She patted Judson’s hand. “I would love to hear you tell me how I can help you bring a clinic to Stone Ridge.”
* * *
Sadie missed church on Sunday morning. She’d slept in after Lincoln left. Lincoln. He was an amazing lover. Powerful and strong, he could be so gentle with her, worried he’d hurt her. Kissing her tenderly, making love to her slowly the second time, but still giving her orgasm after orgasm. Far from hurting her, he’d delivered the most erotic night of her life.
She’d wanted and waited for him for so long. For him. For something real. Someone she could trust again since trusting hadn’t been possible for years. She would refuse to worry or feel insecure about any other women in his old life. That was the old Sadie. The Sadie who, post-Martin, would notice every time a man would so much as glance at another woman. She assumed a man couldn’t be faithful to her. Pathetic. Therefore, relationships were ruined before they got started. She offered zero trust. No one had the patience to deal with her need for constant reassurance and eventually she’d faced facts: this was her problem and hers alone.
She spent the rest of the morning cleaning her cabin and made a list for the market. One of her skills was in the kitchen. Mom taught her to cook and Daddy always said Sadie was his second favorite cook in the world. The first? Julia Child. Ha! Sadie made a succulent pot roast and delicious lasagna. In the middle of making her list, the landline rang in her kitchen.
“Hey, baby.”
Oh, sigh. Lincoln. “Hi. Good morning. Hi.”
He chuckled. “I forgot something. I know you said you’d cook me dinner, but Sunday is the one family dinner that Mima insists we all have together. You’ll have to cook me dinner another time.”
“Oh. That’s okay.”
Sadie could understand why she wouldn’t be invited to a family dinner yet. They were new. No pressure or promises. She refused to be a female Judson Grant. It didn’t mean anything not to be invited.
“What time should I pick you up?”
“What time?”
“Yeah, unless you want to drive out here. We have dinner around six.”
Sadie couldn’t breathe. She was completely…speechless.
“Baby? You there?”
“I’m…invited?” she finally squeaked out. “Tonight?”
“Yeah, well, I’m selfish. I want to see you and was looking forward to dinner…and after dinner.”
“Me, too.”
“You know what? I’ll pick you up. I’ll be there at 5.”
A sweet ache of pleasure buzzed through her body. Dinner with the family. Sadie spent the next few hours deciding what to wear. Nothing she owned seemed adequate.
She finally phoned Eve in desperation. “Please come over. I have an emergency. Stat!”
Eve came over within two seconds with her First Aid kit. “What happened? Did you fall?”
Oh, fine, fall a couple of times and everyone thinks you’re a walking emergency.
Sadie went hands on hips. “This is a fashion emergency.”
“Oh, whew!” Eve plopped down on the sofa. “Where were you this morning, missy? I saw Lincoln’s truck here late last night.”
“I overslept. Believe me, he wore me out.” She held up two dresses on their hangers. “This or that?”
“Where is he taking you?”
“Wait for it: dinner with the family.”
“Then why are you dressin’ up? The first time I ate dinner with them I wore my Wranglers and a T-shirt.”
“Eve, you were sixteen.” Sadie let out an exasperated breath. “I have to make a great impression.”
“Mima adores you!”
“But Hank doesn’t. He scares me a little. He’s always so…quiet.”
“Aw, Hank is a pussycat.”
“Because he’s always liked you. I don’t think he likes me very much. And I want him to like me.”
“Well, he doesn’t really like a lot of people. But, sweetie, he won’t care what you’re wearin’.”
“It’s a ranch. I should probably wear Wranglers. I do have a pair. Somewhere.”
“Don’t be silly. If you’re not wearin’ a dress no one will recognize you.” Eve pointed to the blue and white dress.
“Maybe you’re right. I think Lincoln likes me in a dress.” Sadie plopped down beside Eve.
“I’ll just bet he does.” Eve elbowed Sadie. “And also, out of a dress.”
“Yes, he does. We’re so good together. But I’m nervous I’ll do something wrong tonight.”
