by West, Everly
August Moonlit stared at the stranger he was marrying.
An hour ago, they had been in this very parlor and she told him she didn't want to be married and yet here they stood before the preacher. Both of them tense and angry. Shocked after his own father refused to defend his actions and had taken the side of the girl's father. He had no choice but to accept his fate.
The voice of his father saying maybe this would be good for him tightened his chest. What would be good for him? A wife he didn't want?
The religious man finished the vows and he felt her body sag. No, the girl was not happy about this wedding. Now he was stuck with a woman who did not want to marry him.
"You may kiss your bride," the preacher said.
Turning, he gazed into her emerald eyes. One thing about his bride, her eyes emanated with feeling. With one glance, her anger, her fear, her joy everything would be revealed to him. Leaning into her, his lips covered hers and the urge to give her a kiss that would make her swoon overcame him.
The woman's lips were full and tempting and her family needed to be reminded of what could happen on their wedding night. As his hands reached out and gripped her cheeks, holding her tightly against him. Finally, her hands came up between them and she pushed him away.
"I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Moonlite," the preacher said.
A few people in the library clapped, but most just stood there stunned, knowing this was not a happy joining of hearts, but rather a full-fledged shotgun wedding.
"Now what?" Cora said, her voice clipped.
"The wedding night, what else?" he replied half teasing, but also thinking if they spent their life together, he expected the rights of a husband.
The glare she sent him clearly told him Hades would need blankets before they shared a bed.
Without saying a word, she glanced at the preacher. "Sir, how do I get this annulled?"
The man's mouth dropped open in shock. "Sorry, I don't rightly know. It would be best if you consulted a lawyer."
Part of August laughed and the other part was a little insulted. Already his wife was seeking to end their marriage? Could there be a chance to null what their parents had done?
"Would a divorce be easier?" she asked.
Her father stepped in. "Cora, stop. Accept you're married."
The scorching scowl she gave her father should have set the man's hair on fire as she turned and walked away. August followed at her side wondering could she be serious or only trying to upset her father. "Would you want to obtain an annulment?"
"Of course," she said, walking out of the room, people scattering out of her path. "You don't love me. I don't love you and we both know nothing happened."
My goodness, there was a chance. "Until tonight, I'd never met you."
"So, let's find a way out of this," she said, stopping outside the ballroom, glancing around at the people milling about giving them sideways glances.
The men were making plans to leave as soon as the snow stopped to find Kelly. And the women were in the corner comforting Fiona Quincy, who cried over her lost daughter. When the howling winds arrived, and Kelly went missing, and August saved Cora from falling to the ground, the party atmosphere seemed to die.
The woman was right. They weren't meant for each other, and the sooner they ended this farce of a marriage, the better. But first they needed to survive tonight without everyone believing they had done the deed.
"Listen to me," he said, taking her by the arm, walking away from people to a quiet secluded spot. "Your mother is arranging for us to celebrate our wedding night in your friend Kelly's room."
Why her mother would think in a house full of people after a ceremony they didn't want, they would entertain themselves in her friend's bedroom was beyond his comprehension. The woman and his stepmother should be friends. Neither one considered other’s concerns, only their own.
The woman tensed. "No, we're not sleeping together because that would make everything permanent."
"Exactly," he said. "A friend of mine, James, is a lawyer and I think he would help us. Tonight, I'm going to write him a letter, but first I need you to act furious and push me out of the bedroom. Everyone has to think we didn't sleep together or else they will never allow us the annulment."
"That's easy," she said, her face frowning. "What happens tomorrow?"
Being married, his wife would go with him everywhere, but right now, confusion seized his chest as he contemplated their options. If they left together, everyone would assume they were together forever and yet they needed to get away.
The thought of returning to Cheyenne with his father was too much to bear. After his father sided against August once again, something had to change. Time to become his own man.
The storm raged, the shutters rattling from the cold wind, and he realized before morning he needed a plan. A plan that did not include his father. A plan where he and Cora could leave the area.
Then it came to him. Riverbend Ranch. The thought of his mother's parents filled him with hope for the first time that evening.
"We're going to Riverbend, my grandparents’ ranch. A place where no one will bother us. A place where we can see about having our marriage annulled and go our separate ways. You can go to New York and I'll do something."
At this moment, his only thought was to escape his father. Which he should have done months ago, but he continued to try to make him happy, and instead, all August did was make himself miserable.
For the first time, his wife stared at him, a smile spreading. Suddenly her face changed, and she shouted, "No, I don't give a fig that it's our wedding night. I'm not sleeping with you."
He grinned, his new wife had spunk. She was a fighter and soon their marriage would be annulled.
* * *
Cora sat in Kelly's room in front of the mirror, her mother brushing her hair. "This storm is just terrible. None of us can leave until it quits snowing and poor Kelly. Where is she?"
Part of Cora was terrified for her friend. Though the woman was no fool. She knew how to take care of herself during a blizzard, but still, she wanted her to be all right. "When will the men search for her?"
