“You and Momma married here?”
He gave two quick nods. “Sí. She was a breathtaking bride who stole my heart.” He turned to her, his lips in a tight smile. His rough hand cupped her face. “She wore roses as you do. Jackson McCreed is a fortunate man to get the honor of your hand.”
She blinked, not wanting to cry. “You said I was a burden.”
His head went back as if she had hit him. “I have never told you such a thing. You are my most precious treasure. Worth more than all the land in Texas.”
She forced down the lump stuck between her heart and throat. “Before the cattle drive, I heard you tell Jackson that I was a burden. I didn’t want to be a burden. I wanted to prove to you I could help with the ranch. I can help build a future here on our land just like you wanted with Santiago.” Her voice broke as she said her brother’s name.
“Oh, mija.” He pulled her against him. “You are not the burden. My worry over your future is heavy on my shoulders. You are all I have left. When I discovered you had not gone shopping but had joined the cattle drive, I died a thousand deaths. You are my future. Without you, I have nothing of value.”
He leaned back and tucked away a loose curl. “Look at you all grown up and about to become a wife.”
He sighed and cupped her face again. “I was protecting you the only way I knew how. Now you will live on the ranch. Jackson will make a good husband. He cares for you and the land. Saving it for my grandsons. Everyone says he is a good man.”
“He is.”
“If you say so, that is all that matters. I had a plan, but in my faith I have to believe God’s plan is better.”
She placed her hand over his. “I’m sorry I worried you, but does Jackson want this marriage? I don’t want him forced, Papi.”
“What man would not want to marry you?” He stepped back and once again placed her hand on his arm, ready for the wedding march into the church. “Your mother wanted a man of good family and education for your husband. Jackson is a man of honor and integrity who speaks well and stands tall. I think she would approve.”
“If she didn’t, Jackson would charm her until she thought he could rope the moon.” She smiled.
He patted her hand. “Are you ready daughter of mine?”
In a few minutes she would be Mrs. McCreed, after a lifetime of being a De Zavala, she wasn’t sure how she felt about that change.
With a nod and one foot forward, and she was heading into the church. Two of the young girls carried her train, lifting it off the dirt. It had the weight of a million stones. As soon as this was over, she was changing back into her pants.
Her own eyes burned as she reached for his hand. “Thank you, Papi. It’s more beautiful than I ever imagined.” She took one of the yellow rosebuds from her bouquet and placed it in the buttonhole of his jacket.
“That’s your mother’s favorite color of rose.”
“I know.” She patted his chest.
With a stiff jaw, he looked forward again. Light gleamed off the moisture gathered in his dark eyes. “I wish you the love I had for your mother and the love your mother had for me.” Then he gave her a quick wink. “And that you are blessed with children as we were.” He gave her a hard quick jerk of his head and patted her hand.
Together they walked through the open doors of the church, the pews filled with people she had just met.
At the end of the long aisle stood her trail boss. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen, and he was going to be her husband.
From there everything was a blur, the words and vows she couldn’t remember. Her hand stayed in Jackson’s once her father handed her over to him. His voice was strong and steady even though she couldn’t recall any words.
They were proclaimed husband and wife. Jackson was given permission to kiss his bride. Stomach muscles quivered. This was it. She tilted her head and closed her eyes.
His lips briefly touched hers and then vanished. Just as fast as he came, he was gone. Confused, she opened her eyes and found him facing all the happy people who witnessed the exchange of vows. That was it? That was her first kiss as his wife?
His hand slipped into hers, and he pulled her back down the aisle. Petals covered the floor. Focused on Jackson, she had missed them earlier.
The edge of her skirt caused her to stumble. Jackson’s pace was too fast for her finery. He stopped and looked down at her. “Are you all right?”
She blushed, suddenly embarrassed, but not sure why. “I can’t keep up in this dress.”
“Oh, sorry.”
Now they stood in front of the cathedral and everyone hugged them with congratulations as they stood at the doors. Once most of the people disappeared down the road, her father hugged Juana.
“I can’t thank you enough Señora Juana for the epic job of organizing a wedding at such short notice. Are you sure you don’t want to come work for me?”
“Within a matter of weeks you would be working for me, old man.” Her warm smile contradicted her words.
Rory, Estevan and a few of Juana’s relatives erupted into laughter.
Head high, Rafael De Zavala glared at them. “I have secured a dinner party for a small group at the hotel. It’s late, and we need to eat and celebrate this new day and new family.” He turned to the people left standing around them. “Come, join us.”
As a group, they headed to the hotel. Jackson had dropped her hand, but walked next to her as they followed along. She hated that now she didn’t know how to talk to him. “That was so fast. It’s a bit strange to think a few words and now we are joined forever.”
