Emma's Dream

by M. Lee Prescott

  “Not over yet, my love,” Ben said, winking at Emma. “You ready, Sweet Pea?”

  “Yup. You stay there, Mommy. We’ll be right back!”

  Emma reached up, and Ben swooped her up into his arms.

  “Uh-oh, what’re you two up to?”

  “We’ll be back in five minutes. You relax, sweetheart. Something else to drink?”

  “No, thanks, I’m perfect.” Maggie lay back and closed her eyes. “I’ll take a little catnap while you two are off plotting.” The sun warmed her face and the scent of honeysuckle surrounded her as Maggie drifted off, blissfully happy.

  Enveloped in warm, peaceful slumber, Emma’s voice startled her. “Mommy! Look at me, Mommy!”

  Disoriented, she rubbed her eyes, expecting to see Ben returning with their child in his arms. Instead, he walked alone out of the barn, trailing a rope behind him. Sunny, the pony, came into view, and on his back, Emma sat proud and tall. Maggie stared in disbelief, then pride at her beautiful child so happy and confident in the saddle. Her daddy led them on, his whole body expressing his own pride and happiness at his daughter’s accomplishment.

  “Oh, Ben, is it safe?” she called, eyes never leaving Emma.

  “Dr. Heavers himself gave me the go-ahead. Thought it might help with nerve stimulation. She can’t fall off. Don’t worry, sweetheart.”

  Maggie’s shoulders relaxed, and her heart swelled with love as she watched father and child circle the corral. “Oh, sweetie, you’re amazing! I’m so proud of you!” Ben Morgan had turned their lives upside down in so many ways. Emma might never walk again, but on horseback, she could feel whole again.

  They made a few more circles. Then Ben led them back into the barn, and Maggie followed. Once they got Sunny brushed and fed, Ben carried Emma out into the sunshine. She yawned and rested her head against his chest. By the time they reached the picnic quilt, she was asleep. He set her down, and Maggie put fingers to her lips and whispered, “Let’s let her sleep.” She covered Emma with her sweater, then strolled toward the house.

  Ben watched her closely. “Are you angry? About Emma on horseback, I mean.”

  In answer, she opened the front door and stepped into the cool of the living room. A wicked smile played across her face as she crooked a finger, beckoning him. “Leave the door open, Mr. Morgan, just in case she wakes.”

  “Does this mean you’re not mad?”

  “Do I look mad? Come here, cowboy.”

  As she backed up, she stepped out of her sandals, then slipped her sweater from her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Slowly she unbuttoned her jeans.

  As his eyes drank in the sight of her glorious body, Ben felt himself grow hard. “Why, Maggie Williams, what’s come over you?”

  “Can’t I have at least one surprise, too? Remove your shirt and pants, please, or shall I help you out of them?”

  He closed the distance between them and shed his clothes with lightning speed. “Oh, my God, Maggie, I love you so much.”

  Before he could make a move, her arms circled his neck. She drew him into a deep, luscious kiss, her tongue capturing his, teasing, probing, and driving him wild.

  “What about Emma?” he asked, breathless and almost crazy with desire.

  “She’s fine. I can see her. I think it’s okay for her parents to have a little fun, don’t you?” She trailed kisses down his neck and chest. Her jeans and panties lay at her feet, and she brought one leg up, beckoning him.

  Ben lifted her legs, wrapped them around him and plunged into her, deep and hard. “Is this—”

  “No, no, deeper, take me. Please don’t stop.” She matched him thrust for thrust, her breasts rubbing and circling his chest until Ben thought he might pass out with needing her. He backed up to the wall and rammed into her over and over as Maggie cried, “More, more, don’t stop. Love me more and more.”

  They climaxed in one explosive crescendo, their bodies sleek with sweat. Maggie rested her head on his shoulder and peered around the door to spy Emma still sleeping peacefully on the quilt. She kissed the scar on his shoulder from a bicycle accident in his youth, then made her way up his neck to find his lips waiting for hers. They shared a long, deep kiss, still locked together as one, leaned against the wall of their home. Finally she pulled back slightly and smiled sleepily. “How could I be mad when you’ve given my daughter such a precious gift? I’ve never seen her so confident and happy.”

