Whistlin' Dixie (Tempered Steel Book 1)

by Adams, Maggie

  She tried to sit up, slapping his hand away when he tried to help her. “Well Mr. Coalson, how the hell am I supposed to look? I’ve been shot at, stitched up, and examined by tons of strangers and now…” she sobbed, “now the man of my dreams is talking in riddles. I love you! And I want a marriage. DO YOU HEAR ME?”

  “Everyone heard you, darling. You were shouting,” Mac said drolly.

  “Oh, God! You’re making me crazy!” she howled. She reached for a tissue with her injured arm and cried out in pain. “Oh, just go away and leave me alone!”

  Mac decided it was time to stop teasing her. She was getting too worked up. “Open your eyes and look at me, Dixie Harris,” he demanded. “You’re jumping to conclusions again. Now I’m only going to do this once and I want it to be right.” He fluffed her pillows and slowly got down on one knee, one hand touching her injured arm; the other resting on her cheek.

  “I love you, and I will spend the rest of my life loving you. I knew before you were injured that I was in love with you, but my stubborn pride wouldn’t let me tell you. When I thought that I might not get the chance to tell you how much I love you, I died a thousand times over, thinking of all the precious time we wasted. I don’t want to waste anymore.” He kissed her cheek. “I want you to be my wife. I know we haven’t known each other long, and you’re so very young. If you need more time, we can wait. But not too long, sweetheart. I need to know you’re mine forever, and I want it to happen soon.” He wiped away her tears and kissed her lightly. “Marry me.”

  Dixie lowered her eyes, her fingers plucking at the folds of her blanket. Shyly, she peaked at him from behind her lashes. “I love you so much, Mac. When I thought you didn’t feel the same, I went a little nuts, I guess. I couldn’t stand the thought of someone else with you. I knew I was being foolish because we hadn’t made any sort of commitment to each other. I didn’t want to talk to you when you called because I was so afraid. If I didn’t hear you actually say you wanted someone else, that we were at an end, at least I had some hope of holding onto you. I know that doesn’t make much sense. My only excuse is that I couldn’t believe you could fall in love with me in such a short time, even though I had done just that with you.”

  Mac covered her mouth with his lips making all the love and passion he felt for her erupt in his kiss. She returned his kiss with passionate ardor, regardless of her injuries. After a few minutes of delicious love play, she broke away, smiling tremulously. “I would be honored to be your wife. I can’t say my temper won’t get the best of me at times, but I know I will always love you.”

  Mac reached into the front pocket of his jeans and withdrew a small jeweler’s box. Opening it, he revealed an emerald and diamond ring so large that Dixie gasped. “This ring has been in my father’s family for many years. It is been handed down to the eldest son as a symbol of love and happiness to give to the woman he loves.” He slipped it on her finger. “With this ring, I pledge my love to you. Forever and always.”

  Dixie stared down at her hand, then raised her eyes to Mac. “And I will love you and cherish you. Forever and always,” she murmured as joyful tears ran down her cheeks.

  Mac gently kissed her tears away, then gathered her in his arms once again. “You know, you were wrong about one thing, little girl,” he whispered in her ear. “We made a commitment to each other the first time we kissed. We just didn’t recognize it for what it was.” His lips captured hers once again.

  And that’s how the nurse found them when she came in to get Dixie’s blood one more time.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Ginny Coalson promptly told Dixie that she would recuperate at the Coalson farm and Jamie would stay with Mac. The recently reunited couple wasn’t too happy about the arrangements but in view of the way the whole town had tried to get them together, they knew there would be plenty of prying eyes.

  “The town’s abuzz with the news of the shooting. Television crews have been traipsing back and forth, trying to find anyone who knew anything about it.” Hank Coalson stated as he took the vacant rocking chair next to Mac and Dixie.

  “The fact that Mac and Dixie are now engaged gives the entire tale a happy twist. The town gossips are busy rehashing and embellishing their turbulent courtship,” Ginny added. She handed Hank a glass of lemonade.

