Tumbleweed Weddings (51 page)

A corner of her tiger poster, which had been hanging between the windows since high school, peeled away from the wall. Piles of clothes littered the chair, and her bed had not been made since she changed the sheets three days ago.

With a sigh, she walked inside, mentally comparing this room to Derek’s.
Why can’t I keep my room neat?

She plucked her jeans from the pile on the chair. They were still cuffed from bowling last night. With a sigh, she sat down on her bed, reliving those memories. If only Kandi MacKinnon hadn’t shown up! She was such a good bowler.

And my bowling was awful!

But what really bothered Cheyenne was Derek’s reaction to Kandi. He seemed more infatuated with her as the evening wore on. “Well!” Cheyenne shook her jeans at Marshal, who had padded into the bedroom. “I don’t need him! I’m going to lose weight, and just maybe I’ll find another man.”

Yeah right
. Her shoulders slumped. Maybe God did have another man for her, but Derek had always been her number-one candidate for marriage. After all these years, it was depressing that another girl had caught his attention. And a tiny, cute girl at that.

Marsh sat down and thumped his tail against the floor. His almond-shaped eyes gazed at her as his tongue hung out in a pant.

Grabbing a women’s magazine from her nightstand, Cheyenne leaned back against the pillows. She glanced at the thin model on the cover and read the titles of the articles listed there. Her eyes stopped at one. “Walking Off the Pounds.”

Biting her lower lip, she glanced at Marshal. What better way to lose weight than to take the dog for a walk every day?

With a sigh, she looked at the clock on the dresser. It was only 5:22.

She had plenty of time.

A
fter the waiter took their order, Derek gazed across the table at Kandi MacKinnon. The elegant Four Seasons restaurant in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was bustling with customers on this Friday evening, but he only saw her. They sat at a small table for two at the back of the dining room, and Derek couldn’t have asked for a more perfect spot.

He raised his eyebrows. “All you ordered was a salad? You’re not watching your weight, are you?” He winked, letting her know he was kidding.

“No.” Her face tinged pink, adding to the blush that blended in perfectly with her foundation. Thanks to Cheyenne, Derek knew all about makeup.

She shrugged. “I guess I’m not that hungry.”

Is she nervous?
Derek had to admit he was nervous himself. This was only the second time in his life he had purposely asked a girl on a date because he wanted to. The moment he saw Kandi in church Wednesday night, he asked if she would go to dinner with him on Friday.

Tonight she had dressed up in a green sleeveless dress, and her freckled arms looked athletic with firm muscles. It was amazing how attracted he was to
the little red-haired girl
. Maybe Mom was right—he should get married.

That thought
really
made him nervous.

He glanced around at the other patrons of the Four Seasons, other couples at other tables having intimate conversations. Looking back at Kandi, he gazed at her pretty green eyes. “So … you have three more years in college. What are you majoring in, Kandi?”

“English literature.” She smoothed the napkin lying beside her plate.

“So … English.” He cleared his throat. Why did he keep saying so? “What are you going to do when you graduate?”

“I might go on for my master’s degree.”

“You’re not going to become one of those professional students, are you?” He grinned.

That pink hue crept to her face once more, and she shook her head. “No.” Her fingers started picking at the edge of the napkin.

Derek drew in a silent sigh, wishing Kandi would expand her short English sentences. On the way to the restaurant, he had done most of the talking, telling her about his degree in range management from the University of Montana and about his family. She just listened. How could he get to know her if she didn’t talk?

“My sister, Callie, majored in English. She worked as a librarian until she got married. Now she and her husband are building a museum for our town.”

“Oh.”

“Would you be interested in becoming a librarian someday?”

“I don’t know.” She looked down at the tablecloth. “I might.”

Taking a deep breath, he tried again. “Tell me about your family, Kandi.” He sat back.
I’ve got you there!
She couldn’t tell him about her family in a three-word sentence.

“I have a mom and dad, a sister, and a brother.” She leaned forward. “We’ve lived in Salt Lake City since I was four years old. My dad was transferred there.”

“I see.” He nodded, hoping it would encourage her to keep talking. “What does your dad do?”

As she answered, Derek felt like he was playing Twenty Questions. Was Kandi always this quiet? Maybe she was shy.

Cheyenne’s face popped into his mind. Now there was a girl who could talk! For a moment, he wished she was the one sitting across from him. But why was he even attempting to date a pretty girl? Didn’t the Lord want him to remain single in order to serve Him?

No wonder this date with Kandi was going nowhere.

Cheyenne tried to control her breathing as she opened the back door. “Okay, Marshal, that was our exercise for tonight.” She was panting more than he was.

The collie waited while she unhooked his leash. Then he lay down on his doggy bed by the back door.

“My sentiments exactly, Marsh.” Heaving out a breath, she walked into her bedroom and threw herself across the bed, facedown.
I must have lost fifty pounds!

She’d been walking Marshal every evening for three days, and she’d eaten nothing but fruit and salads, plus some egg whites for protein. So far, according to the bathroom scale, she had lost exactly two pounds. Two pounds! So on her “walk” with Marshal tonight, she started jogging.

Mistake!

She was still trying to catch her breath when her cell phone rang.

With a groan, she sat up and swiped her phone off the dresser. She glanced at the caller’s number before flipping it open. “Hi, Callie.” She sighed.

“What’s up?”

“Hi! You sound kind of down.”

Cheyenne flopped to her back. “I just got back from jogging with Marshal.”

“Jogging? You?” The sound of a chuckle escaped over the phone.