  “Does this mean you’ll still marry me?”

  “You bet your sweet ass it does, Ben Morgan.”

  “Yours is pretty sweet, too, my beloved fiancée.”

  She felt him growing hard inside her and moaned. “Oh, how I wish we could do it again, my love, but our daughter is stirring.”

  Reluctantly, Ben lowered her, withdrawing from her wetness and warmth. They scurried to retrieve their clothes and dressed quickly. With one more kiss, they walked arm and arm to where Emma waited, eyes open, staring up at the vast blueness of the afternoon sky.

  “Hey, Peanut. You ready to head home?”

  “This is home, isn’t it Daddy?”

  As Maggie closed the picnic basket, Ben reached down to scoop Emma into his arms. “Yup, it sure is. Very soon, sweetheart. Very soon.”

  * * *

  Chapter 66

  The wedding date was set for the following month. Ben’s parents had offered the big house for the occasion, and to Ben’s surprise, Maggie had accepted gratefully. She had also accepted Leonora, Ruthie, and Beth’s offer to make all the arrangements. When Ben asked her if she was sure, she answered truthfully. “I’m terrible at girlie things. ’Fraid you’ll have to get used to that, my love.”

  “You’re pretty terrific at some girlie things,” he had responded, lust in his eyes.

  The month before the wedding, the stables were hopping. Maggie, Jeb, and Harley were busy with fall camps, lessons, and winterizing projects. Ned was called out on a number of veterinary emergencies, and Ben was away for a week in California to settle the sale of his house, take care of closing accounts, and meet with his partners, Chip and David. During this period, Emma’s care fell mostly to her aunts and uncles, who happily stepped in, Team Emma still going strong. Robbie and Kyle, in particular, cleared their schedules and spent days with her at the ranch and shuttling her back and forth to therapy. When her parents asked about her days, Emma gave somewhat vague monosyllabic answers, but she seemed happy.

  A day at the ranch always included a ride, sometimes in the corral and sometimes on the trail. Kyle wasn’t crazy about riding, but Robbie happily took her. Heart in her throat, Maggie watched them head off with Robbie chatting and laughing and Emma giggling beside him. “Be careful!” she would call, but they were usually so involved they barely had time to wave.

  “Two peas in a pod,” Harley said as he and Maggie watched them ride off.

  Emma loved Robbie’s company the most of all her aunts and uncles He seemed to possess the same capacity for joy that she did, and each day they spent together was filled with laughter and fun. Two peas in a pod was right.

  * * *

  Chapter 67

  Mouth agape, Harley watched as Maggie drove up and parked the clunker. “What the hell are you doing here, woman? It’s less than forty-eight hours until the wedding. Shouldn’t you be getting a fitting or tasting wedding cake samples or something?”

  “Ha, ha. Dress fits perfectly, and I trust that Gracie will make a delicious cake.”

  Maggie smiled, thinking of the cake controversy of several weeks earlier. She and Ben had promised Gracie that she could make the wedding cake, and Leonora, who was doing most of the arrangements, assumed Carmela would be making it. After a minor kerfuffle, they had compromised. Carmela was now making an armadillo cake for the barbecue the night before the wedding.

  Ben and Maggie were hosting the barbecue at the farmhouse, with Raoul and Carmela cooking and serving. It was just family, the wedding party, and a few close friends from out of town.

  The
wedding party consisted of Emma as maid of honor, with Ruthie and Dara as bridesmaids. Beth had obtained a license that allowed her to officiate. Out of the blue, his sister had offered, and the bride and groom were thrilled. Since Ben refused to choose among his brothers, Harley was best man with Robbie, Sam, and Kyle his groomsmen. Chip, David, and their families were coming in and would stay at the Lodge. The wedding itself was small. A few of the Morgans’ friends and neighboring ranchers, the Dillon family, Jeb Barnes and his date, and about a dozen townspeople rounded out the guest list.

  “Seriously, Mags, what the hell are you doing here?”

  “Working, of course.”

