The Cowboy Takes a Bride Read online

  She slid into the coat and smiled at him over her shoulder, her blue eyes bright and sparkly. “I was just thinking I might be unprepared for here.”

  He nodded to the two suitcases stacked against the far wall. “I’m assumin’ both of those are yours.”

  “Yes.” She held the lapels of the coat closed.

  “I’ll put them in the truck. Take a moment and enjoy the silence. It’s gonna be chaos at the diner. I’ll do my best to hold back the rush, but they’re all gonna want to get close to you and pump you for information, hoping it’ll be them that gets the juicy tidbit of gossip.” He adjusted his hat on his head.

  She raised a brow. “Should I drop little things here and there? Take this story to a new level or stick to the basics? We met at the stockyards in Ft. Worth, and it was love at first sight?”

  Jace rolled his shoulders. What did love at first sight look like? He rubbed his hand down his face. In college, when he’d fallen for a girl, he’d been all in. Meaning, he’d had a hard time keeping his hands to himself. There was no question he’d like to do the same with Meredith, but the circumstances were different here. He’d have to tread lightly, make her feel comfortable, and try not to scare her away. The remoteness of the lifestyle had always handled that for him.

  “Ah…”

  “Other than the real reason why we’re married, what else explains our actions other than instant love?” She bit her lip, looking adorable as hell. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s up to you how this is handled.” She looked down.

  Jace was puzzled by her apology. “This is your story as well. You need to be comfortable with it.”

  She shook her head. “I’m good with whatever you decide.”

  Jace pressed his lips together. The last thing he needed in his life was a woman who would want him to make all her decisions. He made too many of them already, and there was little energy to make more.

  “Meredith, if I told folks I was rescuing you in exchange for sex, you’d be good with that?”

  Pink stained her cheeks, and she shook her head.

  “Or that you’re homeless and illegal, and I did it to keep you in the country?”

  Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes but said nothing. He was pleased to see a different response from her. It hinted to a personality other than the capitulating one he was witnessing right now. He wanted the one he’d seen earlier when they first met, the one planning on skipping out. That girl had courage.

  “See, it does matter. So speak up. Now, let’s walk and talk. We linger any longer, there will be rumors of a baby coming in the winter.” Grabbing her suitcases, he moved to the door and held it open.

  “I can get them.” She reached for the cases.

  “I got them. You want to stay in for a moment or go on outside and get a look at that view?”

  She opened the door, and he was right behind her as she stepped out of the church.

  “It’s a stunning view. Do you have this from your house?”

  Jace looked at the mountain range. “Pretty much, but from a slightly different angle.”

  She stared at the peaks, colored in shades of lavender and orange from the wildflowers. The mountains as a backdrop to this beautiful woman was a sight he feared he could get used to quickly, an image he wouldn’t be able to forget. It suited her. The colors and the landscape. Like the land, Meredith appeared one way, easy and manageable, but underneath, and he hoped his sense of her wasn’t wrong, there was a resistance. A fight. She would need that in order to survive out here, and he hoped he’d get to see it before she left.

  With more force than necessary, he tossed her bags in the truck. Not married an hour, and he was already thinking of her in terms of before and after she left.

  “Let’s say that we met, we connected, we had a common interest in being married and connecting as we did.” He wagged his brows. “Decided to give it a go.” He shrugged. “Why not? People get married for lesser reasons.”

  She nodded.

  Jace faced her. “Listen. I know I said I’m a nice guy, and I am. But I’ll bulldoze you in a New York minute. Not because I want to, but because life moves at a rapid pace for me here. There’s always something pressin’ to get done. You need to speak up and hold your own. That’s how we do it out here.” He met her gaze, then nodded. “You good with that?”

  Meredith’s eyes widened. “I can do my best,” she said softly.

  “That’s all I can hope for.” He took her hand in his, glanced at her to see if she was good with it, and then led her to the diner. When they entered, a loud cheer went up through the crowd, and he couldn’t contain his smile. Glancing at his parents, the pleasure on their faces made this whole new adventure worth it.

  The woman his mom played Bunko with pulled Meredith away. They stripped her of her coat before enveloping her into their fold. He was the recipient of several slaps on the back as he made his way to Pops.

  He pulled out a chair and straddled it, the back against his front. “You okay with me getting hitched Pops?” He really wanted to know if the spontaneity of it was going over all right.

  “She’s the nicest girl you’ve ever brought home. If first impressions are anything, hers is a damn good one. Little gun shy, but that eases with time.”

  Jace nodded, watching as Meredith fielded questions. After a handful of minutes, something about her shifted. He saw it happen. The smile on her face transitioned from an uncertain but natural one to a demure, insincere one. It never wavered. Her posture was more rigid, and she looked disconnected. She was checking out. Her reaction to the landscape and his parents had sparked a tiny ember of hope that maybe she’d like it in the small town of Bison’s Prairie, but her expression was saying otherwise.

  “Give her time,” Rina said. She looped her arm through his and tugged him from his chair.

  “Of course.”

  Rina steered him toward the makeshift drink table. He had to give credit to the folks that threw this “reception” together at the last minute. A large punch bowl with scoops of bobbing sherbet, the trademark of any proper Bison Prairie event, was the centerpiece.

