Randall Pride (16 page)

“Anyone in here?” a voice boomed from the arena.

Toby’s voice caught in his throat. The timing was exquisite. Five minutes earlier and they’d both have been horribly embarrassed. “Yeah! Back here.”

It sounded like the manager, Jeff Hardy, who’d worked on the ranch most of Toby’s life. Toby took Elizabeth’s arm and pulled her after him, going to the front of the barn.

“Oh, hi, Toby, Elizabeth. I saw the lights on as I was going to the house and thought I’d check,” Jeff said, grinning at them.

“I was working on training Buster, and Elizabeth decided to keep me company,” Toby explained, keeping his voice relaxed “We just finished putting him away.”

“Oh, good, so you’re going back to the house? I have to talk to your dad about one of the men, and I’d like your opinion, too, Toby, if you don’t mind.”

Jeff took his agreement for granted and headed for the door to the barn where the light switches were. Toby had no choice but to follow him, shrugging into his jacket as he went. When he realized Elizabeth was limping rather badly, he stopped.

“Lizzie? Does your ankle hurt more?”

“I can’t—can’t keep up,” she said, her voice breathless.

Jeff stopped, too. “I forgot about your injury, Elizabeth. You shouldn’t have come this far from the house.”

Toby found himself hoping they could let Jeff go ahead and at least settle a few things before he took Elizabeth back. But Jeff had other ideas.

“As soon as we get outside, Toby, we can make a seat between us with our arms and have her back home in no time.”

Jeff opened the door of the barn, then reached back and flicked the switches for all the lights over the arena.

In the dark, Toby dropped a kiss on Elizabeth’s neck and helped her through the dark to the outside. The wind had mostly died down, but it was still cold out there.

“Your coat?” he asked Elizabeth. “Did you forget your coat?”

“Yes, but don’t worry about it. I’ll get it tomorrow, or you can get it. Let’s just hurry to the house,” Elizabeth said.

Toby wanted to protest. Another reason for them to stay by themselves gone away. Jeff offered his arms in the folded position to connect with his and make a seat for Elizabeth.

“We’d better hurry, then, or she’ll be a popsicle,” Jeff teased.

Toby joined his arms with Jeff’s and Elizabeth slid onto their makeshift seat. Feeling her bottom against his arms, her right hand around his neck, didn’t help
Toby forget what had just happened in the barn. He hoped he didn’t become too aroused before they reached the house.

Once they reached the back porch, Elizabeth got down and opened the back door.

Several of the parents were having a cup of coffee around the table when they came in. Megan, Elizabeth’s mother, reacted first.

“Elizabeth? I thought you’d gone up to bed. Where have you been?” She leaped to her feet and came to her daughter.

“I went to the barn to watch Toby training Buster. The horse is really doing well,” she added.

“But you could’ve fallen and hurt yourself even more. That was not a wise choice, honey.”

Jake had stood up and acknowledged Jeff’s arrival while Megan was fussing over Elizabeth. When he learned the reason for his visit, he suggested he call all his brothers to the office, and then included Toby also.

With Megan and now Anna surrounding her, Toby knew he wasn’t going to get an opportunity to talk to Elizabeth tonight. Nor would he be able to do so in the morning. So it appeared they’d have to try for the barn tomorrow evening. He hoped Elizabeth understood.

She headed for her bedroom, escorted by the women, leaving a lingering look over her shoulder, one that raised his blood pressure again. He remembered his visit the other night, how delectable she’d
looked in the bed. He wished he were visiting her tonight. But he couldn’t bed her, here in his father’s house, without having married her.

With a sigh, he followed the men to his father’s office.

An hour later, a decision having been made about the cowboy in question, Jeff excused himself to return to his home. The men stood and began to file out of the office, but Jake stopped Toby. Then he stopped Chad, too.

“We’ll be out in a minute, guys,” he added for Brett and Pete, who stared at them, wondering what was going on.

Toby was afraid he knew. Damn, he wasn’t ready—he felt so guilty for what he’d done tonight. He didn’t want to—

“Toby, did you and Elizabeth talk tonight?” Jake asked after the door had closed.

“Uh,” he stalled and then cleared his throat. “Sort of.”

“What does that mean?” Chad asked, eagerly leaning forward in his chair.

“She cares about me.” That much he could say for sure. It suddenly occurred to him that he hadn’t said those words to her. Damn! What did she think? Surely she knew he loved her or he wouldn’t have—didn’t she?

“Toby,” Jake repeated several times to draw him from his thoughts.

“Yes, Dad?”

“I know this is highly personal, but can’t you tell us a little more than that?”

