by Cora Seton
Had she really just gotten her first proposal?
What a proposal it was. Trading marriage for a chance to stay at Westfield? That was ridiculous.
Except it was Boone making the offer.
She had to at least think it over.
She’d read and heard enough about Martin Fulsom to know the demands he’d made of Boone weren’t that unusual. No one else would tie their donations to a requirement like marriage, but Fulsom was larger than life, brash and a media darling. He thought nothing of pulling outrageous stunts himself. He’d do whatever it took to get his television show top ratings.
What was Boone getting himself into?
“That’s your uncle?” Nora asked. They crowded around her as the fire burned down.
“No. That’s definitely not my uncle—that’s Boone Rudman. He’s a friend of mine from a long time ago.” Riley was still in shock that he was here at Westfield at all, let alone the owner of the ranch.
“Boone? The guy you’ve told us about? The Navy SEAL? The one who embarrassed you in front of everyone?” Savannah exchanged a look with the others.
“I thought your uncle owned the ranch,” Nora persisted.
“He decided to sell it recently. I didn’t want to worry you. Boone bought it, so it’s all right.” She wished that was true.
“I don’t understand,” Nora said. “If Russ doesn’t own Westfield, what are we doing here?”
“We can we still live here, can’t we?” Avery asked worriedly.
“I thought you were supposed to inherit Westfield,” Savannah said.
“I was. Things have changed, but Boone said we could stay until December.” As long as she married him. Russ’s betrayal blindsided her again. It was cruel to promise that she’d inherit Westfield if he didn’t intend to follow through. Losing the ranch was like losing her grandparents all over.
“Will we have to pay rent?” Avery asked.
“You should have told us,” Savannah said.
“I know, I know. It was really unexpected.”
“Why was he so angry at first? Didn’t you tell him we were coming today?” Nora pressed.
“He… got the date wrong,” Riley improvised. “He thought we were kids up to mischief.” She was relieved when the others seemed to accept this.
“What’s it like to see him again after all these years?” Savannah asked.
“It’s… awkward,” Riley said.
“Lieutenant Rudman. It has a ring to it,” Avery said.
“I don’t know what his rank is,” Riley said.
“Lieutenant will do just fine,” Avery declared. “It sounds very Jane Austen-y. Is he single?”
“Yes.” Riley bit her lip. She had to give them some indication of what was to come. “He… asked me out.”
“Really?”
“What’d you say?”
The questions came from all sides.
The fire was quickly dying down to ashes. Riley moved closer to it, suddenly chilled. “I said yes.”
The others exchanged a glance again. Riley couldn’t tell if they were surprised or dismayed. Or both.
“Good for you,” Avery managed to say.
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Savannah asked.
“No. I’m not sure of that at all,” Riley told her.
“That’s because it isn’t wise,” Nora said. “But it’s probably inevitable.”
“He’ll make a good Darcy for your Elizabeth,” Avery broke in, obviously trying to avert an argument. “Maybe he has a friend.”
“He does. In fact, several of them are coming to live here, too.” Riley brightened at being able to provide this information. She didn’t want to go down the rabbit hole Nora had opened up. Maybe she was right; maybe it was inevitable she’d try again with Boone, even after he’d hurt her, but she didn’t need someone else to point it out. “When we were kids I called them the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. But they’re all grown up now.”
“Are they military men, too? I do so love a man in uniform.” Avery batted her eyelashes.
“Down, Kitty,” Nora said, referencing the Jane Austen novel they all knew so well. “You know how much trouble military men can be.”
“And how exciting,” Avery said.
“Well, I think things are looking up.” Savannah put her hands on her hips. “Let’s put out this fire and go back inside. We can plan what we’ll tackle tomorrow. Except for you, Riley.” A mischievous smile lit her face. “We know exactly who you’re going to tackle.”
