Brazen

by Bobbi Smith

  "Michael will never marry me. He hates me," she said with what little confidence she could muster. She remembered their encounter in town and knew that the animosity between them had not faded during his time away from Hard Luck. She swallowed nervously.

  "I guess we'll find out soon enough. If Michael agrees to the marriage, I am going to make sure you retain title to the Bar T.That way I know you will always be protected."

  "I don't need the Donovans to protect me," she scoffed, angry over being perceived as so defenseless. "I don't need anybody to protect me. I know how to use a gun."

  "Casey, I understand how you feel about the Donovans. Granted, I've had no use for them for years, but there is one thing about Frank he's smart. He knows a good deal when he hears one. If he wants control of the water on the Bar T, he'll find a way to convince Michael to marry you."

  Convince Michael to many you.

  Her father's words hurt.

  Casey was no romantic. She'd never harbored any dream of a romantic wedding, but she'd never imagined that the man she married would have to be "convinced" to go through with the ceremony, either. She had always thought she would be in love with the man she wed, but there was one thing she knew for sure. She didn't love Michael, and Michael harbored no love for her in his heart.

  "How could you even think I'd marry Michael?" she asked, her emotions in turmoil. She thought of the way he'd looked when she'd seen him in town. He was a dandy now, a dude. He probably wasn't even going to stay on his father's ranch. He was probably going back East with his cousin just as soon as he could. He wouldn't many her.

  Pain filled Jack as he saw Casey's distress. He had to convince her that this would be for the best.

  "Listen to me, child," he insisted. "There is nothing unusual about an arranged marriage. If the two of you do get wed, it will benefit you both. You love the Bar T, don't you?"

  When she didn't answer, he repeated himself.

  "Casey you don't want to lose the ranch, do you?"

  "No," she said tightly. A part of her accepted her fate, but there remained a glimmer of hope within her that Michael would refuse to go along with their fathers' plan. "How soon do you think we'll hear something from them?"

  "Soon very soon."

  Casey said no more as she got up from the table. Unease gripped her. Her appetite was gone. She wanted nothing more than to be left alone with her thoughts.

  Retiring to her room, she washed up and got ready for bed, but sleep eluded her. She lay there thinking of Michael, picturing him as he'd looked when she'd seen him in town and remembering the man he'd been before he'd gone back East.

  Casey wondered where Michael was and what he was thinking at this moment. She wondered if he was as upset as she was. When she finally drifted off, her sleep was troubled.

  Michael handed Nick the tumbler of bourbon he'd just poured him as they settled in the study late that evening.

  "So you are serious about this." Nick couldn't believe what Michael had just revealed to him.

  "Yes."

  "You're really going to marry Casey Turner," Nick repeated.

  "That's right." Michael took a deep drink of his liquor.

  "What about Karen?"

  Michael frowned as conflicting images of Casey and the beautiful, sophisticated Karen played in his mind. "What about her?"

  "I thought you were serious about her, and I think she thought so, too."

  "I'm sure Karen won't have any trouble finding someone to replace me." Michael had enjoyed her company. There had been a few times when he'd considered a deeper relationship with the debutante, but not anymore.

  "This should prove to be very interesting," Nick said with a smile. He lifted his glass in a toast. "Here's to you and your future bride."

  "Will you stay and be my best man?"

  "I'd be honored. I wouldn't miss this wedding for the world."

  Nick was tempted to ask his cousin if he thought Casey would wear her pants to their wedding, but he didn't. He actually found he was impressed by Michael's determination to do whatever was necessary to help his family.

  Considering how Michael had reacted when he'd seen Casey in town when they'd first arrived in Hard Luck, Nick knew their relationship was going to be tumultuous and challenging.

  He silently wished his cousin luck.

  He had a feeling Michael was going to need it where Casey was concerned.

  Jack didn't sleep all night. Restless and troubled, he lay awake for long hours alternately anticipating and dreading the day to come. Soon he would know what the future held for Casey and the Bar T.

