Chapter Four
Travis had been shocked by the sight of Anna Montgomery.
She was beautiful, tall, and slim with long black hair that seemed to want to escape from the braid down her back.
Her skin was soft and pale brown, indicating she spent a lot of time outdoors.
And her eyes… Travis had never seen eyes like them before.
They were a vivid green, and they seemed to sparkle with flecks of gold.
She’d briefly described herself, but it hadn’t done her justice.
Travis didn’t think it was possible for someone to be more beautiful than Clara, and yet he was witnessing it.
He couldn’t stop himself from staring. He felt uncomfortable with the joke he’d made in the beginning, knowing that he’d likely gotten off on the wrong foot with Anna.
But with the letters he’d exchanged with her in the last couple of weeks, Travis had thought she would be prepared for a bit of playful talk back and forth.
Evidently, he’d misread her. Now, Travis was embarrassed.
And he was being taken to the church to get married. He’d barely gotten his bearings in Vernon, and now he was about to become a married man. It was happening so fast that his head was spinning.
But there was something about it that made it more emotionless than it already was. He didn’t know what to think, other than that Anna was desperate.
She had told him about the reason for the marriage, and he’d been upset knowing that she had to find a husband to keep a place that was rightfully hers.
She’d offered him a job and a place to live comfortably if he helped her out, and that seemed like a fair deal.
Travis could see both of them living comfortably together.
Hopefully, they could become friends and help each other out.
Although from the way Anna was currently behaving, looking as if she would rather be anywhere but with him right now, he didn’t think it was going to be that easy.
As they greeted the pastor and arranged for the wedding ceremony, Travis could feel the palms of his hands itching. It didn’t feel right to have this happen so quickly and without emotion. Of course, he knew that was happening, but at the same time…
The ceremony passed in a blur, Anna reciting the vows first, and then Travis.
When it came to the kiss, both of them hesitated, and Anna’s expression was uneasy.
Travis took her hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing her fingers.
The look of relief on Anna’s face was enough for him to know her feelings on the matter.
Twenty minutes later, they stepped outside the church into the warm sunlight. Emily and Anna were whispering to each other, and Travis took that moment to look around at his new home. It looked like a thriving community, and everyone seemed to be getting along.
Peggy had warned him that he shouldn’t jump headfirst into such a messy situation, but Travis had ignored her. They might be close, but that didn’t mean he had to listen to her all the time.
This was his way of starting again, a new life, one filled with possibility.
“Right,” Emily said brightly. “I’m going to head back home. Mother’s going to wonder where I am. I’ll come by at some point, Anna.”
“Bye, Emily,” Anna said.
Emily gave Travis a friendly nod of farewell before walking away. It was like the warmth disappeared with her, and he was now left with someone who exuded coolness. Anna walked past him.
“We don’t have to walk far. My ranch is right on the edge of town.”
She didn’t wait for him to follow, walking away with a confident stride that had Travis almost running to catch up with her, snagging his horse and urging the animal to follow him. He felt like he was an animal himself, chasing after his mistress.
What had he gotten himself into?
Sure enough, once the buildings faded away, they turned a corner, passing a large boulder, and came upon Anna’s ranch.
Travis’s breath caught when he saw it. It was far bigger than he had imagined.
Anna had told him the acreage, but it looked like a lot more.
There were cattle in a field just in sight, and there were horses grazing in the paddock.
Everything was bustling and appeared to be thriving. Clearly, the ranch was successful.
“This is your home?” he asked.
Anna stopped and turned, looking surprised that he spoke.
“Yes. This is it.” A flicker of pride filled her voice. “My family built it generations ago, turning it into a success.”
“I can tell.” Travis hoped that he sounded approving. He needed to get into Anna’s good books after his bad attempt at lightening the mood. “And this is what you want to keep from your cousin? Why you don’t want him inheriting it?”
