Montana Groom Of Convenience

Annie sniffed. “You’re as stubborn as she.”

“Not stubborn, ma’am. Just going to do what has to be done.”

Hugh returned with Mr. East. He looked from Carly to Sawyer and back again. “I can’t say as I like this but it seems you’ve both made up your minds. Do you want to get married in the church or—”

“Can we just do it in the front room?” Carly knew it didn’t make any difference in God’s sight where they spoke their vows but she did not want to do it in the church.

“That will be fine.” They went into the next room. Hugh stood with his back to the fireplace.

Feeling as awkward as a newborn foal trying to find her legs for the first time, Carly faced Hugh, with Sawyer on one side of her, Annie on the other and Mr. East at Sawyer’s far side. She’d never envisioned herself as getting married and if she had, it would not have been like this. But as Sawyer said, they were only doing what had to be done.

Hugh opened his black book of ceremonies. “I will ask yet again, are you sure of this?”

Carly nodded as did Sawyer. The children sat on the hearth, watching. Somehow, seeing Jill in her soiled dress with her hair tangled about her head made Carly straighten her spine. This was the right thing to do.

“Very well,” Hugh said. “Even though the circumstances of this marriage are unusual, the vows are the same. You are about to enter into a union which is most sacred and most serious. It is most sacred, because it is established by God himself. You are swearing before God to uphold the tenants of this holy institution.” He paused long enough to give them a chance to withdraw their request.

Neither did.

“Very well. If you would face each other.” He waited while they slowly turned. “Take each other’s hands.”

Neither Carly nor Sawyer moved.

Hugh sighed a little. “How do you expect to be joined in marriage if you can’t even hold hands?” He half closed the book. “I don’t know if I can go through with this.”

Carly and Sawyer reached for each other. She was not surprised to learn his hands were work worn and his grasp firm. She tightened her fingers and gave him an equally firm hold.

“Good. Now let’s proceed. Sawyer, repeat after me.” Hugh spoke the wedding vows and Sawyer repeated them, his voice strong and sure.

And then it was Carly’s turn. She met Sawyer’s gaze without flinching and echoed Hugh’s words. Every word a promise to be forever united to this man.

“You have exchanged vows before God and these witnesses. Those whom God hath joined together, let no one put asunder. You may now kiss the bride.”

Carly couldn’t say if Sawyer dropped her hands or if she dropped his but they faced each other with their hands at their sides. She was not going to kiss him. For one thing, he was a stranger. And more important, they had agreed this was purely a contractual union for mutual benefit. Not for romance or any such thing.

Sawyer moved back. “That’s not necessary.”

She also took a step back. “I agree.”

Hugh sighed. “Why am I not surprised? Everyone needs to sign the register.” Hugh led them into his office where the necessary paperwork was completed.

Annie wrung her hands. “I feel bad. You should have a special wedding meal. But I’d be pleased if you’d join us for dinner, plain as it is.”

“Fine. Thank you,” Sawyer and Carly said in unison.

Carly followed Annie back to the kitchen and stood in the middle of the room. She’d been here any number of times and yet nothing looked familiar. Her brain seemed stuck back at the fireplace, saying the words she would now live by.

“I have enough roast pork to make sandwiches if you’d like to help make them.”

“Of course.” But she couldn’t think what to do.

Annie gave a little laugh and pushed her toward the cupboard, handed her a knife and put a loaf of bread on the cutting board. “Slice the loaf and butter it while I slice the meat.”

Carly did as she was instructed. All the while, Annie talked and yet her words echoed inside Carly’s head, making as much sense as the clanging of harness bells.

Annie nudged her aside and laid the meat on the prepared bread. “Would you set out six plates?”

She did so, though she miscounted the plates and had to return one to the cupboard.

Somehow the others appeared and they all sat at the table, Jill at Sawyer’s side, Sawyer straight across from Carly. Carly stared at the man. Her husband. In name only. But it still felt unreal. “Hard to believe I left home this morning, worried Father was about to sell the ranch and now I’m going home with a husband to save the ranch.” Her voice sounded hollow to her and she hoped the others wouldn’t notice anything amiss.

“The Lord works in mysterious ways.” Hugh’s ironic tone was impossible to miss.

Carly laughed a little. “He should have made me a boy so Father would have a son. Then this marriage wouldn’t be necessary.” Her words fell into a pool of silence. She jerked herself to attention. She’d never mentioned such a thing before. Not even to Annie. Such thoughts had been buried long enough for her to think they were dead. Why had they suddenly resurrected? “These are good sandwiches, Annie. Thank you.”

“Like I said, if I’d known you were to be married today, I would have at least baked a cake.”

Carly shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.” She pushed back from the table. “I’ll help you clean up, then we best get home.”

Annie waved her away. “That’s not necessary. You go on ahead. You’ll have lots to do when you get home.” She hugged Carly. “This should really be your honeymoon.”

Carly almost choked. Surely Annie didn’t think—

She didn’t dare look at Sawyer, afraid he had overheard the comment.

“You’re right. There will be much to do at home.” Not the least of which was introduce her husband to her father. That might prove interesting. To put it mildly.

* * *

Jill clung to Sawyer’s back as they rode south of town toward the Morrison Ranch.

“You’re married to her?” Jill asked.

“Yup. You saw us.”

“So she’s my aunt now?”

He hadn’t thought of it. “No. She’s your sister-in-law.”

“Maybe I don’t like her.” She kept her voice flat as if she didn’t care but he knew better. Knew his little half sister had endured too many sorrows and disappointments and had begun to tell herself she didn’t care about anything. He didn’t want her to believe it as completely as he did. It didn’t happen immediately and he couldn’t say when he’d gotten so good at it that it was now his very nature.

“We’ll have a home.”

“That don’t matter to me.” He couldn’t see her but knew she lifted her shoulders and let them sag.

“I think it will be nice. Your mama and papa would care.”

“Well, I don’t.”