SECOND-CHANCE WEDDING...

Deputy Sheriff Harlan Slade owes Belle Barnes a wedding, and she’s ready to collect. The divorced single dad left Belle at the altar years ago. Now, for the sake of Belle’s ailing grandmother, he agrees to temporarily tie the knot. Their faux union quickly feels all too real, but Harlan must protect his young daughter’s feelings and his own bruised heart.

Belle’s passion for rescuing animals means frequent run-ins with the law. But she promises Harlan she’ll stay out of trouble—except for the kind she finds with him when old sparks fly. It seems Belle and Harlan’s short-term family has a future, until someone from their past threatens it all. Will Belle’s impulsive streak cost her the first real family she’s ever known?

“Belle Barnes—correction, Slade—you’re under arrest.”

Harlan removed the cuffs from his belt. “You have the right to remain—”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” The cold steel encircled her wrists. “And it’s still Barnes. I didn’t take your last name.”

“—silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights I have just read to you?”

“Is it even legal for you to arrest your own wife?” Belle tried to squeeze her hands out of the cuffs.

“I can and I just did.” Harlan led her to his police cruiser and opened the door. “Watch your head.”

He slammed the door. So much for today’s happiness. Surely he’d release her as soon as he got back. Harlan wouldn’t take her to jail.

Would he?

The Lawman’s Rebel Bride

Amanda Renee

www.millsandboon.co.uk

AMANDA RENEE was raised in the Northeast and now wriggles her toes in the warm coastal Carolina sands. Her career began when she was discovered through Mills & Boon So You Think You Can Write contest. When not creating stories about love and laughter, she enjoys the company of her schnoodle, Duffy, camping, playing guitar and piano, photography and anything involving horses. You can visit her at www.amandarenee.com.

For Grandma Trudy.

You are forever in my heart.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“Harlan Slade, you owe me a wedding!”

Belle Barnes stormed past the police department’s front counter, pushed through the attached swinging door and marched over to the deputy sheriff’s desk. Gasps aside, no one attempted to stop her. She’d seen the inside of the station more times than she could count. And Lord knew her history with Harlan was as well-known as it was long.

“Belle!” Harlan jumped from his chair, almost knocking it over. The incredulous stare of his piercing blue eyes almost made her turn tail and run. He gave the room a quick scan before returning his attention to her. “What are you talking about?”

“I need you to marry me...well, at least pretend to.” There was no sense in sugarcoating why she was there.

Harlan cocked his jaw, grabbed the Stetson off the top of the filing cabinet behind him and pulled it down low, covering his thick chestnut-colored hair. “Let’s discuss this somewhere more private.”

Private was the last thing Belle wanted. Private meant being alone with Harlan and that conjured up all sorts of memories and uncomfortableness she’d prefer to avoid. But she was desperate and she didn’t have time to waste on foolish pride.

“Fine.” She followed him down the back hallway, away from prying eyes. If only she could pry her eyes away from the view of his jean-clad backside. The county sheriff strove for friendly casual and Harlan wore it well. The sound of his boots on the worn linoleum echoed against the walls, masking the thudding of her rapid heartbeat. Harlan swung open the heavy steel door and waited for Belle to exit first. She walked past him into the parking lot. Her bare shoulder brushed against his chest, causing her skin to prickle on contact. She inhaled sharply. Big mistake. The woodsy scent of his cologne transported her back to firelit nights snuggled up beside him. A time best forgotten.

“What’s this all about?” Harlan’s hat shaded his features from the midmorning sun, making him more difficult to read. His tan button-down uniform shirt stretched taut across his shoulders and biceps as he folded his arms. He stood wide-legged in front of her, bringing his six-foot-one-inch height closer to her five foot four. “I’m fairly confident I’m the last person you want to marry.”

That was the truth. She’d already stridden down that white-lined aisle only to watch him bolt for the church doors midceremony. There was nothing like the man of your dreams jilting you on your wedding day in front of the entire town. Belle shivered. It was close to eighty degrees in Saddle Ridge and her nerves were in overdrive. The past and the present were about to collide and she couldn’t put on the brakes. Not now. Not when her grandmother needed her most.

Belle leaned against a parked police SUV for support. “My grandmother’s Alzheimer’s causes her to regress more each day.” Saying the words aloud made the situation even more real. “She has no concept of the present, yesterday or even last week.”

“Belle. I’m sorry.” Harlan’s deep, rich voice soothed. “I’ve wanted to visit Trudy in the nursing home many times but I wasn’t sure I would be welcome.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.” Belle silently prayed for strength. “She believes we’re still getting married. There’s no convincing her otherwise. I even tried telling her we already were, but she’ll have none of it. She keeps asking for you and I’m hoping if she sees you, maybe we can tell her together that we’re eloping and it will put her mind at ease. I don’t know what else to do. In a week or two, she might regress further. I can’t promise she won’t ask for you again, but she’s growing more agitated each time she does and you’re not there.”

Harlan reached for her. His rough thumbs grazed the top of her hands. “I’m sorry you’re going through this.”

Belle pulled from his grasp. “Don’t do that.” She didn’t want to be comforted or touched...at least not by him. Her heart couldn’t take it. “This isn’t for me. It’s for my grandmother. I don’t want to be anywhere near you, but I will do whatever I must to make her last days comfortable, however many she has. And if that means pretending to marry you, then so be it. But I can’t do this without your cooperation.”

“I’ll do it.” Harlan checked his watch. “How about I meet you there at noon? Is Trudy still in the same place down the road?”

Belle nodded. The ease with which he agreed caught her off guard along with him knowing where her grandmother resided. Then again, their sleepy little town of Saddle Ridge in northwest Montana only had one nursing home, so it wasn’t too far of a stretch.

“Okay.” Belle tugged her keys from her bag, not wanting to be near him any longer than necessary. “I guess that’s it then. I’ll see you later. And—um—thank you.” She hadn’t wanted to make eye contact again but felt the inexplicable need to do so. The second she did, she regretted it and turned to leave.

“Belle, before you go—”

She spun to face him. “Don’t you dare say I’m sorry one more time. I’ve heard eight years of sorry every time I see you, which is why I do everything in my power to avoid you.” She gripped her keys tighter. She needed Harlan’s help and yelling at him in the police station parking lot was a surefire way to get him to back out of their agreement. “Can we please do this without dredging up the past?”

“You’re asking me to pretend to still be your fiancé on the eve of what should have been our eighth wedding anniversary. Kind of impossible, don’t you think?”

Belle’s heart hammered against her rib cage. “You remember?”

“August 1. Of course I remember.” Harlan closed the distance between them. “You’ve never let me explain why I left that day.”

“Left? Ha! You tore out of that church like your tuxedo was on fire. There’s nothing to say. Nothing to rehash. Please.”

“Okay.” Harlan held up his hands. “I’ll meet you at the nursing home at noon.”

Belle headed to her pickup, wishing she’d worn something other than flip-flops. They didn’t make for a graceful exit when you’re trying to walk away quickly. Walk? Forget that! She’d rather run just like he did. If her grandmother hadn’t still lived in Saddle Ridge, she would have fled this godforsaken town long ago and never come back.

She hopped up into her battered old truck and jammed the key in the ignition, praying it would start. Money was tight since she’d had to sell her grandmother’s house to pay for the nursing home. She had everything budgeted and there wasn’t one extra cent to dump into the thirty-two-year-old Chevy. Ol’ Red was loud, but she turned over. Belle stepped on the clutch and shifted into first, easing the truck onto Main Street. She arrived at the nursing home a few minutes later. Her boss, Dr. Lydia Presley, had been gracious enough to give her the day off. Working as a large-animal veterinarian assistant meant she wasn’t always needed during the day. Nights were a different story. When Lydia was on call, Belle was, too.

