The Last Cowboy In Texas (28 page)

Hot dog! This’ll do.
He dialed the number Marybeth had given him, hoping she would answer. She did, on the third ring. “Hello, Marybeth. This is
Troy
. Any chance you’ve talked to the guys about that horse?”

“I have. Just did. They’re ready.”

“Is Paige where she can hear you?”

“Nope. I’m all alone in the house now. The others are all outside, enjoyin’ the fresh air. You find the clothes you were lookin’ fer?”

“I did. That Tack Shop is amazing. What I’m hoping is, we can do this today. I’m all gussied up for it and I want to be sure to show up when Paige will be there.”

“Well, she and some of the other writers are out on the lake at the moment. I’d say your plan’ll work today as good as anytime. Might’s well get it over and done with. You drive on by here to the next place down the road and park there. I’ll have Burl meet you with the horse you wanta ride. He’ll show you the bridle trail between the two places. Then I guess it’s up to you. For what it’s worth, good luck.”

“Thanks for your help, Marybeth. I’m feeling really lucky, so today it is. I’ll be out there in about a half hour. You think she’ll be off the lake by then?”

“I’d say so. One of the girls sunburns pretty easy and she’ll wanta get back in the shade before then.”

“Okay. I’m on my way.” He hung up and stared at his image again.
Is this going to work or have I just put myself in position to do something truly stupid?

* * *

Paige climbed out of the boat and sauntered up to the picnic table sitting under the overhang of the boat house. Ted was busy tying the boat to the dock and Peggy had headed for her quarters on the run. She was already turning red and they’d only been on the lake for an hour. Of course, the girl was a redhead with fair complexion and Paige’s darker skin tone tended to save her from over exposure to the sun.

They’d had a lot of fun in the row boat. Ted was an experienced boater and handled it like he’d spent his life on the water. She remembered her high school days and the times when she and
Troy
had spent Sunday afternoons on the lake at home. A twinge of home-sickness caused her to wince. Wonderful memories of her life, her parents, times when she’d been truly blessed, played like a kaleidoscope in her mind. And times with
Troy
haunted her. Would she ever experience anything like that again?

She sighed, forcing her concentration to her nearly finished rough draft. Tomorrow or the next day would see it done and she could turn to rewrites of the second and third books. Marybeth had wisely recommended that when she finished a draft, to let it sit for a week or two and turn to a different project. The woman had lots of books published so she knew whereof she spoke.

Today would be a day to relax and enjoy the warm languid breeze coming off the water. She was about to go up and change from her jeans into the new bikini she’d found while shopping when she heard a commotion behind her.

Someone said, “Who in the world is that?” She turned to see the others pointing down the trail to a lone rider clip-clopping their way.

Whoever was approaching, was astride a white horse she’d not seen before. His outfit matched the horse, dressed all in glowing white; white shirt, pearl buttons sparkling in the sun, and white pants, white boots, and a ten gallon white Stetson pulled low over his eyes. A tall man, sitting straight in the saddle and clearly in no hurry to get to the group that had fallen silent. Something about the man struck a chord in Paige’s mind; how he sat the horse, how he seemed so unhurried. A thought niggled at her, but that couldn’t be.

Could it? Now that he was only thirty yards away, she could see his hair under the hat. Very dark. He was about the same size as
Troy
but, because of the sunglasses he wore, she couldn’t see his eyes. What she did see was that his getup was pretty fancy. The white horse had been fitted out with a bunch of gleaming chrome silver tack.

When he was twenty yards away and closing slowly, her thoughts ran wild with the notion she knew this man. Really knew him. But this couldn’t be
Troy
. He’d never worn western duds, even when they went riding as kids. In fact, he’d always made fun of guys who tried to look like cowboys.

At ten yards, his saunter had slowed to a walk, but he didn’t stop at the hitching post. She stood at the edge of the veranda until he’d pulled up ten feet away. He lifted the glasses from his face and deposited them in his shirt pocket, and grinned at her.

Troy Roberts, sitting atop the beautiful white stallion, stared down at her. She couldn’t speak. He said, “Howdy, ma’am. You look kinda surprised to see me.”

She opened her mouth but no words emerged. He smiled. The damnable beautiful man of her dreams just sat there and smiled at her. And she couldn’t even speak.

“I got a question fer ya, lady. Maybe two, ‘pendin’ on your answer to the first one. You once told me you wouldn’t sleep with me if I was the last cowboy in
Texas
. Well, I’m in
Texas
now. And I damn sure have got to be the very last cowboy you’d ever think of findin’ in this fine state. Does it still ring true that you won’t sleep with me?”

Words finally came to her. “Troy, uh, you know, uh, I, uh, didn’t really mean that.”

He dismounted and handed the reins to Burl, who’d followed along at a distance. Stepping to within a couple of feet from where she stood, he dropped to one knee and looked up into her shocked face. “In that case, I have another question for you. Paige Turner, love of my life and center of all my dreams, will you please marry this cowboy?”

Chills of joy shot through her body as tears flowed freely from her still-startled eyes. She cleared her throat and said, “Yes, cowboy, I’ll marry you. About the other-”

“The other can wait.” He got to his feet and pulled her into his arms. “This can’t.” With that, he kissed her. Thoroughly, fully, sensuously kissed her. In front of God and all the group who’d stood silent, watching the scene with rapt attention.

