Handpicked Husband (Love Inspired Historical) (15 page)

* * *

Reggie drummed her fingers on the desk in Lemuel’s study—hers now, she supposed. Today was the day. Her grandfather’s deadline had arrived, and she still wasn’t sure if her plan had worked.

She looked down at the contract spread before her and sighed wearily. She’d gone over it so many times, looking for even the slightest loophole, that she practically knew it by heart.

For all the good it did her.

She’d pushed Everett and Chance as hard as she could these past two weeks. Both were showing signs of strain. And she made a point of taking buggy rides and casual strolls with Mitchell just so he would believe he was still in the running.

But the three were obviously made of sterner stuff than she had first supposed. It was time she faced facts. She might actually have to marry one of them.

Reggie shoved away from the desk and began pacing.

If it
did
come to that, if she had to risk humiliation to keep Jack with her, which man would be the better choice?

Chance was young, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It meant he’d be more likely to defer to her judgment, especially where Jack was concerned. But a possible saloon owner? Was that really the example she wanted Jack to grow up with?

Mitchell was well-educated, steady, reliable. As a teacher, he would obviously be comfortable around a young boy. And while not much of a talker, he also wasn’t one to stir up conflict. But there was a sadness in Mitchell, a perpetual pall that shadowed him no matter the circumstances.

Perhaps he would do a better job controlling his emotions than Lemuel had, but Jack had spent his first six years in the shadow of a man who had no joy or laughter to share. Reggie didn’t want that happening to her sweet boy all over again.

That left Everett. Not someone she’d consider ideal husband material. But she’d gained a new respect for him the past few days. Although he grumbled and complained with that biting tone he had, he’d met every challenge she threw at him. And she’d actually begun to enjoy his caustic wit, his cutting but on-the-mark comments on absurdities surrounding them.

He was also the most worldly of the three, something to consider given the situation.

She paused in front of the window, staring out without seeing anything beyond her own troubled reflection. What if she could convince one of them to agree to a platonic arrangement? To marry her and share her home, but not her bedroom?

She wouldn’t even consider asking Chance. He was too young and spirited to saddle with such an arrangement.

Mitchell might agree. In fact, he might welcome a name-only marriage if she chose him. After all, he obviously still mourned his first wife. But should she take advantage of that? And what kind of impact would his moodiness have on Jack?

Which brought her back to Everett.

Heaven help her. It seemed she had only one choice.

A knock on the door broke the silence and she spun around, her heart suddenly pounding.

No. I’m not ready.

At the second knock she took a deep breath and moved back to the desk. “Come in.”

Mrs. Peavy stepped inside, a sympathetic half smile on her face. “The gentlemen are here to see you.”

Reggie tried to project an unworried air. “Show them in.” She held up a hand. “Oh, and please see that Jack is kept occupied elsewhere.”

Mrs. Peavy nodded and allowed the men to enter.

Reggie waved toward the chairs in front of the desk. “Please, have a seat.”

As Mitchell, Everett and Chance sat down, Reggie was relieved to see they appeared as edgy and uncomfortable as she felt. Even Adam, who stood with arms folded, leaning negligently against a bookcase, seemed affected by the wary anticipation crackling through the room.

Of course, he probably felt more relief than dread. After today he could plan his return trip.

She studied the faces of her beaus and mentally groaned. It was obvious each one was fervently hoping he would not be chosen—a mortifying thought in itself. But there was also a determination in each of their expressions, a sort of grim, martyr-like set to their jaws that told her they wouldn’t shirk their duty if they drew the short straw.

“It’s time,” Adam said when the silence had drawn out painfully long. “What’s your decision?”

She was surprised by the sharp edge to his voice. Was he so impatient to have this over with? She admitted to herself that it bothered her that he could view her marriage to someone else with such detachment. Apparently the connection she’d felt between them wasn’t as strong as she thought.

“Actually,” she said, stalling for time, “I have until midnight tonight.”

