The Marshal Meets His Match (30 page)

Meri looked around slowly and grinned. “Well…since I’m hungry and since you seem to be the only other person around…I suppose I’ll have a picnic with you.”

Wyatt’s eyes danced. “I appreciate your kindness. If you’ll give me a couple of minutes to tend to the horses, we’ll eat.”

He set the basket down and moved to the horses. Unhitching them, he led them to the water for a long drink, hobbled them and turned them out on the grass to graze. Retrieving the basket, along with a thick quilt, he offered his arm to Meri and led her farther up the sloped meadow to a large, shady tree that stood magnificently alone in the center of the field.

Meri helped him spread the quilt and sat down, legs curled to the side. “I’ve always loved this spot.”

“That’s what your father said.”

“He knows we’re here?”

“I didn’t tell him specifically, but he probably guessed.”

He busied himself filling two plates with delicious-looking pieces of fried chicken, sliced cheese, fresh tomatoes, pickles, biscuits and cold baked beans. She accepted the food and cup of lemonade he handed her, closing her eyes when he offered a quick blessing. They hungrily dug into their food; comfortable silence highlighted by the sounds of trickling water in the distance and birds flitting back and forth over their heads.

Meri thought back to her prayer in church; at the rate they were going, there would be no confession of feelings today. In all the times they’d been together recently, she’d never seen him this quiet and enigmatic. She finished her food and set the plate aside.

“Dessert?”

“Not right now, thank you.” She watched, fascinated, as Wyatt refilled his plate and continued eating. Where did he find room for it all? There wasn’t an ounce of spare flesh anywhere on the man.

When he finished, he set his plate aside and flopped back, head cradled on his crossed arms. He closed his eyes and let out a satisfied groan. “That tasted good.”

“It did. You’re a man of many skills, Marshal,” Meri teased, standing to her feet to put some distance between herself and the man who overloaded her senses just by his very presence.

One eye slid open lazily. “I thought we settled this.”

“Settled what?” Meri feigned innocence and didn’t wait for an answer but turned to stroll across the meadow.

A growl sounded. She looked over her shoulder to see him surge to his feet quicker than she thought should have been possible. She was running before she realized what she was doing, pulse racing harder than her feet when she heard him drawing closer. Changing directions unexpectedly, she managed to evade him, lifting the hem of her skirt to keep it from tangling around her ankles and wishing she were wearing her much more practical split skirt.

Feeling him behind her, she darted to the side again, but he was anticipating it, and muscular arms closed like steel bands around her. She emitted a surprised squeak and stumbled to a rather ungraceful halt. She tried to step away but the arms refused to yield their captive. He turned her to face him.

Heart racing and breath coming in quick little gasps, she looked up into his face.

“I can’t have you running away with my heart if you can’t remember my name. You just might forget you even have it, and then where would I be?” He held her loosely, but there was no escaping the arms that enfolded her, or the eyes that devoured hers.

“Do I still have it?” she whispered. Her eyes fastened on an eye-level shirt button.

The sinewy bands around her tightened, drawing her inexorably closer, and she braced her hands against an expanse of rock-hard chest.

“Ah, Meri,” he crooned. “Don’t you
know
I love you? You irretrievably have my heart whether you want it or not. I’m just hoping you do.” One hand came up to lift her head, knuckles lightly grazing her chin as his thumb caressed her jawline.

“You love me?” She thought she uttered the words, but his hand on her face was causing her heart to do all sorts of acrobatics, and she wasn’t at all sure her tongue was still in proper working order.

“Didn’t you realize I love you? I said you had my heart.” One hand caressed the wavy hair hanging down her back.

“I wasn’t sure…I mean…I hoped so, but you didn’t say it…specifically… I don’t know. I guess I’m pretty naive when it comes to things like this.” Meri ducked her burning face and leaned her head into his chest to hide from his keen eyes.

Both arms enveloped her and held her close, the silence allowing her to hear the steady thump of his heart. “Well?”

Meri felt the vibration of the low question rumble through his chest. Captivated, she waited for it to happen again.

He shook her a little. “I’m waiting.”

