Dakota Dreamin'

by Janet Dailey

  His mouth thinned with displeasure. Her reply wasn't the one he wanted to hear. "I'm not interested in impressing you. I want to know what you think of my home. Is it someplace you'd like to live? Do you like it?"

  "I like it, yes." Edie hesitated to say more, certain she was reading more into his question than Maddock intended.

  "That's why I wanted you to come today—so you could see where I live and get to know my friends. It probably seems like I'm rushing things…and I am," he admitted with a flash of wry amusement. "But I know what I want, Edie. I want to marry you. I want you to be my wife."

  "Maddock." Amazement, a wondrous kind of disbelief and a little shock became all mixed up in the issuance of his name. She hadn't expected a proposal! She knew the answer she wanted to give him, but the words wouldn't come out.

  He gazed into her eyes, shining with happiness, and read her answer. A slow smile of satisfaction curved his firmly cut mouth. His head started to bend toward her and stopped when he heard car doors slam outside and voices signaling the approach of guests.

  Before the arriving guests reached the front door, he claimed her lips in a hard, possessive kiss that revealed his desire and frustration. She clung to his kiss for an instant, then let him draw away.

  "We'll talk about this later—after everyone has left," he told her as someone knocked on the door. But the light in his gray eyes promised there would be less talking and more action.

  When he left her to welcome his guests at the door, Edie was lost in a bliss-filled daze. A faint noise came from the stairs and Edie turned. Felicia Maddock stood poised on the steps halfway down. It became quickly evident to Edie that the girl had been there for some time. She saw the cold hurt of jealousy in the girl's blue eyes as they bored into her. Ignoring her father at the door with the arriving friends, Felicia came swinging down the steps directly toward Edie. Her expression was coldly haughty.

  "I knew daddy wanted your ranch," Felicia murmured. "But it never occurred to me he wanted it badly enough to marry you to get it."

  With her poisoned barb delivered, Felicia swept past, not allowing Edie a chance to reply. In numbed shock she watched the girl walk to Maddock's side to gaily welcome their guests. Was it possible that the motive behind Maddock's proposal was to obtain control of the ranch?

  When Maddock called her forward to introduce her to his friends, Edie knew it wasn't true. Maddock fought for what he wanted and fought hard, but he wasn't the kind to resort to underhanded tactics. He was too blunt, too forthright.

  No, Felicia had deliberately implanted that seed of doubt, hoping it would germinate and grow when nourished by Edie's fertile imagination. The ranch had always been a wedge between Edie and Maddock, and Felicia wanted to keep it that way. But she'd made a mistake, because Edie knew Maddock too well to believe that about him.

  Maddock kept Edie at his side as he led his party of guests outside to the patio. She managed to take an absent part in the conversation swirling around her and answer questions put to her by his friends, but her thoughts kept running back to Felicia.

  Halfway through the meal of barbecued ribs and chicken, it occurred to Edie why Felicia had made such a vicious remark. It had been jealousy she'd seen in the girl's expression. For years she had been the only female in her father's life, spoiled and pampered and indulged by him. Felicia was the mistress of the house.

  If Maddock married Edie, all that would change. Felicia felt threatened. Edie would not only upset her position as lady of the house, but she would also become the object of her father's affection and attention. And, childlike, Felicia didn't want to share him. Felicia resented Edie, just as she would resent any woman that she felt might come between her and her father.

  The situation troubled Edie. Knowing the problem did not automatically provide a solution. There had to be a way to handle it if she just had time to think, but that was impossible with so many people around.

  After everyone had finished their meal, there was a general disinclination to move from the tables. When Edie noticed Felicia at the buffet table to replenish her iced tea, she saw an opportunity to speak to the girl.

  "I'm going to get some more iced tea," she murmured her excuse to Maddock, and rose from the table. She crossed the patio to the end of the buffet where the insulated urn of iced tea was located. When Felicia saw her approach, she started to walk away. "Felicia," Edie called out quickly to stop the girl. "I'd like to speak to you for a moment."

  "I can't think of a thing that we would possibly have to say to one another," the girl replied with obvious disdain.

  "There is something we need to get straightened out," Edie insisted quietly but firmly. "I think you have misunderstood some things."