  In the solitary darkness, Jack silently offered up a prayer that his health wouldn't fail him until he'd seen that everything had been taken care of. When the eastern sky finally began to brighten with the coming dawn, he gave up trying to rest and got up. He knew it was going to be a long day as he waited for word from the Donovans.

  It was late morning when Jack saw the rider coming in and recognized him as David Martinez, one of the men from the Circle D.He went outside to meet him.

  "Morning," Jack greeted him.

  "Mr. Donovan sent me over with this." The ranch hand held out an envelope to him without dismounting. "I'm supposed to wait for your answer."

  "All right." Jack quickly opened the letter and read it.

  Jack,

  Michael and I would like to meet with you this af=ternoon.

  He has agreed to your terms.

  Be here at one o'clock.

  Frank

  Jack looked up at David and nodded. "Tell your boss we'll be there."

  "I'll let him know."

  When he'd gone, Jack went to find Casey.

  Casey never openly admitted to any weakness, but the sight of the Circle D ranch house sent a chill through her and left her wanting to run in the opposite direction.

  She controlled the desire with an effort.

  She had to be strong.

  She couldn't run away.

  The Bar T's very existence depended upon her.

  "Are you sure Michael has agreed to go through with the marriage?" Casey asked her father as she sat next to him on the driver's bench of the buckboard.

  "Frank Donovan wouldn't have arranged this meeting with us if he hadn't," Jack answered, casting her a sidelong glance.

  Casey was dressed in her usual work clothes pants, shirt and boots. He'd wanted her to put on a dress, but she'd refused. She'd told him Michael was just going to have to accept her for who she was. She had no intention of changing her ways to please him.

  "Isn't there any other way we can save the ranch?" Casey already knew the answer, but she had to ask.

  "No."

  Casey drew a deep breath and unconsciously squared her shoulders as her father slowed the buckboard before the Donovan house.

  "They're here," Elizabeth said as she looked out the parlor window and saw Jack and Cassandra Turner pulling up out front.

  "Good," Frank said.

  He was in the parlor for the first time since he'd been shot. Though it had been humiliating, he had allowed Michael and Nick to carry him downstairs. Frank hated being dependent on others, but he knew he was going to have to come to accept it. He knew, too, that just because his legs had stopped working didn't mean his brain had stopped. Mentally, he was as sharp as ever; he would have to be to deal with Jack Turner.

  "Are you ready for this, Michael?" Elizabeth looked at her son. He was standing stiffly across the room from her.

  "I have to be. I don't have a choice."

  There was a hint of bitterness in his tone, but Elizabeth knew there was no helping it.

  "Where's Nick?" she asked.

  "He went down to the stable. He said he'd stay away until we were finished."

  "All right." She smiled slightly. "Then let's greet our guests, shall we?"

  Ever the lady, Elizabeth went to welcome her future daughter-in-law and her father. The thought amazed her, for in all her wildest imaginings about whom Mich
ael might marry, she'd never, ever considered it would be Cassandra Turner.

  "Good afternoon. Come on in," Elizabeth said as she opened the door and held it wide for them to enter.

  "Thanks." Jack ushered the reluctant Casey inside.

  "Hello, Cassandra," Elizabeth said, smiling cordially.

  "Mrs. Donovan," Casey returned. It felt funny to be called by her real name. Her mother had been the only one who'd ever called her Cassandra.

  Elizabeth discreetly looked Cassandra over as she moved past her. She tried not to be judgmental as she studied her pants and work shirt and scuffed boots. Though Elizabeth thought the girl looked entirely too mannish, she could see the potential in her. With the right touch, Cassandra could be lovely, and Elizabeth made up her mind to be the one who offered her that "right touch." She knew Cassandra had had no feminine influence in her life for quite a few years now, and she decided it was time. Quietly and happily resolved to transform Cassandra into the woman she was certain she could be, Elizabeth closed the door behind them.

