"The horses have several sections of land to roam around on with your horses. I didn't even think of the horses when I asked Nellie to sell me the land."
"What did you think?"
"That if I had a piece of the Double L, I would belong there."
That blew his mind out of Montague County and somewhere near the Gulf of Mexico. "Why would you want to belong there? I know you said you felt at home, Jane. But is this a passing thing or is it for real?"
"It's the most real thing I've ever experienced, Slade. Take me to the five acres and I'll show you what I'm going to do."
For that bit of information he would have carried her there on his back. He drove too fast and was lucky the highway patrolmen were busy eating donuts or having supper with their wives. When he reached the corner of the Double L that she'd paid Nellie an exorbitant fee for, she got out of the truck and inhaled deeply.
"It's mine. It wasn't my grandmother's. It wasn't my mother's or my father's. It's my land and I'm putting a double-wide trailer on it." She spread the blanket out on the grass in the pasture and laid down on her back.
"A trailer. You're shittin' me."
"No, Slade, I'm not. I told you at the beach in Florida I wanted a little house."
"Why?"
"Because if I have a little house, then by damn my husband can't get mad at me and go pout in the den while I'm a mile away in the east wing of the mansion. If I'm at home all day cooking his meals and helping run a ranch, he can't spend every other night in a penthouse with the excuse he's working late. In a little house, we have to live so close that we have to make up when we fight because there's no room for the tension and anger."
He stretched out on the blanket beside her. "You got it all figured out, don't you?"
"Pretty much. My trailer is going right here facing that way. You are stretched out on my sofa right now," she said.
"Pretty damn wide for a sofa," he said.
She tugged at the corner of the blanket. "Move the damn thing this way about six feet."
"Why in the devil would I do that?"
"Because if it stays here it's in the spot where I envi sion my living room and it's too damn wide for a sofa, so we'll move it to where the bedroom will be. Looks like it's about the right size for a queen-size bed to me," she grinned.
He moved the blanket, laid back down, and laced his fingers behind his neck.
She snuggled up next to him and laid her head on his chest. "Okay, cowboy, we had really good sex when we were scared shitless and when we were piss drunk. We're both sober and there's nothing out here to scare the bejesus out of us, so let's see if the third time is the charm. Will we find that we don't like it when things are normal or that it's just as good as ever? My five acres is far enough out here that no one can see us making love on this blanket. I don't care about a couple of mosquito bites on my naked ass. How about you?"
She straddled his chest and leaned forward until her mouth found his. He wrapped his arms around her, letting his fingers slip under her shirt to feel bare skin. No one had ever made him feel like Jane did—but what would happen if they had sober sex and she declared it wasn't as good as scared or piss-drunk sex?
"You sure about this?" he whispered hoarsely.
"You?"
"I'll show you sure!" He tumbled her over on her back and kissed her until she couldn't breathe. He slipped the shirt over her head and removed her bra then tugged her pants down and tossed them off the blanket. Another dozen kisses and she deftly flipped him over and returned the favor.
Under the moonlight with only the lightning bugs and one stray raccoon peeping around a fence post to watch, Slade made love to Jane. The emotional explo sion that would put an atomic bomb to shame was for their benefit only. The raccoon didn't see it and the light from the fireflies wasn't dimmed a bit. But it was there on their pretend queen-size bed, proving they didn't need adrenaline or liquor to fuel the sparks. It was the meeting of souls and hearts, the kind that would never diminish, no matter where or when.
"So?" She bit his earlobe gently. "That all you got or is there an encore?"
He groaned. "You're a vixen, lady."
"Yes, I am and don't you forget it."
The night breeze chilled the slick sweat on their bodies and she pulled the edge of the blanket around them. "Well?"
"Give me ten minutes and I'll show you an encore that surpasses the main performance."
"I think you are a real cowboy," she giggled.
"What's that mean?"
She sang part of the old song about not calling him a cowboy until you've seen him ride. She laughed aloud 'cause she could tell he was blushing.
He pulled her closer to him, liking the way she fit into the crook of his arm.
"So when does the trailer arrive?"
"You want to talk about the trailer? You only got eight more minutes. Don't you think you'd best be thinkin' about something else?" she asked.
"I'm just catching my breath. Don't you worry about the second round. I can keep up with you, Jane Day Hayes!"
"Okay then, trailer will be here in about a month. The septic tank people are coming next week and so are the folks who'll be putting in the well. After that, it's the electrical folks and then the house can be brought in. James has taken care of all of it for me. He's my lawyer on call now."
"A month, huh?" he asked. He'd miss her being down the hall from him every night. There was something about knowing that she was close that brought peace, if you could call any proximity to Jane Hayes peaceful.
"So are we coming out here to this blanket-on-the ground bed thing during that month?" he asked.
