Lone Tree (42 page)

But that would imply a commitment she wasn’t
resolved enough to make.

So she turned aside from the casserole and the
thought, even though she realized putting off the decision made it easier to
backslide and therefore make no decision. Her hesitancy was fear; Nelly was
right. But it was there, it was real, and she was shackled by it.

Lifting her hands, she studied them. No handcuffs.

She felt a stirring of anger. But it was healthy
anger, directed not at herself or anyone else but instead at the chain of
mistakes and misunderstandings and injustices perpetuated throughout the years,
never allowing forgiveness or growth. She no longer wanted to be part of that
chain. She wanted—needed—to break its hold.

Dropping her hands, she stared at the door, the one
that led to Reed and commitment.

The Golden State had a temperate climate, an ocean
and a long coastline, scenery that dazzled the eyes. It’d always been home. But
the Lone Star State had Reed Smith.

She loved Reed, and he loved her. She hadn’t run
from him so much as she’d run from herself. So she’d made mistakes, hurt both
of them terribly. Did she have to continue down that road? She and Miles had
forgiven each other. Reed had forgiven her. Could she now forgive herself?

Lainie had seldom been short on nerve, but once her
life fell down around her, it seemed she’d lost her courage. She no longer took
chances, instead played everything close to her vest. She’d turned into a
shadow of herself.

But Jackie Lyn was right when she’d said Lainie had
country in her.

And Nelly was right, just like always.

Even the old man had been right to get her back here
one more time.

For the first time in a long while, the world began
to feel right. Her heart filled, so fast it seemed to swell. The emotions of
the past week had been so intense, and the loss of Reed so heavy for so long,
that the release she now felt set her on the verge of giddy.

She barely felt her feet touch the floor as she
walked to the door. Then she stopped before she reached it, but not in hesitation.
Since she had the salad and casserole, she detoured to the phone to get him
over here.

Someone knocked.

Her head snapped toward the door, and slowly she put
the phone down. Irresolution again poked up its ugly head. She was up and down
worse than a yoyo today—but that was understandable. That had to be Reed out
there, and this wasn’t a simple dinner date; it was the rest of her life.

Another knock, then his voice. “Lainie? I need to
talk to you.”

The mere act of opening the door wasn’t making a
commitment, she reasoned. So she took a deep breath, pulled the door open. And
then frowned.

Huh? He wore a rain slicker. It was not yet dusk,
the hot waves of wind hit her like a physical shock, and he was wearing a rain
slicker? She squinted, looking beyond him. Had there been a sudden summer
squall? But it was as dry as sandpaper out there.

“Reed? What—”

“I’m giving you one more chance, Lainie Sue. Then if
you still want to go, I won’t stand in your way.”

She knew him well enough that she doubted that
statement, but her mind was on the rain slicker. “Uh, why are you wearing
that?”

He looked down, as if just now becoming aware of his
attire. “Oh, this.” He looked back at her. “Well...I recalled a time a couple
years back when a stubborn, but right sexy young woman came to my door one
night—”

“Oh.” Lainie got a funny feeling about the raincoat
and what was...and wasn’t...underneath it.

“—and she was dressed light. Dressed real, real
light.”

She was right about the raincoat.

“And I figured two people could play that game,” he
finished.

Oh, how she loved this man. Her eyes misted even as
they crinkled with laughter.

“May I come in?” he asked politely.

She backed up. Finding no argument, he entered and
closed the door behind him, and then gave her a critical look as she continued
to walk backwards. “I told you one time before that you could give a man a
complex backin’ away from him like that.”

She wondered how she’d thought she could live her
life without ever hearing that drawl again.

“I do wish you’d stop doin’ that,” he added.

She looked behind her, got her bearings, then veered
to her right to reach the door she wanted. Her hand closed around the knob and
turned it.

“If you tried real hard, do you think you could be
still for just—” His face sobered as he looked beyond her into the open
bedroom. His eyes, piercingly direct now, met hers. “You do realize this will
make it difficult for you to get out of here tomorrow like you planned?”

“Yes. That thought occurred to me.”

“Might even make it impossible for you to ever
leave.” He waited, evidently wanting no misunderstandings.

“I suspect you may be correct in that also.”

His eyes turned wary. “This is too easy. Not that
I’m complaining, mind you, but I’ve got this feeling I’m missing something
and—”

“You were already blind-sided once.”

“Uh-huh. I didn’t change your mind. You had it
changed before I got here. What am I missing, Lainie?”

“Well, I talked to Nelly today. Or I should say that
Nelly talked to me.”

He nodded, eyes watchful, and made a circular motion
with his hand. “Keep going.”

“Well, what it boils down to...” Not knowing how to
explain, she let her voice trail away, then her words rushed together in her
hurry to get them out. “I love you, Reed, and I’m not going anywhere. Not
today, tomorrow, not ever. I’m sticking it out right here and I’ll even fight
for you if I have to.” She stopped to breathe. “Do I have to?”

“No way, Lainie Sue. You’ve done got me. But you
best be sure, because I’m going to hold you to this.”

“I’m sure.” She figured the truth showed in her
smile. Then she got a thought, cleared her face and pulled the bedroom door
closed behind her. “But if this is for real, for good, we need to talk.”

“Talk?” He chuckled. “Well, I’d already figured out
this was too easy. Okay, what do you want to talk about?”

“For starters, you’ve got a bossy streak in you that
could cause big problems down the road. Among other things, I will choose my
own footwear. Is that understood?”

His smile disappeared. “Lainie, why can’t you get it
through that thick head—”

As she stood quietly, he broke off, then blew his
breath out in a loud whoosh. “Okay. Fine. Choose your own damn footwear. I just
hope your first snake scares you into your boots before it bites you. Anything
else?”

