flicked the reins and turned the buckboard, heading up the main drag of the street.
Elise could only sit stiffly by his side. She gazed ahead, almost oblivious to everything around her. How could this have all turned out so bad? Was marriage always about everyone being miserable and frustrated? She hated to see her parents like that. But Devlin was probably right. Once they'd had a chance to reconsider they would see that it was all going to be for the best.
"How long is the ride to the ranch," she asked Devlin.
"Not long," he said quietly. "Why don't you get comfortable."
Her brows furrowed. Devlin leaned in closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Let me take you home, Mrs. Cooper," he said.
She leaned against him and stared ahead, wondering what kind of life awaited her at the ranch and what kind of trouble was going to follow her there.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Elise leaned back against the rails of the corral and gazed at the ranch house. It was every bit as beautiful as Devlin had told her on the ride out from town. The house had a ground floor and an upper level. The outside of the building was panelled in white boards and had many narrow windows. A wide porch stretched the length of the front of the house.
Inside there were rooms of various sizes on both floors. The decoration and furnishings showed that Devlin was a man of taste. That surprised Elise. She'd assumed, wrongly it seemed, that all ranchers were crude, unsophisticated men content to live a basic existence. How wrong she had been about her new husband.
And he was her new husband, a fact that was going to take some time to get used to.
The ride out to the ranch had been pleasant enough. She'd tried to keep a formal distance between them, resisting the urge to spend the entire trip nestled against his side. Devlin's men had kept a respectful distance. She'd seen them glancing back toward town on more than one occasion, obviously checking to make sure that Caulfield hadn't come after them on some kind of foolish pursuit.
On arrival at the ranch Elise had met Devlin's housekeeper, Mrs. Mildmay who was a stern and serious type. Elise immediately felt that the grey haired, rotund woman was trying to see straight into her on their first introduction.
Devlin assured Elise that Mrs. Mildmay was like that with everyone at first, but Elise couldn't shift the feeling that the housekeeper didn't exactly approve of Devlin's bride of convenience.
Devlin took Elise on a tour of the house. Elise could tell that he was proud of his home. Every room was introduced with an explanation of what he'd done to make it just the way he liked. Indeed it was a beautiful residence and Elise was surprised at how quickly she started to feel at home. How could something so charming exist out in the wilds of a Montana landscape? It seemed incongruous to Elise, who'd spent almost all her life cosseted by town life.
When Devlin had taken her to the bedroom Elise had shifted uncomfortably as Devlin had tried to suggest an arrangement for their sleeping. She'd breathed a quiet sigh of relief as he'd led her to a separate room and explained that in the circumstances it might be more appropriate for them to sleep in separate rooms.
Devlin had said all that in such a gentle and understanding tone. Elise had been relieved, while at the same time sensing within herself the slightest hint of regret that their marriage in name only would be lived on the strictest possible terms. Devlin had proved himself to be a gentleman, much to Elise's surprise.
Elise leaned back against the rails and took in the view of the house and felt a curious sense of being at home. She couldn't explain it, especially given the sudden change that had been wrought in her life.
She turned and watched the horses in the corral being controlled by the skilful attentions of the ranch worker. She wondered what it must be like to live out here permanently and then realized with a start that she was going to get the chance to find out just what it was like over the coming weeks or months.
That was a question that hovered in her mind. Just how long was all of this going to last? Surely it depended on how the situation that had forced the marriage could be resolved. But that was the thing. She didn't know just how Caulfield was going to react to his bride being taken from under his nose. Elise knew Caulfield's reputation and she was certain that he wouldn't take this lying down.
Elise heard a movement behind her and then Devlin spoke. "Admiring the horses?"
She turned and saw his smiling face. "They're beautiful. I've never seen such lovely horses," she said.
Devlin came up next to her and leaned on the rail. He seemed somehow different out here on the ranch. More relaxed and at ease. His voice was soft, slow and firm all at the same time. He gazed at the horses and smiled. "I'm real proud of these animals. A ranch needs good horses and I searched far and wide for these. Paid the best prices, but it was worth it," he said turning to her.
Devlin's eyes narrowed and he peered into her face, searching. "What do you think of my ranch?" he asked.
Elise gazed around briefly. "It's impressive," she said after a long sweeping look.
"Only impressive?" Devlin teased with a wry grin.
Elise nodded. "I take it you think it's a bit more than that?"
Devlin cocked his hat. "I sure do. It's taken me years to build this up. Cost me everything I had. I've worked day and night. But it's been worth it," he concluded.
Elise could see that pride again that she'd seen when he'd shown her the house. This was a man who was driven and compelled to make something of himself. She admired that.
"Why'd you do all this in the first place?" she asked.
A darkness settled in Devlin's eyes and he looked away. Elise immediately felt that she'd stepped over an invisible line, one that she hadn't even know existed.
"Let me show you around some of the ranch," he answered leading her gently by the arm and heading toward a nearby stable. "I take it you ride?" he asked.
She nodded. "I do. My father made sure I was as independent as possible. He insisted I learn. So I did."
Devlin nodded approvingly. "Your father's a practical man," he said.
"Especially when it comes to giving his daughters away in exchange for whatever he'd have been getting from Caulfield," she said sarcastically. "The more I think about it the less I can understand why he was going to do it."
Devlin halted and fixed Elise with an intense, penetrating look. "Your father must have been in pretty deep with Caulfield to hav
e given in to such an idea as marrying you to that..."
Elise's bottom lip lowered in surprise as she saw the fury that filled Devlin's eyes. His nostrils flared and his shoulders tightened as he obviously tried to contain a powerful rage.
"But why would my father do such a thing? Are you suggesting Caulfield has something on him?"
Devlin shook his head. "I don't know. But I aim to find out. I have some friends, fellow ranchers. They might be able to ask around and dig up an answer."
Devlin sighed. "In the meantime let's take a ride and I can show you one of the best spreads in Montana."
Elise smiled. "That sure sounds nice."
Devlin looked pleased at Elise's words. Inside the stable were rows of stalls, some empty, some occupied with horses of the same quality as Elise had seen in the corral. Devlin considered a few of the horses and then made up his mind. He prepared a beautiful, lean and friendly looking ride. Elise stroked the animal's long face and whispered into it's ear. The horse seemed to immediately accept Elise.
They both took their places on the backs of the their respective rides. Elise followed Devlin back out to the yard. The evening sun was beginning to settle behind the mountains.
"We don't have much time before dark," Devlin said turning to Elise and checking she was safe."It's gonna be a brief tour."
"That's okay. I really want to see the rest of the ranch," she said.
Devlin looked real pleased when she said that, thought Elise.
She followed him through the entrance gate and out across the flat, rolling landscape. It felt good to follow him, being led by her new husband, so that he could introduce her to the place where they were going to spend their time together. In their brief time together she had been pleasantly surprised by Devlin and the life that he lived. Elise found his enthusiasm for ranch life curiously infectious.
She wondered just how many other surprises life with Devlin would hold.
Devlin's Montana Bride (Sweet, clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers Brides series) Page 3
