Chapter 10

Honor folded her hands in her lap, knuckles whitening. She stared ahead, spine rigid as Nate took a seat across the courtroom.

Her husband looped his arm around her shoulders. “You have no reason to be nervous. Remember, you married a lawyer.”

She gave a hesitant nod. Beyond him, Nate stared at her, wearing an arrogant smirk. Blast him, but he seemed far too pleased with himself.

Teagan and Ellie arrived, and Ash rose to greet them. Ellie touched Honor’s shoulder, but before she could turn, they were told to rise.

Judge Sutton entered and took his place. “Be seated.”

Honor sat, muscles twitching, and ran her palms over her dress.

Ash took her hand. “Stop fidgeting,” he whispered. “This is nothing.”

After shuffling papers, the judge looked out. “Nathaniel Cahill, on what grounds do you wish to contest Orrin Cahill’s will?”

Nate stood. “My sister’s marriage is a fraud. She got married just to keep the ranch from me.”

Her heart froze.

“That is a strong accusation, Mr. Cahill. Can you back it up?”

“I got proof.” Smug grin sprouting once more, he produced a stack of papers. “Here’s the Matrimonial News from the week after Pa’s death. Inside, there’s a circled advertisement matching Honor’s description. I got letters written between Honor and Ashton Rutherford, dated between Pa’s death and a few days before the will was read. The letters reference the advertisement and their plans to meet. And they got married the same day as the reading of the will. That says a lot right there. I think she knew what was in the will and got hitched just to keep the land from me.”

Honor leaned against Ash as the room tilted. Their letters? When—or where—could he have gotten those? She’d last seen them on—their wedding day. They’d been in the trunk with their marriage certificate, which she retrieved before entering the courthouse. Come to think of it, she’d not seen them since.

Ash stood. “I object to this evidence, Your Honor. If he has our private correspondence, then it was illegally obtained.”

“Overruled. Bring those to me.” Judge Sutton beckoned Nate forward.

Silence fell as the judge perused the papers.

Honor clutched Ash’s arm. If only he could hold her. The comfort of his embrace would soothe the quaking of her heart.

After long minutes, the judge looked at her. “Honor Cahill, come forward.” He nodded to the chair to his right.

She gripped Ash’s hand.

Ash squeezed her fingers in return. “Go on. Answer him honestly.”

Thoughts whirling, Honor faced the judge. “Sir?”

“Yes?”

“My name is Honor Rutherford.”

Irritation flashed across his face. “My apologies. Take a seat, please.”

Ash squeezed her hand one last time as she stepped away and seated herself where directed. Heart pounding, she stared at her husband.

“Based on these letters, it seems you had no intention of marrying until after your father’s death. Is that true?”

“No … yes …” Her body zinged as if lightning coursed in her veins. “It’s true. I had no intention to marry until after Papa’s death.”

“Why did it become important then?”

Her mouth turned cottony. Ash nodded his encouragement.

“Last year, I went into Papa’s office to fetch paper and ink and found a copy of his will. Not knowing what it was, I read a few lines.…” Her eyes stung. She looked at the judge. “Papa was always so strong. It horrified me to think about him dying, but I couldn’t quit reading what he wrote.”

“You admit to having read the will before I unsealed it last month.”

She swallowed. “Yes.”

Nate slapped the table, and Judge Sutton glared his direction then refocused on her.

“So you found a man willing to marry you quickly so you could keep your father’s ranch.” His tone was accusing. “Did you plan to remain married after you’d secured the property?”

Remain married? Dizziness swept her. She gripped the edges of her chair and looked at Ash.

“What’s your answer, Mrs. Rutherford?” the judge prodded.

Honor looked at him. “Of course. Marriage is nothing to trifle with.”

“No, it’s not. And yet I understand why your brother believes your marriage to be a fraud.”

Her heart pounded. She wasn’t the first woman to marry for such reasons. Probably half the women advertising in the Matrimonial News had similar purposes.

Ash stood. “Your Honor, I object.”

The judge threw Ash a heated gaze. “On what grounds?”

“If I might see Orrin Cahill’s will, I will explain.”

Judge Sutton held out the paper to Ash. He stepped out from behind the table, tall and handsome, despite the green-hued bruises he still wore. He twitched a little smile at Honor and took the paper.

After skimming the page, he looked up. “The will states, ‘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. 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.’”

“And?” the judge barked.

“Orrin Cahill never stipulated that his daughter be in love, or how long she’d have to have been married, just that she be married prior to the will’s reading. She met the condition. There’s no purpose in proceeding with this.”

Honor closed her eyes, her chest swelling with pride. Surely that would be enough. Thank You, Lord.

“Overruled, Mr. Rutherford. I’m the one wearing the title of judge. I certainly don’t need some Harvard upstart telling me how to run my courtroom.”

Honor flung her eyes wide, thoughts reeling.

Ash frowned. “I meant no disrespect, Your Honor.”

“Then watch yourself, young man.”

“Yes, sir.” Ash gave a conciliatory nod. “But as my wife’s counsel, may I ask her a few questions?”

The confidence in his voice quieted the lightning coursing in her veins.

Another flash of irritation from the judge. “You may.”

“Thank you, sir.” Ash turned to Honor. “The day we married, did you love me?” Answer honestly. “No. I didn’t even know you.”

“How long did you plan to stay married to me?”

“I vowed until death do us part.”

The cleft in his chin deepened with his smile. “So you meant those vows?”

She could drown in his dark gaze. “I wouldn’t have taken them if I didn’t.”

“At the risk of sounding self-serving, have you developed feelings for me since we married?”

