The Maverick's Bride-to-Order, page 18
Lydia was completely appalled by the whole concept. “A contest? Oh, Curtis, I can’t believe you came up with this crazy idea. It’s not like you at all.”
“Well, maybe the idea isn’t like me. And I’ll admit it originated from someone else. But that’s insignificant. I think the whole concept will be great. The readers will love getting involved with Zach’s quest. And in my opinion, the man could use some advice. His hopping from one woman to the next makes him look confused and indecisive.”
I’m fairly certain I’ve found her. I’m just not sure she’s ready to accept my proposal.
Zach’s words from yesterday were suddenly marching through Lydia’s head all over again. If he’d already found the woman of his dreams, he hardly needed any interference from the newspaper. But she couldn’t be the one to burst Curtis’s bubble. Besides, Zach was a grown man. He didn’t have to follow the townspeople’s advice. Not unless he wanted to.
“I think you’d better run this contest by Zach first,” she cautiously suggested. “You certainly wouldn’t want a lawsuit against the Gazette.”
Thoughtful now, Curtis leaned back in his chair. “Hmm. You have a point there, Lydia. Perhaps you should be the one to run the plan by Zach. After all, you’re friends with the man.”
Unable to remain still any longer, she jumped from the chair and began to move restlessly about the room. “We’re not exactly chummy anymore.”
“Oh. Does that mean you don’t want your name thrown into the pot of potential brides?”
And have all the townspeople writing in about her shortcomings? And why she was the last woman on earth who should be Zach’s wife? Not in a million years!
Horrified by the whole notion, she stopped and stared at him. “That’s exactly what I mean! If I ever catch a husband, it’s going to be the old-fashioned way. Not because I’ve won some idiotic contest.”
Curtis studied her suspiciously and Lydia suddenly realized she’d been protesting far too loudly and vehemently.
“I...I’m sorry, Curtis. I got carried away there for a minute. Your plan is ingenious. And I’m sure it will be great publicity for the Gazette. It’s just that I...I’m not the marrying kind.”
His expression relaxed and Lydia let out a silent breath of relief.
“I see. Well, I’ll call Mr. Dalton myself. In the meantime, I’d like for you and Jolene to put your heads together on this and come up with a list of at least three women for the readers to vote on. Once that’s done, the rest will easily fall into place.”
Pain was suddenly pounding in the middle of Lydia’s forehead. How in the world was she going to hide from this fiasco? Not for anything did she want to be around when this perfect bride for Zach was going to be announced. She wanted to be somewhere far away. Where she could forget she’d ever met the man. And thoughtlessly fallen in love with him.
* * *
Two days later, Zach and Booker had been riding a far west pasture on the Circle D for most of the day, searching for any weanlings that might have been left behind during a roundup they’d made of the herd yesterday. So far the men hadn’t found any calves. A good sign that none of the babies had been left behind.
“It’s hot as heck for the end of October,” Booker said. He pulled a kerchief from around his neck and used it to mop his face. “I’ll be ready for a tall glass of iced tea when we get back to the ranch house. And later a beer at the Ace in the Hole. You going to The Great Roundup viewing tonight?”
Zach had no desire to go to the bar and have a bunch of women pawing over him. And he sure as heck didn’t want to see Lydia there again. He didn’t want to be reminded of last Friday night when he’d wound up taking her home and making love to her for hours on end. That night had changed everything inside him. Thanks to her sweet lips and giving body, everything he’d ever thought he wanted was no longer on the list.
Last night, he’d tried another date with Eva-Rose. He’d even splurged big-time and taken her to a ritzy restaurant in Kalispell. During the fancy meal, the candlelight had made her even more beautiful and her company had been pleasant. At the end of the evening, he’d been eager to kiss her again, hoping against hope that something would spark and burn the memory of Lydia’s lovemaking from his mind. But kissing Eva-Rose had been like kissing an old friend. Nothing had clicked. Not with him, or with her, as far as he could tell, and he’d driven home feeling even more frustrated.
“I don’t think so,” he finally answered Booker’s question. “I’m not in the mood to face that crowd tonight.”
“You’re going to be facing more than a crowd whenever that newspaper contest comes to a close,” Booker commented. “By the way, Dad isn’t too happy about that development. What in the world were you thinking? You’re gonna let the folks of Rust Creek Falls pick your wife? You’re nuts, brother!”
“Gee, thanks, Booker. That makes me feel even better about the whole damned mess!”
Booker stared at him. “You mean you’re not happy about the Zach’s Perfect Bride Contest?”
Happy? He was angry and sick and everything in between. “Hell, no! I didn’t want any part of it. But when the newspaper editor called me about the whole idea, I couldn’t very well tell him no.”
“Why not? You don’t owe the man anything.”
Zach shrugged. How could he explain to his brother that the only woman he’d ever loved worked at the Gazette? Damn it, he couldn’t explain anything. Because Lydia had made it clear that she didn’t give a hoot about him.
“He’s Lydia’s boss,” Zach eventually replied. “I didn’t want to make problems for her.”