He grunted, which made her heart lighten. That was her Jackson. She wrapped her fingers around his arm, loving the strength she felt under her hand. “Will we stay in the hotel today or at Juana’s boardinghouse?” She knew red spots crawled up her neck, and she looked at her hand gripping the light gray sleeve of his coat. The skin was cut, rough and callused. Not the hands of the Sofia De Zavala that left home all those weeks ago.
“I’m going back to the boardinghouse. Your father has a room for you at the hotel.”
“What? But we’re—”
“Business partners.
“Yes, but I—”
“Sofia, we have a business arrangement. We have not even courted.” He never once looked at her.
Dread wormed its way through her limbs. “Do you already regret marrying me?”
“No.” The muscle in his tight jaw told her otherwise.
What did she say to that? Rory laughed at something Juana’s daughter said. Estevan punched him in the arm.
The people walking and laughing in front of her started to blur. She bit the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood. “If you didn’t want to be married to me, why did you agree to this?” She kept her voice low. Humiliated if someone found out her husband was already leaving her and it was their wedding night. “Could we at least stay in the same building?”
“We talked about this.” A doorman opened the entrance to the hotel, giving them a nod as the boisterous group headed to the dining room, Jackson and her father both looking more like they were going to another funeral.
She knew it was a business arrangement, but she didn’t think it would exclude any chance of a real marriage. Why couldn’t they have both?
On the walk to the cathedral she had started dreaming about a real marriage with Jackson. Seeing him standing at the end of the aisle, repeating the vows of husband and wife shifted something in her. She was in love with her husband.
She wanted to cry and scream at him. It wasn’t his fault. He had been clear. The mistake was hers. There had to be a way to fix this.
* * *
As they sat around the long wood table, several courses were placed before them. Each bite she took hit her stomach like heavy metal.<
br />
Jackson sat next to her. He didn’t even pretend to eat. Finally, with the cake on the table, he put down his napkin and leaned toward her ear.
She closed her eyes and thought of things that would take her mind off the way she felt when she was close to him.
“I have a few errands I need to take care of before I leave for the ranch. I will meet up with you and your father soon. Should be about a week.”
Her spine stiffened. He was leaving their wedding dinner before it was even over.
Rory called out to him. “Hey, boss man, you’re not going to kiss your beautiful bride?”
Sofia held her breath as Jackson paused. He leaned over her and kissed her forehead. The way you would kiss a child. She would not cry. She smiled. “I’ll see you soon?”
He straightened and nodded. “Soon.”
* * *
It had been a week. All of Jackson’s business was done. It had actually been done four day ago, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave for the ranch.
She was there. His wife.
Her dark eyes looked into the heart of him, and he knew she wanted more than he could give her, more than he was willing to give.
What he feared was she’d get it. He would give his love to her, but it wasn’t his to give. It should have been buried with Lilly.
He looked down at the letter he had started days ago. All his mistakes and guilt poured into the words.
Maybe if he explained it to Lilly’s parents he would remember. He would stay strong in the face of his new wife.
The union with Sofia was a business arrangement. Not a real marriage. She was land. Work that would keep him busy until he joined his family.
He reclaimed his vow to Lilly in the letter. Promised his in-laws that he would stay true to their daughter, his first love and true wife.
A few drops smeared the ink. He wiped his face and went back to writing. Finishing it, he knew it was time.
He had stalled enough. With his resolve replanted, he would send the letter off tomorrow and make plans to go back to the ranch.
There was a wedding reception to attend. For now, he’d go to El Mercado and forget he was married, but he had responsibilities and duties he had to honor.
It wasn’t fair to Sofia for him to abandon her. He needed a plan. Something to do once he got there so he wouldn’t have to spent time with her. The idea of moving into De Zavala’s house didn’t sit well with him either. If he was going to live on the ranch, he wanted his own house. One big enough so that he wouldn’t be close to his bride. That gave him another excuse to stretch his stay in San Antonio. He needed to have supplies sent to the ranch.
He dug his fingers into his scalp. How was he going to see Sofia and not have feelings for her? He didn’t deserve the land or the beautiful wife that came along with it.
Chapter Twenty
It had been two weeks since she had become Mrs. Jackson McCreed. Now Sofia stood next to her father in the receiving line without her husband. Her hand hurt from all the shaking, and her muscles on her face were stiff from all the fake smiling.
Every single person cast a glance to the empty spot on the other side of her. The side where her new husband should be standing.
The photo of their wedding had hit the newspapers. Seeing it for the first time had been startling.
The picture was beautiful, the horse, her dress, the limestone church and all the people made it look as if it had been a well-planned wedding. When she focused on her groom, she saw a stern, unhappy man.
Shaking the useless thoughts out of her mind, she glanced at her father as he shook the hand of Sheriff Ballinger. Once again he explained why the groom was not at his own reception.
A couple of days ago she asked him if he had forced Jackson to marry her, and he denied it, assuring her Jackson was willing and just needed the time to take care of business.
They had expected him four days ago.
