Chapter Four
“What do you mean my grandmother’s bed is taken?
” Hayden couldn’t stop his voice from rising.
It was closing in on noon. He had a livestock inventory to take.
The taxman was breathing down his neck. And now, the Oak Hill director had delivered more bad news.
“My grandmother has been living here for the past three weeks. She didn’t even check out properly yesterday, according to you. How could you give her bed away?”
Up and down the main hallway of Oak Hill, residents and staff poked their heads out to see what the commotion was about, Evie among them.
She wore pink scrubs and sneakers, looking calm, like she had her life together.
Her blond hair was in a perky ponytail, something that only added fuel to Hayden’s annoyance.
Perky meant happy, and he was anything but.
“It’s an unfortunate state of affairs.” Laurie Burke, the facility administrator, wore an ill-fitting black suit and a frown that seemed permanently etched into her round features.
She swung a thick blue binder from one arm into the crook of her other, as if she’d considered bopping Hayden with it but had decided not to.
“In a case like this, we recommend family circle the wagons for home care.”
Circle the wagons?
“That’s your solution?” Hayden scoffed. “I say that’s heartless.”
Laurie shook, as if she was unused to being called out on her bad decisions. “Now, Mr. Bennett—”
“Mister Bennett was my grandfather.” Hayden crossed his arms over his chest, only to uncross them because Gran was headed toward the exit. He lunged and caught hold of her arm. “We’re not done here, Gran.”
“I am.” She frowned at Hayden as if he were a kid about to steal a cookie from the jar before dinner. “What’s gotten into you? I don’t belong here. And this is just more proof.”
“Irene is right. She doesn’t belong here anymore,” Laurie smugly agreed. “Insurance approved three weeks. Doc submitted a request for extra time yesterday, and it was denied this morning. We’re expecting a new patient to fill her bed any time now.”
“We’ve got our marching orders.” Gran headed toward the door. “Let’s go.”
Laurie disappeared into her office, closing the door behind her.
Hayden was at a loss as to what to say. He wanted to hit something. He wanted to shout at something. He wanted…
Evie came toward him, carrying a white plastic bag. Her expression was apologetic. Her blue eyes looked small this morning, as if she’d had trouble sleeping. She handed him the garbage bag. “I packed Irene’s things for you. I’m so sorry. It happens like this sometimes.”
Hayden swung the bag over his shoulder like Santa Claus, not trusting himself to speak. Not so much as a single ho.
How am I supposed to square the ranch affairs and watch Gran at the same time?
It felt impossible.
“It’s all about paperwork, which can be frustrating.” Evie inched closer, bringing that flowery scent with her and lowering her voice. “You can apply to Irene’s health insurance for a home caregiver to watch her while you work.”
Hayden’s head was shaking before Evie completed that sentence.
“I can’t,” he said, voice low and rough, like boots on gravel.
“Money’s tight until I can sell some livestock.
” Admitting the truth tasted like sweat-soaked saddle leather.
He couldn’t remember a time the Bennett Ranch wasn’t profitable.
Other than Grandpa complaining about too many mouths to feed.
That thought gave him pause.
Evie laid a hand on his arm—strong, warm, and soft, like a pair of well-loved blue jeans. “How can I help?”
It took him a moment to think about it. Another to push the words past his dry mouth. “What I need…”
Is family to circle the wagons and help take care of Gran.
Hayden washed a hand over his face. Help wasn’t on the way.
His brothers were busy. Colt and Tucker were competing on the rodeo circuit. Sawyer and Rhett were working on ranches in other states. They’d each promised to come home again when the estate was unraveled. And that wouldn’t happen until Hayden had paid the taxes.
“Go on,” Evie prompted, her hand still on his arm. There was a light stain on her pink scrub top. A wisp of golden hair had escaped from her high, perky ponytail.
She’s not perfect.
No one who created a lie about a fake fiancé could be.
But she takes risks. All for a good reason.
Hayden sighed.
