His Perfect Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch - Spicy Version Book 1) (7 page)

“What are you two doing just standing there?” Virginia pushed her way through everyone who was finished fixing their plates and had turned to looking for a seat instead. “There’s still plenty of good cuts of meat, and far more vegetables than there should be.” She turned to the hall. “Who isn’t eating their vegetables?”

“Mr. Cody isn’t,” nine-year-old Christopher Flint hollered.

“Hush up, boy,” Cody hollered back, all in fun. They both giggled.

“I don’t think I’ll ever fit in here,” Corva sighed.

Franklin gave her waist one last squeeze, then escorted her to the end of the table where the plates were. “I’ve never fit in,” he confessed, “but you do get used to it.”

They made their way around the table, filling plates with everything from steak to peas to pasta. It was decidedly convenient to have Corva hold the plates while Franklin used his free hand to scoop delicacies onto them. Yet another way the two of them could work well together. Franklin planned to seat the two of them on the stairs in the hall—his usual spot. He should have known his father would have other ideas.

“No hiding away in the hall for you this time, Franklin, my son,” he said in his booming voice. “Bring your pretty, new wife in here. We’ve reserved you a place of honor.”

The place of honor turned out to be two chairs that had been set front and center before the fireplace. Franklin sent Corva a look of apology, then escorted her into the heart of the crush of enthusiastic family and friends. Corva had been pale before they arrived, but now she was flushed and wide-eyed.

“So Corva, tell us all about who you are,” Howard asked once they were settled.

“Howard, hush,” Franklin’s mother, Elizabeth, swatted his arm. “Let the poor girl eat.”

“Nonsense,” Howard declared, his mouth half full of mashed potatoes. “She’s my daughter-in-law now, and I want to know something about her. Where were you living before Hurst Home, for example?” He pointed a turkey drumstick at her.

“I…” Corva hesitated.

Franklin rested a hand on her arm. “You don’t have to play along if you don’t want to,” he whispered. “I’ll handle it.”

She swallowed, then whispered back, “It’s all right. He’s your father.” She cleared her throat, sat straighter, then said to Howard, “I have been living in Nashville for the past eight years, with…with my aunt and her husband, my…my Uncle Stanley.” For a moment, she turned downright green.

The wave of protectiveness Franklin had felt before rushed through him again tenfold.

“What did your uncle do?” Howard asked on.

“Not much,” Corva murmured, then answered, “He was an instructor at University of Nashville.”

“What did he teach?” Elizabeth asked.

“Mathematics,” Corva answered, her voice quieter.

“Why did he want to teach mathematics?” little Christopher asked, scrunching his face in a grimace.

“He likes things that are logical,” Corva all but whispered.

Franklin had to put a stop to this line of questioning. Clearly, it upset Corva, and he wouldn’t have that. “Dad, what are your plans for confronting Bonneville about the calves?”

Behind them, Cody laid a few more logs on the fire to brighten the room, as if it wasn’t hot enough already in spite of the spring chill outside.

“Now, now, son.” Howard shook a finger at him. “First things first. We’re investigating…I mean, learning about your wife.” He winked at Corva.

Corva blushed and stared down at her plate.

“Dad, maybe now isn’t the best time,” Franklin defended her.

“Nonsense. Now, young lady, what about your parents? Where are they?”

Corva swallowed. “My father was killed in the war. My mother died right after the war ended. That’s when I was sent to live with my Aunt Mildred, because the family thought we would cheer each other up.”

“Well? Did you?” Howard demanded.

Franklin cringed. He knew his father meant well, but he was like a grizzly bear in a house of cards. Franklin tried to shake his head to call his father off, but Howard was oblivious.

“No, not really,” Corva answered. “Aunt Mildred didn’t like children. She…she married my Uncle Stanley two years later, but…” She closed her mouth and swallowed.

Franklin saw the tell-tale signs of a woman about to cry. “Dad, I know you want to learn all about Corva, but this business with Bonneville is far more pressing. We need every one of those calves to stay with our herd if we stand a chance of increasing our numbers.”

“The only solution I can think of is to keep the pregnant cows close to home,” Travis spoke up.

Franklin sent him a nod of thanks for coming to the rescue.

Howard sighed. “I doubt Bonneville himself is behind it. More likely it’s that bast—” He cleared his throat, darting a glance at the women and children present. “That scoundrel he’s got running his operation, Brandon.”

“Kyle Brandon is a menace,” Travis growled.

