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When they reached the boarding house, Sally turned to Aunt Doe. “I have some things for you that belonged to Ozzie.”
Aunt Doe sat on the bed and Sally unpacked Moss’s saddlebag. She handed Doe a letter.
“Oh,” Aunt Doe gasped. She opened the letter and a lock of hair tied with a faded ribbon fell out. She lifted her tear-filled gaze to look at Sally and reached into her pocket to pull out another lock of hair. She placed them both together and put them inside the letter as she folded it again.
“Aren’t you going to read it?”
“I remember every word. Every single word I wrote to him. Every word he said to me.”
She held the letter to her breast. “The heart doesn’t lie, you know. Neither time nor circumstance can change two hearts truly bound in love.” She gave Sally a look. “Even when married to another. It doesn’t change love or lessen it in any way.”
She placed the envelope back in her pocket and stood. “Ozzie would be proud to hear of your engagement. I’m proud too. And I’d be pleased if you held the wedding at the ranch, unless you’d rather it be somewhere else.”
“Of course not, Aunt Doe.” Sally hugged her. “I wouldn’t dream of having it anywhere else.”
Rob smiled. “Aren’t you going to ask me?”
Sally looked at him quickly. “Oh, Rob, I’m sorry. I should have asked your permission.”
He gathered her into his arms. “Sally, you never have to ask for my permission. But we should make decisions together, don’t you think?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “I agree.”
“Well, I think the ranch is the perfect place,” he grinned, “Especially if you’ll wear that white nightgown you wore the night I saw you in the window.”
Sally blushed. “Robert, please.”
“Oh, it’s Robert now. Sounds like we’re practically married all ready. I’m just having fun, Sally Mae, best you get used to it.”
Everyone laughed, and Carolyn began to sing. Sally looked over at Matthew and he smiled back at her. He was slowly beginning to come back to himself. Whenever anyone tried to talk to him about it he said, “It was a bad time,” but he’d say no more. And Rob had been so good with her boy.
It almost didn’t seem possible that all her dreams were coming true.
The ranch offered a restful spot for Sally to relax. For once, she didn’t worry about the children. They followed Aunt Doe everywhere.
Rob’s wound was healing well, and Sally made sure she fussed over him.
One evening, Doe looked out the window and saw riders approaching. She reached for the shotgun propped behind the door and waited near the window.
“Who is it?” Carolyn asked wide-eyed.
“I’m not sure yet, darling. Be still now,” Doe replied.
The riders came near and a voice called out, “Hello in the house!”
Doe flung open the door. “Jack, I’m glad to see you!”
“Likewise.” He slid down from his horse and grinned.
Everyone came out onto the porch and watched as the men climbed down from their horses and Aunt Doe greeted them with hugs.
“Come on in and get yourselves warm,” she said. “I want to introduce you to my new family.” She glanced back toward the horizon. “Sally, this here’s Jack, my foreman, that’s Andy, Marcus and Stuart.” She looked back toward the horizon. “Where’s Tom?”
“He’s gone to take care of the horses,” Jack answered.
“This is Sally, and her children, Matthew and Carolyn.”
The men smiled and nodded to Sally.
“Now, fellows, before you get any grand ideas, Sally is marrying Rob.” She gestured to where he stood. “Real soon now.”
“She ain’t married yet,” Jack said and they all laughed.
Sally put her hand on Rob’s arm. “No, but my heart already belongs to this good man.” She smiled up at him. “And no other.”
Rob put his arm around Sally. “I can’t blame you for the interest though. Isn’t she the prettiest lady in Texas?”
Joy filled Sally’s heart. Rob loved her and didn’t mind telling everyone about it.
“Who-ee, you been hit hard,” Jack said with a laugh. “Better you than me.”
With that they all laughed.
Everyone followed Doe into the kitchen where she poured cups of coffee while Sally cut large slices of cake.
“We’ve been testing cake for the wedding and you’re just in time to try some,” Sally said with a shy smile.
“So when’s the wedding?” Jack asked.
“Soon as the circuit preacher comes.”
