Devlin's Montana Bride (Sweet, clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers Brides series) (3 page)

Caulfield had a reputation as a sharp business man. He always got his way. Devlin and Caulfield had been rivals for as long as they both had been neighbours. That tract of land that Macleod had control over adjoined both their spreads. It had a main water course that ran through a forest and across both their ranches. If either Devlin or Caulfield got their hands on that tract it could spell doom for the other. That was how things were in the ranching business. Cutthroat.

Devlin knew he'd not cause problems for Caulfield if he got control of it. There was no reason to do that, figured Devlin. There was more than enough land, cattle and business for everyone around these parts. But he couldn't say the same for Caulfield. If Caulfield got a hold of the tract and the water course, Devlin was sure Caulfield would drive him out and show no remorse in doing so.

Then there was the question of whether Devlin really wanted to be married at all. He was only just getting over being jilted by a woman whose name he'd expunged from his memory. It had only been a few months since he'd arrived at the church in town to discover that his bride-to-be had decided that there were other things in life more important than marrying Devlin Cooper.

He still couldn't figure it out. But she had walked out on him. The shame and hurt had lingered longer than he could have predicted.
 

After that he could care less about women. He'd devoted himself to work. Hard, long hours on the ranch. And the memory of that dark day had faded. But now he was faced with the need to marry. He wasn't sure he could go through with it. But, he had been pushed into a corner and it seemed that a marriage in name only was his only option. Maybe a marriage that was merely an arrangement would suit him more than one for love.

There was a shout and one of his men, Evan, came riding up fast to him. Devlin pulled his horse around to speak to him.

Evan drew his mount to a halt. "What's up Evan?" Devlin asked.

Evan pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Devlin. "This came for you. It was delivered by a lady on a buckboard," he said.

Elise?

"Did she give her name?"

"No. Just said it was a message from her sister," Evan said. "She says she's waiting to take the reply before she heads back to town."

"Thanks, Evan," Devlin said. Evan rode off and Devlin steered his horse away from the herd. Once he'd gained some distance from them, he opened the envelope.

He drew out the small piece of fine paper. The handwriting on it looked like it had been written in a hurry. He looked at the name at the signature.

It was from Elise! He lifted the paper to his nose and inhaled the scent that lingered on the paper. That must be the perfume she'd worn when she'd written the letter. It was a sweet smell and it felt momentarily strange to inhale something like that out here in the middle of a Montana wilderness.

He drew his attention back and quickly scanned the message.

Dear Mr. Cooper,

I have carefully considered your offer of a marriage of convenience between us both.

I agree to such a marriage.

The conditions of such a union have already been discussed between us, but can be clarified immediately after our wedding.

Devlin sat up bolt upright in his saddle as if someone had prodded him in the back. He glanced quickly over at his men. No-one had seen his reaction.

She agreed to become his wife!

He threw his head back and stared at the blue Montana sky. The color of it suddenly seemed more pure and deep than it had earlier.

He took in a deep breath.

She agreed to become his wife. It would suit them both. He'd get everything he wanted and she would be saved. It was the right thing to do for both of them.

But he'd be married. After the way that woman had abandoned him just prior to their wedding he had mixed feelings about the prospect of being married.

He read the final paragraph of the hastily written note.

I have to inform you of a development which means that your original plans may need to be changed somewhat.
 

Bart Caulfield intends to marry me tomorrow at midday instead of next week. We, therefore, have less than twenty four hours to become man and wife. I'm sure you can imagine the terrible distress this has caused me. I hope you prove to be a man of your word.
 

My sister will bring your reply to me by return. You need not worry about her. She is sworn to secrecy.

I await your reply and in the meantime remain hopeful of your honorable intentions.

Sincerely

Elise Macleod

Devlin folded the letter and put it into the pocket of his shirt, next to his heart.

With a shout to his foreman he goaded his horse to move and started to race back toward his ranch house.