“Miss Belle, we didn’t expect to see you back so soon.” Nurse Myra greeted her as she entered her grandmother’s room. “Trudy fell asleep soon after you left.”

“I wanted to check in on her once more.” Belle lowered herself into the chair across from her grandmother. The woman who’d always been so active and full of life lay frail and motionless. The hospital bed and large safety rails dwarfed her body. Her once round cheeks and flawless complexion were sallow and gaunt. “After this morning, I’m not sure if my being here helps or upsets her.”

Trudy stirred and Myra brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face. This was one time Belle was thankful she lived in a small town. Everyone in the nursing home knew her and her grandmother. She’d heard horror stories about the poor treatment of the elderly in some facilities. While she hoped those incidents were rare, she didn’t have any concerns when it came to her grandmother’s care. Trudy used to be Myra’s Sunday school teacher, as she had been to quite a few other nursing home employees.

Her grandmother was only sixty-five and had battled Alzheimer’s for the past five years. Early onset of the disease was uncommon and only accounted for 5 to 10 percent of all cases. Belle was well schooled in life-isn’t-fair. That didn’t stop her from asking, “Why Trudy?” every single day. Her grandmother was the only family she had. Her mother had given birth to her at age eighteen and took off when Belle was six. Took off as in she left Belle alone in a hotel room in Texas, never to return. At least her so-called mother had possessed the good sense to scrawl Trudy’s phone number on her left arm so the police had someone to call. Now she was losing the only person she’d ever loved, except for Harlan, and he’d stopped mattering to her a long time ago.

“Were you able to find Harlan?” Myra asked.

“How did you know?” Maybe the nursing home staff knew her better than she realized.

“I’d like to say it was a lucky guess, but Gail saw your truck at the police station on her way in.”

Of course she did. Gail was another nurse at the home. Sweet as the day is long, but the biggest gossip Saddle Ridge ever saw.

“He said he’d stop by later.”

Myra nodded, not pressing for further details. Belle was too anxious to sit around waiting for the hour of doom. She kissed her grandmother goodbye and told Myra she’d see her later. She had a few guests staying at her apartment and she needed to make sure they weren’t wrecking the place.

* * *

AT NOON, HARLAN parked his police SUV outside the nursing home. He dug into his pocket for a roll of antacids. Tearing the foil open, he popped a couple in his mouth. The three cups of coffee he’d drunk earlier were burning a hole in his chest. Steeling his nerves, he pried himself from the vehicle and made his way to the front entrance.

He removed his hat as he opened the door and looked around. Maybe it was his imagination, but the nursing home seemed too quiet as he approached the front desk.

“May I help you?” the woman behind it asked.

“Hi,” he squeaked. Well, that was embarrassing. He cleared his throat and tried again. “I’m Harlan Slade and I’m here to see Gertrude Barnes. Belle Barnes is expecting me.”

“Oh! You’re the guy.” A lightning bolt of recognition lit her face. She’d heard of him and presumably not in a favorable way. “She’s waiting for you in room 219. Down the hall, last room on the right.”

Pretending to be Belle’s husband—even for a few minutes—was damn close to a root canal without anesthesia. Not because he hated her. He wished it were that simple. No, Harlan had been cursed with still loving her. She’d put every ounce of faith and trust in him since the day they met in first grade. And instead of marrying Belle as planned, he’d knocked up her maid of honor.

He’d run out on their wedding because he was nineteen and nowhere near ready to be tied down. Only he ended up married to Belle’s best friend a few months later. Correction, former best friend. And he certainly didn’t do it out of love. It had been one hundred percent obligation and it came back to bite him in the ass. Molly walked out of their lives within a year, leaving him to raise their daughter alone. Which suited him fine. He’d rather raise his child in a happy, single-parent home than with a woman who blamed their little girl for ruining her life.

“Mind if I come in?” Harlan poked his head in the room. Belle jumped as if a mousetrap had gone off under her chair.

“Not at all.” Trudy beamed from her bed. “I’ve been waiting for you. Come sit with me.” She weakly motioned to a chair on the other side of the bed. Her appearance took him by surprise, but he tried not to show it. She’d always been a robust woman. The last time he’d seen her, she’d taken Dukie—her beloved schnauzer—for one of their mile-long hikes. The woman before him was almost unrecognizable.

“Hey, babe.” He set his hat on the table next to Belle, leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

The steel daggers that shot from Belle’s icy blue eyes were just about enough to knock him dead on the floor. Okay, so he didn’t need to kiss her, but he wanted their relationship to look believable.

“Belle, what’s the matter with you? Give your husband-to-be a hug. Only one more day.” Trudy clapped. “I can’t wait.”

Belle plastered a smile across her face and rose from her chair. Even in faded jeans, flip-flops and a plain white tank top, she looked like a million bucks. He used to call her his platinum angel. When the sunlight hit her long blond hair just so, she had an ethereal glow about her. He caught a glimpse of it this morning.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave it a squeeze. A little too much of one if you asked him. The scent of lavender vanilla filled his nostrils. Some things never changed. She still used the same shampoo.

“Make this quick,” she whispered in his ear. Her warm breath against his skin sent a shiver down his spine and straight to his... Nope, he needed to focus on the job he’d come to do. She released her choke hold and entwined her fingers in his. Her death grip almost brought him to his knees. “Grammy, Harlan and I would rather get married at the courthouse instead of having a big wedding.”

“Nonsense.” Trudy waved her hand. “I’ve already paid for everything.”

The comment was a harsh reminder of the money Trudy had shelled out for the first wedding that had never happened. He had tried to repay her, but she refused to take it. Telling him to keep it for the baby. And that cut him even deeper.

“It’s not that, Trudy.” Harlan’s mind raced for an excuse. “The church is double-booked tomorrow and we can’t get married there.”

“What do you mean double-booked?” Trudy scowled. “I’ve been a member of that church since I came to this country as a child. Everyone knows tomorrow is your wedding day.”

Belle stood there shaking her head. So, it wasn’t the best excuse, but she hadn’t offered any other suggestions either.

“You two are getting married tomorrow,” Trudy shouted. She shoved the covers aside and shook the bed’s safety rails. “Let me out of this contraption. I told you people I’m fine to walk. It’s only a bruised hip.”

Belle rushed to her grandmother’s side before she took a dive over the edge. “Grammy, you have to stay in bed.” She looked to Harlan for help. “She thinks she’s in the hospital after that bad fall she had a few weeks before our wedding.”

“Why are you talking like I’m not here?” Trudy stopped fighting against her and sat up in bed. “I fell and I am in the hospital.” Trudy looked around the room. “I’ve had enough of this place. I want to go home.”

Harlan moved to stand beside Belle and attempted to cover Trudy’s bare legs with a sheet. The older woman had gone from zero to overdrive in a matter of seconds.

Belle reached for the call button and pressed it. “I know you do, Grammy. You will. You’ll go home soon.”

A nurse came in and helped ease Trudy back against the bed. She adjusted it into a reclining position and double-checked the safety rails. Another woman entered the room and stood in the corner, silently watching.

“Stop fussing over me.” She swatted both women away. “Go to the church and straighten out this wedding business. You tell them I booked the date first and you’re getting married there tomorrow.”

