Mason's Marriage

by Tina Leonard

  “But you got me this job,” Mason said.

  “Before I knew that we might get married.”

  Now Mason was really confused. He tried to listen harder, as Hawk had suggested. “You would have been the sheriff if I hadn’t taken the job.”

  “And now I see how wrong I was.” Mimi nodded. “I’m not cut out to be a sheriff. I’m cut out to be a mom. A daughter.”

  “A wife.”

  “I was no good at that.”

  “But this time you will be, because you’ll be doing it for the right reason.”

  Mimi looked out the window, then met his gaze. “I’ve always wanted to be part of your family, and part of your world. Maybe subconsciously I thought marrying you was the answer.”

  Mason stood very still, not liking anything he was hearing. “And now?”

  “Let’s just wait and see what happens.”

  Somewhere in the back of his mind, he heard Hawk’s voice telling him to cool his jets. Let her run a little, wear herself out. Eventually, she’d come to him. But unless he waited for her to come to him, she’d keep shying away. His normal method of addressing her doubts would be to grab her, kiss her and make love to her. But then what would that change?

  “Christmas it is, Mimi,” Mason said softly. “Come see me when you’re ready. In the meantime, I’ll pick up Nanette every other day and alternate weekends with you. If you like, you can have Brian draw up papers to that effect.”

  Tipping his hat to her, he kissed her lightly on the lips, and then he left, walking as fast as he could. Before he changed his mind and gave in to the unwelcome fear that he’d lost Mimi forever.

  Damn it, it sucked to be a sensitive male.

  BY THE END OF JULY, Mimi could breathe a little easier. What had happened the night Mason was injured had scared her more than she was willing to admit, and even more than she could put into words.

  But three weeks after her discussion with Mason, when she’d had time to think about things, Mimi knew she missed her cowboy more than she could ever have imagined. She was going to have to come to peace with his badge.

  The thing was, after being completely against running for sheriff and only doing it to keep her from having to take over her father’s job, Mason had turned out to be a damn fine sheriff. He was always at the kids’ schools talking about safety. He took a lot of training courses, to be better prepared for situations he hadn’t encountered before.

  As for the two thugs he’d sent to jail, Mason took pity on them after a while and put them to cleaning out the jail. Then he had them polish the church pews. They had a lawyer, but Mason did, too. And it didn’t take long to make sure the two petty vagrants were going to spend as much time as Mason wanted making up the damage to his face and his pride.

  It was, as he told his brothers, a good learning experience for him. Getting hit with a large piece of wood taught a man to rethink what he thought he knew and not just live on confidence alone.

  Mimi decided Mason wasn’t the only person who should learn from life’s lessons, and she took up baking with Valentine at Baked Valentines. After all, Mimi was not known for excellent cooking, and if the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, then she wanted to have plenty of yummy temptations for Mason’s eating pleasure.

  By September, Mimi wondered if Mason was ever going to act like an interested suitor again. He picked up Nanette on his days and his weekends. The rest of the days were filled with silence, which Mimi knew was her own fault.

  By October, Mimi couldn’t stand it anymore. She decided it was time for the two of them to talk. Pumpkins decorated the fields around Mason’s house, and Mimi felt a twinge of regret for her stubborn ways. If she hadn’t been such a frightened little rabbit, she and Mason would have put out the pumpkins for the children together.

  She was determined not to let another holiday go by with them being apart. The problem was, Mason was very slow to respond to her advances of friendship. In fact, she could almost say he was reluctant.

  Which was unnerving, because the Mason she knew had been of stalwart heart. He wouldn’t change his mind.

  She had pushed him away pretty hard, though. Mimi sighed and put some cupcakes into the oven. Valentine looked up.

  “Something wrong?”

  Mimi shook her head. “I’ve got Jefferson cowboy blues.”

  Valentine laughed. “I remember having those.”

  “When do they subside?”

  Valentine put a dab of frosting on some gingerbread men. “I’d say about the time you finally hear them say ‘I do.’”

