Clay picked up the marriage license and stood up. The first thing he’d do was to see if this was authentic. He
never
drank so much that he didn’t know what he was doing. Something was mighty fishy here, and maybe he hadn’t been the only fish in that pond. Maybe she’d had some help baiting that hook.
One thing was for certain. He wasn’t going to let that scheming little Yankee out of his sight until he learned the truth.
In the meantime, he’d better break the news to Garth.
Then a light tap sounded on the connecting door, and he didn’t have to guess who that would be.
“Come on in, Garth.”
“Married!” Garth spouted, after reading the marriage certificate Clay had handed him.
“That’s what it says,” Clay replied.
Garth began laughing. “I don’t believe it.”
“I’m glad you find it amusing.”
“You actually got liquored up and let Rebecca convince you to marry her?”
“I know I was drinking pretty hard, but I swear I don’t remember any marriage or the mention of one. I woke up this morning in bed with her. She was wearing a nightgown and the ring I’d bought. And that damn marriage certificate was on the dresser.”
“You bought a ring?” Garth asked.
“I bought it for Ellie, intending to get engaged, and when the war broke out, I held off in case I was killed. Then I figured we could sell the damn thing out West when we ran out of money.”
Garth chuckled. “I leave my big brother alone one night, and this is what happens.”
“If you don’t wipe that grin off your face, so help me, Garth, I’m going to smack you.”
Garth shook his head. “You always were naïve when it came to women, Brother Clay. Ellie was a good example.”
“I’ve been around women long enough to know when they’re offering something, and what that is. Rebecca Elliott—”
“Rebecca Fraser,” Garth corrected.
“Over my dead body!”
“More like naked body, Brother Clay.” His grin couldn’t have been any wider.
Clay glared at him. “You’re a damn lot of comfort. The woman came to me dressed in a robe and nightgown that left nothing to my imagination, and said there was a bug in her room. She knew exactly what she was doing, and didn’t fool me for a minute. Then when she invited me for a drink, I figured why not? Especially after your talk about the long drought ahead of us.”
“You’re blaming me because you let yourself get rooked into a marriage?”
“I’m not blaming you. This just doesn’t make sense. If she was out to roll me after she got me drunk, why didn’t she just take off with my money and the ring?”
“Maybe you read her wrong, Clay.” Garth said.
“Maybe she was on the up-and-up. The two of you drank a little too much, had a tumble in bed, and since she’s a decent woman, you decided to do right by her.” He patted Clay on the shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Brother Clay. You held up the family honor.”
Frustrated, Clay had all he could do to keep from socking his brother right in the middle of his amused grin. “Dammit, Garth, how long have we been brothers?”
“All of my twenty-six years.”
“And did you ever know me to run off and do anything as half-cocked as this?”
“No. But on the other hand, people do some pretty crazy things when they’re on the rebound. Any woman might have looked good to you. And let’s face it, Brother, Rebecca is a damn good-looking woman.”
“I can assure you, Garth, marrying
any
woman was the farthest thing from my mind, much less one I didn’t know. I’ve learned how little you can trust a woman. And as soon as my
wife
finishes bathing, we’ll check out the legality of that marriage certificate.”
“And if it is legal?”
“Then this will be the shortest honeymoon on record, because I have no intention of taking her with us, on that wagon train.”
“If she’s your wife, Clay, you can’t just take off and abandon her. Dad and Mom would turn over in their graves.”
“I’ll sell the damn ring and give her the money. It was expensive and it will pay for a ticket back to Vermont with plenty left over. Then as soon as I return from California, I’ll hire a lawyer to dissolve the marriage.”
“Sounds kind of heartless to me, Clay. Rebecca’s no whore, but you’re treating her like one. And my hunch is that the certificate is legal,” Garth slapped Clay on the shoulder. “What the hell, Brother Clay, it’s time you got married anyway. I like the gal. And even if you don’t remember last night, things could have been worse. It might have been Ellie you woke up with this morning, instead of Rebecca.” Garth picked up the torn nightgown and quirked a brow. “And you don’t remember anything beyond the first couple of drinks?”
Clay knew exactly what was going through his brother’s mind. It was impossible to sustain anger around him for any length of time; Garth found a lighter side to almost every situation.
Clay shook his head and tried not to grin. “Nope, nothing—That’s the damnedest part of the whole thing—I sure hope I had a good time.”