“Okay, Grammy. We will.” Belle removed her handbag from the back of the chair and slung it over her shoulders. “I love you. We’ll go now.” Belle ran from the room.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Trudy.” Harlan grabbed his hat and headed down the hall in search of Belle. When he reached the front desk, the woman who’d greeted him earlier pointed to a side door. He found Belle sitting in a white rocker on the covered veranda staring toward the blue-gray mountains of the Swan Range.

Her gaze met his as he approached. “I don’t know how to watch her slip away like this.” Her fingers trembled in her lap as his own ached to brush away the lone tear trailing down her cheek before she averted her gaze.

He crouched in front of her and held her hands between his own. He expected her to recoil from his touch as she had earlier, but instead she turned her hands upward and gripped his. The longing to tug her into his arms and soothe her pain took him by surprise. He hadn’t come within a street’s width of Belle in eight years, and in a matter of a few hours her skin had seared him multiple times like a branding iron on a steer’s rump.

“I’m here for you.” His thumbs slid across the soft warmth of her inner wrists. “Whether you want me to be or not.”

Harlan sympathized with her anguish. He’d lost his father four years ago and as terrible as that had been, he couldn’t fathom having to watch his last remaining relative slowly slip away. It was only a matter of time before Belle would be alone. In many respects, she already was. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—allow her to face that grief on her own.

“I appreciate it and thank you for coming here.” A dry sob stuck in her throat. “I guess it was a waste.”

“Excuse me.” The woman who had been in Trudy’s room a few minutes earlier approached them. “We haven’t met yet. I’m Samantha Frederick, the new director here. I hope I’m not overstepping, but I overheard your dilemma. It’s not much, and nowhere near as beautiful as your church would have been, but you’re welcome to get married here tomorrow. We don’t have the space for a big reception, but the garden is in full bloom and you wouldn’t have to do anything to it. Reverend Grady is here now and I just spoke with him. He said he’d be happy to perform the ceremony. It will allow your grandmother to be a part of your wedding.”

“Oh!” Belle laughed.

Harlan stood, unable to hold back a chuckle of his own at the irony of the situation. “That’s sweet of you.”

“But completely unnecessary,” Belle interjected.

“Well, wait a minute.” Harlan tapped Belle’s shoulder. “It’s not a bad idea. Let’s at least give it some thought.”

“Please do.” Samantha smiled. “My office is next to the front desk. Come see me when you’ve decided. We’d love to have you.”

“Thank you.” Harlan removed his phone from his pocket. Tomorrow was Tuesday and he didn’t have any court dates planned. He reasoned Sheriff Parker would give him the day off to get married.

“Harlan, we can’t do this.”

“Why not?” He knew the idea sounded crazy, but it was only temporary. “We’ll stay married until—” He hated saying the words knowing they’d hurt Belle. “Until your grandmother’s memories fade. What’s a few months or even a year?”

“More like a few weeks at the rate she’s regressing.” Belle stared at her hands.

“However long, we’ll get married, live our separate lives like we already do. We’ll meet up here and visit her together, and then we’ll have it annulled.”

“How will we explain the lack of guests?”

“We can ask the employees to fill in for a few minutes. It will be fast.”

Belle stared up at him. “We can’t get a marriage license by tomorrow.”

“There’s no waiting period in Montana, but we would need to see the county clerk before she leaves today. If we sign the blood test waiver, we’ll be good to go. Besides, like you said, I owe you a wedding. It’s the least I can do.”

“Or we can hire a fake reverend,” Belle said.

“We could.” Harlan crouched down in front of her again. “But knowing you the way I do—or the way I used to—I think lying to your grandmother about something this big would bother you. I saw the look on your face in there when you told her she’ll go home soon. You hated lying to her. I don’t think you’d go through with this if it wasn’t real.”

“I would go through hell to make my grandmother happy.”

“There you have it. What’s more hellacious than marrying me on our not-so-wedding anniversary?”

“Ha!” Belle held out her hand to him. “You’ve got that right.”

He took her hand between both of his, causing her to shake her head. “What?”

“It’s supposed to be a handshake, Harlan.” She withdrew her hand and offered it again. “We’re making a deal, so let’s shake on it. And in case I don’t say it later, thank you for doing this.”

This was the second craziest thing Harlan had ever done. The first had been walking out on Belle. “Let’s get hitched.”

Chapter Two

Belle didn’t like to wait. She hated it. Utterly despised it. Waiting meant something bad was about to happen. She’d waited for her mom to come back to the hotel room and she never had. She’d waited for Harlan in the church and he had never returned. Here she was, waiting once again on her wedding day. Granted she was there three hours early, but that was only at her grandmother’s insistence. Trudy may have forgotten many things, but every last detail of Belle and Harlan’s wedding remained fresh in her mind. A little too fresh. What made Belle think she could possibly go through with marrying Harlan? Any recollection of their first wedding left her stomach in knots.

“You look beautiful, Bubbe.” Her grandmother had been calling her Bubbe, short for bubbeleh, since the day she picked her up in Texas. It meant darling and was Trudy’s little term of endearment reserved solely for Belle. Something so simple and yet she knew she would miss it one day soon. Trudy would regress to a point where she no longer remembered her. Belle’s heart physically ached at the thought. “I loved that dress on you the moment we saw it in the store.”

Dress shopping with Trudy had been her favorite part of planning her original wedding. She’d tried on countless gowns while her grandmother waited patiently. The instant she stepped into the simple strapless A-line with delicate bodice beading, she knew it was the dress.

As beautiful as the gown was, Belle wanted to tear it off and burn it. She’d attempted to once, but her grandmother told her she would one day regret that decision. So she packed it away and stored it in a cold dark corner of the basement with the wedding rings. When she cleaned out Trudy’s house, she’d contemplated throwing the dress out. Thinking someone might have better luck with it, she opted to consign it. Six months later, the shop returned the dress to her when it hadn’t sold. It had been sitting in a storage unit with some of her grandmother’s belongings ever since. After Trudy had drilled her over its whereabouts first thing this morning, she’d spent an hour climbing around the storage unit until she found the blasted thing. She had hoped it wouldn’t still fit. Unlucky for her, it did.

“I can’t believe you wanted to wear a sundress today.”

“Grammy, it’s hot out. It was only a suggestion.” Belle flashed back to the morning of her first wedding. She’d been so happy and thrilled to begin a new life with Harlan.

Today brought a fresh start in a different way—a sense of closure. And she needed that to rid herself finally of the man she loved. Well, once loved. Her heart had slammed the door on that emotion long ago.

“You’re putting your hair up, right?” her grandmother asked.

“Yes.” Belle stared at her reflection in the mirror. She had to pull herself together and tamp down the desire to run for the nearest exit. If only she could draw the curtain on the disastrous movie of her first wedding that kept replaying in her head. Thankfully they weren’t doing this in the church again. Belle had her limits and that would have pushed them to the max. She inhaled deep, summoning the strength and courage to get through the day and make her grandmother happy. Grabbing a brush and bobby pins from her bag, she gathered her hair into a low ponytail. “I’m wearing it in a French twist.”

“I loved that style the best out of all the ones Matilda showed us. Too bad she came down with a cold this morning.”

Matilda had been her grandmother’s hairdresser since the beginning of time. She’d been the master of the updo, but had died three years earlier.

“That’s all right, I can manage.” Despite her nerves about facing Harlan again wearing the same dress, with the same hairstyle, holding the same rings and set to recite the same vows, she enjoyed these quiet moments with her grandmother. She didn’t know how many more they had left. As painful as reliving the past was, she wouldn’t trade it in for anything in the world. She’d always thought it was impossible to turn back the hands of time, but that wasn’t entirely true. Now if she could only figure out how to stop time, she’d be set.