  “Oh, no, you’re not. There’s nothing to do, and we’ve got it covered.”

  Her cell phone rang, and Maggie saw her dad’s number. She raised a finger and mouthed “hold on” as she turned away from Harley. “What’s that, Dad? You’re breaking up. Who called?”

  “Your mother.”

  Stunned, Maggie sat down hard on a stump. “What?”

  “Honey, I love you, but why didn’t you say? You could’ve given a guy a little warning? I’m surprised you’d want it.”

  “I didn’t. Dad, let me check on this, and I’ll get back to you. Do you have a number?”

  She fished around in her purse and found a pen and scrap of paper. “Go ahead. Okay, got it. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

  Maggie snapped her phone shut and turned back to her boss. “Did you know about this?”

  “What’re you talking about?” he asked, knowing full well to what she referred. When Ben had told him he was tracking down Julianna Williams as a surprise for Maggie, Harley had counseled against it. Based on what little he knew of the story of the wife and mother’s abandonment of her family, he felt pretty certain that Julianna’s appearance would not be a happy surprise for her ex-husband or her daughter.

  “You know damn well what I’m talking about. When has your friend ever not told you what he’s up to? Where is he?”

  “Last I heard, he was going into town, picking up the liquor. Listen, Mags, he doesn’t know any better. He thought it’d make you happy.”

  “Do I look happy? This is absolutely not happening. I would never put my father through the pain of seeing her, and Emma’s never heard of her. That woman is absolutely not coming. Where is she, do you know?”

  “I think there was talk of her staying in town, maybe at one of the B and B’s? The boss lady made the reservations, I think.”

  “This is unbelievable!” Maggie stormed past him into the barn, shoving open the office door and slamming it behind her. Her hands trembled as she opened the crumpled scrap of paper and dialed the number.

  “Hello?” The voice, vaguely familiar, was huskier now.

  “Is this Julianna?”

  “Yes? Who’s calling?”

  “It’s Maggie.”

  Silence.

  “Oh, hello, darling! I’m so excited to see you again and meet Emily and your future husband.”

  “My daughter’s name is Emma.”

  “Oh, sorry, sweetheart.”

  “It’s fine, and expected. You’ve been no part of our lives—mine, Emma’s, or Dad’s.”

  “I’d like to change that, sweetie. It’s been a long time. I was thrilled when your fiancée contacted me.”

  “Well, he was wrong to do that. I knew nothing about it and now that I do, I’m going to have to ask you not to come.”

  “But I wanted to see you, baby.”

  “I’m sorry, but this is not a good time for us to get reacquainted. I won’t do that to Dad, Emma, or me.”

  “I’m all packed.”

  “That’s too bad, but I cannot have you come and upset the day for us, especially Dad.”

  “Well, how about I come and stay? Maybe you and I can have breakfast, and I can meet the handsome groom? His folks have been kind enough to put me up at a B and B. I haven’t been to Saguaro in ages. I’d love to catch up with old friends, and you, too, of course.”

  “No.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I said no, and I will be telling my fiancée and his parents no as well. As soon as I hang up, I’m cancelling the B and B. I can’t stop you from making your own reservations, but I won’t have my family subsidizing this trip at this time.”

  “Well, if that’s the way you feel.”

  “That’s the way I feel.”

  “Maybe someday?”

  “Maybe someday. Good-bye, Julianna.”

  Maggie hung up and slipped the phone into her bag with trembling hands. Then she doubled over, head between her knees, and sobbed, which was how Harley found her several minutes later.

  He sat beside her, patting her shoulder, and Maggie leaned against him. “Hey, hey, Mags. You okay?”

  A short time later, she sat up, wiped her eyes, and stiffened her back.

  “Better?”

  She snapped her fingers at him. “B and B, which one?”

  “How the hell should I know?”

  She stood and grabbed her bag. “I’ll be back.”

  “No, you won’t. Go home! Do your bride stuff. We’re all set here.”

  Maggie drove up to the big house and found her future mother-in-law in the kitchen chatting with Carmela. The two women were consulting over what looked like a large lump of clay.

