Married In Montana (At The Altar Book 1) (2 page)

"Sure.  She graduated ten years before us, didn't she?  Didn't I hear she's already married?" 

"Well, she went to school in New York.  She married Sam Simpson out there and got a doctorate in psychology.  She has her counseling practice, but on the side she's doing some matchmaking.  She's opened a business she's calling Matchrimony.  Part of the deal is, you have to agree to marry whoever she matches you up with on the spot.  So I won't meet my future wife until we get to the altar."

"And you're doing this why?"

Scott grinned at his friend's question.  One of his favorite things about Jake is he didn't sugar coat anything.  If he thought you were being stupid, he told you flat out. 

"I don't have time to date, and I want a girl who's looking to marriage, not just one who wants to play games."  Scott rested his weight on his elbows, leaning forward earnestly.  "She's only matching up Christians.  She does extensive interviews with each person before they're even allowed to be part of it.  Really, unless I want to waste a lot of time, I can't think of a better way to find a wife."

"You can't just go to church and meet someone, like a regular guy would do?"

"There are four single women in our church.  There's Ashley Mason.  She's eighteen, and way too young for me."  At thirty-three, Scott wasn't looking for a young girl.  He wanted a woman who knew herself and what she wanted in life.  "There's old lady Dixon."  He didn't need to say anything more there.  She was a great grandmother several times over.  "There's Tina McElroy, and we both know she's not up to marriage."  Tina was mentally challenged and not capable of doing for herself.  "And then there's Annette."  He and Annette had dated a few times before he realized there was just no spark between them.  He wasn't looking for love at first sight, but there had to be
something
there.

"There are churches in Billings," Jake suggested.

Scott shrugged.  "Then I'd have to drive to the city when I wanted to see her, and more importantly to me, she wouldn't be pre-screened.  No, I like this idea.  It's strange, but it's going to work for me."

Jake shook his head.  "I think you're crazy."

"Does that mean you won't go to New York with me for the wedding?"

"Of course not!  I'll be with you every step of the way.  I don't have to approve of what you do to support you in it."  He grinned.  "Besides, Manhattan is supposed to have an awesome library!"

Scott smiled.  "Thank you.  I appreciate it."  He raised his water glass to his friend in a silent salute.  "Don't forget to bring a suit.  You're the best man."

"No problem.  You buying my plane ticket?"

"Are you crazy?  You make more than me.  You're buying
my
plane ticket!" 

*****

"Are you sure you want to go through with this, Savannah?  It's not too late to back out."  Mrs. Blyton's eyes all but pled with her daughter.

Savannah shook her head.  She'd already been to the beauty parlor to have her hair and make-up done for the wedding.  It was just before ten, and she was getting married at ten-thirty.  She was about to step into her wedding dress.  "I'm sure.  I really feel like this is the right thing to do." She pulled her dress up and put her arms through the sleeves, turning her back to her mother. 

"I worry about you."

"Don't.  I'm a big girl.  And I have money saved up, so if something happens, I can always come home.  I won't stay in a bad relationship."

There was a knock at the door, and Savannah called out, "Come in!"  They were in the bridal room at the back of the church, getting ready for Savannah's big day.

Dr. Simpson stepped into the room, closing the door behind her.  She approached Savannah with a smile.  "You look beautiful.  Scott is going to go crazy when he sees you."

"Scott?  Is that his name?" Savannah asked.

"It is.  I'll let you two learn everything else about each other once you've exchanged vows."  Dr. Simpson held her hand out for Mrs. Blyton to shake.  "I'm Lachele Simpson.  I've been working with your daughter on her match for a couple of months now."  Dr. Simpson had dark hair with purple streaks and a warm loving smile.  "My great great great grandmother was a mail order bride in Montana in the 1890s.  I figured if she could be happy as a mail order bride then, there were people who would be happy with that sort of arrangement now."  She turned her attention to Savannah again.  "I think you're going to be very pleased with Scott."

"I'm certain I will."  Savannah squeezed the older woman's hand.  "I trust you not to tie me to a toad."

Dr. Simpson threw her head back and laughed.  "A toad?  No, I won't tie you to a toad.  I should put that in my advertisement.  'No one will be tied to a toad.'  Do you think it would work for me?"

Savannah couldn't help but giggle at the psychologist's silliness.  "I would think so.  It would have worked for me!"

