Nobody's Dream (25 page)

Luke didn’t want to get dirty so he reached through the bars in the stall door to feed the apple to Pic, who nickered as Luke stroked his neck. A peace came over him he hadn’t experienced since the avalanche. He’d spent a lifetime searching for a place to call his own, but on this ranch, he found a sense of belonging.

Home.

“’Atta boy.”

He’d forgotten about Matt until he spoke up. “O’Keeffe is still out in the corral. She’s not too fond of tight spaces.”

“Never has been. I had her in here a while, but she just wasn’t making any progress. Turned out, she just felt cooped up. She’s happier outside.”

So am I
.

He decided to wait until he had more time with O’Keeffe and fed the remaining apples to Fontana and Cassatt at the windows of their stalls.

“How many horses do you have?” Eduardo asked.

“Four.” He hated that there were so many abused and neglected horses in need of rescuing, but there was only so much he could do.

“How are Marc and Angel doing?”

“Saw them the other day. Marc looks like he’s been put through the wringer, but neither one would talk about what happened.”

Damn. He needed to get to Denver and see what was going on if no one would tell him over the phone. But he had something even more important to do first. Not wanting to share the news prematurely and without Cassie’s permission, though, he kept his mouth shut.

“Now, Matt, if you’ll excuse me, I have an important date with a beautiful woman.”

“Lucky you!”

Damned right he was lucky. Assuming they tied the knot before his bride chickened out.

*     *     *

After obtaining their license, they were led into the judge’s chambers. Lucas placed his hand low on Cassie’s back and guided her ahead of him. He held his Stetson in his left hand near his waist. She held a small bouquet of pink Peruvian lilies Lucas had given to her when they met at the jeweler’s to choose their rings.

The flower native to South America signified friendship and devotion. Did Lucas choose them for their meaning or because they carried the name of her homeland? Either way, she had not expected to carry a bouquet like a true bride in this unique wedding.

Lucas continued to surprise her. They had negotiated to where they could both find benefits in this arrangement, even if not for any of the typical reasons people wed.

She had chosen to wear a single-layered skirt, a simple white blouse, but at the last minute, picked up
Abuela’s
lliclla
. Wrapping the colorful cloth in her village’s design around her shoulders, she felt as if her grandmother’s arms surrounded her once again. Around her neck, she wore the silver locket her parents had given her on her sixteenth birthday, with their photos inside. It almost felt like they were at the wedding, too, in spirit at least.

Eduardo and the judge’s clerk followed. They placed the license before the gray-haired woman who had her glasses perched on the tip of her nose as she read some official-looking document. She shook her head and glanced up. Smiling, she removed her reading glasses and stood, picking up the paper as she rounded her desk.

“So nice to meet you…” She glanced down at their license. “Stephen and Casandra.”

“I prefer Luke or Lucas, ma’am.”

“Very well. And whom do we have here?” She focused on Eduardo.

Cassie cleared her throat and spoke up. “Eduardo López, my brother…from Peru. And I am called Cassie now.” Casandra ceased existing long ago, even though her family still called her by that name. Apparently, there were no problems with her being an international bride when they filled out the paperwork. She had shown her green card and driver’s license, and they had granted the license immediately.

The clerk agreed to be a second witness and offered each of them a sheet of popular vows to choose from. Cassie had never attended a wedding outside of a Catholic church where everyone spoke the same vows. Even so, the ones on the sheet did not fit their unique situation.

At least until they could request an annulment. Even though Lucas said he would never want to end their marriage arrangement, he needed to remember this union would never be consummated. While he said he understood, what if one day he met someone with whom he wanted a physical, sexual relationship? She would gladly grant him his freedom when that day came. In Colorado, from what she had read in the clerk’s office, there was no limit on when an annulment could be granted.

The judge picked up a black portfolio and opened it. “Have you had a chance to select your vows?”

Cassie stared at the options in her hand again and shook her head in the negative just as Lucas said, “Yes, ma’am.” He surprised her again by reaching into the pocket of the western-cut suit jacket. He filled out the suit well.

