Lorraine Heath (16 page)

Night had fallen by the time they finished their meal, and she joined Austin on the porch. She enjoyed these moments when he seemed most relaxed and content. She sat on the top step. “How was your day?” she asked quietly.

A corner of Austin’s mouth quirked up. “Tiring. I sure don’t remember feeling this tired in the evenings before. Must be age catching up with me.”

She laughed lightly. “You are so incredibly old.”

Turning, he pressed his back against the beam, straightened his legs, and brought her feet to his lap. He rubbed his thumbs over her sole. “How was your day?”

“Amelia visited.”

“Not being a pesky neighbor, is she?”

“No, I think she’s purposefully trying to leave us alone. She told me you had helped build the house.”

“Helped to add the bedroom and the rooms upstairs.”

“I like the thought of our children playing on a floor you may have hammered into place.” She gnawed on her lower lip, raised a hand, and squinted into the setting sun. “You see that tree over there?”

Austin glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

The tree was not what she would call beautiful. Bent, gnarled, and crooked, it looked as though it had spent much of its time fighting the lonesome winds and seldom winning.

“Can we hang a swing from it?”

“We can hang anything from it that you want, Sugar.”

Two-bits leapt on the porch, wagged his tail, and yipped before settling down beside her hip.

Austin chuckled. “He’s such a ferocious guardian.”

“He’s good company, and he gives Rawley an excuse to visit. He reminds me so much of my brother.”

Austin’s fingers stilled their soothing journey over the soles of her feet. “You really miss your brother, don’t you?”

“Some days are harder than others, but I guess it’s always like that when you lose someone you love.”

He started rubbing her feet again. “Speaking of someone you love, they’re putting the ones they love to bed.”

Night had swept over the land. Loree gazed at the house in the distance. Lights spilled out from the windows on the second floor. A window fell into darkness.

“That’ll be A. J.,” Austin said.

“What does the A. J. stand for?” Loree asked.

“Anita June. Amanda’s middle name is April. When it suits their fancy, they have a tendency to name their daughters after the month in which they were born. Hope you’re not planning to do that.”

“What if I was?” she challenged.

“Then that’s what we’d do.” Austin pointed toward the house. “They’re coming to my favorite window.”

Loree glanced back over her shoulder. Two other windows were now ensconced in darkness. She watched as the light from the last window disappeared.

“That was Maggie’s room. Give her a minute …” The light again burned within the window. Austin chuckled.

“What’s she doing?” Loree asked.

“No idea, but she turns that lamp back up every night.”

“You love her so much.”

“I love ‘em all, but I know Maggie … and Rawley. But I’m slowly getting to know the others.” He yawned and patted her feet. “Guess I’d best get to bed.”

He unfolded his body, took her hand, and brought her to her feet. “Don’t know if you noticed the theater Dee built in town. It’s gonna have its first performance next week. She’s invited the whole family to go.”

“That should be fun.”

“Yeah,” he replied, but she thought she heard doubt in his voice. “You go on in. I’ll be there directly.”

Following their nightly ritual, she went to their bedroom, slipped into her nightgown, crawled into bed, turned down the lamp, and waited. She heard her husband walking the perimeter of the house as though he loathed giving up another day. He joined her a little sooner than he had the night before. Pressing a kiss to her temple, he drew her into the circle of his arms.

As she lay there, listening to his breathing, knowing he was giving as much as he could without dishonoring his vow, she cursed the night she’d extracted a promise from him.

L
oree glanced at her reflection in the mirror. The yellow ribbon at the end of her braid looked incredibly childish, even if it had been a gift from Austin. She yanked it from her hair and dropped onto the bed, pulling the ribbon through her fingers, over and over.

Austin had gone to Houston’s as soon as he’d seen Dallas and his family arrive in their buggy, leaving Loree to finish getting dressed on her own. She didn’t want to embarrass him by looking like a little girl when they attended the play at the theater. Only she had no idea how to make herself look grown up. She heard the soft knock on her door. “Come in.”

Dee poked her head around the door. “How’s it coming?”

