Cowboy's Conundrum (Culpepper Cowboys Book 3) Read online

  He nodded, not wanting to do it, but knowing he would do anything for her after the way he’d hurt her earlier. He’d seen the sadness in the eyes that were usually filled with happiness. Taking her hand in his, he squeezed it tightly.

  “I want them to think we’re in love,” she whispered softly. “Please don’t shame me in front of my parents.”

  He put his arm around her and kissed her cheek. “I do care for you, Joy. I would never do that. Everyone in the world will think we’re madly in love, if that’s what you want.”

  She nodded. “That’s what I want.” She couldn’t be joyful otherwise. “Ready?”

  He took one corner of the iPad, and she held the other. Pushing the icon to call, she held his hand tightly again.

  Tears pricked Joy’s eyes when her parents’ faces jumped onto the screen. “Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad. This is Kolby. We’re getting married tomorrow.”

  Her mother’s eyes swam with tears. “That doesn’t give us any time at all to get there.”

  “It’s not going to be a formal wedding. Just something in Kolby’s mother’s backyard. Faith got married yesterday.”

  “And Chastity? Is she still doing everything she can not to live up to her name?” her mother asked, her eyes chilly.

  “Chastity and my brother are talking marriage,” Kolby said, having no idea if his words were true. As far as he knew, they were just going at each other like rabbits, but he wouldn’t betray his brother or her sister by saying so.

  Joy’s father frowned at him. “What do you do for a living?”

  “My brothers and I share a ranch. We’re all hard-working cowboys.” He didn’t mention Chris’s true vocation. Why would he admit to having a science teacher for a brother?

  “I see.” The older man nodded. “Nothing wrong with good old-fashioned hard work.”

  “No, sir. There’s not.” Kolby didn’t particularly like the man, but he wasn’t about to be rude. He’d been raised better than that.

  Joy smiled, her eyes lit up. “I just wanted to let you meet Kolby before the wedding. This seemed like the best way.”

  Joy’s mother cried a bit. “I hate that I can’t be there for your wedding. At least you told us before you actually married him, though.”

  “I did what I felt was right, Mama. The others did too.”

  “I see.”

  “I’m going to let you go. I just wanted you to know that we’re all happy, and I’m getting married tomorrow.”

  Joy’s father looked at Joy for a moment. “Are we going to be able to see our grandchildren?” he asked.

  Joy bit her lip, not sure how to answer that.

  “Yes, of course you’ll be able to see them,” Kolby answered, understanding Joy’s hesitation. You’ll see them under supervision and you’ll never take them home with you.

  Her father nodded. “Thank you. Take good care of my Joy.”

  The screen went dark, and Joy felt tears streaming down her cheeks. “I feel so bad for the way we ran off, but we didn’t feel like we had a choice. I felt so stifled under their roof, but it was worse for the others.”

  Kolby laid the iPad on an end table and pulled her into his arms, stroking her back while she cried on his shoulder. “Do you want to go home?” he asked, hating the idea, but knowing he’d let her go if that’s what would make her happy.

  She shook her head. “Back to Kentucky? No, I want to stay here with you. It’s just hard to let them be angry with me.”

  “How are you going to get your sisters away from them?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “Grace has a car. Those two will just pack up and leave. They helped us a lot by distracting Mom and Dad while we were packing.”

  “You just left, didn’t you? You snuck around and left without them knowing about it.”

  Joy leaned back, looking him in the eye. “It’s the only way we could get out of there unless we’d married men our father hand-picked.”

  He sighed. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

  She shrugged. “They love us a great deal. They just show love differently than most people do.”

  “Are you glad we talked to them?”

  “I think so. At least I won’t have to feel guilty about marrying you without introducing you to them first.”

  He frowned, seeing that her eyes were still sad. “What can I do to make you feel better?”

  She smiled. “Why don’t you walk me back to your mom’s house? I still have a few things I need to do tonight so I’m ready to get married tomorrow.”

