The Last Cowboy In Texas (29 page)
Read The Last Cowboy In Texas Online
Authors: Pat Dale
“I do, though I’m sure she knew it would never happen. But she’s a great gal.”
“Yes, she is.” A quick flash of jealousy surprised her. “Maybe we should look into the market down here. I hear there’s a few lots on the other side of the lake where we can build. Will tells me it’s a great little fishing lake. And we already know the neighbors.”
He nodded. “That’s a real possibility. As long as I’m with you, that’s all that counts.”
She held her tongue as random remembrances slid in and out of her consciousness. The woman who’d decided to live alone with her books and her career, now ready to marry this man and raise his kids? Could she move away from the place where she’d grown up? Well, of course she could. She’d now have her man and her career, and she could do that anywhere.”
“I’m ready to do whatever, wherever, as long as it’s with you, darling.”
“Ye-haw!” There it was again. That damn cowboy yell he’d adopted.
“Damn it,
Troy
. You’re going to burst my ear drums if you keep that up.”
“Sorry, ma’am. I’m just so danged excited, I can’t help myself.”
They pulled up in front of the Werner home to see what looked like a party going on inside. It looked like twenty or thirty people in there. She said, “I didn’t know anything like this was planned for tonight.”
“Let’s go see what’s up.” He took her arm and led her into the house.
Marybeth spied them immediately. ‘Hey, ya’ll, glad to see you survived the ride.”
The way she annunciated ride caused everybody to explode with laughter. Even
Troy
and Paige, though his face was flushed and she knew hers matched his. “Okay, you guys. We survived all right. So, are we having a party?”
Will stuck his head in from the kitchen. “You gotta ask? Paige, darlin’, this is your very own engagement party. We thought it proper that ya’ll have a real shindig to remember the day by. Anyhoo, this is the way we do it in
Texas
.”
She said, “Well, thank you, Will and Marybeth. The rest of you, too. You probably don’t know exactly why my man here showed up like this.”
Seeing the expressions on their faces, she added, “Unless, of course, our lady leader couldn’t keep her mouth shut.” They guffawed, clapping their hands in a boisterous round of applause.
Troy
said, “I want to thank all of you for being the best part of my first visit to
Texas
. Other than finding the girl I thought I’d lost, of course.”
That sparked anther burst of laughter. The party was on, serenaded by a bluegrass trio who played nonstop through the meal of tacos and enchiladas that Will had prepared. And kept playing into the night as they danced and drank, toasting the couple endlessly.
When it finally broke up,
Troy
asked Paige, “You want me to go back to the motel tonight?”
“Not unless you take me with you. Now you’re here, I don’t want to take a chance on losing you again.”
He said, “Hey! That’s supposed to be my line. So, where will we sleep?”
“In my apartment. I think I can squeeze you into my bed, though it will be tight.”
He chuckled. “Sounds like the kind of challenge I can rise to.”
“As you certainly did this afternoon. Will you ever get those grass stains off your pants?”
“Who cares? As long as I have you, we can dye them green if we want.”
She grabbed his hand and headed for the door, turning back to wave to Marybeth and Will, who were grinning from ear to ear. She looked up at her lover. “In the morning, we can plan how to put together a wedding we’ll remember forever.”
“Yeah. In the morning. Meanwhile…”
* * *
Labor Day dawned cool and clear, a perfect day for an outdoor
Texas
wedding. Paige fidgeted as Missy kept adjusting her dress. “Missy, for goodness sake, I’m fine.”
“I know. I just want you to look perfect for
Troy
.”
Paige laughed. “You don’t have to worry about that any more. He’s told me a hundred times I’m all he ever wanted.” A pause, then, “He’s as perfect as any man can be, Missy. We’ve both made mistakes but we’ve benefitted from them. From here on out, it doesn’t matter how perfect we are as long as we’re honest with one another.”
Missy sighed. “Oh, that’s so romantic. Tom and I feel that way, too.” She put down the brush she’d tried to use on Paige’s hair. “Will you guys be able to come up for our wedding? I want you to be my maid of honor. Oh, I guess that will be matron, won’t it?”
