There was rustling and muttering among them. "Anything we can do for you, ma'am," and "Sure do wish we could find that key," and "Reckon I'll just go wake that locksmith."
And he figured they'd be there forever, helping, unless he stepped in.
He cleared his throat. "Dori?"
She jerked around. The men all fell silent as she stared at him. For one instant her gaze sought Jake's. He stood there, hugging Tugger against his chest. He swallowed, and then he nodded, but he didn't look away.
Whatever passed between mother and son, her gaze came back to Riley. She was crying again.
"I suppose you came to help," she said.
"No."
She looked startled. "No?"
Slowly he shook his head. "I came because I love you." She just stared at him.
It wasn't the first time in his life he'd wished for Chris's smooth words and easy charm. But it wasn't him. Never had been.
"Tricia," she began at last.
"Called," he finished for her. "She's in Denver. She invited me to Denver. I don't want to go. I held on to that dream for years without even realizing I didn't want it anymore. I don't love Tricia, Dori. I love you." His voice was ragged. His words were awkward. He was as bad at this feelings stuff as he'd always thought he'd be. And to have to say it all in front of an audience didn't bear thinking about.
But at least Dori was listening. "You … love me?"
"You. And Jake." There was no way he could leave Jake out of this. "And I reckon I'll find room for Tugger, too."
As he spoke he felt more than saw Jake come to stand beside him. The two of them stood side by side, looking at Dori.
"You're the one—the ones—I want," he went on doggedly.
He put a hand on Jake's shoulder. "I'm no prize, Dori. But I do love you. Come home. Marry me. Please."
And then Dori threw her arms around him.
"Yes," she whispered against his mouth. "Yes. Oh, Riley, yes. I'll marry you."
A loud burst of applause and cheers sounded behind her. Riley barely noticed. He certainly didn't care.
He only cared about Dori. And Jake. And Tugger.
And the future they would make together.
He gathered them all into his arms and knew the joy that came from being part of a family, from finding dreams mended he'd thought long broken, but mostly from finding the woman—and the boy—he would forever be able to call his own.
"How did you find us?" she asked him when at last they were home and Jake had been tucked up in bed.
"Jake called me."
"Jake?" She was astonished, and yet she wasn't. She remembered the sudden tire problem, the stalling, the missing key. "Jake." Her gaze narrowed. She started toward the bedroom.
Riley grabbed her back. "Let the boy sleep. Thank him tomorrow."
"I wasn't going to thank him," Dori said tartly. "What do you suppose he did with that key?"
"I haven't a clue," Riley said. "I don't care. Meeting the locksmith in Ranchester tomorrow is a small price to pay for getting you back." He kissed her again.
She loved his kisses. Mere hours ago she never thought she'd kiss him again.
"Are you sure?" she asked him now. "Really sure? Tricia—"
He put a finger against her mouth. "I told you. Tricia is past. I think she was probably past a long, long time ago. I was just too fixated to realize it. You gave me my shot at Tricia, you stubborn woman. I don't want her. I only want you."
And she believed him now. Riley Stratton didn't lie. He didn't cheat. He didn't do anything wrong. Ever. "You're perfect," she told him.
He laughed out loud. "We'll see how long you believe that, sweetheart."
"I love you," Dori told him. "You're perfect for me."
And Riley grinned again. "I'll settle for that."
"We're home," Jake told Tugger drowsily as they burrowed down in the bed. It was the middle of the night. They were both exhausted. Tugger had had an accident in Riley's truck on the way home, but Riley hadn't cared.
"Reckon it'll be the first of many," he'd said, and he'd ruffled Jake's hair.
Jake had thought maybe then would be a good time to tell them about the key in the toilet. His mom probably wouldn't get too mad. Riley might even get him another puppy. Or maybe, down the road, they'd agree to a brother or sister. Jared seemed to have fun with his. Jake thought he might like one, too.
"We'll have to talk to 'em about it," he told Tugger who wasn't supposed to be in bed with him, but his mom and Uncle Riley hadn't noticed. They'd only been looking at each other.
Jake was pleased. And he was pushing his luck tonight. "You're gonna stay right here," he told the puppy.
Now he pushed himself up to where he could look out the window at a night sky awash with stars. He cradled the pup in his arms. There were a lot of stars out there—millions, his mom said. Enough for everybody.
Enough for everybody's dreams.
He thought about his father, about his mom and Uncle Riley, about the Stardust cowboy, about dreams. He thought about his grandpa and wished his grandpa believed just a little in Stardust.
Jake could have told him it worked.
He picked out one particular star and said, "You might try to convince him."
It wouldn't hurt. Maybe the Stardust cowboy could work miracles, too.
He sure did make dreams come true.
"It's been a terrific adventure so far," Jake said softly, his eyes on the heavens. "An' now that we're here for good, I reckon we'll have lots more. An' you'll always be a part of it," he promised. "You an' Mom an' Riley an' Tugger an' me."
Then with starlight falling on him and Tugger tucked under his chin, Jake snuggled down under the covers and slept.
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THE STARDUST COWBOY Page 18