Samantha had become an impromptu wedding planner, buzzing around the nursing home and getting all the ambulatory residents ready to attend the ceremony. She even found time to put together a lovely bridal bouquet of fresh cut flowers from the garden. A few times, Belle had to remind herself that none of it was real.

Samantha popped her head in the door. “Are you ready? Your groom is waiting.”

This was the day she wished Harlan hadn’t shown up.

“I’m ready,” she lied. No amount of primping would make her ready either. At least she looked the part. A nurse’s aide came in and helped Trudy into a wheelchair. The walk down the corridor to the garden seemed a mile long. Her stomach twisted as Myra opened the door. And that’s when she saw them.

“Who invited all those people?” She glared at Myra.

“We thought you did,” Myra whispered as the aide and Trudy passed them. “We’ll be right there,” she said to Trudy.

“I did no such thing.” Belle’s pulse quickened. “We wanted to keep this quiet.” But they knew. They all knew. Probably thanks to the county clerk, Harlan’s boss, most of the nurses and the residents at the facility. When you get married in a small town, everybody knows. “Close the door.” Belle collapsed against the corridor wall, gasping for air. “I can’t do this.”

“Yes, you can.” Myra removed a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed Belle’s forehead. “Far be it from me to pry, but I think I’ve known you long enough to understand why you’re marrying the man you should have castrated years ago. You and Harlan both got caught up in the charade for Trudy’s sake. Despite the insanity of it, I admire the sacrifice you’re making for her.”

“Now we’re deceiving everyone.” Belle paced the small area. “This should have been a personal moment meant for my grandmother. One we’d quietly undo later. Do you realize how many people will be furious with us when we have this annulled? There better not be presents out there.”

Myra pocketed her handkerchief. “You can return them.” She opened the door again and smiled. “Now hide your crazy and get out there before Trudy wonders where you are.”

Belle blew out a breath along with a handful of expletives before squaring her shoulders. “Fine.”

The second her foot touched the garden’s stone pathway, a lone violin played Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.” “What the—” Everyone turned to face her. There weren’t any chairs, so she had to walk through a throng of people before she reached Harlan, who appeared more dashing in a tuxedo this time around. Thank God she’d worn her gown. She would have looked out of place standing before him in her discount sundress.

She stood under the rose-covered arbor in front of many of their friends and neighbors. The same ones she stood in front of once before. Harlan reached for both of her hands and squeezed them tight. Fear reflected in his eyes. She’d seen that same fear eight years ago to the day. And this time she had it, too. She couldn’t tell if she was close to passing out or throwing up. Either way, she wasn’t sure she’d remain on her feet much longer.

“Are you okay?” Harlan asked.

“No, but let’s get this over with,” she whispered. Reverend Grady frowned at her comment, but she felt too ill to concern herself with his feelings.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”

Holy matrimony. Holy. Matrimony. The words sounded foreign and terrifying at the same time. She braved a glance at the crowd and immediately wished she hadn’t. Her grandmother looked beautiful in her purple dress. It was the same dress she’d worn to her wedding the first time. One of the nurses had taken great care in altering it to accommodate Trudy’s dramatic weight loss.

“I do,” Harlan said.

What?

“And do you, Belle Elizabeth Barnes, take this man to be your lawful husband...” Anything the reverend said after that sounded like the teacher’s voice on the Peanuts cartoon. Harlan gave her hand a gentle squeeze at her cue.

“I do.”

“May I please have the rings?” Reverend Grady asked.

Harlan’s eyes widened as he mouthed I forgot rings. Belle shook her head subtly to reassure him she hadn’t. Only because her grandmother wouldn’t let her forget.

Trudy handed the rings to the reverend and he blessed them.

“Harlan, please slide this ring on Belle’s finger and repeat after me. With this ring, I pledge my commitment.”

Harlan’s intense gaze met hers as the cold, hard band slid onto her finger. “With this ring, I pledge my commitment.” And she knew deep in her heart he meant those words. Eight years after the fact, but she truly believed he would commit to this marriage as long as her grandmother recognized it.

“Belle, please place this ring on Harlan’s finger and repeat after me. With this ring, I pledge my commitment.”

Belle opened her mouth to speak, but her words were silent. She inhaled deeply and tried again. Her fingers trembled as she slid on the gold band. “With this ring, I pledge my commitment.”

“By the authority vested in me by the State of Montana, witnessed by your friends and family, I have the pleasure of pronouncing you husband and wife. Harlan, you may kiss your bride.”

Kiss? What kiss?

Before she had a chance to even process what was happening, Harlan drew her to him and claimed her mouth. Her breath escaped her lungs as the raw power behind the traditional gesture overtook her. And in an instant, the past eight years never happened. The last time he had kissed her like that was the night before their wedding. The man could kiss. She’d forgotten how much she missed the touch of his lips against hers. She wound her arms around his neck in response, not wanting to let go. Not wanting to ever let go. The thunderous applause surrounding them jarred her back to the present. She broke their kiss as abruptly as he began it.

What had they done?

* * *

HARLAN HADN’T MEANT to kiss Belle. Well, he had—just not as intensely. He hated the cliché caught up in the moment excuse. He’d heard it numerous times on the job and it only made him slap the cuffs on faster. But damned if he didn’t understand the expression today.

“Toast, toast, toast,” their wedding guests chanted. Where did they come from? And the champagne and wedding cake. He hadn’t even planned on wearing a tuxedo until Samantha told him Belle looked beautiful in her wedding gown. He’d made a mad dash for the tuxedo rental place and prayed they’d have one. The fit wasn’t perfect, but he was presentable.

“Belle and Harlan.” His uncle Jax raised a glass in the air. “It’s anyone’s guess when you two got back together, but I’m glad you did. Here’s to a lifetime of health and happiness.”

Harlan clinked his glass against Belle’s. He wasn’t sure if she was in a state of shock, overheating in her dress or was about to toss her cookies on his shoes. Regardless, the deer-in-the-headlights look didn’t suit her.

Belle had looked stunning as she walked down the makeshift aisle. Never in a million years did he imagine she would still have the dress and the rings. She was even more beautiful than she had been during their first wedding. They both had matured since then. If they had waited to get married instead of allowing their teenage hormones to make all their decisions, they probably would have had a chance at something real and lasting.

“What did that man mean when he said he didn’t know when you two got back together?” Trudy asked.

Harlan squatted beside her wheelchair. “That’s my uncle Jax. He has a lot going on at his guest ranch, so I guess he got a little confused.”

“I never liked that man. Where is Ryder? Isn’t he supposed to be your best man? And where are your parents?”

Trudy’s questions caught Belle’s attention. She set her untouched glass of champagne on the table behind them.

“Grammy, why don’t we go inside?” Belle turned Trudy’s wheelchair toward the door. “It’s too hot out here for you in the sun.”

“All right, Bubbe. I’m a little tired.”

“I’ll take her in,” a nurse’s aide said. “Enjoy your wedding and congratulations.”

“Thank you.” Belle faced Harlan. “I’m sorry. She doesn’t remember.”

Harlan shrugged. “It’s okay.” He made a mental note to drive out to see Ryder at the state penitentiary in Deer Lodge soon. It had been a few months, but the three-and-a-half-hour drive wasn’t exactly next door. He missed his brother every day. They’d been best friends until the night Ryder killed their father. The decimation of his family had been instant. His mother had moved to California shortly afterward and he and his four brothers rarely spoke anymore except for him and Dylan. He missed the family they once were. “I understand. Did you expect this many people?”

