Page 22 of Montana Groom of Convenience (Montana Cowboys #5)

She jerked about to face him. “For what?”

“For how you are with Jill.” He grinned. “For being a better cook than me.” His smile shifted into a considering look. “For everything.”

She tried to think, but her brain was stuck, frozen by the way his eyes shifted from one shade of blue-green to another as he spoke.

As if they responded to something inside.

If only she could know for certain what it was.

She guessed it was surprise, even pleasure, at how well their first few days of marriage had gone.

His gratitude left her dry-mouthed. Finally, she was able to get some words out.

“I’ve only been doing what we agreed upon.

” She hoped he had accepted that she would be doing ranch work because she didn’t want to upset this sense of accord by having to make it clear to him.

Sawyer sat on the wagon seat with Carly at his side.

Father Morrison and Jill sat behind. He smiled inwardly.

This would be his first appearance in public with a wife.

He studied her out of the corner of his eyes.

She wore a dark blue dress and had her hair done up in a loose roll about her head.

It peeked out from under her Sunday bonnet.

His wife. It still felt strange to say that.

They arrived in Bella Creek and stopped at the church.

Annie ran out to greet Carly. “I still can’t believe you’re married.”

Grandfather Marshall nodded from the step as Father Morrison hobbled toward him.

The rest of the Marshall family waved a greeting as they entered the church.

A murmur followed them as Carly led them down the aisle after her father.

Jill sat beside him, leaving Carly and Sawyer to sit together.

As well they should, he supposed as man and wife.

Preacher Hugh welcomed the congregation. “I have a special announcement today. I’d like to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer Gallagher. Would you please stand?”

Carly frowned, then jerked to her feet. Sawyer stood as well. Carly’s smile looked as plastered on as his. “Thank you,” he murmured to the applause. He noticed many surprised looks.

Carly sat down and jerked his hand to sit as well.

He felt like the world moved through a dense fog.

The preacher’s words echoed. The songs the congregation sang seemed distant and he heard barely a word of the sermon.

Their marriage was public knowledge now.

Somehow, that changed things, people would have expectations of them as a couple.

Could he live up to those expectations? It didn’t seem likely, seeing as their marriage was a fraud.

But then, the only people who needed to be concerned about that were he and Carly and they had agreed on the matter.

What did it matter what others thought? He’d long ago decided not to let such things bother him.

He relaxed and sat back. So far, he had no reason to complain about the arrangement between himself and Carly. In fact, he’d enjoyed many parts of it.

He didn’t realize he sat grinning to himself until the preacher said amen, and Carly whispered, “What’s so amusing?”

“Later,” he whispered back, then realized he couldn’t tell Carly why he smiled. “Nothing.”

Conner and Kate hurried toward them after the service. “Come to the ranch. We’re all going to be there.” They included Sawyer and Carly in their invitation.

He waited for Carly to choose .

She turned her face to him. “It’s up to you. What do you want to do?”

His heart glowed that she’d consulted him. “What would you do if I wasn’t here?”

She gave a little shrug. “I used to always go to their place after church. But that kind of ended when Annie got married.”

Annie crowded to her side. “Hugh and I are going, too. It will be like old times.”

Carly continued to look at Sawyer, waiting for his answer. “I don’t mind going if that’s what you’d like,” he said.

Her eyes smiled. “I’d like it.”

“What about Jill and Father?”

Her eyebrows jerked upward, and he realized it was the first time he had called Mr. Morrison Father.

“Oh, you must bring them as well,” Kate said. “Everyone would be disappointed if they didn’t come.”

A short time later, the four of them drove to the Marshall Five Ranch. He’d never been there and looked about with interest. Two houses, a much bigger barn than the one at the Morrison Ranch, and more outbuildings.

“They are a bigger operation,” Carly said as if reading his mind. “There’s Grandfather, Grandpa Bud, and Annie’s three brothers plus half a dozen cowboys on this place.”

“Just you and me at the Morrison place.”

She grinned. “That’s right. Just Sawyer and Carly.”

