Austin was lost in thoughts of his own.
He knew Tracey would marry him someday. It might take a while for her to sort her feelings out about Emily and to finally realize they belonged together as a family. It would be tough, but he would wait that long if that's what she needed. It had been purely his fault that it had taken this long. After all, it was his stupidity that broke them up six years ago. But if they hadn't been forced apart, they wouldn't be the people they were today, and there wouldn't be an Emily. He couldn't imagine life without his daughter, so maybe every black cloud did have a silver lining.
"Maybe Sunday we can drive down to Calera and look at the place." He finally broke the silence. "I can call the real estate agent tomorrow and set it up. He's a friend of mine and the house is already vacated. He says it needs some new carpet and a little paint, but that's about it," Austin said.
"That's good," she nodded, and nuzzled his neck.
"Mmmm. You're making me swerve all over this road."
She slid a hand up his thigh and over his shirt, licking his ear until he begged for mercy.
They pulled into the parking lot of El Chico a few minutes past seven. There was a line of people waiting all the way outside and more customers were sitting on the park benches in front of the double doors leading inside.
"I'm starving," Tracey whined like Emily. "And just look at that line!"
"Now, do you really think I'd bring you all the way over here to wait in line in that beautiful dress? Besides, your feet would hurt if you had to stand for long in those skinny high heels and I'd have to carry you. Give me a little credit, Trace. I've had reservations all week." He grinned.
The waiter escorted them to a table tucked around the corner in the back of the restaurant. He handed them a menu, brought ice water, salsa and tortilla chips for them to nibble on, took their drink order and returned in a few minutes.
"I'll have chicken enchiladas." She handed back the menu. "And some soft tortillas and hot vegetables, please."
"Yes, ma'am." He turned to Austin.
"A pound of beef fajitas. And don't forget that bottle I ordered when I made the reservations," Austin told him. "Thanks."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Miller," the boy smiled, and headed for the kitchen.
Austin reached around the candle and took her hand in his. The light flickered, making her green eyes more intriguing than ever. Her face was lovely by candlelight, soft and glowing and smiling up at him.
The time had come. He took a deep breath and prayed she wouldn't argue with him this time.
"Whatever are you thinking about?" she asked.
"You." He looked at her intently. "I love you, Tracey. I've always loved you and I want you to marry me. Will you?"
"Are you proposing again? Why?" Her tone was teasing, but Austin was too serious to notice.
"Look at me." He tilted her chin up and made her look right into his eyes. "I love you. I love you Red River deep and I want you to be my wife more than anything in the whole wide world." He smiled at the children's favorite words. "But I can wait. I've waited six years with no hope. I can wait another year with you right next door where I can see you every day. Just tell me today that you'll marry me and we can discuss a date later."
She took a deep breath, knowing what she wanted at last. Her heart was happy and her mind was made up for the first time in six years.
"Yes, Austin. I'll marry you." She leaned across the table and kissed him sweetly on the lips. "I love you Red River deep, too."
He never took his eyes from hers but fiddled in his jacket pocket until he found a small velvet box. He pulled it out and set it on the table between them. The waiter reappeared with a bottle of champagne wrapped in a white linen napkin. Without a word he popped the cork and filled their glasses, set the bottle in a crystal ice bucket and disappeared.
Austin picked up one and handed it to Tracey. Then he picked up his glass and clinked it gently against hers. "To us," he said simply and took the first sip.
"This is beautiful," she said. "Austin, I feel so peaceful. I can't even describe the way I feel."
"Well, maybe I can get you excited." He opened the velvet box she hadn't noticed him put on the table, to reveal a wide gold band set with a handsome diamond. "The other piece is still at the jewelers. It's a plain weddin' band. You can wear even when you're makin' bread dough." His mouth was dry and he reached for the glass of champagne.
She squealed. "I love it. Put it on my finger right now." She held out a trembling hand. "Good grief. We're really engaged," she said.
"Yep, I guess we are." He put the ring on her finger.
"It fits perfectly," she said.
"Well, it should. I remembered your ring size from a long time ago."
Tracey tilted the ring so it would pick up the candlelight and sparkle. "It's beautiful. You know what I like, Austin."
"Yes, I do," he said. He kissed the tips of her fingers as he looked at the ring on her hand.
"Austin. Let's go look at the land on Sunday and if we like it, we'll put a down payment on it. I want to tell your folks tomorrow that we're getting married."
"Okay," he said.
"And I want to get married at their house, in their living room with all your family there and my dad and Molly, and Jackson and Emily that's all. No school faculty or outsiders." She continued to look at the ring and tell him what she'd already decided before she left the apartment that night.
"Okay," he said again.
"And I want one of your nieces to play the piano for me and Daddy to give me away but please, no bridesmaids."
"How are we going to use up the rest of the nieces if you don't have bridesmaids?" Austin asked innocently.
"Oh, hush!" She made a move to swat him, but he grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"One more thing," Tracey added. "I want to talk to a good lawyer tomorrow morning. I want to adopt Emily as my own. Then when she calls me Mommy it will be for real."