“Lydia? Why should she matter? I didn’t see her name on the list of contestants.” Booker laughed, then rolled his eyes toward the wide blue sky. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have used the word contestants. One of these women is supposed to become your wife.”
As the horses slowly plodded along the trail leading back to the ranch yard, Zach shook his head and tried to push away the heavy nausea roiling in his stomach.
“None of those women is going to be my wife, Booker. I’ve already decided who I want to marry.”
Surprised, Booker glanced at him. “You have? Who?”
“I’m not going to say,” Zach said with grim determination. “Not until I’ve had a chance to work things out with her.”
Booker snorted. “The way I see it, you’d better work fast. By next Saturday night, Rust Creek Falls is going to pick your bride.”
Booker was right, Zach decided. He had to come up with a plan and he had very little time to waste. But how was he going to convince Lydia that she was the marrying kind and the only woman he wanted for a wife?
* * *
“Lydia, you look as sexy as all get-out in that skirt.”
The exclamation came from Jolene as the two women stood in a dressing room in the back of a little boutique located a few blocks away from the Gazette. Normally, the staff never worked on Saturday, but Curtis had decided to print a special edition to capitalize on Zach’s Perfect Bride Contest, so all the staff had been called in for the day. Somehow, during their lunch break, her friend had talked her into buying something new to wear to the big party tonight at the Ace in the Hole. But so far everything she’d tried on had looked frumpy.
“I couldn’t,” Lydia argued as she stared at the image of herself in the full-length mirror. The black leather did cling to her hips in the best of ways, but the short hemline showed off her legs. Something Lydia wasn’t accustomed to doing. “I look like a—”
“Rock star!” Jolene finished for her. “Because you’re certainly rocking that look.”
To further make her point, Jolene grabbed up a black satin tank top and held it up to Lydia. “This will make the outfit complete. You have great arms and shoulders. Let everyone see them.”
Everyone didn’t matter, Lydia thought. What would Zach think if he happened to see her at the party tonight? That she was making some sort of last-ditch effort to catch his attention?
Lydia, you have to be the silliest woman in Rust Creek Falls. Probably the whole county. Zach isn’t going to have one single thought about you tonight or any night to come. You pushed him away. You told him you weren’t the marrying kind. Now the townsfolk have chosen a bride for him. In a few hours, the big announcement will be made. And you can kiss any chance at snagging Zach a final goodbye.
Irritated at the mocking voice in her head, Lydia stepped out of the black leather skirt and tossed it toward her friend.
“You’re right, Jolene! I am ready to rock this night and to heck with what anyone thinks.” She tugged on her jeans. “Now if you’ll help me find some heels to go with this getup, we should make it back to the Gazette before our lunch hour is up.”
Jolene shot her a wicked grin. “Now you’re talking, girl!”
* * *
For the remainder of the day, Lydia tried to focus on her work and not think about the party or Zach, but as the minutes began to tick down to quitting time, she desperately wanted to make one last plea to Curtis to allow her to skip the Gazette party. But she’d already tried once and the response she’d gotten from her boss had made it very clear she had to be at the Ace in the Hole tonight, or she wouldn’t be sitting at her desk Monday morning.
Several hours had passed since then and now she found herself standing at the edge of an enormous crowd, trying to pretend she was any other place than the Ace in the Hole. But she was failing miserably. Especially when Zach suddenly walked up to her.
Apparently he was already having thoughts of a wedding, she decided as her gaze swept over his crisp white Western shirt and familiar bolo tie. She’d never seen him look more handsome, and to make matters worse, the smile on his face was the sweetest she’d ever seen.
“I’m glad you made it to the party, Lydia,” he drawled. “Tonight is a very special night for me. And without you here, none of it would feel right.”
Confused by his odd statement, Lydia studied his handsome face before she glanced down at the small cup of punch in his hand. Had Homer Gilmore been doctoring the punch bowl again? she wondered.
She said, “I can’t imagine why my presence would make any difference.”
“You can’t? Well, you will.” His gaze swept over her face, then all the way down to her toes. “Wow! You look fabulous, Lydia. This must be a very special night for you, too. The idea of me finally getting married must be making you very happy.”
She wanted to kick him in the shins, or kiss him senseless. But since the crowd around them made either choice unacceptable, she kept her response to a wan smile.
“In case you’ve been wondering, this contest was not my idea, Zach. But I’m glad to see you’re sticking with it. A woman admires a man who keeps his commitments.”
His head bent close to hers. “Yes, I recall another time you told me those very same words. I remember a few more things you said, too. When you were in bed. Naked. With a just-loved look on your face.”
Her jaw clenched as pain rocketed straight through her. “A gentleman would never bring something like that up on an occasion like this. That night has nothing to do with this one.”
“If you hadn’t been so stubborn, the both of us would be somewhere else instead of here. And this whole party wouldn’t be happening!”
He was talking in riddles that she couldn’t decipher. But none of it mattered anyway, she thought grimly. After Curtis announced the winner of the Perfect Bride Contest, she could put him and this whole mistake behind her.
“Hey, Zach,” Jolene greeted as she sidled up to Lydia. “Ready for the big announcement?”
He nodded a greeting at Jolene, then settled a stare on Lydia’s face.
