“People get food poisoning at them things,” Ty said. “Food’s left out, and it spoils, and blamo, everybody’s throwing up.”
“You talk too much, amigo,” Ramon said, laughing.
Stony glanced up from where he’d been rubbing Chi with a towel “I think it’s a great idea, but let’s do it tomorrow night.”
Daphne knew she’d have to stay tonight because of the weather, but if Stony only wanted a mistress, she’d have to leave again tomorrow, whether he wanted her around or not. She had to protect her heart. “I might not be here tomorrow night,” she said.
Stony looked at her. “Sure you will.”
“We need to talk,” Daphne said.
Stony smiled. “That, too.” He handed the towel to Ramon. “Would you mind taking over here for a while?”
“Sure thing, Señor Stony.”
Stony stood and walked over to Daphne. “If you boys will excuse us, we have to go up to the house and discuss the menu for the potluck tomorrow night.”
“Can I invite somebody?” Big Clyde asked.
“He means the librarian,” Andy teased.
Daphne glanced at Big Clyde and could tell from his blush that matters were progressing with his love life. Maybe feng shui worked for some people, but she wasn’t counting on it for herself.
“Invite anybody you want,” Stony said. “See y’all later.” He took Daphne’s arm and propelled her out the door and into the rain.
“I’m not going to bed with you, Stony Arnett,” Daphne said, once they were far enough away from the bunkhouse that no one could hear.
He kept steering her toward the ranch house with a firm grip. “Why not? Did you become a virgin again this morning?”
“As a matter of fact, I did.”
“It’s not often a guy can deflower a virgin three times in the space of a week.”
“You won’t be setting that record, either. I’m through letting this chemistry between us divert me from what I truly want, which is a home and a husband who loves me.”
Stony paused in front of the main house and swept out an arm. “How’s that?”
“What do you mean?”
“For the home part of what you want. I realize it’s not paid for, but I’m working on that. It needs a touch more fixing up, but I know a good decorator. So taking into consideration the mortgage and the condition of the place, will it do?”
Heart pounding, she turned to him. The look in his eyes made her forget the rain.
“And the second part of the question is, will I do?” he murmured, drawing her close. “I’m a little worn around the edges, haven’t taken much care of my heart, but I know somebody who can help me fix that, too.”
“Oh, Stony.” He hadn’t said the important things, but she was melting, just the same.
He tilted her face up to his. “I’ve never said this before, so it may not come out so smooth. But it seems that I love you and—”
“Seems?”
He sighed. “I knew I wouldn’t get it right.”
Her pulse was racing, but she fought to keep her head at this critical moment. “You either do or you don’t. There’s no seems about it.”
“Then I do. I definitely do.”
“Do what?”
“Tarnation, woman! Love you! I—love—you! Is that good enough?”
“Oh, Stony!” Wild with joy, she threw her arms around his neck and peppered his face with kisses.
“Hold it! That’s not the end of the speech.”
“It’s enough for me. Kiss me.”
“Not till I say what I need to say.” His hand trembled as he touched her cheek, and his gaze was anxious. “I’ve been practicing in my head ever since we found Chi, and I’m gonna ride this baby to the buzzer.”
Her heart squeezed at the determination and love in his voice. “All right, cowboy,” she murmured.
He took a deep breath. “I love you and I want you to be my wife.” He let out the breath in a long sigh. “There. It’s done.”
Her throat tightened. He’d faced the scariest monster in his universe...for her. “I love that speech.”
“Now it’s your turn to say something.”
Dreamily she traced the line of his dear mouth, the mouth she’d come to love before they’d ever met. “But I already did, this morning.”
“It could stand repeating, under the circumstances.”
She looked deep into his eyes. “I love you, Stony.” She watched the passion ignite with her words. “And I want you to be my husband. Will you kiss me now?”
“It’s raining.”
She smiled. “So what’s your point?”
“I have no idea.” And he proceeded to kiss her until their wet bodies were plastered together and they were on the verge of indecent behavior. Lifting his mouth from hers, he drew in a ragged breath as he rubbed his thumb across her lower lip. “I understand you’re a virgin, Miss Proctor.”
“That’s right.”
