Orchard Valley Brides (18 page)

All at once Sherry felt scared. Scared of all the feelings crowding inside her. Scared of being with Cody again, of kissing him again, of making more of this attraction than he intended or wanted. Her feelings were powerful, alien. At first she'd attributed them to being with Norah and Rowdy and seeing how happy they were.

Now here she was with Cody, sitting under the shadowy arms of a weeping willow, and her confusion returned a hundredfold. This man affected her in a thousand indescribable ways, but she was worried; she wasn't sure her feelings were because of Cody himself. Maybe it was the exciting promise he represented. The happiness waiting for her just around the corner, just out of reach. She desperately wanted the joy her friends had found. She was tired of being alone, tired of walking into an empty apartment. She wanted a husband, a home and a family. Was that so much to ask?

Cody spread out a blanket for them to sit on. “How were your friends?”

“Very much in love.” It wasn't what Sherry had meant to say, but the first thing that sprang to her lips. She looked away, embarrassed.

“Newlyweds?”

“No.” She shook her head. “They've been married four years and have two children. In a few weeks they'll be adding two adopted kids to the family.”

“They sound like a compassionate, generous couple.”

His words warmed her heart like a July sun. Rowdy and Norah
were
two of the most generous people Sherry had ever known. It was as if they were so secure in their love for each other that it spilled over and flowed out to those around them.

“What's wrong?”

This man seemed to sense her thoughts and emotions so accurately that nothing less than the truth would do. “I'm scared to death of seeing you again, of feeling the way I feel about you. I don't even
know
you, and I feel…That's just it, I don't know what I feel.”

He laughed. “You're not alone. I keep telling myself this whole thing is nuttier than a pecan grove. I don't really know you, either. Why you, out of all the women I've met over the years?”

“I'm not interrupting anything, am I?” Heather burst through the hanging branches and stepped onto the blanket. She crossed her legs and slowly lowered herself to the ground before handing Sherry a plate heaped high with potato salad, barbecued chicken and one of the biggest dill pickles Sherry had ever seen.

Heather tilted her head to one side. “They've run out of beef. I told Mayor Bowie this was for Sherry, and he wanted me to ask you to save a dance for him. He's been cooking all afternoon, and he says he's looking forward to seeing a pretty face, instead of a pot of Billy Bob's barbecue sauce.”

“This smells heavenly,” Sherry said, taking the plate and digging in.

Cody looked pointedly at his daughter, expecting her to make herself scarce, but she looked back at him just as pointedly. “So, have you come to any conclusions?” Heather asked.

“No. But then we haven't had much time
alone,
have we?”

“You've had enough.”

Cody closed his eyes. “Heather, please.”

“Are you going to ask Sherry to dance, or are you going to wait for Mayor Bowie to steal her away from you? Dad, you can't be so nonchalant about this business. Aren't you the one who says the early bird catches the worm? You know Mayor Bowie likes Sherry.”

“The mayor's a married man.”

“So?” Heather said, seeming to enjoy their exchange. “That didn't stop Russell Forester from running off with Milly You-Know-Who.”

If the color in his neck was any indication, Cody's frustration level was reaching its peak. But Sherry welcomed the intrusion. She needed space and time to sort through her reactions, her feelings. Everything had become so intense so quickly. If Heather hadn't interrupted them when she had, Sherry was certain she would've been in Cody's arms—although it was too soon to cloud their feelings with sexual awareness.

“The chicken's delicious,” Sherry said, licking her fingers clean of the spicy sauce. “I don't think I've ever tasted any as good as this.”

“Cody Bailman, are you hiding Sherry under that tree with you?” The toes of a pair of snakeskin boots stepped on the outer edges of the blanket just under the tree's protective foliage.

Heather cast her father a righteous look and whispered heatedly, “I
told
you Mayor Bowie was going to ask her first.”

Cody stood and parted the willow's hanging branches. “She's eating.”

“Howdy, Mayor,” Sherry said, smiling up at him, a chicken leg poised in front of her mouth. “I understand you're the chef responsible for this feed. You can cook for me anytime.”

“I'm not a bad dancer, either. I thought I'd see if you wouldn't mind taking a spin with an old coot like me.”

She laughed. “You're not so old.”

“What'll your wife think?” Cody asked, his tone jocular, but with an underlying…what? Annoyance? Jealousy? Sherry wasn't sure.