Toby stared at him, panicked. Finally, he blurted out the one thing he’d intended to keep to himself. “It was her first time…and we made love.”

He felt so guilty about her first experience. He should’ve remembered before he— But once she touched him, he’d lost all control.

“You what?” Chad roared.

“Look, Uncle Chad, I hadn’t—I loved her for a long time. To finally have the right to—I mean, she wanted—it was a mutual thing, I promise. We love each other. We’re going to be married. I didn’t plan tonight. But we were alone and—and it just happened.”

His father got up from behind the desk and circled it to lay a hand on Toby’s shoulder. “Okay, son, we understand.”

“You do?” Toby asked, astounded by his father’s response.

“Yeah. Don’t we, Chad?”

To Toby’s amazement, under Jake’s stare, Chad’s cheeks flushed and he nodded his head. “Yeah, we understand.”

Toby was overwhelmed. He fell into his chair and covered his face with his hands.

“She’s okay?” Chad asked, sitting down himself.

“Yeah, but we didn’t get a chance to really talk.”

“Have you set a wedding date?” Jake asked.

“No. But I want it to be soon. I can’t handle a long engagement.”

“Okay, don’t worry. We’re a big enough family to get it done right away. With us helping you, you have nothing to worry about,” Jake assured him.

Chad nodded. “Yep. We’ll help.”

When Elizabeth’s alarm went off the next morning, she opened her eyes, aware that something was different. Then she remembered. She’d made love with Toby last night…for the first time.

It wasn’t dreams that had changed her. It was real, the time she’d spent in Toby’s arms. As she stretched, her body announced a few muscles that ached. She’d taken a hot shower last night, but it hadn’t erased the changes she felt in her body.

Last night, she’d had trouble going to sleep. Her body had wanted to relive the glorious event. Her mind had worried. She’d told Toby she loved him. His answer had been to make love to her. Not to say “I love you, too.” Did that mean he loved her? Or did that mean he was attracted to her?

She had a lot of questions for Mr. Toby Randall today. But first she had to go teach her babies. Impatience filled her. She should at least be able to talk to him this morning, but the breakfast table wasn’t
where she wanted to have such an important conversation.

Especially not with her cousins looking on.

She hurried through her preparation for school, hoping to get down a little early in case Toby came in alone. Maybe he was anxious to talk to her, too.

She hoped so. She wanted a future with Toby as her lover, her partner, her…everything.

She’d just finished twisting her hair into one long braid down her back when she heard a little knock on her door. Curious, she swung it open. “Mom? What is it? I’m not late, I know.”

Megan slipped into her room and closed the door behind her before she turned and hugged Elizabeth.

“Of course you’re not late. I just wanted to congratulate you or whatever you do to a bride! My baby!” she exclaimed, sniffing a little. “I’m so glad everything worked out. I was afraid—I mean, it’s such a relief that Toby feels the same as you. We’re going to manage everything. All you have to do is get time off for your honeymoon, and then be the prettiest bride in the world. Oh! I’m so excited!” She hugged Elizabeth again and then left the room.

Elizabeth stood there, unable to say anything, even after her mother left. Then, gradually, she began to sizzle, heat rising in her until she let out a scream of frustration.

What had just happened? Someone had told her mother not only that she had talked to Toby, but that they had agreed to marry. Her heart clutched. What
if that someone had told her even more, had explained what they’d done last night?

She’d kill him.

Not only had Toby—it had to be him—told her mother something
she
would never have told her, but he thought he could get out of a proposal? That their marriage would be an assumption? That she’d never have a marriage proposal to tell her children about?

Well, Mr. Toby Randall could think again!

He’d been there when Lonnie thought he could wait until Friday night to ask her out. Hadn’t he learned anything?

Fury burned through her. She grabbed her papers and work material, stuffed them into the cloth bag she used, and stomped out of her bedroom and down the stairs.

The men were entering the kitchen from the back porch as she reached the swinging door. She stiffened her shoulders, glared at all of them and set down her belongings. Then she moved to the cabinets to gather the dishes and silverware to set the table.

“Sorry I’m late, Mildred,” she murmured. “Mom stopped by to talk to me.”

“No problem. Is everything all right?” Mildred asked.

Elizabeth stopped, turned to glare at Toby again. Then, in a loud voice, to ensure that he heard, she said, “No. Everything’s not all right.”

She’d gotten his attention. He rushed across the room. “Lizzie, what—”

She sailed past him, her nose in the air. Putting the plates down, she then began sorting the silverware, giving each person a fair share.

“Lizzie,” Toby whispered over her shoulder. “We’ll talk this afternoon.”

