Wife: Wanted!

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Fools Rush In...

Chapter 2 You Can Lead A Horse to Water...

Chapter 3 A Bird in The Hand...

Chapter 4 You can't Teach an Old Dog...

Chapter 5 Lucky at Cards...

Chapter 6 If At First You Don't Succeed...

Chapter 7 Patience is its Own...

Chapter 8 One Step Forward...

Chapter 9 Where there's Smoke...

Chapter 10 Birds of A Feather...

Chapter 11 Winners Never Quit...

Chapter 12 If Wishes Were Horses...

Fools Rush in...

Moonlight gleamed peacefully on the protected cove in Tiburon off San Francisco Bay. High on the hillside above, in one of the trim, modern houses, all was not so tranquil.

Liza, you can't be serious! Maren Calloway, usually lazy as a cat, sat bolt upright on the sofa.

Amusement lit Elizabeth’s light blue eyes. Maren, I do believe I've finally shocked you. Where is my calendar? I need to record this historic event.

But Liza, Maren wailed aghast, No one marries through an advertisement. This isn't the 1880's for god's sake! Who knows what kind of person this man is. And who knows what lies he's written you. That ranch of his might be a shack with a couple of mangy cows. I don't see why you can't wait awhile before actually getting married.

The wedding is just a formality. And cows don't get mange, Maren. I've checked his references, Damon Marks is exactly who he says he is. Elizabeth remarked, rather absentmindedly, as her mind drifted over the events of the past month when she'd decided to change her life completely.

His personal ad had almost reached out and grabbed her. It would be the solution to all her problems. Simple and straightforward, it simply stated: Wanted-Wife, Must be willing to live in remote area. Housework in exchange for security. Looks not important.

It was the last line that had hooked Elizabeth like a hungry trout. After eight years of modeling, a year of rehabilitation and the end of her career, Elizabeth was tired of the fashion world, and its endless fascination with beauty. A tomboy as a child, she'd never cared for dressing up. Perhaps that explained her lack of bitterness when a panicked thief stole the rest of her career from her with a few well-placed knife strokes.  While she'd never made the cover of Vogue, she'd graced its inner pages. She had become a model at eighteen to break free from her grandparents’ stiff and starched household.  It provided her with comfortable independence even if it grew a bit stale after awhile.

Then that terrifying night in Barcelona, the previous year, jolted her out of her inertia. In a matter of moments, she lost her looks, at least as far as the fashion world was concerned, and nearly her life. The chest wounds had been deep and she had lost copious amounts of blood before they were able to control the bleeding.

Liza tossed her hair back as if to fling the past behind her, gave quick thanks that she was alive and able to do something as outrageous as marry this man she'd never met. She handed Maren the photo she had of Damon Marks.

I can think of a lot worse things than to be married to a man who looks like that. She grinned smugly.

Maren gazed at the unshaven man with a luxuriant mustache, cowboy hat pulled down low over his eyes, cigar in hand. She gave the sexy smirk that had made her face so popular on magazine covers. Who does he think he is? Clint Eastwood? Liza, I told you I'd lend you money. You are just so God damned stubborn.

We've been over that, Maren. The answer is no. I won't take your money. And, I can think of several good reasons to marry this Damon Marks, besides the rugged good looks you're drooling over. First of all, he owns a 75,000-acre spread in Wyoming. That's considerably bigger than my parent's spread in Paso Robles was. Second, he seems to be fairly considerate. He didn't even ask why I wouldn't fly in his private plane back to his place but wanted him to pick me up by car instead. As it is a five-hour drive from Lander's Airport that seems a gracious concession, so he can't be a total miscreant.

Maren nodded her head in understanding. Liza never flew in small planes. Her parents had been killed in one.

Damon Marks was going to fall head over heels for Liza, Maren mused. She was still as stunning as she ever was. In truth, Liza didn't seem to mind the scars, which was a more mature out look than Maren knew herself capable of. They weren't disfiguring though, the one on her high cheekbone looked like an old-fashioned dueling scar, Maren fancied. They hadn't put the men off either. Liza was still immensely popular.

