Page 42 of Soldier Cowboy
He was so…unexpected.
And in that quiet space of her own Jennifer realized she was in deep trouble.
If she didn’t get out of Stone Ridge soon, she was going to fall completely and irretrievably in love.
CHAPTER11
“What in the world do you think you’redoin’here, Colton?”
Beulah Hayes stood in the doorway of the Trinity chapel’s cellar, hands on her hips.
“I brought my fiancée.” Colton stood with his hat tipped, aviator shades on, arms crossed. “We don’tliketo be apart.”
“Isn’t that lovely,” Maybelle said from one of the chairs formed in a tight circle in the center of the room. “That’s just how it was for me and Bonnie Lee’s father. God rest his soul.”
“It really is lovely,” Winona said, balancing Mary on her lap. “And don’t forget sexy.”
“Nice andlovely, but it can’t happen. Men are not allowed,” said Beulah.
“Now, Miss Beulah, that sounds pretty sexist of you,” Colton drawled.
“I vote for Colton to stay!” Delores stood indignantly. “What are rules if they’re not meant to be broken every once in a while?”
“We are not voting to change any of our rules today as we don’t have a quorum.” Beulah sniffed.
“Aunt Beulah.” Bonnie Lee tossed up her hands. “Good grief, let him stay. I don’t mind if he does.”
“Not when your intended isn’t even here.” Beulah twitched a finger. “It’s just notdone. We can’t have a meeting about the men of Stone Ridge with one of them among us!”
Colton gave her an easy smile. “Why? You ladies discussing state secrets? Because I have a top-secret clearance.”
“Not funny,” Beulah said. “You will wait outside.”
With a scowl, Colton relented after several seconds of lowering his shades and staring Beulah down. This woman would probably stare down a bear in the woods.
“I’ll just be on the other side.” He patted the door.
When Beulah shut the door, it almost hit his behind on the way out.
“Oh, c’mon!” Winona said. “They’re in love, can’t you see?”
Bonnie Lee rolled her eyes. “Y’all must have something against true love.”
Jennifer had stayed silent, but here’s where she wanted to tell them all that Colton just didn’t want to look like exactlywhathe was: a bodyguard standing right outside the door. And now he most certainly did look like one, in case anyone was paying attention, in addition to sounding like a possessive man. Jennifer bit her lower lip. This whole thing did seem kind of ridiculous for anyone who had not read the latest emails. This morning after Colton read them, he’d forbidden Jennifer to ever be out of his sight whenever they left the ranch.
The decision had been made in seconds, right after coffee and breakfast. He would attend this weird ceremony with Jennifer because he didn’t see a way out of it that didn’t involve more lying.
Only now, he would wait outside.
Maybelle walked over to peek out the window. “He’s still just standin’ there, poor soul.”
“Honestly!” Beulah shook her head. “It’s like he doesn’t trust the Ladies of SORROW.”
“I’m not sure I trust y’all, either,” Bonnie whispered in Jennifer’s ear. “You’re going to fill my head with all kinds of nonsense.”
“Indeed they will,” Winona said. “Just let it go in one ear and out the other one.”
“Maybe poor Colton’s afraid if he looks the other way, he’ll lose this one, too,” another of the ladies offered.
