Читать книгу Yellow Rose Bride - Lori Copeland - Страница 11

The night Adam married Vonnie Taylor he knew she was all he’d ever wanted from life. She’d looked so pretty in the flickering flames of the judge’s campfire; he had thanked God over and over that she had taken vows to be his for the rest of their lives.

They’d ridden away together. Mr. and Mrs. Adam Baldwin. Just saying the words in his mind had thrilled him. An hour later they’d reached the boardinghouse that sat at the edge of a crossroads. The border town had a store, a church, a one-room school, a stable, three bars. Not much.

The aged lady, wearing a long gown and nightcap, who answered their knock was put out by their late arrival. They had to shout to make her understand they wanted a room for the night.

“You want what? Supper’s over!”

“We don’t need supper. We need a place to stay,” Adam shouted. “A room.”

“A broom! What do you want with a broom?”

“A place to sleep,” Vonnie offered, pantomiming sleeping by tilting her head and folding her hands against her cheek.

“We just got married!” Adam said.

She frowned. “Buried!”

Finally the old woman understood, directing them to a tiny but cozy room on the second floor of the two-story clapboard structure. Vonnie had climbed the stairs in silence. Once inside the room she had stood with her back to the door, looking as frightened as someone who suddenly had found herself on the edge of a cliff—and looking incredibly young, as well. He didn’t feel all that old or wise at the moment.

He had gently turned her to face him, drawing her into his arms. He’d kissed her, but for once she didn’t respond. Instead, she seemed reluctant…uncertain.

“What’s wrong? Tell me.”

“Oh, Adam. We’re really married?” Her slender body shook with emotion.

“That’s right, we’re married. Forever.” He held her tighter, liking the thought. Forever.

She shook her head. “What have we done? Oh, Adam, we’re in bad trouble.”

He suddenly realized the enormity of their actions. He swallowed, wishing he could reassure her, but he didn’t feel very sure himself. “It’s all right, darlin’. We’ll go tell our parents right now.”

“We can’t tell your father! P.K. will rip my hide right off and render me in hot oil. Oh, my stars! What are we going to do?” She broke free of his embrace, wringing her hands.

“It’ll be all right. I…I love you. Everything will work out. P.K. and Teague will be mad—”

“Mad? Adam, mad? They’ll be furious.”

She bit her lower lip so hard he thought she’d bite it clean through. He tried to console her but she resisted.

“We’re married. There’s nothing they can do.”

“Adam, I’m scared. Daddy will have the marriage annulled.”

“I won’t let him.” He tried to take her into his arms, but she pushed him away. She suddenly seemed distant, not at all like the sweet angel he’d married.

“No, Adam. We’ve made a terrible mistake.”

“Calm down.” Panic rose in his throat. She stood against the door, trembling, her eyes shining with tears.

“They can never know,” she said.

Her eyes had met his and he would have done anything to erase the fear and remorse he saw. “Stop acting like this. You’re making me crazy.”

“They can never know,” she repeated. “We’ll pretend it never happened.”

The meaning of her words had gradually sunk in. Adam frowned. “Pretend we didn’t get married?”

“It’s the only answer. No one has to know, Adam, except us. Daddy can’t know—he’d be so disappointed in me.”

“We love each other.”

“We’re too young to love each other,” she said. “Daddy will have your hide. I’m too young to get married. So are you.”

Disbelief had settled over Adam. “You’re more worried about what your father will think than how I feel?”

She shook her head wildly. “I’m worried about you, Adam. I mean it—Daddy will be wild with rage.”

“I agree he doesn’t like the Baldwins…”

“He hates the Baldwins—your father hates the Taylors.”

“We both knew that when we got married.” His voice had started to rise. What was she doing? Fear coursed through him. “Why didn’t that bother you before we got married?”

She had blinked up at him, tears soaking her lashes. Burying her face in her hands, she’d cried harder.

He glared at her. “Is that your answer? To bawl?”

“I can’t face Daddy and tell him I married you. I can’t.”

Adam heaved a sigh of pure frustration. “You’re such a daddy’s girl you’d forfeit my love for his pride?”

Nodding, she sobbed harder.

Something had snapped inside of him. Furious that she would leave him now—now when they had risked everything to be together. He refused to look at her.

“You can stop crying. I’m taking you home.” He didn’t try to keep the contempt from his voice.

“I’m…so…sorry.”

Turning on his heel, he had left the room. Sorry? She wouldn’t have a chance to humiliate a Baldwin a second time.

Shortly after that, P.K. was thrown from his horse during roundup and trampled. His leg was badly injured, and he required complete bed rest. It had been weeks before he was able to ride again. During that time, Adam had been forced to take charge. In a sense it had been a good thing. Long hours and hard work had kept his mind off Vonnie.

From that time on, Vonnie went out of her way to avoid him. Even in church, she sat as far away from him as she could and disappeared as soon as the last amen was uttered. He finally stopped going to services, because seeing her only fueled his anger.

Before he knew it, nearly two years had passed. Vonnie had perfected her talent for sewing and soon was the most sought after seamstress for her remarkable gowns.

One hot night, he found himself alone with her at a church function. By then there was nothing to say about the past, about the one night that was etched permanently into their memory. Like the Baldwins and Taylors, they pointedly ignored each other.

It was as if the marriage had never taken place.

Adam leaned his head back against the chair, recalling the brief ceremony. He’d managed to get her home without being seen and the next morning he had talked to Judge Clive Henderson, who had given him a tongue-lashing, the memory of which still stung. After he’d calmed down, Clive had agreed to arrange for the annulment and promised to take the secret to his grave. So far he had kept his promise.

The room was quiet except for the buzzing of a blue-bottle fly. Adam focused on the question he had tried hard to ignore. Why did he have such a difficult time forgetting that firelight wedding ceremony and the pride and love he’d felt in his bride? He had another wedding in his future. This one would take place in a church where there would be guests and flowers and a proper preacher. Beth would make a beautiful bride, and later, she would keep a fine home, make a loving mother and a caring wife. So why was he still thinking about the one woman he couldn’t forget?