by Linda Broday
Folding his arms around her, Rand let a ragged sigh escape. They still had things to prove to each other. He only prayed they wouldn’t regret their decision.
Maybe one day they’d slay all those ghosts of their pasts she’d talked about. All he needed was a chance and plenty of patience.
* * *
Callie tried to pretend not to feel the quivers that came from the warmth of Rand’s hand on her waist as they strode into the parlor. Acknowledging his touch would confirm the deep waters she’d stepped off into. Yet she didn’t have enough imagination to block what his nearness did to her.
Her heart went out to him. The glimpse he’d given her into his painful past made her aware of all she’d promised. This marriage would bind them. There would be no going back. She could never leave him. Her life was with him now.
Please, dear God, don’t let it be a mistake.
Delta was ecstatic at the news. “Thank you both. Now Emily can pass on in peace. And how wonderful that you want her to be at your wedding.” She turned to Callie. “We have some planning to do, my dear, if we’re to pull this off so quickly. We’re about the same height and size. Well, not the size I am now.” She laughed. “Let me rephrase that. You’re the size I used to be six months ago. I insist you wear my wedding dress. It’s a lovely creation of satin and lace.”
“Thank you. You’re too kind. That’s one detail off my mind. The dress I have on is the only one I own. I’d never want to embarrass Rand.”
“Nothing you do will ever make me hang my head,” Rand declared firmly. “You could wear a burlap sack and I’d still marry you.”
Emily roused and sat up. They told her the news and watched the most glorious smile brighten her face. “You’re the answer to a prayer. I know my daughter will be in safe hands.”
“I’ll leave you ladies to finish making the arrangements,” Rand said. “I need to get back to my patching job.”
When he came back in, Callie and Delta were chattering like a couple of magpies. It seemed they’d discussed everything down to the tiniest details.
Toby sat near Callie, holding the baby and smiling to beat all get-out. The thrill of being a big brother was written all over his face. Rand couldn’t wait to see what happened when the baby got colicky and cried all night.
Exhaustion seemed to have taken a toll on Emily. Rand knelt down in front of the sightless woman and took her hands. “We’re going to cherish Wren and see that she grows up into a beautiful and happy young lady. And we’ll tell her all about her brave mama and how much you loved her.”
Tears rolled down Emily’s pale cheeks.
A few minutes later, Rand helped both women into the buggy and put the baby in her mother’s lap. He led his horse from the barn and hugged Callie. “I’m going to make sure they get home safely. I won’t be long.”
“Rand, I told you I’m perfectly capable of getting us back to the ranch.” Delta pulled a small gun from her dress pocket, then lifted a Colt Walker from under the seat in the wagon box. That cannon would put the fear of God into even the most hardened criminal.
He laughed. “All right. I take your word. Just don’t let Cooper kick me halfway to Galveston.”
“I can handle my husband.” Delta waved good-bye and flicked the reins.
Toby stood with one hand on Biscuit and the other clutching Callie’s dress. She slid her arm around his thin shoulders.
Rand glanced back as he returned his roan to the barn and a mist came into his eyes.
His wife.
His son and soon-to-be baby daughter.
His family.
All he’d ever dreamed of was about to come true. One more day and his lonely heart could settle.
But he couldn’t afford to relax yet. He knew how quickly minds could change…how fast life could turn on a man when he thought nothing could go wrong.
Fourteen
Tomorrow would be her wedding day.
Callie lay awake all night. What had she done? How could she marry Rand?
If he…
A sliver of cold fear ran through her. She’d let him believe that the sleeping arrangements would eventually change, that she would fulfill her wifely duties one day. She’d already betrayed his trust, the very thing she’d vowed to never do.
But her path was set and she couldn’t turn back. When she’d held little Wren in her arms, she knew she had to give the babe a home and love. It was as simple as that.
Even as she questioned the agreement to marry, she hungered for the baby in her arms again. That was worth her promise to kiss Rand each night before they went to bed.
The thought of Rand’s kisses made her heart beat faster. Yet how long would he be satisfied? How long before he grew tired of the arrangement? And what about the wedding ceremony? Vowing to love and cherish someone she barely knew gave her the jitters. What if she froze up? What if she couldn’t get the words out?
Though Rand was as different from Nate Fleming as night from day, what if she ended up as miserable as Claire?
No, it could never be that bad. It was unfair to compare.
A thin ribbon of light came from under the door, assuring her Rand was on watch. She was safe from everything except her overactive mind.
If only she could be the wife he wanted. She’d give anything if she could. Both of them would be forced to confront their paralyzing fears one day.
She sighed and rolled over, praying for strength and a double helping of courage.
* * *
A cold, gray dawn greeted Rand.
“Great, just great,” he grumbled, climbing from beneath the warm covers. He’d wanted the day to be perfect for Callie. “Nothing I can do to change it, though.”
While she made breakfast, he milked the cow and collected the eggs. Stealing eggs from the hens technically fell under Toby’s chores, but the boy hadn’t gotten up yet and the day was wasting.
Rand’s tongue tied in a knot when he sat across the table from Callie. What did one say to a woman before her wedding? Did you sleep well? How about this weather? Do you have nervous jitters, or worse, cold feet? When are you leaving me?
