Married in Montana Read online

  "We'll see what the laws are, and if there are any openings close by." She wanted to work, but she didn't want to disappoint him.

  The driver pulled into JFK airport then. "What airline?"

  After Scott told him, he pulled up in front of a terminal. Scott had her bag in one hand and had her hand held in his other. "Let's go!"

  They hurried through the airport check-in process and to the terminal. Her bag was a carry-on. "Do you think I have time to change?" she asked. Everyone was looking at her. Who wore a wedding dress through the airport?

  Scott glanced at his watch. "Flight boards in two minutes."

  "I guess I'm flying to Montana in my wedding dress." Savannah shrugged. "Something to tell the grandkids."

  He leaned down and kissed her softly. "We may need to concentrate on making our own babies first."

  She blushed, wondering if he would expect to make love that night or if he'd agree to wait to get to know each other better. If she'd been asked the previous day, she'd have insisted they needed to wait, but now that she was getting to know him, she wasn't certain that was true. Sure, she was nervous about her first time with a man, but Scott made it more appealing than she'd thought it would be.

  "I'm flying us home first class. I can't always do that, but I thought since we weren't taking a honeymoon, I could spring for it."

  She smiled. "That sounds nice. I've never flown first class." She wondered if they'd be in a separate room for it like she'd seen on movies. Of course, she'd only flown twice ever, so she didn't know much about it at all.

  "You'll like it."

  Once they were settled in their seats, and each of them had a soft drink, Savannah unwrapped the blanket that had been waiting on her seat. She covered up with it, feeling a bit less conspicuous once her wedding dress wasn't showing as much. They were in the second row, and it seemed that everyone who walked past them was eyeing her dress and grinning at her. "How long is the flight?" she asked.

  "We have a layover in Salt Lake City, so it's going to be seven hours by the time we're done." He glanced at his watch. "You might as well just nap if you're tired."

  She nodded. "I really didn't sleep well last night. I wasn't sure what I'd find when I got to the church today."

  "And? What did you find?"

  "Let's just say I was pleasantly surprised." She took the pillow she'd stuffed into the seat pocket in front of her and set it against the window.

  He frowned. "That's not going to be comfortable. Use my shoulder."

  Savannah bit her lip. It felt very intimate to be using his shoulder as a pillow, but he was her husband after all. Finally, she nodded, resting her pillow against his shoulder and her head on the pillow.

  She was asleep in moments, letting the exhaustion and the movements of the plane wash over her.

  Scott kissed the top of her head as soon as he realized she was asleep. He was sitting with the woman he'd promised to spend the rest of his life with, and he knew so little about her. It was awkward, but he was hopeful. There was a strong physical attraction if nothing else. And they both seemed to feel the same way about family commitments. Surely that would be enough to build a future on.

  *****

  They were both exhausted when they finally landed in the airport in Billings. "Did you drive?" Savannah asked. She'd never had a car and had no idea how to drive one, having always lived in the city and relied on public transportation. She was more than willing to learn, though. If she was going to work, she'd have to. Scott lived in a rural area, and rural areas weren't known for their subway systems.

  "Yeah. My car is in the parking garage." He held onto her hand as they rushed through the airport, dodging people. "I'm ready to be home."

  "When did you leave for New York?"

  He grinned. "Jake and I flew out at midnight." He'd barely slept in all that time, and he was exhausted. The cat naps he'd caught on various planes just weren't enough.

  They went into the dark parking garage and he found his truck right away. It was an extended cab pick-up truck, and he felt strange asking her to get into a truck in her wedding dress.

  Once they were seated, he drove through the airport, not sure what to say to his new bride. He was attracted to her, yes, but how did you have a conversation with a total stranger who just so happened to be your wife?

  "Did you teach in a public school in New York?" he asked, grasping at a topic.

  She shook her head. "I taught in a small Christian school."

  "You enjoy teaching?" he asked.

