Under A Prairie Moon (25 page)

“Yes, Montana.”

A melancholy smile passed over Julianna’s lips. “It’s beautiful country, isn’t it? I suppose Dalton told you we lived with the Indians for many years.”

“Yes.” At the dressmaker’s request, Kathy made a half-turn. “Dalton’s father was quite a handsome man. Dalton looks just like him. It was a hard life, but very satisfying in many ways. Dalton always said he’d go back someday, but he never did.”

Kathy nodded. Dalton had decided they shouldn’t say anything to his mother about their recent stay with the Lakota for fear that hearing what had happened would upset her.

“I often wonder what happened to Okute and Star Chaser and to Yellow Grass Woman.” She laughed self-consciously. “Listen to me, rambling on like an old woman.”

Kathy smiled and said nothing, but, for a moment, she had been transported back to the day of the massacre.

The dressmaker finished pinning the hem and stood up. “All done,” she said with a smile. “It’ll be ready tomorrow afternoon.”

“Thank you.”

Kathy quickly changed clothes and they left the shop. “Julianna, are you all right?” she asked.

“Fine. Don’t worry about me.”

She didn’t look fine though, Kathy thought as they walked across the street to where Dalton was waiting for them. He looked worried as he helped his mother into the carriage they had borrowed from the Worthinghams.

“So,” he asked. “How’d it go?”

“Fine,” Kathy said.

“Wait until you see her,” Julianna said. “You’re going to fall in love with her all over again.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard,” Dalton murmured as he handed Kathy into the carriage, then took the seat across from her. “I talked to the minister. He said Saturday afternoon will be fine.”

Kathy smiled. In two days, she would be Mrs. Dalton Crowkiller.

“Kathy was telling me she has a ranch in Montana,” Julianna remarked.

Dalton nodded. “That’s right.”

“Are you going to live there after you’re married?”

“I don’t know.” Dalton and Kathy exchanged glances. “I think maybe we’ll be staying here.”

“In Boston? But you’ve never liked it here.”

Dalton shrugged. “We’ll be all right.”

Julianna’s eyes filled with tears. “You’re staying for me, aren’t you? You don’t have to.”

“Ma,” Dalton said with a wry grin, “have you ever known me to do anything I didn’t want to do?”

Julianna laughed through her tears. “No, I guess not.”

She looked over at Kathy. “He can be a very stubborn man.”

“And very persuasive,” Kathy said. “He made me buy a horse.”

“Tell me you’re sorry,” Dalton said.

“You know I’m not.”

“Well, what are you complaining about then?”

“I’m not complaining,” Kathy said.

Julianna laughed softly. “Children, children,” she chided softly.

“Sorry, Ma.”

When they reached the cottage, Julianna went into the bedroom, saying she thought she would rest awhile.

“I like your mother,” Kathy said.

“I knew you would. I think maybe she’s one of the reasons I was sent back here.”

“Really? Why?”

“I’m not sure.” He stared out the window. A memory tugged at the back of his mind, distant and just out of reach.

Murray came home a short time later. He brought dinner with him, and they spent a quiet evening together, with Dalton and his mother reminiscing about their early days in Boston.

About ten, Dalton and Kathy took their leave and went back to the hotel.

The following afternoon, Julianna accompanied Kathy when she went for the final fitting on her wedding dress.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Julianna said, “but I’ve invited the Worthinghams to the wedding, and a few of my friends.”

“No, I don’t mind.”

“I’m glad. I know I should have asked you first.”

Kathy smiled at Dalton’s mother. “It’s all right, really. I don’t mind.”

They went to a small cafe for lunch, and then returned to the cottage. Dalton was there, waiting for them.

“Well,” Julianna said, “tomorrow’s the big day.”

Dalton looked at Kathy and grinned. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”

“Not a chance.”

Julianna beamed at them. “You two are made for each other, I can tell.”

“I think so too,” Kathy agreed.

Dalton nodded. “You could say Fate brought us together.”

“Yes,” Kathy said, “you could indeed.”

Saturday morning, Kathy woke with a fluttery stomach. Today was her wedding day. She rolled onto her side, her heart swelling with love as she gazed at Dalton, sleeping beside her.

She had never expected to fall in love again, to marry again. Was she making a mistake? She had no idea how long she and Dalton would be allowed to stay together, and yet, did any couple ever know how many days or years they would have together? She had thought she would spend the rest of her life with Wayne, but life had had other plans. She only knew that she wanted to be Dalton’s wife, to have his children, to grow old at his side, God willing.

“Hey, bride,” Dalton murmured. “Today’s the day.”

“Did you think I’d forget?”

“I’m more afraid that you’ll change your mind.”

“Why would I do that?”

“I can think of a lot of reasons, darlin’.”

“Really?” She sat up, looking worried. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“Not me. Hell, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me, but…”

“But what?”

“You know.”

Lifting one hand, she caressed his beard-roughened cheek. “We can’t do anything about that.”

“I love you, darlin’.”

“And I love you.” Kathy’s eyes widened as a distant clock chimed the hour. “Dalton, it’s 10:00!”

“So?”

“So we’re supposed to be at the church in an hour and a half.”

He looked puzzled. “We’ve got plenty of time. It’s just across the street.”

Kathy let out a sigh of exasperation. Men! “Dalton, I have to take a bath and go over to your mom’s and get dressed and…”

Sitting up, she ran a hand through her hair. What she wouldn’t give for a blow dryer or some hot rollers.

Dalton let out a sigh of his own as Kathy bounded out of bed and started getting dressed. He could be ready in ten minutes, he thought, and wondered why it took women so long to get dressed.

