Song of the Meadowlark (Intertwined Book 1) (27 page)

“So what was Matt’s deal at breakfast? I thought you said he was this suave lady’s man.”

Susie napped on the couch in the pool house while Cora and Anne sat on Cora’s bed. “He is! I’ve never seen him act that way. When I first came to the ranch, he practically undressed me with his eyes. And when we went dancing that night, same thing. That’s why I’ve been reserved about you meeting him. I know how he is. So I’m a little bit puzzled by his behavior.” She shrugged.

“Maybe he thinks I’m disgusting.” Anne looked at Cora sincerely.

“No way. That’s what I thought when I first met Rex, and I was totally wrong. I actually intimidated Rex. My guess is Matt finds you beautiful beyond his league, and he didn’t know what to say.”

“If you say so.” Anne lay back on the bed and closed her eyes.

“It’s definitely a first for him.” Cora reached into her nightstand drawer and pulled out her nail file. She filed a snag that had been catching on things all day. “Hey, when Susie wakes up, let’s go over to the main house, and I’ll show you the floor plans. We’ll bundle up, and I’ll show you where the wing is going to be added.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Cora and Anne perused the floor plans of the new wing, spread out on the kitchen table. Jimmy made out a grocery list and checked in the refrigerator for needed items.

“Let’s go out here, and I’ll show you where everything’s supposed to be laid out.” They went outside, the cold wind hitting them in their faces.

“Ooh, it’s so much colder here than at the beach.” Anne shivered and drew her coat closed.

“I know. But it’s supposed to warm up tomorrow. In the high fifties.”

“Oh wow, so hot.” Anne elbowed Cora.

They walked around while Cora explained to Anne where the new wing would be.

“Hey, Cora?”

“Yeah?” She turned toward Jimmy, whose head was stuck out of the cracked open kitchen door.

“I’m going to town. Do you ladies want to ride in with me? You could catch some lunch while I do errands.”

Cora looked at Anne. Anne nodded. “Sure, that sounds great.” They went back inside and grabbed their things.

Cora showed Anne around town, telling her about the 4th of July parade, the barbecue, the friendly people. Anne took pictures with her digital camera, using Cora as her model. They ended their walk on Ms. Lottie’s doorstep. “Come on, I want you to meet Ms. Lottie. We can eat lunch in here if you want to.”

“Sounds good to me. I’m starving.”

Cora and Anne walked into the inn and across the foyer to the dining area. Ms. Lottie buzzed around, smacking her chewing gum—apron around her waist and order pad in her hand. She saw Cora and waved, pointing to a table in the corner. Cora smiled and waved back, then headed to the table, stopping to say hello to church friends along the way. When Cora looked up to find her way to the table in the corner, she burst out laughing. Rex and Matt sat at the table, unaware that the two women headed their way. “Ms. Lottie must have thought we were meeting them here. Good afternoon, gentlemen. Fancy meeting you here.”

Rex and Matt both stood, Matt’s chair nearly tipping over. His face turned red at the sight of Anne. Rex smirked at Cora, vividly showing the laugh lines in the corners of his eyes. “Please join us, ladies.”

“Yes, pl-please.” Matt straightened his shirt collar and made sure the shirt was tucked in properly.

“Okay, sure. If you don’t mind.” Cora sat next to Rex.

“Hi, Anne. Nice to see you again.” Matt pulled the chair out beside him for Anne.

“Hey, kids. How are all of you doin’ today?” Ms. Lottie patted Cora on the arm and winked at Rex.

Everyone answered in a chorus of greats and fines.

“Ms. Lottie, do you need help today? It seems pretty busy in here.” Cora scanned the dining room.

“Thanks, baby. No, I’m taken care of today. Two of the college kids home on holiday break are helpin’ me out. Not as good as you did, of course.” She pinched Cora’s cheek.

“Just checking. This is my friend Anne from home.” Cora held out her hand in Anne’s direction.

“It’s nice to meet ya.”

“Nice to meet you too. I’ve heard so much about you.” Anne smiled.

“I hope it was all good. What can I get for ya?”

“Cheddar potato soup.” Anne closed the menu.

“Me too.” Cora grinned at Ms. Lottie.

“I’ll have your meatloaf, Ms. Lottie.”

“Okay, honey. Matt, what do you want?”

“I’m gonna have the fried chicken.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

As the four of them ate, they discussed the plans for the B&B. Matt shared his ideas for the dude ranch between bites of fried chicken. Rex occasionally pressed his knee against Cora’s at the boyish grin on Matt’s face.

