by Cora Seton
Boone didn’t blink. “You know, at this moment I don’t give a shit.”
“I’d mind my tone if I were you.”
Boone looked at the men and women who surrounded them and knew it wasn’t fair for him to blow this chance for everyone. “Maybe I should step down and you can continue on with the others. I think I’ve had enough of this for now.”
“No way, man. If you go, I go,” Jericho said, falling in beside him.
“Me, too,” Clay said.
Walker took his place beside them without a word. One by one the other men dropped their tools and came to stand with Boone as well.
“Well, isn’t this touching? It’s a mutiny.” Fulsom crossed his arms. “I’ll have you know—”
“Sir, if I could have a word?” Julie nudged her boss. She’d been dogging his steps, tapping on a tablet.
“Not now.” Fulsom stepped closer to Boone. “I don’t like my time wasted. I can call this whole thing off—”
“Sir, a word. I’d like to show you some ratings.”
“For God’s sake, Julie—”
The woman shoved her tablet in front of Fulsom’s face. “Viewer numbers from the last time Pride and Prejudice aired on television. And here’s Sense and Sensibility. And a documentary about a modern family recreating Regency life.”
Fulsom frowned and peered more closely at the screen. “Interesting.” He took the tablet from Julie and thumbed the screen a few times. “Very interesting. That’s the demographic we want.” He looked up, took in the crowd gathered around him and shoved the tablet back into Julie’s hands. “Well.” He surveyed the barn, the workers, the sloping building site and the manor up the hill. Again Boone thought the man’s mind was churning. Fulsom nodded once. “Boone, I’m all about framing simple messages with compelling stories. When you described your mix of sustainable living and Regency re-enactments, I’ll be frank. I didn’t get it.”
“No shit.”
“I thought it would cloud the picture until we lost our viewers. I made a mistake. More than a mistake. I was an idiot. Riley.” He held out a hand. Riley slowly lifted hers to grasp it and he shook it up and down. “You are a lovely creature. I can see why Boone adores you. You and your wonderful friends add a whole new element to the narrative we’re trying to share with the world. While Boone here will demonstrate the practicalities of sustainable living, you are living proof that sustainability can be fun. If we want to move toward sustainability, we have to attract women to our cause. They’re the ones who make household decisions. You are the key to reaching them.” He dropped her hand and turned to face the crowd. “We are all embarking on an adventure together. We will encounter hardships and misunderstandings along the way. Let us vow now to do whatever it takes to endure them.” He turned back to Boone. “Are you sure you won’t hold your wedding today? We could get the taping started early.”
“Nope.” He wouldn’t budge on that. Riley deserved a wedding of her own.
“Then we’ll work with what we’ve got. Where are those waivers?” he called out, sending his crew scrambling.
“Andrea’s going to have a fit,” Riley said to Savannah. “Boone, we really have to stop him.”
Savannah put a restraining hand on her arm. “Are you kidding? Andrea will be thrilled. Getting her wedding televised is like winning the lottery to someone like her. There’s no way Win will be able to top her now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Boone relaxed a little. “So, we’re okay?”
“I don’t know,” Riley said frankly. “The idea of having that man around for the next six months scares the pants off of me.”
Boone slipped an arm around her waist, took her basket and led her to the barn. “First of all, you’re not wearing pants. Second, I doubt he’ll be around that much; he’s a busy man.”
“Good.” Together they took in the half-decorated barn. “I guess I’d better get busy,” Riley said.
Before she could slip away, he caught her up and kissed her.
“Can’t wait until it’s our turn.”
“Me, neither.”
Chapter Sixteen
‡
RILEY WATCHED ANDREA walk down the aisle to meet her groom with a glow of pride in herself and her friends. They’d pulled off a miracle in two short weeks, and after the success of the ball last night, she had a feeling everything could go wrong today and it still wouldn’t matter.
