Husband By Arrangement

They’d agreed before coming to the church that no one was to know their marriage wasn’t one of mutual agreement and love. Only Scott, Rena and Oscar would ever know. Scott was quite sure Rena hadn’t considered a kiss to seal their vows when they’d decided that.

He certainly had not. He froze. If he tried to kiss her, she might burst into tears. The strain of the day had taken a toll on him. Only God knew how she was holding up.

Rena lifted her face to him. The pleading in her eyes told him they needed to complete the picture of a happy couple or their arrangement would never be believed.

He placed one finger under her chin and saw her jaw tighten. He turned her face slightly away from the friends who’d gathered to witness the event. The kiss he placed on her cheek was so close to her lips that no one would question his actions, but the near miss of her mouth protected her from questioning his intentions.

The softness of her skin contradicted the pain in her. He prayed they would be able to build a life together for the sake of her child and her father. It was inexcusable that Eugene Rodgers had taken advantage of Rena. The scoundrel would never know about the baby. Scott couldn’t understand such a man. No child of his would ever be raised by another man. Not as long as he had breath in his body.

Of course, that would never happen. Watching his fiancée, Louise Kinard, walk away from their engagement to marry Thomas Freeman, the town banker, over a year ago had taught Scott that women wanted a smooth talker. Even if the man promised things he would never deliver, women were fascinated by fancy and unimpressed by a solid man with a good heart and a loyal nature.

If his sister hadn’t moved away and left him struggling to keep his homestead going, he didn’t think he’d be standing here now, kissing Rena.

But he was. And now all of Gran Colina would know that the sheriff had married the mayor’s daughter. Before summer’s end they’d welcome a new life into the world.

Lord, help me to adjust to all of this by then. And help Rena, too.

Saving Gran Colina from falling backward into lawlessness was a noble goal. With Thomas Freeman using all his polished ways to run for mayor against Oscar in the coming election, and Gilbert Jefferson running for his former position as sheriff, everything they’d accomplished was at risk.

Scott had already given himself fully to protecting Gran Colina. He hoped Rena would settle into their new life without regret. If she couldn’t, or if word got out that she was carrying another man’s child, their whole scheme might be for naught.

Suddenly it was all over, and Oscar was pumping his hand. “Congratulations, Scott.” The man’s eyes held gratitude that couldn’t be expressed in front of the people who gathered around the new couple.

“Thank you, sir.” Scott shook hands with Reverend Gillis and then his wife, Mildred. While everyone pressed in on them to offer happy wishes, Rena seemed to become more and more tense. The smile she wore appeared genuine, but he was concerned about how long she could keep up the pretense of wedded bliss.

Rena’s closest friend, Charlotte Green, spoke quietly into her ear, and Rena nodded. Scott wondered if Charlotte knew the truth. He hoped not. Charlotte stepped back, and her hand fell away from Rena’s arm.

“Congratulations, Sheriff,” Charlotte said. “I must say I’m surprised by this turn of events, but I do wish you well. Rena is a dear friend. Her happiness is important to me. See that you do right by her.” Her grin let him know she was pleased for her friend.

“Thank you.” He smiled what he hoped was a genuine smile. “I’ll do my best.”

Rena accepted a hug from the preacher’s wife. “Thank you, Mrs. Gillis.”

“You’ve made such a wonderful choice. I just know you and the sheriff will have a happy life.” Mildred Gillis’s round face crinkled with her smile. “Oh, the joy this must bring to your father. And to think the two of you have kept your courtship a secret. You are a sly one.” Light laughter punctuated her words, but Scott saw the pain they brought to Rena.

He stepped closer to her and raised his voice to address the gathering. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice, but if you don’t mind, I’d like for us to be on our way. We want to be home before dark.”

Chuckles came from the small crowd as they parted to give him and Rena room to leave the church. He looped Rena’s hand into the crook of his elbow and led her outside.

She took a deep breath when they passed through the doors and pulled her hand free of his arm. “Thank you. It was getting to be a bit much.”