He looked at her, revealing nothing of the way his heart swelled at the way her smile acknowledged his statement .

“We’ve decided it’s time for the first picnic of the season,” Dawson said as they drew to a halt in the yard.

At the ranch house, the women all sprang into action, packing up food that had been prepared ahead of time.

Sawyer hung back with the men until everyone was ready and then helped carry the food, blankets, and a few cushions. Father Morrison and Grandfather Marshall waved them off.

“They’ll enjoy another visit,” Carly assured him when he wondered if someone should stay with them. “There are men hanging about if they need anything.”

In fact, a weathered old man watched them depart, and the Marshalls waved goodbye to him, calling him Jimbo.

They traipsed to the nearby creek, a much gentler flow of water than the river running through the Morrison Ranch. A gentle grassy slope slanted toward the creek. The others seemed to know where they were going and continued on for a few yards.

The children ran ahead, Jill and Mattie side by side.

“It’s good to see her making friends,” Carly said.

“She’s feeling safe enough to let herself start caring.” He knew as soon as he said the words that it would spark interest.

They had fallen behind the others, so thankfully, Carly was the only one who heard him. She slowed and turned and studied him. He pretended a great interest in the grassy field on which they walked.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

He darted a glance at her. That was all?

Her study continued. “I see a difference in you, too. Does that mean you are starting to let yourself care? ”

“Different? How?” He wouldn’t admit he felt different. Nor could he explain in what way. Most certainly he was sure it didn’t mean he cared. That was not part of the agreement.

“When I first met you a week ago?—”

“Not a week yet.”

She waved aside his protest. “Close enough. A week ago, you never showed any emotion in your face. Do you remember you told me you didn’t feel anything?”

“I remember.” It seemed a lifetime ago.

“Now you smile and laugh readily, though sometimes you wear that solid mask again.” She grinned.

“Like now. I haven’t figured out if it’s because you don’t feel anything or if you are afraid to trust your feelings.

” They stopped walking and considered each other.

He couldn’t say what she sought any more than he could say what he looked for in her eyes.

Except he hoped she would say something that made him comfortable with his feelings.

“I believe, however, that it’s the latter. You’re afraid of your feelings. Or of trusting people to value you and your feelings.” She nodded, satisfied with her conclusions.

He walked on. She kept pace with him.

“Are you going to admit it?”

“Sure, if that’s what you want.”

She gave him a playful shove. “I want honesty.”

He stumbled away and faced her, doing his best to look stern while his insides bounced with an unfamiliar sense of adventure and play. He took a step toward her and another until she tipped her head back to meet his gaze. “Exactly how honest do you want me to be? ”

She swallowed hard. “Completely.”

He took in her wide, dark eyes, the way her tongue skimmed her lips, the beat of her pulse in the V of her neck.

Complete honesty would mean confessing he found her attractive and appealing at that moment.

Not just physically, though she was a beautiful woman, but he saw her caring heart, her commitment to doing what she thought was right.

His gaze lingered on her mouth.

She leaned closer.

He shook his head. “I don’t think you want complete honesty.” For certain, he wasn’t ready for it.

She jammed her fists to her hips. “Of course I do.”

“Well, you’ve had it. I’ve been totally honest with you from our first meeting.” Except things had changed. He clamped down on his back teeth. He only wanted a home for Jill. Nothing more.

“Hey, you two,” Hugh called. “Are you coming?”

Carly made a disapproving sound and hurried toward the others.

Sawyer lengthened his stride to keep pace with her. “Carly?” He didn’t want her angry at him.

She glanced over her shoulder. “Never mind, Sawyer. We made an agreement, and I mean to hold up my end of it.”

“As do I.” Which meant pushing back those fledgling, demanding feelings. It should be easy. He’d done it for years. Except it wasn’t easy. And a part of him didn’t want to dismiss them. He’d made a deal, though, and his honor depended on keeping his word.

Yet a little thought refused to be silenced. What would Carly say if he admitted his changing feelings? Would she be displeased or otherwise?