by Skylar Hill
“No, everyone else calls my father Big Stan,” Nat said. “I call him Dad.”
He tried to picture Nat’s father for a second; what kind of man summoned the kind of need in people to add the moniker Big to his name. “Is he really tall or something?” He asked, checking his rearview mirror, keeping an eye on the cage.
“My father is a big man who does big things,” Nat said. “He owns a big ranch and a big business, and men just love the whole white cowboy hat, silver handlebar mustache thing. He definitely plays it up.”
“Sounds like a character,” Rhett said.
“It’s the disappointment of his life that I didn’t want to ride broncs for a few years on the circuit and then let him groom me to take over the ranches,” Nat said, a smile that wasn’t even close to bitter on her face. “But I had to go to college and get my business degree.”
“What a failure you are,” he said sarcastically. “CEO by thirty.”
“Hey, twenty-nine,” she corrected with a sharp smile that made him think God, I want to taste that.
He nudged her with his hand. “I know something about disappointing people by not going into the family businesses,” he said.
“I know,” she said. “We’re both black sheep, aren’t we? I get to be one in my career, too.”
“I hate that you have to operate in such a boy’s club,” he muttered, glancing at his rearview again as they hit the highway. The bears would probably be spooked once they got back to River Run, but they’d need to work quickly to repair their paws.
“It is what it is,” she sighed. “Hopefully I can do as much as I can to pave the way for the women who come after me.” She looked over her shoulder, out the back window. “How do you think they’re doing, the poor babies?”
“They’re probably confused as hell as to what’s going on,” Rhett said. “But we’ll get them all fixed up and in their new home soon enough.”
“Will their claws grow back?” Nat asked.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I’ve got to see what damage has been done.”
“They won’t be able to go free if they don’t have them… right?”
“Release into the wild can be tricky with orphans,” Rhett explained. “We’ll just have to see. Take it day by day. What matters right now is that they’re out of that situation, the bad guys were caught and will pay for what they did, and the cubs will have a better life than what was waiting for them.”
The storm clouds in her eyes cleared a little at his speech. “You’re right,” she said. “I’m so glad they have someone like you to call when situations like this crop up. Oh, Rhett, what would’ve happened to them if the refuge wasn’t around?”
Unable to give her the truthful answer, Rhett was silent—her answer. She went a little pale at the thought, and then, surprisingly, flushed.
“Screw Timothy Durbin,” she said with surprising venom. “I’ll be damned if he messes up all the good you do for the area and the wildlife because of his nasty little schemes. We’re going to figure out what he’s up to.”
He hated how much he liked how we fell off her tongue. Hated that it gave him this warm little jolt of pleasure.
Hated that he was going to be married to her soon… in name only.
Greater good, he told himself. Think of the refuge. Think of all the money Eleanor has put into the refuge and the property. Think of the educational programs Molly wants to expand. You have the potential to do even more, to help even more, and if a marriage certificate will keep all that from getting destroyed, you’ve got to man up and do it. Even if the idea of marrying her and not truly having her is killing you.
She spent most of the ride turned around, with her eyes glued to the cage in the truck bed, something he was grateful for, because it let him keep his eyes on the road. As they drove home to River Run, all he could think was that he liked having a trusted partner at his side, to be his eyes when his attention needed to be elsewhere.
Sixteen
Nat
The surgical team had already been called into the clinic by the time they arrived. Nat watched as Rhett and Molly whisked the bears into the clinic, waving him off when he glanced back at her.
“Go,” she told him. “I’ll handle everything else.”
The look he shot back at her, the gratitude in his eyes, made her stomach twist. Rhett did so much for everyone. Sometimes she worried that not enough people were doing much for him.
Trying not to think about the poor little bear cubs and their messed-up paws—what was wrong with people?—she instead called Felicity. “Hey, Felicity. I need the number for the judge who does the marriage ceremonies in Hood River County,” she said. “And a list of the charitable causes they donate to.”
“Give me fifteen minutes,” Felicity said, ever the amazing assistant.
Nat went to check in on the rescue dog that Rhett had just taken in, and found herself utterly charmed—and slightly heartbroken—with Zeke and his gentle playfulness. The dog snuffled close to her as she went into the kennel and sat down with him, and his warm, wiggling body was comforting after the stress of the day.
She admired Rhett more than anything for what he did, because when she saw abused animals like those bear cubs or the sweet dog cuddling up next to her, all she felt was a red-hot sort of rage that made her want to smash things. Preferably the animal abuser’s face.
She’d grown up with animals—big and small—as a everyday part of her life. They were companions, pets, and coworkers, and no matter their role on the ranch, their lives were always valued. Her father wasn’t some factory farmer. He raised organic, free-range beef, and was committed to the best, most humane practices. As Big Stan always put it, Those cows are giving me a lot, so I’m gonna give them a lot while they’re here on earth.
She shook her head, trying to drive out the image of the scared cubs, how bad their paws had looked. Rhett and Molly and the rest of the River Run team would fix them. They were the best.
Her phone buzzed, and she looked down.