Andrea’s groom, Steven, was a polite young man who obviously doted on his wife-to-be. The couple was so sweet together as they stood at the altar, Riley couldn’t help but beam with happiness. Even with Fulsom’s crew filming every moment of the festivities, they all managed to have a good time. During the course of the reception she overheard many of Andrea’s guests gushing about the unique wedding, the beautiful gowns, the charming decorations and the wonderful food.
Well after midnight, when Andrea and Steven had left for their honeymoon and the guests had retreated to their accommodations, Riley, Avery, Savannah and Nora assembled in Westfield’s kitchen for a private toast.
“To us,” Savannah said, raising her glass of champagne.
“We did it,” Avery said.
“We nailed it,” Nora corrected.
“And as soon as that episode airs, I bet we’ll be booked for a year,” Riley said. She took a sip and nearly choked when the back door swung open and Fulsom entered the room.
“There you are, the ladies of the hour. You deserve to celebrate. Riley, well done. Well done.” He shook her hand. She blinked at this intrusion into her kitchen so late at night, but there was no stopping Fulsom. “You were right. I was wrong. Regency living is where it’s at. I want to invite all four of you to stick to your original plans; I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“You mean we can—”
“Wear your gowns, run your B&B, put on your weddings… Boone told me about all of it. The four of you will add the kind of human interest we’re looking for. I hope you’re ready to be stars.”
That sounded alarming, but Riley was too grateful for his change of heart to dwell on it. “Thank you!”
“Not at all. Goodnight.” He slipped back outside again.
“That man is… ridiculous,” Nora said.
“I think he’s all right,” Riley said. “I think you have to get to know him.” She was willing to be magnanimous now that he’d changed his tune.
“I have a feeling we will get to know him whether or not we want to,” Avery chimed in.
“It’s already been a long, strange trip.” Savannah raised her glass again. “To our future together at Westfield! It certainly won’t be boring.”
“Hear, hear!” The others toasted her back.
“Oops, we’ve got company,” Savannah said, pointing behind Riley.
Riley turned to find Boone had come in from the front of the house. “Ladies.”
“That’s our cue,” Nora said. She, Savannah and Avery headed for the parlor with enough giggling to make Riley roll her eyes.
“Ignore them.”
“I intend to. Any chance we could take this upstairs?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
She came down late the following morning and found that Savannah and Nora had already packed most of the bridesmaids off to the airport. Riley was glad. After they cleaned up, she needed to get back to her painting. It was only a matter of days before her wedding, and the painting needed to be done by then so she could give it to Boone. She’d figured out exactly what to do to complete the image she was striving for. Instinct told her it would be the best work she’d ever done.
Now if she could get rid of Win.
Riley found her at the kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee.
“You don’t have a plane to catch?” she asked, pouring one for herself. Boone had slipped away early in the morning to head down to Base Camp. She’d meant to get up then, too, but must have fallen back to sleep.
“I don’t w
ant to leave.”
“Don’t you want to see your fiancé?”
“No,” Win said simply. “I’m a bitch, I know it, but there it is. I don’t have the slightest urge to go back home.”
“Could it be wedding jitters?” Riley joined her at the table.
“I don’t think so.” Win traced a finger around the rim of her cup. “He’s not the right guy.”
Riley considered her words. “I can tell you’ve connected to Angus, but—”
“See, that’s the thing,” Win said. “We have connected. I haven’t touched Angus and he hasn’t touched me, and I’m more turned on by him than I ever am by Leif in the sack.”
“Forbidden fruit?”
“No. It’s his mind I’m attracted to. His sense of humor—and his sense of honor. God, I’m in trouble.” Win covered her face with her hands.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m not. I’m going to throw it all away. Everything I thought I wanted. For a crazy Scotsman and a tiny house.”
Riley reached out and took Win’s hand.
Win looked up. “Am I insane?”
“Yes. Did Angus tell you the goals they have to reach by December?”