The others laughed appreciatively, but Riley could only smile wanly as she watched Nora pour the bucket of water they’d brought with them over the fire. If only they knew the price she was going to pay for their happiness.
Not that she was going to marry Boone. That was ridiculous.
But as she watched Avery, Nora and Savannah link arms and head indoors, she knew she was well on her way to being caught. She couldn’t bear to disappoint her friends—especially knowing the precarious positions they’d put themselves in to join her here.
Maybe she’d have to marry him after all.
BOONE KNOCKED ON the front door of Westfield Manor at seven-thirty the next morning. He’d wanted to come earlier, but he figured the women might sleep in if they’d traveled a long way the day before. When no one answered, he knocked again, louder this time.
He was about to knock a third time when the door swung open suddenly, revealing a disheveled Riley in an old-fashioned nightgown which somehow managed to cover everything and reveal far too much all at the same time. Boone hadn’t expected Riley would continue her Regency masquerade into the night and he had to bite back a smile at the picture she presented.
Her white cotton gown buttoned up nearly to her chin and the matching white cap trailed silly pink ribbons down over her shoulders. Her hair was tucked up into it, and she looked young and vulnerable somehow. Her eyes widened as she took him in. She nearly shut the door in his face, but he stuck his foot between it and the frame, thankful for the thick leather of his boot.
“Morning,” he said, doffing his cowboy hat. When he’d stopped by his parents’ house on the way to Westfield yesterday he’d found it hanging in his bedroom where he’d left it. It still fit.
While his parents had hoped he’d stay with them, he’d felt the need to camp on the land. It had never occurred to him to stay in the manor—the large, old house strayed too far from his ideal of sustainable. He could have slept in the bunkhouse, even though the bunks were long gone, but Boone wanted a connection to the ground on which he’d build his community and he’d slept in a tent instead.
He’d stayed up half the night planning for this meeting—and daydreaming about Riley. It didn’t take much to leap from thinking about marrying her to what would come next. Yesterday, his body had reacted to her like he hadn’t seen a woman in months and last night, alone in his tent, Riley consumed his thoughts, no matter how practical he’d tried to be.
The more he’d thought about Riley, the more he’d wondered how he’d ever let so many years pass before trying to see her. He wished he had time to get to know her over a period of months. To pursue a relationship in the normal way.
Fulsom wasn’t going to give him that luxury.
Somewhere before dawn Boone realized he was making things far too complicated. He felt like some unwritten rule dictated he’d need six months to decide whether he wanted to marry Riley. But that wasn’t true. The minute he’d seen her, something had clicked in his brain and he’d known she was the one for him.
Now he just had to let himself fall in love.
As the sun rose, he’d allowed himself to spin a fantasy of life with Riley. He’d imagined marrying her. Making a home with her. Working with her.
Making love to her.
It wasn’t long before that particular daydream got away from him and when he could think clearly again, Boone had admitted to himself that falling for Riley wasn’t going to be difficult.
Getting her to
fall for him might prove more problematic, though.
“Go away,” Riley said. “It’s the middle of the freaking night.” She tried to shut the door again, but Boone muscled it open.
“The sun has been up for over two hours. Time to rise and shine.”
“What are you so cheerful about?”
“Getting to see you again.” It was true; there wasn’t anywhere he’d rather be than right here. “I’m glad you came to Westfield.”
“Glad enough to let me stay?”
“Of course. If you’ll marry me.”
“Boone.” Even disapproving, she looked so delicious in her old-fashioned getup.
“Riley.”
“Are you really serious about that?”
“You have no idea.” He was afraid she’d close the door, so he steered the conversation to safer ground. “You four can have the manor and the two acres around it, including the gardens out back. The Horsemen and I won’t touch them. In fact, we won’t trespass without your invitation.”
Riley relaxed a little. “Okay.”
“Feel free to wander the rest of the ranch, of course; just be careful of our gardens and installations. If you want to learn more about our solar power system or anything else, just ask. I’d love to show them to you once they’re up and running.”