  Mimi blinked. “I’m in trouble, then. I have no wedding date, and my intended isn’t courting these days.”

  “He’s just giving you your space.”

  Mimi washed her hands. “There’s such a thing as too much space.”

  Valentine laughed. “Miss him, do you?”

  “Terribly.”

  “You’d best get a move on, then,” Valentine told her. “I heard there’s been quite a throng of admirers hanging around the sheriff’s office.”

  Mimi shook her head. “That’s exactly what I would have done before, try to keep Mason all to myself. My behavior caused all kinds of problems.”

  Valentine shrugged. “So will letting another woman steal him.”

  The idea was worrisome, but Mimi pushed it out of her mind. “If it’s meant to be, it will be. I’ve waited so many years for Mason that I’d like to think whatever feelings he has for me aren’t biased by jealousy or insecurity.”

  “Okay,” Valentine said, “but just so you know, I heard the Never Lonely Cut-n-Gurls were in town.”

  Mimi looked up. “I thought Marvella had them all doing charity work now, and they were going to convert the old salon into a home for women in need.”

  “That’s Delilah’s old place, which is being rebuilt. Marvella’s salon is still open for business.” Valentine smiled. “She has it strictly on the level nowadays, but I still don’t trust those girls.”

  Mimi blinked. “I’m not sure I would, either.”

  “Really?” Valentine put her decorated gingerbread men into the refrigerator to cool. “Given your newfound sense of non-jealousy and non-clingy behavior, would you care to know that they’re paying a visit to Mason’s office right now?”

  Mimi gulped. That’s where she and Mason had first made love! Well, the second time they’d made love, but the first time since she’d been a woman who had just told her man the truth. Years ago, the first time they’d made love, neither of them had understood their feelings. He’d reacted to her father’s illness, and she’d allowed him to comfort her.

  But the second time marked a special turning point in their relationship. She wasn’t going to give anyone else a chance with her man. Mimi yanked off her apron, checked her face for flour, fluffed her hair and dashed out the door without saying another word.

  There was only so much good, ladylike behavior she could stomach.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Mason smiled when Mimi walked into his office. She didn’t so much walk as blow right through. Her cheeks were red; her blond hair was somewhat askew. Why, she looked as if she’d run all the way down to his office. Mason chuckled and leaned back in his chair. He put his heels on the desk and silently applauded himself for finally figuring out the right method for teasing his little hell-belle out of her cemented position of “I need time.”

  He’d given her plenty of time. He was impatient to make her his. But he knew her well, and a man could give a woman too damn much time to make up her mind.

  Some minds, like Mimi’s, weren’t really designed to be made up. At least not without a little incentive.

  So when the Never Lonely Cut-n-Gurls walked into his office, Mason knew he had a sterling opportunity to get his little gal going. He’d stepped outside his office for a moment and called Valentine, asking her if she’d do him the favor of letting her new assistant baker know that company had come to town.

  Ah, life w
as sweet, Mason thought, watching Mimi’s back stiffen as she noted a couple of girls draped on his desk and a few others in provocative poses in chairs around his office. Some just leaned against the wall, and that was all they had to do to make the dank, bare walls beautiful.

  It was great to be a cowboy, he decided. A cowboy learned patience, and patience was what it took to win the prize.

  “Mimi, you remember the Never Lonely Cut-n-Gurls from Lonely Hearts Station?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She nodded at them, but it was not the world’s friendliest nod. “What brings you stylists to town?”

  “We decided to visit and see what y’all are doing to make Union Junction such a success,” a tall blonde said. “We’ve been hearing such good things about your town and how it’s growing.”

  “Must be your sheriff,” a perky brunette said from her place on Mason’s desk.

  Mimi blinked. “Have you visited the Union Junction Salon? They’re a big part of our growth. They’ve had lots of good ideas. And Delilah’s been helping out. I’m sure they could tell you what you want to know.”