I’m not perfect and I don’t take risks.
He envied Evie’s resolve.
“Irene went out the door,” Evie pointed out, withdrawing her hand from his arm. “Why don’t you follow her? I think you need some fresh air.”
“What I need…” Hayden started again, having made a decision, knowing he’d regret his next words. Knowing he had to say them anyway. Hayden took Evie’s hand in his. “What I need…is a wife.”
*
Hayden’s going to marry me!
Eve’s day was taking a turn for the better.
She flew out of Oak Hill’s front doors into the sunshine one minute into her lunch hour. She ran two blocks to the location where she was to discuss marriage with Hayden, fueled by adrenaline, not even winded.
Hayden’s going to marry me!
But Eve couldn’t delay. She had to get to Central Park where the taco truck set up shop before Hayden changed his mind.
The park came into view. It was a pretty park, home to the Spring Festival.
In winter, it was blanketed in snow. Now, green grass and large trees with shiny green leaves provided places to play and shade for relaxing.
And in one of the parking slots was the fiery red taco truck—Saucy Tacos, a favorite of Oak Hill workers.
Irene sat on a nearby park bench, eating what looked like a quesadilla.
Hayden sat next to her, elbows on his knees, holding a bottle of water. He didn’t look like a happy groom. He looked…trapped. In need of an escape route.
She knew that look all too well. Knew he was going to retract his proposal. A stitch materialized in her side. Eve slowed her steps.
Gilbert of Saucy Tacos had set up a folding table and chairs near his food truck. Eve chose that spot for this talk.
Hayden ambled over to join her, leaving the water bottle next to Irene. His cowboy hat brim was pulled low. When he sat, he clasped his hands in front of him on the table. He wore a simple, gray-checkered button-down and a deep frown. “I don’t like this.”
Eve was tempted to call the whole thing off. She’d worshipped Hayden from afar for so long that she didn’t want to see him unhappy. But she needed a husband. So, she nodded slowly, turning his objections over in her mind and trying to form logical arguments to stay the course.
“Gran drove into the back pasture this morning before daybreak,” Hayden admitted unprompted before Eve uttered a single word.
“Took me over an hour to find her. I worried the whole time.” His mouth worked.
It was obvious the admission wasn’t easy for him.
Or that marriage was his preferred solution to his grandmother’s situation.
“Gran was safe. This time. Spent most of the morning getting her and the truck back to the ranch, grateful that she could return to Oak Hill where she’d be safe.
Only to have that option be pulled out from under me. ”
“It’ll all work out,” Eve said in a soothing voice.
Hayden rubbed his strong jaw. “I’ve been telling myself that since my grandfather passed.”
Eve gave him a soft smile. “But now we’re going to band together.”
He nodded slowly.
“Is this my water?” Irene called from her bench.
Hayden glanced at her over his shoulder. “Yes, Gran.” He waited for her to take a sip before facing Eve once more. “We need ground rules.”
Boundaries, she thought he meant. “Okay.”
“You’ll move to the ranch.”
Eve’s jaw dropped.
Hayden rolled his eyes. “Did you think you’d pull off a sham marriage by packing a bag and coming to stay only when Steven comes to town?”
“Well, I—”
“Folks in town will know. They’ll talk. Katie will talk. And Steven will listen.” Those dark eyes found hers, held hers. “This will only work if we buy in completely to the idea of marriage.”
Eve’s mouth went dry.
“Separate bedrooms,” Hayden continued, steamrolling ahead as if he’d already made up his mind. “No PDA without an audience.”
“PDA?” Eve asked in a hoarse voice.
“Public displays of affection.” Hayden bumped his black hat brim upward. “And we need a prenup.”
“No. We don’t.”
“Nonnegotiable.” He waved off her protest. “Montana is an equitable distribution state when it comes to divorce.”
“I’m not marrying you for your assets.” Eve pushed out a belabored breath. “You know me. I’m not a gold digger.” She didn’t even know if Hayden had gold to dig for.
