Reckless Heart (23 page)

“’Bye, Josh,” she said through the thickness of tears that threatened to clog her throat.

He stood up, his hand still on the frame of the window, slapping his hat against his thigh.

Molly turned on the engine.

“Don’t go.”

She looked up. Had Josh said that or had she imagined the words?

He gazed across the range, hat still in one hand, the other gripping her car so tightly the knuckles were white.

“Did you say something?” she asked, her heart hammering behind her breasts. Surely she imagined the words.

He looked at her, his eyes curiously bright. The seconds ticked by slowly, slowly. He took a deep breath, then spoke so softly she almost didn’t hear him. “Don’t go.”

Molly turned off the engine with shaky fingers. Josh opened the door, slid his hand beneath her arm and eased her from the car to stand before him. Dropping his hat, he drew her into his embrace, resting his cheek against her hair.

“Josh?” Molly was afraid to trust her feelings, afraid of the ray of hope that burst through her like sunshine.

“Stay with me, Molly. Don’t go.”

She hadn’t imagined the words. Her heart warmed, filled, spilled with love for this difficult man.

“I thought you wanted me to go.”

“I thought so, too, but I don’t. A few minutes ago when I realized you were seriously leaving, I felt as if a mule had kicked me. Every person I ever loved left me, Molly. My mom and dad when they were killed. Jase when he went on the rodeo circuit and then settled in the western part of the state. Even Brianna, who would rather live in Texarkana than on the ranch.”

“Jase and Brianna didn’t leave you. They have to have their own lives. You said you all get together for holidays and Brianna and Jake were just here on a visit.”

Her heart ached for the loneliness in his voice.

“And Jeannie,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “I really loved her. She was bright and pretty. But when I found her with that cowboy, something inside died. I figured if I ever married again I’d find someone like my mother.”

Molly didn’t know what to say. She knew she couldn’t compare to his mother. And she didn’t think she could change, even for Josh.

“I’m sure there’s someone like that around. What about Gillian?”

He leaned back, tilted her chin up with a finger and brushed his lips across hers. “Gillian is an old friend from high school. If I was going to fall in love with her, I sure would have done so before now.”

Resting his forehead against hers, he gazed deep into her eyes.

“And I don’t want a mother anymore. I want a woman who enchants me so much I can hardly concentrate on work. I want a woman who delights in the simplest things, like listening to a man talk about his day. I want a woman who can’t always get the meals right, but who brings laughter and kindness to a table of rough cowboys and who is also as tough as me.”

Molly’s heart pounded. She could scarcely believe what she heard, but she wouldn’t interrupt for the world. Josh was talking about
her
.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered, her hands pressing into the muscles of his shoulders as if she could pull him even closer.

He smiled, shook his head, rolling it against hers.

“I want a woman so innocent, she scares me. Yet so feminine I feel more masculine pride than a man ought. I want a woman who needs me, who—”

Molly tightened her arms around his neck. “I love you, Josh. I love you,” she said, tears welling at the sweetness of his words, her heart melting at the love in his tone. Would he accept her words this time?

“I’m trying to tell you I love you, Molly,” he said, and kissed her, long and hard, then easing back until it was sweet and tender.

He pulled back and gazed down into her shining eyes. With a wicked grin, Josh picked her up and twirled her around, emitting a loud cowboy yell.

Molly held on and laughed with the joy and love that coursed through her. Could she ever capture such rapture in her books?

He set her down and cocked his head. “So you’ll stay?”

“I guess. Could I have a bit of clarification? Do you want me to stay—”

“I want you to marry me. We’ll have a good life together, Molly. You can write your books, raise the kids. We’ll hire a housekeeper to do the daily chores.”

“That’s wasteful. I can manage.”

He hesitated, took a deep breath and smiled at her. “Sure thing. There’s always omelets.”

“Oh, you.” She punched him playfully on the arm, then gazed up at him with all the love she had in her shining from her eyes.

“We'll have such a wonderful life together.” She paused as his words sank in. “Did you say kids?”

“Don’t you want some?”

“How many?” she asked cautiously.

Josh shrugged. “As many as we get, I guess. I want someone to leave the ranch to. Brianna doesn’t want it and Jase and Shannon seem settled on her place. I’d like a couple of boys, a couple of girls.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Four, she could deal with four.

Slowly she smiled, she could probably handle anything with Josh by her side. Slowly his mouth moved over hers and Molly rejoiced. She could deal with bossy men, as long as they loved her.

