This Hero for Hire (19 page)

Laughter rippled through the crowd. To Susannah the sound was magnified, as if they were all aware of her misery. Of course, that was ridiculous. Very few people knew how important, how life changing her project had been. Even she hadn't known when she arrived in Mount Union.

“This venture will provide more visitors to the area, which will help local businesses. So if you want to stock your stores with camping gear before next summer, you can think about that.”

He glanced in her direction and she looked down at her lap. No way could she stare into those beautiful green eyes right now, eyes that had always seemed so trusting, so caring. He hadn't even told her first! She cursed the broken ankle that kept her from getting out of the chair and slowly disappearing into the woods at the back of her father's lot.

Boone cleared his throat. “Now then, there's still most of that level land left, and I have an idea for its use, and my brother has agreed to let the Mount Union Braddocks run their own enterprise out there on Glenville Road.”

The girls began to giggle, and Susannah slowly raised her face to see the man on the stage.

“What I'm proposing, with the help of a friend...” He stared directly at her. “...will be good for the community, too. It will be a place school kids can come and learn about our rich Georgia heritage, about planting and harvesting and staying healthy. And even the folks in the motor home park can participate and learn a thing or two about soil conservation and protecting our environment for future generations.

“I can't give you all the details right now,” Boone said. “I still have to get the okay for this project from the one person who can make this all happen. Then it will be official.” He grinned at Governor Rhodes. “May I borrow that golf cart for a few minutes, sir?”

“You may, son,” Albee said, getting out of the cart.

Boone slid into the driver's seat and sped across the grass to where Susannah waited. The girls were clapping their hands while Susannah wrung hers. Tears stung her eyes, but now she didn't care if she cried a bucket of them.

He stopped the cart and got out, and in one swift, graceful movement, he picked her up from the chair and deposited her in the cart. “We're going for a little ride, Susannah,” he said, swinging the cart around toward the woods. “I know my job is officially over, but I can't seem to break the habit of wanting to keep my eyes on you every moment of every day.”

Thankfully the November breeze cooled her feverish cheeks. She wanted to speak, to ask questions, but she was afraid her voice would fail her or the words would come out all wrong. Or she would do the unthinkable and say the entirely wrong thing. So she just held on for the ride, her heart thumping with each rumble of the cart over manicured Rhodes lawn.

And then they were in the woods just far enough so no one could see them. Boone cut the electric motor on the cart and turned to face her. “About that announcement,” he said.

She looked into his eyes, so warm, soft, sincere. “Yes?”

“I was a little vague up there, but then I've never been good at speaking in front of the public. And before I ended up sticking this big foot into my mouth, I needed to get your take on the whole idea.”

She smiled. He wiped one tear from her cheek with his thumb. “Tell me in plain English, Braddock, what deal have you made with Jared? And are you also making a deal with me?”

He spoke in an exaggerated southern drawl. “By all that's holy, Miss Rhodes, I certainly hope so.” He took both her hands in his. “As I see it there are still thirty-plus acres of level dirt, and because dirt is what you've been after all this time, it's yours to do with as you want.”

“You're going to sell the land to me?”

“Oh, no. I'd never sell that land.”

She pulled slightly away from him so she could see into his eyes. “I'll lease it then?”

“Nope. No more contracts, sweetheart. We're done with that. Now maybe a license...”

“What do you mean?”

“Community property, honey. What's mine is yours and that includes Braddock Farm. Now for the big test. Do you want that property bad enough to marry me for it and watch little Braddocks get their hands dirty?”

Had she heard him correctly? The words hummed in her brain, sending messages of hope and joy all the way to her soul. “Did...you just ask me to marry you?”

“I did. Could have been a better proposal, I guess, but it's what I came up with. I hope it works.”

She laughed. “You wonderful, big-hearted fool. You are so wrong.”

His eyes widened. His jaw dropped. “What?”

“You said that dirt was what I'd been after all this time, so you must not have been paying attention. Dirt's nice, yeah, but I think I've been after you since you hauled me, covered in chicken feathers, out of that ditch.”

Withdrawing one of her hands from his, she traced her index finger down the side of his face, around his strong jaw, over his bottom lip. “No, that's not even true. I've been after you since I dragged you into the equipment room of the Mount Union gymnasium.”

He drew her close and kissed her, hungrily, happily, thoroughly. When she next looked into his eyes, he said, “So is that a yes? You'll marry me?”

“That's a yes,” she said. “But in addition to the farm and the kids, can I get a dog?”

He laughed as his arms went around her, and she heard him mumble something about having everything he'd ever wanted.

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