Heart of a Marine (The Wounded Warrior Series Book 1) (32 page)

“He enlisted at nineteen, and was assigned to the 6
^th
Marine Regiment. He later named this ranch Belleau Wood after the battle that won him the Navy Cross.

“Mom changed it to Big D after she married Dad and had three sons whose names all started with D. If you look at the brand for the ranch, it’s a big D with a small BW inside.”

He took a step to his left. “This is Grandpa Douglas Burwell in his World War II Marine uniform. He won the Silver Star at the battle of Iwo Jima. Then he went to Korea and fought at Chosin. Gramps was a Bird Colonel when he retired.”

Her heart warmed at the pride in his voice. She gave him the once-over. “You look like him.”

He grinned. “Yeah, I do.” He took another step to his left. “You know the rest, Dylan, Afghanistan, me, Iraq, and Donovan, Afghanistan and Iraq. As you can see from the photo, Donovan has a chest full of medals. Dylan and I got a few minor ones and Purple Hearts.”

“Dylan was wounded?”

Dwayne chuckled and leaned close to her ear. “Don’t tell him I said so, but he got shot in the ass diving for cover during a firefight.”

She gave him a big grin. “It’s our secret. What about Uncle Johnny? Was he in the military?”

“No. Like your dad, the timing was off for that age group. This rogue’s gallery represents the Burwell side of the family.”

“I see where you and your brothers get your physical characteristics. It always puzzled me that you didn’t much resemble John.”

He turned her in his arms. “Come take a walk with me, there’s something I want to tell you.”

Heart pounding, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “I can’t wait hear it.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

They leaned against the porch railing. Clouds overhead obscured the sky. No stars were visible, but the moon glowed bravely, shining light through the cloud cover, and gave the night an ethereal glow. A cool breeze ruffled Marla’s hair.

She leaned into Dwayne’s side, his arm draped around her shoulders. “It’s so quiet here. It’s almost too quiet to sleep. I never thought of Spring Grove as a big city, but compared to here it is.”

What was it he wanted to tell her? He’d told her many times over the past two months that he loved her, so it couldn’t be that. Not that she’d mind hearing it again. Was he about to propose marriage? No. It was far too soon for that, and it would need to be something he talked over with Amber before saying anything to her. He and Amber hadn’t been alone since they got here. Maybe he talked to her on the phone? Why not just ask him what he wanted to talk about?

She tilted her head to look at his strong, chiseled profile. She loved him so much. “What did you want to tell me?” Her heart thumped.

“Mom told me this afternoon that she’d had a DNA test done on herself and Amber.” He looked into her eyes, but she couldn’t interpret his expression.

“Did you know about it, um, before she went ahead with it?”

“No. She knew I’d refused Francine’s demand for the test. I had no intention of ever doing it, because it didn’t matter to me.”

“I’m afraid to ask, but what were the results?” She held her breath.

“Amber has Mom’s mitochondrial DNA.”

“But…that means you’re her biological father.”

“Yeah.”

“What would you have done if the test had shown otherwise?”

“I’d never have known because Mom had no intention of telling me unless it proved I was her father.”

“It’s good news, but are you angry with Kathleen?”

“I was pissed when she told me she’d done it without asking me, but I understood why she didn’t. She doesn’t care a whit whether or not the test proved paternity, but she wanted to know for my sake. Amber is her granddaughter, period, no matter how the test came out.”

“Weren’t you always sure you were her father?” She couldn’t imagine the mental agonizing he’d been through lately.

“I never thought seriously about it until Francine said I wasn’t then I started questioning my instincts. I’m still not sure why she climbed out from under her rock after all these years.”

“Does she know you’re heir to this property?”

“How could she? Grampa died and left it to me two years after Francine ran out on us. I don’t know who would have told her. Why?”

“Don’t be dense. It’s a matter of public record. She probably thought she could extort money out of you.”

“I don’t have any money lying around. Everything I have is invested in my business and my home.”

“This ranch is worth millions. Like I said, don’t be dense.”

He took her hand, stepped off the porch, and led her to the fence surrounding the corral. Leaning back against it, he wrapped her in his arms. “It’ll be decades before any of this comes to me, but just in case, would you be willing to marry me for my money?”

Had he proposed? He had to be joking. That was it. “I might consider it, but it’s your big strong alpha male body I’m interested in.” She put her arms around his waist and pulled herself tight against him. “Very interested in, Big D.”

