by Seton, Cora
When she’d asked Austin why he’d chosen a church wedding rather than a town hall one, he’d answered succinctly. “No one will believe in us if we get married by a Justice of the Peace. The Halls have always been married in church.”
He’d said it like the Halls were local celebrities. Maybe they were. After all, how little would it take to stand out in a town this size? She hoped that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be able to hide here. As soon as she gained the ranch, she meant to disappear from public view.
Now, as she took in her surroundings, she saw why Austin preferred them to the cold atmosphere of a county clerk’s office. The spartan, white-walled church was plain and simple, and beautiful for all that. There was something holy about the space that she wouldn’t have felt in an over-ornamented cathedral. The effect both soothed her and struck a chord in her heart—if only the marriage she was entering into was as real, pure and true as her surroundings.
“Austin, it’s good to see you again. Did your brother and his wife get off okay?” The reverend was a stocky, middle-aged man with graying hair. Under other circumstances Ella was sure she would have liked him. But when he sent her a curious glance, she thought he might be her worst enemy.
“Yes, they did. You did a great job at the wedding, Reverend.”
The two men clapped each other on the back and Ella bit her lip. Austin had mentioned his brother’s wedding. Was it some kind of sibling rivalry that made him want to rush to tie the knot? She remembered what his ad had said—I don’t need to know your story and you don’t need to know mine. She would have to keep her curiosity in check. Which was okay, as long as he did, too.
“And this must be Ella. I have to admit I was very surprised to hear about this wedding of yours, Austin. I would have thought since your family was all assembled for Mason’s wedding, you would have held yours at the same time—or at least introduced your bride to everyone. In fact, I have to admit I’m surprised this particular wedding is taking place at all.”
Reverend Halpern’s expression was kind, but Ella’s heart sank. Something in his eyes told Ella he knew exactly who she was and knew, too, that she was supposed to have married Anthony.
Her chest tightened. Was she to be humiliated again?
“I didn’t want to steal my brother’s thunder,” Austin said smoothly, but there was a thread of iron in his words. “He and Regan had their day all planned out.”
“Does that mean this wedding was something of a… last minute arrangement?” Reverend Halpern turned to Ella, who once again fought desperately to keep her feelings hidden behind a mask of calm. “Ella Scales. What a pleasure to meet you. A very unexpected pleasure.”
Well, that was that. The jig was up—he knew exactly who she was. “Thank you,” she managed. Thank God she knew how to act under pressure. She was determined that if Halpern wanted to ruin the wedding, he’d have to do it all on his own. Nothing in her demeanor would give the good reverend the slightest scrap to work with. “I can’t wait to get started.” She smiled her best thousand-watt smile.
“Well,” Reverend Halpern said, obviously taken aback. He looked from one to the other as if waiting for an explanation. Neither of them gave one. “I suppose we shouldn’t keep the bride waiting. Tell me, how did you two meet?”
Ella’s heart skidded to a stop. Was he going to keep pushing until he found out the whole story? But before her panic could overwhelm her, Austin spoke again.
“Listen, Reverend. There’s a lot you don’t know about what I’ve been through these past years. It’s been… rough. You have no idea how much I’ve looked forward to coming home, settling down and living in peace and quiet on my family’s property. I’m not Mason.” He held Halpern’s gaze. “I don’t like crowds, or fuss, and the fewer people asking questions the better. I don’t mean to be rude. You’re an old family friend. You have my best interests at heart. But you have to trust me. Ella and I are going to get married today—here, or somewhere else. We’d like you to perform the ceremony. Can you do that for me, Reverend?”
Ella’s respect for her soldier husband-to-be went up a notch. It would take a strong man to counteract the steel in his voice. Halpern struck her as a man who could be strong when his faith demanded it, but after searching Austin’s face for a long moment, he straightened. “Yes, I can do that for you. Forgive me. You just have to understand. You and Ms. Scales…” He trailed off and lifted his shoulders in an expressive shrug. “That’s unexpected.”
Austin frowned. “I’ll do my best to be worthy of her.”
He still hadn’t put two and two together, had he? Well, if she’d had a swelled head about her film career, Austin’s ignorance would have punctured it once and for all.
She fell back on her acting again, took Austin’s arm and leaned against him like she needed his support. “Will we be able to get to the ceremony soon? I can’t wait to get you alone, darling.” Austin stiffened under her touch, but he didn’t pull away. Her fingers curled around his biceps, her cheek lay against the fabric of his cotton shirt. Suddenly Austin seemed very real. Very male.
Halpern became all business, checking the watch he wore on his wrist. “I’ve called Bettie Henderson and Donna Renners in as witnesses, since you don’t have any of your own. They should be here any—there they are. Come on down, ladies!”
Two women in their sixties made their way down the aisle and took their places off to the side of Austin and Ella. Ella did her best to keep Austin between her and them, afraid they’d make more of a fuss than Halpern had. The reverend fished around in the lectern and pulled out a file folder. “Just a little paperwork to take care of first,” he said, moving closer. “Can I get some identification from you, Ella?”