“We’re going to make this work, Callie,” he said instead, reaching out to cover her hand. “I’m not saying we won’t have challenges, but whatever comes, we’ll get through it. You and me. Together.”
“I know.” She licked her dry lips and met his gaze straight on. “I’ve always heard where there’s a will there’s a way. I’m just nervous. We don’t even know each other. What if you grow to hate me?”
“That will never happen.” He flashed a grin. “On the other hand, you may want to throw something at me and run out of this house screaming when you discover my bad habits. Cooper and Brett threatened to shoot me. Said I snored so loud, I could wake a stone-deaf garden rake.”
She allowed a bit of a smile. “I’ve seen no sign of that. For all you know, I do the same…or worse. We’re not perfect people. No one is.”
“I want you to move to one of the upstairs bedrooms. The one you’re in is too small. I’ll buy more furniture of course. I want you to have whatever you need. Your comfort means a lot to me.” He heard Toby shuffling around in the next room. “I’ll never hurt you—you can count on that. I’ll move heaven and earth to keep you and Toby and Wren safe.”
Callie’s hand curled inside his. “As long as we’re being honest, I vow to never give you cause to curse this day.”
Rand withdrew his hand when Toby stumbled to the table. The sleepy boy seemed awfully happy about something. Rand didn’t have to wait long to find out.
Toby pulled out a chair and leaned close. “Will you be my papa?”
“That would give me great pleasure, but since you already have a father—”
“I ain’t claimin’ him. I want you.”
“I’ll have to speak to a lawye
r. Maybe I can adopt you and make you my son. I can’t think of any greater joy.”
“Me neither. An’ Aunt Callie can be my mama an’ Wren can be my sister.”
The boy appeared to have everything figured out and orderly in his world. With his chest swelling near to popping the buttons off his shirt, Rand reached over and mussed Toby’s hair.
This was going to work out. It had to. Four lives depended on it. One, then two strangers, had formed a family. Now they’d added another. His tight circle was growing.
He was already counting the minutes to bedtime so he could kiss Callie again. He might manage to wrangle two kisses in one day if he played his cards right. One before the preacher and one later, in private.
* * *
The sun broke through the clouds that afternoon, banishing the chill from Callie’s bones. Cooper had picked up her and Toby in a handsome surrey for the ride to his Long Odds Ranch for the solemn ceremony. Rand would meet them there with the preacher.
The news that Emily had taken a turn for the worse during the night cast a pall over the day. Cooper didn’t know if she’d be up to attending.
“Delta has packed up most of the baby’s things,” Cooper said in that deep voice of his. “Wren will go home with you and Rand afterward.”
Panic rushed over Callie. She didn’t have enough experience. She’d never cared for a baby all by herself. What if she didn’t know what to do? What if she caused Wren harm?
Her blood stilled. What if Nate killed the infant when he came to settle up with her?
Callie twisted her hands in her lap. “Delta didn’t have to do that. I could’ve gotten everything together.”
“She didn’t mind. My wife is a whirlwind of nervous energy these days. She hates the thought of turning over Wren’s care to someone else and has concerns about the impending birth of our babies.”
“Maybe we should leave the infant where she is for now.”
Cooper’s honest gray eyes met hers. “No. Delta’s exhausted. She needs to rest up for the delivery. We haven’t been able to prepare for our own babies yet.”
“In that case, we’ll relieve you of Wren.”
“You’re getting a good man, Miss Callie. Rand is top-notch. He just needs someone to believe in him. He carries a lot of hurt, and I think you might be the one to heal him.”
“I’ll do my best.” Yet Callie didn’t know how she’d do that with the limitations she’d placed on their marriage. What she’d done wasn’t fair to the man who was used to being abandoned.
The remainder of the ride passed in silence. The Long Odds Ranch was most impressive, from the massive crossbar they passed under to the dwelling itself. The two-story frame ranch house appeared to have a fresh coat of white paint. A wide porch stretched across the front. It put Rand’s humble dwelling to shame. That was all right, though. She knew one day Rand would have his fixed up every bit as nice.
Rand’s blue roan and wagon was tied to a hitching rail in front alongside another horse she didn’t recognize. He’d made it. She’d had a fear in the back of her mind that he’d leave her standing at the altar.
His words sounded in her ear. I can’t offer my heart or speak words of love.
No one ever had. Still, she couldn’t help wishing for it. Just once. Just to know that she mattered that much to someone…to Rand.
She shut her mind from the pain and disappointment as Cooper halted near Rand’s big roan. Brett and Rand strode from the house. Rand wore a big grin and beat his brothers to her side.
Placing his hands around her waist, he pulled her against him as he swung her to the ground. He held her for several heartbeats and whispered in her ear, “I couldn’t wait to see you, my wife. You look exceptionally beautiful today.”
“I pray we’re doing the right thing,” she murmured.
But the fact the sun’s rays warmed her face helped dispel some of her jitters. Marrying on a cold, gray day was definitely bad luck. She needed good omens, not bad.
When he offered his arm, she slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow and together they strode toward their future.