A snap sounded from the fireplace behind Franklin and Corva. Franklin ignored it, but Corva turned, as if only just realizing she’d been seated in front of it. The logs Cody had laid on the fire had caught and were now blazing away.

One look at the flames, and Corva screamed, launching out of her chair. Her plate spilled to the carpet. She only made it two steps before stumbling over one of the children.

Franklin thrust his plate aside and jumped up after her. “It’s okay,” he assured her, closing his arms around her and drawing her into an embrace, even though he wasn’t all that steady himself. “It’s okay.”

Corva hid her face against his shoulder with a sob. She shook like a leaf, so Franklin tightened his hold around her. Throughout the room, his family and friends gaped and murmured in baffled surprise.

“She lived through the burning of Atlanta,” he told them quietly.

A few hums and nods of sympathy followed, but Corva continued to shake and refused to come out of hiding.

“Move those chairs,” Howard ordered, blustering, but red-faced with embarrassment. “What fool put them there in the first place?”

Probably him, but Franklin wasn’t going to say anything.

“I’ll fix you a new plate, dear,” his mother said, patting Corva’s back as she skipped through the room to the dining room.

“Why is Aunt Corva crying?” Minnie asked.

Everyone jumped into motion to drown the impertinence of Minnie’s question, shuffling seats and moving Franklin and Corva’s chairs to the hallway side of the parlor. There was so much movement and fuss that not one of them heard the front door open and slam shut.

It wasn’t until he shouted, “Haskell, I demand you stop this underhanded farce at once,” that they realized Rex Bonneville had barged into the house.

Corva had never been so ashamed in her life. These people were her hosts, her in-laws, and she had lost her head over a measly fireplace. But turning to find fire where she hadn’t expected there to be a blaze was too much. Still, that was no excuse to cause a scene. She didn’t know what she would have done if Franklin hadn’t jumped up to steady her. He was the perfect hiding place at the perfect time, only now she wasn’t sure how she could show her face again with dignity.

“What is the meaning of this?” Howard Haskell, her new father-in-law, bellowed.

Corva wanted to disappear into the floorboards, melt like paints left out in the rain. She sagged into Franklin, no idea how she could explain herself.

“You’re asking me the meaning of this?” an unfamiliar voice boomed from somewhere behind Franklin’s back. “I’m the one who came here for an answer. I will not have my good name sullied by madmen like you.”

“Now see here—” Howard thundered.

“You have no right to march into a private residence,” Virginia barked at the same time.

Movement swirled around her, but it wasn’t until Franklin pivoted to face the hall that Corva realized none of it concerned her. Slowly, cautiously, still shaking, she lifted her head from Franklin’s shoulder.

Standing in the front of the hall near the door was a giant of a man with broad shoulders and a sweeping, grey overcoat. He had dark hair that was slicked back and a pointed beard and curling moustache. His expression was a mixture of fury and disgust. The picture he presented, high cheekbones, the line of his nose, his sneering disgust, struck an all-too familiar note of fear in Corva’s gut.

“Get out, Bonneville.”

As soon as Howard named him, Corva gasped. Rex Bonneville. So this was the man that Franklin had told her about, that everyone had been discussing. This was the calf thief.

“I’m not going anywhere until you answer for the libelous rumors you’ve been spreading.” Bonneville crossed his arms, staring down his long nose at Howard. He was a good six inches taller than Franklin’s father…than everyone.

A moment later, Corva noticed the two men standing on either side of Bonneville, slightly behind them. One was short but had muscles the size of hams. The other was taller, rail thin, and mean-looking.

“What rumors are you talking about?” Virginia pushed through the watching family and ranch hands to stand side-by-side with her brother.

“Mr. Bonneville doesn’t appreciate being called a thief,” the rail thin man snapped in a whiney voice.

“No one asked you, Brandon,” Virginia growled.

The thin man, Brandon, swayed toward her, hands balled into fists. Bonneville reached out an arm to block him with an impatient sigh. “Imagine my distress,” he said in a commanding, marginally calmer voice, “when I was dining at the Cattleman Hotel and overheard whispers that I was stealing calves right out of their sweet mothers on the range?”

Jarvis stepped forward to join Howard and Virginia. “More than a few of our cows have come back without their newborns.”

“So?” Bonneville shrugged. “Sounds more like carelessness on the part of your ranch hands than anything else.”

All three of the Montrose brothers and Luke Chance objected, raising fists and voices.

