Heart of a Marine

by Patricia (Patty) Campbell

  Another warning glare from Dylan was all it took to quiet them down and concentrate on eating. Amber wore a smug smile, having been left out of the ruckus.

  Dwayne leaned close to Marla’s ear and whispered, “When we kids are on the ranch, Arturo is our foreman. We do as he says.”

  “Your mom’s good with that?”

  “Believe me, no hand who works on this ranch would do anything without Mom’s prior approval. Yes, we do what Arturo says.” He chuckled and picked up his coffee mug. “You’ve been warned, Danaher.” He winked and took a sip of strong ranch coffee.

  Marla studied the faces of Kathleen, Cookie, and Arturo. The affection they had for the extended Dempsey family was unmistakable. She thought the lessons the boys and their children learned on this ranch went a long way to molding them into such a close family.

  “Do you realize how lucky you are, Dempsey?”

  “Every day, Danaher.”

  Charlene, Marla, Kathleen, and Grace fussed with the small amount of packing needed for the wedding in Buffalo. Miss Emmaline sat in a rocking chair in Charlene’s room, stroking Princess Elizabeth, and wearing a benign smile. A lifelong spinster, she’d never married, but it was obvious to Marla that she’d caught the romantic spirit of the day.

  “Lordy, it’s only an hour drive. I’m wearing my wedding outfit when we leave here. Donovan’s carrying his dress uniform because he doesn’t want a single crease in it. He’ll change in the men’s room at the courthouse.”

  Marla had packed extra shoes for herself and Amber, along with jackets and sweaters. “Is he planning to wear it all day?”

  “No, just for the ceremony. He packed jeans and boots for the barbecue and wagon ride. He’s my Marine for the wedding, but my cowboy for the rest of the day.” She winked. “And night.”

  Miss Emmaline hooted with laughter. “You girls these days. I was born sixty years too soon for all the fun.”

  Kathleen shook her head and grinned. “I happen to know you didn’t miss all the fun, Emma.”

  Miss Emmaline wagged her finger. “Don’t you go telling secrets on me, miss. I have the goods on you.”

  Grace’s eyes rounded. “Oh, please, tell a couple of them to me. I’d love to know some of my mother-in-law’s deep, dark secrets. Might come in handy one day.”

  Kathleen smiled at her daughter-in-law, Grace, her soon to be daughter-in-law, Charlene. “I love both my son’s wives,” she said. “And I hope,” she tipped her head at Marla, “future wife.”

  Heat rushed from Marla’s neck to her cheeks. She probably looked like a pickled beet. What had Dwayne said to his mother? She ducked her head and fussed with the gym bag carrying her and Amber’s shoes and sweaters. “Um…I…”

  Grace came to her side and placed her hand on Marla’s shoulder. “That’s what we all want, Marla. You’re perfect for him, and Amber is crazy about you.”

  Boots sounded along the hall. “You gals got your stuff ready?” Arturo called. “Me and the boys are ready to start loading up.”

  Charlene squeaked with excitement and happiness. “We’re ready. Come in.” She hugged Marla. “Come on Maid, ha-ha, of Honor. You have to help me do this. I’m getting nervous.”

  Marla smoothed her hands over Charlene’s lovely blond hair. “You will be the most beautiful bride in Wyoming today, sis.” Just when she’d begun to fully appreciate her sister, Char was about to be married and move to Hawaii. A sad lump settled in her chest. “I love you.” I didn’t know how much until now.

  Tears sparkled in Charlene’s rusty brown eyes, identical to her own. “I know. I love you too. I wish Sil and Dadley and the twins were here.”

  Marla knew that their parents and Harry and Barry, and John and Irene Dempsey were already in Buffalo waiting for the wedding party to arrive. They’d planned a wonderful surprise for the bride and groom. Charlene, who loved surprises, would have one today to remember all her life.

  “They’ll be here in spirit, and we’ll take tons of pictures on our phones to send to them.” She kissed Charlene on the lips. “Ready?” She grinned and held the secret close to her heart. “Okay, then let’s get hitched!”

  “Daddy, Auntie Charlene looks like a rill princess, doesn’t she?”

