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He walked out with a mumbled, “Screw you.”
It was his turn to slam the door. She felt the need to apologize, even though she had no idea why he was angry. She crossed the room on bare feet. Her hand reached for the doorknob. Hesitant to talk to him again, she froze. After a few minutes of deep thought, she went to bed instead. They were both wound too tightly to have a productive conversation. Maybe tomorrow.
Chapter Eight
The flight back to Montana was uneventful. Once again, Jared took a nap from takeoff to landing; Beth didn't have anyone to keep her company this time. Alice had stayed behind in Vegas to do a few things for Jared. Then she was going to fly to Boston to manage his household and visit her twin sister. He'd promised to return home in a day or two. That remark left Beth wondering what he planned to do in the meantime. Hopefully, he would keep his word and sign the ranch over to her before he discovered she wasn't pregnant.
It was still early morning when Jared drove them to the house in the same rental car as before, a sporty model in jet black. Every time she tried to start a conversation, he just grunted in return. When she turned on the radio to fill the car with something other than silence, he turned it off. The ride home seemed to take twice as long thanks to the awkward tension and the fact she wasn't looking forward to telling everyone at the ranch about the marriage. What was she going to say to them?
She absently played with the hanging end of the decorative cord on her pink blouse. Alice had bought it for her from the casino gift shop, something to wear home, so she wouldn't have to put the wedding gown back on. But that wasn't all. Alice brought her several articles of clothing to choose from, including a stunning fire-engine red dress. Beth didn't feel confident enough in her femininity to wear something like that in front of Jared. She'd asked Alice to return it.
Beth pulled on the fringed cord that looped around the blouse's scooped neckline. It pulled the material, making it pucker around her neck. She tugged on the neckline to loosen it and then pulled on the cord again. Over and over, she played with the string to keep her nervous fingers busy.
Stealing a glance at Jared, she noted his profile appeared carved in granite. He did not look happy. Another wave of regret washed over her. She should tell him the truth and put his mind at ease. There was no baby, so there was no reason for him to give her the ranch.
Her inner voice screamed at her for waiting too long. It was too late for confessions now. They were legally married. If she backed down at this point, he would sell the ranch and kick her out for sure.
Jared parked on the gravel lot directly in front of the house. He raced around the car to open the door for her as if they were a real couple. Confused, she took the offered hand and allowed him to walk her inside. The second the front door closed behind them, their trusted housekeeper of nearly three decades came charging out of the kitchen.
“What in the world happened to you?” Delta demanded. The petite redhead dried her hands on a dishtowel while glaring at Beth in the same way she had when she'd caught her sneaking out after midnight at age ten to check on her favorite horse. “I was worried sick about you,” Delta complained.
“Sorry,” Beth mumbled.
Delta turned her disapproving scowl in Jared's direction. “And what do you have to say for yourself, young man? You show up here after eight years and I don't even rate a hug?”
Jared's face relaxed in what appeared to be a genuine smile. The grin deepened the sexy dimples in his cheeks. He had to bend over to embrace the woman who had raised him like her own after the death of his mother. Beth hadn't been around for that, but she'd gotten the entire Wilder family history from Simon.
“Boy, don't they have food in Boston?” Delta asked, hands on hips. “You don't look like you've had a good meal since you moved away.”
“Honestly, I haven't had a decent home-cooked meal since the last time you fed me.”
Delta clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Well, good thing you came home then. About time, too. Get in that kitchen, and I'll fix you a good breakfast. Tonight, we'll have a feast of all your favorites.”
“Don't spoil me too much. I might not want to leave.”
Beth watched the exchange with mixed emotions. How could he be so blasted charming with Delta and be a complete jerk to her? She made one tiny mistake when she was sixteen, and he acted like he was going to hold it against her for the rest of her life. Couldn't he see how much she'd changed?
“I didn't think you would show for your brother's wedding,” Delta said. “Not that there was a wedding. Why are you back, hun?”
The innocent question wiped the smile off his face. He glanced Beth's way. Then he held up his left hand with obvious reluctance. “Got married.”
“Oh. My. Word!” Delta looked around him at the front door. “Where is she? Don't tell me you left her at a motel. I will skin you alive.”
Looking like he was about to march down the last mile on Death Row, he held Beth's hand up so the housekeeper could see the matching wedding band. All the color drained from Delta's face. The sight of the second ring robbed her of speech... but only for a moment.
“Have you both lost your ever-loving minds?” Delta's gaze bounced between them. “Why in tarnation would the two of you get hitched?”
Since the whole farce had been Jared’s idea, Beth decided to leave him to explain. She mumbled, “I need to check on the horses.”
Not fooled for a second, Delta gave her a withering look. “The boys have it under control. I doubt they need their boss looking over their shoulders.”
“I'm here, so I should check in and let them know I won't be taking tomorrow off.”
Jared groaned and rubbed his forehead, eyes closed. “Can you just give us the benefit of the doubt, Delta? Just for right now? We will explain everything later.”
“Oh, I can't wait to hear this.” Delta huffed as she walked away. She hesitated in the kitchen doorway. “Come on. I'm still gonna feed you, even though I'd like to take you over my knee right now. Of all the stupid ideas...”
Jared rolled his eyes before following the housekeeper to the kitchen, shoulders hunched. In a flash, Beth could picture him as a little boy. Adorable. She forgot how impossible he could be, but only for a second. The gold band on her left hand reminded her that he'd forced her into marriage.