  "No, you are the one who doesn't understand," Felicia retorted. Edie saw Jerry and Alison approaching the buffet table, but Felicia's back was to them and she was unaware there was anyone within hearing except Edie. "Daddy and I have tried to make it clear to you from the beginning. You aren't wanted here. You never have been. Regardless of what you might think now, that hasn't changed."

  "Felicia," Edie tried to warn the girl that Alison and Jerry were listening. Anger had already turned Jerry's mouth grim and brought the fighting sparks to Alison's eyes.

  "You wanted to talk," the girl reminded her that the conversation had been Edie's idea, "So you might as well listen to some advice. You've had your free meal, so why don't you leave?"

  "I think that's an excellent idea, mother," Alison spoke up, and Felicia pivoted in surprise. "I know when I'm not wanted."

  "Jerry!" Felicia gasped in dismay.

  "I always knew you were a spoiled, selfish brat," he said tightly. "You've grown way too big for your britches."

  Before anyone could guess his intention, Jerry scooped Felicia off her feet and into his arms. She shrieked in alarm, but didn't struggle too hard to get free. Edie sunk her teeth into her lower lip as she realized that everyone at the barbecue was watching them, including Maddock, who had stood up.

  "Jerry, put me down!" Felicia protested, but he continued to walk, carrying her in his arms. "What are you doing?"

  Edie had already guessed when she noticed that he was walking toward the swimming pool. An instant later Felicia reached the same conclusion. She screamed something about him ruining her dress, but it was too late. He was at the edge of the pool and heaving her into the water. Jerry waited long enough to see her sputter to the surface, then turned to rejoin Edie and Alison.

  "I think we'd better leave," he said to Edie above the confused laughter and the rush of people to the pool to help Felicia out of the water. Maddock was among them.

  Under the circumstances, Edie felt leaving was the wisest choice. "Yes, I think we should." Explanations would have to be made to Maddock, but it could be done later. This was not the time.

  "I wish I had a picture of that," Alison murmured as they entered the house through the sliding doors. "Only you could do that and get away with it, Jerry."

  "She needed to be turned upside down and spanked," he muttered.

  "I feel sorry for her. She's so confused and insecure," Edie sighed and glanced at the staircase rising from the foyer.

  "Felicia?" Alison gave her a wide look. "Are you sure we're talking about the same girl?"

  "Yes, I—" Edie wasn't able to finish her explanation as the sliding glass doors to the patio opened behind them. All three glanced back when they heard it.

  Maddock came striding across the entry hall. "Where the hell do you think you're going?" The low demand was taut and angry, the hard steel of his gaze directed at Edie.

  Alison and Jerry immediately closed ranks around her, providing a united front, "Under the circumstances, Maddock, we thought it was best to leave," Edie explained.

  "I suggest that you change your mind," he ordered tersely. "You are staying here."

  "We don't take orders," Alison retorted. "Certainly not from you."

  "Edie had nothing to do with what happened by the
pool," Jerry stated, moving forward to take the brunt of Maddock's anger. "I was the one who threw Felicia in the water. And I'm not going to apologize for it, either. She deserved worse than that for the things she said to Edie."

  Maddock's stone-gray eyes flicked over Jerry and Alison with hard impatience. "This is a private discussion between Edie and myself. You have no business interfering in it."

  "Maddock—" Edie bristled at his censuring tone as the air crackled with tension.

  "Be quiet, Edie," he snapped. "I'm going to get this straightened out once and for all. There will be plenty of times in the future when I'll be raising my voice at you over something. There isn't any way that every time we argue, I'm going to take on the whole Gibbs family. It's time they learned to keep out of any discussion between a man and his wife!"

  "His wife?" Alison frowned and glanced at Edie. "What's he talking about, mom?"

  "This isn't the way I wanted you to find out," Edie said, and flashed an irritated glance at Maddock. Everything had mushroomed out of control. "He asked me to marry him." Just saying the words seemed to make it more real. In spite of her defensive anger, her voice softened as she made the announcement.

  "Are you?" was Alison's instant and slightly incredulous reaction.

