Chapter Seven

Rachel

Luke’s truck sat a little higher off the ground than the small car Rachel used to drive. She eyed the height with dismay and second-guessed the outfit she’d chosen to go to the lawyer’s office. A silk blouse, with a lacy bra that was barely visible and a pencil skirt that clung to her hips. Her girlfriends always commented on how well the skirt fit her. Anytime she walked into a room wearing her favorite skirt, every single man stopped talking mid-sentence… that’s what her friends claimed.

If Luke noticed, he gave no sign. He held the truck door open and smirked. “Should I lift you into the truck?”

The heels she wore offered a little more height, but not enough. She wanted to let him help her but the amusement in his voice rankled.

“I can manage just fine.”

She tried again and felt her skirt tighten across her backside. Luke stood behind her, one hand on the door and the other resting on the truck, caging her with his heroic build. The chuckle rumbling from his chest was anything but heroic.

“Almost got it,” he taunted, his voice low and rough. “Why don’t you try again, darlin’?”

“Fine, Luke,” she snapped. “Why don’t you just help me so we can get this over with?”

“As much as I’m enjoying watching you try to get into my truck with that sexy-as-hell skirt, I’m happy to get my hands on you, too.”

Before she could fire back a sharp reply, he settled his hands around her waist, grasping her gently but firmly. His heated touch burned her skin. Standing a few inches from her, the warmth of his body sent a wash of desire over her turbulent thoughts.

He tightened his hold and lifted her. When he set her on the seat, he leaned in closer and a growl rumbled deep in his chest. His behavior was far from appropriate. No man had ever been so free with his attention and touch, but she could hardly protest. She’d allowed him to do far more last night.

“Luke,” she whispered. “What if the other men see you?”

“They won’t. They’re out fixing fences. Damn, you smell fine.”

She should push him away. Instead she grasped a handful of his shirt, a crisply ironed, buttoned-down shirt and curled her fingers around the material. Closing her eyes, she rested her forehead against the steely span of his chest. She wished she could borrow some of his strength, steal a little of his resolute conviction.

“I hate uncertainty,” she said.

He cupped her jaw with a touch so tender it made her heart quake. In an instant, he’d gone from flirtatious to protective.

“It’ll be all right.” His voice was gentle. He gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek, lingered a moment longer and then pulled back. He smiled at her. “I suppose I’ll have to help you down from the truck, too?”

She nodded.

He grinned. “I might not mind being your foreman, after all.”

He shut the door, circled the truck and a moment later they were on the road to Colter Canyon. The trip passed uneventfully with him asking a few questions about teaching. She explained that she’d been drawn to education from her desire to reach the children who fell through the cracks.

“It just takes one teacher to make a difference,” she said, grateful to have something to talk about other than the will.

“That’s right. I can remember the teachers I had that really seemed to care.”

“I’d imagined starting summer camps at the ranch. One day, if I have the money, that would be what I’d do.”

They were stopped at a red light and she half-expected him to scoff at her words, but he gave her a thoughtful look and nodded.

“Sounds interesting.”

“I never told my grandfather about that.”

The rest of the way, they drove in silence. When they arrived at the lawyer’s office, Luke helped her out of the truck. This time he didn’t let his hands linger at her waist or whisper gently teasing words. There were people around and he was mindful of that, slipping into his gallant, gentlemanly manners as easily as he swung into a saddle.

He kept his hand on her lower back as he escorted her across the parking lot and into the office. The brass sign on the door held the names of several lawyers, as well as a judge. A shiver of worry trickled across her skin. Luke must have sensed it because he pressed his hand a little more firmly against the small of her back.

The receptionist smiled at them. “Good morning. Mr. Saunders is waiting for you.”

Jed’s lawyer, an elderly man whom Rachel had never met, introduced himself.

“Nice to finally meet you, Miss Wilson. Your grandfather always said fine things about you. That he was proud you’d studied education and put yourself through school.”

Rachel’s throat tightened. Her grandfather hadn’t ever said anything along those lines to her.

“That’s nice,” she said. To her dismay, her eyes prickled. She blinked them back.

“Don’t you cry, Rachel,” Luke drawled. “If you do, you’ll make me cry.”

The same teasing words he’d said on the ridge when they scattered Jed’s ashes, drew a smile to her lips now.

“I bet you never cry,” she said, shaking her head.

Luke smiled at her. Earlier, she’d worried about him coming along and perhaps causing trouble. Now, his presence reassured her. She let out a sigh and nodded at Mr. Saunders.

