Lone Tree (43 page)
Authors: Bobbie O'Keefe
“I’ve got something in my makeup case that’ll clean
that off,” she offered.
“Later,” he said.
When she turned toward the truck, he turned the
other way toward the motel rooms. With his hand cupping her elbow he
straightened her back out his way.
“Hey, wait a minute,” she protested. “We need our
things.”
“Later.”
Forced to keep pace, Lainie laughed. “I don’t
understand what the hurry is.”
“I’ll be happy to explain in detail once we get to
the room. Which looks like it’s gonna be five more doors that way.”
She couldn’t get her grin under control, but neither
could she resist giving him one more shot. “Perhaps we should’ve gone on to San
Antonio. It’s not that much farther.”
“It’s a ways yet.”
She figured he knew her protest was feigned. The
time to complain would’ve been when he’d suggested stopping early, but she’d
just smiled and nodded.
“You realize we’re going to be charged for that
honeymoon suite tonight even if we don’t use it,” she told him.
“That’s the least of my concerns.”
“Really. What
is
your greatest concern?”
“You having fun with this?” He slanted a look at
her, taking time out from reading room numbers. The quick grin was as cocky as
ever. “I’m a married man now, and I’ve got needs.”
“And these needs are suddenly more pressing than
ever before?”
“Yep.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve got a gorgeous negligee I spent
big bucks for, and it’s back there in my suitcase.”
“Later.” He stopped, searched his right pants
pocket, came up empty, checked the left, frowned and looked at her. “Did I give
it to you?”
She pointed at the breast pocket of his shirt.
“Oh.” He withdrew the key, opened the door and she
started to step inside.
“Whoa,” he said, catching her arm. “Hold on a minute
there, Mrs. Smith.”
Her heart so full that she was aware of nothing and
no one but her husband, she allowed herself to be lifted into his arms. Sky
blue eyes met chocolate brown and exchanged communication neither person could
ever put into words. He swallowed hard, Adam’s apple working, then he stepped
over the threshold and kicked the door shut behind them.
*
One month married, and wearing her usual sneakers,
Lainie bounced along a rutted road in the red truck. Reed had gone out on
horseback, but she knew where he was and that he was on his own today. A bag of
freshly baked oatmeal cookies—made by Lainie using Lori’s melt-in-your-mouth
recipe—lay next to her. The newly married wife was looking forward to
surprising her husband. They could share a light repast, and, well, whatever
else happened to happen.
Driving up to a gate, she put the truck in park and
jumped out to open it. Halfway to it she spied her very first snake. A bona
fide diamondback—no mystery as to why they called it that—and it even had a
friend with it.
The nearest one coiled as she backed away with her
heart thumping so loudly the snake must’ve heard it. The creature settled down.
Lainie kept going until her backside bumped into the cab’s door, then she
hopped up into the pickup, made a U-turn and got out of there.
The cookies never got delivered. She went straight
home, put her boots on and wore them faithfully thereafter. She even talked herself
into liking them. She never mentioned the encounter to Reed, but guessed he’d
figured it out for himself. His gaze still occasionally lingered on her feet,
now boot-clad, but with a look of amusement instead of a frown.
# # #
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About The Author
Bobbie O’Keefe likes to read as well as
write, and she writes the kind of stories she likes to read. Each one of her
books has a strong sense of family in it, as well as laughs, and she also
throws in suspense and even a touch of mystery here and there.
Visit her at her website