“No,” he countered. “If you’ll remember, we arrived at your cabin around three o’clock in the afternoon. That means you only have another thirty minutes.”

Reggie glared at him, resenting being cornered this way.

Perhaps she should just give in, let him take Jack back to Philadelphia. She could tag along, confront her grandfather when they arrived, somehow make him see reason.

But what if she gambled and lost? She couldn’t bear the thought of losing Jack.

She studied the faces of the her suitors again, but nothing had changed. The only man in this room she could say with any certainty would refuse to walk her down the aisle was Adam.

Too bad he wasn’t one of the contenders.

Reggie froze. A shiver shimmied up her spine. Could it be—

Not trusting her memory, she grabbed the contract, leafing through it for the right paragraph.

There it was.

She read it twice, her mind tumbling over itself with a mixture of giddy relief, smug self-approval and triumph.

Her prayers had been answered!

* * *

Adam straightened as Reggie snatched up some papers from her desk. Was this another delaying tactic? Hadn’t she put them all through enough already?

Then he saw the relief light up her face, saw the confidence return to her expression and posture. Something was up. Whatever she’d discovered, it didn’t bode well for the judge’s plan.

Why did he feel a stirring of anticipation rather than irritation?

She finally looked up and met his gaze with a certain-of-victory smile.

“Very well,” she announced. “I’ve made my choice.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw the three men tense. But his gaze never wavered from Regina’s challenging one.

He braced himself to face whatever new trick she had up her sleeve.

She leaned back in her chair. “I choose you, Mr. Barr.”

Chapter Twelve

A
dam snapped upright, ignoring the confused exclamations from the other men.

What did the infuriating woman think she was doing? “Come now. Enough of this nonsense. As flattered as I am,” he infused as much sarcasm as he could into his drawl, “we both know I’m not a valid choice.”

“Oh, but you are.” She held up the papers which he now recognized as the contract they had all signed. “It says so right here.”

Despite himself, Adam felt apprehension creeping like a spider up his backbone. He marched forward, rounding the desk to look at the contract. “Show me.”

She pointed to one particular paragraph.

By affixing his signature below, each man who is party to this contract agrees that, should he be selected by Miss Regina Nash as her husband-elect, he will accept the honor and duties entailed therein, fully, with utmost respect, and without reservation. Should said party refuse to do so, it will render this entire contract null and void.

Was that it? “You’re grasping at straws. This paragraph obviously refers to the three gentlemen seated before you. It does
not
include me.”

She raised a brow. “Doesn’t it? Don’t you have specific obligations set out under this contract that make you a party to it?”

He frowned. “Yes, but those obligations don’t include—”

“What those obligations are,” she interrupted, “doesn’t matter. By your own words, you agree you are a party to the contract. And isn’t this your signature?”

The ground suddenly shifted under Adam as he took in the possibility that she might actually have a case. How in the world had he let this get by him?

Did she actually
want
to marry him? Was it possible she preferred him over the men her grandfather had handpicked?

Adam met her gaze and tightened his jaw. Of course not. How could he have imagined anything so ridiculous for even a moment? She fully expected him to refuse. That’s what this was all about—her weaseling out of the trap her grandfather had set.

Quite a clever miss, this one.

“Is it true?”

Adam glanced up. The question had come from Chance but all three men wore identical expressions—a mixture of confusion and hope. A muscle twitched at the corner of his mouth. If she was right, he now had their futures to worry about as well.

He stared down at the contract again, his mind whirling over the implications. “I suppose one could argue in favor of that interpretation,” he said slowly. That was the closest he could come to admitting she was right.

“Which means my choice stands,” she said, pouncing on his admission.

“What does this mean for us?” Chance asked.

“It means,” Everett responded dryly, “that our prizes are at the mercy of Mr. Barr’s response.”

Adam noticed Regina had the grace to look sympathetic.

