Chapter 2

Santa Rosa, California
That Afternoon

Judges don’t like to be kept waiting.” Her groom snapped the cover of his pocket watch closed and looked at her. “Shouldn’t we go inside?”

“Where’s the marriage certificate?” Honor peered around his trunks and stopped short when she caught sight of the family Bible she’d brought from home. Nausea threatened to overtake her as she gripped the side of the wagon box. She’d toted the precious tome all the way to Petaluma in order to record their names on the marriage page after the wedding, but the thought of doing so set her to trembling.

“It’s in here.” Ash tapped a trunk lid.

She opened the lid and snatched the folded document as if it were a lifeline.

“Slow down there. Why do you need the certificate?” Ash caught her trembling hands in his steady ones. His brown eyes brimmed with compassion.

Honor gulped. “It’s … very important. We should take it with us for safekeeping.”

He shook his head. “What has you so scared?”

Honor squared her shoulders and pulled her hands from his grasp. “I’m most certainly not scared.” Terrified more like, but she wasn’t about to say that to him. She tugged at her restrictive bodice for the hundredth time and stared at the courthouse. “It’s just that the reading of Papa’s will is so …”

“Final.”

Her breath hitched and her throat knotted. She clamped her eyes shut.

Ash drew her into his arms. Despite her better judgment, she couldn’t resist. The warm embrace soothed something deep within her.

“I’m sorry. This must be very hard for you.”

At his gentle words, she pulled away and gulped down her emotion. Confusion clouded his expression.

Pull yourself together, Honor.

Again, she tugged at her restrictive clothing. If only she could have worn her trousers and shirt, rather than the confining dress and underthings. She swallowed down the threatening tears. “I’m ready.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. As ready as she could be.

Ash tucked the marriage certificate into his coat pocket and offered her his arm. “I know we’re all but strangers, but would you allow me the pleasure?”

Honor’s smile wobbled as she slipped an awkward hand into the crook of her groom’s elbow. They crossed the street and marched through the doors of the large courthouse. Now just to find the right courtroom …

Few people were in the stuffy hallway, but at one end of the corridor, two boys stood guard outside the courtroom. Levi and Sam Donovan. When they caught sight of her, Levi beckoned. Both boys disappeared inside. Surely they had been stationed there by their father when she hadn’t arrived on time. Honor stopped and pulled free, heart hammering. Had they noticed her hanging on a stranger?

Ash stalled mid-step. “What’s wrong?”

Beyond that door, her lifelong friends waited, and in moments they’d know she’d secretly married. “For now, please …”

At her hesitation, his eyebrows arched. “Please what?”

Don’t let on that we got hitched.

“Nothing. It’s not important.” Silly, actually. Honor swung the door open.

With his hand at the small of her back, Ash ushered her into the room. Judge Sutton eyed them from his bench. On the right side of the courtroom, her half brother Nate sat alone. On the left, Teagan and Ellie Donovan, along with their four children, filled the second row. All eyes focused on her then shifted to Ash, half a step behind. She made eye contact with no one.

“Nice of you to join us, Miss Cahill.” The judge’s stern tone sent a shiver through her. She’d always found the man unsettling, the little she’d seen of him. Now, he was downright off-putting.

She stepped into the front row and Ash slid in beside her. She remained standing. “Please forgive me, sir. I had important business in Petaluma and only just returned.”

“Your father made the unusual request that I sit in on the reading of his will. Was your business so important that it required delaying my last case for the day?”

She fidgeted. “It had to do with the reading, Your Honor.”

“Oh? How did business in Petaluma relate to the reading of a will in Santa Rosa?”

“This is Ashton Rutherford.” Honor fidgeted with the folds of her dress. “He’s a lawyer. I went to Petaluma to meet with him.” Please don’t ask more. Not yet …

Judge Sutton shifted his attention to Ash. “Is that correct, Mr. Rutherford? You’re Miss Cahill’s attorney?”

Please, don’t say too much.…

“I suppose that is correct, Your Honor.” Ash gave a genteel nod. “And please accept my sincere apologies for our tardiness as well.”

“You suppose …” The judge huffed. “Fine. Let’s get this done.” Honor and Ash sat. “We are here today for the reading of Orrin Cahill’s last will and testament. Is the executor present?”

Behind them, wood creaked. Her father’s longtime friend, Teagan Donovan, rested a hand on her shoulder as he stood. The simple gesture warmed her.

Teagan cleared his throat. “I am, sir.”

“Are all the parties now present?”

“Yes, sir.” Teagan gave Honor’s shoulder a little squeeze.

“You have the will?” When Teagan held up an envelope, Judge Sutton beckoned. “Bring it to me, please.”

Teagan walked the envelope up to the judge, who broke the seal and looked the contents over. Nate shot a cold glare her way. She faced front and avoided Ash’s gaze.

After a long moment, the judge handed the papers back to Teagan. “All appears in order. You may read the document.”

Teagan cleared his throat and caught Honor’s eye before beginning. “I, Orrin Augustus Cahill, do solemnly swear that the following words shall serve as my last will and testament, dated November 14, 1874.”

Honor’s heart lurched, and she closed her eyes. Papa wasn’t coming back, and life wouldn’t ever be the same. She had only vague recollections of her mother, who died before Honor turned four. Papa had been the central figure in her world ever since. How would she carry on?

A warm hand covered hers. Startled, she looked at Ash, who twitched a smile at her and winked. Bother! Ellie and Julia were seated on the row behind. What would they think, her holding a man’s hand?