“I’ve never been more ready for anything.”
His words were like cactus needles driving deep into her flesh. By tomorrow, she expected her whole body to be festered and sore from the wounds he was inflicting on her.
“In case you didn’t know, Curtis assigned Lydia and me the task of making the list of perfect brides for the townsfolk to vote on. It was actually harder than I thought. There are so many lovely women around here who fit your requirements. I hope you were pleased with the women we chose for you.”
Zach continued to look at Lydia in a strange way.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said bluntly. “The woman Curtis announces will be the absolute perfect wife for me. Now if you ladies will excuse me, I need to speak to one of my brothers.”
He walked off and Lydia blew out a pent-up breath.
“Gee, he didn’t look a bit happy,” Jolene commented, then glancing at Lydia, she added, “As far as that goes, neither do you. What’s going on, anyway?”
Lydia started walking in the direction of the bar. She needed something far stronger than a glass of fruit punch to get her through this ordeal. Which was rapidly turning out to be worse than a root canal.
Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Jolene following close on her heels.
Lydia asked, “Do you have any idea who came up with the idea for this contest? Curtis told me it wasn’t him. And I’m inclined to believe him. This isn’t his style.”
“Trust me, Lydia, I’ve tried to snoop around the office and find out who came up with this, but everybody seems to be clueless. Why? What does it matter, anyway?”
Grimacing, Lydia continued to maneuver her way through the crowd. “Zach doesn’t deserve this. And neither do I.”
“Lydia, you’re not making sense.”
“Nothing about this night is making sense,” she barked at Jolene. “Come on, let’s see if we can get a drink or two, or three, before Curtis starts the show.”
Unfortunately the bar was so crowded neither Lydia nor Jolene could wedge their way through. And then it was too late for a chance to numb the ache inside her with alcohol. Curtis was stepping up to the microphone and the excited crowd was turning their attention to the man with the answer everyone was waiting to hear. Who was the perfect bride for Zach Dalton?
After greeting the crowd, Curtis slipped into a long speech about all the hardworking cowboys around Rust Creek Falls, how many of them had already found the loves of their lives, and how fitting it was that the townsfolk had a hand in helping find the ideal bride for Zach.
Curtis droned on, “I want to thank all the Gazette readers for writing in with your votes and expressing the reasons you think your choice is the right one for our marriage-minded cowboy—Mr. Zach Dalton.”
Curtis gestured to Zach, who was standing a few steps away from the slightly elevated stage, and as Lydia looked over at him, she wondered if she could feel any worse than she did at this moment. Did he really intend to marry the woman who won this debacle of a contest? Surely love and commitment meant more to him than that!
“But I think everyone here at the Ace in the Hole is going to be surprised at the results. As I scanned through the letters, I certainly was amazed,” Curtis continued. “Ladies and gentlemen, I now must reveal that the winner of the bride contest is not any of the three women on the list.”
Surprise rippled over the crowd. Some folks even let out loud gasps. Lydia and Jolene exchanged confused glances.
“What’s going on?” Jolene hissed in Lydia’s ear. “Has Curtis flipped his lid or something?”
“The punch must have been spiked again,” Lydia muttered, then glanced again to Zach.
Oddly enough, he didn’t appear to be fazed by Curtis’s unexpected announcement. In fact, there was even a faint smile of approval on his face.
“Who’s the winner, Curtis?” some man in the crowd yelled.
“Yeah! Spill the beans, will ya?” another called out. “We’re tired of waitin’!”
Holding up a hand to call for patience, Curtis reached behind him and plucked several sheets of paper from a plastic container. After clearing his throat, he began to read, “All right, I’ll get to it. The first letter states that Zach’s perfect woman is caring and genuine. Another says she’s lovely and real. The next, that she’s compassionate and hardworking. And this one says she’s the most beautiful woman to walk the streets of Rust Creek Falls. These are just a few of the reasons why Lydia Grant will make the perfect wife for Zach.”
Lydia Grant! Instinctively, one hand crept to her throat as she stared around her in stunned horror. Was this some sort of cruel joke? Surely she’d misunderstood what Curtis had read into the microphone!
“Me?”
She must have squeaked the question out loud, because every eye in the bar seemed to turn to her.
“That’s right, Lydia,” Curtis answered, his expression equally shocked. “You are the winner of the Zach’s Perfect Bride Contest.”
Next to her, Jolene’s jaw dropped. “What the hell is going on?” she whispered to Lydia, who by now was too dazed to answer anything.
Her mind racing wildly, Lydia’s gaze found Zach’s in the crowd and her heart gave a drunken lurch. Was he a part of this farce? To embarrass her? Get back at her? But for what? She’d not done anything to him, except give him her heart and soul.
For one second she wanted to take off running through the crowd and hide somewhere so deep and dark that no one could ever find her.
“Lydia, please come forward to collect your prize,” Curtis called out.
Numb with embarrassment, Lydia forced one foot in front of the other until she reached the stage where Curtis stood behind the microphone stand.
“Her prize is Zach!” a woman in the crowd yelled. “Give her Zach! Give her Zach!”
