Mail-order Bridegroom Part 9

A portent of things to come? Leah wondered uneasily. Or a promise?

CHAPTER FOUR.

with only five days to prepare for her wedding. Lean realized that the simplest solution would be to hold the ceremony at the ranch. She also decided to make it an evening affair and keep it small, inviting only herclosest friends and employees. Her reasons were twofold. She didn't think she could handle a day-long celebration--the mere thought of celebrating a marriage that was in allactuality a business deal struck her as vulgar. And by holding an eveningceremony they'd entertain the guests for dinner and it would be over quickly.No fuss, no muss.

Her grandmother didn't offer a single word of argument in regard to Leah'swedding-plans. On only one matter did she remain adamant. She insisted that Lean invite Conrad Michaels.

"He's a close friend and should give you away. If that makes Hunter uncomfortable, that's his tough luck."

"I don't think it's Hunter who will feel uncomfortable," Lean observed wryly.

"Let me call Conrad and see what he wants to do. If he chooses to decline, I won't pressure him."

As it turned out, Conrad sounded quite anxious to attend. "I'd appreciatethe opportunity to improve my relationship with Hunter,"he confessed."I deserved every harsh word he dished out, and then some.""Harsh word?" she repeated in alarm."What did he say?"After a long, awkward silence, Conrad admitted,"Oh, this and that.Let's just describe the conversation as strained and forget I ever mentionedit. He did make several valid points, though--particularly about your ad. "So Hunter had taken Conrad to task about that. She'd wondered.

"What points?" she questioned.

"I never should have encouraged you to advertise for a husband," came the prompt reply.

"Looking back, I realize it was foolish in the extreme. It didn't occur tome until Hunter suggested the possibility, but a crazy person could haveresponded and we wouldn't have known until too late. I never would haveforgiven myself if anything had happened to you."

Unfortunately, something had happened. Hunter had answered the ad. To her disgust, she seemed to be the only one to appreciate the irony of that fact.

"It's all worked out for the best," she lied through her teeth.

"So don't worry about it." Securing Conrad's agreement to give her away, she ended the conversation and hung up.

The next two days pa.s.sed in a whirl of confusion. Leah spent her timedeciding on caterers and flowers, food and decorations, and obtaining theall-important wedding- license. Finally she threw her hands in the air anddropped the entire mess in the laps of her grandmother and Inez Arroya.

"You decide," she begged."Just keep it simple.""But, senorita, por favor..." Inez protested."The wedding, it should be perfect. What if we make a mistake? You will be very unhappy.

Don't you care? "

Didn't she care? Leah turned away. She cared too much. That was the

problem. How could she plan for the wedding of her dreams when the ceremonyon Friday would be anything but?"Whatever you decide will be perfect," she said flatly."Just remember. Keep it simple.""What about your dress?" Rose reminded, before Leah could escape.

"You've deliberately ignored that minor detail, haven't you?"

"I thought I could pick something up on Thursday," Leah said, refusing toacknowledge the truth in her grandmother's words.

But on this one point Rose became surprisingly obstinate.

"Oh, no, you don't, my girl. I have the perfect gown for you. Your mother wore it for her wedding and it's the most unusual dress I've ever laid eyes on. It's packed away in the attic, if memory serves. Find it and see if it fits. Though considering how much you resemble your mom ma I'd be surprisedif it didn't."

Reluctantly, Leah obeyed. It took a good bit of searching, but sheeventually found a huge, sealed box with her mother's name and the date ofher wedding scrawled across one end. Wiping away the dust, she carried itdownstairs. She didn't return to the kitchen, needing a moment alone in theprivacy of her bedroom to examine her mother's wedding-dress. Closing andlocking the door, she settled on the floor and carefully cut open the box.

Lifting off the lid, she sank back on her heels, her breath catching in herthroat. Her grandmother had been right. It was the most unusual dress Leah had ever seen. Her mother had been a teacher of medieval history and herdress reflected her obsession, right down to the filmy veil with itsaccompanying silver circlet. It was beautiful and romantic, the sort ofdress young women dreamed of wearing.

And Leah hated it with a pa.s.sion that left her shaking.

The dress promised joy and happiness, not the businesslike relationship soonto be hers. The dress promised a lifetime of laughter and companionship, notthe strife and friction that was all she could expect from an empty marriage.But most of all the dress promised everlasting love, not the bitterness and pain that consumed her husband-to-be. She ached for the future the dress suggested, but knew it could never be hers.