Riley nodded. “We’ll be careful.” She bit her lip and he had the feeling she was remembering that Russ had sold the place out from under her. Time to distract her again.
“My sustainable community will be off-grid. How about we get the manor off the grid, too?”
“That would be… interesting,” Riley said. She stifled a yawn. “Could you maybe come back later? Like, when I’m dressed?”
“I’d prefer to talk now. I’m kind of enjoying this,” he said.
Riley rolled her eyes, but color bloomed in her cheeks, and Boone’s pulse two-stepped in his veins. Without thinking, he leaned in closer, intent on stealing a kiss. Riley didn’t pull away. Instead, she watched him come toward her, and even lifted her chin as if to meet him halfway.
“Riley? What’s going on?” a voice called.
They sprang apart. Boone looked past Riley to see an ethereal blonde come down the stairs. A possible match for Clay, he thought.
“It’s our landlord.” Riley smoothed her dress. A blush tinged her cheeks.
“This early?” Another woman descended the stairs. A brunette. Boone paired her with Walker in his mind; she looked nearly as serious as he pretended to be. When a redhead joined the group, pattering down the steps so quickly her white nightgown billowed around her, he had to bite back a smile. Jericho would be pleased.
“Just had a few things to say. Riley, can you introduce me?”
“This is Savannah,” she said, indicating the blonde.
“Good morning, Lieutenant,” Savannah said with a little curtsy. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”
“It sure is. But I’m not a lieutenant,” Boone said. “I enlisted in the Navy straight out of high school and—”
“We appreciate you letting us stay at the manor, Lieutenant,” the redhead interrupted. “I’m Avery, by the way. It’s a shame you aren’t wearing your uniform, you know.”
“I’m happy to have you here.” What was with the lieutenant bit?
“We’re very happy to be here, Lieutenant. And we’ll take care of the house as if it was our own,” the brunette said.
“Because it should be,” Riley added. “This is Nora, by the way. She’s a teacher.”
Boone forged ahead. “First things first. I’m not a lieutenant. I’m a non-commissioned officer and—”
“But lieutenant sounds so romantic,” Avery said. “They’re always lieutenants in Jane Austen novels.”
“That’s not even true,” Nora said. “There’s Colonel Brandon, Captain Wentworth…”
“Are you a colonel or a captain?” Savannah asked Boone.
“No, but—”
“See, he’s a lieutenant,” Avery said.
“Of course, Jane Austen would have pronounced it lef-tenant, being British and all,” Nora pointed out.
“I’m damn well not a lef-anything,” Boone growled.
“That’s okay, we’re not British.” Avery shrugged. “Lieutenant it is.”
Boone gave up. “I was explaining to Riley that I want you all to feel at home here. Three friends will be joining me soon. Until then, please let me know how I can to help make Westfield comfortable.”
“Lieutenant Rudman’s building a commune down by the barn,” Riley added sweetly.
“Community. A sustainable community.” If he thought he’d have the upper hand by coming early, he’d definitely been mistaken.
“When are your friends arriving?” Avery asked.
“A couple of weeks.”
“Weeks?” She sounded disappointed.
“Avery.” Nora looked reproving.
“That’s a long time. It’s not like I can head into town on Friday night and go to a bar dressed like this,” Avery said.
Boone suppressed a smile. He’d like to see that.
“We’re not here to meet men,” Nora said.
“Maybe you aren’t.”
“We swore an oath, remember?”
“There’ll be plenty of men to choose from in my community,” Boone interjected. He could handle them screwing up his rank if they’d agree to marry his friends. “Maybe you’ll find your Mr. Darcy there. Come on down whenever you get lonely. You can take your pick.”
Nora’s eyebrows shot up. “Sounds like you’re running a brothel as well as a commune down there.”