Dr. Simpson took a seat, crossing her ankles in front of her.  "This is how it's going to work.  I found a minister who will marry you.  When you're walking down the aisle you will see Scott for the first time."  She looked between the two women.  "Is there someone who you have here to walk you down the aisle?"

Savannah looked at her mother.  "I was hoping my mom would do it."

Mrs. Blyton raised both hands as if to ward off the very idea.  "I don't think that could work for me.  I would be too nervous to be fulfilling a traditional male role that way."

Dr. Simpson nodded as if she understood.  "I thought that might be the case.  I brought my husband, Sam, along to walk you down the aisle if you'd like."

Savannah considered it.  She wanted to say she could walk down alone, since her father wasn't there, but she really wasn't certain she could do it...walking alone to a man she didn't know?  "I'd like that."

When it was time, Dr. Simpson left for a moment and brought back a man in his mid-forties.  He had dark hair and kind green eyes.  "This is my Sam.  Sam?  This is your daughter for the next hour."

Sam smiled, reaching out to take Savannah's hand and put it through his arm.  He was wearing a charcoal suit with a red striped tie.  "We'll do it together.  You've never married, and I've never walked a daughter down the aisle.  We're even."

Savannah smiled.  "You don't have any daughters?"

Sam shook his head, while Dr. Simpson and Mrs. Blyton walked out ahead of them.  "Just one adopted son.  Lachele couldn't have any babies, but we sure do love our boy." 

"Oh!  I'm sorry to bring up a sore subject."  Savannah wanted a houseful of children and couldn't imagine being told she couldn't have them.

"It's been too many years for it to be a sore subject."  Sam patted the hand that still rested on his arm.  "You ready?"

Savannah took a deep breath.  "I'm doing the right thing, aren't I?"

"Definitely.  If Lachele found you a man, I guarantee, he's the right man for you."  He started walking slowly through the back of the church to the aisle they'd walk down together.  "Smile big now, beautiful."

Savannah tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach that were starting to feel as if they were eagles, fighting their way out.  She forced a slight smile on her face, walking toward the front of the church with the man beside her.  Why she felt comfortable with him, she didn't know, but he seemed like a teddy bear to her.

There were two men standing together at the front of the church.  One man, with hair just as blond as hers stood gazing at her steadily, a half smile on his face.  He looked as if he were wondering what had possessed him to be there as well.  Seeing that look on his face for some reason reassured her.  She didn't mind marrying a man who would marry a stranger, as long as he knew it was odd.

Scott watched as his bride walked down the aisle toward him on the arm of a dark haired man.  She was beautiful.  Somehow he'd been certain that only a plain woman would agree to marry a stranger, but that wasn't the case with her.  She made his knees weak.  He wanted to meet her halfway and take her hand from the other man, but he knew that would be unacceptable.  He could just imagine her father's reaction to that.

When Savannah reached the front of the church, she stood uncertainly for a moment as Sam took her hand and placed it into Scott's.  Scott squeezed her hand tightly, and she looked up at him, a smile on her lips.  This was the man she'd spend forever with.  Oh, how she hoped it would work out.

They followed the preacher's prompts.  Savannah repeated her vows, her voice stronger than she had expected it to be.  When Scott responded, his voice was deep, filling her with warmth.  She could imagine his voice talking to a small child, and the idea filled her heart with joy.  She wanted children, and she could see this man as a father.

"I now pronounce you man and wife.  Scott?  If you're so inclined, you may kiss your bride." 

Savannah swallowed hard.  She liked how the pastor had worded it.  She didn't like the idea of being forced to kiss just moments after she'd met Scott, but they were married.  He had the right to ask a whole lot more from her in just a few hours.

Scott saw the nervousness on Savannah's face, and briefly considered not kissing her, but he knew the nervousness would just last longer that way.  No, it was better to get the first kiss over and done with.  He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers softly. 

Savannah felt a spark of energy rush through her.  If they weren't compatible in any other way, they'd definitely be physically.  It wasn't everything, but it was something to start with.

After the kiss, they stared into each others' eyes for just a moment, before the pastor cleared his throat.

Savannah blushed.  She knew she'd done nothing wrong, but she felt as if she'd shared an extremely intimate moment with a room full of people.  "I forgot everyone was here," she whispered softly.

Scott smiled, pleased that he was affecting her the same way she was affecting him.  He slipped an arm around her waist as they turned to face the congregation of people looking at them. 

"I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Ward."

Ward.  My new last name is Ward.
  Savannah faced the people in front of her, very aware of the man at her side.  She'd agreed to be with him forever.  She refused to regret it.

