Chapter 15
When they finished the tour of the house, Chase brought her suitcase upstairs.
She unpacked quickly and met him in the kitchen.
He was talking to a stunning woman with black hair streaked with silver on the left side. She’d pulled all her hair back into a long braid, the silver running throughout the length.
Meri walked close. “Hi, you must be Rose. I’m Meri.”
“I was just hearing from Chase that you two are engaged.”
She nodded. I’m truly engaged to Chase Harper, a billionaire and the nicest, most wonderful man I’ve ever known. “Yes, it happened sort of sudden.”
Rose waved her hand. “Short courtships are not new to me. My husband asked me to marry him on our first date. I waited until our second to say yes. We were married two weeks to the day after we met. That was twenty-six years ago.”
Chase covered Rose’s hand with his. “She and Robert have been working for me for ten years now. The youngest of their children, Stacey, just graduated law school. She’s going to work for me in the legal department for Harper Dynamics, International Division.”
Rose smiled widely. “She’s so excited. Chase offered her the job when she entered law school, and she was thrilled. She asked him what he would do if she got a better proposal. He told her to let him know, and he’d double it.”
“And I did. She got an offer from my chief competitor. I doubled her starting salary and we’re all happy.”
“That’s wonderful.” Another reason to love him. He treats his employees well.
“Would you like to see the barn? I’ve even got a place for you to paint. I didn’t know what to do with it when I first saw it and I’ve just used it for storage, but—you’ll see.” He reached for her hand and they walked out of the back door.
The barn was like every barn she’d ever seen—big and red. She wondered if anyone ever painted them blue or purple. The thought made her want to laugh, but she settled for just a smile.
The barn doors were wide open on both ends of the building. The breeze rushing through kept it cooler and kept down the odor.
Chase took them straight through the barn to a small cabin with windows on the east, west, and south sides. The south side was the front of the cabin, which had a covered porch. It also had a sliding door onto the porch from what she figured was the bedroom.
Chase walked them to the door and opened it.
The inside was filled with old—as in antique, furniture and paintings from the late 1800s.
What a treasure trove!
“I’m so glad you didn’t get rid of this stuff. Some are in great condition and we might use it in the house. We might restore the others and then place them in the house or the apartment in Denver.
“I wasn’t sure you would like it.” He shook his head. “The furniture is not why I brought you out here. I wanted you to see this as your studio. The light is great with all these windows and the slider.”
She walked around and could picture it. Her paints and easel would be there, her canvases there. “Is there electricity?”
“Yes, and heat, so you can work in the winter, too. What do you think?” He waved an arm to take in the entire room.
She detected some anxiety in his voice. Then she lifted her arms out wide and turned in a circle, laughing. She stopped and ran into his open arms. “I love it. It’s perfect. Almost like you built it just for me.”
“I didn’t, but I would have if you wanted one.”
She covered his lips with two fingers. “Stop. This is perfect and I love that it’s not too far from the barn and the house.”
He held her close. “Do I deserve a kiss?”
“Oh, yes, you definitely deserve a kiss.” She lifted onto tiptoes, and when her lips met his, she darted out her tongue and teased his lips until they opened. Then she stormed in and tasted him, played with his tongue, dueled with him, and loved him.
When she pulled back, she gazed up at him. “I don’t want to wait. How soon can we get married here?”
“There’s no waiting period. So as soon as we get a license, we can get married.”
Her heart pounded and her pulse raced. “Then let’s do it. We can take Rose with us for a witness. Surely, they’ll have someone at the judge’s office who can be the second witness.”
His eyebrows furrowed, concern in his eyes. “Meri, are you sure? We don’t have to rush.”
She reached up and cupped his jaw. “I can’t wait to be married to you. The sooner, the better. We can have a reception for our family and friends later. I even packed a dress, in case we had to go someplace that required one. I’d say getting married qualifies.”
Chase wrapped her in his arms and tenderly pulled her close. “I love you with all my heart and soul. That will never change whether or not we’re married. But I’m all for getting married. Let’s go tell Rose.”
He loves me. He actually said he loves me. I wasn’t sure he ever would. Could I ever be any happier or want for anything else?
Two hours later, with Rose in tow, they had their license and waited their turn for the judge.