“Absolutely not.” Belle scanned the crowd. “And I can’t wait to hear the gossip once we have this annulled. I’ll be pitied. You’ll be vilified. They’ll wonder what’s so wrong with me that you ditched me twice. It will be a regular Saddle Ridge free-for-all. Happy days ahead.” She frowned. “They still whisper about our last wedding debacle. This was the last thing I wanted.”

Harlan sighed. He’d been responsible for every ounce of gossip. She’d always been an awkward social butterfly because of the past her mother bestowed upon her, but she had been an active part of the community. She had organized parties for friends and had even been on the church’s social committee alongside her grandmother. All of that ended eight years ago to the day when he left her at the altar. And then her life burst in flames once more when he married Molly. Belle had become a rebel who’d rather spend her time with animals than people. The rumors rolled off his back, but she shouldn’t have to endure them. Not again.

“Then we stay married.” Harlan said the words without thinking twice. He owed her. “I’m not saying we have to stay together forever.” Although he’d willingly spend the rest of his life seeking redemption. “But a few months longer than we had intended. Then we can say we gave it a shot and it didn’t work. I’ll take the blame.”

“I want to argue with you, but I can’t think of a better solution right now.” Her shoulders slumped in defeat despite the smile she wore for their guests’ sake. “I am grateful to you and for all of this, but I should get home. I’ve already been gone longer than I had anticipated.”

“Is someone waiting for you?” An uneasiness swept over him. Okay, maybe there was a twinge of jealousy in there, too. But why? He had no claim to Belle, except for the fact he was legally her husband.

“Time for cake,” Samantha interrupted before Belle answered him. “I realize it’s not big and multitiered, but when the kitchen learned you didn’t have a cake, they insisted on making one.”

If that didn’t amp up the guilt factor, Harlan didn’t know what else would. He vowed to make an anonymous donation to the nursing home to cover all the expenses for the event. The least he could do was pay for one of his weddings to Belle.

After they cut the cake, Belle fed it to him with a bit too much enthusiasm. Her uninhibited laughter more than made up for his face full of frosting. He had missed that laugh as much as he had missed her.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He’d set an alarm for two o’clock so he’d be home when Ivy got off the bus. Their neighbor across the street watched her after school, but he didn’t want to chance her hearing what happened today from somebody else. He hadn’t expected news of their wedding to become public knowledge or else he would have told Ivy last night...if he had found the words. How was he going to explain to a seven-year-old he’d pretend-married the woman he once jilted? He was about to find out.

“I’m sorry, Belle. I have to leave,” Harlan whispered in her ear as their guests mingled. “I need to have a little talk with Ivy.”

“I’m sure that won’t be easy.” Belle twisted the ring on her finger. “I shouldn’t have gotten you into this mess.”

“I talked you into marrying me, remember?” He covered her hands with his own. The warmth of her skin caused his heart to still. In that briefest of moments, everyone around them faded away. Their wedding should have been spectacular. They should be sharing their first dance and celebrating the rest of their lives. Instead the woman he’d never stopped loving had been forced to settle for a charade of a marriage. “It will be okay. We’ll get through it...together.”

She lifted her gaze to his as happiness dissolved into reality. “Sure, okay.” She withdrew from his grasp and gathered up her skirt, rebuilding the wall between them. “I’ll walk out with you. I want to bring my grandmother a piece of cake before I leave.”

The two of them managed to sneak away and head down the hallway to Trudy’s room unnoticed. She was already asleep and Belle told him to go on ahead. She wanted to stay a little while longer. He sat beside her and took her hand in his as they watched Trudy in silence. Pretend marriage or not, Harlan had meant his vows. In sickness and in health was the reason they were together again, for however long. He wouldn’t leave Belle. Not with a garden full of wedding guests and not when she needed him most.

* * *

IT WAS CLOSE to five o’clock by the time he picked up Ivy. He’d called his neighbor and filled her in on some of the details. Between her chiding tsks, he persuaded her to keep Ivy inside and away from any of her friends until he arrived home. He’d run into some of her playmates’ parents at the wedding and by now they were aware Ivy’s father had remarried.

“Hey, pumpkin.” Harlan scooped his daughter into his arms and swung her around in a big hug. “How was school today?”

“It was good. Why are you all dressed up? Did somebody die?”

Mental note: he needed to take his daughter to more events where people wore something other than jeans and cowboy boots. “Daddy went to a wedding.” He set Ivy down and grabbed her backpack. “Let’s head home and I’ll tell you all about it.”

After he changed out of his tuxedo and made dinner, he asked his daughter to join him in the living room. “You might hear things from your friends and I want you to know the truth in case someone tells you a bunch of made-up stories.” Ivy’s eyes grew wide in fear.

“Relax, honey. It’s nothing bad. The wedding I went to today was my own.”

“You got married? Without me?” She pouted. “Daddy, why?”

“It’s not a happy-ever-after wedding like in your fairy tales.” Even though that’s what Belle had deserved. “My friend’s grandmother is sick and she doesn’t remember that Belle and I had dated and broke up years ago. We got married today so her grandmother would feel better. But it isn’t a real marriage.”

“Is it legal?” Ivy asked. “You always tell me I have to obey the law.”

“Oh, it’s legal, all right.” Now that the wedding was over and he was home with his daughter, the day’s events seemed like a distant dream. If it hadn’t been for the rented tuxedo hanging by the door, he might’ve doubted his own sense of reality. He’d been all for it this morning when he woke up, but he hadn’t realized how much he wanted to marry Belle. Or how deeply invested he’d become in their marriage. Outside of raising his daughter and becoming a deputy sheriff, nothing else had felt more right to him.

“Is her grandma dying?”

“Yes, she is.”

“Then you did the right thing.” Ivy climbed onto his lap and threw her arms around him.

“Thank you, sweetheart. In a month or so, Belle and I will get what’s called an annulment and the marriage will be like it never happened.”

“Is Belle moving in?”

It certainly hadn’t been part of their original plan, then again, neither was a very public wedding. Harlan wasn’t sure he was open to Belle moving in with them, regardless of how much he owed her for the past.

“We haven’t discussed it.” Ivy sighed and flopped against the back of the couch. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“I thought you getting married would mean I’d get a mommy.”

Harlan covered his mouth. As much as he hated what he did to Belle, and as much as he despised Molly for walking out on their daughter without a second thought, he’d never resent or regret their relationship. If the series of events hadn’t happened, he wouldn’t have his daughter. She was the best thing that ever happened to him. He wished he could give Ivy what she wanted. His relationship with Belle was only temporary and he hadn’t dated since Molly left. Not that he didn’t want to, he just hadn’t found a woman he wanted to spend time with or introduce into his daughter’s life.

“Why do you look so sad, Daddy?”

Before he could answer, his phone rang. He looked at the display. It was one of the other deputy sheriffs. “Hey, Bryan, what’s up?”

“Harlan, you need to come down to the station right away.”

He stood and motioned for Ivy to grab her shoes. “Why, what’s going on?”

“Well, we arrested your wife. And she’s not alone.”

Chapter Three

“Where is she?” Harlan stormed through the front door of the station after dropping Ivy off at his brother’s house. “And what did you mean she isn’t alone? Who’s with her?”

“It’s not a who. It’s a what,” Bryan said.

“Again?” Harlan’s shoulders slumped in relief. Marriage of convenience aside, the thought of Belle with another man tore his gut in two. “What are the charges?”

“Trespassing, breaking and entering, and theft.” Bryan laughed. “You sure know how to pick ’em. Did my wedding invite get lost in the mail?”

