A New Day (91 page)

    
He grinned at her, and stroked her chin with a sensuous look that melted her bones.  "No.  But I'm beginning to think that I might get out of hand."

    
It was with no little regret that he kissed her goodnight, and opened the front door.  They found Timothy, Tasha, Brent, Elaine, Mike and Billy, all relaxing with hot cider around the fire.  Lucinda had heard the couple coming in, and was already scurrying in with a steaming mug for each of them.   

    
"That was one long walk."  Tim drawled with a raised eyebrow.

    
Dana smiled broadly, and blushed; and James couldn't begin to hide his satisfaction.  Dana saw that Mike and Billy were indeed wearing exactly the wounded and pouting expressions that Jimmy had predicted.  She gave him a knowing grin, and then had to bite her lip to keep from laughing aloud.

    
"Well, now that you're finally back, I think I'll take Dana to a late movie." Billy said forcefully.

    
Dana's dimples jumped. "Oh.  Thank you, but no.  I don't think so."  She said gently.

    
"Aw, come on.  You need to get out and have some fun.  You don't want to let moody, pokey old James monopolize all your time."  he scoffed.

    
One of Dana's delicate eyebrows arched to a dangerous height.  "Really?  Just for the record, why not?" she challenged coolly.

    
Billy chuckled nervously.  "Well, come on.  Let's go have some fun.  James is really just kind of a home body."

    
Dana smiled sweetly, sat down, and picked up her mug of hot cider.  "Well, Tim.  Have you and Tasha ironed out all the details for your wedding yet?"

    
Tim shook his head.   "I don't think we ever will."  He sighed.    "There are about ten million and one."

    
Tasha grinned.  "We're almost there."  She assured Dana.  "I think we'll be leaving for Jackson within the week."     

    
Dana sent a delighted look at James, who had put on his poker face.   "I think I'll be delighted to go home."  She giggled. 

     
"So, Dana.  About that movie," Billy insisted.  "How about if we get going?"  He stood up and held a hand to her, but Dana just kept her chilly hands wrapped around her cider mug, and smiled serenely up at him. 

    
"Perhaps Mike would go with you."  She suggested.

    
Bill frowned and dropped his hand to his side.  "I didn't ask him.  I asked you." 

    
"And I said no.  Perhaps you'd forgotten."  Dana said steadily.  "Thank you, anyway."

    
Billy stuffed his hands in his pockets, and turned a disgruntled face toward Mike.  "Well?" he growled.

    
"I ain't going to be your blooming escort to any movie!  You've got a nerve, asking me just because she refused you."  Mike groused disdainfully.  "But when we get back to Jackson Hole, I certainly plan to look Dana up and get better acquainted with her, myself."

    
Dana looked up at them with mild irritation in her eyes.  "Really, gentlemen.  I'm not some kind of trophy.  You two eminently eligible bachelors should have no trouble finding ladies to keep you company.  I am just not interested in being fought over."

    
Billy and Mike looked at her with incredulous eyes.

    
"You look like the cat that ate the canary, James."  Elaine drawled.  "What on earth have you been up to?"

    
"Just enjoying the moment."  He said, with satisfaction.

    
"What moment might
that
be?" Mike asked pointedly.

    
"Seeing you two get your come-uppance.  Dana's a little more than you bargained on, is she?"

    
"She's just playing hard to get."  Billy waved it away.

    
"I don't think that my fiance found that to be the case."  Dana advised smugly. 

    
Tim gave her a sharp look, and James chuckled.  Timothy gave his sister's bright eyes and very rosy cheeks a hard look, before he pierced James with his eyes again.  "You didn't waste any time, Sir James."

    
"No." He agreed, looking distinctly pleased.  “I wasn't taking any more chances, especially with our present company.”   

    
Tim relaxed, and a satisfied smile replaced his look of worry. 

    
"Would you two mind telling me what you're talking about?" Tasha asked with irritation.

    
Tim looked at James, and shrugged.  "That's up to you, James." 

    
James smiled.  "Dana has just consented to be my wife." He said with obvious pleasure.

    
There was an entire room full of open mouths and shocked faces staring back at them.  Except Tim, who was laughing under his breath in absolute joy and thanksgiving.  He had to blink back a tear or two before he could manage to say anything.  "It's about doggone time."  He finally managed, with obvious emotion.

    
All of the shocked faces swiveled to look at Tim.  "I've seen the torch James has been carrying for Dana, since the first day he saw her." He told Tasha with a chuckle.  "I was beginning to wonder, though, if anything was ever going to happen."

    
"Well, you might have told me!" Dana objected hotly.  "You could have saved me a whole lot of heartache."

    
Tim shook his head at her forcefully.  "I didn't have a clue that there was any cause for worry.  Besides, it's much better that it be your idea to marry James – not mine."

    
"But, I don't understand."  Billy said quizzically.  "When you picked us up at the airport this morning, you didn't know any of us.  How could you all of a sudden be engaged to James?"

     
Dana smiled up at James with a sultry expression.  "I find James to be a very decisive man.  I guess he just swept me off my feet."

    
Mike shook his head.  "Are you trying to tell me that you went from 0 to 90 miles an hour, after dinner tonight?" he charged dubiously.

    
"I don't gamble very often."  James said quietly.  "But when I put my money on the table, I'm going to win."

    
Mike and Billy both stood up and reluctantly shook James' hand, offering stiff words of congratulations. 

    
"I didn't think ye had it in ye, James."  Mike admitted grudgingly.  "But ye snatched her right out from under our noses."

    
Billy was a bit less gracious, having made such strong overtures toward Dana.  "Well, James, I suppose I can at least tell you that you're a lucky man." he sniffed.