Pepper's mayor waved his hand dismissively. “Hazel won't care. Good grief, I've been married to the woman for thirty-seven years. Besides, she's talking to her friends, and you know how that bunch loves to idle away an afternoon gossiping. I thought I'd give them something to talk about.”

“Sherry?” Cody glanced at her as if he expected her to decline.

Frankly, Sherry was flattered to have two men vying for her attention, even if one of them was old enough to be her father and looked as if he'd sampled a bit too much of his own cooking over the years.

“Why, Mayor, I'd be delighted.”

Cody didn't look pleased.

“I told you this was going to happen,” Heather reminded him indignantly. “Your problem, Dad, is that you never listen to me. I read romance novels. I know about these things.”

A laugh hovered on Sherry's lips. She hoisted herself up and accepted Mayor Bowie's hand as he led her to the dancing platform.

Cody and Heather followed close behind. Because Mayor Bowie was chatting, she couldn't quite hear the conversation between father and daughter, but it seemed to her that Heather was still chastising Cody.

Although it was early in the evening, the dance floor was crowded. Willie Nelson was crooning a melodic ballad as the mayor deftly escorted Sherry onto the large black-and-white-checkered platform. He placed one hand at her waist and held her arm out to one side, then smoothly led her across the floor.

“How're you doin', Sherry?” a woman asked.

She turned to see Donna Jo dancing with the sheriff. Sherry waved with her free hand. Doc Lindsey danced briskly by with Mrs. Colson, first in one direction and then another.

Mayor Bowie was surprisingly light on his feet, and he whirled Sherry around so many times she started to get dizzy. When the dance ended, she looked up to find Cody standing beside the mayor.

“I believe this dance is mine,” he said.

“Of course.” The mayor gracefully stepped aside and turned to Heather. Bowing, he asked the giggling twelve-year-old for the pleasure of the next dance.

Heather cast Sherry a proud look and responded with a dignified curtsy.

“So, we meet again,” Sherry said, slipping her left arm onto Cody's shoulder.

“You should've danced with me first,” he muttered.

“Why?” She wasn't sure she approved of his tone or
his attitude. Mayor Bowie certainly couldn't be seen as competition!

“If you had, you would've spared me a lecture from my daughter. She seems to be doing research on romance, and apparently I've committed several blunders. According to Heather, my tactics aren't sophisticated enough.” He made a wry grimace.

Sherry couldn't help noticing that they were doing little more than shuffling their feet, while other couples whirled around them. Cody seemed to notice it, too, and exhaled sharply.

“That's another thing,” he said. “My own daughter suggested I take dance lessons.” He snorted. “Me, as if I have time for that kind of nonsense. Listen, if you want to date a man who's good at this, you better know right now it isn't me.”

Sherry had already figured that out for herself, not that it mattered. Cody sighed again.

“Is something else bothering you?” Sherry asked.

“Yes,” he admitted grudgingly. “You feel good in my arms. I'm probably breaking some romance code by telling you that. Darned if I know what a man's supposed to say and what he isn't.”

Sherry closed her eyes. “That was very sweet.”

Cody was silent for the next few minutes. “What about you?” he asked gruffly.

Sherry pulled back enough so he could read the question in her eyes. His own were dark and troubled.

“It'd help if you told me the same thing,” he said. “That you…like being with me, too.” He shook his head. “I've got to tell you, I feel silly.”

“I do enjoy being with you.”

He didn't seem to hear. “I feel like I'm on display for everyone to inspect.”

“Why's that?”

He looked away, but not before she saw his frown. “Let me just say that kissing you in public didn't improve the situation. It was the most asinine thing I've ever done in my life. I made a fool of myself in front of the entire town.”

“I wouldn't say that,” she whispered, close to his ear. “I liked it.”

“That's the problem,” he grunted. “So did I. You know what I think? This is all Heather's doing. It started with that crazy project of hers. I swear the kid's going to ruin me.”

“Heather's project?”

“Forget I said that.”

“Why are you so angry? Is it because I danced with the mayor?”

“Good heavens, no. This has nothing to do with that.”

“Then what
does
it have to do with?”

“You,” he grumbled.

Dolly Parton's tremulous tones were coming out of the speakers now. It was a fast-paced number, not that Cody noticed. He didn't alter his footwork, but continued his laborious two-step.