“I heard he was two days away,” Jack said before taking a bite of cake.
“That doesn’t give us much time to get ready,” Aunt Doe said. “Stuart, do you think you can play the fiddle for us?”
“Why, sure. You can’t have a wedding without dancing.”
“You’re right about that,” Aunt Doe said as she finally sat at the table with her own piece of cake. “Well, how did it go, boys?”
“We lost a few, like we knew we would, Doe,” Jack answered. “But the ones that made it weren’t too scrappy. We got a fair price for them.” He reached into his pocket and handed her a bag of money. “It’s all there along with the bill of sale signed by your cousin, right and proper.”
“I knew it would be, Jack.” Aunt Doe patted the money but didn’t count it in front of them. “I knew I could trust you. But I see we lost a few men.”
“We didn’t see eye to eye on a few things once we got there.”
“Good for nothing’s,” Tom said. “They didn’t mind eatin’ your chow, but just barely did their share of the work. Then when we got paid, all hell broke loose.”
“I had my eye on them,” Jack said.
“Good thing you did, too, or you’d have got a bullet in the back.”
“At least we’re rid of the troublemakers,” Aunt Doe said.
“I don’t know about that,” Tom frowned. “I heard talk they might pay you a visit, now that you’re all alone here.”
Aunt Doe laughed. “Won’t they be surprised when they come and find a house full?”
“Well, Doe,” Tom began. He seemed embarrassed. “You ain’t got no more work for me, and truth to tell, much as I like you and would like to stay on, I can’t. Even if you are a better cook than me.”
She laughed heartily. “Well, thank you, Tom. But you see, I’ve been waiting for you all to come back to tell you that I’m selling the ranch to Rob and Sally. And they’ll need to hire on.”
The men appeared stunned momentarily.
Aunt Doe laughed again. “Well, I’m glad you’re all home safe. It’s good to see this place carrying on in such good hands.”
“Doe,” Rob said, “this is your home, every bit of it. You are always welcome here.”
The wedding took place two days later when the circuit preacher arrived. It was a small affair but the love surrounding the newly made family was as vast as the land spreading over the hills.
As the circuit preacher pronounced them “man and wife”, Sally turned to her new
husband. “I love you, Rob.” “And I love you, Sally. I’ll love you forever.” Then he swept her into the deepest kiss she’d ever had as Carolyn giggled, and
everyone cheered. The fiddle started up and Rob held out his hand for her to dance.
“Soon we’ll finally have a chance to be alone,” Rob said. “I can’t believe Doe is sleeping out in the bunkhouse tonight with the ranch hands.” “She’s a tough lady. And you should see the way they’re fussing over her. Besides
it’s only for one night.” “Yes, and the children are excited about bunking with the hands.” “You’re not worried about them, are you?” “No. They’ll be fine. And we’ll be close.” “Do you know what Doe said to me about giving up the house this evening?” “No, what did she say?” He spun her in a circle, and then held her close. “She said it’s so you can make as much
noise as you like.” Sally blushed. “So that’s what she meant. She told me not to hold back if I feel like
singing.” She giggled. “That sometimes a woman wants to sing in the bed at night.” “Nervous?” “A little.” He smiled and she lost all track of time as they danced the evening away. Soon it was time to say good night to the children and she watched as Rob kissed
Carolyn’s forehead and ruffled Matthew’s hair, joy overflowing from her heart.
Sally glanced out the bedroom window. Rob would be joining her any minute. She couldn’t help but be nervous, remembering her first wedding night, though she tried to hide it from him.
The fact was, it was almost impossible to hide such a thing from him.
He seemed to read her so well. Though he could not read her thoughts, he came close enough.
She’d come to her first wedding night innocent and with a heart full of young love and the anticipation of all her romantic fantasies being fulfilled. Those fantasies had been dashed as surely as a lantern thrown off a runaway stagecoach.
Tonight, she came to her new husband experienced in everything but knowing the loving touch of a man who truly loved her. She told herself she knew what to expect and she would hold no romantic notions. That way they would not be so easily dashed.
