Chapter 16

16

L orinda waited for Franklin to give a good excuse for why they couldn't stay in town overnight.

"Thank you." Franklin stood and shook hands with the owner of the hotel. "We'll be pleased to accept your offer."

The man turned away with a smile and almost ran into Mrs. Oleson and Stella, who was carrying Michael. After apologizing, he went toward the table where the schoolteacher was serving the lemonade.

Lorinda tugged on Franklin's sleeve. "We can't stay at the hotel tonight." She tried to keep her voice low enough so no one else could hear her comment.

He stared at her. "I didn't want to offend him by refusing."

She didn't care if it would offend the man. She was not going to spend the night in that hotel room. Panic filled her like a flock of birds roused from the trees by a runaway wagon.

Stella reached her side. "This little boy is wanting his mother."

Lorinda pulled Michael into her arms and kissed his forehead. Why couldn't her new husband be more aware of her feelings on this matter? She knew the real reason. Because he doesn't love me as Michael does.

She turned toward Stella. "Did you have any trouble with him?"

"No. He's been very good." She glanced at Franklin, then leaned closer to Lorinda. "I fed him a while ago."

"That's probably why he's not fussing now." Lorinda knew she didn't want to wait much longer without nursing him.

What if she leaked and ruined her new clothes? Now that she was trapped in town for the night, what would she do for something to wear? Everything had been going along smoothly. Now their lie had created this situation that was about as comfortable as sitting on a cactus. Her heartbeat was as erratic as her breathing.

Mrs. Oleson stopped in front of Franklin. "What did Arnie Holcomb want?"

"His gift is for us to spend our wedding night in the luxury suite on the top floor of his hotel." Franklin glanced at her, his gaze lighting another blaze inside her.

Lorinda frowned. "We can't do it. I need to take care of Michael. That will be easier at home." Anything to get out of spending the night alone with a man who could stir her senses into a frenzy, but didn't love or want her.

"Nonsense," Stella insisted. "I can keep him. You only have one wedding night, and you don't need to be worrying about your son. We get along really well together."

Mrs. Oleson clasped her hands in front of her waist. "That's a perfect solution! Don't you think so, Franklin?"

"That's mighty nice of you, Stella." He glanced down at his new wife. "Don't you think so, Lorinda?"

I most certainly do not! She hoped he could read the sharp glance she shot his way, because she couldn't voice her fears in front of the two ladies. She tried to smile as she nodded but knew it didn't look sincere.

"Why don't I let you have some time with Michael before I take him home with me?" Stella must have understood. "We can stop by your ranch on the way and pick up more diapers and clothes for him. You know it's not out of our way."

Franklin's nod of agreement with Stella shot down Lorinda's way of escape from the night in the hotel.

"Thank you." Lorinda forced the words out through clenched teeth, while clutching her son closer. "Is there some place private I can go to be with him for a bit?" And it better be soon.

Mrs. Oleson nodded toward Mary Nelson. "Maybe you can go to the parsonage. Everyone is having a good time. Probably no one will notice you're gone. When you're finished, we can cut the cake."

Franklin headed toward where the men had congregated, a satisfied smile on his lips. Lorinda had never hit anyone in her life, but she wanted to slap it off his face.

Mrs. Oleson accompanied Lorinda to talk to Mary.

Soon she was sitting in a padded rocking chair nursing her son. The sound of the vows Franklin spoke to her never left her thoughts.

"To have and to hold." The words sounded so sincere. They sent shivers up and down her spine, and goose bumps raised on her arms. He had vowed before God, but except for that one kiss, he had never held her. Would he ever again?

"To love and to cherish." These words were equally sincere, but she doubted Franklin understood all that meant. If he had, he wouldn't have been able to promise her, in the eyes of God.

"Till death us do part." That part was true. She understood what that meant in a different way than Franklin did. He had never lost a wife, but she'd lost her husband. Although they were married for the rest of their lives, they weren't truly dedicated to each other. Would the lies never end?

I can't believe Franklin agreed to accept the hotel room for the night. Her life was getting more complicated by the minute. She knew this was a bad idea, but she couldn't do anything about it. They had taken vows before God. He knew what they were doing, but no one else did. She wasn't sure He was pleased with how things were going.