This marriage would be an act of vengeance, and she nothing more than a p.a.w.nin Hunter's game. It was a way to even up old scores for the abuse he'dsuffered at her father's hands. Soon he would be master of his enemy'scastle and she'd be at his mercy. How long would it take before he had itall? How long before he controlled not just the ranch but her heart and soulas well?

How long before he had his final revenge?

Gently she replaced the lid of the box. She couldn't wear her mother's wedding-gown. It wouldn't be right. It would be. sacrilegious. She'd drive into town and find a chic ivory suit that spoke of modern marriages andeasy divorces. And instead of a gauzy veil she'd purchase a pert little hatthat no one would dream of referring to as 'romantic'.

Not giving herself time to reconsider, she shoved the box beneath her bed.Then she ran outside and whistled for Dreamseeker, needing just for aninstant to feel what her stallion felt--free and wild and unfettered. But the horse didn't respond to her call. And in that instant Leah felt more alone than she ever had before in her life.

"What do you mean, I can't wear the suit?" Leah demanded of Inez.

"Why can't I? Where is it?"

"Arrunina, senorita. Lo siento."

"Ruined! How?"

"The iron, it burned your dress."

"But the dress didn't need ironing."

The housekeeper looked close to tears.

"I'm sorry. I wanted everything to be perfect for your special day. I was excited and..." She wrung her hands.

"Forgive me."

"It's all right, Inez," Leah said with a sigh.

"But I get married in less than an hour. What am I supposed to wear? I can't go down in this." She indicated the wisps of silk and lace beneath her robe.

"Seiiora Rose, she suggests the dress of your madre. Es perfecta, 51?"

Leah closed her eyes, understanding finally dawning. Of all the conniving, meddling, devious. Before she could gather the courage to yank the first outfit that came to hand from her closet, Inez draped the wedding-dress across the bed. In a swirl of featherlight pleats the silvery-white silk billowed over the quilted spread, the hem trailing to the floor.

In that instant, Leah was lost. She touched the formfitting bodice--a corset-like affair, decorated with a honeycombed network of tiny seed pearls and silver thread-- thinking that it resembled nothing more than a gossamer-fine cobweb. It really was an enchanting gown. And it had been her mother's.

Knowing further arguing would prove fruitless, Leah allowed the housekeeper to help her into the gown. It fit perfectly, as she'd known it would. Thin white ribbons accentuated the puffed sleeves, the deep, flowing points almost brushing the carpet.

"The belt, senorita," Inez said.

The housekeeper lifted the silver linked chain from the bed and wound it twice around Leah's waist and hips, the pearl-studded clasp fastening in front. The ends of the chain, decorated with tiny unicorn charms, fell to her knees, the links whispering like golden-toned chimes with her every movement.

"For purity," the housekeeper murmured, touching the unicorns."Not terribly appropriate," Leah said in a dry voice."I wonder if it's too late to change them.""You are pure of heart, which is all that counts," Inez maintained stoutly."I will do your hair now. You wish to wear it loose?""I thought I'd braid it.""Oh, no, senorita. Perhaps a compromise?" Without waiting for a response, she swiftly braided two narrow sections on each side of Leah's face,threading a silver cord into each as she went. Pulling the braids to theback of Leah's head, the housekeeper pinned them into an intricate knot.

"That looks very nice," Leah admitted.

"We leave the rest loose," Inez said, brushing the hip- length curls into some semblance of order. Finally she draped the veil over Leah's hair and

affixed the circlet to her brow. Stepping back, she clasped her hands andsighed."Que hermosa. Senor Hunter, he is a lucky man."Leah didn't reply. What could she say? That luck had nothing to do with it, unless it was bad luck? Her bad luck. "How much time is left?" she asked

instead.

"A few minutes, no more. Senor Michaels is waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs."

"I'm ready," she announced. She picked up her bouquet of freshly picked wildflowers--courtesy of the Arroya children--and kissed Inez's cheek.

"Thank you for all your help. Go on downstairs. I'll follow in a minute." The door closed behind the housekeeper and, finally alone, Leah glanced atthe stranger in the mirror. What would Hunter think? she wondered. Would he find her gown ridiculous? Attractive? Would her appearance even matterto him? She shut her eyes and whispered an urgent prayer, a prayer that Hunter might some day find happiness and peace in their marriage. that maybe, just maybe, he'd find love. Slightly more relaxed, she turned away from the mirror. She couldn't delay any longer. It was time to go.