The judge is Mary Peters. Her most consistent donation (twice a year for twenty years) is to the Red Cross, but her biggest reported donation is to Best Friends Animal Rescue. Her office number is 515-3216.
Perfect. Nat pressed on the number, putting it on speaker.
“This is Judge Peters, how may I help you?”
“Hi Judge Peters,” Nat said. “This is Natalie Banks. My… fiancé and I had an appointment with you at three?”
“Yes, hello. I was wondering where you two got to. I hope it wasn’t cold feet.”
Nat laughed. “No, not at all. My fiancé runs a wildlife refuge and animal sanctuary, and the fine officers of this county called him in for some help. He’s performing surgery right now, operating on some bear cubs that were found at a crime scene.”
“Oh, my,” Judge Peters said. “That is definitely not a dull wedding day.”
“Well, that’s why I’m calling you,” Nat said. “We would really still like this to be our wedding day. I don’t know if this is possible, but is there anyway we can persuade you to come out here and perform the ceremony when he gets out of surgery? We’d drive over, but I’m just worried we won’t get there in time since we’re not sure how long the surgery will take.”
“I think that I can do that,” Judge Peters said. “Especially for Mr. Oakes. River Run is a great asset to the community. Your future husband is a very fine man.”
Nat felt a flood of relief hit her. Thank God. Now Durbin wouldn’t have a chance to wheedle in an order to cease using the water. They’d be married before he could issue it and all would be well. “I’d appreciate your help so much,” she said, her voice warm with genuine gratitude. “Do you need the address?”
“I know the place well,” Judge Peters said. “What time should I be there?”
“Three hours?” Nat asked.
“I’ll see you then,” Judge Peters said.
“Thank you so much, Judge,” she said, a little flut
ter going through her. In three hours, she’d be married.
She’d be Rhett’s wife. It wouldn’t be real, it couldn’t, but maybe… maybe it would feel real… a little.
She shouldn’t want it to, but deep down…
She took a breath, cuddling Zeke close to her, the dog licking at her fingers thoughtfully.
Get through today, she thought to herself. And think about tomorrow—and the consequences—later.
Seventeen
Rhett
It had been a long double surgery, the kind that left his back aching and his heart even more. He pulled his mask off as he headed out of the operating room, stopping when he realized Nat was sitting on the floor directly outside the door, Zeke glued to her like a burr, both of them looking worried.
“Are they okay?” she asked.
“They both did great,” he said. “There might be less permanent damage than I thought.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God,” she said. “You might be able to rehabilitate them?”
“Maybe,” he said. “That’s the hope, but it can be a journey. Right now, we’re going to focus on getting them healed up, strong, and socialized, and in a habitat that will help move them toward that goal.”
He pulled off his scrub cap, craning his neck from side to side, wincing when he heard several loud cracks. “Sorry,” he said. “That was a marathon.”
“You must be exhausted,” she said.
He was. But he also was full of the kind of adrenaline and energy that only something like that—surgery, saving animal’s lives—could provide. His body was both exhausted and sore… and ready to run another marathon if need be. Post-op was always a curious state.
“Fuck,” he looked at the clock in the hall. “We missed our appointment with the judge.”
“Don’t worry about that,” she waved it away.
“No, but Durbin’s gonna deliver the notice to cease water use any day now. If we don’t have a marriage license…”
“Which is why Judge Peters is on her way here right now,” Nat said. “She can marry us in front of the chicken coop, if you want.”
He frowned. “What… how… She just agreed to that?”
“Rhett, people in this community respect you,” Nat said. “When she heard why we missed our appointment, she was happy to go out of her way.”
Even though he knew this intellectually, it made him feel damned good for her to say it. Community was important, and the community of Hood River had a lot of great people in it. It had some shady types, too, but what place didn’t?
“That’s so nice of her,” he said, looking down at his hands, which were always kind of gross and tight from the gloves after a surgery. “Do I have time for a shower? I wouldn’t want to marry you smelling like this.”
She wrinkled her nose, and it was the cutest damn thing he’d seen in a long time. Or, you know, in around the five minutes since she’d done something just as cute. “Good point,” she said. “Go shower. I’ll meet you at the barn in fifteen? We can do the paperwork on the back deck so she doesn’t label us the most unromantic couple ever.”
“Deal,” Rhett said, wondering if she really thought he was unromantic, and then his mind wandered to all the ways he could prove to her just how romantic he could be. Fuck. He may need a longer shower than fifteen minutes.
He speeded through the shower, though. And then spent a good five minutes agonizing over what clothes to wear, since what he’d chosen earlier was covered in dirt and bear excrement.
My life, he thought, rolling his eyes as he yanked on a light gray button-up and tucked it into a pair of black dress pants. He shoved his feet in his black leather boots, leaving the collar of his shirt unbuttoned at the neck and slightly open, because the last time he let her tie his tie, he almost kissed her on a fence, and he didn’t dare repeat that move.
He spent entirely too much time messing with his hair, trying to get it into some sort of order for God knows what reason, when he heard the door downstairs open.
“Nat?” he called.
