Rosalie found herself nodding, but she felt conflict in her heart. How could Paden be so unaffected by her presence? Did he not hold her in some regard? True, it had been four years. Perhaps he had already moved on, found another woman to love. That is what she had wanted for him. For him to be happy.
When she had first left Waterglen, her heart had mourned him, but with each passing day, she had convinced herself that Paden was better off without her. The love in her heart for him had been replaced with vengeance.
But now that Paden was here, she realized the love she’d felt for him never went away, it had just been buried.
Paden felt he must be a glutton for punishment. He was about to marry the love of his life, but he was trying to appear aloof to make Rosalie believe he wasn’t ecstatic that she’d agreed to marry him.
Sitting across from each other at the table, Rosalie was eating the last of her breakfast, and he was pretending to be occupied with reading the newspaper. The first step of his plan was completed. He had convinced her to marry him. Now onto the next step: Get married and stay married forever.
“Anything of note in the newspaper?” Rosalie asked, placing her napkin onto the table.
“Not really, considering these headlines are from last week.” He folded the newspaper and laid it on the table. “Ready to get hitched?”
“When will we go after Bill Garrett?”
Paden pushed back his chair and rose. “Right after our wedding ceremony. I have a wagon out front, and we’ll need to journey to the next town over to pick up the stagecoach.”
Mrs. Tyson walked into the room with a cluster of flowers. “I picked these from my garden. I thought you might like them for your wedding,” she said, extending them toward Rosalie.
Rosalie brought them to her nose and took a deep breath. “They smell heavenly. Thank you, Mrs. Tyson.”
“Do you require a witness?” The proprietress gave her a kind smile.
“I don’t believe so,” Rosalie murmured. She turned her gaze toward him. “Do we, Paden?”
He shook his head. “Not officially. The sheriff can marry us without witnesses, but the more the merrier.”
Mrs. Tyson clapped her hands in excitement. “Let me get my shawl. I haven’t been to a wedding in ages.”
Rosalie had a sad expression on her face as she watched Mrs. Tyson depart from the room. He came over to stand next to her. “What is it?”
She gave him a weak smile. “I don’t have the heart to tell her the truth… about us.”
“Then don’t.”
Taking a moment to admire Rosalie, his eyes trailed over her hair, which was pulled back at the sides and cascading in a cluster of ringlets down the back. Her flowered dress, adorned with lace and ruffles, highlighted her thin waist and delightful curves.
Paden tore his eyes away from her when Mrs. Tyson walked back into the room with a bright smile on her face.
“This is so exciting!” Mrs. Tyson gushed.
Extending his arms to the ladies, they walked the short distance to the sheriff’s office. Paden noticed that Rosalie kept giving him sideways glances, and her rigid posture seemed to indicate that she wasn’t excited about her upcoming nuptials. She would come around; he was sure of it.
Paden opened the door to the sheriff’s office and stepped aside to let the ladies enter. He had just stepped inside when Sheriff Vance shoved back his chair and greeted them. “Miss Addis and Mrs. Tyson. What a pleasant surprise.” Turning his gaze toward him, he frowned. “And who might you be?”
Moving to stand alongside Rosalie, he explained, “My name is Paden Brooks. I spoke to you yesterday about performing a marriage ceremony.”
Rosalie pursed her lips at his words, but she kept her gaze straight ahead.
“My apologies,” Sheriff Vance said, his finger tapping the top of the desk. “Are you here to marry Mrs. Tyson then?”
A giggle escaped Rosalie’s lips, and she brought her gloved hand up to cover her mouth.
“No. I am marrying Miss Rosalie Addis.” Paden smiled proudly.
The sheriff’s eyes darted to Rosalie. “I didn’t realize you were engaged.”
“This is a new development,” she admitted with a reassuring smile.
Sherriff Vance cleared his throat and asked, “May I speak to you for a moment, Miss Addis?”
“Of course,” she answered.
The sheriff came around his desk and opened the door, allowing Rosalie to walk first.
Paden took a small step toward the broken window, hoping he’d be able to hear their conversation. He could.
Stopping on the porch, Sheriff Vance asked in a concerned tone, “Is this man forcing you into a marriage?”
“Not at all. Mr. Brooks and I were childhood sweethearts,” Rosalie responded.
Paden’s chest puffed up with pride. That was a true statement.
There was a long silence before the Sherriff ventured, “If you are interested, I would be honored to marry you. I have my own home, savings in the bank, and three horses.”
Was this truly happening? Sheriff Vance was proposing to his fiancée, and within only a few feet of him! Of all the audacity, he thought, clenching his fists to his sides.
Rosalie’s voice broke him out of his anger. “That is most kind of you, but I truly want to marry Mr. Brooks.”
“All right,” came the sheriff’s gruff reply. “But if you change your mind, then we can ride out today and be hitched in the next town over. I would even be willing to let you buy a ready-made gown at the mercantile. Maybe some ribbon too.”
A low growl came from the back of Paden’s throat. Did this man have no sense of decorum?
Rosalie responded in a cheerful voice, but he missed her words.
The door opened, and Rosalie walked back
