by Linda Bridey
Joe did and said, “I ran into your daddy today. He said you’re fixin’ to get married. Is that right?”
Luke nodded. “Yeah.”
Joe said, “He also said that your ma wasn’t too nice to your girl. He feels bad about it.”
Luke’s expression darkened. “Yeah. If you’re here to play mediator, you can save your breath.”
Joe said, “The last thing I’m gonna do is play middle man for your ma. She hates me, remember? The way I figure it, your gal is probably a little like me and that’s why your ma went after…what’s her name?”
“Jamie.” Luke got up and gave Joe his picture of Jamie.
Joe’s eyes got bigger. “You’re kidding! This sweet thing wants to marry you?”
“Yeah, she does,” Luke said with a smile. “And just between you and me? I don’t mind tellin’ you she’s a real firecracker.”
Joe laughed. “How the hell did you find her?”
“Marcus wrote an ad for me and put it some papers around the country. She was the first one that answered. Boy did I get lucky,” Luke said. He showed Joe the engagement ring.
Joe whistled and said, “That’s a real beauty. That must have set you back.”
“Some. But it’s worth it,” Luke said and gave Joe a speculative look. “You know, Jamie says that she has a couple of friends back in North Dakota that are lookin’ to get hitched. Interested?”
“No way. You know me. I am not looking for a ball and chain, no matter how beautiful. I’m happy for you, though,” Joe said. “I know it’s been hard for you since Charlene and you’re the marrying kind. I’m glad you found someone who makes you happy.”
The door opened and Jamie flew into the bunkhouse and ran to Luke and jumped. He caught her and staggered back a little from the impact. She kissed him thoroughly and then drew back. “I missed you today. I hardly got to see you.”
“I missed you, too,” he said. “There’s someone I want you to meet, Jamie.”
Jamie looked behind her and saw a man sitting in one of the chairs. She dropped to the floor but didn’t apologize for her behavior since he was grinning at her.
“Jamie, this is Joe Dwyer, my best buddy. Joe, this is Jamie Collins,” Luke said.
Jamie extended her hand. “You’re Joe the famous carouser and corrupter of Luke.”
Joe rose and took it and said, “And you are the firecracker, Jamie, and inciter of righteous indignation.”
Jamie laughed and said, “I like him already, Hercules.”
“Likewise, Miss Collins,” Joe said. He looked at Luke. “She’s from Texas, too. She just keeps gettin’ better and better.”
“I was just tellin’ Joe that you have some friends who are looking for a good guy,” Luke said.
Jamie stood back and looked Joe over. “Let’s see if you qualify.”
“Ok,” Joe said agreeably and stood straighter.
“He has to be kind.”
“As the day is long,” Joe said.
“He has to be strong.”
Joe undid his shirt and shrugged out of it and flexed an impressive set of biceps and pecs. Luke didn’t look happy about Joe’s actions, but Jamie got a kick out of it.
“A good dancer.”
Joe grabbed Jamie and did a little two-stepping and then let her go.
“Ok. You’re doing good so far.” Jamie thought for a moment.
“You have to like kids,” she said.
Joe made a hand motion saying he was iffy on the subject.
“We can work with that,” Jamie said. “You can’t be a total slob.”
“I’m fairly neat,” Joe said.
Luke’s laugh told Jamie otherwise.
“Shut your pie hole, Luke. You’re gonna ruin it for me. Now, go on Miss Collins,” Joe said.
“You have to be able to be committed to just one woman,” Jamie said.
Joe hung his head. “Interview’s over, darlin’. I gotta be honest.”
“I still think you’d be perfect for my friend Sammi. She’s about Tessa’s height and has strawberry blonde hair and big blue eyes,” Jamie said.
Joe picked up his shirt and put it back on. Jamie thought that Sammi would be a lucky girl to get a fun, sexy guy like Joe. His hazel eyes were very nice and his light brown hair looked like it had some blond highlights in it.
“She sounds real nice, but like I said, I’m not the marrying kind like Luke is,” Joe insisted.
