Cowboy Come Home (22 page)

But she wasn’t going to go without trying one more time.

“All right.”

“Great, come on.” Megan grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door.

GRIFF WASN’T SLOW on the uptake. He knew what to do with a blanket spread over hay. All he had to do was get Camille to cooperate.

He spread the blanket carefully, then paced up and down the aisle between the horse stalls. What if Jake couldn’t get her to come? What if she left before Jake found her? She seemed pretty upset to be discovered in his bed this morning.

Suddenly, he could wait no longer. He wasn’t going to take a chance on her disappearing from his life. Not now that he’d found her, had discovered how important love and family could be.

He charged toward the barn door just as it opened.

Camille stepped inside, and the door behind her slammed shut.

Griff came to an abrupt halt.

Then they heard the door being barred.

Griff’s gaze went from the door to Camille.

“Uh, Jake must not realize we’re in here,” he muttered, embarrassed now that he was a party to her being locked in.

“I’m sure he’ll open it if you—”

“No!” He swallowed. “I mean, there’s no hurry. I’d like to—to talk to you.”

“I’m sorry about Mr. Haney. I know you didn’t want to have to deal with your father.” She took a step forward.

He remained where he was, afraid to come any closer until he knew he could touch her, hold her.

“I’ll deal with it.”

“You mean you aren’t planning—I mean, are you still going to return to Chicago?”

Her blue eyes were huge, and he felt himself drowning in them. “Uh, that depends.”

“On whether he’ll leave you alone?” She took another step closer. “Is he unhappy that you’re here?”

“No. No, he’s happy. And he promised to not be a pest. He wanted to know me, but my mother refused. She lied to me, took money from him and kept us apart.” His thoughts were on Camille, but some bitterness surged through his words.

She closed the distance between them, her hand reaching out to caress his cheek. “I’m so sorry.”

His arms wrapped around her, bringing her irresistible body against his. It was her fault. She shouldn’t have gotten so close.

“Camille—”

“Griff—” she said at the same time.

“Ladies first,” he said as his hands rubbed her back, urging her closer.

“Last night, I said I understood that—that you didn’t want marriage, family, but...” She paused and worried her bottom lip, and he thought he was going to die of hunger. “But I love you so much, and I insist that you tell me you don’t want me. I’m not going to go away until you do.” She squared her jaw and stared up at him, defiance in her every bone.

Griff realized then that he’d gotten lucky. So lucky he almost couldn’t believe it. Not only had he found a family, a huge family of good people, but he’d also found a woman to love. A woman who loved him enough to fight for him.

“Well?” she asked softly, fear in her eyes.

“Sweetheart, I hope you brought all your belongings when you came here, because you’re not ever going to get to leave.”

He waited as his words sank into her. Then watched as her defiance turned into a happiness so bright he almost had to shield his eyes.

“You mean you want—I mean, you love me?”

“Of course I love you. I can’t live without you. And I don’t intend to. There’s going to be another Randall wedding.”

Their lips met, and that heady rush of feeling that always accompanied their embrace only increased as they professed their love.

“There’s just one thing, sweetheart,” Griff said as he pulled her with him to the nest he’d made in the hay.

“Yes?” she answered cautiously even as she sank down on the blanket with him.

“I think we’re going to build our own house. I want to stay close to my cousins, but even you will have to admit that that house is full. Will you mind?”

“As long as we don’t go too far away. I’ll want some advice and support when we add to the Randall family.”

He stared at her, and she asked anxiously, “You do want children, don’t you?”

Pulling her against him, Griff gave thanks for all the blessings he’d received since coming here. Maybe his mother had made up for her betrayal by sending him home to the Randalls.

“Oh, yeah,” he assured Camille. “In fact, we can get started on them right now.”

“WHAT DO YOU THINK they’re doing?” Megan asked.

Chad put his arm around her. “What did we do in the barn?”

Her cheeks burned brightly, but she wasn’t the only one to have sizzling memories tied to this building. B.J. in particular seemed to avoid everyone’s stare.

They had gathered at the barn door just as Jake had locked it, all of them eager to know the outcome.

“Do you think they’ll get married?” Toby asked.

“We’re hoping so, son,” Jake assured him. “We want both of them to hang around and be a part of the family.”

“Well, when are they coming out?” the little boy asked.

“Um, sometimes these discussions take a long time,” Jake assured him, and winked at B.J.

“But I didn’t finish my breakfast.”

“Come on, boy,” Red said, extending a hand. “You and I and Mildred and the other kids will go back inside. It’s cold out here, and we don’t want any more sick ones.”

The four couples looked at each other.

“Well,” Pete said, “how long are we going to give them?”

“I think it’s been long enough,” Chad agreed.

Jake stepped up and pounded on the barn doors.

“Why doesn’t he just open them?” Anna asked her husband.

Brett grinned. “’Cause the barn is kind of like that little old car that you were driving when we, uh, got together.”

“Oh,” she said, burying her face in his chest.

“Griff? You in there?”