Again she stopped and turn to stare at him. “Will we?”

“Of course. We can’t—”

“What are you guys whispering about?” Casey asked as he sat down at the table, which, of course, made sure everyone noticed.

Elizabeth didn’t bother answering. After all, it was Toby who was doing the whispering.

“Uh,” Toby said, then stopped. “I’m not sure. Elizabeth seems upset.”

“Seems mad to me,” Rich said, puzzlement in his voice.

“You’re right, Rich. I
am
mad. Sometimes people assume things without asking the proper questions. And sometimes, they even tell people things when they shouldn’t!”

She went to the stove to grab two platters filled with eggs, bacon and sausage. Red gave her a questioning look. He didn’t say anything, but he followed her to the table.

“Any of you boys upsetting Elizabeth had better straighten things out,” he warned. “Before you eat,” he added and glared at all of them.

Toby got out of his chair. “That would be me. Come on, Lizzie,” he muttered and grabbed her by
the arm. He pulled her in the direction of the spare bedroom behind the kitchen where Red and Mildred sometimes took naps.

Elizabeth didn’t fight him. She was ready to clear things up.

Once they were in the room and the door closed, she changed her mind about talking. Throwing her arms around his neck, she raised her lips for a kiss. Fortunately for Toby, he didn’t try to resist but took what was offered.

Several minutes later, he broke off the kiss, hoping he could control himself. After all, there was a bed just behind him. His breathing heavy, he said, “We’d better do some talking unless you want to be late for school.”

“You mean you’re not all talked out? From what I gathered, you’ve already done a considerable amount of talking,” she pointed out.

Toby knew he was in trouble then. “What happened?”

“My mother came to my room this morning. She’s so pleased we’re marrying. The family will get everything ready for the wedding. I don’t have to worry.”

Toby groaned. “Sweetheart, I didn’t intend— Our dads trapped me and—I felt so guilty, I accidently confessed before I could—”

“You what? You told them?”

“Yeah, but only to reassure them that I was mar
rying you,” he hurriedly said, thinking his words would make everything better.

“How do you know?”

That question stopped him. He stared at her. “What do you mean? You said you loved me.” He knew she’d said those words. He’d treasured them, thought them, dreamed them.

She didn’t say anything. Staring at him, she seemed to be waiting for something.

Then, placing her hands on her hips, she said softly, “I do love you, Toby Randall, but if you think that gives you the right to
assume
I’ll marry you, even though you didn’t bother telling me you love me, or bother to propose to me, you’ve got another think coming. I will not face my children and tell them you didn’t propose to me. I won’t!” she finished, stamping her foot, like a two-year-old throwing a temper tantrum.

Then she was gone.

Toby, finally understanding what was wrong, tried to gather his thoughts, to figure out how to right the wrong before he went back into the kitchen. When he finally gave up and went after her, she wasn’t there.

“Where’s Elizabeth?” he demanded.

Red glared at him. “You didn’t do a good job of apologizing. She ran out of here, tears in her eyes, without any breakfast! And she forgot her lunch, too. Now she’s going to be hungry all day!”

“What did you do, Toby?” Russ asked.

It was clear to Toby that he had a lot of apologizing
to do. And not just to Elizabeth. His cousins were thinking he was pretty lousy, too.

He squared his shoulders. “I made a mistake.”

He was so involved in figuring out what to say that he hadn’t heard the parents coming down the stairs. They entered as he’d started his confession.

“What’s going on?” Jake asked.

Red answered. “He’s telling us why sweet Elizabeth is so mad at him and left without eating.”

Toby released a big sigh. “You all might as well know. Lizzie and I are in love.” He held up a hand as several people started to speak. “I know we’re cousins, but we’re not really. We have no common blood. And we’ve—I’ve loved her for a long time. Last night we finally realized that—we love each other.

He hated to explain his situation, but he had no choice, so he continued. “I assumed we would be married, but we couldn’t talk it out last night. I said something to, uh, someone else, who apparently told Aunt Megan. She greeted Elizabeth this morning, chattering about the wedding.”

“Oh, dear, I’m so sorry,” Megan said. “I was so excited, I couldn’t wait— Oh, dear. Was she upset?”

“She said she wasn’t going to marry me,” Toby said.

It seemed everyone had an opinion about that. It was Jake who brought them under control. With a roar, he silenced everyone. Then he said to Toby, “Surely she doesn’t mean it?”

“I hope not. But if she marries me, it will only be because I make a spectacular proposal that she can tell our kids about.” Several smiles appeared, including the one on Toby’s lips. Just thinking about having children with Elizabeth brought pleasure.