“He did.” Win shook her head. “That’s some crazy stuff.”
“But you’re willing to do it?”
“Aren’t you?”
Riley nodded. “I guess I am.”
“Me, too.” Win straightened. Downed the dregs of her coffee. “Wish me luck. I’m going to head down to Base Camp and ask if they’ll have me.”
“Good luck,” Riley said as Win stood up and took her coffee cup to the sink. She didn’t think there was much chance the men would say no.
“IN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, you’ll be a married man,” Jericho said as Boone surveyed the barn they’d just finished setting up for the wedding. “You ready for that?”
“Hell, yeah.” He couldn’t wait to have Riley in his bed every night. He was looking forward to his honeymoon, as short as it would be. He always felt he was competing with something else for Riley’s time.
He glanced at his watch. “I’d better get going. Riley asked me up to the manor to sort out some last minute details.”
“Sure, Chief.”
Boone didn’t rise to the bait. Riley actually had asked for his help, although he was hoping when they were done they could slip off for a little time alone.
He cleaned up and made his way to the manor, stopping to encourage the other men who were getting everything ready for the wedding. When he reached the house, he found Avery, Savannah and Nora on the back porch crafting garlands from flowers and greenery.
“Riley’s in the kitchen,” Avery said. “Go on in.”
Boone did, but when he got inside, the kitchen was empty.
“I’m up here,” Riley shouted down the stairs. Boone took them two at a time. Maybe they’d skip those details and get right to the good stuff.
When Riley let him into her bedroom, though, there was a large package lying on her bed. She shut the door behind her and led him over to it. “Open it. It’s for you!”
Boone hesitated. He’d gone back to Thayer’s and bought a necklace and bracelet set for Riley’s wedding present, but he’d meant to give it to her tomorrow night.
“Go on,” Riley urged him.
“Okay.” He lifted the package carefully. Found a corner, and pulled off the wrapping paper. A framed painting lay beneath. Boone uncovered it—
And was nearly bowled over when he took it in.
“You painted this?”
“Yes,” Riley said softly.
It was Westfield—a Westfield so alive he couldn’t believe it was a painting. There were the pastures and rolling hills and the mountains in the background, but it was the way the manor house sat in the landscape that drew him in, until he noticed the outbuildings—
And the hobbit houses dug into the hillside nearby.
The neatly planted vegetable gardens he’d planned for Base Camp balanced the wildly untamed flower gardens near the manor. His tiny houses were humble and organic, while the manor stood brazen and unashamed on its hill.
The lines and brush strokes led his eye to a fire in a rustic outside fireplace left of center in the canvas. It seemed to dance and spark. But it was the man standing next to the fire with his arms folded that caught his eye. A man so at home in the scene he seemed to own it.
Him.
He didn’t know how she’d conveyed so much with so few strokes of her brush, but he knew exactly what she was saying. That at Westfield, the natural world and man-made world came together in a beautiful whole.
And he was the one who was going to make it happen.
She was predicting the future and creating it at the same time with bold, powerful brushstrokes that resonated in Boone’s soul.
“Do you like it?”
It took two tries for Boone to answer. “I love it.”
“I’m glad.”
“Riley—do you feel this way?” He gently put the painting back down on the bed and faced her.
“I do.”
“I wish you’d put yourself in there with me.” It was his only quibble with the work.
“I am in there. I’m Westfield, Boone. This ranch, this land is as much a part of me as I am of it.”
Boone swallowed hard and looked at the painting again. If that was true, then the message in her painting was far more intimate—and powerful—than he’d guessed.
Riley waited for him to say something. In a flash he knew they’d come to another crossroads. She was standing in front of him at another dance, baring her soul. Asking him with her eyes to say yes.
Boone pulled her to him. “I love you. I. Love. You. And I will do whatever it takes to be worthy of you.” He lifted her chin to kiss her.
“You already are.”
