by Linda Ford
Carly tucked them tight around her, then leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “Have a good sleep, sweet Jill.” Seeing the wariness in the girl’s eyes, she left the room before Jill could protest.
In the kitchen, she sucked in air. It was progress. Thank You, God. Help me show love every day and in every way. And let that love help us build a new family.
Sawyer and Father spoke outside.
Carly couldn’t help but smile in anticipation of seeing Sawyer after a dip in the river. She shivered. She’d take warm water any day.
She added hot water to the tub, pulled a chair near and put the soap and towels close at hand.
“Father, would you like a bath now?” She allowed herself a quick glance at Sawyer. His hair sparkled with dampness. His skin glowed like freshly blossomed roses. Her ‘quick glance’ had become an all-out stare.
Father pushed to his feet. “I’ll do me best.”
Carly remembered to breathe as she brought her attention to her father.
Sawyer leaped forward. “Do you need help? I don’t mind.”
Father’s face crinkled in appreciation. “Thank you for the offer, son, but I’ve been managing on my own.”
“How does he do it?” Sawyer asked after Father went inside.
“He sits on a chair and leans over the tub. Seems to work for him.” She chuckled. “He’s particular about keeping his beard clean. He once told me a story about an old bachelor who didn’t wash as often as he should. Claims the man found a mouse in his beard one day.” She met Sawyer’s surprised look. “Now I can’t say if it’s really true, I’m simply repeating what I heard.”
Sawyer grinned. “I don’t expect your father would spin a wild tale, would he?”
She lifted one shoulder. “Never known my father to tell a lie. Though I’m not saying he saw this first hand. I suspect it was a story told to him and he only relayed what he’d heard.”
Sawyer’s gaze held hers like a steel clamp. She couldn’t have turned away if she wanted and she didn’t want to. His smile gave way to a deep-throated laugh. Still their eyes remained locked.
They both sobered. Something sweet and eternal blossomed deep inside even as she tried to resist it. Yes, he was her husband but not in the real sense. Not in a way that included mutual fondness. Both of them had been clear that this would be strictly business.
Business could be pleasant and sweet, she reasoned. Like honey to the soul.
She sat on the outside chair where Father had been sitting and indicated the chair beside her.
Sawyer sat.
Neither spoke. The air between them was heavy with unspoken words.
Sawyer broke the silence. “I want to thank you.”
She jerked about to face him. “For what?”
“For how you are with Jill.” He grinned. “For being a better cook than me.” His smile shifted into a considering look. “For everything.”
She tried to think but her brain was stuck, frozen by the way his eyes shifted from one shade of blue-green to another as he spoke. As if they responded to something inside. If only she could know for certain what it was. She guessed it was surprise, even pleasure, at how well their first few days of marriage had gone. His gratitude left her dry mouthed. Finally she was able to get some words out. “I’ve only been doing what we agreed upon.” She hoped he had accepted that she would be doing ranch work because she didn’t want to upset this sense of accord by having to make it clear to him.
*
Sawyer sat on the wagon seat with Carly at his side. Father Morrison and Jill sat behind. He smiled inwardly. This would be his first appearance in public with a wife. He studied her out of the corner of his eyes. She wore a dark blue dress and had her hair done up in a loose roll about her head. It peeked out from under her Sunday bonnet.
His wife. It still felt strange to say that.
They arrived in Bella Creek and stopped at the church.
Annie ran out to greet Carly. “I still can’t believe you’re married.”
Grandfather Marshall nodded from the step as Father Morrison hobbled toward him. The rest of the Marshall family waved a greeting as they entered the church. A murmur followed them as Carly led them down the aisle after her father. Jill sat beside him, leaving Carly and Sawyer to sit together. As well they should, he supposed. As man and wife.
Preacher Hugh welcomed the congregation. “I have a special announcement today. I’d like to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer Gallagher. Would you please stand?”
Carly frowned, then jerked to her feet. Sawyer stood as well. Carly’s smile looked as plastered on as his. “Thank you,” he murmured to the applause. He noticed many surprised looks.
Carly sat down and jerked his hand to sit as well.
He felt like the world suddenly moved through a dense fog. The preacher’s words echoed. The songs the congregation sang seemed distant and he heard barely a word of the sermon. Their marriage was public knowledge now. Somehow that seemed to change things. People would have expectations of them as a couple. Could he live up to those expectations? It didn’t seem likely, seeing as their marriage was a fraud.
But then, the only people who needed to be concerned about that were he and Carly and they had agreed on the matter.
What did it matter what others thought? He’d long ago decided not to let such things bother him.
He relaxed and sat back. So far, he had no reason to complain about the arrangement between himself and Carly. In fact, he’d enjoyed many parts of it.
He didn’t realize he sat grinning to himself until the preacher said amen, and Carly whispered, “What’s so amusing?”
“Later,” he whispered back, then realized he couldn’t tell Carly why he smiled. “Nothing.”
Conner and Kate hurried toward them after the service. “Come to the ranch. We’re all going to be there.” They included Sawyer and Carly in their invitation.
He waited for Carly to choose.