He planted one of his magnificent knee wobblers on her mouth then deepened it, taking his time with her. The feel of his hands in her hair and on her neck turned her insides into molten gold, beautiful and so painful. How could she ever get enough of his lips on hers?

She came up for air. “Dempsey,” she gasped. “I love you.”

“I know.” He grinned in the faint moonlight. “What say we go upstairs and I work on keeping your interest keen?”

* * *

Breakfast was a raucous affair. Elbows bumped at the long pine table in the kitchen, and Donovan and Charlene were the target of endless ribbing about their wedding later today. Cookie placed mountains of bacon and pancakes on the table next to a huge platter of eggs fried sunny-side up.

Arturo cuffed one of Dylan’s boys on the back of the head when he pulled his sister’s ponytail. When the boy gave him a sour look of protest, Dylan pointed his finger at him with an unmistakable look of
you had that coming, son.
“Apologize to your sister.”

Before he could get the words out, the girl punched him in the shoulder and got rewarded with a small smack from Arturo. “You city dudes finish breakfast and get to work in the barn. Them cows don’t milk themselves. And we got a weddin’ to go to later.”

Another warning glare from Dylan was all it took to quiet them down and concentrate on eating. Amber wore a smug smile, having been left out of the ruckus.

Dwayne leaned close to Marla’s ear and whispered, “When we kids are on the ranch, Arturo is our foreman. We do as he says.”

“Your mom’s OK with that?”

“Believe me, no hand who works on this ranch would do anything without Mom’s prior approval. Yes, we do what Arturo says.” He chuckled and picked up his coffee mug. “You’ve been warned, Danaher.” He winked and took a sip of strong ranch coffee.

Marla studied the faces of Kathleen, Cookie, and Arturo. The affection they had for the extended Dempsey family was unmistakable. She thought the lessons the boys and their children learned on this ranch went a long way to molding them into such a close family.

“Do you realize how lucky you are, Dempsey?”

“Every day, Danaher.”

Charlene, Marla, Kathleen, and Grace fussed with the small amount of packing needed for the wedding in Buffalo. Miss Emmaline sat in a rocking chair in Charlene’s room, stroking Princess Elizabeth, and wearing a benign smile. A lifelong spinster, she’d never married, but it was obvious to Marla that she’d caught the romantic spirit of the day.

“Lordy, it’s only an hour drive. I’m wearing my wedding outfit when we leave here. Donovan’s carrying his dress uniform because he doesn’t want a single crease in it. He’ll change in the men’s room at the courthouse.”

Marla had packed extra shoes for herself and Amber, along with jackets and sweaters. “Is he planning to wear it all day?”

“No, just for the ceremony. He packed jeans and boots for the barbecue and wagon ride. He’s my Marine for the wedding, but my cowboy for the rest of the day.” She winked. “And night.”

Miss Emmaline hooted with laughter. “You girls these days. I was born sixty years too soon for all the fun.”

Kathleen shook her head and grinned. “I happen to know you didn’t miss
all
the fun, Emma.”

Miss Emmaline wagged her finger. “Don’t you go telling secrets on me, miss. I have the goods on you.”

Grace’s eyes rounded. “Oh, please, tell a couple of them to me. I’d love to know some of my mother-in-law’s deep, dark secrets. Might come in handy one day.”

Kathleen smiled at her daughter-in-law, Grace, her soon to be daughter-in-law, Charlene. “I love both my son’s wives,” she said. “And I hope,” she tipped her head at Marla, “future wife.”

Heat rushed from Marla’s neck to her cheeks. She probably looked like a pickled beet. What had Dwayne said to his mother? She ducked her head and fussed with the gym bag carrying her and Amber’s shoes and sweaters. “Um…I…”

Grace came to her side and placed her hand on Marla’s shoulder. “That’s what we all want, Marla. You’re perfect for him, and Amber is crazy about you.”

Boots sounded along the hall. “You gals got your stuff ready?” Arturo called. “Me and the boys are ready to start loading up.”

Charlene squeaked with excitement and happiness. “We’re ready. Come in.” She hugged Marla. “Come on Maid, ha-ha, of Honor. You have to help me do this. I’m getting nervous.”