  A tiny redhead smiled at her lazily. “We figured the sheriff could tell us everything about his town’s demographics.”

  “Demographics?” Mimi asked. “I don’t think so. The town clerk and registrar would know all those things. Her name is Mrs. Fancy, and if you come back when she’s in her office, she can tell you about that topic.”

  “Mimi, don’t you want us to talk to the new sheriff and offer him our most sincere congratulations?” the blonde asked.

  The other ladies in the room giggled, looking at her sneakily. Mason, the cad, just grinned. Any moment, I expect him to pull out a cigar and celebrate the glories of being a man with females vying for his attention.

  He winked at her. Mimi glared back. “I don’t mind you talking to him,” she said sweetly. “I just don’t want you doing anything else with him.”

  The smile on Mason’s face grew bigger but Mimi didn’t care.

  “Why, Mimi,” the redhead said, “we weren’t aware that you’d staked a claim on Mason.”

  “I haven’t. He staked a claim on me.”

  “I don’t see a ring,” the brunette said saucily.

  Which was true, Mimi decided, and it was also her fault. He’d offered to buy her a ring. Stung, she opened her mouth to tell the brunette to mind her own business.

  “Well, you can’t see the ring when it’s still in the box,” Mason said, reaching into his desk to pull out a silver-wrapped box he’d been keeping there ever since he’d followed Mimi up to Hawk’s. He’d been hoping and praying that one day this little box would be opened.

  Mimi stared at him, her eyes huge. Mason grinned, feeling pretty proud of himself.

  “Let us see it, Mason,” one of the girls said, but he shook his head.

  “Can’t, ladies. This is for Mimi’s eyes only.”

  She smiled at him, and in her eyes, he read the answer he’d been waiting for. “You ladies will have to excuse us,” he said. “Mimi and I have some things to discuss.”

  “Sure, Mason.” The Never Lonely Cut-n-Gurls rose and went slowly to the door.

  “Lucky you,” one said on her way out the door.

  “Call us if it doesn’t work out,” another said with a flounce at Mimi as she left.

  “Congratulations,” three murmured as they walked out.

  The room emptied, and Mason closed the door behind them. He put the ring box back into the drawer and looked at Mimi with his most official sheriff expression. “Now, what brings you here, Miss Mimi?”

  Her lips parted. “Mason!”

  He sat down and waited. “Just a casual hello?”

  She fidgeted, and he enjoyed having her on the hot seat for once. Usually, it was him at the mercy of Mimi.

  “I heard you had company,” she said, “and I felt you’d appreciate a rescue.”

  “Ah. Coming to my rescue again.” He grinned.

  “Yes.”

  “No hair spray?”

  “I didn’t need a weapon for that crowd,” Mimi said disdainfully. “Just my wits.”

  He smiled. “I’m glad you came to see me.”

  “So about that box,” Mimi said.

  “Yes?” He raised his eyebrows, hoping she’d ask more about it. This time, he wanted her to want him—and to show it.

  “Is it really for me?”

  Nodding, he pulled it back out, sitting it on top of his desk so that she could be tempted by it. “I bought it several months ago.”

  She took a step forward. Mason grinned. “After I asked your father for your hand in marriage.”

  Mimi blinked. “You did that?”

  “Of course! It’s the respectful thing to do. And I do respect you, Mimi.”

  “He never told me.”

  “The sheriff is wise beyond his years,” Mason said. “He knew you thought you needed time.”

  “I didn’t need as much time as you’ve given me,” Mimi admitted.

  “You didn’t?” If that was so, he was glad to hear it!

  “No. But you quit coming around.”

  “I see you quite frequently.”

  “You don’t sleep in my bed.”

  “Oh,” he said with a smile. “You miss me.”

  “I just thought maybe every once in a while…yes, damn it, I miss you.”

  Grinning, he got up from his chair and carried the box with him. “So, Mimi,” he said.

  “Yes, Mason?”

  He looked into her eyes. “I think after all these years, it’s just you and me, babe.”

