by Cora Seton
“Good morning. Welcome to Base Camp,” Boone called out to the new arrivals. Jericho and Clay fell into place beside him and the men came to stand in a line in front of them, almost as if they were back in the military.
Old habits died hard.
“I’m proud and honored that you men have decided to give our venture a shot. We’re trying to change the world, one community at a time. You can be part of that.” He went on to outline their plans and the roles they had for the men, all things he’d covered in his e-mails to them, but Boone knew that important information bore repeating.
“Any questions?” he asked at the end of his speech.
“Yeah—why is it called Base Camp?” a burly man named Curtis Lloyd asked.
Boone turned to point to the manor. “Because you aren’t the only ones who can’t keep their eyes off the summit. That is Westfield Manor. You’ll see women coming and going in Regency outfits. Try not to get too distracted.”
Everyone chuckled.
“I’ve got a question. Why did you make serving in the military a requirement for joining the team?” Greg Devon asked. He was a no-nonsense man with a shock of black hair whom Boone had already flagged as a great candidate for the community.
“You’ve had experience in tough situations, I can count on you to finish what you start, and last, but certainly not least, you know how to follow orders.”
A couple of the men laughed. Greg fixed him with an intense stare. “This going to be a dictatorship?”
“They don’t call him Chief for nothing,” Jericho said.
“At first it will be a dictatorship,” Boone said. “I’m willing to hear dissenting opinions, but I’ve put years into this plan. I won’t change it on a whim.”
“You really going to find us wives, Chief?” Angus McBride asked in a thick Scottish accent.
“I’m going to do my best. You ready to get hitched?”
“Sure thing, Chief.”
He waited to see if anyone else had anything to say. “Okay, time for a tour.” He led him toward the hillside. “These are where our houses will be. We can’t break ground until filming starts, but we’ll go over the plans with you and be as prepared as we can.”
Murmurs of interest came from all sides.
“Here’s where we’ll have our main garden.” Boone kept on moving. Despite his concerns about Riley, he was pleased with the way the morning passed. As he’d hoped, the men were curious, intelligent and asked good questions. He was also happy with the way his plans withstood the scrutiny of so many eyes. They’d spend the afternoon sorting supplies and going over the timeline of the project.
He lifted his eyes to the manor, as he did a thousand times every day and wished Riley was with him. He knew he’d let her down and he wished there was something he could do to make up for it. Their wedding had been on his mind the past two days. Boone knew she was disappointed it would need to be modern, but as he glanced around Base Camp and recalled Fulsom’s description of the empty field, an idea came to him. He’d been to several rustic western weddings in his time. Was it really so far a cry from that to a Regency theme?
Maybe not.
“ARE YOU EVER going to tell us what’s wrong?” Nora asked as they set the table for dinner that night. They’d spent most of the afternoon on wedding plans, but had managed to squeak in an hour of creative time. Riley had continued to work on the painting she’d started, laying in lighter colors and details. She liked the structure of the scene, but something was missing. By the time she’d packed her things away again, she’d been thoroughly frustrated.
Avery looked up from her place by the fire where she was tending a stew. “Nora’s right—you’ve been awfully quiet.”
Savannah, preparing a salad at the counter, turned, too.
Time to fess up, Riley decided. She wasn’t helping matters by delaying so long. “There is something on my mind.” She tucked a napkin beside each plate. “You’re not going to like it.”
“You’re leaving?” Avery said, straightening.
“No. Not that.”
“I can deal with anything else.”
Riley hoped the others felt the same way. “After the wedding, I’m afraid we’ll have to put our plans on hold for a while.” She explained all about Fulsom’s decree that they would have to put aside their Regency outfits for the duration of the filming. “It’ll last for six months. Then we can get back to our lives.”
“We can’t wear our gowns?” Savannah asked.
“No. We’ll have to buy some modern things.”
“Boone expects us to take part in the show? And he never asked?” To Riley’s surprise it was Avery who asked the question, not Nora.
“He’d like us to.”
“No,” Savannah said. “I’m not going to do that. I know what reality TV is like and I don’t want any part of it.”
“Me, neither,” Nora said. “Not in a million years.”
When Riley turned to Avery, she shook her head, too. “That’s an invasion of privacy. It would ruin Westfield for me.”
“Then you don’t have to do it.” Riley began to lay out the forks and knives, fighting to keep calm. She hadn’t expected anything more from them. Why should they lay their lives bare to television? They weren’t in love with Boone.
Sometimes she wished she wasn’t either.
“But you’re going to?” Savannah came to her side. “Do you really want to do that?”
“I plan to.” But the others were right; she didn’t want to. She’d move down to Base Camp and stay there for the duration of the show. Like Savannah, she didn’t want the manor tainted with those memories. “There’s more you should know, though. About the men.”
“What is it?” Savannah asked.
“The television show is set up like a contest.” She explained all of Fulsom’s terms, including the need for marriages and children. “Clay, Jericho and Walker all need to find wives. They’ll probably want to try for children, too.”
“How come Boone isn’t doing that?” Nora asked. Understanding dawned on her face. “Is he doing that? Riley, what have you done?”