Chapter Two

A small reception followed, which suited Savannah nicely.  She'd invited a few close friends to the nuptials, but she didn't want to spend all day there.  Not when she could be getting to know her new husband.

They got very little chance to speak as they greeted the people who had come and had cake and punch.  When it was time to go, she thanked Dr. Simpson before turning to her mother.  "I'm going to be fine," she hissed in her mother's ear.  "I promise."

Her mother had a look of almost panic.  "I don't even know the man.  Where will you be going?"

Savannah almost laughed when she realized she didn't know.  She had no idea at all where she'd be living.  She looked at Scott, her smile sweet and her eyes full of laughter.  "My mother wants to know where I'll be living."  How could she have forgotten to ask that?  The whole situation was ridiculous.

Scott grinned, realizing the reason for her laughter.  What they were doing was crazy by most standards.  "I live in a small town outside of Billings, Montana.  It's called King.  Dr. Simpson grew up there, and we went to the same school, although she was ten years ahead of me."

"So Dr. Simpson knew you growing up?" Mrs. Blyton asked, her eyes narrowed.

He put his arm back around Savannah before answering.  They'd been touching almost constantly since Mr. Simpson had put her hand in his at the front of the church.  When he'd mistakenly referred to the man as her father, she'd quietly explained who he was.

"Well, she moved to New York when I was seven or eight, but yeah, we went to the same church."  He understood the older woman's reasons for worrying.  He'd just married her daughter after all.

"That makes me feel better!" Mrs. Blyton said.  "And she interviewed you before matching you with Savannah, right?"

"Yes, she was visiting King for a bit.  The town was named for her ancestors, Eli and Daisy King.  Anyway, she was at church one Sunday, and I mentioned that I wished there were more marriageable women in our congregation.  She asked if I was interested in being matched and outlined what she was doing, and the next day we spent at least eight hours of her interviewing me and putting me through psychological testing.  She contacted me two months later and told me she'd found a match."  His eyes went to Savannah at that.  He was surprised he'd been able to keep them off her for long enough to talk to her mother.

Savannah felt his gaze on her and met his eyes again.  There was something about her new husband that was just compelling to her.  He was handsome, yes, but she'd met so many handsome men in the past.  No, it was more than that.  Her eyes were drawn to his lips, and she thought about the kiss they'd shared.  It had only been one, but she wanted more.

"How are you going to get your things to Montana?" Mrs. Blyton asked suddenly.  "I never even thought of that." 

Savannah forced her eyes off of her new husband's lips, blushing slightly.  She leaned into him as she focused on her mother again.  "I sold most of my furniture and boxed up everything else.  Dr. Simpson arranged for everything to be shipped to Scott's house."  It seemed odd to know his name after almost a month of knowing she'd be getting married but having no idea who she would marry.  "It will be shipped tonight.  She told me she didn't want me to feel like I had to marry him, because he was in possession of all my worldly belongings."

Scott grinned at that.  "And would you have felt that way?"

Savannah looked up at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners with amusement.  "No, I really don't think I would have."

"Good."  He sighed.  "We have a flight to catch."  It was getting late.

"Today?" Savannah asked with surprise.  Somehow she'd thought they'd spend their wedding night there in New York.

He nodded.  "We have a few minutes, but then we need to head to the airport."

Mrs. Blyton looked at Savannah.  "We need to get you changed."

Scott frowned.  "How long will that take?  We need to be at the airport in forty-five minutes."

Savannah's eyes widened.  "We need to leave then.  My bag is in the bride's room."  She rushed to get her bag, finding him right behind her.               

He snagged it and gripped her hand.  "Do you mind flying in your dress?"

Savannah looked down at her wedding dress and shrugged.  "I don't have much choice."  She rushed back into the church's fellowship hall and hugged her mother tightly.  "I'll call you tomorrow so you know he didn't murder me in my sleep."

Scott overheard Savannah and laughed softly.  Lachele had picked well. He needed more humor in his life.  Who didn't?

He took her hand and they hurried out of the church together.  "Is your best man not coming with us?" she asked.  When she'd met Jake earlier, they'd said he lived very close to Scott, and they'd flown out together. 

Scott held his hand up to hail a taxi.  He knew they must look a sight standing in the middle of a busy Manhattan street in their wedding clothes.  "He's going to do a bit of research and fly back tomorrow."

