“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.”
Chapter Sixteen
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 marrying 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 l
ove 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.
BY 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.”
ELIZABETH 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 finally 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.”
“You don’t think he’s too young? He’s your age, you know.” Elizabeth liked Toby being older than her. As if it mattered, she reminded herself with a sob.
“Elizabeth, don’t worry. I’m sur
e everything will work out. I can’t imagine Toby making love to you and then walking away. That’s not how he would operate.”
“He might if I told him to get lost,” Elizabeth said with a sniff. “Besides, it’s so awkward with no one knowing, like we’re sneaking around or doing something to be ashamed of. I don’t know if we’ll ever be able—I mean, people will talk.”
“Does it matter?”
“Not to me, not if I can have a life with Toby, but I don’t want him to be ashamed of me.”
Abby gave her a gentle smile, then looked at her watch. “I think it’s time to go.”
Elizabeth frowned. “Do you have a schedule? I don’t think the men will even be in yet.”
“Russ is. Remember, he called me?”
“Oh, yeah. I wonder why he’s in early.” Elizabeth stood and headed for the door. Would Toby already be in, too? If she went to the arena to get her coat from last night, would he be there working Buster?
Did she have enough courage to face him?
Abby chattered all the way to the ranch. When Elizabeth said something about the road being unusually crowded, Abby claimed it was probably a sale they hadn’t read about. Maybe one of the nearby ranchers was selling off his herd.
“We would’ve heard about that,” Elizabeth said, frowning. She grew even more intense when they reached the dirt road to the ranch house and discovered all those unexpected cars were turning there, too. “What’s going on?”
“I guess we’ll find out when we get there.” Abby’s lack of concern puzzled Elizabeth almost as much as the cars. Why would she sound that way unless she knew what was going on?
“What did Russ tell you?” she suddenly asked, catching Abby off guard.
Abby almost jumped in the car seat, and her cheeks heated up. “What? I—I told you. He wanted me to ride with you so he wouldn’t have to go back into town to pick me up before we went to dinner.”
She’d topped the little hill that looked down on the house, and it had the appearance of a big-city parking lot. There were as many cars there as people in Rawhide. Something strange was going on. “What else?” she demanded of her friend.
“Um, that’s about it.”
Randall Pride Page 17
