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“His cabin. Said he needed to set the traps for One Eye. I think he just went to pout because I’m marrying over his objections.”
“Here they come!” someone shouted.
The crowd in front of the bower parted and the fiddlers started in on the sweet strains of “Amazing Grace.”
Colt turned to see his daughter solemnly walking towards him holding a small bouquet of wildflowers. In her red dress, and her hair threaded through with ribbons, she was so beautiful his chest hurt. He’d never seen the dress before and wondered where she’d gotten it, but further contemplation was cut short by the appearance of his sister. The dark burgundy off-shoulder gown with its fashionable overskirts transformed Spring from a rancher to a woman who’d just stepped out of a back East drawing room. Her raven black hair was pinned up, offering an unhindered view of her stunning face. The fiddlers paused. The locals hooted and hollered. The smiling Spring paused, did a slow turn so everyone could get a good look, and continued her walk to Anna’s side.
A hush fell, and as the fiddlers began again, there was Regan Carmichael walking to the bower like a queen to her coronation. Colt stopped breathing.
“My God,” Whit whispered. “Would you look at that woman!”
Colt could do nothing but look—at her gown, her hair, her dark beauty, the confidence with which she moved. Her eyes were locked on his and the little smile she shot him immediately made him hard as a post.Jesus!
The crowd seemed equally stunned. The silence was so thick, one could hear the wind in the trees.
When she came to stand at his side, a shaken Colt acknowledged her with a nod, and turned his attention to Whit, while the faint, sensual scent of her perfume snared him like a siren’s song and added to the heart attack he swore he was in the throes of.
Blessedly, the ceremony was short. She spoke her responses with clarity and ease. He on the other hand, stumbled, causing someone to yell out, “We understand, Doc! Take a deep breath!” Which of course made everyone laugh.
Finally, Whit said, “I now pronounce you man and wife.”
His bride turned his way. He knew she and the onlookers were expecting the traditional kiss. Instead, Colt took her hand and pressed his lips against the back.
Spring chuckled. “Coward.”
He ignored her, but ignoring the amusement in his new wife’s eyes was impossible. It was as though she knew he was struggling with his aplomb and was enjoying herself like a cat playing with a mouse.
For the next few hours, the newlyweds with Anna between them mingled and accepted congratulations. Colt noted how at ease Regan seemed meeting everyone. She laughed, shook hands, listened attentively to everything folks had to say, and genuinely charmed her way from one side of the crowd to the other. To his amazement, she even hiked up that fancy gown to toss horseshoes. And of course, she threw ringers, which made the onlookers roar.
“Quite an interesting wife you have there, Colton.” He turned from the horseshoe contest to see Colleen Enright standing beside him. “Can you imagine your Adele conducting herself so—so crudely?”
“Regan isn’t Adele, and there’s nothing crude about tossing horseshoes.” He watched Regan hit yet another ringer. More cheers rang out. Standing by the pit, Anna clapped happily.
Colleen’s voice dripped with disdain. “She’s standing in the pit in her stocking feet. No lady does that. I would’ve made you a more cultured wife.”
He refused to respond. Instead, upon noticing his sister waving to him, he said, “If you’ll excuse me, I need to collect Regan and Anna. I see Spring and Lacy have brought out the cake.” He walked away.
When her husband came to collect her so they could cut the cake, Regan was a bit saddened. She loved pitching horseshoes and she’d had fun bantering with her competitors and the people watching. Stepping out of the pit, she brushed the sand from her stockings and stepped back into her shoes. Only then did it occur to her that she may have embarrassed him with her unbridelike behavior. His dark eyes, always watchful, revealed nothing. Anna who hadn’t strayed far from Regan’s side asked, “Can you teach me to play horseshoes?”
“Sure can. When do you wish to start?”
Anna looked to her father, who replied, “How about we eat cake first and talk about horseshoes later?”
She nodded enthusiastically.
Regan took one of Anna’s small hands, Colton took the other, and they joined the crowd heading to the final event of the day.
Chapter Six
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many pies,” Regan said as she and Colt entered the house after everyone had gone home.
“Neither have I. Lacy must’ve had every woman in the Territory contribute.”
The wedding cake wasn’t large enough to feed everyone. To make up for the lack, there’d been dozens of pies of every variety and size. When those gathered had their fill, the reception began breaking up and people said their good-byes to the newlyweds and headed home. Spring offered to take Anna with her for the night, which pleased the child to no end, even though her father looked conflicted. With Ben away, this was the newlyweds’ first opportunity to be alone as man and wife. Regan didn’t know what the rest of the evening would entail. Since speaking his vows, he’d offered nothing in the way of affection, which she supposed was to be expected. As he’d pointed out, theirs wasn’t a love match.
“So, shall I meet you in your room—my room? I assume you’d like to get the consummation taken care of.”
Again, the watchful eyes. Again, she couldn’t tell what he might be thinking. She did know he wasn’t as stoic as he appeared. Her walk to meet him at the bower had knocked him to his knees just as she’d predicted.