“Cody, maybe we should sit down.”

“We can't.”

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because the minute we do, someone else is gonna ask you to dance, and I can't allow that.”

She stared up at him, more confused by the moment. “Why not? Cody, you're being ridiculous.”

“I don't need you to tell me that. I've been ridiculous ever since I saw you holding Ellie's baby in your arms.
I've been behaving like a lovesick idiot from the first time I kissed you. I can understand what caused a normally sane, sensible man like Luke Johnson to chase after a sports car on his horse because he couldn't stand to let the woman he loved leave town. And dammit, I don't like it. Not one bit.”

What had first sounded rather romantic was fast losing its appeal. “I don't like what I feel for you, either, Cody Bailman. I had a perfectly good life until you barged in.”

“So did I!”

“I think we should stop while we're ahead,” she murmured, pulling away from him. “Before we say something we'll regret.” She dropped her arms to her sides and stared up at him.

“Great,” he said. “Let's just do that.”

With so many couples whirling about, Sherry found it difficult to make her way off the dance floor, but she managed. To her consternation, Cody followed close behind.

Catching sight of Ellie beneath the shade of an oak tree, Sherry hurried in that direction, determined to ignore Cody. She was halfway across the park when she heard him call after her.

“Sherry! Wait up!”

She didn't bother to turn around to see what had detained him. When she reached Ellie, the woman smiled up at her brightly.

“I see you've just tangled with the most stubborn man this side of Luke Johnson.”

“C
ody infuriates me,” Sherry announced, sinking down next to Ellie Johnson on the blanket under the tree. She wrapped her arms around her knees and sighed in frustration.

“Men have infuriated women since the dawn of time. They're totally irrational beings,” Ellie said calmly while patting her infant son's back. Philip was sleeping contentedly against her shoulder.

“Irrational isn't the word for it. They're
insane.
”

“That, too,” Ellie agreed readily.

“No one but Cody could use a compliment to insult someone!”

“Luke did when we first started dating,” Ellie told her. “He'd say things like ‘You're not bad-looking for a skinny girl.'”

Despite her annoyance with Cody, Sherry laughed.

Cody had been waylaid by Luke, Sherry noticed. Luke carried Christina Lynn on his shoulders, and the toddler's arms were reaching toward the sky in an apparent effort
to touch the fluffy clouds. Sherry hoped Ellie's husband was giving Cody a few pointers about relationships.

Forcing her thoughts away from the men, Sherry sighed again and watched Ellie with her baby son. Philip had awoken and she turned him in her arms, draped a receiving blanket over her shoulder, then bared her breast.

“He's thriving,” Ellie said happily. “I can't thank you enough for being with me the night he was born. Having you there made all the difference in the world.”

“It wasn't me doing all the work,” Sherry reminded her.

“Then let's just say we make an excellent team.” Ellie stroked her son's face with her index finger as he nursed greedily. “I'm really glad you're going to live in Pepper. I feel like you're a friend already.”

Sherry glanced up to see Heather marching toward them, hands on hips. Her eyes were indignant as she stopped and talked briefly to her father and Luke before flinging her arms in the air and striding over to Ellie and Sherry.

“What did he do
now?
” Cody's daughter demanded. “He said something stupid, right?” In a display of complete disgust, she slapped her sides. Then she lowered herself to the blanket. “I tried to coach him, but a lot of good that did.” She eyed her father angrily. “No wonder he never remarried. The man obviously needs more help than I can give him.”

Ellie and Sherry exchanged a smile. “Don't try so hard, Heather,” Ellie said.

“But I want Dad to remarry so I can have a baby brother or sister. Or one of each.”

“Heather,” Sherry began, “your father said something about a project you were involved in, and then he immediately seemed to regret mentioning it.”

“He's never gonna let me forget it, either,” the girl muttered. “Neither is anyone else in town.”

“You have to admit, it
was
rather amusing,” Ellie added.

“Oh, sure, everyone got a big laugh out of it.”

“Out of what?” Sherry wanted to know.

“My 4-H project. I've been a member for a few years and every spring we work on one project for the next twelve months. One year I raised rabbits, and another year I worked with my horse, Misty. This spring I gave the whole town a big laugh when I decided my project was going to be helping my dad find a wife.”

“You weren't serious!” Sherry was mortified.