Meri sat with her legs bouncing from nerves. Her dress, a purple slip dress with sheer printed overlay with flowers in shades of lavender and lilac, and with flutter sleeves, was perfect for this occasion. “They must do this a lot, for there to be a line.”
Chase reached over and placed a hand on her knee. “We’re fine. I think we’re next, anyway. Don’t be nervous. We’ll get in before they close.”
A woman with brown hair and a nice peach colored skirt suit came out of the door, holding a clipboard. “Harper. Anderson.”
“We’re here.” Chase took Meri’s hand and gave it a little squeeze.
Meri stood along with Chase and Rose.
“Follow me, please,” said the woman.
The three followed her through the door into the judge’s outer office.
“Judge Garrison will see you now,” said the woman.
She escorted them into the judge’s chambers.
A gray-haired man sat behind the large wooden desk. He wore black robes, his white shirt and black tie poking out at the neckline.
The judge stood and came around the desk. “Well, Chase Harper. I wondered if we’d ever see you here. I’m glad to finally meet you.” He held out his right hand.
Chase shook Judge Garrison’s hand.
The judge turned toward Meri. “And we have Meridith Anderson here.” He held out his hand to her.
She wiped her hand on her skirt and then shook his hand.
“Congratulations, my dear. Shall we get started? I see you brought a witness. That’s good. My assistant, Nadine, can act as the second witness. Sarah, here, is my clerk and has to notarize the documents, so she can’t be a witness, too.” He turned to the woman. “Will you get Nadine for us, please?”
“Certainly.” Sarah left the room.
Meri looked up at Chase and then over at Rose. How can he not be nervous? Even Rose is clasping and unclasping her hands.
“Still nervous?” asked Chase.
“Yes.” Her voice cracked on the word.
He smiled, took one of her hands and kissed the top. “Calm down. We’re getting married.”
The door opened, and Sarah returned with an older woman with blonde hair.
Meri looked around the room. She considered it to be a typical setting for a judge’s chambers.
The large wood desk dominated the room. It had brass around the top edge and around the edge of the short, wide legs.
The desk looked like a very solid piece of furniture.
Two of the walls were floor to ceiling bookshelves, and they were full.
She thought they were all most likely law books full of citations and so forth, but then she saw several of the Alex Cross novels by James Patterson.
She smiled. The judge liked to read for pleasure, too.
“All right, we’re ready.” The judge stood in front of the desk and clasped his hands in front of him.
“Chase Harper, do you take Meridith Anderson for your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer and will you keep yourself only unto her, for as long as you both shall live?”
Chase looked at Meri and took her hands in his. He gave them a little squeeze. “I do.”
“Meridith Anderson, do you take Chase Harper for your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer and will you keep yourself only unto him, for as long as you both shall live?”
She gazed up at Chase. She saw nothing but love in his eyes. “I do.”
“Then, by the power vested in me by the State of Montana and the City of Bozeman, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
She and Chase stepped forward together.
He took her face in his hands and gently set his lips against hers.
The kiss was the sweetest one she’d ever received. She held on to the sides of his waist with her hands.
He lifted his head. “Hello, wife.”
She grinned. “Hello, husband.”
“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Harper,” said Judge Garrison.
They turned toward the smiling man.
Chase reached into his pocket and pulled out two one-hundred-dollar bills. He shook the judge’s hand and gave him the money at the same time. “Thank you, Judge Garrison.”
“You’re welcome, young man. Enjoy your marriage and each other. My wife and I have been married thirty-five years next month. We’re taking a cruise to celebrate.”
“That sounds like fun. I hope you have a wonderful time.” Meri reached out to shake the judge’s hand.
“Oh, I’m sure we will,” said the judge. We love cruising, though we usually go in the winter to escape the cold.”
“Thank you, again.” She turned toward Chase and smiled. She couldn’t seem to erase the smile from her face.
Sarah had them all sign the Certificate of Marriage.
“Do I sign here?” Rose pointed to a line at the bottom of the piece of paper.
“Yes, please,” said Sarah.
After they’d all signed, Sarah handed the document to Chase.
“Get that recorded as soon as possible.”
“We will, right after we leave here.”
Chase turned to Meri and Rose. “Now, ladies, shall we get this recorded and then go out to the country club for a bite to eat in celebration?”
Meri leaned into him. “That sounds wonderful.”