“Some things are changing, aren't they, Mom?”
“Dee, this summer has changed almost everything.”
“Oh, good,” Delaney laughed. “Are you going to get a tattoo?”
“Some things will never change.”
“Do you want to see my tattoo?” Delaney asked.
“Why don't you just tell me where it is?”
“Out loud?” Delaney gasped.
Develyn bit her lip. “I don't think we want to go there. Did you get all your things put in the Cherokee?”
“Hey, I forgot to tell you that Lily called.” Casey tucked her clean white blouse into her Wranglers as she scampered across the porch. “You were in the shower. She said call her back whenever you get time.”
“So their flights went fine?”
“She said the church is available on October 1.”
“So they have set a date?”
“Is that cool or what?” Casey licked her fingers and mashed down her black bangs.
“I've never been a matron of honor before, and this year I get to do it twice,” Develyn grinned.
Casey wound her long braid on top of her head. “Maybe I should put my hair up?”
Delaney made a face. Develyn wrinkled her nose.
“Then again,” Casey grinned, “maybe not.”
With packages in hand, Cooper Tallon stepped out of his trailer and strolled up. “Dev, I know we said our good-byes last night…”
“You call 3:30 a.m. ‘last night’?” Delaney laughed. “In five more minutes Casey and I were going to turn on the spotlights.”
“We had the buckets of cold water already poured,” Casey added.
Cooper rubbed his square chin, then glanced down at the packages. “I wanted to give you a couple of presents.”
“You didn't need to,” Develyn protested.
“This one, I didn't need to… it's just a fun project.” He handed her a small, heavy gift sack. “I found it in the ruins of your cabin. It was broken, but not melted, so I restored it. I figured it must hold a memory or two.”
Develyn reached into the sack and tugged out a round, brass object. “My clock? You fixed my clock?”
“It seemed to be stuck on 12:20. So I cleaned it, straightened out the dent, and got it running again.”
Develyn sucked in a breath and held it. “You certainly did, Mr. Cooper Tallon.”
“Why are you crying, Mom?” Delaney probed.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she watched the ticking second hand. “Because it feels good to get my clock running again.”
Casey wrapped her arms around Develyn. “I've got to get to the store. Jackson needs me. Doesn't that sound wonderful? You and Dee are stopping for free going-away Popsicles, right?”
“Yes, we are. We'll see you there.” Casey piled into her old truck and fogged dust down the drive.
Cooper slipped his arm around Develyn.
“By the way, Renny Slater stopped by around daylight but didn't want to wake you up.”
“That was thoughtful, but this is one time I wouldn't have minded.”
“He was in a hurry. He said a band of wild horses broke out on I-25 north of Douglass, and the state patrol begged him to come down.”
Develyn shook her head, then ran her fingers though her short, blonde hair. “I bet they did. That's my mustang breaker. I don't think Wyoming could survive without Renny Slater. There is no one quite like him.”
“He said he'll see you down the road.”
She laid her head on Cooper's chest and closed her eyes. “This is tougher than I thought,” she murmured.
“I can sit in the car if you two need to kiss some more,” Delaney said.
“No,” Cooper insisted. “I want you here. I've got another present for your mama to open, and I want you to see it too.”
The big gift bag had several envelopes.
“Start with this one.”
Develyn read the card slowly.
“Sometimes I wonder if you really know how much you mean to me. I wonder if you know how often in a day my thoughts turn to you. Do you know how I like to watch you, listen to you, tease you…love you? You came into my world and changed my life. I am grateful to the Lord for the changes.”
“Wow, that is a wonderful card, Coop.”
“I meant ever' word of it.”
“What were those words he wrote at the bottom?” Delaney asked.
“It was just a personal note,” Develyn explained. “Just a quote from a country song.”
Delaney grabbed the card and laughed. “‘There ain't nothin' about you that don't do somethin' for me.’”
“Open the dadgum present,” Cooper blushed.
Develyn stared at the contents. “Airline tickets?”
Delaney peered over her shoulder. “For Thanksgiving week.”