Do not notice how handsome and well-built he is, Cassie.

“You brought your own vows?”

He winked at her and grinned, leaving her a little nonplussed. “Wrote ’em myself. But be warned, I’m no poet.”

He had
written
his own vows? She assumed they would both mimic whatever standard vows were appropriate. When had he had time to write his own?

“With Mr. Denton’s permission, perhaps you both could repeat the vows he prepared.”

Before she could respond, Lucas said to the judge, “That would be fine by me.” Then he glanced down at Cassie. “Would you like to read them over first?”

Why are you trying to make this like a real wedding, Lucas?
She had expected them to repeat vows by rote that held little meaning. Impersonal and detached.

“Why don’t you read them over before you decide, Sweet Pea?” He handed her the folded slip of paper. Her heart thudded erratically as she unfolded it. After blinking several times, the words came into focus. In his very neat printing, he had written words even she could abide by. Tears blurred her focus before she gazed into his eyes.

“They are beautiful. And perfect. Yes, I would be honored to share these vows with you, Lucas.”

The judge held out her hand for the paper, and Cassie extended it to her. She read it over quickly and turned her attention to them once more, smiling. “Now, please face each other holding hands, and repeat after me, inserting your name after ‘I’ and your partner’s name after ‘you.’”

Thankfully, the judge’s routine instructions helped Cassie regain some emotional distance. They took their places. Cassie stared up into Lucas’s gray eyes and slipped her hands into his much larger ones. He brushed his thumbs over her knuckles, sending a strange tingling sensation up both of her arms. She wondered, not for the first time, why Lucas had agreed to make such a commitment. What did he truly expect from this arrangement? How quickly would he come to regret this decision?

And yet he did not seem the least bit hesitant about anything at the moment. He actually seemed happier than she had ever seen him.

Everyone else faded away as she stared into Lucas’s gentle eyes and repeated her vows after the judge’s prompts, despite the lump in her throat.

I, Cassie Beatriz López,

receive you, Stephen Lucas Denton,

as my partner, my friend, my…love,

Okay, the hardest part was over. But there were all forms of love, and she did love many things about Lucas that she had observed during their weeks together at her cabin.

The judge continued.

Focus!

Cassie repeated:

I promise to be your best friend.

Beside me and apart from me,

in laughter and in tears,

in sickness and in health,

in conflict and serenity,

asking that you be no other than yourself.

Cassie paused.
He accepts me as I am.

Loving what I know of you and

trusting what I do not yet know,

I bind my life to yours

until death parts us.

Lucas smiled and squeezed her hands. She held on to him for dear life as he repeated the same vows. A hoarseness in Lucas’s voice conveyed how affected he was by the beautiful vows he had written from the heart.

When he had finished, the judge continued. “In all that life may bring, you have vowed your love to each other. Are you now ready to confirm that love by accepting the responsibilities of marriage? If so, answer ‘I am.’”

Lucas spoke the words loudly and surely. These vows had been so nonthreatening, words she could commit to without feeling a fraud. All eyes were on her as she tried to form the two words that would make her Lucas Denton’s partner in life.

Lucas’s smile never wavered. His hands remained steadfast as he infused strength into her shaking ones. She opened her trembling mouth and took a deep breath, still not knowing what would come out of her lips. “I…I am.”

She felt Lucas slip the simple ring, warm from his hand, onto her finger, and blindly, she did the same with the matching silver band they had purchased at the jeweler’s a block from the courthouse. The bands against their brown hands looked beautiful and solid, but again, she had to wonder what kind of union she and Lucas had just entered into.

“Mr. Denton, you may kiss your bride.”

Cassie took a step backward, but Lucas remained in his place, still holding onto her hands. Her heart pounded, and she fought the urge to flee. She could not let him kiss her. If that was part of the deal, she needed to call this sham of a wedding off. Why had she not thought about this eventuality before and mentioned it as a limit?

