"Maybe he didn't know it himself, for a while. I'd think it would be hard to know someone like you, and try to tell them something like that."
"Someone like me?"
"Yeah, someone with stars in her eyes."
"I guess you are right."
"Yeah...well, I don't think you would have ever guessed it till he was ready to admit it to himself and others."
"I wish him only happiness."
"I'm glad of that. He sounded like a pretty nice fella, for someone I woke in the middle of the night, at least."
Savannah chuckled.
"And Savannah…I didn't walk away unscathed from your kisses," he smiled.
"No?"
"No, now I think we should go." He remarked glancing outside and sure that the waters had receded, since the sun had heated up the lower valley.
He drove her down the highway to a small café where they enjoyed breakfast together, talked, and he made his decision. He was taking her home to her parents where she belonged. He'd be kidding himself if he thought for one minute she'd be happy in a little hay-seed town like his, with a house full of kids and nothing to look forward to. No, this was best. So why did it eat at him all the way home?
When they reached his house though, there were more problems to deal with. Problems he hadn't expected or even contemplated.
"Sheriff, where have you been? Savannah, what is the meaning of this?" her mother demanded to know.
"Meaning of what?" Savannah asked innocently.
"You've been gone over night, with...with this cowboy Sheriff, I take it. I want some explanation as to why."
"Melanie, give them time to explain." her father was insisting.
"Explain what?" Savannah's frown was aimed straight for them. "There was a storm, mother, a flooded out bridge. The Sheriff was kind enough to seek shelter for us both, until the water receded. That's all, not that I owe any explanation, mother. I'm twenty-six years old, and it's a little late to worry about my virtue, don't you think?"
Ben watched the goings on between them, surprised at how fast Savannah rose to the defense. He smiled, tipped his hat back and looked her father in the eye, "I assure you sir, and your daughter was not compromised in any way."
"You don't owe them an explanation. I'm old enough to take care of myself." Savannah met him nose to nose.
"I don't believe it," Melanie was saying. "Why, this man admitted just hours ago he was in love with you."
"He...what?" Savannah turned to her mother first, then to Ben.
"Well...I...yes...but"
"You love me?" Savannah repeated the words. "You told them you loved me?"
Ben looked her in the eye, smiled and took her by the arms, "Yes, I wasn't going to mention that though...since you're leaving."
"You weren't going to mention it?" her voice rose an octave.
"Well now, looks like there just might be a wedding after all," her father was saying.
Everyone was jumping the gun. Not considering the reality of the matter. Savannah didn't belong in Junction She was a high society little girl and despite the fact that he admired her more every moment he was with her, he couldn't ask her to give up what she had for him. Could he?
And no one was going to throw him a shotgun wedding. If he got married it would be on his own, not prodded by a long barrel.
"You certainly didn't act as though you loved me last night," she said emphatically.
"Didn't I?" his eyes never left hers.
"You mean...you didn't make love to me...because—you love me?" she barely uttered the words, as though it just dawned on her what he was all about. She narrowed in on him.
When he smiled but didn't answer, she probed further, "Is that what you are telling me?"
"Now see here, Savannah.” her mother seemed flabbergasted.
"Yes, that's what I'm telling you. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but yes!" He turned and started to go into the house. "A man doesn't take advantage of the one he loves."
"And you aren't going to give me the chance to tell you how much I love you?" she shouted to his back.
"You do?" he asked, not turning around, but his shoulders bunching and knotting and then relaxing as he finally turned around with a big smile on his face.
"An unless you marry me, very soon, I promise I'll run away again..." she giggled.
"Savannah..." he murmured as he slowly walked towards her.
"Oh Ben..." she cried as his arms came out and wrapped about her, pulling her into him and smothering her with a kiss that threatened to undermine all his better intentions. They seemed oblivious to her parents.
"Savannah, really...the man is supposed to do the asking," her mother prompted but finally gave in just a bit, when they refused to stop kissing.
"What are we going to do with her, she's grown impossible?" Melanie ran to her husband's side.
Mr. Kingsley laughed, "Doesn't look like it's our problem any longer, dear!"
"And that's for sure," Ben murmured as he felt Savannah melt into his arms again. He pulled away, and smiled down into her love- drugged face, "She might be trouble but she's my trouble."
"I'm not sleeping with you until we are married, you know."
"I know…God help me!" He chuckled and pulled her straight into his arms for another melting kiss.
About the Author
Rita writes romance, westerns, children's, short stories and poetry. You'll find her work at Smashwords.com, and Create Space.com. Sold at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com too. From her series of the the Travers Brothers to her single titles like Wandering Heart and Pretend Mom, there is a variety of romance here. Rita writes both sensual and sweet romances. Her westerns are full of adventure, romance and danger. Her children's stories are located at http://ritahestand.com/Willysworld.html
Don't miss any of Rita's works.
Visit her site at: http://ritahestand.com
e-mail Rita at: [email protected]
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