Develyn kissed Coop's cheek. “Oh, honey, what a wonderful present. Now I know when I'm coming back.”
“Mom, there's more than one ticket.” Delaney prodded.
“Oh, there's one for you, Dee! How generous. And two for Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Lawrence? This is going to be a wonderful Thankgiving. The newlyweds get to come too. And tickets for my mother and David?” She tried to pry into Tallon's gleaming steel-gray eyes. “You are flying everyone to Wyoming? I don't understand.”
“I figured we'd all like to attend Casey and Jackson's wedding.” He winked at Delaney.
“So that's when the date is. I wonder why she didn't tell me. Oh, yes, we will want to come and… wait, I mean, my mother and David aren't exactly the Wyoming type, honey.”
“I think you are wrong. I'm sure they will want to come.” He handed her a small gold box.
“Is this?” Develyn gasped.
“I think your mama will want to attend her daughter's wedding.”
“Oh yes!” Develyn kissed Cooper's lips. “When did you do all this shopping?”
“I started plannin' it the night we caught Hunter Burke. I told you I had personal business in town yesterday. Well, a wedding ring and mushy cards is about as personal as this ol’ cowboy gets.” He put the palms of his hands on her cheeks and kissed her back.
“Now do you want me in the car?” Cooper asked.
“No,” Develyn insisted. “We need a chaperone.” She opened the box and kissed Cooper again. “But, honey, we haven't got this figured out yet. I'll be in Indiana for almost nine months of the year, and you'll be in Wyoming. How will we do that?”
“Dev, it will work out. Maybe it's taken me all summer to figure out, but if I can only have you part of the time for now, that's far better than any other option I've ever had. If I can only have you here in our big Wyoming log home three months of the year, we'll just have to pack four times as much fun in every day we're together. I'll get to Indiana as often as I can. You come out here when you can. Can you live with that, Miss Dev?”
She slipped the ring on her finger and pressed the ticking clock against her chest. “Yes, sir, Mr. Tallon, I believe I can.”
About the Author
STEPHEN BLY has authored ninety-two books, hundreds of articles, and has over one million books in print. His book The Long Trail Home (Broadman & Holman) won the 2002 Christy Award for excellence in fiction. His most recent book Paperback Writer (Broadman & Holman) has received strong national reviews (Publisher’s Weekly, July 14, 2003, et. al.). He speaks at colleges, schools, churches, seminars, and conferences across the U.S. and Canada. He has spoken on numerous television and radio programs, including Dr. James Dobson’s Focus On the Family. He is the pastor of the only church in town, Winchester Community Church. He also serves as the town’s mayor. He is an active member of the Western Writers of America.
He and his wife, Janet (who is also a writer), live at 4,000 feet elevation in the mountains of north-central Idaho, in the pine trees, next to a lake on the Nez Perce Indian Reser
vation. The Blys have three sons: Russ, Mike, and Aaron, two daughters-in-law, Lois and Michelle, and two grandchildren, Zachary and Miranda.
He is seldom, if ever, seen without his cowboy boots, hat, and jeans.
He owns two horses … Carlos and Sage (the horse formerly known as Prince.)
In 1963 he married the girl who sat behind him in his freshman English class.
Other Books by Stephen Bly
Fortunes of the Black Hills series
Book #1: Beneath a Dakota Cross
Book #2: Shadow of Legends
Book #3: The Long Trail Home
Book #4: Friends and Enemies
Book #5: Last of the Texas Camp
Book #6: The Next Roundup
Contemporary Novel
Paperback Writer
For information on other books by this author, write:
Stephen Bly
Winchester, Idaho 83555
or check out his Web site at
www.blybook.com
Table of Contents
Memories of a Dirt Road Town Front Matter
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
The Mustang Breaker Front Matter
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Wish I'd Known You Tears Ago Front Matter
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter14
About the Author
Other Books By Author
Guide
Table of Contents
Stephen Bly's Horse Dreams Trilogy: Memories of a Dirt Road, the Mustang Breaker, Wish I'd Known You Tears Ago Page 72