Finally a Bride

Their gazes locked.

Her mouth went dry as dust. He was so unbelievably dashing, standing with that relaxed looseness he’d earned from years of riding the range on his family’s ranch.

They continued to stare at one another.

The bristling intensity of the moment seemed too deep to fathom. Garrett had a look on his face she hardly recognized. He was absolutely...furious. Furious, with her.

But why? What had she done?

Nothing, that’s what, which meant he was upset about something else, something that couldn’t possibly have to do with her. And yet, he was glaring at her as though she’d done him precise harm.

She lifted her chin, refusing to cower. Or be the one to break the silence first.

“What? No suitors clamoring for your attention this afternoon, no hordes of men enthralled by your startling wit?” He looked her over with an insolent, thorough glance. “You’re losing your touch, Molly.”

The aggravation in his voice slid a chill across the base of her spine. What had brought on this dark mood of his? Since when did Garrett care if she had admirers? So shocked by his behavior, it required several attempts before she could respond calmly. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t you?” His lips twisted. “We both know you take great delight in leading men around by the nose, then casting them aside when you’re through with them.”

“I most certainly do not.” Now he was just being mean. And that wasn’t like Garrett, past or present.

Why this antagonism? It seemed so...so...personal. There hadn’t been anything personal between them in years.

As the daughter of a seasoned lawman, Molly knew when to stand and fight, and when to beat a tactical retreat. The latter was in order, but Garrett still held her.

“Let me go,” she whispered, keeping her voice free of emotion. “Please.”

His hands abruptly released her. Palms facing forward, Garrett stepped back, though he kept his gaze locked with hers, watching her closely. “Where’s Mrs. Singletary?”

“Having tea with a friend.”

“Ah.” The answer seemed to satisfy him, but the anger was still there, simmering just beneath the surface.

She found her own anger rising to meet his. “I fear I am one full step behind. Tell me.” She kept her voice even, her tone as cool as his. “What have I done to offend you?”

Pulling in a deep breath, he looked away. She saw the conflict in him, the rough tug of emotion he struggled to keep under control. He shifted his stance. Shadows from the awning overhead curtained his face, hiding his eyes from her now.

“Fanny has broken off her engagement with Reese.”

“She—” Molly’s hand flew to her throat “—what?”

“You heard me.”

No. No, no, no. That couldn’t be true. It just couldn’t. Thinking back to their last conversation, she sought to recall every word that had passed between them.

What had she said to her friend? Surely, Fanny hadn’t misunderstood her advice. “I need to speak with her.”

She set out down the sidewalk.

Garrett stopped her with a light grip on her arm. “She won’t see you.” He released his hold when she glanced pointedly at his hand. “Even Callie can’t get her to come out of her room and talk this over rationally.”

This was awful, absolutely terrible and so unlike her friend.

“Oh, Fanny,” Molly whispered softly. “What have you done?”

“What do you think she’s done? She’s followed your lead.”

Garrett blamed her for this? “I would never wish the pain of a broken engagement on anyone, not ever.”

“Is that so?” He didn’t seem convinced. “Then why did Fanny tell Reese that their union didn’t...add up?”

His words wrapped around her, replacing her previous sense of outrage with bone-deep guilt. “She...she actually said that, that she thought they didn’t...add up?”

“Let me guess.” Garrett towered over her, glaring down from his superior height. “You gave her one of your formulas to apply to her situation.”

Molly stiffened, but didn’t deny the accusation. She kept her head high, while her mind raced back to the alcove in the law firm.

You’re perfect for one another, she’d said to her friend. Fanny had agreed quickly, perhaps a bit too quickly. And then she’d said something altogether off-putting. So everyone keeps telling me.

Such a revealing response, and yet Molly hadn’t made the connection, not completely.

“What was the equation you gave her?” Garrett asked, his voice disturbingly patient. “I need to know exactly what you said if I’m going to fix this for her.”

Molly lifted her chin even higher. “I gave her a simple equation, with only four variables.”

“Four variables,” he repeated, his gaze softening for a split second as he inched closer. “Only four, like always?”

“Yes, like always.”

Her stomach did a slow, spiraling somersault. She remembered the times they used to walk the rugged land, hand in hand, discussing their plans for the future. It hurt to realize how close they’d once been and yet how far apart they were now. Their chance at happiness had come and gone, in its place only long intervals of loneliness.

“What were the variables?” Not waiting for her answer, he stepped back, looking pensive. She’d seen him like this too many times not to recognize that he was in planning mode.

At least his anger had dissipated a bit.

Sighing, Molly wrapped her arms tightly around her waist. “I told her to start with prayer.”

“A wise beginning,” he admitted, a bit reluctantly if his grudging tone was anything to go by.

“Then I said she should spend time in the Bible.”

“Sound advice.” He released a jagged breath. “And the third variable?”

“Trust in the Lord’s guidance, of course.”

“Of course.” He almost smiled at her then, not quite but almost. It gave her the courage to continue.

“And, lastly,” she squared her shoulders, “I told her...”