“I was at the time, but now I can see it wasn't a great idea,” Heather continued. “Anyway, everyone talked about it for days. That's one of the worst things about living in a small town. Dad was furious with me, which didn't help.”

“That's why you were so excited when you met me,” Sherry said in a thoughtful voice.

“You're darn right, especially when I found you sleeping in Dad's bed.”

Sherry shot a glance at Ellie and felt her face grow warm. “Cody slept in the guest room.”

“My friend Carrie Whistler spent the night before at my place, and I was supposed to change the sheets, but I forgot,” Heather explained to Ellie, then turned her attention back to Sherry. “You're just perfect for Dad, and I was hoping you might grow to, you know, love him. You'd make a terrific mother.”

Sherry felt tears burn the backs of her eyes. “I don't think anyone's ever paid me a higher compliment, Heather, but love doesn't work that way. I'm sorry. I
can't marry your father just because you want a baby brother or sister.”

“But you like him, don't you?”

“Yes, but—”

“Until he said something stupid and ruined everything.” Heather's face tensed.

“Why don't you let those two figure things out for themselves?” Ellie suggested to the girl. “Your interference will only cause problems.”

“But Dad won't get anything right without me!”

“He married your mother, didn't he?” Ellie reminded her. “It seems to me he'll do perfectly well all on his own.”

“I
like
Sherry, though. Better than anyone, and Dad does, too. His problem is he thinks love's a big waste of time. He told me he wanted to cut to the chase and be done with it.”

“He said that?” Sherry glared over at him. Cody must have sensed it, because he looked at her and grimaced at the intensity of her expression. He said something to Luke, who turned their way, too. Luke's shoulders lifted in a shrug. Then he slapped Cody's back and the two of them headed in the direction of the cook-off area.

“He said he's too busy with the ranch to date anyone or to bother with what he calls ‘hearts-and-flowers' stuff.”

Sherry felt like a complete fool for having constructed this wild romantic fantasy in her mind. Cody had never been interested in her. From the very first, he'd been trying to mollify his daughter. Sherry had just appeared on the scene at a convenient moment. She felt sick to her stomach. This was what happened when she allowed herself to believe in romance, to believe in love. It seemed so easy for her friends, but it wasn't for her.

“I've had a long day,” Sherry said, suddenly feeling weary. “I think I'll go unpack my bags, soak in the tub and make an early night of it.”

“You can't!” Heather protested. “I signed you and Dad up for the three-legged race, the egg toss and the water-balloon toss. They have the races in the evening because it's too hot in the afternoon.”

“I doubt that your father wants me as a partner.”

“But he does,” Heather insisted. “He's won the egg toss for years and years, and it's really important to him. It's one of those ego things.”

“Unfortunately, he's already got egg on his face,” Sherry muttered to Ellie, who laughed outright.

“Please stay,” Heather begged. “Please, please, please. If you don't, I can't see myself ever forgiving Dad for ruining this opportunity.”

Sherry was beginning to understand Cody's frustration with his daughter. “Heather, don't play matchmaker. It'll do more harm than good. If your father's genuinely interested in dating me, he'll do so without you goading him into it. Promise me you'll stay out of this.”

Heather looked at the ground and her pretty blue eyes grew sad. “It's just that I like you so much and we could have lots of fun together.”

“We certainly don't need your father for that.”

“We don't?”

“Trust me,” Ellie inserted, “a man would only get in the way.”

“Would you go shopping for school clothes with me? I mean, to a real town with a mall that's got more than three stores, and spend the day with me?”

“I'd love it.”

Heather lowered her eyes again, then whispered, “I need help with bras and…and other stuff.”

Sherry smiled. “We'll drive into Abilene and make a day of it.”

Heather's eyes lit up like sparklers. “That'd be great!”

“So, I'll leave you to partner your dad on the egg toss.”

The glimmer in her eyes didn't fade. “I was thinking the same thing.” She looked mischievous. “This could be the year Dad loses his title as the egg champion.”

“Heather,” Sherry chastised, “be nice to your father.”

“Oh, I will,” she promised, “especially since you and I have reached an understanding.”

“Good. Then I'm heading over to the clinic now.”

“You're
sure
you won't stay? There's a fireworks display tonight. It's even better than the one we had on the Fourth.”

“I think Sherry's seen all the fireworks she needs for one night,” Ellie put in.