  “I’m going to take Tuesday off work. My brothers are both nuts about schedules and working, but I’m taking a day with my new bride.” He got to his feet, holding his hand down for her. “C’mon. I’ll walk you back.”

  He picked up her iPad, and holding her hand tightly in his, began the short walk back to his mother’s house. “Can you take off the whole day Tuesday?”

  She frowned. “I’m really not sure. Hope would let me if I asked, but I’d feel guilty.”

  “Why? She’s going to have a day soon where she’ll take a day off as well. You’ll cover for each other.”

  “Neither of the others took the day after they married off. I feel like I’d be taking advantage if I did.”

  Kolby sighed. “Have you ever thought of yourself first? Even once in your life?”

  Joy shook her head. “My mom taught me that Joy means Jesus first, others second, and yourself last. I need to exhibit joy, so I make sure I follow the formula to do so.”

  He stopped walking for a moment and turned to her in the dark. “I hope you don’t burn yourself out by constantly doing for others.”

  She smiled, standing on tiptoe to brush his lips with hers. “I won’t.”

  He caught her by the hips and pulled her closer, his mouth coming down hard on hers. He wanted so badly to drag her back to his place. What would it hurt to anticipate their wedding vows by less than twenty-four hours?

  He stopped, pulling away slowly. It would hurt her. He may not be willing to love her, but he wouldn’t hurt her! “Let’s get you back.” He rested his forehead against hers, breathing heavily. “I can’t wait for tomorrow night.”

  She raked her fingers through his hair. “I can’t either.” She knew she shouldn’t be so eager to marry a man who never planned to love her, but she was. She loved him, and she would be happy with him. She could live without his love.

  He smiled, keeping his arm around her shoulders as he walked the rest of the way back to his mother’s house. Opening the back door, he called out, “I brought your little chick back to you safely!”

  Linda walked over from where she’d been standing beside the dining room table sewing. “It’s the last time you’ll need to bring her back to me.”

  Kolby looked at Joy with a grin. “I’m happy about that.”

  “Are you going to be here for lunch tomorrow?” Linda asked her son.

  He nodded. “I plan to be. I’ll get ready for the wedding immediately after work. Do you two have everything worked out the way you want it?”

  Joy nodded, a smile on her face. “Yes, of course. I have already chosen flowers, and they’ll be delivered. Brother Anthony and Lovie will be here at seven. All we have to do is show up.”

  “Well, you sleep well.” He kissed her cheek, his lips touching her ear. “I can’t promise you’re going to get a lot of sleep tomorrow night.”

  She blushed, glancing over at Linda to make certain she hadn’t heard. “G’night.” Joy watched him go before turning to Linda. “I met Rachelle’s sister today.”

  “Abigail? She’s sweet. She and Karlan were in the same grade in school.” Linda kept methodically cutting strips of fabric for the baby doll quilts. “Did she say anything?”

  “She told Kolby that they’d just returned from seeing Rachelle and her husband in California. Mentioned a baby. Kolby completely shut down.”

  “I’m sure he did. Did he tell you what happened?”

  “Yeah. She was pa
rt of the Great Underwear Model Caper.” Joy made a disgusted face.

  Linda laughed. “Yes, she was. Trust me, Joy, that woman was not worthy of one of my boys. She had him wrapped around her little finger, and he would have done anything for her. Instead, she ran off looking for trouble. Did he tell you she called him when she was five months pregnant, begging him to take her back?”

  Joy shook her head, her eyes wide.

  “Well, she did. He told her he wanted nothing more to do with her, and she’d made her bed, so it was time to lie in it. That told me everything I need to know.”

  “That Kolby can’t forgive?”

  “No, Kolby forgives easily. It told me that he never loved her like he thought he did.”

  “Are you sure?” Joy needed to believe that Kolby really hadn’t loved her, because that meant that his heart wasn’t broken, and maybe eventually he would love Joy.

  “Of course, I’m sure! I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t.” Linda shook her head. “You need to not worry about Rachelle. You’re five times the woman she was.”

