Montana Groom of Convenience

by Linda Ford

  Jill stared, her brown eyes intense but Carly couldn’t tell if she approved of the idea or found it loathsome. “Is that okay with you?”

  “What kind of home you got?”

  “I live on a ranch with my father. We have horses and cows—”

  “Puppies and kitties?”

  “Not at the moment.” Carly promised herself she’d get one of each as soon as possible. “We had a dog but he died during the winter. He was old.” Carly missed him and hadn’t considering replacing him yet. It was time to think about one now. Every child needed pets.

  “I’d have to work?”

  “You’d have chores. We all would. It’s how families operate.”

  Jill nodded. “That’s what Mama said, too.” She nodded. “Okay.”

  Sawyer cleared his throat. “Seems we’re all agreed.”

  “Then let’s go find the preacher.” Carly led the way out of the doctor’s house. She turned left, marched past the schoolhouse where Jill would soon be attending, past the town square with trees budding and flowers pushing up through the sod. They turned by the church and went to the manse where Hugh had his office. The three of them stood at the doorway. It felt strange to be coming to this entrance. Carly always went to the door that opened to the kitchen. She knocked.

  Hugh opened the door, a smile driving deep dimples into his cheeks. “Carly, go round to the kitchen. Annie’s there.”

  “I’ve come to see you.” Remembering the other two, she corrected herself. “We’ve come to see you.”

  Hugh’s mobile face sobered and a hard look replaced his smile. He surely must wonder why Carly had brought a man and a child to his office.

  “Then by all means come right in.” He waved them toward the pair of chairs facing the desk, realized he needed another chair and snagged one from against the wall.

  They sat. Carly to the right, Sawyer to the left and Jill in the middle. Hugh took his place across the desk from them.

  Carly had always liked Hugh. He was darkly handsome with a quick smile and those lovely deep dimples in his cheeks. And single-minded. He’d come to town to find his missing son, Evan, and hadn’t given up until he’d rescued the boy. Not unlike Sawyer’s situation. Surely he’d see the similarities and it would make him eager to help.

  Hugh directed his gaze toward Sawyer. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.”

  “Hugh, this is Sawyer Gallagher and his sister, Jill.”

  The men shook hands, Hugh unmistakably curious. Then he offered his hand to Jill and she solemnly took it.

  Hugh returned to a seated position. “Now what is it I can do for you?”

  Carly and Sawyer glanced at each other, turned back to Hugh and spoke at the same time.

  “Marry us.”

  Hugh sat back, shock and surprise making his mouth fall open. He sucked in air. “Marry you? To each other?”

  Carly nodded.

  “How do you know each other?”

  “We don’t. First time I saw him was this morning after I had tea with Annie.”

  “I see.” He tented his fingers and tapped the ends of them together. His gaze was serious and not exactly affable. “Then may I suggest that this is rather sudden? Perhaps you should wait and get to know each other better.”

  “Why?” Carly and Sawyer asked at the same time.

  Sawyer continued, “We know what we’re doing.”

  Hugh shook his head. “You know nothing about each other.”

  Carly made a derisive sound. “This from a man who advertised for a mail-order bride.”

  Hugh had the grace to look embarrassed. “I would have wanted a few details before I actually tied the knot.”

  “I know all I need to know,” Sawyer said, his voice calm. “Like she said to Jill, we need a home and she needs a family.”

  “She does?” Hugh didn’t have to sound like this was unexpected news to him. Even if she’d never before mentioned this need. The truth was she’d never considered such a thing before, but thanks to Father’s ultimatum, it had become imperative.

  “Does Annie know of your plans?”

  “Not yet.” Carly hadn’t had time to inform anyone.

  “Do you mind if I ask her to join us?”

  Annie knew why Carly had to do this. She would support Carly’s decision. “It’s all right by me if it’s all right by Sawyer.”

  “I’ve no objection.” He sat still and patient. As if it didn’t matter that he was about to marry a stranger.

