She stilled in his arms and he pulled back to look at her. With confusion etched into her expression, she asked warily, her voice low, "What's going on, Luke? Why are you acting like this?"
He shook his head and laughed softly. "Ah, Charlie, why is the sky suddenly bluer and the sun brighter?" He pulled her close again and asked quietly, "Last night I decided I would come to Utah to live too, so I could still see you. Be with you. It's not that I don't like you, Charlie. I love you. I just didn't know how to deal with losing you. I thought if I stayed away from you that telling you goodbye would be easier. Then I realized I couldn't tell you goodbye at all. That I'd have to follow you. If you'd have let me. I know I've been a complete idiot, but..." He let her go for a second and put his hands on her shoulders. "I'm so sorry for jerking you around. I wasn't trying to. What I was trying to do was not pressure you to do what I wanted. I felt you had enough of that from your family." He sighed. "But, oh, I've wanted to. I wanted to get down on my knees and beg you to stay."
She just kept staring at him in shock and he caressed her cheek with one hand and smiled. "I would still get down on my knees if there was room in here. Please say something. You're looking at me as if I've lost my mind."
She nodded almost woodenly. "I think you have, Luke. I don't know what to even think, let alone say."
He gently tipped her chin up so she had to look into his eyes and then he whispered, "Say you'll stay." He leaned down and kissed her gently, for a long moment and then whispered it again, "Just say that you'll stay."
He was looking into her eyes, literally trying to will her into agreeing when the pantry door opened and three different little dark heads peeked inside. Luke rolled his eyes and looked around at the children in frustration, but for the first time, Charlie started to smile. Jamie was sucking on a link sausage and he pulled it out of his mouth, looked back into the kitchen and asked, "Daddy, why is Lukey huggin' in the pantry wif Charlie?"
From behind the door they heard Richard chuckle and answer, "I'm not sure, Jamie, but maybe you'd better shut the pantry door and let them finish. Come in and sit down."
As the door slowly swung shut, all three little heads traveled along with it until Luke reached out and firmly shut the door and turned back to Charlie. "Sorry. Where were we? You were just getting ready to tell me that you'd love to stay in Montana. Remember?"
Charlie gave him an honest smile, but then she shook her head and sobered. "Even if I didn't believe this is temporary insanity on your part, there's still Tyree. I have to go to keep your family safe."
"This is not temporary insanity, Charlie. This isn't temporary anything. You've had my heart since that very first day when you busted me in only my jeans. If my feelings were temporary they would have been gone a long time ago. I'm afraid I've got it bad for you for forever."
She tipped her head to the side and gave him another hint of the smile he'd grown to love over these last months. "Somehow, Luke, I never thought you'd wax eloquent in the pantry like this. This is a whole new side of you for me."
He began to nuzzle her temple with his lips and murmured, "Tell me you'll stay and see what whole new side of me you find. I know Fo will be gone for a while, but he'll be back before you know it. And maybe I could watch over you while he's gone. Come on, Charlie." He put his fingers up into her hair and gently pulled her head against his throat. "Please say yes."
He felt her sigh against him and turn her face right into him as she said, "Luke, this is too sudden. This is like a hundred and eighty degrees from the way you've been treating me. What's going on? Why are you suddenly so different?"
"Charlie, I've wanted to be different the whole time. I just didn't think I had the right to ask you to give up law school and I know I work ridiculously long days. I knew I couldn't ask. But if you want to come back anyway and aren't going to become an attorney right now, maybe it wouldn't be pressuring you too much to ask you to stay here in Montana with me forever."
Her eyes flew to look up at him. "Forever! Luke! What are you saying?"
He looked steadily down into her gaze. "I'm saying that I love you, Charlie. And I want to be with you forever. Stay in Montana and marry me and we'll live happily ever after."
"Luke!" He realized he'd gone too far when she got a look of all out panic.
She began to pull away and he backpedalled, "Okay. Okay, Charlie. I won't talk about forever this morning, but don't leave. At least tell me you're not going to leave in the morning. Give us at least one more day to think things through. Maybe we can come up with some ideas. Would you agree to that?"