“Are you planning to save yourself until your wedding night?”
Desire raged within her, yet she managed to keep her tone prim. “I don’t think that will be necessary.”
He swept her up in his arms. “Glad to hear it.”
“Maybe before our wedding night I’ll become one again, just on general principles.”
He chuckled. “Sweetheart, as often as I plan to make love to you between now and then, I don’t think you’ll be able to claim virginity with a straight face, even on general principles.”
She gazed up at him as he carried her over the threshold and into their new life. “Then I’ll just have to do it with a smile.”
Epilogue
“WE SHOULDN’T BE havin’ this-here potluck reception outside,” Ty said. “It’ll rain for sure. Or the wind’ll come up and blow these flower doodads off the tables.”
“So where should we hold it, amigo?” Ramon asked as he readjusted the tilt of a centerpiece of wildflowers and white paper wedding bells. “In the barn?”
“Don’t pay no attention to him,” Jasper said. “I’m just hopin’ Big Clyde remembered to pick up the beer kegs on his way home from the church. Ever since he started courtin’ that librarian, seems like his brain’s been stuffed with horsehair.”
“Do you think Daphne’s gonna like how we done the centerpieces?” Andy asked. “Did we get enough pink and red in there for the feng shui to work good?”
“You’re a fine one to be worried about flowers,” Ramon said. “Sprinkling red pepper in Stony’s sheets like you did. Good thing I caught you doin’ it.”
“Good thing I put you in charge of Andy,” Jasper said.
“Aw, I didn’t mean no harm,” Andy said.
“I know.” Jasper tugged the brim of Andy’s hat over his eyes. “You just can’t help yourself.” The foreman stood back and surveyed the ranch yard. “Well, if Daphne don’t like the flowers, she ain’t gonna quarrel with the way we got them tables arranged, stickin’ out from the center table like spokes in a wheel. The chi’s gonna be whippin’ around this place like nobody’s business.”
“Hey!” Andy shouted. “Here comes Big Clyde, and there’s kegs in the truck. We’re gonna have us a party!”
“I’m tellin’ you, potlucks are risky,” Ty said. “Sure as the world, every blessed person will bring bean dip. We won’t have no potato salad, or fried chicken, or—”
“Quit your jawin’ and help unload them kegs,” Jasper said. “Folks’ll be here any minute now.”
Big Clyde hopped down from the cab. “You boys done a nice job with them tables and flowers. Looks real good.”
ñ“Where’s your seorita?” Ramon asked.
Big Clyde blushed, as he always did when the librarian was mentioned. “I asked if she’d bring Stony’s dad and Daphne’s mom back from the church, seein’ as how I had to detour and pick up the beer.”
“Good thinkin’,” Jasper said. “Now, let’s get them kegs up on the porch.”
Big Clyde opened the tail
gate. “That ceremony was real nice and all, with Stony’s dad as best man and Daphne’s mom as matron of honor, but I think you shoulda been best man, Jasper.”
“Nope.” Jasper pulled a keg toward him. “It was the way it was supposed to be.”
“But you made everything happen,” Andy said. “Big Clyde’s right. You shoulda been up there.”
“I think so, too, señior,” Ramon said. “You’ve been more of a papa than that other hombre. Being best man would have been like a reward for all you’ve done.”
“Will you look at that,” Ty said. “Here comes Stony’s truck, and sure enough we don’t have the beer unloaded. I just knew we’d be scramblin’ around at the last minute. We gotta hurry up and—”
“Hold on to your britches, cowboy,” Jasper said, grabbing Ty’s arm. “Ramon said somethin’ about a reward. We all deserve a reward, if it comes to that.” He stood with his hands on his hips and gazed over at the parking area while Stony stopped the truck, climbed down and walked around to the passenger side.
As Stony helped Daphne down, being careful to keep her white dress out of the dust, she glanced up at him and smiled. He paused, took off his Stetson and gave her a long kiss.
Jasper stood watching, and then turned to his men. He blinked and cleared his throat softly. “There’s your reward, boys.”
ISBN : 978-1-4592-6429-8
SINGLE IN THE SADDLE
Copyright © 1998 by Vicki Lewis Thompson.
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