  But Jerry had been watching her expression and noticed the way her gaze had sought Maddock when she told them. He guessed what her answer had been and bent his head to kiss her cheek. "Dad would be happy for you, Edie," he said to ease her mind. "I'm glad you found somebody else, too." He smiled, then turned to Maddock and offered his hand. "Congratulations. You've got yourself quite a woman."

  "Yes, I know." His roughly hewn features were gentled by the warmth of his look as Maddock held Edie's gaze. The possessive light burning in his gray eyes started a tingling in her nerve ends.

  For Alison, none of it had truly sunk in. She glanced around in helpless confusion. "I don't understand," she murmured.

  "I'll explain it to her," Jerry smiled at Edie and took his sister by the hand to lead her away so Edie could be alone with Maddock. "It's this way, Alison," he began as they walked away. "There is this emotion called love."

  Edie didn't hear any more than that as his voice trailed away. Maddock had taken a step toward her, his large hands settling onto her shoulders while his gaze searched her face.

  "Don't ever walk away like that again, Edie." This time it was a request. "Why did you do it? You know I asked you to stay until the others had left."

  "Yes," she admitted, her voice growing soft. "But after that incident with Felicia—"

  "What on earth did she say to you?" An amused frown flickered across his forehead. "It was all I could do to keep from laughing when Jerry dumped her in the pool."

  "It doesn't really matter what she said," Edie insisted.

  "Yes, it does, if it was something against you," Maddock corrected firmly.

  She realized it would all come out sooner or later. "She doesn't want you to marry me."

  "I know." There was a wry twist to his mouth. "When I told her this morning, she threw a tantrum. That's why she was upstairs sulking when you arrived."

  "Felicia tried to convince me that the only reason you wanted to marry me was to get the ranch," Edie admitted.

  His hands tightened on her shoulders as his gaze became piercing. "You didn't believe that? Is that why you were leaving?"

  "No." She smiled and shook her head. "You may want our ranch, but I don't think you would go to the extreme of marrying me just to get your hands on it. It wouldn't work, anyway."

  "I never for a minute thought it would." His look gentled. "I'm sure that you plan to turn the ranch over to Jerry and Alison after we're married. But I still don't think any of you realize the mammoth job you're tackling before the ranch will show a profit."

  "There's something you don't know about us." Her eyes danced with the one fact they had kept from him. "Joe left us an income independent of the ranch. We weren't gambling all of our money."

  "I should have known," Maddock chuckled. "I think I stopped caring about getting the ranch when you outsmarted me and bought those cattle in Wyoming. That's just about the time I started falling in love with you, too."

  She caught her breath, a sudden radiance shining in her expression. "Do you realize that is the first time you've told me that, Will Maddock?"

  "Told you what? That I love you?" His gaze roamed over her face. "I thought I'd been telling you that every time I looked at you."

  "You have," she said softly. "But it's nice to hear the actual words."

  An encircling arm pulled her against his rugged frame while his large hand became tangled in her hair. She melted against him, her lips parting as his mouth moved over them in clear possession. Joy sang through her veins, pure and sweet, a pleasure so strong that she hadn't believed it could exist. The depth of her love for him left Edie breathless. Her hands were spread across his broad back, feeling the tautly rigid muscles.

  Maddock finally called a halt to the kiss before it went out of control. His breathing was as heavy as her own as he lifted his head. Raw desire smoldered in the look that scanned her love-soft features.

  "We're going to be married next week, Edie," he informed her. "If I could arrange it, it would be this afternoon."

  "But what about Felicia?" She gently reminded him of his daughter's disapproval. "Maybe we should give her time to get used to the idea."

  "Time isn't going to help her…and it would be hell for me," he declared with a wicked glint in his eyes. "I haven't done a very good job of raising my daughter. She needs you as much as I do—well, almost as much as I do," he qualified his statement.

  "It isn't going to be easy for her," Edie warned, and caressed his hard cheek. "She's used to being the only woman in your life."

  "I think Jerry can handle that problem." The corners of his mouth deepened with a smile."I have the feeling that ranch is going to wind up in the Maddock family yet."

  "You are incorrigible!" she laughed.

  "No, I'm in love. And that can be contagious," he replied.

  "It certainly can," she agreed and lifted her lips to receive his.

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