  Dwayne smiled at his daughter and laughed at himself for being startled to hear her say, “Auntie Charlene.” Marla’s sister was her aunt now. Part of the Dempsey family. His sister-in-law. Did that fact complicate things further between the two families? He and his brothers knew Silvia Danaher and their father, John, had long ago been lovers, before he met their mother, Kathleen Burwell. Now here they were, all together, celebrating the marriage of the youngest Dempsey son to the eldest Danaher daughter.

  “Yes, she does look like a real princess. And Uncle Donovan is a warrior prince. He’s the best looking of us three brothers.”

  “Nuh uh, Daddy, not rilly.”

  His chest warmed at her innocence. His little sweetheart thought her daddy was the best-looking. “Well, if it’s not Donovan, who is it?”

  “Uncle Dylan.” That knocked him down a peg.

  “Who told you that?”

  “Uncle Dylan did.” She sighed. “It’s a fairytale, Daddy.” She pointed to Marla, dancing with one of her twin brothers. “Marla’s brothers are handsome princes. Barry is going to dance with me when the cowboy line dance music comes on.”

  “How do you know it’s Barry? Those boys are identical. Maybe it’s Harry.”

  “Nope.” She grinned a secret smile. “Marla telled me how to know them apart. But she said it was our secret, so I can’t tell you it.”

  He pulled her onto his lap and growled into her neck. “Is that so? We’ll see about that, squirt.” She giggled and struggled.

  “Stop, Daddy. Stop, I’ll tell you, but you have to promise to keep the secret, okay?”

  “What secret?”

  Dwayne and Amber hadn’t seen Marla leave the dance floor. Amber’s eyes got huge and she put her hands over her mouth.

  “Hey, Danaher. Enjoying the party?” He tilted his chin. “Kiss me, beautiful.”

  She kissed him and sat in the chair vacated by Amber. “Wow!” Eyes wide she wagged her chin at the far tables. “Do you believe that?” John Dempsey had just taken Kathleen Burwell’s hand and escorted her to the dance floor.

  “Shit no.”

  “Daddy!”

  “Sorry, squirt. You can wash out my mouth with soap later. I really want to eat another piece of that wedding cake.” He gave her a quick squeeze.

  “Then you better watch it, soldier!” She smacked his arm, and he and Marla exchanged eye smiles.

  His gaze returned to his parents, and he found it hard to come to grips with the expressions on their faces. They smiled and talked like long-lost friends. “I worried how Mom would react when she learned Dad and Irene would be here today.”

  “Looks like you worried for nothing. They have children and grandchildren together. Perhaps they felt it was time to bury old grudges. I think it’s great.” The sparkle in Marla’s eyes had the usual effect on him. He brushed his hand on her neck and imagined them climbing into his old bed together tonight.

  Amber sang, “Here comes the bride.”

  Charlene and Donovan joined them. Char kissed Dwayne on the cheek. “I know you don’t like to dance, shiny new brother-in-law, but there’s no rule that says you can’t hold me and sway to the music.”

  He set Amber on her feet and stood. “What red-blooded Marine could pass up that offer?” He took her hand and led her away. When he embraced Charlene, he noticed Donovan offer his hand to Marla.

  Donovan leaned close to him, his forked fingers pointing to his eyes. “I’ll be watching you, bro.” He winked and pulled Marla into a tight embrace.

  “Goes both ways, baby brother. I still outrank you, don’t forget.”

  Charlene whispered in his ear. “Let’s have some fun with this, Middle Dempsey.” She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, lips close to his neck. �
��Isn’t this nice?” She reached to slide his hand lower on her back.

  He nuzzled her cheek, one eye on Donovan. “You trying to get me killed, gorgeous?”

  Char laughed and placed both her hands on his neck. He obliged and circled both arms around her waist. “Ride ’em cowboy,” she whispered.

  “Yippee-ki-yay.”

  Yeah, it was nice. A hot, gorgeous blond melting into him. Why wouldn’t it be nice? He drew her a little closer and splayed a big hand just above her ass.

  “I was broken hearted Marla saw you first, Dwaynie.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, sure, until my brother appeared on the scene. Don’t kid a kidder, sis. Marla was the only woman on my radar from day one, you bad girl.” He hugged her against his chest and kissed her ear. “My brother is one lucky man to have all this in his arms every night.”

