The Marriage Barter. Christine Johnson

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СКАЧАТЬ leaned both elbows on her desk and propped her head in her hands. “Then Giles is out.”

      “He’s also too young. A man in his early twenties isn’t going to marry a thirty-one-year-old woman.”

      “But you’re so beautiful.” Holly sighed. “You look years younger.”

      Charlotte could never reconcile Holly’s insistence that she was beautiful with the image that reflected back at her in the mirror. “I’m not young, and everyone knows it. I think we need to confine ourselves to the older bachelors and widowers.”

      “Widowers? Well, there’s Elmer Droll. He lost his wife last year.”

      “Elmer Droll!” Charlotte stared at her friend. “He must be sixty-five years old.”

      Holly shrugged. “It is a last resort.”

      “It’s no resort at all.” Still, Charlotte was ashamed that the thought had already occurred to her, along with the even more shameful thought that he wouldn’t live that long after they wed. “I can’t imagine...you know...if he...” She couldn’t bring herself to say aloud that she couldn’t bear to perform her wifely duties in such a marriage. She choked back rising bile. “But I suppose I might have to.”

      Holly took her hand. “No, no. Don’t even think it. There are lots of other prospects. Take Colton Hayes, for instance. Now, there’s a handsome man.”

      Charlotte couldn’t disagree with that. The tall rancher had made many a heart flutter, just not hers. “But he’s so dedicated to taking care of his parents and the ranch. He hasn’t seen anyone since his father’s injury and his mother took ill, has he?”

      Holly shook her head.

      “Poor man. He has so many responsibilities. I couldn’t ask him to take on a wife and child, too, not with his parents in such ill health.” Charlotte pressed her fingers against the cool slate. It reminded her of childhood, when she’d dreamed of finding her prince and living happily ever after.

      Holly sighed. “I can’t think of anyone else. There’s not another man in town who meets your criteria.” She glanced at the schoolhouse clock. “I’m sorry, but I need to meet Mason. If I think of anyone, I’ll let you know right away.”

      Charlotte’s heart sank. Holly and Mason would soon marry. They would have the family she so desired. Her shoulders slumped. “I understand.”

      Suddenly, a glint of excitement lit Holly’s eyes. “There is one other possibility. Wyatt Reed.”

      Her words knifed through Charlotte.

      “Mr. Reed?” She could barely choke out his name.

      “He is handsome.”

      “He’s the enemy.”

      Holly’s expression drooped for a second before her innate optimism returned. “Perhaps to some people, but not for you. He said that the orphans who were already placed could stay. I’m sure that’s because of you and Sasha.”

      “I don’t think so.”

      “I do. I noticed he avoided looking at you during the meeting.”

      “That only proves he feels nothing for me.”

      Holly smiled coyly. “Except that he sneaked a glimpse when he thought no one was looking.”

      Charlotte felt the heat in her cheeks. “I’m sure you’re mistaken. He was probably looking at...at...” She searched her mind for who was seated near her. “Amelia.”

      Holly laughed. “I don’t think he could even see her, nor would he care. I’m sure he was looking at you.”

      Charlotte had to cut this off at once. She pressed her hands to her ears. “Please stop. Wyatt Reed would never marry me or any other woman. He’s a hired tracker, a loner. He has no heart for anyone but himself.”

      “He’s honorable enough to agree to leave the children with families here.”

      “H-he’s obstinate. And loves money.”

      “We all need money to survive.”

      Charlotte knew that, but Wyatt was different. He would take children from the chance to find good homes just for money. But she couldn’t tell Holly what he’d said to her, not when Holly and Mason loved Liam so. So she settled for complete denial. “It’s a ridiculous thought.”

      “Perhaps. But he’d be a lot nicer to kiss than Elmer Droll.”

      Charlotte couldn’t argue with that.

      “Think about it overnight, and we’ll talk again in the morning. I think I can spare an hour early. We did say eight o’clock?”

      Charlotte’s eyes shot open. “Tomorrow morning? Oh, dear, with everything that happened, I forgot about cleaning out Charles’s things.” She bit her lip. “I—I don’t know. Maybe now isn’t such a good time. I should, well, think on other things.”

      They both knew what those “other things” were.

      Oddly enough, Holly looked relieved. “You will at least need to crate up Charles’s things before you bring another man into the house.”

      Another man. Such as Wyatt Reed. Waves of heat rolled through Charlotte as she imagined him sitting at the trestle table or carrying in water for her or sleeping beside—

      She shook herself. “We’ll deal with that if it happens.”

      “When it happens,” Holly stated with dead certainty, as if finding a husband in less than three full days happened all the time.

      “When what happens?” The schoolhouse door banged open, and Sheriff Mason Wright entered. “What’s going on here?”

      Holly rose, her face flushed with pleasure. “Nothing important. Is Liam still playing with the boys?”

      He nodded and glanced at Charlotte, who suddenly felt out of place. Holly positively glowed as she glided over to greet him. His gaze riveted on Holly’s face, shutting out everything else. He took her hands so tenderly that it made Charlotte’s heart ache.

      This was a private moment, one Charlotte couldn’t bear to witness. She slipped silently past them and out the door. Before fetching Sasha, she took a breath to calm herself. Mason and Holly were truly in love, something she would never have.

      * * *

      The ride wasn’t clearing Wyatt’s head. Moreover, everyone in town glared at him as if he was a murderer. He was used to being disliked by civilians, but for the most part the lawmen tolerated him. Based on the encounter with Sheriff Wright in the stable, this one wanted him out of town now, too.

      He kept his gaze fixed forward and put blinders on his peripheral vision. Some peculiar job this was. Usually he had to use all his senses to track down the fugitive and save his own hide. Now here he was trying to block out the voices and the people around him.

      He headed to СКАЧАТЬ