“I’ll explain that later.” Harlan headed to the back of the station, swiped his access card and walked through two sets of double doors to the prisoner holding area. There she was. Wet, muddy and clutching something tucked inside her shirt.

“Hey, sweetheart. I forgot to tell you...our marriage comes with one stipulation. You can’t get arrested while we’re together. You’ve racked up three charges within two hours. That must be a record, even for you. It’s time to aim for some new goals.”

“Get me out of here, Harlan.” Belle hurried to the bars and angled her chest toward him. “This piglet needs milk replacer and fast.”

“Oh, it’s a pig this time. That explains the mud. Tell me the story first.”

“There’s no time,” Belle pleaded.

“Tough.” Harlan gritted his teeth. He gripped the bars and lowered his face to hers. “You need to tell me what happened so I can attempt some damage control.”

“Fine.” Belle huffed. “I received a call shortly after I got home. There was an eighteen-wheeler delivering pigs to the Johnson farm way out on Back Hollow Road. This person who shall remain anonymous said they saw the pigs herded off the trailer into holding pens and the piglet tossed in after them. They said it was a life-threatening condition. I couldn’t ignore the situation. I had to do something.”

“So instead of calling me or another deputy sheriff, you put yourself in danger and stole it.”

“It’s a she and I rescued her. I couldn’t wait for you or anyone else,” Belle hissed. “It was too big of a risk. Especially out there. This pig isn’t even a week old and she’s sunburnt from being in the back of that trailer for heaven only knows how long. I don’t know the last time she ate or even if she’ll live. Harlan, either you get me out of here or you call Dr. Presley to come take her. I don’t care what happens to me, but you have to help this poor animal.”

Harlan slapped the side of his thigh, hating the position she’d put him in. Belle’s fierce stare starkly contrasted the piglet’s weak gaze. Rescuing animals had always been her greatest passion and he wouldn’t have expected anything less of her. Unfortunately, it was bound to adversely impact his job. It had been one day and he already felt powerless around her. Between his past mistakes, a terrifying prospect of a future together—however temporary—and a muddied present, second thoughts crept into his brain. Lucky for Belle, his heart controlled the moment.

“I’m not sure I can get you out of this mess tonight.” He reached through the bars and stroked the top of the piglet’s tiny head. “But, I’ll do what I can. Stay here.”

“As if I have a choice.” Belle rolled her eyes.

After promising to pay triple the price of a full-grown pig, Harlan persuaded the farm owner to drop the theft charge. She was still on the hook for the B&E and trespassing, but at least it meant he’d get her out of jail tonight.

“Where am I going to put you?” Harlan looked her up and down. “You’re not getting the front of my cruiser all dirty. Oh, I know.” He strode over and opened the back door. “Hop in. It’s not like it’s your first time.”

“So you’re going to treat me like a criminal?”

“Are you serious? Where are we right now? It’s either this or you walk.”

“You’re such a charmer.” She scowled as she climbed inside. “I already miss the man I married.”

“Speaking of that.” Harlan slid behind the wheel. “I would like to be elected sheriff one day and that means my wife can’t run around getting arrested. As long as we’re husband and wife, I implore you to stay out of trouble. I mean it, Belle. Not just for my sake. It’s for my daughter’s, too. Whatever you do now reflects on her. This isn’t the little secret wedding you and I thought it would be. Everyone knows and I can’t allow anything negative to affect Ivy. Do we have an understanding?”

“Yes. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“Oh, okay. I can see you paid close attention to that conversation.” He steered the SUV onto Belle’s street.

“Please don’t be mad. I did the right thing.”

“I’m not mad. You frustrate the hell out of me. Always have. It’s like you’re permanently under my skin. I made a commitment to you and I’ll honor it. My daughter even asked if you’d be moving in with us.” Belle’s gaze met his in the mirror. “Not because she’s scared of you. She was hoping you’d be her mom. Do you have any idea what that did to me?”

“I’m sorry Molly turned out to be such a jerk. I never expected that of her.” Her voice softened. “I never expected a lot of the things she did. And I don’t wish abandonment on anyone. Child or adult.”

Message received loud and clear. First Belle’s mom had abandoned her, and then he had, too. If any man ever treated Ivy that way, Harlen would probably be behind bars and Belle would be the one bailing him out.

Harlan parked beside her truck, shut the engine and opened the back door for her to exit.

“How did my truck get here?” Belle asked as they walked past her red Chevy.

“I had it towed here instead of the impound lot. Consider it and the piglet a wedding present.”

“Honey, you shouldn’t have.” She reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He wasn’t sure if she meant to be sarcastic or sincere, but he wasn’t about to turn her away.

Belle glanced at her front door. “What’s that?”

Harlan recognized the fluorescent orange notice without even having to read it. “You’ve been served your walking papers.”

“They can’t evict me. I pay rent.” Belle ignored the paper and unlocked the door.

Harlan reached above her head and tore it off. “This is from the board of health.”

“Whatever. Stand back when I open the door. Sometimes Olive gets a little aggressive when I come home.”

Harlan followed her in. “It says you’re harboring livestock?” Before he had a chance to look up, a tiny goat hurled into him, almost taking out his shin in the process.

“I warned you.” Belle stepped over a baby gate and flicked on the kitchen light.

Now he understood the livestock. “Belle, please tell me you didn’t steal these animals.”

“First, I’m not a thief.” She set a spoon and a bowl on the counter next to a large container of instant milk replacer before disappearing into the other room and returning with a towel. “I’m a rescuer. When people call me, I go. And second, I’m fostering these guys until I can find a home for them. It was one thing when I lived at my grandmother’s house. We had room in that big yard of hers. I don’t have that luxury anymore.”

He had to give her this much—between the small kiddie pool of hay the goat happily lay in, the tiny black lamb standing on his hind legs in a playpen, a duck waddling around the entryway and now a piglet, the rest of the apartment was relatively clean.

“I need you to take her while I mix the formula.”

Harlan joined Belle in the kitchen. She lifted her shirt up so he could take the piglet tucked between her breasts. He froze, not knowing how to handle the animal without touching her.

“Hey, don’t judge. It was the safest and warmest place I could hold her.”

“It’s not that.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Harlan. They’re just boobs. I have a bra on.”

He lifted the piglet into his arms and Belle immediately wrapped the towel around the little girl. She mixed the formula before withdrawing an oral syringe from the drawer. She tore open the package and pulled the plunger until it filled halfway with the off-white liquid.

“Here you go, sweetie.” The piglet hesitated at first, then readily took the mixture. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Belle repeated under her breath. “I don’t know what I’ll do with you.” She nuzzled the little critter, then looked around the room. “Or any of you, but I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Oh, Belle.” Harlan looked to the ceiling and prayed for strength. “You know exactly what you’re going to do. You and your menagerie are coming back to the ranch with me.”

* * *

AFTER A SHOWER and a change of clothes, Belle and Harlan packed up what they could from her apartment, crated the animals and drove to his ranch. She always thought you had at least thirty days to vacate once you received an eviction notice. Turned out it was only three days in certain cases—livestock being one of them. She pulled in behind him, still trying to wrap her brain around the day. This morning she was single and independent. Tonight, she was married and relying on her worst enemy to put a roof over her head. Maybe worst was a little harsh. He had earned significant brownie points during the past twenty-four hours. That still didn’t mean she forgave him for what he’d done. She doubted that would ever be possible.

Harlan leaned in her passenger window. “Are you coming?”