  Dixie was amazed at the amount of people who were waiting to wish her well when she arrived at the Coalson farm. She knew a few of the faces, but she assumed most were friends of the family since they had lived here for generations. She soon realized she was considered something of a local hero as person after person came up to commend her on her courage at the grade school.

  When Mac led one particular family up to see her, Dixie’s eyes filled with tears. Jason Cranston stood next to her, his small head bowed. She could feel his trembling from where he sat. Quickly gathering him in her arms, she reassured him that everything was fine and that she was all right. He began sobbing and stuttering, and even though she couldn’t make out half of what he was saying, she knew he just needed to let loose of his guilt and sorrow. When he calmed down, she quietly talked to his parents as she held him against her in a comforting embrace. She received their apologies and reassurances that guns were no longer within reach of their children.

  Dottie stopped by to offer her congratulations and to thank Dixie for reconciling with her boss. “He’s been a bear to be around these past weeks. Hopefully that will change now.” She admired the beautiful engagement ring then glanced over the rim of her glasses at Mac. “The staff is ready to mutiny.”

  Mac feigned outrage. “You’d be leading the pack, you old dragon. If you weren’t practically a member of the family, I’d fire you on the spot for insubordination.”

  “Hah! You should thank your lucky stars I’m still around, you rotten kid. I’m the only secretary left that will still get coffee and put up with all your nonsense.” Mac laughed outright and grabbed Dottie for great bear hug. She chuckled and hugged him back as Dixie smiled at the pair. “You get this child back to bed, Mac. She’s looking a little bit pale to me.”

  “Well now, Dottie, that’s fine idea,” Mac hauled Dixie up in his arms and grinned at her.

  “You behave yourself, young man, or you’ll answer to me.” Dottie waved her finger at him then shooed them out of the living room and into the hall.

  The doctor had ordered Dixie to rest quietly for at least one week and Mac insisted on following the doctor’s orders to the letter. After a few days, Dixie’s inherent enthusiasm and energy overcame her and she was desperate for something to do to keep from climbing the walls.

  Ginny came to the rescue. “As you know, darlin’, I’m putting together a cookbook of the family’s favorite recipes. I could certainly use your help to catalog and prepare them for publishing. I’m going to display them in the general store with the proceeds going to help rebuild the town.” Dixie loved the idea and threw herself into the task whole heartedly.

  Dixie and Ginny began peering through recipe files. After a few hours, Ginny decided they needed a break, but Dixie wanted to finish her box. Near the bottom, she came across one for peanut butter squares. “This says ‘Sam’s favorite’ on it. I’m sure you want to include it.”

  Ginny reached for the yellowed file card. “Yes. He could make this himself. He was so proud.” She smiled wistfully. “He always was so independent. Even as a child.”

  “Is he going to be able to make it for the wedding?” Dixie inquired.

  “Well, as to that,” Ginny sighed. “We don’t know. He’s rather hard to pin down. All we know is he works for the Navy. Or, at least, we think he still works for the Navy. We relay any messages and letters to a special address. He calls us back eventually.”

  “Wow! That sounds mysterious.”

  “Yes.” A shadow passed across Ginny’s face. “I know he takes dangerous risks. He never talks about it in his letters. Sometimes I think he does what he does to try and erase the past.” She sighed. “The trouble is, unles
s he comes home and confronts his past once and for all, he’s never to be able to get some peace.”

  “Angel Devereaux’s the past you’re talking about, isn’t she?” Dixie asked. She had heard some gossip about the town “bad boy” and the richest girl in the area.

  “Yes. As I said, Sam has always been a bit independent. He’s highly intelligent but his attitude was something some folks couldn’t understand. From a very early age, he lived by his own set of rules-not that he didn’t mind us, but, well, sometimes he took matters into his own hands, and that invariably led them into trouble.”

  “So what happened with Angel?”

  Ginny stared off into the distance. “He stood up to Angel’s father. You have to understand, Trevor was a horrible man in every way. The fact that a mere boy, with no money and an in-your-face attitude had dared to confront him, sent him over the edge, I guess. He set out to destroy Sam’s reputation all because he happened to want Angel. He succeeded.”

