She wished she could hand him his ring, something to indicate the engagement was over. Marley edged over to the door and folded her arms across her chest.
Brant went back to gripping the steering wheel.
“What you’re considering, turning your life upside down, can’t possibly be what your father wants from you. Please take me back to my condo. I don’t want to spoil this celebration for your father.” Sighing, she added, “I already can’t stand him.”
Brant started the truck, and Marley put on the seat belt by the passenger side door. “Don’t lay your father issues on him. He’s a wonderful man. I wouldn’t even consider this except that I admire him to the fullest.”
Brant didn’t turn the truck around.
“Where are you going? I said to take me home.”
“You owe me, Marley. We had a fake engagement for your family; now we can have a fake one for mine.”
“I’m not an actor. I can’t carry it off.”
Brant pulled to the side of the road again and faced her. “Right up until I exited the highway, we were engaged and planning to marry. That was five minutes ago. Unless that was a total lie, you should at least be able to keep up the pretense for a day and show some affection toward me that’s not totally fake.”
He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the steering wheel. “You didn’t want to be considered an old maid. Well, I’m the male equivalent. My parents have been overjoyed that I finally found someone.” He looked at her then. “Please. Stay engaged to me until the party’s over.”
Marley undid her seat belt and moved next to him. “I didn’t stop loving you, Brant,” she said, caressing his face. “It’s just...” She wasn’t about to pound her reasons into the ground. She sighed. “The engagement’s on until we leave.”
He drew her to him in an awkward embrace. “I love you so much,” he whispered against her cheek. “Thank you.”
Once they started again, Brant appeared to concentrate on the driving. Marley felt numb. Would living at the ranch be so bad? She couldn’t picture the place. She could give up city life if Brant really wanted to live there. And part of her admired his desire to help his father. Muddle. That’s what my life has become. A complete muddle.
“You talk about me giving up on my dreams, what about you?” Brant asked.
“What dreams?”
“Music.”
“I never—”
“Your grandfather told me at the bride’s dinner you always loved music, and he’s the one who pushed you into math.”
Frustrated, Marley blew a stream of air through her teeth. “I’ve told that man a dozen times he didn’t do that. I had already made up my mind to major in math, and just asked his advice because I knew it would make him feel good to be asked. I love music. But I knew I could never make a decent living playing the guitar.”
“Yes, you could. You’re good.”
“Stop.” She held up her hand. “It’s not what I wanted. My goal has always been to combine my love for math and music with my love of teaching. I always wanted to be a teacher.”
“Then why aren’t you doing that instead of...What do you do? Punch numbers into a computer? You’re a creative person. Doing bookkeeping all day has to drive you up the wall.”
“Teachers don’t get paid well, so I use my talents where I’m paid. Teaching I do for my own enjoyment whenever I can.”
“And when is that?”
“Were you totally out of it when you showed up at my place last night?”
He glanced her way. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve been working with those boys for months, teaching them all aspects of music so they can start their own band. And for the last two semesters, I’ve taught math in the evening at a community college. Once I have more experience and have taken additional higher math courses, I can apply for full-time employment there.” She turned to him then, her chin jutting out. “Which I’ll consider only if it pays enough.”
“Never knew you were such a mercenary.”
“Well, I am.” And I’d never throw money away the way you do. She turned back in the seat and faced front. Brant kept quiet for quite some time. Finally, he said, “Would you consider becoming my accountant? I really need a competent person to handle my money.”
Marley smiled. “If we were ever to marry, I’d handle the money and put you on a very tight budget.”
His eyes opened wide. “Well, that’s certainly the best reason so far to end our engagement.” He started to laugh, then he smiled at her, his “I want to make love to you” smile in full blaze. He was finally back to the person she loved. Maybe this day with his father would work out, after all.
Marley relaxed and leaned against his arm, enjoying their companionship. Yes, she very much wanted to marry this man. And if he intended to settle down at the ranch, she’d adjust, just so she could spend her life with him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
BRANT LOOKED AT the fieldstone house they were approaching and felt the usual sense of home. This had been his residence during his youth and whenever he wasn’t away at college, traveling or working. It had a warmth and ambiance not present in his condo. But Marley’s...The few glimpses he’d had of her place gave him that same homey feeling.
Would she be able to live here? Her roots back in Pennsylvania weren’t urban. She should be able to adjust. She had to. If he had anything to say about it, this engagement was leading to marriage, and the sooner the better.
Brant pulled off the main road onto a gravel drive surrounded on each side by metal fencing painted white. Trees lined lush green fields bordered with irrigation ditches, and a good dozen horses stood grazing nearby. Several houses and barns sat under tall eucalyptus and cottonwood trees at the end of the road. The main house had bunting and balloons draped around the porch.
After Brant stopped the truck and got out, he walked around to open Marley’s door and help her down. “Remember what I said when we arrived that first time at your parents’ home?”
