Her imagination was running away with her. Of course it was. Whose wouldn’t when they were standing in front of a crowd and no one would even give fifty cents for a meal that they’d have to share with her and her kids.

  Her hands started to sweat, and it took a deliberate act of self-control to not wring them in front of her.

  Pretty soon, the auctioneer would start offering to pay people to take her food.

  A gust of wind swept through the church, and she shivered. Or maybe she just shivered because it was so hard to keep standing when she wanted to run.

  Against her will, her eyes sought out Gabe. Tears pricked at the back of her throat when she saw his clenched fists and helpless expression. He’d bid for her if he could.

  With almost no effort, she pushed the tears away. She’d become very good at pretending she didn’t feel like crying. Who would have guessed such a talent would come in handy?

  Maybe she should have worn something other than the jeans and flannel shirt she had on along with her winter boots. But if she had to shovel her car out of the snow, since it had just snowed yesterday and was blowing badly, she hadn’t wanted to do it in dress clothes.

  She’d showered but hadn’t had time to fix her hair, which was thrown in a ponytail, and she was sure whatever makeup she owned, if she could even find it, was dried out. All she had were three bottles of nail polish. She bought herself one nice bottle of polish each year on her birthday each of the first three years she’d been married. After that, they hadn’t had the money for gifts. James wasn’t much for giving presents.

  “Twenty-five. Who will give twenty-five cents?” The auctioneer sounded as desperate as she felt. But she kept her head up and her shoulders back. Her entire being hurt with the pain of not being wanted. She couldn’t control that. But she could control how much of that pain she allowed to show.

  None.

  Heavy footsteps clicked behind her.

  “Fifty bucks.”

  “Sold!” The auctioneer hit the gavel on the table so hard the handle broke. “Oh. Wait. Elaine, do you know this man?”

  Elaine turned to look at Rem as he finished striding toward the auctioneer. He wore his cowboy hat. His dark hair curled out along the sides. Work boots. Jeans. A flannel shirt that was tucked in.

  “It’s my husband,” Elaine said through lips that felt numb.

  Rem stopped beside the auctioneer with his hand out. “Rem Martinez. I got to smell all that stuff cooking this morning, and I can’t wait to eat it.” They shook hands.

  The auctioneer, William Bruckner, picked up the box. “Boy, it does smell good.”

  “I’m so hungry my stomach’s gnawed a hole in my backbone. That meatloaf and scalloped potatoes is gonna go down fast.”

  William sniffed again. “I smell chocolate.”

  “Fudge brownie cheesecake,” Rem said with a look of anticipation, like he’d eaten it a million times before and loved it.

  He’d told her just this morning he’d never had it.

  Rem shifted the box into one hand, gave William a fifty-dollar bill, and grabbed Elaine’s hand. “We gonna round up the kiddos and go eat?”

  It was funny how much time she’d spent holding back tears of sadness, loneliness, pain, and despair. She’d gotten so good it hardly took a thought. But this new feeling—what even was it? She didn’t know, but it overwhelmed her, hitting her with the force of an out-of-control tractor, and she couldn’t stop the pooling in her eyes or the tightening of her chest.

  She put her head down and walked swiftly out of the room, toward the hall where the activity room was. She hadn’t even thought about Gabe until she heard his light footsteps behind them and his voice calling, “Mom, wait.”

  The restrooms were just ahead. She swerved to hit the ladies’ room, trying to tug her hand from Rem’s grip.

  He didn’t let go.

  Her tears spilled over.

  “Here, Gabe. Take this.” Rustling was loud in the hall as he handed the box over.

  “What’s wrong with Mom?” Gabe asked, his voice heavy with worry.

  “I’m gonna find out,” Rem said with calm assurance. “You take this and get us seats. You can get your brothers and sister if you’re allowed. We’ll be out in just a minute.”

  A sob backed up in her throat, and she shoved her fist over her mouth to keep it from coming out and echoing in the hallway.

