He despised her bitterly, yet she craved his touch. Where was the sense of independence she’d guarded so carefully these last few years?
“Why, Rebecca, you should always wear your hair up,” Mrs. Applegate declared. She stepped back, brush in hand, to survey her work. “You look lovely.”
The upswept style drew attention to Rebecca’s high cheekbones and creamy white skin. She tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “It’s lovely.”
“You’re lovely,” Mrs. Applegate said.
“Now for the finishing touches,” Prudence declared, turning toward the bouquet of flowers and picking several from the pile.
She twisted several delicate blue flowers from their stems and pinned them into Rebecca’s hair. “These are columbines that grow wild behind my house. Columbines are for gentleness. May your groom’s heart be filled with gentleness.”
Touched by Prudence’s sentiment, Rebecca admired the dainty crown.
Mrs. Applegate retrieved the bundle of flowers from the bed. “Each of the ladies in town donated flowers from their garden so that you’d have an extra special bouquet.”
Prudence fussed over a bent petal. “The roses are from my garden. They represent love and beauty.”
“I picked the ivy so you’ll have a long life,” said Mrs. Applegate. “And Olivia Farthing picked the daises—so you’d always have sunshine in your life.”
Rebecca fingered the fragile blossoms. Touched by their friendship, her heart overflowed with hope and joy. “You have all been so good to me.”
Mrs. Applegate pulled a lace handkerchief from her sleeve and dried Rebecca’s tears. “If you start that again, I’m liable to start blubbering like a babe.”
Rebecca sniffed, trying to stem the tide of fresh tears. The clock on the wall began to chime as the second hand swept toward noon—one, two, three… “I’m afraid.”
Four, five, six.
Prudence squeezed her hand. “You’ll be fine. Just wait and see.”
Seven, eight, nine.
“Are you certain he cares?” Rebecca hated the desperation that had crept into her voice.
Ten, eleven, twelve.
“Cole is a man of action, not words, and no matter how angry his words, always remember, he came back to you,” Mrs. Applegate said as she gave Rebecca a final hug and opened the door. “And he didn’t have to marry you.”
Rebecca followed, uncertain of how she found the courage to put one foot in front of the other.
Prudence sniffed back a tear and hurried ahead of Rebecca. “I’ll tell the fiddler to start playing.”
From the top of the staircase, she heard the din of voices mingling on the front porch. By the sound of it, she imagined the entire town had turned out for her and Cole’s wedding.
Mrs. Applegate smoothed a curl off Rebecca’s forehead and sniffed back a tear. “You look beautiful, dear.”
Rebecca squeezed the older woman’s hand then moved toward the stairs.
Just then the front door opened with a bang. Cole appeared at the threshold. His feet were braced apart as if he were ready for a fight.
He wore a clean white shirt—the top three unfastened buttons forming a V at the base of his throat. Dark pants hugged his muscular thighs. He’d cinched a belt tightly at his narrow waist and brushed the mud from his scuffed boots.
He conjured images of a pirate not a bridegroom and for a moment, Rebecca was half tempted to flee.
Cole glared up at her. When his eyes met hers, he blinked as if he didn’t quite believe what he saw. The hard lines around his eyes softened and he strode to the base of the stairs and waited for Rebecca. “We’re ready for you.”
Rebecca clutched her bouquet until her knuckles ached. The top stair creaked as she took her first step. She was certain her knees would buckle if she didn’t move carefully.
Cole’s gaze remained riveted on her until she reached his side. He took her elbow and for an instant, he looked as if he’d speak, but instead he muttered an oath and guided her to the open front door and out onto the porch.
As she suspected, all the people in White Stone had gathered in her yard. Bess stood beside a stern-faced sheriff and the boys, Mac in his brown dress pants and white shirt and Dusty in his new denims and red shirt. Even Ernie nodded with approval. The children’s faces split into wide grins when they saw her. Rebecca smiled.
Thumb in mouth, Mac said, “Mama.”
