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Victoria turned from the stove. “Hoped you’d get here in time for supper.”
He hung his Stetson on a peg beside the door, then walked to his ma. “Let me help with that.” He took the potato masher from her hand and battled lumps in the potatoes. An easy skirmish compared to what lay ahead.
As if led by their noses, Cal with his son, Robbie, tucked in his arms, and Pa trooped into the kitchen. Matt greeted them, then turned the pot over to his mother, who scooped the creamy potatoes into a large crock.
“Hey,” Cal said, clapping Matt on the shoulder, “you look down in the mouth.”
“Hush,” Victoria scolded. “Your brother’s been over to the Parrish ranch. You know Martin’s poorly.”
Cal’s gaze clouded. “Sorry. Martin’s a good guy.”
At the moment, Matt’s disquiet involved the task at hand, not merely Martin’s health. He’d like his family’s blessing, and would get it...in time.
They gathered at the table, Robbie tucked in his high chair between Susannah and Cal. Pa offered grace, thanking God for the food and asking His mercy on Martin. After a hearty amen, Robert nabbed a piece of fried chicken, then passed the platter on.
Susannah tied a bib around Robbie’s neck. “Hannah has no family in these parts. What will happen to her?”
“She should sell the ranch and go back to Charleston,” Robert said. “Running a ranch isn’t a woman’s place.”
“The Parrish family has endured a lot. First losing both Melanie and the baby in childbirth, now Martin.” Ma’s voice caught. “Poor Hannah. Makes me want to weep.”
Susannah handed Robbie a spoon. The boy promptly dug into the potatoes and managed to get a spoonful into his mouth. “Hannah loves the ranch. I can’t believe she’d leave willingly.”
Appetite gone, Matt moved his potatoes around his plate with a fork. Might as well get it said. “I asked her to marry me.”
Stunned silence followed his declaration. All eyes turned on him, while the startling news sank in.
“So when is the wedding taking place?” Susannah asked.
Martin was dying. They had no time to cement their relationship. “If Pastor Cummings agrees, Thursday at the Lazy P.”
Ma gasped. “Mercy, that’s fast. Are you sure about this?” she said, searching his face.
Matt had seen that look before. Knew Ma was trying to read his thoughts, zipping him back to when he was ten and had played hooky from school. Ma had been judge and jury, meting out justice. As he recalled, he’d had to muck out the barn every night for a week.
He glanced away from those perceptive eyes. “I’m sure.”
Ma didn’t smile, merely nodded instead. “I’ll drive over to see how we can help.”
“You can’t possibly love the girl,” Cal said. “Why, you barely know her.” He plopped his elbows on the table, his expression aghast, as if Matt had grown two heads. “Hannah’s a great kid. One thing to feel sorry for her, and I do, but quite another to marry her.”
“Obviously, Cal, you haven’t seen Hannah since her return,” Pa declared. “She’s all grown-up.”
Cal plopped tiny bites of chicken on Robbie’s tray. “There’s always been pretty women around. Why the sudden decision to marry this one, big brother?”
Matt would never reveal that Hannah had proposed first. He couldn’t explain their decision to marry without revealing the personal details of the agreement, something he’d never do.
“May be overstepping,” Cal went on, “but I trust grief over Amy isn’t making you settle for a loveless marriage.”
Hands balled into rock-hard fists alongside his plate, Matt glared at Cal. “Keep Amy out of this.”
As if held at gunpoint, Cal raised his arms, palms out. “Whoa, brother. I want you to have what Susannah and I share. I’m just saying—”
“Saying what? That I don’t have the sense to know my own mind?”
“Matthew! Calvin! You’re behaving like bullheaded toddlers,” Robert said. Then he nodded his head, a smile forming on his lips. “A merger with the Lazy P makes sense. By pooling our resources, both ranches might survive dropping cattle prices and the bad economy.”
Leave it to his father to see marriage as a business opportunity. “Hannah hasn’t agreed to a merger,” Matt said.
“See that she does.” Robert glanced around the table, at the untouched food. “Enough of this talk. Eat.”
“Eat!” the food-smeared toddler ordered with pride, then stuck a gooey spoon in his hair and grinned.
