Do you remember the time we tied a lasso to a tree limb and decided to swing across the creek like Tarzan?" Wyatt tipped up his frosty bottle and took a long pull.
"Yeah." Zane was already laughing. "As usual,you two decided that I'd be the one to try it out first.That way,if it broke,I'd be the one tossed into the creek."
"It stands to reason." Jesse chuckled. "You were the youngest. That's just the price you had to pay to hang out with us."
"And," Wyatt added, "you were always willing to go along with whatever we decided."
Zane shook his head. "Not when I used it to fly across the creek."
"And not when I followed him," Wyatt said with a laugh. "But Jesse, assured that it was safe,grabbed hold and was flying through the air when the branch snapped."
Amy looked over at her husband. "You landed in the creek?"
"Yeah? On the day after one of our biggest storms,with the water spilling over its banks and rushing so fast it carried me downstream half a mile or more."
She put a hand to her mouth to cover her shock and saw Cora do the same.
Wyatt laughed. "He was lucky Zane and I had our horses tethered nearby.We chased along the banks of the creek until we could get far enough ahead to toss him a tree branch to catch. By the time we hauled him out,he looked like a drowned rat and was spitting mad."
"I had a right to be.I swallowed half the creek."
Zane laughed. "But think how lucky we were that it happened to you instead of me. At least you could swim."
Marilee's eyes rounded. "They had you test the rope when they knew you couldn't swim?"
Wyatt was laughing even harder. "We figured it was one way for him to learn."
"How old were you?"
They thought a minute before Wyatt answered. "I was eight,so that would make Jesse ten and Zane seven."
"You could have all drowned."
"Yeah.Looking back,we were lucky to have surrived so many foolish adventures. But," Wyatt added, "I wouldn't have missed a single one of them."
of them
Hey." Jesse leaned on a rail to watch as Wyatt bent to his task. "When did you get back?"
Wyatt barely paused. "Not sure. Time passes,you know?"
"Yeah." Jesse arched a brow. "Something eating you,cuz?"
"I'm fine."
"Yeah.I can see that." Jesse turned to Zane and rolled his eyes. "We're heading up to the north range. Want to ride along?"
"I'm fine here."
"Well,yeah,you're doing a great job on that stall.But when you're through shoveling manure,what're you planning on doing the rest of the day?"
Instead of te laugh he was expecting, Wyatt swore. Loudly. Fiercely.
"I guess that means you'd like to be alone." Jesse shoved his hands into his back pockets. "Speaking from experience as an old married man,I'd say this also means that you and the lovely Lee have had a lovers' spat."
In response Wyatt dug the pitchfork into a pile of dung and tossed it Jesse's way.
Jesse ducked,avoiding most of the mess, except for a few bits of straw that clung to his hair.
From a safe distance Zane gave a roar of laughter. "I think that means he isn't seeking your sage device, O Ancient One."
"Your loss,cuz.I could have told you that what women really want is for you to admire their minds. Even when they don't make any sense at all." Jesse picked out the pieces of straw and tossed them aside before turning to Zane. "Come on.We've got a herd to deal with. Let's leave Mr. Happy to work out his problems in this pile of...horse manure."
Laughing,the two strolled out of the barn.
Wyatt swore gain and continued shoveling until every stall sparkled. Then he moved on to the cow barns, working his way through a mountain of frustration.
Wyatt." She tore it open and stood there, drinking him in.Just the sight of him had her heart doing a happy dance in her chest.
"Don't throw me out." He lifted a hand. "I come in peace.With food."
When she didn't say a word he added, "Pizza.With all your favorite toppings.Sausage, mushrooms, green..."
"Well,then." To hide the unexpected tears that sprang to her eyes,she turned away quickly. "Since you went to so much trouble,you may as well come in."
"It was no trouble.I just rode a hundred miles on my Harley,fought my way through the smoke screen at the Fortune Saloon,had to fend off Daffy's attempts to have her way with me, and discovered that I'd left my wallet back at the ranch,which meant I had to sign away my life before Vi would turn over this pizza,wine,and dessert. But hey, no trouble at all.It's the sort of thing I do nearly every day."
He followed her to the kitchen, where he set down the pizza box and a brown bag.
He glanced over at the stove. "Are you going to lift that kettle, or did I interrupt you making a recording of you whistling along with it in harmony?"
Despite her tears,she found herself laughing hysterically at his silly banter.
Oh,how she'd missed it.
He set the kettle aside.The sudden silence was shocking.
Because she had her back to him, he fought the urge to touch her.Instead he studied the way her shoulders were shaking. Troubled,he realized he'd made her cry.
"Sorry." Deflated,his tone lowered. "I guess this was a bad idea."
"Wyatt."
He paused.
"It was a good idea.A very good idea."
She turned,and he saw the tears coursing down her cheeks.
"Oh,God,Marilee,I'm sorry.I didn't mean to make you..."
"I'm not crying." She brushed furiously at the tears. "I mean I was,but then you made me laugh and..."
"This is how you laugh?" He caught her by the shoulders and held her a little away. "Woman,I didn't realize just how weird you are. Wait a minute.Do you think being weird might be contagious? Maybe I ought to get out of here before I turn weird,too."
The more she laughed,the harder the tears fell.
Through a torrent of tears she wrapped her arms around his waist and held on, burying her face in his neck. "You can't leave.I won't let you."
He tipped up her face,wiping her tears with his thumbs. "You mean that? You really don't want me to go?"
"I don't.I really want you to stay, Wyatt."
"For dinner?"
"And more."
"Dessert?"
"And more."
His smile was quick and dangerous. "I'm beginning to like the 'and more.'"