  She thought about that for a moment. "Mostly. Some aspects of it aren't great, but I like helping to form kids into the best adults they can possibly be." She was glad they'd had a morning wedding, because it was still light out. She loved the scenery. "Montana is beautiful."

  "Have you never been here before?"

  She shook her head. "Furthest I've ever been from New York was Disney World when I was six." Her father had died a few months later, so it was one of her best memories of him.

  "I think you'll like it here. You always lived in the city then?"

  "Yeah. I don't even have a driver's license." She wasn't sure why she'd suddenly blurted out that piece of information, but it was something they'd have to deal with quickly if she was going to work. She had a feeling there was no subway system that went to his ranch.

  He looked at her in surprise. "It never occurred to me you wouldn't have one. We'll have to teach you to drive this summer."

  "I'd like that." They were out of the city by then, and she could see mountains off in the distance. She couldn't wait to get out and walk around the area. "Were you an only child?"

  He nodded. "Yep. I was raised in a house that has been in my family for generations, and I still live there. I plan to raise my children there as well."

  "Do you want a lot of kids?" It felt so strange to be asking him questions that would have been covered while they were dating.

  "I do. I have in my head that ranching families should be large."

  "But you were an only child."

  He nodded. "My mom had some problems having me, and the doctor advised against her having more. She wanted a dozen kids." He stopped at a stop sign. They were on a rural road not far outside of King. "Do you want children?"

  "Yes, I always have. I don't have a reason why, but I've always wanted several."

  "Do you feel like cooking tonight, or do you want to stop in town and get a bite to eat?"

  His abrupt change of subject startled her, and Savannah thought about it for a minute. She didn't want to have to cook, because she was exhausted, but did she really want to show up in the town she would soon be part of for the first time in her wedding dress? She still couldn't believe she'd flown across the country in it. "I am hungry." What difference did it really make?

  He pulled off the main street and was soon parallel parking in front of a small diner. "Come on. This place has the best food in town." He didn't add that it was the only restaurant in town, because the food was good.

  He ran around the truck and opened her door for her, offering a hand to help her out. He didn't want her tripping on the wide skirt of her wedding dress. Slipping his arm around her waist he led her into the diner, expecting some reactions, but knowing it would be best if people saw him with his bride in her dress. They would get the news of his wedding around much faster than he ever could.

  Jennifer smiled toward the bell that rang as they opened the cafe door, her eyes widening. She rushed to Scott. "Scott! Was there something you forgot to tell me the last time you were here?"

  "Not that I can think of," he answered, deliberately misunderstanding her. "This is my wife, Savannah."

  Jennifer smiled. "It's so nice to meet you, Savannah." She took the other girl's hand in hers. "Scott and I dated in high school."

  Scott sighed. "I think I dated every girl in my high school class at least o
nce. There weren't that many of them." He was worried Savannah would think there had been more to his relationship with Jennifer than there really had been. Jennifer had married a school friend as soon as possible after graduation.

  Jennifer wrinkled her nose, leading them to an empty booth off to the side of the room. "I've never seen you around here. Where are you from?"

  "New York." Savannah was uncomfortable under the other woman's scrutiny, so she picked up her menu. "What's good here?"

  Jennifer took the hint. "What can I get you to drink?"

  "Water please," Savannah answered quickly.

  "Water and a root beer. I'll be right back."

  Savannah frowned. Another woman knew what her husband would order to drink and she didn't. It didn't feel right. She was suddenly struck by just how strange the situation was. What had she done?

  Scott took her hand, winding his fingers through hers. "What's that look about?"

  "It just seems strange that I don't know anything about you. How long is it going to take me to know what your preferences are? How will I even know what to cook when I don't know what you like?" She felt almost panicked.

  "I'll make you a list of things I hate. Anything else is allowed!" He brought her fingers to his lips. "Seriously, though. It's a strange situation, but I know we can make it work."

