Devlin's Montana Bride (Sweet, clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers Brides series) (12 page)

"Indeed it is. I have substantial expertise in the affairs of the heart. In an official capacity, of course," he said. The lawyer's voice was dry and wheezy like he'd smoked too many cigars. Devlin saw the man wore no wedding band. He couldn't imagine any woman getting close to such a tiny, little creep.

Devlin glanced back to the buckboard, making sure that Elise was keeping well back. He didn't want her near these two men. He wasn't sure he was going to be able to contain the urge to do something brutal to get them off his land sooner rather than later.

"Get to the point and get off my land. I'll give you two minutes and then I'm gonna haul the two of you out through that gate myself."

Caulfield held up his hands. "No need to get personal Cooper," he said contemptuously.

Devlin stepped forward and felt the urge to grab Caulfield by the lapels of his expensive jacket. But he kept his tight fists by his side. "This is personal Caulfield. You got no right to come out here, bothering me and my wife," he stated.

Caulfield looked over Devlin's shoulder. "Ah yes. Your wife. How are you this fine evening, Elise," Caulfield said lifting his hat.

Devlin turned and saw that Elise was fixing Caulfield with a ferocious stare that Devlin hoped he'd never be on the receiving end of himself.
 

"I'm fine Mr. Caulfield. Never been better, in fact," she answered.
 

Devlin saw her draw herself up, her back becoming ramrod straight,, her shoulders pulled back. Her expression was stern and determined. "And, for your information, my name is Mrs. Elise Cooper, if you don't mind," she stated with a clear, firm voice.

Devlin had to grit his teeth hard to stop himself from smiling.
 

Mrs. Elise Cooper!

Those words filled him with a feeling that he could hardly believe was real. It felt even finer than the sensations that had filled him when he'd kissed Elise and held her tight and safe in his arms only a short time ago.
 

Caulfield eyes widened and a low growl came out of him. She'd riled him, Devlin thought. Good for her!

Caulfield tried to take a step forward but Devlin placed himself in the way. There was no way that Caulfield was going to get any closer to Elise.

Caulfield paused and peered into Devlin's eyes. The two men faced off for a moment. Devlin didn't shift his gaze. Caulfield wasn't going to get the best of him.

The lawyer stepped forward, obviously sensing trouble. "Mr. Caulfield. We don't have much time. If we may proceed to the business we came out here to deal with?"

Caulfield shook his head and nodded. "Of course. Get on with it," he blurted out to Fitzhugh.

The lawyer cleared his throat. "In my capacity as legal counsel to Mr.Caulfield I have been asked to provide an opinion on the...legality of your marriage to your wife, Mr. Cooper," he said.

Devlin frowned. What was the man talking about? Legality. They'd been married in the church, hadn't they? The minister had confirmed that everything was above board. So what was this man talking about?

"I have been provided with proof that your marriage to Ms. Macleod is not strictly legal," the lawyer announced with a lowering of his head and a narrowing of his eyes.

Devlin laughed. "What on earth are you talking about? The marriage ceremony was conducted legally by the minister."

"That may be the case. But there are serious questions about whether Ms. Macleod was a willing participant in the process," Fitzhugh asserted.

Devlin looked back at Elise who was rooted to the spot on the buckboard seat. He wanted her to stay right there. Devlin frowned and let out an exasperated grunt. "Are you seriously saying that I forced Elise to marry me?"

"There are witnesses who will testify to that fact," Fitzhugh said slowly.
 

Caulfield smiled. "Her father says he heard you dragging her out of the house on the day of the wedding. That Elise was screaming that she wanted to marry me, because she loved me," Caulfield stated with a nod.

Devlin heard Elise let out a guttural groan from behind him.

"If it is the case that Elise married you willingly then I have a very delicate question to ask, which I'm not sure how I can ask, without seeming to tread on delicate, marital matters. If I can put it like that," Fitzhugh said his head cocking to one one side.

"What are you referring to?" Devlin demanded.

"If, as you claim, Ms. Macleod entered into the marriage freely and of her own will, then I take it that the marriage has been, how shall I say this, consummated?"

