Always Tried and Proven (46 page)

     “Huh.  And you said no?” Clyde asked incredulously.  He’d never known Sam to say no to such an invitation.

    “I told them I’d come back in a few months.”  He said, staring at Callie and giving her a slow wink.  Callie bit back her smile and teased Sam with her eyes.

     He smiled enough to make the crinkles around his eyes jump to life, and then he turned to Clyde.  “So, the feisty wench behaved herself, did she?”

    “Admirably.  It was a bit rough on her when there was work to be done, but she kept her hands off.”

     “That’s good.”  Sam complimented.  “You know, you don’t even have much of a scar.”

     “I know.  I’ve been working with it.”  Callie agreed.

     “Want to go swimming?” he asked teasingly.

     “Do I?” she snapped.  “Sam, you’ve been so mean, to make me wait!”

     He laughed.  “Yeah, well.  Better safe than sorry.  It just means you’ll be that much more eager to go with me.”

     Sam had an hour’s worth of business to take care of when he got back to the tent.  So, Callie had another hour to swelter, and wait.  When Sam swung around in Sadie’s car, she was more than happy to get into the air conditioned vehicle.

      “Whew.”  She said, mopping her brow.

      “A bit muggy, isn’t it?  He chuckled.

   “Beastly.”  She growled.  “I never thought there could be anything more unpleasant than New York in summer, but this takes it, hands down!”

      “Well, the lake will be great.”  He predicted.

      “Grand.”  She sighed in echo.  Sam just grinned at her.

     The lake was blue and calm, and wonderfully inviting.  After changing, Callie met Sam at the water’s edge.

    “So, are you the type who goes in all at once, or do you do it a little at a time?” He asked.

      “I usually go all at once, unless the water’s extremely cold.  Why?”

     Sam shrugged and grinned.  “Just wondering if you’ll be angry with me, or not.”

     “Oh, Sam.  You wouldn’t.”  she begged worriedly.  She could see that she might as well have saved her breath.  Sam swung her up into his arms, and ran out into the water with her.  Callie wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder, stifling a squeal as the water hit her overheated skin.

      “Now, doesn’t that feel wonderful?” he asked, laughing.

      “You are incorrigible.”  She gasped, shivering with delight at the sensation of cool water all over her skin.

    He dropped her suddenly, and dove under the water.

   “Oh, no.  Sam, what are you doing?” She scolded.  She heard a sound behind her, and turned just in time to see the water ripple as he went under her legs again.  “Sam!” She growled.  She laughed as he came up like a torpedo and pulled her into his arms.

      “You will pay.”  She promised heartily.

      “Yeah?” he challenged.

      “Yeah.” She reassured him indignantly.

     “Well, Callie.  Life with you has never been boring.”  He admitted.  “I doubt that it ever will be.”

     She became still as she considered the words, and just what they might mean.  She tried to think of something to say, but she was tongue-tied.

     Sam kissed her, and held her against his shoulder for a long moment.  “I missed you, you know.”  He told her, as though it were all her fault.  “You brat, you’ve spoiled me for life.  It’s no good when I’m away from you.”

     She smiled as though she couldn’t possibly be sorry about that.  “I am sorry, Sam.”  She lied, flirting with her eyes.

     he laughed derisively.  “I’ll bet you are.  Callie, put me out of my misery, will you?” He asked irritably.  “I can’t go away and minister, I can’t sleep at night.  I am going slowly insane.  I wanted to wait until you were back up to par, and I think you’re close enough that it will be all right.  But I can’t take this anymore.  Callie, will you please, please just marry me?” he asked hesitantly.

     Callie gasped.  She hadn’t expected that at all.  Not now.  Not so soon!

     “
Please
, Callie?” he asked again.  His eyes were deadly serious.

     “Sam.  After all the trouble I’ve been to you?” she asked uncertainly.

     “I’d be bored without it. Callie,” He sighed.  “Please, say you will.”

     “Yes!  Oh, yes!  Yes, yes, yes.”  She laughed.  She threw her arms around his neck, and squeezed hard.  “
Yes
!” she shouted.  Tears were pouring down her face as she held him.