She nodded, but at the same time she said, "You're forgetting Tyree again. I need to get away from here, remember?"
"We'll figure it out, Charlie. Just one more day."
Her hesitation was starting to ebb and he knew it. He bent to kiss her one more time and her eyes watched him all the way until he touched his mouth to hers. As he kissed her, her eyelids slowly flickered closed and then he felt her melt against him. He finally dared to hope that someday she would be a permanent part of his future.
His lips left her mouth and he kissed her temple as gently as he could, and he whispered, "Thank you, Charlie. You won't regret it. I promise."
In a voice that was slightly breathy, she said, "I didn't really agree to stay, Luke."
He went back to her mouth and kissed her again, long and slowly. "Yeah, I think you did. At least your body did. I felt it when you made the decision."
She gave a small sigh. "Once I get a little way away from you, you're going to have to give me a minute to make my mind get on board as well. I'm having a hard time making any brain waves function with you this close, this close." She nodded at the loaded pantry shelves that surrounded them and Luke had to smile.
"At the time it seemed like the closest privacy. Sorry. But I had to talk to you. For months I've struggled with you going back and feeling like I couldn't ask you to stay. I love you, but I didn’t want to try to force you like your family always does. You utterly changed my whole outlook with what you said to my dad. How did your parents take your announcement, by the way?"
She sighed and reached up to resecure the clip that was supposed to be holding her hair up. "Actually, all I did was leave a message. That's another reason why I need to leave immediately. I figure I have about forty eight hours until the Federales show up to escort me either directly to law school or ground me to my room. I should be gone from here when that happens. It won't be pretty."
"No, Charlie. I'd face a fire breathing dragon rather than have to watch you drive away. We'll deal with whatever together. You may not believe this, but I really am stronger than your mother."
Shaking her head without smiling, she said, "I don't doubt that, Luke, but what if she sends Elroy? I'd hate to get you sued over my issues. And you know how attorneys are. They think they're untouchable for that exact reason. No one wants to cross them."
"No one's suing anyone, Charlie. You're twenty three years old. You can do what you want and marry who you choose and it's not damaging anybody. Now if you left, then you'd be damaging somebody. My heart would never survive it."
"You just said you were stronger than my mother."
"My will, not my heart. Right now my heart has had all it can take." He pulled her back into his arms again. "Leaving would kill me for sure." He leaned in to kiss her one more time, grateful that if she wasn't exactly mauling him back, at least she wasn't pushing him away. Just when he knew he should back off before he scared her again, the door to the pantry came open and they heard Madge gasp and then close it again quickly.
Pulling back, he gave her a grin. "Come on, Charlie. We're going to have the whole house on its ear before breakfast. Much as I hate the idea, I guess we'd better come out of the pantry." He glanced around again. "Somehow, I've come to really like this little storage room, though. This is a great pantry." He laughed and kissed her again and then took her hand and went to open the door.
Before he could
even turn the knob, it opened again, this time to reveal Chase and Tuckett. Tuckett laughed when he saw them and Chase looked disgusted as he said, "I wondered why Madge looked like she'd seen a ghost. What do you think you're doing in there, Luke? Get your grubby hand off of her."
Luke kept hold of her hand as he pulled her past his brothers. "Oh, lighten up, Romeo. Can't a guy even have a minute with a girl in a pantry once in a while? What's the problem?"
Luke seated Charlie at the dining table with Richard and the little kids as Chase returned. "She doesn't like guys to touch her, ya know. Haven't you figured that out by now?"
Coming around to his own seat between Tuckett and Madge, Luke glanced at Charlie with a smile. "I wasn't aware of that, no. I'll keep that in mind the next time I steal Charlie away to the pantry." He turned to Madge. "Are you okay, Madge? We didn't mean to scare you. I just had some very important things to talk to Charlie about this morning."
Madge patted his hand. "I'm fine, Luken. A trifle surprised. I went in for syrup and got more than I bargained for. Is that what you call that? Talking?"
