Married In Montana (At The Altar Book 1) (3 page)

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

*****

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

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

"When did you leave for New York?"

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

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

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

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

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

"You enjoy teaching?" he asked.

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

"Have you never been here before?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"But you were an only child."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Water please," Savannah answered quickly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"You don't mind waiting then?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"That would be wonderful."

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

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

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

"Medium well." 

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

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

"What's that?"

"I get to try to convince you otherwise."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"I won't lie to people."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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