  Carly eased back until she pressed to the wooden chair. She slowed her breathing and did her best to appear as unconcerned as Sawyer.

  Hugh hurried from the room. They heard his murmured conversation with Annie though they could not make out the words. Heard her surprised response, then the pair returned, Hugh carrying a chair for Annie. He put it beside his own.

  “You want to get married?” Annie asked, her voice and expression full of shocked surprise.

  “I told you I would.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t think…” She shook her head. “I didn’t think it was possible.”

  Carly chuckled, seeing the humor in this situation. “I told you to pray I’d find a husband.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Is there a problem?” Sawyer asked.

  “We know nothing about you,” Hugh said.

  “There’s not much to know.”

  Carly needed to prove that she had found out the essentials. “He’s twenty-three. Been working on ranches or cattle drives since he was fourteen. Guess that qualifies him to work on the Morrison Ranch. His parents are dead. Jill is his half sister and her mother is dead, too. He came to Bella Creek hoping to find a cousin and her husband but they’ve passed on.” She sat back, feeling quite triumphant.

  “Cousin?” Hugh said. “And who might that be?”

  His tone carried just enough doubt for Carly to know he wondered if Sawyer made up the information. She had never thought to ask and she really should have.

  “Ida and Henry Brown. They had a young son, Hank.”

  “The Browns. They passed last spring. Their chimney blocked and they died of fumes.”

  Hugh continued to press for more information. “What was your plan when you found them?”

  “I thought they would give Jill the sort of home she deserves.”

  “And you’d do what?”

  “Look for a job. Maybe head to Texas and get on another cattle drive.”

  Carly sat up tall and straight. She would not let anyone guess at how this information troubled her. She could live with a man who cared nothing about feelings. Suited her just fine. But a wandering one? How would that meet Father’s requirements? She had no wish to be saddled with an absent husband and a father who believed an able-bodied man was necessary in order for her to keep the ranch.

  She knew Annie watched her and guessed at her worry. Again, she smoothed her expression, wanting to hide her feelings from her friends. Soon she’d be as good as Sawyer at revealing nothing.

  Perhaps Hugh understood the situation as well for he asked another question. “Once you marry and Carly takes on Jill’s care, what’s to stop you from heading for Texas and leaving her to carry the load on her own?”

  “I won’t. I give my word. I keep my word.” A beat of heavy silence met his answer.

  Carly knew Annie and Hugh were thinking the same as she. How were they to know if they could trust him?

  “A man is only as good as his word.” Sawyer’s voice rang clear.

  Carly was convinced. Or perhaps, she admitted, she wanted to believe him so they could proceed with their plan.

  Hugh continued. “I can’t marry the two of you without knowing what your religious beliefs are.”

  Carly looked at Sawyer. Another question she should have asked.

  Not a muscle twitched anywhere on him. Nothing about his expression changed. He was very good at hiding his feelings. If, indeed, he had any. She couldn’t be sure he did at this point.


  “I believe in God,” he said when he realized Hugh would not go on without an answer.

  Hugh gave a mirthless laugh. “Perhaps you could tell me what you believe about God. Who is He to you?”

  *

  The preacher’s question snaked through Sawyer. He had long ago stopped thinking about God. He couldn’t say when it had happened. “My mama taught me that God loves me.” A rush of long-forgotten memories swept over him. Mama reading the Bible and praying. She’d loved God and yet God had let her and Johnny perish in the fire. How could he trust a God like that?

  “How would you describe your relationship to God?” the preacher asked.

  Sawyer understood the man on the other side of the desk was reluctant to marry Carly Morrison to a stranger and would leap on any reason to refuse. This would be the reason if Sawyer let it be.

  He couldn’t lie, not even to gain the preacher’s approval. As he said, a man was only as good as his word and once that was gone, so was honor and self-respect. It was about all he had left that mattered to him. And now the responsibility of his little sister.