“My concern about the will is that I won’t have enough money to run the ranch. I feel a huge responsibility to my grandfather not to lose the ranch when I’ve barely received it. I want to be a good custodian of his ranch. You know, be worthy of the property. I’ve never been given anything of such value. Not even close.”

She was babbling. The words spilled from her lips but neither Luke nor Mr. Saunders acted like anything was wrong with her tumble of hopes and desires. Luke said nothing and Mr. Saunders gave her a sympathetic look.

“Of course, my dear. It’s a weighty responsibility. I questioned Jed about it, but he said the details of the will would ensure that you would have the guidance you needed. He worried about leaving the land to a woman, especially a woman with so little experience with livestock and property."

He paused as he leafed through the papers on his desk. A new twinge of worry hit her somewhere in the depths of her frantic thoughts.

“Details of the will?” she asked, her voice tremulous.

Mr. Saunders nodded his head. “You see, my dear, your grandfather wanted to be sure you were left with plenty of money, and there’s over two hundred thousand in the trust.”

The news should have come as a tremendous relief. Instead, Rachel heard the tentative tone of the man’s words.

“But…?” she asked.

“Jed insisted that to receive the land you should be married.”

Rachel gripped the armrest and leaned forward. “Excuse me?”

“Yes, married. Jed didn’t want to burden you with the business of managing cowboys and a foreman, along with all other responsibilities.”

“Married…?” she repeated.

Mr. Saunders cleared his throat and took off his glasses, setting them carefully on the desk. He folded his hands and gave her a taut smile.

“Jed’s will clearly states that if you wish to inherit the ranch, you’ll have to marry for a minimum of a year. To Mr. Luke Hardeman.”

“Luke Hardeman?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper. Slowly she turned to Luke and regarded him with shock. “You knew about this?”

He had the decency to look surprised, but he didn’t fool her. Not for a moment. His brows raised and after a long moment, he laughed and shook his head. A string of muttered curses flowed from his mouth as if the whole thing amused him.

“You and my grandfather planned this, didn’t you?”

Luke raised a hand. “Jed and I planned nothing, sweetheart.”

“I don’t believe you. That’s why you tried to seduce me last night, isn’t it?”

He smiled a slow, infuriating smile. “You mean when you came to my bed, saying you were afraid of thunderstorms?”

“You know when,” she spat. “Of course, I mean last night.”

Mr. Saunders coughed. “I think I’ll let you two discuss this topic while I step out for a moment. I do want to add that Judge Hopkins is ready to do the honors, should you decide to marry. If not, I will read the rest of the will to you, Miss Wilson, and you’ll have thirty days to vacate Jed’s home.”

“Vacate the home?” she asked. “What will happen to the ranch if I don’t marry Luke?”

“The ranch will be sold and the proceeds divided evenly between you and Mr. Hardeman.”

When Saunders left, Rachel got to her feet and stalked across the office to Luke’s chair. “You planned this. That’s why you did that to me last night, isn’t it?”

His gaze darkened. “Absolutely not. You were the one who crawled into my bed, or did you forget?”

 “You think I’m going to back out, don’t you?”

His gaze turned sultry. “I like the idea of being married to you, Rachel. You’re the first woman I’ve spent an entire night with.”

She looked away, unable to tolerate his smug smile or the way he acted like this wasn’t a complete disaster. Of course, he didn’t think it was a complete calamity. He had a ranch to gain and in the process, he’d have her at his beck and call. Something told her all his gallantry would fall to the wayside if she gave in and married him.

“Don’t worry. That won’t be happening again.” She gave him a wary look. “Not if I have any say in it.”

Luke shrugged. “I guess you’ll be safe from my attention, darlin’. I’m not the type of man who would try to ravish you, but what are you going to do the next time it goes to thunderstorming?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know what I’ll do, but I’m positive I won’t come to you for help.”

Luke seemed not to hear her insult. He rubbed his jaw. “Let’s see. If you and me get married, I get the ranch without spending a dime. And I get the boss lady in the bargain. I think I like the sound of that, Twenty-one.”

His tone made her want to scream and rage. “How can you be so calm about this?”

He shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. I never wanted to get married, but last night when I watched you sleep, I had the crazy notion that I didn’t want any other man to ever take care of you when you were scared.”

She drew a sharp breath. The angered expression fell away for an instant and she swayed a little. Then the hard look returned and she narrowed her eyes.

“I don’t believe that for a minute, but I’m not walking away from this arrangement, no matter how ridiculous this is. I won’t let you win.” Turning away from him, she went to the door and spoke to the receptionist. “Please tell Mr. Saunders that we’re ready to proceed with the vows.”