“It’s been quite a day.” He offered his hand to assist her into his wagon. She released it as soon as she was seated. The walk around the back of the wagon gave him another moment to whisper a prayer. He was in a marriage he’d never expected, to a woman who didn’t love or want him. A woman he’d never have chosen. Prayer had always been a part of his life. He imagined it was about to become a constant thing.

Scott climbed aboard and lifted the reins. The two miles to his homestead never seemed so long. The afternoon was brisk, and Rena pulled the top of her cape closer around her neck.

“There’s a blanket under your seat.”

“I’m fine, thank you.” She didn’t look at him.

Not another word was spoken until they arrived at his home.

Their home.

He set the brake and turned to her. “It’s not what you’re used to. The house and barn are done, but I want to expand the corral.” He lifted his arm to point beyond her. “There’s a good-sized garden there. Not much to it at this time of year. There’s plenty of meat in the smokehouse, and Ann did a lot of canning before she married. I made her take what she could with her.” He vaulted over the wheel onto the ground. “I thought I’d be on my own. We’ll buy what we need in town until spring.”

He walked around to help her from the wagon. She lost her footing, and he had to catch her by the waist and set her on the ground. She stepped away from him the instant she regained her balance. Her movements were so abrupt that he apologized.

The set of her mouth had only softened for the ceremony. It had returned to testify to her determination. “If you’ll show me where to unpack my valise, I’ll see to supper.”

He nodded and lifted her case from the back of the wagon. She followed him up the steps to the porch, and he opened the door. “After you.”

Rena’s back was straight, and her shoulders were square as she entered his house. She came to a stop just inside the dim interior and gasped.

Scott scooted around her and dropped her valise near the door. Not until this moment did he remember the state of the house. Without Ann’s help, he’d done only a minimal amount of cleaning. When he’d left for town this morning, there had been no idea of someone coming back with him this evening.

He went to the fireplace and struck a match against the hearth to light the fire and then a lamp. He adjusted the wick and lifted the lamp so she could see the room.

Tears swam in her eyes. He knew she wouldn’t let them fall, but he hated to add the disorder of his home to the chaos of her life today.

In spite of her predicament, he wanted to make the best of their arrangement. The house was proof that he needed someone to help him. “It’s not as bad as it seems. I promise. We can get it set in order and make it work.”

He hoped the words were true of more than his house.

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

Rena stood in the middle of the room trying to take in the magnitude of disorder one man could bring to a space. The mess of his home paled in comparison to the mess she’d made of her life.

At that exact moment, her body reacted to the child she was carrying in a now-too-familiar fashion. She turned on her heel and sped through the door and around to the side of the house.

It was several minutes before she climbed the porch steps and reentered her new home. Much of the clutter that had greeted her earlier was in a pile near the door on the back wall, and Scott was sweeping the floor.

“You shouldn’t be sweeping. That’s my responsibility now.” She unbuttoned the top of her wool cape and slipped it off her shoulders.

“I made this mess. It’s not fair for you to clean it up.”

Rena raised her eyebrows. “Really? Isn’t that what you’re doing for me?”

He stopped short and stared at her. “That’s hardly the same thing.”

“You’re right.” She held out her hand for the broom. “What you’re doing for me—and my child—is much more important than sweeping up.” She grasped the top of the broom handle. “Please let me do my part. It’s difficult enough to be beholden to you. At least let me help.”

He released the broom. “I promise to do better. I’ve been a bit overwhelmed since Ann left. I didn’t realize how much work she did until she was gone.”

Rena swept dust from the corner behind the door. “Let me guess. You thought that because she owned a shop and spent her days in town she didn’t contribute much to the chores.” She opened the door and tossed the small rug from the entryway onto the porch. A cloud of dust rose up and blew away in the winter breeze.

“I’ll get the other rugs.” Scott rolled up the braided rug in front of the fireplace and added it to the one she’d tossed outside.

“I can do it. You need to see to the team and feed the animals. I’ll take care of the house.” She pulled back the curtain on the front window and realized, from the amount of dust and ash gathered on the sill, that it would take her several days to get the house thoroughly clean. “I won’t do it all today, but by the end of next week, things should be in good order.”