Dusty nodded. “Miss Rebecca.”
Rebecca knelt in front of the children, mindful that Cole stood behind her, his body rigid. “My, don’t you two look fine today.”
Mac touched the flowers circling Rebecca’s head. “Flowers.”
“Yes.” Her throat tightened and only through force of will did she keep her voice even. “I love you two very much.”
Dusty hugged Rebecca tight. “I love you, too.”
At Cole’s impatient touch, she rose, her throat tight with unshed tears. She winked at the boys, then moistening her lips, allowed Cole to guide her toward the west end of the porch.
A tall, pencil-thin man waited. He wore a gray suit, dusty cuffs and collar, a neat bowl-shaped hat and held a floppy Bible in his long bony fingers. “Good afternoon,” he said in a deep, clear voice.
“Rebecca, this is Judge Bruce,” Cole said smoothly.
She nodded to the judge. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.” Blast her ingrained manners. Why was she thanking him?
The judge offered a wan smile and pulled a pair of wire-rim glasses from his pocket. “My stage leaves in fifteen minutes, so let’s get on with this.”
“We’re ready,” Cole said in a clear, even voice.
I’m not! The words danced on the tip of Rebecca’s tongue.
Cole took his place at her side. The top of Rebecca’s head barely reached his shoulder. She marveled at his height and strength and prayed Mrs. Applegate’s assessment of him was true.
Always remember, he came back to you.
The judge cleared his throat. “Dearly, beloved, we are gathered here today to join together this man and woman in matrimony. Do you, Cole McGuire, take this woman to be your lawful wife?”
“I do,” he said without hesitation.
“Do you, uh—” the judged paused and checked his scribbled notes on the back of a tattered envelope “—Rebecca Elizabeth Sinclair Taylor take Cole McGuire to be your husband?”
Before she could answer, Mac broke away from Bess, ran to Rebecca and hugged her legs. “My mama.”
Rebecca patted Mac on his back. “Honey, I’m not going anywhere.”
“He’s taking you.”
“No, he’s not.”
A tide of low whispers swept over the crowd. Rebecca knelt down and chucked her child under the chin. “Honey, I’m not going anywhere.”
Cole knelt down in front of the child, all traces of tension gone. He smoothed a long finger over the child’s pudgy cheek. “Your ma’s right. She’s not leaving. I’m moving in here to live with you, Dusty and your ma for good.”
“Why?”
“Because your ma and I are getting married.”
“Why?”
The muscle in the side of his jaw twitched as he hesitated. “It’s the right thing to do. From now on we’ll be a family.”
Dusty frowned. “Me, too, Cole?”
“You, too,” he said patting his shoulder. “From now on I’ll be your pa as well as Mac’s.”
Rebecca’s throat stung with emotion. “Do you mean that?” she whispered.
He rose and met her gaze. “I’ll do right by both of them.”
“Thank you.”
Cole hoisted Mac up. The boy settled easily in his arms, happy for the extra attention. “I believe you owe the judge an answer.”
Rebecca stared into Cole’s direct gaze, searching for any sign that his heart held the tiniest bit of affection for her. She saw anger, fury and yes, passion. The latter gave her a measure of hope. Perhaps the barrier between love and hate were closer than s
he thought. “Yes, I’ll marry him.”
The judge expelled the breath he was holding. “By the powers vested in me by the state of Colorado, I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
She and Cole were married.
The thought left Rebecca strangely exhilarated.
Clearly Cole loved the children as much as she did. Together they would find a way past the anger and hurt and forge a friendship. Theirs might not be a love match now, but given time anything was possible.
As Mrs. Applegate had said, Cole was a man of action and few words. Rebecca knew words meant nothing to Cole. She would have to show him she was sorry for her lie. She’d make him the best wife he could hope for.
Rebecca turned to leave, doubting Cole would want to kiss her in front of all these people. Likely, he was still brimming with anger and she didn’t want to test his patience.