“In a minute.” Belle glanced up at the white farmhouse. It should have been her house. They had picked it out together and Harlan’s uncle Jax had fronted them the down payment until they could afford to pay it back. She loved the house. Had envisioned exactly how she would decorate it. Only she never had the chance to spend a single night in it. Molly had had that honor.

She needed to get it together. The ranch was a much better place for her wards. The previous owner had rebuilt the stables, along with the apartment above it. At least there had been an apartment eight years ago.

“Come on, let’s get them settled, and then we’ll get you situated in the house.”

“I don’t think so, Harlan.” Belle looked up at the main house again. “Where’s your daughter?”

“She’s staying with Dylan and my uncle Jax at the Silver Bells Ranch. I’ll pick her up tomorrow.”

“Is there still an apartment over the stalls?” Belle dug the tip of her boot into the hard dirt drive. “I’d rather be near the animals. Lillie needs constant care.”

“Lillie?” Harlan furrowed his brows. “Ah, you named the pig already.”

“I’ll have to take her to work with me.” Belle began unloading the truck. If she kept moving and talking, she wouldn’t have a chance to change her mind. “She needs to be fed every couple of hours and that will wake up you and Ivy. So if that apartment is available, I think it’s best if I stay out here. I’ll pay rent until I can find another place. I don’t want to upset your routine, or raise Ivy’s hopes.”

Harlan closed the short distance between them and gripped both of her shoulders. “Breathe, Belle, breathe.”

She didn’t want to look up at him and see the pity he must feel for her. “I’m breathing.” She turned away and grabbed the pet carrier from the front seat and held it up. “Isn’t that right, Lillie? We’re both breathing.”

“The apartment’s yours. It’s been a few weeks since I last cleaned up there, so there might be a few cobwebs. Ivy likes to use it as a playhouse.”

They finished unloading both vehicles and set the animals up in two of the stalls. Olive bounced around like an overexcited child, and Samson, the two-week-old black lamb, settled right in.

“This will work out well. Olive will be able to go outside to graze and I need to introduce Samson to grass soon to activate his rumen. I prefer grazing to only giving them hay.”

“Rumen?”

“It’s a large fermentation vat where bacteria and other microorganisms live. Sheep and goats are ruminant animals. Like cows. They have a four-chamber stomach.”

“Okay, what’s with the duck?” Harlan sat on a hay bale and watched the large white bird waddle down the stable corridor, squawking at the horses as she passed. “She seems old enough to be on her own. Why do you have her?”

“Imogene can’t fly, so she’s a—”

“Sitting duck. I get it now.” Harlan smiled. “She can’t defend herself.”

“Lydia—Dr. Presley—is working with me to help create a nonprofit animal rescue center for injured and abandoned animals.” Belle picked up Imogene and sat next to Harlan on the hay bale. “The main goal is to foster them until they find their forever homes. Finding and affording the land is the biggest obstacle. I’m hoping I can convince one of the larger ranches to donate some acreage, but I need to file for my nonprofit first. My, um, police record doesn’t help matters.”

“Then why do you continue to put yourself in that situation?” Harlan asked.

“When you work for a large-animal vet, you amass an extensive network of animal hospitals, foster homes and volunteers willing to help give animals a second chance. I’m sure you experience the same thing on a human level. For each success story, there are many that never make it. When someone calls me, or Lydia, we go. We’d love to navigate through the proper channels every time. And sometimes we can. Other times it’s an emergency. If Lydia gets arrested, she can lose her veterinary license. I have nothing for them to take.”

Harlan reached out and petted the top of the duck’s head. “Everyone has their passion.”

“Yours is law enforcement. Mine’s animal rescue. Sometimes that means we butt heads.” Belle stood and placed Imogene inside the stall with Olive. “These two love to snuggle together at night. Care to show me upstairs?”

Harlan led Belle to the studio apartment. It was larger than the one-bedroom she’d just been evicted from. It was nicer than she remembered. Little frilly touches here and there. She wondered if they had been Molly’s doing or possibly his mom’s or Ivy’s.

She’d never met his daughter before, only seen her from afar around town. It had surprised her when Harlan had told her Ivy wanted her to move in. It was one more reason not to stay in the main house. She didn’t want to involve Ivy in their fake marriage drama any more than she already was.

“I think I’m going to turn in. It’s been a long, interesting day.” Belle smiled up at him, not sure what the proper protocol was for saying good-night. They may be husband and wife, but there was no way they’d ever consummate the marriage.

Harlan jammed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, eliminating the awkward hug she wanted to avoid. “There’s plenty of room in the barn behind the stables. We can pick up the rest of your things tomorrow and store them in there for the time being. If you need anything, just ask.”

“Thank you. I think I’ve gone above and beyond my favor quota for the week.”

Harlan laughed. “It’s okay. I’ve always said your heart is in the right place. How you go about doing certain things is a little more questionable. I know you mean well. Please promise me something.”

“Yeah, yeah. Stay out of trouble.” Belle smiled. “I promise to try.”

Harlan nodded. “That’s all I ask. I’ll leave you and Lillie to it. Good night, Belle.”

“Good night, Harlan.”

Belle watched him shut the door behind him as he left the room. He hadn’t even tried to hug or kiss her. It was exactly what she wanted. Any chance of a future they had together had shattered into a million shards of glass long ago.

Belle ran to the door, threw it open and bounded down the stairs, hoping to catch him. By the time she made it to the stable entrance, he was already halfway up the porch steps. As he reached the top, he hesitated. Belle held her breath and willed him to turn around, but he continued into the house.

Chapter Four

Harlan stood at the kitchen sink and stared out the window toward the stables. Last night he’d summoned an iron will to keep from carrying Belle back to the main house and celebrating their marriage the way a man and wife should. He’d expected the band around his finger to feel heavy. It had when he’d married Molly. This time was different. Despite the circumstances, this time felt natural. And his relationship with Belle was anything but.

He filled two travel mugs with coffee and headed out the back door. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of her. He didn’t know why. He’d poured her coffee knowing she was there. But seeing Belle muck the stalls confirmed yesterday hadn’t been a dream. She was back in his life. And the fine line between terrified and excited blurred with each passing second.

“Good morning. How’s Lillie?”

“She made it through the night and had two more feedings.” Belle continued to shovel without looking up. “She’s taking a nap before I bring her to work.”

“I brought you coffee.” Harlan set the mug on a hay bale, maintaining his distance. The closer he got to her, the faster his heart beat. “You don’t have to do this.” Outlaw poked his head out of the empty stall Belle had moved him into. “I don’t expect you to work for me or tend to my horses.”

Belle shrugged in acknowledgment. “It’s the least I can do. I would have fed them but I saw two different pellets in your feed bins and I didn’t know who got what. If you show me, I’ll take care of them for you.”

“Trying to keep me out of my own stables?” Harlan’s body tensed.

“It’s not that.” Belle’s shoulders slumped before she looked up at him. “Okay, maybe it is.” She rested the shovel handle against the crook of her arm and tugged off her gloves. “Everything else aside, I feel guilty about not coming to see you when your dad died. Your family has always been wonderful to me and I should have swallowed my pride and tried.”

Harlan picked up her coffee and handed it to her. “You did. I saw you at the cemetery.” Her eyes widened at his admission. “At first I wasn’t sure it was you off in the distance, but when Dylan noticed you, too, I had my confirmation.”

“It wasn’t enough.” Belle averted her gaze from his once again. “How is your mom?”