“Yes. You said ‘break a leg’ and implied I was an unfeeling mannequin.”
“Because you wouldn’t kiss me even though we were engaged.” He pulled her into his arms and whispered, “Let’s give my family a more convincing performance.”
He loved the way Marley melted against him. When his lips touched hers, he expressed all his love and yearning. Long after the kiss, Brant continued to hold her close. “Break a leg,” he said, then stepped away.
Elaina ran down the steps, black hair flowing, arms extended. “Welcome. Welcome.” His oldest sister. His first love.
Ignoring Brant, she said to Marley, “I’m so glad you could be here. Everyone’s dying to meet you.”
Delighted by her warm welcome to Marley, Brant picked up Elaina and twirled her. “Aren’t you glad to see me?”
“Of course I am, you big lug. Put me down.” Once on the ground, Elaina hugged him, then took Marley’s hand and led her toward the porch. “Francesca has made the most sumptuous breakfast.”
Marley faced Brant and mouthed, “Francesca?”
He mouthed back, “The cook.” Francesca was third generation at the ranch. Many of the people who had worked for his grandfather had raised their families there. Brant had grown up with them and considered them kin.
The large room they entered contained a long table, at which sat about twenty people of both sexes, their ages ranging from two to seventy. Several people rose and yelled greetings. Brant’s eyes immediately went to the tall man with a full head of white hair and the white mustache who had started toward them.
“Dad, I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Marley Roman.”
* * *
FOR A MOMENT she thought Mark Twain had risen from the grave. His father took her hand between his and beamed at h
er. Instantly, Marley recognized where Brant had inherited his smile. “Delighted. And you must call me Dad, no formal Mr. Westfield or Robert.” He turned to a woman and placed his arm around her. “This is my wife, Julian, and we’re both thrilled that you could be here with us.” He kissed her cheek. “She prefers Mom, and we both couldn’t be happier Brant found a lovely bride who shares his interests.”
Julian, whose hair was as white as his and coiffed in an attractive style, took Marley’s hand in a light touch. “We are truly happy. Welcome.”
After more introductions, Marley and Brant took seats next to his father, opposite Elaina and her husband. Mounds of huevos with chorizo, enchiladas, chilies, fruits and other Mexican delicacies festooned the table. With the food, and the mix of Spanish and Native American artifacts, the room’s flavor was definitely Southwest.
One of the younger boys, who was sitting next to Brant, said, “Your lady is very pretty,” in Spanish.
Immediately Mr. Westfield corrected, “Stick to English, Bobby. It’s impolite to talk in front of a guest in a language she won’t understand.”
Flipping to Spanish, Marley said, “Thank you for the compliment, Bobby.”
The boy sat back abashed, red creeping into his cheeks.
Brant started to chuckle and gave the boy an affectionate knuckle tap on his chin. “You have to watch out for Marley. She’s forever surprising me, as well.”
“So how is that book coming?” Mr. Westfield asked Brant. “I’m really looking forward to listening to it.”
“Nearly done, and the author has another one in the works.”
“And of course you’ll be doing that one, also.” His father beamed at him, then turned his attention to Marley. “Have you had a chance to hear my son read? He does it beautifully.”
“Yes, I listened to the first two books of the author’s, and I’m looking forward to the next one.” She spoke directly to Brant now. “I can tell which character is speaking by the tones, the cadence and the accents. And I particularly like the accents.”
Brant leaned over and kissed her. “I knew it would only take time.” She tasted the spicy salsa he’d added to his food and licked her lips.
Marley was sure her cheeks had to be a blazing pink. She wasn’t used to him kissing her in front of his family, although it never bothered her when he did it in front of hers. But back then they’d been acting. Glancing around the table, she saw all the love reflected there and realized she had no reason to feel embarrassed. Living with Brant’s people wouldn’t be a hardship.
After the meal the group retired to one corner of the room while several people from the kitchen cleared the table. Mr. Westfield sat in an extra-large recliner and motioned to Brant to have a seat on the piano bench in front of a grand piano similar to the one Marley had seen in Brant’s condo.
“I want you to play for me, and I don’t want to hear any birthday songs.”
Mr. Westfield scowled at several people to emphasize his point. Julian came over and sat beside him on the lounge. “Now, now, dear. No one plans to force happiness on you.”
Brant lifted the keyboard lid and turned, bracing himself with a stiff arm on the bench. “I’d like Marley to join me. She plays the acoustic guitar.” Elaina was already walking toward Marley with a guitar, and another family member brought over an armless chair.
“Brant has talked about nothing but how much he’s enjoyed making music with you.”
Marley took the guitar and checked the tuning. When she was through, she looked at Brant. “What should we play?” She’d never heard him play the piano, so she looked forward to seeing how well they could mesh the two instruments.
“Let’s try ‘Some Things Don’t Come Easy.’”
She smiled and nodded, remembering how he’d first sang it to her. While they played and sang, he watched her, his fingers skimming the keys effortlessly. Yes, her insides were tingling and she was definitely having one of those musical afterglows.
