The Reluctant Rancher (25 page)

“
I didn’t think you wanted to see me again.
”

“
Why?
”
He held on to the last of his pride
and
wanted her t
o admit her love first.

He
 
saw
her anger quicken.
 
This was the Mary he loved –
feisty, stubborn and
gorgeous.
 
“
Oh, I don’t know, maybe because you ordered me off your ranch.
 
If you don’t want me, I understand. I know I’m not the most beautiful woman in the world, far from it.
 
But I’d hoped we could still be friends.
”

“
Damn it, Mary, I do want you.
”

“
Then why have you been so cold and distant?
 
Even before I left you were withdrawn.
 
I thought you’d changed your mind, that I wasn’t pretty enough, thin enough.
 
Not your kind of woman.
 
I’ve seen pictures of your ex-wife, Lu
ke.
 
She could have been a model.” D
oubt about her appearance
was
written across her features.

Luke scrubbed a hand across his beard roughened jaw.
 
To him, Mary was perfection.
 
It didn’t matter that she wasn’t pencil slim or that her face wasn’t symmetrically perfect thanks to the knife of a plastic surgeon.
 
He saw the beauty of her soul.
H
e realized it would take more than a few loving whispers to show her how much she meant to him.
 
And that didn’t bother him at all.
 
He figured he had the next forty or so years to convince this lady of his love.
And he’d start now.
He moved to the head of the bed.

“
You are beautiful.
”
 
He stopped when he heard her snort of disbelief and took her chin in his hand
. He forced
her to meet his gaze.
 
“
We’re both intelligent adults, Mary.
 
I can’t lie and say you’ve got the figure of a pin-up.
 
But I can tell you I don’t want that type of woman in my bed.
 
I want a woma
n I can hold on to.
 
You’ve
seen pictures of my great-grandmother and my grandmother.
 
Those women had curves in all the right places, Mary.
 
Just like you.
 
I think my great-grandfather and grandpa were two of the happiest men on earth.
 
Because they had women who loved them by their side.
”

“S
o where do we go from here?
”

He felt as if she was still withholding
a part of herself and he couldn’t blame her.
 
He’d hurt her.
 
He knew her insecurities, and his o
wn, couldn’t be wiped away quickly
 
but he hoped they’d find that place of love and happiness – together.

“
We grow old together, Mary Carter.
 
That is, if you’ll have me.
”
 
He rushed on before she could respond.
“
I’ve been a st
ubborn fool according to Grandfather
,
so let me set the record straight.
 
I love you and I think you’re the most beautiful woman to ever walk across the face of this earth.
 
I want you by my side forever.
 
I want you to teach me how to love.
 
I want you to be my friend, my wife, my lover, my partner.
”
 
His hand caressed her stomach.
 
“
The mother of my children.
”

She said nothing as she looked away.

“
Why is it so hard to believe I love you, Mary?
 
You love me don’t you?
”

She nodded her head.

“
I’ve broken more bones than I can count and I’ve got a scar or two as well.
 
Hell, lady, I’m no Tom Cruise in the looks department,
”
he drawled
.

“That doesn’t matter.
”
Mary protested
just as he knew she would
.

“
So why can’t I love you just as you are?
”

“Y
ou
really
love me?
”

“
I love you
more than life itself
.
”
Luke bent his
head to take her mouth
.
 
Without words he set about convincing her that she was the love his life, the object of every erotic fantasy he’d ever have, and the very hope for his future.

*
*
*
* *

The wedding took place two weeks later at the small church on
Main Street
.
Mark officiated.

Mary and Jennifer waited in the tiny side room, making last minute adjustments to their wedding finery.
 
Both women looked stunning.
 
Mary had found a white satin dress overlaid with antique lace t
hat suited her frame and figure
.
 
Jennifer, as matron of honor, wore a lavender dress that hid those last ten pounds of baby fat.

A soft knock sounded at the closed door and Joseph’s deep voice came from the other side.
 
“
May I come in?
”

“
Of course.
”
 
Jennifer opened the door and ushered him in.
 
“
I think Mary could use another familiar face right now and I need to go let Mark know we’re ready to begin.
”

“
You look beautiful,
”
Joseph said as he took hold of Mary’s cold, trembling hands.