Everyone laughed, easing the tension at the table.
Matt settled back in his chair, taking a deep breath, trying to slow his breathing. His father tried to run every facet of his sons’ lives. It was the reason Zack had turned to the law. And Cal spent most of his time at Susannah’s folks’ spread.
Still, the ongoing strain between Matt and his father didn’t explain Matt’s reaction to Cal’s concern. He’d thought he had peace about the decision to marry Hannah, but in truth, he was entering uncharted territory.
One grim possibility after another marched through Matt’s mind. Without the benefit of a loving relationship, he and Hannah would deal with Martin’s illness and without a miracle, his death. This marriage could backfire in a myriad of ways.
Matt had grown comfortable with the emptiness of the past four years. Each day had held a blessed sameness, with neither highs nor lows, just a flat, hollow monotony. He had filled those days with work. The highlight of his week were evenings spent with Martin, another lonely man fighting his own demons. Martin’s waning health triggered painful memories of Amy’s death.
Still, none of this excused his treatment of Cal. “I’m sorry for overreacting, Cal.”
His brother met his gaze, an apology in his eyes. “Me, too.”
“To see Hannah wed will give Martin peace,” Ma said. “Hannah’s a lovely young woman, a rancher at heart. A good match for you.”
Robert gave a nod. “Marriage to Hannah is a solution for everyone.”
Cal looked pained, as if he’d taken a bite of cactus.
At her husband’s silence, Susannah frowned at Cal. “Hope you and Hannah will be very happy,” she said, then reported Robbie’s latest humorous antic and conversation resumed as usual.
Matt’s mind wandered back to how all this started. During his visits to the Lazy P, Martin spoke often of Hannah, the daughter he obviously adored. The day Martin was diagnosed with cancer, he’d shared his heavy burden for his only child’s welfare. Matt shared that concern. Hannah was in a tough spot.
Yet, to wed a nineteen-year-old without love scared him silly. Marriage might be a solution for her, but marriage would also create new problems.
Unlike Cal, Matt knew why he’d proposed. He couldn’t risk love, but at twenty-five, he wanted a new beginning. He’d settle for companionship, settle for a woman to share his dreams and goals, settle for a woman who’d share his way of life.
The honest truth was that he was tired. Tired of dodging unsuitable women with matrimony on their minds. Tired of feeling alone in a houseful of people. Tired of fighting his father’s control.
By marrying her, Matt would see that Hannah could remain on the land she loved. He hoped that would make her happy. If not happy, at least content. Something he’d come to appreciate.
Matt had come, hoping for his family’s support of the marriage. For the most part he’d gotten it. Cal would come around. But Pa.... Would Pa’s expectation of a merger between the two ranches wind up causing trouble?
* * *
Two days till Hannah lassoed and tied herself to Matt Walker. Married. The word twisted in her stomach. Wedding vows meant until death do us part, faithfulness, respect.
She stiffened. Obedience. She hoped Matt could tolerate giving up one of those promises. If he tried to keep her on a short tether—
She swallowed against the sudden lump in her throat, shoving down all the misgivings trying to spew out of her mouth and into Papa’s ear.
Instead she helped her father to his desk. Last evening Matt had asked for Papa’s permission to wed. Papa had clapped Matt on the back, declared he already thought of Matt as a son and nothing could make him happier than seeing Hannah in good hands.
As if she wasn’t capable of taking care of herself.
Still the news had eased the tension around Papa’s eyes and put a big smile on his face. That was reason enough to bite her tongue.
Hannah glanced out the window. The Walker buggy was coming up the lane. She kissed her father’s cheek. “Matt’s here.”
“While you’re in town, spread the word about the wedding. A chat with the town’s bench sitters and Pastor Cummings should do the trick.”
Hannah dreaded the townsfolk’s reaction, but forced a bright smile.
Martin motioned to the package in Hannah’s hands. “Is that your mama’s dress?”
“It is. I’m taking it to Miss Carmichael’s for alterations. Are you sure you’ll be all right while I’m gone?”
“You’re in more peril in Biddy Carmichael’s shop than I could ever be here.”
“Papa!” Hannah laughed. No matter how much he suffered, her father made the effort to bring laughter to others. “You know her name is Belinda, not Biddy.”