“Cool!” Casey said into the sudden silence. “So will their children be my nieces and nephews?”

“Probably more second cousins,” B.J. said.

“What are you going to do, son?” Jake asked.

“I don’t know. But I’m open to suggestions.”

Everyone gathered around the table.

B
Y NOON
, Elizabeth was a nervous wreck. She loved Toby with all her heart. She was thrilled he wanted to marry her. But she was mad that he hadn’t bothered to ask her.

Given that, she thought she’d done the right thing. But what if he didn’t think so? What if he didn’t ask her? He could return to the rodeo or get his own place. He could date the most beautiful women in the world. He could forget all about her.

And she’d die of a broken heart, all because he took her for granted.

She was pacing the teachers’ lounge, wringing her hands, when Abby came in. “Hi, Elizabeth, how’s—what’s wrong?”

“Oh, Abby!” Elizabeth exclaimed and ran to her friend for a hug and a shoulder to cry on.

“Elizabeth?” Abby hugged her willingly. She even
patted her back to help with the tears. But she wanted to know what was going on.

“I may have ruined everything!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Toby told everyone we were getting married, and I chewed him out for not asking me. I told him I wouldn’t!” she finished, more tears falling.

Abby didn’t say anything until Elizabeth stopped crying.

“I think I need to sit down and have a soda,” she said, “so you can explain a few gaps in that story.”

“Gaps?” Elizabeth asked, catching her breath.

“Yeah, like when did the two of you realize—I mean I know you had decided—but what about Toby?”

“Last night. We talked—well, we didn’t talk. But I told him I loved him.”

Abby gasped. “You are so courageous! That must’ve been tough.”

Elizabeth nodded.

“And does he love you?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t bother to say.” Renewed anger stiffened Elizabeth’s back and she sat down at the table, folding her arms over her chest.

“But what did he say? He had to have said something when you blasted him with that fact.”

“No, he didn’t. He just m-made love to me,” Elizabeth confessed, keeping her gaze on the table.

“Elizabeth!” Abby stared at her with wide eyes. “You mean you and Toby—you did?”

Elizabeth nodded but still didn’t look at Abby.

“But how was it? I mean, I’ve had sex once before, but I wasn’t impressed. With Russ it feels—I mean I think I want to, but I’m not sure.”

“It was incredible,” Elizabeth whispered.

“This is wonderful! Do I get to be in your wedding?” Abby asked with a laugh.

“I turned him down, Abby. He may never ask again.”

E
LIZABETH
had just ushered her children out of the classroom that afternoon when the school secretary made an announcement over the sound system. “Miss Gaylord, come to the office for a phone call, please.”

It was unusual for the office to announce a phone call. It usually meant the call was something urgent. In spite of her mental state, worried to death over her own life, Elizabeth hoped Abby didn’t have an emergency to deal with.

By the time she’d straightened her room in preparation for the next day and gathered up the things she needed to take home with her, the school was quiet. When Abby popped her head in the door, it startled Elizabeth.

“Oh! Is everything all right? I heard them call you,” she said, gesturing to the speaker.

“Oh, yes, everything’s great. It was Russ. He wanted me to catch a ride with you out to the ranch instead of bringing my own car. You don’t mind, do you? We’ll have to go by my apartment to get my bag.”

“No. That will be fine. I’m in no hurry.” In fact, she was dreading going to the ranch. Facing Toby tonight was going to be even harder than last night. “I thought you were going out with Russ.”

“We are, but we’re going to Buffalo to dinner. Coming here to get me would just make for extra driving. I hope you don’t mind that I’m spending the weekend there.”

“No, of course not. Are you ready?”

“Come to my room. I’ll gather my stuff and then we’ll go.” Abby led the way back to her room and kept up a steady stream of chatter as she loaded papers into her bag.

Elizabeth sat down and scarcely heard anything Abby said. Her mind was on Toby.

“Ready?” Abby said, standing at the door with a smile.

Elizabeth jumped up and apologized for keeping Abby waiting. They walked out to warm weather.

“I can’t believe how much the weather has changed in just a few days. Snow last weekend and now it’s almost balmy.”

Abby talked about the weather like it was of the utmost importance. Elizabeth nodded.

“Do you want me to drive? You seem a little distracted,” Abby pointed out.

“No, I’ll drive.”

At Abby’s apartment, it seemed to take her friend forever to gather her belongings.

“I thought you’d already packed,” Elizabeth fi
nally said after twenty minutes of Abby wandering her apartment.

“I did, but I want to look extra good tonight for Russ. He’s the sweetest guy.”