Society Bride

So all Renee could manage in response to Kate’s admonition was a softly uttered, “Excuse me?”

“Kelly’s worried about you, dear,” Kate said. “As any good friend would be. She’s afraid you’re making a colossal error in not marrying for love, one you’ll live to regret.”

Before Renee had a chance to object, Kate, evidently having read her thoughts, hurried on. “Yes, I know, Kelly was in much the same boat, having married for reasons other than love herself. Which is why she knows what’s in store for you if you make the wrong decision. Why don’t you tell me all about it?”

Renee knew that was the last thing she could do. Kate was a nice woman, and she seemed to genuinely care about what Renee was going through, but this wasn’t a conversation to have with someone who wasn’t a close friend or family member. Kate was a local icon and a massively successful businesswoman, the last kind of person Renee would think of turning to when it came to girl talk.

In spite of that, however, she heard herself say, “Mrs. Fortune, what do you think is more important? Family obligation or true love?”

Kate offered her a knowing smile. “Well, certainly it’s no secret how important I think family is. But that true love business, well… There’s a reason poets and troubadours have stayed in business for thousands of years.”

Renee thought about that, then said, “But lawyers and accountants have stayed in business for a long time, too, working out the details of marriages that take place for economic and social reasons.”

“True,” Kate conceded. “But they don’t have as much of that kind of work as they used to.”

“Neither do the poets and troubadours,” Renee pointed out.

Kate didn’t disagree. What she did say was, “You don’t love the man you’re going to marry, do you?”

“No,” Renee replied without hesitation, knowing there was no point in denying that. “I don’t love him. But he’s a good man, and the arrangement will benefit my family.”

Kate nodded. “And you think that’s very important.”

“Yes. I do. And in time, it’s possible that I could come to love him.” Unfortunately, Renee didn’t utter the words with quite the conviction she had hoped to. She didn’t quite feel the conviction she had hoped to, either.

“Is your obligation to your family more important than your own happiness?” Kate asked.

That, unfortunately, Renee couldn’t answer. Because deep down, she did not know the answer. So she remained silent.

Kate watched her closely for a long time, then reached for her handbag. As she opened it and searched through its contents, she told Renee, “I think you have a lot of thinking to do, and I think you need some time—and some distance—that would allow you to do it.”

Renee shook her head. “I don’t have any time. The wedding is only a week away.”

Without looking up, Kate told her, “All kinds of things can happen in a week, Renee. All kinds of things.”

“I don’t know, Mrs. Fortune, I—”

“Aha,” Kate said, cutting her off. “Here they are.” With a dramatic jangle, she withdrew a ring of keys and searched it quickly before deftly removing one. Then, with what Renee could only call a twinkle in her eye, she extended it.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“The key to happiness,” Kate said cryptically.

Renee smiled nervously. “I don’t understand.”

“You need some time to think,” the other woman reiterated, “and you need a quiet place to do it. I just happen to have such a place at my disposal. I’ve used it myself on a number of occasions when I’ve needed to get away to gather my thoughts and make big decisions. And I frequently loan it to friends who find themselves in a similar position.”

“And where would this place be?” Renee asked warily.

Kate smiled. “Wyoming.”

“Wyoming?” Renee echoed incredulously. “I can’t go to Wyoming. I’m getting married in a week.”

Kate arched one elegant brow inquisitively. “Are you, dear?”

Renee swallowed hard and somehow forced herself to nod.

“Then consider this my wedding present to you,” Kate said. “Some time away before the big event, to rest and relax and prepare yourself for the lifelong journey that awaits you upon your return.”

Oh, God, Renee thought. She didn’t like the sound of that at all. A lifelong journey.

“Mrs. Fortune, I appreciate the offer, but—”

“But what, dear?”

Renee sighed fitfully. “I can’t go. I have too many things to do here.”

“Such as?”

“Well, there’s…um…”

Actually, even though the wedding was only a week away, there really wasn’t that much for her to do. Lyle had insisted on a small wedding, because a large one would be too time-consuming and his work hours would prohibit him from participating. Renee hadn’t disagreed. Their guest list barely numbered two dozen. They were planning to marry at his mother’s house, and Mrs. Norton was taking care of all the arrangements. The caterer, musicians, photographer, florist, everyone was lined up and ready to go. All that was left was for everyone to show up on time, Renee included.

Now why had she thought that? she wondered. Of course she would be showing up on time. All Mrs. Fortune was saying was that she should get away from the stress of wedding planning for a little while, to relax and enjoy her final days as a single woman. And why did the phrase “final days” have such a fatal ring to it, as if she’d been bound over for execution?

Renee knew she could use a small rest—even a short one. She did feel more exhausted lately than she should, and entering a marriage fatigued wasn’t a good idea. And what better way to rest than by traveling to a place where she didn’t know anyone, where no one knew her, where she would have no obligations, no responsibilities, no requirements save taking it easy?

She didn’t have to stay long, she told herself. Only a few days, long enough to reassure herself that she was making the right decision. Because marrying Lyle, she was sure, was indeed the right decision.

The timing of Kate’s offer was actually very good. Lyle was out of town again—on business, naturally—and wouldn’t be returning until the day before the wedding. The rest would do Renee good. She hadn’t been sleeping well at all, thanks to all those dreams about Garrett.

Without realizing she had agreed to take Kate up on the offer, Renee found herself reaching slowly for the key the woman held out to her. But before she could grasp it, Kate released it, and the key fell easily right into the palm of Renee’s hand.

“You’ll be going to the Final Destination Ranch in Last Resort, Wyoming,” Kate said with a smile.

Gee, could there possibly be anything more symbolic than that? Renee wondered.

“There’s a little guest cabin on the property that’s removed from the main house,” Kate continued. “It’s private and quiet, and perfect for your needs. I’ll call the manager this afternoon and tell him to expect you this evening.”

“This evening?” Renee echoed. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly leave today. I have to go home and pack, tell my father and Lyle where I’m going and—”

“I’ll tell your father,” Kate volunteered. “It’s been ages since I spoke to him, and this will give me the perfect excuse to call. Then he can tell your fiancé.”

Renee opened her mouth to object, but Kate hurried on before she had a chance.

“And you need pack only the barest essentials. Everything you could ever need or want in life is on that ranch. Trust me.”

“But I have to make travel arrangements and—”