“Good. She remarried and seems happy with her new life in California. I’ve only been out there once.” Now it was his turn to feel awkward. Four years had passed since Ryder had been convicted of vehicular manslaughter. Harlan still didn’t believe the circumstances surrounding his father’s death, but he’d been forced to accept them after his brother pled guilty and had been sentenced to fifteen years in the state penitentiary. “I should fly out there sometime soon. I know Ivy would love to see her grandmother. Maybe over Thanksgiving.”

“Please give her my best.” Belle flipped open the top of the mug and took a sip. “Thank you. You even remembered how I take my coffee.”

“Light and sweet.” How could he forget? He used to tease her about it. Light and sweet, just like you. “But seriously, Belle, I don’t want you to feel you owe me anything for staying here. I know we can’t ignore the past, but we can try to keep it there. I appreciate the gesture.”

“I will still clean the stalls because, believe it or not, busy work helps me think. The sooner I can get my rescue operation open, the more animals I’ll be able to save.” She plucked her phone from her back pocket and tapped the screen. “Come look at this.” She sidled up to him as he entered the stall, her shoulder grazing his upper arm. “It’s a nonprofit with locations in California and Tennessee called The Gentle Barn. It provides a safe haven for animals in need while educating the community about kindness and compassion. They even have a cow with a prosthetic limb. Isn’t it remarkable?” Belle beamed as she continued to scroll through the photos. “My goal is to provide my rescues with whatever medical care they may require. If I can adopt them out into loving forever homes, wonderful. If not, that’s okay, too. Either way, they’ll never suffer again.”

The sincerity in Belle’s voice was another reminder why he fell in love with her so long ago. She did everything with purpose and her whole heart. The rescue was a great idea. Ivy would love it, especially since she wanted to become a veterinarian.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Belle stepped away from him.

“I have a proposition for you.” Harlan feared he’d regret what he was about to say, but even worse, he feared he’d regret it even more if he didn’t. “I have more acreage here than I need. You and I chose this property because of its spectacular views of the Swan Range. I think it’s only fair for you to use part of it for your rescue. No strings, no cost. We’ll call it your first donation.”

She opened her mouth and for a second he thought she’d balk at the idea. “Are you sure you want me this close to you and your daughter?”

“Belle, I have nothing against you. And I admit, I am concerned with you interacting with Ivy. She’s an inquisitive child and as soon as I pick her up after work she’ll want to meet you. Are you okay with that?”

“I don’t harbor any resentment toward her.” The corners of her mouth turned downward. “I resented the situation and a part of me still does. But Ivy is an innocent child who became the victim of a bad situation. I can sympathize with that. I know what it’s like to have a mother walk out and never return. I’ll be her friend, but I don’t want her to believe you and I are a real couple because it will break her heart when I leave.”

Leave? Of course she would leave eventually. But if she accepted his proposal, she would just be on the other side of the property. Granted he wouldn’t see her every day, but he’d know she was there.

“Ivy’s aware of your grandmother’s illness. She doesn’t know the specifics, but she knows enough. I’ll remind her so there’s no confusion. Does that mean you’ll accept my offer?”

“I’d be a fool not to.” She exhaled slowly. “And I might be a fool to say yes.”

“I have a little over a hundred acres. You’re welcome to half of it.”

Belle shook her head. “Fifty acres is much more than I can handle.”

“I’ll deed you whatever you feel you need now, and if you want to add more later, you can. There’s another entrance to the ranch on the back side of the property. Start with that parcel. The land’s fairly clear and there’s already an outbuilding there. I can’t guarantee it’s not a complete teardown. I haven’t been out there in a while. But if it is, I’ll help you with that, too.” Harlan fought to stop rambling. “It’s up to you. You need to be comfortable with it.”

Her expression filled with worry. “Are you comfortable with it? Or is this an attempt to clear your conscience?”

“Belle, I’ll never escape the guilt of leaving you at the altar, but that’s not why I’m offering. I have one major concern. I can’t have my daughter affected by your sometimes reckless choices. If you can promise to call me before doing anything rash, I would be happy to help you start your rescue.”

“Then I think we have a deal.” She gave him a soft, warm smile.

Belle held out her hand. This time he knew enough to shake it. The feel of her palm against his set his heart aflame. A small ball of forbidden desire burned in the pit of his stomach. He wanted to seal their arrangement with a kiss. To give her what was rightfully hers and what should have been hers all along. The land and his heart. But he couldn’t. He’d had his chance. If he hadn’t bolted on their wedding day, Belle never would have faced half the challenges she’d endured. And she most likely wouldn’t have a police record. He’d set off a chain reaction eight years ago and it had deeply affected Belle and his daughter. He might be able to right some of his wrongs, but he’d have to live with the consequences of never knowing what could have been.

* * *

FOR THE SECOND day in a row, Belle couldn’t believe how much her life had changed overnight. Harlan’s generous land offer touched her more than she’d ever admit. At least she wouldn’t admit it to him. Was that petty and childish? Maybe. But she wasn’t ready to destroy the protective wall she’d built around her heart. Not only to keep him out, but to keep herself from wanting more.

Harlan was an old habit, one she craved with each passing second. She refused to give in to it. She’d worked hard to form new, less dependent relationships. None had resulted in any long-term romances, but she’d learned to value her friendships and stand on her own. And until she saw the deed transferred into her name, she couldn’t afford to get her hopes up.

Who was she kidding? She silently cheered behind the steering wheel of her truck, not wanting to startle Lillie. She was over the moon thrilled. Any attachments she had to that property had faded long ago. Or so she thought. This morning had been difficult. It was the first time she woke up on what should have been hers. Not that she’d gotten much sleep, and she lived in the stables, but it was close enough. And it stung.

She drove onto Dr. Lydia Presley’s ranch and parked in front of the stables. It was strictly an ambulatory practice, but Lydia used the ranch as home base. Breaking the news to her friend and employer about her arrest wouldn’t be easy. Harlan hadn’t been the only one warning her to stay out of trouble.

She reached over to the passenger side and unlatched the seat belt. “It was all worth it, wasn’t it, Lillie?” She lifted the carrier and climbed out of the truck. “Let’s go make sure you’re okay.”

“Good morning,” Lydia greeted her from the supply room. “Is this our newest patient?” She peered in the carrier. “Wow, she is tiny. Let me take a better look at her.” The piglet squealed in Lydia’s deep, bronzed hands. “Shh. It’s okay, baby girl. I don’t like the look of this sunburn. She already has a blister forming.”

“I’m estimating she’s only a couple days old.”

“I agree. What did you name her?” Lydia placed the piglet on the scale.

“Lillie with an i e. She reminds me of a pink lily-pad bloom.”

“She’s close to the size of one of those flowers, too. Lillie only weighs 1.2 pounds. She’s severely underweight for a newborn commercial pig. Let’s start a round of antibiotics and treat the burn. We’ll vaccinate in three weeks and begin her boosters in four. You never told me how you acquired her.” Lydia raised one perfectly arched brow. “Or will my knowing make me an accessory after the fact?”

“No, no, she’s been bought and paid for.” Belle gnawed on her inner cheek.

“That’s good to know.” Lydia smoothed a light coat of ointment on Lillie’s back. “She’ll need this reapplied throughout the day. As soon as it looks dry again, apply another layer. Do you even have room for her at your apartment?”

“Not quite. I got evicted last night.”

“To be honest, I thought it would have happened long before now.” Lydia’s dense spiraled curls bounced as she shook her head. “Where are you staying?”

“With Harlan.”

“Harlan? The same Harlan who left you crying at the altar?”

“I did not cry.” Her mind tumbled to push that day further into the past. She had relived it enough times over the last eight years.

“Oh, honey, I was there and you not only cried, you ugly cried. When did this reunion happen?”

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