Just when she thought she would turn and run, he lifted her left hand to his lips and kiss the ring he had placed there moments ago.

Something melted inside her heart.

Tears stung her eyes as she met his gaze. She would need to be very careful of this man. He could break through her defenses with only a smile—and a kiss.

*     *     *

Luke glanced over at his bride. They had dropped Eduardo off at the Vail/Eagle airport, and she had insisted on driving her Tahoe back to Breckenridge where they had married, what, four hours ago? Her brother was probably halfway to Dallas by now and soon would make his connection to continue on to California.

Too bad Cassie hadn’t relaxed one bit since her brother departed.

“Why don’t we stop for dinner, darlin’, before you drop me off at the ranch?” There would be no wedding night for them, but they could at least have a romantic dinner.

“I am not really hungry.”

“Seems a waste to marry and then go our separate ways. Especially since we’re already dressed up.”

Her hands gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. “This is what we agreed to.”

He ran his hand through his hair before a grin broke out on his face. “Just thought perhaps we could have one of those occasional dates tonight.”

“We have been together for the last two weeks. Consider that one long date.”

“Sure has been a whirlwind romance.” He grinned at her, but she didn’t seem amused.

“Are you not anxious to return to your horses?”

His wife wanted to be rid of him, no doubt about it. He’d known going into this that they would go their separate ways tonight he just didn’t want to. Would he see her again anytime soon? What were the chances?
Somewhere between slim and none
.

“I guess you’re right. Matt probably has things to do back in Leadville.” They drove on for a few more miles, and she relaxed some. “How about dinner next Saturday? I can pick up a rental until the insurance company settles on my truck.”

“Perhaps.”

“You need to do better than that, Sweet Pea. Your place is right on the way to Breckenridge. How about I pick you up at six next Wednesday and we can celebrate our one-week anniversary?”

She took her plump lower lip between her teeth and thought a bit before responding. “I suppose. Just dinner.”

He grinned. “No worries.”
Slow and easy does it.

Maybe on their next date they could go dancing at a western bar. If she’d let him that close. But on their first date, he wanted candlelight and lots of time to talk. He’d make reservations for a private room at his favorite steakhouse.

He felt like a teenager planning his first date.

Take it slow, Denton. This girl’s a skittish one.

*     *     *

A week passed by. Cassie’s first date with Lucas—she still found it strange to call him her husband—went well. He had taken her to a Mongolian grill as a second choice after she was less than enthusiastic about going to a steakhouse. Over dinner, he shared some humorous stories about situations he had dealt with while working with the horses this week. She described the progress on the last piece for her art exhibition. They both seemed to enjoy their time together.

Returning home later that night, the cabin had never felt so lonely. Everywhere she turned were reminders of Lucas. During the past week, how many times had Cassie wanted to run inside the cabin to tell him about something Milagrosa had done, only to remember Lucas was gone?

Cassie went to bed early. Sometime in the wee hours, she tossed the blankets off as she came awake with a start. She willed her breathing to slow as the remnants of a night terror threatened to encroach upon her yet again. Tears burned her eyes, only adding to the frustration at her inability to keep these persistent monsters away.

Longing filled her—a yearning for something she could not name. She had been content with her life here on the mountain for years. Suddenly, she did not wish to be here alone any longer.

Lucas.

How had he invaded her sanctuary—and her heart—in such a short time? No, not her heart! She was not destined to love any man. What man deserved a woman who could not return his love?

The wind howled, rattling the windows. She wondered what Lucas might be doing tonight.

Sleeping, of course. It’s three o’clock.

Thoughts of watching him sleep in this very bed set her heart to fluttering in a strange way. Cassie breathed deeply, surrounding herself with white light. The desire to visit Lucas made her heart ache, even though they had been together mere hours ago at dinner. She willed her mind and body to separate. She took two more deep breaths and forced her mind to become uncluttered. Soon she floated above herself, taking a moment to adjust to the weightlessness. She didn’t linger long, hating to see the loneliness in her eyes as she looked down upon her earthly body.