“Hey, Anne, are you gonna be here for Thanksgiving?” Matt fidgeted with his napkin.

“I guess that depends on whether or not Cora is going home for a visit and if she still wants my help around here.” Anne boldly directed her blue eyes at Matt.

“I could sure use your input on the bunkhouse, if you can spare the time.” Matt’s face reddened.

“I’d love to help.” Anne patted Matt’s forearm, lingering there a moment.

“Cora, are you going home?”

“No, I’m staying here. I wouldn’t have invited you here so close to the holidays if I was going home. Mom and Dad are coming up for Christmas, so I’ll be here.”

“Well, you have to stay for Thanksgiving. We’re havin’ Rex’s turkeys.” Matt gave Rex a whack on the back.

“Rex, did you hunt them?” Anne sipped a spoonful of soup and directed her gaze to Rex.

“No, I raised them.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to stay.”

“Can you take time off work?” Matt spread butter on his biscuit, glancing at her.

“I’m self-employed, so, yes.” Anne looked quickly in Cora’s direction.

“Good. That’ll be fun.” Matt blushed again.

“All of our aunts, uncles, and cousins come, and we have a big family gathering.” Rex salted his green beans.

“It takes more than one of Rex’s turkeys, that’s for sure.”

Cora ate her soup and watched the casual, complimentary exchange between the brothers. Her heart swelled at the changes since she’d first arrived at the Southern Hope.

“So, what’s up with Matt?” Cora asked, as she rubbed Rex’s hand.

Rex chuckled. “I think he’s been bit by a love-bug.”

“Seriously! I’ve never seen him like this.”

“
You’ve
never seen him like this? I’ve known him his entire life and never have seen him like this.”

Cora and Rex sat in her living room whispering while Anne took a shower and got ready for bed. “I’ve seen a lot of change in him since I got back from Florida.”

“Me too. He’s changed a lot since Clarice died. I think he saw that living life in the fast lane is dangerous.”

“I hope so. Do you know much about his past with women?”

“No. I know what he wanted us to think, but I don’t know if he acted upon most of it. Why?”

“I don’t want Anne to get involved with him if he’s only playing with her or trying to have a fling while she’s here. She’ll likely come back again, and I don’t want any weirdness between them to mess up what we’ve got going.”

“I’ll talk to him and make sure he stays away from Anne if he’s just messin’ with her.”

“Thanks.” Cora placed a sweet kiss on Rex’s cheek.

Rex put his arm around Cora’s shoulder and leaned his head against hers. Cora snuggled closer. “Do you want to go out to the cabin with me to put Susie to bed? We can have some hot chocolate by the fire.”

“I’d love to. But I don’t want to leave Anne alone.”

“Go ask her if she cares. I really want to spend some one-on-one time with you.” Rex stared into Cora’s eyes deeply, as he did when he came to get her in Florida.

Cora stared back, hesitantly. Her body trembled at the thought of being alone with Rex, really alone. “I’m not so sure that’s such a good idea.”

“Cora, please?” He rubbed his finger along her wrist.

“Okay. Let me go check with Anne.”

Cora came out of her room from talking with Anne with freshly brushed hair and changed clothes. She grabbed her keys. “Come on. Let’s go before I change my mind.”

Rex looked at her keys in her hand. “You drivin’?”

“Yep. If we’re putting Susie to bed, you won’t want to leave her to bring me back.”

“Good thinkin’.” Rex tapped his finger on his forehead.

“This place looks so homey now.”

“That’s right. You haven’t been back out here, have you?”

“No, you haven’t invited me until now.”

“For good reason.” His eyes widened.

“So what makes tonight any different?”

“I need to spend some time with you…alone. I want to talk about things that don’t involve the B&B or Clarice or the dude ranch or anything else. I want to have a little Rex and Cora time.”

“Okay. I’m up for it.”

“Susie, go get a book, and I’ll read you a story.”

“Okay, Cora.”

“But, first, go pick out a clean nightgown from your top drawer and get dressed for bed. Then bring a book in here.”

“Yes, sir.” Susie scampered off to her room down the hall.

“And go ahead and brush your teeth too.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Rex, you’re doing such a great job with her.”

“Thanks. I hope so. I’m determined to be her daddy and not a big daddy like Dad was to Clarice. I want Susie to learn to be responsible and unspoiled.”

“It looks like you’re off to a great start.”

Rex started a fire in the fireplace and then went to the kitchen to heat milk for the hot chocolate. Cora watched him walk to the kitchen and listened to his boots hit the hardwood floor with force. A tender man in a rough man’s body.