Maren honey, you know I'm flat busted. Seven years of modeling have left me trained to do precisely nothing and this year used up the little I'd saved. You know I've never been much on worrying about tomorrow. The only thing I have of any value is Sailor and I refuse to sell him! I'd rather sell myself. So it's either marrying Mr. Damon Marks or telling Granddad that I can't make a go of it myself and work for him in his law offices in New York where I would go insane. Liza grinned wickedly, Besides, I've missed living on a ranch. I think holing up on a pretty ranch with a lusty rancher sounds intriguing. Who knows, maybe I'll fall in love with him.

At that absurd statement, Maren finally laughed, Liza, you may be a born risk taker but you've never been more than fond of any of the men you've been with and you've been with more than a few. Maren believed it was the loss of her parents that caused Liza to withhold her heart if not her friendship. Worse yet, what if you hate him?

"I've got it all figured out. If he's agreeable I'll stay till I'm twenty-eight when I come into my Trust, that's only two years. If I hate him, I'll see you back here next week, the plane ticket is round trip, I insisted on that. If we suit we'll get married by the Justice of the Peace in a town called Lander.

Liza, I think you're out of your mind. Maren laughed. But if you're still out there by thanksgiving I'll come visit. We can eat a turkey your husband shoots for you. The women mockingly shook hands on the deal.

Yippee ay yay, pardner. Liza drawled, confident she'd have the rancher firmly enchanted in no time.

Maren pretended to groan. I just hope this poor cowboy has a clue what he's letting himself in for.

YOU'VE DONE WHAT! Adam Marks yelled and stormed up and down the wide living room in the log ranch house. You're insane, utterly whacko, he continued.

His brother, Damon, calmly puffed a slim cigar. Her letter is on the table, you're welcome to read it. Adam, if you'd just calm down you'd see this is the only way. We're never going to be able to get a housekeeper out here. Hell, it is a three-hour drive to Tensleep, which isn't much when you get there. We can barely get cowboys to work the place.

Adam was not appeased. He waved the newspaper in his brother's face. Looks not important! She could be the Circus Fat Lady for Christ-sakes.

Then she'll probably be a decent cook, Damon said smugly.

But you don't love her. Hell Damon, you don't even know her. Adam went on.

Damon's gray eyes went from amused to hard as agate. I married for love before, little brother, and all it got me was large alimony payments.

You can't let Pamela ruin all women for you. They aren't all like that. Adam insisted. Damn, his brother was more stubborn than his prize mule team.

She didn't. She just taught me to beware the good-looking ones. All women have a price, little brother. Even this homely Elizabeth Golden. But at least she's honest about it. She wants a home in exchange for taking care of it. She even signed a prenuptial agreement against future claims on the Golden Eagle Ranch and its subsidiaries.

Adam flopped into a leather armchair and spread his arms in defeat. Well, if I'm going to have a new sister-in-law, I guess I'll ride into the Lander Airport with you to meet her. Any reason why we're not flying over?

My bride doesn't seem to care for small planes. Damon frowned at the inconvenience.

Suddenly there was a glint in Adam's eye Damon didn't care for. I do believe things might get real interesting around here.

Shut up, Adam, Damon said wearily.

AS THE PLANE CIRCLED over Lander's Airport, Liza finally started to stress over her rash decision. Most of the flight she'd spent convincing herself that a twenty-four-seat jet did not qualify as a small plane. With the airport in sight, she was firmly wrenched back into reality. This was her wedding day! What in hell was she doing marrying some stranger! But, before she could panic, her indomitable inner self-reasserted itself. She needed this to work and she was going to make it happen. After all, she'd never gotten into anything she couldn't talk her way out of and she had a plane ticket back if need be.

And the best way to secure footing was to have a good plan of attack. With that in mind, she took off her baseball cap and began to brush her thick, long hair.

THE TERMINAL WAS SMALL. Only a few people waited for the flight from Denver. Damon and Adam watched the passengers step out of the small airplane door. Adam was having a grand time pointing out each possible bride to his brother's vast irritation. To a stranger, Damon's cool reserve gave away nothing. Adam knew better.

Maybe this little gal here, he said as an elderly woman stepped carefully down the stairs. She looks just about your speed, Damon.

