The Cowboy's Convenient Bride

by Donna Alward

  “Oh!” She couldn’t stop the light exclamation. Goodness, he’d done that as if she weighed nothing at all, when she knew very well she was still carrying a good portion of her baby weight, as well as her baby.

  “There you go. I shouldn’t be long here. What’s for supper?” He winked. He asked that almost every night, always teasing. Her lack of cooking skills had become a bit of a running joke.

  “Spaghetti,” she replied. This was something she could manage halfway decently by using canned goods for the sauce. There was a salad kit in the fridge, which only required her to dump everything into a bowl. She’d picked up sugar cookies as a treat for him to have for dessert.

  She put Rowan to play in a playpen she’d found at a garage sale the past weekend. Her daughter was now starting to scooch herself along in a prequel to proper crawling. Humming softly to herself, Laura browned a little hamburger in a pan and then added a couple of jars of sauce. A quick taste proved the sauce to be somewhat bland, so she added seasonings to spice it up a bit. Then she put water on to boil for the pasta, dug out a salad bowl and listened to Tanner’s random sounds of sawing and hammering.

  When the pasta was cooked, she drained it and poured it into a big bowl, poured the sauce over top and put it on the table along with the salad. She went to the door and stuck her head outside. “Tanner? Dinner’s ready.”

  “Great. I got the last step fixed and I’m starving.”

  He unbuckled the tool belt and Laura tried not to follow the movement of his hands with her eyes. She failed. When she glanced up, he was watching her with an amused expression.

  Her cheeks flared. “It’s getting cold.”

  “Certainly. Just let me wash up.”

  When he’d come back from the bathroom, she was seated at the table, scooping a big helping of pasta onto his plate. “So,” she said, determined to start a normal conversation. “You’re starting haying. Does that mean the wedding is bad timing?”

  “Not really.” He picked up his fork, took his plate from her fingers. “Thanks. Anyway, my mom and dad never work on Sunday. Well, I shouldn’t say never. If the weather forecast is bad, we might work right through. But other than daily chores? Mom and Dad always believed in a day of rest. During our busiest times, that was always our day for family.”

  “That sounds nice,” Laura said, loving the way his family sounded more and more.

  “When I was younger, it was a pain in the ass. Now I appreciate it, though. Everyone needs some downtime.”

  “I officially invited my grandparents,” she said, taking the salad utensils and putting some lettuce on her plate. “With your folks and Cole and Maddy, that makes six. Is there anyone else you want to tell?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve got friends, but we’re keeping this small, right? Cole will be our witness. How about you?”

  She thought of a few friends she’d reconnected with when she came back to town, and who’d then awkwardly found excuses to back out of plans when the rumors about Gavin started spreading. “No,” she said, quite definite. “Let’s just have the eight of us. Nine, including Ro.” She smiled. “Perfect number for inside the gazebo.”

  “Hey,” he said, “this spaghetti isn’t half-bad.”

  “A rousing endorsement.”

  He laughed. “I mean it. You’re getting better.”

  From anyone else it would sound patronizing. From Tanner, though—she knew it was a genuine compliment, and she took it as such.

  After dinner, she offered him a couple of cookies and a fresh cup of coffee. While she cleaned up the mess, Tanner headed back outside, and to her surprise, she saw him wielding a paintbrush. He was painting the railings a lovely, brilliant white. It was going to look amazing. It warmed her heart in ways she couldn’t explain. While Tanner hadn’t given her actual rent for this month, he’d taken her shopping for wedding stuff and picked up the tab. He’d bought groceries, changed the oil in her car and filled it up and now fixed the steps. That was worth far more than rent.

  He kept up his work and she finished the dishes, fed Rowan pureed sweet potato and peas, then gave her a bath and dressed her in clean, fuzzy pajamas. The evening was turning soft, the light muted through the windows, when she finally sat in the rocker in the living room to nurse Rowan before bed.

  Tanner came in and called out, “Laura, I’m going to clean the paintbrush and stuff down in the basement, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  She’d started to fall asleep in the chair, and only roused when she heard Tanner’s steps coming up from the basement. Rowan was sound asleep in her arms; Laura awkwardly set her clothing straight as best she could before he came into the room.

  He stopped in the doorway and rested his shoulder on the frame. “Out like a light.”

  Laura nodded.

  “Looks like her mama’s about ready, as well. Did you fall asleep again?”

  It was the again that got her. It spoke of habit, of intimacy. She already knew she would miss him when they went their separate ways. How hard would it be months from now when they lived together for so long?

  “I might have dozed off for a few minutes,” she confessed. “You painted the railings.”

  “A first coat. It needs a second because the wood soaks up the paint so much. But it’s a start.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  He pushed away from the frame, pulled up a foot stool and sat in front of her. He touched a single, rough finger to the soft hair above Rowan’s ear, the ghost of a smile flickering over his face. “Laura, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I moved in. I know we said it would be like a trial period. The wedding’s a little over a week away now. I know we’ve made the plans and everything, but I wanted to make sure this is still what you want.”

  “Is it what you want?”