Her mind went to dark places—accidents, bandits or illness could have claimed him or held him up. His stallion was still here, so she knew he would come back even if it was just to get his horse.
The sheriff moved to her next. “I hear you already need to put out wanted posters looking for your husband. That didn’t take long.”
With the best impression of her mother, she gave the man a stern look. “I’m sure my father told you about his business in San Antonio.” She never had liked the new sheriff. He held her hand a little too long, she tugged at it, but his grip tightened.
“If you need anything, Mrs. McCreed, please let me know and I will be there.”
“I’m sure she won’t be needing your services, Sheriff, but we’ll keep that in mind.”
She spun. “Jackson!” She clasped her hands in front of her so she wouldn’t throw her arms around his neck and make a spectacle for everyone in town.
His head was bare and his hair tousled. A shadow of a beard coated his jawline.
Mud from his boots left parts of the trail behind him. He shook her father’s hand and apologized for arriving late. He had the look of a cowboy who had been riding for days and just got off his horse. She scanned him from head to boots. Other than needing a bath, he looked healthy. He was here and safe.
Turning back to the sheriff, he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. He offered his other hand to the lawman. Both men did a bit of narrow eye surveying before Sheriff Ballinger moved on to join the others drinking punch and eating whatever the church ladies had set up on the tables.
He stepped away from her. “Sorry I’m late and I look like something the cat dragged in. I was afraid if I stopped to clean up I’d miss the whole thing.”
“I’ve been worried.” She had so much to ask him, but this was not the place. “Are you hungry?”
His strong chin tilted down toward her and his deep green eyes squinted. “That’s all you got to say to me? I’m about a week late and almost missed the reception and you just want to feed me?”
“Well, Mr. McCreed, you do look hungry, and I figured anything I have to say can wait until we are alone.” She gave him her best hostess smile. “My mother’s training wasn’t completely wasted. I know where and how to plan my battles.”
With those words she took his hand and led him to the food tables. People she knew, some all her life, others just a few months, watched as they left the receiving line and cut across the community hall.
One of her mother’s best friends, Pastor Phillips’s wife, Mable, handed them each a plate with peach cobbler.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Jackson’s baritone voice slipped along her spine. She needed to keep it together. If their marriage was going to work, they had a great deal to talk about, but this was not the time or place.
She laid a hand on his arm and leaned in closer to Mable. “He’s been riding hard all day to get here.”
The older woman nodded and smiled, her eyes softening. “What a heroic thing to do.”
“I’ll go get you something to drink, darling.” She smiled at him, and he returned the look with skepticism. She could hear her mother’s voice telling her to let them wonder what was behind the smile. “Is lemonade okay?”
He took a slow bite of the cobbler and nodded.
Mable started talking to him as Sofia turned and went to the other side of the room where they had set up the drinks. She was having a hard time breathing. And the nasty eye burning had started.
She couldn’t cry here. Whatever was going on with her marriage had to be settled in private.
A moment alone to gather herself was what she needed. All the doors had been opened to catch the cool breeze of the night. The moon was bright, as if God was holding up a lantern to check on them. She smiled.
Maybe her momma was watching over her, too. Giggling came from behind the b
uilding. “Did you see him? He’s as handsome as they say.”
“It’s not fair that Sofia got him before he met us. He could have made a better choice in town.”
“It’s not fair. I heard her father had to offer him the whole De Zavala ranch to marry her because she was ruined. The marriage is a sham.”
“What?”
“How?”
“Annie, this is just mean gossip. We should be happy for Sofia.” The others shushed Laura, her one true friend apparently.
“It’s not gossip. It’s the truth.” Annie, the banker’s daughter, continued. “I heard my parents talking. Señor De Zavala came to the bank and sent papers off for everything to be put in Mr. McCreed’s name. That’s the only reason he married her.”
“I guess if my father was willing to hand over all his possessions, I’d have any husband I wanted also.”
“Did you see the way he looks? He didn’t even bother to clean up for her. What do you think she did to be ruined?”
Sofia couldn’t listen to another word and ran inside, ducking behind a wall, into a space they stored boxes.
People were saying she was ruined? Her father’s plan to make everyone think they had been married didn’t work.
Annie had to be lying about the land. She was mean and loved gossiping. The rest of the girls were just jealous. Eyes closed, she pressed her hands against her middle.
Was the only reason Jackson married her for ownership of the land? Would her father make that kind of offer? Give over all their land to him?
Stepping out of the storage room, she scanned the reception area. She needed to talk to her father.
He would tell her the truth. The butterflies in her stomach that started fluttering when she saw Jackson now had claws and fangs.
* * *
Lilly had made the best peach cobbler. It had been his favorite. Jackson took the last bite of the warm dessert and forced it down his dry throat, smiling at the nice woman talking to him. He didn’t hear a word. The image of his new bride filled his head.
Lone Star Bride Page 19