  Gabe’s footsteps faded away.

  The ladies’ room’s door was just in front of her. She tried tugging her hand out of his again, but he didn’t let it go.

  “If you’re going in there, I’m coming in with you.” Rem’s tone held a warning.

  Praying that she could keep her voice level, she said, “I just need a minute.”

  He pushed open the door to the Sunday school classroom, pulling her in and closing it behind them.

  She was able to pull her hand free from his, and she swiped at her face before she wrapped both arms around her stomach.

  He shifted behind her, then there was no sound other than the ticking of the old clock on the wall.

  She was grateful for the silence and for the time. Even if he pressed, she wasn’t sure what she could say was wrong. Was she crying in relief? Was it just the effect of standing in front of a crowd and being faced with the fact that no one wanted her and her children? Not even for a paltry fifty cents?

  The people weren’t being mean. She knew they weren’t. Everyone was just waiting for someone else to step up and do the charitable thing.

  She was sick of charity.

  Sick of being the one no one wanted.

  Sick of being the one that never had enough, couldn’t keep her husband, and needed her neighbors to provide Christmas presents for her kids. She snorted. Now, she couldn’t even sell the stupid ranch, because Rem had married her to get it.

  “Elaine?”

  He was probably worried she’d gone crazy on him. Maybe she had.

  “I suppose if someone had offered them a billion dollars, they would have taken me.” She hated the bitterness that erupted from inside. “I’m sorry. That was my worst side coming out.”

  “That’s okay. We’ll starve it into submission.” His stomach growled.

  She chuckled and brushed the rest of the tears off her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

  “You said that once already. I said it was okay. I meant it.” Rem’s easy drawl flowed across her bruised emotions like a cheek against the downy softness of a newborn baby.

  “No. You’ve done nothing to deserve my anger or my bitterness. I’ll try to do better.” She turned. “You know, for the first time today, I wanted that billion dollars, not just for us, but for you. Because you took us when no one else wanted us.”

  His mouth was open, and he stared at her without blinking. Like he didn’t know what to make of her. Probably he didn’t. They’d not even been married for a week. He was the one who hadn’t gotten what he’d wanted, but here she was crying and snapping at him for no reason.

  She blew out a breath. “Okay. I’m ready. Sorry for the drama.”

  She started to walk, but he moved, quicker than she’d thought he could, and took her shoulders.

  “I don’t know what to say to that, Elaine, because it’s true. I married you for the money and the ranch. But I hate that it hurts you.”

  “It doesn’t. I was having a pity party, but now it’s over. I don’t know why I even said it. I wanted you to marry me, and I knew it was for the money and the ranch.” She tilted her head. The light in the room was dim, and she could only see shades of gray, although his eyes were black and shrouded as he stared down at her.

  The heat from his large hands made her body burn.

  “You only married me so you could save the ranch and get the money.”

  She bit her lips and nodded. “That’s true.” Her throat felt tight, and she tried to swallow through it before she spoke. “Thank you for taking a chance on us. I hope you don’t regret it.”

  “I don’t have regrets. In order to regret anything, I’d have to stop moving forward and turn around and look. Not doing it. I like the challenge, and I’m pretty excited about meeting it. I’m happy.” His hands loosened on her arms, and it was almost like they rubbed up and down a fraction. “I can’t change the truth, though.”

  She had herself back under control. Whatever that sweeping of emotion was had disappeared, and she was back to being able to face reality without the irritation of her emotions getting in the way. “You don’t need to. It is what it is. I do, however,” she said, surprised that her lips tilted up, “appreciate you paying fifty bucks for me. You walked in at the perfect moment.”

  He lifted a shoulder and gave a grin, his teeth gleaming white in the dimness. “What can I say? I have good timing.” His stomach rumbled again.

  “Ready to eat?”

  “Let’s go, then. I might have married you for your money, but that’s only because I hadn’t tasted your cooking.”

