"This must be your Mercy." Maria crossed the room in a rush and extended her hand. "I'm Maria, and you are just as beautiful as Hunter told us. He said the first time you came into the cantina to yell at him about the noise, he thought an angel had been dropped out of the heavens."
Hunter blushed and Mercy giggled.
"Thank you, Maria." Mercy stood up and realized just how short Maria was.
"And so tall." Maria craned her neck to see all the way to the top of Mercy. "I'm not even five feet tall. I would love to be tall!"
"You're perfect just like you are." Mickey put his arm around her. "Guess what, Hunter. Maria liked Boston. And my folks want us to move closer so they can see their grandchild more often," he said.
"Don't tell me." Hunter stood up, dwarfing Mickey as much as Mercy did Maria. "You're going to sell the cantina and move back east and get a real job. I thought you hated the nine-to-five way of life."
"I did." Mickey nodded and slapped Hunter on the back. "I've fought the tie and suit for a long time now, but the folks are getting older now, and it's time for me to grow up already. I've got a good woman—and a baby on the way."
"Hey, you don't have to explain anything to me." Hunter smiled widely. "You'll do all right. Maybe me and Mercy will fly out there and see you when the baby is born," he said.
"That would be wonderful." Maria patted her flat stomach, and Mercy felt the briefest flash of envy.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
They rode in comfortable silence until they crossed the border into Laredo. Hunter tried to sort out his feelings as he watched the truck eat up the yellow lines on the highway, but when they were back in Texas he still didn't know what he wanted to do about his feelings for Mercy. He'd tried marriage a second time after only a short relationship and it had been a disaster. But, he argued with himself, he'd never, ever felt like he did last Night when Mercy came to his bed and he might never have another chance to feel like that again.
One thing for sure, he couldn't take forever to make up his mind. That church youth group director—Cody—would damn sure try to talk her into bed with him in nothing flat. Thoughts of that fired his anger, and visions of Mercy in Cody's arms made his jaw set in a firm line. Hunter was literally gritting his teeth as he thought about a rival with his hands on Mercy's naked breasts. That was his territory, virgin until last night, and he damn sure didn't intend to share her with any one else, especially some halo-wearing religious nut.
Then what do you intend to do? a tiny, niggling voice asked, and Hunter didn't know how to answer it. What he wanted to do was keep right on driving to his ranch near Denton, take Mercy with him and never look back. But he'd already botched up two marriages, and he loved Mercy too much—there, he admitted it!—to mess up a marriage with her, too.
Mercy watched Mexico disappear behind her and Texas spread out ahead of the truck. Before long, he would drop her off at her folks' house and she still didn't know where she stood with Hunter Wilson. In spite of the Indian summer's heat, a chill encompassed her heart and she wanted him to keep driving until they reached the ranch. If he didn't want to marry her, she'd live with him forever in sin. Just so long as he didn't leave her in the driveway like an unwanted kitten. Not after last night.
There was always Cody, she told herself. Would she settle for second best if she never heard from Hunter again? She shook her head as a tear formed in her eye and she looked out the side window of the truck so Hunter couldn't tell that the very thought of life without him was so desolate she didn't want to think about it.
But, maybe, just maybe, Cody would make her feel reckless enough to drop her nightgown in the floor and crawl into bed with him. She couldn't imagine him holding her afterwards until they both fell asleep. She shut her eyes tightly, the lonesome tear finding its way down her cheek, but she still couldn't conjure up a vision of anyone but Hunter beside her. And yet, in the two hours they'd been in this truck, he'd said only a few words, and not once had he mentioned the words "love" or "marriage."
But Mercy had a feeling they were both on the edge of something more wonderful than either of them could imagine. Something so big it promised a lifetime of desire and love . . . and yet they both rode in silence. She imagined herself walking up to the front door, suitcase in hand, and the end in sight of what could have been, remembering that one brief night when they had made love. She put the thought aside.
Hunter was lost in his own reverie. He knew without a doubt that he had found his soul mate and yet didn't know if he could ever utter those marriage vows again.
