The Cowboy Lassos a Bride (Cowboys of Chance Creek) (24 page)

“No kidding!” Evan said. “What are you studying, Jake?”

“Natural resources and rangeland ecology.”

Evan whistled. “Between your ideas and mine we’ll keep ourselves busy for years with trials and projects.”

“I look forward to it.”

While dinner with
Bella and Evan had gone far better than Hannah could imagine, the upcoming meal with Jake’s parents and brothers to discuss wedding plans left her weak with dread. She was relieved that Lisa was hosting the meal, but as Hannah prepared to walk the short distance to the main house with Jake, her stomach was in knots. Things never went smoothly in the presence of Jake’s family. Holt probably would try to dictate the style of her wedding dress or come up with some new set of rules she had to adhere to. She’d spent the day at the Cruz ranch going over details with all her friends. They’d brainstormed a guest list and made lists of all the necessary preparations, too. They’d divided these tasks among all of them. With so many helpers it no longer seemed impossible to pull the ceremony and reception off in such a short period of time. The activity had helped keep her mind off the baby that never was. As Jake had said, they’d have other chances. For now they’d concentrate on the wedding and preparing for school.

Autumn put in a call to Ellie’s Bridals and cajoled Ellie to stay open late Monday night so they could all go together to help her pick out a dress after work that day. Morgan had fiddled with her hair, coming up with possible style ideas while Claire tallied the number of tables and chairs they’d need for the dinner. She’d had a great time with her friends, but now that she was alone with Jake she began to worry again. Even though Autumn had offered the Cruz Big House for a backup wedding location, Hannah knew that it was crucial for Jake to be married at the Double-Bar-K. She prayed Holt wouldn’t throw a monkey wrench in the works just for spite.

When they arrived, Ned and Luke were already seated at the dining room table, along with Fila and Mia. Rob and Morgan were there, too. Lisa took the pan of brownies they’d brought and shooed them in to take their places. Hannah greeted the other women happily. She hadn’t expected Mia and Fila to come. Although Mia greeted her warmly, she sat primly next to Luke without once looking his way. Luke looked at her plenty and his desperation was almost palpable. Jake had filled her in on his faux pas about the baby and she knew better than Jake why Luke deserved Mia’s cold shoulder. She suspected from Luke’s continued interest Mia hadn’t told him about her own pregnancy yet. What would happen when she did?

Where would Mia go?

Mia was probably asking herself that same question. Most likely she would get through the rest of December here with Luke and then skedaddle back to the Cruz ranch the moment their guests left. Hannah needed to speak to her and urge her to tell Autumn that she was pregnant. She knew Autumn—there would be a room for Mia at the ranch as long as she needed one. As broke as she was with a baby coming, she would need one for a long time to come.

Fila remained as silent and pale as she always was. Ned directed a word at her once in a while and she answered him, but Hannah could tell she was still having a hard time. She berated herself for how absorbed she’d been in her own problems. Neither Mia nor Fila should have left the Cruz ranch. She could only hope the time would pass quickly for them until they could return to it.

Morgan, by contrast to the other two, was blooming with good health and the early stages of her pregnancy. For all the time she’d spent at the Double-Bar-K, it amused Hannah to think she still saw Morgan more often at the Cruz ranch than she did here. They’d have to work to change that.

When Holt came into the room and took his seat, all conversation around the table fell away. He didn’t seem to notice this. Instead he waited impatiently until Lisa began to bring in the meal.

“Can I help?” Hannah jumped to her feet.

“Not this time. This time you’re the guest of honor.” Lisa beamed at her.

Mia and Morgan took the hint and followed her back to the kitchen. In a few more moments they’d filled the table with food.

For a short time the room was filled with noise while everyone passed the dishes around and helped themselves to the meal. As soon as the clatter died down, Holt spoke up.

“I’m glad to see the two of you have finally come to your senses. High time you got married.”

Lisa turned to Hannah. “On the twenty-first? Will you let me host the wedding here?”