She told herself this, yet deep within her heart, the longing remained.
Then his footsteps were on the stairs. The gait that was his, the one she’d memorized those many days on the trail, his step sure and steady.
She crossed to the dresser, picked up her hairbrush and prepared to take her hair down from the elaborate coils curling about her head. She didn’t want him to enter the room and know she’d been pacing, nervously watching out the window for him.
Sally looked up to see him just as he paused inside the door.
His gray-blue eyes were gentle, understanding, and she felt a shiver of her nervousness slip away. His wavy hair brushed his shirt collar and one unruly wave curled itself over his ear, making her want to touch it, to run her fingers through it.
“I told Doe, I’d prefer helping you out of your wedding dress,” he said. “I kind of like the thought of undoing all those buttons.”
Despite all her thoughts on the matter of wedding nights, despite the fact she had been married before and had given birth to two children, she still found herself feeling incredibly shy, blushing like a schoolgirl. And then thinking of how it had started the last time with the unbuttoning.
“Unless you’d rather have Doe...” His voice trailed off.
The unspoken ghost of her past hovered between them.
“No, I’d rather have you,” she replied; yet the memory of Luke’s hands disrobing her was in her mind.
Rob’s eyes reflected a sudden knowledge of her thoughts.
“Darlin’, you are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen,” he said, the warmth of his smile echoing in his voice.
A smile trembled over her lips.
“Thank you,” she murmured, blushing, as happiness spread through her body along with rising warmth.
He came toward her and took her hands in his, lifting her left hand to kiss it. “We’ll take it slow, Sally. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do.”
She nodded, suddenly unable to speak what was in her mind and within her heart.
His gaze searched her face as if he could read every emotion whirling within her, then he dropped her hands. “Turn around and I’ll undo those buttons for you.”
She turned, her shoulders tense as he began with the first button.
Oh why do they put such long rows of buttons down the back of a wedding dress?
She tried to relax and found it impossible as the silence grew.
I can’t let memories of Luke ruin my wedding night. I can’t, I can’t. Oh, I don’t want to even think of him now. Why can’t I stop?
“Sally.” Rob’s hands settled on her shoulders, warm and firm. “I have a little surprise for you.” He began to knead the knotted muscles of her neck.
She took a deep breath and released it. “You do?”
“Yes.” His fingers continued to work on the knots, in a matter-of-fact way, as if it weren’t their wedding night. As if he had no expectations of her this evening and was in no hurry. “I had a bath prepared in the next room as a surprise.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know what to say. “But we had baths this morning.”
“Not together, we didn’t.”
“Oh, my.”
This was something she had never done with anyone. This bathing together.
“Can two fit into the tub?”
He laughed and kissed the side of her neck. “Yes, darlin’. We’ll both fit. I promise.”
“Oh. It sounds nice.”
He turned her around to face him, the back of her dress gaping open. “It will be more than nice, Mrs. Truman, I promise you that.”
She dropped her eyes and smiled, almost giddy with relief.
“Why don’t you go ahead and slip into the tub and I’ll join you in just a bit.”
Her eyes widened. He was giving her the privacy to undress without him watching. He wasn’t going to examine her or leave her standing naked in the middle of the room while he was still dressed. She could sink into the tub and wait for him.
“Well...” she smiled up at him, “...just don’t take too long, Mr. Truman.”
The warmth of his smile lit up the room. “Oh I’ll hurry. You just call me when you’re ready.”
“All right.”
He bent and kissed the tip of her nose. “Go on now, darlin’, the bath is waiting.”
The moment she entered the other bedroom, she could smell the scent of rose petals from where they floated in the tub sitting in the corner.
“Oh, my,” she whispered. “Oh, Rob.” That he had thought enough to do this for her amazed her. That he would think of her first, was something that continued to take her by surprise.
She undressed and dropped her clothes to the floor, exhaling before she stepped into the water. Easing down into the water, she closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the tub.
So this was what it was to be truly loved.