“Don’t worry, there won’t be any question as to which fork to use.” Eve rolled her eyes.
“I mean do something wrong to spoil this thing with Lincoln.”
“Like, date another man? Too late, he already forgave you for that,” Eve quipped.
“Get jealous over another woman. Like Jolette Marie. It’s pretty clear that she has a thing for Lincoln.”
“Who doesn’t Jolette Marie have a thing for? I know she’s had her eye on Jackson forever. She’s never forgiven me for falling in love with him. Now that he’s in Nashville, I wouldn’t be surprised if she online stalks him.”
“What is her problem?”
Eve shrugged. “Not sure it’s a problem. She just likes men. Don’t forget she holds the title for runaway bride. Three times to the altar but changed her mind at the last minute.”
Although Eve was technically also a runaway bride, Sadie of all people knew it hadn’t been that simple for Eve. She’d loved Jackson enough to let him go.
“I think she’s spoiled rotten.”
Eve snickered. “The only daughter with three brothers and a father who’s wealthy? She did dressage for years and owned her first prized horse at five.”
A sore subject for Eve, whose mother still worked as a maid and cook for the Trueharts. She and Eve lived together in one of the cabins on Truehart land after Eve’s father abandoned the family. Eve knew Jolette Marie better than most people. At one time they’d even been close friends, but then Jackson noticed Eve, and the rest was history.
“I don’t like the way she looks at Lincoln,” Sadie confessed. “Like she’d like to eat him up.”
“You should care about the way he looks at her. From what I’ve seen, with little interest at all. Don’t let her do this to you. Jolette Marie smells insecurity. She’ll take that and run with it. And jealousy can destroy relationships.”
“So can cheating,” Sadie felt compelled to add. Once, in truly dramatic style, Sadie said to Eve, “As God is my witness, I will never be cheated on again!”
“Honestly, there’s more to Jolette Marie than any of us realize. Remember, she’s never been loved by anyone. Not even her own father.”
“You’re right.” Sadie remembered how all of the men she’d been engaged to marry were her father’s business acquaintances. Very old-school of him. “I should be more understanding.”
Eve nodded. “You’ve got to know what you have with Lincoln and trust him. Otherwise this won’t work.”
“I know Lincoln is a good man, but it’s hard to remember that sometimes. Men cheat.”
Eve quirked a brow. “Not all men. Remember that.”
Chapter 14
Lincoln came by promptly at five o’clock to pick Sadie up. She’d been ready since three. No sooner did she open the door than he nearly tackled her, picking her up in his arms and carrying her inside. Large warm hands wandered under the skirt of her dress giving her a full body tingle.
“I missed you, too.”
“There’s more than one reason I love you in a dress,” Lincoln said with an easy smile. “But do you mind wearing jeans tonight?”
“I almost did. But why?”
“Because I want to take you somewhere after dinner and a dress would make that difficult.”
“Where?”
“It’s a surprise.”
After she’d changed into Wranglers and a T-shirt (perhaps hoping for Eve’s fortune and blessing at the Carver table), he drove them to the r
anch on the outskirts of Stone Ridge.
Lincoln reached for her hand. “Don’t be surprised if my father talks bull sperm at dinner. Mima has tried to stop him.”
“Bull sperm?”
“Just one of the many fascinating conversations you’re bound to hear at a cattle rancher’s table.” He rubbed his chin. “Hank is trying to find a champion stud.”
“What a coincidence, so am I.” At his quirked brow she laughed. “Kidding! What do they usually ask your dates?”
“Well.” He went quiet for a moment. “I wouldn’t know. You’re the first woman I’ve brought home since I was a teenager, I guess.”
“Really?” She was far more pleased by this than she probably should be.
He shrugged. “Yep. I guess Carla Lynn Marshall, now that I think about it. She insisted. Said if I was taking her to the prom, she wanted to meet my family.”
“Seems logical.”
Sadie remembered Carla Lynn. Four years older than Sadie, she’d moved away from Stone Ridge a few years ago and wound up marrying a man from Dallas.