A taxi stopped in front of them and Scott got into the back, scooting to the other side.  Savannah got in beside him, closing the door.  Once he'd given the driver their destination, she asked, "Research?"

"Oh, he's a science fiction writer.  He never goes anywhere without hitting the biggest library he can find."

"He's going to love the Manhattan library."

"We drove past it on the way to the church.  He told me he was extending his stay."  He shook his head.  "Honestly, I think the only reason he agreed to be my best man was he'd heard about the Manhattan library.  Seeing it?  I really thought the man was going to start drooling and jabbering like an idiot on the spot."

Savannah smiled, leaning her head back against the seat.  She hadn't slept well the night before, because she was so nervous about marrying a stranger.  It was amazing that she wasn't more nervous now than she had been.  He calmed her, though. 

"Well, now that I know what your best friend does for a living, want to tell me what you do?" she asked with a grin.

He laughed.  "I guess that's something you might want to know."  He saw the look on the taxi driver's face in the review mirror, letting him know the other man was listening to their conversation.  "I'm a rancher."

"Oh, that's cool.  I've never known a cattle rancher."

He shook his head.  "Actually it's bison."

"Bison?  You mean like buffalo?"

He nodded.  "Did you know bison are the only cattle indigenous to the United States?  They're meant to be grown here, so they don't need the kind of vaccinations beef cattle need, and they tend to do better in the extreme weather that's part of the Montana winter.  It really makes a lot of sense."  There was so much information that just wanted to pour out of his mouth when he started talking about bison, but he wouldn't overwhelm her just yet.

"I don't think I've ever eaten bison," Savannah told him.  "Does it taste like chicken?"

He laughed.  "No, that's rabbit, but I eat that too.  Bison is like a sweet beef.  It's leaner than beef, so it's better for you."  He shrugged.  "I could eat it three meals a day."

She looked at him, smiling.  He was obviously very happy to talk about his work.  "What made you decide to ranch bison instead of cattle?"

"When I was a boy, my dad was always researching the possibility.  He started the process of switching over when I was thirteen.  We started with twelve bison.  That was twenty years ago.  As the bison herd grew, we sold off more and more of the cattle.  I have two milk cows left, and they require more veterinary visits than the entire herd of buffalo."

"Where are you parents now?"

He frowned.  "They were killed by a drunk driver six years ago when I was twenty-seven."

"I'm sorry."

"We were close."  He squeezed the hand that had immediately gone to his.  "What about your father?"

"Heart disease.  It's just been Mom and me for a long time."

"Is she going to be okay without you around?"

Savannah nodded emphatically.  "It's going to be good for her.  There's this sweet man who goes to our church who has been in love with her for as long as I can remember.  I think she'll look at him with me gone."  Part of the reason she'd wanted to leave was so her mother would start living her own life.

"She was too worried about you to think about herself?"

"Yes.  She's a good mom.  I thought she would start living again when I started college.  And then when I finished college and started teaching.  Nope.  It was always about me."  She shook her head.  "Sometimes I feel like I ruined her life, but I know it wasn't my fault."

Scott turned to face her on the seat.  "I think it's great that you two were that close.  It shows me family is very important to you."  He reached out his hand and stroked her cheek with his finger.  "I wasn't expecting someone as pretty as you."  His voice got deeper with the compliment.

Savannah blushed.  "You weren't?"

He shook his head.  "I guess I thought that anyone who had to go to a matchmaker in a big city would be a little less attractive."  He hated admitting what his thoughts had been to the beautiful girl sitting beside him.

She shrugged.  "Well, I've done some dating, but none of the men I knew were interested in settling down.  They just—"  She blushed.  "They just wanted sex.  I didn't.  So it didn't go well."

Scott couldn't be disappointed that she hadn't wanted to sleep around.  "That makes sense."

"You won't mind if I work, will you?  I'll have to research the laws for teachers in Montana, but I do want to work at least for a while."

Scott frowned.  "I hadn't really thought about you working.  I guess I don't mind.  What do you teach?"  Would she insist on teaching once children came along?  A thought occurred to him then that frightened him.  What if she didn't want children?  He'd told Lachele that he wanted children, hadn't he?

"High school English.  It hadn't occurred to me that you wouldn't want me to work."  She sighed.  "We'll work it out."

He caught her under the chin with his forefinger, dropping a quick kiss on her lips.  "Yes, we will.  If you want to work, I'm not going to stop you from doing it."  He'd rather she didn't, but he wouldn't let her be unhappy just to appease him.

"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.