  “I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day, he rose again.” The words rolled off his tongue as he said them from memory. But when had they been committed to his memory? Who had taught him those words? The answer was simple. His mama had taught them to him long ago and they had lain dormant in his brain until he needed to recall them. Thank you, Mama.

  “Are you a believer?” the preacher asked.

  The preacher hadn’t been specific about what Sawyer believed in. He believed in lots of things. Doing a job to the best of his ability. Never quitting until the task was done. Being kind to children, women and animals. Keeping one’s word. And of course, a God who ruled the world. “Yes.”

  Preacher Arness dropped his hand to the desktop. “I’m still not convinced this is the right thing to do.” He pondered in silence a moment, then brightened. “Sawyer, perhaps there are things you want to know about Carly before you commit yourself to spending the rest of your life with her.”

  He knew marriage was forever but to hear it in those terms—the rest of your life—gave him pause. Between them, Jill swung her legs. Her hands moved restlessly. He knew the signs. His little sister had about reached the end of sitting still and that could lead to all sorts of unwanted events.

  Just then, the door leading to the living quarters creaked open and a small boy peeked through the opening. “Mama, I finished the picture.” The lad looked about the room. “Hi, Auntie Carly.”

  “Hi, Evan.” Carly turned her gaze to Sawyer. “This is Annie and Hugh’s son. Why not let Jill play with him while we finish up here?” She had no idea what she suggested. She couldn’t begin to know what disasters Jill was capable of.

  But Jill had already gotten to her feet and pushed past Sawyer. He caught her arm and stopped her. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  Jill favored him with a scowl fit to curdle his stomach.

  “Evan would like that, wouldn’t you?” Mrs. Arness said. “We can leave the door open so we can see them.”

  Jill squirmed from Sawyer’s grasp and followed the woman into the other room.

  The two children sat in plain view with an assortment of toy animals between them. A small dog flopped down beside them and Jill began to pet it. The preacher’s wife returned to sit by her husband.

  Sawyer tried to relax but it was impossible. Every muscle in his body tensed, ready to react to whatever might occur.

  “Now back to the business at hand,” the preacher said. “You were wondering about Carly.”

  He wasn’t but Sawyer let the assumption go unchallenged.

  “I don’t know what she’s told you so I’ll provide a few details. Carly is nineteen years old.”

  Sawyer nodded. He would have guessed her older than that but her age made no difference to him. At least she wasn’t forty.

  The preacher went on, “She’s a believer. She lives on a small ranch four miles southeast of town along with her father. Mr. Morrison was injured in a wagon accident a few weeks ago. Doc says his leg will never mend properly. Carly’s been doing most of the work around the place since even before her father’s accident but he has never let her handle their big Clydesdale.”

  “He’s too much for a wee lassie like you.”

  Sawyer knew by the strong brogue with which Carly said the words that she quoted her father.

  Preacher Hugh leaned back. “There’s lots more to know about her. And I know there’s lots more to know about you. Why not spend some time learning about each other and come back in a few months to get married?”

  “I don’t have a few months. I don’t need to know more.” Carly’s opinion was clear.

  “I see no reason to delay.” The sooner Sawyer got Jill settled into a permanent home, the better he’d like it.

  Carly planted her fists on her knees. “Nor do I.”

  “You’ll need your father’s permission.”

  Sawyer knew the preacher was stalling.

  Carly bolted to her feet. “He can’t ride but I’ll go ask him.”

  The preacher and his wife exchanged looks and grinned. Hugh got to his feet. “I think I better be the one to talk to him.” He grabbed his hat and headed for the door. “Annie will serve you tea.”

  “Wait,” Carly said. “At least let me write him a note.” She grabbed paper and pencil and hurriedly wrote down some words. She folded the paper and handed it to Hugh.

  Sawyer didn’t fancy the idea of spending the afternoon in the company of two women. “Can’t you just marry us and be done with it?” He congratulated himself at keeping any annoyance from his voice. No need for any of them to guess that he was finding this all rather unsettling.

