Wildfire in His Arms (35 page)

“But you weren't serious about that!”

“I am now.”

“Why?”

“It's the safest way to get you back to Texas and find out why Carl Bingham is so determined to control you. Don't worry, it doesn't have to be a marriage in every sense of the word, merely one of legal convenience. I haven't forgotten your prerequisite for marriage—some good, happy reasons I believe you said. Besides, there are ways to get ‘unmarried' after we find out what's going on in Bingham Hills.”

“You're talking about an annulment?”

“Yes.”

He tapped the document with his finger. “This is just another means of getting you under their control. What needs to happen is for Bingham to stop coveting whatever prize it is that you can bring him. The prize needs to become unavailable to him.”

“So if I'm already married, that ends it?”

“It should.”

“Or it makes you a target instead,” she couldn't help pointing out.

But she was incredulous to see him actually smile at that prediction. “I've been a target for a number of years now. I'm used to it.”

But she wasn't used to him being one. But the temporary marriage could work, she supposed. Until now she would have been easy to manipulate if either of Carl's schemes had worked. But he'd have to deal with Degan now, and men dealt with each other differently from how they dealt with women. Carl would have to be more cautious.

The water arrived. Degan suggested she bathe first behind the screen while he shaved. He also told her to open his food sack. No food was in it, but she was happy to find her belongings that she'd left at the cabin, including the floral-patterned skirt and white blouse that Degan had bought for her, which she could wear to the church that afternoon.

They had lunch at a restaurant nearby, where Grady and Saul sat down at another table. Those two weren't even trying to hide their surveillance. Degan didn't appear to mind. Max felt he was even amused by it when he said, “Maybe I should invite them to join us.”

He didn't, but he extended their lunch another hour with coffee and a second helping of dessert to see if the lawmen would leave first. They didn't.

After the long lunch they stopped at the telegraph office. Degan explained about having to keep Marshal Hayes apprised of the outlaws who could be removed from his list, including her, now that the charges had been dropped. He'd sent John news about Kid Cade before they'd left for Dakota, but he hadn't had time until now to let him know that Willie Nolan and his gang wouldn't be robbing any more trains. Then Max was delighted when Degan took her to the stable to visit Noble.

The gelding appeared to have weathered the trip fine. So had Degan. She'd asked about his wound when he was ­bathing—and she was trying to keep her mind off it. He'd assured her it caused him barely a twinge now, but she doubted that he would tell her if he
was
still in pain.

When it was nearing five o'clock, they continued on to the church. Max started having doubts about what they were about to do, and those doubts grew stronger when the church came into view.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked Degan.

“I told you, it's just a temporary measure—and it avoids bloodshed.”

He'd shoot Grady for her? Well, not shoot to kill, but he probably wouldn't hesitate to disable him.

This certainly wasn't the way Max had pictured getting hitched, with no family present and a gun on the groom's hip. But it wasn't real—well, it was, just not real enough to last. She had to keep that uppermost in her mind—and forget how much this felt like a shotgun wedding.

They couldn't miss the crowd of people outside the church, but didn't understand what was going on until they got closer and heard someone shout, “There he is! There's the famous gunfighter who's getting married today!”

People in the crowd were craning their necks to get a look at Degan and his bride. Max realized Degan was a celebrity to these people after his recent gunfight with Jacob Reed in this town. Even Deputy Barnes was there. Max was stunned by the turnout. Degan seemed annoyed by it and forged ahead, trying to get them inside the church.

But then the reason why they were there stepped forward with his sidekick. “Hold up,” Grady said to Degan. “It's occurred to me that you probably need her guardian's permission for this.”

Degan turned and drew his gun. “No, I don't.”

The crowd gasped and stepped back in unison, but no one left, every eye avidly on Degan. Grady didn't back down. Saul, white-faced, tried to drag him away, but Grady seemed rooted in place.

Which might be why Degan added, “I'm doing exactly what you requested, Sheriff Pike, marrying Max before sunset. And it's going to happen right now—one way or another.”

The threat was implicit. It looked as if Grady wanted to say more, but the crowd was suddenly applauding Degan. Max almost laughed. Grady had been a sheriff for so long; he wasn't used to having his dictates, or suggestions, for that matter, ignored. But Bingham Hills was a peaceful town. No one like Degan had ever passed through it. Grady was simply out of his depth in dealing with a gunfighter of this caliber. And he'd certainly never experienced a crowd swayed against him like this, either.

Despite Grady's sour expression, Degan considered the matter settled and escorted Max into the church. Grady and Saul still followed them and pushed their way into a front pew between two women already seated there. One of the women was dabbing at her eyes, exclaiming to everyone around her, “I just love weddings!”

The church quickly filled with people eager to watch the ceremony. Degan shook hands with the preacher, who introduced himself, and then asked, “Why the sudden rush for a wedding, Mr. Grant?”

“My bride has been tied up for the past week; now she's free.”

Degan glanced back at Grady as he said that. Max had to bite back a laugh when she saw Grady turn red with fury.

The preacher, unaware of the byplay, began the ceremony. “We're here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If anyone objects, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Max held her breath, refusing to look at Grady. If he said anything now, she might shoot him herself. But she heard the tussle behind them and glanced back. Grady
had
stood up, but the two women sitting next to him had yanked him back down.