Franklin let go of Corva long enough to reach out and settle them with a gesture. His movement gave her the strength to stand on her own feet again. No one was paying attention to her anymore. If it wasn’t for the circumstances, she would have been grateful to Bonneville.

“Cut the bullshit, Bonneville,” Howard said. Before Corva could gasp at his cussing, he charged on with, “Anyone with half a brain knows you’ve been stealing our calves. Those aren’t the only rumors out there. I’ve also heard that only half your cows ended up carrying in the first place after your bull got sick last spring.”

Bonneville sniffed. “I purchased two new bulls in May, and they’ve performed just fine.”

“Shame on you, sir,” Elizabeth hissed from the parlor. “There are women and children present.”

“So?” Bonneville shrugged. In the process of peering into the parlor, he spotted Corva. A flash of confusion was followed by a scowl as his gaze moved on to Franklin. “And you.” He pointed a long finger at Franklin.

“What about me?” To his credit, Franklin stood straight and kept his voice even.

“Going and marrying that little nobody straight off the train.” Bonneville huffed in derision.

Franklin slipped his arm around Corva’s waist. “I don’t see what business it is of yours.”

“What business?” Bonneville threw out a hand, appealing to the two men he’d brought with them. “Why, you broke my sweet Vivian’s heart. You should have seen the way she carried on when she came home yesterday.”

“Blubbed all night,” the short, muscled man grunted.

“Shut up, Harvey,” Bonneville growled. He resumed his superior air, glaring daggers at Franklin. “Marriage isn’t some lark. Men of our status don’t just marry any piece of skirt.”

Elizabeth and Lucy began to protest, but Corva was too stunned by the boldness of the comment to react.

Bonneville rushed on regardless. “Marriage amongst our sort should be a matter of business, not pleasure. Go to Bonnie’s if it’s pleasure you want.”

Corva was slow to comprehend the chorus of outraged responses from the men and women alike. Bonnie’s? A flush painted her face as she realized what kind of an establishment that must be.

“You, sir, should leave my house right now,” Howard bellowed.

“I’ve never heard such shameful talk in the presence of so many women,” Virginia said at the same time.

“I made no promise to your daughter, Bonneville.” Franklin’s simple statement, quietly delivered, hushed the growing madness. Bonneville narrowed his eyes, but Franklin went on. “Any attachment she perceived was a figment of her imagination. In fact, I never intended to marry anyone.”

True as she was sure the statement was, it was like a knife in Corva’s heart. She had no claim on Franklin’s affections, but it seemed that every time she dared to feel even a small bit secure with the situation she found herself in, something came alone to destroy that security. First Franklin’s opinion of her paintings, now this.

“Every man says he has no intention of marrying, but we all do in the end,” Bonneville said at last. “I could have legal action brought against you for breach of promise.”

Franklin merely shrugged. “We don’t live in medieval England anymore. It’s all water under the bridge anyhow. I’ve married Corva, and I’ll stay married to her. We have calves missing and evidence that they have been taken. By you.”

“Evidence?” Bonneville took a half step back. “What evidence?” He shot warning looks to his two companions.

“One of the calves was found,” Jarvis said. “With your brand.”

“Then it must be my calf.” Bonneville dismissed him. “I expect it to be returned with all haste.”

“Then I expect our calves to be returned as well,” Howard demanded.

Just like that, tensions were high once more.

“You’re a troublemaker, Haskell,” Bonneville spat. “I know you’re only making these outrageous claims because the Hawks play the Bears this Sunday, and you’re trying to sway public opinion against us.”

Virginia snorted. “Why the hell would Howard go through all that trouble to sway opinion over some silly baseball game?”

Instead of rushing to back her up, every man in the room looked as though she’d turned traitor.

“The Hawks will make a necklace of Bear claws on Sunday,” Cody barked.

“If the Bears even have claws to begin with,” Mason seconded.

“Like hell they will,” Harvey growled. “The Bears will wipe the floor with the Hawks.”

“Not if Wilson keeps playing like a girl,” Cody declared.

“I beg your pardon?” Lucy snapped. “I can out-hit and out-run you in my sleep.”

“Is that what it’s come to?” Bonneville sneered. “The best players on your teams are girls?”

Howard glared at Lucy, then at Bonneville. “Lucy only played when we needed a substitute.”

“And I did better than half the regular team,” Lucy added, crossing her arms.

