Megan's Marriage

by Annette Broadrick

  She’d lain awake last night, thinking about refusing him. She could do that. Nobody was forcing her into anything. She could go to the bank, tell the banker she couldn’t make the payment. She could let them foreclose on the ranch. And sometime in the future, after they’d lost everything, she could remind herself that if she’d just had a little more courage, she might have made a different choice. She might have found herself married and still living on the family ranch.

  Travis suddenly glanced up at her window and she hastily took a step backward, not wanting him to know that she was still lurking in her room, uncomfortable about going downstairs and facing her world dressed the way she was.

  Megan turned nervously toward the oval mirror in the corner and stared at her image. She was forced to admit that the dress she wore fit her surprisingly well…as did the sandals with the tiny stacked heels. The problem was that she didn’t look like herself. Peering more closely into the mirror, she studied her face and hair.

  She was still amazed at how successfully Mollie had trimmed her thick hair. She had thinned and shaped it around her face and ears, calling attention to her eyes. She didn’t remember them ever looking quite so large or so blue. She always thought of them as blueish gray, but now they sparkled like blue topaz.

  Megan wasn’t used to seeing herself in makeup. Mollie had darkened her lashes and brows slightly, added touches of color around her eyes and across her cheekbones, and finished with a soft pink lipstick that made her mouth look slightly pouty.

  “Megan,” Mollie called from downstairs. “Travis’s here.”

  The cool tone made Megan wince. She knew she’d better hurry down before Mollie made her dislike toward him obvious. For a quiet person, Mollie certainly had strong opinions and, for some reason these past two days, she wasn’t having any difficulty expressing them.

  Travis had already noticed a definite chill in the air as soon as Mollie came to the door in response to his light tap on the screen. Without a word she opened the door, then turned away and called out to Megan without greeting him.

  “How’ve you been, Mollie? I haven’t seen you in quite a while.”

  Mollie went back to mixing and stirring something on the counter. From the looks and smell of things, she was in the midst of some heavy-duty, mouth-watering baking.

  Without looking around at him, she said, “Fine,” in a short tone of voice.

  He glanced around the large kitchen, recognizing the place as the hub of the home. He looked back at her, but she was studiously ignoring him. He slowly removed his hat and held the brim in both hands, turning it.

  “Have you finished school yet?”

  “This is my last year.”

  “Where do you intend to go to college?”

  Her glance held a hint of contempt. “We don’t have the money for college.”

  “Did you try for any scholarships?”

  “No. Megan needs me here.”

  There was a slight sound at the doorway into the hall and he looked around. He froze at the sight of Megan standing there, her manner more hesitant than he’d ever seen her.

  She wore a lemon-colored sundress that lovingly cupped her breasts and waist, then flared into a full skirt that ended at her knees. He caught himself staring at her curving calves and slender ankles before his gaze ended on her pink-painted toenails in strappy sandals.

  He swallowed hard, his gaze bouncing back over the unfamiliar sight of her bare legs and shoulders. Shoestring-size straps were the only things holding the dress in place.

  When his eyes finally met hers Travis forced himself to nod. His throat felt dry. He couldn’t get .over the change from the coverall-covered woman of the day before. Even her face looked different. Softer, somehow. Her eyes were definitely wary. Even her hair looked smoother, silkier, somehow.

  Travis could feel his heart racing and he battled for control, determined not to reveal his stunned reaction to this new look Megan had chosen.

  “Hi, Megan,” he said, his voice sounding gruff and raspy to his own ears. Hecleared his throat. “You look very nice.”

  She came toward him, only her eyes betraying her unease. “Thank you.” She looked past him and he turned. Mollie was watching them, her displeasure obvious. “I don’t know when I’ll be home,” Megan was saying, “so don’t worry if it’s late.”

  Mollie gave her a brief nod and returned her attention to her dough. “Be careful” was all she said.

  Megan hurried past him, pausing on the porch to wait for him to join her. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out there was something obviously wrong between the two sisters, Travis thought, as he followed Megan outside.

  She kept at least two arm’s length distance between them as she ran down the steps.

  “Well, look-ee here,” Butch hollered, striding across the open space between the barn and the house. “I almost didn’t recognize you, missy.”

  Travis thought he heard a sound suspiciously like a groan from Megan.

  “I’d look a little foolish working around here in a getup like this, now, wouldn’t I?” she replied a little tartly.

  Butch laughed. “That’s for sure. I’m so used to seeing you in those shapeless coveralls I’d almost forgot what a good-lookin’ gal you are,” he said, his admiration evident. “Those sure are show-girl legs hidin’ beneath all the denim.”

  “Butch!” Her face had turned as rosy as her nail polish. “Cut it out!”

  Travis laughed. He couldn’t help enjoying the interplay between the two of them. Stepping around her, he opened the passenger side of the truck and helped her inside. He was able to enjoy the flash of exposed legs as she took the step up into the cab. He closed the door, then turned around and winked at the older man. “Never underestimate the O’Brien women, Butch,” he warned. “They’re just full of surprises.”