The preacher didn't notice this and continued, “You have the rings?”

Degan didn't reply. Max groaned to herself, catching Grady's smirk because the wedding was going to stop right now. Of course Degan didn't have rings for them. She hadn't thought of it either!

But then an elderly man stood up. “My wife and I are happy to lend you ours for the ceremony. There's fifty years of good luck in these rings.”

A collective sigh of relief was released from the crowd, Max's included. While this marriage might not be real, she found herself wanting it to happen more than anything. To put an end to Carl's plans, she assured herself. Then why was she so thrilled when she heard Degan saying his vows?

“I, Degan Grant, take you, Maxine Dawson, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do us part.”

After she repeated those vows to Degan, they were pronounced man and wife, and Degan quickly kissed her. Goodness, she could hear all the old ladies gushing over that! Then they got another surprise.

“My wife and her friends would like you to come out back if you would,” the preacher said. “Please don't disappoint her or I'll never hear the end of it. Follow me.”

The last was said quite loudly, an invitation extended to the whole gathering. Degan and Max saw why when they stepped out of the church's back door. Tables laden with food had been set up in the yard and fiddlers were starting to play. The church ladies had made a party for them!

Max was touched by these strangers' thoughtfulness and generosity, and delighted, too. She'd thought her wedding was going to feel as fake as it was intended to be, but it certainly didn't now. Everyone was talking and laughing, and having fun—well, everyone except Grady. Max even caught him getting his hand slapped by one of the women when he reached for a plate of food. Because he'd been set on obstructing the union of the happy couple, no one there was pleased by his presence.

That's when he came over to her and Degan. Max hoped it was to say good-bye, since he obviously wasn't welcome there and knew it, but she should have known better. With no congratulations, no surprise that they'd actually gone through with it, and still looking extremely disgruntled, he just asked if they would be on the train in the morning.

“Usually I take offense when someone calls me a liar, Sheriff Pike.”

Grady started to assure him, “I didn't—”

“But it's my wedding day, so I'll make an exception. I already told you we were going to Texas. Your doubting me
is
the same thing as calling me a liar.”

“You didn't say when you were going,” Grady grumbled in his defense.

“Because it's irrelevant, and in point of fact it stopped being any concern of yours the moment Max was pronounced my wife. However, I assume she would rather visit her family than go on a honeymoon right away, so in all likelihood we will start south in the morning. But do us both a favor and don't question me again.”

Max thought that watching Grady get his hands tied like that was such a nice wedding gift. It was a wonder she didn't laugh out loud. But she didn't doubt that Grady and Saul would still follow them all the way to Texas, despite what Degan had said to Grady. He was too devoted to Carl Bingham and his interests not to.

The merriment continued. Max was sure everyone there had already come forward to congratulate them, but then someone else did. And she heard Degan say, “Well, I'll be damned.”

She stared at the man approaching Degan with his hand extended. He was tall and handsome with black hair and powder-blue eyes. She whispered, “You know him?”

The question got answered when the man reached them and introduced himself, “I'm Morgan Callahan.”

“I guessed as much.” Degan shook the man's hand.

“Yeah, Hunter and I hear that a lot, how much we look alike. Congratulations on your wedding, but please tell me you're not here because of me.”

“I'm not, but why would you think so?”

“I heard from some miners here that you were working for my father. I know he hates that I prefer mining to working with my family on the ranch.”

“That's between you and Zachary—and it's not why he hired me.”

“So it's true? You actually brought about my brother's marriage to the Warren girl?”

“I'd say Hunter managed that on his own.”

“I'm surprised. He really hated having that arranged marriage hanging over his head. I figured it wasn't going to happen unless he was dragged kicking and screaming to the altar.”

“Believe me, nothing would have kept Hunter away from that wedding. You'll understand why when you meet his wife.”

Morgan smiled. “I'm sorry I missed all the fun, but I struck it rich and will be going home for a visit as soon as I settle a dispute with a rival lady miner. And, no, I'm not asking if I can hire you! But maybe I can kiss this bride since I missed kissing my brother's new wife?”

“Not a chance.” Degan put his arm around Max's waist.

Max wasn't sure if Degan was serious or if this was just his way of joking, but Morgan laughed, insisting, “I'm not like Hunter, who charms every woman in sight! But I'm not going to argue with the notorious Degan Grant, either. Have a happy marriage, you two.”

As Morgan sauntered off, one of the ladies was bold enough to come over and tell Degan to dance with his wife. Wide-eyed, Max was afraid of his reaction to
that
. But he surprised her by leading her to join the other couples dancing next to the musicians. A Western rendition of a waltz was being played. It was faster than a traditional waltz but not as boisterous as most of the fiddlers' music had been. The tempo slowed a little as they started dancing, and Degan pulled Max close enough that she could rest her head on his shoulder. Her smile turned dreamy. And then she yawned—and laughed at herself.

“You're tired,” he said, having heard it.

She'd been through a lot this last week as Grady's prisoner and experiencing the emotional roller coaster of being reunited with Degan and becoming his wife, even if in name only. “A little,” she admitted.

“Let's go.”

For once she didn't object to those two words. Amid lots of good wishes and happy tears from the ladies who loved weddings and a comment from the preacher's wife about how this celebrity wedding had tripled the size of the church's congregation, Degan led a sleepy Max back to the hotel.