Page 40 of Marrying a Cowboy

There were some scratching noises on the other end. It sounded as if someone had said her name, but with all the static she couldn’t make itout.

“Hang on. I’ll call you back,” she said, glancing around Austin’s kitchen to see a landline phone hanging on the wall. “Mom? Mom, if you can hear me, I’m going to call you rightback.”

She hung up and headed over to the wall phone where she picked it up and dialed her mom’s number. After a few rings, she pickedup.

“Emma?” sheasked.

“Hey, Mom.” Emma leaned against the wall. For the first time in a long time, she was grateful to hear the familiar cadence of her mother’svoice.

“Where areyou?”

Emma closed her eyes as she thought about what she was going to say to that.Oh, Mom. I’m in Montana where I’m married to a cowboy who not only confuses every part of my brain but makes me so angry. And I can’t figure out if he likes me or if he’s just an amazingliar.

“I’m in Montana,” she said. It was probably best to just be honest. Plus, she’d had just about as much lying as she could take for awhile.

“Montana? Why are youthere?”

“Just helping out a friend.” And there she went again. Lying. But how was she supposed to tell her wedding-crazed mother that she got married without her knowing? It just might break herheart.

“Why don’t I know this friend. You’ve never mentioned anything about friends living inMontana.”

“You met him, Mom. Austin. From Shannon’swedding?”

Silence.

“Emma. Why did you run off to Montana withhim?”

“It’s not like that.” Except, it was exactly like that. But, she seemed to be the only one who was falling for the other person. Austin seemed shut off. Like he could do anything that a couple could do but without any of the emotional repercussions. Every touch and kiss seemed engrained in her mind from the moment they kissed in front of the judge at thecourthouse.

“It’s not like what,Emma?”

Emma tried not to sigh. This was her mother’s tactic. Ask lots of questions and say her name over and over again, making her feel like a little kid again. Well, it wasn’t going to work this time. She was going to stand her ground. She’d promised Austin a fake marriage and she wasn’t going to mess that up with feelings or confessions that would just get her heartbroken.

“He just needed a little help around his ranch and I agreed to come out. No shenanigans. I’m here for just a little bit more and then I’m coming home. Ipromise.”

There was silence but then the receiver filled with the sound of her mother’s sigh. “Well, make sure you keep me informed. I don’t want to be one of those Datelinemoms.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Dateline mom,really?”

“Ithappens.”

“Okay, Mom. I’ll becareful.”

Her mom chuckled. “Okay. I love you,honey.”

Emma nodded. “Love you,too.”

She hung up and Emma returned the phone to the base. Sighing, she turned and made her way toward the back door. How had things become such a mess so fast? This wasn’t how she’d seen any of this going. Maybe it had been a huge mistake, coming here. And what for? With the way Alayna Maverick seemed to be staring at her, she didn’t believe that Emma and Austin weremarried.

Maybe it was time that she stopped faking it all. To be honest and get out. After all, in the end, Austin deserved to be happy just as much as she did. If she backed away now, there would still be time for him to find someone to marry. Someone heloved.

The thought of him being at this all alone caused a hollow feeling in her chest. That wasn’t what she wanted for him. And perhaps, that wasn’t what his grandmother wanted either. It was easy to hide away. To not face the past and your feelings. To decide that you weren’t worthy oflove.

And Austin shouldn’t settle for any of those feelings. He should get out there. Find the one. Living a lie was no way to live. Emma took a deep breath. At least, that’s what someone who cared for someone else would do. And she was beginning to realize that she cared for him. More than she wanted toadmit.

Chapter Sixteen

Austin

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