CHAPTER FIVE

Why was he taking so long, Elise thought. How difficult was it to persuade a minister to carry out a quick wedding ceremony? After all, there were so many mail order brides these days. They just arrived in town and were married within hours of getting off the stagecoach or the train.

So how come Devlin was taking so long?

Elise stood outside the church. She wasn't dressed in a wedding outfit. Instead she was wearing a plain outfit that would have been more suited to a social or an evening in the parlor at home.

She didn't feel any disappointment that she wasn't dressed in white. After all, this wasn't an everyday wedding.

She'd arranged to meet Devlin at six o'clock. Her sister had returned with the message from Devlin that he would meet Elise at the church. In no time at all Elise had prepared herself, with some help from Annabelle. It had all seemed very unreal. Downstairs her mother had been preparing dinner. Her father hadn't arrived home from the land office.

It hadn't been difficult at all for Elise to sneak out of the house. She need no belongings for the moment. Once the deed was done and she was Devlin Cooper's wife, she'd send for her things. And there would be nothing her parents could do about it.

The day was getting cooler and the streets of Billings were less busy. Still, there were a few people who sauntered past the church and gave Elise an enquiring look. She tried to maintain an appearance of calm and dignity. But it wasn't easy.

Devlin had gone inside the church a half hour before, but it felt like an eternity to Elise.

Surely the minister wasn't refusing to carry out the wedding. Elise couldn't figure out what the delay could be.

Her biggest worry was that someone would recognize her and alert Bart Caulfield to what was going on. Elise couldn't imagine the scenes that would take place if Caulfield found out.

She'd made her mind up, though, and nothing was going to change it.

Elise paced up and down.
 

Finally the door to the church opened with a creak and Devlin emerged.

He had a confident smile on his face and Elise immediately felt a rush of relief course through her.

"He'll do it," Devlin said firmly.

Elise smiled. "Good. Can he do it right away?"

"I can indeed," said the minister emerging from behind Devlin.

The minister, Reverend Elgin, was tall and thin. He had the serious demeanour one would expect from a religious man, but there was also a deep patience in his eyes as he looked at Elise.

"I just had a long talk with your husband-to-be," the Reverend said slowly. He held a bible in his hand and clutched it close to his chest.

Elise felt a surge of emotion at the description of Devlin as her impending husband.
 

Reverend Elgin peered at them as if judging whether they looked right as a couple. Apparently satisfied with what he saw he continued.
 

"I have stressed to him the importance of the bonds of marriage. That this institution has been designed by the Lord as a serious commitment not to be entered into lightly."

Elise's face flushed. Did the minister know that this was a marriage of convenience? Had Devlin told him?

"I have been given assurances by Mr.Cooper that you both understand the seriousness of marriage and are entering into it with the correct intentions," Reverend Elgin said. "Am I right in saying so Ms. Macleod?"

Elise looked at the Reverend. "We understand the seriousness of what we are doing, Reverend," she reassured him.

Reverend Elgin nodded. "Very well then. Let us enter the church and I will carry out the ceremony."

Devlin looked at Elise. His eyes had brightened and there was a questioning look in them. Was he asking her at the last moment of she really wanted to go ahead with this? Did she really want to get married now? She had no choice. Her parents had put her in this awful situation and there was no other way out.

Elise looked at Devlin. He wore a very sharp and well pressed suit. She had to admit he looked every inch a gentleman. For a moment she was pleased that she'd be walking down the aisle with such a man, even if he was almost a total stranger.

How much did she really know about him anyway? Not a great deal. But it wouldn't matter in the long run. This was a marriage in name only and she was determined to keep it like that.

Elise stepped into the church. She was taken aback for a moment by how empty it felt. Weddings usually meant a full church with smiling relatives and friends. This felt cold and unemotional.

Devlin stuck out an arm. "Let me lead you to the altar," he said.

Elise smiled and hooked her arm into his. The Reverend made his way up to the altar and turned. He watched Elise and Devlin walk toward him. As they made their way to him a broad smile stretched across his face. It was an expression of acceptance and understanding. Elise felt a calm descend upon her.