  “You take good care of her now, you hear?” Butch said, straightening to his full height. “Just because she doesn’t have no daddy to look after her doesn’t mean—”

  “I know, Butch. I promise to take very good care of her and not let her come to any harm.”

  Megan rested her arm on the open window and leaned out. “I’ll probably be late getting back home since we’re going to Austin, Butch. I don’t want you waiting up with your shotgun, you hear me?” she warned.

  Butch looked sheepish and nodded.

  “I’m a grown woman and I can take care of myself,” she added for good measure.

  “You’re no bigger’n a minute and you know it,” he muttered, half under his breath.

  Travis clapped him on the back and in a low voice said, “I’ll keep her safe. Count on it.”

  They drove away from the house and down the lane. Megan leaned forward and looked out the side mirror. “I can’t figure out what’s got into Butch today. He’s acting like you’ve kidnapped me and plan to sell me into white slavery.”

  “Can’t say that I blame him,” he drawled, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. “You’re looking mighty good…pretty near irresistible, if you ask me.” He had the pleasure of watching her turn rosy once again.

  “I should have worn jeans, I suppose. I never dreamed that putting on a dress would cause such a stir,” she muttered half under her breath.

  “I’m sorry, Megan,” he said, reaching over and taking her hand. She stiffened, but didn’t try to pull away. “I find it too easy to tease you, I suppose,” he admitted. “I guess it’s because you respond so easy to teasing.”

  Encouraged by the fact that she hadn’t jerked her hand back and socked him—which he knew she was perfectly capable of doing—he slipped his fingers between hers and rested their clasped hands on his thigh.

  “I take it from her attitude that you told Mollie about our plans and that she’s a tad less than thrilled to have me as a brother-in-law.”

  He could feel her body tense all the way to her fingertips. “She just doesn’t want me-hurt.”

  He glanced at her in surprise. “A
nd she thinks I would hurt you in some way?”

  She smoothed her skirt with her free hand. “She’s just a little protective, that’s all. We’ve always been close, especially since the folks died.”

  “What’s Mollie got against me, if I may ask?”

  She sighed. “Your reputation, mostly.”

  He frowned. “I wasn’t aware I had one.”

  He could feel her gaze on him. “C’mon, Travis. This is me you’re talking to. Don’t be so modest.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  She shook her head. “I suppose you’re going to deny that you’re known as a heartbreaker around these parts—that love ’em and leave ’em seems to be your personal creed?”

  “What?!” The truck swerved and he let go of her hand to place both hands on the wheel. He hadn’t wanted his reaction to her words to show, but he knew he was too late to hide it.

  “What did you expect would be said about you when you’ve stopped seeing everyone you ever dated the minute she got serious about you?”

  He rubbed the frown that had formed over the bridge of his nose. “What was I supposed to do? Anytime somebody started talking about the future or an engagement or about having a family I knew it was time to stop seeing her.”

  “Exactly.”

  He gave her a quick glance of surprise. “And that was wrong? Since I had no intention of marrying anyone it seems to me I did the honorable thing. I never led anyone on, or promised them anything. I never took advantage of anyone…”

  “Just walked away and left them with their hearts broken. Yes, I know.”

  He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. “But this is crazy, Megan. How can I be responsible for how somebody else feels? I don’t have any control over that.”

  “I know.”

  “I dated women whose company I enjoyed. We had fun together. I liked them, but I never told a one of them that I loved them.”

  “So?”

  “Lying would have—”

  “Nobody’s talking about lying.” She didn’t say anything else for several minutes and he was too astonished to think of anything more to add to the conversation. When she finally spoke again, she said, “I suppose Mollie’s concerned about your motive. Why would anybody believe that Travis Kane—the guy who’s run from any kind of commitment for all these years—would suddenly show up out of the blue and offer to marry me, even if it’s only a business arrangement? Mollie’s concerns make perfect sense to me. Of course, the way I look at it, marriage can work for your benefit, too. I mean, if you don’t want to be hounded all the time by women wanting to marry you, then marrying me is a solution of sorts.” She glanced over at him. “At least it’ll give you a few months’ breathing space.”

  “I’m not believin’ this conversation,” he muttered under his breath.

  “What did you say?”

  “I was just wondering if you’re gettin’ hungry. I skipped lunch today—” there was no use admitting he’d been too nervous to eat “—so I thought I might stop somewhere along the way and get something.”

  “Okay by me.”

  He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “You hungry?”

  “Not particularly.”

  “Then we can wait until we get to Austin.”

  “Don’t be silly! I can always have something to drink while you have a hamburger or something. What’s the matter with you today?” She leaned forward so she could see more of his face. “You’ve been acting kind of strange.”

  “I’m feeling kind of strange,” he admitted, hoping that eating would be a cure of sorts.

  They passed into the outside limits of a small town and Travis saw a fast-food place up ahead. He pulled in and gave them an order that included a drink for each of them.

  They were pulling back onto the highway when Megan asked, “So, are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?” She unwrapped his burger and handed it to him, then scooted closer to him and held out his fries so that he could reach them.