She opened her clutch and pulled out her California driver’s license.
“I’ve already filled in your information, Austin,” Halpern said. He got to work while Bettie and Donna whispered, craning their heads to get a better look at her. Ella kept moving, using Austin to block their view, but when Austin leaned over to answer one of the reverend’s questions, he caught her by surprise and left her completely exposed.
Donna and Bettie eyed her avidly and Ella swallowed a groan. Any minute they’d announce who she was and the game would be up, but moments passed and the women didn’t announce anything. She realized from the angle of their gazes they were interested in her designer dress, not her. Maybe she could get away with this after all. Finally, Halpern straightened. “Okay, you two. Ready to get started?”
“Yes, sir,” Austin said. He glanced her way and all thoughts of Bettie and Donna fled from her mind. Was she really going through with this?
A wave of dizziness overtook her. She was in a church, in Montana, standing next to a cowboy who would soon be her husband, even if it was only for one year.
“Ready?” he asked her gently. He touched her arm, probably sensing her wavering resolve.
Now that it was time for the ceremony, she wasn’t sure she could carry this through.
What was she doing, racing away from her career to this tiny pocket of humanity on the edge of nowhere? Did she really want to spend a whole year hanging out with cattle? And cowboys?
She looked into Austin’s steely blue eyes and realized she wanted to. She wanted to spend time with this man, find out what made him tick. Possibly—
He took her hand and squeezed it gently. “What do you say?”
The low, warm tone of his voice traveled through her like an electric bolt, setting every one of her nerves at attention. Her head nodded before she even processed his question.
“Yes.”
* * *
As Reverend Halpern started the marriage ceremony, Austin’s heart began to pound, a situation that irritated him. He’d faced far worse than matrimony during his time abroad.
Far worse.
So why was marrying this beautiful woman creating such a surge of adrenaline that his heart was beating triple-time? He could barely hear the words the reverend was sayi
ng about the nature and purpose of marriage between a man and his wife.
When Reverend Halpern asked Ella if she would take Austin to be her husband, forsaking all others, she looked him in the eye and spoke her answer calmly and clearly, the mask she’d worn since she’d met him firmly in place. It had slipped a little when Halpern had questioned their marriage, revealing a panic that nearly matched his own. Then somehow she’d regained control. He wished he could do the same.
“I will.”
Reverend Halpern turned to him.
“Austin, will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?”
Austin took a deep breath. Here he went, telling a bald-faced lie to the man who’d preached to his family for years. “I will.”
Then it was time to repeat his vows. He stumbled through the words, Ella’s right hand lightly in his, his pulse racing in his ears until he wondered if he might really have a heart attack. He was pledging his life to a stranger—and lying like crazy, because he didn’t intend to keep his word.
“Ella,” Reverend Halpern said. “Will you take Austin’s right hand and repeat after me? I, Ella Scales, take you, Austin Hall, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until we are parted by death.”
Ella repeated the lines perfectly, the careful cadence of her smooth, warm voice holding Austin in thrall. When he’d conjured up this plan, he hadn’t thought about the wedding itself. Now a beautiful stranger was pledging before God to cherish him, honor him and stay with him through sickness and health.
Pledging to love him.
Heat pulsed through Austin again.
Reverend Halpern faced them. “The wedding ring signifies to all the uniting of this man and woman in holy matrimony and symbolizes the never-ending nature of their love. May I have the rings, please?”
Austin froze.
Rings.
He hadn’t even thought about rings. He glanced at Ella, not knowing what to do. Fucking hell, he’d screwed up again.
Ella rolled her eyes, slipped two rings off her right hand and passed them to the reverend.
Transfixed by this second glimpse of the real woman behind the mask, the glint of humor that had flashed in her eyes before she sobered again, Austin stared at her, wanting to see it again. She ignored him, however, and finally he returned his attention to the minister, angling his neck to get a look at the rings Ella had deposited in Halpern’s hand. He expected them to be flashy, girly rings and scowled. What terrific memories they’d have of their wedding day to share with their grandkids.
He stilled.
Grandkids?
Hell, now he was losing his mind. The one thing he knew for sure was that there’d be no grandkids.
“Austin.” Halpern turned to him and gave him one of the rings, a delicate white-gold band. “Take Ella’s hand and repeat after me. Ella, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you.”
He did so, not knowing how he formed the words. A rushing in his ears overtook all other sounds. His feet felt a long distance from the rest of him. A bead of sweat traveled down from his neck between his shoulder blades, its torturous tickle accompanying the thump of his heart. Maybe he was losing his mind. Maybe coming home had unhinged him.
“Ella.” The reverend gave her the other ring, a slightly wider, more masculine band, and instructed her in the same way.
Realization sliced through him like a blade between the ribs—these weren’t random rings from her own fingers. They were wedding bands. She’d come prepared, evidently predicting he wouldn’t remember to. He’d failed his bride before they were even wed.
But why did he care? She didn’t want him. Couldn’t want him.