Devlin and Elise took their place in front of the Reverend.

Elise took her arm out of Devlin's. For a moment she had a sudden impulse to turn and run. This was going to be an awful mistake, she told herself. Why did she have to do this anyway? Couldn't people just leave her alone to live her life and make her own decisions?

Then the Reverend was saying the all important words, and all the anxiety seemed to fade away as she listened to his firm, sonorous voice.

She glanced at Devlin. His gaze was fixed on the Reverend. There was a look of complete concentration. His blue eyes were steady and serious, his full lips a tight, firm line.

Elise and Devlin said their respective vows. Then, to her complete surprise, Devlin took out a ring. Where could he have gotten a ring at such short notice? She looked at it as he offered it toward her. It was beautiful. She stretched out a finger to accept the simple gold band. The sensation of it sliding onto her finger made her hand shake for the briefest of moments. Devlin saw her fingers moving and he looked at her, his mouth creasing into a reassuring smile.

The Reverend pronounced them man and wife. Elise reeled at the sound of the words. Man and wife!

"You may kiss the bride," Reverend Elgin said.

Devlin leaned in and placed his warm lips on Elise's mouth. Her heart began to race almost instantly. His scent was at once familiar and intoxicating. Then the brief and all to sudden kiss was over. Elise caught the look in Devlin's blue eyes. She saw a curious happiness there, briefly, and then he seemed to gain control of himself, restoring his composure.

"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Cooper," the Reverend said and extended a hand to Devlin and then to Elise.

How those words sounded to Elise! She was a married woman now. Not only that, she was a rancher's wife. The wife of a handsome, wealthy rancher. She chided herself for having such a thought, here in this place, at this moment.

The Reverend gestured toward the church door. "Your new life awaits you," he announced.

Devlin extended an elbow and Elise hooked her arm through his.
 

The Reverend led them to the door and pushed it open. The early evening sunlight flooded in and Elise had to squint to see outside.

When she saw what was outside the happiness which was coursing through her after the wedding ceremony evaporated in an instant.
 

How could they have found out?

Why were they here?

Elise looked at Devlin. His look was stern and fixed on the two men and one woman who stood at the door.

Outside, on the boardwalk, were Bart Caulfield and her parents.

CHAPTER SIX

"What in tarnation do you think you're doing?" demanded Bart Caulfield.

Elise gripped tight onto Devlin's arm. They were all there, standing outside the church, blocking the way out. The people who had tried to ruin her life.

Her mother and father stood arm in arm, a look of shocked disbelief on their faces.

Caulfield's bulk threatened to block out the sun and destroy every vestige of happiness that had existed inside Elise only moments before.

Devlin pulled Elise tight and close to him. "It's too late Caulfield. Elise is my wife now."

Bart's eyes widened and he took in a deep breath. Elise noticed that Caulfield was armed. A menacing looking revolver hung
 
by his side. She could not even begin to imagine what would happen if he started to use it.

Ruth and Jedediah stepped forward. Ruth pushed past Caulfield and seized Elise by the arms. "What have you done, Elise?"

Elise peered into her mother's eyes. There was pain there and Elise's heart sank at the sight of it. "I just got married mama. That's what I've done."

Ruth's mouth opened in wordless shock.

Jedediah stepped closer. "Now see here Cooper. You can't go doing this. You know that Elise was betrothed to Caulfield..." Jedediah glanced at Caulfield and corrected himself on seeing the blazing look in the rancher's eyes. "I mean Bart. She was supposed to marry him. Not you."

Devlin smiled. "Well it's too late. The Reverend very kindly agreed to our union. It's official now. Isn't that right Reverend?"

The minister nodded, his lips tight, his gaze at Caulfield and Elise's parents disapproving. "May I remind you people that this is a house of God. It is not my custom to allow any kind of unpleasantness at the doors of my church."