Falling for the Farmer (Heartsong Presents)
By Narelle Atkins
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She had to escape now!
The long aisle surrounded by rows of smiling faces awaited Kate Lawson as she paused for photos at the back of the church, her sweaty hand clutching her father’s tuxedo-clad forearm.
Her fiancé stood at the end of the aisle, a triumphant grin on his face as his gaze swept over the crowded church.
Her father’s eyes misted. “You’re doing great.”
Kate shook her head. “Dad, I’m sorry. I can’t do this.” She lifted her wedding dress off the plush carpet and ran out of the church, her low heels scraping the stone steps as she sprinted to the bridal car.
Gulping air into her burning lungs, she wrenched open the cumbersome passenger door of the Cadillac and threw her bridal bouquet on the floor. She slid onto the soft cream leather seat, the full skirt of her gown settling over her legs.
Jack Bradley spun around in the driver’s seat, his tawny-brown eyes widening after she pulled the door closed and fastened her seat belt.
Her pulse raced and she sucked in a shallow breath. “Let’s go.”
“Where? Why?” He stashed his phone in the dashboard console. “Aren’t you supposed to be inside the church getting married?”
Kate glanced out the rear window. Her mother hobbled down the church steps in three-inch heels, her crimson face glowing in the late-morning Sydney sunshine. “Please, Jack, I’ll tell you later.”
He switched on the ignition and the powerful engine rumbled to life. He drove out of the church parking lot, slowing to maneuver his prized Cadillac Eldorado through the narrow gate.
She gripped the skirt bunched on her lap, refusing to look back at the church and her mother. Jack needed to put his foot down on the accelerator and get her out of here. Now.
He merged into a gap in the traffic. “Where are we going?”
“Anywhere. I don’t care.” She hadn’t thought that far ahead. From the moment she had walked into the church and spotted Rodney’s smug face at the altar, fleeing the wedding had become her sole objective.
He pulled up at a traffic light and she flicked her veil back over her shoulder, meeting Jack’s speculative gaze.
His mouth curved up in a slight smile. “I guess you’re not having a good day.”
She lowered her lashes, certain she was experiencing one of the worst days of her twenty-three years. “What do you think?”
“Your mother looked furious. Are you sure you want to do this? I could turn around—”
“No!” Her hands trembled in her lap. “It’s too late now to change my mind.”
What had she done? Running from the church on her wedding day wasn’t something she’d ever thought she’d be capable of doing. Or want to do.
She massaged her temples, a dull ache starting to pound her head. The white ribbon attached to the front of the car stayed firm in the breeze, unlike her tumultuous thoughts.
Jack stopped at the next light. “Do you want to go to my sister’s place?”
She nodded. Megan, her maid of honor, would hopefully realize her Chatswood apartment was Kate’s logical destination.
“Are you okay?” His eyes softened and his questioning gaze held a look of genuine concern.
She blinked away the moisture building in her eyes. “I need to think, and work out what to do.” All her plans for the next few months had disappeared the moment she left the church. Where would she live? She’d need to find a new job.
Jack swung his Cadillac onto the highway, heading toward the northern Sydney suburb of Chatswood.
She rubbed her teeth over her lower lip. “Do you know how to get to Megan’s apartment from here?”
“Of course. I also have a spare key since I left some of my gear at her place.”
“Are you staying overnight?”
He shook his head. “You can have the lumpy sofa bed tonight. I was going to head straight back to the farm after you were safely delivered to your wedding reception. But I guess I have an early mark.”
She wrung her hands together in her lap, glad her purse and luggage were stowed in the boot. One less problem she’d need to worry about later.
“I’m curious,” he said. “Were you planning to run before you arrived at the church?”
“Not really.” The thought had entered her head this morning, the fantasy of escaping a life she didn’t want tormenting her as the wedding ceremony grew closer. She had stepped inside the church, and realized she couldn’t make vows in God’s sight to love Rodney forever. “I couldn’t go through with it.” She paused. “And I know what you’re thinking.”
His eyes widened as he waited for her response.
“I should have canceled the wedding earlier.” And she should never have accepted Rodney’s marriage proposal in the first place.
She stared out the passenger window. Groups of people strolled along the sidewalk, drinking takeaway coffee and ducking in and out of shops and cafés. Today was probably just another ordinary Saturday in their lives. She closed her eyes. She couldn’t undo what she had done and it was too late now to worry about what might have been.
“What about your former fiancé? I’m sure he’s not feeling too great right now.”
She dipped her head, feeling the full impact of the embarrassment and distress she’d inflicted on her ex-fiancé. “I know. It’s all a big disaster.”
She twisted her veil off her head and shook her hair loose. Dark brown locks of wavy hair spilled over her shoulders, covering the beading on the bodice of her ivory gown.
Sunlight glinted on the enormous diamond engagement ring she’d moved to her right hand earlier this morning. Its brilliance taunted her, a cruel reminder of the distressing chain of events she’d set in motion.
Ripples of fear swirled in her belly. She didn’t want to face her mother’s fury. During the week her mother had refused to listen to or acknowledge her concerns about marrying Rodney. It seemed like her mother was more enamored with Kate’s ex-fiancé than she’d ever been.
She drew in a deep breath. Rodney needed to face the truth: she’d been pushed into this marriage and short engagement. Her mother had taken over, making all the wedding arrangements with the exception of the cars. A suitable white Cadillac couldn’t be found in Sydney at short notice and, much to her mother’s horror, Kate had enlisted Megan’s help in organizing the hire of Jack’s maroon Cadillac. It was her only rebellion against her mother’s wedding regime...until today.
She’d been a reluctant bride and now she was a runaway bride. How humiliating!
A few days ago Rodney had killed any spark of love she may have felt for him. Now that she was free, she was certain she had made the right decision.
They crawled along in the late-Saturday-morning traffic. Kate lowered the window, inhaling car fumes. The autumn weather had turned warm and the Cadillac convertible, in original condition, didn’t boast air-conditioning.
Jack sat comfortably in the driver’s seat, his crisp, white, linen shirt covering well-defined biceps. His strong jaw looked good in profile, and his sun-streaked hair was neatly clipped above the cuff of his collar. Work-hardened hands, tanned from laboring outdoors in his apple orchards, gave away the fact he toiled on the land for a living.
His shoulders were broader than she remembered from his days as a university student in Sydney. Back then he’d seemed oblivious to her teenage crush, and had been devoted to his beautiful, longtime girlfriend and childhood sweetheart.
Skyscraper office towers loomed ahead. She hoped Megan would guess her plan and realize she’d take refuge in her apartment. She didn’t dare contact Megan in case her mother was nearby. Her phone, stowed in the boot with her luggage, was switched off and she assumed she had dozens of messages awaiting her attention. Messages she’d prefer not to read.
Jack’s phone beeped.
Her stomach tightened. “Has Megan sent you a message?”
An upcoming traffic light turned red and he slowed, checking his phone when the car came to a halt. “Yep. I’ll pull over up ahead and read it.” He found a parking spot that accommodated the Cadillac.
Kate drummed her fingers on the wooden paneling, not caring that she might chip her manicured nails. “What did she say?”
“Don’t panic. She can meet us at her apartment.”
She stifled a giggle. Hysteria was threatening to take over. “Sounds good.”
Relief filled her heart and she drew in a few steadying breaths. Megan was clearheaded and decisive. She’d also be supportive of Kate’s decision to run once she learned the truth. Just before they’d entered the church, Megan had asked her if she was certain she was making the right decision.
She frowned. If only she’d ignored her mother’s advice and confided her fears to her best friend.