Luke grinned at her. "Well, it started out as talking." He turned to address the rest of the table, "Speaking of kissing, would all of you other Langstons please help me talk Charlie into staying here with us instead of moving back to Utah? I did my best to convince her, but I'm sure all of the rest of you begging would help. Except you, Chase. You leave her alone. She doesn't like guys touching her, remember?"
Chase glowered as the other adults grinned and Evie asked, "What did he mean daddy, about speaking of kissing?"
At that, Charlie blushed and Richard opened his mouth, but hesitated over what to say and Luke rescued him at Charlie's expense. "I just meant that someday I'd really love to kiss Charlie in the pantry, sis. Who's going to say the prayer this morning, Dad?"
Before Richard could answer, Chase stood up and turned to Luke in outrage. "You kissed her? You kissed her? You… You…"
Calmly, Richard said, "I'll say it. Fold your arms, Jamie." When everyone bowed their heads, Chase finally closed his mouth and sat down as Richard began to pray. Luke glanced over at Charlie who was still blushing and winked and then bowed his own head.
When the prayer was over, the little kids dug in as if nothing was out of the ordinary and Madge beamed at Richard and said, "It's been too long since we've had kanoodling in the kitchen. Don't you agree, Richard?"
With a watchful eye on his two oldest sons, Richard hesitated again. "I'm not exactly sure, Madge. I'm not sure what to think of this whole morning."
Chase was still glaring at Luke who made a point of ignoring him, while Tuckett was grinning like he was in a comedy theater and finally, Charlie said, "Tuck, do you think you could stop smiling long enough to pass the syrup?"
With another gasp, Madge stood up with her hand to her chest. "Good heavens! What with all the kanoodling, I completely forgot to go after the syrup again!" She headed back into the kitchen and Richard shook his head and began to laugh and the little kids joined in.
Evie laughed for a minute and then turned with a perplexed look on her face. "Daddy, what's kanoodling? Is it a dessert? Do we get dessert after breakfast today?"
At that, Richard gave Luke a pointed look and shook his head again. "No, honey. Kanoodling is like snuggling between adults who love each other. Well, I guess you could call that dessert, couldn't you? If I let you have dessert after breakfast, will you ask Luke the next tricky question?"
"Sure, dad. I want a banana popsicle." Then Evie turned to Luke and asked, "So if you were snuggling in the pantry with Charlie, does that mean that you love each other?"
Charlie blushed crimson this time, Tuckett totally cracked up and Richard murmured, "You deserved that one, Luke."
Luke smiled at Evie and then looked at Charlie as he said, "I'm not sure if Charlie loves me, Evie, but I know that I really love her. That's why I want her to stay so I can talk her into marrying me someday."
Evie's eyes got only marginally bigger than Charlie's huge ones and the whole table got quiet for a minute as everyone looked at Luke and Charlie looking back at each other. Finally, Chase got up and stomped out in disgust and Jamie broke the tension when he asked lustily, "Would everyone quit looking at all of us and can I have anudder teeny hock dog? I love deez teeny hock dogs."
Charlie absently picked up the platter of pancakes and handed them to Jamie, who burst out, "Charlie! That's not hock dogs. I want the teeny hock dogs. I don't want anymore pancakes."
She was still staring at Luke. "Sorry, Jamie. Here."
She put the pancakes down and handed him the butter at which point, he put both greasy little hands to his cheeks and said, "Oh, great! Daddy, I think Charlie is still kinda tired. Could you give me a teeny hock dog, please?"
Charlie finally realized what she was doing and handed the plate of sausages to Jamie. "Sorry, buddy. I must be tired. Would you like some more milk?"
With a sausage in each fist, Jamie gave an exuberant, "Yes!"
Charlie reached over and poured orange juice into his almost empty milk at which Jamie's whole countenance crumpled and he started to cry as he said, "Charlie, why did you do that for? I don't like orange juice wif mioke."
She picked up his cup and looked into it. "Oh, Jamie. I'm so sorry. Don't cry. I'll get you another cup." She got up and went into the kitchen and reappeared with another cup and then sat back down. She looked at her plate for a few seconds before getting back up and saying, "Excuse me please." Taking her plate and utensils, she went into the kitchen where Luke found her a minute later, absently staring out the window with the water running and a plate in one hand.