“Oh, hell,” Jamie said. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.”
“Nope,” Joe agreed.
“Well, you boys have a good time. I’ll see you later, Hercules,” Jamie said and gave Luke a little wave.
As soon as she was gone, Joe said, “Holy smokes. No wonder you wanna get married to her. I can understand. It’s a good thing you’re gonna do it quick, because guys like me love girls like her.”
Luke frowned. “She’s not exactly what you think she is, and I’d like it if everyone would quit talking like that about her.”
Joe recognized Luke’s tone and knew he was in real danger of angering Luke. No one liked to make Luke angry. Normally Luke was mild mannered, but when he was riled up he became a different person.
“Now, simmer down, Luke. I wasn’t putting her down at all. She’s gorgeous, fun, and seems smart. I can see why you call her a firecracker. She was on you like a duck on a June bug,” Joe said.
Luke laughed. “Yeah. It’s been like that from the beginning. What’s the idea with taking off your shirt?”
Joe said, “C’mon, Luke, I was just playin’ around. Besides, I’m not the first guy she’s seen without a shirt. Obviously she’s seen you without a shirt on, Hercules.”
“Marcus told me that’s what I look like and I made the mistake of putting it in one of my letters to her. It stuck in her mind and so that’s her pet name for me,” Luke said.
“Hey, speakin’ of Marcus, how is he? I haven’t seen him in forever,” Joe said.
“He’s great. Loves being married and being a father. They have another little one on the way,” Luke answered. “If Marcus can be reformed, don’t you think you could, too?”
“Listen, Luke, all Samuels men are programmed to get married, even a half-breed. If there’s Samuels blood there somewhere, they’re gonna marry. Me? I’m too much of a free spirit. I like to blow into town when I want and back out again,” Joe said.
Luke sat down and said, “Your pa still won’t hand over your inheritance unless you get married, you know.”
“I know, but why should I put some poor girl through hell just so I can get my hands on that money? Besides, I do just fine making money,” Joe said.
“Yeah, but you end up gambling it all away again,” Luke said.
“Luke, Luke, Luke. How many times have I told you that money was mean to be spent?” Joe said.
“Too many times, but we could argue all night about this,” Luke said. He recognized that there was going to be no changing Joe’s opinion on the subject. “So how long are you in town for?”
“Who knows?” Joe said. “So when are we gonna get a card game together? I keep telling you that you should come on one of my trips with me sometime. You’d win a heap of money and then you’d be able to get that house built in no time.”
Luke had been tempted a couple of times to do just that, but couldn’t bring himself to risk losing his hard earned money on games of chance. “I know what you’re saying, but I just can’t take that kind of chance. All it takes is one bad hand for me to lose it all.”
Joe leaned forward a little. “I’d stake you the money and then you just do your thing. We split the money and then you come home and marry your firecracker.”
Luke’s voice was stern as he said, “Joe, I’m not going to leave my job for some pipedream. I just started working here and I really like it. I’m not going to put it in jeopardy to go gambling with you. I don’t want to talk about it again.”
Joe said, “Ok, ok. Don’t get your britches in a twist over it. Just
wanted to test the waters.” Joe decided to move on from the subject. “So when’s the wedding?”
“I haven’t officially asked her yet,” Luke said.
“What are you waiting for?” Joe asked.
“I just got the ring. I’m going to ask her very soon,” Luke answered. “Will you be my best man?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Joe said. “I never waste an opportunity to wear a suit or impress the ladies.”
Luke looked Joe over. He was a good-looking guy and he knew it. As shy about women as Luke was, Joe was the polar opposite. His megawatt smile and naughty-but-nice personality made him a favorite with the ladies. As Luke’s pa was wont to say, “He could charm the pants off a pastor’s wife.”
Normally, Joe was a snazzy dresser, but tonight he was just relaxing so he’d worn an old western shirt. Luke’s best friend had a penchant for fine hats and had a big collection. These hats were worn with certain suits for certain occasions.
“No hats,” Luke said, as he thought about Joe’s hats.