Loree held up the ribbon. “I just need to figure out what to do with this ribbon. I don’t want to hurt Austin’s feelings by not wearing it.”

Dee stepped into the room, and Loree wished she could come up with a plausible excuse to get out of going to this affair. Dee’s red gown complimented her pale complexion, black hair, and brown eyes, leaving her devastatingly beautiful. “Oh, I’m sure we can think of something to do with it. Don’t you think, Amelia?”

Smiling warmly and holding a large box, Amelia waltzed in behind Dee. Amelia’s golden hair was swept up into a graceful bouquet of curls. The green of her dress emphasized the green of her eyes. She looked radiant.

Dee pulled out the chair in front of the mirrored vanity. “Loree, why don’t you sit here?”

“Why don’t we put on the gown first?” Amelia suggested.

Incredibly embarrassed, Loree glanced at her best dress. “I am wearing my dress.”

Amelia walked to the bed, set the box down, and ripped off the lid. “I thought you’d want to wear the gown Austin ordered for you.”

Loree took a hesitant step forward. “What gown?”

With a flourish, Amelia pulled a rustle of lace and silk out of the box and held it up for Loree to see. “This one.”

Tears stung Loree’s eyes. The pale yellow bodice dipped down to form a V. Lace decorated the area between the V and ran up along the shoulders. A top skirt was split down the middle and pulled back, held in place with yellow ribbons, to reveal a pleated lace skirt beneath.

“Austin ordered this gown?” Loree asked, touching the soft material with awe.

“In a way,” Amelia admitted. “He told me you needed something to wear. He insisted it be yellow because you look beautiful in yellow—”

“He said that?” Loree asked. “That I looked beautiful?”

Amelia smiled warmly. “He said that. But not knowing how his taste in women’s clothing runs … and having had an unfortunate experience with Dallas’s tastes in women’s attire, I oversaw the dress maker’s efforts.”

“I had no idea—” Loree began.

“I think he wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Oh, it is.” “Why don’t you slip it on,” Dee suggested, “and then we’ll see about arranging your hair.”

Loree grabbed her braid. “I don’t suppose we could pile it on top of my head.”

“We can do anything you want.”

Austin sat in Houston’s parlor, sprawled in the chair, gazing out the window, wishing he could think of a way to get out of his family obligation.

The way Rawley was crunching his face, Austin figured he was searching for an excuse, too. Rawley dug his finger behind the collar of his starched white shirt, looking like he might choke at any minute. Then his face brightened. “I should probably check on the herd.”

Dallas shifted his gaze from the window and nodded slowly. “You probably should.”

Relief washed over Rawley’s face as he strode for the door.

“If the herd means more to you than your mother does,” Dallas added.

Rawley stumbled to a stop and glanced over his shoulder.

“The theater is one of your mother’s dreams. She’s a little nervous about tonight,” Dallas said.

Rawley took a deep breath. “Then I reckon I oughta be there.”

“Reckon so.”

Rawley reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a sarsaparilla stick. Daintily, Faith walked up to him. “Gimme.”

“It’s my last one,” Rawley said, even as he broke it in half and handed a piece to her. Then he glared at Maggie as she sat in the corner, watching over her three sisters. “Reckon you want some, too.”

She held up a bag. “We still have the lemon drops Uncle Dallas brought.”

“If those women don’t hurry, the girls are all gonna have belly aches before we get out of here,” Houston said.

“As long as they’re riding in your wagon, that’s not a problem for me,” Dallas said.

“What’s keeping them?” Austin asked.

“Hell, you never know with women,” Dallas said.

Austin heard the patter of footsteps on the front porch. The door swung open. Amelia and Dee rushed in, looking like little girls trying to hold in an enormous secret. Then Loree stepped through the doorway and Austin felt as though a wild mustang had just kicked him in the chest. Sweet Lord, the little darling he’d married was going to catch the eye of every man in town.

Slowly he came to his feet. Loree’s smile faltered and she touched her gloved hand to the nape of her neck.

“You don’t like it?” she asked.