"After it stops snowing. Hopefully at first light." Her mother sighed. "I'd always dreamed we'd buy you a lovely new nightgown for your wedding night."
No matter how much her mother willed it, tonight there would be no consummation of this marriage. If he tried to force his way into the bedroom, Cora could crawl out the window, only this time, she would jump. But she had gotten the feeling he liked her idea of an annulment, and from what he said, they would wait to see their options.
With a slight shrug, Cora didn't appear interested. "Even if we are married, I'm not sleeping with Mr. Moonlite."
"Dear, you need to accept you're married and forget your childish dreams," she said, continuing to brush Cora's hair, though the hairbrush did drag a little harder and rougher.
Why should Cora give up her dreams? Nothing happened between her and August.
With a glance in the mirror, Cora watched her mother's eyes fill with tears. "Please don't be angry with me."
Cora stared not saying a word, biting back her response that yes, she was furious at her mother.
"You know I only want the best for my daughters. More than anything, I want your life to be easier than mine. Your father is a good man, but only in the last few years has he had any real wealth."
Holding the brush up, she paused and gazed at her, her eyes pleading. "While you girls were little, we struggled to put food on the table. I will move heaven and earth so none of my daughters have to worry about eating."
Right now, Cora felt mad at the world and herself. Why did she run upstairs and decide to climb that silly rose trellis to escape? Yet, if she had escaped, she could be like Kelly—missing in the snow, wandering around in a storm, slowly freezing to death.
Instead, she was married to a man she didn't know. And her father... How could she ever forgive him for not truly helpin
g her fulfill her dream?
Once she’d completed her education, she would have returned to Wyoming, ready to find a husband. Rather, her father lied and acted like he would help her when in reality he would never let her leave the state.
"This was not what I want," she said bluntly hoping her mother would see the damage she caused.
And her mother... All she cared about was the fact the man her daughter married was wealthy.
Did August have money? His father was the governor but working for the territory would never make you rich. Later, she would have to ask August about his family's wealth.
"Tonight, you'll become a woman," her mother said, ignoring her comments. "In nine months, you might have a baby."
The image of August came to mind and she had to admit he was a very nice looking man with strong features and arms that were big with well-defined muscles. If she were looking for a man, he wouldn't be a bad choice, but she never planned on saying I do today.
The thought of her wedding night in her friend's bedroom in a house full of people... Well, that wasn't going to happen tonight. So if her mother wanted to count down the days until she announced her pregnancy, fine, but she would be counting a long time.
"Now, when August joins you, you are to let him remove your nightgown. Then he will crawl in between your legs and push his privates into your womanhood. It will only hurt for a moment and then the marriage will be consummated."
Well, that certainly didn't sound appealing. Why in the world did people do this if it was painful?
"Lie there and endure the pain which will be brief."
Oh yes, that sounded like something she longed to indulge in with a perfect stranger.
"Afterward, you continue to lie there until he's finished," she said, laying the brush down. "Tomorrow, your father must talk to him about his plans. The two of you will return to Cheyenne where your life will be filled with parties and..."
A tear trickled down her mother’s cheek. "I'm so happy for you. Remember, we love you and you should always please your husband both in bed and in the home."
Really? A good wife, put her husband's happiness above her own? Was that why her mother couldn't understand her desire to leave the family and go to New York?
Reaching out, her mother stroked her hair. "You're so beautiful, Cora. Of all my girls, I think you're by far the prettiest. Not that your sisters are not gorgeous as well, but your beauty is more like an older woman, not a young girl." Picking up her skirts, she glanced back at Cora and smiled. "I'll tell your groom you're ready."
Cora nodded, thinking no way her groom would sleep with her tonight. No way would she let this happen.
As soon as her mother was out the door, she jumped up and pushed the dresser against the door, blocking August from entering. So much for the wedding night.
* * *
August found another liquor cabinet and decided he deserved a scotch. No, he wasn't much for losing control and drinking too much, but today had been his wedding day and the event warranted a celebratory drink. If you could call it that.
"Son, we need to talk," his father said, slipping into a chair across from him. "I know you think I should have stopped this wedding, but I couldn't. Not if I wanted to keep the ranchers’ respect."
Did his father think this was going to make him feel any better? That he basically sold his happiness so his constituents would admire him? A rush of anger spiraled through his chest once again. This needed to stop.
"So instead you were willing to sell me a wife I didn't want," he said.
"She's a beautiful woman," his father said with a smile. "And the time has come for you to settle down."
Yes, Cora was stunningly gorgeous and innocent and had dreams of her own that didn't include marrying a man she didn't know. So now not only had he affected August’s life, but Cora's as well.
"Did it occur to you I would prefer to choose my wife? Not be forced to marry," he said.
His father leaned back in the chair across from him and shrugged. "Understandable, but then you haven't done much deciding about your life. It seems I either bail you out or tell you what you should do next. This time, I determined it would be better if you had no choice."