“Hmm?” She wanted to place her ear to his chest and hear that interesting rumble again.

His hands shifted to her arms, and he nudged her back a step, leaning down slightly to peer into her eyes. “Do
you?
”

She smiled into his eyes. “Yes. I love you.” It felt as wonderful to say the words as to hear them.

They were barely out of her mouth when he hauled her back to his chest. She fully anticipated a kiss, but he only tucked her head under his chin and held her tight as a gusty sigh of relief escaped him. “Thank You, Lord!”

Meri’s heart mirrored his prayer of thanksgiving.
He loved her.
Her arms tightened around his waist as she smiled and inhaled the scent that was Wyatt Cameron.

She was abruptly pushed back, and hazel eyes peered intently into hers. “I have a solution.”

“For what?”

“For remembering my name. Permanently.”

Her breath froze. He sank to one knee and gathered her hands in his. “Miss America Catriona McIsaac, would you change your name to mine?”

Tears sprang to her eyes, and she hastily blinked them away so she could see his face clearly. She wanted to remember this moment. “Yes.” The answer barely whispered past her lips.

He looked at her with hopeful uncertainty. “You’ll marry me?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “I’ll marry you.” That came out a little stronger.

A huge smile lit his face, and he stood, gathering her tenderly in his arms. Her hands slipped up to his shoulders. “Wait.” He leaned back slightly. “Yes, I’ll marry you, what?”

She smiled a bit mistily. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Thank you for asking.”

“That’s not quite what I had in mind.” He leaned in and placed a tiny kiss on her nose.

Breathing was highly overrated. “Did you not want me to say yes?”

“You little minx. Of course I wanted you to say yes. But who are you saying yes to?”

She circled his neck with her hands, sliding her fingers into his closely cropped hair. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Wyatt Cameron.”

A huge smile bloomed across his face and took what little breath Meri had left. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”

His eyes caressed her face, and she rose up on tiptoes to meet him halfway. He leaned down and settled his lips against hers in a first kiss. The world rocked and then stood still and silent except for the sound of each other’s heartbeats. Wyatt tightened his grip and straightened, lifting Meri off her feet as he continued kissing her.

The kiss lasted a lifetime and was entirely too short. He twirled her around, throwing his head back and laughing joyously. She was dizzy when he set her down, leaning in for a second kiss that trailed over her eyes, cheeks and nose before landing hungrily on her lips.

She could get used to this.

When they finally pulled apart, breathless, he tucked her head under his chin and snuggled her close. They stood that way for several minutes, simply enjoying the moment. Finally he snuggled her under his arm, and they walked back to the forgotten picnic blanket.

“Do you want dessert now?”

“Yes. I’m suddenly hungry again,” Meri admitted, surprised.

“Good.” He helped her sit down and knelt by the basket. “Close your eyes.”

She did and listened to the sounds of his rummaging around.

“Okay. You can open them.” A plate holding a large piece of a dark-colored cake topped with cream balanced on his outstretched hand.

Meri shot him a puzzled grin. “Gingerbread?”

“Yep. It will forever remind me of you, our first picnic together and the spice you bring to my life. I had Ms. Maggie bake it for me when I asked your father’s permission to marry you yesterday. I thought it’d be the perfect way to finish our picnic today.”

Meri blinked, stunned. Her father had known and hadn’t said anything? A smile blossomed slowly; God had answered her prayer this morning before she’d ever even prayed it. “You were certain I’d say yes?”

“No. But I had a backup plan in case you said no.”

“What?”

“I didn’t intend to let you go until you said yes.” He winked and laughed when her attempted scowl shattered into a pleased grin.

Taking the plate, fork and quick kiss he offered her, she dug into the gingerbread. Never before had it tasted quite so delicious.

Epilogue

S
ummer flew by in a flurry of preparations for a late-September wedding.

Wyatt purchased the meadow and surrounding acreage from Meri’s father, and the town threw a house- and barn-raising social. The house was small but cozy with plenty of space to build on as needed, and the barn had ample capacity for Charger and Sandy and the other horses they intended to raise.

