If Colton had known it would be this simple to get Jennifer to stop talking, he’d have suggested a fake engagement five hundred miles ago. Except for the several blissful hours when she slept, she hadn’t stopped talking since she got in his truck. Once she’d figured out he didn’t appreciate being grilled, she entertained him with her life story. Her entire life story.
She had an older brother who’d also been in the service. Born and raised in Bethesda, Maryland, which he did already know. Mother died when Jennifer was twelve and an aunt helped raise her. Horace had told him all this, of course. But he now knew more about her than he did some of his best friends. No one talked as much as she did. No one in the world. Surely, she’d broken some kind of a record. The Guinness books should know about her.
“Excuse me?” She blinked now and, in the darkness, the moonlight gleamed in her blue eyes and on a shaft of her nearly black hair.
“You heard me. I don’t like it either but it’s the easiest way. We can live together without any annoying questions or judgements. You’ll be welcomed into town as my fiancée. No questions asked as to why we’re always together. We’re in love and it’s that simple.”
“And what will we tell your family when I go back to California?”
“It didn’t work out and you don’t like small-town life. No different than most servicemen reacclimating into civilian life.”
Her eyes narrowed. “But that’s a lie.”
“Yeah, no kidding. So is our engagement.”
“That’s two lies.” She held up her fingers.
“Good, you can count.”
“This isn’t a good idea. I don’t like lying to people.” She crossed her arms. “I thought you trusted everyone here.”
He had thought he would, but no longer. Everything was…different. The ridiculous sign was the first clue. Sean hadn’t mentioned he’d become a model. In the brief emails, he’d mentioned Bonnie Lee came back home, they reconciled, and were getting married. Seemed he was missing some important details.
“What I now know is that this place has changed while I’ve been gone. You saw the billboard. I’ve never seen anything like that in Stone Ridge. It’s like seeing a tank parked next to a church. There’s also a medical clinic and a school that were never there before. I may have missed some emails here and there. I know my brother Riggs married a Nashville celebrity so who knows how many people have moved here since? Maybe some of her fans followed her. No, I don’t trust every single person in this town. Not anymore. Until I know what we’re dealing with, I won’t trust anyone but family.”
A fine time to come to this realization when they were already here. They could have gone anywhere else. But he’d wanted to come in time for Sean’s wedding, so Stone Ridge it was. For better or worse, this was still his hometown. He’d find a way to make this work.
“Why can’t we just say I’m a friend?”
“A friend who’s going to live with me? A friend I’m going to have to follow around everywhere?”
“I see what you mean. Unless you tell them you’re literally my bodyguard, it’s going to look…odd.”
“And they will ask questions such as why someone like you needs a bodyguard. I’d rather my family not think I came here because I thought it would be a great place for us to hide out.” He wanted Sean to realize he’d come here for him and Bonnie. “I didn’t plan on…you.”
“I’m sorry to be a tag-a-long but I’m not sure this is the best idea, either.”
“You know what won’t look odd? An engaged couple, living together, rarely seen apart for however long this takes. Think about it. You don’t need to decide right away.”
A few minutes later, he headed up the familiar small hill on a dirt road. The moon was full and bright, and other than his truck’s headlights and a smattering of brilliant stars, the sky was as black as he remembered. No houselights were on anywhere at this time of the night, and there were no streetlights. Nothing but darkness surrounded them in the quiet and still night. This, however, was a familiar comforting darkness and not one that set him on high alert.
“Since we’re getting here this early, we’ll stay at Delores’s cottage on the back property. Sean recently told me that she’s moved in with Riggs and Winona when they renovated and added on rooms to the main house. This way we won’t bother anyone. I know where she used to hide the key and I bet she still has it hidden in the same place.”
“And Delores is…?”
Jennifer had taken to asking him questions in a strange way, but it had started to grow on him. It felt less like an interrogation.
“I know I mentioned her. She was my mother’s best friend growing up. And after my mother died, she kind of adopted all of us boys as her own. Except that we were grown men by that time. She stayed on with the ranch as a caretaker, making meals for the ranch hands, and helping Riggs out with the housework.”
His words felt like they were suddenly coming out rapid-fire and he hoped this didn’t show that he was nervous. He’d planned this as a surprise and had planned to be alone. He hoped that he’d be welcome. Riggs would no doubt be pissed he’d been gone this long. He’d never wanted Colton in the military. Even Sean might be upset he’d stayed away for such a long time. Colton had emailed as frequently as possible even if on some missions the access had been limited for weeks at a time. The last few emails from Sean, the only one who emailed him, were often pithy:
Are you alive? Please reply.
“They’re not expecting me today. I wanted to surprise them.”
“So, they’re not even expecting you. They’re certainly not expecting me. And I’m supposed to be your fiancée?”
“We’ll say it’s sudden. My family understands. I’ve been out of touch for a while.”
Colton didn’t want to elaborate, but the facts were that his family worried about him. If he came home with a woman, they’d worry far less. They’d see it as a sign that he’d moved on, that he was ready to settle down. He pulled up to the back of the house, the headlights gleaming on a cute little one-story with yellow trim and a porch filled with flowers.