  “An hour for some serious second thought won’t hurt.” And with that, the door closed behind the preacher.

  Carly huffed. “I don’t need any serious second thought.” She grinned at Sawyer. “Father will agree once he’s read my note.”

  Sawyer couldn’t imagine what she’d written that made her so certain. The women left the room. He had little choice but to follow them, though he did so reluctantly. He paused by the two children. Jill ignored him and ran to the kitchen after Evan who followed his mama.

  Every carefully honed instinct told Sawyer he should turn left, exit through the door and not look back until he was fifty miles down the road.

  “Would you children like some cookies and milk?” Mrs. Arness asked.

  “Yes, please,” her little boy said.

  “Me, too.” Jill’s tone was almost demanding.

  When he last saw his little sister, she was well mannered and full of laughter. He wanted to see that child return to replace the demanding, unruly one she’d become. He recognized all the signs of someone turning her back to the world, to kindness and love. He would do everything he could to reverse that process.

  But as he turned right and joined the others in the kitchen, he couldn’t decide whether or not he wished Mr. Morrison would refuse to grant permission for a marriage between Sawyer and Carly.

  Chapter Three

  Carly and Annie normally had no difficulty carrying on a conversation but with Sawyer at the same table, suddenly Carly could think of nothing to say. She felt Annie’s glance on her and looked up.

  Annie tipped her head toward Sawyer. Talk to him, she mouthed.

  Carly understood she had to do so if only to prove to her friend…and herself…that it would not be uncomfortable sharing her table with a stranger. Of course, Father would be there. But he could be dour at times.

  She’d be sharing her table. Her house. Her ranch. Her life.

  Her throat tightened so she couldn’t speak. Thankfully, Annie set a cup of tea before each of them just then and Carly sucked back a mouthful of the hot liquid.

  Annie took pity on her and spoke to Sawyer. “Where are you and Jill from?”
>
  “We’ve come from Libby, Kansas.”

  “My, that is a long ride for a little girl.”

  “I suppose so.” Sawyer’s tone communicated nothing.

  Carly couldn’t tell if he was surprised at the idea or if he had already considered it or if, indeed, it mattered not at all to him. If she had to guess, she’d go with the last thought simply because he revealed no emotion.

  Annie turned to Jill. “Did you enjoy the trip?”

  Jill bumped her glass of milk and the contents splashed across the table.

  Carly jumped up. “I’ll get it.” She grabbed the dishrag and mopped up the liquid.

  “It’s okay. Accidents happen,” Annie said.

  Carly studied Jill. Surely she was mistaken in thinking the accident had been deliberate.

  Jill kept her face downturned. Her shoulders hunched forward.

  Carly’s heart went out to the orphaned little girl. Perhaps the bump on her head had put her aim off.

  By the time Carly had cleaned up the spilled milk, the children had finished their cookies.

  “Mama, can we go outside?” Evan asked.

  “Yes, of course. Stay in the backyard. And take Happy with you.”

  The pup ran for the door and barked. The children let him out and followed. Their voices, raised in play, reached those around the table.

  “I apologize for the spilled milk,” Sawyer said.

  “No need. She’s just a child.”

  Something flicked through his eyes before that bottomless empty pit opened up again and swallowed every hint of feeling but it was enough to make Carly wonder if he had a secret concerning Jill.

  Now she was getting fanciful. Jill was an eight-year-old. But she did not look at Annie for fear her friend would see a hint of Carly’s worries. This time for serious second thought allowed for far too much second-guessing. The reasons for marrying Sawyer were just as valid now as they had been an hour earlier.

  She took a cookie from the plate in the middle of the table and passed the plate to Sawyer. He also took a cookie and bit into it.

  “These are good.” He turned to Carly. “You can cook, can’t you?”

  Carly caught Annie’s eyes, silently signaling her not to reveal anything, then she turned to Sawyer and gave him her best innocent look. “Why? Can’t you?”