LITMIR.BIZ

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a contractual union for mutual benefit. Not for romance or any such thing.

      Sawyer moved back. “That’s not necessary.”

      She also took a step back. “I agree.”

      Hugh sighed. “Why am I not surprised? Everyone needs to sign the register.” Hugh led them into his office where the necessary paperwork was completed.

      Annie wrung her hands. “I feel bad. You should have a special wedding meal. But I’d be pleased if you’d join us for dinner, plain as it is.”

      “Fine. Thank you,” Sawyer and Carly said in unison.

      Carly followed Annie back to the kitchen and stood in the middle of the room. She’d been here any number of times and yet nothing looked familiar. Her brain seemed stuck back at the fireplace, saying the words she would now live by.

      “I have enough roast pork to make sandwiches if you’d like to help make them.”

      “Of course.” But she couldn’t think what to do.

      Annie gave a little laugh and pushed her toward the cupboard, handed her a knife and put a loaf of bread on the cutting board. “Slice the loaf and butter it while I slice the meat.”

      Carly did as she was instructed. All the while, Annie talked and yet her words echoed inside Carly’s head, making as much sense as the clanging of harness bells.

      Annie nudged her aside and laid the meat on the prepared bread. “Would you set out six plates?”

      She did so, though she miscounted the plates and had to return one to the cupboard.

      Somehow the others appeared and they all sat at the table, Jill at Sawyer’s side, Sawyer straight across from Carly. Carly stared at the man. Her husband. In name only. But it still felt unreal. “Hard to believe I left home this morning, worried Father was about to sell the ranch and now I’m going home with a husband to save the ranch.” Her voice sounded hollow to her and she hoped the others wouldn’t notice anything amiss.

      “The Lord works in mysterious ways.” Hugh’s ironic tone was impossible to miss.

      Carly laughed a little. “He should have made me a boy so Father would have a son. Then this marriage wouldn’t be necessary.” Her words fell into a pool of silence. She jerked herself to attention. She’d never mentioned such a thing before. Not even to Annie. Such thoughts had been buried long enough for her to think they were dead. Why had they suddenly resurrected? “These are good sandwiches, Annie. Thank you.”

      “Like I said, if I’d known you were to be married today, I would have at least baked a cake.”

      Carly shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.” She pushed back from the table. “I’ll help you clean up, then we best get home.”

      Annie waved her away. “That’s not necessary. You go on ahead. You’ll have lots to do when you get home.” She hugged Carly. “This should really be your honeymoon.”

      Carly almost choked. Surely Annie didn’t think—

      She didn’t dare look at Sawyer, afraid he had overheard the comment.

      “You’re right. There will be much to do at home.” Not the least of which was introduce her husband to her father. That might prove interesting. To put it mildly.

      * * *

      Jill clung to Sawyer’s back as they rode south of town toward the Morrison Ranch.

      “You’re married to her?” Jill asked.

      “Yup. You saw us.”

      “So she’s my aunt now?”

      He hadn’t thought of it. “No. She’s your sister-in-law.”

      “Maybe I don’t like her.” She kept her voice flat as if she didn’t care but he knew better. Knew his little half sister had endured too many sorrows and disappointments and had begun to tell herself she didn’t care about anything. He didn’t want her to believe it as completely as he did. It didn’t happen immediately and he couldn’t say when he’d gotten so good at it that it was now his very nature.

      “We’ll have a home.”

      “That don’t matter to me.” He couldn’t see her but knew she lifted her shoulders and let them sag.

      “I think it will be nice. Your mama and papa would care.”

      “Well, I don’t.”

      He tried to think how to make Jill care. Make her realize they were going to stay here. But how could he give her reassurances when he had married a woman he’d met only a few hours ago? He clung to his only hope—she needed him as much as he needed her. That was enough to keep them committed to their vows.

      They rode on in silence even though he longed to make Jill believe things would be different now but he couldn’t find words. He was too long out of practice at thinking about such vague things.

      He glanced about himself. He’d been to Montana before and had liked what he saw. Now he looked at the rolling hills to his left covered with lush spring grass and the trees to his right...some leafed out. Beyond the trees would be the mountains and he promised himself he would go camping in the mountains the first chance he got. Alone.

      Now that Jill had a home, he could make such plans.

      Carly rode a little ahead of them. She made no attempt at conversation, which suited him fine. Though he might have liked to ask a few questions about the ranch.

      She reined in. “Our land starts here. The buildings are there.” She pointed to the left.

      A cluster of buildings by some trees—pine and cedar perhaps. Plus deciduous trees. Probably aspen. He’d seen a variety of trees in his travels through Montana.

      He made out a small weathered house with a rock chimney, a low barn, also weathered, surrounded by corrals and several other outbuildings.

      They turned off the road and started down the trail leading to the homesite. As they drew closer, he could see that everything was neat and well maintained. He drew in a satisfying breath for the first time since they had left town.

      As newlyweds.

      No doubt Preacher Hugh expected the marriage would be real enough even if rushed. If he’d known the exact details of the agreement between Sawyer and Carly, he might have refused to marry them.

      But what did it matter to others if the arrangement suited them?

      And it did. If he had any doubts, he wasn’t about to admit it. Not even to himself. Especially not to himself. He had given his word and would fulfill his vows to the best of his ability and within the boundaries they had agreed upon.

      They reached the yard and turned toward the barn. She swung off her horse, less hampered by her skirts than most women he’d seen. And he’d seen a few who rode astride. Didn’t have much of an opinion about it except to think riding sidesaddle looked mighty uncomfortable.

      He drew to a halt next to her horse but before he could reach back to let Jill down, she slid off, holding to his leg until her feet hit the ground. She put a distance between herself and Sawyer. Perhaps Carly, too, and stood with her arms crossed and a look of pure challenge on her face.

      Carly began to lead her horse to the barn, then turned to Sawyer. “There’s room for your horse and feed and—” She broke off as she saw Jill. She gave the girl a moment’s study, then brought her gaze back to Sawyer, silently asking for an explanation.

      He shrugged and led his horse after her. Not until they entered the barn and were far enough away that Jill couldn’t hear did he answer. “Too many changes. She’s getting so she resents them.”

      “Then it’s up to us to make sure she knows this is permanent.”

      “It will take time for her to believe it.”

      She

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