The Rancher’s Marriage of Convenience

by Maya Stirling

  Rosalind glanced quickly at Gideon, but his gaze was fixed upon Calhoun. Had Calhoun arranged the attempt to steal cattle from the ranch? Was that why Gideon had come into town? To get answers? Or even worse. To provoke some kind of showdown with Calhoun.

  "We all know you've been bringing men into Inspiration, Calhoun," Gideon accused loudly. "And that you've been using them to get what you want in this town. Our ranch has been targeted. It's that simple. And we all know about your interest in the Circle Cross."

  Calhoun shook his head and frowned. "You can't prove anything, Buchanan," Calhoun said slowly. He looked at Nathan. "If the sheriff here had any proof, I've no doubt I'd already be keeping the jail cell warm." Calhoun opened his arms and made a sarcastic gesture while grinning broadly. "But here I am. Free as bird."

  Rosalind was sure she heard Gideon draw in a deep breath as he tried to control his reaction to Calhoun's arrogance. She definitely saw Gideon's jawline set into a thin, tense line. His eyes flashed with emotion as he glared at Calhoun. Sheriff Nathan's face was blank. He obviously was trying to keep things civil. No-one was prepared to say what had to be said. Rosalind felt resolve grow inside her. Maybe it was time someone gave Mr Calhoun some cold, hard truths, she told herself.

  Rosalind moved toward Calhoun. Suddenly, she knew what she had to say to him. She knew the words he needed to hear from at least one person in the room.

  "A man was shot, last night, Mr Calhoun," she said quietly. Her voice quivered with emotion, but she knew she had to say what was on her mind.

  Calhoun whirled around, as if taken aback by Rosalind's sweet, steady voice. She peered at him steadily. "And that man might still die," she continued. "I know, because I helped nurse him, last night. I saw his wound up close. I saw the fear in his eyes, and how he is suffering because of cowardly man who didn't like the fact that his face had been seen."

  Rosalind saw Calhoun's mouth open. It was obvious this was the last thing he'd expected from her. Gideon shifted alongside Calhoun. Rosalind was sure Gideon was going to try and stop her from saying any more. But she wasn't going to be stopped. She halted Gideon with a stern look.

  "That young man was willing to make a sacrifice for the people who own Circle Cross ranch," Rosalind continued. "His life. So that he could protect what rightfully belongs to the Buchanans. Who are good people." Her voice cracked. "Decent people."

  Calhoun's eyes flickered toward the sheriff, but there was no support coming from Nathan Cameron. The sheriff was happy for Rosalind to say what she had to say.

  "That kind of loyalty must be a mystery to someone like you, Mr Calhoun," Rosalind said. She saw Gideon peering at her, an incredulous look on his face. "If you did have anything to do with last night, you need to know that you'll be held to account."

  "How!" Calhoun snapped. Suddenly, there was a look of contempt on his face.

  "I don't need to tell you," Rosalind replied. "But justice will prevail, Mr Calhoun. And not just when it comes to last night. I've heard a lot about what's going on in this town since I arrived," Rosalind said. "Most of it good. Some of it bad. But, I believe one thing, Mr Calhoun. It's all going to turn out for the good. Because Inspiration is a very special place. And it's the people who make it that way."

  As she uttered those words, Rosalind looked past Calhoun's shoulder at Gideon. He looked stunned, as if he couldn't comprehend what she'd just said to the most evil man in Inspiration. A glance at Sophie and Nathan was enough to tell her they had also been equally affected by her words. It had felt good to say that to Calhoun. As far as she was concerned, it was the least she could say. She had plenty more where that had come from.

  Calhoun cleared his throat. For a few moments, he seemed lost for words. Finally, he regained his composure and peered straight at Rosalind. "Fine words, Miss Grover. Especially coming from an outsider like yourself," he drawled. "An outsider with, if I may say so, a very interesting past."

  Something tightened around Rosalind's heart as she heard those last words. Gideon moved past Calhoun and took up a position alongside Rosalind. "I think you've said enough for one day, Calhoun. But, don't worry. We're going to find out the truth. And when we do, the game will be up for you."

  Calhoun was unmoved by Gideon's words. He glanced from Gideon to Rosalind. "You seem so well suited to one another," Calhoun said. Rosalind felt nerves twist in her middle. There was evil in Calhoun's eyes and in his voice. It reminded her of what she'd experienced before coming to Inspiration. She pushed those memories out of her mind and glared at Calhoun.

  Calhoun eased past Gideon and opened the door. Fresh warm air blew in from the street and a shaft of light brightened the room. Nathan stood and came around to the door, standing in front of Calhoun.

  Calhoun peered at Rosalind. "You and Mr Buchanan make a lovely couple," Calhoun said in acid tone of voice. "It would be a pity if someone came along to spoil that. Maybe someone from your recent past, Miss Grover?"