  She laughed. She could joke about that. “I thought you’d like the spicy stuff. You know, tacos and chilis and all that.”

  “I do.” He opened the door. “We definitely need to get hot sauce out at the house.”

  “You might have to order that online. I’m not sure grocery stores in North Dakota stock hot sauce.” They did, of course, but she gave him a sassy grin.

  “Maybe I’ll have to do that. I kinda like it when my food bites back.” He closed the door. “But your stuff’s good without it.” He took her hand. She wasn’t sure why he did. They’d just established, again, that their marriage was a business proposition. But he took it, and she didn’t pull it away.

  “I think you’ll eat anything that doesn’t eat you first.”

  “No way. You saw how fast I slapped my fifty bucks down. I wasn’t taking a chance on any other lady’s cooking.”

  She snorted. “I don’t get the whole hot sauce thing, anyway. It’s sadistic. Why would you want to be in pain while you eat?”

  “I’m in constant pain. Plus, hot sauce doesn’t hurt. It just gives a kick.”

  She stopped. He stopped beside her, his smile turning to confusion.

  “You’re in constant pain?”

  His face cleared, and he lifted one broad shoulder. “I don’t think about it.”

  “From bull riding.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You were good?”

  “Yeah.”

  Normally she did think of him as a little cocky. A little arrogant. But that answer actually sounded humble.

  She wanted to ask, to find out more about him, but they needed to get in to her children. So, instead, she said, “I’d like to hear about it sometime.”

  They walked into the fellowship hall. Elaine felt like the conversation died down when she walked in holding Rem’s hand. Whether it was because everyone was so surprised that someone would have the guts to marry her, or whether it was because Rem was such a commanding figure, she wasn’t sure.

  Tall and handsome, his confidence practically oozed off him. They were probably a striking couple, too. With his dark handsomeness next to her light blond hair. Although he was good-looking in an almost sinfully rich way, and she was...plain.

  “Hey, Mom! I saved you guys a seat.” Gabe waved them over from the other side of the room.

  With a complete lack of self-consciousness, Rem strode between the tables.

  “Hey.” George Wittacker, a middle-aged store owner, stopped them. “You Remington Martinez, the championship bull rider?”

  “Yeah.” Rem jerked his head up.

  “Thought so. I seen you on TV. Ain’t no one can ride like you.” He stood and held his hand out. “Honored to meet you.”

  Rem shook his hand, keeping Elaine’s hand in his left.

  Jen, his wife, shook her head. “We were watching when that bull, Endurance, pitched you against the gate and cracked the back of your skull open.”

  Elaine felt her mouth drop as her eyes went to Rem’s head. He always took his hat off when he came in the house, and she’d noticed his straight black hair more than once. Noted that it was a little longer than she’d prefer. But looking at it now, she realized she’d never noticed the way his hair didn’t quite lay flat along the back of his head. That must be where the scar line was.

  “We thought you was a goner.” George looked at Jen for confirmation. They nodded together. Several other people at the table concurred.

  “We saw the replay a couple of nights later. I can’t believe you didn’t die.” Hannah, sitting across the table from George and Jen, took a sip of her water bottle.

  Rem started to move off.

  “You two really get married?” George asked.

  “Yep. Last week,” Rem said.

  “I didn’t even know you two was seeing each other.” Hannah narrowed her eyes like Elaine had kept it hidden on purpose.

  “Well, it happened kind of fast...” Elaine started.

  “She’s a woman worth settling down for.” Rem gave one of his cocky grins and tugged at Elaine’s hand. “I’ve never met a woman that can cook like her. Never knew how nice it would be to walk in from the barn in the morning to the smell of fresh baked cinnamon rolls and frying bacon.”

  Now she knew he was laying it on thick. She’d never once stayed in the house and cooked while he fed by himself in the morning.

  “She is a good cook,” George said, giving Jen a sideways glance, like he wasn’t sure if he would offend her by admitting that.