Turning off the water, he took the plate and asked, "Are you okay?"
She turned to look at him. "I'm fine. Fine. And you?"
"You don't look fine." She raised her eyebrows at him. "Honestly, you look a little dazed. Are you in there?"
She answered him, "Yes." But it took about three seconds to pronounce the word and then she followed it with a tentative. '"I think so. I'm just so surprised by you this morning. I have no idea how to take you. You shouldn't tease about important things so."
Putting the plate down into the dishwasher, he straightened and looked at her. "Is that what you think? That I'm teasing?" When she nodded, he came closer to her. "I'm not teasing, Charlie. Maybe it is sudden because of your revelation this morning, but I'm absolutely sincere. I do love you. I do want you to stay here and let me talk you into marrying me. I do want to talk to you in the pantry. And stuff." He looked pointedly at her mouth and she turned away and began to load the dishes again.
When he didn't move out of her way, she looked up at him and said, "Be serious, Luke. This isn't really a joking matter."
He reached for both of her hands. "Charlie, look at me." When she did, he said quietly, "I do love you, Charlie Evans. And I do want to be with you forever." She dropped her eyes and he asked, "What? Do I have to write in on the silo in John Deere green or cut it into a field or what? Why would I be joking? You've been here long enough to know when I'm joking. Haven't you?"
She nodded and then said, "But Luke, how do I reconcile this morning with this last few weeks?"
"I tried to tell you why, Charlie. All I can do is ask you to believe me and try to make up for it. Isn't that all I can do? And keep on telling you and showing you?"
"Yes, I suppose so. But can you give me some time to get used to you like this?"
"Sure, Charlie. I can do whatever you need me to. Always." He put a hand under her chin and she looked up first at his mouth and then into his eyes as he continued, "Because I truly do love you."
"I love you, too, Luke. But I'm still kind of afraid of you."
He smiled sadly, "I know. We're going to work on that. But be prepared. Not fighting for you didn’t work too well. From here on out, I’m going to do everything I can to make you want to be with me." He leaned down and kissed her gently. "I have to go. Have a good day, okay?"
She
nodded. "Okay."
Chapter 13
Charlie was having a good day. All day long she’d been catching herself day dreaming about Luke kissing her. She still couldn’t believe the way he’d acted in the pantry. Or that kissing could be that incredibly intoxicating. Luke’s mouth was… Oh, My. There she went again, staring out at nothing and remembering how good his lips had felt against hers. She had to stop this. At least Madge hadn’t caught her this time and given her that knowing smile like she had been doing all afternoon.
And Luke had helped it along by dropping in every so often to give her that long, deep look before giving her that long, sweet kiss that made her forget her own name. The last time, he’d even brought a bouquet of wildflowers to go along with the kissing. She hadn’t gotten much done, what with all the day dreaming, but… She felt herself sigh and almost felt a little ridiculous. Luke was a really wonderful kisser.
Yeah, she was having a good day. A great day!
Right up until she saw a black Hummer pull up in front of the main house that evening as the sun went down while she was working in the garden. She knew as soon as she saw it she was in trouble. She hadn't thought her parents would send someone this soon, but it was entirely fitting that they show up in an armored military vehicle.
As not only her mother, but her father as well got out, followed by Elroy, she glanced down at her cut offs and t-shirt and bare feet and was eternally grateful they hadn't seen her there among the tomatoes.
When they were welcomed inside, she snuck out the back of the garden and made a bee line for her house, hurriedly changed her clothes and then headed for the bunkhouse.
Fo and Luke looked up as she came in and both of them knew instantly something was wrong. Luke stood up and came to her. "Is it Tyree again? In the daylight?"
She was slightly out of breath, but tried to joke anyway. "Worse. Elroy and both all-powerfuls. Up at your dad's house."
Luke was relieved. "Oh, good. I thought he'd gotten into your house again."
The Outer Edge of Heaven Page 20