  "Frank and Michael are waiting for us in the parlor," she directed, guiding them down the hall.

  Casey was as ready as she would ever be to face Mi chael. She lifted her head and proudly followed her father and Mrs. Donovan into the parlor.

  "Hello, Casey Jack," Frank said.

  Mr. Donovan," Casey greeted him and then looked around for Michael.

  Her first sight of Michael standing by the mantel, his dark-eyed gaze upon her, sent a startling jolt of awareness through Casey. This man bore no resemblance to the dandy she'd seen in town. The Eastern gent in his fancy suit was gone, vanished as if he'd never existed, and in his place was a man who appeared to be every bit the successful rancher. Tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in traditional Western gear, Michael had an aura of confidence and command about him. As much as Casey hated to admit it, she supposed Michael was handsomin a rugged sort of way.

  "Hello, Michael," Casey managed, struggling to keep her tone nonchalant.

  "Casey," he returned without emotion, looking her up and down.

  Casey had had men look her over before, and it had never bothered her until now.

  This time was different.

  For the first time, she was aware of her state of dress, and it troubled her. She gave a slight lift of her chin in defiance of her own reaction. She told herself it didn't matter what Michael thought of her. It only mattered that he marry her.

  "Please, have a seat," Elizabeth invited.

  Jack and Casey sat down on the sofa, while Elizabeth took a chair near her husband's.

  Michael remained standing.

  "I've spoken with Michael," Frank began, broaching the subject straight on.

  "And I take it he agreed to my deal, or we wouldn't be here?" Jack finished. He looked to Michael for confirmation.

  "That's right." Michael met his gaze straight on as he answered in a voice completely devoid of emotion, "I'll many Casey."

  A powerful sense of relief filled Jack. "Good. You won't be sorry."

  "I hope not," Michael said. "But how does Casey feel about this arrangement?"

  "I'll do whatever I have to, to protect the Bar T," she answered.

  Michael thought she sounded as if she were offering herself up as a sacrifice. Not that he'd expected anything else from her. They had never gotten along, and there was no reason for them to start now. He just wondered how they were going to make a marriage work when neither of them wanted it.

  "How soon can the wedding take place?" Jack asked.

  "We'll need at least a month to plan everything," Elizabeth said firmly.

  "A month? Why wait that long?" Jack wanted to get the bank loan paid off as quickly as he could so that worry would be behind him. "They can elope. They can go to the justice of the peace right now tonight."

  "No." Elizabeth was adamant. "If we're going to do this, we're going to do it right. It's going to be a church wedding. We have to speak with Reverend Harris and make arrangements."

  "All right," Jack said, giving in. "One month it is."

  "Good. That's settled." Frank was satisfied. "As soon as they take their vows, I'll arrange for the payment to the bank. Then we'll see about changing the title to the land and"

  "Wait," Jack interrupted. "There is one thing I insist on."

  The Donovans looked at him warily.

  "This wedding will unite the two ranches to the benefit of us all, but I want it understood from the beginning that Casey will retain title to the Bar T."

  "What? You didn't say a word about that before," Frank said, shocked. "Why?"

  "I'll tell you why, Frank Donovan." Jack might have made a deal with the man, but that didn't mean all those years of distrust were suddenly forgotten. "What's to stop your boy here from divorcing Casey just as soon as he gets the title to the Bar T? I know you only agreed to do this to get my land."

  "We've made a deal," Frank told him. "I'm a man of my word. What about you? Once I save your ass by paying off your debts, what's to stop you and your daughter from cutting off my water just like you say McQueen would?"

  "I've never cut you off before, why would I start now?" Jack demanded.

  The two adversaries eyed each other skeptically.

  "All right," Frank finally relented. "Let's shake on it."

  For the first time, the two men shook hands in good faith as Elizabeth, Michael and Casey watched.