      Sam chuckled, and squeezed her in return.  “How fast can you be ready?  A week, perhaps?” he asked.  His voice was suspiciously husky, too; but the droplets of lake water on his face made it hard to say just where the running rivulets of water originated.

     Callie gasped and pushed away to stare at him.  “A week?  Are you mad?” she accused incredulously.

      “No, I’m in a hurry.”  He clarified succinctly.

      “But, Sam; there are people to be invited, the cake to order …”

     “Do it by phone.”  He shrugged.  “Give it to Sadie to do, she can deliver on the most impossible challenges.”

      “Yes, but …”

      “All right.  Two weeks.”  He groused.  “But that’s it!  I’m not waiting any longer than that.”

      “Oh, my.  Sam.”  She sighed happily, and hugged his neck.

      “Saturday, September first.”  He said slowly.

      “Wonderful.” she agreed.

      Sam kissed her, and laughed.

     When they got back to the car, Callie found that Sam had a ring ready to put on her finger.  She could hardly hold back the tears as she gazed down at Sam’s ring on her hand.  She looked up and caught him looking a little bit misty, too.

    “I have absolutely no self-control left, Callie.  I was going to take you to dinner, and do this correctly.” he admitted sheepishly.

    “Aw, Sam.  It couldn't have been any more perfect.”  she assured him.   Sadie was at the trailer when they got back.  Sam clasped Callie’s hand and winked at her. 

    “Tell her to get started on the details, and to keep her mouth shut.”  He said quietly.  Callie smiled and nodded.  “She can see me about any questions or problems.” He advised with a grin.

     Sadie seemed out of sorts when Callie went inside.  “Hey.” She said brightly.

     “Hey.”  Sadie growled.  “This heat is
miserable
.”

     “Is it?  I hadn’t noticed.”  Callie giggled.

    Sadie gave her a dark look.  “I’m thinking about flying home for a few days to escape this furnace.  I really don’t do well.  It’s
so
muggy.”  She groaned.

     “Oh, Sadie.  You can’t go!  I need you here, now.”  Callie objected.

     “For what?” she snapped.

     “Oh, just a special event.”

     “Such as?”  Sadie asked suspiciously.

     “Well, we’ll need a cake, and a banquet, and some Champagne and a couple of very pretty dresses and some decorations.”

     “When is
this
going to be?”

     “Saturday, September first.”  Callie answered dreamily.

     Sadie turned to look at her with irritable chagrin.  “Callie, make
sense
.”  She demanded.  Then, she saw Callie’s ring … and looked again.  Her eyes pinned Callie to the wall.  “Where did you get
that
?” she demanded incredulously

     “Give you two guesses.  The first one doesn’t count.”  Callie said sweetly.  She couldn’t have stopped grinning for anything.  “Now, do you think perhaps a wedding is special enough to stay for?”

   Sadie sat promptly on the bunk, with her mouth hanging open.  “Sam proposed?” she gasped incredulously.

      “No.  He rather insisted.  Be glad he’s given us two weeks.  I had to bargain like a Dutch Uncle to get more than one.”

    “Uh!”  Sadie gasped in disbelief.  “My stars, has he lost his mind?  It’s impossible, Cal!  How can we do this?”

     “Invitations by phone, buy what we need.  Those were Sam’s suggestions.  He was very insistent.  I don't think he cares much about all the formalities.”

      “Oh, my.  This is impossible, Callie!.  In this heat?  I guess we can go to the city tomorrow and see what we can find.”

      “Great.  What color do you want your dress to be?  I was thinking burgundy, or forest green.  Or maybe Sapphire blue.”  Callie grinned. Then she gasped, as inspiration struck.  “No!  Topaz!  With your eyes, you'll look divine!”

      “My dress?”  Sadie echoed.

    “Yes.  It’s because of you that Sam and I are finally getting married.  You belong right there with me.”