  Joy laughed. “Sure. I have a feeling Kolby doesn’t feel that way.”

  “He didn’t take her back, and he would have if there had ever been real love on his side. Keep that in mind.”

  Joy nodded, walking around to the kitchen to get a glass of water. “I’ll try. I sure don’t want to spend the rest of my life feeling like I’m living in the woman’s shadow.”

  “Then don’t let yourself. She’s gone. You’re his future. He wouldn’t marry you if he didn’t think he could be happy with you.”

  “Thanks for the pep talk. Now if I can just make it through the day tomorrow without losing my mind with nervousness.”

  Linda laughed. “You’re going to be just fine.”

  “G’night.” Joy put the glass in the dishwasher and headed off to her room, just then realizing it was her last night to sleep there. Only Chastity would be left.

  Climbing into bed, she set her alarm. Mornings came early on the ranch. She prayed for peace and calm the following day. Adding at the end, “And please, God, let Kolby love me. I need him to.”

  6

  When Joy woke at five-thirty on Monday morning, her first thought was of her conversation with Kolby the previous evening. I’m going to marry him anyway, and I’m going to help him see that loving me is the only thing he can do.

  She hurried through her shower, planning a long leisurely bath that afternoon. She was going to get dressed like this wedding was the most important day of her life, because it was. No matter what Kolby said, she was marrying him because she loved him. How could that ever be a bad thing?

  She went out to eat breakfast with Chastity and Linda before the children came. When she entered the kitchen, Linda smiled at her. “It’s our bride. Are you ready for this?”

  Joy nodded, taking a deep breath and plastering her smile on her face. “I think I am. Kolby is a wonderful man, and I’m excited to be able to spend my life with him.”

  She grabbed a bowl of cereal and sat down opposite Chastity. “How are you this morning?”

  Chastity smiled. “Mostly good. Are you excited about the wedding?”

  Joy nodded. “Of course. How could I not be?” Her signature smile was on her face, and she knew her sister wouldn’t see through it. Everyone was used to her always smiling, so they never saw through it.

  When Hope arrived for work, she brought her wedding dress with her, giving it to Joy. “I bet you thought I’d forget, didn’t you?”

  Joy shook her head. “I knew you’d remember.”

  “I didn’t bring my shoes, because I knew they wouldn’t fit you. What are you doing for shoes?”

  “I’m getting married in my bare feet.”

  Hope laughed. “I love that. You totally should. You’ve always been a shoe hater.”

  Joy nodded. “Since birth.” She looked at Linda, who didn’t understand the joke. “When we were babies, we all looked a whole lot alike. So looking back at baby pictures, there are signs that tell us apart. Hope always had one little curl on top of her forehead that wouldn’t go away. Faith always had her finger up her nose. Chastity always had a smudge of dirt on her cheek. I always took my shoes off. Always. Mom said she could never keep them on me for more than a minute or two at a time.”

  Linda laughed. “I haven’t seen a single smudge of dirt on Chastity’s cheek since she got here!”

  “But did you know to look?” Joy asked, and they all laughed.

  Chastity sighed. “I’m always the first to get picked on!”

  “You know we love you, Chastity. That’s why we pick on you so much!”

  “Sure, it is!”

  Joy looked at Hope. “Kolby wants me to take the day off work tomorrow. Is that a problem?”

  “Of course not. I’ll take your place at naptime.”

  “I think it’s a good thing for you two to take a day after the wedding to just be alone. I think Hope and Faith should have done the same,” Linda said.

  Hope shrugged. “We had half a day off. It was fine.”

  Joy frowned at her sister for a moment. Something wasn’t right with Hope’s marriage. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she was worried about her. “Kolby and I Skyped with Mom and Dad last night.”

  Hope’s eyes widened. “What did they say?”

  “Oh, you know Mom and Dad. They’re not happy we’re all marrying men they’ve not met. They want me to wait so they can come for the wedding. All that good stuff.”