Marla smoothed her hands over Charlene’s lovely blond hair. “You will be the most beautiful bride in Wyoming today, sis.” Just when she’d begun to fully appreciate her sister, Char was about to be married and move to Hawaii. A sad lump settled in her chest. “I love you.”
I didn’t know how much until now.

Tears sparkled in Charlene’s rusty brown eyes, identical to her own. “I know. I love you too. I wish Sil and Dadley and the twins were here.”

Marla knew that their parents and Harry and Barry, and John and Irene Dempsey were already in Buffalo waiting for the wedding party to arrive. They’d planned a wonderful surprise for the bride and groom. Charlene, who loved surprises, would have one today to remember all her life.

“They’ll be here in spirit, and we’ll take tons of pictures on our phones to send to them.” She kissed Charlene on the lips. “Ready?” She grinned and held the secret close to her heart. “OK, then let’s get hitched!”

* * *

“Daddy, Auntie Charlene looks like a rill princess, doesn’t she?”

Dwayne smiled at his daughter and laughed at himself for being startled to hear her say, “Auntie Charlene.” Marla’s sister was her aunt now. Part of the Dempsey family. His sister-in-law. Did that fact complicate things further between the two families? He and his brothers knew Silvia Danaher and their father, John, had long ago been lovers, before he met their mother, Kathleen Burwell. Now here they were, all together, celebrating the marriage of the youngest Dempsey son to the eldest Danaher daughter.

“Yes, she does look like a real princess. And Uncle Donovan is a warrior prince. He’s the best looking of us three brothers.”

“Nuh uh, Daddy, not rilly.”

His chest warmed at her innocence. His little sweetheart thought her daddy was the best-looking. “Well if it’s not Donovan, who is it?”

“Uncle Dylan.” That knocked him down a peg.

“Who told you that?”

“Uncle Dylan did.” She sighed. “It’s a fairytale, Daddy.” She pointed to Marla, dancing with one of her twin brothers. “Marla’s brothers are handsome princes. Barry is going to dance with me when the cowboy line dance music comes on.”

“How do you know it’s Barry? Those boys are identical. Maybe it’s Harry.”

“Nope.” She grinned a secret smile. “Marla telled me how to know them apart. But she said it was our secret, so I can’t tell you it.”

He pulled her onto his lap and growled into her neck. “Is that so? We’ll see about that, squirt.” She giggled and struggled.

“Stop, Daddy. Stop, I’ll tell you, but you have to promise to keep the secret, OK?”

“What secret?”

Dwayne and Amber hadn’t seen Marla leave the dance floor. Amber’s eyes got huge and she put her hands over her mouth.

“Hey, Danaher. Enjoying the party?” He tilted his chin. “Kiss me, beautiful.”

She kissed him and sat in the chair vacated by Amber. “Wow!” Eyes wide she wagged her chin at the far tables. “Do you believe that?” John Dempsey had just taken Kathleen Burwell’s hand and escorted her to the dance floor.

“Shit no.”

“Daddy!”

“Sorry, squirt. You can wash out my mouth with soap later. I really want to eat another piece of that wedding cake.” He gave her a quick squeeze.

“Then you better watch it, soldier!” She smacked his arm, and he and Marla exchanged eye smiles.

His gaze returned to his parents, and he found it hard to come to grips with the expressions on their faces. They smiled and talked like long-lost friends. “I worried how Mom would react when she learned Dad and Irene would be here today.”

“Looks like you worried for nothing. They have children and grandchildren together. Perhaps they felt it was time to bury old grudges. I think it’s great.” The sparkle in Marla’s eyes had the usual effect on him. He brushed his hand on her neck and imagined them climbing into his old bed together tonight.

Amber sang, “Here comes the bride.”

Charlene and Donovan joined them. Char kissed Dwayne on the cheek. “I know you don’t like to dance, shiny new brother-in-law, but there’s no rule that says you can’t hold me and sway to the music.”

He set Amber on her feet and stood. “What red-blooded Marine could pass up that offer?” He took her hand and led her away. When he embraced Charlene, he noticed Donovan offer his hand to Marla.

Donovan leaned close to him, his forked fingers pointing to his eyes. “I’ll be watching you, bro.” He winked and pulled Marla into a tight embrace.

“Goes both ways, baby brother. I still outrank you, don’t forget.”

Charlene whispered in his ear. “Let’s have some fun with this, Middle Dempsey.” She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, lips close to his neck. “Isn’t this nice?” She reached to slide his hand lower on her back.