  Rina sighed. “No, Jace. Actually give her time. I know you’re watching her and already making contingency plans, but how about you go into this without holding the past actions of others against her?”

  Jace pulled back. “What’s her story?”

  “Ask her. When you’re alone tonight, maybe you should spend it getting to know each other.”

  “I already know her mother's passed.” Though he wondered about her father. He preferred to think she was looking for a home instead of running from one. That thought gave him comfort, awful as it was. He could compete with “nowhere to go.” His place was pretty sweet if he did say so himself. It embodied home in ways that drew others in. When the woman of his past had left, they’d said they’d miss the house the most.

  Sabrina elbowed him. “It must be killing you to be all social and make nice with people.”

  “Making nice with you takes all my energy.” He faced her. “Tucks gonna kill me. I said I’d be back shortly and left him in charge. I shoulda had him come in for the wedding.”

  Sabrina broke into a large smile.

  “What?”

  “What?” she echoed.

  “What’s with the smile?”

  “I’m just real proud of myself, and if you go about this right, I’ll be real proud of you.”

  “Any advice?” He’d be a fool not to be nervous about all this. Heck, if their initial attraction didn’t continue and their interactions became awkward and stilted, how would he explain that to Pops? He reached passed the punch bowl and poured two cups of coffee, then handed one to Sabrina.

  “I just gave you advice.”

  “That was advice? To go about it right? C’mon. You can do better than that.” Jace glanced around the room and found Meredith chatting with his mother. Though she looked much like before, there was a slight squint to her eyes a
nd once, while his mother was looking away, she rubbed her temple. He poured another cup for her, wondering if she even liked coffee.

  “Think of her as a scared filly and work your magic.” Sabrina clapped him on the back, causing a splash of coffee to slosh over the top and hit the table.

  “Right now I think she’s getting a headache, and I should try to get her out of here before she starts to run or buck.” He took a step.

  When Rina touched his elbow, he paused. “She doesn’t know how to buck, but if she did it, it would be a beautiful thing.” She raised a brow then let go of his arm.

  He made his way to Meredith, pondering Sabrina’s words. They hadn’t been here long, but coffee had been doled out, and behind the counter, plates of pie and cake slices were quickly lining up. They would be able to leave soon.

  When he reached her side, he bent close and said, “Can I get you an aspirin? A piece of pie?” He held the paper cup out.

  Meredith glanced at him, her light blue eyes cloudy with discomfort, then at the cup. She shook her head, wincing slightly as she did. He needed to get her away sooner than later. He set the cups aside.

  “Ma.” He pulled his mother into a hug. “I’m sorry I sprang this on you, but thanks for being understanding. I’m gonna take Meredith to the ranch now. You’ll handle the crowd?”

  She held him tight before releasing him. “You all need to have some cake, and then you can go. You will have the rest of your lives to do what you have in mind.”

  This was a new spot for him, torn between his mother’s request and this new and unfamiliar need to take care of Meredith, his wife, basically a stranger. He wasn’t sure what to do or say. Yeah, he wanted to get Meredith home and maybe recapture some more of that sexual interest that poked out when he’d kissed her at the altar. He’d like to explore that further, but she didn’t look to be in the best of shape and was fading fast.

  “Ma, I think Meredith is overwhelmed.”

  She looked over his shoulder then nodded. “I’ll grab some cake, and you can make quick work of it. Trust me on this. Give the town a little something, so they’ll leave you alone. You know how old-fashioned these people can be.” She squeezed his shoulder before spinning away. Presumable to get cake.

  Mrs. Carson was yammering on about knitting, not really caring if she had Meredith’s attention. Jace leaned close to Meredith and whispered in her ear. “My mom is getting us cake. We’ll do a thing where people share a bite, smile, and get out of here. You good with that?”

  She nodded. “I can stay as long as you like.”

  Jace frowned. Her words did not reflect the vibe he was getting. Not that her actions did either. It was something else. Something he didn’t know how to label.

  Hell, this married business was hard. All this guessing and second-guessing. He rolled his shoulders. Chances were high he was going to jack this up royally.

  His mom approached carrying a large slice of red velvet cake. She thrust the plate at him and a large brown bag, too.

  “Here’s dinner and some extra dessert for later tonight. I love you.” She kissed his cheek. “I don’t know why this has all come about, but I mean to find out. If you married this sweet girl to make your father happy, to have someone cook at the house, or for any other reason than you are madly in love with her, I will skin you alive.” She met his gaze, gave him her famous stink eye that used to leave him cowering, all before turning to the crowd.

  “Can I have your attention please? Jace and Meredith are anxious to be on their way. I’m sure you all understand.” There was a low rumble of laughter through the crowd.

  Jace placed the bag on the table next to him and handed Meredith the fork. He raised a brow in question, but he knew she’d lie and say she was fine. She’d gone a few shades paler since they arrived, and the weight of a clicking clock pressed upon him. There was no logic as to why he felt like he needed to get her outta here. He just did.

  “Ready?” He stepped closer.