“I’m going to marry him,” Riley confirmed. “June first will be my wedding day. You have to understand; Boone’s an old friend. We know each other and we have chemistry. It’s not like we just met.”
“But if he’s using you…” Avery said.
“He’s not. If anything, I’m using him. If Boone and his friends fail, Fulsom will take back Westfield and give it to a developer. He’ll carve up the ranch. It’ll be gone forever. I can’t let that happen.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us,” Savannah said.
“I figured you’d react pretty much like you did,” Riley said. “I understand, though. No hard feelings.”
“We’ll need to move out, won’t we?” Nora said slowly. She caught Riley’s eye and hurried to add, “Not because of Boone, because of Fulsom. If we stay on the ranch, his camera crews will try to pull us into the show.”
“We’ll have to look for a rental in town, I guess,” Avery said, her disappointment plain.
“Which means we’ll need to look for jobs. Just like I said at the outset,” Nora said.
“It’s only temporary.”
“Maybe it’s time for me to go back to teaching,” Nora went on as if she hadn’t heard Riley. “If there’s nothing in Chance Creek, there might be in Billings.”
“Maybe I should move back home,” Savannah said. “My parents have a beautiful piano. Maybe if I took a part-time job they’d support me in trying to play seriously.”
“No,” Avery cried. “We’ve come so far; please don’t ruin everything now!”
“We’re not trying to ruin anything. Sometimes things don’t work out… Where are you going?” Nora called after her.
Avery untied her apron and threw it on the table as she marched right out of the room. “I’m going to tell Lieutenant Boone Rudman what a colossal ass he is!”
Chapter
Thirteen
‡
“NOW WE’RE TALKING,” Greg said. He dropped the ladle he’d been using to spoon soup into a mug and shaded his eyes with his hand.
Boone followed his gaze to see Avery striding down the path toward them, followed at a distance by Riley, Savannah and Nora. Their dresses rippled around them as they moved. They were coming fast. Boone straightened.
Another of the men whistled. “She’s hot.”
“She’s pissed, you mean,” Angus said, laying on his thick Scottish accent. “I think we’re in trouble, lads.”
“Goddamn you, Boone Rudman,” Avery yelled as she marched right in among them, “you are a stupid, low-life, pond-scum-sucking, dirty old goddamn ass and I hate you!” She gave Boone a shove that actually managed to knock him off balance, mostly because he was surprised.
“Avery—”
Avery wasn’t done. “You’ve ruined everything, you shitfucking butthead—you and your stupid band of merry frogmen. I hope you rot in hell!”
“Avery—”
“I’ve waited years for the chance to live with my friends and quit my asinine job so I could actually do something I loved and now you want to steal it all away from me?”
“I’m not stealing—”
“Nora’s going to Billings to get a teaching job. Savannah’s going to California because you’re taking away her piano!”
It all became clear. “You told them,” he said to Riley over Avery’s head.
“That’s right; Riley told us. Not you—you didn’t have the balls to do it. And you—” Avery turned on Clay. “You’ve had the gall to pretend you liked Nora? Like hell! You want to use her to spawn your demon seed. And you—” She pointed an accusing finger at Jericho. “You thought you could sweet-talk Savannah all the way to the altar? Hanging’s too good for you!”
Jericho froze like a deer caught in headlights. Clay opened his mouth to protest.
“But mostly it’s you,” Avery concluded, turning back to Boone. “You just… suck! I hope Riley finds a better man to marry. Someone like…” She scanned the crowd, caught sight of Walker for the first time, and fell silent.
“Okay,” Boone said, wondering how in the hell to regain control of the situation, “let’s all take it easy.”
“She’s right,” Walker said.
Boone hadn’t expected him to speak up. Walker had been apprised of the situation, but since he hadn’t spent any time at the manor, Boone didn’t think he’d have an opinion. “It’s not that simple,” he tried again.
“It’s simple.”
Walker had everyone’s attention, which riled Boone. This was his project—these were his men—
Walker raised an eyebrow and Boone bit back the words he’d been about to say. There he went again, all Chief, like Clay liked to say. It wasn’t his place to dictate to anyone. Walker had the right to speak.
Walker let a moment pass, as was his way. By the time he continued, everyone was listening intently, but he spoke to Avery as if she was the only one there. “Sometimes there’s compromise. Sometimes there’s sacrifice.”
“And you want us to sacrifice,” Avery said, facing him. Boone couldn’t help but appreciate the disparity between the lithe young woman in her pretty dress and the hardened warrior who towered over her.
Walker nodded. “We want you to sacrifice.”
“You know how unfair that is?”
“I know.”
Riley moved to stand beside Avery. “This is why I didn’t want my friends involved,” she said to Boone. She took Avery’s arm. “Come on, let’s go.”
“You don’t deserve her,” Avery said to Boone, but let Riley drag her away. The women left as quickly as they’d come, and Boone watched them go, his heart heavy. This was exactly what he didn’t want to happen.
“Now what do we do?” Jericho asked, his gaze on Savannah’s retreating back.
Boone just walked away.