Susie ran into the living room from the hallway and pounced on to Cora’s lap. “Yay! A fire!”

“Yes, ma’am, but you’re only in here for one story. So you’ll get to enjoy the fire only for a bit.”

“I want to roast marshmallows, Daddy.”

“Not tonight.”

“But Daddy…” Susie puckered her mouth.

“Susie, I said not tonight. Do you want to lose story time?”

“No, sir.”

“Okay then.”

After Susie’s story, filled with Rex’s deep villain voices and soothing princely expressions, along with Cora’s pleasant princess impersonations, Cora and Rex said good night to Susie.

In the kitchen, Cora spooned three heaping spoonfuls of hot chocolate mix into her mug and added the steaming milk. Rex stood beside her doing the same. He opened a bag of mini marshmallows and offered them to Cora. She looked at the bag, then up at him, reaching in to grab a handful of the sweet treats. She sprinkled the marshmallows on top of her hot chocolate and stirred again. She followed Rex into the living room.

Rex pulled the cushions off the couch and laid them on the floor in front of the fire. He took the cushions off the loveseat and leaned them against the coffee table. He turned on the CD player and music softly played. They sat down in front of the fire to drink their hot chocolate. Cora let out a sigh as she relaxed in front of the fire. The popping and crackling soothed them. Cora took another sip of her hot chocolate and then gazed up at Rex.

“Come here.”

“What?”

“Come here.” Rex leaned toward Cora as she leaned toward him. He kissed her softly and then moved away.

“What was that for?” She smiled.

“You had marshmallow cream on your lip.” He winked at her.

“Well, thank you for aiding me with that.”

Rex put his mug on the floor beside him and removed his boots then reached over to slip off Cora’s shoes. He rubbed his socked feet against hers. A sound escaped Cora’s throat that she’d never made before.

“I love you, Cora.”

“I love you too.”

“It’s so hard for me to believe that half a year ago my life was goin’ down the drain, and now I have you, and things are the best they’ve ever been.”

“Well, I didn’t do anything. Just showed up here with a bunch of baggage of my own and wanted a place to fit in. I never intended to change anyone’s world. I selfishly wanted my own world changed.”

“I think we both got a lot of prayers answered.”

“You’re right about that.”

Rex got up and poked the fire. Cora went to the kitchen and fixed another mug of hot chocolate for each of them. When she came back in, Rex was coming from the hallway. She tilted her head in question.

“I went to check on Susie.”

“She’s doing okay?”

“Sound asleep.”

Rex sat back down next to Cora, the smell of his cologne wafting in front of her nose. He sipped on his hot drink. The thoughts that ran around in his head remained a mystery to Cora, but she knew they were there just the same.

“What’s on your mind, Rex?”

“What do you think you’re gonna do with your money from the life insurance?”

“What?” She raised the corner of her upper lip.

“I mean, I know it’s none of my business, but I’m curious about what you plan to do with it all.”

“I want to buy a new car—something that will hold more passengers and something more practical.”

“That will take about thirty thousand,” he figured.

“I bought a computer and some clothes and gave some money to the church. I put some of it in securities for my retirement.”

“You’re not plannin’ on takin’ any big trips or anything?”

“Not by myself.” She smiled at him. “I’ve been thinking about finishing my degree online.”

“That’d be good. I’ve thought about gettin’ my degree, but I don’t know what this old cowboy would study.”

“You make yourself sound so old.” She elbowed him. “I don’t really know what I want to major in either. But up until this point, my life’s been one left turn after another in a busy intersection. I’ve spun my wheels like your tractors out there in a muddy field. I want my life to have real purpose.”

Rex cleared his throat. “Deep. What else do you plan to do?”

“I don’t really have any other plans right now. I love being here, and I’d like to stay and get the B&B off the ground.”

“And then?”

“Then? Well, that depends on if you decide to kick me off your property. He he.” Cora finished the last sip of her cocoa and put her mug on the coffee table behind her.

Rex got up and stoked the fire, his strong shoulder muscles flexing. When he sat back down next to Cora, he asked, “Will you stay six more months?”

“Sure.”

“Nine?” He placed a kiss on her mouth.

“If you want me to.”

“Twelve? Will you be here next Christmas?” He placed another kiss on her lips and lingered there.

She answered while his lips still touched hers. “Yes, if you want me.”

“I want you.” Rex pulled her close to him, and they kissed until Cora was sure she heard the violins she always heard in movies. They kissed and hugged until they were exhausted.