After their presentations, which received thunderous applause, Brant asked Marley if she’d like a tour of the ranch. They headed outside to where the horses were grazing and observed them. “What do you think?”
“About what? Your family, the ranch, the horses?”
“About how I can convince you to marry me and live here.”
“I like your family, Brant.” Marley leaned on the fence. When one of the horses approached, she backed up and the horse shied away. Brant enclosed her in his arms. “You afraid of horses?”
“I’ve never been this close.”
“Blackie won’t hurt you.” Still holding Marley, he scratched the horse’s forehead. “He’s mine. Getting a little long in the tooth, now, right, boy?” The horse nuzzled Brant’s hand. “Oh, you think I brought a treat?” Brant chuckled and pulled out an apple from his pocket along with a pocketknife. He cut the apple in two.
“Where’d you get that?” Marley asked.
“I stole it off the table. Here.” He handed one half to her. “Offer it to him, but look out for his teeth.”
Hesitantly she held out the apple. When he came for it, showing those enormous teeth, Marley pulled her hand away.
“Don’t tease.” Brant grasped her hand and positioned it so Blackie could get the apple. “Haven’t you ever been to a farm or petting zoo?”
“Yes, when I was little. A goat chased me all over trying to get my bottle.” Marley petted Blackie where Brant had scratched him. The animal felt like soft velvet. “I wanted the bottle. Had no intention of giving it to that goat.”
“You must have been very young.” Brant offered the horse the other half of the apple.
“About Michelle’s age, I think.”
Brant placed his arm around her and guided her from the fence as several more horses started toward them. “I didn’t bring enough treats for the whole herd, so let’s not tease them with false hope. We’ll go to another place.” An arm wrapped around her shoulders, Brant led her to the other side of a white barn. He captured her face, a hand on either side, and with the utmost care, began to kiss her.
Marley was entranced. It had been so long since he’d kissed her like this, outside of her dreams, that is. When he slipped his arms around her back and pulled her close, she forgot any of her concerns. The grounds were beautiful, the people friendly and Brant was the love of her life. How could she not marry him? She’d accept anything he decided as long as they’d be together.
“The ranch is a great place to raise children,” he whispered against her lips, then kissed her nose. Had he expected a comment from her? If he had, he didn’t press it. “I can teach you anything you need to know about horses—how to ride them, groom them, clean their stalls.”
Marley laughed. “Right. Nothing I’d like better than shoveling horse manure.” She stood holding his hands, gazing into eyes that promised so much happiness. “Are the duties here so intense that you can’t pursue what you love doing?”
“Working the ranch is a full-time job. And I enjoy those aspects I’m already familiar with. However, if I continued to record books or act, I’d have to devote weeks, months of my time to those activities. Someone would need to take over duties here, and it would all fall on my sisters again.”
“Couldn’t you do it here? You know, make your own recording place?” When he didn’t respond verbally, just shot her a questioning look, Marley quickly added, “I’m sorry. I really don’t have the slightest idea what you do. What it involves.”
“Creating a recording studio in the middle of nowhere would take most of my time. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on doing what’s necessary here.”
She regarded him, tortured by what he planned to give up. “But would you be happy?”
“You make me happy. I could handle anything if our wedding is on again.”
Marley avoid
ed answering him. She stared down at the dirt path as they headed back to the house. “When will you be talking to your father?”
“After lunch.”
“Do you need backup?”
Brant stopped, forcing her to stop, as well. “What are you suggesting?”
“When I was going to talk to my family, you offered to cover my back. I’m making the same offer.”
Brant glanced up at the treetops before turning his attention back to her. “Thank you, but no. I’m afraid you might do something crazy, like twist Dad’s arm behind his back and drop him to the ground until he agreed to let me off the hook.”
“I wouldn’t get that physical.” She smiled. “But you’re probably right. I wouldn’t let him push you into anything you don’t want to do.”
“I appreciate you watching my back. I really do. It’s just...” His expression had turned serious. “Handling the ranch is something I have to try. I owe it to my family.” He paused and they both stopped walking. “I’m flying back to New York to meet with Carla and go over my plans, whatever they may be.”
“Has she been your manager for long?”
“Since college. A long and very satisfactory association. Expect she’ll really lay into me if I stop.” He sighed. “I’ve finished recording the book, and I still have that commitment at the Civic Center.”
They began walking again. “When do you leave?”
“Right after my talk with Dad. I’m taking a private plane from Prescott.”
Marley stopped, gasped and covered her mouth. “How will I get home?”
“You can drive my truck. It’s an automatic and not too much bigger than a car. You can use it until I get back, if you want.” They continued on to the house. “If you’d rather not, I can have Jose drive you. He makes regular trips to Phoenix for supplies, so it’s no problem.”
“I’ll drive, but you better give me good directions so I can get back to Phoenix.”
An Act of Love Page 20