Cheyenne's Lady
Page 19
She stared at him. “Why?”
“Because you’re my lady. My wife.” He took a breath, tried to infuse some romance into his words. “I love you, damn it.”
Somebody in the room groaned. He ignored them. Couldn’t these people leave him to blunder in peace?
“You and those babies are my life, my heart. Losing you would be like losing a piece of myself. I lost my brother because of pride. I won’t lose you and the babies.”
“Cheyenne—”
“Nothing says I have to run for sheriff again. I can get a job in law enforcement in Seattle. And if you can’t love me back, at least I’ll be close to you and the kids.”
Because he hadn’t let her speak, she put a hand over his lips. “Ask me to stay.”
“I don’t expect that kind of sacrifice. This job offer is your dream. If I could give you the moon, I would. Just let me share your dream.”
“Ask me,” she repeated stubbornly.
Damn it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. He glanced toward the door, saw his uncle there.
He still hadn’t put anything on the line. He hadn’t taken the chance of asking her to stay. He’d only offered to go.
He looked down at this woman who’d held his heart since she was a skinny little spitfire of fourteen. “Please stay with me.”
“Yes.”
His ears were ringing. He wasn’t certain he’d heard. “Yes?”
“Oh, yes.”
“What about the job?”
“I already turned it down. What do I need with a fussy title, anyway?”
“You quit? Emily, I can’t let you—”
“Don’t you start that bossy stuff, Bodine. Of course I didn’t quit. I just moved my office is all. I have a perfectly good computer modem, telephone line and fax machine. No reason in the world why my home base can’t be right here in Shotgun Ridge. Besides, I did get a promotion, and more money, to boot—with less work. I’m now Cockran Advertising’s new consultant.”
He blinked, trying to take it all in. “Will you be happy being a consultant?”
“Are you kidding? It’s a dream job. I get the final say on all the projects, and everybody else has to do the work. Besides, I figured I’d need more free time with the kids and all the stuff that needs an advertising touch here in town. And then when the other babies come along—”
“Whoa, what other babies?”
“The ones we’ll have, of course.”
“Are you saying you’re pregnant?”
“Not yet. But I was hoping to talk my handsome husband into working on the matter. I’ve been told I’m pretty persuasive.”
He laughed, kissed her, whispered against her lips, “Do you realize you’ve just announced our personal business to a town full of matchmaking gossips?”
“Mmm. Do you think I shocked them?”
“Want me to ask?”
“No. I think you should kiss your wife.”
He cupped her cheeks, pressed his lips to hers.
“I’ve dreamed of the day you would be my lady. You’re everything to me, my heart and my soul.”
“Oh, Cheyenne.” Her eyes filled with tears and he gently brushed them away.
“Nemehotâtse, Emily.” The softly spoken words in his native tongue had everyone in the room sighing, though only John White Cloud understood. Then Cheyenne translated, his voice tender and sincere, a declaration and a promise of a lifetime. “I love you.”
OZZIE PEYTON wasn’t aware he was holding hands with the Bagley widows until he found the need to reach for his handkerchief. Opal handed him hers.
He refused to be embarrassed over his show of emotion. A body could get misty if he was of a mind to, you bet. And when a plan came together this nicely, all wrapped up with a pretty bow shining with love, it was enough to make a man’s chest just puff right out. You bet.
He glanced at his buddies, who’d abandoned their impromptu planning committee to watch love unfold.
“We done it again, boys,” he said. “I’d say we got a purdy durn-good batting average. Ain’t missed one yet.”
The other geezers nodded, as did the Bagley widows. And every one of them figured with this winning record, they ought to strike while the branding iron was still hot.
And they had just the stubborn cuss in mind who needed a nudge.
ISBN: 978-1-4603-6812-1
CHEYENNE’S LADY
Copyright © 2001 by Melinda Neff.
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*Tall, Dark & Irresistible
†Bachelors of Shotgun Ridge