The church Valentine Day’s potluck was held on Wednesday night. Rose made two pecan pies, and Hud carried them in with pride.
“Hey, those really look good,” Tag yelled from the corner of the fellowship hall. “If you were a good brother, you’d sneak one out into my truck.”
“Guess I’m not a good brother,” Hud teased.
When he’d set the pies on the table, Levi clamped a hand on his shoulder. “We haven’t seen much of you this past month. What’s been going on?”
Hud put his arm around Rose’s shoulders and drew her to his side. “We’ve moved in together.”
“Well, good for you,” Levi said and moved on.
“Surprise!” Luna tapped Rose on the shoulder.
Rose shook loose from Hud and gave her aunt a hug. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Me and your daddy had us a knock-down, drag-out fight. I figured it was best if we put a little space between us for a few days, so I came to see Molly’s new house,” Luna said. “So you and Hud are living together? I just got one thing to say about that.”
“And what’s that?” Rose stepped back.
“It’s about damn time.” Luna giggled.
“What did you and Daddy get into it about?” Rose asked.
“Two things.” Luna pushed her braids over her shoulder. “One was when he told me I had to get rid of my new phone. I told him that I owned half that damned commune, and what I did on my half was my own damned business. Then little Jennifer got pneumonia, and I took her to the doctor for medicine. He called a meeting and said that I should have asked permission. I told him that if he had a cell phone in his pocket, I might have given him a call.”
Molly walked up beside them with a Bundt cake in her hands. “Luna’s just traded her old sumbitch for a new one.” She set the cake on the table.
“Ahh, he ain’t that bad,” Luna said. “He just needs a little bit of trainin’, and I’m the one to take over that job. In a few years, he’ll be downright likable.”
“Well, we’re glad you’re here for a little while.” Hud patted Luna on the shoulder. “You’ll have to come out to the ranch and visit with us some evening. I’ll grill some steaks.” He walked away to talk to Levi, leaving the three ladies alone.
“I’ll bring the dessert,” Molly said.
Luna raised an eyebrow at her sister. “You can be my plus one if you’ll bring mama’s bread pudding with caramel sauce.”
“That sounds good.” Rose tucked her hand into Hud’s. “Granny Dee used to make it, and I haven’t had it since she died. Want to share the recipe with me?”
“No, she won’t.” Luna tipped her chin up defiantly. “She got Mama to give her the book with all our grandmother’s famous recipes in it before Mama died, and she’s selfish as hell with them.”
“But not with you.” Molly smiled sweetly at Rose. “I’ll even show you how to make it.”
“You’re an old toot.” Luna waggled a finger at Molly.
“I may be, but I’ve got the recipes and you don’t,” Molly said.
Rose giggled at the way the two of them bickered. “Give us a call when you’ve got a free evening, but not this Friday. This old cowboy is taking me to a fancy place for a Valentine’s Day candlelight dinner.”
“We’re goin’ to the American Legion for a few drinks and some square dancin’,” Luna said. “So it’ll have to be the first of the week. Oh, there’s Dixie. I’ve got to go talk to her and see the baby.”
“I hope Luna and Paul make up soon. I can only take her for a few days, and then I’m ready to strangle her,” Molly sighed. “When she came before, I lived in the B&B, and there were lots of places to hide from her when I’d had enough of her shenanigans. I can’t very well sneak away from her in my new house, not even for a thirty-minute nap. It’s too small,” Molly said. “But on a more positive note, I’m glad that you and Hud are officially together. Love is a good thing. Don’t let it slip away, and don’t let it die in its sleep.”
“I already lost her once.” Hud walked up behind Rose and slipped his arms around her waist. “I’m sure not plannin’ on doin’ it again.”
“That’s the right attitude.” Molly waved as the Fab Five entered the room. “I need to talk to Patsy about the dance on Friday night. Y’all excuse me.”
“It’s amazing how these folks have taken me in,” Rose muttered.
“Welcome to small-town Texas.” Hud gently squeezed her hand. “And welcome to our extended family.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I’ve been looking for my place in the world ever since I was a child. I’m glad that it’s here in Sunset, Texas.”
“Well, darlin’, I’m sure happy that we found each other again, and that we’re together,” he whispered.
Dixie crossed the room with Sally on her hip. “I wanted to let y’all see how much she’s grown and how happy we are. I still feel like I climbed up out of hell and found heaven.”
“I know a little of that same feeling.” Rose smiled. “Let me hold that baby a minute before the Fab Five get over here. I heard that they’ve all but adopted her.”
Dixie laughed out loud. “They’re spoiling her rotten. They drop by the shop nearly every day to play with her, and most days they bring a cute little outfit or a toy for her. I can’t tell them no because it brings them so much pleasure.”
“She’s got lots of grandparents,” Hud said. “Let them dote on her. Before long Claire’s little boy will be here, and then Sally will have to share.”
“I doubt it,” Dixie said. “They’ll just spoil them both.” She motioned toward the other side of the room. “You better get your lovin’ now. Sarah is on the way, and then they’ll fight over how long each one gets to be the grandma.”