Devlin nearly exploded. How dare the little man ask such a question! Devlin leaned forward and Fitzhugh took a step back, his eyes widening in fear at the look on Devlin's face.

Caulfield reached out a hand. "Now then Cooper. It's a perfectly reasonable and legal question."

"Reasonable! You filthy minded dog. Get off my land. Or I swear I'll shoot you here on the spot."

"Now there's no sense in doing that,"Caulfield. "Especially over a woman," he concluded.

"What! Over a woman? Is that what you said?" Devlin roared.

Caulfield looked over at Elise. Devlin turned. He didn't want her to hear any of this. He wanted to send her inside the house, take charge of this situation, stop these men from sullying her reputation like this. But the damage had been done. It was too late. Devlin saw the expression on her face and knew that the words she'd heard had cut into her deep. There was a mixture of disbelief, outrage and sadness on her face right now and it made him want to tear Caulfield's head clean off his shoulders.

"My wife is not just any woman, Caulfield. She is the finest woman in Montana and you just tried to question her honor. You think I'm gonna stand here and let you do that?" Devlin shrieked.
 

He reached out and took Caulfield by the lapels and started to shake the man. A fire had exploded inside Devlin's mind. He had to protect Elise's honor. He wouldn't let this dog speak about her like that.
 

Devlin pushed his face into Caulfield's. He could smell the stench of tobacco from the man's mouth. They were going to face off and there was nothing that was going to stop it happening. Devlin pushed Caulfield back. The big man's mouth opened in surprise and spittle frothed at the corner of his lips. Caulfield stood firm and took hold of Devlin's shoulders, but Devlin didn't care. There was only one thing to do and no-one was going to stop him.

Suddenly Devlin heard Elise scream out Caulfield's name. It was shrill and cut through the red fog in his mind.

He whirled his head around and saw Elise leap off the buckboard and run toward him. Still grasping Caulfield, Devlin watched as Elise came to him, a pleading and desperate look on her face.

"No Devlin. Don't do that. You mustn't," she shouted.
 

Devlin's breathing was fast and his grip on Caulfield was still tight. Elise took his hands and loosened his fingers. Caulfield tried to lean in close toward Elise, but Devlin fixed him with a warning look. The bigger man leaned back.

Elise prised Devlin's hand off Caulfield and held his arm tight. "No Devlin. That's not the way."

"But Elise. Didn't you hear what he said?"

"I heard alright. And they can say what they want. Nothing's gonna change what I said to you before," Elise said, her voice shaking.

Caulfield's face set into an expression of mild disgust. "What an act! I don't believe one bit of this," he said.

Elise let Devlin's hand go and thrust her face into Caulfield's. "You better believe it. Because the truth is the only thing that matters here. You're a liar, Bart Caulfield. I'd rather have died than marry you. Luckily, in avoiding marriage to you, I found something real and true. Someone I can believe in," she said and turned to Devlin.
 

What was she saying? It sounded like a declaration. But of what? If he didn't know better it sounded like a declaration of...love. How could that be?

The look in her eyes answered his question. Her gaze was intent and penetrating, burning deep into him. It almost knocked him off his feet. Her face was filled with a sincerity that took him by complete surprise. He smiled at her and her eyes crinkled at him. There was that connection again; the one he'd felt before; the one he'd tried to keep his distance from before. But there was no more time for that anymore. The time for keeping away from Elise was gone now. It was time to accept his true feelings for her.

The time for running was over.
 

Caulfield's harsh voice cut into Devlin. "Never mind that. Mr.Fitzhugh here has advised me that this marriage is fraudulent and will be annulled once the proper procedures are gone through. With the help of your dear father's evidence, of course."

Elise whirled around and what she did next made Devlin just stand and watch in amazement. Elise swept her arm wide and fast and slapped Bart Caulfield hard across his left cheek. The sharp sound of it echoed in the yard. There was a brief moment of deathly silence. The man staggered back with the force of the blow and raised a hand to nurse his reddening skin.

"What'd you go and do that for Elise," Caulfield roared.

