Megan's Marriage

by Annette Broadrick

  When they walked out of the store, Travis looked at Megan and said, “You’re sure quiet. Is something wrong?”

  “I didn’t know how quickly we could do that.” She glanced down at her ring. “It’s truly beautiful.” When she looked up at him, her eyes were shining. “Thank you, Travis.”

  He took her hand and guided her into an alcove off the mall. Placing his hands around her face, he leaned down and kissed her softly. “You’re quite welcome,” he murmured when he finally raised his head.

  She was staring up at him in surprise. “I—uh—”

  “You might as well get used to me going around kissing you. It’s all part of the window dressing. When we get back home, we’re going to be convincing lots of people that this is something we’ve both wanted for a long time, but this was the first time I was able to offer you anything.”

  “People will wonder why you’d take on a whole family.”

  “Who cares what they think? Besides, I’ve got an older brother and a baby sister of my own. You’ll be taking them on, as well.”

  She kept her gaze on their linked fingers and the sparkling ring on hers. “Not really. They won’t be living with us like Mollie and Maribeth.”

  “Living with us,” he repeated, grinning. “I like the sound of that. I think I’m going to enjoy living with you very much.”

  She jerked her head up to meet his gaze. “You know what I meant, Travis. We’ll be sharing the same house and all.”

  “Is that what we’ll be doing?” he teased, watching her blush.

  “Of course.”

  He draped his arm around her shoulders and casually suggested, “Let’s look around here some more then, after we get tired of window shopping, I know this great place to get some delicious barbecued ribs. After that, there’s a band I want you to hear. I first heard ’em a few years back when I was in Dallas. I think they’re really good, and I’d like to know your opinion.”

  He was greatly encouraged by the new light that seemed to be shining from her eyes. It was as bright as the sparkling ring she wore on her finger. His ring. His brand-new fiancée. Hot damn, but he felt good.

  Travis gave her a quick hug before leading her back into the main part of the mall to continue their browsing. He no longer tried to hide his beaming grin.

  It was past midnight when Travis turned into Megan’s driveway. She’d dozed most of the way home, her head resting against his shoulder. With the change in speed and the turn, however, Megan lifted her head away and slowly straightened.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” she said, smothering a yawn.

  “It’s okay,” he replied gruffly. “I know I’ve kept you out past your bedtime.”

  He parked next to the back gate. The yard light, positioned near the barn, gave off enough illumination for him to see her face. She looked pleasantly rumpled, sleepy and utterly adorable. His breath caught in his throat at the notion that this woman would soon be married to him and he wouldn’t have to leave her and go to bed alone.

  Travis turned in his seat and draped his arm over her shoulders, pulling her against him. “I guess I should let you go inside, huh?” he said, knowing his reluctance was obvious.

  She drooped her head on his chest. “Um, I guess. I doubt I’ll be able to walk tomorrow,” she said with a chuckle. “My calf muscles are already complaining. I told you I wasn’t used to dancing.”

  He slid his fingers through her hair and slowly massaged her scalp in a kneading, soothing motion. “You did fine, honey. Just fine. I was proud of you.”

  She tilted her head back slightly in order to see his face. Her eyes glowed in the light. “You were? I felt so awkward. And there were so many women there who knew all the steps and were watching you. It’s obvious you’re used to going out dancing.”

  He shrugged. “There’s not much else to do after a rodeo lets out, unless you want to sit around the bars all night and drink. Since I’m not much of a drinker, I learned to do some of the line dances. They’re kinda fun.”

  “Yes. Today’s been such an eye-opener for me. I had no idea there were so many things to do and see. I can’t remember when I’ve had such good tastin’ ribs or so many! They just kept bringing ’em. It was surprising to find so many dance bands and clubs in the Austin area.”

  “I think it’s time you started havin’ some fun in your life, Miss Megan. You definitely deserve it.” He picked up her left hand and brought it to his lips, placing a kiss on her knuckles, near the engagement ring.

  She sighed and snuggled against his chest like a sleepy kitten. Did she have any idea what kind of effect she was having on him? His tight jeans were rapidly becoming tighter and more uncomfortable. He shifted and reached for the door handle.

  “Thank you for showing me such a nice day,” Megan murmured, slowly straightening so that her mouth was only a few inches from his. “You’re really a very nice man, Travis Kane.”

  “No matter what anybody says, right?” he added with a grin. He was fighting his impulse to grab her and kiss her, reminding himself that his mama had raised him to be a gentleman, but it was a damn tough proposition to remember when the woman he loved was draped across him like this.

  He quickly turned the handle and opened the door, then eased his leg down to rest on the ground. Instead of waiting until he walked around to the other door, Megan followed him out his side of the truck cab, so that he found himself wrapping his hands around her waist and swinging her off the running board to stand beside him.

  She gave a breathless whisper of a chuckle before she slid her arms around his shoulders, went up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

  He had to let go of her. He knew that. He knew that he needed to step back, fast, before she became aware of how strongly he was reacting to her, but the yearning he was feeling compelled him to deepen the kiss, instead, and he ended up pulling her even more snugly against his overheated body.