“Wonderful, isn’t it?” Rose said.
“Amen,” Dixie answered.
* * *
By the time the party was over and the fellowship hall was put to rights, it was well past ten o’clock. Rose could tell that something was on Hud’s mind because he was so quiet. Usually, he shared everything with her, but that evening, he didn’t even turn on the radio.
“Okay, spit it out,” she said. “We promised when we moved in together that we’d never have secrets, and we’d be open and honest about everything.”
He turned into the lane to the ranch house and shook his head. “Let’s talk about it in the house. I want to be able to see your face. Did anyone ever tell you that you’d make a lousy poker player?”
“I’ve played poker a few times and was pretty damn good at it,” she argued.
“Your expressions tell me everything you’re thinking,” he said.
“Oh, honey.” She got out of the truck as soon as he parked it. “If you really believe that, then I’ve got the best poker face in the whole universe.”
“Really?” He held her hand as they climbed the porch steps and didn’t let go until he had to unlock the door.
“Yes, sir.” She removed her coat, hung it up, picked up Rascal, and carried her to the living room. “Sit down here beside me and tell me what’s on your mind.”
“When Sarah came over to take Sally from you, it was like you were relieved to get rid of the baby.” Hud eased down close to her. “Don’t you like kids?”
Rose burst out laughing so hard that Rascal jumped out of her arms and hid behind the recliner. “I love kids, but Sally had a very smelly, dirty diaper, and I was glad to turn her over to Sarah, so she could be the one to change her.”
“Ever have any experience with babies and small children?” he asked. “You were an only child, and Tag and I were the babies of the family.”
“Honey, at the commune, as soon as I was old enough to help with babies, they were part of my responsibility. The older girls helped take care of the younger ones while the mothers worked in the kitchen or in the gardens or milked the cows, or did whatever else needed done. I was babysitting by the time I was nine. It was part of our commune education,” Rose explained. “So yes, I’ve been around babies and children enough that I could probably run a day care. If you’re about to ask me if I want children, the answer is yes, and that’s plural. I don’t want to raise a child with no siblings. Even though I had lots of friends in the commune, I missed having a brother or a sister of my very own.”
“I guess we’ve got that settled.” Hud covered a yawn with his hand. “I’ve always wanted children.”
“Then let’s go to bed,” she said. “And, honey, it’s late and we’re both tired, so there’ll be no starting a baby tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He picked her up like a bag of feed and threw her over his shoulder. “But we can practice. You know what they say about practice making perfect, and I sure want pretty babies.”
“You’re a rascal.”
“No, Rascal is a cat. I’m a hero,” he said. “Don’t you read the papers?”
“Yes, I do, and you’ll always be my hero.”
* * *
Hud worried with the box in his coat pocket for two days. He just knew if he didn’t stop messing with it that all the pretty red velvet would be worn off by Valentine’s Day. Finally the day arrived, and he had it all planned. He’d made reservations for a romantic dinner on Lake Worth. The drive would take an hour, so they’d leave early enough to watch the sunset. He planned to ask Rose to marry him at the edge of the water with the stars shining above them.
He hadn’t told a soul about his plans for fear someone would leak them to Rose. He wanted it to be a total surprise, and he couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when he opened the box to reveal an engagement ring with tiny diamonds circling around an emerald, the exact color of Rose’s eyes.
He finished up the day’s work, took a shower, got dressed in ironed jeans, a white shirt, and his best boots. When he entered the living room, Rose was standing in front of the fireplace. She turned and all the air left his lungs. She was wearing an emerald-green velvet dress that hugged every curve of her body. The hem stopped an inch above her knees, and she had on matching green high heels. She’d left her long light-red hair down to float on her shoulders in big loose curls, and her makeup was perfect.
“I feel like a country bumpkin compared to you,” he whispered.
“Welcome to my world.” She crossed the floor and slipped her arms around him. “When I went to school with you, I sure felt that way. You were the handsomest boy I’d ever seen, and now, you’re the sexiest man, and, honey, you sure look fine to me tonight. Where are we going?”
“That, darlin’, is a surprise.” He gave her a sweet kiss, helped her with her coat, made sure he had the little box in the pocket, and held her hand all the way to the truck.
“I’ve never had a big Valentine’s Day,” she said. “At the commune we only celebrate Christmas and Easter. Valentine’s is just a commercial holiday, according to their rules and laws.”
Hud made sure she was in the truck and settled before he leaned in and gave her another kiss. “Confession, here. I’ve never taken a girl out on Valentine’s Day or planned a surprise for her.”
“Seriously?” she asked.
He rounded the end of the truck, got behind the wheel, and started the engine. “Very serious,” he said. “How about you? Have you ever been courted properly on Valentine’s Day?”
“Nope,” she answered.
The first part of the evening was wonderful. The sun set off to their right in a beautiful array of colors, and then dusk settled around them and the stars began to pop out. But somewhere just south of Bridgeport, there was a loud bang, and the truck veered off to the side.