     “Wow.  Thanks, Callie, I’d be honored!  You poor, sweet girl.  Now, you look tired.  Shall I go to town this afternoon, and look around while you sleep?”

    “Couldn’t hurt, I suppose.”  Callie yawned.  She
was
exhausted.  She changed her clothes and put on a sleeveless gown before climbing into bed.

     Sadie shook her head as she admired Callie’s slim beauty.  “He’s a lucky fool, and I’ll tell him so.”  She grumbled.  “I’ll see you later.  Sleep well.”

     “Thanks.” Callie yawned.

     Sadie found Sam and drew him away from Clyde and Jeannie with a crooked finger and an arched eyebrow.

     “Hey.”  He said, hugging her shoulders.

     “Sam, I’ve got half a mind to punch you right in the nose.  Who is going to be your best man?”

      He grinned.  “Well, I think that would have to be Clyde.”

      “Who is calling Rose?”

      “I think Callie should do that.”

      “And when are you going to tell the crew?”

      “I’ll take care of it at the next meeting.”

    “Sam, it won’t be a secret for long.  They’d rather hear it from you.  And if you’re giving us two weeks, they all need to know as soon as possible so they don’t make any other weekend plans.”

     “True.  So, I’ll call a special meeting.  Is it the two weeks that’s causing you to be so cross?” he asked lightly.

     “Sam.  I’m sorry.  Congratulations.  You’re a lucky bum.  Now, please!  You’re going to have to work with me on this, because two weeks is very short notice.  You’re going to have to be responsible for calling anybody you want to have here.  Otherwise, they won’t be invited.  Now, I’m going to town to check on dresses and flowers and cakes and banquet catering.  I’ll get back as soon as I can.”

      Sam grinned at her.  “Sadie, you’re a gem.  Thanks.”

      “My pleasure.  See you later.”  She grumbled.

     When Callie woke up, she stretched and sighed.  She sat up and saw Sam propped on the other bunk with pillows, reading.  He was wearing wire rimmed glasses and a lock of hair had fallen down over his forehead.  He looked up at her briefly, and smiled.  He put a bookmark in his book, and closed it with a thud.  Two seconds later, he was hovering over her.

     “Feeling better?” he asked lightly.

     “Yes.  This is absolutely the softest, warmest, most wonderful bed in the whole world.”  She purred.

      “Glad you enjoy it.  You’re going to be spending a lot of time in it.” He warned with a glint in his eye.  “And it’s very tantalizing to sit over there and watch you.  I must say, I’m feeling rather … no,
very
frustrated.”

     She blushed and smiled.   “Well, darling. You won’t have to go on that way much longer.”  She promised.  Her eyes were teasing him.

      “You merciless flirt.” He accused. “The next two weeks are going to be living hell for me.  But the first order of business, is to tell the crew.  Clyde’s asking questions, and Sadie isn’t all that well known for keeping a secret.”

      Callie laughed.  “I know.  It’s all right with me, Sam.  I’d love to shout it to the whole world.”

      He grinned.  “Good.  I think you should get on the phone to Rose and Peter tonight.  Tell them I’ll take care of their tickets.”

      Callie melted at his kindness.  “Sam.  You doll.”  She responded.  Her arms wound around his neck, and she kissed him soundly for his thoughtfulness.

      “That’s my cue to exit stage right.”  He chuckled.  “Can’t take too much of that, just yet.”

      “What’s the matter?”  she asked innocently.

     He chuckled.  “Well, it’s like this.  One thing triggers another, get it?  A kiss triggers one thought; and looking at you in bed, triggers another.  Knowing that I’m finally going to have you triggers a whole bunch of them, all at once.  It’s just not a real bright idea for me to hang around in here alone with you, while you’re awake and dangerous.”

     She smiled.  “Well, darling.  Just you keep thinking about our wedding night.  I’ll guarantee you, I am.”

      He growled at her.  “Heartless fiend.”  He accused.

     Sadie was back in about three hours.  As Sam predicted, she’d been able to work wonders.  She’d ordered the cake and flowers, talked to two caterers, and she had two very large boxes in her arms.