to Tyler."
The man in question shoved against the door, sending Ben stumbling into the room. He carried with him the heavy humidity of the night as he shook out his hat and threw his canvas coat over Evie's. He also brought with him a man they all knew as the recently arrived circuit preacher.
Evie stared at the bearded stranger with dismay. She hadn't really thought Tyler would go through with this. She didn't think he would actually be able to carry this out so quickly. She thought there would be time to talk, to come to some other solution.
The bearded stranger took off his black homburg and made a polite bow as Tyler made curt introductions. "It's an honor and a pleasure, Mrs. Peyton. I've heard you've worked wonders with the children. I trust your young man's hasty change of plans doesn't mean you will be leaving this lovely town?"
Evie sent Tyler a nervous look. He wasn't wearing the light linen suit she had first seen him in, but he still managed to look the part of gambler in a dark frock coat and string tie and a slight ruffle on his shirt front. Gold glittered on his cuffs and in the embroidery of his waistcoat. Raindrops glittered on the gold of his hair. He was handsome enough to take her breath away. She wished she owned a gun.
"Our plans aren't certain yet. I've been looking into the cattle business. We might settle here, if the atmosphere is congenial," Tyler answered smoothly for her. Catching Evie's waist, he pulled her closer to his side, his gaze drifting possessively over the curve of her bosom beneath the lace-edged shirtwaist before coming to rest on the fury in her eyes. "If you'll say the words, Mr. Cleveland, I'd like to get this over with. She doesn't believe I'm a marrying man, and I intend to prove her wrong."
"This is all very improper," the preacher murmured with a show of distress. "I like to have a chance to talk with the bride and groom before the wedding. These things ought to be gone into with much consideration and planning, not with haste. I'm sure Mrs. Peyton agrees with me. Why don't we set the time as Sunday after church? Then I'd feel as if you'd had time—"
Tyler rudely cut him off. "Reverend, I don't mean to be impolite to a man of the cloth, but we want to be married now. Can you do that or do I need to find the judge?"
"Tyler!" Evie hissed. She turned to the red-faced preacher. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like a moment to freshen myself. Perhaps Ben could fetch something for you to drink?"
Tyler caught her waist tighter. "You can freshen yourself later, after the reverend says his piece. Then we can all have a drink."
"Tyler," Evie looked up at him pleadingly. She couldn't think, not with him standing so close. That night returned to her with sudden clarity, and she remembered the solidity of his muscles as he held her. She remembered other things, too, and her cheeks flushed with color as she realized Tyler was thinking along much the same lines. His fingers dug into her corset, and his other hand came up to touch her cheek.
"Just say yes to the man, Evie. It doesn't require any more than that." Tyler's voice was soft, almost gentle as his hand trailed down her cheek, then lingered a moment to rest at the nape of her neck.
The golden flecks in his eyes held her captivated; she couldn't look away. He was mesmerizing her like a cat does a mouse. Evie wanted to protest, but she could only return his stare as the others in the room stirred restlessly.
"Start the ceremony, Reverend," Tyler ordered, never turning his gaze from Evie.
After harrumphing and sending another look around the room in an appeal for assistance, the preacher pulled out his book and began repeating the words to the wedding ceremony.
Rain clattered against the tin roof. The heat of the closed room caused Tyler's wet coat to steam. Daniel stirred with restless frustration. The combination of wet and heat brought out the scent of cinnamon and roses in Evie's hair, and the smell wafted through the room as the preacher droned on.
Tyler pinched her when it came time for her response. The reverend didn't know her full name and thus called her Maryellen Peyton as the town knew her. Evie repeated the lie, wondering how that would affect the vows