  Ginny wiped away a tear. “Trevor planted drugs on Sam and he nearly went to jail. It was all done to make him an example in case anyone else from around here decided to try and take Trevor’s daughter. He had high hopes for much better things for Angel than being some farmer’s wife. Sam could have gone to jail, but he didn’t care. He was terrified of what would happen to Angel at her father’s hands.”

  She shook herself head sadly. “But at the time, we thought that his faith in her was sadly misplaced. You see, she sided with her father during the preliminary hearing.” Ginny wept into a tissue. “I’ll never forget the look on Sam’s face when she came out of the courthouse holding her father’s hand. She wouldn’t even look at him.”

  Dixie was sorry she brought up the incident. “I’ve met Angel. She seemed very nice. Kind of quiet. Did she ever try to explain her actions?”

  Ginny composed herself. “Yes. To us. Her father died the night Sam left again for the Navy. She came by to see him to explain what he saw, but he had already gone. She looked like she was in shock that he had left her behind. I don’t really know what she expected, but I’m sure she thought he was so enamored of her that he wouldn’t leave town without her.”

  “So she told you what happened?”

  Ginny nodded. “It’s a long, sad story and I think she left out a lot of it. All I know is that it’s not up to us to forgive her for what she did. She had her reasons, but it’s up to Sam. He won’t even look at her.”

  Ginny got up from the kitchen table wiping away tears. “How about some tea?”

  Dixie nodded absently. It appeared to her that Sam Coalson wasn’t the only one running from the past. Dixie thought Angel Devereaux was haunted by the events of that fateful time herself. Dixie and Mac had learned the hard way that things were not always as they seemed. She hoped Sam would come home for the wedding because Angel was definitely on the guest list.

  Plans for the wedding were moving along at a brisk pace. Mac didn’t want to wait, but Dixie refused to budge on the issue of a big wedding, so they compromised and decided on the third Saturday in June. That gave the women about a month, and with any luck, Sam would be able to make it home.

  While Dixie perused bridal magazines and internet sites for ideas, Mac was busy supervising not only his construction business, but the renovation of the local Catholic Church. Because the church was located on a slightly higher level of ground, the flood hadn’t caused any permanent structural damage to the hundred year old building. Unfortunately, the interior of the tiny church had to be completely renovated while services were held in the grade school gymnasium. Mac made this his first priority. He wanted to be married in the family church. He wanted it to be perfect.

  Mac couldn’t believe Dixie hadn’t batted an eye when he told her he wanted to be married in the old church even though the inside was still completely gutted. It hadn’t mattered one iota to her what the church looked like. She said that what went on inside was what mattered the most. Mac fell in love with her all over again.

  Early one June evening, Mac and Dixie were lying on the family room sofa enjoying a rare moment of peace. Dixie was resting between Mac’s legs, her head pillowed on his chest discussing the honeymoon plans. She glanced up and realized he had fallen asleep. Nudging him awake with her elbow she demanded, “Hey, am I boring you here with all this talk about honeymoons and lingerie? This is not bode well for our future sex life if you fall asleep at the mention of my unmentionables. “

  Mac yawned. “I’m sorry sweetheart. I’ve been trying to finish the church in time for the wedding.”

  “When do you find time to do that? The city council didn’t pull out of the marina deal, did they?”

  “No. Everything is going according to schedule with the company. With any luck, the supplies for the marina job should be here by late August.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up for a kiss. “I’ve been leaving here and working at the church at night. I want everything to be perfect for the ceremony and since I set the deadline, I just can’t leave it to my workmen during the day.”

  “Everything is perfect. I have you. What more could I want?” She snuggled closer, tilting her face for another kiss.

  Mac was more than happy to oblige and passion consumed them. Soon she was lying limp in his arms. Mac cursed silently at the inconvenience of living apart. At this rate, he was going to burst into flames before the month was up.

  At a discreet cough, they sprang apart, and Dixie tried to restore some order to her appearance. Mac turned around to growl at the interruption, but his mouth fell open in shock. “Sam? Is it really you? Well, I’ll be damned.”