  “And that’s why I love you, Dwayne. You’re true blue. I know you’ll be good to my baby sister.”

  He moved his head back, grinned into her big brown eyes then grazed her neck with his teeth.

  “Okay, okay, break it up!” Donovan bumped them with his shoulder. “Time to switch partners.” He took Charlene’s hand and pulled her away, leaving Dwayne and Marla standing, staring at each other.

  She put a wry twist on her lips. “That was quite a show, Dempsey.”

  “Your big sister’s a very bad girl, Danaher. My little brother has his hands full.” He embraced her. “Want to sway for a while?”

  “Um hm.” Her arms went around his neck.

  God, she felt perfect in his embrace. Aroused immediately, he whispered. “Step back a couple of inches, honey, or I’ll have to dance you to the front desk and get a room.”

  “You sure know how to charm a lady.” She grinned and took a half step away from him. “Your brother doesn’t have a thing to worry about. Char is disgustingly, sickeningly, madly over the top in love with him.”

  “I know. He’s one lucky Dempsey, and so am I.” The next wedding for their two families would be his and Marla’s. He crooked his finger at Amber. She skipped across the floor to him, and he lifted her in his arm, tucked her between them, and swayed with his two best girls.

  Amber fell asleep on Marla’s lap on the drive back to the ranch. Miss Emmaline nodded off in the backseat with Dylan’s girl lying across her knees. Every now and then Dwayne would reach across the seat and brush his knuckles on Marla’s cheek.

  The next time he did it, she turned and kissed his fingers. “This was very special day, Dempsey.”

  He nodded and smiled. She’d never get enough of his smile. Every time he touched her, she got the familiar warm, melting sensation in her bones and all her special places. She studied Amber’s face and stroked her silky hair, ashamed of the twinge of jealousy she felt for the innocent child who worshiped her daddy. Amber’s child-woman relationship with him didn’t leave much room for Marla.

  She didn’t doubt Dwayne loved her, he’d told her many times in the past few months. Did he love her enough to marry her? Her chest squeezed painfully. She mentally shoved away the doubt.

  Stop it, Marla. Just love them and don’t worry about tomorrow.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Dwayne snuggled against Marla’s bare back and kissed her ear. “I gotta get up, honey. Dylan, Donovan, and I are riding out to repair a break in the fence line and round up some feisty heifers that decided to take a walk in the park.” He stroked her bottom with his big, rough hand. “God, I love your sweet ass.”

  She caught his hand and laid it on her breast. “Stay.” She cracked open an eye. “It’s still dark.” It seemed to her they’d only been asleep a couple of hours. “What time is it?”

  “Five. Gotta go.” He nipped her shoulder. “Cookie’s already in the kitchen. I smell coffee and bacon.” He rolled away from her and hop-slid to the bathroom, holding onto the bed and furniture.

  She groaned and rolled onto her back. “Five! Just shoot me.” He chuckled and began to close the door. “Wait!” She jumped up and raced past him, her bare feet slapping on the cold wood floor. “I have to go first. Close your eyes.”

  “Like I haven’t had my eyes, hands, and mouth on every inch of your body by now, Red?”

  “Close them! This is different.” She made it quick and artfully dodged his hand when he grabbed for her on her way out of the bathroom. She jumped back in bed. Warm with a predictable glow from his casual sensuality, she pulled up the quilts and snuggled into the low spot in the mattress he’d just left nice and warm for her.

  Water splashed in the sink as he washed and shaved. There wouldn’t be a drop anywhere on the counter, sink, or floor, and the bathroom would seem like it had never been used when he left.

  By the time he came back to the bedroom she was wide-awake and treated herself by watching him dress. Clad in jeans, two T-shirts and a heavy flannel shirt, he attached the prosthesis with his work boot on it. He took a quick glance in the mirror and finger-combed his thick black hair.

  He caught her smile in the mirror. “What are you looking at, Danaher?”

  “I’m admiring my man, Dempsey. Come over here and kiss me before you go.”

  “Nope. No way. If I do, I’ll never make it out the door. If Donovan can show up the morning after his wedding night, what would it look like if I didn’t? I have an image to maintain.”

  “If you don’t kiss me good-bye, I’ll get up and follow you down the hall in my birthday suit.”

