Page 17 of The Cowboy Takes A Bride

“You have here. I have a ranch with cattle, and that can be your home for as long as you need it.”

Fresh tears streamed down her face, but the shoulder-wracking sobs were gone. “Would you really let me leave? After all this has been set up?”

She really was very pretty. Beautiful, actually. There was nothing flashy about her, not one attribute that was remarkable, but the combination of smooth, untanned skin and large blue eyes mixed with a gentleness in her demeanor stoked a long-banked fire that resided deep within him.

Who would hurt such a gentle creature that she’d enter into a lifetime union with a perfect stranger simply to get away? The thought of it was astounding. He tried to imagine Willow doing the same thing, and the thought made him want to call her to make sure she was happy.

“It can be isolating on the ranch. Lots of time to yourself. I’m willing to give you my home if you are willing to give me your word you’ll stay for my father.”

Her brows winged closer. “Isolating how?”

“You’ll have to experience it. Maybe you won’t find it to be true.” Jace shrugged, but he knew he didn’t believe that, nor was he able to make it sound like he did. “There’s poor Internet. The days are long with chores, idle time is limited. Everyone plays a role that matters, though, and you would be no different.”

Watching Meredith, he wondered if the people she had left behind cared she was gone. But that no longer mattered because he cared. She was here now, and soon, if she were willing, she would be a part of his family. He took that responsibility seriously, even if it was only for the duration of Pop’s life.

“I want you to know that I’d like to go through with this, but only if you want to.” Jace studied her. No truer words were spoken, and the worry that she might say no surprised Jace. His gut told him this mutual arrangement could work. He might actually pull off getting a dying man to believe he'd found happiness. It sounded awful, the trickery, but living with Pops beingsad because Jace wasn't married would be far harder. Crazy old man and his wishes.

She needed a place to belong and, if he was honest with himself, and today would be a perfect day for that, there was plenty of room for her here. “Do you think you might be interested in this offer?” He held firm to her hands. “We're looking at a year, maybe more if we're lucky to have Pops that long.”

“I think I could really like it here. It’s beautiful and peaceful.” She nodded. “I need peaceful.” If she loved the scenery in its current state, he couldn't wait to see her reaction to the full colors in late spring and early summer. Or the orange of autumn.

Jace sat back on his haunches, easing the tension from his calves. “I’m an honest and loyal man, Meredith. I’m not looking for a fast paced, exciting life. I like the slow pace here. Cattle’s about all the excitement I can handle. Maybe a bear or two.” He smiled. “You think that’s something that’ll work for you?” All things she needed to know so when she started getting squirrely about leaving before Pops was gone, he could point out he had warned her.

She looked in the direction of the window, and then nodded before turning her attention back to him. “I'll give you my word I'll stay for the time your father is alive. I keep my word, and it looks easy enough to be here. I think I could like it.”

It wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it would do. “Okay then. Try it is.” He bounced slightly on his heels, but stopped when she pulled her hands from his, tucking one under her leg.

“I’d give you this back.” She gently waved the handkerchief before him. “But I’d like to wash it first.”

“If you’re all right now, I’ll just step out and collect my folks.” He waited for a sign. When she nodded, he stood before her.

“Should I just wait here?”

He patted his pockets in mock exaggeration. “You didn’t liftmy truck keys did you? Still hoping to make a getaway?” Perhaps not the best joke to make to a woman feeling apprehensive about starting a new life with a complete stranger, but to his surprise, she laughed. An easy, melodic sound that made him chuckle as well.

“Are most women really that desperate to get out of this town? Should I be forewarned?” The hint of a smile told him she was teasing.

“Well, it’s not for all people. Some folk who grow up here leave, and some come back, and on the occasion someone stumbles upon us, they might stay, too. We have the basics. No mass shopping chain.”

She pressed her lips together while looking up at him through her lashes. “So you’re saying you’re experiencing a population boom simply by me being here?”

Jace tossed back his head and laughed. “Yep, that about sums it up.” Their gazes stayed on each other briefly, both enjoying the easy moment they’d just experienced, until Meredith looked away.

“I should freshen up,” she said while looking around the room.

“It’s the door over to the left.” He indicated with his chin. “If it’s all right with you, I’ll go now.”

She nodded then stood. Her proximity was closer than he’d anticipated and normally, instinct would have him step back and out of her personal space, but neither of them moved. If he stepped half a foot closer, he’d be able to tuck her nicely in his arms, put his chin on her head. Maybe Rina was right. They were a good fit, at least physically.

“I have one request.”

Her eyes widened at the word “request.”

“I’d like to avoid the specifics with my parents. Just say we met while I was in Texas at auction, emailed a few times, anddecided to do this. I’m aware that I’m asking you to lie, but it’s for a good reason.”

She blinked slowly. He wanted to point out that fudging how this all came about was likely the most insignificant of their issues, but it was only right that he be upfront with her.

“I don’t want my father, or mother either, worrying about why I did this.”

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