* * *
Nate Fleming shrank into the brush near the road and watched Callie Quinn and his son go into the house. He wished he could get closer, but the ranch hands near the entrance kept him from it.
Hate welled up. He’d started to shoot the sheriff in town but decided to trail him a little first. He was glad he’d waited. The lawman had led him straight to the twit who’d stolen Toby from him. Killing the sheriff on his own land was much more fitting anyway.
And then when he got done with him, he’d turn his wrath on his former sister-in-law.
Soon he’d have her in his clutches.
* * *
After Rand delivered Callie upstairs, he found his brothers having a powwow outside. “What’s going on?”
“Better tell him, Brett,” Cooper said.
Brett made no attempt to dodge the question. “Been scouting the area and I’ve seen troubling signs.”
“Go on.” Whatever it was, Rand needed to know.
“Lots of tracks, hooves and boots both, in the woods across the way. Remnants of a campfire. Looks like someone has been hunkered down for a while. Waiting for something.”
“Who do you think it might be?” Cooper asked.
“Could be someone just passing through. Don’t know.”
“Guess we’ll know soon enough if it’s Fleming.” Rand clamped his back teeth together and stared off into the distance. Things would not bode well for the outlaw if he tried to take his family.
* * *
In Delta’s bedroom on the Long Odds Ranch, Callie slipped into the borrowed creamy satin wedding gown. She’d never seen anything so fine despite the fact that she’d once owned some beautiful clothes. She thought of Rand waiting downstairs and tried to quell the butterflies in her stomach.
Neither had spoken much. Her heart ached for this man who’d been horribly hurt by life and the people he trusted. They had that in common. They’d both walled off their hearts until nothing much remained except fear and loneliness.
How were they going to make this work?
Callie finished getting ready, then gave herself one last look in the mirror. She didn’t recognize herself in this gorgeous dress. Smoothing her hair, she left the room.
When she saw Rand standing at the bottom of the stairs, her breath caught. He looked so handsome in a frock coat.
His eyes lit up. “I’ve never seen a more lovely, utterly breathtaking woman,” he said when she reached him. “You look like an angel. I’m a very lucky man.”
“Thank you. I’ve never seen you in such finery.”
“What do you think?”
“I’m going to have to make another rule. I don’t want you wearing these clothes in town or the women will be flocking around you, displaying their feminine charms. You’re all mine now, Rand.”
His grin made her heart skip several beats. “Suits me just fine. Are you ready?”
When she nodded, they went to join the others.
* * *
“Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” the young preacher’s voice boomed.
Callie swallowed hard past the lump in her throat. She glanced down at Rand’s strong hand, his tanned fingers curled around hers.
“Look at me, Callie,” Rand said softly. “We can stop right now if you don’t want this.”
She shook her head and turned to the man of the cloth, who waited for a response. “I do.”
The rest of the ceremony was a blur. She must’ve said all the appropriate things, because it moved forward like a well-oiled wheel.
“You may kiss your bride, Mr. Sinclair,” the preacher concluded.
Her heart stopped as Rand raised her veil and lowered his mouth to her slightly
parted one. His tender kiss promised a safe port in a raging storm, security when the night pressed around, and easy affection.
Then, when she thought he’d end it for propriety’s sake, he crushed her to him and with a heated fury deepened the kiss.
It left her breathless and shaken. Her face flamed at his boldness.
Beside her, Toby clapped and hollered. Brett, who looked quite handsome in a beaded leather shirt and pants and his tall moccasins, was first in line to congratulate her.
“Welcome to the family, Miss Callie.” Brett enveloped her in a hug. “Rand found himself a beautiful wife. I’m tempted to steal you away from him.”
A threatening rumble came from Rand’s throat. “Oh no you don’t. She’s mine, little brother, and don’t you be forgetting that.”
Callie laughed and broke free. She made her way to Emily Winters, who had slumped over into the chair. The woman looked so frail and tiny. Callie knelt down and took her hand. “Are you all right, dear?”
“Need to lie down,” she whispered.
Cooper lifted the woman in his arms and carried her up the stairs. Callie and Delta followed. They tucked her into bed and sat down beside her. Callie watched as Delta laid an open locket that had Joe’s picture inside on Emily’s pillow.
“The angels are here,” Emily murmured. “See them? They’re beautiful. My Joe. And Mama. It’s been so long.”
With tears blurring her vision, Callie went to get the baby. Something told her the woman would never see another sunrise. When she returned, Emily’s breathing had become increasingly shallow. She laid little Wren on her mother’s stomach.
Emily’s hand crept out from beneath the quilt. The baby clutched it for all she was worth. It was as though she were trying to keep Emily from leaving, to pull her mother back from the death that hovered so near.
Wren didn’t make a sound. She lay there very still, her bright little eyes following some unseen movement in the room.
The lanky preacher was in attendance along with Callie, Delta, Cooper, Rand, and Brett. Callie found comfort in Rand’s arms. She cried while he held her, then let him wipe her eyes.
As the sun set in the western sky amid vibrant purple and orange hues, Emily Winters breathed her last on earth and went to join her heavenly father. Only then did Wren break from her trance and begin to wail.