Chapter Six
“I thought you were in love with Violet,” Gran said as they waited on the steps of Bentwood Creek’s historic town hall on Monday morning. She wore one of her blue church dresses and a fancy pair of white cowboy boots.
“Violet married someone else, Gran.” Hayden loosened the string tie around his neck and rolled his shoulders in the suit he’d only worn one day before—his last wedding day. “I’m marrying Evie.”
Despite the morning sunshine, Hayden’s toes were cold inside his black cowboy boots.
A man can carry the world on his shoulders as long as his cowboy boots are planted firmly on the ground.
That was one of his grandfather’s quotes. Hayden scuffed his boots on the pavement, then planted them resolutely, standing taller.
“Why do I feel like I’m missing something?” Gran shaded her eyes as she stared up at Hayden. “How did you propose? I hope it was romantic. Wouldn’t want your bride to hold that against you on your anniversary.”
“It was as romantic as need be, Gran.” Even with her faulty short-term memory, Hayden wasn’t going to tell Gran that his marriage had a definitive end date.
For all intents and purposes, the rest of the world would be told they’d loved each other from afar for years and that Hayden didn’t want to waste another day apart.
Gran tsked. “Sounds like you need a do-over proposal, Hay-Hay. Or at the very least, a fantastic wedding gift.”
Wedding gift?
He had none.
Hayden rolled his shoulders back, reminding himself, this wasn’t a real marriage and required no wedding gifts. But the guilt persisted.
“What time did you say this wedding was?” Gran asked, glancing up and down the empty street.
Hayden checked the time on his phone. “Five minutes ago.”
She’s late.
Hayden shoved his phone back into his pocket. It wasn’t just his toes that were cold now. His fingers felt like ice.
Violet was late too.
Air left Hayden’s lungs in a painful rush. But…
We made a deal. A promise. A…a…a vow.
Hayden’s lungs burned, but he didn’t breathe in. Didn’t think he could. He couldn’t get past the shock and the cold that the sunshine couldn’t chase away because…
I’m being stood up again.
Just then, Evie, Katie, and Evie’s mother, Nellie, appeared on the sidewalk at the corner. The trio of Fisher females each carried bridal bouquets filled with pink and white flowers. Evie’s bouquet was larger and more elaborate than Katie’s or Nellie’s.
But Evie… Evie looked pretty in a pale-pink dress with her blond hair in an intricate bun. Wisps of hair framed her delicate features. Soft pink outlined her lips.
Hayden was so relieved she’d shown up, he nearly ran down the steps to hug her.
Just in time, he remembered that emotions had no place in this marriage.
“It’s my cowboy!” Katie broke free of Evie’s hold and scampered up the steps to Hayden. No tutu for her today. She wore a frilly pink dress and pink ballet slippers, though. She hugged Hayden’s legs, grinning up at him. “Mama says you’re marrying us today.”
“That I am.” Hayden introduced Gran to Katie and reminded Gran that she’d met Evie and Nellie over a decade ago without mentioning it was during the lead-up to his non-wedding to Violet.
Nellie handed Gran a small bouquet of her own. “Violet couldn’t make it today. One of her properties was closing.”
That was a relief.
“It’s always a good omen when the bride shows up for her wedding.” Gran smiled at everyone, then rested her hands on her knobby knees, her small bouquet losing a daisy petal. “Look at this pretty young filly. Hay-Hay, you didn’t tell me that your bride came with a ready-made family.”
Oh, yes, he had. Once last week and twice already this morning.
“Hay-Hay?” Katie gazed up at Hayden adoringly. “Can I call you Hay-Hay too?”
It was on the tip of Hayden’s tongue to squash that idea, but Gran beat him to it.
“’Course you can call him Hay-Hay.” She took Katie’s hand and turned toward the town hall doors. “How old are you, Katie?”
“Four.”
“I’m eighty-four.”
“That’s really old.” Katie giggled. “You must know Santa Claus. He’s old too.”
“And the Easter Bunny.” Gran nodded, selling that fairy tale with complete seriousness. “Do you ride, sugar? You and I could ride together.”
Oh, that’s a bad idea.
Hayden glanced at Evie, ready to support her when she said, “No way!” But his bride-to-be said nothing. He chalked that up to nerves and made a mental note to discuss Gran’s safety restrictions with her later.
“I’ve never been on a horse,” Katie admitted as if only realizing she’d missed out in life.
“We’ll get you a pony, won’t we, Hay-Hay?” Gran beamed over her shoulder at Hayden.
Just like she used to when I was younger.