“C’mon, Luke,” Joe said.
“If you wear a hat then I have to wear one so we match, and I look like crap in a hat. I’m too tall,” Luke said.
Joe grinned and said, “Yeah, I see your point. All right, no hats. Until the reception. Then I can wear one. Deal?”
“After you give the toast,” Luke countered.
“You drive a hard bargain, but it’s your wedding so I’ll take it,” Joe said.
“Good. Now I just gotta figure out how to ask her,” Luke said.
“You open your mouth and say the words,” Joe said.
“No, I want it to be something special. She’s a widow and I don’t want to do whatever it is her husband did. It’s got to be perfect,” Luke said.
“Well, I’m not the one to ask about that,” Joe said. “I’m on my way to the Watering Hole. You wanna come?”
“Thanks, but I have work tomorrow,” Luke said.
Joe grinned at him. “You just want to have a different kind of fun tonight,” he said and patted Luke’s arm before leaving.
Chapter Thirteen
Luke fretted for a day and a half over how to propose to Jamie. He finally decided to talk to Dean again. He hated to keep bothering him about this kind of stuff, but he felt that he was the best person to go to.
Dean saw Luke coming into the barn and could tell from the serious expression on Luke’s face that his cousin had something on his mind. “Hey, Luke.”
“Hi. You got a minute?”
“Yeah. What’s up?” Dean asked.
“Well, I need some advice again. I’m sorry to keep asking,” Luke said.
Dean laughed. “That’s what family’s for. It’s nice to be asked my opinion on something. Most of the time, my brothers don’t want to hear what I think,” Dean joked.
“Ok. How did you propose to Tessa?”
Dean’s smile told Luke that it was a very fond memory. “We laid out in one of the pastures and I asked her to marry me under the stars. She was so beautiful, and I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have a woman like her.”
“That’s romantic. I have no idea what I’m going to do,” Luke said. “I want it to be special. Not the same thing her husband did.”
“I understand, just from the opposite perspective. I didn’t want my proposal to Tessa to be the same as mine was to Sarah,” Dean said.
“How’d you do it with Sarah?” Luke said.
“Well, that one wasn’t so romantic, I’m afraid. I didn’t ask so much as tell her. We were actually in the middle of a fight and I said, ‘Well, I guess we’ll have plenty of time to sort this out because we’re getting married and that’s that’,” Dean said.
Luke laughed.
Dean said, “Seth’s proposal was very romantic, as Maddie tells it. You wouldn’t believe it coming from him, but he can be full of surprises sometimes. If you want a really funny proposal, ask Marcus about his to Claire.”
“I can just imagine,” Luke said.
“Luke, most women don’t really care about some big, elaborate proposal. What matters to them is that it’s genuine and from the heart. That’s what makes them feel special,” Dean said.
Luke said, “Thanks, Dean. Oh, and I wanted to ask you something else.”
“Ok.”
“Joe’s gonna be my best man, but will you stand up with me, too?”
Dean got a funny look on his face and his jaw worked hard for a few moments. Then he looked at Luke and said, “I’d be honored to, Luke. Thanks for asking.”
Luke smiled and said, “Thanks. Well, I’ll let you get back to whatever you’re doing.”
As his cousin walked away, Dean had a hard time keeping it together. He still suffered guilt over not standing up with Marcus when his little brother had asked. As a result, he’d jumped at the chance to do it for Luke. He knew it wouldn’t make up for the whole situation with Marcus, but he’d learned his lesson and wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.
Jamie asked Claire to take her into town one day because she wanted to buy a few things. Bradbury’s General Store was a relatively new establishment. Edward Bradbury owned the store, but due to his frail health, his son Elliot ran it.
When Jamie entered the store, she was impressed by its large size and good selection. Bradbury’s sold everything from fresh produce to fine linens. Jamie stopped at the linens. She had been thinking about a wedding dress and was undecided about whether to buy a ready-made dress or to find someone to make one.
Claire joined her and began looking through the material as well. She wanted Maddie to help her make a christening gown for their new baby when the time came. She saw the type of material at which Jamie was looking.