“It’s me,” she called back. He could hear her heels on the vintage wood floors he’d installed himself. “Judge Peters is here.”
He hurried downstairs, running a final—and futile—hand through his hair. “Judge Peters,” he said, putting on his best charming smile and holding out his hand. “Thank you so much for doing this. I’m so sorry about all the trouble.”
“I’m happy to help,” the judge said. “Though I must say, I’m a little surprised you two aren’t throwing a big wedding. You have such a beautiful venue here.”
Rhett turned bright red, not knowing what to say. God, he sucked at lying. This is why he didn’t do it.
“Oh, you know how it is,” Nat said. “Family squabbles and drama. My daddy would’ve thrown a fit if I didn’t invite all his work colleagues, and so would Rhett’s, and between the two of them, I’d end up with a wedding for five hundred, I swear.” She smiled conspiratorially at the judge, ever the charmer, her ability to smooth over and gloss and make small talk always leaving Rhett in awe. “So we figured we’d take all the stress off and get married and then go ‘Surprise, everyone!’”
“That’s very romantic,” Judge Peters said with a smile. “Now, where would you two like to do this?”
“Out on the deck,” Rhett said.
“Then if you’re ready to get started, so am I,” the judge said.
Rhett’s stomach tightened, his body growing hot as he rose to his feet and took Nat’s hand. His pulse was pounding as they walked out to the deck, turned to each other. and he took her other hand.
“Have you written your own vows?” Judge Peters asked.
Nat shook her head.
“Alight,” she said. “Love is what brings us here today,” she said. “The love between you, Natalie, and you, Rhett. The love that you’ve built and created together takes root today. It will take water and gentle care, but with your equal contributions, with the partnership you form with each other, it will flourish into something strong and beautiful: A marriage of mind, of body, and of spirit. Rhett, do you take this woman to be your wife?”
“I do,” he said, and he’d never meant anything more in his life, looking into her dark eyes shining up at him. It was like it was real. It was like they were real. Like what he felt, what had been burning in his chest for years, had finally been let free.
There’s no going back now. Things will never be the same.
Do I want them to be?
“Natalie, do you take this man to be your husband?”
“I do,” Nat said, her voice soft, but so sure. He hadn’t wondered how it would make him feel to hear her swearing to join her life with his, he hadn’t dared, but now…
God, nothing had ever felt so right. He wondered if she felt the same.
“Do you have rings?” Judge Peters asked.
“Oh,” Nat said. “No—”
“I do,” Rhett interrupted, and her dark, delicate brows drew together as he pulled out a thin gold eternity band from his shirt pocket. He took her hand in his, the weight and warmth of it something precious and sacred as he slipped the ring onto her finger.
“Then with the power invested in me by the State of Oregon, I pronounce you husband and wife. Rhett, you may kiss your wife.”
My wife, the words echoed through him, sending frissons of pleasure, of surety, of agreement inside him. His gaze dropped to Nat’s lips, realizing they hadn’t talked about how they were going to do this, and he wanted to kiss her, of course he did. But if he kissed her…
She would know. Surely she would feel the true depths of his feeling if their lips touched again. And then it would be even harder for both of them.
He brushed a kiss across her cheek instead, unable to give in to his impulses, too damn cowardly to do it. He could feel her cheek move against his lips, like she was frowning, and maybe it had been the wrong move. Maybe, he realized with dread as he pulled away and there was a curiou
s expression in her dark eyes, it had said even more than a real kiss would have.
Damn, if you even had an inkling of how much I want you…
He heard, vaguely, Nat saying something to the judge about him being the old-fashioned type, and he signed the paperwork put in front of him. Then suddenly, he was clutching his marriage certificate—their marriage certificate—and the judge was congratulating them and leaving… and then they were alone in his living room.
He looked across the linen couch at her, thinking my wife, in a sort of awed, dumbstruck sort of loop. He was still kind of reeling that she’d done this for him. That all the worry about River Run was now held at bay by the certificate sitting on the coffee table.
Nat ran a hand through her hair, leaning her head against her palm. “I think I’m gonna turn in early,” she said. “Jess set aside my regular suite for me. Those bathtubs of yours, I swear, they’re specially designed for relaxation somehow.” Her mouth quirked up, her eyes earnest, like she wanted to know that they were okay, that they weren’t going to change.
She didn’t want things to change. He knew that. And it was hard, because that was all he wanted.
“You sure I can’t make you dinner or something?” he asked. “I mean, you just married me ten minutes ago. I don’t want to start this out being a bad husband. What if you divorce me?”
The relief in her eyes was sweet, the smile she gave him so wide. “I have many wifely needs, Oakes. You’d better tend to them, or I am so out of this not-actually-real marriage.”
He had to shift when she said the words wifely needs, his mind going into a dirty direction immediately and his cock hardening at that direction. God, he would tend to them. He’d tend to her until she’d come so many times she couldn’t even lift her head off the pillow.
“I’m fine, though,” she said. “You don’t need to cook for me when I can order room service. You were in surgery for hours. You should rest.”