“This is all beside the point,” Virginia hollered over the argument that threatened to break out on top of everything else. “As half-owner of Paradise Ranch, I can promise you, Rex Bonneville, that if we see so much as a hair off of a newborn calf go missing, I will bring the law down on you before you can sneeze.”

Silence followed, and then a long, slow laugh from Bonneville. “I’d like to see you try.” Half a dozen people opened their mouths to protest, but Bonneville ignored them all. He turned a tight circle and headed out, motioning to his companions. “Come on, boys. We’ll leave these mutts to welcome the latest dog to their pack in peace.”

He marched out amidst a swirl of objection and protest, slamming the door behind him.

“Don’t listen to him, Corva.” Alice Flint was by Corva’s side, resting a reassuring hand on her arm a moment later. “He’s all bluster and unpleasantness.”

It took Corva a moment to realize Bonneville had been referring to her. “I—” That was all she could manage. She was too baffled by the scene that had just unfolded to come up with further comment. She’d only been around Franklin’s family for a few hours, and already things had descended into chaos twice.

“Let me fix you another plate.” Elizabeth jumped into action.

“We’ll move these chairs,” Lucy’s husband, Gideon, added.

The room burst into activity again, but Franklin stopped it all with a loud, “No, stop, please.”

All eyes turned to him in wonder.

“I think I’ll just take Corva home,” he said. “This has all been overwhelming. A little peace and quiet is necessary.”

Corva had never been so grateful to anyone in her life. She even managed a weak smile for her husband amid the volley of protests and promises from his family and friends. Franklin waved them all off, escorting Corva to the door.

“We’ll come back tomorrow, when there are fewer people around, so you two can get to know each other,” he told his mother as Travis opened the door for them.

“Yes, please.” Elizabeth came forward to squeeze Corva’s hand. “I’m so sorry about this. That Rex Bonneville makes me so…” She clenched her jaw and shook her head, unable to go on.

“Do you need help with your wagon?” Cody rushed to offer.

Franklin looked like he would refuse the offer, but relented with a sigh. “I might.”

He swept Corva out of the house, Cody striding ahead of them to where Franklin had parked. It had grown dark in the time they had been inside, but down the drive, against the last rays of sunset, Corva spotted three men on horses riding away. She doubted that would be the last of the trouble.

Franklin’s whole body was aching by the time they returned to the house. The last twenty-four hours were not even close to how he imagined things should be for his new wife. He’d dragged her away from the life she knew back East, dropped her alone in an unfamiliar house for the day, then subjected her to a circus as his parents’ house.

“It’s not usually like that,” he assured her after he settled the wagon and put his horse to bed for the night.

“Not usually so many people or not usually interruptions by irate neighbors?” Corva asked, taking his arm as they started up the ramp to the house.

Franklin huffed a miserable laugh. “I suppose my family is usually out of hand like that. Bonneville was a surprise, though. And I’m sorry about the fire.”

They reached the door and he opened it, gesturing for Corva to go through first. She lowered her head and rushed inside, straight to the lamp on the table near the door to light it. Her hands shook as she struck a match to flame and lit the wick.

“I’m usually fine with fire,” she said, words and actions an attempt to prove her point. “But not when it’s unexpected.”

“Perfectly understandable.” Franklin crossed to the other side of the room to light the lamps there. He couldn’t imagine they’d stay lit long. All he wanted to do was take off his braces and clothes and crawl into bed.

It would be nice to crawl into bed with Corva.

The thought struck him out of nowhere. It was ridiculous, in a way. He was far too tired to engage in any really interesting bedroom activities. No, it was more the thought of having her there, safe in his arms, a comfort to him as well, that appealed to him.

He shook his head and fit the glass back over the lantern. He’d known Corva for one day. She’d come because he let others convince him she needed him. To want to hold her and be intimate with her now was hypocrisy…wasn’t it?

“Mr. Bonneville is one of the most intimidating men I’ve ever met.” Corva finished with the lantern but remained facing the table, her hands braced against the edge.

“He’s a bully and a menace,” Franklin agreed. He sent a longing glance to his bedroom door, then shuffled to the sofa, lowering himself to sit with a wince. “He’ll cause trouble, but it’s nothing you have to worry about. My family has been dealing with him since he moved out here eight years ago.”

Slowly, Corva turned to face him, but kept to the other side of the room. Her lips worked as if she had something to say but was having trouble getting it out. Franklin sat still, encouraging her with a gentle look—not that he had any idea what a gentle look would be.