Why had she felt that God wanted her to accept Franklin's proposal? Surely He hadn't wanted her to tie herself into a sham marriage with a man who could make her forget everything around her with just one kiss. Well, maybe it was a bit more than one kiss...or a lot more.

She glanced down at the ring he'd placed on her finger. It was so much fancier than the slim gold band Mike had given her, but Mike's had meant something. This one was just for show.

Maybe she'd just made the biggest mistake of her life.

When Franklin joined the men, he received a lot of friendly ribbing about the wedding kiss. After that died down, the men started talking about ranching and the weather, as usual. The topic didn't hold his attention.

The kiss was bad enough, but why did he have to cut that ribbon off the buggy and use it to tie Lorinda's hair away from her face? The golden strands of curls felt like silk threads. They flowed around his finger like a shimmering waterfall while he completed his task. He wanted to bury his fingers in their mass as he had during the ceremony. The feel of her hair in his hands brought with it the absolute abandon of the kiss. He shook inside as he gave the bow a last tug to straighten it.

The chaste joining of his and Miriam's lips had never inflamed him as Lorinda's did. He had been about to gain control of himself when her arms slid around his waist and her fingers clung to his back, pulling a passion from him he didn't even realize he possessed. If Miriam hadn't left him for Marvin, he would have never known such a depth of emotion. His thoughts spun in circles, always returning to this one fact. It must never, ever, happen again.

"Hey, Franklin." He hadn't even noticed Arnie was close-by. "When will you and your pretty little bride be coming over to the hotel?" The man had one of those sly smiles men got when they were talking about relations between men and women.

He forced his attention from his inner angst toward the proprietor. "People are still celebrating. We haven't even cut the wedding cake. When everyone starts leaving, we'll come on over." And do what?

"Sounds good to me. I'll make sure everything's ready."

What did Arnie need to get ready?

Franklin tried to remember exactly what that suite of rooms looked like. It had a kind of parlor and a bedroom. With a door between. That could be their salvation. And a smaller dressing room and wash room with a copper tub. This memory ushered back the feelings he'd had when he heard Lorinda bathing before they came to town. I won't go down that road again.

Remember the door. They should be able to enjoy the night without a repeat of the mistake at the wedding. He'd promised Lorinda they wouldn't consummate the marriage, and he was a man of his word. He didn't want to scare her away. If he did, this wedding would have been for naught. He'd lose his son and heir.

Franklin kept glancing toward the doorway, hoping Lorinda and Michael would appear.

Rusty brought him a glass of lemonade. "You dry after all that talking?"

"Yeah, thanks." He swigged down the tart-sweet liquid all at once.

"Want some more?"

"Nah. Not right now. Thanks." He set the glass on an empty table nearby.

When he turned, Lorinda stood framed in the open doorway. Her...uh, their son lay contented in her arms. Something inside him relaxed. Had he thought she might skip out on him like Miriam did?

He had to stop thinking about his near miss with Miriam. If she hadn't eloped with Marvin, Franklin would've never met Lorinda, and marriage to Miriam could have been as tepid as lukewarm coffee on a cold cattle drive. Even if they weren't going to make this a real marriage, Lorinda's vibrancy was a welcome addition to his life. He'd just have to keep a safe distance from her.

Lorinda shouldn't have given up the baby to Stella. If she had him with her in the hotel room, she'd need to take care of him. It would have given her an excuse to stay up all night. That chance had ridden away from the schoolhouse in Stella's arms. Lorinda needed to come up with another reason to stay away from Franklin. Sleeping in the same room with him was out of the question.

After the party, Rusty insisted on driving Lorinda and Franklin the few blocks to the hotel. She felt silly riding with all the ribbons and bows on the buggy and horses, but she didn't want to hurt the cowboy's feelings. He'd been so nice to her the whole time she'd been at the ranch.

When Franklin helped her down from the buggy, he did it by sliding one arm around her back and the other under her knees. And he didn't set her down. Amid more clapping, hoots, whistles, and stomping, he kept her in his arms as he entered the lobby and took the stairs to the second floor. Rusty followed him with her new traveling trunk hefted onto one shoulder and carrying in the other hand a smaller bag that had been in the back of the buggy.