When Anna had explained to him in their letters what was going on, he’d been surprised. It was a daring thing to do, marrying someone to keep an inheritance, but he could understand the desperation. Given what Anna had told him about her cousin, Travis was more than happy to help.
Especially if he got peace of mind out of it with his own situation.
Anna nodded. “I don’t want him anywhere near this place,” she said, almost spitting the words out. “He would run the whole ranch into the ground. He’s already trying to take over and give orders, but nobody’s listening to him. He’s already tried to dismiss several of my workers.”
“Doesn’t he have the prerogative, though?”
She shook her head. “Things continue as usual, and I, as the daughter, am still in charge. But if I didn’t marry before the month is up, then it reverts to Edwin.” She made a face. “I’m not about to lose my home to him.”
Travis had seen plenty of relatives make remarks against each other, and family members argued, but he’d not seen this ferocity toward someone related to a person. Anna clearly didn’t want Edwin around. He cleared his throat.
“I can tell things are contentious between the two of you. Has it always been like that?”
Anna glanced away, a flash of pain flitting across her face. She sighed.
“I never thought so. I was very young when Edwin came to live with us permanently. He’s five years older, and he likes to think he is better at everything. He was… cocky, arrogant, and that didn’t fade away as he grew up.”
“What happened to his parents?”
“My aunt died when he was barely walking, and my uncle passed away when he was twelve. Since he became an adult, Edwin’s been living in a cottage on the grounds close to the river.
” Anna shrugged. “Said he prefers the peace and quiet there. He’s meant to help out on the ranch himself, but he is just lazy.
It’s a miracle that he turns up most days. ”
Travis frowned.
“If he’s lazy and unreliable, why wouldn’t your father fire him? Why keep him on?”
“I asked him that before. But Father said he wasn’t about to turn his back on family, especially when it came to his brother’s lad,” Anna said.
“And he still left the ranch to him?” Travis asked, shaking his head.
Anna sighed.
“Didn’t have a choice. Unless I have a husband, I can’t inherit. Now Edwin’s counting down the days until he can take the ranch for good and throw me out, I just know it.”
Travis had heard this before, but hearing it in person showed how scared Anna was. She was in agony knowing that she was about to lose what she held dear to her..
He felt a pang of sympathy for her. He was aware that wives and daughters were losing out on inheritance from their husbands and fathers because only men could inherit money and property.
He had never truly understood it, and it made him feel relieved that whatever his parents had left behind had been given to him immediately.
“Well, he can’t do that now, can he?” he pointed out. “If you’ve gotten yourself a husband, and it’s been made legal…”
“Then I should be able to have what I want, as per the will Pa left.” Anna’s voice cracked a little.
“It’s not going to be that easy, but at least I’ve followed through with the stipulation.
” Then something passed across her eyes, and she lowered her head.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so cold-hearted about it.
It’s just that this is my home, my life, and I don’t want to have it taken away from me by someone who just wants to own a ranch as a trophy rather than something he cares about. ”
“I understand, Anna,” Travis said quietly.
She looked as if she wasn’t sure if she could believe him.
Travis wondered how he could get her to understand that he wasn’t going to walk away.
He had every right to, but he’d come into this understanding of what was going on, and what he needed to do.
She got a husband and her ranch, and he got a job and a place to live. They both got something out of it.
“You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m not going anywhere.”
She arched an eyebrow at him curiously, and Travis felt his face getting warm. That sounded more intimate than it should’ve.
“I mean… I’ll make sure your cousin doesn’t get what isn’t his. I’m on your side.”
“I hope so.” Anna bit her lip. “I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and find that he’s gotten to you and I’m trapped with someone I thought I could trust.”
Travis pressed a hand to his chest.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’m not easily bought. Plus, I’m your husband now. What sort of person would I be by betraying my wife?”
It was strange calling himself a husband, especially when his wife wasn’t Clara. A pang of sadness washed over him, but Travis pushed that aside. He wasn’t about to start thinking about that woman now. He had something more important to focus on.
And Anna needed him more than she was letting on. That was his priority.