  “Did you tell them I got married?” Hope asked, her face white. The fear they all had of displeasing their parents was obvious.

  Joy nodded. “Yes, I did. They know we’re in Wyoming, but not where.”

  “Did they ask about me?” Chastity asked.

  Joy smiled. “Of course, they did.”

  “How furious are they?” Hope asked, her voice soft.

  “About like you’d expect. Kolby didn’t seem terribly impressed with them.” Joy didn’t talk about how torn she felt about the whole situation. She felt like she was caught between her sisters and her parents. She hated it.

  “As long as they’re not trying to find us, we’re good,” Hope said, turning away.

  Joy nodded. “They’re not.” She knew she’d caused a bit of tension, although she’d never meant to. She didn’t want to hide the fact that she was still in contact with their parents from the others, though. “Hope, can I borrow your car for a bit? I’d like to go for a drive.”

  Hope looked at Joy with surprise. “I guess that’s all right. Are you going shopping?”

  “No. Just for a drive.” Joy took the keys Hope offered her. “Is it at Karlan’s?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be back before lunch.” Joy left at that, not sure quite where she was going, but knowing she needed just a little time to think.

  She made the short walk to Karlan’s, not seeing anyone along the way. The men were all out on the range somewhere. The women were all working. She was glad. She needed some time to herself.

  She got in the Equinox and started driving, not paying attention to the direction she was headed. She had the ranch’s address in the GPS, so she wasn’t worried about getting back.

  Before she realized where she was, she found herself at the river Kolby had taken her to the previous week. She locked the car and got out. Walking along the path between the river and the mountains seemed the perfect way to get a grip on what she needed to do.

  As she walked, she prayed about her situation. She was in love with the man she was going to marry, but he never planned to love her. Her parents were angry with her and her sisters for striking out on their own.

  She thought about Marcus. She needed to text Grace and see if her sister would be willing to come out and meet the man. She wanted her there anyway. Grace was a wonderful baker and had been giving her baked goods away for a couple of years. Why, there hadn’t been a wedding at their church without a Grace Quinlan cake in five years.
And Grace was only twenty!

  Faith went down the embankment to sit on the grass in front of the river, watching the ripples pass. She pulled out her phone and texted her sister, suggesting she and Honor join them in Wyoming. Within seconds, her phone rang.

  Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Grace, and she wanted to clap with joy. It meant her sister was away from her parents and they could talk freely for a moment. “Gracie!”

  “Joy! So good to hear your voice! Mom and Honor went grocery shopping, but I have a cold, so I asked to stay home. Do you really need us out there?” Grace was one to always get straight to the point.

  “We do. There are some financial troubles with the ranch we’re trying to work through.”

  “So what do you need me for?”

  “There’s no bakery in town. You could make a killing.”

  “I’ll think on it. Talk to Honor. Are you married yet?”

  Joy grinned, loving the way her sister got straight to the point. “Not yet, but I will be in about nine hours.”

  “Today? It’s your wedding day?” Grace squealed. “I’m so excited for you, Joy! What does he look like?”

  “I’ll have one of the others text you pictures of the wedding. He’s a tall, dark, and sexy cowboy.”

  “Sexy? I was sure you’d say tall dark and handsome.”

  “Oh, honey, handsome doesn’t even begin to describe my Kolby. I take one look at him, and my insides turn to mush.” She smiled dreamily across the water. “How are things at home without us there?”

  Grace sighed heavily. “Mama’s crying a lot. She’s sad you’re gone, but she’s mad as well. She’s keeping a closer watch on Honor and me.”

  “I’m sorry we’re making things harder for you.”

  “Well, I don’t blame you for it. I just…I’m ready to get out of here. Honor and I talked about calling your Dr. Lachele.”

  “Come out here. Please. You’d have so much more freedom.”

  “We’re thinking about it.”

  Joy smiled, knowing she couldn’t push her sister further than she had. “I have a man I want you to meet. His name is Marcus. He’s a lawyer.”