  Casey wasn't sure what to feel as she looked on. It seemed as if her life had just been taken away from her. The only thing she had to cling to was the knowledge that she was saving the ranch and after her father, the Bar T was the most important thing in her life.

  Michael wondered how his life had come to this. Just a short time before, he'd been in Philadelphia, getting ready to travel to Europe.

  And now

  Now he was going to marry Casey Turner.

  Casey Turner?

  For a fleeting instant, he almost wished he and Nick had sailed for Europe, but as quickly as the thought came, he grew angry with himself.

  His father needed him.

  There was nothing more important than family.

  He would do what he had to do to make sure the Circle D continued to prosper.

  "This will work out fine, you'll see." Elizabeth could sense the uneasiness in the room, and she tried to reassure everyone. She looked at Cassandra. "I guess the first thing we have to decide is where you and Michael are going to live after the wedding."

  "Do we really have to live together?" Casey asked, glancing nervously toward Michael.

  "You're getting married," Elizabeth pointed out.

  "But this is an arranged marriage," she argued. "I thought I'd stay at home with my pa."

  "And you'll need me here," Michael said to his mother, not the least bit put off by Casey's suggestion that they live apart.

  "My marriage to your father was arranged," Elizabeth offered, although she doubted the knowledge would be much consolation to either of them.

  "What?" Michael was startled by the news.

  "Oh, yes. Your father and I barely knew each other when we got married, but it's worked out fine, hasn't it, Frank?" She smiled warmly at her husband.

  "Yes, it has," Frank agreed.

  "And, Michael, if we hadn't lived together after our marriage, how would you have gotten here?" she asked her son, her eyes twinkling in good humor.

  "Mother--" Michael was uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation.

  Casey, too, was all but squirming over their discussion. She hadn't come to grips yet with the knowledge that she'd be living with Michael, let alone making love with him. She shivered at the thought, then glanced his way to see his scowling expression. It was obvious he was just as put off by the idea as she was.

  "You will be living together," Elizabeth went on, unfazed by their discomfort. "The question is, where? I'm sure you won't want to stay with us or with Jack."

  "No," Michael answered before Casey could reply. "We
've got time enough to build a house."

  "But I have to be close to the Bar T," Casey insisted.

  "And I want to be close to the Circle D," he returned.

  "Why don't you build on the hill overlooking the river?" Frank suggested.

  "Good idea. You'd be right there on the property line," Jack added. "That way you wouldn't be too far from either one of us."

  "That's settled, then," Frank said, not waiting for any more discussion.

  "And Foster?" Jack demanded.

  "I told you. I'll pay off your loan after the wedding."

  "You want everything signed, sealed and delivered first."

  "That's right."

  They eyed each other again. There was a tentative peace between them, but it was an uneasy one; old hatreds were hard to put aside.

  "I guess that's all we have to discuss today," Frank said, satisfied with the way things had turned out.

  Jack and Casey got up to leave.

  "I do need to talk with you about the wedding plans," Elizabeth said to Cassandra as she showed them from the room. "Do you want to go with me to speak with Reverend Harris?"

  Casey was nervous at the prospect, but agreed.

  "Good. I'll send a note to Reverend Harris and ask when he can meet with us. I'll let you know as soon as I hear back from him."

  "Fine."

  They had just reached the front door when Michael came out of the parlor behind them.

  "Casey"

  She stopped and looked back to see him coming toward her. Her father and Mrs. Donovan went outside to give them a moment of privacy.

  "We need to talk," Michael said in a serious tone.

  "Yes, we do."

  "Can you meet me later?"

  "Where?"

  "At the river?"

  "All right." She agreed to the rendezvous for she knew they had a few things to say to each other that could only be said in private.

  Michael walked with her out to the buckboard. He started to help her up, but she shrugged off his touch.

  "I don't need any help." Casey climbed easily up to sit next to her father.

  Elizabeth saw the exchange between them and knew she had some work to do to turn Cassandra into a lady. It was going to be a challenge.