"Here. My bedroom. Your bedroom. The hay loft. Wherever, whenever we can find time. I hear a bell in the distance. I think that means round two is about to start." She kissed his eyelids.
He groaned.
"You've got a month to propose to me. If you're too damn bashful or can't seem to get the job done by the end of a month, then I'll propose to you," she whispered.
"What?" he stammered.
"You'll get used to the idea. I'm not losing you, Slade. You're the only man in the world I trust with my heart and soul. So take your choice. You can propose or I will. Oh, by the way, I don't want a diamond. A plain gold band like Nellie wears is what I want."
"Good grief! You're telling me how to propose and what kind of ring to buy?" he raised his voice.
"That's right, Slade Luckadeau. You couldn't run me off the first time around and you damn sure ain't goin' to this time, especially after tonight. Now shut your mouth and let's do something other than talk."
He wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed her hard. By damn, he would propose within the next month. He'd never live it down if he didn't.
Chapter 19
IT WAS A GLORIOUS SEPTEMBER MORNING. NOT TOO HOT, but sunny and bright with no rain clouds in sight. White cloths covered tables in the backyard. Centerpieces of fresh wildflowers arranged in Mason jars with wide orange ribbons around them were scattered down the tables. The deck had been transformed into a stage for a wedding. Illusion and ivy intertwined on an arch, and rows of white folding chairs lined up to accommodate the early birds. The rest could sit around the tables.
Caterers were busy putting last-minute details into play.
The preacher waited in the living room with Slade, Beau, and Griffin.
Jane paced the floor of her bedroom in the shirt she'd borrowed from Slade. The hairdresser who'd arrived earlier suggested she wear a button-down shirt to keep from messing up her hairdo and the veil that fit over a crown of curls and hung down her back.
No doubts plagued her. She was doing the right thing. She was home. Her heart was here. Her house was in place. She and Slade had picked out the furniture and it had arrived the day before. But she was so nervous she could hardly be still. Finally she picked up the box from the dresser and went into the bathroom.
She took a deep breath and opened the box. The actual test only took lon
g enough to pee on a stick. The next sixty seconds lasted five days past eternity. She sat down on the potty and shut her eyes tightly. When she opened them, she was only mildly surprised.
That done, she tossed the stick in the trash can and went back to her bedroom, where she found Celia and Milli getting dressed in matching orange floral sun dresses. Celia's was halter-styled, fitted to the waist, with a short straight skirt. Milli's was an empire with a fuller skirt that stopped at her knee.
"It's about time. Did you pee one last time? That dress is so snug it'd take a bottle of Vaseline to get it up if you have to go again," Celia said.
Jane nodded. "How much time have I got?"
"Enough to crawl out that window and be gone in five minutes. I've got a rental out there. We could be in Paris, France, not Paris, Texas, by tomorrow morning. You sure about this, Jane?" Celia asked.
"More sure than anything I've ever done in my life," she said.
"That's the spirit," Milli said. "By wedding time I was sure, too. It was the weeks before I had my doubts. I even ran away and had to eat crow when I came back."
"We've got to have a shopping trip and exchange stories," Jane said.
"Anytime. Call me. We'll meet in Gainesville and have a day," Milli said.
"Okay, let's get her melted into this dress," Celia said.
"It's not that tight," Jane smiled.
"I'm teasing. I can't imagine you choosing such a simple thing. The last one was big enough that six little girls were going to carry the train," Celia said.
Milli giggled. "So was mine. The second one was very simple. I think we do have similar stories."
Jane removed Slade's shirt and carefully slipped the ankle length sheath of white, lace-covered satin over her head. Sleeveless. Simple neckline that looked wonderful with her grandmother's pearls. Slit up one side to the knee. Ultra plain.
"Shoes?" Celia asked.
Jane shook her head.
Milli looked around for lace-covered bridal boots like she'd worn at her wedding. "Boots?"
Jane shook her head again.
"Barefoot?" they chorused together.
"That's right. I did have my toenails done. Aren't they pretty?" She wiggled the toes on her left foot.
"So when's the baby due?" Celia asked.
Jane cocked her head to one side.
"Barefoot and pregnant—isn't that what the old adage says? So you are barefoot. Are you going to do the pregnant half of the saying on the honeymoon?"
"Maybe."
"Don't bet on it. Took us six months to get pregnant the second time. I teased Beau that Katy Scarlett was conceived because he was drunk. Thought for a while there I was going to have to get him drunk again just to get a second child. You got a bottle of champagne hiding? That might help." Milli zipped up the dress and brushed a sponge across Jane's upper lip. "Little sweat there. Methinks me sees nervous."
"Little bit," Jane agreed.