After the bathroom attendant had filled the tub and left, Rebecca climbed in, leaned back, and closed her eyes. The soothing effects of the hot water began to relax her. If only she could appease her soul as easily.
It had been such an ugly scene with Clay Fraser. No one—man or woman—had ever spoken to her like that before. Not that she hadn’t anticipated his anger, and didn’t deserve his wrath. But when faced with it, she had felt like the deceitful whore he believed her to be, trading sex for an expensive ring.
She opened her eyes, raised her left hand, and stared at the glittering band. She wasn’t a common thief and never intended to keep the ring. As soon as the wagon train was underway, she planned on returning it to him. She’d only used it as a prop to support her story.
For a long moment she continued to stare at the ring. It was clearly valuable. Much more valuable than her quick inspection last night had led her to believe. The five stones encircling the band appeared to be real diamonds—not imitation. The corners of her lips curled in a deprecating smile. Certainly not intended for the hand of a woman prepared to undertake the rigors of the Oregon Trail. No indeed. The ring was meant for the hand of one of those dainty southern belles serving tea in the drawing room of a big Virginia mansion, surrounded by slaves who did everything except eat and sleep for her.
Rebecca wondered what the woman was like, whom he’d bought the ring for. And why she’d married someone else. Which was why he was so bitter against women, of course.
Hmmm, you might have bitten off more than you can chew, Rebecca Elliott… ah… Fraser.
She reached for the soap and began to sponge herself.
After bathing, she hurried back to the room and dressed quickly. There was a lot remaining to do, now that she knew for certain she’d be leaving with the wagon train.
She had just put on her hat when Clay knocked on the connecting door.
“Are you about ready?” he called. “We’d like to get some breakfast, and we’re not going anywhere without you, lady. So hurry up.”
“You sure have a way of ingratiating yourself with your new wife,” Garth said.
Clay was convinced Rebecca took her time getting dressed, knowing full well they were waiting for her. Back home, a woman could have donned a crinoline and six petticoats in the time it took her to appear in a plain gingham dress—no crinoline, no half dozen petticoats, and not even a small bustle. Garth might be willing to cut her some slack, but she wasn’t going to make a fool of him again. No matter how beautiful she was.
Garth and Rebecca kept up a running conversation throughout the meal as if they were old friends. Blood was supposed to be thicker than water, and Clay was beginning to wonder whose side his brother was on.
Sure, maybe he was being unchivalrous toward her, but who wouldn’t be, in his shoes? He knew damn well he had not asked this woman to marry him.
Judge Henry Wilkins’s office was located in the Independence courthouse, a redbrick building that stood in the center of the town square. The judge recognized them at once, and to Clay’s further disappointment informed them that he’d just had the marriage officially registered.
“You’re looking considerably sounder than you looked last night, Captain Fraser.” The judge winked at him and poked him in the arm.
Clay took Rebecca firmly by the elbow and steered her out of the office. “What the hell was that all about?”
“It might have something to do with ‘Ellie, Ellie, with the ticklish belly,’ ” Rebecca said, and walked on.
The woman was mind-boggling. By the time he caught up with her, the streets were too filled with people and livestock to pursue the matter any further.
They returned to the hotel, and Garth joined them in Rebecca’s room. As she sat down, Garth leaned back against the wall with his arms folded across his chest, and Clay began to pace the floor.
“Unfortunately, Mrs. Ell… ah, madam—”
“Just call me Rebecca—or, if you prefer,
honey,
like you did last night.”
Flushed, Clay cast a guilty glance at his brother. Garth’s expression was inscrutable. Clay cleared his throat and began again. “Rebecca, unfortunately the events of last night—”
“Are you referring to what we did before we were married or the marriage itself?” she asked.
“Dammit, woman, will you stop interrupting and let me finish what I have to say?”
“Excuse me. Please go on, sir.”
She looked like a cat with canary feathers hanging out of her mouth. That uppity Yankee attitude of hers was beginning to really annoy him.
“You do understand it’s my intention to leave with the wagon train tomorrow morning.”
She didn’t reply, but continued to stare at him with her hands folded neatly in her lap.
He arched a brow and looked at her questioningly. “You do understand, don’t you?”
“Oh, forgive me, I didn’t realize I’m permitted to speak now. Yes, I do, sir.”