  Rosalind felt a jolt of panic as she heard Calhoun. What did he mean? Had he been looking into her past? Had he been digging for some way to put a stop to Gideon's courting?

  She gasped and Gideon took a step forward, but Nathan blocked his way.

  "That's enough, Calhoun," Nathan declared in a booming voice. "We've said what we needed to say. You'll be watched, I can assure you."

  Calhoun shrugged. "You have your job to do, sheriff," Calhoun said. He peered at Rosalind. "And so do I."

  And with that, Brett Calhoun stepped out onto the boardwalk and closed the door behind him.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  The door slammed shut. Everyone looked at one another and then Nathan groaned. "I'd have preferred it if you ladies hadn't witnessed any of that," he said.

  "We did offer to leave," Sophie said breezily.

  Nathan flopped down on his chair and sighed. "I know you did." He looked at Gideon. "What do you think, Gideon?"

  Gideon thought for a moment. "About Calhoun?" He glanced at Rosalind and smiled at her. "I think someone said it all for us," he declared.

  Rosalind smiled nervously, as if she hadn't been sure how Gideon would react to her showdown with Calhoun. The truth was, he was proud of her. More than that. He still could hardly believe she'd said those things to Calhoun. The man had been almost lost for words, faced with the audacity of the spirited newcomer to Inspiration.

  "I agree," Sophie said. She shook Rosalind's arm with a friendly gesture. "You really told him," Sophie said with obvious pleasure in her voice.

  It was true, Gideon told himself. Rosalind had almost succeeded where he and Nathan had failed. She'd almost drawn a real reaction out of Calhoun. Almost got him to spill the beans, simply by the fact that he'd been faced down by a newcomer to the town.

  By a woman. And what a woman, Gideon said to himself.

  During the last twenty-four hours he'd learned so much about Rosalind. Not only that she fit in well with his family, but also that she had hidden depths he'd known nothing about. He'd seen the deep well of compassion in her in the way she'd dealt with young Jack. And now he'd witnessed her feisty, fearless nature. She'd shown that she was willing to stand up for what was right, without fear of the consequences. Right now, as he stood next to her, gazing at her pretty features, Gideon was filled with admiration for her.

  But then, as if to bring Gideon crashing back down to earth, there had been Calhoun's last words. Like his threat at the garden, there had been a hint of something troubling in what he'd said. Calhoun had been asking around, trying to find out more about Rosalind. Gideon wondered why Calhoun would have done such a thing. What did he expect to find out?

  Then he remembered that Calhoun had connections that stretched all the way throughout the area. And beyond. Was that part of the explanation for his cryptic threat? There was nothing Calhoun couldn't find out if he wanted to. What had he discovered?

  Gideon understood there was still plenty about Rosalind that he had to find out. They were only just getting to know each othe
r. They'd spoken a lot about the past. She had shared a great deal with him about her own family and her upbringing.

  But that wasn't what worried him. It wasn't so much the distant past he was concerned about now. He wanted to know to what Calhoun could be referring. Gideon wanted to know what she'd been doing since her parents had died. She hadn't spoken much of that part of her life. Maybe it was time to find out.

  There was only one way to do that, Gideon told himself.

  "Rosalind," he said to her. She turned and looked at him, smiling and with an expectant expression in her eyes. In this moment, she looked so pretty, so pleasing to the eye, he told himself. He was about to speak when something truly surprising happened.

  Gideon felt a sudden warmth in his heart as her bright eyes gazed at him with obviously eager curiosity. The warm sensation swept through him and there was nothing he could do to contain it. For a long moment, he was struck dumb.

  This feeling was a new experience for him. Before now, Gideon had had only casual acquaintances with women. Friendships. Nothing more. Nothing like what was happening between himself and Rosalind.

  Gideon cleared his throat, trying to gather his thoughts. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. He was sure he looked tongue-tied.

  She lifted a brow. "What is it, Gideon?" she asked. He wondered if she'd noticed the effect she'd had on him.

  "Would you like to take a stroll with me? We can go up the boardwalk for a while?" he managed to say. "Then, I was thinking we could have some coffee over at the hotel." He shifted on his heels. "If you're free, that is," he added.

  "Sure," she said cheerfully. "That sounds nice." She looked genuinely pleased by his suggestion.

  "I've got some things I need to talk about with Nathan," Sophie said quickly.

  "What?" Nathan said, glancing at his wife.

  Gideon saw Sophie cut off Nathan's objections with a stern shake of her head. Nathan started fussing with the basket of food. As he did so, he glanced a couple of times at Sophie, who moved around to the side of the desk as if to make sure Nathan remained seated. Gideon laughed quietly at Nathan's awkwardness.

  Moments later, Gideon and Rosalind were walking out together, making their way slowly northwards toward the far end of town. It was a bright, Saturday lunchtime and there were plenty of townsfolk out and about.