“That’s a beautiful piece,” Claire said.
“Yes. I need a wedding dress. Do you know anyone who makes dresses? I need something that’s not too expensive but that will also be pretty,” Jamie said.
Claire said, “Maddie is very experienced in making dresses, but with her just having J.R., she’s not up to the task. However, our mother will be here by weeks’ end. She’s an expert dressmaker and taught Maddie all she knows.”
“I couldn’t impose on her. She doesn’t even know me,” Jamie protested.
“When she hears that someone needs a wedding dress, you won’t be able to stop her from making it. Besides, she’ll be around much of the time to visit and see her grandchildren. You’ll have ample opportunity to get acquainted.”
“Ok. We’ll see. I don’t have the money today to buy the material since there are some other things I need to get,” Jamie said.
She left Claire at the linens and walked down the produce aisle. She wanted to buy some peaches with which to make a pie. Hearing a voice behind her speak her name, Jamie turned to face Pricilla Samuels. Sudden apprehension kept her from speaking.
“Jamie, I thought that was you. How are you?” Pricilla asked.
“What do you care?” Jamie snapped.
Pricilla seemed surprised by her response. “I care because you are marrying my son,” Pricilla said. “So of course I’m interested in your welfare.”
Jamie’s green eyes became brighter with anger. “I don’t understand why, since you don’t think I’m good enough for Luke. You made that very clear at dinner the other night.”
“I can’t help being protective of Luke. I recognize your kind, that’s all. I don’t want Luke hurt again because of your two-timing ways,” Pricilla said.
“How dare you!” Jamie was enraged. “I’ll have you know that I never cheated on my husband and I would never cheat on Luke. I don’t have any need to. He’s more than adequate for me.”
Pricilla gasped. “Are you saying that you and he have…?”
Jamie couldn’t control the impulse to shock Pricilla. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. We have a very passionate connection. The bottom line is that we’re getting married whether or not you approve. Now, I have to finish my shopping. I sug
gest you leave me alone.” Jamie said.
She turned her back on Pricilla and went back to her shopping. On the outside she appeared calm but on the inside, Jamie was shaken. She bought her peaches and a few other items and went out to Claire’s buggy. Claire was already there. As Jamie climbed in the buggy, Claire could tell that Jamie was very upset.
“Are you all right?” Claire asked.
“No. I ran into Luke’s mother. Can we please leave before she comes out? I don’t want to see her again,” Jamie said.
Claire clicked her tongue at Arrow and they pulled away from the store.
“What happened?” Claire asked. Her cinnamon brown eyes were filled with concern.
“She hates me,’ Jamie said. “She thinks that I’ll cheat on Luke because that’s what ‘my kind’ does.”
Her eyes welled up. Jamie fought against crying but lost the battle. She leaned over and covered her face with her hands. Claire patted her back and tried to console her.
“Jamie, I wouldn’t let her bother you. I haven’t seen you exhibit any sort of behavior that indicates that you would do any such thing. I don’t believe that Dean and Tessa would have hired you if they felt you were unsuitable. Luke obviously thinks you’re suitable.”
“Oh, Claire, that’s not the part I’m so upset about! I’m so stupid! I told her that Luke and I have been…intimate,” Jamie lamented.
Claire was surprised, not only by the fact that Luke and Jamie had become lovers, but that Jamie had divulged this information to Luke’s mother. “Oh my. I do have to say that mentioning that to her was not a good idea.”
Jamie said, “I know! Sometimes my common sense goes out the window when I’m angry. I wanted to shake her up the way she did me. I have to warn Luke. I’m sure that she’ll ask him about it.”
“Yes. Unfortunately I think you’re right,” Claire said.
“He’s going to be so mad at me,” Jamie said.
Claire didn’t say any more about it, but she silently agreed with Jamie about what Luke’s reaction would be.
That same afternoon, Luke took Buster and Nugget to the feed mill to pick up sweet feed for the horses. He wanted to see his father and found him in the office