ranch,” Gram chimed in. “The perfect place for you to catch your breath.”
“I don’t know.” She worried her bottom lip. “You don’t even know me. I wouldn’t want to be an imposition.”
“With there just being Cash and me living there, we could use the company. Isn’t that right, Cash?”
“You live there too?” Meg looked directly at his grandmother.
Gram nodded. “So, what do you say?”
Cash wasn’t as thrilled about their guest as his grandmother. Meg might be beautiful, and she might have charmed his grandmother, but she was trouble. The press wasn’t going to let up until they found her. He could already envision the headlines: Runaway Bride Stolen by Thieving Cowboy. His gut twisted into a painful knot.
“You’re invited as long as you keep your location a secret,” he said, his voice unbending. “I can’t afford to have the press swooping in.”
“Oh, no,” Meg said, pulling herself upright with some effort. “I’d never bring them to your place. I don’t want to see any of them.”
Honesty dripped from her words, and a quick glance in her direction showed him her somber expression. But what if she started to feel better and decided she needed to fix her reputation? Or, worse, made a public appeal to what’s-his-name to win him back?
Then again, she wouldn’t be there that long. In fact it was still early in the day. Not quite lunchtime. If she rested, perhaps she’d be up to going home this evening.
Certain she’d soon be on her way, he said, “Good. Now that we understand each other, let’s get moving.”
The cold air from the vents of Cash’s new-smelling pickup breathed a sense of renewed energy into Meghan. She was exhausted and dirty, but thankfully her stomach had settled. She gazed out the window as they headed southeast. She’d never ventured in this direction, but she enjoyed the vastness of the barren land, where it felt as if she could lose herself and her problems.
Instinctively she moved her hand to her stomach. There wasn’t time for kicking back and losing herself. This wasn’t a vacation or a spa weekend. This was a chance to get her head screwed on straight, to figure out how to repair the damage to her life and prepare to be a single mother.
The thought of her impending motherhood filled her with anxiety. What she didn’t know about being a good parent could fill up an entire library. The only thing she did know was that she didn’t want to be like her own mother—emotionally distant and habitually withholding her approval. Instead, Meghan planned to lavish her baby with love.
But what if she failed to express her love? What if she fell back on the way she’d been raised?
“Here we are,” Cash announced, breaking into her troubled thoughts.
The truck had stopped in front of a little whitewashed house with a covered porch and two matching rocking chairs. the place was cute, but awfully small. Certainly not big enough for her to keep out of everyone’s way.
Cash cut the engine and rounded the front of the truck. He swung open the door she’d only moments ago been leaning against. She released her seat restraint as Cash held out his hands to help her down. As the length of her dress hampered her movements she accepted his offer. His long, lean fingers wrapped around her waist. Holding her securely, he lowered her to the ground in one steady movement.
She tilted her chin upward and for the first time noticed his towering height. Even with her heels on he stood a good six inches taller than her own five-foot-six stature. His smoky gray eyes held her captive with their intensity.
She swallowed. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His lips lifted in a small smile, sending her tummy aflutter.
Before she could think of anything to say he turned to his grandmother and helped her out of the vehicle. Martha rushed up the walk, appearing not to need any assistance getting around. Meghan could only hope to be so spry when she got on in years.
Martha, as though remembering them, stopped on the porch. “See you at five o’clock for dinner.”
She’d turned for the door when Cash said, “Wait, Gram. You’re forgetting Meg.”
“Not at all. She’s invited too.” She reached for the doorknob.
“But, Gram, aren’t you going to invite her in?”
Martha turned and gave him a puzzled look. “Sure, she’s welcome. But I thought she’d want to get cleaned up and changed into something fresh.”
“Wouldn’t she need to go inside?”
Martha’s brows rose. “Um…Cash…you’re going to have to take her to the big house.”
“But I thought—”
“Remember after you built the house we converted your old room into my sewing room? She could sleep on the couch, but I think she’d be much more comfortable in one of your guestrooms.”
This wasn’t what Meghan had imagined. She’d thought they’d all be staying in one house together. The thought of staying alone with Cash sent up warning signals.
“I don’t want to be a burden on either of you. If you could let me use your phone, I can call and get a ride.”
Cash shot her a puzzled look. “I thought you didn’t have any other place to hide from the press?”
“I don’t.” She licked her dry lips. Softly she added, “I’ll just have to tell them…”
“What? What will you tell them?”
Panic paralyzed the muscles in her chest. “I don’t know.”
“Why did you run out on your wedding?” His unblinking gaze held hers, searching for answers.
“I…ah…”
“Why did you abandon the groom at the altar? Do you want him back?”
She glared at Cash. “I’m not ready to talk about it. Why are you being so mean?”
“Because that is just a small taste of what’s waiting for you. In fact, this is probably mild compared to the questions they’ll lob at you.”
“What would a cowboy know about the press?” she sputtered, not wanting to admit he was right.
“Trust Cash,” Martha piped up. “He knows what he’s talking about—”
“Gram, drop it. Meg obviously doesn’t want to hear our thoughts.”
Meghan turned her gaze to Cash, waiting for him to finish his grandmother’s cryptic comment. She’d already had her fiancé dupe her into believing he was going to marry her—that he cared about her. But if he had he wouldn’t have uttered those words at the altar. Everything she’d thought about their relationship was a lie. And she wouldn’t stand for one more man lying to her.
“What
