Heart of Texas Vol. 2 (33 page)

Tonight, however, she was famished. Gordon Pawling filled his plate, and Dovie wasn't shy about helping herself, either. Mary and Phil were right behind them in the buffet line.

“I'm going to have to diet for a month after this,” Mary complained.

“Make that two,” Phil teased, and Mary elbowed him in the ribs.

Too full to think about sleeping, Dovie gladly accepted Gordon's invitation for a stroll on the deck when they'd finished eating.

The night was beautiful. Out in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, miles from land and the lights of the city, the stars blazed, filling the sky.

“I don't think I've ever seen so many stars,” Dovie said, leaning against the ship's railing.

“In Northern Ontario,” Gordon said, “in the dead of winter when it seems like spring is only a distant promise, the stars look like this. When a fresh snowfall reflects the moon light and star light, it's almost as bright as day.”

“It sounds lovely,” Dovie said wistfully. “I've never been to Canada,” she confessed. “I'm afraid I'm not much of a traveler. This is my first cruise.”

“Mine, too.”

“I wouldn't have come if it wasn't for Mary and Phil. Mary thought it was what I needed—to get away for a time.”

“Was it?”

“Yes,” she admitted after a moment. “I think it was exactly the right thing to do.”

“I came because of my son.”

Dovie heard the smile in his voice.

“Bill seemed to think that two years was enough time for me to grieve the loss of his mother. He insisted I take a cruise, and when I balked, he purchased the ticket himself and presented it to me on my birthday.”

“He sounds like a determined young man.”

“Very much so,” Gordon said. “He's a younger version of me, I fear. He followed in my foot steps and seems headed for the bench.”

“Your wife's been gone two years, then?”

“Yes,” he said, and sadness weighted his words. “I loved her for forty years and I don't know if it's possible for me to love anyone else.”

“It is possible,” Dovie told him. Her own experience had taught her that. “I'm beginning to think you're right,” he said.

They turned away from the railing and Gordon tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. They walked together in silence, their pace lei surely, and they spoke of their lives and marriages and dreams.

An hour later she still wasn't tired, but they'd be disembarking the next morning and things would be hectic. She knew she should get some sleep.

Gordon escorted Dovie to her cabin. “Thank you,” she murmured. The night had been perfect in every way.

“All the appreciation is mine,” Gordon said, then very slowly leaned forward and kissed her on the lips.

Dovie blinked back sudden tears.

Gordon reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a business card. “My home phone number is listed here,” he said. “In case things don't work out with your friend….”

Dovie accepted the card.

“Will you call?” he asked.

“I…I don't know.” She didn't want to lead him into believing something might come of this one night.

“I'm very grateful to you, Dovie Boyd,” he said. “For this evening. And for showing me that my son might possibly be right.”

But Dovie was the one who needed to thank him. She'd learned something, too.

Her life could go on without Frank. And in time, she might fall in love again….

 

C
AL WAS AWARE
of Jane's presence the minute he escorted Savannah Smith down the church aisle. Grady's sister was serving as matron of honor to Caroline Daniels, and he was best man.

Every pew in Promise Christian Church was filled. It seemed as if half the town—and half the county—had come to Caroline and Grady's wedding. Being the postmistress, Caroline knew just about everyone, and they knew and liked her. Grady, too. The integrity with which he'd handled Richard's debts was no small thing, and the merchants of Promise felt both gratitude and respect. This was a chance for the towns-people and ranchers to show how much Grady and Caroline meant to their community.

Cal didn't see Jane, but he knew she was in the church. He
felt
her there, and as hard as he tried to ignore her, he found it impossible. After walking with Savannah down the aisle, Cal joined Grady, who stood next to the altar. The organ music swelled through the sanctuary as Caroline appeared at the back of the church.

Cal heard Grady's soft intake of breath as he gazed at his bride. Caroline looked lovely in her dress, complete with veil and a long train. Cal smiled as he glanced at Maggie, wearing a green velvet dress for her role as flower girl.