  She smiled. “It feels right.”

  “Let me tell you what I see for our future, and let’s see if you agree.” He kissed her on the lips, enjoying the feel of her once again connected to him. His heart jumped, telling him that everything was right about this moment. “Lots of kids. Lots of sex. Lots of fun. Years of you making me crazy, and years of me—”

  “Making me crazy,” she said with a smile. “I like the future you see.”

  “Big wedding.”

  “The biggest,” she said. “We have a lot of friends who are going to be happy for us.”

  “No more ghosts from the past for either of us,” Mason said. “We want a clean closet for our children. No skeletons, just fresh Cannady-Jefferson memories.”

  “That sounds wonderful.”

  He kissed her again, delighted by the happiness he saw in her eyes. “Do you want to make love to me first, or open this box?”

  She giggled. “Mason, you’re crazy. Of course I want the box first!”

  He laughed. “I was hoping you’d say that. I spent three hours in the store designing this ring.”

  Mimi’s eyes grew wide. “You did?”

  “Yes. But Nanette needs to go with us to help pick out wedding bands.”

  “Oh, she’ll love that.” Mimi glowed, and he knew he was doing everything right.

  “So, Mimi Cannady,” he said, getting down on one knee. “I’ve loved you for years. I loved you before I even knew what true love was. I couldn’t even imagine being in love, and somehow, you showed me how much those feelings would mean to me.” He watched as Mimi’s eyes teared a little, and he smiled. “I do love you, girl. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.”

  Mimi held his hand tightly. It felt very much as if they were saying their wedding vows now, Mason realized. “So I’m asking you to accept this ring, and marry me, and be at my side forever,” he said, giving her the box.

  She took it from him, and he felt her tremble just the slightest bit as she looked at him. Then, in typical Mimi fashion, she tore the wrapping off and pulled the box open. “Oh, Mason,” she said, “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  He grinned, feeling he’d designed a ring for a queen. She was his queen. His rodeo queen, his queen of hearts and the queen of his life. “Three curving rows of diamonds, and then one big fat one in the center, heart shaped, of course, to show you that I know that what we hav
e is special. It’s one of a kind.”

  Mimi started to cry as he slipped the ring on her finger. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him as he’d never been kissed before. Mason knew in that moment he had found the love his father had wanted all his boys to know. Grateful tears squeezed at the corners of his eyes as he held Mimi tight. But he didn’t really cry, because he was too happy about finally having his Mimi.

  Together they walked out onto the streets of Union Junction to tell all their friends and family the good news: Union Junction was going to have the wedding they’d all been waiting for.

  The best things in life, of course, were worth the wait.

  Chapter Nineteen

  It took a couple of months to plan a big Christmas wedding, but Mimi and Mason made good use of the time. When the wedding day dawned, it was clear and lit with sun. Mimi’s best friend, Julia Finehurst, had done a marvelous job of coordinating the lavish event, and Mimi wondered if perhaps Julia needed to add wedding planning to her Honey-Do Agency services. The wedding was unlike any Union Junction had ever seen, and a wonderful tribute to two people who had finally found each other.

  Each and every Jefferson child participated, which meant that every girl got to be a tiny flower girl and every boy got to bear a small pillow to the altar. Only one pillow held the rings, of course, but the other children didn’t care. Every Jefferson brother was a best man, and Mimi, who had grown up with no sisters, had twenty bridesmaids, all stylists from Union Junction and Lonely Hearts Station. Helga was her matron of honor, however, because if she’d had a second mother, Helga would have been her choice.

  The wedding was held on the lawns of Malfunction Junction, and the entire town turned out to enjoy it, despite the cold December weather. The best part, though, besides having all their friends and family with them, was her groom. Mimi looked at Mason, admiring him in his wedding attire. A tux with short tails, bolero, dress boots, Western hat—he looked as if he’d stepped out of a movie. And maybe that was appropriate, Mimi thought with a smile.