Twenty minutes later, he dropped Kathy off at the cottage.

“See you at the church at noon.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Don’t be late.”

“Don’t you be late,” Julianna warned. “Murray, you be sure he’s there on time.”

“Don’t worry your pretty little head,” Murray replied. “I’ll have him at the church at high noon, and sober too.”

Julianna gave her husband a playful slap on the arm. “You just be certain that he’s not the only one who’s sober. Now, go along with you.” Julianna closed the door then turned and smiled at Kathy. “Men,” she said with a grin.

* * * * *

Dalton stood at the altar, feeling slightly uncomfortable at momentarily being the center of attention. There were about twenty people in the church. He recognized most of them. They knew who he was, and what he did for a living. Murray stood beside him, relaxed as always. In all the years Dalton had known the man, he had never seen him flustered. Julianna was sitting in the front pew. Dalton smiled at his mother, and she winked at him.

And then Kathy was walking down the aisle toward him and Dalton forgot everything else. Beautiful was the only word to describe her. Or maybe angelic. She wore a dress of white silk. A veil covered her face.

Stepping forward to meet her, Dalton took her hand in his and squeezed it, then they turned to face the minister.

Kathy slid a glance at Dalton. Tall, dark and handsome, she thought.

He caught her gaze and mouthed the words,
I love you
, and she repeated them back to him.

His voice sounded a little shaky as he promised to love her so long as he lived.

Tears of happiness welled in her eyes as he slipped a wide gold band over her finger. The minister pronounced them man and wife, and then Dalton lifted her veil and kissed her.

Kathy’s eyelids fluttered down as his mouth slanted over hers. She had expected a quick peck, but Dalton’s arms closed around her and he held her tight, his kiss deep and possessive and more binding on her heart than any words they had said.

The people in the audience were standing on their feet, smiling, when they walked up the aisle.

The Worthinghams hosted a party for them following the ceremony. It did Dalton good to see his mother being waited on for a change. She looked so frail. He’d had more substance when he was a ghost than she did now, he thought, and knew that, in spite of her cheerful facade, she didn’t have much time left.

The party broke up around five. Dalton and Kathy thanked the Worthinghams for the lovely party. Dalton was surprised when Lawrence Worthingham took him aside and handed him an envelope.

“The bridal suite has been reserved for you tonight. Order anything you want. It’s all been taken care of.”

Dalton stared at the man. “I don’t know what to say.”

Worthingham made a dismissive gesture. “You don’t have to say anything. It’s the least we can do for Julianna’s only son. After all these years, she’s part of the family.”

“Thank you,” Dalton said.

Worthingham cleared his throat. “And don’t worry about…about…we’ve made arrangements for…you know.”

“Thank you,” Dalton said, his voice thick.

Worthingham nodded, squeezed Dalton’s shoulder and left the room.

There was a carriage waiting for them when they left the house.

Kathy looked at the elegant coach, at the two white horses, at the footman clad in the Worthingham livery, and then grinned at Dalton. “I feel like Cinderella.”

“Who?”

“A princess in a fairy tale.”

“I’ll bet she wasn’t as pretty as you, darlin’.”

“The prince wasn’t as pretty as you either,” Kathy replied. She rested her head on Dalton’s shoulder as the coach pulled away from the house. “This is real, isn’t it? I’m not going to wake up and find it’s all been a dream.”

“I had a lot of dreams in the last hundred and twenty-five years,” Dalton replied. “None of them were like this.”

When they reached the hotel, the footman opened the door and Dalton stepped out of the carriage, then, lifting Kathy into his arms, he carried her into the hotel.

There were several people gathered in the lobby. They all stopped what they were doing as Dalton walked toward the desk.

The clerk grinned from ear to ear as Dalton entered the lobby. “Room 203, sir,” he said.

With a nod, Dalton carried Kathy up the stairs.

Cries of congratulations and applause followed them up the stairs.

Kathy was laughing when they reached their room. There was a large bouquet of flowers on the table beside the bed, along with a chilled bottle of champagne and two glasses.

Dalton put Kathy on her feet, then closed and locked the door. “Alone at last,” he murmured.

“At last,” Kathy echoed. She looked up at her handsome husband, a grin hovering on her lips. “So,” she asked with mock innocence, “what do you want to do now?”

“What do you think?” Dalton growled.

Kathy shrugged. Crossing the floor, she sat down on the edge of the bed and crossed her legs. “Take a nap? I’m kind of tired.”

“I can think of better uses for that bed than sleeping,” Dalton said.

“Really?” Kathy looked up at him and batted her eyelashes. “Like what?”

“Like this,” Dalton said, bending over her.

It was magic, she thought, the way one touch of his lips, one stroke of his hand, made her forget everything but how much she wanted him, needed him. Loved him

She caressed his cheek, delved under his hair to caress the back of his neck.

“Barber wanted to give me a haircut today,” he said, his breath warm against her ear. “And I don’t mean just a trim.”

“No! Dalton, don’t ever cut it. I love your hair just the way it is.”

“Do you?”

She ran both hands through his hair, loving the feel of it against her skin. His hands were moving too, unfastening the hooks on the back of her gown, sliding the material over her shoulders, peeling off her chemise.

“What happened to that sexy underwear you had?” He ran his tongue over her bare shoulder.

“I couldn’t very well let your mother see it…oh Dalton….”

“Like that, do you?”

“Hmmmm.”

“And this?”

He kissed and caressed her out of her gown and undergarments, fell back on the bed, quiescent and smiling, while she undressed him.