“I have had difficulty in trying to fairly divide my property between my two children, as I love them both equally. It is my desire for Rancho Regalo de Esperanza to stay in my family line for generations to come, but as of this writing, my son, Nathaniel Acacio Cahill, born February 16, 1843, has proven a poor manager of the twenty-five-hundred acres I gifted him in 1864. I fear that giving him more would end in the same result.”

From Nate’s direction, a loud huff broke the stillness. Honor bit her bottom lip. Papa had tried for years to get her half brother to take proper care of his ranch. He’d offered Nate his help, instruction, and even money, but Nate had been determined to live life by his own terms and had distanced himself from Papa even more.

Teagan continued reading. “On the other hand, my daughter, Honor Katherine Cahill, born September 1, 1854, is a capable rancher and has been invaluable in running Rancho Regalo de Esperanza these past years. However, I fear that inheriting the remaining fifty-five hundred acres will be too much for her to handle on her own.”

The words cut Honor to the quick, just as they had months ago. She didn’t need help to run the ranch. She could do it with her eyes closed. But Papa had spoken, and she would abide by his wishes. Thank God, she’d found the copy of his will before he filed it away out of sight. Otherwise, her beloved ranch, the only home she’d ever known, might have been lost to her forever.

“After much deliberation, I choose to give the remainder of my land to Honor, under the condition that she is married upon the reading of this will.”

Ash squeezed her hand and shot her a glance. She wiggled free of his grasp and avoided his eyes. She’d done what Papa asked. She’d married before the will’s reading. So why did she feel like she’d done such wrong? Was God pleased with her honoring her father’s wishes, or angry she’d married a stranger?

“If Honor is unmarried, my executor, Teagan Donovan, should sell the land and cattle within sixty days at a fair value determined by the court. Proceeds from the sale of the land should be used to pay my debts, of which there are few, and the remaining monies should be split evenly between Nathaniel and Honor. The contents of my home should go to Honor, as well as my saddle horses. If a suitable buyer cannot be found within sixty days, only then may Nathaniel purchase all or part of the land at half the court’s assigned value. Should he choose to do so, the proceeds of the sale should go to Honor. Signed, Orrin Augustus Cahill on this day, November 14, 1874.”

As Teagan finished reading, silence enveloped the courtroom. Across the aisle, Nate scowled and shook his head.

Judge Sutton cleared his throat. “Since Miss Cahill is unmarried, I will assess a fair price for the sale of—”

“Excuse me, Your Honor …” Heart pounding, Honor snatched the certificate from her husband’s pocket and shot to her feet.

The judge scowled. “What is it?”

“I am married, sir.”

Honor’s brother bolted up. “Liar! You ain’t married!”

Behind them, surprised murmurs filled the air.

Ash stared up at his pretty bride, his thoughts reeling. No wonder she’d seemed full of trepidation. Honor had married him without telling a soul—at least in this room. He’d known her desire to marry had to do with keeping her ranch, but he hadn’t realized their union was such a secret until that moment.

She was bold. The young woman had a determination like no woman he’d met before, but a question suddenly lodged in his mind. Once the ranch was legally hers, would she remain his wife or seek to annul their marriage? Hopefully not the latter. He hadn’t married her just to end their union a matter of weeks later.

“Come to order.” The judge banged his gavel once.

The room dulled to stunned silence.

“Based on the reaction in my courtroom, I take it this is recent news.” The judge leaned forward. “Explain yourself, Miss Cahill.”

She reached for Ash’s hand and tugged him to his feet. His face flushed at the judge’s glowering expression. Not a good idea to anger judges … though he’d answered the man’s question honestly. As her husband, he would act as her counsel.

“I have a signed certificate that says I am Mrs. Ashton Rutherford, if you’d care to see it.”

The judge’s scowl deepened, and he beckoned her forward. “Bring it to me.”

Ash stepped into the aisle, feeling the weight of everyone’s gazes. He pinned his focus on his bride as she slipped out and turned toward the judge’s bench. The man’s jaw muscle popped as he spread the document out and read, then refolded the paper.

“Sit.” The judge handed Honor the certificate then looked Mr. Donovan’s way. “May I see the will, please?”

Ash slid back into the row, and Honor retook the seat beside him. Nathaniel glared their way, throwing enough heat to melt the ice from a Pennsylvania winter.

The judge folded the will and cleared his throat. “It appears Miss Cahill and Mister Rutherford married this morning in Petaluma. The will stipulates that Miss Cahill be married before the will’s reading, which she was, so Rancho Regalo de Esperanza is legally hers. As with any will, the parties involved may contest the decision when this court reconvenes on the first Monday of the next month. We’re adjourned.” He banged his gavel and rose.

Honor grabbed Ash’s hand and dragged him into the aisle, speeding past everyone and ignoring the calls from the family who’d sat behind them. They were nearly to the door when her brother caught up, grabbed her arm, and jerked her to face him.

Heat washed through Ash, instincts on alert. “Unhand my bride.” He forced his way in front of Honor, stepping toward Nathaniel to create distance between brother and sister.

Though Nathaniel had no choice but to release her, he drew himself up and stood nose to nose with Ash.

“Nate!” Donovan’s sharp voice rang out.

Honor pulled at Ash’s forearm. “Ash, please. Don’t give him a thought.”

Ash and Nate exchanged glares. Don’t give him a thought? The man had just threatened his wife.

Nate cursed. “This won’t work. Rancho Regalo de Esperanza is rightfully mine, and I will have it.”