Wed By Necessity. Karen Kirst

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СКАЧАТЬ Six

      “Why, God?” he groaned. “Of all the women in the world, why her?”

      He couldn’t fathom how the Father who claimed to love him and want good things for him would shackle him to a woman like Caroline Turner. A woman who, on the inside where it counted, could be Maureen Craig’s twin. He’d left Boston to escape just these sorts of people, and now he was rejoining their ranks.

      The bread and jam he’d choked down earlier soured on his stomach.

      In a few hours’ time, he’d enter into a marriage he didn’t want.

      His arms full of supplies, he was about to enter Rain’s stall when the man Albert had introduced as Shane Timmons strode into the stable. The light shining through the high windows glanced off the pistol at his hip.

      “How can I help you, Sheriff?”

      His probing gaze cataloged the scene. “Looks like you’re the one who could use a hand.” He came close and, spying Rain’s flank wound, whistled low. “That’s a doozy.”

      “Aye, it is.” Going in, he arranged the honey jar and bandages in the corner and tried not to relive those horrible moments when he’d watched Caroline slide from the saddle and plunge to the ground. Running his hand along Rain’s side, he said, “It could’ve been worse.” For both the animal and her owner.

      Shane removed his hat and, pushing his light brown hair out of his eyes, gestured to the horse. “How about I apply honey to the bandage while you clean the wound?”

      Duncan didn’t exactly feel like company, but he wasn’t about to refuse the sheriff. Now that Gatlinburg was to be his permanent home, making allies would prove important.

      “I’d appreciate it.”

      While he filled a container with clean water, Shane applied a generous amount of honey to the square bandage that would cover the wound. Rain was a docile patient. In a matter of minutes, they had her patched up, the bandage protecting the gash from flies and dirt getting in.

      Shane surveyed their work. “Should heal nicely. Caroline will be relieved.”

      Duncan twisted the lid to the honey jar. He didn’t ask how well the sheriff knew her. It didn’t matter.

      “I realize you haven’t had time to get to know many people yet,” he continued. “I want you to know I’m here if you need anything.”

      “How about a way to turn back the clock?” he muttered, carrying the remaining bandages and honey jar to the tack room.

      Shane closed the stall door and followed him. “You don’t have ties here. You could refuse to marry her. Leave town.”

      Duncan pivoted. “Is she that bad then?”

      Humor graced his mouth. “This isn’t about Caroline or my opinion of what you should do. I’m trying to put myself in your shoes. I wanted you to know the whole of Gatlinburg isn’t against you.”

      “I’d be lyin’ if I said I hadn’t thought of running. I’ve done nothing wrong in the sight of God, and neither has she.”

      “I believe you.”

      “But it’s my duty to honor the McKenna name. I won’t sully it by acting the coward and sowing seeds of doubt in the locals’ minds.”

      And there was the matter of his intended bride to consider. As furious as he was with her, the thought of leaving her to bear the brunt of his rejection troubled him. It would serve her right, he reminded himself, recalling her adamant objection to marrying a common working man. In that moment, he’d been the object of every single man’s pity within hearing distance.

      The sheriff held out his hand. “I suppose this means you’ll be adding to our population. Welcome to Gatlinburg, Mr. McKenna.”

      “Call me Duncan.” They shook hands.

      “I’ll be praying for you and Caroline.”

      He blinked at the reference to them as a team. A couple. From this day forward, he’d be irrevocably linked to her.

      “We’ll need all the prayers we can get.” Did his face bear the same grave acceptance as his tone?

      After the sheriff departed, Duncan returned to his humble cabin, one that didn’t even belong to him. One bright spot in this mess? The thought of watching Caroline adjust to life as a stable manager’s wife.

      * * *

      “I can’t do this.”

      Caroline’s reflection in the mirror was nothing like how she’d imagined a bride should look. With no time to procure a proper wedding dress, Louise had chosen a ball gown from Caroline’s wardrobe that she hadn’t yet worn. Besides the ostentatious design, the color was wrong for her. But she hadn’t had the gumption to argue with her mother, not when she’d caused Louise’s dreams for her to shatter.

      Crafted of fine, golden yellow silk and overlaid with white netting, the bodice was snug, the curved neckline lower than she preferred and the skirt boasted poofs of fabric that reminded her of popped corn. She ran her palms over her waist. The style certainly didn’t hide the span of her hips.

      Her best friend, Jane Leighton, adjusted one of the yellow paste jewels Betty had woven into her upswept hair. “You’re going to get through this,” she encouraged, her moss green eyes solemn. “Don’t think about what next week or next month might bring. Take things one day at a time.”

      “He hates me.”

      Jane met her gaze in the mirror. One of a set of identical twin sisters Caroline had known since she was fifteen years old, Jane was practical and calm and wise. She was one of a very small handful of people Caroline trusted.

      “I’m sure he’s merely frustrated with the situation he finds himself in.”

      Caroline twisted on the low, circular seat. “No, he truly hates me, Jane.”

      “Then I suggest you find ways to change his mind.”

      “I don’t think anything I could do or say will make him forgive me.”

      “There were two of you on that mountain ridge. You didn’t force him to accompany you.” She swept a swath of her thick red hair behind her shoulder, the band on her fourth finger catching Caroline’s gaze. Jane was married to the love of her life. Tom Leighton adored and respected his wife. Sadly, that was not to be the case in her own marriage.

      “I haven’t said ‘I do’ yet, and I already know my marriage is going to be a disaster.”

      “You can’t think like that, Caroline. Focus on being friends first. The rest will come later.”

      Exactly what the rest was comprised of worried her. Once Louise had unleashed the brunt of her disappointment, she’d attempted to broach the subject of wifely duties. Horrified, Caroline had cut her off. Theirs wasn’t the caring mother-daughter relationship that would make such a delicate conversation easy.

      She СКАЧАТЬ