Seth (Prairie Grooms, Book Three) (17 page)

She sucked in her breath, and knew he was teasing, but still had to fight the urge to gasp in indignation, something any proper English lady would do. Instead, however, she studied the twinkle in his eyes and the smile on his face, and realized she could spend the rest of her life with this man. A good thing, too…

“
I now pronounce you man and wife,” said Preacher Jo with a happy smile. “You may kiss the bride,” he told Seth.

“
Don't mind if I do, Preacher!” He pulled Eloise to him, bent her over, and kissed her soundly. The townsfolk cheered at the action and let out a few whoops and hollers, not to mention a few gunshots.

Grandma climbed to her feet and in a triumphant voice yelled, “Now that the hitchin’s done, let's eat!”

Another cheer went up from the crowd, as everyone got up and began to disperse. Women hurried to the tables where they'd laid out the food, and prepared to serve. Hungry men and children followed them. And, of course, amidst the commotion, Seth was still locked in a kiss with his beautiful bride. At long last they were married.

Eloise struggled to breathe as Seth raised his head. “Hello darlin',” he whispered against her lips.

“
Hello,” she whispered back, her entire body like jelly.

“Are ya
hungry, Mrs. Jones?” he asked.

S
he shook her head, words escaping her. In fact, she was surprised she’d uttered any, after the kiss they’d just shared.

“
Best to eat something anyway,” he said. “You're going to need your strength. I have a feeling this is gonna be a long day.”

S
he nodded again as he stood her upright, and then held her against him. Several children gathered around them to admire her dress. Girls, no matter what the age, couldn’t resist such a beautiful frock. Eloise smiled before she ushered them toward the food and their mothers. She and Seth started to walk hand-in-hand to join the rest of the townspeople, when he stopped them, and once again looked at her with a look so powerful, she could scarcely describe it. “I meant every word I said, Eloise. I promise to be a good husband and a good father when the time comes,”

O
nce again she was caught in his gaze, and found it difficult to speak. “I'm sorry I've been so indecisive these last few days. You must think me a total ninny for not being able to make up my mind.”

“T
hat was my fault,” he said. “You knew there was more to me than what I was presenting, and you called me on it. That's a good quality to have, Eloise, and I'm glad you do. It comes in mighty handy around these parts.”

“
It does?”

“
Yep, but let's hope you don't have to use it.”

“
I say, but in what sort of situations would I have to?”

Seth eyed her. “D
on’t ask.”

Thirteen

The picnic turned out to be a grand affair, and Eloise couldn't remember when she'd had so much fun. The saying eat, drink, and be merry took on new meaning for her, as it did for Penelope and Constance. They sat and watched the townspeople of Clear Creek, now done with their picnic lunch, get down to the serious business of the games. Sadie and Belle tried to explain how the games worked, but then thought it best if the sisters watched and saw for themselves what the townsfolk did at this sort of an affair.

“
I say,” said Constance. “But do you think they'll play croquet?”

“I hardly think anyone here
even knows what the word means,” said Penelope.

“C
ome now, sister, surely you can give them more credit than that,” said Eloise. “Besides, it doesn't matter what they play, so long as it's entertaining to watch.”

“
All I've heard them talk about is the big tug-of-war, said Constance. “It's the last game they play, as I understand it.”

“You don't think we’ll
be asked to play, do you?” Penelope asked as her husband, August, approached.

“That's a might
y fine idea, Mrs. Bennett!” He reached down, grabbed her, yanked her to her feet, and kissed her. “You three ladies need to show us how it's done,” he said.

“H
ow what is done?” asked Constance.

“Now don't tell me you didn’t
play any games back in England!”

“Of course
we did, just not the sort of games you're playing.” said Penelope.

“Y
eah, but when
you
played, were there prizes?” he asked.

“S
ometimes,” said Eloise.

Seth strode up to the blanket they were sitting on, and plopped down next to Eloise. He handed her a plate of pie, then looked up at August. “You gonna play?” he asked.

“O
f course, wouldn't miss it! I could use a few piglets.”

“
Piglets?” inquired Penelope. “What piglets?”

“
Those piglets,” said August as he pointed.

They
turned and looked as Tom Turner and his father carried a large crate down the trail and straight to the picnic area. “Good heavens!” said Eloise. “Are those…”

“
Piglets,” said Seth. “Colin told me that a few years back, Tom Turner caught the pig Harrison brought, and well, here we are! His prize has certainly paid off, enough to bring to prizes to the picnic.”

“
Yep, and I'm gonna catch them!” said August as he puffed out his chest and struck it with a fist.

Penelope giggled and blushed. “Ah yes, the mighty conqueror of chickens and pigs has arrived. Best you all cower in terror.”

Rather than giggle, Constance let out her signature snort, and laughed. “You might have some competition. Ryder mentioned that he’d like a few pigs.”

“
So I've heard, but Ryder isn't here, is he?” asked August.

Constance glanced
around and realized he was right. “Where is he?”

“H
e rode back to town with Colin and the sheriff to fetch the rope for the tug-of-war,” explained Seth. “I guess Sheriff Hughes forgot to bring it with him.”

“F
ixed the odds, have you?” remarked Constance as she shot an accusing look at August.

He
smiled devilishly. “No, just evened them a bit.”

Eloise giggled and looked at Seth
. “Are you going to chase pigs, too?”