Ellen poked her head in the door. "Music is playing. You all ready? Pick up your flowers in the kitchen and let's get this show on the road."
Ellen wore a bright yellow satin dress with a fitted bodice and flowing skirt. She'd declared that she was playing the mother of the bride and she'd have a dress fitting for the title. "Okay, Jane, let's go make this official. Me and Nellie will breathe a lot easier when you are really ours. We live in fear every day that you'll call it off."
"Why would I do that? I love Slade. Loved him even before I knew I loved him. Loved him before I was willing to admit it. Love all of it, even the fighting. Know what's the best part of a rousting good fight?"
Ellen shook her head.
"The making up. I start fights just so I can haul his ass back to the bedroom and make up with him."
"You really might grow up to be like me. Bless your baby heart," Ellen said. "Now get your shoes on and let's go."
"Ain't wearin' shoes. They pinched my feet and my work boots don't match the dress."
Ellen nodded. "It's your day, honey. You do it the way you want to and to hell with anyone who says a word. Anyone don't like your bare feet, you send them to me and I'll straighten out their ass."
On the right cue the preacher took his place under the arch. A minute later, while the band played "The Dance" by Garth Brooks in the background, Beau and Griffin took their places beside the preacher. Nellie and Slade stepped out of the kitchen door, arm in arm. She wore a yellow dress that matched Ellen's and he wore black Wranglers, a starched white shirt, a black hat, eel boots, and a west ern-cut tux jacket with a daisy in the lapel. Nellie kissed him on the cheek when they reached the arch.
"You finally got that lucky break you've talked about your whole life. Don't ever let her go," she whispered.
"I promise," he whispered back.
Then the traditional wedding march started and Milli made her way slowly down the aisle. The look in Beau's eyes said that if he could, he would repeat his vows to her again that day. He winked when she passed.
Celia made an entrance at the back of the church and Griffin watched her as she strolled down the aisle, a tall, graceful blonde who looked as though she was walking down a model's runway. She smiled at him and he smiled back, but he wasn't interested. Blond-haired women reminded him of his ex-wife.
Everyone stood when Ellen escorted Jane down the aisle. The crowd, both those in the chairs on the deck and the ones gathered around the tables, smiled at her bare feet. Slade grinned the biggest. This was his bride. His Jane. She'd always do things her way and to hell with everyone else. The world disappeared when she put her hand in his and they were the only two people left in the world.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and this multitude of witnesses to join Ellacyn Jane Hayes and Lester Slade Luckadeau in holy matrimony…" the preacher began.
Multitude of witnesses was right. Jane was marrying into one enormous family and she loved it. Today she was no longer just the maid at the Luckadeau ranch; she was part of it.
"Slade?" the preacher prompted.
"Jane, I've got to admit I did not like you in the beginning."
A universal chuckle went up across the yard.
"I had a whole set of vows memorized but while Granny was walking me down the aisle she reminded me of something. For years I said I could never catch a lucky break. Well, I still didn't catch one. To catch something you have to chase after it. At least that's what Granny said when I whined. I didn't catch you. I tried to outrun you, not catch you. But I was wrong because you are the best thing that ever happened to me. You bring me happiness and joy, and I vow to love and cherish you the rest of my life. You truly are my lucky break. Today I give you my name."
"Jane?"
"Slade, I got to admit, I damn sure didn't like you either."
Louder snickers that time and a few little girls put their hands over their mouths at such a word coming out of a fairy princess bride.
"Talk about a lucky break? When I got off that bus in Wichita Falls, Texas, I was running scared, not trusting anyone. But I found a man I could trust, who would protect me with his life and love me with his heart. Slade, I promise you a life of roses, complete with thorns. The sweet smell of roses will keep us in love. The thorns will make us strong. Until the day I die, I will love you passionately. I gave you my heart a long time ago, even before I knew I had. Today I take your name and give you my soul."
The ceremony went on as the guests wiped at their eyes.
"Rings?" the preacher asked.
They exchanged plain, wide gold wedding bands.
Then the preacher pronounced them husband and wife and told Slade he could kiss his bride. When they turned to face the crowd he said, "I give to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Slade Luckadeau. They came in as separate people. At this point they will dance their first dance together as a couple."
She melted into his arms. He swept off his hat and held it on her fanny. The band began to play "So Are You to Me," by eastmountainsouth. The f
emale singer with a high soprano voice sang about the simple things, like the wind blowing over the plains, being like him to her.
"Barefoot?" he whispered while they danced to the lovely music.
"Pregnant, too. How do you like that?"
He was so stunned he stopped dancing and looked down into her brown eyes.
"Upset?" she asked.
"Elated." He dipped her deeply and then swung her around. Then he kissed her, hiding their faces with his hat. "I'm the happiest man alive."
One Lucky Cowboy Page 29