"Penny for your thoughts, Mercy." He reached across the seat and patted her thigh, causing a ripple of pure heedless desire to surge through her like an electric shock.
"Cost you one helluva lot more than that, Hunter." She turned to look at him and he could see a sadness in her face that touched his heart.
"Then name the price," he said. "Tell me what it is that made you so sad."
"The thought that I may never see you again. But I don't want to make you feel guilty because of last night," she said shakily. "I came into your room with my eyes wide open, and it wasn't as if you seduced me."
"Think I'd dump you and not call? Come on, Mercy, give me a little more credit than that?" he said testily. Damn it all, anyway, did she really think he would be such a cad?
"I don't know, Hunter." She looked away. "I've fought with you, worked with you, and I know how you make me feel, but honey, I really don't know you at all. What usually happens the day after some woman comes and sneaks into your bed? Do you call her the next day?"
"There's nothing usual about what happened between us, Mercy. I wanted to talk to you and we spent three days together and we made love—because we both wanted to. I'm trying to sort out my feelings, too, just like you probably are. All I know right now is that I don't want to lose you—but I don't want to rush into anything either. I can't imagine going home without you beside me. I could never ask you to compromise your convictions and live with me, and yet . . ." He paused, looking for the right words.
"What, Hunter?" she said abruptly. "You're scared of marriage since you messed up so badly two times already?"
"Something like that," he whispered hoarsely.
"Well, you've got to put the past behind you. I'm not Carla, and I can never be a replacement for her. I don't want to be. And I'm sure as hell not Tammy. I'm just me, and this relationship isn't going to be about anyone else. I can't compare you to anyone I've known in the past and you shouldn't compare me to those two women," she explained, with a sinking feeling that asking Hunter to forget the two women he'd married was asking too much. But his very next words put her heart at ease.
"I won't do that. I promise. Now will you come to the ranch next Friday night and stay the weekend?" he said in a whoosh before he lost his courage or confidence. "There's a fall dance we can go to and—"
"Thought you'd never ask." Mercy smiled and slid across the bench seat until she was plastered against his side, and put her hand on his thigh, causing pure, unadulterated lust to flood through his body.
One thing Hunter knew for sure: if he ever did want to marry this girl, it would be no ordinary union. There would be fiery arguments and passionate nights, but he'd know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was number one with her.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Hunter led Mercy to the middle of the dance area, slowly wrapped his arms around her and began a slow waltz. She didn't see Kim and Marta, for which she was grateful, while she was looking for Gloria. Hunter didn't take his eyes from her—those fabulous green eyes telling her everything that was in his mind and soul. He didn't care if the whole party broke up and went home—just leave the band and please, God, don't ever let me lose her again, he thought as he let every emotion in his heart flow from his eyes to hers, knowing that she would never betray the trust that filled him.
"Can I cut in?" A hired hand tapped him on the shoulder.
"Not this time." Hunter didn't miss a step.
"This is our song."
"Oh, I didn't know this was our song." Mercy all but purred when the man tipped his black Stetson hat and went back to his table.
"Every song they play tonight is our song," Hunter said bluntly.
When that dance ended Jeremy and Gloria somehow appeared beside them. One minute she and Hunter had been the only two people in the big old barn and the next they were surrounded by other folks who had been dancing. And right in amongst the dancers were their two friends, grinning to beat the band, and wanting Hunter and Mercy to join them at their table for a drink.
"I suppose," Hunter agreed, but drew Mercy close to his side as they made their way through the people to the table. "But not for long. I intend to spend every moment I can with Mercy . . . alone."
"That's clear enough," Jeremy laughed.
"While you two big strong cowboys go find us something to drink, I think I better visit the ladies' room," Mercy declared before she sat down.
"Mind if I join you?" Gloria pushed back the chair she'd just sat down in. The troublesome twosome of Kim and Marta were nowhere to be seen, but Gloria was taking no chances.
"Not a bit," Mercy smiled.