  His gaze held hers. “Yes. Very much. I like coming home to you. To you both.”

  Her heart leaped. “I like having you here, too. It feels... I don’t know. More like a home somehow.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I know you’re busy, and I want to thank you again for everything you’ve been doing around here.”

  He put his hand on hers. “It’s something I can contribute, and I like doing it. Otherwise I might feel like I was merely a boarder. Know what I mean?”

  She nodded, understanding completely.

  “Besides, you make a man want to do things for you. When you smile at me and say thanks, it’s good for my ego.” His grin widened, and his fingers tightened on hers. Before she knew what was happening, they’d twined with hers so they weren’t just touching, but holding hands. Really holding hands.

  She was no innocent girl. And he certainly wasn’t an innocent man. He’d been married and she’d borne another man’s child. But in that moment, when their fingers meshed and their eyes met, something changed. Something pure, and yes, even innocent. Something big and important. For the first time, she let her feelings flood her heart. She didn’t just like Tanner. She loved him.

  It was so not part of the plan. She wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him. And if she told him? Everything would be ruined. They couldn’t get married if he knew the truth, so she determined to keep it buried deep inside. For as long as it took.

  He leaned forward and kissed her, lightly, a whisper of a kiss that was far more devastating in its tenderness than the most passionate of embraces. She was in real danger here, torn between wanting to follow her heart and doing what she knew she must.

  When the kiss ended, she sat back and smiled. “Well, we should be fine on the day. No awkwardness.”

  His gaze cooled a little, and understanding flickered in his eyes. But she saw something else, too. She saw that she wasn’t fooling anyone.

  Rowan shifted in her arms, perhaps uncomfortable from the slight squeeze of moments be
fore.

  “You’re tired. You should put Rowan to bed and head there yourself.”

  And away from him. It wasn’t a bad idea. She’d read. Or stare at the ceiling and marvel at how she was incredibly talented at getting herself into impossible situations.

  He was far enough away that she could get up, holding Rowan close in her arms. But she needed to slide past him to go toward the hall and the bedrooms, and he didn’t stand or move aside, either.

  She brushed by him and ducked into the bedroom, exhaling a breath. She then turned back and leaned out a little. “Good night, Tanner.”

  “Good night, Laura.”

  Maybe one of these days she’d get up the courage to bring up what was happening between them. Today definitely wasn’t that day, she thought with a rueful laugh as she lay down on top of her bed.

  She hadn’t brushed her teeth or done any of her bedtime rituals, but she was such a chicken that she couldn’t bear sneaking out of the room to do them now. So she lay there, listening to Rowan’s soft breaths, listening for Tanner’s footsteps past the door, listening to the beating of her heart until she fell into a restless sleep.

  * * *

  THE WEEKEND CAME and went. Tanner finished painting the railings and then he was home late several nights because of haying. It didn’t stop him from doing his odd jobs, though. Sunday, he installed a clothesline, and on Monday, Laura used it for the first time, hanging out Rowan’s frilly dresses instead of putting them in the dryer. Then she did the sheets, and loved the smell of them fresh off the line and on the bed.

  Another night he unloaded planters from his truck and set them on her step. “Mom had extra bedding plants,” he explained. “These ones I can hang as soon as I install some hooks.” There were two other large pots with petunias and geraniums. Laura took them and placed them on either side of the door and became ridiculously excited.

  “Oh, that’s just what we needed around here!”

  “She said she’s going to do some clippings and if you want some for your yard, to let her know.”

  “She said that?”

  He nodded. “I think she’s coming around a little, to be honest.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “Me, too. I think it goes a long way for her to know I’m happy.”

  He was happy. Happy living with her. She shouldn’t feel so elated about it, but she was. It was a nice feeling, knowing she contributed to someone else’s happiness.

  “I’m happy, too, Tanner.” She smiled. “And it looks so good around here now. With the paint and the flowers and everything.”

  “Let’s show Ro the flowers.”

  He’d shortened Rowan’s name. And he stepped around Laura, went inside and scooped Rowan out of her playpen without any hesitation at all.

  Just as a dad would.

  No. She wouldn’t think like that.

  He walked from planter to planter, showing Rowan the brightly colored flowers, letting her gently touch the petals. She heard his deep laugh, and Rowan’s higher squeal of excitement. “Do you mind if I take her for a walk around the yard?” he asked. “She seems to like it out here.”

  “That’s fine. Just don’t stay out if the bugs are bad. I get the feeling insect bites would be a real pain, you know?”

  “Of course.”

  He gave Rowan a bounce so that she was settled on his arm perfectly, and the two of them set off down the driveway. He’d mowed the lawn, but the ditch had grown and some wildflowers grew there. Laura watched them, Tanner’s lips moving as he talked away to Rowan, pointing at things Laura was sure her daughter didn’t understand. They stopped at the corner of the property, where a wild rosebush bloomed, the perfume sweet and strong from the pink blossoms. They moved along the edge to the poplar and birch trees, then the circle of spruces. He waved a hand at his face and they turned around to come back.

