Page 38 of Willing to Wed the Rancher
He hesitated and then said the words he knew he must. “It should be easy to clear up the confusion.”
She lifted her lashes, her gaze guarded. “Do you really think so?”
“I can ride into town later and explain what happened yesterday.”
“You can tell everyone we don’t really have a common-law marriage.”
“Common law?” He wasn’t familiar with what that meant or the laws of Colorado or of America.
“The reverend said it’s legal now in Colorado to have a real marriage without a pastor or papers or anything. As long as the couple agrees that they’re married, then they are.” She was watching him carefully now, clearly trying to gauge his reaction to this news.
His mind was moving sluggishly, and all he could think about was the possibility that he might be married to Clarabelle—that she might be his wife and he might be her husband.
“The children told everyone we exchanged our vows... and that we kissed.”
He wanted to deny that the vows or kiss had meant anything to him, but when he’d been standing there in the forest yesterday speaking the words to love and cherish her until death parted them, he’d wanted his promise to mean something. On some level, he supposed he’d orchestrated everything because he wanted to have her.
Her wide eyes were full of innocence as she waited for him to present a solution to their current dilemma.
But what if he didn’t want to find a solution?
What if this woman was meant to be his? What if this meshing of their lives—of their magnetic fields—was inevitable? Perhaps he’d even been drawn across the continents and oceans for this very reason.
Or he was going crazy.
He exhaled a taut breath, pivoted away from her, and rubbed at the back of his neck. He was overthinking the situation, and he needed to do the honorable thing by correcting the misconception that he and Clarabelle were married.
“Not to make matters worse,” she said quietly, “but people were already spreading rumors about our being together.”
“I had heard the same.” From the sheriff. He hadn’t wanted to believe the sheriff, but obviously the situation with Clarabelle had escalated very quickly, and now he had to figure out a way to repair her reputation.
“I’m truly sorry, Franz.” Her voice held remorse. “I didn’t mean for things to get out of hand.”
“It is not your fault.” Before he could think of anything else to say to ease her mind, a winded Dieter stumbled into the barn, dragging Bianca with him. His eyes were frantic.
Franz’s pulse spiked, and his muscles tensed.
“The house.” Dieter gasped for a breath. “Someone broke in and made a mess of everything.”
14
Someone had been inside their home.
The thought pummeled through Clarabelle as she waited outside the door with the children. She had her arms around each one, tucking them safely against her body. Even so, Bianca hadn’t stopped shaking.
Franz had made his way slowly through the cabin, his pistol out and ready to fire, and was now rumbling around the loft where the children slept.
Clarabelle appreciated that he was taking precautions and trying to keep her and the children safe, but she suspected that whoever had ransacked the place was gone by now.
And it was ransacked. Every piece of furniture was overturned, cushions and pillows off, rugs thrown aside, drawers and trunks emptied, and even some of the floorboards had been pulled up.
Had Eric’s murderer been back and done this? Who else could it have been?
It had to have happened after she’d gone into town with the children this morning. She hated to think that meant someone had been watching her every move and had waited until she’d left before coming into the cabin.
On the one hand, she was relieved the break-in hadn’t occurred while they were home and could have been hurt. On the other hand, it meant Eric’s killer was nearby—or had been in the area again. And that was a frightening thought. Especially for the children, who’d only just stopped worrying about theirfather’s murder and the danger lurking around them. They hadn’t climbed trees and dropped blankets on visitors since Franz’s arrival.
But now... this would stir up their fears again.