“We’ll be there, Missy. Wouldn’t miss it for anything. And, yes, I’ll be your matron of honor. You guys tying the knot soon?”
“We want a Christmas wedding. Does that sound hokey?”
“You kidding? Sounds delightful. What better way to celebrate the holidays than getting married?”
“That’s what we thought. My folks wanted us to do it before cold weather, but we told them there was no hurry. Besides, we’ll want to go somewhere warm for our honeymoon.”
She stared at Paige. “You didn’t tell me where you’re going for yours.”
“That’s right, I didn’t.
Las Vegas
. Well, close to there. One of
Troy
’s clients, a musical luminary who divides his time between Branson and Vegas, told him about a cabin up near the head waters of
Lake Mead
, where we can get away from civilization for a week or two. He can get in a lot of fishing and I can do my writing in peace and quiet.”
“Fishing and writing? Paige, that doesn’t sound like much of a honeymoon to me.”
Paige laughed. “Well, how does this sound? We decided we’ve waited so long to get married, we’re going to do what it takes to start a family while we’re there, in between all the fish and fiction, of course.”
“Oh, lordy! Paige Turner and Missy Coward having babies the same year? The idea positively scares me.”
“You’re having a baby? Missy? What are you trying to tell me?”
Missy blushed, her glowing cheeks revealing more than her words. “I may as well get it off my chest. I’m pregnant. Only a month or so. Why do you think my mom is having a cow that we’re not in front of a preacher now?”
Paige reached out and pulled her dearest friend into a hug. “What about Tom?”
“He’s busting buttons, knowing he’s going to be a daddy. And he doesn’t care that my tummy will no doubt be sticking out front when we say the I do’s.”
Paige laughed, a merry chuckle, as she remembered Aggie’s dilemma. “You know, this seems to run in our circle of friends.”
Missy said, “Do you know for sure you’re not in a family way yet?”
“Yes. I’m sure. But I’m also sure that I want to be, and I will be within the month. I expect to have my first child while I’m thirty, and that’s coming up next month.”
Missy shook her head. “If you’d told me we’d be having this conversation last spring, I’d have told you you’re crazy.”
“I know. Isn’t it exciting?”
“Yeah.” A knock at the door stifled further talk.
Paige opened the door to see Marybeth. “Paige, it’s time.
Troy
’s out there with the preacher, and everybody’s dyin’ to see you walk down the aisle.”
“Coming, Marybeth.” She took Missy’s hand. “Okay, my very best friend in the world, lead the way.”
Missy went out with her and hurried to take her place in line. The Werners had set up rented chairs so that a makeshift aisle led from the veranda to a podium near the edge of the lake. All the residents from the lake community who’d been there for the party days earlier sat on either side of the aisle.
Troy
’s mom and dad were at the front of his side, and Paige’s folks sat in front on the other side. A number of relatives of both had come down for the wedding as well.
Paige had her wish, an intimate wedding with friends and relatives present. She also had a bonus, for she’d been able to form friendships with so many of the local people, the combined group would have a wonderful celebration.
And so they did, the biggest surprise of the day being the arrival of JT and Aggie, bulging with her soon to be born child. His band was set up for a performance in
Austin
on Labor Day evening, but he’d insisted on flying in for the wedding.
A perfect gift for the writer and her cowboy.
The End
About The Author
After a career as a professional musician and educator, Pat Dale turned to the pen to craft more than a dozen novels to date. A native Missourian, the author traveled far and wide before settling near Kansas City to enjoy the scenic beauty of America’s heartland. Pat uses musical rhythms and values to write what some would call poetic prose.
Whether romance or suspense is your cup of tea, the author’s endearing and sometimes frightening characters will lead you into worlds you might otherwise never have visited. So sit back, pick up a Pat Dale novel, and whisk yourself into those worlds for a few hours of fantasy.
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About The Publisher:
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