Warmth flooded over and through her body and she felt a satisfaction bone deep. She sat breathing in, letting the scent and the water wash away every last remnant of her life with Luke. And when no thought of him remained, only thoughts of the man who stood on the other side of that door, she called for him.
“Rob?”
His name barely left her lips before the door opened and he stood, watching her, a towel draped around his waist. He was tall, and she felt the way his strength filled the room. A strength, which came deep from within. Strength of character as well as of body. And he encouraged her to be strong as well. His was a true strength, never requiring the submission of others to make him feel strong.
“So beautiful,” he said, his eyes widening. “I want to remember you just like that. My beautiful wife.”
He took a step toward her and the love in his eyes warmed her to the core.
Her gaze slowly moved from his eyes to his smiling lips. The lines of his face reminded her this was the man she would grow old with. This was the smile she would wake to every morning. He was the love of her life and she was his. There was no doubting, no more fear. There was only love.
As he walked toward the tub, her gaze scanned his toned arms, his chest, his navel, and the towel he had to grasp with one hand as it threatened to fall.
He stopped by the tub, bent and kissed her lips.
She melted into his kiss, her eyes closing, as she heard him step into the tub and felt the water moving.
When he moved away she opened her eyes, just as he eased down into the tub.
He reached for the bar of soap and said, “Let me wash you.”
“Yes.” She smiled as every pore of her skin responded to the suggestion, goose bumps of anticipation spreading.
“Relax. Close your eyes and lean your head back.”
She did with a sigh. Warm soapy water trickled down her neck and then she felt the brush of his fingers. So warm. So tender. As he washed her from her neck to her breasts, the anticipation of where he would touch her next built and she caught her breath, only to sigh in the next moment. It was as if she was being reborn with each touch of his hands.
A rhythm built between her gasps and sighs and continued until he had washed every inch of her, murmuring words of love.
Then he cupped his hands and poured water over her again and again to rinse her.
He lifted her hand and kissed her palm, the inside of her wrist, then her arm to her elbow, and she shivered.
He chuckled as her eyes flew open.
She watched him heavy-lidded as he proceeded to kiss her other palm, making his way up her arm.
“Rob?”
“Hmmm?” He continued kissing.
“I think I would like to wash you too.”
His smile grew even broader and his eyes lit as if she’d stoked a fire within. He leaned back in the tub, spreading his arms on each side of the tub. “Darlin’, you can do anything you want to me. I’m all yours.”
This bold feeling was new to her, but she liked it. She liked it very much. Reaching for the soap she smiled at him, knowing she would wash him every bit as slowly as he’d washed her.
And so she began.
She loved touching him, feeling the lean muscles beneath his skin, watching the way the water stirred as he grew even more aroused. And by learning every inch of his body, something clicked into place in her mind. A certainty that he was her perfect match in every way, in body and in heart.
By the time she finished, she sensed his impatience, though he never said a word to suggest he had waited long enough.
She stood in the tub. “Mr. Truman, I do believe I have kept you waiting long enough.”
His eyebrows raised in surprise.
“Dry me off.” She winked. “And I’ll race you to the bed.”
“Sally.” He stood and reached for the towel. “There’s nothing I’d like more.”
If he’d been slow to wash her, he was certainly fast enough drying her off.
He’d just started toweling himself when she started to run.
Chasing after her, still toweling himself, he’d almost caught her when she scooted into the bed and pulled the covers up, giggling.
With a laugh, he lifted the covers and slipped in beside her. “Why, Mrs. Truman, I thought you’d never ask.”
His lips closed over hers, and though he kissed her slowly, the impatience within her now would not be contained.
Wrapping her arms around his waist, she pulled him closer.
“Hurry, Rob,” she gasped in between kisses.
“Are you sure?”
“We’ve waited long enough.”
And as he touched her, and realized at once how ready she was, he waited not a minute longer.
“Oh,” she gasped.
He stopped, and his eyes filled with concern.
“Why did we wait so long?” She looked deeply into his eyes and he laughed triumphantly as they rode into a blaze of glory.
THE END
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