  Megan knew that she must be dreaming. This wanton woman in Travis’s arms couldn’t possibly be her! She was shy around men. Shy and awkward. How could she be so comfortable being pressed against his hard muscled body, content to allow him to tease her lips with his tongue, nudging them open so that he could explore the depths of her mouth.

  His thrusts seemed to be causing his hips to sway slightly forward with every rhythmic movement of his tongue. She could feel the taut ridge of his jeans zipper rubbing sensuously against her stomach, creating the most unexpected tingling responses deep within her. She shifted restlessly, mimicking the movements he made with both his tongue and hips, her grip tightening around his neck.

  “My God, Megan,” he managed to pant after several heated moments. “We’ve got…to stop this…now…or else—”

  He didn’t say what else. Instead he gripped her arms and stepped back from her, his eyes blazing with heat and his features taut.

  Already relaxed and half asleep when she climbed out of the truck, Megan wasn’t certain her legs were going to be able to support her. Her knees gave way and she sank down to the running board of the truck.

  Travis knelt beside her, his expression worried. “Are you all right?” he asked, his breathing a little more even.

  “I’m not sure,” she admitted, rubbing her hand across her face. “What’s happening here, anyway? I feel so—so strange. I’ve never felt like this before. It’s weird.”

  He touched her face lightly with his fingertips and traced the line of her brow, cheek and chin. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come on so strong.”

  “It isn’t that,” she replied. “I mean, you weren’t doing anything I wasn’t encouraging. I just didn’t realize—” She shook her head. “Wow!” she said once again.

  “I guess that’s what happens when our hormones start kicking up,” he said with a lopsided smile.

  “Powerful stuff,” she admitted.

  “Yep.”

  After a couple of moments of silence she added, “Of course it doesn’t really mean anything. It�
��s like some kind of chemistry or something.” She didn’t want it to mean anything. She was afraid of what it could mean. The last thing she needed in her life was to fall for Travis Kane!

  He didn’t actually move, and his expression didn’t really change, but he seemed to withdraw from her in some indefinable way. “It means that we’re compatible, wouldn’t you say?” he finally offered by way of explanation.

  She leaned her head against the seat behind her and sighed, her eyelids drooping. “I suppose.”

  “It seems to me that a couple planning to get married would want that in their relationship,” he said after a moment.

  She forced her eyes open and focused on his. “Well, of course, if it was a real marriage.”

  Still kneeling, he clasped her hands between his much larger ones. “Believe me, Megan, this is going to be a real marriage.”

  She frowned, her mind still muddled with sleep. “But not a permanent one. That makes a big difference.”

  “I said that it doesn’t have to be permanent. Your choice. I’m willing to make it as permanent as you like.”

  Something in his serious tone jump-started her heart, causing it to race. She swallowed. “You are?”

  He held her gaze for a long moment before answering her. “Yeah.”

  “Why?” she asked, baldly, suddenly needing to understand what was happening between them.

  “What kind of question is that?”

  She shook her head in an effort to clear her fuzzy thoughts. “It doesn’t make sense, Travis. I watched you tonight. There wasn’t a female in the place who wasn’t keeping an eye on you and wishing she was the one with you.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “No, I’m not. I know you weren’t paying any attention to them, but I was. It was the same thing when we were in high school. All the girls wanted to date you. You must have run into the same thing during the years you’ve been on the road.”

  His frown had been steadily growing while she talked. “Is there some point you’re trying to make here?”

  “Yes! There is. I’m trying to understand what’s going on here. Why me, Travis? Why, of all the women you know, are you willing to tie yourself down to me?”

  He didn’t answer her right away. He shifted his weight, still in a kneeling position in front of her. He cleared his throat and finally asked, “Are you going to believe me if I tell you that I love you?”

  “Of course not!” she replied immediately with more than a hint of irritation. “That’s ridiculous. I’m nobody special. I don’t have anything to offer somebody like you.”

  He recaptured her hands. “Megan, don’t sell yourself short. Listen to me, okay? Yeah, I’ve met a lot of women, women who saw me as some kind of trophy to win. Don’t you understand? Once you’re in any kind of limelight, there’s always goin’ to be people who are attracted to the idea of who you are, but they really don’t see you, the person.” He shifted once again, this time sitting alongside her. “But with you, it’s different. You know me, the real me. The one you don’t particularly care for that was always giving you such a bad time. But you see? We’ve known each other all our lives. Why wouldn’t I want to be married to you? Look at it from my point of view. You’re honest and dependable and extremely loyal. You’re willing to accept being married to me without making any conditions.”

  She eyed him a little warily. “Such as?”

  “Well, you know how important the rodeo circuit is to me, and how much I enjoy participating in the events, even though they’re dangerous and I’ve been hurt a few times. You see, I’ve dated women in the past who insisted that I give it up because they worried too much about my getting hurt and because I traveled too much. But you’re willing to accept me for who I am and for what I do without trying to change any of that. You can’t possibly know how important that is to me.”

  She took a deep breath and held it for a moment before finally letting it go in a gusty sigh. “And if I decided after a year that I don’t want to be married to you anymore?”

