One Stubborn Cowboy

by Barbara McMahon

  “I want you!”

  “Sure, to warm your bed. It’s not enough!” Anger and frustration echoed in her voice.

  Instantly he recalled their morning conversation of a few days ago. She would start looking for a husband. Someone to settle down with and raise a family.

  Suddenly he was afraid. How would he stand seeing her with another man, know that man was sleeping with her, loving her, and she was loving him back? He couldn’t bear it! It would be bad enough if she went back to San Francisco and he never saw her again. But if she settled nearby, he’d see her over the years with somebody else. It would tear him apart!

  The fear grew until it was bigger than what he felt when he rode the bulls, bigger than what he’d felt when the doctors had told him he wouldn’t walk again. She was his and he couldn’t let her go, no matter what!

  But how could he tie her to a cripple? How could he offer her life with a partial man? She deserved so much more! Yet he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her to another man. He’d already lost so much—the life he’d always thought he would have, the freedom of going where he wanted, doing what he wanted. Even losing Althea didn’t compare to what he’d feel if he lost Kelly.

  Staring at her, he also remembered her words that night in the truck. She had said it wouldn’t matter if her husband couldn’t walk or hear or see if he loved her and she loved him. Did she mean it? Dare he count on that? Because he suddenly knew beyond all doubt that he couldn’t let her go. If she truly loved him, then she was his, because he just could not let her go.

  She studied him silently for a long moment, then gave a sad smile. Nodding at him, she stepped past and waited toward the barn.

  Kit watched her walk away. He would not let her go. Dammit, it wasn’t what she deserved, but he loved her and he was damn well going to keep her in Taylorville. If she couldn’t cope with his handicap, she’d have one last chance to say so. Impatiently he watched her stroke the pony’s head.

  Just as he was about to storm over and demand she stay, Sally joined her, excited with news.

  Kelly listened, intrigued. Twice she glanced over to Kit. The hood of the truck was still up, but he was not working, his attention focused on them. Kelly met his eyes across the distance as she listened to Sally. Then she smiled and started walking toward Kit.

  “Well?” he said when she reached him, wondering uneasily what Sally had told her. Wondering how he could bind her to him so tightly she’d never even think of getting away. How could he ever have thought he could let her go?

  “I hear Clint and Sally are going to be building their own place.”

  “Yep. Time they had a place of their own.” His eyes were hungry for her.

  “Mmm-hmm.” She glanced toward Sally, then back to him. “I also heard Althea returned to Stockton.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Several weeks ago,” she clarified.

  He nodded.

  “Right after the dance?”

  He nodded again, his gaze steady. Tension pulsed in the air.

  “Then what’s all this charade been about?”

  He reached out and threaded his fingers through hers, tracing soft patterns on the back of her hand, panic threatening. His heart was pounding, the blood rushing through his veins so hard he could hardly hear her. He couldn’t let her go. But would she really stay?

  “You and me,” he murmured, his eyes meeting hers.

  Kelly was having a hard time concentrating, shivering at the sensations rippling through her at Kit’s touch. Her breasts filled and ached in longing. The tiny fire at the pit of her being ignited and glowed. How could she ever stop loving him?

  “Why didn’t you tell me she’d left?”

  “It wasn’t important.”

  “I thought she was the reason for the charade.”

  “There’s no charade, Kelly. Maybe there was for one night, but not since then.”

  Her heart began pounding as she allowed herself to be caught up in his heated gaze. Permitted a tiny glimmer of hope to bloom.

  “Then what have we had?”

  “A courtship. Rough, erratic and not very romantic, maybe.”

  She smiled. “No maybe about it, buster.”

  “But a courtship?”

  She nodded slowly, hope daring to grow.

  His hand drew her closer, until she touched him, breast to chest, thigh to thigh. “You belong here.”

  She felt a warm glow expand through her body. “I want to belong somewhere,” she said wistfully.

  “You belong here, with me. To me.”

  He pulled her firmly into his arms, anchoring her against him.

  “Since when?” she asked lazily, a small secret smile teasing her lips, her heart racing in sudden delight.

  “I’m not sure since when. But at least since that first time in my bed. You sure as hell aren’t going looking for another man. I’m man enough for you and always will be.” His lips blazed a hot trail against her neck.

  “Since when, cowboy?” Hope flared as she pulled back to gaze into his determined face. Please love me.

  “Since the beginning of time, darlin’. And if you have any doubts, let’s adjourn to my bedroom and I’ll prove it to you again.”

  She giggled softly and kissed his jaw. “Sally’s standing not fifty feet away and you think we can just up and hop in your bed?”

  “Only if you have any doubts about what I’m saying.”

  “And that is?”

  “You belong to me, Kelly. I can’t stand the thought of you with any other man. It won’t be a great bargain—”

  “Shh. It will be the best bargain of my life. I love you, Kit.”

  “I love you, Kelly, darlin’.” His lips claimed hers in a searing kiss. He had to have her. She was fire in his blood.

  With her he was whole again. He’d do everything in his power to make her happy. He’d never let her go.

  “Hey, you two, what’s going on over there?” Sally’s loud question interrupted.

