Spotting the sheriff, Chase lifted his voice. “I’m trying to get to the hotel.”

“No chance of that,” Sheriff Keeler yelled back. “Least not till Fisher rounds up his cattle.”

Chase shook his head. Fisher again. He should have known. The fool Englishman knew nothing about raising cattle, and this hadn’t been the first time his stock had run rampant through town. “How long do you think that’ll take?”

The sheriff shrugged, and his mustache twitched. “Beats me. My guess is that we’ll be lucky if we clear the mess up by morning.”

Chase glanced at his passenger. Hands clenched on her lap, she greeted the news with a look of dismay. She was new in town and probably didn’t know anyone.

“I’ll take you to the ranch,” he said. “You can spend the night there.”

“I’ll get off here,” she said.

“And do what?”

“Walk.”

He glanced down at her wedding dress and dainty white slippers. “You could get trampled. Those cattle are already spooked. It won’t take much to start another stampede.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

Before she could follow through with her foolhardy plan, Chase snapped the reins hard, and his horse surged forward. Startled, the lady fell back against her seat.

“Stop!” she cried. “I said stop!”

“Sorry, ma’am, I can’t do that.” He drove the wagon in a circle at the wide intersection called the Dead Line, which separated the respectable part of town from saloons and gambling halls. Chickens, goats, sheep, and an occasional steer scrambled out of his way as he headed for the ranch. “Like it or not, you’re my wife, at least for the time bein’. As such, I’m responsible for your safety.”

Holding on to the dash railing, she glared at him. “I’m not your wife!”

“The law says you are. Until it says otherwise, you’re under my protection.”

“I was coerced into this marriage, and that’s what I intend to tell the judge tomorrow.”

“Coerced?”

“Yes, coerced!” She folded her arms across her chest. “Your uncle made me go through with the wedding. He even held a gun. What else would you call it?”

Chase grimaced. “The gun was for protection. He wouldn’t have harmed you.”

“Oh no? Then what do you call forcing me into this…this marriage?”

Chase blew out his breath. “Again, you have my heartfelt apologies. Like I said, you can spend the night at the ranch. We’ll sort the rest out come mornin’.”

Narrowed eyes met his, and he could see the wheels turning in her head. The stubborn look on her face gradually yielded to an expression of wary acceptance. It would soon be dark, and she knew as well as he that her choices were limited.

“We’re married in name only,” she said. “That’s all.”

“If you’re worried about me claimin’ my husbandly rights, you can put your mind at ease. I’ve never had to beg a woman for favors, and I don’t aim on startin’ now.”

She narrowed her eyes and studied him with bold regard. “Long as we understand each other.”