  Rather than answer her, he took a big bite of the burger and thoughtfully chewed, deciding what he was going to say to her. After taking a drink, he cleared his throat and said, “I thought maybe that you’d change your mind.” There. He’d admitted it out loud.

  “I thought about it.”

  He continued to eat his meal in the silence of the truck’s cab. “And?” he asked when she didn’t say anything more.

  She gave a tiny shrug and sighed. “I decided that since you were willing to help us out by going to such an extreme as to marry me, I would accept your offer in the spirit you meant it. At least you didn’t talk a lot of nonsense about being in love with me or actually wanting to be married to me or anything silly like that. I figured that as long as we’re honest and totally up-front with each other, everything should work out all right.”

  “I see,” he said, suddenly feeling his hamburger weighing heavily in his stomach. “We’re treating this as a business deal,” he repeated in a hollow voice. He took a long drink to relieve his suddenly very dry throat.

  “Exactly. Of course we don’t need to tell anybody else the truth. We’ll just let all the family and friends think we’re madly in love with each other.” She chuckled. “That will be a shock to lots of ’em, I’m’sure…Travis Kane finally falling for somebody and wanting to settle down after all this time. I guess the joke will be on them.”

  Travis felt as though he’d just seen the door slam shut on a trap of his own making. How could he ever admit to Megan now that he did love her without her immediately doubting him and his motives? The irony of the situation didn’t escape him. She could accept that he might be willing to help her as a friend, but obviously would never believe he might be in love with her.

  Wow! He’d really done it this time, hadn’t he? He’d set up a situation where he was going to be walking a very thin line pretending they were no more than buddies and pals. After all this time, he’d managed to get stuck with an undeserved reputation for being a heartbreaker. In the end, he could very well be the one with a broken heart.

  If so, he’d only have himself to blame…for not telling her the truth about his feelings years ago. His lack of courage back then could cost him plenty. His only hope was that somehow, someway, she would end up falling in love with him, too.

  Five

  Travis pulled into one of the shopping malls near the highway they’d followed into Austin. They hadn’t talked much after their stop for food. He’d asked a few questions about the ranch, and she had answered easily enough. He guessed she’d come to terms with her reasons for marrying him and was now dealing with the consequences of her decision.

  He hadn’t realized just how difficult being with her and covering his true feelings was going to be.

  Travis reached for her hand and they crossed the huge parking lot and entered the air-conditioned mall, taking their time looking at all the window displays and watching the other shoppers.

  He discovered, to his surprise, that he was enjoying just being with her. She’d never pulled her hand away from his and he reveled in the slight contact. He could scarcely hide his need to laugh out loud at this enactment of all his adolescent dreams.

  Megan O’Brien had agreed to marry him. Why, it was all he could do not to throw his hat in the air and let out a big yahoo! of a yell.

  Eventually in their wanderings, they came upon a jewelry store. Travis paused in front of it, then looked down at her. “Well…we found what we were lookin’ for, right?” She seemed to hesitate so he gave her hand a little tug and they walked inside the store.

  “Good afternoon,” the smiling clerk said by way of greeting. “How may I help you?”

  With all the aplomb he could muster, Travis said, “We want to look at matching wedding rings,” he said.

  “Certainly, sir. They’re over at the far counter. I’ll be right with you.”

  Travis led the way to the back of the store to where the clerk had pointe
d.

  “Do you mean you intend to wear a ring, as well?” she asked.

  He eyed her a little cautiously, trying to figure out her mood. “You have a problem with that?” he finally asked.

  “Oh! Of course not. I guess I’m just surprised. I thought the ring was going to be for show, to make all of this more convincing.”

  He nodded. “The engagement ring will be. It leaves no doubt about our intentions.” He glanced down at the sets of rings on display. “Do you see anything you like?”

  She laughed nervously. “I don’t know anything about rings, Travis. I’ve never owned one.”

  “Not even a high school ring?”

  She shook her head. “I figured it was a waste of money we could better use elsewhere.”

  He shook his head, feeling his dismay wash over him. “I wish I’d realized what you and the girls were going through back then. I guess I was too young to fully understand.”

  “Why should you? None of it had anything to do with you.”

  He stepped back from the counter so that he could see her face, since she was seemingly concentrating on the rings beneath the glass. He’d heard a peculiar tone in her voice, but could tell nothing from her expression.

  “Now, then,” the clerk said, arriving behind the counter. “What would you like to see?”

  Travis studied the display for several minutes before he pointed out a set. The clerk placed the rings on top of the counter. “What do you think?” Travis asked Megan.

  “Aren’t they too expensive?” she whispered.

  “No. Do you want to try one on?”

  The clerk said, “You can have it sized to fit your finger, of course.”

  When she hesitated, Travis took the engagement ring and slid it on her finger. It fit as though it had been made for her. “I like it,” he said in a matter-of-fact voice. “Do you?”

  “It’s beautiful,” she said, her voice unsteady.

  He nodded to the clerk. “Fine. We’ll take the set.”

  The clerk measured his finger, then explained they would have to have his sized. “No problem.” Travis took out his checkbook and wrote a check. “That’s my address. Have it mailed to me. Meanwhile, we’ll take hers with us.”