Husband By Arrangement

Charles nodded. “Thanks for bringing your missus here for lunch. I expect we won’t be seeing as much of you now that you’ll have someone at home to cook for you.”

“Rena is a fine cook, that’s for sure and certain.” He slapped the counter with his palm. “I’ll try to stop in for lunch sometimes.”

As he stepped onto the sidewalk, he noticed Jack Jefferson coming out of the bank with Thomas Freeman. The two men were often together. Jefferson owned the largest ranch in the county. He was probably the biggest depositor at Freeman’s bank.

When Jefferson saw Scott, his usual sneer became a twisted grin. Nothing Jack Jefferson wanted for Gran Colina was good for the town. And he seemed determined to fight Scott and the mayor at every turn.

Scott would pray for the man again tonight. Prayer was the thing that kept him from allowing anger to build up inside and turn him to the same kind of bitter person that Jack Jefferson had become. Prayer had brought him through his broken engagement to Louise. He knew it would bring him through the coming election and help him to build a solid, if not loving, marriage with Rena.

His personal values made Scott want to live a good life, but now he must take extra care to remain above reproach. Or marrying Rena would only serve to provide him with a cook and a housekeeper. Something he wouldn’t need if Jefferson found out the truth and used it to destroy Rena’s reputation, ultimately costing him and the mayor their jobs.

With the election set for April, whatever Jack Jefferson had planned would soon come to light.

Chapter Four (#u0789b8b7-a1fc-5ec8-af7e-31e46775ef59)

Rena picked up a tea cake. “I love these. I wish your mother would share the recipe.”

Charlotte laughed. “You know how she guards her recipes. She’s only shared them with me because she needs my help in the kitchen. I had to promise never to breathe a word of any of the ingredients before she would let me see her recipe box.”

“They are delicious.” Rena finished off the tea cake, but she knew Charlotte would not be hindered in her pursuit of the story of how Rena and Scott came to be together.

“You have to tell me all about how you got married.” Charlotte leaned forward in her chair. “I can’t believe you kept this from me for so long. Or was it that long?” Her eyebrows lifted in a teasing fashion.

“I will tell you that it was very sudden, but Scott is private about these things. He wouldn’t be comfortable with me talking about it.”

“But I’m your best friend, and you used to tell me everything.” Charlotte’s lighthearted voice let Rena know she wouldn’t push for answers.

“You are a dear friend, Charlotte.”

Charlotte leaned close and lowered her voice. “You won’t tell me just a little bit?”

Rena shook her head. “I guess it’s part of growing up. There comes a time when there are things you just can’t share.” She smiled and patted her friend’s hand. “I’ve learned that over the last few months.”

“Promise me this won’t be the end of our sharing.”

“Of course not, we’ll always be close.”

“I am very happy for you.” She looked around the room and back at Rena. “But I must confess that I’m jealous. In a good way. My mother will never let me court anyone who catches my fancy.”

Rena loved her friend and hoped that she would never know the depth of pain Rena had endured over the last two months. “Your mother is only protecting you. Remember the time you thought you were in love with Nathan Taylor? You thought he was so handsome.” They both dissolved into giggles.

Charlotte tried to catch her breath. “I can’t believe that boy put a frog on my head, and then thought I’d want to eat my lunch with him.”

“And you had to endure his teasing until the day he moved away.”

“Five years later! I’ve never been happier to see someone leave town. But I was right about one thing. He was handsome.” Charlotte grew serious. “You’re right though. Momma was looking out for me. She still does.”

“You are blessed to have a mother who loves you so.”

The agreement on Charlotte’s face was sincere. “You’re right.” She giggled. “My pa could’ve married a mean old lady after my mother died. I’m so glad he married Momma instead.”

“God will bring you the right person in His time. Be patient and prayerful. I promise you’ll never be sorry if you wait on the person God has for you.” If only someone had given her that advice. In truth, Rena knew her stubbornness would have prevented her from listening. How she wished she had never met Eugene Rodgers.

The smile on Charlotte’s face let Rena know that her friend had no inkling of the true situation Rena was in. “Well, I hope He doesn’t wait too long. I’m three months older than you, and you’re already married.”

Rena spent a few more minutes with her friend, and then made her way to Scott’s office. When she climbed the steps, she could hear Jack Jefferson’s raised voice carrying through the closed door.

“I don’t know what’s going on here, Braden, but I’ll get to the bottom of it. You act all high-and-mighty, but this town was better off before the likes of you came.”

Rena reached for the door, but it flew open, and Jack Jefferson stormed out. She stumbled backward.

Scott was right behind the man and caught her elbows in his strong hands. He helped her gain her balance. “Are you hurt?”

“No, just startled.” Rena took a step away from him. He was too close.

“Jefferson, you’d be wise to calm down and take care. I won’t let you bring harm to my wife or anyone else in this town.”

Jack Jefferson’s only acknowledgment of his words was a raised hand flung outward in indifference.

“I heard him as I came up the steps.” Rena stared after the man. She lowered her voice. “Was he here because of me?”

“You know Jefferson well enough to know that he doesn’t need a reason for anything he does. He’s motivated by the anger that rules his heart.”

She lowered her gaze to his boots. They needed a good brushing, and his pants could do with a good laundering. She had a lot of work to do. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” He pushed open the door to the office and held it for her to enter. “Will you come sit by the stove and let me finish some work? I won’t be long.”

Rena sat in a chair on the opposite side of his desk and looked around at the worn furnishings while he made notes in a journal. The two cells on the back wall were empty. The afternoon light spilled into the room through the small barred windows on the back wall.

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

He shook his head and held up one finger but did not look up from his work. The pencil in his hand flew across the page in short, deliberate strokes. At the end of the page, he made a forceful dot and swirled the tip of the pencil in a quick signature. “All done.” He closed the journal and locked it in the drawer of his desk. “Let’s go by the livery and get your cow.” He grabbed his hat from the peg near the front window and pushed it onto his head. “I stopped in earlier and Henderson had one for sale.”

“That’s welcome news.” Rena stepped onto the porch and waited while he locked the door. “Is there anything else we need to do while we’re in town?”

“No. We can pick up your trunk first, and then we’ll get the cow on our way out of town.”

The afternoon sun was deep in the sky when they turned down the lane toward their cabin. Everything she would bring from her past into her future was in the trunk that sat in the bed of the wagon. Scott had removed the cow’s bell and tied her so she’d follow along behind them.

“How are you feeling?” Scott glanced at her as she looked behind them to check on the cow.

“Tired. It’s been another long day.” She didn’t want to complain, but the fatigue was like none she’d ever known.

He pulled the wagon in front of the porch and set the brake. She moved to the edge of the seat. “Wait, and I’ll help you down.”

“Thank you.” She put her hand in his and stepped cautiously out of the wagon. “I’ll figure out a way to do that by myself soon.”

“No need.” He picked up the cowbell and reattached it to the cow’s harness. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take care of the animals and bring your trunk in later.”