The cowboys and maybe Mrs. Oleson must've known what Mr. Holcomb had planned. Although she knew she blushed when Franklin carried her, she felt even more heat fill her cheeks and neck. Did everyone at the wedding know? Wouldn't they be surprised if they knew the truth?

Franklin gently set her on her feet, then turned toward the opening to the suite.

Mr. Holcomb, who had accompanied them up the stairs as well, opened the door with a flourish. "Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Vine."

He dropped the key in Lorinda's hand just before Franklin lifted her in his arms again, startling her.

"I'm going to carry you over the threshold." The husky murmur in her ear shook her.

Another of the many things the women told her always happened after a wedding. The heavenly smell of Bay Rum Oil and Franklin's distinct masculine essence overcame her senses. His warm breath caressed her cheek, and his ebony eyes smoldered as they gazed into hers. She forgot to breathe. Franklin didn't seem to be in a hurry to release her.

Rusty put both pieces of luggage down and doffed his hat. A wide grin split his face. "You have a good time tonight."

Oh, my goodness. Could she be any more embarrassed?

"Thanks, Rusty."

Wait a minute? She smiled at the cowboy. "Would you like to stay for a drink with us?" Maybe the men would get into a discussion of something at the ranch.

Franklin gave a slight shake of his head, and the cowboy exited. Franklin kicked the door closed. He started to put her down, but something happened and she almost tipped out of his arms too quickly. He grabbed her closer to him, and the front of her body slid down the whole length of his before her feet hit the floor. She felt the flexing of his muscles as he tried to keep her from falling. His physical strength overwhelmed her as his gentleness made her feel safe. But when her feet reached the floor, her knees almost buckled. She was thankful that Franklin still had his arms around her.

"It was a very good day, Mrs. Vine." His warm smile was almost her undoing.

She glanced down at his arms that still encircled her, and he pulled them away and stepped aside.

She walked over to a table where a bowl of oranges and apples sat beside a plate of cheese and crackers. Anything to stave off the shared night. Her hand shook as she picked up a cracker and took a nibble.

When Franklin didn't say anything, she turned to look at him. "How can we stay here together?" Her voice wobbled a little.

He took off his hat and tossed it onto the luggage and walked across to a closed door. "I'd seen this hotel suite before. Right after Arnie finished it. I knew it would be all right. There's a bedroom through here."

When he opened the door, Lorinda saw the beautiful bed with a carved headboard. Heavy draperies, which matched the bed covering, were tied back with large bows, so the outside light brightened the room. Everything was even more luxurious than the furnishings in the ranch house on the Rocking V. Lamps with crystals dripping from the bottom of the matched shades, even a lovely painting on the wall across from the bed. She didn't want to step foot inside the doorway.

"You will have the bedroom. I'll sleep on the divan in the parlor."

His gentle words were probably meant to encourage her, but Franklin stood well over six feet tall, and that divan would barely be long enough for her to sleep on.

"I can sleep in the parlor." She glanced up at him and caught the frown that flickered across his features. "You're much too tall to use the divan."

A smile curved his lips. "I've slept on the ground many a night with only a bedroll. I can use one of the pillows and some of the bedding and be happy on this plush carpet. It'll be much softer than the ground."

She started to object, but he raised a palm to stop her. "I insist."

He led her across the large bedroom to another door she hadn't noticed. "There's a wash room in here. It even has a water closet...and a bathtub." The last phrase was so low, she almost didn't catch it.

Lorinda glanced around the wash room, then walked inside to get a better look at the water closet, hidden inside a tiny, cupboard-like space. She'd never seen one up close. Would wonders never cease? What will they think of next? For a moment, she wished they had one at the ranch.

Franklin stood in the doorway, watching her. She turned toward him.

"Are we all right now? No one will ever know what we do in this hotel room...or what we don't do."

It seemed as if she went from one blush to another all day long. She hoped the embarrassing things would come to an end, but she knew they probably wouldn't.

She went through the doorway, trying not to touch Franklin anywhere. The fewer times they had physical contact, the better it would be for her. She couldn't face another day with so much to catch her off balance. She glanced back at her new husband and saw that he was also looking at her. She wondered what he was feeling. Did he sense her relief with the way the day ended?

Lorinda couldn't wait until they returned to the ranch, so things would get back to normal for them. She had no idea what normal might look like after today.