“I like it just fine,” he said, wondering where that raspy voice had come from.

“Amelia said you purchased the gown.”

“I did. I just didn’t know it was gonna look like that.”

“I could change—”

“No!” three male voices sounded at once.

Loree had seen the outside of the theater from the hotel, but she had never imagined the opulence that had been hidden inside. Candles flickered within crystal chandeliers. A thick red carpet with designs running through it covered every inch of the floor. Gilded mirrors adorned the walls. Wide sweeping stairs on either side of the foyer led to the balconies.

At one end of the foyer was a room where parents could leave their children in the capable hands of women paid to care for them. As far as Loree could determine, Dee had thought of everything and designed the theater to give the people of Leighton a night they’d never forget.

It seemed everyone within a thousand miles had come for the opening performance. Loree had never been in one room with so many people.

Austin took her elbow and leaned low. “They’re serving champagne over there. Do you want some?”

“Do you think they have some water?”

Smiling, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “If they don’t, I’ll find some. Why don’t you wait here with Rawley until Dee and Dallas get back from taking Faith to that baby room?”

She nodded slightly.

“Rawley, I’m leaving your aunt in your care. You watch after her, now.”

Rawley straightened his shoulders. “Yes, sir.”

Loree’s heart swelled as she watched her husband make his way through the crowd. Tall, lean, he looked incredibly handsome in his black jacket and white starched shirt.

“How long is a play anyway?” Rawley asked, drawing her attention away from Austin.

“A couple of hours I imagine.”

“Think there’s any chance
Romeo and Juliet
is a story about a boy and his dog?” Rawley asked.

Loree fought back her smile. “No, it’s a love story.”

“A boy could love his dog,” he said hopefully.

Loree’s smile broke free. “In this story, he loves a woman.”

Rawley grimaced. “They ain’t gonna do any kissing, are they?”

“Don’t you like kissing?”

“Ain’t never tried it, but can’t see where it’d be much fun. From what I can tell, looks to me like the two people are just swapping spit. I’d rather swap marbles.”

“Rawley!”

Loree turned just as Maggie plowed into Rawley. Breathless, she squeezed his arm. “Rawley, one of the actors is over there showing people his sword. His honest to gosh sword! Come on!”

She tugged on his arm, but Rawley pulled back. He cast a quick glance at Loree, and she saw the longing in his eyes. “I can’t. Told Uncle Austin I’d stay here with Aunt Loree.”

Maggie wasn’t as discreet in her disappointment. “Heck fire, Rawley, we won’t be that far away.”

Rawley hesitated, then shook his head. “Can’t do it. Gave my word.”

Loree placed her hand on his shoulder. “Go on. I’ll be all right.”

“Uncle Austin might not like it.”

“I’ll explain it to him so he does.”

“Suppose I could just run over and take a quick look-see.”

Maggie grabbed his hand. “Come on, Rawley. You won’t believe how shiny his sword is. Looks like it’s sharp enough to cut the head off a Longhorn.”

Loree watched them work their way through the crowd. Her brother had been around Rawley’s age when he’d died. She couldn’t remember if he’d ever looked at a sword.

She felt a light tap on her arm and turned. Her stomach dropped to her knees at the sight of the man and woman standing before her.

“Hello,” Becky said smiling warmly. “I didn’t know you were still in town.”

Loree gave her a jerky nod. “Yes. Yes, I live here now.”

“How wonderful! You’ll have to come visit some Sunday when the store is closed. Did you find the gun you were looking for?”

“Why would she need a gun?” Austin asked from behind her.

Loree’s heart pounded so heavily she was certain he felt it as he clamped his hand possessively onto her waist. “Here’s your water,” he said quietly.

With a trembling hand, Loree took the glass from him. “Thank you. I was already beginning to miss you.”

Austin smiled warmly, dipped his head, and brushed a quick kiss across her lips. “I was missing you, too.”

Loree shifted her gaze and watched as understanding dawned in Becky’s eyes and the blood drained from her face.

“Austin, it’s so good to see you again,” Becky said, her voice faltering. “How are you?”