  Mac chuckled as he sprang off the coach to grab his brother’s outstretched hand. He hadn’t been sure that the message to Sam would reach him in time. With a laugh, he pulled him close and hugged him, pounding him on the back.

  Dixie sat back and watched the reunion. Sam’s muscular frame engulfed Mac’s slimmer physique, although Mac was the taller of the two. Sam’s dark blonde hair and brown eyes contrasted with Mac’s twinkling silver eyes. Sam, unlike Mac, looked totally ruthless and unapproachable.

  And he was staring straight at her.

  Dixie summoned her courage and returned the stare from the dangerous man. She didn’t envy Angel having Sam Coalson for an enemy.

  Oh well, best to take the bull by the horns. She plastered a smile on her face and held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Dixie. Pleased to meet you.”

  Sam crossed the room and took the proffered hand as he looked her over.

  He gifted Dixie with a rare smile and pulled her in for a hug, too. “I’m Sam. Welcome to the family.”

  *****

  Dixie thought the wedding went off without a hitch. Tanner, Mac’s youngest brother, made it home from college in time to change into a suit and rush to the chapel. Jamie gave her away and since Mac couldn’t decide which brother to ask to be as best man, he asked his father. Jason Cranston was the ring bearer and Ginny was her matron of honor.

  Dixie felt like a princess in Ginny’s wedding dress. The candlelight satin with the lace overlay had a low décolletage trimmed with seed pearls, a fitted bodice complemented with hundreds of tiny beads and sequins. The ivory lace continued down to the formal train. When Ginny had shyly offered the heirloom to Dixie, she knew that she was truly going to part of this wonderful family. The two women hugged and cried while Ginny reminisced about her wedding day so many years ago.

  Mac stood solemnly before the altar in a black tuxedo. Dixie’s heart skipped when she saw him. His gray eyes were shining with love and admiration as he reached out to take her from Jamie’s arm. “I love you Dixie Harris, soon to be Coalson,” he whispered.

  “And I love you Mackenzie Coalson, forever and always.”

  “Forever and always,” he repeated as he squeezed her hands and they turned as one to recite their vows before God and family. Dixie knew the entire congregation that gathered in the small chapel felt the love that radiated from them. It was in their faces
, recited by firm voices as they took the traditional vows to become man and wife. It was also reflected in the tears of the Coalson family that stood around the altar celebrating the sacred sacrament as silent witnesses to the beauty before them.

  Dixie and Mac agreed it was a beautiful wedding, but the reception following the ceremony was what would be talked about for years to come. They had invited the entire town and everyone came. They held it at the grounds of the state park a few miles down the road. Tables were set up along the walkways and every family brought a dish to sample. One giant picnic prevailed, with music and laughter and dancing throughout the night. Mac knew it had been quite a while since the people of the small community had something wonderful to celebrate, and they embraced it with a vengeance.

  Although the party continued into the wee hours, Mac and Dixie excused themselves from the festivities early in the evening. Before they embarked on the much-anticipated honeymoon, Dixie threw her beautiful bouquet of pastel roses directly at Angel Devereaux, who stood to the side of the jostling crowd of single women vying for the blooms. The surprised woman clutched the bundle then hid her face in the fragrant roses. Dixie hoped Angel and Sam could find a way to reconcile their differences.

  A grinning Mac walked over to Sam, not even giving the other single men a chance. With a formal bow, he placed the garter on Sam’s wrist, then grabbing Dixie’s hand, the happy couple left in a flurry of white rice. Dixie saw Sam search for Angel’s face amidst the crowd of well-wishers and, when he captured her gaze, he lifted his champagne glass in a silent toast. Dixie prayed they would find the happiness she and Mac shared.

  Dixie was astonished when Mac’s parents gifted them with the honeymoon suite at the park lodge. They walked the short distance to the cabin reserved for them. The interior was decorated in soothing blues, and the wall facing the river was made entirely of glass. It reminded Dixie of Mac’s house. Now it was her house, too. The moonlight reflecting off the Mississippi River cast a pale glow over the entire room as Dixie thought about the past few hours and the passionate journey she was about to take in Mac’s loving arms.