by Smith, Bobbi
“Pa, are you ready to go?” Jake came to him, sensing that Eve’s death had been a blow to him and that he needed to get away.
“Yes,” he answered, quietly. “Yes, I think I am.”
Mac glanced to where Jennie stood with Rick. “How’s your shoulder?”
“It’s just a flesh wound, Mac.”
“You’re able to ride?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” he said as he turned away from the death of his past. “Let’s go home, then. Hildago is waiting.”
Thirty-six
One month later—El Rancho Grande
The moonbeams streamed through the unshuttered bedroom window, bathing the embracing lovers in pale, silver-kissed light. Wrapped in one another’s arms, Rick and Jennie rested on the widespread coolnesss of the bed, replete in their love.
Jennie raised up on her elbows to stare down at her handsome husband admiringly. “I love you, Rick,” she said simply as she bent to kiss him, her lips touching his in a fleeting pledge.
“I love you, too, Mrs. Peralta.” His smile flashed in the darkness.
“That sounds so nice,” she purred, shifting to lie against his chest.
The hard-tipped softness of her breasts pressed so intimately to him brought a low growl from Rick and he pulled her up, his mouth seeking hers in a passionate exchange.
“You’re not sorry?” he questioned when they’d finally moved apart.
“About what?” she asked wide-eyed.
“About leaving the M Circle C so soon after our wedding. I know I rushed you more than a little—”
“No, I’m not sorry. My place is with you—my husband.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.” He smiled at her tenderly. “Some women might not have enjoyed a honeymoon on the trail.”
Jennie laughed as she remembered their trek to his home in the company of his grandfather and several ranch hands.
“It was—different—and our privacy was severely limited.”
“Nonexistent, is more like it.” He laughed.
“But you’re worth the hardship.” Jennie paused for effect as she added teasingly, “I think.”
“You only think?” he said in mock outrage as his hands began to move a rousingly over her. “Don’t you know?”
“I know,” she told him in quiet confidence as they kissed once more. “Do you think Todd and Carrie are as happily married as we are?”
“Nobody could ever be as happy as we are,” Rick assured her as he pressed a heated kiss to the softness of her throat. “But I think they might come close.”
“Mmmmm,” she murmured sensuously as his lips moved lower in their continued foray. “Pa and Hildago will, too.”
“They deserve all the happiness they can get after waiting so long to be married, but I’m glad things finally worked out for them.”
“Me, too.” Jennie smiled as she thought of the other woman’s delight over Mac’s marriage proposal. She paused for a moment as she remembered all the excitement of that fateful day, and she shivered at the thought of how close they had come to being killed. “I’m just sorry that things turned out the way they did with Eve.”
“Sweetheart.” Rick held her close. “She was responsible for the life she led, not you.”
“I know, but—”
“No buts. Not tonight and not ever. All right?” He lifted her chin and met her gaze lovingly.
“All right.” She sighed as he kissed her tenderly, and the passion exploded between them again as they moved together in blissful union, seeking and finding, touching and holding, loving and being loved, until the flames of their desire consumed them, and they reached the peak of excitement together, sharing a love that would last for all time.
ZEBRA BOOKS are published by
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Copyright © 1986 by Bobbi Smith
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ISBN: 978-1-4201-3150-5
First Electronic Edition: November 2013
eISBN-13: 978-1-4201-3281-6
eISBN-10: 1-4201-3281-4