  Gideon glanced at Rosalind, appreciating the elegance of the cream-colored gown she was wearing. The high collar emphasized the dignified sweep of her long neck. He loved the way she held her head high, nodding politely at some of the folks who passed them by. She'd barely been in town a few days and she already looked like she belonged here, he told himself. Her steps were graceful and slow. He had to measure his own pace, since he was taller than her, and had a tendency to stride quickly.

  Rosalind held a little parasol above her head, more as a dignified gesture than a necessity. The sun wasn't that hot today, but he figured maybe she just wanted to keep her beautiful pale skin from getting flushed.

  Not having slept much last night, Gideon felt tired, but, right now, that didn't matter. All he cared about was that he was with Rosalind. At this moment, he just felt pleased to be walking by her side.

  The truth was, back at the ranch last night, he'd been thinking about Rosalind most of the time while he'd been watching over young Jack. Thankfully, Jack had had a good night. The bleeding had stopped and he had been able to rest. The doctor had returned this morning and pronounced himself pleased with Jack's condition. Jack hadn't spoken much about the identity of the shooter. There would be time for that later. Jack might be able to identify one of Calhoun's men as the rustler who'd almost put a bullet in him.

  She asked him how Jack was, and he told her. She seemed pleased that Jack wasn't in immediate danger. They chatted a while longer, about her visit to the ranch the day before. Finally, he couldn't contain himself any longer.

  "I thought what you did back there was amazing," Gideon said. "I've never seen Calhoun's face look like that before."

  Her brows furrowed. "It had to be said," she replied. "And it was all true. Every word of it."

  "I agree," Gideon said. "We all know he was the one person who could have arranged those rustlers last night. It's too much of a coincidence." He smiled at Rosalind. "He's seen you and I stepping out together these past few days. It must annoy him."

  Her brows furrowed at that comment. "I guess he sees the prospect of another Buchanan wedding, and it gets under his skin."

  Her mention of a wedding made him pause before replying. Gideon nodded and thought carefully before responding. Was that what she thought, now? That the prospect of their marriage was a real possibility? He thought about their disagreement at the garden, and realized that they still hadn't fully come to terms with what had happened.

  Her admission that her faith was weakened, and that she might never recover it, was still something that bothered him. But, last night and today, he'd discovered other sides to her character that tempted him to consider setting those objections aside. If she could be so compassionate, if she could be so determined to speak the truth, then maybe there was hope that she could rediscover her faith.

  Serving others and standing up for what was right were hallmarks of the faith. The seed of her renewal was still present, he told himself. Perhaps that seed needed encouragement to grow.

  Gideon glanced at Rosalind. The woman who walked by his side was much more complex than he'd thought. He'd been granted two glimpses of her which made him realize that his first impressions had been mistaken. Had that simply been the fault of his own pride? His own high opinion of himself? Had he arrogantly assumed that his own faith was all important?

  Humility was a virtue which had to be practiced every day. Until now, he'd considered himself someone who tried to do all he could to be virtuous. Perhaps he'd misjudged her. And himself. Maybe there was something in himself which needed amending.

  He saw that she was looking at him, awaiting his response to her comment. "Maybe Calhoun sees something we don't," Gideon suggested.

  "Like what?"

  "He did say that you and I look good together," he said. "That we have a lot in common."

  "Do you think he's right?" Rosalind asked. She twirled her parasol, as if she wanted him to believe that her question had been a casual one. But he could see a hint of concern in her eyes. That simple question meant a great deal to her, he told himself.

  Gideon gazed ahead, considering his reply. He knew what he wanted to say. That his heart had undergone a change during the last twenty-four hours. That he no longer thought about her in the same way as he had during their first encounters. That he saw possibilities where, before, he had only seen barriers.

  Gideon gazed at Rosalind for a long moment. "I think he might be right," he said simply. "Maybe other people can see something we can't see."

  "Like what?" she asked.

  He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe a friendship. Or more than that," he suggested.

  Her mouth opened slightly. Her eyes widened with surprise. Had she assumed he would say what he'd said so many times before? That the barrier of her damaged faith, her weakened love of God, was too much to surmount? Did that mean she sensed his change of heart? And if so, how would she respond? He desperately needed to know what she thought.

  Suddenly, they were amongst a crowd of townsfolk. Rosalind didn't speak for a long while, being too busy responding to the polite greetings coming their way. They crossed the dusty road and stepped up onto the boardwalk on the other side where it was less crowded.

  Further down he saw the hotel. Suddenly, he couldn't wait to get to the restaurant, and have some coffee with her. Trying to talk with her about important things while walking and being polite to passersby was proving to be too hard.

  They arrived at the hotel and made their way into the restaurant. Taking a corner seat, they ordered coffee and cake. For a while, Gideon felt awkward in the face of her continued silence. He wondered if he'd gone too far in h
inting that their friendship, their arrangement, had turned into something much more important to both of them.