“Dumb question, Jake. You locked the door on him,” B.J. complained.

Before anyone else could say anything, they heard a faint response. “Go away!”

Megan stepped closer to the door. “Camille, are you okay?”

“Oh, yes” was the soft response.

“Are you two gonna get married?” Jake called.

“Yeah. Go away.”

Everyone cheered. Then Jake called one last time, “We’re serving champagne in the house...when you can get there.”

There was no response.

Jake herded his family back to the house. “I think they’re a little too busy to join us right now. But they’ll eventually come out, I’m sure.”

“Looks like our family is growing again,” Pete said with satisfaction.

Epilogue

“Are you ready?” B.J. called into the bride’s room at the church in Rawhide, where all the Randall wives but Megan had been married.

“Yes, I think—Oh, no!” Camille exclaimed as she grabbed her satin skirt and ran for the sink in the bathroom. The Randall women all looked at each other.

“Oh, my,” Anna said softly, hurrying to support Camille.

“You didn’t get it on your dress, did you?” Megan asked anxiously, trying to peer around Anna to check.

“I don’t think so. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve been sick every morning for the past week, and I’m not the least bit nervous about marrying Griff,” Camille said shakily. She came out of the bathroom and reached for the nearest chair.

“Crackers,” BJ. said, causing Camille to stare at her, wondering if everyone had gone crazy.

“I’ll get some,” Janie said, though she wasn’t sure where she’d find any.

“Check with Lindsey,” Anna said. “She keeps them with her all the time.” Lindsey was one of her patients.

“Why do you want crackers?” Camille asked.

“She doesn’t know,” BJ., Anna and Megan all said at once.

“What? It’s probably just nerves. Though I don’t understand—”

“Sweetie,” Anna said softly, “I don’t think you have to worry anymore about Griff being sterile.”

“Oh, really? Doc said—Oh!” Camille exclaimed as she stared at the others. “You mean I’m pregnant?” There was wonder in her voice. She cradled her flat stomach, a smile building on her lips. “A baby.”

“You’ll have to get a blood test,” Anna said, “but if I were you, I’d load up on crackers before you leave for your honeymoon.”

Janie slipped back in and handed Camille some crackers.

As she began chewing one, a knock sounded on the door.

“What’s taking you guys so long?” Chad demanded. “The bridegroom is about ready to come storming in here and claim his woman.”

Camille stood. “My veil.”

They all helped arrange the veil over her glossy blond curls, then stood back to admire her.

“You’re a beautiful bride,” Megan whispered. “Now we’ll always be family.”

Camille gave her a kiss on her cheek, then stepped to the door, where Jake waited to give her away. She took his arm and smiled at him.

“Ready?” he whispered.

She nodded in return and watched Elizabeth and Caroline, in darling gold dresses, walk down the aisle together, dribbling rose petals. They stopped several times, especially when they discovered Doc sitting next to the aisle, but whoever was closest encouraged them to go on.

Since Camille wanted all the Randalls involved, even Torie went down the aisle, carried in her mother’s arms. Brett was waiting for them near Griffin. Pete and Chad were there, too, and Toby, who was taking Jake’s place.

When each of the Randall women had marched down the aisle, carrying an autumn arrangement against their golden taffeta gowns, meeting their escorts with sweet smiles at the altar, it was her turn.

She took Jake’s arm, and started down the aisle, her gaze focused on her future husband. But she paused briefly as she passed Bill Haney.

The poor man had been so excited to be invited, he could hardly speak. She and Griff had talked a lot about Bill. Gradually her soon-to-be husband had accepted the man into his life.

Bill wanted to give them his ranch and move to Rawhide. Griff had offered to build another house for them on Bill’s land, but Bill, finally realizing he wasn’t going to be banished, took over the empty manager’s house, redecorated by Megan and Camille. He seemed so happy now.

The past month had been frantic with all they had to do. It had been too long and too short. But it had been all the time Griff would permit. He wanted his bride.

And she wanted him, for the rest of her life.

When she reached his side, he took her hand in his. But Camille had a slight variation to make in the wedding ceremony. She tugged her hand free and lifted her veil, then put her arms around Griffs neck.

After a delicate whisper in his ear, Griffin Randall stared at his soon-to-be bride, lifted her against him and kissed her deeply.

The minister stared at the couple. “No, not yet! It’s not time to kiss the bride yet!”

“Sorry, Pastor,” Griff finally said after releasing a beaming Camille. “We can go ahead now.”

Jake wasn’t sure what the whispering and kissing had been about, but from the look on B.J.’s face, he figured it might be similar to the news his wife had given him a couple of days ago. The Randall family was going to be getting bigger than ever.

But he wasn’t complaining. No, siree. Fortunately the Randall men, even Griff, had come to realize a great truth.

Never could have too much family.

ISBN : 978-1-4592-6089-4

COWBOY COME HOME

Copyright © 1998 by Judy Christenberry.

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invested. including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited. 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills. Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books SA

® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.