“October? Not happening, Carolyn. That’s too damn long.”
“When do you see us getting married?” she countered.
“Within a month. But if I had my way? We’d apply for a marriage license tomorrow and make it official as soon as the law allows.”
That stubborn chin came up. “We are getting married in the Catholic church. End of discussion.”
“Fine. There shouldn’t be a problem since I don’t have to convert. We’ll be husband and wife no more than one month from now. That’s my end of discussion point.”
“But…why are you so adamant on the short time frame?”
Carson took her hand. “I want to start spendin’ my life with you now. Not months down the road. Why don’t you just admit the only reason you don’t want this wedding to happen so soon is because you’re afraid people will gossip that we had to get married.”
Her eyes flashed guilt.
“I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks, Caro. The sooner you learn that about me the better.”
“That’s not the only reason you want it done in a month. You afraid I’ll change my mind?”
He smiled at her. “No, I ain’t afraid you’ll change your mind. It’s just…this is the slow time of year for us. That means I can spend a lot of time with you.”
“During that free time you’ll teach me things so I’m not a greenhorn ranch wife?”
“Yep.” Carson ran the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. “But why’re you a greenhorn? My dad said the Wests owned Ag land?”
“We did. I mean we do. The land was my grandfather’s and he passed it on, but Dad had no interest in ranching. He started working in the coal mine when he was sixteen. He and my mom lived in the ranch house until Stuart was born and they needed something bigger. That’s when they bought the place we live in now.”
“So they just abandoned the house and the land?”
“Dad leased it out until Harland was old enough to take over. I wasn’t raised around cows. Or horses. They sorta scare me.”
Carson grinned. “I’ll have you ropin’ and ridin’ in no time, Mrs. McKay.”
“That sounds weird.”
“No, sugar, it sounds perfect.”
Chapter Fifteen
Carolyn
She was up at five a.m. when her father came into the kitchen to grab his lunch pail. He grumped around, half asleep, so maybe it wasn’t the best time to talk to him, but he needed to hear the news from her.
“Dad. I need to talk to you about something.”
He froze, his hunched shoulders straightened when he turned around. His brown eyes were sharp, the cloud of sleep gone. “If this is about Kimi comin’ back early, like I told you ten times before, it ain’t happening.”
“It’s not about Kimi. It’s about me. And Carson.” She thrust out her hand and couldn’t help but smile at how the diamond shone even in dim light. “We’re getting married.”
Then her father was right in her face. “Did that son of a bitch knock you up?”
“What? No!”
“Don’t you lie to me. I see how he looks at you. A man only looks at a woman that way after he’s sampled what’s under her skirt.”
“I’m not pregnant,” she said softly, hoping it’d dampen his rage. “We’re getting married because we’re in love.”
“In love?” he sneered. “Bullshit. The McKays don’t know nothin’ about love. They know lust. Carson’s asshole father knew how to talk his way into the ladies’ drawers.”
Including Mom’s? jumped into her head unbidden.
“He was a tom cat, laying down with any woman who was breathing. The reason he married a woman from out of state is because no decent, moral woman in Wyoming would have him. That’s the legacy he’s passed onto his sons. Not love.”
“You don’t know anything about him. You can’t judge him on the actions of his father.”
“The hell I can’t! I can judge him on the actions of his father and his lyin’, cheatin’ grandfather too!”
“So you’re willing to let your sons be judged on your actions? And on your ancestor’s reputations?”
“The Wests’ reputation was silenced with blood…by the McKays. Why do you think that McKay didn’t ask me for my daughter’s hand in marriage? Because he’s a dishonorable, disreputable man,” he spat, answering his own question. “I’ll never bless this marriage. Never.”
She’d expected this, yet it still sliced her to the bone. “It doesn’t matter. The only blessing I care about is the one we’ll get from the priest.”