If she wasn’t careful, she was going to choke on those canary feathers!
“Dammit, woman, will you stop addressing me as if you’re a trooper in my regiment! My name is Clayton, or Clay, if you prefer.”
“Very well, Clayton. As you know, it’s my intention to leave with the wagon train, too.”
“Under the circumstances, I think it’s best you return to your home in Vermont.”
“What circumstances, Clayton?”
“This ridiculous marriage. It would be too awkward for us to travel together. As long as you’re my wife, I will not consider allowing you to make this trek to California. It’s as dangerous as it is arduous.”
She clutched her chest dramatically. “Your consideration for me warms the cockles of my heart, Clayton.”
“Your mockery, madam, merely confirms what a cold-hearted little conniver you are. Are you totally conscienceless?”
“I do have a conscience, Clayton, and I’m not proud of what I’ve done. I acted out of desperation. I have no home to go back to in Vermont. I couldn’t go back there even if I did; I spent all of my money getting here.”
“I intend to sell the ring and give you the money. If you’re frugal, there should be enough to provide for you quite comfortably until you can find employment wherever you decide to settle down. You’re clearly educated and have a pleasing appearance, Rebecca. You should have no trouble securing a job as a teacher or clerk.”
“Rebecca,” Garth said gently, “why don’t you want to return to Vermont?”
“I have no family back there. My parents are dead, but I have a brother in Sacramento. I intend to join him.”
“Would you consider going to Virginia?” Garth asked. “Our family has a plantation and there is plenty of room.”
She looked at him, appalled. “My husband was killed during the war. I hate the South and all that you Rebels represent. I could never live among you.”
“Then why did you marry my brother, Rebecca?” Garth asked. “Clay and you are obviously not in love. You’re an attractive woman; I’m sure you could have found a husband who shared your sentiments about the war. There’s plenty of Bluecoats heading west, too.”
She sighed deeply and lowered her gaze. “I needed a husband before that wagon train pulled out. Single women aren’t allowed, unless accompanied by a male member of her family.”
“So why me?” Clay demanded. “You just said you hate Southerners.”
She raised her eyes and glared at him. “It certainly wasn’t due to your charm. If you want to know the truth, for a time I did consider that perverted little desk clerk.”
Garth chuckled. “We saw how that ended.”
“When I saw that you and Garth were the cleanest looking of the—”
“You chose me because I looked clean!” Clay threw up his hands in frustration.
“It’s not necessary to shout, Clayton,” she said.
“So you admit you planned it all! The seduction. The marriage.”
“I said that I’m not proud of what I did.”
“Hear that, Garth? She’s not proud of being lowdown and conniving. You’re breaking my heart, sweetheart.” In his frustration Clay slammed his fist into the wall.
“Cool down, Clay,” Garth said. “Let her finish. Whatever she’s done, anger won’t solve this.”
“
Et tu,
Brother Garth? Maybe if it happened to you, you’d sing a different tune.” Clay turned his wrath on Rebecca again. “And you expect me to believe that stealing the ring was only an afterthought?”
She pulled the ring off her finger and flung it at him. It bounced off his chest and flew onto the bed. “I don’t want your damn ring; I never did. Despite what you think, I’m neither a whore nor a thief. I told you I only took it to reinforce my story. If you’ll just listen without shouting or trying to punch holes in the wall, I’ll explain. I’ve thought this all out.”
Clay snorted. “What a surprise. You figure out something else to your advantage?”
Her eyes pleaded with him. “Clayton, I don’t want your money and I never had any intention of making husbandly demands on you. I’m quite capable of taking care of myself, no matter what Mr. Scott thinks. I just need your name so I can leave with that wagon train tomorrow. Once we get to California, I’ll have the marriage annulled.”
Clay snapped up his head. “Annulled? How is that possible, after we—”
“We never consummated the marriage, Clayton. You passed out and slept through the night. I simply lay down in the bed next to you.”
Clay started to laugh, relief flooding him. “Then I’ll apply for an annulment right here before we even leave Independence.”
“I’ll deny it if you do—and Judge Wilkins will believe me because he saw us in a very compromising position. All I ask for is your cooperation, Clay. We don’t even have to speak to each other on the trip, and I swear to God that I’ll give you that annulment as soon as we reach California. You’ve got nothing to lose, meanwhile.”