“I have four brothers and my grandmother to watch out for,” Hayden countered in a hard voice. “I have to protect them, even if it’s only a six-month marriage.”
Now, it was Eve who felt stuck, dangling at the end of a rope.
“We need to pick a date,” Hayden said in a defeated voice.
“To get married.” Eve nodded, finally agreeing with him.
“To get divorced.” Hayden’s tone brooked no argument. “We’ll get married as soon as the prenup is signed. Then I’ll need you to care for Gran from dawn until dusk and—”
“Stop.” Eve gripped the table edge. “This freight train has missed a few stops. I’m not quitting my job.”
“Then the deal’s off.” He made as if to stand. “Unless you want me to pay you.”
“No! You’re not going to pay me.” On that, she was firm.
“I need help full-time.” Hayden turned away from the table. “This isn’t going to work.”
A bolt of panic sent Eve’s hand shooting out. She caught hold of his fingers and didn’t let go, anchoring him across from her. “I’m going to need this job in six months when we separate.”
“When we divorce. Separation implies the possibility of reconciliation.” Hayden tugged his hand free and sat back down. “And Doc said she’d be fine in three months or so. We don’t even need six months.”
Eve scoffed, finding her backbone. “In my experience as a nurse, it’s more like six months to normal. Sometimes longer.”
They stared at each other. Eve was determined not to cave in to his demands.
“Eve? You ordering lunch today?” Gilbert called, sticking his dark head out of the van’s order window.
“Name’s Irene, not Eve,” Hayden’s grandmother replied in a sassy voice. “You’re quesa…queso… This cheesy thing needs salt.”
“Sorry about that,” Eve said to the food truck owner, waving toward Irene. “No lunch today, Gilbert.” She’d lost her appetite.
“I’m having lunch,” Irene said. “I had lunch.”
Hayden muttered something Eve didn’t catch, shaking his head.
“I can give you half a day.” Eve leapt into the lull in negotiations, trying to find her footing. “But only if Laurie lets me drop down to mornings for a few months.”
Hayden’s lips formed a thin line.
“Mornings are the busiest time at Oak Hill,” Eve added weight to her argument. Mornings were also when Katie went to preschool. “My mom might be able to help watch Irene some mornings with enough notice. Or you can take Irene out to ride fence or whatever it is you do on a ranch.”
“That’s too dangerous, considering she could fall.” Hayden washed a hand over his face, washed his gaze over her. “Is there anything else you need?”
“A churro, please,” Irene said, rocking back and forth on the park bench. “Churro is a funny word, isn’t it? Whereas queso-dee…” She frowned.
“Quesadilla,” Eve said, giving Irene a reassuring smile. She took note of the worry lines around Hayden’s dark eyes. Eve lowered her voice, trying to reassure him. “For stroke victims, vocabulary can be challenging, the same as memories regarding people and events.”
Grunting, Hayden got up to order a churro for Irene.
Eve took time to steady her breathing and squelch the ever-rising feeling of panic. She should be calm. They were working things out. If only things didn’t feel so tenuous.
She didn’t notice Hayden had resumed his seat until he spoke. “What else, Evie?”
She sat up taller. “My nursing classes. I need time to study. Midterms are coming up.”
He nodded in resignation. “And…”
“I can’t marry you until I talk to my mother and Vi.” She’d have to broach that subject carefully. She imagined there were a lot of emotional landmines to be dodged, especially with Vi.
It was the first time she wished she was marrying someone else.
Hayden’s black eyes flashed with unidentified emotion.
He’s wishing he was marrying someone else too.
“Do you want me there when you tell Violet?” he asked flatly.
Eve shook her head.
“All right.” Hayden heaved a sigh. “There’s something else you want from me.” Not a question. “I can tell by the look on your face. Spill.”
Eve squirmed in her seat. “A wedding ring. I’ll need a ring to convince Steven we’re married for real.”
Sadly, a diamond would be the only thing real about this marriage.