“Oh, I hoped you would ask,” Hannah said. “I know it would mean the world to Jake.”

“It would mean the world to me, too,” Lisa said. “Let’s put our heads together about the menu tomorrow and all the other plans.”

“I’ve got guest lists and everything else,” Hannah said with a wink at Morgan. That load lifted off her chest, she attacked her ham with gusto.

“What about all that college business?” Ned spoke up.

“We’ve figured that out,” Jake said quickly. “Hannah will go to Colorado. I’m going to Montana State.”

Lisa’s smile widened, but Holt frowned and Hannah swallowed.
Uh oh.
Here’s where the trouble would start.

She was right. Holt set down his knife and fork and wiped his hands on his cloth napkin. “What do you mean you’re going to Montana State?”

Jake faced Holt
with confidence. He was marrying Hannah, after all. Holt had gotten what he wanted. Now he was going to have to compromise a little—just like the rest of them.

“I’m getting my degree.”

“Who’s going to run the ranch?”

“Me. And Ned. And Luke.”

“How’s that going to work?” Ned said.

“The three of us can figure it out.”

“What about children?” Lisa asked unexpectedly.

“We’ll work that out, too. Look around this table.” Jake gestured at each of them in turn. “We’ve got five men and five women here on the ranch. We ought to be able to help each other. If Ned, Luke and Rob will pitch in to cover my chores when I’m at school, I’ll pitch in and help them when I’m home. Hannah and I have decided to go ahead with children as soon as we’re married. We hope you all will help with them, too.”

“Why should we?” Ned exploded.

Lisa thumped her hand on the table. “That’s enough. Don’t you disrupt this meal.”

“I’ll say what’s got to be said,” Ned persisted. “If you leave the ranch then I’ll become manager. It’s as simple as that.”

“We’ll share it.” Jake kicked him under the table. If Ned balked then Holt would balk too and he hadn’t even told them about the bison herd yet.

“Don’t kick me. And don’t try to get one over one me, either. If you leave, you don’t stay head of the ranch.”

“I’m marrying Hannah, and I will stay head of the ranch.” Jake glared at him.

“That’s not the deal. That’s not what Dad said and you know it!” Ned stood up and threw his napkin on the table. “You don’t just have to marry her, you have to stay here!”

“That’s enough!”
Lisa stood up too. “If you two can’t behave then leave the table!”

Hannah couldn’t seem to breathe. This had all turned out much worse than she thought. Her mother-in-law was furious. Holt looked like he’d swallowed a bug. Ned was ready to leap across the table and strangle Jake, and Jake…

Was looking at her. Guilt, horror, panic crossed his face in quick succession.

Ned’s words caught up to her.
You don’t just have to marry her, you have to stay here.

What did he mean by that?

Jake had to marry… her? Or what? What would he lose?

The answer hit her like a slap to the face.

He would lose the ranch.

“Hannah.” Jake reached for her but she stared at him, dumbfounded. “Hannah—it’s not like that.”

“Sure it is,” Ned sneered. “Dad forced your hand just like he forced hers. The two of you let him play with you like a couple of dolls. Well, I’m not getting played. Time for you to stand by your word, Dad.” He faced Holt. “If Jake can’t do his duty, then I’m the one in charge. You said so yourself.”

Jake turned to Holt and she realized it was true. Holt must have blackmailed Jake the same way he’d done with her. And as much as it killed her, she couldn’t even blame Jake for falling for it. Look at her; she’d slept with a man to get a home for her bison. How paltry an excuse compared to Jake losing the livelihood he’d worked for all his life.

No wonder he’d insisted on marrying right away. No wonder he’d capitulated to her demands when the deadline drew near. She covered her mouth with her hand when she thought of how happy she’d been just a few short moments ago. In love with Jake. Their future mapped out. So sure it could work.

A tear splashed down her cheek as the whole house of cards came tumbling down.

Did Jake even love her?

Was any of this real?