With a jerk of his head, he stared at his father. Oh yes, the time had come for him to show his father his decision-making skills.
"You're right. I've been trying to decide what I want to do with my life. All the work you gave me, I tried and didn't like any of the jobs. So, no, I will never follow you into politics."
Outrage surged within August, his stomach clenching. "Accounting is boring and being a lawyer does not interest me. You told me to attend college and I did. When I got out, I wanted to have some fun while I tried to do things your way."
"Well, you certainly did that," his father said, his voice irritated. "Though, I didn't see you doing much my way."
"Yes, I entertained myself with the ladies, but I also worked every job you put in my path," August admitted. "Not a one of them was satisfying."
A frown creased his father's face and his eyes narrowed. "Yet, you failed at all of them. Jobs are not to make you happy. They are to show the world your strength, your stamina, and demonstrate that you know what they need to succeed."
That was the problem. If you don't like performing like a monkey, you're fired. And August was not one to perform for anyone, so he would never make it in politics. "No, Father, that is what you like to do. Not me."
With a giant sigh, his father shook his head. "Well, now you have no choice."
August let the comment slide because he had a very good choice.
"Every society mother in Cheyenne wanted you to marry their daughter," he said with a snort. "Won't they be disappointed."
Disgust gripped August stomach. Why did his father want him wed so quickly? "For the last six months, all you've done is push me and I'm tired of it. First with the jobs, the slimy politics, and everything else in between and then with the debutantes."
"Every one of them you turned down or found fault with. Maybe tonight's fiasco was good for you. Maybe it was what you needed."
A smile crossed August face. "Father, you could have stopped this marriage."
Did his father believe this little ceremony would force him to settle down? Because it only made August more determined to prevail without his father.
"Probably, but I didn't want to. This was the perfect opportunity for you to grow up and John O'Brian is one of the best ranchers in the territory. Not only will the marriage end you seeking out the wrong kinds of women, but it gives me an inside edge into the Laramie ranchers."
A slow burn like prairie fire in summer spread through August. "Once again, you used your son for a political ploy. Well, this time I hope you got everything you needed from the situation. As soon as this storm ends, Cora and I are going to Riverbend. We may be there a few days or for months."
August received the reaction he expected as his father's eyes grew large, his face turning a deep shade of red as he opened his mouth. "Why? What's there for you? This is only prolonging the inevitable of you finding work."
A smile slid across August’s face as he provoked his father even more. Why hadn't he thought to do this before coming to Laramie? Now he felt the urge, the necessity, to go to the ranch where he lived as a boy.
"The grandparents are getting up in age and I need to introduce my new wife to them," he said smiling. "Don't know when we'll return to Cheyenne or Laramie."
For a moment, he thought his father might have a stroke as his face turned red and his eyes flashed with annoyance. But before he continued his tirade, a knock sounded at the door.
Mrs. O'Brian walked in wringing her hands. "Mr. Moonlite, my daughter has barricaded herself in the room."
August started laughing. His wife was no dummy. Not only could he not get to her, neither could anyone else. "Don't worry, Mrs. O'Brian," he said. "Tomorrow morning, if the snow has stopped, we'll be leaving. Somewhere along the road to Rive
rbend, we'll consummate our marriage."
Nervously, she licked her lips. "Is Riverbend in Cheyenne? Is that your home or the governor's mansion?"
The woman was so eager to make certain this union familiarized her daughter with society, she would be extremely saddened. "No. My grandparents have a ranch near Doggett."
Her mouth dropped open and he couldn't resist adding. "We'll probably stay there for a long time."
"Oh," she said. "Why not Cheyenne?"
Why didn't she just ask him if Cora would be introduced to society in the capital? That's what she hungered for, but he would deny giving her the satisfaction. In fact, she needed to understand he was done with debutantes and balls and his father's politics. This little ball had burned him badly.
He glanced at his father. "Because it's time I went out on my own, away from my father's influence. No more society balls for me."
Chapter 4
The next morning, the sun shone brightly and Cora faced the hardest journey of her life.
"Son, you're being ridiculous," his father said to August.
Cora sat beside him in the wagon, her trunk loaded in the back. All of her things, her patterns, her magazines, her fabrics were stuffed into wooden suitcase along with her clothes. The snowstorm ended early this morning, but another type of storm brewed. One between father and son.
August glanced down at his father. "All you had to do was tell her parents, no, my son is not marrying your daughter. You thought it would be a good idea to force us into marriage and now here we are. So we're going someplace where we will be welcomed."
Biting her lip, Cora looked away. Her father had gone with the other men at the party to search for Kelly. Oh how she prayed her friend would be found alive. Not even a chance to say goodbye when they located her, because Cora was leaving with the total stranger she married.
"Jennie, I'll write to you as soon as we arrive. Please tell me if they find Kelly. I'm so afraid for her," Cora said, glancing at her younger sister, her heart breaking. She didn't want to leave her sisters. She didn't want to go with August.