  She bit her lip, looking at her silverware, not sure how to ask what she wanted to ask. "But...will you give me a little time to get to know you?"

  "You can have as long as you need. The rest of our lives even!"

  "You don't mind waiting then?"

  "Waiting for you to get to know me? Of course not. I need to get to know you too."

  Savannah felt relief wash over her. "Oh good. I was worried you'd insist on tonight, and I just don't know if I can," she babbled. "I mean, I have feelings for you, and I know I can soon, but maybe not tonight. It would just feel so strange, and..." She trailed off when she saw the look on his face.

  Scott listened to her, finally comprehending her meaning. He sighed. He wanted her, and had planned to make love to her that night. How could he not? They were married, and she was a beautiful woman after all. "How long do you think you'll need?" he asked, trying to keep the annoyance from his voice. She had every right to ask for time, but he had every right not to want to give it to her.

  She shrugged. "I really don't know. Maybe a few days? Maybe a few months?"

  His eyes widened. "Days, I can handle. Months? That sounds excessive."

  She frowned. "How about we reassess things in a week? Does that sound reasonable?"

  Jennifer came back with their drinks then. "What will you have?"

  Savannah looked at the menu. "I haven't even read over the menu yet."

  Scott squeezed her hand. "Do you mind if I order for you?"

  "That would be wonderful."

  "We'll both have a bison steak, baked potato loaded, and salad." His eyes met hers. "Dressing?"

  "Italian." She'd never eaten bison, but since he raised it, she should try it.

  Jennifer looked at Savannah. "How do you like your steak cooked?"

  "Medium well."

  When Jennifer walked off, Savannah had to assume that the other woman already knew how Scott liked his steak. She looked at her husband. "A week?"

  "On one condition," he said, not liking the idea of waiting but not willing to start their marriage on the wrong foot by insisting on his marital rights.

  "What's that?"

  "I get to try to convince you otherwise."

  She smiled. "So you're going to constantly be asking me for sex?"

  He grinned. "Oh, I'll be a little more subtle than that." He brought her hand to his lips, kissing the palm, his tongue sneaking out to touch her skin.

  "I see." She nodded. "That's fair. I think it's a perfect compromise."

  "So do I," he told her. "It sounds very fair to me."

  "Is there a spare room I can use until our week is up?"

  He frowned at that. He would have an easier time convincing her if they were sharing a bed, but he could see where that would give him an unfair advantage in their little game. "Yes, you can have any of the spare rooms you'd like."

  "Thank you," she said simply. She felt like she was being a bad wife even asking, but she knew she'd feel like she was being a bad person if she jumped into bed with a total stranger the day she met him, even if he was her husband. "Tell me about the ranch."

  He took the change of subject in stride, talking about the huge spread and the men who worked for him. "I have a foreman, but I'm out there sweating and working every day right along with my men." He eyed her. "Do you ride?"

  She shook her head. "No. I wanted to when I was a girl, but after my father died, we just didn't have the money for any extras. Mom worked, but it wasn't the same as both of them working."

  She heard a buzzing from her purse, and opened it, taking out her phone. "My mother's texting me." She handed him the phone so he could read the message for himself.

  Scott laughed, reading the message aloud. "'Has he killed you yet? If he has, please don't answer this. If not, please give me a call so I know you're all right.' I think you should call her."

  "I think that might be a good idea." She considered going outside to make her call, but she was already feeling conspicuous enough. She pushed the speed dial for 'Mom' and put the phone to her ear, waiting for her mother to answer. "I'm fine! We made it to Montana. Yes, Mom. We're eating dinner at a cafe in King. I'll call you in the morning. I love you too."

  As she spoke, Scott studied her. Her face was filled with amusement. He enjoyed seeing her emotions as they crossed her face. When she put the phone down, she was shaking her head. "She's still convinced you're going to kill me tonight."

  "I never kill a woman the day I meet her. I wait until it's been at least a week!"