Riley laughed. “Community,” she corrected just as Boone did the same. “Lieutenant Rudman is running a brothel and a community.” He shot her a dark look. She batted her eyelashes at him.
“No brothels. Just hard working men who’d maybe like to find a partner. A real partner,” he emphasized. “All the men joining me have served their country for years. They’ve put their lives on the line more often than you’ve taken out the trash. They’re coming here because they believe in our goals and want to make this world a better place. They don’t deserve your mockery.”
Riley sobered. So did her friends.
“I didn’t mean to mock anyone,” Avery said, plucking at her nightgown as if suddenly conscious of it.
Boone relaxed. “That’s okay. I guess we’ll all have to figure out how to get along. Who says a bunch of SEALs and a pack of Austenites can’t be friends?”
Savannah broke into a sudden smile. “Austenites. I like that. And I for one am glad there’ll be a militia stationed close by, just like there was in Pride and Prejudice. Men in uniform are so delightful.”
Militia? Boone decided it wasn’t worth trying to sort that one out.
“Bossy, more like it,” Riley said.
“Direct,” Boone corrected her. “We know what we like and we go after it.” He held Riley’s gaze a moment. “I’d better get going. Riley, want to come with me? I could tell you about my plans.”
“Not now. We have chores to do and I want to paint today. That’s the reason we’re here, after all. I’ll be ready at eight o’clock tonight.”
Unhappy with the brushoff, Boone leaned closer. “I’d like you to come with me now.”
“I said no.” She folded her arms over her chest.
Boone wanted to press the matter, but he had a feeling it would backfire. “Fine. Eight o’clock. I’m happy to have met you all,” he said to the others, touching the brim of his hat. “I hope you enjoy your stay at Westfield.” He couldn’t help adding, “However long it might be.”
RILEY CLOSED THE door behind him and faced her friends, seething at that last non-subtle hint Boone had tossed her way. However long it might be. She didn’t need reminding it was her decision that would determine the length of their stay, or that Russ had sold her ranch out from under her. She’d sent her uncle an e-mail last night with the subject line, “You SOLD Westfield???” She’d check
for an answer as soon as she could.
“You are in trouble,” Savannah told her. “You’ve got no defenses that’ll stand up to that.”
“Boone’s definitely not brushing you off now,” Nora agreed.
Avery spoke up. “Are his friends anything like him?”
“If they are, I want one,” Savannah said. “You’re so lucky, Riley.”
“I don’t know about lucky. If I give him any encouragement, he’ll have us out of these dresses and down there living on grubs and mushrooms.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting out of my dress with a man like that, but I’ll skip the grubs and mushrooms, thank you very much. Can’t wait to hear all about your date tonight.” Avery hugged Riley impulsively. “At least he didn’t mention rent. Are you sure he won’t charge us any? Because I’m not sure we can afford it.”
The others waited to hear her answer. Again, she wondered if she should confess it all, but one look at the hollows under Nora’s eyes convinced her not to. What if Nora decided she should go back to Baltimore? She’d nearly bailed on them twice before everything was settled. Only multiple phone calls from the rest of them had kept her on course.
“Boone keeps his promises,” she said, evading the question.
“Terrific. So what should we do?” Savannah asked. “I’m not going to be able to go back to sleep.”
“Let’s get to work. We’ll pretend Boone doesn’t even exist.” Riley lifted her chin and turned toward the stairs.
“Lieutenant Rudman,” Avery corrected her. “In Regency times, it didn’t do to be too familiar with strange men.”
She was far more right than she knew, Riley thought. Familiarity with Boone in the past hadn’t ended well for her. If she was smart she’d gather her friends and leave the ranch now, no matter how much she wanted to stay and get to know Boone all over again. They could book a hotel room and have a spa weekend instead.
And then what, Riley wondered. None of them had homes to return to anymore.
They couldn’t leave without a plan, and all of them needed a break, which meant she’d better string Boone along for a few days, at least, until she’d had time to think.