Her eyes were shining, and Austin had to wipe his own tears away.
"Tracey Walker," he said softly. "I do believe you just made me the happiest man on earth."
They finished their meal and the champagne, which went straight to Tracey's head. As if I wasn't giddy enough, she thought happily. Austin paid the check and looked across the table at her.
"Molly's spending the night, you know. We don't have to go home at all."
"Well, we should call her."
He indicated the pay phone near the door.
"What exactly do you have in mind, Austin?"
"There's a motel right next door."
"I saw it as we drove in. Couldn't miss the blue neon cowboy tipping his hat and winking on the sign. I like his red neon bandanna, too. Think that place has sheets on the beds?"
Austin winked at her.
"I happen to know it does. And they keep every room as tidy as my Momma's guest bedroom."
"Do you happen to know if there's a room available?"
He dangled the room key from his finger, and grinned that lopsided grin at her one more time. She never could resist that grin.
"Ready when you are, Austin Miller."
Without a word he pulled the pickup around to the back of the motel, got out and opened the door for her. She forced her shaky knees to swing out of the door he had opened for her, and walk beside him up the stairs to room 231.
It was at least a hundred miles to the door and she was more jittery than she'd been the first time they'd made love more than six years ago. He opened the door, picked her up as if she weighed nothing, carried her across the threshold and kicked the door shut with the heel of his boot. He set her down in the middle of the floor and tossed the key on the dresser, holding her close for one long, hungry kiss.
Neither of them noticed the gaudy blue and red striped bedspread or the imitation print of a lighthouse hanging above the bed. They didn't care about the movie advertised on the triangular piece of cardboard on top of the television set, or the two differe
nt barbecue places they could call for takeout. They didn't even know an hour later how they'd gotten out of their clothes and under the covers.
The first time was fast, frantic and furious. They came together as passionately as before, and cried for joy when they reached their release as one.
The second time, Austin began with slow kisses . . . and the gentle touch he knew she craved. Even after six years of separation, he still remembered how much she liked to be stroked, and he warmed her gently with his strong hands, caressing her breasts and moving slowly down her body until she opened to him once more.
He made the loving last this time, savoring every touch, every kiss, every motion, until the sensation became so overpowering that neither of them could wait another moment. Then Austin began a slow rhythm that Tracey matched, cradling his muscular body with her soft one, yielding to him, kissing him wildly, until they reached the top together and saw the same fireworks light up their little room. Spent, blissfully exhausted, they curled up in each other's arms, at peace at last.
Austin stretched out beside her, feeling the warmth of her body next to his, not believing that he could wake up to Tracey every morning for the rest of his life. She nuzzled into the curve of his arm, and almost went to sleep, but not quite. Not yet. She saw the moon rise at the top of the window, and disappear in its own sweet time, and then she drifted off.
Outside their room, the blue neon cowboy winked, and tipped his hat at the stars.
Chapter Fourteen
Today was Tracey's wedding day. She was marrying the only man she ever really loved and the father of her child, and every day would bring something new to love about and fight about. When she stretched herself awake that morning in the Miller farmhouse there was peace in her heart.
She pulled the curtain back and looked outside. She could see Austin and Jackson walking across the yard together, going toward the pasture fence, but Abu and Maybelle weren't there anymore. They were already in their new barn at the house in Calera. Tracey couldn't believe so much had happened so soon. She and Austin and Jackson had looked at the house and land, and then little Jackson had gone and told his Poppa Jack all about it.
The very next day, the real estate agent called to tell them that Jack Walker had paid for the parcel of land in full. When Tracey called to tell him that wasn't the way things were going to be done, he told her flatly to shut her pretty mouth. It was his wedding gift to them and he wasn't taking no for an answer. Besides, he reminded her quite loudly, everything he had would be hers someday and it wasn't any fun to make money if he didn't have anyone to spend it on.
The Miller family had pitched in after work and on the past four weekends to paint the outside and inside of the new house and build a barn for Abu and Maybelle. Just last week the new carpet had been installed and yesterday she and Austin had moved all their furniture out of the apartments into the new house.
Tracey had set her old rocker and six-paned mirror in the bedroom first thing, and Jackson was just able to see the top of his head in the bottom row for the first time.
He'd been more than pleased with himself, and ran all over the house to find Emily and tell her how big he was getting.
Several hours later, Tracey returned to the bedroom to get ready. Her wedding suit was laid out on the four-poster, and she touched the ivory brocade with a fingertip, still not quite believing it. Molly had helped her pick it out, and had pretended not to cry, pointing out over and over how beautiful Tracey would look.
The suit jacket had a stand-up collar, and was fitted to a peplum waist, with twenty-four tiny covered buttons down the front. The long, leg-o'-mutton sleeves ended in points on her hands and were closed with twelve of the same tiny buttons. Her hat, of ivory brocade just like the suit, had a big bow of illusion caught with a single rose of ivory silk at the back.
Susan poked her head in the door.
"Hey. You're going to become my sister-in-law in less than an hour and you're still in your slip."