Four pairs of eyes focused on him, waiting for his answer. The same way they’d focused on Regina while she took her time announcing her selection.

He straightened his shoulders. This might not be the duty he’d had in mind when he gave the judge his promise, but that didn’t mean he was any less bound by his word. Feeling his well-laid plans crumble around him, Adam knew he didn’t have any choice.

He turned to Regina and trapped her gaze with his for a long moment. Slowly her smile faded.

“Very well,” he finally bit out. “I accept your proposal.”

It gave him only the tiniest jot of satisfaction to see the look of horror on her face.

* * *

Reggie felt the blood drain from her face. For a moment she couldn’t see anything. Her eyes just plain refused to focus.

She hadn’t heard right.

He couldn’t have agreed.

He didn’t want to marry her.

He wanted to get back to Philadelphia right away.

She blinked, trying to focus on his face. His tight, I-called-your-bluff expression erased any lingering doubts she held.

No, no, no! This was a disaster. Somehow she had to undo this, had to call her words back. If she had to get married, any of the other three would be better. She could
not
marry Adam. Not like this, not under these circumstances.

She could read in his eyes that he hated her for doing this to him. Mercy, she’d made a royal mess of things.

He finally released her gaze and turned to the others. “Rest assured, you’ll all receive the bonuses the judge promised you. Now, if you’ll excuse us, Miss Nash and I have matters to discuss.”

Reggie watched the men spring up from their chairs like prisoners suddenly released from their shackles. She wanted to call them back, to tell them it had been a mistake, that she was prepared to select someone else.

Don’t leave me here alone with Adam, not while he’s looking so cold and forbidding.

But the words stuck in her throat. She watched helplessly as the door closed behind them, leaving her alone with the man who, unbelievably, was now her fiancé.

She stared at her hands folded in her lap, suddenly fascinated by the tiny scratch on her right thumb.

“Miss Nash.”

His voice was calm. Too calm.

“Yes.” She didn’t quite meet his gaze. How could she? What would she see there?

“You are many things, but I never figured a coward to be one of them.”

Reggie’s gaze snapped to his, outrage stiffening her spine.

“That’s better.” His smile was anything but warm. “Let’s be honest. Neither of us is pleased with this situation. You picked me because you thought I’d say no.”

He raised a cynical brow. “Whereas, if you really knew me as you once assured me you do, you’d understand that I don’t renege on a promise, even one given unwittingly.”

Reggie tried to control her panic. He was angry, but he was also being realistic. Perhaps she could find some way out of this yet. “You’re right. Neither of us wants this. If we put our heads together, surely—”

His eyes narrowed. “You weren’t listening. I said I don’t renege on promises. And I certainly don’t intend to start with a promise made to your grandfather. Whether either of us wants this is now irrelevant. You’ve made your choice and we’re both going to have to live with it. So start planning the wedding. It appears we’re getting married within the week.”

With that, he gave her a curt bow and exited in long, swift strides. It seemed he couldn’t get away from her quickly enough.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Reggie folded her arms on the desk and plopped her forehead down against them. She’d taken a bad situation and made it worse. The man she still thought of as a slightly flawed but nonetheless heroic white knight, now hated her.

And unless she did something quickly, he would soon learn her deepest, darkest secret.

* * *

Adam walked to the livery stable, looking neither left nor right. He needed to work off the pulse-pounding emotions churning through his gut right now. A breakneck gallop sounded like just the thing.

In a matter of minutes he had Trib saddled. Another minute and he was mounted and headed out of town. There was an open field just outside of town. That ought to do the trick.

Trib tossed his head and strained at the bit, seeming to sense Adam’s restlessness. Adam patted the animal’s neck. “Easy, boy. We’ll be there in just a minute.”

His hands tightened on the reins as his mind replayed that scene in the study. How could matters have turned out so horribly wrong?

Engaged, and to the judge’s granddaughter no less.

It might be easier to swallow if she hadn’t looked so horrified when she realized he was going to call her bluff.