“
Thank you.
 
Thank you for everything.
”
 
She fingered the delicate pearls in her ears that he had given her that morning.
 
They’d belonged to his late wife, Emma.
 
“
These have made me feel very special, a part of your family.
”

“
You are a part of the family.
 
I’m so happy for both of you.
 
I can’t think of two people who belong together as much as you and Luke.
”

She heard the faint sound of music and knew her father waited outside to escort her down the aisle.
 
Despite her protests, Luke had flown her whole family in for the ceremony.

Joseph
kissed her on the cheek.
 
“
I hope you have as many happy years as me and my Emma.
”

Mary returned the kiss
blinking away the
tears
that threatened to gather
in her eyes.
 
“
I hope so, too, Joseph.
”

The older man cleared his throat.
 
“
Enough of that.
 
Now come on, your daddy’s waiting and I don’t like the way he’s been looking at Luke.
 
You did say he retired from the army, didn’t you?
”
 
He didn't wait for an answer.
 
”
Because I’d hate to see Luke sentenced to
Fort
Leavenworth
for marrying you.
”

Moments later she walked down the aisle
. She leaned o
n her father’s arm for support while concentrating
on not
stumbling.
 
She trembled so badly even her feet shook.
 
She heard a slight rustling and lifted her eyes.
 
The congregation rose as she passed by
, but Mary paid them no mind.

She focused all her attention on Luke’s tall fi
gure waiting for her at the front of the church
and her eyes filled with more tears.
 
He looked so handsome
standing there, waiting for her. H
is broad shoulders fil
led
out the jacket of his black tuxedo to perfection
a
nd his face beamed with one of those rare Tanner smiles.

As she neared, he held out his work-roughed hand, its strength solid and sure.
 
She placed her smaller one in his and felt a serene peace settl
e
within her.
 
She had finally come home.
 
Home to her reluctant rancher.

A year
later
,
Luke and Mary joined the line at the end of the buffet table located in the community center.
 
Since the flood, the town had declared every Saturday night dance night
. The drama had made most realize
how precious friends and family really were.

Luke wrapped his arms around her waist, l
aughing
when he had to bend forward to complete the circle.
 
“
You sure are getting big, honey.
”
 

Mary smacked at his hands
and tried
to loosen his hold, but he didn’t let go.
 
“
Why
,
you inconsiderate clod. How dare you tell a pregnant lady she’s fat.
”

Luke nuzzled her throat.
 
“
I didn’t say you’re getting fat.
 
I said you were getting big.
”

“It’s the same thing.
”
S
he relax
ed
into his strength.

“No, it’s not.
”
H
is eyes
narrowed
into green slits
e
ven as his hands caressed her stomach.
 
He laughed as he felt the baby move beneath his touch.

Mary watched the delight spread across his rugged features and realized he was right.
 
It wasn’t the same thing.
 
The insecurities that had haunted her were a thing of the past.
 
She felt beautiful.
 
She felt loved.

As they made their way through the buffet line, Mary insisted all she wanted were the chocolate covered strawberries. She knew Jennifer, at Luke’s insistence, had made extra just for her.

Once seated, he lifted a chocolate covered morsel to her mouth
. She took a bite and remembered
that first dance.
 
As she swallowed she gasped
.

Luke pulled the fruit away. “
Doesn’t it taste good?
 
I knew I should have had some flown in from the coast but Jennifer insisted these would be fine.
 
But they aren’t ripe enough are they?
”

“
They’re fine, Luke.
 
I just think I’m a little
over
ripe.
”
 
Her
hands went to her stomach
. The last of her words came
out between short pants as she tried to control the pain
that sliced
through her body.

“
Damn it, Mary.
 
Why didn’t you say something?
”
 
Not daring to leave her side, he motioned across the room for help.

J
oseph hurried over to them with Sara, his bride of two months in tow.
Mark and Jennifer were right behind them.
They all talked at once until
Logan
arrived and took charge with calm professionalism.
 
Placing a hand on Mary’s extended stomach he counted the minutes on his watch as another contraction hit.