"I told you. My name is Mrs. Elise Cooper and I will see you in hell Bart Caulfield before I let you come between me and my husband," she yelled.

Devlin was stunned and proud at the same time. He reached out and pulled Elise away from Caulfield. "Elise come here. That's enough. You've made your point," he said softly.

Caulfield turned to his lawyer. "We best be going Fitzhugh. I thought I could talk Cooper into some sense. Maybe even agree that this marriage is a sham. But it seems that I'm on a fruitless errand here."

"I'm sure legal process will prevail," the lawyer said.

Caulfield and Fitzhugh turned and started toward their horses.

Elise stared at Caulfield's back. "If you think my father is going to help you annul this marriage, you don't know him. He wouldn't do such a thing."

Caulfield looked at Elise and Devlin didn't like the smile on his face. Not one bit.

"I wouldn't bank on that. Your father was very adamant about the evidence he's provided. I think he'll be very co-operative," he said with a knowing grin. What did Caulfield have over Elise's father? Devlin had no idea but it must be something major if it was going to allow Caulfield to try something as desperate as this.

Caulfield and Fitzhugh mounted their horses and swung out of the yard.

Devlin drew Elise close to him. She was shaking. He cursed the two men who were disappearing into the distance. Devlin wrapped his arms around his wife. "There Elise. They're gone. Nothing's gonna happen. Everything is going to be fine," he whispered.
 

Devlin held her tight, the scent of her hair strong and clean. He clutched her head to his chest and heard her begin to sob quietly.

"What a horrible man," she said, her voice quivering.

Devlin took a breath. The man was vermin. How dare he come to the ranch and threaten his marriage and his wife like that. All because of water. Was the source of all life going to be the cause of him losing everything he held dear in the world?

Not if he had his way, he said to himself, holding Elise firm against his body, and wondering how he was going to take her pain away.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The moonlight showed her the way. Elise guided the horse along the narrow track, heading toward town, focusing hard to make sure that her mount wouldn't step into any dangerous holes. The last thing she needed right now was to take a tumble and end up on the ground.

Elise thought about Devlin. He was still back at the ranch and hoped he'd forgive her for sneaking off in the middle of the night. But, she had to talk to her father, even at this late hour. There had been too many things spoken of earlier that she needed answers to.
 

Devlin had been kinder than she could have hoped, after Caulfield and Fitzhugh had left. Elise and Devlin had spoken about the revelations and agreed that they would take a trip into town the next day and try to sort things out.

But, when it had come time for her to join him upstairs in the bedroom, Elise had known that she wouldn't be able to settle. There were too many problems hanging over their heads for them to have any chance of feeling comfortable together. Caulfield had made sure that their first real night of closeness would be marred by the worries over their future together.

So, Elise had taken matters into her own hand and decided that she had to speak with her father and get to the bottom of just what was going on between him and Caulfield. It looked like Caulfield might be able to force Elise and Devlin apart. That made her heart ache just to think of it. Surely it couldn't be done. Their marriage was as legally binding as anyone's. Surely her future with Devlin wasn't in jeopardy.
 

The thought of Devlin made her smile in the pale moonlight. The care he'd shown her had touched her deeply. He'd shown just how much she meant to him. Elise knew just important that was. And she felt things for Devlin that had taken her by surprise. He was a fine man; strong minded; gentle spirited; passionate and determined. She'd seen all those qualities in one day and it made her wonder at the depths of his passion for her.

She wasn't going to give this up. Not for anything or anyone.
 

She prodded the horse onto a faster pace and fixed her eyes on the distant lights of the town. Her father was going to give her answers if it was the last thing she did.

Devlin started down the stairs and wondered where Elise was. He'd been waiting for her for almost half an hour, expecting her to come to him. He wanted to continue where he'd left off earlier, calming her, soothing her, reassuring her that everything would be alright. But she hadn't come upstairs and he was getting concerned.

He went through the rooms on the ground floor and couldn't find her. He stepped out into the cool night air. The moon was full and lit up the yard and the corral. He stood there for a moment and looked around. He called her name, but there was no answer.