Chapter Six
Deborah kept her gaze out the window for the next hour. Inwardly, she boiled. She would have to spend two and a half days with this man on the train.
Nolan Avery was now her husband. To love and cherish, honor and obey... as long as they both shall live.
She groaned and rubbed the pain pounding in her skull that had started when Hetty Parsons arrived at Nolan’s ranch.
Everything happened so fast, it seemed. In fact, the danger she had been in was nothing compared to the panic that had flowed through her during the drive to the courthouse, and especially during the wedding ceremony.
Thankfully, Judge Bennett didn’t make them share a kiss as husband and wife. That was a relief.
This was all her fault. She must not have had a clear mind when she decided to take the train to Montana.
And now... she was Mrs. Nolan Avery. At least the man was a gentleman.
At least she’d seen signs of it, but since they left the house, heading for the courthouse, Nolan had been quite irritable.
Then again, Hetty Parsons had gone too far.
There wasn’t much talking between her and Nolan—just polite comments.
She wanted to scream. Why didn’t he act like it was an insult to be forced into a marriage neither of them wanted?
If only he would say something to let her know what thoughts rolled around in his head. His expression was difficult to read.
Gradually, Nolan began to converse with the passengers in the train around them. The grumpiness etched on his face had disappeared.
As Deborah listened to Nolan talk with the man seated beside them, she found herself reacting unexpectedly to the sound of his laughter. Each time, a shiver ran down her spine. It wasn’t unpleasant, but rather a gentle wave of heightened awareness.
Gradually, she became familiar with the rich, deep tone of his voice. Instead of unsettling her, it brought a sense of comfort. In time, Deborah realized she genuinely enjoyed hearing him interact with the other man. Then again, it kept her entertained, at least for a little while.
As the conversation between Nolan and the other passengers drew to a close, Deborah began to feel increasingly uneasy. Sitting for such an extended period proved difficult for her, and a sense of restlessness settled over her.
Unable to remain still, she shifted in her seat while Nolan, apparently satisfied with the exchange, picked up a newspaper and directed his attention toward its pages. His focus shifted completely, leaving Deborah to wrestle with her own discomfort and the urge to get up and move around.
The train rattled steadily beneath them as Montana gradually disappeared behind a blur of rolling hills and endless prairie. Deborah stared out the window, watching the landscape slide past while pretending—and failing—not to notice Nolan occupying the seat across from her.
The man had barely spoken three words since they boarded. Not that she blamed him entirely. After all, she’d never heard of two people being forced to marry by the town’s busybody before.
Still... His silence felt personal.
Nolan folded the newspaper he’d been staring at for the last thirty minutes, not reading. Just staring. She knew the difference. Her patience was growing thin, and she wanted to scream.
“You know,” she said at last, “if you’re going to glare at me, it might be more efficient to simply say whatever it is you’re thinking.”
Nolan didn’t even look up. “I’m not glaring.”
“You absolutely are.”
“I’m reading.”
“You’ve been on the same page since Helena.”
That finally earned her a glance. Unfortunately, it was the exact look she’d mentioned just now.
Deborah crossed her arms. “See, there it is.”
“There is what?”
“That look.”
His jaw tightened. “I don’t have a look.”
“You do.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Mr. Avery—”
“Since we are now married, I think you should call me Nolan.”
She blinked, surprised that the correction came automatically. But then, a strange silence followed. They both seemed equally stunned by it.
Finally, she cleared her throat. “Nolan.”
His expression darkened slightly. “Now what?”
“I would like to talk about that look.”
“Fine.” He sighed heavily. “Perhaps I’m trying to figure out how my life became this complicated in less than forty-eight hours.”
A laugh tore unexpectedly from Deborah’s throat. Nolan looked offended... but at least it was a different expression.
“What do you find funny?”
“You think you’re the only victim here, Nolan?”
His eyes narrowed. “I didn’t say that.”
“You certainly implied it.”
The train lurched slightly as it rounded a curve. For a moment, neither spoke. But during the hesitation, Nolan’s irritated expression returned.
“My daughter is back in Willowhaven with my brother because a woman I met yesterday is being hunted by criminals.” He arched an eyebrow. “There. Are you happy now that you know my thoughts?”
Deborah’s temper immediately flared. “Oh, wonderful. We’re counting grievances now.”
“I'm stating facts.”
“So am I.” She leaned forward. “I left everything I knew behind because someone wants me dead. I had hoped to start over in a new town, but now, I’m going back to the place where I left.”
Nolan opened his mouth to speak, but she continued anyway.
“I received actual threats.”
“I know.”
“I was followed.”
“I know.”
“I woke up to strangers watching me.”
His expression hardened. “I know.”
“Then stop acting as though I chose any of this. Stop treating me like I’m the criminal, running from the law.”
The words hung heavily between them. Several nearby passengers glanced over before quickly looking away again.
“I never said you chose it.” Nolan’s voice lowered.
“No,” Deborah replied sharply. “You just look at me with your glaring eyes as if you want to burn a hole through me.”
For the first time since she’d met him, Nolan had no immediate response.
Deborah looked away first. Outside, the prairie rolled endlessly beneath a pale afternoon sky.
“I didn’t ask for a husband,” she muttered.
Several seconds passed before Nolan’s shoulders drooped. “And I didn’t ask for a wife.”
“Well, at least we agree on something.”
To her astonishment, the corner of his mouth twitched. Not quite a smile, but dangerously close. But before she could feel at ease, his grumpiness returned.
“If you ask me,” she continued, “I still think Hetty Parsons should be arrested.”
That caught Nolan completely off guard. “What?”
“For kidnapping.”
A sound escaped him. It was short and unexpected. Almost like a laugh.
Deborah pointed triumphantly. “There.”
His eyebrows rose. “There what?”
“That was a laugh.”
“It was not.”
“It absolutely was,” she argued again.
“It was a cough.”
“Then you may want to consult a physician once we reach the next stop.”
For several seconds, Nolan stared at her. Then, despite himself, he shook his head. And suddenly the tension between them eased... though only slightly.
Deborah settled back into her seat. The relief lasted approximately ten seconds.
Then Nolan cleared his throat. “How many people know about the papers?”
She groaned. “There it is again.”
“What?”
“The interrogation.”
“It’s a reasonable question.”
“It’s your favorite hobby.” She rolled her eyes.
His expression became suspicious. “You’ve known me a little over one day, so how do you come to that conclusion?”
“I’ve known you long enough to make a judgment.”
To her surprise, Nolan actually smiled this time. And for the life of her, it appeared real. Even his lovely blue eyes seemed lighter. And for reasons she couldn’t explain, that brief smile unsettled her far more than all of his scowling ever had.
It reminded her of something dangerous. Something she could not afford.