“I knew she’d still take care of this place even if she doesn’t live here anymore.”
“Maybe she’s kept it up for you.”
“Maybe. Delores is one-of-a-kind. You’re going to like her.”
Colton hopped out of the truck, and shone his phone light, bending to look in a ceramic pot of pink flowers. He came up with the key, exactly where he expected it to be. Such a comfort to find that some things never changed. Good old Delores.
He was finally, at long last, home to stay.
* * *
Jennifer stared at the almost-smile from Colton as he held up the key he’d found in a potted flower. The corner of his mouth curled up.
He’d probably be a smoke show of a cowboy if he smiled all the way.
When he moved, his leather jacket unfurled briefly from his side, and she noticed the holster. He was carrying. She shouldn’t be surprised but she still hated guns. And yes, she knew how strange this was for a girl who’d grown up around them. A girl who’d been taught a healthy respect for their power and function. She’d been okay with guns when she was younger, and she knew they had their place. Her father had insisted everyone learn how to operate a gun from the time they were thirteen. She’d felt safe then, next to her father, who tended to command a room. Nothing bad would happen to her while next to him.
Then Dan began to send photos of himself, one of them holding a 45, declaring he’d protect her from all the criminals in LA. All the homeless people. All she had to do was marry him. But she didn’t need protection from the guy pushing a shopping cart filled with clothes down the street. She required protection from a man she’d dated exactly once. The man who in his life presented himself to be a respectable broker and businessman. He was the big, bad wolf.
And now she was in cowboy country. With a soldier. This imposing man seemed concerned with her reputation and privacy as much as he did her safety.
Colton switched on a light, giving her a full view inside. Considering she was used to a one-bedroom in LA. this was plenty of room. Cozy. A leather couch with colorful Aztec throws and pillows faced the red brick fireplace. Framed photos of horses and cattle graced the walls giving it a decidedly western flair. The walls were paneled with wood, flannel-style curtains gracing the windows. A bookcase was filled with several shelves of paperbacks. Beyond the front room, there was a kitchen with a gas-powered stove and a rack filled with hanging pots and pans.
Two bedrooms, thank you, God. One of them seemed more like a guest room containing a dresser and a small twin bed with a faded green-and-white patchwork quilt. She’d take that room because she couldn’t see a man the size of Colton fitting on the bed.
“This is nice,” she commented as Colton brought in her suitcases and his own.
One. He had one bag. He set them down in the foyer and shut the front door.
“That’s it? One bag?”
“I travel light. Figure some of my clothes will be at the main house in my old room. And I’ll buy new stuff if I need it.”
He ran a hand through his closely cropped hair and scanned the room as if looking for something he recognized. Sometime during their long drive, short dark beard stubble had made an appearance. But rather than make him look tougher, now he just seemed…human.
And a little bit out of sorts, which made him somewhat endearing.
She studied the man who’d suggested they pretend to be engaged. The idea had shocked her to the point of being speechless, a rare thing.
The real surprise was she was actually considering it. She hated lying, but some lies were necessary to get to the truth. Ironically. As a budding independent investigative journalist, Jennifer didn’t lie when she reported. She always tried to be unbiased even if she sometimes failed due to the reason of also being human. Occasionally, in order to get close to a subject, she had stretched the truth.
I’m friends with your sister (acquaintances). She mentioned the problem (briefly, and on another news report). I’d like to know more (exclusively).
And there were always the occasional lies of omission. Not her preference, but nothing law enforcement didn’t also do to get to the real truth. If the end justified the means, it had to be done. This was at least one way in which she and Colton understood each other. A lie that wouldn’t hurt anyone was harmless.
And maybe if she’d lied to Dan, told him there was someone else, he might have stopped.
Colton’s expression after he’d suggested they pretend to be engaged, eyes fixated on the road, had ranged from impassive to unreadable. But she’d heard something in the tone of his voice she recognized. He reminded her of her brother, Joe, the year he’d come home from his service overseas. An obvious separation from those he remembered because the setting had changed, if not always the people. While any soldier was gone from his normal life, life moved on. Some businesses closed. People moved away. In theory, every soldier understood this, but the reality of experiencing coming home could be entirely different for each one of them.
Her heart ached for Colton, who might feel like Joe had a few years ago, struggling to reintegrate into civilian life again. Family was important to him. She owed him the same compassion and acceptance she’d give to her brother. The compassion she should give any soldier simply following orders given by command. In this case, her own father.
Maybe he wanted to lie because he wanted his family to think he was fine, had managed to find a solid relationship. He was rooted. Healthy. Nothing to see here, folks.
“Is there another reason you want me to pretend to be your fiancée?” She’d decided if he gave her honesty, and was open about this, she would consider the ask far more seriously.
“The first reason is a little embarrassing. If anyone thinks you’re single in this town, there will be a line out the door with suitors by tomorrow.”
Not at all what she’d expected him to say. He looked awfully serious to be making a joke. Plus, she got the distinct impression he didn’t know how to be funny.
“How does that work, exactly?” She decided to play along.