Morgan leaped to help her as she stumbled to her feet. “I’m sorry,” she said to Lisa, whose face was white with shock. “I have to go.”

“No.” Jake blocked her way. “Not yet. Dad? We’re waiting for your answer. All of us are.”

Holt looked around the table. He seemed almost bewildered by the hubbub and once again Hannah saw a flash of the old man he’d become. The last thing she wanted was to feel sorry for him—not now—but she knew Holt didn’t have a clue how to fix this.

“Ned’s right,” he said finally. “That was the deal. If you can’t do the job, it’s his.”

Jake nodded. “Fine. That’s just fine. I’ve given everything to this place. Everything.” A muscle pulsed in his jaw. “But that’s obviously not enough. If none of you plan to be here for me when I need you, then to hell with it. I won’t be there for you, either. Come on, Hannah.”

She shook her head, meaning they weren’t a pair. She wasn’t going with him anywhere. She couldn’t find her voice, though, and she let Jake hustle her from the room.

“Wait!” Lisa called after them. “Where are you going?”

Hannah closed her eyes at the pain in her voice. Lisa would pay the biggest price in this argument that was splitting her family apart.

No. She was the one who’d pay an even bigger price when she left Jake for good.

“Don’t worry. We won’t bother you anymore,” Jake hollered back. “We’re leaving the Double-Bar-K.”

‡
Chapter Twenty-Two

J
ake left Hannah
in the cabin’s guest room packing and retired to his own room to make a phone call. His hands shook so hard he could barely work his phone but at last he got Cab Johnson on the line.

“Cab? It’s Jake. Got a minute?”

“Sure thing,” the sheriff said. “You got trouble?”

“Of a kind. Nothing for you to worry about, though. I just wondered who was staying at Carl’s house now that you’ve moved in with Rose.”

“I’m still watching over it,” Cab said. “We stay there two or three nights a week so Carl can keep his insurance policy on it. That house is becoming a millstone around my neck.”

“Could Hannah and I stay there for the time being?”

“Sure thing.” Cab sounded surprised. “Any particular reason you’re leaving the Double-Bar-K?”

“Two particular reasons. My Dad and Ned.”

Cab chuckled. “Family, huh? They’ll get you every time. Why don’t I come over right now and drop off a key.”

“We’ll be ready for you.”

“Say, you wouldn’t want to buy Carl’s place, would you?”

“I thought it wasn’t for sale.”

“It is now. Carl just asked me to list it.”

Jake whistled. “Wish I had the cash. I’d buy it in a heartbeat.”

“Oh, well—I thought maybe I could save myself some hassle.”

Jake gripped the phone. “I might know of a buyer, though. Let me give them a call and I’ll tell you when you get here.”

“Sure thing.”

Jake hung up and placed another call.

Hannah was packed
when a knock sounded at the front door. Since she didn’t have much to begin with it didn’t take long to gather it all back together. She heard Jake open it and Cab’s booming voice filled the house. A moment later there was another knock. She frowned—was Jake having a party down there?

She crossed the room to the door and moved to the balcony. From here she could see the entrance and living room. Cab, Evan and Bella stood near the door, their coats still on. Jake was there, too. He glanced up, saw her and waved her down.

Hannah heaved a sigh. In all the fuss Jake didn’t seem to realize she’d had enough of this. All the lies, secrets and games that surrounded their relationship deprived it of any value it might have had for her. How could she ever trust him again, knowing he would use his marriage to her to secure the ranch? How could she trust herself when she’d played Holt’s stupid games, too?

She took the stairs slowly, worn out to the point of giving up. She tried to put on a brave face for their guests but assumed from their startled glances that she’d failed. Bella frowned but before she could speak Jake said, “Hannah and I are moving to Carl’s house for the time being. We thought you might want to come along and take a tour of the place since it’s just gone up for sale. Cab has the key. He’ll open it up for us.”

“Really?” Bella exclaimed. She turned to Evan with shining eyes. “It’s going to be the one. I know it.”