Then his eyes sought out Jane. She sat on the bride's side, wearing a pearl-white suit with big gold buttons. Accustomed to seeing her in jeans and a Western shirt, he didn't recognize her for a moment. Damn, but she was beautiful.

Cal forced his attention away from her and looked at Caroline, whom Frank Hennessey was walking down the aisle. He soon found his gaze wandering back to Jane. Her eyes refused to meet his, which was just as well.

He regretted the way they'd parted. Both of them had been angry, saying hurtful things, things they didn't mean. He'd
told himself that some times it was necessary to be cruel to be kind—only in this case he was the one who'd suffered. He'd been miserable and lonely since that day. He knew their confrontation hadn't been easy for her, either, but she certainly seemed to be faring better than he was.

She might still be angry, but after a while she'd see that this was for the best. When the time came, she'd return to the life she'd always known in California. Her career plans were already in place—and they didn't include practicing medicine in rural America. They didn't include falling in love with a rancher.

The organ music faded, and Caroline joined Grady at the front of the church. Wade McMillen stepped forward to preside over the ceremony, smiling at the happy couple.

Before Caroline and Grady exchanged their vows, Wade had a few words to say about love and marriage.

Since he intended never to fall in love again, Cal only listened with half an ear. It wasn't until Wade said, “Love doesn't come with any guar an tees,” that Cal paid attention.

That was what he'd wanted. A guar an tee. He wanted Jane to promise she'd never leave him. He'd been waiting for her to assure him that her future would always include him.

Without that guarantee, he hadn't been willing to take the risk.

The remainder of the ceremony was a blur in Cal's mind. He handed Grady the wedding band at the appropriate moment and escorted Savannah back down the center aisle following the ceremony.

Later, at the reception, he stood in the receiving line and exchanged chitchat with the guests as they paused to greet the newlyweds and other members of the wedding party.

Grady and Caroline were ecstatic. Maggie was with them and proudly referred to Grady as her daddy. As Cal watched
he felt a sharp emptiness in the pit of his stomach. Over night Grady had a wife and a daughter, and he'd pledged his life to them with nothing to safe guard the future. He'd stood before his family, friends and God and promised to love Caroline for the rest of his life. Without knowing what the next day held, or the next year. Whatever the future might bring, he was willing to love Caroline and Maggie.

The emptiness inside Cal in creased. He loved Jane, but unless he was offered a money-back guar an tee, he hadn't been willing to risk his heart by telling her how he felt.

When he lost Jennifer, he'd simply stepped aside and let her walk out of his life without saying one word to stop her. He'd done the same thing with Jane, only this time he'd loved much more deeply. Because of that, he hadn't just let her go; he'd pushed her out the door with both hands.

He'd refused to commit himself to the love he felt. Not without reassurances first.

As the wedding guests progressed down the receiving line, Cal saw Jane moving toward him. His heart reacted immediately, leaping with a rush of excitement at the mere sight of her. His mind buzzed with ideas of what he should say. Something pithy, something profound; he couldn't decide what.

Before he had the opportunity to display his wit and charm, she was there, standing in front of him, her hand in his.

“Hello, Cal,” she said. Her eyes seemed to sear right through him. Then without warning she proceeded to the next person in line.

Cal yearned to call her back, to say he deserved more than a casual greeting, but he couldn't. The next guests stood directly in front of him and he was obliged to greet them. Cal continued to greet the wedding guests. Whenever he could, he sought out Jane with his eyes. He saw her serve wedding cake and chat with each person, joking and laughing.
If she was miserable without him, he'd be hard pressed to prove it.

He recalled the first few months after Jane had moved to Promise and how the people in town had avoided her. The fault had been on both sides. Jane had arrived with her newfangled ideas and big-city attitude, and folks in town hadn't been too tolerant. There'd been some un war ranted assumptions made by Jane, but also by the people of Promise.

All that had changed in the past two months. Jane had mellowed, made new friends, gained the confidence of people here. He remembered the night Jeremy Bishop had broken his arm and the gentleness she'd displayed to both the boy and his terrified mother.

Little Maggie Daniels had brought her the rag doll because she knew Dr. Jane could be trusted.