“How could I make such a mistake?” He winked. “Now skedaddle. Don’t keep your groom waiting.”
She kissed him once more, her heart swelling with love, and then walked as fast as her dress would allow, more tortoise than her usual hare. Who could abide such restriction?
Outside, she popped up her frilly parasol, an accessory Aunt Mary Esther had insisted upon. On such a sweltering day riding in an open buggy, Hannah welcomed the shade.
Matt rounded the conveyance, his gaze traveling from the hat perched atop her head to the silk toe of her pump. He doffed his Stetson. “The debutante is back.”
“You looking for a fight, Walker?”
“No, ma’am, I’m not.” He grinned wickedly. “One thing’s sure. Whatever garb she’s wearing, the filly’s a Thoroughbred.”
Hannah thrust up her chin. “I’m becoming your wife, not joining your stable.”
Obviously not the least bit repentant, his impish smile held. “Kind of fun having two of you, debutante and cowgirl, all wrapped up in one very nice parcel.”
At his perusal, butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She corralled her skirts, then allowed him to assist her into the buggy. Whether she would be in good hands as Papa had said, was to be seen, but his grasp was strong, secure.
“You have an admirer in Rosa. She’s very excited about our wedding,” Hannah told him.
“It pays to be on good terms with the cook. Since I’ve been made to understand that won’t likely be you, I plan on buttering her up.”
“So the way to a man’s heart is indeed through his stomach.”
He cocked a brow. “Are you sure you want to know the way to a man’s heart, Hannah?”
A shiver slid along her spine. She quickly looked away from the amusement in those dark, smoldering eyes.
“The filly’s a tad skittish,” he said. Then with a flick of the reins, they got underway. “Know what kind of a wedding you want?”
“A simple ceremony at the Lazy P, outside if weather permits.”
“Sounds good.”
She sighed. “Papa insists on inviting half the town and hosting a barbecue afterward.”
“He doesn’t want his illness to cheat you out of a pretty wedding. Most women want that.”
Hannah had been thirteen when she and Papa attended Matt and Amy’s wedding, a grand affair. Hannah recalled the glow on their faces as they’d recited their vows. After such a love match, Hannah found Matt’s acceptance of a marriage of convenience baffling. Perhaps he’d understood that no one could take Amy’s place in his affection and wanted companionship.
She plucked at her skirts. “What he doesn’t realize, and I can’t tell him, is I can’t abide the thought of putting on a charade. We aren’t an ordinary couple.”
“True, but a private wedding might set tongues a-waggin’.”
“I suppose you’re right, but a party seems...deceptive.”
“People marry for many reasons, Hannah.” His gaze locked with hers. “If we’re committed to one another, then our wedding won’t be a charade. I believe we’ll be as happy as we choose to be. That’s what I want. Do you?”
As she looked into those dark orbs that penetrated her soul, she vowed to do everything in her power to make the marriage work. “Yes,” she said softly.
A smile curved the corners of his mouth. “God will bless us, help us find our way.”
He took her hand in his. At that moment, the sense of connection between them felt as meaningful as the vows they’d speak on Thursday.
Matt released her hand. “I told my family our decision to wed.”
“What did they say?” Hannah asked, her heart in her throat.
“They were...surprised, at first.” He shot her an impish grin. “But then, no more than I was.”
“Did you tell them I did the proposing?”
“Nope, that’s our little secret.”
“What did they say?”
“They think you’re a lovely young woman and wish us happiness.”
Had Matt omitted much of his family’s reaction? What had they really said? Perhaps she was better off not knowing. She’d have to get accustomed to the startled reactions of others, those who’d question their sudden nuptials.
On Main Street, Matt pulled up in front of Miss Carmichael’s shop, rounded the buggy, then placed his hands around her waist. As she rested her palms on his shoulders and he lifted her down, she stared into warm cocoa eyes, gentle, kind, appealing. Too appealing. She gathered her package, keeping her eyes anywhere except on him.
“I’ll stop at the church and ask Pastor Cummings to perform the ceremony. After that I’ve got business at the bank. What do you say we meet at the Calico Café at noon?”