“Wiser.”

“Cameron told me you’d gotten married … I just … I just didn’t realize … I’d met your wife,” Becky stammered.

“She mentioned meeting you. Loree, Sugar, did you meet Cameron?”

“I saw him, but I don’t think we actually met.”

“He’s Dee’s brother. I’m not sure I ever mentioned that,” Austin said.

“No, you didn’t. You only mentioned that he’d been your best friend.”

Cameron looked as though he might fall ill at any moment. “Austin—”

“If you’ll excuse us,” Austin said, “we need to find our seats. Dee would never forgive us for missing the opening scene.”

Austin held out his arm. Loree grabbed onto it, afraid she’d sink to the floor if she didn’t have his support. The crowd parted as they walked to the sweeping staircase. She heard a mumbled “murderer,” and her heart tripped over itself. She glanced at her husband, saw his clenched jaw, and realized people were murmuring about him. She angled her chin proudly.

“I’ve never watched a play before. I’ve always wanted to attend one.”

Austin glanced down at her.

She smiled with her heart in her eyes. “I’m very glad that you’re the one who’s taking me.”

“Sugar, I don’t think I would have made it up these stairs without you by my side.”

He took her hand at the top of the stairs. They walked along the landing, passing several curtained entrances before Austin swept back the drapery and led Loree into the darkness of a balcony.

“Thank you, Loree, for looking like you were proud to have me by your side,” he whispered.

“I was proud.”

She sensed a moment’s hesitation before he took her into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers. She twined her arms around his neck, returning his kiss with a fervor that surprised her. She had wanted to scratch out eyes and yank out hair. She’d wanted to ask those two people how they could have betrayed her husband, the father of her child, the man she was coming to love.

Austin grunted and stumbled to the side, taking her with him. The curtain was drawn aside, and Dallas was silhouetted in the doorway.

“What are you doing?” Dallas demanded.

“Looking for our seats,” Austin said, his hand skimming over hers before latching securely onto it.

Then mayhem erupted as the family crowded inside the small balcony.

“Everyone take your seats,” Dee said excitedly. “They’ll be opening the curtains any minute.”

“Which chair is mine?” Maggie asked. “I wanna sit in the front.” “Ladies in the front,” Dallas said, “Men in the back.”

“Loree sits by me,” Austin said.

“Yeah, and I want to sit by Amelia,” Houston added.

“Fine,” Dallas ground out.

“We’ll put the children, Austin, and Loree in the back—” Dallas began.

“Then the children won’t be able to see,” Amelia pointed out.

“I don’t care if I can’t see,” Rawley said.

“But then you won’t see the sword fight,” Maggie told him. “You gotta see the sword fight.”

“I don’t mind sitting in the back—”

“Houston and I will sit in the back,” Amelia said.

“No, Dallas and I are taller. We’ll sit in the back,” Dee offered.

“No, Dee, this is your dream—”

“But I want you to see—”

Austin tugged on Loree’s hand. “Come on,” he whispered. “We’ll just sit in the back.”

He guided her toward the far side. As they sat, he kept his hand wrapped around hers. She heard his low chuckle. “Guess I started this by wanting to sit by you.”

“I’m grateful you did because I really didn’t want to sit by anyone else.”

He trailed his finger along her jaw. “I’m glad. Loree, I’m sorry it was so awkward down there, with people staring and whispering. They’re just not used to me being home yet.”

“My home could give us the things we need.”

“I want you to have things that you
want
not just things that you need.”

“That’s it!” Dallas roared. “Everyone has five seconds to plant their butts in a seat. Anyone left standing at the end of that time goes over the balcony.”

A mad scramble ensued.

“Come on, Rawley,” Maggie cried as she pulled him to a seat in front.

She plopped down in front of Austin. He tapped her shoulder. “Trade places with Rawley so your Aunt Loree can see.”

She and Rawley switched chairs. While the remaining adults discussed the seating arrangements, Maggie turned and looked at Austin. “Can me and Rawley spit over the side of the balcony?”