Cal had seen for himself her passion for medicine and the way she'd squared off against death, fighting every way she knew how to save Richard Weston's life.

Damn it all, he was in love with her, and his feelings weren't likely to change. If he wanted a guar an tee for the future, he wasn't going to find one. Not with Jane. Not with any woman.

He hadn't liked it when Jane called him a coward. Even now it wasn't easy to admit she'd been right.

The cake was almost gone before Cal found the courage to approach the table.

“Is there a piece for me?” he asked.

Jane glanced up and he could tell by the look on her face that she was surprised to see him.

“I believe there are a few pieces left,” she said cordially enough, but she gave herself away when she refused to meet his eyes. She reached for a plate and handed it to him.

He cleared his throat and said, “You look very pretty.”

“Thank you. I bought this suit in downtown Los Angeles.”

Cal let the comment slide. “Something's wrong with Atta Girl.” He said the first thing that came to mind.

That got her attention. “What?”

“It's nothing to worry about,” he told her, then grabbed a glass of punch and walked away. That was a dirty trick, but he was willing to use whatever he had to.

Cal found a vacant table at the other end of the hall and sat down. He hadn't been there a minute when Jane pulled out a chair and joined him.

“What's wrong with Atta Girl?” she demanded.

“She misses you,” Cal said between bites of cake.

Jane stared at him as if she hadn't understood a word.

“I miss you, too,” he said, swallowing his pride along with the wedding cake.

“Oh, Cal.”

“Do they have cattle ranches in California?” he asked.

Her brow puckered in a frown. “I don't know—I'm sure they must.”

“Good. I was thinking of moving there.”

“To California?” Her voice rose a full octave. “In the name of heaven,
why?
”

This was where it became difficult, but having made his decision, he wasn't going to renege now. “Looks like I'm going to have to if I want to be near you.”

Jane was on her feet so fast the chair nearly toppled backward. “You're taking a lot for granted, Cal Patterson.”

“Perhaps,” he agreed, recognizing his own response the day they'd argued and she told him he loved her. “But the way I figure it, if we're going to get married and you've already agreed to join your uncle's medical practice, this is the only solution.”

Jane glared at him as though it was all she could do not to slap him.

“You
are
going to marry me, aren't you?” he asked.

B
ACK LESS THAN TWENTY-FOUR
hours from her cruise, Dovie worked endlessly in the church kitchen, helping the women's group with Caroline and Grady's wedding. She had artfully arranged hors d'oeuvres on silver platters and set them on the counter to be picked up.

Actually Dovie was grateful to be in here, away from the reception, although it was considered the least enviable of the jobs the women's group per formed for weddings and other social events. At least while she was here, she needn't fear seeing Frank dance with Tammy Lee or flirt with any other women.

She hadn't seen him since her return, but then, it was still early. She steeled herself for their next confrontation, dreading it already.

Humming softly to herself, Edwina Moor house entered the kitchen. “Pastor McMillen is looking for you.”

“Me?” Dovie couldn't imagine what he wanted.

“He asked me to send you to his office.”

“Really?” Dovie washed her hands and reached for a towel. “Did he happen to mention what this was about?”

“Not a word,” the older woman said.

But Dovie noticed that Edwina's eyes were twinkling. If she didn't know better, she'd think Wade and the Moor house sisters had something up their sleeves.

Tucking a stray curl behind her ear, Dovie left the kitchen. Pastor McMillen's office was just down the hallway and around the corner. His door was closed and she tapped on it politely.

“Come in,” he called.

Dovie opened the door, and the first person she saw was Frank Hennessey, rising to his feet from a chair opposite Wade's desk. The sheriff also stood when she entered the room, his eyes focused intently on her. Dovie's pulse accelerated to an alarming rate, and she was grateful when Wade motioned for her to take a seat.

“Hello, Dovie,” Frank said.

“Frank.” She nodded once, but avoided looking in his direction. He sat down when she did.

“Actually I need to get back to the wedding,” Wade announced. “My purpose here is to bring the two of you together to talk this out.” With that, he left the room.

Dovie was too shocked to speak.