Meri would be near her father, Wyatt was close enough to town to continue in his capacity of marshal, and Jonah had decided to remain permanently as deputy. Moreover the town council voted that in view of the recent bank robbery and expanding population they would hire a second deputy as soon as Wyatt found a suitable candidate.

The trial of Mr. Samuels and Mr. Mullins had ended; their fates decided by a judge and jury. Mr. Samuels would spend the rest of his life in prison, but Mullins was sentenced to death for his role in multiple shootings and robberies.

The townsfolk continued to shake their heads over the fact that one of their own deceived everyone so completely. There were a few, however, that argued they’d been suspicious of him from the start.

The bank reopened its doors for business, but the new manager was finding it slow going to rebuild the trust that had been broken concerning the credibility of the bank. Meanwhile Mr. Van Deusen had picked up business since he had a good-size safe in his store, and for now, many people preferred to trust him with any savings they had.

Meri and Wyatt continued to fall deeper in love as the days passed. There were serious discussions and occasional arguments, lighthearted moments and of course, the inevitable teasing. One such moment transpired a couple of weeks after their engagement while they were planning the layout of their new home.

Meri was admiring her handsome husband-to-be as he stepped off the layout of house and barn when a thought occurred to her. “You know my middle name, but I don’t know your full name.” He continued pacing off measurements as if he hadn’t heard her, so she trotted over to him. “Are you named after your father?” Again he didn’t answer. “Are you ignoring me?”

“No, just the question.” He continued his careful measuring steps.

“Why?” She matched his stride.

“Because it isn’t important.”

Meri stepped into his path and slammed her fists onto her hips, eyes narrowed. “You pestered me for weeks to use your name and now you won’t tell me what it is?”

“You’re a pest, and you know my name.” He reached to move her out of his path, but she dodged his hand.

“Not all of it.”

He sidestepped, but she stuck like a bur in front of him, ignoring his attempt to bait her and intrigued by the faint pink tinge just above his shirt collar.

“Are you blushing?”

He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. “Why are you making a big deal over this?”

“You
are
blushing,” she crowed. “And it wasn’t a big deal until you started evading the question. Now I’m curious, and I’m not letting you go until you tell me.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and grinned up at him.

His own arms draped loosely around her shoulders, and he leaned in to brush his lips lightly over hers. Meri stretched up to deepen the kiss and forgot everything but the feel of his mouth on hers for the next few blissful moments. When he pulled back, she sighed happily and leaned her head on his chest. They remained in that position for a full minute before she recalled her mission.

“I haven’t forgotten that you haven’t answered my question, and I’ll keep after you until you tell me.”

“Of that I have no doubt, so…I’ll tell you after we’re married.”

“But that’s not ‘til September.”

“Uh-huh, it’ll give you something to fuss over ‘til then.” He laughed when she growled at him and kissed her forehead, but he refused to give in.

She eventually changed the subject, a little miffed that he was having fun at her expense. After a couple more tries over the next few weeks, she put the question aside and focused on other things. The man was quite possibly more obstinate then she was, and she was head over heels in love with him. Best of all, she was fully loved in return. In spite of his refusal to share his full name.

At long last the day of the wedding rolled around. McIsaac walked his daughter down the aisle to the accompaniment of the newly arrived piano purchased with dessert auction proceeds, presenting Meri’s hand to the marshal who’d captured her heart. The service was sweetly solemn, and when they exchanged their vows, Mrs. Van Deusen employed her handkerchief to dab teary eyes.

When Pastor Willis directed, “You may now kiss your bride,” Wyatt eagerly obeyed. Meri emerged from the assault on her lips, breathless, blushing and beaming. The congregation broke into cheers and applause, and Pastor Willis presented them as Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt Cameron.

Following the ceremony everyone moved to the shade of the trees and feasted on a bountiful wedding luncheon. There was plenty of food and gifts for the bride and groom, as well as congratulations, well wishes and lots of good-natured advice. When the cake had been cut and served, Wyatt and Meri made their way to a shiny new buggy decorated with white ribbons and left the festivities to wind down without them.