She didn’t want him for a husband. In fact she’d seemed ready to change her mind and choose one of the others,
any
one of the others, rather than actually marry him. She’d actually looked physically ill before he marched out of the room.

Why? What was he lacking that made women shy away from him so forcefully?

He grimaced at the turn his thoughts had taken. Why was he so concerned with that aspect? He should be thinking about what this meant for his plans to clear his name.

He
could
move back to Philadelphia after the wedding, he supposed. He was certain Regina wouldn’t have any objections to that arrangement. They could put it out that he had some business to take care of before moving here permanently—not a lie.

But that meant facing the judge, a friend who’d trusted him to see that his granddaughter and great-grandson had a husband and father at hand to look out for them. He couldn’t disappoint him that way.

It appeared he was stuck here for the foreseeable future. What was he supposed to do in this bucolic backwater? Take care of Jack’s interests certainly. But would that be enough to keep him occupied, make him feel useful and valued?

Or would it merely be a prison of another sort?

Adam finally reached his destination and nudged Trib with his knees. It was all the encouragement the spirited horse needed. They made two circuits around the field, riding as if the devil’s own hounds were on their heels.

He gradually slowed the lathered horse to a more sedate pace. His mood hadn’t lifted, but he knew the time for railing at his fate was over.

Besides, there was Jack to think about. Regardless of how he and Regina felt about each other or this marriage, he was certain they would agree on one thing. Their feelings should not spill over onto Jack.

The boy deserved a home with parents who cared for him and would look out for his welfare. He’d make sure Jack’s childhood would in no way mirror his own.

Adam turned Trib back toward town. Judge Madison would expect a telegram from him today.

How would Regina’s grandfather feel about the unexpected outcome of his little matchmaking scheme? Would he be disappointed that his granddaughter hadn’t chosen one of his handpicked suitors? Would the judge welcome him into the family, or would he feel his former protégé had overstepped his bounds?

Adam admitted his life had been a mess before, but at least he’d had a focus, a goal to keep him going. Now that had been stolen from him as well.

* * *

Reggie pulled the covers up to Jack’s chin. She’d dreaded this moment all evening. But she had to tell him.

She still clung to the hope that she could turn the situation around. If she succeeded, then telling Jack now and recanting later would upend his world twice in one week.

But word was spreading. Already, two callers had dropped by this evening to find out if the “happy news” they’d heard was true, and to offer congratulations. By now the rumors would be all over town.

Better for Jack to hear the announcement from her than from someone else.

She smoothed the covers and took a deep breath. “I have some news for you,” she said, forcing a light tone.

“Something good?”

“I hope you think so. How would you feel if I got married?”

Jack squirmed into a sitting position. “Would I still live with you?”

She gave him a fierce hug. “Of course. No one is ever going to take you away from me.”

“Is it one of those men from Philadelphia?”

“Uh-huh. Mr. Barr.”

“Oh.” Jack looked thoughtful for a minute. “Will that mean we have to move to Philadelphia?”

Reggie shook her head. “We wouldn’t even have to leave this house. He would move here to live with us.”

Jack gave an approving nod. “Then, if you like him, that’s okay. Mr. Barr seems like a nice man. He’s not fussy like Mr. Fulton, or sad like Mr. Parker.”

He snuggled back down. “And I really like his horse,” he added as if that settled the matter.

“We’re still talking it over,” she said, preparing him for what she hoped would be the outcome. “But if we do decide to get married, it will be pretty soon.”

“Okay,” he said with a yawn. Then he opened his eyes wider. “If you marry him, do I still call him Mr. Barr?”

“I suppose you could call him Uncle Adam, if that’s all right with him.”

“Uncle Adam,” Jack repeated. “I like that. I never had an uncle before.”

Reggie tousled his hair. If only things were different...

Planting a kiss on his cheek, she left.

She had to start planning how to derail this wedding scheme before she became Mrs. Adam Barr.