Samuel Forrester cleared his throat. Molly looked up and smiled at her father. He’d been visiting for almost a week. It had been a stormy few days at the beginning, but they were now closer than they'd been since she was a little girl.

“You were a million miles away,” he said gruffly.

“Just thinking.”

Smoothing the skirt of her wedding dress, she checked in the mirror one last time. The dress draped perfectly. The picture-book hat made her seem as innocent as Josh had said. But after today that would all change.

“Ready, honey?” her father asked. “You’re sure about this?”

“Yes, Dad. I’m as sure as I’ve ever been about anything and as ready as can be. I thought you liked Josh.”

Molly looked at her father in some surprise. He’d met Josh several weeks ago, had stayed at the ranch for a long weekend before coming up earlier in the week for the wedding today.

“I do. I just want you happy.”

“I’m so happy I almost float,” she said, tucking her arm in his.

“I always thought you’d get married in a church,” he murmured as they walked into the hall from her bedroom. Pausing at the top of the stairs, they looked down to see the crowd in the hallway, heard the voices in the living room. For a moment Molly wondered if she should have chosen a church. The house overflowed, not all the guests would get an unobstructed view of them exchanging their vows.

“No. This is better,” she said.

“Why?”

She smiled at her father. “Anytime Josh gets bossy or wants to pick a fight, I can walk right into the living room and remind him of when we exchanged vows in that very room! I figure it will be enough of a diversion to change his mood.”

At first Molly had wanted to have the ceremony in their office, where they had spent so many hours practicing for her book. But the room was too small, too crowded with furniture. The ceremony would have to be in the living room. Close enough.

As the music started and she and her father slowly descended the stairs, Molly’s gaze scanned the gathering. All the ranch cowboys were there, dressed up so much she almost didn’t recognize them. Jack smiled warmly. Lance winked at her. Amused, she looked away quickly. Had Josh seen?

She knew Lance loved teasing Josh, and her future husband never disappointed. One day he’d figure it out, stop reacting, and the fun would go out of it for Lance.

They reached the archway from the hall and Molly saw Josh. She smiled, her heart racing. It was real, they were getting married.

He loved her as much as she loved him and today they were pledging their lives to each other.

She scarcely noticed Brianna and Jake, Jase and Shannon and their baby boy, the friends she’d made recently and the ranch hands. She had eyes only for Josh.

“Be happy, little one,” her father said as he placed her hand in Josh’s stronger one.

“I will, Dad, forever.” Molly smiled and stepped up beside her love.

Molly hummed happily to herself as she drove the big blue and white pickup truck down the highway. As soon as she reached the ranch she'd go look for Josh. She knew she'd burst if she didn’t tell him soon. The trip to the doctor’s had only confirmed what she suspected. They were going to have a baby in a few months.

She slowed by the mailbox and drew to a halt. Scanning the horizon, she didn’t see a sign of any of the cowboys. They must be on another part of the range. So much for hoping Josh would see her from the hill and ride down to greet her like he sometimes did.

The last two years had been wonderful. She occasionally forgot a meal or to dry the clothes. Josh usually said he didn’t mind. And if he started fussing, she dragged him into the living room, by the mantel, and kissed him until he was in a better mood. She smiled. She liked making up with her husband.

Of course she liked it when they didn’t fight. He needed no excuse to sweep her up into his arms and carry her to their bed. Or shove the papers off the desk and make love to her there. Or in the barn when the cowboys—

Molly shook her head. She was daydreaming again. She climbed out of the truck and went to get the mail. Another large brown envelope. Her heart sank. Another rejection? She ripped off the flap and withdrew the letter. Yes. This made the fourth book she tried. And this was the third rejection for this particular manuscript.

She scanned the sheet and grinned. There were many reasons for the work being returned. There always were. But like several of the previous rejections, this one complimented her on her warm and exciting love scenes.

She tucked the letter back into the envelope, gathered the rest of the mail and started the truck. Not that she had told Josh about the rejection letters. She let him offer to help her practice some more so her writing would improve. She grinned in delight. There would be more practice tonight. She could hardly wait.

Glancing at her watch, her eyes widened. Ohmygracious, it was late and she hadn't put a thing on for dinner. Not omelets again!

—The End—

I hope you enjoyed
Reckless Heart.
If so, would you be so kind as to
leave a review
at the vendor you use for ebooks? Reviews can be long or short, they are always a help. Thank you.

Are you a member of my Readers Group? You can join by clicking
here
.

Rebel Heart
(Book 1)

Tangled Hearts
(Book 2)

Reckless Heart
(Book 3)

Please visit my website:
www.barbaramcmahon.com
for a complete list of all my books.