They had no sooner shut the doors to the two stalls in the women's bathroom than Kim and Marta shoved their way into the bathroom, bent on mischief, and pretended to fluff up their hair and touch up their makeup.
"Well, I guess I'd better tell Hunter tonight before that big blond thinks she's got ground to stand on," Kim said, just a shade too loudly.
"I would have told him a helluva lot sooner than now." Marta sounded like she was reading from a prepared speech.
Gloria shut her eyes and wished she didn't have to hear it. She could just imagine how Mercy was feeling. The best thing those two could ever contribute to society would be notices on the obituary page and she'd sure be happy to have the honor of dispatching them herself, except for the Sixth Commandment and all. She reminded herself that bullets would probably just bounce off their hard hearts.
"I just wanted him to have time to get used to the idea," Kim went on. "You know it ain't easy for a man to think he's been forced into marriage because he was too stupid to use birth control. I'm pregnant and it's Hunter's child. He's either going to pay for an abortion or marry me and give the baby a name." Kim slurred a couple of words but she sounded almost proud.
"He won't give you money for an abortion. You know how he feels about that. Tammy had to sell off one of her diamonds that time she got pregnant. Lord, she didn't dare tell him since it wasn't his kid, but Hunter's got those damned old-fashioned ways of looking at things. What are you going to do if he says it ain't his?" Marta asked.
"Just remind him of that night when he came home after tearing up to Oklahoma to talk with the giant about that little note. Remember, he came out to our trailer and you took off with one of the hands for a midnight picnic. Me and Hunter had our own little party in the bedroom." Kim winked at her reflection in the mirror and Marta winked back.
Mercy's first reaction was nausea. She clapped her hand over her mouth. The second was dizziness, acute enough that she leaned forward and put her head between her knees to keep from falling off the toilet seat in a dead faint. If that sleazy woman was pregnant with Hunter's baby, Hunter would marry her because that's the kind of man he was. She was looking at the tile when a hand bearing two squares of toilet paper fluttered under the door toward her.
Gloria's hand shook the paper violently, demanding that she take it, so she reached out and crumpled it up. Just before she tossed it in the trash can she noticed a bit of blue ink on the corner, and unfolded it gently. In big bold letters it read: Don't believe a word. Hunter spent the night with us when he got back.
Mercy was furious. Those two good-for-nothing troublemakers were attempting to put a wedge between her and Hunter again. But Kim and Marta can only make you mad if you let them, she told herself as she straightened up with a new purpose. And they can only drive that wedge if you hand them the hammer. So stand up and fight for what you want, because Hunter won't come to make amends every time you hear a bit of gossip and have hysterics.
Mercy swung the stall door open forcefully and crossed her arms over her chest as she glared at Kim and Marta. "Did I hear one of you call me a giant?" she asked, fire in her eyes. They looked at each other and back at her again. They sure didn't expect her to stand up to them. They thought they'd sneak back out, damage all done, and she'd rush off again in a fit of anger. It had worked that way last time, so why wasn't it working this time?
"I guess we did." Marta smiled sweetly. "But you can't deny that you're pretty tall for a woman. Guess you have trouble finding men who don't have to look up to you, don't you?"
"And what's this about Hunter?" Mercy turned her glare solely on Kim, who suddenly wished she was anywhere but in a small bathroom with all that hostility. With that much wrath, this crazy blond woman could probably knock her into the next county with one sweep of her right hand.
"Well," Kim tried to sound very brave, "he needed someone to take care of him that night you spurned him so terribly. So he came out to our trailer and we got to drinking and you know what that can lead to."
"No, I don't," Mercy said. "Tell me, Kim, what does drinking lead to?"
Gloria sat very still and sighed with relief. She'd been ready to rush out and help Mercy in the battle, but it sounded like her friend was going to bring the walls of Jericho down all by herself without any assistance.
"Oh, don't play stupid. You might be naive, but surely you know a few things about sex, honey. When Hunter drinks, he likes company. I mean in bed. He likes little women so he can feel all powerful. He says a big woman like you makes him feel like he's a lot less a man." Kim let the lies roll off her tongue like they were gospel.