  “She works hard, and she’s easy on the eyes. I’m a lucky man.”

  Rem moved away. Elaine followed without comment. Until they were out of earshot.

  “I’ve never baked or cooked while you were out doing the work in the morning.”

  “Didn’t say you did.”

  “You said you never knew how nice it would be to walk in from the barn...” Elaine’s voice trailed off. He hadn’t said she did. “I think that’s kind of like lying.”

  They had almost reached the table where her kids where. Rem stopped and leaned his head down to her ear. “No. It’s not even close. But this town has no idea what you’re worth.”

  “I was supposed to be worth a billion dollars,” she muttered.

  “I’m not talking about money. I’m talking about your work ethic. Your cooking and baking abilities. Your determination and perseverance. They look at you and see a woman whose husband left her with four kids, and they think there’s something wrong with you, when they’re the ones that were misled.”

  She glowed under his praise, even if it was kind of backhanded.

  Maybe this business proposition was exactly what she needed.

  Chapter 9

  The Saturday after New Year’s, Rem lingered at the dinner table. Normally, he’d been spending most of his time outside from before breakfast until after supper.

  “I’d like to talk to you for a minute after you put the kids down for a nap.” He rose as she wiped Carson’s face off. “I’ll do the dishes.”

  Her face registered surprise, but she nodded. “Heaven and Gabe, you make sure you have all your schoolbooks gathered up. You go back on Monday. Then you two can play quietly in the living room until Rem is ready to go back outside.”

  She hadn’t blinked an eye about the kids going outside with him. In fact, she seemed pleased that he would take the time to talk to them and teach them. It still felt kind of odd, because he’d never really given kids much thought before he’d married Elaine. Sometimes they made his work harder, but most of the time, it was fun to have someone to talk to, and for some reason, they both seemed to worship him.

  He was washing the last dish when Elaine came back down the stairs after putting Carson and Elijah down for their naps. She came over to the counter and started putting the food away.

  He rinsed the dish off and let the water out, drying his hands.

  Ever since he’d seen her cry at the auction, he’d been thinking differently about Elaine. She was tough, no doubt. Having four children and surviving alone here on the ranch. He couldn’t imagine doing it all himself.

  But under that tough layer, that ability to survive and thrive in harsh conditions, there was a vulnerability there, a softness that matched her delicate looks. It attracted him. Made him feel like he was needed—she needed him. His protection, his help, his support...he wasn’t sure what, exactly, but whatever it was, he wanted to give it to her.

  She could need him. That was okay. As long as he didn’t start to depend on her.

  He took a hold of her wrist, slender in his hand, and he had to force himself to just hold it, because his fingers wanted to slide up her soft skin.

  She glanced up, her blue eyes wide.

  “You heard the kids talking about it at dinner; I got the snowmobile running today.”

  Her eyes sparkled. “They were so excited. It was nice of you to take them for a ride.” She lifted a shoulder. “I know you did it more for you to ride out and check the cattle than for us to have a good time on.”

  “It was my pleasure. I’d never ridden one before. It’s a lot of fun.”

  Her smile widened. “It’s even better at night with a full moon on the snow.”

  He watched her face beam, her eyes shine from the simple joy of remembering riding over the snow. His heart thumped in his chest, and suddenly his hand was doing what he’d not wanted it to do, sliding up her arm, feeling its warmth and softness.

  Her eyes darkened, just enough to make his breath hitch and something quiver in the air around them as his finger reached her elbow and he allowed it to continue up, skimming over the soft material of her t-shirt and on to the warm softness of her neck. Her skin was delicate, and the contrast with his rough finger fascinated him. He watched as it traced over the scattered pulse in her neck before his hand spread and he cupped her cheek. Her head tilted and pressed into his palm. His other hand itched to touch too, but he swallowed, torn. This wasn’t the type of relationship he wanted with her. They were friends. Business partners.

 

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