Hud brought the vehicle to a stop and then slapped the steering wheel with both hands. “We’ve had a blowout, but don’t worry. It’s not going to ruin our night. I can get it changed in a few minutes.”
“Can I help? I was trained to change tires when I was in Afghanistan,” she said. “We never knew what might happen when they took me from one place to another to translate for them, so I learned lots of things.”
“No, darlin’, you sit right there and stay warm.” He smiled.
True to his word, he had the old tire off, thrown in the back, and the spare put on in fifteen minutes. He managed to get a nice big black smudge on his shirt, but he could cover that with his jacket.
“Now we’re on the way,” he said as he pulled back out onto the road. There had to be one catastrophe, he figured—after all, this was Rose O’Malley and Hudson Baker out on the road, and their relationship had started off with him stepping into a big pan of water and her sitting down in it.
The traffic jam started north of Boyd, Texas, and by the time they reached the other side of the small down, cars and trucks had come to a dead stop.
“Must be an accident up ahead,” she said.
“Maybe they’ll get it cleared out soon.” He cussed himself for not taking the interstate, but he’d thought a little backwoods drive would be so much more romantic.
They listened to twelve country songs on the radio before traffic started moving again. When they reached the spot that had jammed them up, it wasn’t an accident at all, but work on a bridge had closed down all but one lane.
“We’ll only be a few minutes late to dinner. I allowed extra time so we could have a slow drive, and where we’re going isn’t far now,” he told her.
Hud thought it strange that there were only four cars in the restaurant’s parking lot. This was a place that only seated folks with a reservation on Friday and Saturday nights, and it should have been booming on Valentine’s Day. But hey, if there weren’t very many people there, then they’d be served quicker. He helped Rose out of the truck, tucked her arm into his, and patted his coat pocket. Only another hour or so, and he’d drop down on one knee and propose. He knew in his heart that she’d say yes, but he was still as nervous as the only chicken at a coyote convention. He pushed on the door to the restaurant, and it didn’t budge.
“Look,” she pointed. “There’s a sign that said they had a grease fire in the kitchen and will be closed until repairs are made.”
“Three for three.” He groaned. “Some romantic evening this is.”
“Darlin’, we’re all dressed up, and we’re together. That’s romantic to me.” She buried her face in his chest. “Let’s get a burger on the way home and spend the night in bed.”
“I wanted us to have a special evening,” he complained.
“You are special enough to make any evening fantastic,” she told him.
“We could go to an Olive Garden or a RibCrib or somewhere other than a burger joint,” he said.
“I like burgers and fries,” she said with a shrug. “They’re just about my favorite food. What say you that we hit that Dairy Queen we passed in Boyd, Texas, rent a movie at one of those box things beside the Dollar Store in Bowie, and go home? We can build a fire and cuddle up on the sofa with Rascal and Red, and make our own special, romantic evening. We’ll even break out two beers, put on some music, and dance.”
“You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met,” he said.
“Well, thank you, but can we please go get a burger?” she asked. “I’m starving plumb to death.”
“In that case, we’d better drive back to Boyd and get you a big, old greasy burger, a double order of fries—” he said.
She butted in. “…and a chocolate milk shake.”
“You got it, sweetheart.”
The drive back to Boyd didn’t take long. There were no mishaps along the way, so Hud thought the bad luck was over, but he was dead wrong. At the Dairy Queen he dropped a french fry loaded with ketchup on the front of his shirt, and when Rose bit into her burger, mustard shot out from the bottom onto her dress.
“We’re not like other people,” she laughed. “Our destiny for a romantic evening doesn’t include a candlelit dinner with real napkins and violins playing in the corner.”
“Evidently not.” Hud left a smudge of red on his shirt when he tried to wipe the ketchup away.
Nothing had gone as he’d planned. Not one solitary, damned thing, but suddenly it didn’t matter. He reached into his pocket, took out the ring box, slid out of the booth, and dropped down on one knee. “Cactus Rose O’Malley, I’m in love with you and have been for the better part of my life. Will you marry me?” He snapped the box open to reveal the ring. “An emerald because your green eyes mesmerize me. Fifty itty-bitty diamonds to represent the first fifty years of our marriage. Please say yes.”
“Yes!” she squealed without a split second’s hesitation.
He slipped the ring on her finger and she slid out of the booth, dropped down on both her knees to face him, and said, “I love you, Hud. This is perfect, and when we’re married fifty years, you can take it to the jewelers and have them add fifty more diamonds, because we’re going to be together forever.”
He took her in his arms and sealed their engagement and their love with a long kiss. Neither of them thought about the other people in the Dairy Queen until they heard applause.
She hugged him and whispered, “Now, take me home. I love the sound of that word. Home. To the place where I belong with the love of my life.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They stood up together and there was more applause when he scooped her up and carried her to the truck like a new bride.
“That was so romantic.” She wiped tears from her eyes. “I can’t wait to tell Aunt Luna all about it.”
“But first we’re going home, right?”
She held her hand up to the light on the truck ceiling. The emerald and the diamonds sparkled almost as much as the love in his eyes and the feeling in her heart. “Yes, my cowboy, we’re going home.”