    
James smiled at him.  "It wouldn't be true," he argued.  Everyone stopped, and stared at him.  "Luck had nothing to do with it.  The Lord was gracious enough to show me my wife, when I asked Him to bring her to me – and I was faithful to pray and proclaim it, and wait for His timing.  Even when I knew that Snyder was in the picture, I never gave up the vision.  And, the Lord is always faithful to deliver on His promises.” 

    
"So -- I'm sorry, you two, but your empty posturing and petty competitions didn't stand you a chance.  This relationship is holy to the Lord.  His hand is on it.  Nobody,
but nobody
is going to come between Dana and I.”  He assured them boldly.

    
Mike and Billy both stepped back and opened their eyes wider, at these strong and decidedly authoritative words. 

    
"If you think I'm 'a lucky guy', then get on your own knees, and get serious before God.  Ask for your wives.  Sow the seed.  Then wait and pray.  And while I'm on a roll, I'm just going to tell you that it's wrong to be toying with the single sisters.  It's unfair to the ones who are seeking husbands.  They’re the ones who stand to get hurt by your games, and it's not any way to represent Jesus.  Frankly, you guys concern me a whole lot these days.”

    
Tim's eyebrows went up.  "Well said, James.  I think Tasha and I are going to bed.  We'll see you all in the morning."

    
Tim and Tasha hugged the new couple, wished them their best, and went upstairs to their rooms.  James and Dana followed them.     

    
Billy gave Mike a piqued look.  "Well, wasn't that a mouthful?" he snorted.  "Want to go to that movie?"

    
Mike shook his head slowly.  "No.  What James said, fairly blasted me, if ya want ta know the truth.  I'm goin' up to my room to talk to God aboot this one.  I'm afraid I've got some repenting to do."

    
Billy scoffed.  "We do nothing wrong, it's all in fun.  How are you going to know if you like a woman, if you don't get a good, close look?"

    
"Perhaps so.  But I think mebbe we've gone a bit off track with it, after all."  Mike mused.  "You know, little Dana wasn't responding to either of us at all, yet neither one of us ever took the hint.  I suspect that in fact, William, a bit of ungodly pride has been creeping in amid the fun."

    
Billy just shook his head. "Well, I'm going to a movie.  I feel no guilt whatsoever at showing some interest in a pretty girl."

    
"Of course not."  Mike agreed at once.  "But I do feel there's some merit in James' correction.  We do get quite caught up in who can win a lady's attentions.  If she's interested, and we are serious about a relationship that's lasting, well and good.  But it is a thing to be careful in.  I think perhaps we've begun to enjoy the chase -- and forgotten the reason for it."

    
Billy sighed.  "Well, I'll be serious enough when I find the right one.  But tonight, I am going to a movie!"

     Brent and Elaine had gone to the office to have a few quiet moments, and give themselves some distance from the discussion going on in the front room.

    
"Well, there hasn't been a dull moment tonight, has there?"  Brent chuckled.  "My goodness."

    
Elaine smiled sadly.  "I do hope Billy gives it some thought.  He more than anyone was making Dana uncomfortable.  His attentions were clearly not wanted, and he couldn't see it.  I have to admit, I'm a bit concerned for the man.  You'd think he'd be wiser, after seeing what Timothy has had to deal with."

    
"There does appear to be a bit of a problem, doesn't there?"  Brent agreed.  "Though Dana
is
exceptional.  She's very lovely, in fact.  Perhaps with a lesser temptation, Billy would be less forthright.  Actually, I was tempted to be a bit interested in her, myself.  If you hadn’t come back, I just may have pursued her."

    
"I beg your pardon?" Elaine asked sternly.

    
"I said," he emphasized in a low voice, "that I would be quite tempted to be interested in Dana myself, if
you
hadn’t come back." 

    
"Brent!  I have not ... come back."  She objected hotly.  "Don't let me stand in your way.  I am a successful business woman.  I have my shop in Los Angeles, and I have built a whole new life for myself!  I only came here to consult with you about Tasha, and to try to patch up my family a bit!"

    
"I'd like to help you patch up your family a bit too, Elaine – starting with your husband, and my wife.  The minute I saw you again, I knew the truth.  The Lord convicted me heartily, and showed me again what a fool I've been.  Now that we've made arrangements for Emilie to fly over for the wedding, it's time for us to move on and discuss
us
.” 

     “
Elaine, I never stopped loving you.  I was a fool to think that Emilie could ever satisfy me.  She was just a shadow of you.  She couldn't fill your shoes, and I was a fool to expect her to.  I was an ass to you, and I let my life go down the tube after you left me.  Please, Elaine;  give me another chance.  Forgive me for all the mistakes of my youth.  I'm not that same man, anymore.  I've totally accepted Jesus.  I'm desperately trying to turn everything in my life around.  Will you at least think about it?"

    
Elaine just looked up at him in shock.  "Brent, you don't sound like Brent Charles, at all." She gasped.  "I haven't a clue what to say to you!"

    
"Exactly my point.  I'm a new Brent Charles.  I'll be the man I was capable of becoming.  The vision I ran away from.  I'll be the man who will love you, and say so.  I'll treat you right.  I can do it, now!  Say yes."  He suggested.  "If you can't say yes, say maybe.  Elaine, it will never be the way it used to be.  If we  can only re-group, I know it will be wonderful.  We were meant to be together."

    
"Well," Elaine hedged, "I will consider it, Brent.  Let's get Tim and Tasha safely married, and then, we'll see."

    
"Is there anyone else?" he asked seriously.