"Oh? What else did he tell you?" Mercy asked.
"Just said that you weren't even his type and he didn't know what in the hell he made the trip up to Oklahoma for anyway. Said I was his type even if I was wild. Said he loved the way I made him feel all mushy inside when I went to bed with him. I can't believe you'd come back up here. Gawd Almighty, it's been months. I even dyed my hair red for him, since that's what he likes so well. Hell, honey, I even let him call me Carla when we was in the middle of sex last weekend." Kim was getting into her story so much she was beginning to believe it.
"Last weekend?" Mercy cocked her head to one side.
"Sure, last weekend." Kim nodded. "He showed up at my trailer door on Saturday night. I just took him by that big old hand of his and led him to the bedroom and made him forget everything."
Gloria wanted to giggle so bad she had to clamp her hand over her mouth. She'd bet her new Cadillac on the fact that Hunter and Mercy had spent last weekend together, just by the way they looked at each other this evening. Mercy hadn't just shown up out of the clear blue Texas sky. Hunter didn't just meet her at the door and walk into the barn and start dancing with her like that. And besides, he'd spent last weekend in Mexico helping Mickey out with the cantina down there, so he hadn't even been here on Saturday night.
"I see." Mercy smiled too happily to suit Kim. "And now you're pregnant. Just one week and you already know it?"
"Oh, honey, it wasn't then that Hunter made me pregnant. It was that time when you tossed him out in Oklahoma and wouldn't let him explain all about his other two wives. You know, they don't matter to me at all. I'd do anything to be his number three." Kim eyed Mercy, wondering why she hadn't bolted for the door by now.
"Kim, your imagination is only exceeded by your reputation." Mercy checked her makeup in the mirror and pulled a tube of lipstick from her small purse. "You tell a good story, but it's all a big lie, and you know it as well as I do." Mercy giggled slightly.
"Who are you laughing at?" Marta stepped between them. "Don't forget there's two of us and only one of you. Time to pick up your pretty little purse and take your sorry self back to Oklahoma."
Mercy drew herself up to her full five feet
eleven inches and looked down on Marta as if the other woman were no bigger than a buzzing housefly. "I'm not leaving. And I don't ever want to see either one of you here again. So go pack up your boots and hats and whatever else you brought in here and go." She pointed to the door.
"You can't tell us what to do," Kim snarled. "We're here by invitation."
"And you're leaving by demand," Mercy said.
"Hell, honey, you don't have to believe me." Kim made one last-ditch effort. "Let's just go tell Hunter about this here baby and we'll see which one of us he chooses. Come on, we'll go right this minute."
"Deal." Mercy stuck out her hand and laughed. "Let's just do that, Kim. You must have been a lot drunker than usual when he was in bed with you and calling you Carla. I hope you weren't moaning in ecstasy and calling him Hunter, since you couldn't have been in bed with Hunter Wilson those nights. Because Hunter Wilson was in bed with me, and when he's in bed with me the only name I hear is Mercy."
"You bitch!" Kim slapped her extended hand away. "Come on, Marta. Let's get out of this place. It's not big enough for me and her both. If I stay I'll have to beat the hell out of her, and I'm not in the mood to get my hands dirty tonight."
Mercy leaned against the wall and laughed until tears streaked her makeup. The idea of little Kim actually trying to beat her up was so funny she couldn't stop laughing. She was still guffawing when Gloria pushed the door open and just stood there with a big grin on her face.
"I thought I'd die when I was waving that piece of toilet paper and you wouldn't take it," Gloria said. "I started to come out sooner, but it sounded like you were handling it fine without my help, so I just listened."
"Think they'll come back?" Mercy checked her makeup in the mirror. "I'd hate to have to get down on my knees and let that redhaired pipsqueak beat me up."
"Those two love to start trouble," Gloria said seriously. "You did a fine job there, girl. I'm proud of you."
Small Town Romance Collection: Four Complete Romances & A New Novella Page 39