  He grabbed his heavy barn jacket and winked. “I dare ya.” He threw her a kiss and closed the door. She heard male voices in the hallway. Dwayne and his brothers trooped down the stairs.

  Marla fell back with a sigh. Holding the quilt tight against her chin she sighed again and counted the knots in the pine ceiling, wishing she could go back to sleep.

  She groaned, crawled out of bed, and lifted her pajamas off the floor and pulled them on. She went to the bathroom and took Dwayne’s heavy flannel robe off the hook and wrapped it around herself and cinched the belt. It was so big on her she felt positively dainty.

  She slipped her feet into slippers and headed to the kitchen to join the men. Might as well drink in some eye candy while she had breakfast. Skipper bounced downstairs from the kid’s rooms and skittered happily around her feet.

  “How’s my teeny weeny widdle Skippy Wippy cuddle bunny-poo?” She scooped him up and nuzzled his warm wriggling body.

  “You and that dog.”

  She turned at the sound of Char’s voice.

  “Do you think I love him too much?” She gazed into his big, buggy eyes and grinned. “Do I love you too much, Skip?”

  Charlene scratched his chin. “How would I know how much is too much where a dog’s concerned?” She grinned. “He is a little sugar pie.”

  Char didn’t have a trace of makeup, her thick blond hair tumbled around her shoulders, and the belted robe she wore did little to disguise her fabulous curves.

  “You look like a woman in love, Char.”

  “That’s because I am.” She took her arm. “Let’s go down and enjoy looking at my brand new husband before he leaves for the day.”

  “Just what I had in mind.”

  Greeted by loud wolf whistles when they entered the kitchen, the twin sisters bowed slightly, fluffed their hair and tossed it over their shoulders as if they’d rehearsed it before coming downstairs.

  Char swayed her hips as she vamped her way around the table. “Howdy, boys, mind if we join you?”

  Donovan threw an arm around her hips and pulled her close. “We’d mind if you didn’t, sweet thing.”

  Dwayne scooted over on the bench to make room for Marla. He puckered his lips for her kiss and slid his hand down her back when she took her seat. “Good morning, my love.”

  “And good morning to you, my handsome hero.”

  Cookie’s shoulders bounced with silent laughter. She flipped a pancake, her back to the room. “It’s gettin’ mighty thick in my kitchen.”

  She carried a h
eaping platter to the table. “You boys eat up, then skedaddle. You got work to do, and I got a lot more folks to feed this morning. You hear?”

  Dylan smiled at the woman who’d been cooking for the Burwell-Dempsey family beyond memory. “Thanks for this great breakfast, Cookie. We love you.”

  “Go on now, I know you boys think you can butter me up, you jest git and use your charm on them cows you’re lookin’ for today.”

  Marla had asked Dwayne about Cookie shortly after they’d arrived, but he’d told her he couldn’t remember a time when the woman wasn’t there, creating her special magic at the big kitchen stove. Another reason Dwayne and her brothers loved the ranch so much. Kathleen had maintained a wonderful home-away-from-home for her sons and their families.

  Despite the early hour, the big house stirred with laughter and voices from upstairs. One-by-one the kids made their way to the kitchen. Grace came in, fully dressed, and kissed Dylan. “See you this evening, honey.” She grinned when he smacked her on the butt before heading out the door behind Dwayne and Donovan.

  Charlene stood. “Cookie, Marla and I’ll finish our coffee and make room for the kids. Will there still be some breakfast left after we shower and dress?”

  “You gals go right on, sugar. I’ll be cookin’ for another hour yet. I got all them men in the barn to feed. Don’t you never worry about gettin’ enough to eat in this house.” She tossed warm bacon to Jarhead and Skipper.

  Marla shook her head. “Skip’s been completely spoiled by you, Cookie. How will I ever convince him to eat his dog food again?”

  Cookie chortled at the dogs anticipating their next treat with enthusiastic tail wagging.

  The sisters left the kitchen, but before going upstairs Char opened the front door in time to see the brothers and Arturo ride off in the distance, the sun barely up. They clutched their robes tight against the cold morning air.

  The Dempsey boys had covered many acres of land before they found the break in the fence. They dismounted and removed tools and wire from their saddlebags.