She turned her face to him. “It’s up to you. What do you want to do?”
His heart glowed that she had consulted him. “What would you do if I wasn’t here?”
She gave a little shrug. “I used to always go to their place after church. But that kind of ended when Annie got married.”
Annie crowded to her side. “Hugh and I are going, too. It will be like old times.”
Carly continued to look at Sawyer, waiting for his answer. “I don’t mind going if that’s what you’d like,” he said.
Her eyes smiled. “I’d like it.”
“What about Jill and Father?”
Her eyebrows jerked upward and he realized it was the first time he had called Mr. Morrison Father.
“Oh, you must bring them as well,” Kate said. “Everyone would be disappointed if they didn’t come.”
So a short time later, the four of them drove to the Marshall Five Ranch. He had never been there and looked about with interest. Two houses, a much bigger barn than the one at the Morrison Ranch and more outbuildings.
“They are a bigger operation,” Carly said as if reading his mind. “There’s Grandfather, Grandpa Bud and Annie’s three brothers plus half a dozen cowboys on this place.”
“Just you and me at the Morrison place.”
She grinned. “That’s right. Just Sawyer and Carly.”
He looked at her, revealing nothing of the way his heart swelled at the way her smile acknowledged his statement.
“We’ve decided it’s time for the first picnic of the season,” Dawson said as they drew to a halt in the yard.
At the ranch house, the women all sprang into action, packing up food that had been prepared ahead of time.
Sawyer hung back with the men until everyone was ready and then helped carry the food, blankets and a few cushions. Father Morrison and Grandfather Marshall waved them off.
“They’ll enjoy another visit,” Carly assured him when he wondered if someone should stay with them. “There are men hanging about if they need
anything.”
In fact, a weathered old man watched them depart and the Marshalls waved goodbye to him, calling him Jimbo.
They traipsed to the nearby creek, a much gentler flow of water than the river running through the Morrison Ranch. A gentle grassy slope slanted toward the creek. The others seemed to know where they were going and continued on for a few yards.
The children ran ahead, Jill and Mattie side by side.
“It’s good to see her making friends,” Carly said.
“She’s feeling safe enough to let herself start caring.” He knew as soon as he said the words that it would spark interest.
They had fallen behind the others, so thankfully Carly was the only one who heard him. She slowed and turned and studied him. He pretended a great interest in the grassy field on which they walked.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
He darted a glance at her. That was all?
Her study continued. “I see a difference in you, too. Does that mean you are starting to let yourself care?”
“Different? How?” He wouldn’t admit he felt different. Nor could he explain in what way. Most certainly he was sure it didn’t mean he cared. That was not part of the agreement.
“When I first met you a week ago—”
“Not a week yet.”
She waved aside his protest. “Close enough. A week ago, you never showed any emotion in your face. Do you remember you told me you didn’t feel anything?”
“I remember.” It seemed a lifetime ago.
“Now you smile and laugh readily, though sometimes you wear that solid mask again.” She grinned. “Like now. I haven’t figured out if it’s because you don’t feel anything or if you are afraid to trust your feelings.” They had stopped walking and considered each other. He couldn’t say what she sought any more than he could say what he looked for in her eyes. Except he hoped she would say something that made him comfortable with his feelings.
“I believe, however, that it’s the latter. You are afraid of your feelings. Or of trusting people to value you and your feelings.” She nodded, satisfied with her conclusions.
He walked on. She kept pace with him.
“Are you going to admit it?”
“Sure, if that’s what you want.”
She gave him a playful shove. “I want honesty.”
He stumbled away and faced her, doing his best to look stern while his insides bounced with an unfamiliar sense of adventure and play. He took a step toward her and another until she tipped her head back to meet his gaze. “Exactly how honest do you want me to be?”
She swallowed hard. “Completely.”
He took in her wide, dark eyes, the way her tongue skimmed her lips, the beat of her pulse in the V of her neck. Complete honesty would mean confessing he found her attractive and appealing at that moment. Not just physically, though she was a beautiful woman, but he saw her caring heart, her commitment to doing what she thought was right.
His gaze lingered on her mouth.
She leaned closer.
He shook his head. “I don’t think you want complete honesty.” For certain, he wasn’t ready for it.
She jammed her fists to her hips. “Of course I do.”
“Well, you’ve had it. I’ve been totally honest with you from our first meeting.” Except things had changed. He clamped down on his back teeth. He only wanted a home for Jill. Nothing more.
“Hey, you two,” Hugh called. “Are you coming?”
Carly made a disapproving sound and hurried toward the others.
Sawyer lengthened his stride to keep pace with her. “Carly?” He didn’t want her angry at him.
She glanced over her shoulder. “Never mind, Sawyer. We made an agreement and I mean to hold up my end of it.”
“As do I.” Which meant pushing back those fledgling, demanding feelings. It should be easy. He’d done it for years. Except it wasn’t easy. And a part of him didn’t want to dismiss them. He had made a deal, though, and his honor depended on keeping his word.
Yet a little thought refused to be silenced. What would Carly say if he admitted his changing feelings? Would she be displeased or otherwise?