Shut up, Adam, Damon said automatically. A couple of western businessmen in their open-necked shirts and cowboy boots laughed as they stepped out, and one looked behind him to comment to someone still on the plane. Before they had made it down the steps, the most striking woman Damon had ever seen appeared on the platform. Swinging a large bulky bag over her shoulder, she paused and looked up at the sky with a smile that took his breath away, and breathed in deeply the dry cool air. Sunlight gleamed on her shining, black as midnight hair. Sunglasses covered her eyes but the rest of her face was strong boned with the look of Native American blood in her ancestry. Jeans, fitted but not tight, curved down the longest set of legs he ever had the pleasure to see.

Hell, the woman had to be six feet at the very least, he thought in admiration. At six foot 4 inches, Damon appreciated women he didn't have to bend over to kiss. Probably some rich rancher's daughter home from school, he supposed. For a fleeting moment, he wished he wasn't marrying this Elizabeth Golden and was free to introduce himself. Then he reminded himself any woman that pretty was most likely a bitch, and put her out of his mind, or mostly out. He watched the plane hatch for Elizabeth but no one else came out.

He glanced over at Adam, who wore a madman's grin. What are you smiling about, fool? I reckon Elizabeth Golden couldn't let us know she wasn't going to make it.

Adam stared at his brother in wonderment. Damon, did you even read the letter Elizabeth sent you?

Not after the first paragraph when she said she was raised on a ranch and could do housework. Meant to, I just never got around to it. Damon replied disgruntled, not seeing the humor in a five-hour drive made for nothing.

Then brother, I do believe you're in for a surprise.

Elizabeth entered the terminal and spotted Damon immediately. A smile brightened her face. Wow! He's even more gorgeous in person, she thought. His wavy hair was a rich, deep brown, his skin weathered from time spent outdoors. He looked to be in his mid-thirties or so. She knew photographers who'd have given a month's salary to work with a face like that. Another attractive man stood next to him and looked like his brother, she decided. He'd written that he lived with his brother, Adam. She strode over to them.

Damon thought the tall woman looked graceful as a cougar. Why was she coming over, he wondered. Surely they hadn't already met; he'd have remembered her.

The beauty had stopped in front of him and held out her hand as if to shake his.

Damon Marks? I'm Elizabeth. It's a pleasure to meet you.

For a moment Damon stood as if poleaxed. No, you're not, he insisted, refusing to believe the truth. A homely, grateful woman was what he wanted, not some spoiled beauty!

Elizabeth took off her sunglasses and laughed. I assure you I am. Do you want to see my Driver's License?

But you're pretty. He said the last word as if it was a curse.

Elizabeth burst out laughing. Well, I'm glad you think so. But according to my checking account, I'm well past the best of my looks. She flipped her hair back over her shoulders to expose the thin pink scar that ran 3 inches down her cheekbone. Damon had a sudden urge to kiss it, which angered him further.

I said in the ad looks weren't important. He argued stubbornly.

His glower didn't seem to upset her in the least.

I know. I can read. Last thing I heard good looks weren't a crime. Or perhaps they are in Wyoming? Are you going to arrest me? Though her words were light she grew concerned. Did he dislike her already? The smile faded from her face.  It annoyed Damon that she looked beautiful frowning too.

Adam laughed heartily at his brother's aggravated expression. Elizabeth, let me introduce myself. I'm Adam Marks. As you may have gathered I'm the brother with good manners. He shook her readily offered hand and appreciated the firm grip. So what do you have in that sack anyway? He said, lifting it from her shoulder.

My saddle, hate to ride in anyone else's. Mine has dents in all the right places if you know what I mean.

I do indeed. He agreed. Nothing worse than saddle galls. Tell you what, Elizabeth. If Damon here is having second thoughts, I'd be happy to marry you.

Elizabeth giggled; this adventure was off to a rip-roaring start after all.

Shut up, Adam. She's mine. Damon said the words before he knew it. Adam started to guffaw again.

Liza lifted one thick, well-shaped eyebrow. I'm sorry to inform you, Damon, women haven't been considered property since the turn of the century. Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea.

Chicken already? Damon said mockingly.

He thought she'd be angry but instead, she laughed. I'm not afraid of anything. Not even when I should be. It is my overwhelming flaw. Hell, I never could refuse a dare, Damon Marks. Maybe we do suit after all. Should I take that as a formal proposal then?

Yes. He nearly spit out. The truck is out front. He lifted her bags from the luggage rack and walked out without another word.

Welcome to the family, Elizabeth, Adam chortled and they followed him out to the parking lot.

The drive into the one street