“I don’t know how logical it was but as a pretty horny teenager I would have done anything at that time.”
“So, what you’re saying is that you haven’t changed much?”
He snorted. “Guess I never wanted to bring anyone home.”
She allowed that knowledge to settle, warm and sweet. “Hank scares me, you ought to know.”
“He scares a lot of people.” He brought her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “I’ve got you. And you’ll do fine.”
Sadie had been to the Double C Ranch many times with Eve, but not for a while. She loved this part of Hill Country, where large family ranches dotted the land for miles. The Carver cattle ranch happened to be one of the most successful in the county. A family business from the get-go, passed down from one generation to another. More like a legacy than a business. When Albert Carver died, the entire town came out for his funeral. The Carver family was among the founding families of Stone Ridge.
Mima greeted them at the door. “Sadie Stephens! I’m so surprised. Look at me! Am I surprised or what? Do I look surprised? Of course not!”
“Maybe because I told you?” Lincoln said with a smirk.
“That, too, but this beautiful girl is finally here at the family table.”
“Mother, don’t marry them off just yet,” Hank said.
Lillian cackled. “Alright, I won’t!”
They walked to the large open room adjacent to the kitchen with the large ranch table that seemed to seat twelve or more. Lincoln held her hand, so wonderful since she wanted the support. She’d never had trouble making friends, even while at college, but nothing mattered quite like sitting for the first time at the Carver family table. Making a good impression on Hank. Gratified that Mima seemed happy for her to be here, that didn’t negate the fact that her nerves were getting the better of her.
She realized that she hadn’t said a word yet besides hello. “I’m so happy to be here.”
“Great,” Hank said. “I hope you like chicken and dumplings. If it’s Sunday, you know it will be chicken and dumplings.”
“That’s what Lincoln told me,” Sadie said. “I love chicken and dumplings.”
“Are you complaining, Hank? I don’t appreciate your tone. Please tell me you’re not complaining about a home cooked meal.” Mima shook a finger at him.
“You know I prefer beef. I’m a cattle rancher for the love of Pete.”
Lincoln let go of her hand, which he’d been holding the entire time. “I’m gonna get us a couple of beers.”
He walked past Daisy as she arrived, and they fist bumped.
“Hey, everyone.” She took a seat near Hank and noticed Sadie. “Hi. I didn’t know we could bring a date.”
“You can’t bring a date, pumpkin,” Hank said. “Lincoln just sprung this on us.”
Sadie’s smile froze. Sprung this on us? She was this? “I’m sorry to intrude.”
“You’re not intruding, sugar,” Mima said. “Lincoln told me he didn’t want to break your plans. Hank just has the manners of a bull.”
“Excuse me,” Hank grunted. “Maybe I hang around cattle too much.”
“What’s happening?” Lincoln asked firmly when he walked back in the dining room. He sat, handing an uncorked beer to Sadie.
She took a pull of it. “Nothing.”
Lincoln took her hand again under the table and squeezed it.
“Can I do something to help?” Sadie asked Lillian.
“No, sweetie, but thanks so much for askin’.”
Before long the food was served. Hank, though, kept getting up to fill a shot glass, and then returned to eat a bite or two.
“Y’all will never believe who I saw at church today,” Mima said. “That lovely doctor. Ada’s nephew. Judson is his name.”
Sadie hoped that she wasn’t the subject of any conversations between those two. Given this had all happened so quickly between her and Lincoln, she didn’t have a chance to explain. Not that she owed Judson anything. They’d had one date. One eye-opening date.
“Who’s that?” Daisy asked. “Never heard of him.”
“He’s Ada’s nephew,” Lincoln said. “I met him.”
“Lovely, lovely man. I’m trying to fix him up with Pamela Ann.”
“Lord above! Not this again,” Hank said. “Stop trying to fix people up. It never works.”
“Not to mention that Pamela Ann is married,” Lincoln added.
“To that awful Derek,” Mima said. “And I’ll wait for the divorce, son, I’m not a heathen. But I don’t give it much longer.”