“
Chasing them might be fun, but I don't know about catching one. Where would we keep a pig?”

“
In the oven, if Mrs. Upton has anything to say about it!” said Eloise with a snort to rival one of her sister’s.

Seth and August burst into laughter, and the women joined them. Sally Upton was not only good at baking wedding cakes, but she was also very good at preparing suckling pig. August was the first to calm down enough to be able to speak. “Come along, Mrs. Bennett, and watch your husband make a fool of himself!”

“
Again?” she teased.

“What
ever do you mean,
again
?” asked Eloise.

“S
he means it wouldn't be the first time I've been made the fool at the hands of barnyard animals,” he said dryly.

Eloise's face lit with comprehension as she remembered August’s rooster. “And how is Clyde these days?” she asked.

“
I'm still in one piece,” said August. “Which means he and I have called a truce for now, at any rate.” He turned to Penelope, kissed her, and off they went.

“
I think I'll go watch,” said Constance. “This sounds like fun! Coming Eloise?”

“I’d like to finish my pie,
and then join you.”

Seth nodded his agreement. “You go ahead; we’ll catch up.”

Constance climbed to her feet, then set out after Penelope and August.

“
I thought they'd never leave,” said Seth.

Eloise giggled before taking another bite of pie. “I say, husband, but are you trying to get me alone?”

Seth's eyes roamed her face before settling on her lips. He leaned toward her, his voice a mere whisper. “Are you flirting with me, Mrs. Jones?”

Eloise swallowed the last of her pie. “I do believe I am,” she said.

Seth leaned in for a kiss. “I like it,” he told her with a wink.

Eloise blushed crimson at her brash behavior, and smiled. Her mother would be scandalized to hear her say such things to a man, whether she was married to him or not. “I like it, too,” she said.

He took her empty plate and set it aside. “I'd sure like to take you home right now, Mrs. Jones,” he said, his voice husky.

He was so close she could feel the heat of his breath against her cheek. It sent a chill up her spine. “Home?”

Seth glanced around to make sure no one was watching, before leaning in further for a kiss. He captured her lips with his, and put a hand in her hair to help him deepen it. Her body slumped against him and he quickly put his arms around her to keep her in place. She let out a small moan of pleasure at the contact, and he deepened the kiss in response.

“Are ya gonna enter the pig chase,
Seth?”

Seth and Eloise flew apart so fast that Eloise fell backwards onto the blanket. “Grandma!” Seth cried. “What do you think you're doing?”

“Gettin’
people for the pig chase, what else?” she said with a laugh. “Now are ya comin’ or not?”

“
I'm busy!”

“
I can see that. Any busier and you'll have youngins’ long before your wife’s sisters will.”

Eloise blushed again, this time truly embarrassed. “We’ll come and watch,” she muttered.

“Y
ou'd best do that, before everyone starts watching
you,
” said Grandma.

Seth and Eloise exchanged a quick look. “I suppose she has a point,” said Seth.

“I
ndeed,” added Eloise. “We’d do best to go with her.”

“
Well, come on then,” said Grandma. “Let’s see if August can win himself a few pigs!”

Seth helped Eloise up,
brushed a few stray blades of grass from her dress and, unable to help himself, kissed her again. “Okay, let's go.”

* * *

Though it wasn't his intention, Seth found himself in the pig race. He stood next to August and grimaced at the look he gave him. “If you win, I’ll buy them from you,” August told him.

“H
ow about I just give them to you?”

“S
ounds good to me.”

“W
hat if Tom, here, wins?” asked Seth.

August leaned forward to look past him. Young Tom Turner stood on the other side of Seth, grinning from ear to ear. “How come you're in the race?” he asked the boy. “They
are
your pigs.”

“B
ecause it's fun,” said Tom. “Besides, it lets me know if I'm as fast as I think I am.”

Seth laughed, and was about to comment, when several more
men joined them. The competition was heating up. August groaned.

“You just got to
be fast enough,” Seth told him. “Then they're all yours.”

Before anyone could say add a word, a shot was fired and the race was on. Eloise, Constance, and Penelope stood on the sidelines, and watched as the group of men took off after the small pigs that had been released in front of them. The townspeople themselves formed the barriers that kept the pigs and men on course. They cheered for both man and beast as they scrambled along the makeshift track, tripping and falling as they went, even climbing over each other in hot pursuit. One of the pigs broke through the crowd, and Grandma took after it, which sent Eloise into a fit of giggles. “Well don't just laugh at her! Go help her!” said Constance.

“W
hy don't you go help her?” she asked through her laughter.

“
Because I'm busy watching!” said Constance.

Eloise rolled her eyes in a most unladylike fashion, then went to help Grandma, who at this point had been joined by Mrs. Dunnigan. The townsfolk began to vacillate between what now had become two races, as another pig escaped. This time Constance sprang into action. “Penelope! Help me!” she screamed with laughter.

“I
most certainly will not!” Penelope shouted as another pig ran past her, August hot on its heels. Before she could comment further, Seth ran up, a pig in his arms, and promptly put it into hers. “Hold this!” he said, and was off again.

Penelope glanced around, looking for someone
,
anyone
to hand the pig off to. But no one seemed to notice he’d even passed the animal to her. “My goodness but you smell! You awful little beast…”

August sped
around the makeshift track again, and ran straight to her. “Great Scott, woman! I didn't think you had it in you!”