  If she could have handpicked a father for her child, it would be someone like Tanner. Hardworking, honest, caring, fun. Did he even realize how much of a family man he was deep down?

  “The bugs were worse toward the backyard. There’s a bit of a dip there that holds water.”

  “It’s nearly her bedtime anyway,” Laura answered. “I can take her.”

  When he put Rowan in her arms, their hands brushed. That simple touch was enough to send her stomach into whorls of excitement.

  Four more days. Four days from now she’d stand in front of a justice of the peace, his parents and her grandparents to falsely pledge to love and honor him forever. The problem was, it didn’t feel so false, and to mean it would only break her heart in the end.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The phone call came on Thursday, at precisely nine forty-two.

  Laura answered it, expecting a final call from the florist in town about the simple bouquet and boutonniere she’d ordered. Instead it was Gavin’s partner at the law firm, the lawyer who’d taken on her affairs after Gavin’s death.

  “Laura, could you come to the office for a meeting this morning?”

  Unease rippled through her stomach. “I guess I can get away. Is it important?”

  “Nothing to worry about, but I do need to give you an update as soon as possible. My schedule’s open this morning. Just tell the receptionist when you get here.”

  In her experience, nothing to worry about was often something to worry about. She hung up the phone feeling slightly sick. The only reason he’d call was if there was news about Spence. The fact that it had happened just three days before her wedding—something she was already nervous enough about—only added to her anxiety.

  She didn’t often ask her grandmother to watch Rowan, but this morning she did. She had the feeling she needed to be alone at this meeting. She made a quick call, ensuring that Gram was okay to watch Ro for a few hours, and then put together a well-stocked diaper bag, scraped her hair up in a ponytail and swiped a little lip gloss on her lips. That was all she was going to make time for today.

  Gram was ready and waiting when she arrived, perked up considerably since her illness and looking like her old self. She took Rowan from Laura’s arms and gave her loud kisses in her neck, prompting a belly laugh. “Are you all right, sweetie?” Gram asked. “You sounded upset on the phone.”

  “It’s fine. Just an unexpected appointment that’ll be easier without Rowan. I shouldn’t be too long. Thanks a million.”

  “Anytime. We haven’t seen her for a while now and she’s growing like crazy.”

  Laura smiled. “I know. Love you, Gram.” She kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “See you soon.”

  “Wave bye to your mama,” Gram said, lifting Ro’s pudgy arm.

  Ten minutes later, Laura arrived at the law office; a minute after that the receptionist ushered her into the lawyer’s office. To say the quick service made her nervous was an understatement.

  “Laura, hello.” Richard was middle-aged, with steel-rimmed glasses and salt-and-pepper hair, which gave him an air of both authority and competence. “Have a seat. Can we get you a coffee or anything?”

  She swallowed tightly. “With all due respect, you do charge by the hour.” She smiled at him, hoping the quip might lighten things for her.

  He smiled. “Okay, I know I was kind of cryptic on the phone. You haven’t seen the news today, I take it?”

  “The news?” She looked at him with some confusion. “No, I don’t usually watch in the morning and I hadn’t logged on to my computer yet.”

  “Good. I wanted you to hear it from me, first.”

  “Hear what?” God, had Spence been paroled? And yet that was hardly something that would make the news. Her blood turned to ice. Escape? Was he coming here? Oh no. She’d left Rowan at Gram’s...

  Richard reached across the desk. “Forgive me, Laura. I haven’t gone about this the
right way. You have nothing to fear, all right? Spencer is dead.”

  The room started to spin. She heard a chair scrape on the floor and a warm, gentle voice beside her. “Okay, now,” he said, gently but firmly. “Head between the knees. Try to take deep, slow breaths.”

  She was hyperventilating. Her heart pounded, her body felt cold and distant, and her head was spinning. She did as she was ordered and dropped her head between her knees, the lawyer’s warm hand on her back. It gave her something to focus on until the panic and shock passed and she could breathe again.

  “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, putting her elbows on her knees and holding her head in her hands. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

  “It’s fine. You okay now?”

  “Yes, thanks. Though I might like a glass of water.”

  He disappeared for a moment and then returned with a glass, tinkling with ice cubes. “Here, drink this and I’ll fill you in.”

  The water was cold and refreshing and Laura took a big breath, sitting back in the chair and regaining her composure bit by bit. When Richard was sure of her, he took off his glasses and put them on his desk, then folded his hands and looked at her evenly.

  “I’ll cut right to the chase, Laura. There was a fight at the prison and Spencer was killed. It’s on the news today. I’ve made a few calls on your behalf, and early reports say he got on the wrong side of someone inside, something gang related. I’m guessing, from what I know of his background and what you and Gavin told me, he probably got a little bit vocal and cocky and someone decided to shut him up.”

  “He’s really dead? Not just injured or something?”

  “Really dead. There’ll be a full investigation, of course, and I can keep you up to date with that if you like, but mainly my job here today is to tell you that you no longer have to worry about Spencer being a threat. He can’t come after you. He can’t frighten you anymore, Laura.”