The Texas Rancher's Marriage

Looking resplendent in a dark suit, pale blue shirt and tie, Chase said, “Weddings can be anywhere you want.”

Merri rose and checked her own appearance in the mirror. She had covered her navy tea-length dress with a delicate white cardigan. After much deliberation, she’d left her hair down and added pearl earrings and a necklace. The overall affect was one of understated elegance.

Aware that Chase was checking her out, too, Merri turned away from the mirror. “And the hospital chapel is kind of a church, honey—it’s just a small, cozy one.” And, she added silently, the most logical place for the ceremony to occur on such short notice.

Merri bent to help Jeffrey put on his jacket.

“Can we go milk the cows?” he asked, obediently sliding his hands into the navy sport coat.

“Yeah, I want to see Bessie and Blackie and Benjamen,” Jessalyn declared, twirling around, her arms outstretched.

Chase sent Merri a baffled look. Knowing now was not the time to get into that, she focused on the twins. “We’ll do that another time,” she promised vaguely. Turning to Chase, she asked, “Ready?”

He nodded. Together, the four of them left the ranch house and headed for town. The hospital chaplain was waiting for them, as promised. As were their witnesses—

pediatric surgeon Paige Chamberlain-McCabe and her husband, Kurt.

Paige, who’d gone to medical school with Chase, hugged him hard. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you, soldier?” she murmured.

He grinned. And keeping to the arrangement Merri and he had decided upon, which was to keep their reasons private to protect the twins from scandal, he gestured expansively. “What can I say? The heart wants what the heart wants.”

Wasn’t that the truth, Merri thought, as she and Chase stood before the chaplain.

The ceremony began, the words familiar, but the man beside her little more than a distant, casual friend. More than once Merri wondered if they were making a mistake. But all she had to do was look at the children, standing trustingly beside them, and know that she and Chase were doing what was best for Jeffrey and Jessalyn. And in the end, wasn’t that all that really mattered? Seeing that the kids didn’t suffer for mistakes made by others years ago?

Finally, with vows exchanged and rings on their fingers, the ceremony was complete. “Chase, you may kiss your bride,” the chaplain said.

And he did.

* * *

CHASE HADN’T MEANT TO GIVE Merri more than a peck on the lips, but with everyone standing there, watching, the adults with more than a little skepticism, he decided to take the plunge and give it his all.

Wrapping one arm around her shoulders, his other her waist, he drew her against him. She lifted her face and he lowered his. As contact was made, potent desire roared through him. She caught her breath and gave a little sound that was half murmur, half moan. Her unbidden response compelled him to draw her closer still, allowing the passion zinging through him to dictate the pressure and the pace. Only the fact that they had an audience made him put on the brakes.

Slowly, he released her. Merri stared up at him, dazed. He felt the same shock and amazement.

Kurt cleared his throat. “Wow,” Chase’s old pal murmured. “This is for real.”

It certainly felt that way, Chase realized. He just wasn’t sure if the chemistry between Merri and him was going to make things easier or harder in the days and months ahead.

A hospital volunteer appeared in the doorway of the chapel. “There you are, Dr. Armstrong! I heard you were here. These came for you!” The pink-coated woman rushed forward, a big autumn floral arrangement clasped in her arms. In the center was a large envelope with Chase’s name written on it.

Jeffrey tugged on Chase’s jacket. “Is that a present?”

“Open it!” Jessalyn demanded, crowding in, too.

Chase broke the seal, and pulled out a card.

It featured an eight-by-ten glossy photograph, not the kind that any groom should be receiving on his wedding day. As his “wife” looked over his shoulder, she seemed to agree.

* * *

“WOW,” MERRI MURMURED in shock.

Half a dozen young women were gathered in what looked to be a field hospital. All were clad in desert fatigues, boots and T-shirts. All were holding signs.

“What does it say?” Jessalyn demanded.

“Yeah, Mommy, read it,” Jeffrey chimed in.

“Well, it says ‘We love you, Chase. Miss you already! Can’t believe you actually left us! Holidays are meant to be shared! Texas equals home and home is where the heart is.’ And last but not least…” Merri read the sign held up by a particularly beautiful brunette. “‘We hate that you left us, but…see you soon!’”

She turned to Chase. “Got quite a cast of admirers there,” she drawled.

He grinned good-naturedly. “They like to tease me, that’s for sure.”

As long as teasing was all they were doing, Merri thought irritably.

“Where should I put them?” the volunteer asked. “Your office…?”

“Sure you don’t want to take them home with us?” Merri asked tartly.

“Actually,” Chase said, keeping the photo, and giving back the floral arrangement, “why don’t you set this in the lobby? That way, everyone can enjoy it.”

“Good idea.” Smiling, the volunteer walked out, vase in hand.

Kate Marten-McCabe came in with a young nursing student at her side. Head of the hospital grief counseling services for the last thirty years, Kate was beautiful, kind and direct to a fault. “Chase, Merri, good to see you.” She knelt by the twins with a charismatic smile. “I need to talk to the bride and groom. And it’s grown-up talk.” Kate made a face. The kids giggled and wrinkled their noses back at her. “How would you two like to go down to the playroom in pediatrics for a few minutes? We have a lot of fun toys, and Sally here—” Kate pointed to the nursing student

“—would love to show them to you.”

When Jessalyn and Jeffrey nodded, Kate looked at the newlyweds. “Is this okay with you?”

Aware that whatever this entailed was definitely not for children’s ears, they assented. After the kids took off with Sally, Chase and Merri followed Kate into her office.

The grief counselor sat down behind her desk. “Luke Carrigan, the chief of staff, asked me to speak with you. There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll be blunt. He heard about the marriage and he’s concerned.”

Chase frowned, clearly taken aback. “Because…?”

Compassion lit Kate’s kind eyes. “You’ve just returned from a very stressful situation. And he wants to make sure you’re not suffering from any kind of post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Chase blinked, a little stunned by the assertion. He reached over and took Merri’s hand, letting her know he was more than capable of handling this concern on their behalf. “I was never wounded. Or captured.”

With a cajoling smile, Kate continued, “But you dealt with people who were.... And there are family deaths you never really had a chance to deal with, all of which could combine to make you do things that you wouldn’t normally.”

“I didn’t marry Merri out of any reaction to that,” Chase said, confident as ever.

The grief counselor relaxed. “I’m glad to hear it.”