“I asked Wade to bring you here,” Frank explained.

“Why?”

“Well, because I didn't think you'd come if I asked.”

“I mean, why did you want to talk to me? As far as I can see, everything's already been said. You're dating other women now.”

“One date, Dovie, and that was a disaster.” He got to his feet and walked across the room to stare out the window. “There's only one woman I love and that's you.”

“That's all well and good, but it hasn't gotten us very far to this point, has it?”

“No,” he agreed with a certain reluctance.

Dovie's mind whirled. She couldn't imagine that Wade McMillen, a man of God, would condone Frank and her resuming their previous relationship, especially considering its physical aspects.

“You talked to Wade about us?” she asked.

“Actually he came to me.”

“Wade?” Dovie had never heard of such a thing.

“I've been feeling pretty down lately,” Frank admitted. “I assumed that once you saw me with Tammy Lee, you'd realize how much you missed me and want me back.”

Dovie's mouth thinned with irritation.

“I don't think any idea of mine has back fired worse. I accept the blame for that—it was a sign of how desperate I was without you.”

It didn't hurt Dovie's feelings any to learn he'd had a miserable time with Tammy Lee.

“Then you left on the cruise and…and I worried the entire time that you'd meet someone else.” He hesitated, then asked, “Did you…meet someone?”

“Yes, a retired judge. He lives in Toronto.”

“Oh.” Frank turned to face her, eyes narrowed. “Will you be seeing him again?”

“I…I…”

“Don't answer that,” Frank said, holding up his hand. “It's none of my business. Like I started to say, while you were away, I was pretty miserable. But then, nothing's been right since we split. Wade and I had a long talk, and I told him about you and me.”

Dovie could feel the color fill her face even before she asked the question. “You didn't mention anything about…spending the night at my house, did you?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, Frank, how could you?” She covered her face with both hands.

“He isn't going to judge us, Dovie,” Frank hastened to assure her. “It's not his job. He told me that himself.”

It was one thing for Frank to refuse to marry her, but to embarrass her in front of the pastor was something else entirely.

“I explained to Wade why I've had such a struggle with this marriage idea.”

She hoped he'd done a better job of it with Wade than he had with her. As far as she was concerned, telling her he wasn't “the marrying kind” was a mighty poor excuse!

“I've lived alone all these years, and a man grows accustomed to having things his own way—to certain freedoms.” He paused and his eyes pleaded with hers for understanding. “These freedoms I'm talking about don't have anything to do with other women, either.”

“We've been through all this before,” Dovie said, tired of the same old argument. She didn't want to hear his excuses again, especially when she could practically recite them herself.

“I couldn't find any solution to it, either,” Frank said, his voice gaining speed and volume. “But, Dovie, don't you see, that's been the whole problem.”

“What do you mean?”

“Wade said we'd over looked the obvious solution, and by God, he's right. We can get married and I can still have my freedom.”

“How?” she asked incredulously.

Frank's smile lit up his entire face. “It's so obvious I can't believe we didn't see it earlier. I'll keep my house and you keep yours. Some nights I'll spend with you—and if you want, you can sleep over at my house, too.”

Dovie's head came up.

“I won't feel the walls closing in on me, but at the same time you'd have what you want. You'd be my wife, Dovie.”

If she was tongue-tied earlier, it didn't compare to what she was now.

Frank's eyes were bright with hope as he reached for her hands. “Dovie Boyd, would you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”

She blinked back tears and smiled so hard it hurt. “Oh, Frank, I love you so much. Yes, I'll marry you.” It was all she'd ever wanted. It didn't matter what other people thought or said. This was a plan that worked for
them.

She didn't know who moved first, but they were in each other's arms and kissing.

God bless Wade McMillen, Dovie mused as Frank's lips found hers.

 

I
F
C
AL
P
ATTERSON
made her cry now, with half the town looking on, Jane swore she'd never forgive him.

He held her gaze, his feelings for her glowing in his eyes. “I'm asking you to be my wife.”

She brought her hand to her forehead. “I heard you the first time.” Which, she had to admit in retrospect, wasn't a very gracious thing to say.