He sighed. “There have never been many women in our town, as I explained. So that means the ones that are here, and single, are frequently chased. Looking the way you do you’ll have to beat them off with a stick. It will make my job a thousand times more difficult, especially if you actually want to date any of these cowboys.”
Looking the way I do? She was wearing jeans, a T-shirt, and her trusty red-and-white high-top Chuck Taylors. If this was a backhanded compliment, he’d failed.
“Oh, I’m not dating anyone. Not for a long while.”
“Kind of figured you were soured on the experience. There won’t be an issue. If you’re my fake fiancée, you won’t have to date anyone. It will be hands-off because you’re taken.”
While this sounded crazy pants, she would be the first to admit to being out of her element. Having never lived in a small town, she had no idea if he was making this up as he went.
“Colton? I really don’t want a line of men out the door. Even if they mean well.”
Coming from her recent experience with Dan, the idea of being a hot commodity chased by a man sounded as unnerving as jumping off a bridge. While on fire. She wanted to disappear at this point.
“These are good men, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not what you need right now. And I get it. I wish I could think of another option, but we didn’t have much time to plan.”
All her father’s fault, of course. He’d put them in this predicament simply because he relished controlling situations. And people.
“Can’t I just be your girlfriend?” If they were okay with two engaged people shacking up, surely they’d be okay with him bringing home and living with his girlfriend.
“Yeah.” He sighed and ran a hand down his stubbled jawline. “This is where you might help me, just a little. You don’t have to, of course, but I’d appreciate it. I’ve been trying to think of a way I can assure my oldest brother that I’m serious about staying home. He’s a little jaded because I never managed to before. But this is different. I’m done with the military, and I’ll be staying. Riggs is pretty traditional, more so than Sean or me, and having a fiancée will go a long way to convince him I’m putting down roots.”
It was just as she’d thought.
He needed her.
The compassionate side of Jennifer, the one that had done a podcast special on returning soldiers, the one who’d witnessed Joe’s struggles, didn’t have any reasons left to say no.
“I’ve thought about it enough, and I’ll pretend to be your fiancée if you think that’s the best idea. I trust you because my father trusts you.” She pointed to the smaller room and grabbed a suitcase. “And I’ll take this bed.”
He nodded. “I’m going to take a shower. You can go after me if you want. If I’m not up by seven, it’s okay to knock on the door. Around here, everyone is up early. We’ll have company as soon as day breaks and they see the truck.”
“There’s something we forgot.” She hesitated. “If we’re going to lie about being engaged, shouldn’t we get our stories straight?”
“Right.” He shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Any ideas?”
“Well, we can say we met through my father. The best lies always have a little grain of truth to them.”
“Right. We met years ago through Horace, and when I got back stateside, we reunited and had a whirlwind courtship. I asked you to marry me and you said yes.”
“You’re getting the hang of this.” She tried a smile. “Is your family going to believe you’d get engaged to someone you barely know?”
“I’m just as crazy about a gorgeous woman as the next guy. Why not?” He shrugged.
Dan had called her gorgeous. Then he’d tried to own her, possess her like a piece of furniture that would look good in his home.
“That’s not why people get engaged,” she said.
“I know. Sorry. You’re right.”
The apology just slid out of his mouth like it didn’t cost him anything.
Colton headed into the bathroom, where she heard the shower going. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Jennifer tried to imagine her next two weeks on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. It might be good. Or terrible. At least she wouldn’t have any of the distractions of social media.
And the hope was that eventually Dan would lose interest or feel threatened enough by legal action that she could go back to her regular life.
After a few minutes, Colton knocked on the door to her bedroom.
“Come in.”
He had towels with him, which he dropped into her lap unceremoniously. “In case you want to shower. Have a good night. Tomorrow we’ll talk some more.”
“Colton? What about a ring?”
“Right.” He ran a hand through his damp hair. “I haven’t thought this through all the angles.”
She would imagine he was exhausted, too, and running on fumes. “We can say that you wanted me to choose one because I’m picky.”
“Good idea.”
Jennifer had brought her hair products and soap with her, and good thing because there was only a white bar of soap in the stall. Wet from Colton’s touch. As she lathered up, she couldn’t help thinking that Colton had been in this same spot only a few minutes ago. Naked. And wet and…Okay, she would not go there. Once you got past the scary factor, yes, he was attractive. Rugged and handsome. Anyone with good eyesight could see that. But for all intents and purposes he was a hired bodyguard, and they were here together only out of obligation. Not a good way to start any relationship. Not that she would start any relationship with a soldier.
Colton still had that rigid posture, the hallmark of a returning soldier. If she did nothing else while here, she was going to get him to slouch at least once. Consider it her civic duty.
The warm water sluiced down her hair and body and she relaxed for the first time in weeks. She’d been terrified, wondering if Dan would show up with his gun, and try to get her to leave her apartment.
After which she might never be seen again.
Now Dan was thousands of miles away and had no idea she’d left town. By the time he figured it out, maybe he would have found something else to obsess over.
Either way, she was safe.
After drying off, she crossed the hallway to her room, dressed in her pajamas, and crawled under the sheets for a nice long nap.