Could she?
He slid a glance her way and was surprised to find Ella looking back at him. She placed the band carefully on his finger, repeating the words Reverend Halpern spoke. As she made her vows, a sensation overcame him unlike anything he’d ever felt before—like the floor had just dropped out from underneath him and he was falling, falling, completely helpless to stop himself. This was madness—marrying a stranger, yoking her life to his, planning to live together, eat together, work together and sleep together until Heloise handed over the deed.
He needed to stop the ceremony. He needed to get out of here.
But the reverend had already launched into a final prayer and benediction. Austin didn’t hear a single word. It was all he could do to stay standing as his heart rate went into overdrive, flashes of light blinding his eyes. What the hell was happening to him? Were these his last moments on earth? Was he about to have an aneurysm?
He dimly heard Halpern conclude. “Now that Ella and Austin have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring in the presence of this company, by the authority of the state of Montana and that of almighty God, I pronounce that they are husband and wife. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder. Austin, you may kiss your bride.”
His bride.
Austin automatically faced the tall, stunning woman he’d just pledged the rest of his life to. She looked back at him expectantly, and when he didn’t bend forward to kiss her, her eyes widened. She was willing him to do something. She was willing him to kiss her—to not embarrass her in front of the Reverend—but he was stuck, still reeling from his reaction to the wedding ceremony. Yes, it was all a pack of lies, but he’d just pledged to love and care for this woman for the rest of his life.
And she’d pledged to love and care for him, too.
Ella strained toward him, willing him to play his part.
And Austin finally realized the breadth of the task he’d taken on. He’d have to play this charade for as long as it took to convince Heloise it was real. He’d have to pretend to love this woman, and what was worse—what was far worse—was that he’d conned her into having to pretend to love him back. A lot could happen in a year. All kinds of things.
He could fall in love for real.
And when their time was up, what then? Ella would want to leave. He’d be alone again. Worthless. Broken. The way he’d been the past fifteen months.
The way he’d always be.
He’d thought he was past caring about anyone or anything, but he’d been wrong, he saw that now. Some part of him still wanted the dream—still wanted to live.
To hell with that, he told himself. This wasn’t about him. This was about Crescent Hall. The only reason he was here in this church—marrying Ella—was to save it for his kin.
But he knew in his heart that was a lie. Knew he hoped for a second chance. Knew that he hoped God might give him one. That Ella might give him one. And so he leaned forward and kissed her, hoping against hope she’d kiss him back.
Ella’s mouth was sweet and spicy all at once. Delicious. Enticing. Alive.
Welcoming.
When he brushed his mouth over hers, she leaned into him just a little—enough to let him know he wasn’t the only one who wanted something here.
Armed with that knowledge, he slid a hand behind her neck and deepened the kiss, searching her mouth with his, hungry for something—he didn’t know what. Hungry for life, maybe. Hungry to be tugged back from the edge of death. Ella met him in the same way, answering him timidly at first, but then demanding more of him. His own hunger must have fanned hers into flames.
When he finally pulled back, he was breathless, but the rushing sound had gone, and while his heart beat fast, he no longer felt like he might crash to the floor.
Reverend Halpern chuckled. “Good. I was getting a little scared you two might have just met each other.”
Both of them jerked around to face him.
; “Don’t worry,” the reverend assured them. “Any couple who kisses like that is in love. I should know.”
Chapter 6
‡
The ride home was just as silent as the ride from the airport had been. What did you say to the man you’d just met and married? The man who’d just kissed you until you could barely remember your own name. And what came next, now that they’d tied the knot? Ella felt a bone-rattling panic as the next twelve months opened out ahead of her, as empty as an unpacked suitcase. Could she really stay on a ranch for a whole year—never leaving it, not even to go to town? Just a few days ago, the idea felt like a dream come true. Now she wasn’t so sure. Especially after what had just happened in the church.
She’d gone into the ceremony willing to play a part, but halfway through—when it was her turn to state her vows—something had happened. She found herself gazing at Austin and wondering what it would be like if their marriage was real. What it would be like if he was her husband—in every sense of the word.
The idea had left her as breathless as Austin’s kiss. It was a pipe dream, of course. An impossibility.
Now she forced herself to think of other things. Practical things.
What would happen after her year was up? What could she possibly reinvent herself into? A rancher? A cowgirl? An equine therapist, whatever the hell that actually was?
She giggled, then pressed her lips together to stop the incongruous sound. Recognizing she was a heartbeat away from hysteria, she asked the first question that popped into her head.
“What are we having for lunch?”
The expression Austin turned on her was as surprised as one could expect. “Really? Lunch? That’s what’s on your mind?” His low, quiet country drawl sent a shiver down her spine. The man had presence, she had to give him that. Behind the wheel or standing at the front of a church, he attracted her gaze as if there was nothing else to look at. Formidable was the word that came to mind. Formidable and hot. For the first time she considered that she would be alone with this man when they arrived at the ranch. Alone with this… soldier. She already knew he could kiss. What else could he do?