Chapter Seventeen
‡
“I WISH YOU would have let me hold your wedding at my house,” Maud said, interrupting Riley’s thoughts. Savannah, Nora, Avery, Win and Alice had all helped her dress and were now attending to their own preparations. Her mother had fluttered in and out of the room but had gone to help her husband with his suit. Her father and his wife were already downstairs. Riley was grateful for Maud’s company. She had no misgivings, but nerves were fluttering in her stomach and she didn’t want to be alone.
“That would have been lovely, but it’s important to hold it here. Boone and I are starting a new life together at Westfield. It seems right to hold the ceremony on the land where we’ll live out the rest of our lives. Besides, Fulsom says we have to.”
She didn’t mind, though. Boone had put together a wonderful wedding, especially after Fulsom lifted his directive against Regency life. Once Fulsom changed his mind, Boone had shown her all the subversive tricks he’d concocted to slip a Regency wedding past Fulsom. Freed from all constraints, he’d worked with Mia to make sure every one of Riley’s dreams would come true.
“Have you resigned yourself to tiny-house living?” Maud fluffed out Riley’s veil.
“You should see the plans for our house. I didn’t think anything could entice me to try it, but Clay and Boone are going to build a masterpiece. It’ll be like living in a piece of art.”
“That sounds wonderful. It does my heart good to see you two happy together.”
“One of the best parts about coming to Westfield was meeting you,” Riley said truthfully.
“Oh, hush.” But Maud looked pleased.
“Let’s take a look at you.” Alice came back into the bedroom to give her a final once-over. “That dress looks spectacular on you.” It was made in the Regency manner, with a high waist and a long train. Riley loved it.
“It does,” Savannah agreed, following her into the room. “You look lovely, Riley.”
“So beautiful,” Nora said.
“Stunning,” Avery said, coming to join the circle around Riley. Their bridesmaid gowns echoed the style of her dress.
“I would never have come here if it weren’t for you three,” she said to her friends. “Thank you for coming on this adventure with me and for sticking with it when things got interesting.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Avery said.
“But I can’t believe you’re going to spend your honeymoon in a tent,” Nora added.
“With a film crew following you around, no less,” Savannah said.
“No film crew. Boone made Fulsom sign a contract on that. We’ll have two glorious nights to ourselves at the farthest end of the property. Then it’s time to get to work.”
“I can’t wait to see what the next few months bring.” Savannah stepped beside Riley to check out her own reflection in the big mirror that stood nearby.
“The possibilities scare me,” Nora said dryly.
“It’s certainly going to be interesting,” Avery said.
She was right, Riley thought, turning to look out the window down at the encampment. There was no telling what would happen next.
BOONE DIDN’T THINK he’d ever been so nervous in his life as when he stood on the rise of ground where he and Riley had once picnicked and watched Riley’s friends walk toward him one at a time on the arms of his groomsmen. They’d re-used the hay bales and quilts from Andrea’s wedding to set up rows of seats. There were fewer guests than at Andrea’s wedding, but despite the short notice, it was still well-attended by friends and family on both sides. They would be married with the Beartooth Mountains in the distance, then hold the reception on the manor’s lawn where they’d set up tables and fairy lights.
Jericho escorted a pale but beautiful Savannah to her place and came to stand next to Boone. Clay walked a beaming Nora down the aisle and left her with Savannah. Walker, his expression as serious as always, brought a beautifully blushing Avery to stand beside Nora. Boone took in Walker’s solicitude with interest. Cupid had definitely hit his mark on the impassive man.
When Riley appeared on her father’s arm at the head of the aisle, Boone forgot about all of that. He had eyes only for his wife-to-be, who looked more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. She moved with such grace, her gown giving her the look of a Grecian goddess as she stepped slowly down the aisle. His heart filled to bursting with pride that she would be his wife—this woman who’d matched him in passion, strength of mind and joy in life for as long as he could remember.