  “The bargain would still stand,” he replied promptly. “I’m not going to carry any unreal expectations about a future between us. I’ll just take it each day as it comes and let whatever happens happen. At least I’ll know I helped you out at a time when you needed it.”

  Her expression was earnest when she said, “You know I’ll pay you back as soon as I have the money, don’t you?”

  “You don’t have to do that, Megan. This isn’t a loan. It was never meant to be. Remember that.”

  “I don’t guess I’ll ever really understand. It looks to me like I’m the one getting all the benefit out of this.”

  He turned so that he could kiss her very softly once again, without passion. Unfortunately for Megan her heart and body didn’t notice the difference. Her heart began to race and her body seemed to turn into mush.

  When he pulled away from her she couldn’t look at him.

  “I’m going to be leaving tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll be gone for three weeks. Do you think you can plan a wedding in that length of time?”

  She shrugged. “What’s to plan? Don’t we just go to the courthouse, get the license and make an appointment with the pastor?”

  “Yeah, and maybe invite a few friends and have a reception and—”

  She nodded slowly. “I suppose that’s going to be part of it, too.”

  “Our families wouldn’t forgive us if we did it any other way. You know that. I’ll be the first one in our family to be getting married. The same in yours.”

  “Maybe so,” she reluctantly agreed. “It just seems to be a whole lot of trouble to go through for something that only takes a few minutes,” she grumbled. She was sleepy and aroused and feeling a frustration she’d never before experienced.

  Travis’s deep laugh caused her body to quiver. “There aren’t any other women like you, honey. You’re definitely one of a kind.” He tugged on her hand. “Let’s get you inside before you fall asleep sitting right here.”

  Her leg muscles protested and she groaned. She reached down and took her shoes off. “Remind me to never wear these kind of shoes again.”

  “They aren’t any higher than your boots.”

  “It’s the straps. My feet keep sliding around. At least the boots hug my foot.”

  “Whatever you say, darlin’. But you looked really good today in your pretty dress and sandals—like a glowing sunbeam.”

  She paused when she reached the back door and turned toward him. “Thank you for a wonderful day.”

  He took a step toward her, then stopped, jamming his fingers into his back pockets. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow before I leave…and I’ll call you while I’m gone, so you can let me know what’s happening around here.”

  She nodded.

  “I forgot to give you a check yesterday so I’ll mail it to you on my way out of town. That way you can make the mortgage payment and not be worrying about it.”

  “Oh, but you don’t-”

  “Oh, but I do. Let’s not argue about the money. It’s not that important.”

  “Not important! Why, that’s not so. That’s the whole reason we’re getting married, Travis Kane, and you know it. How can you—”

  “Do you always have to go off like a short-fused firecracker? All I’m saying is that I want you to have it now and not have to wait until after we’re married. Since the bank’s being so hard-nosed about all this, let’s not give ’em reason to refuse the payment, okay?”

  Megan felt foolish, listening to his reasonable tone and rational explanation. She felt jumpy and on edge. She wanted him to leave and she wanted to throw herself around his neck and kiss the holy fire out of him. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt so restless and confused.

  She watched Travis take another step backward. He could hardly wait to leave, she could tell. “Good night, Travis. Take care.” She opened the door and slipped inside the darkened kitchen.

  She watched him through the window
as he walked back to the truck. She didn’t turn away until he swung the truck into a wide circle and headed back down the lane to the county road. Only then did she tiptoe barefoot upstairs and down the hallway to her bedroom.

  Once inside her room she absently unzipped her dress and stepped out of it, dropping it on the floor. She walked over to the window and looked outside. Nothing was stirring. Even Butch’s rooms there at one end of the barn were dark. Everybody was sleeping and now that Travis was gone, she was wide-awake.

  She slipped off her strapless bra and half-slip, put on her shortie pajamas, then went down the hallway to the bathroom.

  In a few short weeks Travis would be living here with them, having his meals with them, making a place for himself within their family circle. While she brushed her teeth she wondered what her mama and dad would think about her decision to marry in order to save the ranch.

  Would they think she was wrong? Would they want her to sell it?

  She rinsed her mouth, turned off the light and returned to her room. After getting into bed she lay there staring sightlessly at the room she’d had all her life. Everything about her life was changing. It was a scary feeling.

  Just as the way she’d felt in Travis’s arms tonight was scary. Something was happening to her. It felt as if her body was waking up to all kinds of things she hadn’t known about. She wished she had somebody to talk to about all of this, but she didn’t. She was the one the girls came to with their questions. It was times such as now when Megan felt the most alone.

  Six

  “Hey, Megan!” Maribeth said, bounding into the room the next morning. “You planning to sleep all day? I need to know if it’s all right with you if I go with Bobby and a bunch of the kids to Brady this afternoon. I forgot to ask yesterday before you left, and Bobby’s already called to see-Megan? Hey, Megan, are you awake?”

  Megan groaned and pulled her head out from under the pillow. “I am now,” she grumbled. “I swear, Maribeth, you could wake the dead.” She rolled over and glared at her little sister.