“Yes. If I’m staying, then it follows we’ll be
getting married, and—”

“I like the way you’re thinking.” His expression
eased considerably.

“And we may be wanting children, and—”

“Well. It might take you a while to get around to
it, but once you start thinking, you’re not half-bad at it.”

“When I was injured, you took over and wouldn’t
listen to me until I got mad enough to make you. I don’t want to have to fight
you for nine months in order to live my life. I’ll follow my doctor’s orders,
not yours, and that goes for everything, not just having kids.”

That gave him pause. “I know I gave you a bad time
then. I even surprised myself. But sure, I think we can come to an agreement on
this. Anything else?”

“Just one more thing.” She smiled, unable to resist
asking the question one more time. “My place or yours?”

“Ours,” he said without hesitation.

Oh.

Yes, she and Reed now owned Lone Tree Ranch, were
totally responsible for it. To him, that was merely a continuation of the role
he’d played for years. But to her it was a sudden and frightening responsibility.

“Uh-uh,” he scolded, as if her thoughts were written
on her forehead. “Don’t do that, Lainie Sue. We’ll take it one step at a time
and we’ll be just fine. And the first step...”

He took that step, reached around her to open the
bedroom door, then picked her up and carried her in.

“I swear, girl, you are bound and determined to
drive me to an early grave.” Jackie Lyn stood inside the narthex at the small
church with her arms folded and her foot tapping.

First Lainie had had to check her hair—she looked
like herself again with the blond highlights, but her bangs just wouldn’t
behave this morning—and then her throat was so dry she had to have water, and
then she’d discovered a tiny snag in her stockings. Agnes, the church auxiliary
member assigned to help the wedding party, had somehow procured a new pair. Now
Lainie was concerned with the hem in her simple white dress. Was it hanging
right?

She’d spent a sleepless night at Jackie’s. At 1:00
a.m. her hostess had threatened her with a tranquilizer. “Your choice, girl.
You either take this tiny pill or I’ll find something to hit you over the head
with. One way or another, you’re gonna shut up and go to sleep.”

Little had changed between then and now.

Jackie’s foot continued to tap. “I saw this coming.
And I give you fair warning, Lainie Sue Johnson-about-to-be-Smith, I asked Reed
if it was okay to use a rope on you if I had to.”

Lainie managed a smile. “What’d he say?”

Jackie ignored her. “Now I told them we’re ready,
and we are. I’m gonna open that door and walk out there, and you and Nelly are
gonna follow me, just the way we practiced. Got that?”

Lainie took in a deep breath, let it out and tried
to give her maid of honor a brave smile.

Jackie directed a pained look at Nelly.

“Yes’m, Miss Jackie,” he said. “We ready. We be just
fine.” The weathered old stable hand was something to see in his suited finery.

Still looking doubtful, Jackie took her own deep
breath, and then she nodded at Agnes, whose patience also appeared to be on the
thin side. The doors were opened, the pianist started playing, and Jackie
straightened her shoulders and walked through the doorway.

Lainie wasn’t sure if it was the church, the people,
or the piano that made her do it, but she took several steps in the wrong
direction. Agnes rolled her eyes at the ceiling.

“Oh, Nelly,” Lainie whispered. “Maybe...we should,
uh...”

“We got to get you married, little missy.” Nelly
sounded as calm as always. “We been workin’ on this since you got yourself back
home.”

Marriage. Brand new name. Commitment. Forever. Words
chased themselves through her mind while her gaze flitted about the small room.

“Missy, when Miss Jackie ask him, Mr. Reed say to
use the rope if we have to. Now do we have to?”

Lainie’s head snapped toward him, and then she broke
into sudden, unrestrained giggles.

For much of her life she’d had nerve, poise, been
the master of cool. But not today. She gave up, went to Nelly and wrapped her
arms around him, unmindful that they stood framed in the open doorway. He
hugged her back, then cupped her face in his hands and kissed her cheek.

He pulled back. “Next time I do that, you be a
married woman.” His face was full of tenderness and love and pride. She thought
that not Walter, Miles or Elizabeth could’ve looked happier at this moment than
Nelly.

“Now you take my arm here like you’re supposed to,
let’s walk on out there like we’re supposed to, and we’re gonna get you and Mr.
Reed properly hitched. You ready now?”

No,
Lainie thought,
but I’m gonna
do it.

She took his arm, concentrated on spacing her steps,
and stared steadily and seriously at the floor on her way down the aisle.

Almost there, she looked up and met Reed’s gaze, and
her breath left her. The cocky, self-assured cowboy with the beautiful blue
eyes had given way to a vulnerable man in love, and everything about him told
her and the whole world his dreams were coming true.

That was only fair. So were hers.

She took the remaining steps, put her hand in his,
and she was ready.

*

Reed signed the charge slip in the motel office,
pocketed his copy and the room key, took Lainie’s elbow and guided her out the
door.

“Y’all have a good stay here now.” The proprietor
appeared pleased as punch to be hosting newlyweds. She knew they were just
married because the news was written in bright-red letters across the back
window of the pickup.

“Sure wish I knew who’d done that,” Reed had said
more than once, and he muttered the phrase again as they exited the motel
office. The truck was parked at the curb in front of them and its decorated
window was still shouting loudly at the world.

Lainie said nothing. But since it was written in
what looked like cherry-red lipstick, Jackie Lyn’s favorite shade, she had her
suspicions. And she was looking forward to returning the favor. Jackie had
stood at the altar with Lainie, Randy was at Reed’s side, and Willis had sat in
the pew with Raymond and Margene and Bobbie. The look of family couldn’t have
been plainer.