RILEY DIDN’T THINK things could get any worse, but when her friends left in a taxi to go check out an apartment in town the following morning, the manor felt so empty without them she nearly broke down and cried. Instead, she forced herself to update all their to-do lists. There was still so much to do for the wedding she was overwhelmed. She hadn’t even begun to plan hers. She simply didn’t have the heart.
An hour later, Nora, Avery and Savannah arrived home again looking as glum as she felt.
“It was awful,” Avery exclaimed. “The bedrooms were tiny. There was no yard. Everyone stared at us.”
“What did you expect?” Nora snapped, but when she sat down on the couch, Riley saw tears in her eyes.
“It isn’t going to be the same without you,” Savannah said. “Nora won’t tell us if she’s going to stay in Chance Creek or go back to Baltimore.”
“What about you?” Avery said to her. “I’m not convinced you won’t make a run for California, either.”
“I told you I was looking into renting a piano.”
“We should focus on the wedding,” Riley said. “Maybe—”
“I don’t want to focus on the wedding,” Avery said. “I want to focus on us. We came here to be together because we missed each other. We said that we valued friendship. Why are we being so quick to throw that away?”
“It’s not our fault. It’s the show,” Savannah protested.
“And the way the men tried to play us,” Nora said. “I can’t believe Clay flirted with me when all he really wants is a fake wife.”
A knock on the door interrupted them and Riley was relieved to go and answer it, but when she found Clay and Jericho waiting on the other side she nearly shut it again.
“Can we come in?” Jericho asked.
“Why? No one here is going to marry you,” Savannah said, appearing by Riley’s side. Nora and Avery followed close behind her.
“I understand that.” He didn’t look happy. Riley knew Jericho well enough to guess that the whole situation made him uncomfortable. He was an easygoing guy. She doubted he’d thought much about marriage at all. He must be chafing under Fulsom’s demands.
“It wasn’t our intention to try to trick you into marrying us.”
“Wasn’t it?” Nora asked. “Because it sure seems that way.”
“We were testing the waters,” Clay said. “I mean, if you had to find a husband in a short space of time, how would you go about it?”
“I’d be direct,” Nora told him. “I’d state right up front what I was after and see who was interested.”
“You’d go into a bar and randomly tell people that?” Jericho asked.
“Maybe not a bar.”
“There are dating sites,” Savannah pointed out.
“It won’t work. What woman wants to join a sustainable community?” Clay asked.
“And be on TV for six months,” Jericho added.
“What makes you want to do it?” Savannah retorted.
“I want a family,” Clay said. “I’ve always wanted that. I want to help make this a better world for my kids.”
“I just know that something has to change. I know that I’m good at seeing possibilities and trying them out,” Jericho said. “I hadn’t thought much about marriage until now. What I’ve realized is I need a wife who will put up with me.” He shrugged. “I’m not a nine-to-five kind of guy. When I get into a project, I don’t come up for air too often. Whoever becomes my wife will need her own passions, or she’ll get… lonely.” Jericho looked surprised at his own understanding.
“Anyway, we don’t want you to feel uncomfortable,” Clay said. “We know you’re planning a wedding and want to make the most of your time with Riley. We’ll stay out of your hair.”
“We won’t come near the manor at all,” Jericho agreed. “But I was glad to get to know all of you.” His gaze lingered on Savannah.
“Me, too,” Clay said. He touched Nora’s arm.
They turned to go and Riley shut the door behind them. “I’m glad they apologized, at least.”
“Not enough to marry him.” She shrugged. “Not yet.”
Riley understood just how they felt. “I think they like you too, you know. It’s not going to be easy for them to find women to marry, and it’s not like they asked to be put in this situation.”
“You’re taking their side?” Savannah said.
“I’m not sure there has to be sides. I think there’s just a bunch of unhappy people.”
“She’s right,” Avery said. “You know what? I’m going to stay and see this through. I’m going to keep fighting to make it all work out.”
“You’re going to do the reality show?” Nora asked in disbelief.
“Why not? I was going insane when Riley invited us here. If I can’t handle a little TV show, then I deserve to work in a cubicle all my life. Besides, no one asked me to marry them. I’ll be an extra. How hard can that be? Meanwhile, I’ll work on my screenplay, get tips from the film crew and hang out with one of my best friends.” She hugged Riley.
“Two of your best friends,” Savannah said. “Avery’s right. There’s no way it can be worse than my old job. I’ll be an extra, too.”
“And watch Jericho marry another woman?” Nora asked.
“Maybe. Or maybe not. Maybe I’ll fall in love with him,” Savannah said.
Riley’s heart was beating so hard she thought everyone must be able to hear it. “Really?”
“Really.” Savannah moved to stand by her. “And every time the film crew comes to the manor, I’ll play my piano. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get invited to play a concert or two when the show airs.”
“That’s a good point,” Avery said. “It could be the making of your career—and mine.”
“What about you, Nora?” Riley held her breath, knowing it was too much to ask.
“For God’s sake.” Nora threw her hands in the air. “Fine! I’ll stay, but I’m going to hide every time the cameras come around. All I need is for that crazy student to figure out where I’ve gone and start harassing me again. And don’t expect me to marry anyone.”