Heat swept over her, warming her to her toes. “Yes. I’ve fallen in love with you.”

For one breathless moment, all was still. Then, spell broken, Ash walked back to the table. “I’m done, Your Honor.”

The judge dismissed Honor.

“Mr. Cahill, do you have anything to add?”

“Nope. She confirmed my point.”

“Then we’ll recess for a half hour while I consider my verdict.”

Head pounding, Ash drew the team to a halt in front of the house. Honor raced to the door, sobs wrenching her slender frame, and fumbled to pull the key from her pocket. “Honor, wait.” He set the brake and stood.

She yanked the door open and disappeared inside.

His shoulders slumped. He couldn’t blame her for not wanting to talk to him. She had counted on him to outmaneuver Nate in the courtroom, and he’d failed.

His thoughts spiraled. It made no sense. She’d met the requirement of her father’s will. She was married prior to the reading. That should have been enough for her to keep the ranch. Even Judge Sutton said so at the will’s reading. But …

“Mrs. Rutherford, your foreknowledge of the contents gave you unfair advantage. You worked your circumstances so the will would favor you. Therefore, I rule in Nathaniel Cahill’s favor. The ranch shall be sold under the provisions set forth in the will.”

Ash rubbed at his throbbing forehead. Nate had threatened to get the ranch since the reading a month ago, but by contesting it, he’d only forced Rancho Regalo de Esperanza to be sold. It wouldn’t transfer into his hands. The only way Nate could get the land was if it failed to sell within sixty days, and it was doubtful a prime piece of land like this, offered at a reasonable price, would fail to sell.

So why contest the will? Was Nate so selfish that if he couldn’t have it, he’d keep Honor from having it, too?

Ash collected his suit coat from the wagon and trudged inside. His eyes strayed to the worn settee where Honor often curled up to read of an evening. Empty. Dare he head upstairs to comfort his wife when he had no answers?

Before marrying her, he knew nothing of lack and little of physical labor. He’d thought himself a good boxer and lawyer, but Nate had beaten him soundly in both. He wouldn’t blame her if she never spoke to him again, especially since she’d married him to keep her ranch, and it was lost. Would she reconsider their marriage? Iron talons gripped his chest until he couldn’t draw breath.

Lord, no, please. As long as I have You—and her—I can make it. Please let her feel the same way.

The telltale sounds of her crying met his ears. He laid his coat over the back of the settee and paced to the stairs.

Lord, does she want me?

He wanted her. If her feelings were the same, they could find a way. Muscles weak, he climbed the stairs.

“Honor?” He knocked on her half-closed door. No answer, so he peeked inside.

She lay on her bed, shoulders trembling, brown curls loosed from their pins.

“May I come in?”

Tear-filled blue eyes turned his way, and she nodded.

An unadorned vanity, a small writing desk, a cedar chest, and her bed furnished the only room he hadn’t yet entered. Halfway to her bed, he shoved his hands in his pockets.

“I’m sorry. I …” He gritted his teeth. “I don’t know what to say.”

He’d promised it was nothing. He’d delivered … a whole lot of nothing. No home. No livelihood. In one stroke.

“I was born in this house. Everywhere I look, there are memories.”

Searing pain like a red-hot knife slashed through his chest. He swallowed. “I know.” He’d been here only a month, yet it held some good memories for him. How many more for her?

“Where will we go now, Ash?”

We …? A tendril of hope sprouted in his belly.

She pushed herself up, curls framing her face. Striking blue eyes full of fear and expectation met his.

“Say that again.”

Confusion etched her features. “Where will we go now?”

We. So she did want him. The talons eased their grip. “We’ll figure something out.”

Her face contorted. “Please hold me.”

Gladly. Ash sat, back against the headboard, and Honor crawled into his arms and rested her head against his chest. She trembled.

He smoothed her hair and twined his fingers into the curls. So soft.

She dragged in a big breath and ran her finger over the buttons of his shirt. “Is God taking the ranch because of how we married?”

His heart stalled. “Do you think He’s punishing us?”

She shrugged. “We just did everything so fast. We didn’t get to know each other at all before we tied the knot. It’s not the usual way.”

No, it wasn’t. But he’d come to love her in a short time, and she’d just said she loved him. “Perhaps that’s the wrong perspective.”

“How so?”

“If we hadn’t married, you would have lost the ranch, and you’d be on your own. Ellie and Teagan would do all they could for you, but for how long? At some point, you’d have to stand on your own.” He brushed her hair back again, drinking in the curves of her face and her full lips. “What if God brought us together, even by unconventional means, so you wouldn’t face losing the ranch by yourself?”

Honor’s chin quivered. “So you think God meant to bring us together … to get through this.”

“Not just this.” He cupped his hand behind her head. “Everything.”

Their lips met, a deep, lingering exchange that made his heart race. His free hand skimmed toward her hip, though he let it range no farther. Honor broke the kiss but remained close, exposing her neck as if inviting him to trail his lips across her tender flesh. He blinked, tried to resist, but her warmth and softness overrode thought. His lips against her throat, a stuttering gasp spilled out of her. Shivers cascaded through him, and he pulled her into his lap. As his mouth reached the neckline of her dress, she fumbled to unfasten the top button.

Reason returned, and he pushed her away. They locked eyes. “Are you sure you want this?”

Eyes sparkling, she smiled shyly and reached for the button. “My hands are trembling. Would you help me?”

His own hands shaking a little, he assisted her then unbuttoned his own shirt. He slid his fingers beneath her dress bodice and slowly revealed her collarbone, the curve of her shoulder, and more.