Chapter Eleven
Carly kept her feelings stuffed back as she helped set out the picnic. They put the food on a tablecloth and spread blankets to sit on. She had noticed the many cushions the men carried.
“Here’s one for you,” Kate said. “You and Sawyer.” Her eyes twinkled.
Carly dropped the cushion to the ground.
Hugh took off his hat. The other men followed his example. “I’ll ask the blessing.”
Carly bowed her head, grateful no one could see the tangle of her thoughts. She’d believed Sawyer meant to kiss her as they lingered behind the others. She’d leaned close, inviting it. But then he had stepped back. As he should have. Their agreement clearly left no room for kissing. She understood that. But it was getting hard to remember.
She realized Hugh had said amen, and the others had seated themselves on the blankets. The food was passed from hand to hand. The children sat in a group, eating with gusto. Conversation hummed around her. She was more than content to let it be so.
“Carly, how have you enjoyed your first week of married bliss?” If the question had come from anyone but Isabelle, Carly might have suspected she was being teased,
“We’ve been busy. Sawyer has started seeding. I’ve been planting the garden.”
“I don’t think she was asking about the work,” Annie said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Carly’s mouth opened but nothing came out.
Sawyer chuckled. “Seems she’s speechless.”
The others laughed.
Her cheeks grew warm. Let them think what they wanted. But did Sawyer have to give the impression that they had enjoyed a week of conjugal bliss?
“Relax,” he murmured and patted the cushion on which he lounged on one arm.
She glanced about. All the other couples had finished eating and lingered over the coffee Annie served. Each pair leaned on a large cushion. Happily married couples, eager to share the same, intimate space.
Sawyer patted the cushion again.
She stared at the spot, studied his elbow which he’d bent to support his head. Slowly, wishing she could resist but acknowledging she couldn’t, she lifted her gaze along his arm, taking in every detail. The crease of his shirtsleeve where his elbow bent, the strain of the material across his biceps, the darkness of the skin on his hands. And the blinding light from his eyes.
What was he thinking?
Surely not what she wished.
She blinked. She wished for nothing. She had what she wanted. A pretend marriage that protected the ranch.
He patted the cushion again, his eyes steady and the tiniest bit challenging.
She shook her head and fanned her skirt out before her.
“Chicken,” he murmured so softly she knew no one else would hear.
She wasn’t going to let him tease her into doing something she didn’t want to. Because she wanted it so badly it frightened her.
Something tickled her neck and she swatted at what she thought was a spider.
Sawyer chuckled—a sound so sweet it rivaled the meadowlark on the nearby stump.
She grabbed the blade of grass he’d been tickling her with and tossed it aside. Would this picnic never end? If it didn’t soon, she’d end up doing something she’d regret, though at the moment she couldn’t say if she meant she’d give in to her urge to plant her elbow close to his and share a special moment.
Or if she meant she’d regret not doing it.
Determined to keep things between them as they had been and as they had agreed they would be, she turned her attention to the conversation around them.
“We’re planning for the spring roundup,” Dawson said.
That got Carly’s attention. Their cattle, for the most part, were on their land, but she enjoyed the roundup even though Father absolutely forb
ade her to follow the crew. No, she had to wait until the animals were gathered and then join in identifying and branding the calves.
Sawyer sat up, pressing to her side, as he listened to the planning for the spring gathering.
Carly felt his interest and knew he’d want to go with the men. She refused to acknowledge that thinking of him being gone left her empty inside.
A scream rent the air, sending tension across Carly’s neck.
The parents were on their feet in seconds. The children, except for Kate and Conner’s baby, were playing nearby. All of them were used to playing outdoors and fourteen-year-old Beth, Logan and Sadie’s oldest, was supervising.
Beth rushed toward the adults. “Jill’s hurt. Come quick.”
Sawyer and Carly bolted to their feet and raced after the girl. They ran down the slope toward the creek. Carly saw Jill, crumpled on the gravel and let out a cry.
Sawyer would have outdistanced her but fear gave her wings and she reached Jill at the same time as Sawyer. They both wrapped their arms about her and helped her sit up.
“Honey, what’s wrong? Where are you hurt?”
Jill sobbed, unable to answer. She lifted her arm. A deep gash above her elbow bled. She lifted her right foot. The children had removed shoes and stockings to play in the water. The sole of Jill’s foot bled.
“What happened?” Sawyer demanded.
Did he realize how thick his voice had become? He cared far more than he had ever admitted.
He scooped up his sister and stood. He looked around. “Did any of you see what happened?”
Carly kept her arm about Jill, needing to offer as much comfort as she could. Finding strength in contact with Sawyer.
Beth’s brother, seven-year-old Sammy, stepped forward. “She stepped on that sharp rock.” He pointed toward the offending item. Then he picked it up and threw it into the water. “There’s lots of blood. Is she okay?”
The others had gathered round. Kate pushed forward. “Let me have a look.” She examined both cuts. “There’s gravel here.” She held Jill’s arm. “I need to wash it out.”
Sawyer carried Jill to the edge of the water. Carly held out the injured arm and Kate washed away the debris.