“Do you want me to get down on one knee in front of all these people, Jane?” he asked. Cal was standing now, too.

“No.” She shook her head and re treated a step.

“I've got an engagement ring. It's a good one, big diamond and only slightly used, but I'm afraid the damn thing's cursed. If you don't mind, I'd prefer to buy you a new one. I'm hoping Harley will take the other as a trade-in.”

“You'd sell your share of the ranch?” she asked, afraid she'd been hearing things.

“If I had to.”

“Why?” she demanded.

“Because I love you.”

Damn, he'd done it to her. Jane could feel the tears welling in her eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks.

“After what Wade said earlier, I've given up demanding guar an tees. Like the preacher said, love just doesn't come with one. I don't know what the future holds for either of us. All I know about my future is that I want you in it.”

Jane pressed her index fingers under her eyes in a desperate effort to keep the tears at bay. “You make me weep in public, Cal Patterson, and I swear you'll live to regret it.”

“You'd cry for me?”

“Yes, you fool!”

His lazy grin spread from ear to ear. “That's the most beautiful thing you've ever said to me.”

“Oh, puh-leeze!” She whirled around while she could still see straight and stormed across the room. She wasn't surprised to find that Cal had followed her.

The music started, and after Caroline and Grady had danced the first number, other couples stepped onto the floor.

“I'm not light on my feet, but I'd be willing to give it a try, if you are,” Cal said, offering her his hand.

Jane didn't think she could refuse him anything at that moment. She placed her hand in his and nearly sighed aloud when he touched her. The sense of rightness she felt in his arms was…miraculous. Incredible. And so exciting.

Cal's chin rubbed the side of her face. “You love me, don't you?” he whispered.

“You know I do.”

“I love you, too, Dr. Texas.”

“You're serious about moving to California?”

“If that's what it takes to be close to you.”

It astonished her that he'd agree to leave Promise. It shocked her, moved her deeply, inspired her. “As it happens, I love living here,” she whispered, resting her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and savored the feel of his arms around her.

“You'd be willing to live here?” he asked.

“Promise needs a doctor, doesn't it? Everyone here feels like family. I enjoy the challenge of my job. It didn't take me long to realize that joining Uncle Ken wasn't really what I wanted.” She shook her head. “Before I came to Promise, I just didn't have enough experience to know that.”

“What about your uncle?”

“He'll be disappointed, but he'll get over it.”

“Your parents?”

“Give them time and they'll learn to love Willie Nelson as much as they do the Beach Boys.”

“And me?”

“That may take some doing,” she teased. “However, if you promise to make them grandparents…”

His arms tightened about her waist. “I'm feeling this very strong urge to kiss you, and either I embarrass us both right here and now or we sneak outside.”

Jane smiled softly, so much in love that the emotion burned inside her. “I don't know about you, but I could do with a bit of fresh air.”

In the middle of the song Cal stopped dancing, clasped her hand and led her off the dance floor.

Ellie Patterson lifted her head from Glen's shoulder, looking worried. Jane smiled broadly and gave her a thumbs-up. Ellie signaled back with a wink and laid her head back on her husband's shoulder again.

Once they were outside in the shadows of the church, Cal pulled Jane into his arms. She went there without resistance.
His mouth found hers and his tongue licked the edges of her lips. With a small sigh of welcome, she opened her heart and her life to him. They kissed with a need that was so deep she forgot to breathe.

“You'll marry me?” he asked, his voice a whisper.

“Yes.” The decision had already been made for her the instant he asked. She'd known then that this was what she wanted, that Promise was where she belonged. This was her home now, with Cal.

“When?”

“You in a hurry?” she asked, grinning delightedly. She couldn't see any reason to wait, either, not when they both knew what they wanted. Even waiting another minute seemed too long.

“You're damn straight I'm in a hurry,” Cal said. “Let's talk to Wade right now.”

Jane laughed and hugged him close. “Just remember, the future has no guar an tees, Rebel.”

“Well, it does come with at least one,” he said, lifting her several inches off the ground. “My love for you.”

“And mine for you,” she whispered before her lips met his.