by Deborah Camp
“A year!” Lacy flung her a look and saw that she was baiting her. “Get on with you, Bobbie Sue Brand. I have work to do.”
“Honey.” Bobbie Sue laid a hand on Lacy’s arm, staying her motions. “Listen to me. I admit that I haven’t had many good things to say about Dalton Moon. With him and Otis at odds with each other, I mainly hear from Otis that Dalton is nothing but a preening, strutting rooster. But I also know that he means more to you than you’re letting on right now. Have you told him how you feel about him?” Her fingers tightened slightly on Lacy’s arm when she opened her mouth to answer. “Because if you haven’t made it clear to him, you should. Hon, my mama always said that we end up regretting what we didn’t say more than what we did say.”
Lacy closed the ledger and pressed it up against her heart, which seemed to ache. “He knows how I feel. You were right from the start, Bobbie Sue. He has tumbleweed in his blood and he’s a heartbreaker.” She gave a tiny shrug. “But I have no regrets.” And she didn’t. In fact, she knew she would treasure the minutes she’d spent with Dalton Moon and the fiery passion she’d felt in his arms.
They fell quiet in a companionship of womanhood that needed no words. Bobbie Sue patted her arm, then leaned in for a quick kiss on her forehead. Lacy bit her lower lip to keep her emotions at bay. They both jumped a little when someone knocked on the door that was standing open.
“Excuse me, ladies.”
Lacy stared at Dalton, feeling her eyes widened with surprise. Had he been listening to them? She felt her face flame with embarrassment. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for Otis.” His lips twitched with the hint of a smile and his eyes questioned her. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No.” She exchanged a glance with Bobbie Sue. “We were just . . . anyway, I haven’t seen Uncle Otis today. Have you, Bobbie Sue?”
“I think he’s out back helping unload some supplies for the kitchen.”
“Okay. Thank you.” He nodded, hat in hand, and backed up a step or two. “You’re looking pretty today, Lacy.”
She glanced down at her simple, gingham dress and then back up to him. “Thank you.” Warmth infused her and the ache in her heart subsided with the shy smile he sent her. Dalton Moon was not a shy man, but he appeared to be bashful at the moment and she was hard-pressed to understand why.
“Wonder what he wants with Otis?” Bobbie Sue asked once Dalton had left them.
“No telling.” Lacy smiled at her own reaction to him. Didn’t take much from Dalton Moon to lift her spirit.
“Maybe he wants to tell him ‘adios.’”
She winced and felt her spirit dip into the doldrums again.
Determined to keep busy and her mind occupied with something other than Dalton, Lacy threw herself into her work, doing more than she actually needed to do. She even assisted Bobbie Sue with cleaning the rooms and gathering the laundry. When she came back downstairs with her arms full of linens, she was greeted by her uncle and Bobbie Sue, each wearing big smiles.
“What did I miss?” she asked, peering over the mound of soiled linens.
“Let me have those,” Bobbie Sue said, taking them from her. “Otis has some news. You go ahead and tell her while I take these out back to the laundress.” She beamed at Otis before scurrying away.
Lacy placed her hands on her hips and faced her uncle. “Tell me what?”
He hooked his thumbs in his suspenders and puffed out his chest. “I’m gonna be marshal again.”
The news thrilled and chilled her. “No fooling? That’s wonderful!” She threw open her arms and gave him a big hug. He chuckled and hugged her back. “When?”
“Real soon. Moon’s on his way out and he told the mayor and council that he thought I should be given the badge back.”
“He did?” She looked away from her uncle’s broad grin, recalling Dalton’s shy one. So, that’s what he’d been doing talking to the mayor. “That’s good of him.”
“Yeah. He’s okay, I suppose. He did what he was hired to do. Of course, I would rather not have any killing, but that’s his way, I reckon.”
“No, Uncle Otis, it’s not.” She leveled him with a stern glare, unable to let that opinion stand. “Dalton doesn’t want to hurt anyone. He doesn’t even want to draw his weapon. He gave Junior and Trey . . . all of them fair warning. He put them all on notice that they wouldn’t be allowed to threaten, assault, or murder anyone, and get away with it anymore. Good Lord, Uncle Otis, he was shot in the back! Gunned down like some mangy dog! What did you expect him to do? Shrug it off and let Junior Pullman laugh at him?”