When he released her, she heard a cheer go up from the gallery that had gathered. A woman’s voice broke the spell. Marybeth. “Now that’s what I call a real
Texas
cowboy proposal. ‘Bout time, too, I’d say. Congratulations, you two.” Another cheer rent the air as the crowd began talking in excited tones while
Troy
kissed her again. And again.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Marybeth standing there. Behind her, Paige saw the girl from the café, Josie, and Curly approaching them, leading a black horse all saddled up. And Burl still holding the white one.

Marybeth said, “Ya’ll might wanta take a ride ‘round the lake before you embarrass my students to tears. There’s plenty a spots on the trail for spoonin’ if you’ve a mind for such goin’s on.”

Paige snorted. “Marybeth, you’ve been a part of this cowboy’s little scheme all along, haven’t you?”

“Well, let’s just say, he showed up this morning, and I was impressed to help him do what had to be done to get you to see the light.”

“See the light, I guess.” She turned back to see
Troy
’s grinning monkey face, the Stetson pushed back now. “I should be mad as hell at you, you know.”

“I know. You should be. You should be lots of things, and my wife is the main one of them. Now I’ve found you again, I’m planning to hogtie you and drag you to the altar. Kicking and screaming, if need be, I’ll never let you go, babe. I’m yours, for better or worse, so long as we both shall live. I think it goes something like that.”

Paige had fully recovered from the shock of the moment. “Something. Come here, you big ape. Put your arms around me and hold me tight.”

He not only put his arms around her, he lifted her into the air and swung her wildly in a circle. His lips claimed hers in a crazy kiss that lasted until she was so dizzy she couldn’t stand when he put her down. She actually swooned, ala Regency England. Fortunately, his arms still held onto her and he laid her gently on the grass, dropping to his knees beside her.

“Paige, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” She gazed up into his cerulean orbs. “Sorry you made me dizzy?”

“No. Sorry I was so stupid about your writing. About lots of other things, too. Since you’ve been gone, I’ve had lots of time to think of what I’d lost. Without you, I’m not worth a tinker’s damn.”

“Darling, you don’t have to apologize. I should have been more reasonable when I got so angry with you and my folks. Maybe I’m the one who should offer an apology.”

His beaming smile nearly broke her heart when she stared through her tears into the most beautiful eyes any cowboy ever had. She said, “We’ve got the rest of our lives to make up for our mistakes. Starting now. Let’s take that horseback ride. I think I know just the place Marybeth hinted at, where you and I can begin to build some brand new memories. I’m ready if you are, cowboy.”

“Ye-haw.” His shout startled her.

When he grabbed her into his arms and deposited her onto the black horse, she held her breath. He didn’t drop her. He didn’t waver. This cowboy was ready for the trail ride and all it promised. And so was she.

Chapter Eighteen

It was late afternoon when Paige, looking windblown, and Troy, sporting grass stains on various parts of his white apparel, returned to WWR in his rented car. They’d left the horses with the boys and Josie. He’d explained how he’d parked the Lexus at the rental agency in an effort to surprise her and she had to admit his plan had worked to perfection.

During the hours of love and passion, he’d taken the ring from her right hand and transferred it to the left. Where it belonged, he said, and where it would soon be joined by the solid band signifying their troth. The crazy cowboy told her he’d gone to the jeweler who sold them the rings and had him add diamonds to the matching wedding ring.

“What if you’d not found me?”

“That was not going to happen, sweetheart. No matter how long it took, I would have found you. I had to tell you what was in my heart, even if you rejected me forever.”

“Oh, darling, how could I ever do that? You’re the only man I’ve ever loved, but I think you know that.”

“I do. And you know you’re the only woman in the world for me.”

“Really? Bet you had a thought or two about that cute little Josie at the café.”

“Naw. She’s cute as a bug’s ear, but she’s just a kid. Besides, my heart had already been claimed and wasn’t available any more.”

“Even after the nasty note I sent you?”

“Even then. Especially then. I knew you didn’t really mean it.”

She sighed. This day had become absolutely perfect in the blink of an eye, more perfect than she had a right to expect. “So, what now?”

“We get married. Here. Branson. Hell, I don’t care where, as long as we tie the knot.”

“Me, either. I guess we should tell our folks, though. They deserve to know what we’re up to, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, I do. Your mom and dad are going crazy with worry. My dad, too, though he’s been pretty calm about it. He’s not said much except that he was sure things would work out when the time was right.”

“Well, cowboy, the time is right as far as I’m concerned. Let’s go in and call them so they can quit worrying. While we’re at it, why don’t we get them down here? Tom and Missy, too. I’d rather have a small intimate wedding, but it wouldn’t be right if we left our new
Texas
friends out in the cold. Now, would it?”

“No. I love this gang you found down here. In fact, I’ve been wondering how the real estate market is, you know, down here in
Tyler
.”

“You’re not thinking of moving here, are you?”

“Not necessarily. I could open an office here, though, promote Julie to manager up there, and we could live down here in the winter. Would you like that?”

“I would. About Julie, you do know you’re what she’s always wanted, don’t you?”