“You're right, I have. We'll talk soon, Heather. Bye, Ellie.” She leaned over and kissed the top of Philip's head. “Let's make a point of getting together in the next little while.”

“I'd like that,” Ellie said.

Sherry was halfway back to her car when Cody caught up with her. He fell into step beside her. “I didn't mean to offend you,” he said.

Sherry sighed and closed her eyes. “I know.”

“But you're still mad?”

“No. Discouraged, perhaps, but not mad.” She arrived at her car and unlocked it. “I talked to Heather and she told me about her 4-H project. It explained a lot.”

“Like what?”

“Like why you're interested in me. Why you chose to drive me to the ranch instead of town after Ellie's baby was born.”

“That had nothing to do with it! We were both dog-tired, and my place was a lot closer than town.”

“You don't need to worry,” Sherry said, unwilling to get involved in another debate with him. She was truly weary and not in the best of moods, fighting the heat, disappointment and the effects of an undernourished romantic heart. “I had a nice chat with Heather. You've done a wonderful job raising her, Cody. She's a delightful girl. Unless you object, I'd like to be her friend. She and I have already made plans to go clothes-shopping in Abilene.”

“Of course I don't object.”

“Thank you.” She slipped inside her car and started the engine. She would've driven away, but Cody prevented her from closing the door.

He frowned darkly. “I don't mean to be obtuse, but what does all this mean?”

“Nothing, really. I'm just…cutting to the chase,” she said. “I'm explaining that it isn't necessary for you to play out this charade any longer.”

“What charade?”

“Of being attracted to me.”

“I
am
attracted to you.”

“But you wish you weren't.”

He opened and closed his mouth twice before he answered. “I should've known you'd throw that back in my face. You're right. I don't have time for courtin' and buying flowers and the like. I've got a ranch to run, and this is one of the busiest months of the year.”

Sherry blinked, not sure what to make of Cody. He seemed sincere about not meaning to offend her, and yet he constantly said and did things that infuriated her.

“The problem is,” Cody continued, still frowning, “if I don't stake my claim on you now, there'll be ten other ranchers all vying for your attention.”

“Stake your claim?”
He made her sound like an acre of water-rich land.

“You know,” he said. “Let everyone in town see you're my woman.”

“I'm not
any
man's woman.”

“Not yet, but I'd like you to think about being mine.” He removed his hat; Sherry guessed that meant he intended her to take him seriously. “If you'd be willing to run off and get married, then—”

“Then
what?
”

“Then we'd be done with it. See, like I said, I don't have the time or energy to waste on courtin' a woman.”

Sherry nodded slowly, all the while chewing the inside of her cheek to keep from saying something she'd wish she hadn't. So much for romance! So much for sipping champagne and feeding each other chocolate-covered strawberries in the moonlight, a fantasy she'd had for years. Or a romantic weekend in San Antonio, the way Norah had described. No wonder Heather was frustrated with her father. The girl must feel as if she was smacking her head against a brick wall.

“Well?” Cody demanded.

Sherry stared at him. “Are you kidding me?”

“Of course not! I meant every word.” He paused to take a deep breath. “I like you. You like me. What else is there? Sure, we can spend the next few months going
through all those ridiculous courtin' rituals or we can use the common sense God gave us and be done with this romance nonsense.”

“And do what?” Sherry asked innocently.

“Get married, of course. I haven't stopped thinking about you in two weeks. You didn't stop thinking about me, either. I saw it in your eyes no more'n an hour ago. You know what it's like when we kiss. Instead of playing games with each other, why not admit you want me as much as I want you? I never did understand why women always complicate a basic human need. A bunch of flowery words isn't going to make any difference. If you want kids, all the better.”

Sherry carefully composed her response. Apparently she took longer than he thought necessary.

“Well?” he pressed.

She looked up at him, her gaze deliberately calm. “I'd rather eat fried rattlesnake than marry a man who proposed to me the way you just did.”

Cody stared at her as if not sure what to make of her response, then slammed his hat back on his head. “This is exactly the problem with you women. You want everything served to you on a silver platter. And for your information, fried rattlesnake happens to be pretty good. Doesn't taste all that different from chicken.”

“Well, I wouldn't eat it even if it
was
served on a silver platter,” Sherry snapped. This conversation was over. He'd frustrated her before, but now she was really angry.

“That's your decision, then?”

“That's my decision,” she said tightly.

“You're rejecting my proposal?”