“Uh . . . well, no.”
“That’s right.” She huffed out a breath as her aggravation built up steam. “And he defended you, as well. Let’s not forget that.” She held up a hand, stopping whatever he was about to say. “I know, I know. He embarrassed you in front of everyone when he fired you. I wish he hadn’t done that, but you did take sides against him.”
“I did no such thing!” he blustered, stomping his boots like a pawing bull.
“You did so,” Lacy argued, but counseled herself toward caution. “You were trying to keep things peaceful. I understand that. But the peace had already been broken by that time. Dalton had to take a stand and he wanted you to stand with him.” She gave him a scolding look. “You didn’t.” Heedful of his feelings, she hugged him again. “But that’s all in the past. What’s important now is that you will be marshal of Far Creek once more and I know everyone will be glad about that.”
“You think so?” he asked, hope brimming in his eyes.
“I know so.” She kissed his whiskered cheek. “I’m happy for you. Did the mayor come by and tell you?”
“No. Dalton did.”
“Oh.” She drew in a quick breath. That’s why he’d been looking for her uncle earlier. “That’s nice of him.” She saw her uncle glance to his right. Turning her head, she felt her eyes go wide when she saw who stood, hat in hand, only a few feet away. “Dalton!”
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but might I have a word with you, Lacy?”
“Ummm, yes.” She smiled at her uncle, then motioned Dalton toward her cramped office. “Let’s go in here.” He followed her inside and she left the door slightly ajar. As she sat behind her small desk, Dalton settled his lanky frame in the only other chair in the room. “Thank you for speaking up for Uncle Otis. Getting his job back means so much to him.”
Dalton smiled and set his hat on the corner of her desk. “The folks here trust him. Having him as marshal again will help everything and everyone get back to normal.”
She noticed him looking at the string of bright beads and cut-outs of snowflakes she’d strung over the window behind her. “Christmas will be here before you know it. Are you planning on visiting your mother back east over the holiday?”
“I was thinking about it. It would be good to see her and my sisters again. I reckon a few of them will migrate to mother’s home to celebrate.” He looped one arm over the back of the chair and twisted sideways a little. “What are your plans, Lacy? Are you going to see you mother in St. Louis?”
“No. I suppose I’ll be busy here at the hotel.”
“You wouldn’t consider coming east with me, would you?”
Her gaze bounced to his and her heart expanded with joy. She had no words. Was he playing with her? She’d made it perfectly clear that she would not be his concubine. She would not sully herself, even for him.
Dalton pursed his lips in a thoughtful pose and glanced around the office before his dark gaze latched onto her again. “From the minute you met me, you’ve talked about me leaving. You realize that?”
She shook her head, although she knew he was right.
“It’s always been between us, even when it shouldn’t have been.” Something soft and vulnerable flickered like a flame in his dark brown eyes. “I’m leaving Far Creek.”
A strangled sob shuddered through her and she lifted a hand to try to disguise i
t, but she was too late. Her feelings were plain to see. He’d wounded her.
“I’m leaving—.”
“I know! Stop saying it,” she blurted out, the thought of it pounding her heart to bits.
“—but not without you, I hope. You reckon we should marry here or let your mother or mine plan a wedding for us?”
Her heart beat so loudly that she could barely discern his words for a few seconds and then it seemed that pure happiness burst inside her like fireworks. “Are you saying . . .?” She swallowed. “Do you love me, Dalton Moon?”
He chuckled and his transforming smile lit up his face. “How could I not, Lacy Tyrell? I do believe you roped and tied me the first time I laid eyes on you, standing in the doorway of the hotel when I rode into town. I looked at you and knew I was in trouble. Deep, deep trouble.”
Her smile was so big, it felt like it went from ear to ear. “You could have told me this before now.”
“It took me a spell to figure it out for myself. I’ve never been in love before.”
“Me, either.”
He curved a hand around one of his ears. “Did I hear you say you loved me, too? I must have missed it.”
Springing up from the chair, she rounded the desk and plopped herself in his lap, making him laugh as his arms circled her. “I do love you, Dalton Moon. You know I do.”
His hands moved up to stroke her back and his gaze lingered on her lips. “So, what will it be? A wedding here, in St. Louis, or in New York?”
“In New York!” She threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, I’ve always wanted to see that place. Do you think your mother will like me? You don’t think she’ll try to talk you out of marrying me, do you?”