  Leonora spied her and smiled. She was dressed in denim capris and white tee shirt, an apron adorned with giant chili peppers tied round her waist. “Hi, darlin’, how’re you doing?”

  “Hello. I’m fine, thanks.”

  “You don’t look fine. Here, come sit. Carm and I can leave the armadillo for a minute. Frosting’s not ready yet, anyway. Want something cool to drink? Iced tea, lemonade, water?”

  “No, thank you. I’ll only stay a minute. Mrs. Morgan, I—”

  “Leonora, please, honey. In two days we’ll be family.”

  “Leonora, it’s about Julianna Williams, my mother.”

  “Oh, darn, Ben will be so disappointed. It was supposed to be a surprise. Who spilled the beans?”

  “She called my dad.”

  “Oh?”

  “I do not want her at the wedding. I’ve told her that, and I need to cancel the B and B. Which one did you or Ben book?”

  “Shadowbrook. It’s lovely, right on the creek. Jeanie and Norm Stevens run it.”

  “Do you have the number handy?”

  “Darlin’, don’t give it another thought. I’ll call and cancel myself right now. You run along and do whatever you have to do, and we’ll get back to work on the armadillo.”

  As Maggie pulled the clunker beside the barn, her heart no longer raced. She was still angry that Ben had not asked her, but she decided to put her feelings aside and work for a few hours until Emma and Robbie returned from their ride. Her dress was hanging in her room, Raoul and Carmela had the barbecue preparations well in hand, and the Morgans had made all the arrangements for the reception at the Lodge. They were to be married in the small Saguaro Chapel, a nondenominational sanctuary shared by many of the local churches.

  She found Harley in the barn.

  He glanced up at her and shook his head. “Thought I told you to go home. Everything straightened out?”

  “Let’s not talk about it, okay? Any sign of the riders? I thought I’d work until Emma’s back. Then we’ll take off.”

  “They’re planning to be out most of the day, and they’re eating lunch with Beth and Ruthie over at the farm. Planning a picnic, I think.”

  “No one told me.”

  “We’re trying to free you up. You’re the bride, remember?”

  Anger rose again, and Maggie grabbed her bag. “Fine, I’m free. Since no one seems to want me around, I’m taking off.”

  “Good idea. If you see your fiancée, tell him I have some questions for him.”

  “I better not see him!”

  “Hey, give the guy a break, Mags. He was tryin’ to please you.”

  “Well, he didn�
��t.”

  Harley followed her out of the barn, grinning as he watched her stalk to her car. “See you at the barbecue.”

  “We’ll see!”

  She slammed the door of the clunker and took off in a cloud of dust.

  * * *

  Chapter 68

  After Harley related Maggie’s reaction to the news of her mother, Ben called her cell and apologized profusely.

  “It’s fine. It’s over. Can we just not talk about it?”

  “Want me to come over?”

  “No, thanks. I need some time alone.”

  “How about tomorrow? Want to have breakfast, go over last-minute prep for the barbecue?”

  “It’s all set. Carmela and Raoul are pros.”

  “Maggie, please.”

  “I’m fine, Ben, really I am. I just wish you’d told me. I feel like with the wedding plans, the past few weeks my life has been spinning out of control. I’ve barely laid eyes on Emma.”

  “She’s having a ball. Ruthie just called to tell me about the picnic today.”

  “That’s my point! They’ve been doing all these things with my daughter.”

  “Our daughter.”

  “Fine, our daughter, and no one thinks to ask me if I’m okay with it.”

  “Are you?”

  Silence.

  “Sweetheart, they’re only trying to help to give you time to prepare for the big day. They are crazy about Em, and they love spending time with her.”

  “I know, and she’s having a wonderful time. I just wish people would tell me what’s going on. I don’t like surprises, especially ones like Julianna Williams.”

  “No more surprises, I promise.”

  “Listen, I’ve got to run. Dad’s just pulling up, and we need to talk. See you tomorrow at around four, at the house?”

  “I’ll see you when I bring Em home.”

  They rang off, and Maggie told Ned about her conversation with her mother.

  “You sure about this, sweetie?”

  “Absolutely.”