“It’s not funny! Marshal and I are trying to lose weight, you know.”

“Hmm … I didn’t realize he was overweight.”

“He’s not.” Cheyenne sighed. “But you know what? I’ve lost two pounds in the last three days.”

“That’s great! I’m proud of you, Chey. Keep up the exercise with Marshal, and someday you’ll be thinner than Tonya.”

“Oh sure.” Cheyenne laughed. “What can I do for you, girlfriend?”

Callie paused. “I hate to give you bad news when you’re tired, but I thought you should know about this.”

“Bad news?” Cheyenne sat up. “What happened? Did someone die? It’s not Murray’s mother, is it?”

“No, nothing like that. In fact, his mom is doing a lot better.”

“Oh, that’s good.” Cheyenne breathed out. “So what’s the bad news?”

“It’s about Derek. I was talking to Mom on the phone just now, and she told me Derek took Kandi MacKinnon to the Four Seasons tonight.”

“What!” Cheyenne jumped to her feet. “He asked her out? You’ve got to be kidding!”

“Would I joke about a thing like that?” Callie paused. “Derek is finally dating someone of his own volition, and to be honest, I’m brokenhearted. I had high hopes for you and him.”

With a moan, Cheyenne sank down to the bed. “I’ve lost Derek for sure. How can I compete with that teeny-weeny girl who has zero fat on her teeny-weeny body?”

“Chey …”

“It’s true! There is no way I can compete with her.” Cheyenne walked to the full-length mirror. Looking at her almost-six-foot pudgy self decked out in sweats, she grimaced. “If I ever succeed in getting married, it will be to a man whose sole passion is to fall in love with a big, fat woman.”

“Chey, Derek likes you. He’s comfortable around you.”

“But not in love.” She dropped down to her bed. “I’m thinking of doing something different, Callie. Something radical.”

“Oh?”

“Yep. I’m moving to Colorado.”

“What? You can’t move! You’ve been my best friend since first grade.”

“Life changes, Callie. I’m thinking about Loveland.” She smiled. “Isn’t that a great name? That’s where I’ll find the love of my life.” She lifted up a quick prayer, asking God to make it so.

“But that’s so far away.”

“Not that far, Callie. I already put in for a transfer at the post office, but I’m also looking at other jobs.”

“You’re really serious, aren’t you?”

Cheyenne ignored the question. “Remember that makeup class I took a couple weeks ago? I’m applying for a job at Hallie’s Beauty Supply Shoppe in Loveland. It’s a new store, and their grand opening is next month.” Her heart leaped. “Can you imagine? I took that class just for myself, but the Lord knew that certificate would help me get this job. It looks like He’s working everything out for good.”

“Please don’t move, Cheyenne.” Callie’s voice had a whine tucked inside it. “Don’t give up on Derek yet. You two would make such a great couple. You’re perfect for each other in every way. And besides, I’ve always wanted you to be my sister-in-law.”

A tiny flicker ignited in Cheyenne’s heart, but she snuffed it out. Why should she hold out for Derek Brandt? “It’s no use, Callie. I’m just one of Derek’s many friends—no one special.”

“That’s not true. You two are the best of friends.”

“Give it up, Callie. Derek has his eyes on Kandi, and the Lord has someone else in mind for me. At least, I hope so.”
And I need to meet him soon!

If only she could tell Callie about Grandmother’s will.

“Well … okay. But I’m going to keep praying about you and Derek.” Callie paused. “Remember how you encouraged me last summer when I was ready to give up on Lane?”

Cheyenne thought back. “You said you didn’t have peace about dating him.”

“I didn’t! But you thought we were perfect for each other, and you told me to trust the Lord to work things out. And He did!”

A lone tear rolled down Cheyenne’s cheek, but she brushed it away.

“The Lord can do the same for you and Derek.” The sound of static filled the phone. “I have to go, Chey. Talk to you later.”

“Bye, Callie.”

Dropping her phone in her purse, Cheyenne closed her eyes. She
was
excited about moving, but if Derek gave any indication that he wanted to marry her, she would rather stay in Fort Lob. Her shoulders slumped as all the air escaped from her lungs. She couldn’t believe Derek had asked Kandi out.

So much for trying to win his hand.

The stars shone in the dark sky as Derek drove his pickup to the front of Bruce MacKinnon’s house. He stopped beside the front porch, where the porch light cast a warm glow. “Here we are.”

Kandi touched the handle of the passenger door. “Thanks, Derek.”

“Let me get that for you.” He walked around the front of the truck and opened her door then grabbed her elbow to help her down.

The front door of the house opened, and Bruce stuck his head outside. “I wondered when you two would get home. I’m glad it’s not too late.”

Derek grinned at him. “I brought her right home, Bruce.”

“That you did.” He opened the screen door wider as Kandi ascended the porch steps. “Why don’t you come in and set a spell, as Agatha would say.”

“Okay.” Derek climbed the porch steps and walked into the house, where the air-conditioning made a noticeable difference. He didn’t want to “set a spell.” Kandi had barely said two complete sentences on the hour-long drive home from the big city, so he had talked for both of them.

It was exhausting.

Bruce motioned toward the blue and white plaid sofa where his granddaughter was sitting in the middle. “Have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?”

“No thanks.” Derek eased down next to Kandi and sank into the comfortable cushions. He hadn’t been to Bruce MacKinnon’s house for years. A blue braided rug partially covered the polished wooden floor, and several lighthouses decorated the fireplace mantelpiece.