“She will be deliriously happy that her son finally is getting married,” he assured her. “And that he’s marrying a beautiful, whip-smart, independent, spirited girl. Will your mother approve of me?”
“I don’t care one way or the other!” She tipped back her head and laughed. “No one could ever stop me from loving you.”
His eyes hungered for her. “Kiss me, Lacy.” He guided her mouth to his, kissing her softly several times, savoring her, sipping her like a fine wine. Resting his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes and released a long sigh of contentment. “You’ll be mine? Promise me.”
“I promise. I’ve been yours for a while now. I’ve been in agony thinking about you riding off and leaving me. Why didn’t you say you loved me the other day at the jail?”
“I kept telling myself that you deserved more than being hitched to a wanderer like me.” He leaned back to meet her gaze. “Someday we’ll put down roots, Lacy, but for now I like going where I’m needed. I like marshaling. You think you can be happy with that? With me?”
She traced the scar near his eye with the tip of her finger, barely able to contain her excitement. “I think I will love every minute of it. We’ll make a home for ourselves wherever we happen to be. Every new place will be an adventure.”
He regarded her for a few moments, wonder sparkling in his eyes. “I have a couple of job offers. We’ll discuss them after we’re married and decide which one to accept.”
“We?”
“We.” He nuzzled her neck, making her sigh with longing. “One thing I must insist on, Lacy.”
“What’s that?” she asked, her eyes closing as her heart opened even wider to accept his love.
“We have to marry soon. Before the new year dawns. I can barely keep myself reined in around you.”
With a grin, she wiggled her rump against his lap, making him growl and grit his teeth. He gave her a squinty glare as he clamped his hands at her waist to keep her still.
“I can see I’m going to have my hands full with you,” he said with a wicked grin.
“Every chance you get, I hope,” she rejoined before kissing him quiet.
THE END
About the Author . . .
Author of more than 50 novels, Deborah lives in Oklahoma. She has been a full-time writer since she graduated from the University of Tulsa. She worked for a few years as a reporter for newspapers before becoming a freelance writer.
Deborah's first novel was published in the late 1970s and her books have been published by Jove, New American Library, Harlequin, Silhouette, and Avon. She has been inducted into the Oklahoma Authors Hall of Fame and she is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of the Author's Guild.
“Solitary Horseman” received the Rone Award as 2017 Best Historical (western era) from InD’tale Magazine.
Lover of the west and the people who tried to tame it, Deborah likes to write about strong, independent women and the men who are their equals. She grew up on a diet of TV westerns which have served her well. Since she appreciates men with devilish twinkles in their eyes, she likes to mix laughter in with the love scenes in her books.
Keep in Touch . . .
Website: https://www.deborah-camp.com
Blog-- http://deborahcampwritersdesk.blogspot.com/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/officialdeborahcamp
Pinterest -- http://www.pinterest.com/debbycamp44/
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com@AuthorDebCamp
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/198990.Deborah_Camp
Other Books by Deborah Camp
All available on Amazon
Novella
The Madcap and the Miser
Historical Romances
Blazing Embers
Primrose
Fire Lily
Black-eyed Susan
Fallen Angel
My Wild Rose
Lady Legend
Master of Moonspell
Too Tough To Tame
Tough Talk, Tender Kisses
A Tough Man’s Woman
Belle Starr, Bandit Queen
Lonestar’s Lady
Solitary Horseman
To Seduce and Defend
Contemporary Romances
To Have, To Hold
Devil’s Bargain
For Love or Money
This Tender Truce
In a Pirate’s Arms
Just Another Pretty Face
Vein of Gold
Right Behind the Rain
After Dark
The Butler Did It
Wrangler’s Lady
Hook, Line, and Sinker
Love Letters
Weathering the Storm
The Second Mr. Sullivan
A Newsworthy Affair
Destiny’s Daughter
Taming the Wild Man
Oklahoma Man
Sweet Passion’s Song
A Dream to Share
Winter Flame
Midnight Eyes
Riptide
Tomorrow’s Bride
They Said It Wouldn’t Last
Strange Bedfellows
Do you love romantic suspense novels?
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*Through His Eyes
*Through His Touch
*Through His Heart
*Through Her Eyes
*Through Her Touch
*Through Her Heart