  Jennifer stopped at the table then, giving Scott a strange look. "You two didn't just meet today, did you?"

  Savannah didn't meet the other woman's eyes as she took her steak. She eyed it, wondering what it would be like. Eating bison was a new experience, but she had a feeling it would be happening often.

  Scott ignored Jennifer's question. "Can I get a refill on my root beer when you get a chance?"

  When Jennifer had walked away, he asked, "How do we tell people we met?"

  Savannah shrugged. "I don't know. In ten years, if we're happy, I don't care if people know we met at the altar. Now? I don't feel right talking about it."

  "I won't lie to people."

  "I don't want you to lie. I just don't want to answer the question. It's no one's business anyway, is it? Let's make sure we don't post it on Facebook for the whole world to see."

  "I guess not." He cut into his steak and took a bite, watching her as she toyed with hers for a moment. "You'll like it. Try it with an open mind."

  She cut off a piece and bit into it, her eyes lighting up. "That's good!"

  "I know. It's one of the best meats out there. Definitely the best red meat, in my opinion."

  Jennifer brought back his drink, looking back and forth between the two of them. She looked like she wanted to ask more questions, but she didn't. Instead she said, "You want your check now? Or should I wait and see if you want dessert? Sorry, we're fresh out of wedding cake." She laughed at her own joke, while Scott shook his head.

  "We had enough wedding cake earlier. I think you can just leave the check."

  Jennifer put the check on the table and wandered off to refill some drinks for others.

  Scott squeezed Savannah's hand. "I know it's weird and awkward right this minute, but I trust Lachele. She's smart, and she's always had good intuition where matchmaking was concerned. I remember it was all over town when she was in high school that one of the teachers in school was someone she thought would be perfect for her aunt. So she invented a reason for her aunt to h
ave to come up to the school so she could introduce them. They were married two months later and have six kids."

  "Wow. Really?" She'd never heard of anything like that.

  "And that was before she got a doctorate in psychology. I trust her."

  "I do too. But you're right. It is awkward." She shrugged. "I'm not sure what I expected. I saw you, and my heart fluttered. I felt so much, but now that we're alone, it's strange."

  He raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Your heart fluttered?"

  She blushed. "I mean I was attracted to you. You were someone I would have chosen from a line up to date." She stopped then, realizing she was just digging a bigger hole for herself. She sounded stupid.

  He smiled, kissing the hand he still held. "You know what? I felt the same way. I saw you, and all I could think was that a beautiful woman was about to marry me. How could I complain about that?"

  Chapter Three

  On the short drive to the ranch from King, Scott pointed out different things that he wanted Savannah to see. Finally they reached the ranch. "This is my home," he said simply, driving up the long narrow driveway.

  She stared all around her. The area was vast, and the mountains were beautiful. She would be able to see mountains every day. She liked the idea, although catching her breath was a bit difficult. "I can feel the difference in the air."

  "We're over three thousand feet above sea level. Is it hard for you to breathe?"

  She shook her head. "Not exactly. It's just odd. I'm sure I'll get used to it."

  He parked in front of the house, getting out and coming around to help her down. As soon as she was out of the truck, he bent and picked her up, carrying her to the house. "Put me down!"

  "I'm carrying you over the threshold. I'm a groom, and it's my job." Once they were inside he set her down and ran back out for her overnight case.

  Savannah stood in the middle of the living room looking around. He was a man who liked his electronics apparently. There was a huge flat screen television in the living room that had been mounted on one wall. A couch faced it with two recliners grouped to make a nice sitting area. She wandered to her right and found a dining room complete with a beautiful hutch full of china and a nice long oak table.

  The kitchen was off the dining room, and she peeked her head in. There was a large refrigerator and a stand-alone freezer beside it. There were two built-in ovens that reminded her of the kitchen Alice had cooked in on The Brady Bunch. A microwave graced one counter, and the island in the middle of the kitchen had a built in flat top stove. She could definitely cook there.