As she descended the stairs, the pleated skirt of her dress swirled around her like wisps of silver fog. Conrad waited at the bottom. He looked up at her, and his reaction was all she could have asked. He stared in stunned disbelief, his mouth agape.

"Leah," he murmured gruffly, his voice rough and choked.

"My dear, you're a vision. You make me wish..."

She traversed the final few steps, a small smile playing about her mouth.

"Wish what?"

"Wish that I hadn't so foolishly encouraged you to place that ad," he confessed.

"Are you sure this marriage is what you want? It's not too late to change your mind."

She didn't hesitate for an instant.

"It's much too late and you know it. Not that it matters. I haven't changed my mind."

He nodded without argument.

"Then this is it." He offered his elbow.

"Shall we?"

She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and walked with him to the great room, an area used for entertaining that stretched the full length of the ranch-house. It was her turn to stare in disbelief.

Huge urns of flowers filled the room, their delicate perfume heavy in the air. And everywhere was the radiant glow of candlelight, not a single light-bulb disturbing the soft, romantic scene.

Her gaze flew to the far side of the room where Hunter stood, and her heart pounded in her breast. The wrangler she'd always known had disappeared and in his place stood a man who wore a tuxedo with the same ease as he wore jeans. She'd never seen him look so sophisticated, nor so aloof.

His hair reflected the candlelight, gleaming with blue- black highlights, andhis eyes glittered like obsidian, burning with the fire of pa.s.sion heldbarely in check. Despite that, he remained detached from his surroundings,the high, taut cheekbones and squared chin set in cool, distant lines.

The sudden hush that greeted her arrival drew his attention and his gazesettled on her with piercing intensity. Her hands tightened around herbouquet, sudden fear turning her fingers to ice. With that single glance hisair of detachment fell away and his expression came alive, frightening in itsferocity. He looked like a warrior who'd fixed his sights on his nextconquest. And she was that prize. It took all her willpower not to gatherup her skirts and run.

Conrad started to move and she had no choice but to fall into step besidehim. In keeping with the medieval theme, soft stringed instruments played inthe background. She focused on Hunter, barely aware of her pa.s.sage down theaisle, even more dimly aware of Conrad releasing her and stepping back. But every part of her leapt to life the instant Hunter took possession of herhand.

The minister began the ceremony. She didn't hear a word he said; she didn'teven remember making her marriage vows. Afterward, she wondered if she'dactually promised to obey her husband or if the minister had thoughtfullyomitted that rather antiquated phrase. She didn't doubt that Hunter would refresh her memory at some point.

The ring he eventually slid on her finger felt strange on her hand, theunaccustomed weight a visible reminder of all the changes soon to come. She stared at the ring for a long time, studying the simple scrollwork andwondering why he'd chosen such an interesting design.

Did it have any particular significance or had it been a simple matter of expediency?

"Leah." Hunter's soft prompt captured her full attention.

She glanced up at him in bewilderment.

"Did I miss something?" she asked. Quiet laughter broke out among the guests and brought a flush to her cheeks. Even Hunter grinned, and she found herself riveted by that smile, aware that it had been eight long years since she'd last seen it.

"We've just been p.r.o.nounced man and wife," he told her. "Which means..." He swung her into his embrace and lowered his head.

"It's time to kiss the bride."

And he proceeded to do so with great expertise and thoroughness. It was her first kiss as his wife and the warm caress held all the magic she could desire. She was lost in his embrace, swept up in the moment. Yet, as intensely as she craved his touch, she longed to resist with an equal intensity. She couldn't bear the knowledge that this whole situation was nothing more than Hunter's way of gaining control of her ranch. and of her.

At long last he released her, his look of satisfaction stirring a flash of anger. Fortunately her irritation swiftly disappeared beneath the flurry of congratulations from the press of friends and employees. By the time Inez announced dinner, she'd fully regained her composure.

Like the great room, the dining-room glowed with candlelight, flowers running the length of the oak table and overflowing the side tables and buffet. To heir relief she and Hunter were seated at opposite ends, though as dinner progressed she discovered her relief short-lived. Throughout the meal she felt his gaze fixed on her. And as the evening pa.s.sed her awareness of him grew, along with an unbearable tension.

As the caterers cleared away the final course. Hunter rose, gla.s.s in hand.

"A toast," he announced. Silence descended and all eyes turned in hisdirection."A toast for the bride?" Conrad questioned."A toast to my wife." Hunter lifted the gla.s.s."To the most beautiful woman I've ever known. May all her dreams come true... and may they be worth the price she pays for them."