She smiled through her tears. "Me,too."
"Maybe we could have the 'and more' as an appetizer, before the pizza."
Her laughter bubbled up and over, wrapping itself around his heart. "Oh, how I've missed your silly sense of humor."
"You have?"
"I have.I've missed everything about you."
"Everything?" He leaned close to nibble her ear,sending a series of delicious shivers along her spine.
"Everything."
Catching his hand,she led him to the bedroom. "I worked very hard today making up the bed with fresh linens. Want to be the first to mess it up?"
He looked from the bed to her and then back again. "Oh,yeah."
He drew her close and brushed her mouth with his. Just a soft,butterfly kiss, but she felt it all the way to her toes. "I mean I want to really, really mess it up."
"Me,t..."
And then there was no need for words.
You had a right to vent. I was behaving like a mother hen."
"A very sweet mother hen with too many chicks."
"I promise to back off." He offered her another bite of pizza. "But I can't promise not to worry."
"Fair enough." She kept her hand on his. "It's natural to worry.But you have to trust,too."
"You know what I've decided?" He plumped up a pillow and stretched out beside her. "You're even more of a rebel than I am."
"You think so?"
"Yeah."
"Next you'll be loaning me your Harley."
"I could be persuaded." He linked his fingers with hers.
She stared at their joined hands and sighed. "This is nice."
"Yeah.I was just thinking the same thing." He leaned his head back and began chuckling.
"What's so funny?"
"I've been a bear for the past week. I'd have happily snapped off anybody's head who dared to cross me."
"I know what you mean.Fortunately, there was nobody around for me to snap at. I had to content myself with yelling at the talking heads on TV." She paused. "How're you feeling now?"
He looked over at her. "What a difference a week makes. The thunderstorm's gone. The cloudy skies. The nasty rain. I'm all sunshine and blue skies and sweet-smelling flowers, thanks to you."
"Me,too." She set her wine on the nightstand and leaned over to brush a kiss over his mouth. "I'm so glad you're here,Wyatt.This has been the longest week of my life."
His arms came around her,gathering her close.Against her lips he whispered, "Speaking of which, you make me weak."
"And you make me..."
His kiss cut off her words.
As they rolled together, one word played over and over in her mind.
Content.
Wyatt McCord made her feel content. And safe.And absolutely, completely, thoroughly loved.
In a hurry to escape he let himself out of the house and walked to the truck. Before he could climb inside Marilee raced down the steps.
Breathless,she came to a sudden halt in front of him.
At the dark look in his eyes she swallowed. "Please don't go,Wyatt. I've been such a fool."
"You aren't the only one." He studied her with a look that had her heart stuttering.A look so intense, she couldn't look away. "I've been neating myself up for days,because I wanted things to go my way or no way."
"There's no need.You're not the only one." Her voice was soft,throaty. "You've always respected my need to be independent.But I guess I fought the battle so long,I forgot how to stop fighting even after I'd won the war."
"You can fight me all you want. You know Superman is indestructable." Again that long,speculative look. "I know I caught you off guard with that proposal. It won't happen again. Even when I understood your fear of commitment, I had to push to have things my way.And even though I still want more, I'm willing to settle for what you're willing to give,as long as we can be together."
She gave a deep sigh. "You mean it?"
"I do."
"Oh,Wyatt.I was so afraid I'd driven you away forever."
He continued studying her. "Does this mean you're suffering another change of heart?"
"My heart doesn't need to change. In my heart,I've always known how very special you are.It's my head that can't seem to catch up." She gave a shake of her head,as though to clear it. "I'm so glad you understand me. I've spent so many years fighting to be my own person, it seems I can't bear to give up the battle."
A slow smile spread across his face, changing it from darkness to light. "Marilee,if it's a sparring partner you want,I'm happy to sigh on. And if,in time,you ever decide you want more, I'm your man."
He framed her face with his hands and lowered his head,kissing her long and slow and deep until they were both sighing with pleasure.
Her tears started again,but this time they were tears of joy.
Wyatt brushed them away with his thumbs and traced the tracks with his lips. Marilee sighed at the tenderness. It was one of the things she most loved about this man.
Loved.
Why did she find it so hard to say what she was feeling? Because,her heart whispered, love meant commitment and promises and forever after,and that was more than she was willing to consider. At least for now.
After a moment he caught her hand.
"Where are we going?"
"Your place.It's closer than the ranch, and we've wasted too much time already."
"i can't leave the ambulance..."
"All right." He turned away from the ranch truck and led her toward her vehicle. "See how easy I am?"
At her little laugh he added, "I'm desperate for some time alone with you."
Alone.
She thought about that word. She'd been alone for so long.What he was offering had her heart working overtime. He was willing to compromise in order to be with her.
She was laughing through her tears as she turned the key in the ignition. The key that had saved his life.
"Wyatt McCord,I can't think of anything I'd rather be than alone with you.
I think,to add to the festive occasion, we ought to turn on the lights and siren." He turned to Delia. "What do you say?"
"Oh,heavens,no." She covered her mouth with her hand before giving it a second thought. "Sorry.That was the old Delia. The new Delia says yes.That would be so exciting."
Beside her,Marilee said sternly, "The old Marilee says you'll be breaking the law."
Wyatt winked. "This old rebel says he doesn't care. A celebration requires some noise."
The two exchanged a long look, then broke out into peals of laughter.
As they sped along the open highway, lights flashing,siren blasting, Delia found herself laughing along with them in absolute delight. Despite all the heartache,and all the turmoil,she was sharing a ride with Coot's grandson, heading out to Coot's ranch for the first time in over fifty years,and having the time of her life.
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