"I was wondering where you were. Can't button all these by myself."
Tracy slipped the narrow skirt over her hips, and Susan quickly fastened the zipper and button in the back.
"Where's your garter? Better put it on before we forget," Susan said.
"That's my something old and blue," Tracey said softly. "It was my mother's." She took a faded blue garter out of a silk lingerie case, and slipped it up to near the top of her thigh.
"Okay. What's borrowed and what's new?" Susan laughed.
"What have you got?"
Susan unfastened the clasp of the heart-shaped locket that hung around her neck.
"My darlin' husband bought this for me last week. But you have to give it back, or he'll have a cow."
Tracey giggled. "Thanks, Susan."
Susan fastened the locket around Tracey's neck and helped her into the peplum jacket, buttoning up the buttons as quickly as she could.
"Are we in that much of a hurry?" Tracey asked nervously.
"Kinda. Everyone's sittin' down already. Except Momma and Molly, who were still tearin' around the kitchen, but I told them to quit. They look funny with their Sunday best dresses on and those rose corsages and their flour sack aprons."
Tracey smiled.
"Did you see the cake? Molly put two dozen real roses on it since that's what my mother had at her wedding."
"It's absolutely gorgeous. Grandpa's got the tables all set up outside for the supper afterwards. Momma put her best damask tablecloths on them and there's sunflowers and daisies in the middle of them all, except the table where you and Austin are sittin'. She insisted on a big bunch of wildflowers and roses there. Grandpa has barbecued everything that lay still and didn't moo. If anyone goes hungry, that's their problem," Susan rattled on. She handed Tracey her hat and helped set it just right.
"Oh! Your bouquet? Is that still downstairs?"
"Kelly said she'd bring it up."
As if she'd heard her cue, Kelly came in, and handed her the bouquet. Mrs. Miller had outdone herself. It held wildflowers of every color of the rainbow, intermixed with fragrant roses and English ivy. Ivory silk ribbons trailed from it, almost to Tracey's ankles.
"Shoes!" Tracey said. "I almost forgot to put my shoes on."
"Now we've heard of barefoot and pregnant down here in Tom Bean," Kelly laughed. "But you've got to wear your shoes with an outfit that beautiful."
"Thank you both," Tracey said. "This is the best day in the . . ."
"Whole world," Susan and Kelly chimed in together.
"See you later." Both women left, smiling at her father who had been waiting in the living room until the right time.
"You're beautiful," he told her as he took her arm to escort her down the hall. "You look so much like your mother today it brings tears to this old man's eyes. And that little Emily looks enough like you to be your natural daughter, instead of your adopted one. Who would've ever thought six years ago when Jackson was just six weeks old and you brought him to my home the first time, that all this would come to pass?"
"Hush, Daddy," she whispered. "You'll make my cry."
"There's our cue. Now smile pretty. Your mother didn't look at anyone but me and she smiled when she came down that church aisle to my side. She didn't look at anyone else and she never missed a step or stumbled either." He stepped through the back door and into the house which smelled like fresh bread, barbecue and roses all blended together.
He didn't need to tell her to look at Austin, because from the time she walked in the house, no one else existed. Austin's niece Tiffany played and her sister sang The Rose as she and her father entered the living room. He took her to stand beside Austin, who was waiting for her near the window, with Jackson and Emily almost hopping with excitement. When the song was finished, she thought she heard Molly sob quietly but she didn't turn around to look.
"Dearly beloved." The preacher, a family friend of Mrs. Miller started the ceremony. "We are gathered here today with Tracey Walker and Austin M
iller as they are married to each other."
Austin was supposed to be listening to the preacher and looking at him, but he couldn't keep his eyes from straying or his mind either. This was the day he'd never thought he'd see. This was the day he had longed for for six years. In a few short moments Tracey would be his wife for all eternity.
"Do you, Tracey Dianne Walker, take this man to be your husband?"
"I do take you, Austin, to be my husband, to hold you in times of sorrow, to laugh with you in joy, to share my life with you forever. I promise to make a home for you and our children, both present and those to come, and I vow to love you forever," she said, loud and clear.
"Do you, Austin Nelson Miller, take this woman to be your wife?"
"I do take you, Trace, to be my wife, to hold you in times of sorrow, to laugh with you in joy, to share my life with you forever. I promise to provide a home for you and our children, both present and those to come, and I vow to love you forever and ever with a love that is Red River deep."
And Austin slipped the plain gold band onto Tracey's finger, and sealed his vow with a kiss.
Author Bio
Carolyn Brown is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author and a RITA finalist. With 68 published books and seven more on the list for publication in the next several months, she has written historical, contemporary, cowboys, country music mass market paperbacks and has recently crossed over into the women’s fiction market as well. She and her husband, a retired English teacher and author of mystery novels, live in southern Oklahoma. They have three grown children and enough grandchildren to keep them young. And no, her husband does not edit for her because she can’t afford a divorce.
Small Town Romance Collection: Four Complete Romances & A New Novella Page 29