  “We’re celebrating an engagement,” Kit said firmly, his eyes looking deep into Kelly’s. She nodded happily and leaned forward for another lass.

  She knew she was shining with happiness, and when she looked at Kit she had to laugh. He looked as arrogant and proud as if he’d invented the institution of marriage.

  “And at our wedding, you can dance with me,” Kelly murmured as she floated in her unexpected happiness. She had come to say goodbye, and now would stay forever.

  “Kelly, that’s something I can’t do,” Kit protested, frustrated by her damned optimism, yet knowing he wouldn’t change a single thing about her.

  “Want to bet?” she asked.

  He gazed at her for a long moment, seeing the love and determination in her eyes, and his heart melted. He loved her so much! The anguish of the past was forgotten as he faced a bright future with the woman he finally had allowed himself to love.

  “I’ll think about it,” he said, sweeping her against him for a hard kiss.

  Epilogue

  Eight months later…

  Slowly he lifted the veil from her face and gazed down at her, love shining in her sparkling blue eyes. Her lips lifted in a saucy smile and she parted them as if to speak.

  “No,” his voice was hushed, only she could hear. “I’ve waited a long time for this moment, don’t say one sassy thing to spoil it. I love you.” He claimed her lips with his, his hands warm and loving on her shoulders. Almost bursting with pride, he turned her to face the congregation as the minister introduced them as man and wife.

  Kit offered his arm, took the cane from his brother and together he and his new wife started slowly down the aisle.

  Kelly beamed with happiness, her hand tightening on her husband’s arm. She glanced at her new mother-in-law already feeling like she belonged forever to the wonderful family that had welcomed her so warmly all those months ago. Nodded to Beth and Michael. Winked at Molly Benson’s teary smile. Smiled happily at Jefferies knowing lo
ok.

  As Clint and Judith fell in behind them Kelly raised her eyes to Kit’s. “I wouldn’t have spoiled it,” she said softly, grinning audaciously. “This is wonderful for me, too, you know.”

  “I never can tell with you,” he muttered, thankful the ceremony had gone off without a hitch. One more task and he’d be free to hustle his bride away from the crowd and have her to himself.

  In only a few moments they were at the grange hall where the Lockfords had arranged the reception. The entire town had been invited, Kelly had invited her friends from the city and the place was full. The band was playing, the food was sumptuous and their happiness contagious.

  “Never thought I’d see the day,” Jefferies said as he came up to congratulate them. “Sure glad I was there at the beginning.”

  “Which was almost the end. If he’d run over me I wouldn’t be here today,” Kelly said, her mocking grin teasing her new husband.

  The music started. A waltz.

  “Mrs. Lockford, if I may have the pleasure?” Kit reached out his hand and took hers. She smiled as she moved in to dance with him. He handed the cane to Jefferies. “I’ll just lean on you for balance,” he said softly as he gathered his soft pretty wife into his arms.

  “Satisfied?” he asked as they moved slowly around the floor. Other couples gradually joined in.

  Kelly looked up and nodded, her eyes full of love. “But it wasn’t for me, you know,” she said, her arms hugging him tightly for a second. “It was always for you. I fell in love with an irate cowboy who didn’t like being called an idiot for driving like a maniac. But I didn’t care if he could walk or not.”

  “It wasn’t as bad as I thought,” he admitted, thinking briefly over the last few months, the operation, the stay at the hospital, Kelly had been with him every step. The convalescence and physical therapy had gone better than even his doctor had anticipated. All because of her.

  “Because I was there,” she said bragging.

  He chuckled and let his left hand drift down to her hip, moving it swiftly back up when he realized where they were. “Probably. Though we never did try your proven method for getting over pain.”

  “It wasn’t as bad as you led me to believe, though I’m so happy it was successful. Walking with a cane isn’t so bad, is it? And if you follow the exercise program, one day you can give that up.”

  “I’ll always limp, but then I’ll be almost as good as new. But you are one pushy woman.”

  “And you are one stubborn cowboy.” She was silent for a few moments, enjoying the special treat of dancing at her wedding with her husband. The music was dreamy, the day was perfect and a happy, fulfilling life stretched out endlessly before them.

  “I have one other request,” she said softly.

  “No.”

  “You haven’t even heard it yet,” she protested in mock disapproval.

  “Doesn’t matter. I can’t do any more.”

  She smiled smugly. “You can do this!” Her eyes were dancing. “I want a baby.”

  He hesitated, then rested his cheek against hers. It would make their life together perfect to have a house full of sassy girls and rough-and-ready boys. Kelly had brought him more than he’d ever expected to have. She would never stop filling his heart with love.

  “I’ll think about it,” he said, already anxious to leave the reception and make her his wife forever.

  The End

  *

  About the Author

  Barbara McMahon is an award-winning, best selling author of more than eighty novels. Known for warm family type stories, she enjoys capturing the first stage of a relationship and showing how despite obstacles thrown in their way, a man and a woman can find true love and lasting happiness.

  Her books have been translated into 32 different languages and sold more than 16 million copies in the United States and more than 50 foreign countries.

  She makes her home in Northern California, the last eighteen years in the rural county of Amador—in the heart of the Mother Lode, California’s gold rush country.