His spirits lifted. Perhaps the addition of Evie and Katie to the family would help Gran regain all her senses.
“Hay-Hay?” Gran prompted when he didn’t immediately answer.
“We have plenty of ranch horses for Katie and Evie to ride,” he assured Gran because it made no sense to buy a pony just for the six months Katie would be living with them.
“We’ll get you a pony,” Gran reiterated anyway, taking Katie inside town hall.
Leaving Hayden to wonder how he was going to fulfill that request when money was so tight.
“Hayden.” Evie’s smile wobbled. Her blue-eyed gaze darted from his face to her mother’s. “Are you ready?” The way she asked…it sounded more like, “This is your last chance to bail.”
Hayden hesitated.
I won’t get hurt if I don’t get married.
Evie’s smile weakened. They’d both had something to lose—Evie, her freedom; Hayden, his grandmother.
But my heart’s safe for six months.
By his reckoning, it took much longer to fall in love.
Nellie peered at him curiously. Almost…suspiciously.
That’s when Hayden remembered his role in this marriage was to help convince the world, including Evie’s mother, that he and Evie were in love.
“I’m ready.” Flashing a smile he didn’t feel, Hayden took Evie’s soft, warm hand in his and stared at her as if she was the most precious thing in his world.
And just that innocent connection made the spring morning feel even brighter.
“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, Evie.
” He pressed a soft kiss to Evie’s knuckles, noticing her sharp intake of breath, proud that he was the cause. “Let’s get hitched.”
Together, they walked toward a short-term future.
His pulse raced.
But try as he might, Hayden couldn’t attribute his rapidly beating heart to not wanting to get married.
*
The courtroom where they were to be married was chilly.
Eve had goosebumps on her arms.
Katie sat on Irene’s lap in an office chair pushed up against a wall. They both grinned like the devil. Eve’s mother sat next to them, smiling stiffly like this was a dreaded medical procedure she had to endure.
And Hayden…
He stood next to Eve, taller than she remembered, more handsome than she remembered, colder than she remembered.
Vi was right. This is a mistake.
Eve glanced at Katie. Her daughter waved her small bridesmaid’s bouquet, a smile splitting her little cheeks. Her little girl could find the bright side of any situation, even with a father who’d shunned her for the better part of a year.
I love Hayden. I should be ecstatic, like Katie. I should look like a blissful bride.
If only Eve felt that way. But somewhere between thinking a marriage in name only was the answer to her problems and this morning, Eve had realized loving someone and keeping that love hidden was a nearly impossible task.
But I have to. Or he’ll divorce me and break my heart.
Of that, she was certain.
Eve snuck a peek at Hayden’s strong profile once more. He looked untouchably handsome in a black suit, a new haircut, and a black cowboy hat. Closed to love. Just the thought of his rejection was gut-wrenching.
Eve must have made a noise because Hayden shifted, seeming to stare at her out of the corner of his eye.
She faced the judge, who was reading from a scrap of paper tucked into a bible.
When she’d married Steven, they’d had a church wedding, presided over by a minister.
They’d held hands during the ceremony, grinning at each other like love-struck idiots.
Today, Eve felt like an idiot of a different kind.
She considered making a run for it, ditching that idea almost immediately. But the nerves, the doubts, and the fears remained.
All I need is a sign from Hayden that we’re doing the right thing.
Just then, Hayden turned toward her, tenderly taking hold of both of Eve’s hands. His touch was warm and sturdy. He looked at her with what she told herself was fondness. He smiled softly, as if they were in this together.
Eve breathed easier.
“Eve?” the judge asked, a concerned expression on his sharp face. “It’s your turn.”
“Sorry. Can you repeat that?” After he did, Eve parroted the wedding vows in a strong voice, holding on to that smile she’d been using lately, the one that reassured folks she was fine, even if she wasn’t.
At the appropriate time, Eve slid a ring on Hayden’s finger. Then he slid one on hers. He’d told her these were his grandparents’ wedding rings. His grandmother no longer wore hers. And for that, Eve was relieved. She’d been worried he’d give her the ring he’d chosen for Violet.
All too quickly, the judge said, “You may now kiss your bride.”
Hayden stared deeply into Eve’s eyes before lowering his mouth to hers.
Eve was expecting a chaste kiss. A brief formality to seal their bargain.
Instead, Hayden kissed her sweetly, lingeringly, as if this was their third date and he’d saved up some serious longing for this moment, wanting to get it right.
Eve’s heart pounded. Her pulse raced.
And she kissed him back as if this marriage was the real deal.