“Considering no one knows where he is, that’s probably a safe bet.” Lincoln took a big bite of dumplings.
Lord, Sadie loved to watch him eat. Liked it nearly better than eating, and she loved food. She’d been mostly quiet and self-conscious about the subject of Judson, because she didn’t want to add to that conversation. But now she felt compelled to speak for Jimmy Ray.
“I wish Derek would come back for Jimmy Ray,” Sadie said. “Even if he doesn’t love Pamela Ann anymore, he shouldn’t abandon his son.”
A dead silence hung in the room, and too late Sadie realized how that statement would sit with the Carvers. Hank’s eyes narrowed as though the memory of his loss pierced him. He slammed the rest of his shot.
Beside her, Sadie felt Lincoln tense as he took her hand and squeezed it. He slid Hank a harsh look, almost like a warning.
“He’s my student,” Sadie said, trying to recover and move the conversation from deadbeat parents, both male and female. “He’s actually very funny. Quite talented.”
“If he’s anything like his father, he’s an idiot,” Hank said harshly.
“I…I don’t think he should be judged by what his father is like,” Sadie said carefully. “I’m his teacher and I see nothing but possibilities.”
“Which is what a teacher should see!” Mima interjected. “And why you’re a wonderful teacher, sugar.”
“That she is,” Lincoln said, hand splayed on her thigh.
“I bet all the little boys have crushes on you,” Daisy said.
Sadie shook her head. Just Jimmy Ray.
“Back to what I was sayin’,” Mima said, passing the gravy. “I think we need a clinic in town. I know I’m tired of driving to Kerrville for my check-ups. This young doctor seems interested.”
Sadie didn’t like the idea of running into Judson on a regular basis, and he certainly wouldn’t be her doctor, but she could appreciate his use for the community. For emergencies.
“I think we need to convince him to settle here,” Mima said.
Everyone but Hank nodded and chewed.
After dinner, Sadie of course offered to help with the dishes. Both she and Daisy helped but after a few minutes, Lincoln entered the kitchen.
“If y’all don’t mind, I’d like to grab Sadie before it gets too dark.”
She turned
and at the sight of Lincoln her heart skipped, but in a good way. One hundred percent cowboy stood arms braced in the doorway of the kitchen. He wore a different Stetson, one that appeared a bit more weathered. Ditto with the Wranglers, which fit him like a glove. He wore a blue and gray flannel shirt and appeared to have a tee underneath, leather gloves on his hands. The smile he slid her seemed almost dangerous and enticing.
“Go ahead, hon. We’re almost done here.” Mima hip checked Sadie in Lincoln’s direction.
“Um, okay.” She took Lincoln’s outstretched hand and he led her outside to the family stables and the horse pens.
“Do you ride horses?” he asked.
“Well, of course. What do you take me for? Do you think I could be best friends with Eve and never ride a horse?”
“Guess I never actually saw you on one.”
“Granted, Daddy never bought me my own horse when I desperately wanted one. We owned the land, but he said horses would be too much maintenance.”
“He’s right.” Lincoln opened a stable door with ease. He led a beautiful tanned quarter horse out, a burst of white on her forelock. “This is Thimble. She’s gentle. In tune with emotions. Eve swears she can read her rider’s mind.”
As if she understood his words, the horse nuzzled Lincoln. Sadie smiled but then pointed to the other stall when a dark horse that reminded her of Black Beauty stood regally. “And that one?”
“That’s Taco, Jackson’s gelding. He’s not quite as easygoing. I’ll ride him.”
“We’re going riding?”
“You thought I just wanted to show you the horses?” He cinched a lead on Thimble and walked with her.
“It’s been so long for me. I hope I remember everything.”
“It’s easy with Thimble. She comes by her name honestly.” He reached for a pail nearby and began to brush her. “I used to think it was just a cute name, but Mima reminded me the thimble is what keeps your thumb from getting stuck by the needle.”
“Who named her?”
“Not sure.” Lincoln cocked his head. “I think Eve did. It’s not her horse but it might as well have been.”
Lucky Cowboy Page 15