  “Always,” she said, not looking at him.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce Mr. And Mrs. Jace Shepard.”

  A cheer went through the room.

  “They’re going to share some cake, throw a bouquet, and then split. Please stay and have some cake or pie on us.” Mom pointed to him, shifting the focus of the room from her to them.

  Jace held his fork and the plate between them. He scooped off the corner then faced Meredith. The corners of her eyes were crinkled, hinting at a squint, a look he’d seen before in Pop’s expression when he fought off pain.

  Jace shoved the cake in her mouth, catching some of it at the corner and forcing it to smear slightly on her cheek.

  Meredith startled, her eyes widening, and stepped back. She blinked several times before her attention was fully on him. He winked and smiled, hoping she’d recognize he hadn’t meant to do that.

  The crowd was quiet. She adjusted the fork he’d given her earlier so she could scoop up some cake then stepped closer. When a wicked gleam came into her eyes, excitement flared through him. Getting to know her naughty and nice sides was going to be his pleasure. As her hand with the fork moved toward his mouth, he knew he was about to take the lump sum to the kisser, but then something in her shifted.

  It was astonishing to watch the visibly obvious as the uncertainty crossed her face and shuttered her expression. She fed him as gently and sweetly as possible, making sure not a morsel went anywhere but in his mouth.

  Jace was disappointed. Not because he thought his actions made him look like an ass, his new bride with cake on her face, but because he knew this wasn’t what she wanted to do and had suppressed her initial desires and reaction.

  Was this wounded filly an abused one? Anger coursed through Jace at the mere thought. He wanted, no he needed, to let Meredith know she was safe with him, with his family.

  He slid the plate on the table and took the fork from her hand. Addressing the crowd but looking at her, he said. “Thanks for coming you all. Its time I take my bride outta here.” He lunged at her, catching her off guard, and flipped her over his shoulder, fireman style. Meredith squealed.

  “Throw the bouquet,” someone yelled. He felt Meredith rise up and assumed she tossed the flowers because many of the women in the room cried out in excitement.

  He headed straight for the door, snatching up Meredith’s coat as he walked out. He marched down the street toward his truck, the anger fueling his steps.

  “All right. We’re out of sight. You can put me down,” she said between breaths as she bounced along his shoulder.

  Jace said nothing but walked the three blocks in silence.

  “Jace?”

  He reached his truck and flipped her over, setting her against it, tossing her coat into the truck bed. “Listen to me, Meredith. I don’t know what’s happened to you in the past, but you’re safe here. Nothing is going to happen to you here. I promise.”

  Meredith shoved him in the chest, pushing him away. “Really? Because it feels real safe to me when you’re all up in my face.”

  Chapter 11

  She tried. She really did try. She wanted to get to the know the town folks, but the mingling and light chatter did her in. Like a person with post-traumatic stress, she had felt the headache come on and had emotionally retreated in an effort to ward it off.

  Clearly, Jace was angry with her. He might say she was safe, but with his hands on his hips and the way he leaned toward her, the message didn’t jive with the words.

  Being bossed around was getting tiresome.

  So she’d told him so. Before she had thought about what she was doing, the words had tumbled out with the same force she had used to shove him back.

  Jace stepped away, his arms going slack from his hips. He ducked his head, giving it a slight shake. “You’re right.”

  She barely heard the words, too afraid of what was to come next. Her father had raged at her the times she stood up to him, so much she’d stopped until that last nig
ht when he’d shoved her.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Jace looked up and met her gaze. “I said you’re right. I won’t deny that I’m angry, but I can see why you might think I was angry with you. I’m not, and I’m sorry for getting in your face.” He gave a gruff, bitter-sounding laugh. “This married thing is hard.”

  “I beg your pardon?” She was stuck on the apology, having not expected it.

  Confusion crossed Jace’s face. “What?”

  Meredith shook her head to clear her thoughts. “What?”

  Jace smiled. “Did I say something that I need to clarify? I’m not sure I can remember all that I did say.” He rubbed his chin.

  “You apologized.” She returned his smile.

  “And I meant it.” He took off his hat, rubbed his hand over his short hair. A dark brown lock fell across his forehead, giving him a charming look that could only be classified as rogue.

  “No one has ever apologized to me. I mean, in a situation like this.” She smiled, big enough to show some teeth. Apologies were nice.

  Jace held his hat with both hands and ran one along the rim. “Can I ask a personal question?”

  Meredith shrugged. “We’re married. I think you’re entitled to a few.”

  They shared a laugh. Hard to believe this morning she'd judged Jace to be more than she was ready for, but so far he’d been nothing but nice. Granted, people who wanted something from another person were always nice.

  Jace shifted, glanced at her, then looked away. “Ah…”

  “Wow, this must be one humdinger of a question.” The anxiety she’d fought back earlier began to spread upward from the pit of her belly. She pressed a hand to her side. Soon it would reach her head and bring on the migraine.

  “I’m just gonna put it out there, okay?”

  She nodded and clenched her teeth.

  “Has someone hit you, Meredith?”

  Instantly, the anxiety dissipated. “What? No.” She thought about the last fight she had with her father. “Not in the way you must be thinking.”